TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15862, 27 February 1912, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Ashburton police raided a residence on the South East Bolt on Sunday, when a small quantity of whisky was soizod. The licenso and no-license parties have agreed to avoid a contested election of a Licensing Committee for Timaru by nominating members of tho present committee only. * The Matron of St Helen’s Hospital desires to acknowledge gifts of old linen from Mrs Britton, of Avonside, fruit from Mrs Vessy, and flowers from Mrs Bray, Little River. Hares are very plentiful in the Maronau district of tho Ashburton County, and ajjarty of sportsmen who visited that locality lately bagged 102 in eight hours. It being understood that Mr J. Craigie does not desire a further term as Mayor of Timaru, a requisition is being prepared asking Councillor W. Raymond to stand for the office.

At the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr W. W. White, J.P., and Mr G. W. Andrews, J.P., a first offender who was arrested on Sunday for drunkenness was fined 20s.

On Saturday a very pleasant garden Earty was hold at Radley, Miss Kent aving kindly placed her beautiful grounds at tho disposal of the trustees of the Woolston Methodist Church. Various games were played, and tho ladies dispensed afternoon tea, the proceeds being in aid of the trust funds. A telegram from Dunedin states that Mr H. B: Irving concluded a remarkably successful season last night. At the conclusion of the farewell (performance the principal was made tho subject of a remarkable demonstration of enthusiasm lasting several minutes. The season easily beats all records locally.

Isaac Shepherd and Carl Teger, seamen, belonging to the Federal-Houlder-Shire steamer Drayton Grange, were charged at the Lyttelton Police Court yesterday with having deserted from the vessel on Thursday last. Both pleaded guilty and were convicted and ordered to bo placed on board the steamer at Wellington. A large crowd of young men gathered outside a fruit shop in Cashel St-reot kept by Chinamen last night, expecting a repetition of tho events of Saturday night. There was a great deal of talk indulged in, but the presence of the police ensured the comparative decorum of the crowd, and after a mild demonstration the men dispersed. The Ashburton Salvation Army held a “band Sunday” on Sunday, when Envoy and Mrs Mathews and Bandmaster Jauggernaut, of Sydenham, and Bandmaster Argyle, of Lyttelton, took Sart. Tho meetings throughout tho ay were well -attended, ana in the evening the service of song entitled “ The Wreck of the Wairarapa ” was rendered. The collections for tho day amounted to £2l.

On Sunday evenings during Lent Archdeacon Ensor will deliver a series of addresses at the Church of tho Good Shepherd, Pliillipetown, on “ Tho Temptation of Jesus Christ in the Wilderness.” The first address was given on Sunday evening, and was listened to with interest by a largo congregation. On Friday evenings throughout Lent, mission services will be conducted by tho Archdeacon at Phillipstown Church. Ih - L. Cockayne, president of tho Canterbury Philosophical Institute, and Dr C. C. Farr and Mr E. R. Waite, members of the Council, waited on the Mayor yesterday and discussed with him proposals to entertain Captain Scott and members of his Antarctic expedition, who are expected back in Christchurch about the first week in April. No definite arrangements were made, but it was suggested that, if possible, the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and officers of tho Philosophical Institute should welcome the explorers at Lyttelton, that there should be a civic reception to them on tho day following their arrival, and that later on tho officers should be entertained at a dinner and tlie members of the company at a picnic in the country and a smoke concert.

It is a mistaken idea with many Peoplo to put oft wearing spectacles as long as possible when they require them. They strain their eyes more and more and irreparable harm can be done, which .glasses in some cases never entirely overcomes. For spectacles consult John R. Procter, Oculists Optician, 200, High Street, Christchurch.

All the Canterbury trout streams were reported clear yesterday morning.

The Commonwealth Government has decided to give £SOO towards the expenses of the Australian oarsmen to compete at the Olympic sports at Stockholm. ■

The Salvation Army Band will play tho following programme on Sydenham Park rotunda to-morrow evening, commencing at 8 p.m.March, “ Perfect Poace ” ; air varic, “ While the Bays” ; selection, “Memories of Otira”; cornet solo, “ Ora PrO| Nobis”; march, “ Simplicity” ; selection, “ Old Favourites”; “Prize Selection No. 1 ” ; march, “ Westmeria.” There still remain several hedges in Stanmoro. Road which constitute a menace to public safety. A number of hedges have apparently found, the damp season to their liking and have grown rapidly and now overhang the pavement to such an extont that ‘at night time unwary pedestrians are in danger of receiving injuries to their faces. The narrow pavements add to tho inconvenience caused by the hedges. Berry’s Private Band will play the following programme at the St Albans Park rotunda this evening, commencing at 8 p.m.:—Marok, “The Magnet” (Lossy); selection, “From East to West ” (Browne); valse, “ Chinese Lanterns ” (Morolli); solo, “The Maid of Malabar” (Adams);- fantasia. “Rose d’ Amour ” (Bliger) ; valse, “ Wiener Extrablatter ” (Translateur)intermezzo, “Rustic Revels” (Lewis Ham); march, “Signal Corps” (M’Coy).

Tho Testaments which do service in the Supremo Court for swearing juries were yesterday used in a case to illustrate trucks. Tho black and red books made a good substitute for model truoks, and aided by inkpots,_ blotting paper and other writing materials .made a passable representation of the Colombo Street railway crossing. His Honor commented on the use of the Testaments for such a purpose, but stated that he would not take any judicial notice of their use in such a connection. ,

At the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr V. G. Day’s reserved judgment in tho case Crum Bros, and Bylirberg (Mr Orbell) v. W. 11. Collins (Mr Purnell) was road by the clerk of the Court. The plaintiffs claimed the sum of £SO, the amount of d sub-con-tract for laying the foundations and building chimneys in connection with a dwelling-house erected by T. O. Christenson, a contractor who had assigned all moneys payable under the contract to defendant. After reviewing the caso at length, judgment was given for plaintiffs for the amount claimed, with costs. Tile annual meeting of the. Tinwald Domain Board was held on Saturday, when Mr J. Heseltine presided. 1 A motion was passed placing on record tho Board’s appreciation of the services of the late Mr Millichamp to tho town, particularly in connection with the improvements of the Domain Swimming Baths, and it was decided to forward a letter of condolence to the relatives. The Tinwald Amateur Swimming Club wrote asking that the club should be vested with powers of custodians of the bath. It was (resolved that on the club naming one of its executive who would be responsible to tho Board the request would bo granted. Mr Doherty was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year. The ' balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £5 19s lOd on tho year’s working. Accounts amounting to £6 4s 4d wore passed for payment. A proposal of some importance was made by Mr Maughan Barnett at tho annual meeting or the Royal Choral Society at Wellington recently. The idea is that the Auckland and W ellington Societies' should co-operate in festival choral performances. Mr Barnett detailed a meeting ho had had with Mr Henry Brett, who had road© the suggestion, which he heartily approved. Alternately, Wellingtomtes would visit Auckland and Aucklanders come south. Tlie first festival would be limited, perhaps, to three days, each society giving a work separately and combining forces in a work like “ Elijah.” They could probably get one of tho strongest orchestras in New Zealand. Later on, other cities might be able to join the soheme. On the motion of Mr R. T. Caldow, the meeting unanimously decided to instruct the committee to take any necessary steps in the matter.

“ The National Insurance Bill,” said Brother A. J. Ibbotsen, retiring Grand Master, in his annual address to tho Wellington district meeting of Oddfellows, “has been and is still causing trouble in friendly societies in England. Underlying the surface there seems to-be-an attempt to undermine the liberty of friendly society members, and thereby damage tho very foundations of friendly societies themselves. The Manchester Unity‘is as strong as ever, pay, stronger and better equipped than at any previous period in its existence, but if the foundations upon which tlie superstructure was reared fail, then it, too, will ceaso to be effective for tho purpose for which it was designed, and will.become but a memorial to the generations of sturdy men who inaugurated and fostered it. To live in an atmosphere of freedom is to live indeed, and the priceless heritage of individual liberty should not roadily be sacrificed nor bartered for a slight consideration. At present this does not affect ns ; in New Zealand, but should a Bill be introduced here we should be ready from the first to take a very firm stand in seeing that our society is safeguarded in every way. We trust members will keep this matter earnestly before them, and thus bo ever ready to fight for a freedom which wo all love.” Some remarkable “financing” was disclosed at Taihapo on Wednesday, when an adjourned meeting of creditors was held in the estate of John and Masie Hamilton, trading as Hamilton and Co., cordial manufacturers. The husband, who was examined on oath, said that he managed the business for his wife, and ordered some of the materials. Tlie accounts were chiefly paid in cash. Ho put no capital in the; business, and got no pay. They agreed to buy a section of nearly four acres from Mr Garner, for £350, but only paid £1 down. Some time after his wife borrowed £7O from two Maoris, Kingi Topia being one, and he took possession when the repayment of his loan,became due; but as Kingi was unable to finance the land purchase, the husband- resumed possession. At tbe time tho loan was raised from the Maoris about £S4 had been spent on the factory, but when MiGarner resumed possession £4OO had befen expended, and this was all forfeited. Tho land and buildings were sold privately to Mr T. E. Wilson for £4SO, but Hamilton considered they were worth £7OO. Mr Bennett pointed out that Hamilton camo to Tailmpo with nothing. He then entered into an agreement to purchase land for £350, oil which he proceeded to erect a factory to cost £l5O, and a house to cost £3OO. How did he expect to pay thesa amounts? Hamilton replied that if he had a reasonable run he could have paid off these sums in nine months. This drew a remark from one of the creditors. "I wish I could some across n business like that.” It was unanimously decided by _ the creditors that Hamilton, who stated that on his own application lie had been made a bankrupt at Gore a few months before leaving for Taihape, should be publicly examined. Good advice to those about to bo j married. Wo advise you to* visit j Fletcher Bros.’ (next Armstrong’s, i High Street) Great Clearing Sale for | bargains in Bedroom Ware, Dinner Ware, Tea Sets, Cutlery, etc. Everything must be cleared within next few weeks, so this is your opportunity to buy tho above at practically your own prica, 1756

At tho Supremo Court yesterday. £ everal witnesses testified to the bad lighting of the Colombo Street railway crossing. One witness added that tho electric warning bells were inaudibla when any traffic was crossing the rails, and said that the lights were not sufficiently powerful to be of any real use. - Last week, a camping party cm the North Beach, Westport, secured what must be a local record of fish for one haul. With a single operation of their trawl net they landed . 636 kahawai. Four hours Were occupied in clearing tho net. The fish were caught at the junction of tho'Orawhiti River with the sea. At Victoria Lake on. Saturday the. Christchurch Model Yacht Club sailed the sixth and seventh heats for the president’s trophy. The results were as follows: —Sixth heat: Mr Haydon’s Doris 1, Mr Plulpot’s Randolph 2, Mr Ekenstein’s Pateena 3. Seventh heati Mr Jones’s Isa. 1, Mr Haydon’s Doris 2, Mr Ekenstsin’s Pateena 3. A special general meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the Railway Offioers’ Institute was held at the railway station, Christchurch, on Saturday last, Mr J. Young, chairman of tho branch, presiding. It was unanimously agreed to fall in with the suggestion of the executive, that a levy should be struck and to increase the subscriptions of the junior members'to Is per “month. A well-attended meeting of the .members of No. 1 No Surrender Ladies’ Orange Lodge was held on Thursday, when a considerable amount of business was transacted. Four candidates were ballotted for and ‘ accepted. Viators from otW lodges were present, including P.G.M. Brother Meredith, who delivered an address. The. lodge instructor, P.G.M. Brother Middleton/ also addressed: the meeting. \ The desire on tho part of tho.Defencef authorities to avoid imposing hardships mpon the Temtorials serving under th© new scheme is apparent on every nans, Tho fact that a number of men attend* ed in civilian clothes the reoent encampment of the 4th Regiment has raised the point that these men may be involved in expense owing to wear and tear. . Major-General Godley has therefore decided that Territorials who attended camp without uniforms shall be compensated to some extont, the amount to be determined later. , ( For some time after tho annual trimming of the quick hedges around Hag-! ley Park, cyclists are subjected to numerous tribulations ‘owing to' thorns spreading over the cycle tracks. For* some time after the hedges are trimmed the twigs aro. left at the side of the tracks to dry, and tho result is that punctures are frequent. The annuaVi trimming of these hedges has just been completed, and after several weeks or trouble for many cyclists the twigs have been burned, and beyond a few stray, thorns which have escaped the burner, , the cycle tracks can again be ridden on with safety, Very few people really realise the exact space of time occupied in the passing of a minute. One of the casual individuals who speak of minutes .when they mean seooncLs appeared as a witness at the Supremo Court yesterday, and stated,that he had “waited, a minute or two ’ ’ before moving. His Honor promptly took out his watch, asked the witness to do likewise, and asked him to time a minute and then see if he were prepared to repeat his statement. After what seemed to ha several minutes the witness closed his watch and admitted that his estimate of tho time had been almost double the actual time.

The inexplainahle law governing th? game of chanoe, if indeed there is anV such law, was in evidence at the land ballot at the courthouse the other night (writes an Oauvsru correspondent). Of tho runs set down for allotment that known locally as Porter’s attracted tlia greatest competition, the applicants being represented by 219 marbles, numbered from 1 consecutively, in the ballot box. • Of course, No. 1 marble stood as good a chanoe as any in the draw, but no one for a moment expected that of so many marbles No. 1 would be drawn; yet this is what happened, and tho result was received with great excitement. It is stated that only on one other occasion in connection with tho history of land ballots in Otago has No. 1 marblo been drawn. / Mr E. R. Waite, curator of Canterbury Museum, is rearranging the pictures that are hung on the walls of the staircase leading from the hall of the Museum to the statuary, antiquity and foreign birds and reptiles rooms. In tho new arrangement there will lie added to the collection a very good oilcolour portrait of the late Sir Julius Von Ilaast, first curator of the Museum, and also first president of the Canterbury. Philosophical Institute. I The portrait was painted inTSSS. It belongs to the Institute, and has hung for years in its library. The Institute has now lent it to the Museum,. Hie life-size portrait of the late Mr Edward' Gibbon Wakefield, which is conspicuous in the art collection n.t the Museum, will remain in its present position near the head of the staircase. During the hearing of a case at the Supreme Court yesterday in which, motors figured largely, his Honor Mr Justice Denniston administered a mild rebuke to a young man whose evidence was largely bound up with the fact that he had been riding a motor-cycle. His" Honor expressed the hope that the young man did nob ride his motor-cyck fit tho speed at which roost motorists did, and gravely informed him that according to his evidence ho had “ taken ‘ his chance” of getting over a railway crossing at a time when shunting operations were being carried out. “ One of the charms of a motor-cycle is that you either have to go on of got off. You didn’t stop at all,” his Honor said. “ ea ’ you wouldn’t have had a chance of getting damages if you had met with an accident.” “If you had been a few; seconds earlier,'’ he concluded, “you probablv wouldn’t have been here today.” At yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College the headmaster of the Boys High School ■ reported on tho December examination? as follows Thirty boys sat foi ths University Entrance examination, and seventeen qualified. . A junior university scholarship, senior national scholarship and Gammack scholarship w ere sained by pupils. Twelve qualified tor matriculation. Out of fifty-four boys who sat for tho Junior Civil Service, Education Board Senior, and Senior Free Place examinations, thirty-eight passed, three winning the Senior Board of Education Scholarship, and sixteen passing the Civil Service examination, four with credit. Tho headmistress of the Girls’ High School reported oil the results of the November examination* as follows:—There were five entrants of the Junior University Scholarship examination, and one pupil was placed on the credit list, three won Senior National Scholarships and the fifth matriculated._ Sixteen pupils sat for matriculation and ten passed. Fifteen sat for the Junior Civil Service examination, twelve passing (three with credit). Five sat for the Senior Education Board Scholarship, four won scholarships and one qualified for a senior free place. Sixtv-five sat for the Senior Free Place examination and fiftyeight passed : while four pupils qualified for proficiency certificates. J. M- Heywood and Coy., Limited, have been established for over sixty years as Custom House Agents. Their large and varied experience is at tho service of all importers and the general public- 1988 EVEN IF YOU ARE TWISTED INTO KNOTS WITH RHEUMATISM, there is sure and permanent cure in Rheumo. This splendid remedy restores health by driving out the excess uric acid in the blood. If you aro a sufferer, try RHEUMO. 2s 6d and 4s 6d everywhere. 23'

The auction announcements of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Baker Bros, and H. Matson and Co. will be found on page 11 of this issue.

A Press Association telegram from Timaru states that Messrs H. Chambers, Hawke’s Bay, and H. F. Wright, Dunedin, with guides, and Messrs M. Clarke, Terauka, and J. Murphy, Ilokia successful ascent of Mount on Sunday under good conditions. Miss Du Faur, of New South Wales, Trko last vear ascended Mount Cook, has climbed a virgin peak on the Moorhouse range. She is to select a name for it.

In St Peter’s Anglican Church, AkaToa, the communion plate, tho chalice and paten have the arms of the Canterbury Association, with the date 1551, stamped on them. They are one of three sots sent out by the Canterbury Association. Tho other sets are at t?t Michael’s, Christchurch, and St Saviour’s, Lyttelton. The articles are very chasto in design, and are greatly valued by the congregation for their historical association.

The harvest thanksgiving services at the Methodist Mission on Sunday last .were very successful, the attendance being large at each service. The Revs jW. Lee, S. Henderson and Turner jwere the preachers at tho morning, afternoon and night services respectively. iThe choir, under the conductorship of Mr H. Robson, rendered special music, Miss J. Wilson presiding at the organ. The hall was very tastefully decorated. The offerings for the day amounted to t£22 8s 6d.

! An interesting group of birds, set up jhy Mr E. J. Haynes, taxidermist, has |been placed in the case for fresh _ex•hibits at Canterbury Museum. The 'group contains three young harrier hawks in different stages or development and plumage. They were all token from tne some nest by Mr E. R. [Waite, curator of the Museum, when he Visited Akaroa a few weeks ago. A ■whale-bird petrel obtained at New ■Brighton and an oyster-catcher from ,the Styx are in the same case, j The special commission of agricultural engineers sent by the Uruguayan Government to 6tudy the pastoral, agricultural and live stock industries in Europe, North America and Australia, arrived at the Bluff yesterday from Melbourne, and will go on to Timaru by tho first express to-aay. These commissioners axe all students and all young (the eldest twenty-six), selected from different colleges, and the scheme is that each of them wiH'fumish an independent report, sq that from the recommendations of the multitude the Uruguayan Government may extract wisdom. Especially they are interested in pastoral pursuits, their country being largely pastoral. They liked Australia, and were greatly impressed by Hawkesbury College. There is nothing like it in their country. They all speak Spanish and French, and some of them English. SYDNEY STREET TRAFFIC. ' It is too late in the day, almost, to talk about the dangers of Sydney streets. They are obvious to anybody ■who.only goes as far as to look through ■a window; but the Government has been a long time deciding that something shall be done.,. At a meeting of (the Cabinet last week it was (says the Telegraph’’) decided that it was necesjsary.to obtain the best available expert opinion on the very important problem ■of Sydney traffic. It was announced by Mr Griffith, at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting, that, “ following the receipt of advices from the Agent-Gen-eral and the consulting engineer, a cablegram has been sent to Mr Coghlan asking him to arrange for Mr David Hay, M.lnst.C.E., the highest engineering authority on the subject in Great Britain, to visit Sydney and report. The fee Mr Hay is to receive is a ve . r 7 one, but tho Government considers that it would bo a mistake to act on any but the highest authority. .It is anticipated that Mr Hay will leave ‘England at an early date./’

STRAW, HATS. Straw hat rnanuf&oturers and wholeSale and retail hatters and miliners in England are much concerned at ' the (narked deficiency in the supply of certain qualities of straw plait. According to Board of Trade returns, during the year 1911 tho importation of straw {Waitings and other materials showed a decrease as compared with 1910 of over 2,250,0001 b. The trouble has arisen principally in connection with the supply from Japan, where a prolonged drought has resulted in a smaller crop than usual. This, combined with the world-wide demand for Japanese plaits —the United States, the Continent, and Australia being keen' competitors with Britain for the available supply—has sent up the prices of chip, tagel and rustic straws from 10 to 25 per cent. The two former kinds of plaits are principally used in the manufacture of women’s straw millinery, whilst the rustic quality is employed in considerable quantities in the making of men’s “ boaters.” In some cases an advance of £2 . and more a hale on last year’s rates is being obtained, and there appears (says the “Times” of January 12) small likelihood of an early decline.

UNUSUAL COMPENSATION CLAIM. At the Downhajn County Court Judge_ Mulligan, K.C., delivered judgment in a case in which Margaret Potter, the widow of a waiter, was the plaintiff, and Charles Winlove Smith, a confectioner and caterer, of King’s Lynn, was the respondent. The claim was for compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation..' Act, 1906. In ■stating the facts his Honor said that thero was a wedding feast at Shouldham, that' defendant was caterer, that there was a tent in the grounds, and in it that night there were left champagne cases, empty champagne bottles, etc. On the day following Potter, with others, went again to Qhouldham. to make ready a dinner for the village people. They set to work inside the tent, where they found a great number of wasps, attracted by the champagne in the empty bottles, or by tlie ia-m or other materials for the feast. When they paused for lunch Potter suddenly exclaimed, “I’m done,” and putting his finger on top of his tongue brought out a dead wasp. He sank and died within an hour. At the post-mor-tem it was seen that Potter had been suffering from valvular disease of the heart. After considering the evidence, and citing authorities, his Honor held that plaintiff was entitled to compensation. THE PRIVATE OWNER SCORES AGAIN. The success of the “ Triumph ” motor-cycle in the hands of private owners in countless trials and competitions is one of the strongest possible testimonials to its unvarying efficiency and reliability. In the North Canterbury Motor Cyclists’ Club’s trials, oil February 17, when the route selected was from Christchurch to Akaroa, via Sumner, and return, Mr C. Bonnington. riding a 3J h.p. “ Triumph,” fully equipped, and weighing 3631 b with rider, was first in the Private Owners’ Class with 992.6 marks out of a possible 1000. and also won tho Triumph Silver Challenge Cup, awai-ded annually for the best performance by a singlejsjjinder machine, irrespective of make. it will be remembered that last year Mr ft, if. Barnett, riding a 3i h.p. “Triumph,” won the Triumph Cup, this being the first time the cup was offered for competition. We are at present landing a consignment of the latest model “Triumph” motor-cycles, in free engine and fixed engine styles, land all motor-cyclists should inspect these latest examples of the world’s most reliable and efficient motor-cycle. I Adams, Ltd., Sole Agents for Triumph :motor-cycles, High j(Q. B. Brown, representative). 1988