TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16430, 23 December 1913, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

At the Lyttelton Police Court yesterday, before Mr J. R. Webb, J.P., a first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged. The tramway observation car/ the running of which hue been discontinued for some weeks, will recommence running to-day, when its route will be to Sumner and Papanui, leaving Cathedral Square at 2.15 p.m. The socrotary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board acknowledges a donation from the estate of the late Mrs Twcntyman towards the Christmas Fund for the inmates of the Memorial Home, Woolston.

Last night the City Council authorised its Finance Committee to deal with applications for loans under the Christchurch Electrical Supply Empowering Act, and stated that the interest charge should be 6 per cent.

On tho recommendation of the Baths Committee, the City Council last night decided to extend a season ticket concession to all members of clubs affiliated to the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association.

A new way of dealing with the liquor traffic has suggested itself to a lady Sunday school teacher in the Feilding district, according to the local “Star.” In order to combat an assertion that the temperance people are opposed to all sport, this Indy has offered to get a team of temperance women tennis players to meet any team of hotel workers that may care to accept the challenge.

The manager of the Christchurch Receiving Home acknowledges a donation from the Empty Stocking Fund.

The platforms on tho Christchurch railway station will he closed from 7.15 a.m. till 8.15 a.m. on December 24, 26 and 27, and from 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. on December 24 and 27. Only persons leaving by train and producing tickets, or holders of admission tickets, will be admitted.

The High Commissioner has advised tho Minister of Immigration that a second contingent of farm bovs will embark from London on tho Suffolk, duo at Auckland towards the end of February. Applications for these boys are now being received by the Immigration Department. Yesterday, states a Press Association telegram from Timaru, was the first fino clear day since October 25. A good deal of snow fell on the ranges last week and the cold snap caused the death of numbers of freshly shorn sheep. It is reported that 200 out of 280 in one flock’ died, and the motherless lambs will probably follow.

In the Anglican Cathedral last night the Cathedral choir sang Spohr’s “ The Last Judgment.” There was a large congregation, and the singing was of a very high standard indeedt Tne soloists were Master J. Nelson (soprano) and Messrs R. Vincent (tenor) and S. Hawker (bass). Dr Bradshaw presided at the organ. v There has been forwarded to the secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board a cheque for £5 5s by Messrs Chew Lee Co., with a letter stating that as the Hospital was open to unfortunates of all creeds and nations the money was donated for the purpose of being added to the funds for tlie management of the Christchurch Hospital. A Press Association telegram from Oamaru states that at a meeting last night a Waitaki High School Old Boys’ Association was formed. Fifteen vicepresidents were appointed, spread over the same number of the important centres of the dominion. The Association starts with a large membership of old scholars in various parts of the dominion.

The ferry steamer Maori, which left Lyttelton for Wellington last evening, had on board no fewer than six hundred and thirty passengers. The Wahine, due in Lyttelton this morning, is also practically a full ship. In order to relieve the crush at Wellington to-morrow night, the Maunganui will 'accompany the Wahine to Lyttelton. On Christmas Day the Maunganui will return to Wellington on arrival of the first express, while the Wahine will sail on arrival of the 7.50 p.m. train.

The honorary treasurer of the Children’s Convalescent Cottage at New Brighton wishes 'to acknowledge with thanks the following Christmas donations :—H. Marks’s trustees £3 3s, Mrs T. Moorhouse £l, Mrs Nicholls £1 Is, Mrs G. E. Rhodes £1 Is, Mrs Townend £5 ss, City Council Organ Fund £2 10s. “ Emptv Stocking Fund ” £2, and “A Friend” ss. The following donations have been received for the Verandah Fund : —New Brighton Ministering Children League’s concert, per the Rev H. Mathias, £9 6s 9d; “ The Nobodies” concert, per Mrs Cooper, £7 6s, and per Mrs Kelly, 12s. At a meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, held last evening, a letter was received from Captain Halsev, of H.M.S. New Zealand, thanking the Centre for the gift of the challenge shield presented to the ship for competition prior to its departure from New Zealand, and stating that the first competition was held in. November at Jamaica, and was won by a team of four seamen in a relay race. Tho winning team comprised W. A. Roberts (petty officer), M. Stanford (leading seaman), H. Kenyon (A. 8.), and A. 0. Mudd (A. 8.)

Speaking to a reporter yesterday, Mr B. M. Wilson, manager of the Tourist Department, who has just returned from a visit to Mount Cook, said that the new Hermitage was now completed, and the furniture would be installed shortly. Much of it was on the road, but had been delayed owing to the fact that the heavy motor-wag-gon could not cross the bridge over the Opihi River. It was hoped, however, that the waggon would get through yesterday. Mr Wilson stated that there was already a large number of visitors at Mount Cook, and the season was likely to be an excellent one. The roads were in good condition, and quite fit for motoring, and all the streams were bridged over. At last week’s meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council a motion was passed prohibiting the use of the Band Rotunda on Sundays for other than hand concerts. The motion, however, did not find favour with all the councillors present, and the matter again cropped up last night, when Councillor Horton moved that the resolution should be rescinded. He said that he was in accord with the views of many councillors that political meetings should not be held on Sundays on the Band Rotunda, but he did not think that restrictions should bo placed on religious organisations. After discussion the motion was ' lost, Councillors Schumacher, Rich, Collins, Page, Guthrie and the Mayor voting against it, and Councillors Norton, Radcliffe and Foster for it. Mr W. H. Ferris, of. the Department of Agriculture, writing in the Department’s “ Journal ” for December, states with regard to the New Zealand hemp industry that, “ while the quality of the fibre is exhibiting a marked advance, tho quantity being produced is of greatly increased dimensions. If prices are maintained, this season’s output should constitute a record. Practically all the mills throughout the country are working at full pressure, and the supply of leaf is abundant. The millers of Marlborough aro turning out largely increased supplies of fibre, and, as is invariably the case, the quality is most satisfactory. Good work is also being done in Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa, the leaf in tho "latter district being particularly good this season.” Some people have been heard to blame tlie authorities for. not allowing enthusiastic amateur wireless operators to erect small stations with which to experiment unrestrictedly. In view of recent happenings in other countries the regulation appeal's to be very necessary. “ Syren and Shipping,” a I.ondon paper, in a recent issue, says: “ The ass who, by way of a 1 joke,’ sets adrift bottles containing bogus messages of shipwreck, has now found a new opening for the exercise of his talents. He sends out wireless S.O.S. signals, purporting to come from some liner in distress. Criminal lunatics of this sort arc, of course, very difficult to trace, but we trust that if one of them happens to be caught he will be dealt with in a fashion that will discourage tho rest. As the game, presumably, is played by means of a toy installation, tho communication will not be likely to carry far, and tho mischief done will thus be more normal than material; but, in view of tho anxiety that may’ bo caused, no effort should be spared to locate and punish the crazy idiot who amuses himself in this way.”

Jt does not pay you to do your own Customs Work and tills fact is recognised by mose importers who find it saves time, money and worry, to employ J. M. Hey wood and Co.. Limited, to do it for them. Let them put through your next shipment. 1988 The perplexing question, “ What to give for Christmas,” is easily solved on visiting John R. Procter’s, Optician, 200, High Street, Christchurch, as the large stock carried includes Steam and Clockwork Boats, Engines, Motor-cars, and a host of other mechanical Toys; also Magic Lanterns, Cinematograph, Telescopes, Field Glasses, Barometers, Microscopes, Magnifying Glasses, etc.

Saturday, December 27, 19i3, and Friday, January 2, 1914, will be' observed as bank holidays throughout the dominion, in addition to the ,ordinary holidays, December 25 and 26 and January 1.

A meeting of the Sefton Sports Club was held on Saturday evening, when it was. decided that the cycling and ath- , letic events which were postponed on Anniversary Day should bo run off on) December 24, at 2.30 p.m. The matron of the Waltham Orphanage wishes to thank the trustees of .the Hyman Marks Trust, the Band and Organ Committee, the Empty Stocking Fund and Mr Whale for their generous Christmas gifts to the children." ■ The secretary of the Hospital and.' Charitable Aid Board wishes to acknowledge with thanks a donation from the estate of the late Mrs Twentyman towards the Christmas Fund .for the in- 1 mates of the Memorial Home, Wools- ? ton.

According to a Press Association telegram from Dunedin the American athlete Caughey’s 161 b shot put of 42ft sin, at the recent 6ports meeting, wa3 not accepted as a fresh New Zealand record, as the shot when weighed, proved to be 2oz short. In St Michael’s Sunday School build-*; ing last night the charming little Christmas play, “ The Witnesses,” was again presented. There was a large audience, and the different tableaux were much appreciated. The play will, be given for the la.st time to-night. A _ Press Association telegram from Wellington states that at a meeting of j the executive of the New Zealand Competitions Society, the financial position arising out of the failure of the recent competitions, which fell -on evil days in; the early part of the strike, was discussed at length. It was reported that creditors had agreed to accept 12s in: the pound in settlement of all claims, and it was decided to pay accordingly. The following programme will be played by the Linwood Brass Band in St Albans Park this evening:—March,' “Victoria” (A. F. Lithgow): valse, “ Silver Showers ” (W. Rimmer); seloo* tion, “ Un Ballo in Maschera ” (Verdi) j march, “The Pathfinder” (F. Sharp); valse, “The Druid’s Prayer” (G. Dawson); cornet solo, “Australis” (A. F. Lithgow); selection, “Lortzing” (H. ■ Round); march, “The National Guard” (A. F. Lithgow).

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the young men John Hobbs, twenty-three, and George Boles, twenty-two, sentenced last week for damaging launches at Onehunga while endeavouring tq take a ; clandestine trip to Australia, were •' charged with stealing at Wellington on August 14 a suit-case containing two watches, a chain, five gold-pins and other articles of a total value of £SO 7s, the property of Frederick Walter Hewlett, a waiter at the Grand Hotel, Wellington. They were remanded to ap-‘> pear at Wellington on Monday. Sir James Mills, states a Press As-i sociation telegram from Dunedin, announced yesterday at a statutory meeting of the shareholders of the Union Company that as it would be necessary for him to proceed to England early in tho year ho proposed to relinquish his position as managing director at the end of December. He also announced , that Mr O. Holdsworth had been ap- i pointed managing director as from. January 1. Sir James Mills will continue to occupy a seat on the board and will retain the chairmanship for the; present.

The breaking up of the Sunbeam Kindergarten took place on Friday afternoon, when a Christmas tree was provided for the children, each of whom received a gift. A short programme of songs and dances, under the direction of Miss Hull, was much enjoyed by those present. Afternoon tea was provided by the mothers. During the afternoon Miss Chilton, on behalf of the committee, made reference to the excellent work done by Miss Hull, who was leaving to take up a position as trainer of students for kindergarten, work, and mode her a presentation, which Was feelingly acknowledged by the recipient.

The township of Lumsden, in Southland, possesses a model schoolboy. The “Otago Daily Times” states that at tho “break-up ” ceremony at theLumsden public school a gold medal, the gift of Dr Arthur Martin, of Palmerston North, and formerly a pupil of , the school, was presented to W. T. Johnson, who had never been absent half a day between January, 1904, and December, 1913, thus securing ten first-class attendance certificates. The family to which tho boy tfelongs may well claim to be the best school-attending family in New Zealand, for during some twolve years past nine members of it have secured forty-six first-class and thirteen, second-class attendance certificates.

By special arrangement, Christmas and" New Year wireless greetings teleframs will be exchanged, between New ealand and the Commonwealth. The text of the Christmas greetings telegrams must consist of not more than four words, to read, “Compliment® of the season,” or “Christmas greetings,” and the text of New Year’s greetings telegrams must read “ Compliments of the season ” or “ New Year greetings ” as the sender may desire. A brief Dut sufficient address and signature will be transmitted free. The Christmas greetings telegrams are to be accepted up to tho close of auy office to-day, and the New Year’s greetings telegrams up to and including December 28. A charge of 4s per message is to be collected for each message. During the session of Parliament, Sir G. W. Russell, M.P., interested himself in the complaint made in regard to tho treatment of tho lad F. J. Tmnellv, of Christchurch, who was. imprisoned for refusing to pay a fine inflicted for a breach of the Defence Act. It was stated that the lad was compelled to accompany undesirable characters, and was placed in the same cell with, them. Mr Russell brought the matter under the notice of the Minister of Defence, who has sent him the following letter, dated December 19 : “I have the honour to inform you that as & result of investigations made as promised in reply to a question asked by you in Parliament on the 3rd inst., I am advised that Tinnelly was arrested on November 21, at 6 p.m., and was detained in the police cells until 1 p.m. the next day, when he was transferred .to Lyttelton at the usual time. Unless special arrangements are made by the, police with the Defence authorities, no launch is sent from Lyttelton to Ripa Island after 4 p.m. In this case it was not possible to make any arrangements, owing to the uncertainty of the arrest of Tinnelly. Therefore it was necessary to detain him until the usual time of transferring these cases to Lyttelton. The police state that they have already made a report to their headquarters on. this matter.” '

To-day and to-morrow Messrs Hastie, Bull and Pickering are offering their choice “ Goods of Quality ” at specially low prices. See their windows for tho “snips,” and secure the gift of fireworks offered. ' 2187

Realise the Pleasures of Christmas.— Life without change is apt to become a deadly dull affair, and Christmas gives you one great opportunity every year .of making some change in your sorroundings, even though you remain in the same house and town. Furniture makes an ideal gift, because a new piece makes that required change. A. J. White, Ltd., havo tho largest stock in the dominion, as well as thousands of useful articles, at prices ranging from 6d to £o. 1756

An exceptional assortment of beautiful hair has just been landed, consigned to Mrs Rolleston, Cathedral Square, of which switches, transformations, etc., aro made at English cost. 116 -

A man named John Joseph Ford was arrested yesterday on a charge of stealing property belonging to the Kniapoi Woollen Company. The New Brighton Marine Band will play a programme of musio at New Brighton this evening, when a collection will be taken up in aid of the school prize fund.

“MANTLE OF MAHOMET.” The Vienna police lately made an interesting discovery. They heard during the Balkan 'war an officer in tho Bulgarian army had offered a dealer in antiquities the “Prophet’s Mantle” for sale. The officer, a' Russian, was discovered, and tho Turkish _ Embassy was informed. An investigation showed that the officer, on tho capture of Adrianople by the Bulgarians, had taken from the famous Seiim Mosque, not the mantle, but an under-garment of the Prophet Mahomet, richly adorned with, precious stones, which was kept in a glass case in the mosque, and treasured as one of the holiest relics of- Islam. The Turkish Embassy obtained the release of the officer, and, after compensation, received from him the precious garment.. A member of the Embassy will shortly leave for Adrianople, and the robe will, with much religious ceremony, be restored to its place in the mosque.

, WOMEN TO THE FRONT. -British women have not yet secured the vote, but (says .“The Queen”) the advance of woman all the world over is a keynote of the present period. Not long since Mile. Clotilde Luisi, of Monte Video, was appointed to the chair of Roman Law in tho University. Her talents are great, and she is probably the only woman who has ever been attached to a legation as its official legal adviser, an office which she at one time held in Paris. Then Miss Nina Graham is the first woman engineer; she graduated as bachelor of engineering at Liverpool University, and has gone to Winnipeg, where she is to be married- And in September of this year the first wqman “wireless” operator started on her first voyage on the American steamship Minnesota. And, also, during 1912. a Frenchwoman, Mile Edmee Chandon, has been appointed to the post of assistant-as-tronomer at the Paris Observatory. These are recent records, and other facts can be quoted to show the position'which women have won in the twentieth century: Mme. Curie in •science, Dr Ethel Smyth in music, Dr Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson and Mrs Bcharlieb in medicine, Olive Schreiner in constructive philosophy, Mme. Sarah Bernhardt in dramatic art, Sarah Grand and Lucas Malet as novelists. BOYS OF TO-DAY. An interesting article on “A Great Schoolmaster” —Sir J. D. - M’dure, LL.D., of Mill Hill—appears in the current “Young Man” from the pen of the editor of that periodical. It is reassuring, as the “ Westminster Gazette” points out, to hear from so distinguished an authority as Sir John that all is right with the average boy. He is still a very decent, honourable, clean-minded, unsentimental fellow.” What troubles the headmaster most is the growth of luxury and pleasure,, which seems to be depriving us of our hardiness and grit somewhat. “ For my boys I fear the flabbiness of their moral atmosphere at home. Their fathers seem to want their boys not to have the trouble and toil and discipline they had themselves. . . Ah, well I I am not discouraged. Perhaps ,’t- is the discipline of joy, and we must see how it will work.”’ The humane boy, Dr M’Clure is sure, is yet sound. “Are these good days to live inP” Sir John M'Clure was asked. He answered slowly, “Yes, very good; no doubt about it, As I said to my own father just before-ho died. I wouldn’t have been born in any other age if I could. But, of course, it is an age of reconstruction, and, as somebody has said, the devil takes toll of every good movement.” Sir John gave it as his opinion that the old aristocratic notion of tho , vulgarity of trade is. dying, if it is not already dead. “ It is an obsession of the anqiente, and of • the 1 nouveau riche.’. Boys of first-class attainments how do not look necessarily to the Bar pr the Church, or the.civil or military services, but they go into commerce in »iver-increasmg numbers.” SCOTSMEN IN ENGLAND. Volume IX. of the census of England find Wales. 1911, deals with the birthplaces of the persons enumerated. Persons born' in Scotland and enumerated In England and Wales in 1911 numbered 321,825, of whom 161,142 were males and 160.683 females. Nearly three-quarters of this number are enumerated in the northern counties and in London and its suburbs. Northumberland, Durham and Cumberland contained upwards of 62,000, Lancashire and Yorkshire nearly 79,000, and London, together with Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and the large suburban towns in Essex a further 90,000. Among towns, Barrow-in-Furness is conspicuous for a very high proportion of Scottish-born persons in its population. Towns on tho rivers Tyno and Mersey appear to offer considerable attraction to Scotsmen, but they arq not remarkably numerous in the inland manufacturing towns. In Manchester the proportions are 1339 males and 1205 females , per 100,000, hut in Birmingham they are as low as 443 for males and 390 for females. The number of natives of England and Wales enumerated in Scotland was 165,102, and. they were found chiefly in the counties of Lanark, Edinburgh, Renfrew, Fife, Aberdeen, Forfar and Ayr. On the total movement between the two kingdoms there was a direct gain to the population of England and Wales amounting to 156,723. and tho net loss to the population of Scotland appears to have fallen most heavily # on the counties of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Lanark, Forfar, Dumfries and Ayr. Only two counties—Dumbarton and Linlithgow—showed a gain, Very small in each case, by interchange of population with England and Wales. SUCCESS OF THREE-SPEED “TRIUMPHS” IN SIDE-CAR TRIALS. There used to be a notion, not so very long ago, that the standard singlecylinder 3} h.n. motor-cycle was not powerful enough for side-car work. The introduction of the “ Triumph ” three-speed gear did a great deal to dispel that notion, and the fallacy must 'have received its death-blow ’in the side-car trials conducted by the N.C.M.C.C. over the Akaroa-Clirist-church course on Anniversary Day. The route is full of steep hills, and the going was made heavier than usual by recent rains. Before the start it was confidently prophesied that the singlecylinder machines would never see the end of the journey To the surprise of everyone not in the know the singlecylinder machines, of which there were thirteen, behaved on tho average as well, if not better than, the seven big twin-cylinder machines with engines of up to double the horse-power. Especially meritorious was the performance of tho three-speed “Triumphs.” One of these machines, driven by F. Haworth, was one of the five which secured full marks, for reliability, while it was only beaten for first place by a twin-cylinder maohine on one point, on ‘condition. As this only meant that the “Triumph” had an extra splash of mud or an extra drop of oil adhering to the engine,, it detracted nothing from the practical value of the “Triumph’s” faultless performance. It should be mentioned that in this trial there was no handicapping. Every * machine stood on its own merits, irrespective of power. The “Triumph” was coupled to a “Canoelet” sidecar, the strength, daintiness nnd lightness of which created much favourable comment. "The firm of Adams Limited

has now secured the sole agency .or these popular side-cars, and a shipment of fifty is now en route for New Zealand. “Call and see the new three-speed “ Triumphs,” which, in addition to being' perfect .side-car machines, are economical in running and equally suitable for solo work, which is more than can be honestly said of most of the big twins. Adams Ltd., Agents for “ Triumph” Motor-cycles, High Sfreet, Christchurch. (G. B. Brown, representative.) 1988