CANTERBURY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12239, 7 April 1903, Page 6

CANTERBURY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CiiBiSTCHURCii, Monday. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. With the gazetting of Greater Christclmreh interest in the approaching municipal elections is beginning to awake, and daily announcements are made of candidates for the City Council. So far, few. new men have come forward, and from present appearances the new Council will consist of a selection of the members of the four existing councils. Mr. W. Reese, a very popular ex-Mayor of Christchurch, will probably come forward to contest a seat, but Mr. Arthur Rhodes, another ex-Mayor, who it was hoped would also assist to give Greater Christchiirch a start, has declined nomination. Mr. Wigram, the Mayor, has issued a manifesto in the form of a letter to the papers, in which he urges that the establishment of a highpressure water supply and the acquisition of a municipal stone quarry are matters which should first receive attention at the hands of the new Council. Mr. Wigram lays stress upon the danger of going too fast. "Because we have amalgamated," he says, "is no reason for adopting. a policy of violent progress. A well-considered scheme carried on in practical sequence is more likely to prove successful . than an attcmnt to do everything at once." It is something quite new for Christelrarch to be warned against going too fast, and the public are not yet quite certain whether the Mayor is poking fun or whether they are unconsciously a violently progressive people. THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. The Royal Geographical Society evidently takes time to consider its action. The relief ship Morning dropped into Lyttelton from the Antarctic a fortnight ago. Captain Colbeck has just received from the Geographical Society a cablegram congratulating him on his return. . A PECULIAR MISTAKE. The Department of. Justice has just gazetted the appointment as cleric to the Ellesmere Licensing Committee for the next three years a gentleman whose death occurred several years ago. LARRIKINS IN THE PIT. In consequence of the rowdiness and general misbehaviour of a number of larrikins in the pit of the Theatre Royal on Friday night, Christchurch Truth invoked the aid of the police for the suppression of the nuisance. The papei added that if this proved unavailing it was " prepared to go furthei and publicly pillory noisy hoodlums by publishing their names and having them prosecuted." On the following night, therefore, a representative of the paper, accompanied by members of the police force in plain clothes, visited the pit of the theatre. The constables were recognised, and in consequence the pittites behaved as well as if they had been in church, though some whispered threats reached the ear cf the "pressman" as to what he might expect some day. THE GOVERNOR. Lord and Lady Ranfurly, who are at present staying at Claremont, near Timaru, leave for Auckland about the middle of this month. ;■.