NOTES FROM CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 7

NOTES FROM CHRISTCHURCH

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 24. It is very evident that expert burglars are paying this part of the colony a visit. Tho recent robbery and dynamiting of safes at tho Co-operative - Society’s establishment showed a master hand, and the burglary at the Canterbury Hotel last evening was an equally clever piece of work. In the latter case a small safe of about 150 pounds weight was taken from the hotel bar,; and conveyed a considerable distance, i During the dynamiting process toforce it open it was buried in a heap of manure to deaden the sound of the explosion. A coupl e of feet from where the dynamiting was done was a galvanised iron shed, full of kerosene. The mysterious disappearance of the man Lewin, of Lyttelton, is causing some speculation. The finding of his , revolver with one chamber discharged, and his hat on the edge of a cliff dipping straight down t 0 the harbour, leads to the assumption that he shot himself there and fell over into the water. This theory, nowever, is doubted by some of his friends. ■ There iis no trace of the deed. The police are endeavouring to get to the bottom of the mystery. The winter show, which opens here next week, promises to be verv successful. Excellent entries have been received for nearly all classes. Following are 1 the complete arrangements for the Royal visit here, subject to minor alterations: —Their Royal Highnesses will arrive at Lyttelton on June 21st, reaching Christchurch about noon. They will b e met by the various Mayors at the station. They will afterwards proceed to Victoria Square to lay the foundation stone of the Jubilee Memorial and the tablet to the memory of thos e who have fallen in South Africa. In tho evening there will be a dinner, and the Mayor’s reception at 9.45. The children will he feted on Saturday, when the Royal visitors will also attend the 1 review at Hagley Park and the presentation of medals to the returned soldiers from South Africa will take place. It has been suggested that the review should take place at the Riccarton racecourse, but the change is not, authorised by the Premier, and it is stated, also, that the review was fixed by tho Governor, and their Royal Highnesses have probably been already intimated of the : ntention to hold it at Hagley Park. On Sunday (the 23rd) there will be a service at the Cathedral at 11 o’clock, and tho Royal party will leave Christchurch on the following morning at nine o’clock for Dunedin.