CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 7

CURRENT TOPICS.

According to a Jubilee writer in the Christchurch Press, "Canterbury" OANTEHBUBV and " cricket" are almost v. synonyirlous terms. It is a OTAGO. somewhat large order, oven if ' the ancient Canterbury, with

its famous "week," be thrown in with the New Zealand province; but a certain amount of provincial exuberance mn.et be allowed to the jubilating journalist, nobly bent on raising his country-side to the level of the skies, and we have not the heart to impeach this new claim. So be it: if Canterbury be cricket, and cricket be.Canterbury, all the greater will be the kudos of our mere Ola^o players in once more lowering the colours of tlicir renowned opponents. And, touching thosa same " colours," we cannot but agree with the Hon. Mr Stevens:—an oldtime worthy of the gome—that the Canterbury Association made a great mistake in discarding the good old dark blue that had braved something less then a thousand times the battle and the Otago breezes, and in adopting the new and commonplace stripes. But de gustibus, etc. By the way. Mr Stevens's reminiscences of bygone Canterbury cricket are very engaging,—and, indeed, cricket seems to be the nnly game that lends itself readily to effective- literary" treatment. It ha 3 a literature of its own, bright with the glamour of vaninhed snimmcrs. —not the mere literature of " records " which Mr Theomin recently deprecated at the High School, but a literature with a smack of genuine bookishness. It even has a poetry, and though it must he confessed that the cricket poet is generally a parodist, he often does his work very well, whether he be modern with Tennyson and Swinburne or loftily antique with Omar Khayyam. We. turn to hit to leg n certain four, Enioicing in the mounting of the score; We hit. beneath it, ami the hall mounts high Among the slips, and fnlls to F-nrth no more. With mien of TjYTTKI.ton we tnko our place, With front serene and confiilenc.s of Giwce, Doubly reioiciug that the pitch plnyp true; — The Ball gets up, and looks us in the Face. We drive with " splendid pur Dose " in our Eye, And Cover-Point receives It from the sky; Or else the man who waits in the long field Secures it, and he smiles as we pass by. For here, as in your dusty caravan, HoMr the philosophy of Must and Can; And if the fieldsman can bring off the catch. Go out we must, and end where we began. In (Imar's own vinous philosophy there is no help: quite the reverse. Nor serves your counsel to frustrate the Plot The Bowler plotteth, nor to stay a Rot; . For, though you praise the Tavern and the Vine, Who seeks the Tankard surely goes to Pot. Before ye look upon l.he red Wine, think, As falls the Wine the Average will sink; If one ball beats you, how shall two be ■ played? Better a straight Bat than the longest Drink! Of course, all this is very wicked, but (in another sense) it is not bad. To get back, however, to the cricket proso of to-day, it is to be hoped that the Dunedin public will patronise the match which commences at Caris brook this afternoon. (The conventional phrase may stand, —but fancy anybody having the audacity to "patronise" cricket!) We cordially wish our visitors an enjoyable game and a sound beating. The Otago team seems to have been carefully chosen, —though more than one harmless unnecessary critic ha 3 objected to the inclusion of the ex-Auck-lander, G. Mills, who has not been scoring heavily of late. The critics forget that nerve and experience count for a good deal in important matches; indeed, a man's past interprovincial exploits arc sometimes a better criterion than his recent accomplishments in club cricket. Perhaps Mills will justify the Selection Committee by making a century: perhaps,—for (as another parodist has it) ]\fnde centuries are sweet, but those unmade More frequent.

We conclude repentantly with apologies to the insulted shades of Omar Khayyam and John Keats.

At this season of the year, when lar<»e num- . eoads bers of persons of both soxes and will seize the opportunity precycles. sented by the holidays of riding

away from town into the country and from the country into the town on their bicycles, it is opportune to remind local governing bodies that roads which have been oace formed require to be maintained. It maybe said that a reminder of this ie superfluous, but in view of the neglected state of many roads in the country, and, if the truth be told, of many streets in the town, it is really not so. If a. larger number of members of the local bodies could ho persuaded to purchase bicycles and to ride them, they would speedily be forced to the conclusion that the roads under their jurisdiction are eadly in need of repair. Of course, there are roads and roads. Some roads in the vicinity of Dunedin are a cyclist's delight. Others are his aversion. This complain; is, it is necessary to explain, not peculiar to Otago or to Dunedin. In Auckland, which can probably lay claim to the possession of the worst roads in the colony, the Cycle Road League has undertaken to instruct the local bodies on the principles of road construction and of road maintenance. Tho instruction is conveyed in n neat little pamphlet, alleged to bo compiled from "various reliable resources (sic) and the best English authorities." That there is amongst the general public a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction with the present conditions of our streets and roads cannot be denied, the compilers say, and there can be no doubt that a sincere desire for a more satisfactory state of tho thoroughfares is universal, A sweeping assertion, but alas! most true. And so the Cycle Road League proceeds through a dozen pages of small print to give the advice it has collected as to how to prepare the surface of a road, the size of the metal (which should not ho 'of the enormous dimensions of tho machine-broken article, such as are to be found at the present day in our own Atliol place), the breaking of the metal, the blinding of the material, the care and the watering of tho roads—moEt admirable hints, doubtless, as the result of the adoption of which, it is claimed, " all sections of the community would be benefited, there would bo le?s need of frequent repair, less metal used, less svavengering, less cleaning out _of drain traps, loss water required for washing vehicles, etc., less damage lo property from mud and dust, and less wear and toar generally; all meaning a saving in expendituro ; and, what is of still more importance, comfort, and ratMaction to everyone, and easier work for our faithful friends, tho horsos." The solicitude of the Cyclo Road League for the welfare of "our faithful friends, the horses," is quite touching. And not a word of tho benefit to the cyclist. Tho members of the Otago Harbour Board were quite right not to allow honouring tho death of Mr A. H. Ross to the dead, pass unnoticed at their meeting on Thursday. Sir Koss's public activities were various, though the younger generation of citizens can hardly bo expected

to be familiar with his record. Ho represented one of tho suburbs in Parliament, and he was Mayor of Eunetiin for three years, but, perhaps, it was as member and chairman of. the Harbour Board that ho did his. most valuable public work, and (as Mr Mnclcerrass

said on Thursday) his heart and soul wore thrown into the affairs of the board. Mr Carroll added that " he had very seldom met one who paid such disinterested attention to the duties devolving upon him as Mr Ross." A man's public services should not be forgotten or pass unacknowledged on account of his subsequent removal to another district, and wo desire to associate ourselves with tho members of the Olago Harbour Board in their expression of appreciation and sympathy.

In accordance with our usual custom, thero will be no publication of the Daily Times on the morning of Wednesday, 26th inst. Advertisers should therefore ?eo that tlicir announcements for Boxing Day are handed in not later than Monday evening.

The censor at Aden advises that delay is being caused to telegrams passing through that c/fieo owing to the frequent omission by senders of any indication in the preamble of tho messages of the particular code employed.

The shops and shop windows are not decorated this year in the usual ornate manner. The 'probable reason, so one shopkeeper informs our reporter, is that everybody is too busy to attend as carefully as hitherto to the work of adornment, and if such is the fact people who look for a show at .Christmas time will no doubt forgo their accustomed pleasure in view of the prosperity that precludes our tradespeople from following their ordinary practice: The leading ilrnpciy firms, however, make an excellent display of costumes:, hats, etc., and present a ir.o,=.t extensive assortment of toys. Booksellers, toysollors, fruiterers, pastrycooks), and others* whose avocations allow of an exhibition of their ware, furnish a spectacle that is, at any rate, a groat improvement on their usual Saturday night shows, but altogether the display, as has been before remarked, i= not up to the standard of previous year?. The butchers, whose shops always proved a strong attraction, arc making little or no display this year, as the holidays fall at a time that debars them from having a large stock on hand at a convenient period to decorate, as they generally do. Last night several establishment!! were brilliantly lighted, and to-night and on Monday night—for it may he said there are two Chiistmas Even this year—they will again be seen to advantage. As becomes the spirit, of the times, patriotic colours are everywhere rampant, as well as the famous khaki, and photos of men in South Africa, and England whose names are now household words.

.Through the intervention of Mr ,T. A. Millar, M.H.R., the railway passes which were refused to volunteers for the purpose of attending rifle matches outside the Otago die(rict are now granted. Mr Millar having received a wire to that effect yesterday afternoon from the Premier.

The following letter hns been received by the editor of the Otago Daily Times:—" Dear Sir,—With reference to the question of supplying Union .Tacks to our schools, as sug--ge?ted in your columns, Mrs Sargooc! and myself have decided to present eight 3£yd flags, and to this end have forwarded same to the Education Boards of the respective districts in which the selected schools are situated. Trusting your suggestion is being taken up with spirit, and that ore long all schools in New Zenln.nd will have a flag.—l am, etc., P. R. Sahgood." The elections of two members to represent the Wellington section of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board was held last Saturday, with tho following result:—R. D. Hnnlon, 89 votes; William Parker, 62 votes; T. H. Hustwick, 42 votes. Messrs Hanlon and Hustwiek were the retiring members. The cases set clown for hearing at t'.'-o Magistrate's Court yesterday were all con-' fessed, struck out, or adjourned. An incipient fire was fortunately discovered at Messrs Kemnthorne, Prof.ser, and Co.'s chemical factory in Stafford street, yesterday forenoon. The woodwork under a large iron vat, whioh vras full of oil for sheep dip, caught fire, and was beginning to spread, when, fortunately, ono of the hands discovered it. The alnrm was'nt once given, and the employees, with the aid of the factory hose, smartly extinguished all traces of the flames. The Fire Brigade, under Captain Mitchell, came along in good time, but found that their services wore not required. It was fortunate that the fire was discovered in its early stage, otherwise it might iave spread to a quantity'of chemicals and other inflammable goods which were stored in the factory. As it was, the damage is very trifling. • J Mr David Stewart (late manager of the Union Bank of Australia at Timaru) has been appointed manager of the Dunedin branch. Mr Stewart has been acting-manager here for the past three months. ! Miss Violet M. Grcig, M.A., of the Otago University, has been appointed first assistant at the Waitaki Girls' High School. There were twelve applicants.

A drowning under unusually sad circumstances is reported from tho Hunter- River district, New South Wales. A miner, Andrew Tulip, went fishing with his son, aged 11, and a bend in the river prevented their seeing each other. The lad called out that he had hooked a big fish; then his father heard a splash, and on rushing to the spot fouud that his son had disappeared. He dived, and got the boy up alive, but the earth on the bank broke away, and both were thrown back into the water. Tulip relieved himself and swam to the bank, where he procured a stick, which the drowning uoy caught hold of. As tho father.was again lifting his son from the water, he lost his balance, and for the second timo both struggled together in the water, and the lad, sinking, was drowned.

It will be remembered that Corporal Fuller, of tho 2nd battalion (92nd Regiment) of the Gordon Highlanders, was by mischance carried from Capetown to Australia on the troopship with the first returning colonial invalided soldiers, owing to his staying too long on board farewelling the colonial troopers, with whom he had ' became acquainted in a hospital. He was well treated in Melbourne and Adelaide, but returned to his duty nt the earliest opportunity. On his arrival again in South Africa the poor fellow, however, fell upon evil days. In a recent letter to an Adelaide resident, who had befriended him, Corporal Fuller states that he has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour, on a charge of desertion while on active service, but one year of his sentence had been remitted.

Tho present system of constant examinations found no favour with Professor Max Muller. " They stunt our young men," he said. " they have no time or opportunity to be idle. Now, do you know, it is my idle friends," he added, " who have become distinguished men in Inter life. I believe in cultured idleness. It gives a man time to rend "or himself. But look ;it these examinations; why, a man knows exactly what he has to read frequently to the vary page. You dpn't call that study.' The professor once confessed that at first he had been opposed to the girls' colleges, but they are, he said, a great success, " and it is a real pleasure, to me to see the young girls so eager to learn. Young men do n« !iit!e as they can, young women do as much as they can: too much, indeed." Nothing tangible, however, he thought, comes of all the labours of the girls, while if only they could get fellowships they might do good work. We have received £1 towards the Mrs Edwards fund from D. R. W. A movement is en foot in commercial circles to give each of the operators in the Telephone Exchange a substantial token at this season of the year of the goodwill existing between them and the subscribers, to each of whom a circular hag been addressed upon the matter. Tho joint secretaries of the movement request us to state that their subscription list must be closed on Monday morning. Mr W. I«. Moore, of this city, lias received intimation that he has passed the final section of the LL.IS, examination. . .

A number of friends, representative of the jewellers in Dunedin, met Mr jF. Elliot, manager of Messrs A. Beaver and Co.'s business in Dunedin, and who is about to take up a similar position in Wellington, last evening, and presented him with an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns prior to his departure, as a token of appreciation of the way in which he has managed the firm's business in Dunedin. His health having been drunk with musical honours, Mr Elliot replied, stating that ho trusted he would bo treated us well in his now homo as ho had been in Dunedin.

M'Adoo's Jubilee Singers gave another of their enjoyable performances at the Princess Theatre last night. A number of new part songs and glees were, sung by the company in their best stylo, and were received with cord>al demonstrations of approval. Mr Eugene M'Adoo gave a capital rendering of " Rocked in the cradle of the deep," and had to respond to an imperative encore. Miss Be"-1 F. Gibbons, Miss Underwood, and Mr Collins also contributed solos in a very effective manner, and were each deservedly en/wl. Willis Gauze's remarkable female impersonation created much wonder and merriment, "lni

some capital records by Mr Edison's latest phonograph afforded much pleasure to 11.0 audience, who, indeed, seemed delighted with the whole performance. The company continue to appear at (he theatre until Christmas night, when they will give a sacred concert.

At (ho grand carol service which is to be rendered by the choir of Trinity Church tomorrow (Sunday) evening. Miss Minnie Birch, a leading Wellington soprano, will sing "A dream of Bethlehem," Mr James Blenkinsopp the recitative "Comfort ye," to bo followed by the chorus "And the glory of the Lord," from " Tho Messiah." A male quartet will also render " The lost chord " and " Rocked in tho cradle of the deep." Tho choir promise some of (heir best nntherns and the most popular of the quaint and beautiful old carols.

The Tnvercargill Garrison and the NorthEast Valley Bands will render a programme of music at the Botanic Gardens to-morrow afternoon. Amongsl other items, each band will play the contest selections to be played in Cliristrlmrcli at the Jubilee contest. Tho Kaikorai Brass Baud, under the conductorship of Mr Slratton, will also piny a programme of music on the rotunda, St. Clair.

TO-MORROWS CHURCH SERVICES. St. Paul's Cathedral.—Holy communion, 8 a.m.; mnth).« and litanj', 11 0.m.; evensong, fi 3C p.m. Preacher (morning and evening), Yen. Archdeacon Robinson. SI. Matthew's Church.—Holy communion, 8 a.m.: matins, 11' a.m.; evensonsr, G.HO p.m. Preacher (morning and evening), Raw W. Cur-zon-Siggers. First Church.—Morning and evening, Rev. James Gibb. St. Andrew's Church.—ll a.m. and 6.30 p.m.. Rev. Dr Wadddl. St. Stephen's Church.—ll a.m. and 6.30 p.m., Rev. T. K. MMntyre. Wesley Church, Cai-gilt read.—ll. a.m. (" Christ the Wmderful ") and G.:SO p.m. (" How a Nation was Created"), Rev. T. G. Brooke. Mosgiet Church —II a.m. and G..10 p m., Mr A. Trinity Wesleya.il Church.—ll a.m., Christmas service; 6..T0 p.m. ("Christ for All ■Worlds"). "Rev. P. W Fnirclough; 7.45 p.m., carol service. Methodist Central Mi.-sion —1.1 a.m. iuul G. 30 p.m., Rev. W. A. Sinclair. Subject: -What Christmas menus to tho world." Albany street Hall —Evening, Dr Commins. Mr D. M. Sncclding will sell fancy goods, watches, etc., this afternoon. Messrs James Samson and Co. will sell jewellery, watcher?, etc., at their rooms at 1 p.m. to-day. I Messrs Wright, Stephenson. and Co. will hold a sale of light harness horses at their saleyards this morning. Mr Thomas Paterson, Manse street, will sell Wnimute and Teviot strawberries this raornin<r. The Dunedin City Corporation invite tenders for the supply of about 9000 tons coal, delivered nt the gasworks, and ifor the supply of about 50,000 gallons of oil for the water gas plant at the city gasworks. The Railway department will issue excursion tickets in connection with the Lake County races at Queeiißtown on January 10 and 11. A notice appears in another column with reference to bank holidays (it Christmas and the New Year. The Waikouaiti County Council invite tendors for the formation of a road in the Merton riding. Mr Thomas Hodge returns thanks to the electors of Port Chalmers who voted for him on Thursday on the occasion of the election of a member to the Harbour Board. The Dunediu Retailors and Traders' Association announce that the shops will be open all day to-day and next Saturday, but will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and January 2. Particulars relating to future meetings of (he Theosophical Society will be found in another part of this issue. Holders of the City Corporation debentures for the 7 per cent, mortgage loan, due on January 1, are notified that payment will be made on Thursday, January 3. Mrs Howie will sing tho solo in the anthem at St. Paul's Cathedral to-morrow night. Celebrations of Holy Communion will be held in St. Matthew's Church at 7, 8, and 11 a m. on Christmas Day. Judging by the numerous entries, the military snorts on the Caledonian ground on Boxing Day should be very successful. Some of the returned troopers from South Africa will probably be present. We have received two samples of locally-pro-duced calendars, which are highly creditable to the Cnxton Cnmmny and their artist, Mr M'Tntyre. One of these is a reproduction in colours for Messrs Charles Begg and Co. of a pictnrn wpll-known in connection with Brinsmond pianos. The second is for the proprietors of tho Tiger teas, entitled " When Johnny conies marching home." The design and colouring are excellent. Wo lmve to acknowledge receipt from Mr Bo'am. the local manager, the N>.V Zealand Jn«uranc" Company's csl^'dor. Messrs KMcoaldy ami Co., of the Providont and Industrial Tnsurn.nco Company, hnve «"nt nn o. neat, little poclrpt "oWioolr with enlondar. Mr Tas Kdgar, ihe local manager, has forwarded the Victoria Insurance Company's nn.lenriar. and from Messrs witl*Co. v/p liivo received a. cord conveyinr- fbo p<=ieoTi'<? greetings. Xmns Bargains.— Qurter and Co.. Dunedin and Tnverenrpill, announce sivo'ul bargains for the holiday season. Rend their advertisement.. Try Carter and Co.—Advt. Krngev doea not now think much of Europe. We wonder what he would think of New Zealand if ho saw the Men's Roady-marle Suits from Ms M to 47s firi, which fit nil builds— short-stout nnd tall-Blender men—now offering for the holidays nt tho No™ Znatnnd Clothing F""tory. Octoenn—Arivt For the Christmas and Now Year TradeFrank Hyiuna, iewellor and wa-tchmsker, 1* Princes street, is now showing a choice and varied assortment of new goods suitable for presents. Novoltio., in nil departments. Cull and inspect.—Advt. C. and T. Young, jewellers, Princes street, having enlarged their promises me this year nrnldPß a snecinlly large display of goods suitable fov Chrintmns snd Now Year presents They gunranteo excellent quality and good value.—Advt Wrro jq Pktito Dion"—Tlii> mont reMahln Watchmaker nnd Jo-weller. onponitfl Col Toe T>alnoe. Moray place. Dunsdin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt,. Moorflki— Superior seasid" accommodation for Riiminn* nnd winter visitors,—Mrs W O Strnnnch, Moeraki House. Hillgrove.—Advt Message. Electricity, and Tallyman's hot dry air. Vor rheumatism, paralysis, nerve anil joint troubles, etc—Mt and Mrs'F.nwTN Booth Stuart street, Dnnedin. Telephone, nno.—Advt.