TOWN EDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9171, 13 June 1901, Page 3

TOWN EDITION.

The Westport Borough Council has purchased a site at a cost of £1658 for public abattoirs. A good number of wallabies are being shot on the hills m the Waimate district at present. One was of exceptional size, and its tail measured 2ft lOin. A stocking factory m Palmerston North, employing % 3o hands, is being removed to Wellington, owing to the scarcity of female labor. The fatality list m Dunedin lately has apparently been heavy. Mr Graham, m his capacity of coroner, attended no less than 14 inquests last month. It is expected that about 300 veterans will be present m Wellington at the luncheon to be tendered them on Waterloo Day, June 18th'. A course of massage has been prescribed for the Hon. John McKenzie, and Miss Cooke, masseuse at Hanmer Springs, has gone South to apply the treatment. • Advice has been received m New Plymouth that the Hon. A. J. Cadman and Mr El M. Smith, M.H.R., arrived m London by the Karamea on Saturday night last. Mr E. G. Atkinson, M.A., formerly of the Wanganui Collegiate School staff, has been appointed modern language master at the College and Grammar School at Auckland. The Government steamer Danger Signal was on view at Tinwald and Cookson's Stables, Ashburton, last Tuesday, and was greatly admired by the farmers of the district. x The Hon. J. G. Ward has promised that Government will supplement, at the rate of £1 for £1, subscriptions towards placing a suitable clock m the clocktower of the new post office at Ashburton. The Ashburton Hospital Board have decided to invite the patentee of the septic tank system for the disposal of sewage to visit Ashburton, and give an estimate of the cost of providing the hospital with that system. The continued dry weather, while favoring potato digging, is retarding ploughing rather seriously m North Canterbury. Fallow ploughing is out of the question, ordinary teams being unequal to dragging the three and four furrow ploughs through the soil. Poisoning sparrows is a farce, until it is done contemporaneously by all the local bodies (said the Chairman of the Heathcote Road Board at its last monthly meeting). "We poison them m Heathcote, and they go anywhere else where similar precautions are not being taken against them at the same time." Mr R. H. Rhodes has offered to the Land Purchase Board (says the Lyttelton Times) his Bluecliffs Estate, less about 2000 acres at the homestead, at the Government valuation. The estate comprises about 10,000 acres of freehold, and adjoins the Kohika^ settlement, recency allotted. ' The Hon. E. C. J. Stevens, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College, has sailed for Sydney to meet Professor Lowry, who is an applicant for the directorship of the College, and will make arrangements for the Professor taking up the position. For many days past (says the Lyttelton Times of. June 6th) large numbers of kingflsh have been stranded on the beach between Rakaia and Ashburton, every tide bringing m fresh supplies. The fanners on. the coast have gathered m very many of these fish, and not a few Ashburton residents made journeys to the beach to secure a share of the unexpected fish supply. The seagulls are also alive to their own interests, ana have entered eagerly into competition with the other bipeds for the fish as they came ashore. There were many unique sights between decks on the American warship Brooklyn (says the Post). It was somewhat of a surprise to meet a number of Chinamen passing m and out of the mess-rooms and galleys, and excited chattering groups of Celestials were seen squatting near a porthole, playing dominoes and other favorite national games. It was between decks also that "Billy Boy," the ship's mascotte goat, was seen enjoying a siesta. "Billy Boy," who is a native of the isle of St. Thomes (West Indies), has the proud distinction of having been three times enlisted, his nine years'" service being 1 recorded on his collar. He was transferred to tne Brooklyn from the Newark. Another interesting animal is a Spanish cat, which was captured during the siege of Santiago. That cat has a great dread of the firing of guns., and when firing I begins he bolts berbw. In the engine-room a number of intelligent negroes were seen at work. At the second reception at Sydney Her Highness the Duchess of Cornwall and York wore a handsome gown of- black satin duchess, the skirt ornamented with a panel of jet and bugles, m, front, the bodice finished at the .shoulders with folds of black embroidered net, held together m the centre by a large diamond star, a diamond tiara, with long muffchain and broad collar of diamonds, diamond and pearl bracelets. Her Excellency the Countess of Hopetoun was m fine black jewelled net over black satifj, r diamond star tiara, and diamond and pearl ornaments. Lady Mary ■ Lygon, was m black satin, made with a shaped flounce, the bodice finished with a hanging jet fringe," diamond tiara, and ornaments. Lady Katherine Coke was m black brocade, with fine lace and diamouds. Mrs Derek Kepple wore black satin, with bugle trimming on the bodice. Their Royal Highnesses, at the invitation of Admiral and Mrs Beaumont, witnessed the manoeuvres of a flotilla of boats from the Australian Squadron. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall and York wore a black silk voile, the skirt finished with tucks about an inch wide, each tuck headed with a narrow niching of chiffon. Over this fell a polonaise, also tucked and finished with black silk guipure. The short bolero was finely tucked and ornamented with guipure. She wore a short boa, diamond and pearl ornaments, and a jetted toque slightly turned up at one side. Her Excellency the Countess of Hopetoun was m black cashmere, the skirt tucked, the bodice draped to one side, and finished with strappings of silk, a large fine chip hat, with tulle and feathers. Lady Mary Lygon was m black figured glace silk ; the skirt had shaped flounces, the bodice was ornamented with applique ; she wove a hat of black velvet, with ostrich feathers. Lady Catherine Coke was m black silk, with a short cape and small black bonnet. Mrs Derek Keppel wore a black voile skirt over glace silk,, find an Eton coat of tucked black glace, black hat, with tulle and black feathers.