NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12159, 6 February 1908, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

On enquiry at the Hospital late last night it was learnt that the condition of JBrickland, the coach driver who was injured in the accident on Saturday, was easier. The Nelson Technical School reopened on Monday, with exceptionally large classes for wood-work and commercial subjects. New classes have been added as follows :—Pnotograpby' teacher, Mr Brusewitz; commercial geography. Mi sa Hornsby; Standard V. and VI. certificates, Mr Scott. The last class has been added to meet a want. It is now practically impossible to get into the Government service unless these certificates can be produced, and the establishment of the class will furnish an opportunity for those desirous to enter the public service, but who when at school did not secure a certificate, to contione their studies and thus qualify themselves. The result of the first Limerick competition in connection with the Institute re-building bazaar is advertised in tbis issue. A large number of verses were sent in to the Committee, and copies with only numbers attached for identification were forwarded to Mr A. A Grace, who acted as judge. Mrs Colt has been awarded the prize of one guinea. Those next i a order were sent in by "Limerickites, " Miss B. Keeves, Mr H. Dodson, and Mr B. B. Lawrence Hammond. In consequence of the continued ] drought, the hours "for "watering with the hose are to be further cur- j tailed. On and after to-morrow. Friday, tha use of the hose, will be allowed between the hours of seven and eight in the evening only, permission to use the hose between six and seven in the morning being withdrawn. Ttoe water level is now four feet below the top of the dam, and the quality of the water has, through stagnation, now become such that water drawn trom the taps should Jeither be boiled or properly filtered i; before drinking. Air Thos. Higgs holds his usual stock sale at Wakefield op Friday next, . "■>■■• ■'■■ - ;

On the Ist February insr, in the Supreme Court, in Chambers at Wellington, on the application of 3Vtr Harley, his Honor Judge Button granted probate of the will of Gardner Hunter to Simeon Russ and Prank Challies. the executors named in the wilL Paspalum is a grass evidently well worth the close attention of . our local farmers. Mesrs Neale and Haddow have a sample of the grass at their store, grown in Aniseed Valley by Mr Johnston ; it is four feet in length, and green, Mr Johnston states all the other grasses are parched and dried. Messrs Neale and Haddow have reports from clients of a good growth~of this grass on poor land at Wakapuaka. A rather exciting incident, which might have been attended with fatal consequences, occurred during the Lady Barkly's trip from Nelson to Collingwood on Monday last. The steamer had cccasion to call at Tonga to picK up a passenger, who came out by boat. There was a heavy ground swell at the time, and while a portion of the side railing, which acts as a bulwarks, was removed to allow the passenger to board the steamer, she gave a roll, and one of the other passengers, a man named Rose, fell overboard, and was rapidly swept astern. Mr Wilkinson, who had rowed the passenger out to the steamer, without hesitation dived iato the water, and went to the assistance of Rose, who was in a serious plight; Noticing that both men were in difficulties, Mr P. N. Jones, with commendable promptitude, jumped into the boat which was lying alongside the steamer, and rowed to the assistance of the two men. Rose was being supported by Mr Wilkinson, and what might have proved a fatality was averted by the* pluck of Mr Wilkinson, and tbo promptitude of Mr Jones. A few mnutes after the accident a large shark, estimated to be about 12 feet in length, was seen cruising about in the vicnity. A garden party will be held nest week in connection with the V.M.C.A., particulars of which are given by advertisement. The progress of the Association throughout the world has recently been commented upon by the London press, from which it is learnt that in 1882 there were in England and Wales 188 Associations with a membership of 17. GOO. and property valued at £133,600. ' In 1907 the statistics showed 388 Associations with a membership of 85,700, and buildings valued at £728,800. Including Scotland, which is under independent administration, the membership is 109,865. In Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland during the last year the V. M.C.A. has attracted public attention by its activity and progress. Nelson claims a place in the operations of the Society, and though it is in the day of small things, the movement merits support fcLast evening the Nelson Garrison Band assisted by the members of the Fire Brigads, gave an entertainment , consisting of musical items and a burlesque, "The Darktown Fire Brigade" by the firemen, in aid of the contest fund, in the Botanical Reserve, and there was a very large attendance of the public. The members of the Nelson Brigade* bearing torches, and the "Darktown Fire Brigade" attired in grotesque costumes, headed by the Band, formed into procession, and marched to the Botanical Reserve, followed by a large crowd. For the purposejjof carrying out the burlesque a structure, built of packing cases and inflammable material, had been erected, and on, being set on tire, burned fiercely— rather too fiercely for those who were to be rescued from the building, and there was a touch of realism about thoir escape which was perhaps not anticipated. However, the inmates made their exit from tho burning structure by way of the chimney and through the roof,* and were caught in a net by firemen and some sturdy men-of-warsmen from the ships now at the anchorage, who entered heartily into the spirit of the proceedings, the whole thing 'passing off without a hitch. The Band , under Bandmaster Berryman, rendered a splendid programme of music— the concert being one of the best that has been given for a long time, and each item was warmly applauded. About J620 was collected at the gates. "Such disadvantages are the more to be rearetted, seeing that the scenery of the Wanganui River is truly magnificent, far superior to the Rhine, and were the boats ran in a competent manner, even the charge of £2 15s might be overlooked," writes Mr Owen O'Conor to the Wellington "Post." He gives details of a trip which he commenced on December 16tb, and supplies a long category of discomforts, which he states were suffered by himself and other passengers by the river boats. He says the tribulations included a soaking in a leaky Maori canoe, into which six or seven men were put. because other vessels were crowded, and involved muoh fasting and abstaining. He discovered that Wanganui Eiver, as well as Wanganui town, was a centre of the fasting industry. "Begrimed and dishevelled, we rushed to the hotel to break our eighteen hours' fast, " he says, ,in one passage. Mr Blanchard, who has just returned from Auckland, via the Wanganui River, also gavn n " Post" reporter a dolorous ti»le of lue discomforts cf the trip. He suggests that if there is a (risk of passsngers'being benighted, provision should be made for such a contingency. Resourcefulness is a virtue as well -as a necessity amongst "those who live on Wellington's upper levels (says the "New Zealand Times." Asked how they managed for water in the houses near the skyline, a lady resident gave this explanation: "Well, you S3e. we have to be very careful. For instance, when we have done peeling the potatoes we strain the water and boil it for the washup. Then, if it is not too dirty, we scrub the verandah with it. Afterwards we put it into a oan and use it for watering the garden. Bath! Yes, we'sometimes have a bath, but that is a luxury. Yes, a bath is a very great luxury in our house at this time of the year. Next month, perhaps •!'* A lady visitor to" Sandown (Isle of Wight) was" so rriaved by a Sermon preached by tbe vicar of Christ Church that she sent him a cheque for £130 in aid oftho local men's and boys' club. : The Temperature.— At three o clock this m: rning the thermometer 'outside this oftc-i registered 40 degrees. Speaking about Spring and Summer goods for this season, we have just landed some of our English supply, and will supply our patrons with the best obtainable.—Harford & Daly, high class tailors, Trafalgar-street.^ Consumers of butter will be pleased to hear that the Brightwater Factory is now opened for the season, and those who wisely insist . upon having nice, sweet, wholesome butter, should demand " Victory," and use no other, thus also encouraging local industry.! 3898 The Premier is pleased with the financial position of the Dominion, the revenue for the year having been a record one. But he omitted to say that as far as Nelson is concerned, a great factor in the prosperity is the number of happy homes completely furnished by Lock, both for cash and on easy terms. The Atlas sewing machine and Miner and» Zealandia ranges have also brought comfort and profit, and lightened the labors of our women. We are also pleased to know that Mr Lock also caters for their musical talents, by supplying Harland's celebrated pianes, which are undoubtedly the best value in.NZ.., also*" the- wonderful Carpenter organs, both imported: direct from the factories. It - seems incredible, 1 but it is an absolute fact that Mr Lock can supply a brand new, well made, and good toned orgah'for J661 He has a few of those fine Britannia air rifles, which are the most accurate and powerful in the world, Mr Lock also holds one o the best stocks of general furniture in the Dominion, which requires no clearing sales or other catchpenny methods to get rid of. The value and quality sell Lock's goods every time, ■

Whenever an intoxicated man is t^enl to the lockup at Denver ■J U.S..;).. be is photographed, and the picture is shown to him when he sobers up. The police say that the photographic cure is working wonders. H The Bank of New York has vaults with walls of steel a foot thick. The doors are very sensitive, and give an alarm on the slightest jar. I Mr Guilfoyle, director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, who is atj present at Rotorua, says that al- j though be had seen the famous Blue ' Grotto in the island of Capri, off Naples, and the bluest parts of Lake Como, in Northern Italy, he had never yet seen any blue water to compare with that of Tikitapu. Even the marvellous blue of tropical seas could not compare with Tikitapu. He thought it was wonderful. Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co. will hold a stock sale at Lynch 's Yards, LMurchison, on account of Messrs Newman Bros., house, furniture and effects of Longford House, near Murchison: