WHICH WAS RIGHT? CANTERBURY CHAT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 10891, 13 April 1897, Page 2

WHICH WAS RIGHT?

CANTERBURY CHAT.

[bt our ex-taranaki resident.] Atj'TER a somewhat long silence I again resume my pen, but I may remark that Binne I last wrote there has not been much "chat" to interest Taranaki reader*. We have not had any sensational murder case like Welliiagtou or Sydney, nor indeed any wonderful excitement in anything. It it true we have bad a somewhat extended and moat unsavory case extending over eight or nine days in the Magistrate's Court, for which the unfortunate ratepayers have to pay the _j' qr. The Sydenham Borough adjoins the OU»' of Christchurch, and the Suburban Bo^gh haß m »de repeated application to the iV»inago Board to b, •flowed to erect a depo.' °n. the South Belt where the night cartJ Could be emptied into the sewers. After .m. m . an y refusals and agafast tb<* reports of tt»s' ir official*, the Drainage Board i» a moment of weakness granted the request. Then came correspondence in the newspaper* and public meetings. Still the Sydenham Ccuncil persisted, and the depot estalished and the fun (?) began. Medical men and citizens aisenbled nightly to inspect operations. The Drainage Board gavo notice to discontinue but the Council ignored the the notice, and tfaen private individuals affected laid informations and the case came before Mr W. H. Bishop, 5.M. It took eight days to Hear the evidence which was most conflicting. One set of witnesses swore that the stench created was overpowing, and so thick that you could cut chunks of it, while another set swore equally strongly that tbera was no offensive smell at all o ' if there wgs smell it was rather pleasant than otherwise, and rather an agreeable change to the ordinary odours of the city. The the learnod counsels engaged in the case took a day to argue the law points, and after about a week Mr Bishop gave judgment in favor of SydnehaiD, as although there might be a nuisance croated there was no "statutory nuisance" disclosed. The Drainage Board have now done what they ought to have done at first. They have given the Sydenham Council notice to disconnect with the sower, and if they do not it will be done by the Ecird's officials. There the matter rests in the meantime. Iv spite of public opinion both in the city and Sydenham, the Council is obstinate, and we are waiting further developments. [The Citj Council ha-* fince decided to appeal against the decision of the S.M.] The noted Ben Tillott has been amongsi us, but did not create at all the sensation expected. I attribute the faih'-e in s great measure to oar junior meuber, Mi T. E. Taylor, and the Prohibitionist! getting hold of Tillett and endeavouring to boom him in their particular interest The public did not risa to the bait. A portion of the public listened to whal Tillett had to say, but there was nc entkusiasm displayed. I regret that; a loading member of tb< Prohibition. League fell down dead. Th< Itev. P. Munro was for some years Pres byterian Minister at fiungiora, and tool a very active part in the prohibitior movement. He was out on a bicycle n company with Rev. F. W. Isitt and sud denly expired. Much sympathy is fel for his young family, left none too wtl provided for. A concert was given foi them the oth^r night, at which 2300 wen present, and I was glad to see his politick opponents, and evou members of the hated " trade," gladly lent their assistance at the concert. For the past week the National Council of Women has been iv session at the old Provincial Council Chambers in Christ church, and an amazing lot of rubbish and twaddle has been talked. The dele gates have covered themselves witt ridicule. Last year it was irre?erentlj called the Hen Convention, This year il has been rechristened the C.O.W. (Counci' of Women). Even the strongest up holders of woman's rights are disgusted at the miserable and ridiculous exhibition made by the delegates. Cycling is wonderfully popular in Christchurch, and hundreds of cycles maj be seen daily in the streets. In racing matters there is quite a fend between the amateurs and the cash-amateurs. The Leagse of New Zealand Wheelmen was formed, and appointed as secretary Mi F. D. Kesteven, a gentleman of great ability, and well known in swimming rowing, and athletic circles, but absolatelj without any experience in cycling. Certain of the delegates with axes to grinci have influenced him greatly therefore. »; for infltance in the matter of a cycling journal. For some five years past M r A, Wildey has published the New Zealand Wheelman, a paper entirely devoted tt cycling. It started at a time when cycling was only just becoming popular, and has steadily progrosstd since, till it is acknowledged to be one of the best cycling papers in the colonies. Tha secretary of the League and his interested friends have indeed the Canterbury Times Company to start another cycling paper, and the first number was published last week. For such a large and influential company to start such a paper appears to me rather paltry. It is like a merchant retailing yards of ribbon or pounds of sugar. However, from the appearance and composition of the first nuuber, I do not think that Mr Wildey has anything to fear, and that The New Zealand Wheelman will continue to flourish long after the directors of the compaay have repented of their ungenerous action and got tired of losing their money. I may add that the now paper is 3d weekly, while the Now Zealand Wheelmac, to keep ahead, is published at one penny weekly. The annual exhibition of the Art Society is now being held. The pictures show that tiiere is a good amount of artistic skill in the colony, but there is no picture this year that evidences any great superority. Still I was very well pleased with my visit to the Art Gallery. In the dramatic line we have been very quiet. George Darrell and Company had a fairly successful reason, and now Carl Hertz is drawiug crowded houses. He got a splendid advertisement y«sterday when his manager was fined 5s for overcrowdine the theatre. Our old friend Tom Pollard briugs his company here next week and is certain to have a good reception.

Goixci from the Criterion Hotel up Devou-streefc to tho Post Office, Jones meeting Brown fis-ked him : '• Which is the right side of the str»ot to get S^kes' Cum Cough?" -As v^u stand," said Brown, -it'b thu left sido ;as I stand. irV the right <i ; <l" " - V hiVo wrong, aud ".*• rf;b« ' <w ..p. .liik^. -AVljm--"f"')''ii n.m •,■.•' n i.. Con"*!, (bir is the 1;< v - side of the bfciee ' — and Brown felc left.