Local News.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6788, 27 February 1890, Page 3

Local News.

The " Canterbury Times." — la the Traveller column of the well-known weekly paper will be found a chatty article by an old African traveller,, whose series of articles, entitled " Life and Death in the Wilda of Africa," appeared some years ago in the same column, on the Portuguese settlements in the South and their immediate neighbourhood. The Ladies' Page contains the first portion of an exciting tale of more than ordinary originality, while " A Girl's Dilemma" calls for much sympathy from feminine readers. The agricultural columns contain a long account, by the Wellington correspondent, of tho great Gear Meat Works, the usii.'il pithy articles, and some seasonable hints for farmers. The Kennel Club's dispute i 3 referred to in letters from correspondents in Wellington and Ohristchurch 3 W. A. C, in the Garden, gives valuable hints on pluai culture ; Earnum and his phenomenally big " show " are described at length in the dramatic and musical column; " A Climb up Mount Torlessu" will incite lovers of the picturesque to go and do likewise. In short, there is something of everything and something for everybody to be found in the pages of the Canterbury Times — as^usual.

Timarxt Licensing Committee. — The election of thcTimaru Licenfiing Committee yesterday resulted in tho return of Messrs Sfcericker, Priysb, Warren, Kerr and Crawford.

Offending Cafbierr. — About fifteen summonses have been taken out by the City Council officials against carriers who have failed to obtain their drivers' licenses.

Nn.-\\ T UniGiiTON. — It will be seen by an advertisement that, for the convenience of residents and citizens who wish to spend a few weeks at tho seaside, Mr J. Thompson has commenced a house agency business at New Brighton.

Dry Weatueu. — Tho pines and other ormunontal trees planted along the northern line of railway below Kaiapoiare beginning to show aigns that, should the present dry weather continue, a great number will be killed.

KAiArox St Andrew's Caledonian Sociltt. — At a meeting last night at the Mandeville Hotel, Mr W. Fraser, President, in the chair, a programme of events for the annual gathering on Easter Monday was approved, and cash prizes to the value of £60, betides various articles, were allotted.

Kaiapoi Regatta. — At a meeting last night, Mr R. Moore in the chair, the collectors announced subscriptions to the amount of J656. Mr Moore said he had seen the General Manager with regard to special trains, and he had promised n special, also a late returning train oa regatta day (March 17). Supreme Court. — Hi 3 Honor Mr Justice Donnistou sat in Banco this morning, when the case of Somers v. Eiby and Moss was resumed. Mr Kippenberger continued hia argument for the defendants, and at the conclusion hia Honor reserved his decision.

The Silbons. — Those who saw the wonderful acrobatic performances of the " Great Silbon Troupe," when they visited Christchurch some months ago, will be very glad to know that these clever artists are to re-appear at the Palace Skating Rink on Tuesday next. Their season ia to \ be a short one, only cix nights, but during that tiruo the management promise to astonish tbeir patrons ; a promise extremely likely to be fulfilled. Annual Fire Brigade Competition. — The annual competition amongst the Fire Brigades of the Colony will be held this year in Wellington, commencing on Monday next. It is to be regretted fchat th 6 Chriatchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade will not take part in the competition, though it will be represented in the person of Lieutenant Smith, President of the Fire Brigades' Association, who leaves for Wellington to-morrow. Teams from Rangiora and Aehburton will compete at the Wellington Demonstration. Land Sale. — Working men and others desirous of securing easily accessible cites for residences of their own will havo an opportunity on Saturday next, when Messrs Pyne and Co. will offer for sale by auction sixty-seven building sections, each about a quarter of an acre in size, in the Linwood township. The land has frontages I on Worcester, Hereford and Cashel streets and on the Canal Reserve, and the New : Brighton tram cars pass the property. The title is under the Transfer Act, and the terms of payment aro liberal. To-morrow's Wool Sales. — The fourth public auction of this season's wool will open at 11 a.m. to-morrow, when a catalogue compriaing about 4500 bales will be submitted by the various auctioneering and wool-broking firms in Christchurch. The sale will be held in tho hall of the Chamber of Commerce, and the following is the order in which the catalogues will be submitted :— Mr F. C. Tabart, Messrs Pyne and Co., Dicken and Co., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Miles and Co., New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association (per Mr Tabart), Messrs C. Newton and Son, J. Wilkin and Co., and H. Matson and Co. Fruiterers' Picnic. — Three tram-cars laden with the fruiterers of Christchurch and their wives, families and friends, left Cathedral square at 9.30 a.m. to-day, en route for Suinner, where they spent their annual picnic in a paddock lent them for the occasion by Mr Duckworth, which being near the baths, gave many of them an opportunity of enjoying a swim in the briny. The rest enjoyed themselves in a variety of ways with the sports, which the young ones entered into with zezt. The party was accompanied by the Palace Rink Band, which gave selections of music, both on the way down and after arrival. The weather was all that could be desired for the occasion.

Feiendly Societies' Exhibition Demonsteation. — The Oddfellows are the first to move here in the matter of the Friendly Societies' Demonstration, to be held in Dunedin in connection with the Exhibition, on March G. It is expected to be the largest demonstration ever held in the Colony, but whether this expectation will be realised remains to be seen. No doubt the Foresters and Druids will follow suit to the Oddfellows and invite the co-operation of their members. The Eailway authorities have notified that reduced excursion fares would be charged en the railway to Dunedin, available from March 3 to March 10. Had longer notice been given by the Eailway Department, the probability is that there would have been more time for organisation amongst Lodges to arrange for attending the demonstration. Ab it is, the issue is somewhat doubtful, at least, as far as Canterbury ia concerned. A hint may be given to the different Orders that intend being represented, to take their banners, and make as imposing a display a possible.

Kaiapox Licensing Committee. — Mr Eichard Evans was yesterday elected Chairman o£ this body. I Chamber of Commerce. — The quarterly 1 general meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held this afternoon at three o'clock.

Picnic— The Committee of the employees of Messrs M. O'Brien and Co.'s Boot Factory held a meeting yesterday evening, when it was decided to hold a picnic on Saturday next at Tai Tapu. The Committee have secured tho services of the Palace Rink Band. Oub Domain. — In another column will be found an account of an interview by one of our staff with tho Chairman of the Domain Committee appointed by ; the City Council, covering the manage- ' nient of domains in general and our own j in particular. I Phrenology. — Mr Golledge, the phreno- ! logist, continued his series of phrenological lectures at the Oddfellows' Chambers yesterday evening. His eubjeat waa "Phrenology, its Use to the Unmarried and Others." There waa a fair audience, who appeared to take considerable interest in the subject. The Coming Session. — A correspondent ' of the Wanganui Herald, who professes to know as much of what is going on in the political world as most people discussing i the prospects of an early dissolution, says that in his opinion the Government will not dissolve during the recess, but will endeavour to have a short session and , bring the general election on early in tho coming spring.

Stdenham Licensing Election. — The result of the Sydenbain Licensing Election, as recorded in another column, was the defeat of the prohibitionists — who, nevertheless, made a- very good stand — and the return of the old Committee, with Mr Hamilton in place oE the late Mr Raukin.

Ashbubton Water Sufplt. —It is understood that the Engineer of the Ashburton County Council has reported that the sch ecae for connecting the North and South branches o£ the riv«r i 3 practicable, and there is a probability of the work being put in hand immediately.

Russell's Plat School. — This Committee met on Monday, when all the members were present exc-vpfc Mr T. Wtil!ai:e. Tho Committee unread to vote for Mc3srs Pi'ryman, Wen ton o.v.<i the Rev J. Fmlayson ■as'uiCiuWers .of .Iho Board of Education. Tiio Chairman read tho Inspector's repbvh of the esaiiiinaLion of the school, which v. - as considered very satisfactory,' and the Chairman was iustractod to -write to Mr Sutherland, congratulating hi:n upon the very favourable nn.fcure oi: the report. Jt Was lesolved to pive the children a- tea on'Mnrch H-, when the prizes will bo distriKuted.

Southbeook. Scuooii. — Thu monthly meeting of th«s School Commit tue was held on Monday evening; present — Messrs Ellis (in the chair), O^d, Shepherd, and Withers. The master's monthly report stated that there were ISO nauus on the roll, and that the average attendance since the school reopened had been IGO. Messrs Peryman, Finlnysou and Mciedith received the Committee's vote for the vacancies on the Board of Education. It was resolved to apply for the addition ot a chisa room to the school buildings, as the increased attendance caused inconvenient crowding. ■ The business of the evening v/&a concluded by passing a few small accounts.

Our Fire Brigade's Plant. — During a recent visit to Christohuvek and Dunedin, Mr C. Tandy, of Vivian street, who has made a good deal of plant for the Wellington Fire Brigade sinue he commenced business (says the "Wellington Post), took the opportunity of inspecting the appliances used in the two southern cities tor the suppression of lire, and ho informs us that both places are much Letter off in that respect than Wellington. The plant m Christchurch is a particularly good one, while that in Eunedin is also superior to ours. Mr Tandy is convinced from what he saw in the South that Captain Kemsley is quite justified in asking the City Council to increase the appliances placed at the disposal of the local brigade.

Queen's Cadets. — A. parade of the four companies of Queen's Cadets, with their band, took place last evening at the Drill Hall, South belt, when they were inspected by Major Newall, Captain Williams acting as adjutant. The Cadetß were exercised for over an hour in batallion movements. The following was the parade state :— No 1 Company, 28, under Lieutenant Hallet ; No. 2 Company, 29 (Lieutenant Maule) ; No. 3 Company, 33 (Lieutenant Hartle) ; No. 4 Company, 43 (Lieutenant Jones); Band, 18 (Bandmaster Corrick) ; total 151. Major Newall complimented the Cadets generally on their smartness and the intelligent manner in which they performed the work demanded of them.

Bust of Sir J. Von ILvast. — The German residents of Canterbury sometime ago subscribed to secure a marble bust of the late Sir Julius von .Haast, and the bust has recently arrived. The work was entrusted to Professor Kiippers, an eminent German sculptor, whose home is in Bonn, the birthplace of the late Sir J. von Haast. In selecting Professor Kxipper3 the subscribers have therefore made an appropriate choice, and he is also known to men. of science as the sculptor who carved the bust of Professor Noggerath, of Bonn, an eminent geologist. The bust of Sir J. von Haast is not only a work of art, but an admirable likeness of the late gentleman. It will be placed in the Canterbury Museum, where the ceremony of unveiling will shortly take place.

Presentation to Bishop Grimes. — The ladies of the parish of the Most Blessed Sacrament wishing to show their recognition of the labours oi the Eight Rev Bishop Grimes, and the great good he had done during his episcopacy, determined that hia Lordship should not leave Christchurch without Eome token of their appreciation and respect. The time was very short for raising subscriptions, but notwithstanding this a hundred guineas was collected. Yesterday afternoon the ladies who had interested themselves in the matter went to the Presbytery, where Miss Pender, on behalf of the subscribers, handed the purse to the Eev Father G'ummings with a request that he would convey their gift to hia Lordahip and beg hia acceptance of it, as the Bishop's state of health precluded his receiving the donors personally.

Removal of Moles. —In a recent number of the Practitioner Dc Jamison writes on the use of sodium ethylate in removing hairy moles on the face. He operated, in this way. The hairs were cut off as closely as possible with a very fine pair of scissors, and the mole was then painted over with sodium ethylate, a fine glass rod being used. "When the mole had a varnished look the ethylato was gently rubbed in with the glasß rod, to make it penebrate more deeply into the hair follicles. The mole had quite a black look when the operation was over. A hard crust formed over it, which was nearly three weeks in becoming detached. When it came off the hairs were seen to be destroyed, and the surface of the mole had a smooth, somewhat cicatrical appearance, of a much lighter colour than before ; and this favourable condition continued until the mark was scarcely noticeable.

Queen's Jubilee Memobial Home.— In order to afford the inmates of this institution an occasional entertainment, and to show them that they are not entirely forgotten by their more fortunate neighbours; and, also to let such neighbours see for themselves what provision is made for the comfort of the old people in their declining years, it is proposed to invite a fnw friends now and again to meet in the large dining hall, and endeavour to pass a pleasant evening hour in contributing to the amusement of the aged folks by a song, orstory,and a chat about the days that are past. To initiate such a movement, Mr E. W. Seager has kindly offered to give some of his enjoyable conjuring feats, &c, and other friends will be prepared to assist with vocal selections on Friday evening, March 7, at seven o'clock.

.£1,334,491 is estimated as being the aggregate amount of the year's Br J™f. h contributions for foreign missions. This is J8105,000 more than the previous year s total.