LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6937, 29 October 1900, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The following additional donations have been promised for the Maori Provision Fund : — C. Overtoil 201 b butter, Mount Thomas Estate, two fat sheep. A man, evidently a suspicious character, has been noticed loitering round Cranmer Square and inspecting various houses after dark on several nights lately. Mr Ev J. Righton, the eecretary of the Jubilee Celebrations has removed from Gloucester Street to % the premises- lately occupied by the V.M.C.A., in Cambridge Terrace, Two trains were despatched from Christchurch for the south this morning. The first leaving at 10.20 was not very well patronised, but the express carried a god num.ber of passengers. One of the heavy nor'-wester gusts on Saturday evening got to work on a fruiterer's stand, where fruit of all kinds was displayed outside the- shop, with the result that oranges and apples bowled merrily along the asphalt in all directions, to the huge delight of a number of small boys. , Visitors are already arriving in large numbeTS for the Carnival Week, and several of those who came in by Sunday;? steamer found great difficulty in getting accommodation, as nearly all the beds at both hotels and boarding ' bouses had been secured in advance. The 9.30 tram from Sunnyside this morning was, as usually happens in wet weather, greatly overcrowded, and most of the unfortunate male passengers were compelled to stand on the platforms, where they got nearly as web as though they had walked. The only consolation the sufferers could offer themselves was that the necessity for the munjcipalusation of the tramways is thus forcibly impressed -upon the public. While listening to the band music in Hagjey Park yesterday afternoon, a gentleman who was, standing at the top df a. sloping bank leaned back on his walking-stick, and a youngster, seeing the opportunity for a practical joke, pulled away the support. Unfortunately for the joker, he did not " stand from under " in time, and the gentleman, who weighed about fifteen stone, sat down upon him, and the <pair rolled to the bottom of the bank, the small boy gettingi the worst of it. There is every prospect now "(the Jfelson " Mail " states) of the chrome mines at the Croixelles > becoming of very great value, indeed. Some time ago it was decided to drive underneath the original working on the outcrop. Last week Mr George. Miller, who isrin charge, came upon the chrome in this drive, proving conclusively the continuity of the deposits and the accuracy of the assumption, that the mineral existed in great abundance. Owing to the weather, the. construction of the aerial tramway has been considerably delayed, only seventeen working days having been •= practicable since the material was landed. work" will be pushed on, however. arid when completed it., will be possible to convey to the beach from the hill a ton an hour. Altogether the prospecta of the Croixelles chrome mine are very bright. ' The revenue of the Post and Telegraph . Department for the past quarter was £100,808, of which £68,968 was contributed, by the postal branch, and £31,840 by the telegraphs. Compared with last year there is a total, increase of £5377, of which the post office was responsible for £2134, and the telegraph for £3243. The quarter shows a satisfactory increase in the number of telegrams handled by the department. The postal note business also shows an increase. The transactions of the Savings Bank Department show that the amount of the deposits ' for the quarter totalled £1,018,542, as against £932,655 for <tihe September quarter of last year, and the withdrawals amounted to £931,801, aa against £859,816, the excess of deposits over withdrawals totalling £86,740, as against £72,838. The reduction of the duty on tea has not caused any serious loss to the revenue during the quarter just ended. . The duty collected amounted to £19,935, as compared with £20,117 for the same period last year, the loss thus being £182 only. The uncertainty that existed for a, time led , to very heavy clearances, and the figures Show that 633,4801 b were cleared at< the 4d rate of duty, while 1,125,2401 b Avas passed at 'the reduced rate of 2d per lb. During the current quarter the effect of this will be seen. The total Customs duties collected in the colony during the September quarter, according to the returns published in the Gazette, amounted to £577,737, as against £563,815. for tho corresponding period of last year— an increase of £13,922, derived principally from goods by weight and tho ad valoi'em duties. The excise duties of the past quarter yielded £19,910, as compared with £18,392, showing an increase of £1518. A writ for £1000 damages has (says the "Daily Times") been issued against the Roslyn Tramway Company by Mr F. Z Moore, solicitor, acting on behalf of Miss M'Kenzie, of Saikorai, for injuries' alleged to have been sustained by her from an accident met with' while travelling on o.ie of the company's cars. The accident referred to took place :in Peceniber last. A very large number of people visited Hagley Park yesterday afternoon, when the Ly ttelton, Marine, Ka.iapoi and Elite Bands played a number of selections: '~ A high wind made matters very unpleasant during the march of 'the combined *bands from the railway station, but at pleasant afternoon Avas spent in the Park. A collection, was taken up in aid of the funds of the Elite Band. The anniversary of the Cambridge Terrace Primitive Methodist Sunday School was held in the Choral Hall yesterday, a.nd there were large congregations at all the services. In the morning the Rev C. H. Laws .preached, in tho iirftei v noon the Rev J. Lomas, and in the evening the Rev C. E. Ward. Special hymns and psalms were sung, «nd in. the afternoon the children gave recitations. The anniversary offertory for. the school funds amounted to £26 10s. The annual tea and pwbli'o meeting will be held in the Choral Hall this evening. Yesterday morning, ,at Sfc Matthew's Ghuroh, St. A loans, reference was made to the death of Dr Irving, who gave the oak reredos and other Sanctuary fittings to the Church when at was enlarged some years ago, and kept up his connection, with the Church by his interest in the Church day school. The Vicar referred to Dr living's consistency as a ■Christian, man, and to his great devotion to the services ami work of ■ the Church. His remcuvai was ia distinct loss to the religious life of the city Tho October number ,of the "Canterbury XJollege' Review," has just been issued, and the high standard set in .previous issues of this little periodical is well maintained. The ." Review " is still rather local in its scope, but there are several excellent articles .of general interest. Thus, Professor Scott has a paper on the '•' History of the Cycle,' and there is a sourid article by Mr J. R. Wilkinson on "Technical Education."- A war, correspondent of the " Review " furnishes some readable notes on operations in South Africa. The question of University extension lectures is dealt with editorially. Candles reduced id per lb. Kerosene 2a per tin. Kincaid's G.I.C. X2547 Tariff reduction at Kincaid's G.I.G. X2547 Ceylindo Tea reduced 2d per lb at Kincoid's G. 1.0. X25A7 Hanging Lamps from 5s 9d to 555. We guarantee to give better value in hanging and table lamps, chimneys, shades, wicks, eta., than any lamp-seller in JJew Zealand. Fletcher Bros., direct importers of lamps, dtiiiine^B^to., Hj^b 6tr«t, .OJuistdiui.oh;

The police require an owner for a. lady* blue and white muslin blouse. The first communion under the new pastorate at Sfc Andrew's Presbyterian Church was celebrated yesterday forenoon by Rev John M?Kenzie. Six elders assisted, and the communicants well filled the body of the church. The passengers who arrived from Wellington by the s.s. Tarawera, yesterday had to endure a tedious time of waiting. The steamer was moored a few minutes too late for them to catch the 1.40 p.m. train to Christchurch, and they had to occupy-them-selves as best they could at the Lyfcfcelton Railway Station till the departure of the next train, at 3.5 p.m. A meeting of New -Zealand Natives was held at the Natives' Association's -room, Young Men's Christian Association's hall, on, Saturday evening, when there was an attendance of about forty. Captain Oakes was in the chair, andi stated what steps had already been taken with (regard to the ■formation of a. Natives' corps of inlfamtry in ! Canterbury. • Ho mentioned 'that a roll of som& 85 men had been submitted by him, to the Defence Department some months ago, and theproposed corps had now been, accepted. After some discussion, it was unanimously resolved — " That this meeting of Natives is wf opinion that the corps (suggested by Captain Qakes should (be formed as speedily as possible, and that ithe meeting adjourn till Nov. 5 for the purpose of receiving a further report .from Captain Oakes, and, if expedient, to proceed with the swearing-in of members. " Twenty-five men handed in their names as being desirous of being sworn in, and the Chairman isaidj this left him with over 70 names of men originally desiring to join with whom he would! communicate at once. After some inforrnlal discussion the meeting adjourned.