LOCAL AND GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7295, 7 January 1902, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The occupants of the Sydenham School camp at Governor's Bay will be "at home " to their friends on Thursday afternoon, when tea will be provided fcr visitors. It is Believed that the newly-appointed Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, Major-General Babington, will spend a few weeks in Australia, where he is at present, before coming on to this colony. Mrs Babington has relatives in New South Wales,. The self-denial effort of the Salvation Army in Australasia for 1901 realised £24 350, of which New Zealand contributed £7872, New South Wales £4200, Victoria £4119, Queensland £2880, South Australia £2472, Westralia £1836, and Tasmania £650. Last year 151 births and 56 deaths were registered in the Lyttelton district, againsi 119 births and 50 deaths in 1900. The number of marriage certificates issued was 4£ last year and 31 in 1900. Six of the mar riages were solemnised before the Registrai in 1901, and four in the preceding year. An alarm of fire was rung at about 8.40 Vclock this morning. A shed at the back if Mr M'Dermott's second-hand shop, at .the corner of Durham Street and Tuam Street, had caught fire, but only a little . rubbish : wa« burnt. -

A " Gazette " extraordinary has been issued proroguing Parliament till March 13. Mr W. Adams, who sailed the yacht Zephyr at the Lyttelton Regatta, has issued a challenge to Mr C. Durham, who sailed the Ona.we on the same occasion, and j won the Handicap Yacht Race, to another trial between the two yachts. The challenge; has been accepted, and the race will take place over the regatta course > nextSaturday afternoon. Mr W. F. Simpson, wh,o represented New Zealand at the sports meeting at the Ccmano'nwealth Celebrajtcons in. Sydney, has just received the silver and gold medals won by him at the meeting. Th« medals are now on view at Messrs Wallace and Tucker's jewellers' stoop, High Street. The gold medal is for the Three-mile Running Championship, and the silver one is the second in the mile event. The mediate bear the motto, "In honour 'bear thy nations name." The sight of the ambulance van backed up to a railway station platform invariably excites public curiosity, and the inference not unnaturally is that it is awaiting til© victim of «om£ railway or ether casualty. Consequently , a considerable amount of interest attached to the local ambulance; waiting at the south platform.' of the Chxistchurch station this morning. Fortunately, •however, the presence of the vehicle was owing to nothing more than the removal t.-> the Hospital for medical treatment of a young man residing at Leestow. At the time of the Jubilee Metropolitan Show the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association appointed a special committee, whose duty at was to take notes of any matters in which they •considered improvements could be made in the show arrang'Sments. The oonimiifctee afterwards brought up a report, which was discussed j and a good many of the recommendations were adopted and acted upon at the last show. Another committee was appointed for the 1901 fixture/ and it is understood that it has prepared an exhaustive report, recommending a number of improvements. A special meeting of "the General Committee will be held to-morrow afternoon, for the purpose of receiving amd discus-sing the report. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd desire to acknowledge the assistance given by the following, in aid of the Christmas treat for the children : — Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, Sir G. Clifford, Hon L. Walker, the Misses White, Sir "John Hall, Mr Smith, Mr Molineaux, Mr Maddison, Mr C. Louisson, the Executors of the Hyman Marks' Trust, Mr W. Izard, Messrs Morrow, Bassefct and Co-. , Strange and Co. , J. Stand and Co. , Pitcaithly and Co., Fletcher, Humphreys and Co., Ashby, Bergh and Co., Milner and Thompson*, O'Brien and Co., Henry Berry and Co., Johnson and Couzins, E. Recce and Sons, Lees and Evans, Ballantyne and Co., Hayward Bros., Mr F. C. Tabart, Mr W. G. Wood. ?:.• 1.. O'Connor, Mrs M' Anally, Mrs Chase, Mrs Powrie, Mrs .Carroll, Mr Webb, Mr Gill, Mrs M'Narnara, Mr Mace, Mrs Stratz, Mr Sopp, and Mrs Mathias. The camping season has commenced 1 in earnest at #he local watering places, and matters regarding the regulation of the camps in respect of sanitary matters -and otherwise are again attracting the attention of the seaside Borough Councils. At the meeting of the New Brighton Borough Council last evening, Councillor Thomson referred to the practice of some campers of ■lighting fires in the open in close proximity to residents' dwellings. Councillor Thomson said that in moany instances the fires were adequately protected', but in others no precautions were taken and the amount of lupin in the vicinity of. camps made it absolutely necessary that She offenders should, be promptly d>ealt with. It was pointed out that the practice was in direct contravention of the Council's By-law 45, and it wa« decided >to rigorously adhere to •th'B provisions of the by-law and to draw the local constable's attention to the same. Councillor Winny's motion 'for the discharge and reconstruction of the Council's committees, which was tabled at last night's meeting of the New .Brighton Borough Council, caused Councillor Edwards to unburden himself as to the value of committees. In his opinion committees wers totally ''unnecessary, and mischievous in every way, and it would be far better if every councillor made hdmself acquainted with the needs of a borough instead of delegating the work to special committees. In the course of a criticism of the work which had been dome in the borough and the many improvements needed, Councillor Edwards stated ,that Seaview Road — toe main street of the borough — was a disgrace to the civilisation of the twentieth century. The Mayor and Mr Winny also spoke, their views, however, were entirely different to those of the previous speaker, 'but probably on the principle that it is a wise policy to get rid of critics, the councillors got rid of their inconvenient criticby electing Councillor Edwards chairman of the Works Committee. After much correspondence with the Treasury Department, the New Brighton Borough Council has at length succeeded in its efforts! to ( obtain a loan of £3000 1 fromi the Government. Th& original application was madte some months ago, but, owing to neglect of certain; necessary formalities, the Treasury was compelled more than once to refer the application back to the- Council for amendment. At last night's meeting of the Council, however, a communication -was read from tfh© Department to the effect that although it might be 'held that the Council's voting paper for the loan, following upon a full notification by advertisement contained! sufficient particulars of the loan proposals, it was clear that the special order making the special rate was quite inadequate, and would) have to be made afresh, and 1 this the Treasury considered was apparently all that was now required to complete the procedure for the Council to obtain its loan. The letter was received, the Mayor remarking that it was 'by far the most satisfactory one they had received from the Treasury. Many people who pass through the Square in front of the Cathedral step for a moment to watch the building of the scaffolding which will be used for repairng the spire, and to speculate how such ai ' large and unwieldly structure will be raised some 200 ft and placed round the spire. There is nothing rare in th-e wooden' frame whioh is being erected on- the- grass plot in the Cathedml grounds, but the wonder is how it will get there. Messrs Graham: and Greig, the contractors, have solved the puzzle by explaining -that the scaffolding is being erected down on the ground merely to fit all the pieces together, and «cc that everything dovetails into everything else. The whole thing will be pulled apart again, and the pieces of timber, all of which are numbered, will be taken up separately by means of a wire rope, suspended from close tc\ the top of the spire, amd reaching some distance out from the base. This rope will be stationary, but there will be another one, and by its means the timber will fee run, en somewhat the same system as a cable tramway, to the position required. The scaffolding will be supported by beams reaching from one aperture to another in the spiie. It is expected 1 that some of the timber will be sent up this afternoon, and the main work will be in full swing before long. It v hard to say what is the ultimate cost of a so-called " cheap " bicycle, but it is certain to amount to very much more than a high-class machine, therefore if you wish to cycle in comfort and security at a minimum of exyfnsp. order either a Humber or Anglo-Special bicycle, made and guaranteed by experienced and responsible concerns. See the two-speed gear and free-wheel ; it is simple and practical ; also luggage-carriers, hold-nils, trip-meters, etc., suitable for cycle tourists. The AngloNew Zealand Cycle Company, D.1.C., and 226, High Street. X1196 Townend's Sulphur Hair Restorer will positively restore grey or faded hair to its natural colour; is not a dye. Price 2s per bottle; by post, securely packed, 2s 9d. Townend, Chemisst, Christchurch. 2621 The Empress of China is said to carry with her 3000 dresses when she travels. These fill 600 boxes, are' taken care of by 1200 coolies.

EXPRESS PASSENGER LIST. Passengers for the south to-day: — Mt M. J. M'N-sen&ra, Mr J. Rdngland, 'Mr W. T. Rodie, Mr 'and Mrs Piklh&r, 'Miss Ma.srter, Mr T. F. Josephsoft, Mts G. P. Dea.s «.nd children, Mr 3 and Miss H. Aitken, Mr M. PoxsHex, Mr and Mrs Cairns, Mr Isaac Sykes and Mr A. B. Imrie. Passengers from tfhe soaiUh 10-dey: — For Chrus'tdruroh— Mi and Mis Cowie, Miss LJfcfcteT, Mrs A. Austin inA. family, Mir J. GWbb, 'Mt J. S. Rots, Mrs Fairfoiu-rsfc. Misses Hopwcwl (2), Mrs A. Duncan, Mies Elder, Mr H. Coraarford, Mbr Eric W'hcifcoeomte, Mr T. A. Muliroy, ,'Mr Marsh, 'Mr Millar and Mr G-. H. Hicks.