LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7433, 20 June 1902, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

— J ' ■» ■ •■ — -';■'_:. The poultry show*, in the Colosseum, •which was very largely aitteiided lart night, ■was again well patronised this afternoon. Tho Ladies' Committee of the cortl and j blanket fund wiE meet again on Wednesday next, to consider further applications for relief. ■ The evangelistic mission at present being conducted by Sisters Miriam and Winnie, in St Peter's Presbyterian Church, was continued la_t. evening. <•-..:; '."'•';■ ' An inquest will be held to-morrow morning at 9.30, at the Morgue, touching the death -of the woman, Mrs Hunsley, who died suddenly at Papanui yesterday evening. An article on "" Fruit -growing,' a quantity of Trotting Notes and Pigeon Notes, appear on Page 4of this issue. On Page 1 ■will be found the customary summary of yesterdays' news and Kennel Chatter. J Foxton is without a Mayor. -She Mayor j resigned, and none of the cowacillors wculd., cojajj&nib'to- assume- tt* r.fiponsib)l:tie!_ of the! office. The 10-oat paper does not 'know what the borough will .do on Corona,fci<)_ Day without the guiding haad of a- Mayor. Tbe Agricultural Department- is inoking^ arrangements to meet -lithe demands likely to be made for -eggs for breeding purposes next sea*onr Last season ifc supplied 19,000 eggs, and during next summer ft •will probably be called upon to supply 25,050 _r 30,000. Tie' Bey C. E. Ward left last evening for, .Wellington , to preach opening sermons in a new central Primitive Methodist .Church in that city. He will return tb conduct a united Coronation service in. ; cotmection with the Orange Societies on Thursday. In Chambers this morning his Honor "Mr Justice Denniston granted probate in the wills of .Margaret Bennett (Mr Hiint), R. W. Grantham (Mr Beswick), and E. Yarr (Mr Hall). An order was made for the appointment of a guairdian in Brown v. Parker (Mr Graha__ for Mr Hall.) ' An inquest w_b held yesterday afternoon at the Koyal George Hotel, touching the death of the infant son of Mr A. Fox Sandford, which bad been found dead in bed in the morning. The child was alive at five o'clock, but at nine -was dead. The jury found that it had died from natural causes. * . In divorce this morning, his Honor Mr Justice Denniston, on the application of Mr T. G. Russell, fcr the petitioner, made an order for a decree nisi in Blood v. Blood, a petition by the wife, on the grounds of desertion and drunkenness. The decree will become absolute three months from the present date. t The Wellington City Council has decided to send Home its electrical engineer to facilitate the acceptance of tenders for the work in connection with electric tramways. The Council considers this plan will be leas costly than leaving the tenders to the decision of the Advisory Board or having them sent to and from Home by mail. It is reported that the Defence authorities are considering the advisableness of placing a heavy gun on the summit of Rangitot6 Island, to command the entrance to Auckland Harbour, and prevent the po-slbility of an enemy planting a gun there. The islamd is ov.r nine hun- j dred feet in elevation,' and the battery would be the highest in the colony. A great deal, of opposition is being Bhown to the proposal that the time of the 5.30 p.m. train from Christchurch, to Lyttelton should be changed to 5.15 p.m. A petition in favour of the present ar-, rangement has been sent to Mr W. Waite", the traffic manager, from Lyttelton, with 180 signatures. Yesterday another petition, signed by the shipping firms in Christchurch and by many commerciail firms that have much business to do at port, was" fJso forwarded to Mr Waits. Yet another petition is being \ extensively signed in Christchurch and Lyttelton by season ticket-holders,, and regular travellers. This petition ' sets forth that the present arrangement has been in vogue for a number of" years, and has been found to be tery convenient. Those employed in offices in Christchurch, it is further stated, are not always Able to leave work immediately the clock strikes five*-; and, as it "fakes fifteen minutes to walk from Cathedral Square to the Station, they will probably miss the train if it leaves afc 5.15. / In that case, they would have to wait for the 6.15 p.m. train, reaching home about seven o'clock. j ■ ;

The Mayor has received a cheque for _55 for the coal and blanket fund from A.C, and £2 2s from H.P. A firet offending inebriate was brought before Mr S. R. Webb, J.P., at the Lyttelton Police Court this morning, and was convicted and discharged with a caution. The Auckland Trades and Labour Council has adopted the Dunedin resolution making a strong appeal against the further sale of Crown lands as inimical to the best interests of the people. At the Chambers sitting of tihe Supreme \ Court tliis morning Mr Harper applied for au order to show reason why tlhe Stipendiary Magistrate should not be prohibited.,' from proceeding in regard to tlie co_.victio&_ of Matthew Barnett for totalisator betting. His Honor Air Justice Deomiston grant-dl a. rule, nisi, and ths ;m_uter will be furliher considered at the first sitting in Banco, after the sitting of the Court of Appeal ia Wellington. The ' Lyttelton Brass Band, under Bandmaster A. Barbour, will perform, the following programme in aid of the Lyttelton Football Club's touring fund, to-morrow evening, weather permitting : —March, "Crusader" (Sousa) j valseT "Girly". (Warwick Williams) ; polka, "Girls Behind " N (Warwick Williams); fantasia,; "Ruby" ! (Sydney Lvntor) ; selection, " Gems from ! Sullivan's "Operas, No. 2 " (Ord-Hume) ; march, "Waggon Hill" (Georg. Dean) j " God Save the __iflg:" - The General * Manager of the National Bank pf New Zealand has been advised that the annual report for March, 1902, is to be presented to the shareholders, at a meeting to bo held in London on July 1. The directors- Recommend that' a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent should be declared, and a bonus of 2. per cent, making/a dividend of 10 per cetot for the year, that £40,000 should lie transferred to the reserve fund, which will then stand at £150,000, and that £8200 should be carried forward to the current year. A sum of £5000 has been applied to the reduction of the bank premises account, and £1600 added to the officers' pension fund. Complaints have been made recently in regard to delays in getting telephonic connections mado by new- subscribers, some •having to wait for ai considerable time. The delay, however, is explained by the fact that an unprecedented demand fortelephones has grown up, and this has caused a considerable- strain on the\lobour available. At the <nd of March there were 116* connections, at the end of May 1192, an increase of 28. For the two mouths ending Md.y 31, there were 48 new connections, not including removals, extensions, and so forth. The . great increase in the demand is shown when it is stated tbat not long ago a total of 50 fresh subscribers fcr a whole year was considered very fair. Two gangs of men are engaged constantly, and are overtaking the '. work .as rapidly as possible. Sale, Sale, Sale, at S. Clarke and Co.'s, 148, Colombo Street, of wedding and engagement rings, watches, gold brooches, clocks, jewellery, etc., at prices that must ensure a speedy clearance. Rotherhams, six-guinea levers, sale price £4 2s od. Gold chkins, spectacles^ etc.,_ equally cheap. 6160 Townend's Sulphur H?ir Restorer will positively restore grey or faded halt to its; , natural colour ; is not a dye. Price 2s pei bottle; by post, securely packed, 2s 9d. Townend," Chemist. Ohristchurch. 2521 mmmmmammmmmmmm^mmmmmmaam^Cmammmmmmmmmammmmm :. EXPRESS PASSENG7*R LIST. Passengers for H_© south to-day : — -Mr Martin,, Miss James and Mrs Sinclair.