LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8452, 21 October 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tennyson's etirring poem descrlptiTi of the Revenge's running " fight or tin one and the fifty-three" appears 61 page 7of this issue. This "Ballad a the Fleet " is a timely reprint on Tra. ialgar Day. At the Christchurcb Magnetio Obeer vatory the readings' at 9.80 avm* to day were: — Barometer, 29.385, max* mum ' temperature during pxecedinf twenty-four hours, 61.1; minimun temperature during preceding twentyfour hours, 45.3; temperature a1 9.30 a.m.— dry bulb 61.1, wet bull 53.1, humidity per cent, 68 j maarimun temperature in sun, 103 :. minimun thermometer on grass, 39.8; clonu (0-10), 10; rainfall during previpui twenty-four hours, nil; tendency o barometer, rising. The oase of Warner's, Limited, yei» sus the "Lyttelton Times" Newspape Company was dealt with by the Court o Appeal the other day; out the ques. tion as to the terms and conditions up on which appeal should be made to t£< Privy Council was allowed to stand oven pending a consultation between th< counsel representing the parties. Oi Thursday Mr George Harper, who ap pearecl for the defendant company, informed their Honors the Judges or tbx Court of Appeal that in, the course o a few days they would receive intima tion as to what course was proposed U be taken in the matter. The entries for the Hwo Volunteea olasses in the boxing competition tob< held in aid of the barracks fund wil close on October 26. - Entries must be addressed to Captain Richardson-, Boa 211, Post Office, Christohurch. Gom. petitors should state as nearly as pos sible the weight they will box at. The regulations in regard to competitors' seconds (state that they must be attired in flannels. This rule will be strictly enforced. Each competitor will be allowed one second only, who will not be permitted to enter the ring. Official seconds will be provided to fan and sponge competitors. Competitors must wear dark coloured costumes. The Anti-Treating League in England does not seem to have prospered in any greater degree than the Anti-Shouting League recently formed in Wellington. The first-named organisation was started some five years ago on the initiative of Dr Cocker, the then Mayor of Blackpool, but- although it has so far failed to "catch oh," the doctor is not disheartened, and said a few weeks ago that he means yet to make the League "go." The difficulties in his way are exceedingly great, but all the same many people admit the truth of his statement that "the man who enters a licensed house intending perhaps not to take more, than one glass of liquor, M cften led by the practice to partake of * good many, for the friends le may find there are often as anxious as he to play the host in turn."* ...... Lord Roberta's recent pfoa for the introduction of universal training and service for home defence is the subject of a circular issued by the National Defence League. The plea is, of course, approved by the organisation, and Mr, Harold F. Wyatt, lately the envoy of the Navy League to the colonies, h»M undertaken to act. as the special repriesentative, of, the National Service League. In order to secure the. adeauate consideration of the _proposali pt Lord '.Roberts, Mr Wyatt will address m<?etin{?s in the principal centres of population -in England and Scotland during the autumn, and winter, tlnfli circular. states that the success attained by Mr Wyatt during his world tour fpr the. Navy League is known, *hd %*m left permanent trace, especially, in New Zealand and South Africa, and the belief is expressed that wide result «« likely to foHow his efforts off behalf of the cause of military and national eJß.si«axc?v "".'■"■ ;■•.■ , .'.. -}'.\ : \: '. .■•■ .. ■.'• ~ •

A telegram from Bealey this morning stated that the WaimaWariri River was $n high flood, and was still rising. A Jater message, timed 3.30 p.m., announced that the river was falling rapidly. The Sumner Borough Council has decided to call a public meeting to dispuss the proposal to build an Esplanade. The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, when a, definite proposal will be brought forward. The following is a statement of Customs duties collected at the Port of Lyttelton during the week ending October 20: — Spirits, £1139 8s 9dj cigars, cigarettes and snuff, £268 2s lOd; tobacco, £977 0s 6d; wine, £91 10s; beer, £31 5s 8d j tea, £3 ; coffee, cocoa and chocolate £4 4s ; sugar, molasses End treacle, £70 ; weight, £317 12s lid ; *d valorem, £2788 17s 3d ; other duties, £183 lls lid; total, £5874 8s lOd. At auction yesterday, at Hastings, 1285 acres of the Ma-raekakaho Estate were disposed of at an average price of £9 5s per acre. The whole of Mr G. P. Donnelly's Ngatarawa Estate was offered, but only 721 nores were sold, at an average price of £12 15s per acre. The Government has decided to acquire ©ompulsorily MrT. H. Lowry's Okawa property, near Hastings, containing 14,700 acres, for closer settlement. The North Island band contest, to be field at Hawera, from January 22 to 26, promises to be most successful, no fewer than eleven nominations having been received. The entries are :— First Battalion Auckland Rifles, Wellington Garrison, Wanganui Garrison, South Canterbury Battalion, Woolston Brass (Chrifltchurch), Palmerston North, Canterbury Engineers (Chrjstchurch), Taranaki Garrison, Feilding Brass, Hawera Borough and Ruahine Battalion. A special feature in connection with the performance of " The Gondoliers," to take place on October 26 and following nights, is the display of beautiful photographs now on view in the windows of the Dresden Company and j Messrs Hemus and Sarony. These include counterfeit presentments of the principals in costume, and also of the chorus and other accessories. 'The pictures have been specially taken with a view to advertising the entertainment, and they form a series of charming souvenirs of what will doubtless prqve to be a delightful performance. In the course of evidence before the Royal Commission on the Police Force in Melbourne the other day, Inspector Gleeson gave some advice to householders how "to mislead burglar's." Referring to the fact that on Saturdays a certain number of the men in his division wore engaged at football matches and race meetings, thus reducing the effectiveness of the force under his control, he said housebreakers usually took advantage of residents being absent at such events, and raided premises. The worst thing that peoplo on leaving houses empty could do was to pull down blinds and lock the drawers in which valuables were placedDrawn blinds were an invitation to . a housebreaker to enter, > and locked drawers only tended to the smashing of furniture, in addition to the stealing of valuables. Be thought it advisable to leave even a door or window open. A house quite closed up indicated to a housebreaker that the occupiers were absent. The band contest in connection with the International Exhibition, which is to be held in Cbristchurch, has been anally sanctioned. Briefly, the details of the big event are as follow: — Two selections, one own choice and one test - } quickstep competition, own choice music; eolo competitions for soprano cornets, B-flat cornets, flugel horns, tenor horns, baritones, B-flat slide trombones, G slide trombones, euphoniums, E-flat B-flat and 88-flat basses, and side drums. The contest will be held probably during January, 1907, and it will last for six days. The prizes are: — -Selection — First £150, special badge for conductor winning the championship and medals for the bandsmen; second £100, third £76, fourth £35, fifth £25 and six^h £15. Quickstep competitions-First £50, second £40, third £30, fourth £20, fifth £10, with a gold medal for v the drum-major whose band scores the most military points. For the solo, quartet and trombone trio competitions, gold and silver medals will be awarded, and, I believe, the Exhibition certificate of merit, which will be more valuable to bandsmen than any medal. Fuller details will appear in due course. It is confidently anticipated that Australia will be represented at the contest. At the conclusion of Mr T. Clarkeon's political address in the Bromley schoolroom last evening, the chairman, Mr R. Walker, made reference to the public reserve at Bromley. He trusted that whoever was successful in being returned at the coming election would urge upon the Government the advißableness of utilising this reserve for the establishment of workmen's homes. At present the existence of this large quantity of waste land, overgrown with broom and rubbish, seriously interfered with the advancement of the district. Mrs Wise spoke on the lame subject, but differed from the chairman as to the best method of utilising this reserve. ' The sandy nature of the soil, she contended, rendered it unsuitable for the homes of workmen. ■It should be cleared and prepared for use as the playground of the people of Christchurch. We had our well-kept "homes, with their lawns and gardens kept spick and span, and it should be considered a necessity that there should be some public place where children JDould frolio and gambol and kick up jfaeir heels to their heart's content. Of course, there were Brighton and Sumner, but they meant tram fares. Mrs Wise'e remarks were received with a good deal of approval.