FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18577, 27 September 1928, Page 11

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF SEPT. 28, 1868. Wanted, a Pianist., to engage for the Summer Season. Applv to Coker and Heath, Coker’s Hotel, Christchurch. HIGH SCHOOL. The Fourth Quarter will commence on Thursday, Ist October, at 9 o’clock a.m. CHARLES FRASER, Chairman Board of Directors. 2Sth September. Railway Rowing Club.—The following were unanimously admitted:— Active members—F. H. Valpy, John Davis, F. Lock year, Robert Allen and Thomas Cole. Honorary members— W. Laurence, A. C. Fyfe, L. G. Cole, A. J. Jameson, T. S. Duncan, J. W. Morton, W. D. Barnard, F. Hobbs, T. Cox, B. Parkerson, W. Robinson, T. M. Hassal, J. Hughes, W. Montgomery, FT. Smith, G. Gould, C. Haines, Captain Thompson and Shaw Crosland. _ T j « s We have just been informed by a settler in Rangitikei—a gentleman upon whose statement we can depend —that a man went to his house a few days ago, looking for employment, and it eventually turned out, according to his own statement, that he was one of eleven men who had taken part in the late disastrous affair at the front, and who had not rejoined their comrades at Waihi—deserters, in fact, whom the public have numbered with the dead, and whose fate has been mourned accordingly. 22 « Christ's College Annual Sports.— These sports will be held tomorrow. The first part, which consists of races and throwing the cricket ball, will take place on the United Canterbury Cricket ground, beginning at 30 ajn. This part includes fourteen events in all, amongst which we notice a race of one mile, open to boys under sixteen, for a challenge cup presented by the ladies. At. three o’clock, the fives matches come off at the College, and are followed bv the jumping. The prizes will be given afterwards in the large schoolroom, about six o’clock. x Aquatics.—A challenge has been received by the Railway Rowring Club from the captain qf the Ariel, Kaiapoi, for a three mile rate, but, it being stipulated that the Railway Rowing Club should use no other boat but the Express, has been declined. The mem* bers of the club are desirous of this being understood, as, had the boat to be used l»een left an open question, they would gladly have accepted the proposal. The Express has long been discarded for racings purposes, and, against the Ariel, it would not possess the remotest chance of winning. 52 52 52 Public Squares.—A very censurable practice has, for some time, been indulged in by persons having gardens in the city, and it would be well if the Borough Council were to take summary measures for punishing offenders and preventing its continuance. We refer to the removal of turf from at least one of the public squares, manv complaints of which have reached us. If the council are unable to improve these places for the purposes of recreation they should still protect them from damage, more especially as the depth of good soil is anything but great. « 52 « The River Avon.—The hard labour gang have completed the alterations to the river below the Victoria Bridge, apd. the stream now lias a gradual sweep instead of the abrupt curve it formerly possessed. The northern l>ank has keen turfed and immediately below the bridge protected at the base with stonework. A number of willow cuttings have also been planted a short distance from the water’s edge, and altogether the change is a most pleasing one. Whether removal of the projecting bank will have the injurious effects on Victoria Bridge predicted when the work was first commenced, remains to be seen, but in appearance a most decided improvement has certainly been effected to that part, of the river. The Waikanae Natives.—An outrage wa.s committed at Waikanae the other day by the natives. The following arc the brief particulars:—Mr Jenkins, who has two half caste daughters, was ordered to give them up to the natives by one Soloman of the Puketapu hapu, Ngatiawa, threatening, in case of refusal. that they would burn the place. On his declining to accede to their modest request., they proceeded to carry their threat into execution; burning the frame of a new building in the course of erection and a quantity of timber. This was at Huruki, and the land belonged to his children, having been inherited from their mother. Mr Jenkins’s own place at Waikanae was not meddled with. He states that the natives who committed this outrage were Hau-haus. and had no claim to the land on which the building was being erected. Mr Jenkins having had the undisputed occupation of the land for the last thirty years.