CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1429, 15 February 1888, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) Perhaps your readers may think I am "no more," owing to the frequency (?) of late of my letters ; but I can once more assure you that I am still "alive and kicking," and the only excuse I can give is that it must be the weather. And that just reminds me that we are having splendid weather at present, and our friends, the farmers, are up to their eyes in business. Harvesting is in full swing, and, from all accounts, the yields are going to be payable. In Canterbury, I firmly believe we will have no reason to complain this year, as I hear that the yields are much better than those of last year ; and I sincerely hope that such will be the case, for the hard-working and enterprising farmer — and what should we do without such men ?— deserve all they get. The weather, of course, has a lot to do with the farmer's fortune, and if it remains in its present state of mind for just a little longer, the " clerk " will receive the blessings of not a few. The fruit shops have a plentiful supply just now, nice aud luscious, and this year's too. However, the farmers have my best wishes for a plentiful harvest for the year 1888. I trust, also, the farmers down your way are on the high road to fortune, and are being rewarded for their last year's labour and anxieties.

We have had a sensation lately in the way of a wreck in the Lyttelton Harbour. The May Queen, after having a successful voyage from Home, was quietly tacking up the harbour under command of the pilot, when she ran ashore and had to be abandoned. The vessel and her cargo were sold, or, I should Bay, given away. Again, the fine weather has been the means of helping to make the fortunes of the enterprising gentlemen who speculated at the sale ; for the cargo and a good part of the ship have been saved, and are being sold again. The probability is that the vessel will be got off ; at any rate what they have saved will well remunerate them. At the enquiry the pilot was blamed for taking the ship too near the rocks, he being in command at the time. The Bench at the enquiry expressed regret that the important functions of a pilot, even although he should have duly passed an examination for that position, should | at any time be confided to any person who has not been entrusted with the care of square-rigged ships, in some capacity greater, at least, than that of A.B. The certificates of all were returned.

The champion cyclist of the world (Fred Wood) has returned from Dunedin to Christchurch, after pulling off the £25 prize. To-morrow evening a meeting is to be held on Lancaster Park for his benefit. He then will endeavour to break the world's grass record for ten miles. Also, Brown (the other Englishman) will

I have a set-to with W. D. Bean (the N.Z. champion for three and five miles) for a trophy. This is on account of Bean being disabled at the first meeting of the season ; he has just recovered. It ought to be a very good race. Last night Wood made an endeavour to break the world's grass record for half-a-mile, but he was 3aec. behind. There was a strong breeze blowing at the time, otherwise he would have come very close to it, if not beaten it. In some handicap races on January 26, Wood was beaten by a local man, and could only get second prize. In another week the visitors return to Melbourne, then Home. They (as well aB our local boys) do not speak very well of the way in which they were treated in Dunedin ; but of Christchurch they think very highly indeed, and really didn't like leaving. There is no doubt about it, but we have treated them well, and at every meeting at which they have competed, crowds have rolled out to see them, and cycling has received quite an impetus.

I must compliment the ; Dunedin cricketers on their defeating the Christchurch men the other week. But I must put one word in for the latter, and that is that they had not their best team — in fact, to speak the truth, the team sent down was only a second-rate one, as the principal bats could not get away, although the bowlers were all there. However, the Dunedin men have been victorious, and for that they must receive credit. I only trust their luck will stick to them.

The Roman Catholics here have been having a lively time of it lately ; and the reason is easily explained. Bishop Grimes has arrived to take charge of the Catholic Cathedral. The reception he received at the railway station was immense, but the after reception in the church was "the one." Addresses were delivered by the dozen from the priests down to the school boys. Archbi3hop Redwood, from Weilington, was also there. The "small charge " of 53 and 2a 6d was made to witness the proceedings, also to attend when Bishop Grimes first addressed his flock. Thousands attended the ceremonies. The Bishop is a fine speaker, and no doubt the Catholics will now go ahead under his able direction. Until Bishop Grimes' arrival, our province was the only one in New Zealand without a Roman Catholic bishop ; but we have now the hold on the other provinces ; for we have two cathedrals, and the best thing we can do is to alter our name of " The City of the Plains" to "The Cathedral City." The Dunedin bowlers were up here last week, and suffered defeat in every match. They, however, from their own accounts, enjoyed themselves, and when the Christchurch bowlers visit Dunedin next year, they will then have an opportunity of trying conclusions on their own ground. The Hon. Mr Richardson, Minister of Lands, last week inspected the proposed line of rabbit fence in South Canterbury. Report says that it is all right now, and that the line will surely be erected. Doubts have lately been entertained as to whether the Government would erect it, although the wire has arrived. I was talking to a gentleman the other day re this fence, and he laughed at the idea, saying that he knew a place on the other side where one of these fences is erected where a rabbiter actually threw a bagful of rabbits over the fence ; and that if in any way it got broken down, in one night enough rabbits would get through to stock the country. In one way the rabbiter could not be blamed, for was it not his living 1 And could they not do the same here? However, I suppose the honourable gentleman knows best. There is also a lot of talk about importing stoats and weasels and ferrets. The rabbit 3 are a nuisance, and it is to be hoped something will be done to prevent their increase. What about M. Pasteur's cholera business.