NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11483, 16 January 1903, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lieutenant Schwartz has been gazetted to the lieutenancy in the Ashburton Guards, vice Captain Fred Tucker.

The deep well for the Kaiapoi public bath is now down 342 feet. A sufficient supply*of water has not yet been obtained.

By the express last night a number of fanners and others interested arrived in order to be present at the wool sales today.

Mr G. W. Forbes, a candidate lur the Hurunui seat at the last election, has forwarded to the returning officer a return of his election expenses, which totalled £64 7s 3d

A Palmerston North telegram states that at a meeting of tbe Oyole Trade held in ths* town last night, it was agreed to reduce the prices of tyres and accessories in sympathy with the lower quotations of wholesale firms.

The Deputy Registrar of the Old Age Pensions (Christchurch) desires to intimate to "Justice" that the pensioner referred to in her communication has refunded the pension received since the legacy was obtained, and the pension has been canpelled.

A New Plymouth telegram states that an important sale was negotiated by Mr Newton King of 1860 acres of land at Warm in the estate of the late Mr William Bayly. The purchase price is over £25,000, and the purchaser is Mr George Riddtll, a local man.

An effort is being made to get a stataonmiasber appointed to Fairton, and a post and telegraph office opened far the convenience of the residents. It is undetstood that the resident-, of Dromore are also moving to obtain similar conveniences.

The Northern Caledonian Society held a meeting at Amberley yesterday to consider whether the annual gjathering should be held, as usual, in February. It was decided, owing to tbe late harvest, to hold the meeting on December 16th.

The annual parish fete in connection with the Rangiora Church of England was held yesterday, in the. Rangiora Recreation grounds, and was well attended. Cricket, tennis, and other games were indulged in, and the function passed off very successfully.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand institute of Surveyors was held in the Land Board room at the Provincial Council Chambers yesterday, when the annual report was adopted and officers were elect, ed for the ensuing year. ,A dinner was held at Warner's Hotel in the evening.

Dr. Coughtry, who has charge of the fever hospital at Dunedin, considers there is no reason for a scare, the majority of the scarlet fever cases being of a mild type. The establishment of a permanent fever hospital is a matiter which will have to be faced sooner or later. The protest from Caversham against the Immigration Barracks there being utilised for the purpose will tie forwarded to the health officer, under whose direction tbe City Council has been acting. Dr. Coughtry considers the barracks an unsuitable place for a hospital, and depreeatee their being used for any lengthy period. 'Mr Sidey, the member for Caversham, has telegraphed the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and Sir J. G. Ward to have the hospital discontinued forthwith.

iliss Arrow, one of the New Zealand teachers who went to South Africa, in a letter, written on December 2nd, to a firiend in New Plymouth, says:—"We are hoping to be sent to farm schools, but nothing is settled yet. We are to be graded acoo*d'_ng to our certificates and experience, and salaries depend on tbe grade. Of course, we ere all anxious to see the list, but it will not be out for a few days. Teadhers are to be asked to complete a, three years' term of service, and at tne end of --at time a free return passage will be grafted, while a resohrt-ion is on foot to grant those satisfactory teachera who wish to return six month's' leave, but that is not «e*tl_ed yet, and may be thrown out at the nexrt meeting. There is a #reai difficulty about settling the farm schools; it seems impossible to get the necessary appliances and funrit_re from Capetownrand leacbere have been waiting here for wee&s, and cannot get aw«r."

Our Dnnedln ©correspondent telegraphs that Mr Taylor, Uie senior member for Christchuroh," has consented to be present in Dunedin at the opening ceremony in connection with the Central Mission Sisters' Home, and will also deliver an address in the Garrison Hall.

During last year a Masteaton poultry keeper obtained 3600 eggs from 20 fowls, from which about Qs per hen was cleared.

A meeting of the Greater Christchurch Committee wi.l be held to-day, at 4 p.m., at the City Council Chambers. *

A somewhat peculiar incident in connection with the Tramway Board election is stated to have occurred. A gentleman sought an engagement as a poll clerk, but being *old there was no vacancy said, "Very well; I will let myself be nominated as a candidate." And ho did.

The meeting of the voluntary contributors to the Sanwjritan Home, which was to have been held at the City Council last night, to elect representatives of the Board of Trustees, has been postponed till next Thursday night.

Comment is often made on the uncertainty of the land ballot. A representative of the "Stratford Settler" heard of one man making no less than 32 applications for land in eight years, and he has not yet succeeded in getting a section.

The steam trawler Napier was fairly successful in her first trip from Lyttelton. She started on her second trip yesterday, end the fish caught were pl*_oed in the freezing chamber a. Lyttelton, as th. price offered for them by' Christchurch fishmongers was, in Mr Suluvan's opinion, too small-

According to the Canterbury correspondent of the "Kumara Times," a new coach sen-ice is to be started almost immediately between Springfield and Otira, and will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, making the through trip in one day. It \»i.i thus cater tor the public on the days the mail couches do not, run. The promoters are stated to be Messrs James O'Malley, of the Otira, and Mr George O'Malley, of Dartieltl.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr R. .beetboni, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs by default in the following cases: — A. Riaoh (jxr Cassldy) v A. C. Johnston, £1 10s; Langdon and Steel v A. Lee, £2 10s; Montgomery's Terrace Hydraulic Sluicing Co., Ltd. (Mr Maude) v David Murray, £45; George Wilson v William Barber, £2 Is Id; H. Thompson (Mr Hunt) v W. Jarden, £1 10s.

In reference to the "thirds" due from sales of Midland railway lands, it has been ascertained that the area sold in the Waipara road district is 104,939 acres, of a total value of £17,605 19s 9d, and the Waipawa Road Board should receive £5868 13s od. The matter is now being gone into as regards Ashley, Kowai, Oxford, and byre/ton Road Boards, which are entitled to similar large sums, and action is being token to have a full enquiry made, and the amount credited to the local Boards.

The £>ydenham schoolboys, encamped a* Governor's Bay, are having a good tim«t. On Sa.turp.ay night they had a "sing-song," whieb they thoroughly enjoyed. At the Sunday service there was a large attendance. On Tuesday the boys were the guests of Mr L. Wilson, at Teddington, and were royally entertained. Before leaving, tbe boys gave three hearty cheers for Mr Wilson, and in silence raised their hats in memory of their late benefactor, Mr Gtbbie.

There is on view at the offices of Messrs G. G. Stead and Co. a plant of giant ItaUan ryegrass, grown at Tad Tapu from seed supplied by the firm. The seed was sown last autumn, fed off, and then the paddock was shut up for a crop of seed. The plant that is now to be seen baa 184 flowering stems, each averaging 28 spibelets, and containing an average of 12 seedß, thus giving 61,824 seeds for tbe whole plant. The stems are nearly three feet in length, and the prolific nature of the plant, both in the amount of feed and seed that it would produce, is evidence of its value to the farmer

Representations were made to Sir Joseph Ward in Auckland last week as to the desirableness of discarding the use of seated waggons "or* holiday traffic. To carry tbe public in carriages in various parte of the colony would, the Minister pointed out, oost £1,500,000, and for Auckland alone tbe outlay involved would amount to half a million sterling. To accommodate these carriages, which would only ba used on le*s than a dozen days in the year, special storage would be required, and there they would lie rusting and decaying for want of use.

Ait the Lyttelton Police Court yesterday, before Messra W. Cook and S. R. Webb, J.P.s, George Maier, who was charged with deserting from the barquentine La Bella, at Timaru, was remanded till January 23rd, to appear at Timaru. George Salt and W. S. Blandford, boys who had run away from Burnbaan, were charged with stealing from the yacht Yvonne, at Cass Bay, a cribbage hoard, etc., valued at 6s. Tfiey were convicted and sentenced to receive twelve strokes of a birch rod. They were also charged with running away from the Burnham Industrial School, and were ordered to be "sent back.

A satisfactory financial report was presented at the meeting of the General Committee of the Lyttelton Regatta, who tmet on Wednesday. It was decided, to write letters of thanks to Mr A. Kaye, Chairman of the Harbour Board; to Mr I. Gibbs, Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Co., for having granted the barque Culcita as flagship; to Captain Falconer, for his successful submarine explosion; and to Mr Bell, for lending the Committee the use of his Union oil launch. Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R., Commodore of the Regatta, invited the Committee and officials to a social gathering, to take place on the evening of the final meeting of the Committee.

Mr Seddon, replying to "London Tourist" in a letter to the "Wewt Coast Times," says, inter alia: —"As to shortening the time between Christchurch amd Greymouth, there is no doubt it can be done, by, in summer months, running a mail train from Christchuroh at seven in the morning, reaching Springfield at nine o'clock. Breakfast at Springfield, and starting again at 9.30 by coach and re_a_ching Otira Gorge at 8.30, passengers remaining there for the night, and leaving by early train the following morning, reaching Greymouth about 10 a,m. In the winter passengers could leave Christchurch for Springfield over night, staying the night at Springfield, and by eai_y starting of coach th. lokowing morning could reach Otira Gorge the same night." In a valuable report on the use of oil on roads in America, the Town O.erk of Sydney says-.—"With refenenoa to the comparative cost between oil and water, in one district the average cost of treating 12_ miles of road with oil for one season was £33 10s per mile, including labour and all incidental expenses. In another district it is jrtated that the streets can be efficiently sprinkled with oil at a cost not exceeding £42 per mile, whereas watering in the same district costs about £110 per mile, and the opinion is freely expressed that, generally speaking, the watering of roads in America cost* four tames as much as the cost incurred in oiling." In its New Zealand notes the "Australasian" prints the following paragraph: — "As to the Opposition, it will be remembered that last session they had no leader and no official organisation. The result of the election has been to put fresh life into them, and next session we shall see them in formal fighting array. As to a leader, it is generally understood that Sir William Russell will not be put forward, and - that the party's choice will lie between Mr James Allen (member for Bruce), Mr John Duthie (member for WeLington), and Mr Massey (member for Franklin). Of these Mr Duthie is the hardest b.tter in debate, but bis manner and views axe rather too uncompromising to make the most successful leader in the present somewhat delicate position of parties. I, therefore, expect to see Mr Jlastey elected. He is a man of much tact end personal attraction, and thus likely to draw in recruits to the party."

Sweep promoters (say* the "Argus") may communicate withwHSg they like, but mail matter cannot ha jSJH warded to them ,by post. The tion thus imposed upon the sweep b2ltl ness of Tattenealls in Tasmania ha*. t3B_ local postal authorities informed Mr _§§§ T. Scott lately, resulted in & 02|9 siderable loss of stamp revenue, tbaatfil the decline has not been as great seiSll at first anticipated. People in the si_____fS States have, it appears, tried a thoua2l| and one devices to elude the TigilaaoTdri the postal officials in order to send — J?-* entry fees through the post, but wM_i_sfc* success. The last attempt mads was mJ ticularly ingenuous. The prohibited hL.' ter was forwarded under cover to »« Deputy-Postmaster-General at Hobeiir who was asked to look after ft. N«d2 :' to say, it was quickly returned to t&*" sender.

The Federal authorities (writen a JjakN bourne piper) are at least oomisteat »<■' their inconsistencies. The Indian wn. , chants who wanted to introduce a oo* from India, so that their caste might ftfe. be destroyed, were denied this privilege They were told that the Immigration X*«< stric-ion Act prohibited him. But what-;" the special uommissioeer for the Ohio hibition, Mr Barrett, arrives, accompanied oy a Japanese servant, no objection is tatsea to the latter, provided that he leaves At*, tralia with his master. Several felt hifc.' tens, under contract, entered the Common wealth without demur, but immediately ttfc labour organisations clamoured the Pittas Minister seriously considered whether be should not. exclude other hatters who w. rived shortly afterwards. It appeaia thai two skilled employees, under contract to a Victorian company, landed this week, aid immediately proceeded to the scene of their labour.. Their entry was not challenged. Ballantyne'e Sale is usually taken cotioa of by the drapery world, and its opening is g.'ierally an item of interest to th* large < iientelie of Dunstable House. Neither is a o'jx'umStance to be wondered at, fof the drapery business is a trade demand. ing the drastic olearance measures the proprietors of Dunstable House have proved themselves ..>- believers in, and adopt' when their clearance sake -tie announced. The sale opens to-day, at 10 a.m., tad given favourable weather there should be the usual attendance. 24 ' We have much pleasure in calling at. tention to the D.l.C.'s oig sale catalogut in to-day's issue of "The Press." Bas firm is apparently determined to spare as - effort to make their sale a huge suooeaa. • They advertise that they initend putting up a record for Christchurch, and we i_s> licve that they will do it. The sail' catalogue is the largest vet issued by this _ firm, every page is chock full of tempUnj " lines,_ and in addition the oompany advertise that every article in their inunemt stock will be marked at stTaightout aait ' prices. To housewives or those a/boot ig furnish, we should recommend a visit U the D.l.C.'s great clearing sale. Tin • D.I.U. advertise that their warehouse wfl. be closed all day on Monday, 19th, U order to prepare for sale, and rS-opeuei on Tuesday, 20th, at 10 o'clock. 28 ; Ladies' good kid gloves at. ll£d per put is certainly a most ridiculous price, but \{ is perfectly true, for our readers buti only to look to-day into one of Meant Beath and Co.'s large plate-glass window to see for themselves. The usual price*, we understand, are from 3s lid to 5a 6d, and the whole lot will be deared at &* absurd price of ll_d per pair. Tht solours are tans, browns, and beavers, uA the sizes are SJ, 7, I{, 7_, and 7J. lUce our advice and shop early, for such a jeiden opportunity oannot possibly ocewf, again. « Beath and Co., Ltd., Chafe*!, street, Christchurch. Sale now on. Bargains in every depairtniient. 3 The "MoCbrmick" reaper and binder .is ; the binder of binders. It is the hinder you want. 3941

Drink "Crown*' Brand Teas and save «B;,J coupons for prises. Every packei and contains coupons at the rats of one cowjeaglj to eveiry half-pound of "Crown" Brand See display of prizes in window, mdudinf-j handsome piano, to be given away for cember, 1902, competition. John Hall M_U Co., Ltd., late Hubbard, Hall and Co., _*#' Milner and Thompson's, (Advt.) || 3,000,000 Envelopes, well assorted; 2QOO| reams note and letter papers, good *nd| cheap; folio papers, every size and quM| lity. Thousands account books, all *w4l and bindings, now on sale by H. J. Woowl and Co., at unpreoedentedly low prioesl| Office requisites and stationers' sundries, 'oJ§ best quality. Large new stock of photo* albums and photo, frames. Thousands ofi new' books, just landed, also immense asj sortment of cheap reading. A great sale off fancy goods upstairs. Inspection invited! by H. J. Wood and Co., Stationer 8 * HaQl High street. Remember the whole <rtotn| js to be sold .off." , 2362§

Wanted Known—Jewellery sals, for «m month, of watches, clocks, lings, brooches! snd all other classes of jewellery, sold *m greatly reduced .prices. K. GriealMiberA] Watchmaker, and Jeweller, 155 Colombo;! street. ' *rtw| If you have the faintest suspicion '""•fl your eyes are not just right, if they Wf-S*| you •in any way, it's best to have *"*_K| examined at onoe. Do not go optician or epectaclc sefler, is unable to distinguish between opt»«elj| defects and diseases, but consult Jotavi&Jg Procter, 180 High street, who will give you It thorough exa__unai**wj free of chare** ''^S Bicycles for 1903. Just arrived, sw|j ment ex e.s. Turakina, of new Hoi-iraj. latest models. Ladies and gents. A4p_*| Sun Cycle Depot, 136 Lower High *>?§| Jam Jare.—Mason's extra strong glass jam jars, with patent air-tight A*MkJ quarts 4s 6d doz., half gallon 7s doz. Jaw Hall and Co., late Hubbard, Hall aiid 4s&j next Milner and Thompson's, Ohi_ttcbaM_yfj -(Advt.) ; --?|| It is a singular coincidence that JliJ* most graceful lady cyclists are inT-__|JwJ mounted- on Zealandia bicycles, miupfjgo tured by Oates, LoWry and Co., and "Pi fact.is now generally recognised.—(Adwql Those who have friends in ttt *_M| Country could not do better than **m them one of Messrs Tribe and Co.'s P*>*i screens, depictive of New Zealand flora t *_f| rare Maori carvings. We nndemU-d ***R| are given away free to every purchasf* tm the value of 20s and upward.. -:||| For a really reliable watch the can do no better than call at M. Ss-rfaiiaa and Son, Cashel street. Special Xtai 12 ponths' guarantee, 25*. "*^ T j!!&M stock of. greenstone goods ia well Wolf * 4 _fll spection. Those requiring * B WE« B dress rings should see their choice a«kutWjj| Dinner and tea sets.—Fletcher Bros. WSl| just opened up another fine MU-it-OSft-iff dinner sets .from 19« 6d upwards, *<* iSI from 7s 9d, bedroom sets from l*_g|| China cups and saucers, W. and G., *|ffl|| L tink and celeste, 3 gold lines, S* 6d,JHgg| .chite earthenware la 9d, all at h-_H«d*g|| Fletcher Bros., China and gla_wat>j|f|| loiters, Lower High Street, (3ix_iit*A»*|l|| —(Advt.) -'^m