NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11501, 6 February 1903, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good harvesting weather is now being experienced in the Nelson district. The Timaru Cemetery Board have decided to discourage Sunday funerals by rairing the fee for that day by ss. An effort is being nude by the residents of Fairton to obtain a track and grounds for the local athletes. The first shipment of the South Canterbury Dairy Company's butter has just been placed on the London market, and so highly pleased have the purchasers been with it, that they cabled yesterday with the object of securing the whole of the February output.

The Pleasant Point branch of the Fanners' Union have asked their President to call a meeting of the fanners of Booth, Canterbury to consider the threshing wages question. The rates fixed by millowners are 2jd for oats and 3d for wheat, and it is considered that the price for cats should be reduced by id per bushel. Following are the returns of etock slaughtered for human consumption at the Ashburton abattoir during the month of January:—Cattle 73, effected with tuberoulosi* 2. percentage 2.7, quality very good; sheep 796, condemned for all causes 2, percentage 25, quality fair; lunbt 99, quality prime; pig* 44, condemned for all caueea 2, per-

The beat of th« last three dayt $M£?€ ripened .-hundreds of acres of grain, farmers in the North Canterbury district?" I*'1 *' hafe all hands out harvesting. ■?&'"' * The Waimea (Jfelson) County Councjir ' '- has -resolved to levy a special rate of oni--/, sixteenth of a penny over the •α-nole Count-* *■ - fo. , tlie destruction of small bkde.. , ' Scene 13,000 head of sheep, bonght m. * ceatiy «t Tablelands, Wairaiupa, by Mr Perkins, a southern bnrer, will ahottir be -'. »hipped to Canterbury." , ~ , - ; Favoured by 'booutsM weather, the taool- - cip»l band flunceiit iant night on the H»« - ttrnda ttob largely attended. The Q«f|. ~ ". son Band, under Lieut, iiltrtoo, pkyed «b ' •' exotSlent prognunmo of nvuaic. i Reports received by the Agrkultnrtl D».* partuwnt at Wellington show that if Ui»~ 7 weather does not prove unfavourable, th» ' *'■ yield of grain for tie colony will be fully ' ~'\i oa lwge as.tliat of laet year. . } The engine of the 7.15 tram from tie ,- *? equiire to Sumner last night went off tW '. linos shortly befwv reaohing Radney bridet , * and almost reached the footpath before it - *''V was stopped. A portkm of the road «t* " s blocked tor a while, bat no damage woe dote s ' --'' 1 either to the paeaengew or the rolling stock ~" Tl» ifast dinar, iabing ranks of the pioaetri ■* , was .still further dfplet«d >-e*te«-day by the "-".' d*a.th at the age of eighty-four", oi iit'\ J. Gilbert. The dticeamed gentleman ajv ' rived in *he lliavaiiStome- in 1851, aod vaa - ': for »ame tfrne in the employ of (ihe lite Dr. Bwker. Sufbsequentlv he vru in tii* eervSce of Mr E. v. >VrigfTt.

U There were no leas than four picnics held y yesterday, and though the total number car- - » ritnl on the railways thus pretty huge, ho mishaps occurred. * The Richmond School ' oliildren, their parents, friends, und teacher*, 0 to the number of about live hundred, :- neyed to Amberley; the scholais and Bit- _ entg and teachera of Trinity Sunday School, s Lyttelton, picnicked at Opawu; about.fcur hundred attended rive butchers' picnic at ■ Pearson's Park, Oxford, and a large number t attended the bakers' picnic at Lyttelton. Mr Tom Pollard, who pawed through to ' ii Wellington last night, states that at the r end of his Wellington sea-son of twelve c nights, commencing thii evening, he'rotends returning io Christchuwti for a uv -. - 1 nights' season. This will be given in the' 1 Caniteifcuiy Hall, and ■will include thiw~ * ' , nights of "The Toreador," an opera ac» -<"" j here, and three nights of "Tapu," tl»7''- - s Maori opera, composed by Mr Allied HiJL _;%-'£<! j At the annual meeting of the ■ Union a liberal offer was mud* by MmpV^-v of tlie vio-pre.siden-ts who were pr«s«B{,>i»i ' 1 Mr Kaye, in pointing out the neccssitr.forC'jT i - new music, with no available funds, *»ug. ft ' I gefeted that a fund should be started, for -# ! tliis and said he -would gladly caa.'.js ; tribute 10gs. This was immediately iol- ii', j ' lowed by similar offers from Messrs Devt&ijg t ish Meares and J. A. Frostick for th*r*; ~ 1 same amount. An effort is now to .V" i made to increase this sum. , ,'& ', , At due conclusion of the business of tkft - < Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday, thtl* % Chahman, Mr A. Kave, rvferied tv the num*' • X ber of the old members of the Board who i f were retiring. Amongst, these was t 'tain MiOlatchTe, •wlioe© service on tnsc Board dated iback as for as 1882, and who " "f wixh the oldest member of the Board. Ha | •was a gentleman whose expert advice and '£ assistance on harbour matters would be very - 4 much missed by the Board. He (the Chair- , | man) also regretted the retirement of Messrs *. -] Connal, Pitcaifchly, Rennie, and Dunlep. f All these members .had rendered valuable J services to the Board und the distriofc gener. '-v ally. ' -"j By this time the danger of boarding ot\' ' , * aiightiog from trams or trains w&Qw "in! *■' \ motion should have been very firmly im- ,"•■'"'' pressed on the travelling public. But there- ' -~, are apparently people who trttll disregard - v | the waiwinga so frequently given. It is te. •,-, $ ported that a serious accident was narrowly,.. ~M averted on the Christchurch-Lyttetton line -*i| on Wednesday, when a young woman at*.tempted to get on the 10.60 trhin from telton at WooMon. She swayed for some *$$ time between tho two carriages until a I**^;'i&f--senger caught hold.of her, and got, litr- g|| safely on tne platform. " ]_fcj» Hie residents of thi*R city are »:vVS musical treat on Sunday, "when the &ttUt"jJ«in Island Bands, now competing at the "'a j terton contest, -wiß arrive and give a coB«r Wl cert in Victoria Square. The bands whfclU 1 jwill take part are the Woolston, Kattori«,7'£J| jNcrth East VaHey, and Southland Bit- Jsjg sttUon.. The returning bands -will t« ■»*'.;<« at Lyttelton by the'Lyttelton Brass Bwd,-;7j|| and by the Garrison Band on their arrM I'-m at the Christchuroh railway station. -Jft || is expected that Mr Ord Hums jriUjcds-, \ f| duct the concert in Viotoria Square, whWt_. .-# will commence about three o'clock. -"; {. » 4 7|| It is, understood -(says a WeffiMfa7^|§ correspondent) that the Publfc^e«lA'llb> f _. ~Ji | parttnent is contemplating mxne action »7vV^ compel the various Banks doing «jj in tne colony to eaU in more than is doe* at _w»eat tbeir papetylMg^^g The' step is considered meoessaiy in the fcwi^fcg terests of the public-health, and attentiMTl^l was drawn to the raa'tfter some time ago tx*r^3 the Ohamiber of Commerce. ' | .^VI; M a meeting of tlie Committee ofiWrsf?|i Musical Union, lield after the •imualme-it.'?.-^ ing, Mr F. M. WaKaoe was toMaasiwlfec^jg as conductor, Miss LueyjCojfc}.^;^ as leader of the orchestra, and Mis»"B]iw.gr-'4j Young pianiste, Owing \o the muaionl^|| Gounod's "Faust" not. being available »j!JZr t^Sf ! Melbourne, it was decided to place *'J tt WwSMaocabsetw" in rehearsal as mxm as ' •§^^sl j music could be obtained, and in the me«k7%<.V< time to place "St. Paul" in prabtlcs^^^p^ ; Mr W. Mimon and Captain J.P.s, presided at the Polioe Court 7 , day. Francis Dunn- was fined 5s r costs for inebriety, with the usual a^*** native, and ordered to pay 15s damages "%Jf||f§' breatirvg a cab. window, with the of 48 hours' imprisonment. For \ a first offender, who had been in charge ' a horee, was fined 20s and covts, aQA - second wos mulcted in the ueusjl 4]1 7 0 Bridget Htzwimmtons was con\wfed! discharged for drunkennetsg, and .tetft prison for. three months for using t^S^l i language. Jane Wilson pleaded "Goflsj(? £pjm to that*, of two sheets and other aiw?^ from Marian de Weston, and of a i belonging to Solomon Shah. The /?$;& was three months' impr'monmeni*. • iM rant to%e suspended provided th* ',<M stayed in the Solvation Army Home.?. . Before Jfr R. Bertham, S.M.. a«|% ■ Magistrates Court yesterday, judgms ' f?M was given for plaintiffs in the following; v cases, there beang no appearance of dfc- yjjgi fendaats: —A. C, Jonai>«n v JohnLanf, •-s£? claim £1 8s; T. A. Alsop (Mr Mills) f ; DonaM Fry, clalni £2 19* 4d; same Jt lllmmas Wilson, claim £1 lis 9d; same f \-SM Richaidi Austin, claim £4 16* Bd;'G. 6h*f rf , ai»d <Jo. v «. Rreeter," cliim £5 17s &$•<;?.*?& -. same v i>. Baxter, elufci £2 18s 2d; sws#rV| « yW. Cant, claim £4 18s Id; same rVg ; ''•/% ; Parker, claim £1 14»; D. MoCradt«f (» Leathern) v Thomas Jordao. claim £i/&.;,%5; Id. In tlie ca*> Thomas A. Akog '(jg- $J; .dills) r Edwin Spioer, senr., clami^W-i^;;. 1 . 18s, tue deftodant admiUed that the gee* had been got, but alleged that he had his wife money to pay the account, *ns|« had no ide« that it had reached -w high figure. Judgmen*. was giren

On his visit to the Cook Island* the Wellington "Tim**") Mr T. W. Government BiologUi, made exhetwtiw * : ||/j;~ I quaries into 4b© ei«ie of the fruit \1 there, and the prospect* a» to future ing. On the (surface a general lack of sjjj^. r -- i; tern was evident. Sioet of the grows^fJJfffi- Q\* in thte bonds of iraftivee, who, Ttcm & £.» oranges from t4*a other Pacific '•'■'■jjj'p' ] t planted in a jwoaiiecuous manner, •"f''v - 'T*'i ; - waited for the fruit. There was no s*l" .".*: tematio cultivation. j.ae harvesting i» ®»-;' i i ritd out with jus* a* little method, jj ' ,\ used tio be th* jiractice for tile natives I* ehalce the fruit off the tre«t end g«M«P \ it from tht> ground. As dvil«.<ata>n ao* - -_* ( ranced a boy wae wxA up t9ie tree with f ;;| , basket to pick the fruit and lower itw - [y A the There it mos tilled into sad* v M rijie Md green together, and sent off » ~')m th& dealer; and the native orcluirdist w*« dered why the price was so low. . -'Mjßji ping he» btea ail. along in the ,l»i»w-e» ifH/ tl» 4-mders. Of late years ft i«* have commenced planting, wrtli b f£"y% f method, ooi, their treei are not yet■ beM *gs|& Banana-igrowing hae been ceirie* oa 2^f^£ l ehnihtf lmts, the geneml de«i* get returns with the least poawhle . tro Sir Kirk's report has been *^^^^^aH

Telephonic communication with Greenpark b expected to be completed in about a fortBight.

GM'borne has collected, or has in view, CSOO for its (.We MemoriaJ Fund. fb* fund, with tho tiovenunt-nt mibsidy ol 8600, the-rt-fore, now eumds at £1000.

As the result of a surrey conducted wi Gisbome on Wednesday by Capt. Davidson, Ihe barque Gladys will be taken to Auckland. Her .agents in Gisborne were yesterday negotiating for the service* of the tug.

The jury which investigated the crreumetances attending the death of Alice Maud Harris at the Hospital on Saturday did not accept the fets payable to them, but gave tlie total sum to the general funds of the Hospital.

The petition setting forth the objections to the eevfranee of a portion of the borough of St. Albans hae been forwarded to his Excellency the Governor. It contained a large number of signatures, and it is thought that in consequence of the objections ruised his Excellency wfll not grant the prayer of the original petitioners. An old Thames identity (says the "Advertiser"), coiwereing on the early mining days of T'lhuik-s, referred to an incident trhich occurred in connection -with a. deal in Caledonian share*. For a £20 debt a well-known Thnmesite accepted in settlement 150 thledouhuw, aiki two week* later lie sold the parcel at the rate of £250 a tbare, gaining in round nunibera for his £20 no Jess than £37,500. The friends and supporters of Mr George Witty, M.H.R. for Kiccarton, liave invited Lint to a social gathering to be held at the Canterbury Hall on Thursday evening next. Mr P. Waymouth, the representative of the BJcwwton district on the Christehurcli Tramway Board, will preside. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones has consented to "be. present, »nd the Hon. W. 0. Walker hopes to be able to be there also. Nearly all the Canterbury members liave accepted invitations to attend. In addition to a musical programme hriet speeches will be delivered by the Minister and other*. The General Committee -will meet at TattersaU'e Hotel at eight o'clock to-morrow evening, and make final arrangeaieiite for the s:>oiaJ. Mr David Tomiock hae teea a>ppointed by the DunedSn City Council, out ot 95 application*, to tine -position of -working nuperin,t«ndent of the local Botanic Gardens and: city wwrves, at a salary of £200 a year and free house. Ha is at present officer in diarga of the Agricultural School, Dominic*, Wart Indies, and come* with a (strong iwcommendation from the authorities of the Royal Botaaio Gardens, at Kew, London. He entered the Kew Gardens in 1896, having previously been engaged for about 10 jrean in private gardens in England. In October, 1898, he was appointed (on the raoommendatian of the Kew authorities) by ti» Secretary of State for the Colonies to the pott of agricultural,instructor in Domiinua, >West Indies. During the first 18 months he wee attached! to the Botanic Garden then>, and acted for the curator for five months while the curator was away in England. In 1900 he was appointed to the charge of the Agricultural School, and ■frae engaged for six months clearing bueih, getting land into cultivation, and preparing the buildings. In Ms application for the Ihinedin position Mr Tannock was strongly recommended by the curator of the Kew Gurdene, and also 'by Sir W. Thieelton Dv€P, the director of tJie Kew Gardens, Who said that the applicant had "exceptional ability, both as cultivator of plants and in •nanaflwnent of men." The original of Sir Thiseuon Dyer's testimonial wae included in the papers forwarded , by Mr Tannock The " MeCormick" machines are the only maeliines that will stand a technical fteawhlight and the full examination of the Jarmera , eye. 6418

How unpleasant it is when your friends call oa you unexpectedly, and you have nothing really nice for afternoon tea. Carr's Wafer Biscuits ore dainty and refreshing, "- and are the best "standby." They will keep fresh any length of time. Price Is 6d per ib. Wardelfs. 2

The crowds that continue to attend Beath's great drapery sale is a proof of iU popularity. Further enormoua reductions. Great sacrifices in inantlea, millinery, and underclothing to-day. Cashwere costume skirts 25s for 16s lid, black Jijcketu 22s 6d .for' 5s lid, three-quarter Dravenette jackets, new shapes, 36s for 23s fed. 27b 6(1 capes for be lid, trimmed hats 3*l 6d far 6i lid, French sailors 6s lid for 3s 6d; ranamas, 6s lid for Iβ, eailore 5a lid for Iβ, α-tsetii, double busk, 4b 6d for 2s 6d, woven combinations Aα lid for 2n lid pink wool vesta Is 6d for 9d. See win- ( dowe to-day. xßeath's sale. a

Our cycle repairing capacity is 30 to 60 machines daily. We have the moet complete manufacturing plant in Australasia, therefore we can effect the most intricate repairs faithfully and reasonably. Oatee, Lowry and Co., "Zealandia" Cycle Works, Chrietobnroh. 4745

3,000,000 Envelopes, well tuaorted; 2000 teams note and letter papers, good and cheap; folio papers, every size and, quality. Thousands account books all tisee and bindings, How on sale by H." J. Wood and Co., at uaipreoedentedly low prices. Office requisites and stationers' sundries, of best quality. Large new stock of photo, albums and photo, frames. Thousands of •Hew books, just landed, also immense assortment of cheap reading. A great sale of looey goods npstairs. Inspection invited ny H. j> Wood and Co., Stationers' Hall, High street. Remember the whole stock b to be sold off. 2362

If yon have, the faintest suspicion that your eye* are not jurt right, if they bother you in any way, it's beet to have them examined at once. Do not go to the Average optician or spectacle seller, for h« i> unable to distinguish between optical defects and diseases, but consult John R. Procter, 180 High street, Christchuron, who will give you a thorough examination free of charge. 2115

"Bargains of a most unusual nature •till continue to attract unusual attention v> the D.I.C. All departments vie with «ach other to give the most tempting attractions. Whether it be a costume or a pair of boots, a kitchen chair, or a splendid piano or organ, a common China t*a »«t, or a real Doulton dinner service, •very one is a bargain, and gives full satisfaction to the buyer. The sale continues until further notice." 21

Wanted Known—Jewellery sale, for one month, of watches, clocks, rings, brooches, •od all other classes of jewellery, sold at greatly reduced pricea. K. Qrieshaber, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 155 Colombo •b*et 7403

Bicydee for 1903. Just arrived, ehipnent ex c.». Turakina, of new Hudson's i«t*et•models. Ladiee and gente. Adami Bun Ojde Depot, 136 Lower High street. 43

To hotels and boardinghow-keepers.—-Fletcher Bros, quote wholesale price* ior tumblers, cutlery, apoone, forks, tea and emner sets, glassware, lwueehold ironmongery, etc. In fact everything you want »t wholesale prices, at Fletcher Bras., direct importers, Loner High Street.—<Advt.)

Have you seen the '"New Century?" If Hot, you do not know to what a high ■tandard of excellence the typewriter has attained, and you should do so at once. The company have opened a branch at 117 Colombo street. Machines will be •ent on approval to responsible firms 9