The Daily News. SATURDAY, Dec. 26, 1903. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 266, 26 December 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, Dec. 26, 1903. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Seasonable greetings from the I'etono Chronicle office have coins to hand. At Uie JtotoiTin Court, a fewidoys ago, two Justices lined two natives £2 anvi .C.S 9s costs, for fishing! witliout a license. 'Wie Uairisori l?and played out in the streets on Christmas Eve, and later on rendered a number of carols at the residences of friends and supporters. Iliis is an innovation here, but the happy thougiht which prompted it is to be aommended. A rt'iivimk'i' is xi it'fi of the opening' performance this evening at the Thoatr<j Royal by the Now H'ymoutt Uraiivatie Club. To-night "The Rough Diamond" will be staged, and on Montfay niglrt "Tto B&ppy fair,"- '

A handy wall calendar from the Wc^tport Coal Company, for which Mr I'. Wells, of t/he figment Mills, is local agent, has reached this office. Hon. C. H. and Mrs Mills forward a neat folding card conveying the compliments of the season. The cai'd contains several views taken during tlx? recent cruise of the Mapourika arnongst the islands and is an interesting as well as pleasing memento. Upwards of elevt.ui thotus&'nW pluotojilraiphs of scenic subjects, n«U relating to Maori art aairi people—haive 'been sent o;ut by tin? Toiurist j Department during the last fifteen months. The police had an easy task in looking after the public on Thursday night. As showing the orderliness of the crowd it may be mentioned that the men in blue had no sterner work to perfonm than to occasionally urge a "move on"—for once without effect until the crowd was ready to go. Professor Hans Meyer says that his recent investigations jn the Andes indicate the former existence ofa glacial period in the tropical zone of South America. He found —at a height ol 12,000ft —a plaint ifniil|ar tot the met with ice walls up to 400 ft in thickness. The sacred concert given in the Theatre Royal last evening was poorly attended. Those present, however, were amply rewarded by the excellence of the programme placed beforo them, and it is to bo hoped that "The Cornwall? " may .'-see their way clear to repeat the concert at a later date when they would bo certain to obtain the public favour they deserve. Sir Joseph Wand has setnt the following telegram to Professor Ktotz :"I heartily congratulate you upon the consummation of the important work that you have been engaged in at Doubtless Bay. It is very satisfactory to lanow that Wellington ar*d New ZeaVa'rfd are now joined to tho chain carried by Cmroada ftom Uixxsnwieh to Australia ; a-nid I am only too pleased to know that tho officers of my department have extended to you auch services as call for the complimentary remarks contained in yo|ur telegram." A rather mysterious affair is reported in connection with a midnight train that left Lyttelton tor Christchurch ono nig]lit last week (says the Lyttelton Times). It is stated that there was only one passenger on board, a lady. The guard asked her if she was going right through, and as she replied in the affirmative, the train did not stop at any of the wayside stations. On arrival at the Christchurch station, however, it was foumd that the lady was not on board. She had disappeared aa suddenly, mysteriously, and completely aa tho professional lady who vanishes from the cabinet on the stage, and she had left no trace behind. The guard informed th« stationmaster. They took a handtrolley and went along the whole of the line from Christcivurch to Lyttelton, but tiheir search was fruitless, and they returned at 4 o'clock in the morning, without having found any clue to the lady passenger. The Rev. R. J. Campbell, in sipeaking- at the diimner of the London Press CUijb the other day, toad some stories to tell of the American! jouj-walist, biased on his recent experience in the United States. When he was takien to the New York Press Club, on the nineteenth story of a his guiide in , formed him that it was ais nea:' heaven as he supposed t!he clfubmc.j would ever get. The joHwrnalist also informed him tbait 'he " did not take much stock in the New Jerusalam business*" Mmseif, but fomotudnriMdedly djd not object to thiose wiho did. Regarding tShe religious world of New 1 ork, the opiniioui was expressed to Mr Campbell that- they were mostly "damned hypocrites," 'aitfd oil the latter suggesting that something equally nasty might perhaps be said of the ijourjiaK-sts, the retort came readily, " Oh, we're damned right enough, but we ain't hylpocrites !"

Indig<natnt " writes " I under--stand-the shipping companies during the last few days have refused to issuo steerage tickets, thus rendering it incumbent on intending travellers to obtain saloon tickets," and complains that this is unfair to the travelling public. A representative of journal was in f owned on inUi !' y ., at the sihippinig offices that there were several reasons whv tihis might be done. g G long as people came along and booked be ths beforehand they were accepted until the ship s complement was made up. It was obviously unlikely that steerage berths would be kept for prospective passengers, as this class invariably waits until tihp last moment before booking. In the stress of holiday time, therefore if there is no room left, steerage passages will not be booked. Then there is another phase of the matter. There are among the "secondclassers for'ard" some 'cute 'uns who, at a time like this, when a ship is crowded, invariably try to get aboard on a steerage ticket and then in the crush enjoy the treatment and privileges of the saloon Inquiry shows that "Indig-naaitV* complaint has no sound foundation, and it ifl tp pe hoped he will be satisfied with fJI(J explanation. The •tympanies are Quite within their rights if they da resort to this expedient for meeting a temporary rush.

Whiteley Memorial Churcfc— Ckristmas Sunday, December 27th. Preacher : Rev. J. N. Buttle. Subjects, morning, "The Advent" ; evening, "The Generatians of Jesus Christ." Christmas hymns.* Geo. G. Boulton, having secured the solo rights of refreshment booths at the Taranaki Races, a first-class luncheon will be provided ; also all kinds of fruit, confectionery, drinks, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, etc., at moderate prices. Have also on hira for picnic parties, cutlery, crockeryware, tables, etc.*

1 The Citizens' Life Assurance Oq„ of CastomhMMße Quay, Willing tan, is the Premier Industrial Ordinary Office of Greater lain, jurd as stich is first in m&g*ii tuicie, socur[(y, progress, economy, orglanisation, enterprise, so-umd finance, and prompt payment of claims. The Citizens' hois ftcdijuu'iatje'd funds mno to over £1,000,000, and a yearly income of £400,000, o,n*l it pays in claims per working day£2oo, Th« Citizens' issues life assurance policies of every description suited to every ajgo, evety circumstance, tuml every purse, and its latest contract secuies in aKitiiti<irn 1:011 ijK'nsa't io'll hi the ev«nt of accident or disease. No other Australianiian office has so irnuiy members, hasr malde saioh progress in its time, or has such flood prospects for individual polievholders, 1 '