CHRISTCHURCH NOTES

Temuka Leader, Issue 2407, 4 October 1892, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES

(From a Correspondent)

Believing that many of your readers are not indifferent to the doings of their neighbours in Christchurch, but that they are, to a certain extent, at all events interested therein, I send you these few jottings. First of all let me congratulate them on the improved appearance of their journal —The Temuka Leader. When a newspaper enlarges, it is generally a Bign that the district in which it circulates is on the advance, and that business is looking up generally. I trust that the enterprise shown by the proprietor is being fully appreciated and rewarded. Our footballers are jubilant. Very few here had the remotest idea that they would put Otago through, but the unexpected happened in this case, and now our " kickists " have the gratification to know that they walked through one of the best teams in New Zealand, and thus wound up the season. And what a reception they got on their return ! The Governor couldn't have asked for better. Cheer after cheer rent the air while they took their seats in a drag, the streets were lined, nearly one hundred bandsmen played them to the Commercial, men were substituted for horses, and thus the crowd, cheering and singing, band playing, &c, triumphantly threaded its way along to the hotel, where they the footballers soon comfortably ensconsed, and no doubt had a good time. That sad boating fataliry at Sumner caused a lot of comment on the lax way in which the attempt to rescue was gone about. It is generally believed that all hands would have been saved had energetic efforts been made when the accident was first noticed. It must be patent to any one that when it is reported that a boat has capsized, it is not the thing for those on shore to commence scanning the water with a glass. Surely, when a boat is in readiness, such as was the case, and the pilot at hand, it •would have instinctively occurred to him to launch it with the utmost speed, and to set out with the least possible delay, and when out, then traverse the water with a glass so as to locate the whereabouts of the distressed men. But the whole thing seems to have been gone about in the most heartless and cool manner, as if it were an everyday affair. Of course your readers are all familiar with the particulars. It only adds Borrow to those whose hearts are stricken to know that it might have been otherwise. The contemplation of the scene is sad. In the morning of life, witli high hopes for the future, and full of life and energy, they set out, without the suspicion of an accident, but ere the noon has passed, they, -whose morning sky was , enclouded, are struggling and battling with the angry waves, and soon are fastened to that unknown region from whence no traveller ever returneth, and those dear to them are "missing the touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice that is still." Doubtless your readers have heard ere this of one Worthington. This individual, who for sometime worked on obtrusive lines, has " come out of his shell" and is causing some uneasiness in ministerial circles, and not without reason, for he is emptying some of the churches. He has erected a beautiful building, the Temple of Truth, said to be the finest in the colony as far as regards acoustic properties, and has got a congregation of over a thousand persons, who are on the increase, and is now sailing along in magnificent style. The Temple is beautifully done up in the interior, and altogether is a nice building. The Christain Evidence Society, of Christchurch, is bringing its heavy guns into position, and is bombarding this new religionist in a severe style, with pamphlets filled with startling revelations, and it is said, there are more to follow, that "half haßn't been told." The charges,.,if true, are of his doings in America, and are certainly " shady," and it only remains to be seen how long he will stand the fire. Indeed, it was freely rumoured in the city, only the other night, that he had bolted, but he is here yet, and perhaps he may be like the editor "Here to Stay." Certainly, the erection of so costly an edifice dosen't look as if he meant to leave in a hurry. The society looks on his teaching as the direst blaspheny, and says it ia a vexed question how the Christians of Christchurch can be gulled with such quackery. Various are the lumours respecting him. One is that a wealthy lady, who was about to leave here on a trip Home, but who in the meantime heard Mr Wort'lington speak, donated him £IOOO t>wardsthe erection of the Temple. I don't know if she took her intended trip, or whether she changed her mind after becoming enamoured to the tune of a cool thousand. Another is that he is sending to America for his wife, and that the woman ]je lives with in his sister, though she is looked upon n his wife. I don't know if perambulators are so common in Temuka as to be nuisance, but they are here. High Street on a Saturday afternoon is fairly Hooked, and it is thought that pedestrians will have to take the street, and leave the path for the " Prams " and the police. Nothing will persuade these servants and others to take their precious loads to the gardens. They seem to have a pcrculiar fascination for getting the wheels of prams amongst the legs of the "lords," who say they prefer the middle of the road to that sort of treatment. The police don't like to move them on, as that would entail themselves doing the same. What are we to do 'I A correspondent draws attention to what might have been a " fatal" accident the other night in the Square, when a young man, as young men will do, war lolling against the fence at the Cathedral, when, bang came a pram between his legs, and he well, nearly fainted, and if it hadn't been for for the kindnes of a bystander in giving him a stick to prop him up it is hard to say what would have happened. We intend to make a law after this that all prams out at night must carry a light the same as all other nuisances. The Army Lasses Band has returned from their tonr of the colony, and have done remarkably well, getting nearlv ■ ffar "" for. the flew «-- months " blowing " which they indulge.] in has agreed with them, as if appearaifces go for anything, they arp fa good fettle. T'hpy fis&vf large attendances at the barracks all day on Sunday here. There has been no dearth of amusements of late, and the fun is going to be kept up, as several shows arq boafced to appear shortly. The Bampiers opened tin Saturday night, a.nd. scored a big success,