CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2326, 20 October 1908, Page 4

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

[Piusss Association .]

THE CYCLE THIEF

CHMSTCHimCH, Oct. 19.. Tho most barefaced the its* or Mcycles are being reported in Chmv cliurch with a frequency that is becoming alarming, and oil the evi* dence points- to the neccssity or oAvners of bicycles keeping a sharp look-out, on their property. Tavo instances or the depredations of tho bicycle truer were brought to light yesterday. A gentleman Avho avus crossing the Oarlton bridge observed a bicycle lying in the river bcloAv, and near .it a bundle tied in an ordinary sack. He landed the collection, and found that the machine (a lady’s) had been despoiled of the handlebar, saddle, drying Avlieel, cranks, and pedals. Ihc bicycle-seemed to be a. fairly new one, and apart from the removal of these parts and the damage caused by -its immersion,', no harm had been done. The contents of the bag, hoAvever, shoAA'ed that a bicycle thief of the worst ltincl had been .at work. In this case a man’s bicycle had been taken and simply knocked -to pieces probably Avith an axe. The tlnef apxiarently wanted only Avheels, and lie Uad simply carried them and bundled the battered .remains in the sack and thrown the bundle into tho river, The police took possession of the recoA r ereil property and steps Avill be taken to find the oAvners.

• OUR NAVAL PROTECTORS. ... H.M.S. Encounter arrived at Lyttelton from A’karoa on Saturday. She will -remain at Lyttelton for 11 days, and Avill sail on Wednesday, 2S,th inst, for Nelson. After a short stay at that port the warship goes on to Wellington. During the time she has been on the coast the Encounter has visited many ports, including Napier, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Westport, West Coast Sounds, Bluff, Ste\yart Island, Port Chalmers, Timaru, and. Akaroa.

H.M.S. Pioneer, third-class cruiser, left Lyttelton this morning for Akaroa, and on the Avay round Avas to carry out torpedo and firing practice. She Avill return to Lyttelton on Friday. *

THE GREAT SOUTHERN SHOW.

It is expected that the space applied for by. agricultural implement makers at the Canterbury A. and P. Association’s Metropolitan Show will total close upon 70,000 square feet. In all the Department of Agriculture has made 30 entries of North Island sheep, representing about 40 sheep, for the approaching Metropolitan Slioav of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. The -breeds entered are English Leicesters, Souihdowns, and Hylands, and they are coming from the Department’s experimental farm at Ruakira, Waikato. Fifteen entries. haA'e been receh-ed from a New 'Zealand breeder, representing abgnt 20 sheep. These North Island entries Avill impart considerable additional interest in the competitions in the sheep classes.

A FAVORABLE SEASON. Saturday and yesterday were partcularly fine days, and the sun shone out steadily and brightly throughout each of the tivo days. In the shade the thermometer reached 66 deg on Saturday and 69 deg yesterday. “Canterbury in her best spring attire” fit-ly describes the agricultural districts at the present moment. On all hands there is a- wealth of grass for the flocks and herds, and crops of Avlieat, oats and barley coA'er the broad acres with a mantle of greenness and freshness inspiring sanguine hopes ' for the future harvest-. The indications regarding tho grain yields and the dairy returns were never more promising. Sheep and lambs are an most forward condition, and some of the farmers have shearing. K

-tTepers. Both the Maoris Avho AA-erc brought doAATi from the North Island a- few weeks ago, and the white patient on Quail Island are reported to bo doing Avell. As the right eye of the Maori Avas badly affected by the disease it- Avas thought the sight of the left eye might be endangered. An operation was performed about a fortnight- ago, the right - eye being removed altogether, and the patient is uoav progressing very satisfactorily. LABOR AND POLITICS.

At the meeting of the Canterbury trades iand -Labor Council on Saturday, the .Prime Mi niter wrote statin e; that the representations made by the Council regarding the branding of goods made in JSoaa* Zealand Avas under the consideration of the Government, Iho Minister of Rnilwa vs Avroto stating that the question of the raihvay employees Avho left the service in 1881 could not be, considered, as they left through dissatisfaction. 1 lie cases of the men Avho -left in IS9O would be dealt Avith by Parliament.

A POINT OF LAW. An interesting point of law in reS ait -1 to the admission of evidence was raised at the Magistrate’s Court tlis morning. The evidence of the defendant liacl been taken in Southland, and counsel on liis behalf objected to being put into Court bv the plaintiff. He submitted that the evidence was practically the property of the defendant, and if tho plaintiff could not prove his case then the defendant need not put the evidence in at all. He argued that because the evidence had been taken at a distance the defendant should not be' placed at a disadvantage. The defendant should not put it in until the plaintiff had closed his case. Mr. H. Bishop, S.M. the section of the Evidence Act; which was to the effect that evidence taken at a distance was deemed .to be be lb re the Court'./He said that his practice in such matters coincided with that of Dr. McArthur’s, of Wellington, but was entirely opposed to the method of the Magistrates at Auckland and Dunedin. It was an important point, and he would like to consider it.

PERSONAL. ‘

Sub-Inspector Dwyer arrived in Christchurch on Saturday. He as engaged oil* private At; present ho is Acting-Inspector in .Hawke’s Bay district, and he intends to return North to-morrow,'