The Brussels Post, 1894-7-27, Page 1Vol. 22, No, 2,
REP 4QDGE NURSERY
AND !T$ ()INNER,
The Soutlhantpbou, (English) Observer,
of Jame leth, publishes the following
n
very interesbieg account of Alderman W.
B. Rogers' and bis home. Mf'. Reefers le
a brother, of our worthy t0wnelnan,F. O,
Rogers, and in many respects the append.
ed article would apply to him as well as
bis bi'abher over the sea
Alderman W, H. Rogers, r. P., is one
of the beet lcnownmon Sr, Sonthanhpton,
and probably 110 one is more bi,ghly' re-
spected by all Waseca of the towns pee le.
Mr. Rogers was born in a house justbe-
lowBar iu 1818, and his memory goes
bank to the time when' the streets were
lighted by oil lamps strung across them,
and to the 000asion of the' dinner given to
the poor to commemorate the coronation
of Ring George. He also rereembeirsbe.
'lag 1preeeet ab bho dinner given to the
poor on the passing of the Reform Acb in
1882, the tables thea extending from the
Bitrgabe to the Town Quay To enumer-
ate the demonstrations which Mr. Rogers
has attended since that time would bo to
give a history of Southampton for the last
50 years, for daring very nearly half a
century the worthy alderman has "had a
linger in" almost everythiug of public im-
portance which has taken plane. He was
elected a Gumalhen of the Poor for the
parish of HolyRoodin 1850, and was fore-
most in the steps which were taken in
that year to bring the Poor Law into op•
eratioh in Southampton. It was .soon af-
ter this that Mr, Rogers was reburnea to
the Towle Council and he Is now the
father of the Council, for of all who wore
members of the Corporation in the year
that he was °looted, only ho himself sur-
vives. Haviug been placed upon the
Commission of the Pesos, Mr. Rogers was
next appointed Sheriff in 1876, and he
was Mayor of the town in 1879. Amongst
the many valaable services which Alder-
man Rogers has rendered to the town is
the gift of trees and shrubs for the orna-
mental= of the 'Public Parks, and iu
1875 the Town Council passed a hearty
vote of thanks to him for his munificence
in this matter, ordering that the vote
should be inscribed on vellum and illnm-
ineted,This was accordingly done and
the gift of the Council now occupies a
prominent position in one of the rooms iu
Mr. Rogers' house at Red Lodge. Hata
ing given this brief biographical sketch of
Alderman Rogers, for whom and for his
amiable wife we wish many more years
of Life with ever increasing happiness, we
purpose giving an account of the famed
Bed Lodge Nursery, of which Alderman
Rogers is the proprietor. The nursery
dates from 1828, in which year Mr. Rog -
ore' father, who had been carrying on his
business on what is now the site of Rock -
atone -place, removed' to a spot about two
and a half miles from Southampton, and
which then bore no more resemblance to
a nursery garden thon does the Desert of
Sahara to the "Jardiu des Plantes," being
practically a barren waste. Mr. Rogers
walked through bracken and furze to
mark out the fouudations of his bouse,
and the builders who erected it might
leve seen the vessels going in and out the
Southampton Water at Alum Bay, or
might have surveyed Hampshire as far
almost as Chichester on the East, Win-
chester ou the North, and Salisbury on
the West. When the house was finished
ivy was planted }round its walls, and now
the residence of Alderman Rogers is
mantled to eaves and chimney stack with
"the rare old plant" whose leaves of "hale
and hearty green" give place here and
there to the blossoms of a trailing rose
tree. A chahuniug cottage is that at Red
Lodge, its thatched woof, foliated win-
dows, and iron studded door giving it that
quaintness which modern architects seem
to affect when planning those "bijou resi-
dences" which figure in suburban local-
ities aud in houss-agenIs' placards. In
front of the house is a lawn, centred with
a magniacenb specimen of the tile -leaved
Trite, technically known as the "araucaria
imbriceta." This tree is perfect of its
ltmd, its lower branches sweeping the
ground with every leaf (template, whilst
in the generality of cases those branches,
if they are to be seen at all, are witnessed
in a state somewhat allied to thee which
fu respect bo the feathered tribes is term.
ed "moulting." The next object to which
the attention of the visitor is attracted is,
probably, the weeping beech, which may
or may not be a novelty, but which is
certaiuly a "thing of beauty," its boughs
falling geacefully on every side like the
sprays of a fonntain. Near by, the Cy-
prus walk, ou the Northern side of the
cottage, is open to the view, and no Pret-
tier promenade could be desired, whilst.
another step reveals a camellia which,
blooming freely hi the open air, bears'
testimony to the extreme mildness of the
climate at Bassett. Strange to say, how-
ever, a very short walk from the shot
where the camellia blooms would bring
the visitor to where a hundred or so of
youngrhocdoclondrou plants, stricken by a
recent frost, droop there blackened stents,
ripe for the pruning -knife. The within -
atone of foliage aud varieties of blooms
which strike the eye at every tarn make
a stroll on thelawn most delightful, and
a peep over a light railing on the Eastern
border reveals the fish pond, the surfaos
of which is nearly red, so numerous are
the golden carp which thrive in it. The
goldfish are sohardy that they live
through the depths of Winter, and it is
not even found necessary for their subsist -
once to break the ice, as some people im,:
reline it is, when the pond is frozen over
On the edge of the weber there stands e,
lime tree, bearing' ou its trunk a large
hunch of mieleboe, It may here be re-
marked that at Red Lodge misletoe may
now be seen growing on at least half -a•
dozen kinds of trees, and a ewe placed
under au acacia on tihe trunk of which the
parasite flourishes has been especially
dedioated bo the "lads andleases" who,
Alderman Rogers opines, may find the
inisletoe se handy when "twolipsi' abound
as when the holly is iu berry. On, leav-
ing the lawn the visitor will do well: if he
proceeds along' the North Walk, where
there are to be found specimens of about
200'distiueb named varhobiee of rhododen-
drone, It is worthy of remark that when
the reed Lodge Nursery was ssbablioiled.
E3RTJSSELS, ONTARIO, FRIDAY, JULY Y 27, 1894
the number of varieties of these pinnies
lenowu to gardeners was but six,, and eve
have it ou the authority of Mr, Boger)
that them are now 600 1 It is in vhodo-
deudrons tlhae Mr. Rogers finds, perhaps,
his chief delight-bortioniturally spoak-
ieg--nnd lie cnlbivabos at least 800 kinds,
having little short of 100,000 rhododen-
dron plants on ]hfsprorises, Velem these
are in full bloom, as they were very 05-
cently, Rsd Lodge is a fairy laud m it-
self, and a more magnlfhceub apeotaole
than that which the 60 aoree then pres-
ented could hardly be imagined. Un-
doubtedly, the rhododendrons have done
0very great deal towards realising the
prophesy,of London, the great authority
on natters floricultural, who writing of
Red Lodge in the Gardeners' Magazine
in 1885, predicted that the nursery would
be a place of note, It is no exaggeration
to say that may thousands of people
visit Bassett annually, in order to view
Mr. Rogers' rhododendrons, for the gen-
erosity of the worthy aldeunnan in throw-
ing thegardens open to the public is fully.
appreciated, not only by the townspeople
of Southampton, but also by many folks
front a disbaocs for whom the nursery'
possesses en a ual charm. It was only
the other day the Ohanoslloc of the Ex-
chequer spent some hours there, and re-
cently, members of an "antiquarian so-
ciety, to the number of 70 or thereabouts,
were escorted round the garden by the
genial proprietor, and, as a change from
the inspection of things old and dead to
the contemplation of living and ever
obangiog beauties, they must have found
their visit very agreeable. Without at-
tempting to specify in detail the very
splendid plants which the visitor will find
in and around the North walk, one might
mention, amongst the rhododendrons, the
"Frederick Waterer," with its monster
trusees of intense crimson color, others of
somewhat similar description being the
"H. W. Sargent," "Michael Waberer,"
and "The Warrior,•' The biome of the
"Everestianum" are of a very pretty
"rosy lilac" tint, and the "Fastuosum"
bears immense trusses of double lilac
flowers, Amongst the white or parti-
wltite blooms are those of the "Helen
Waterer," which have a border of bright
crimson, the "Minnie," "Mrs. John (Mut-
ton," and "The Queen," whilst the "W.
H. Rogers" bears flowers of a beautiful
'weary white. The "Mrs. John Penn"
and "Mrs,. Holford" varieties have very
fro flowers, iu which "salmon" is the
prevailing line, and the "Bylsianum,"
James Mason," "Joseph Whitworth,"
"Lady Clermont," "Mrs; Milner," and
"Sidney Herbert," warble a score of other
varieties combine to make a blaze of col-
or. Ther° is mach in the North walk to
"implore the passing step," but at length
the visitor will reach the entrance to "the
Wilderness.'' This is a portion of mini -
reclaimed laud which Nature and net be-
tween them have rendered most attrac-
tive, and which recalls Byron's lines :—
A rich confusion formed a disarray
In such sort that the eye along it cast
Could hardly carry anything away.
The diversified tints of rhododendrons,
azaleas, and a hundred other flowers, re-
lieved by foliage of many shapes and
shades, beautify the path through the
wilderness, and in the centre is found a
grassy glade—the place of all places for a
garden party, Here Alderman Rogers
entertained a large number of his friends
during hie mayoralty, and the same spot
has been chosen by the present Mayor
(Alderman Bone) for a garden party in
July next, at which the members of the
Institute of Naval Architects will be
guests, AIr. Rogers having placed his
grounds at the Mayor's disposal for the
mansion. No one should leave the
gardens without glancing at that very
extraordinary tree which is named "'hies
moustrosa." As the latter part of the
name would imply, the tree is a mon-
strosity. It sends out branches which
twist and twirl amongst each other like so
many snakes, and its appearance is odd
in the extreme, As it belongs to the pine
family it sends out but one shoot a year,
and as bbe successive growths are clearly
delued the age of the tree may easily be
oaicelateca. The specimen of the red -
barked tree of California which stands in
the wilderness can hardly escape notice.
It has reached the height of 80 feet,
which ought nob to be considered bad for
a youngster, but if nobody interferes it
hopes to reach au altitude of somewhere
about 400 feet before it sits down, or more
correctly speaking, stops growing. From
the wilderness a flight of steps out in
and gte m leads down to the "lower wild-
erness"—"n, lovely Spot, half sunshine
and half shade" -bub if the visitor in-
tends to make a tour of the rentainin
portion of the h'rouuds lis best plan will
be to content himself with a view of it
from the top of the steps, and then pass
on to the spot where through a vista be -
tweet lofty cypresses he may obtain to
pretty view extending right away to
Rownbams. A little farther on and he
may die, to the West, Stoney Cross and
Whibeparisb, and within a few yards of
him, what is probably one of the very
finest rhodendron plants in the itiugdom.
It was planted when the late ibIr. Rogers
remlved to Bassett, as before mentioned,
and by its 60 years' growth ithas achieved
tremendous proportions. When in full
bloom itis said to resoluble a mountain
of snow. In the vioinity of the monster
rhododendron is a large space devoted to
the culture of roses, and here the "queen
of flowers" will presently bo seen in all
its beauty aud perfection.
But who eau view the ripened rose,
Nor seek to wear 11 7
asks file post, and, if fearful of forgetting
the injunction in the Cabeohism as bo
picking and stealing, the ',leiter may find
it his safest plan to look away from the
roses to the Northward, where he will be
rewarded for his oonbcieutionsnoss with it
charming view of the Roman encamp-
ment, known as the Ring, as well as of
Chilworth Manor House, Seeing that
there are from three to four miles of
walks in the lied Lodge Nursery, the
writer may be pardoned le at this stage,
he hastens, mortally; over the remainder
of the grounds, qui, pausing merely to
mention the fact that several hundredy of
ooniferm of all kinds areto be found
bordering the main walk, proceeds to the
gzeee-honse and pits. NOr do these form
the Toast uuinterostin , portion of the
nursery, for they contain thousands of
plants in different stages of growth, many
blooming tnagni0esntly. Izt biose prox-
imity to the greenhouses aro About l 25,-
000 out -door plcuts in pots, and when it
is mentioned that these have to be water-
ed by the nursery employees every day,
unitise rain falls, it he obvious that a
shower saves a deal of labor atRotbLodgs,
An extremely handsome group of plants
arranged near the eutranc0 gates may ta-
mest be said to bo public property, for
they are freely loaned by Mr, Rogers
wbensvet needed for bbs decoration of
platforms at meetings, des., and scarcely a
function of any public imppertauoe ever
takes place in the neighborhood without'
some of the choicest Red Lodge preclude
lending their efface to it, If another
word is necessary to bring this article to
a' conclusion it muse be with regard to A,
0. Rogers, Alderman Rogers' only sur-
viving son, a .gentleman who is highly
esteemed by all who know him, and who
Iends 1110 father invaluable Desistence in
the management of the business. Those.
who are fortunate enough to make a tout
of the nursery under A. C. Rogers' guid-
ance find hien attentive, very pleasing in
manner, and well versed in hisprofesshou,
and are impreseed with the belief that
when he succeeds bo the business he will
prove himself "e worthy 8001 of a worthy
sire," and will be as useful to his clay and
generation as his father has been,
Presbytery OF Maitland.
The Presbytery of Maitland met at
Wingliam on July 17th, Rev. J. Malcolm,
Moderator.
Hugh Matheson was received a sbndeut
for Theology.
Leave was granted to moderate calls at
Whitechurch and Langsids ; 13eigrave
and Calvin, East Wawanosb ; Wroxeter
and Hargn.
Standing Committees for the year were
appointed as follows :-
Sabbath Observance—Messrs. McRae,
Forrest and their respective Elders.
State of Religion—Messrs. Fairbairn,
Anderson, Sutherland, and Elders.
Finance—Messrs. McLennan, McKay
and Elders, and McNabb.
Sabbath Schools—Messrs. Malcolm,
Ross, Ballantyne, and Elders.
Temperance—Messrs. Molloy, Millar,
Hartley and Elders.
IMome Mission—Messrs, Murray, G.
McNay, McFarlane and Elders.
Examination of Studentee-Mess re.
Ross, Murray, G. McKay and Elders.
Y. P. Societies—Messes. Roes, Murray,
Ballantyne and Elders.
Statistics—Messrst Anierson, Rose
and Elders.
Systematic Beneficence—Messrs. Per -
tie, Hartley aud Elders.
Conference—Conveners of Committeee.
It was agreed to have discussion on
settlement of vacancies next meeting, Mr.-
Murray
r.Murray to introduce it. Notice of
motion "That the fund for Presbytery
bearing expenses of commissioners to the
General Aseembiy be revived," was giv-
en. The Presbytery asks for one-third
supply for all vacanoies from the Pro-
bationers Scheme.
JOHN 1I1.oNAu13, Clerk.
Lucknow, July 28, '94.. '
ROYAL ARCH MASONS.
The twenty seventh annual convocation
of the Grand Chapter' of Royal Arch
Masons of Osnada was held at the Ma-
sonic Hall, Hamilton, on Friday of last
week, The Grand Z. M. Ex. Comp, J.
E. Harding, Q. 0„ of Stratford, presided.
There was a large attendance from differ.
ant parte of the Province.
After routine business the Grand Z.
read his annual address, which detailed
the work of the year, showing the great
progress made by capitular Masonry dur.
ing the past year.
After reports of the special oommittees
were read, the election of new officers
took plass, resulting as follows :—
Grand Z. M. Ex. Comp., J. Ross, Rob-
ertson, Torocbo ; Grand H., R. Ex.
Comp. M. Walsh, Ingersoll ; *rand J.,
R. Ex. Comp. W. G. Raid, Hamilton ;
Grand Scribe N., Ex, Comp. W. J. Hick-
son, Toronto • Grand Registrar, Ile,
Comp. Fred. Manley, Toronto ; Grand
Scribe E., Thos. Sergeant, Toronto •,
Grand Treasurer, M, Ex, Comp. Hugh
Murray.
The following Companions were elect-
ed to the Executive Board :—
A. Shaw, Kingston ; D. H. Martyrs,
Kincardine ; D. Mowatt, Barrie ; J, M.
Malay, Hamilton ; Wm. Roaf, Toronto.
The election of District Superintend.
cants resulted as follows :—St. Clair, A.
W. Sharp, Dresden ; London, W. W.
Rutherford, Aylmer; S. F. Fassmore,
Brantford • Huron, F. W. Gearing, Strat-
ford ; Welliugtou, R. Mahoney, Guelph ;
St. Catharines, C. H. Ooenor, Niagara ;
Hamilton, Wm. Birrell, Hamilton ; To.
route, R. Allen, Toronto ; Georgian, W,
T. Jones, Oollingwood ; Ontario, J. W.
Quinlan, Port Hope ; Prince Edward, 16.
A. Morden, Pioton ; Central, Jas. Ad.
ams, Kingston ; Algoma, Jas, Fraser,
Port Arthur ; Manitoba, W. W. Windatt,
Winnipeg ; Vancouver, H. During,
British Columbia.
On motiou of R. Ex. Comp. J. 8, Dew-
ar the date of the annual oouvocatien was
changed from the third Friday In July to
the third Tuesday, of tbs same month.
General chapter will meet in Toronto
in 1895.
Sinoe the recent attempts to wreck the
Chicago and Grand Trunk trains, the
officials of the road have become alarmed
]est an attempt be made to blow up the
St. Clair tunnel at this point, and have
had a ember of United States deputy
marshals appointed who are in the ear•
vice of the railway company. They are
guarding the approabhesand portals night
and day, and any effort by etrikete at
blowing up this great work would be fn.
tile. If any such deed bad been at all
contemplated, it oanunot be carried out
at present.
0110M COMPET/TIQN,
770 tbci1ibiltor;ofpl'nts Pos'r,
Date . Stn, --In reference to the United
Choir competition, hold in Saguia on
Thursday of last week, I find that the
press generally In reporting thereon
makes Stratford choir the winners of the
second prize. This Bas no doubtinad-
vertently been done from not knowing the
facts of the rasa The feet of the con-
ductor being from Stratford does not con-
stitute the olhoir of Stratford, Sequen-
tial infereuctes are sometimes misleading.
It ie so hr this caro, Will you please
melte this statement in your paper over
my signature, in order to aliay,any fric-
tion that otherwise might arise.. The
Brussels choir is entitled to the credit of
holding the honorable position of being
the winner of, the second prize. I regret
of eeoessity that this abatement has been
called for, but I believe iu giving honor to
whom it is dee, By inserting this you
will do mea favor and place the Brussels
choir where they deservedly stand.
I am, most sincerely youre,
W. 3, i'anvh,AND,
Conductor of the Brussels Choir.
Stratford, July 24th, 1894,
THE SARNIA EXCURSION.
Two Ila tone Wen by Brussels Oiheir.
Four Additional Polats'iVoiud Have
Given Thein 1st Place.
The members of the union choir who
went from Brussels on Thursday of last
week to Sarnia were well pleased with
the result of the eompetition at the even-
ing con:wre, as were their many Mewls at
home. This was the first year for our
vocalists and as a result they went into
the afternoon concert with all their vigor
while many others whetted been there be-
fore, reserved themselves for the evening
concert and were consequently fresh for
the contest.
Prof. Freeland, of Stratford, at whose
suggestion Brussels competed, was the
conductor and he invited a half dozen of
his friends to take part. This gave the
impression to some that it was a choir
from Stratford and credit was given them
in sores newspapers whereas it should
have been Brussels.
The young people from this locality
certainly deserve credit for their excellent
record when planed in a contest with
choirs of the towns and cities and this
should prove an incentive for the future.
Credit is certainly due Prof. Freeland
for the great interest he mauifested and
he was deserving of the flue baton with
which he was presented. Dr. Cavenngh,
who did the organizing and conducting
for our choir, fell heir to a baton also.
He certainly had the heavy end of the
work in the many rehearsals but he feels
amply repaid by the very creditable pos-
ition Brussels took on Thursday evening
being only 8 points behind the lsb prize
winners of Loudon. Each members of
our choir was presented with a gold fring-
ed badge. The Brusselities arrived home
on Friday eveniug well tired out after
their outing.
The Sarnia Observer gives the follow-
ing report of the excursion which will be
read with interest
The third annual excursion of the
United Choirs of Western Ontario, under
the management of Charles A. Winter,
was held here on Thursday, 19th, and
brought an immense numibee of visitors
to Sarnia. Trains began arriving about
10 a. m., and from that hour until about
1.30 they followed in close succession
until nine train loads of passengers were
landed at the Park by G. T. R. specials
and one train load over the Erie &CHuron,
Before going to the park the trains halted
at the end town station, where a great
many disembarked to see the town and
take trips on the ferries. The first to ar-
rive was from London and intermediate
points with about 500 on board ; then
followed Berlin, with some 800; Granton,
700 ; Cayuga, 500 ; Brantford, 560; Pais•
ley and L. H, & B. line, 700; Gnelpb,
800 ; Hamilton, about 600 ; Erie and
Huron, 250 ; maldne in all about 5,000
persons, on. the speetals. This number
was augmented by passengers on the
river boats and regmar trains, swelling
the number of strangers in the town to
fully 6,000. The streets swarmed with
visitors and the park was covered by such
a gathering as had never before found
shelter within its welcome shades. The
weather was the hottest of this hot sea-
son, bub ample relief from the scordbing
heat was to be found in the cool breezes
in the park aud on the water, aud the
thousands who flocked to these places en-
joyed the refreshing change immensely.
The Park Commissioners had provided
au ample supply of drinking water by an
extension of the water main to the grove
and athletic grounds autl their forethought
was greatly appreciated. The town was
decorated in honor of the visitors, a
liberal display of flags, banners and buu-
ting being made by the merchants tend
private citizens.
While the concert on the park was in
progress Mayor Procto'', with the mem-
bers of the Town Council, tveariugbaclges,
formally welcomed the United Cholla to
Sarnia, and wished them, through their
manager, Mr. Winter, a pleasant outing
and successful meptiug.
In the afternoon fully 2,000 people con-
gregated on the athletic park where a
splendid program was rendered by the
united choirs. The selections by the
Waterloo Musical Society's Band were
well rendered and fully sustained the
repubatiot wlhioh this ekoellent baucl has
maintained for several years past. The
choral singing was everything that could
be expected oousideriug the disadvantages
which must aiways be expected by sing-
ing in the open aa, The program was
fully appreciated by the large assemblage
and the performers, were accorded liberal
applause, Following is the program :—
A1'TL^nNOON' 0,110011.131,
Overturn—"Zempa," - Herold
Waterloo Musical Society Baud, con-
ducted by Prof. N. Zeller.
Hymn -"Holy, Holy, Holy," • Heber
1,500 voices, Band and Orchestra, cad
ductedby Prof, C,Ayers, St.Thontes.
W, Z3.. ,ERR; Prop,
Address of Welcome by Mayor and
Counoil of Sarnia,
Glee—"Awaico Eoiiau Lyre," - Danby
160 nix1ed voiess,nd,of Strconductedatford, by W. J.
5015
Grand Chorus -"Praise ye the Father;'
--Conned
1,000 voices, band and oroheetra, son -
ducted by Prof. Zoellner, Berlin,
Vales Hydropaten, - - Gung'l
Waterloo Musical Society Band, eou-
duoted by Prof, N, Zeller,.
Hymn• -•'Lead Kindly Tight," - Newman
1,500 voices, band and orchestra, con-
ducted by Prof, Pocock, London.
Gres—"Ffunter's Chorus," . - Weber
120 male voices, conducted by Prof.
Zoeller,
G]ee,—"Cir hose so Sweet,'
150 female voices, conducted by Prof,
R. Pocoolr,
Triumphal Marolt—With sheathed Swords
1,000 voices, band and orchestra, 0011-
ducted by W. J. Freeland,
Alexander' Verdup, 11 years old, of
Ottawa, has been committed to stand his
trial on a charge of having caused the
death of Medas Bellevue, 10 years old, by
holdiug Bellevue's bead under water
Willie they were bathing together.
Robert Lippe, tax -collector of Colches-
ter South, residing at Harrow, was known
to
evAbout 82,000 cash which be had
t
oll e te d, and while lie and family were
absent on Teasley burglars gained emcees
to the house, They ransacked the ete.
tire place, rifled drawers, tore carpets
up, bob the collector bad deposited the
municipal receipt in the bank and Only
88 was available for the disappointed
thiieves,
farmremarkable thing ooeurred on the
m of a Mr. Cousineau, ab Sb, Joseph's'
village, near Ottawa, the other day, A.
well was being bored for water, and wbou
the depth of 120 feet was reached the
water came in great volume, and with
110011 force as to raise a column of water
40 feet high. This bas aout]nued, and
Mr. Oousmeau was obliged to lay a pipe
"God Save the Queen," - - - to throw the water into the creek. The
A11 choirs, audience, bawl aud °relies. water is slightly mineral in its weapon.
bra, °deducted by 0. A. Winter, tion.
M, C. Dickson, district passenger agent
of the Grand Trunk Railway, has just
returned from Owen Sound, where he
spent some days in aonneobion with the
owning opening of the Parkhead to Owen
Sound branch, juet completed. On Aug.
16th the first excursion will go over the
branch, going from Owen Sound via
Parkhead and Wiarton, to Guelph.
There will also be a formal opening later
0r,.
The following oftioers were elected at
bbe meeting of the Grand Encampment
of Ontario, I. 0. 0. F., held at Ohabham
an Tuesday :—S. S. Marriott, Carleton
Place, Grand Patriarch ; E. T. Emery,
London, Grand High Priest; Jobn J.
Reed, Montreal, Grand Senior Warden ;
M. D. Dawson, London, Grand Scribe ;
Edmund Beltz, London, Grand Treasur-
er ; Geo, Ross, Hamilton, Grand Junior
Warden ; S. Law, Guelph, Grand Mar.
char; Geo. Bell,Ottawa, Grand Sentinel ;
G. P, Potter, Chatham, Grand Junior
Sentinel.
The Elora Express says :—Two of our
wealthy farmers went to the old country
with a cargo of fat cattle, which they
sold, and sent the money back ahead of
them. On their return trip, instead of
the vesoel coming to Montreal, it put in
at Boston. On attempting to land, our
jolly farmers were asked to show 880 a
head before being allowed to laud, other-
wise they would be deemed paupers, and
not allowed to go ashore. They had not
the money with then, bat after ameba
arable trouble, the captain explained
matters, and they were allowed to enter
the laud of the free (7) Previous to this
little bit of experience, these gentlemen
were greatly in favor of annexation tg
the States. But now 1 --just ask them
what they think of the "land of the free."
A somewhab odd circumstance leas oc-
curred with regard to the Kingston elec-
tion. Mr. Smythe was dealared elected
on a recount by one of a majority. A
young man, who is only 20 years of age,
having voted, and who considered that
his vote placed Mr. Smythe at the band
of the poll, was so elated over the matter
that be wrote full pertioulars to his sis-
ter, who was on a visit to Loudon, The
affair was treated as a huge joke, and the
sister on getting the letter told the story
to the people of tbs house where she was
visiting. One of these happened to be a
good Grit, and, on the following morning,
he, as in duty bound, at once communi-
cated the information to Lis party man.
ager there, who in turn forwarded the
same to Kingston. It is said that the
statement is quite correct, it having been
daititadiaxx 1No wyv re, since verified that the young man oast
bis vote, and that be was mot then of age.
A scrutiny may therefore be said to start
wiith an even raoe. The confidence of
the Grits in the matter of ultimately
winning Kingston for Mr. Harty is a fee -
tura of the political situation,
The Canadian Masonic Mutual Beoefft
Association, after 20 years existence,
foiled that owing to the increased heavy
assessments, consequent upon the extreme
old age of its members, it could not con-
tinue doing business ou the old system of
assessment, and the Inspector of insur-
ance has ordered that the association go
into liquidation at once, Every effort
was made by the old directors, and also
by the new board, to revivify the associa-
tion, but they proved fruitless, and lately
several members, who were dissatisfied
with the premiums demanded by the new
schemes, compleinod to the registrar of
friendly sooisties, and he at once prooeed-
ed to investigate the affairs of the asso-
ciation. The remit of the examination
convinced him that it would be imposs-
ible to continue under the circumstances,
and he ordered s winding op, and ap-
pointed Andrew Ellis, secretary -treasurer
of the association, as the liquidator, Mr.
.Ellis hes a thorough knowledge of the
business affairs of the society, and will
liquidate at as smell a oast as possible.
ems ammo 00005nr.
Over 1,000 people attended the concert
in St. Andrew's Rink last evening. The
program consisted of instrumental num-
bers by the orchestra and Waterloo band
and choruses by the United Choirs, and
wasasfollows:—
Selection, "Les Hugunots" Meyerber
Waterloo Musical Society Band.
Hymn, "Rook of Ages," Tepidly
260 voices, baud and orchestra, con-
ducted by C. A. Winter,
The competition by choruses resulted
as follows:— .
Male choruses—Berlin, 89 points out of
a possible 100 ; Waterloo and, 68 ; Brus-
sels 8rd, 65.
Mixed ohoruses—Londonlst, 88points ;
Brussels 90(1, 85 ; Berlin 8rd, 84 ; St.
Thomas 4th, 78,.
Mr. Aldis, of Toronto, made the an-
nouncement of decisions supplemented
with a few appropriate criticisms and
awarded the prizes which consisted of
handsome ebony and ivorymountedbetons
for the leader and gold mounted badges
for members of the choirs.
The entertainment closed by singing
God Save the Queen by the audience,
competing choirs, bands and orchestra
conducted by R. Pocock, winner of let
place in Mixed Chorus competition.
Mayor Proctor presided.
50111.51005015.
The United Choirs comprised fully 1,-
200 voices.
Everything that could possibly be used
as a bus was brongbb into use to carry
passengers to and from the park.
Chas. Winter is entitled to the
greatest amount of praise for the success-
ful issue to which he has brought the
choirs excursion.
The splendid music furnished by the
Waterloo Band was greatly appreciated
by our citizens. The band is a fine or.
gamzation and is Composed largely of
young met whose gentlemanly conduct
while in our town was generally admired.
Their handsome and serviceable uniform
of navy blue shows excellent taste.
W. R. Tihm, Superintendent of the G.
T. R. at London, N. C. Dickson, District
Passenger Agent and 0. W. Graves,Trav-
siling Passenger: Agent, of the Sarnia
road were in town. These gentlemen gave
this excursion special attention and
the fact that the immense crowd was
handled on their road with every oomfor6
to the visitors reflects great credit on
them.
Forest fires ea000und Duluth,
Ingersoll girls have got the croquet
orazs. They forget to ant.
The professional rowing regatta at Or-
illda is fixed foe August 7th,
Mr. Hofnheyr, the delegate. is saying
nine things of Canada in England.
William Balkwill, aged 21 years, was
drowned at Port Stanley Tuesday,
Forester's island, Deseronto, owned by
Dr. Oronhyatekba, was dedicated Tues.
day with much ceremony.
Michael Prouix, the Montreal letter -
carrier who stole a registered letter, was
Tuesday sentenced to three years in pen-
itentiary.
The Miranda, with Dr. Cook's Arotio
expedition on board, ran into an iceberg
off the Labrador coast and bad to put
back to St. John's, Nfld.
Because be bas a summer oottage on
the Canadian side, Detroit will not give
any paving contracts to T. J. Kennedy.
He is an American citizen.
Mr. Tether, of Brantford, hag sold bis
two trotting doge, Bob and Major, to
Jerome Leone, of Peru, Indiaut, The
price paid for the team was 8126.
The annual Fall Sbow of the Royal
Agricultural and Industrial Soddy of
British Columbia will be held at the fair
grounds, New Westminster B. 0., on Oc-
tober the 9, 10 and 11th.
According to the Brampton Conserve•
for MaoWberrell is not feeling in as good
spirits now as formerly. It eye :—"Mee.
Wherrel hits been in a very sulky mood
the past three weeks. He bas beau in
the habit of sending love letters to two
young girls in this town, and reoeiving
auswers in return. The jail authorities
have forbidden it, and he has been so
put out about itthat ire woli't take hie
outdoor daily exeroiee. We suppose the
girls are also sulking. It is absurd that
it should have been allowed to continue
so long,"
The trade in general loops for a very
good wheat crop in Manitoba this year,
and if reports from the various wheat
growing districts are anyway reliable,
their aotiolpations will be fulfilled. There
is some doubt expressed as to the effects
of the extreme heat which 02ay cause pre-
mature ripening, but telegrams) note re•
freehing rains in some stations. A cor-
respondent of a leading firm at Montreal
estimates 1$e atop from 15,000,000 to 18,-
000,000 bushels, which is 15 besbels to
the aore, or thereabouts, In 1898, the
Manitoba Department of Agrioelturs se-
timated the total yield at 15,615,928
bushels,
Embro Courier :—Orlando Reid, of
Brooksdale, had an experience with a
swarm of honey bees that he would not
care to have repeated. The bees were
disturbed by having ]honey taken from
them and Mr. Reid was hauling in bay
from an adjoining field when the bees at-
tacked the horses as they were going up
a hill with a heavy load of hay. The
Ware first attempted "to run away, but
was prevented from doing so by the heavy
load behind them. Before a minute
hundreds of bees wore stinging them, and
the horses fell down over the tongue and
would have been stung to death had not
Mr. Reid managed, at a cost of being
stung in almost every part of this body to
get thein loose, and after they were un-
hitched it was with dilbeulty they could
be got to the stable. They were stung se
badly that they would do nothing but lie
down and roll. :Cowards evening Mt.
Reid tbomghb he would make another at-
tempt to take fu bis bay but had to bor.
row another wagon and reale to do 50, as
the bees held possession of the first one.
A second time the bees attacked bis team
although at the far end of the field.
This'time they ran away and made havoc
of the harness and wagon, and Mr Reid
lave it up concluding that the field be.
onged that day to the bees.