TIMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1123, 24 November 1879, Page 2

TIMARU.

(MOM A CORRESPONDENT.) November 20. In striking contrast to the last two seasons, we have this year every indication an abundant harvest. Rain falls at convenient intervals—at the very times, indeed, when it is required—freshening the pastures, and giving a lively appearance to the young crops, which are every-;' where looking splendid: This, coupled with encouraging cannot fail to cheer the farmer, many of •whom are well-nigh on their beam-ends,. and sadly in need of a good year to pull them round. With such seasons as" this, our district must speedily recover from the depression which has already wrought so* much desolation in our midst, and blighted ..the,honest hopes qf scores of hard-working yeomen,! who, 'during the speculative mania, staked their little fortunes on land that has not repaid them, and. wlio have now only to mourn over the loss of their all.

Although unemployed builders and other artisans have' been meeting to discover the best way of alleviating their several distresses, house-building cannot be said to be at a complete stand-still. A goodly number of edifices are towering towards the clouds in different parts, and proving that, beyond doubt, there is still some money in the place, although the owners thereof cannot be induced to launch it forth for speculative purposes. '.Notably among the new buildings is the High School, which is rapidly approach- 1 ing completion. Next comes the oldestablished Albion Hotel, being rebuilt by its recent purchaser, Mr. IJenis Hoare, an enterprising man, who appears to be quite proof against all kinds of adversity. The long-winded promise of Government concerning the new railway station not having been fulfilled, the building of the station remains to be chronicled at a future date. A terrific north-east gale blew ■ here all yesterday, and at one time threatened inevitable destruction "to the vessels in the roadstead. They rode, " however, in safety, though one of them had a narrow escape of a berth, on the beac.h. This vessel, the John Watson, had a boy from the shore on board all night, he having been drifted out while fishing. During the. night fears for his safety were, of course, entertained by his parents, but this morning the young urchin was safely landed on terra firma. '■

I cannot pass unnoticed the disgraceful fact that the barque Aberdeen has come to our port without signals. During the gale yesterday she was, of course, unable to communicate with the shore, and i£ she j had been beached and all hands saved, I methinks her. owner (the captain) would [have been taught-a lesson worth learning. Surely the enemies of Timaru will now see the folly of crowing over our misfortunes, when it is thus shown how owners of old wash-tubs bring their rotten property here quite unprepared for a sojourn on a dangerous coast. A considerable degree of merriment has been created by the bitter chagrin of an " illustrious" member of the House of Representatives relative to a certain 1 bundle of papers, in his own hand-writing, i touching the dissolution of the existing County of Geraldine. It appears that at a meeting held to discuss the question, he voted in direct opposition to " his most earnest wish" in the House the other day. To say the least of it, this is a strange inconsistency on the part of the "illustrious" member of " hereditary political qualifications'." What a delightful surprise he must have got when his dear friend produced the papers ; how pleasing to his colleague to behold the young man standing aghast, with his finger on his lips, his tender heart in his throat, and without one word to say ! But maybe " he really couldn't remember." The Episcopalian congregation are manifesting a good deal of discontent over the alleged drifting of St. Mary's into waters totally unknown to moderate churchmen. As a matter of course, a convention of members is mooted in order that they may obtain an answer to their query, " What meaneth this 1" I understand that the moderate are in the majority, and that they are most likely to prevail, ■