TIMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1178, 26 January 1880, Page 2

TIMARU.

(from our own correspondent.) "January 24. In these days of outrageous fanaticism, ifc may interest your subscribers to learn that a few expounders of the late Brigham Young's doctrines are exerting themselves in the suburbs in the work of " saving souls." At Sandie Town they have succeeded in deluding a goodly number into the belief that salvation cometh from Utah alone, and that if they hope to enjoy really pleasant lives in this nether sphere, and finally to depart, in peace, to the land where "the spirits of just men (and women) are made perfect," they must certainly embrace, and ever hold fast, the glorious doctrines set forth by the Mormon Church." A host of those who have agreed to exchange the old faith for the new accompanied the ISfew World missionaries a few days ago to a spot just without the precincts of the town, where, having decided to " renounce the devil and all his works," they washed away their original j sin in the brackish, though virtuous, waters of the Saltwater Creek. Regard for society in general, coupled with profound respect for the fair sex, absolutely forbids any allusion to the condition of the female converts at this interesting ceremony. • The proceedings were at once ludicrous and disgraceful, so I will pass on. The number of " such as shall be saved," which have been added to the "household of faith," smitten with aT desire to depart from this sinful land, are, it is said, endeavoring to dispose" of their landed estates t°-fore J.t>ril, when they will set the foretcj. -ail foi New Jeru-

salem. The missionaries are still inde» fatigable in their endeavor to win converts, and doubtless they will entrap a good many more ere the "saintly band" are ready to " hop the twig." .. ' No more horses and buggies. The latest novelty takes the form of a tricyle, recently arrived from England to the order of Dr. Hammond. The doctor seems quite at home in, or rather on, his new conveyance, which is calculated to take him his rounds at the rate of about fourteen knots an hour. It seems strange that, although these machines can be driven with ease by anyone, the travelling pubic have not yet learnt to patronise them. Almost no labor on the part of the driver is required, and as they need no keep, and can be made to carry a reasonable allowance of baggage, besides possessing qualities that enable them to be driven faster, further, and longer than any quadruped, they will, I apprehend, speedily supersede all other modes of conveyance. Doubtless you have heard that 'the " Moonlight" element is finding its way into our community. The other night ftn unwary wayfarer on the Washdyko road was beset by two ruffians who, after maltreating the poor beggar most unmerci-' fully, relieved him of his timepiece and scampered off with it. They were arrested next morning by that most efficient officer Sergt. Haldane, and brought in to the quarters specially provided for members of their fraternity. Before bringing the scoundrels to the " beak's levee," a lot of passers-by were invited to form a group, in order that the outraged one might pick out his assailants, and on the question "Can you identify your men" being put, one of them was immediately spotted, but the other was not. To my mind the system of " spotting" in a crowd is bad in the extreme, for while many have been brought to justice by, this means, it is infallibly certain that as many more innocent persons have been convicted of that for which they were in no way responsible. What if in this case two respectable citizens had been spotted, and selected as fit and proper persons for presentation to his " beakship." Our streets do not now present so sad a spectacle as they did some weeks ago, for whereas then crowds of unemployed were to be seen parading everywhere, and notably at the street corner below the Post Office, hanging about with nothing to do, smoking, swearing, making exceedingly impertinent remarks relative to ladies' " togs," and lounging about with their hands in their pockets, numbers are now tramping up the country, carrying their " drums " towards the harvest fields, hoping doubtless to earn enough to retrieve their partially ruined credit, and to enable the souls and bodies of their wives and families to keep on decent terms with each other, which union had in many instances been well-nigh severed. Lest any Timaru freeholders should be resident down South, it may not be out of place to apprise them that much dissatisfaction is felt concerning the rate-roll. The Levels Road Board, with a view to securing cheap labor, invited tenders for the work, and one having offered to prepare the roll at a ridiculously low figure, he was chosen, and has given general dissatisfaction. The wealthier classes are highly favored, as a rule, while the poor struggling,cockatoos are rated to the eyebrows. Thi3 is the result of sheer incompetence, and not that of any particular desire to favor the rich, for in a few cases they are unmercifully loaded as well. The upshot is that by saving Ll2O the Board must lose L7OO of revenue, and a new roll will probably have to be prepared. In the event of this being done it will be advisable to give Mr, Stubbs the amount he asks and to emply him as valuer in preference to any other, for he has done the work to the entire satisfaction of all for some five or six years.