TIMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1235, 2 April 1880, Page 2

TIMARU.

(FROM OUR ovm CORRESPONDENT.) March 30. The weather in our part seems to have at last beoome somewhat settled. Bright sunshine has taken the place of Scotch mists and drizzly showers, and although there are frequent atmospheric ohangea of some sort, there is not the least sign of rain. Altogether the weather is most auspicious for farm work. Busy teams are seen traversing the district in all directions, and large quantities of grain are pouring into the market from all points of the compass. As a natural consequence money in greater abundance is looked for. Those who have been suspended for some time between success and ruin now manifest some buoyancy of spirits, hoping to have their pockets fortified against the distress spoken of by a section of the Press as inevitable during the coming winter. It is difficult to believe that such distress will be realised) for it may be readily seen that with the superabundance of corn, and the difficulty experienced this season in thrashing, the machines must continue at work well into the winter, thus providing work for vast numbers of men who would otherwise be idle.

It is a remarkable fact that very large numbers of Hebrews are' finding their way to our shores. Timaru swarms with them, but where they come from it is nob easy to say. While others are poor, the Jews are always well to do. These are occupied in various lines. ; Tobacconists are of course in the majority. Then we have auctioneers, and a lawyer in embryo; also a pawnbroker, besides hosts of others. On the whole, these Sons of Israel are very agreeable, and seem to contribute a fair share to the welfare of the town. I have been searching the scriptures, in the hope of elucidating this advent, but can find no clear reason. We are told that the Jews are to be gathered to Jerusalem before the end oomesj but nowhere do we learn that they are to flock to any other part. I can, therefore* arrive at no conclusion other than that the members of the favored race who have been sometime resident in the west, impelled by an tare* sistible power, have set their faco% toi wards the holy city, but, having too far to the south'ard, missed the track* and have settled in Nqw Zealand in mistake. Disease in various forms has been devastating; our town and suburbs of late, and stiU shows jfto sign of Typhoid and low fever are rife amongstt us, making their accustomed annual visit to stagnant water-holes and noxious dyains in the town. An uncommon epidemic has» also appeared among proving fatal in a vast number of cases, It begina with diarrhoea, and, after a few days, causes' excruciating internal pain, termi* nating in death about the tenth day, if a cure, which appears to be the exception, cannot be effected. Of thia dreadful complaint some 40 or 60 little ones have died since January, and the mortality is daily increasing, , I think it may be safely asserted that bad water ind defective sewerage are the two primary causey of siokness, and if so, it must increase until it attacks adults a& tvell as infants, by which time it will be» mown as the greatest scourge that ever swept through the Colony. Intense alarm was caused yesterday by nformation given to the police of a woman laving helped herself to a moderate dose )f laudanum, with a view to saying adieu ;o this vale of tears. Fortunately, howsver, she was noticed in the nick of time, tnd the united efforts of four practitionera u'oduoed the. desired effect. Two guardians >f the peace paced in front of the doo? o-day, for what reason ! Qiwaqfj taahu

The self-fonaken creature is in a very precarious §tate r and mast remain in bed for some days, after which she will make her debut in the Resident Magistrate's Court. As in all other diabolical cases, the intoxicating cap, coupled with a domestic squabble, is said to be at the bottom of it. j