NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6751, 4 February 1892, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The reverends Messrs Gillies (Timaru),and Clarke (Fairlie Creek), and Mr P. W. Hutton, delegates of the Timaru Presbytery to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, left by last night’s express en routs for Auckland, where the Assembly sits this yeor.

We understand that the wooden post office at Waimato, for the erection of which tenders have been invited, is regarded with great dissatisfaction by the resident;. It is said that the building will be supremely ugly, and that it is open to other objections. The Borough by-laws prohibit the use of wood for any structure within the "inner area,” so that it will be illegal to use that material for the post office. The Waimate Borough Council may have something to say on the subject at their next meeting. The Hawera Star says ! —Persons whose apple trees are suffering from tbo American blight or woolly aphis may be pleased to learn that one orchard in the Ngaire district has been freed from the peat by painting oream on the branches in the winter time. One application almost abolishes the blight and a second one completes the cure. If this remedy proves to be as certain as it is repre ■ sented to be, wo may again see Bibston Pippins and Blenheim Orange apples in the market before long; apples which are both first-class, bub are much subject to the woolly blight. The Wellington correspondent of the Press says:—The new telegraphic charge gives much dissatisfaction. It is condemned as the reverse of a concession, because to ensure safe delivery an address containing more than the allotted number of words will often be essential, and so the two extra words thrown into the message allowance will be neutralised by an additional charge on the address; besides the total number of words (including message and address) is actually reduced by two. It is suggested as a preferable course that twenty words in all should allowed, leaving the sender to allocate them to address or message as he may choose- Efforts will be made to obtain the adoption of same such amendment. The present change is as unpopular as the wretched paper and awkward ehape of the telegraph forms. Both those experiments have gone in a wholly retrograde direction and in opposition to the public convenience.

The annual meeting of (he Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Southern Gross, No. 3123, was held at the Foresters’ Hall on Tuesday evening, Bro. J. D. Lochore, Chief Banger, presiding. The balance sheet and auditors' report were presented, and considered very satisfactory, notwithstanding the heavy charges made on the funds during the past 12 months. The amount of sick pay to members had been £268 3s 4d, and funeral pay £76, two members and three members’ wives having died during the year. After paying all expenses, including improvements to the hall, there was a gain of £203 to the funds. Seventeen members joined during the year and the same number left, leav ing the present membership as follows: 287 benefit members, 20 honorary members, 10 members of other courts, 9 members' widows, and 46 members’ daughters, a tot a 1 of 372 on the roll. The total days’ sickness was 2222, number of members sick 45, average amount each £5 19s 2d, and the average for the whole of the members 18s Bd. The total value of the funds on December 31st was £5573 4a 6d; including £1491 at fixed deposit and £695 on loan to members. A special committee reported re the proposed incidental and benevolent fund, and it was resolved to start it at once, a small additional sum being obarged members to meet it. The delegates appointed to interview the doctors reported that a satisfactory arrangement had been come to, and the court confirmed their report. A circular was received from the secretary of the Friendly Societies’ Conference, Christchurch, re interchange of medical benefits, and the court decided to join the association, as the proposed arrangement will be to the advantage of all the societies. During the evening one member was initiated, the ceremony being performed by the 0.8., Bro. Lochore, assisted by Bro, J. S. Bennett, P.D.C.B. One candidate was proposed, and the Court was closed at a late hour by the C.B. in due form. The following particulars of the new poisoning sensation at Fahiataa, in which two dogs are said to have died from eating biscuits meant for human consumption, are

given by the Woodville Examiner ; —" The bieouits were baked about January 12th, and on tasting the dough Mrs Marsh found there

was an extremely bitter taste, Alter cooking the biscuits she asked Mr Marsh to tcite them, intimating that she had .found a bitterness in the t iste. r Marsh found the same taste, and decided there wai something wrong. He then gave a small piece to his dog, and it soon became ill, but did not die. It was given the same quantity three times, on different occasions; and each time the dog was ill in the same manner, but had not got sufficient of the poison to be fatal. On Sunday, however, Mr Page fed bis dogs freely on the biscuits ridiculing the idea of poison, but, luckily for him, he did not carry out his intention of eating them himself, for one dog died in half an hour while the other lingered for some six hours, dying in the night. Mr Marsh and his wife tasted all the ingredients that were used in the composition of the biscuits flour, ginger, brown sugar, and treacle and found a bitter taste in the ginger. They made a cake of the articles, leaving out the ginger, and gave it to their doge without any ill effect. They brought some biscuits and portions of the ingredients to Mr Bidd, who> it is understood, pronounc'd the poison, which was found in the ginger, to be strychnine. The ginger was procured from Mr Crawford, of Woodville, who believed he was out of that article when Mr Marsh’s order wus received, and procured a quantity elsewhere. Mrs Marsh, it is understood, had used some portion of the same ginger previously, and found no ill effect. The bag of flour was just opened. Mr Cooper took away the whole of the ginger, and a sample of the sugar and flour. What remained in the bottom of the treacle tin had already been sent to Mr Ridd. The articles mentioned will be carefully examined, when it will be positively ascertained what the poison is, and in what portion of the food it was contained. The weekly meeting of the Crystal Spring Lodge, No. 54, was hold in the Forest irs’ Hall, George street, last evening, the Chief Templar, Bro. W. 0. Silverton, presiding. There was a fair attendance of members and visitors. Correspondence from the Grand Lodge, juvenile concert, and picnic committee, and from Mr Meyenberg, respecting the formation of a Sons of Temper inoe Benefit Society wei received and dee’t with. The lodge was adjourned to allow the quarterly meeting and installation of officers for the present quarter, to be held. Bister Gunnell, L.D.8.0.T., assisted by Bro. W. Coe (Lifeboat), and Sister Grant (Point), as marshal and deputy, installed the fo’lowiog who were elected to fill the various offio°s for the quarter:—O.T., Bro. G. ElJ ; sj V.T., Sister Freeman; secretary, Bro. Anderson '(reelected) ; F. 8., Bro. Gunnell (re-elected) ; G., Bro. Snusball; 0., Sister Peake; M., Bro. Torrance; D.M., Bro. W. Peak*; 1.G., Bro. Finch; S,, Bro, F. Silver tin; S.G.T., Sister Anderson ; librarian, Sister Anderson ; P.C.T., Bro. W. C- Silvert m. The various reports taken as a whole show that satisfactory progress had been made during the quarter just ended considering the number of members that have left the dietric-. It has been very gratifying to eee the amount of good feeling shown by (he members to make the meetings both pleasant and profitable to one and ail. During the evening several songs were rendered and were well received. Voles of thanks were tendered to the installing and retiring officers, and fraternal greetings were received from and sent to the Wai Lodge. The lodge was closed by the chief elect at 10 p.m. The Champion Cyclist of New Zealand will this year ride a “ Star 11 Racing Safety with pneumatic tyres. Adams, Ourties, and Co., 70 Manchester street, Christchurch.—[Adtx] The Canterbury and Otago Almanac is now published and may be obtained from all booksellers, country storekeepers, and agents of the Timaeu He bald. The book contains a mass of useful information and is good value for one shilling. Penrose’s great summer fair and stocktaking sale is now on. See catalogue for prices Wonderful inducements to buyers.—(Advi.J Although most people were disappointed at the poor display of water at the blowing up of the Lyttelton, they are not disappointed at the results of “Can’t Be Beat" baking powder. It is “ bound to rise " and is more satisfying than gun cotton.—[Advt.]