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Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1482, 21 June 1879, Page 2

Football Club. — An extraordinary general meeting of the South Canterbury Football Club will be held next Friday evening, at tho Grosvenor Hotel, when business of importance will be transacted. Railway Regulations.— An advertisement m another column announces that tickets issued at any station for Oamaru on the 23rd and 21th — I lie days on which the Waterloo Cup Coursing Match will come off — will be available for the return journey up to and including the 28th inst. Land Sales.— The land sold by the Waste Lands Board on Thursday amounted to 153 acres 3 roods, realising £783 15s, situated m the following counties : — Ashley, 100 acres ; Selwyn, 40 acres ; Woimate, 9 acres 2 roods ; town of Horndon, 1 rood ; town of South Rakaia, 2 acres 3 roods; town of Ashburton, 1 acre 1 rood. A JSfAßnow Escape. — Yesterday afternoon a horse and cart very narrowlr escaped being capsized m tho suvf near LeCren'B gully. A man took a cart load of rubbish to shoot into the sea, and apparently wished to go just so far clown tho beach that the surf should wash out his cart when turned tail to tho iea, tipped up and emptied. The shingle was so soft, however, that the horse could not turn the cart round at the proper spot, so the load was shot out while both stood broadside on to tho sea. Just as the load reached the ground an unusually large roller came m, and the surf struck the horse and dray with such force os nearly to capsize both. The water splashed over tho animal's back, and thoroughly wetted the man, who was standing on the Bhafts at the time. As may be judged, the man "got out of that" as quickly as possible. Rocket Brigade. — A numerously attended parado of tho Timaru Volunteer Rocket Brigade was held at tho Lighthouse last evening, under the command of Lieutenant Jackson. Tho members present were put through the full drill, and showed a very satisfactory acquaintance with the working of the rocket apparatus. Subsequently a party was told off to keep watch m caso of any casualty happening to the vessels m the roadsteadj'through the heavy gale which prevailed. Although tho Rocket Brigade is an unpretentious body of men, it is both able and willing to render services of the greatest importance whenever any shipping disaster occurs. At present it is kept up by, and under the control of, the Harbor Board, but when the object of the members banding themselves — the saving of life and property m caso of shipwreck —is taken into consideration, ■wo think it would be only a credit to tho public of Timaru at large, as well as tho Insurance Companies, if they helped to defray tho working expenses of the Brigade. The Harbor Board have, so far, assisted the Brigade m every possiblo way, and we have no reason to believe that they will not contiuue to do so as long as it is necessary, but wo really think it would redound to the honor of the people of an important seaport town liko Timaru if they showed a deeper interest, both directly and indirectly, m such a body. Tho expenses of tho Brigade are really nominal, now it is m thorough working order, and it would be but a gracious act on the part of the community if they took the light burden of its support on their own shoulders, and left the Harbor Board free to construct tho Breakwater and import atcam launches, &c. The State op oob Streets.— lf m these dull and dreary times, to have a sufficiency of anything is a matter on which one may congratulate oneself, we — the citizens of Xiinaru — can heartily congratulate ourselves on the abundance of our supply of mud. We have it m every street and at every crossing, ankledeep or knee-deep, as it may suit us. It overlays our boots, decorates our nether garments artistically, and, m fact, sprinkles us liberally from head to foot. It is amusing to stand at a street-corner, and watch the efforts of pedestrians to avoid it. Some go daintily on tiptoe ; others take long, slow, steady strides, keeping their eyes fixed on the way through which they travel the while ; and others, again, spring across a street with the agility of a roebuck. We were an eye-witness of a feat of activity performed by a lady yesterday that completely won our admiration. She was on one side of the street, and she wanted to cross to the other side, with the view, as it appeared to us, to enter a photographer's shop, and have her likeness taken. For a moment she looked doubtful how to act. She cast a glance across the street, then looked down on her very dainty pair of patent leather shoes, and looked across to the photographer's shop again. The second look at tho photographer's shop evidently caused her to make up her mind. Adjusting her wearing apparel m a peculiarly graceful style, she went back a Btep on the footpath, then bounded out into the street, and m three or four springs she gained the other Bide ; but such was the velocity with wliich she sped across that she went plump up against the wall before she was able to recover herself, and narrowly escaped coming m contact with a stained glass window. Still the condition of her shoes was deplorable. Their daintiness was gono ; they appeared about three inches wider than they looked previously to crossing the street, and as she looked down contemplatively at them, we confess that we could not help sympathising with her. She was a women of pluck, however, and resolving to make tho best of it, she Btamped against the ground, thus knocking some of the mud off, and entered the photographer's shop. Seriously speaking, the condition of our streets is most deplorable, and we think that the Borough Council might at least keep the principal crossings clean. We remember the lost occasion on which our streets wero m a similar condition for a few days, no effort was made towards remedying the matter until a fine day came and the mud hardened. Then men and horses were sent collecting it up, jus) when it commenced to cease to be an inconvenience. Probably the same method will be followed out m the present instance, but if so, oil we Bay is that we cannot admire the skill by which it is directed. Injudicious Tactics. — The case which now occupies the Supreme Court is beginning to become uninteresting to listeners. The novelty attached to it hi the beginning has vanished, and its dreary monotony is now only broken by some amusing answers which witnesses m their confusion sometimes make. One witness yesterday said that he sometimes lived m Waimate and sometimes m the bush, and had a houso m each place. He was m Waimate when the fire occurred, and as some of his valuables were m his bush residence, he at once proceeded to save them from the devouring element. He was asked what he did on reaching his home m the bush, and he replied that he put on his clothes. As soon as the laugh which the peculiarity of this answer caussd, had subsided, he further explained that he meant by putting on his clothes, that he took off his working suit and put on a new suit, to save it from being burned. It took him a very short time, he explained, to change his clothes, and he then ran away as fast as he could, because the fire was closing on him. The idea of waiting to change his clothes while the fire was fast approaching was comical enough, but not more so than the story which another witness told. When he observed tho fire making towards him, destroying everything with which it came m contact, he took a bucket and began to pour water on his tent, hoping thereby to save it from the fierce flames. He continued doing so -until' the place became to hot for him.. He then left, he said, and his tent got burned. We/hare no doubt that they both understand now- j that they could have adopted more effective means of saving their property. iaiL/i tx -•. ■ \* .- ' j

Legal. — Another day's work was put m by the gentlemen of the long robe yesterday m the case of Court v. Studholme. There are ten more witnesses to be examined for the plaintiff, and if we ore credibly informed, forty witnesses for the defendant. There is no possibility of the case concluding to-day ; m fact, it is doubtful -whether it will not take until this day week. Theateb Royal. —We remind our readers that the great Mammoth Minstrels will appear m the Theatre Ro.;al this evening, fora season of four nights. The names of many of the performers are familiar to Timaru play-goers, and include the greatest favorites that have ever visited Timaru. The management has, we understand, chosen from the ranks of all the minstrel companies that have visited tho colonies for some years past the best vocalists and corned ians.and the result isagrand combination of first-class artists. We do not think that it is any exaggeration to state that this is the best company that ever visited Timaru. Our southern contemporaries speak m glowing terms of them, and pronounce them the beat ever seen m the colony. We hope to see them having an overflowing house to-night. Delated Tbaix. — A slight accident caused the express train from Christchurch to be on hour late m arriving at Timaru yesterday. After leaving Chertsey station some part of the engine became unshipped, m consequence of which the train had to be stopped, and many ports of the engine taken osunder. An hour was spent m putting the engine m order again, and when Ashburton was reachod the engine was changed for another one which was m readiness. Timaru was reached a few minutes after the arrival of the South express train. Football. — Should the weather prove favorable, a match will be played to-day — Banks versus The Clvb — at the usual place, Mr Woollcombe's paddock. The following are the names of the Banks team : — Craig, Duthie, King, Jackson, D'Emden, Chapman, Archer, Smith, Gordon, Hawkins, Maurant, McKay, Blundell, Brett, Brassey, Hall, Pigeon, and Eoberts. Tho ground showd be m splendid condition for play after the late rains. In view of the natch to be {Bayed against Christchurch very sen, it is to be hoped that as ninny players as possible will turn up at this and future practice matches. Visitors will also be welcome, m order to make the game more complete. Expresses will leave tho Bank of New Zealand to-day at halfpast two sharp, to convey players (gratis) to the ground. The Kbixys.— The following telegram from Mansfield, dated Juno 4th, appears m the Australasian : — " It is generally believed here that tho police liavo recently been on the tracks of Ned Kelly. A short timo ago, Mrs Skillion, a relative of Mrs Kelly, went to Melbourne to bring away Mrs Kelly's child from Pentridge. Mrs Skillion and the child arrived at Mrs Kelly's late residence, Greta, a few days ago, and immediately after Ned Kelly came there for the purpose of seeing the child and his sister. I believe the polico got wind of the affair, and set out from Benalla last week, but tho bird had flown, and, as has been reported, the police returned without any success. A largo party are again on the move. It is currently reported here that the footprints said to have been Monk's, a short distance from the big tree, where the police state Monk must have dismounted, can now be proved to belong to another person, who was m company with two others, this individual having dismounted at the precise spot on the 26th April, and riding along that road." Another and later telegram from the same township 6ays : — " At last there is somo reliable news of the Kelly gang. Information has been brought to Mansfield that the Kelly gang are about tho Puzzle Ranges, within 29 miles of Mansfield. A large party of police went off on Monday, and are said to have come upon the Kellys' camp. They found two saddles and other trappings. Further information has been brought m by a man which is said to be of an important nature. Sub-inspeclor Pewtress is out with other members of the force on a good scent. Their n turn is anxiously looked for. All these facts point Btrongly to the surmise that the gang have not been many miles out of the district. Other circumstances affording strong proof of this have been communicated to the police, but it is not deemed advisable to publish all the information received." Rabbiting Extraordinary. — A novel way of catching rabbits is described by a correspondent of the Otago Daily Tiniet, who says it was communicated to him m his youthful days by an aged Highland poacher. This venerable man, he says, drew his entire BUBtenance from a certain warren, not far from the scu shore, which did not belong to him, but which he ransacked periodically with such extreme celerity as to suggest to the demoralised game-keeper Satanic intervention as the sole solution of his success. Just before sundown he would send a collie, trained for the purpose, to range over the warren, thereby inducing the rabbits to keep close. At nightfall he would arrive, and not some twenty or thirty holes, according to the quantity of game required. Then he would extract from a bag a huge live crab and an inch of wax candle, and, lighting the latter, fix it on the crab's bock with a little melted wax, and turn the shell-fish loose down the most central hole m the warren. That crab always scuttled hastily down, imagining that he was returning to the bosom of hia family; but every bunny bolted, and every net held a rabbit within two minutes after his descent. Doubtless, by the curled-up conies, thinking over their supper and their sins, the illuminated shell-fish was considered a special emissary of Satan, but he generally reappeared arm-in-arm, so to speak, with a "party" he he had hooked on to during the rush ; crabs being of a social nature, and not easily shaken off .And that old poacher had bagged his rabbits, and was off home within a quarter of an hour after his arrival at the warren.