The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MARCH 2,1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3254, 2 March 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1885.

The announcement which we recently made as to what is being done by our Oamavu neighbors m the way of developing the trade of their port ought to have the effect of arousing the attention and firing the emulation of the inhabitants m this district. For some time past Oamaru has been shipping Home cargoes of frozen meat by direct steamer, and now the same port is opening up a trade with Sydney and India m horses and other produce. The s.s. Hauroto has already made one call there to ship horses for New South Wales, and the Oamaru people are hopeful of making arrangements with the Union Company for an intercolonial steamer to visit the port periodically. Moreover, if the expen'ment with the Indus proves successful, it no doubt will be repeated, and m course of time we may see a constant procession of Oamaru horses finding their way into India, and an exceedingly acceptable tribute of Calcutta gold pouring into North Otago m exchange. Bearing these facts m mind, the question naturally arises whether we, m South Canterbury, are doing all that is possible m the way of developing the trade of our own port. While fully admitting the energy and enterprise of the public men m this part of the colony the conviction is forced upon us that much more is yet capable of being done if the matter is approached m a united spirit of determination to secure the material advancement of the district. It should be distinctly understood that this is a question which affects all classes, and not merely one section m particular. If the port is to progress, and the town is to be benefited thereby, it can only be m proportion as the resources of the country districts are developed. It is m fact from the latter that the trade must come, and they will be tho tirst to reap the beneficial influence. As regards the capabilities of the soil and climate of South Canterbury, they certainly cannot be put on a lower level than those of North Otago, m fact this district from an agricultural and pastoral point of

view, is the admiration of every qualified judge who visits it. There is no reason, ' therefore, why the natural productions j of South Canterbury should not hold 3 their own m any niai'ket m the world. I The first point to be kept m view is for ' those who are actively engaged m ■ developing the resources of the district \ to ascertain what is best suited for ; export, and then having turned their i attention to this, for both town and ] country to join their forces m making the shipping facilities of the port as 1 complete and attractive as possible. There cannot, we repeat, be a greater mistake than to imagine that the town alone is interested m the development of the port. It is the country which is most interested m obtaining an outlet for its produce, and the benefit derived by the town is of a secondary, although none the less substantial, character, resulting as it does from the prosperity of the country reacting upon the town. Bearing m view all these considerations, it becomes a matter for earnest deliberation whether we ought to remain satisfied with the harbor works at present constructed, or whether we ought still to continue m the path of progress. So f ai* the breakwater has answered admirably, and there is therefore every encouragement to proceed with it. Already the results achieved m the way of affording shelter to shipping equal the most sanguine expectations of those who advocated the work m earlier days, and we have reason to know tbat the fine sheet of water m this harbor extorted admiration even from many of our Oamaru friends who lately visited us. If we were content to jog along, doing a quiet little trade of the kind we now possess, we might very well hold our hands, at any rate for a time. There are, however, many interested m the full development of this fertile district who will not remain satisfied unless the works are carried on until Timaru takes rank as a first-class port, with claims to the title which even the most captious of underwriters will not be able to gainsay. The question is an exceedingly important one and will shortly have to be decided by the ratepayers, when they are asked to say whether the Harbor Board shall go m for another loan or shall adopt instead a policy of " masterly inactivity." In the meantime, however, there is much which might be done, as we have already pointed out, m ascertaining what the district can produce for export, and utilising as far as possible the present facilities of the port. It is a matter for regret tbat the local Chamber of Commerce seems to be m a rather dormant condition just now, seeing that these are practical questions which it might discuss with very great benefit to the community. The want is very seriously felt m Timaru of some representative body which should keep alive the importance of developing the resources of the district, and should make its influence felt m protecting the port and district not only from direct actsof injustice, but also from the effects of official favoritism shown elsewhere, such as we have to complain of m regard to Lyttelton. It is to be hoped that the Chamber of Commerce will at once be aroused to a sense of its duties m this respect. Perhaps the best plan of all would be to reconstitute the body, so as to make it a Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, embracing the leading representatives of both town and country, seeing that their interests are so intimately connected. We should then have a body capable of bringing the clearest and most varied opinions to bear on the principal matters affecting tho district, and of speaking with an authority that could not be lightly disregarded. In some way or other it is clear that if this district is not to lag behind r m the march of progress, her best public men must come forward and work heartily and unitedly for the common advancement.

School Committee, — An ordinary monthly meeting of the Timaru School Conimitteo is to be held this evening at 8 o'clook. Vital Statistics. — During the month of February there were registered at the Registrar's oflice, Timaru, 31 births, 5 marriages, and 11 deaths. The Celes. — One solitary individual, arrested for being drunk, had possession of the cells last evening. He will appear before the Court this morning. Tbndbbs. — The_ Timaru Harbor Board, by an advertisement m our columns, invite tenders for a supply of stores for the year ending March 31st, 1886. Tenders close on the 9th instant. A TEEAT TO EXOUBBIOOTSTB.— A hot lunch will be m readiness at the Railway Refreshment Rooms on the departure of the 1 p.m. Express for the South, all for one shilling. Still continuing tho original liberal menu. — [Advt.] Htintebs Wanted. — The well-known master of the Waimate County Harriers advertises this morning for a pair of good hunters, to carry eleven stone. From what wo have heard of the quality of such stock m this district we think he will have no difficulty m getting what he requires. The hunting season is now close upon us, and from all parts of the district come promises of splendid sport. Accident. — While Mr W. B. Kindley was driving m from tho Washdyke on Saturday evening his horse took fright at a coinbine and bolted down tho hill. The truces broke, and the horse with tho shafts got free, hut Mr Kindloy stuck to tho reins manfully and succeeded m pulling the animal up, after jumping out of tho trap. The vehicle was subsequently brought into town m tow of anothor trap, having sustained comparatively little damage barring the loss of tho shafts. Faiklib Greek Races. — The full programme of the Fairlie Creek annual raco meeting, which is to be held on the new racecourse on Easter Monday, is published m another column. There are m all nine events, the Fairlie Creek Oup, of 35 soys, being tho chief event. The stakes amount to over £120, which, all things considered, is a very creditable amount to give away. Nominations are due on tho 9th instant; weights will be declared on tho 20th, and acceptances must reach Mr Thomas Caskoy (Hon. Sec.) on the 30th. Temuka Rifles. — A special meeting of the Temuka No. 1 Company Rifle Volunteers was held iv tho Company's Hall, Temuka, on Friday evening last, Captain J. T. M. Hayhurst, occupying the chair. The business was to consider the question of procuring undress uniforms. After a lengthy discussion it was resolved — "That undreßs uniforms be procured for members of the Company, tho cost to bo paid out of the Company's Fund, tho uniforms to be the property of the Company." Messrs E. Brown, W. G. Rutland, and J. Harrison attended as a deputation from theTemuka Brass Band, stating that the band was willing to join the Company, and that they had decided to vest the instruments m Messrs J. Brown, J. Meyers, and O. J. Rayner as trustees. A resolution was therefore carried — " That the offers of the band be accepted, subject to the approval of members at next parade, and trustees being appointed and the consent of such trustees being obtained for the use of tho instruments by tho Company." Tho meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairmau.

Makikihi School Committee. — A meeting of the Makikihi School Committee wag hold m the school-room on Friday evening last. Present: Messrs Blackmore (Chairman), Gardiner and Childs. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Board m reference to taking over the school and erecting a master's residence. Vouchers were recoived for capitation and incidentals. Letters were read from the Geraldine Flat and Geraldine School Committees recommending certain members for eloction to the Board, and it was resolved to vote for Messrs Gray, Talbot and Dr Foster. The Chairman was instructed to apply for several articles that were urgently wanted. The meeting then closed. A Close Contkbt. — At the recent election of a Licensing Committee for Wangapeka, m the Nelson Provincial District, there were seven candidates, the total number of votes polled being 27. To show how close the contest was it may be mentioned the person who topped the poll received 6 votes, the next four 4 votes each, and the remaining two (who of course were unsuccessful) 3 each. We nre rather curioua to know how many people m the district possess the necessary qualification to entitle them to vote. We remember one instance where only five persons assembled at the poll and only agreed to vote for themselves, but it iB not within our recollection of a contested election resulting as the otio under notice did. Depaetpee. — Mr Androw Cuthbert, late sixth teacher at the Timaru Main School, was a passenger by the Union Company's s.s. Taiaroa on Saturday evening, and was seen off by a very large number of frionds and acquaintances. Mr Cuthbert's destination iB Hastings, a thriving township close to Napier, his new post being the second mastership of the school there. Before leaving the Timaru School Mr Cuthbert was presented by his pupils and fellow teachers with a handsome souvenir, which tho donors hoped would ever remind him of the very many pleasant hours he had spent among them. Mr Cuthbert has been at the school here for many years, and it was with great regret that the scholars parted with him, as he has by his kind disposition and courteous manner endeared himself to all. SroETiNQ. — We publish m another column tho results of Saturday's racing at Dunedin, and also the results of the principal races of the Victoria Racing Club's Autumn Meeting, which commenced at Fleiuington on Saturday. The Newmarket Handicap, it will be seen was won by Mr D. M. Robertson's Coronet, after a clipping race. The winner is by that famous siro St. Albans, his dam being Prinia Donna. Last year the Handicap was won by Mr J. O. Inglis' Malua who with Bst 71b on him covered the distance m the fast time of lmin 15isec, which is four seconds quicker than it was done on Saturday. In 1883 Sir T. Elder's Tyropean was the first to catch the judge's eye, carrying 7st 41b, and doing the three-quarters of a mile iv lmin 16Jsec ; whilst m 1882 Mr W. Pearson's Hyacinth got a winning bracket, the time being lmin 16isec and tho weight 7st 61b. The field (thirty) on Saturday was the smullest since 1881, when twenty-seven horses faced the starter. Sickness among Chixdeen. — A good deal of sickness is just now prevalent among children m the town and suburbs. It takes the form of infantile diarrhoea, and is generally accompanied by vomiting of a distressing character. As several deaths have occurred from it during the past few days, ib might bo as well to advise parents, particularly those living m badly ventilated or small apartments to keep tho little sufferers as much as possible m cool and open air, provided their heads are well shaded from the sun. It is a great mistake to confino them to stuffy rooms, and particularly, as is often done, to keep them m the hottest part of tho kitchen. The disease is a sort of epidemic that wo lmvo from year to year here, varying m severity, m proportion to climatic changes which this season hare been exceptionally marked. Parents, however, should not hesitate to call m medical advice as m some instances the disease rapidly develops fatal symptoms ere tho real stato of the child becomes apparent to thoso m charge of it. Judge Wabd on Suicide. — At the District Court m Invercargill, before His Honor Judge Ward, Ann Harrington, nged 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting 6uicide. Tho prisoner said she had been drinking, and wns not m her right mind when the crime was committed. His Honor, addressing the prisoner, said : " It may well be that he who deserted you was sorely to blame, and that you chose to trust m God's mercy rather than to suffer further cruelty. It is well for us all that God's mercy is greater than man's. But it is not thus that we are bidden to seek him. Christ has said, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' But wo must bear His yoke, and endure tho burden he lays upon us ; and though His yoke be easy and His burden be light, it may be long before we find them so. Think you there are none here who havo prayed, m bitter sorrow or trouble, that God would grant thorn rest? But we havo all to run the race that is set beforo us ; and it is God, and not we ourselves, who should fix the end. It is at the touch of His hand that the silver cord is loosed at last, and the golden bowl is broken ; it is at His bidding only that our dust should return to the earth as it was, our spirit to Him who gave it. I bid you return thanks to him for saving you from the fearful sin of self -slaughter ; and if hereafter evil times should come once more upon you, I bid you trust and pray." The prisoner was bound over m her own recognisance to appear for sentence when called upon. Pobtly Policemen. — Wellington can boast of having the three most portly police sergeants m the whole of the colonial force. These three turn the scale at 6721 b, ■which is an average weight of sixteen stone each. Chinese Honors. — The Chinese Com-mander-in-chief, who defeated the French at Tamsui, having been strongly recommended for recognition of the Government, the said commander has been overwhelmed with titles and presents. He has been invested with the hereditary title of Ch'i-tu-yu, or noble of the seventh grade. In addition the following articles have been bestowed upon him ; — One feather-tube of white jade, one thumb-ring of white jade, one dagger with a handle of white jade, one flint and steel, one pair of large pouches and two small pouches. Other officers are similarly liberally rewarded. One of them obtains the distinction of the " Yellow Riding Jacket," and others are. to be honored with the decoration of tho peacock's feather. The largo and small pouches are probably tho presents most appreciated. The pouches are suggestive of what every Chinese office-holder is doing, namely, robbing tho province or city over which he may exercise some temporary control, and during war times the gallant Cliinese officers are not likely to ignoro the suggestive hint presented by the large and small pouches. Colonel Bbaoeenbubt. — Colonel Brackenbury, R.A. (says tho Soudan correspondent of the Melbourne .4r<7i«), has been appointed second m command of tho division of General Sir E. Wood (promoted to the command of tho division on General Earle's death), to the great satisfaction at once of those who believe m the claims of seniority, and of those who recognise sterling xnorit. Henry Brackenbury was a second captain m the Royal Artillery, and Professor of Military History at what tho sappers and gunners call " the shop," namely, the Academy on Woolwich common. When he was chosen to write for the Standard the diary of the war between France and Germany m July, 1870, his predictions of the successive steps of the Prussians and their allies wore marvelously exact, and he led up daily to the crowning mercy of Sedan m a way which could not be misread by the dullest person. Colonol H. Brackenbury, who must not be confounded with his elder brother, but junior m rank, Colonel C. Brackenbury, of the same regiment, has all the industry of an Englishman, and all the montal acutoness of a Levantine, which on the maternal side ho is, and for the last fifteen years nearly he has been recognisod as one of the leading military writers, and one of tho most rising soldiers. He served with tho Bed Cross Society m France m tho winter of 1870-71, and has been m or connected with everything except the Tel-el-Ke-bir and Bouakini business that has concerned English soldiers for the last eleven years. He has, however, been recently undor a cloud at Home, and he accepted, very much against the advice of bis best friends, tl>& poib ofchief

[ of the secret police m Ireland, and when he threw it up m tho autumn of 1882, just before the Egyptian expedition, on finding it unsuited to bis tastes, he placed the Government m a position of considerable difficulty. Ministers nave not forgotten this, and Lord Wolseloy had soino trouble to secure his cooperation on the present occasion, and I believe he came out to Cairo with no other deGnito rank than colonel on-the-staff. Once at head-quarters, however, ho soon became deputy-adjutant and quarter-master general, and has filled the post admirably until today (December 26). Sore Throat quickly yields to " Baxter's Lung Preserver." In Consumption, " Baxter's Lung Proserver " has been signally successful. In Whooping Cough, "Baxter's Lung Preserver " is a speoifio. In Bronchitiß and Asthma, Baxter's Lung Preserver " affords immediate relief. BYNOPBIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Maclean and Stewart— Hold a sale of sheepskins, etc.. on Wednesday. , , J. Mundell and Co.— Will sell fiheep and cattle on Wednesday and Friday. The Bailiff— Sells sheep, etc., to-day near Pleasant Point. W. 8. Armitaptc— Wants two «ood hunters. Fairlio Crcok Racing Club— Publish protframme of their races on Easter Monday. Secretary, Timaru Harbor Board- Invites tendoru for supply of stores. ' In bankruptcy— Re P. McAtecr, •William Taggart. Lost — One notice.