TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4541, 17 May 1889, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

A gang of railway men were busy yesterday laying rails along tlio shingle spit to tho south of tbo Bank gully sewer. About this point thero 19 a largo accumulation of shingle, which can bo Tory cnsily hauled away. It is reported m town that steps aro to bo taken to form a. basoball club m Timaru. Ever siuco tbo American team visited tba North Taland, baseball has boon eagerly discussed m athletic circles, and mnny clubs havo been formed at Auckland, Wellington, , Christchurch, and oilier plncos. Mr J. Glevonß, who lust year look a shipment of horses to India, and returned to tho colony a week or so ago, passed through Palmerston the oilier evening (says the Times) on his way to Kangitikei. Mr Stevens informs us that owing to tho unseasonable time st which he arrived at Calcutta, he experienced considerable difliculty m diaposing of bis shipment, and the venture did not provo a financial success, bis loss amounting t 0 £500. Messrs Morgan and Cable's woikmon inado a start m putting new plates into the hull of tho p.s. Titan yesterday. On tho starboard sido a long length of pinto will bo put m, nnd 1 on tho port side two short lengths, all abaft the paddle-boxes. With tho exception of whore these repairs nro needed, the whole of the hull hns been painted abovo the water 1 linn, and tarred below it. The repairs to tho boiler, etc., will be carried out as quickly as possible. A largo number of amateur flshermon took advantage of the half holiday yesterday to havo a few hours' sport with lina from tho southern face of the broakwator. Fish, especially of tho cod species, wore very plentiful, and tomo very goud takra wcro carried homu. llerring«, " sardines," cod and barracouta aro uumorouo just now, and locally tho market is quite gluttod. One or two regular fishermen have, it is said, decided tv cure »nd imuku tho baifucoulo.

The OTils caused by the Tarawera eruption bavo not jet ceased. Bains hare washed so much of tho new Tolcanic «and off the hilla and into the Opotiki rirer, that a bar obstructive to navigation is being buili tip at tho mouth of the river. Ihe schooner Awaru&, now m harbour, is the boat belonging to Mr Hatch, of Invorcargill, which rescued the survivors of the wrecked chip Dorry Castle from the Auckland Islands, and took them to Melbourne, together with a cargo of contraband soalskins. Instructions have been given by the New Zealand flurse Guards that Btrangers are not to be allowed to inspect the " defences." An Auckland Observer man took odvantago of a last opportunity to make a full inspection of Fort Takapuna, iind publishes sketches, and a description of tho fort, which will account for the order being given. Tho fort, according to his account, is a complete botch, considered as a structure that is designed to be occupied by men as well as big guns. The men's quarters are said to be quite dangerously damp, and generally unwholesome underground dungeoni, the whole place so damp that it is a wondor how powder is to be kept dry there. The Paris Exhibition opened last week, is to be the most complete representation of tho progress, skill, ingenuity and perfection of human labour ever brought together. All that art and science and knowledge have contributed to the E.dvancement of tbo race is illustnited m thin wonderful microcosm of tho universe. But, u-.iys the Auckland Herald, m tho midst of this marvellous display of the triumphs of pence there is n seething mass of political discontent and revolutionary ferment. Tho Government of France, if not the peaco of Europe.is for the moment subser? ient to the success of the Exhibition. When that is accomplished the waters will be let loose. After tho Exhibition the deluge. A special meeting of the Geraldine Road Board was held on Wednesday lest, there being present Messrs Slack, Kelland, Flatman, DeKenzy, and Grant. The business for which the members had been called together was tie election of chairman. Mr W. U. Slack was proposed by Sir Kelland and seconded by Mr Deßenzy. Mr Slack having declined, owing to his probable departure from tho district, proposed Mr Flatman, which was seconded by Mr Grant, and it was carried. Mr Flatman m a few words thanked the members for the position they had placed him m. Mr Bhiers was re-appointed clerk and overseer to the board at hie former salary. The meeting then terminated. Somebody has been gulling the Sheffield Independent . In a late issue it Bays, after referring to the rabbit plague m Australia : " And now from the neighboring colony of New Zealand wo havo tidings that the swine havo run wild and increased so abundantly that to-day they roam about m Tost herds, destroying the crops, devouring the farmyard stock, and working havoc more terrible than the wild boars which were hunted m the forests of England m tho days of the bluff King Hal. Thus does history repeat itself, only m this instance the terror of the twine doea not appear to ba surrounded with that halo of romance m hunting which made the presence of tho wild boar not an unmitigated eiil." Now that winter is coming on, a hint given m the Family Doctor as to a not generally recognised cause of colds may bo useful. 'Ihe writer says, " I dofy contradiction m Baying that many thousands of people owo their fatal illness to col:l« caught m bed. For hore the front of the chest is kept warm, so are the arms and whole body— the face and head excepted, but they are inured — while the ono wee morsel left exposed to chill, especially m those who sleep on the side, is not much bigger perhaps than the heel of Achilles, and lies beneath the nupo of tho neck and between the shoulder blades. Havo you ever felt cold just there, towards morning on a wintor night ? Protect that spot. If delicato, there is where tho chest should be shielded by a chest protector." Thero wore recsntly published some particulars regarding i new preservative process by chemicals which bad been tried m London and had so far proved successful. Before the mail steamer Coptic loft London it was determined to send out by her a few egga and ono fowl which had been treated by tho new process. Both tho fowl and the eggs have been kept m tho ordinary storeroom of tho steamer, and although it ia now fifty-three days since she left London, the fowl appears perfectly fresh. Somo of the eggs have been tostod, and on being cooked were found perfectly fresh and swoot. Mr W. J. Ha? (the purser) informs us (Olago Daily Times) that it is his intontion to take the romaining eggs and fowl back to London m order to perfectly test the system. A most successful gathering was held m the schoolroom ah Woodbury, on Tuesday evening last, under the auspices of the Salvation Army. Tea was laid m one of tho rooms, and so great was the rush for seats I hut tho second room had to be brought into requisition, about two hundred persons partaking of an excellent repast. At the public meeting held aftorwards, there were ut. least two hundred iind fifty present, many arriving from Tomukn, Timaru, Mount Somors, Peel Forest. Aahburlon, and Gcrnldino. Colonel Taylor (Chriutchurou), proiidod and addressed thoso present, giving nomo interesting statistics m connection with tho work of tho Army. Addresses were also delivorcd by Captains Harvoy (Timaru), Thompson (Aohburton), Mr W. E. Barker (Peel Forest), nnd Mrs Morton (Timaru), and Mrs Melntosh. A very enjoyablo evening wus spent. " A shilling m and the winner shout " is a popular method of betting, but it led to awkward consequences at Oartorton recently. It fleoni?, says tho Wairarapa Slar, that at tho rocent meeting of tho householders for tho election of a School Committee speculation ran high no to who would bo returned. The conventional shilling m and tho winnor shout was etartod by half-a-dozen 'sports,' including somo of the candidates. Slips wcro written with the names of tbo soyon who were considered tho most likely to bo elected and the person who made the moss accurate guess was to win tho stakes. Tho winner turned up m Adam Armstrong, ox-ichoolmaster, but as ho happened to bo elected on Ihe Committee ho wds dctnincd nftor the meeting. In tho meantime Jones, tho stakeholder, nnd tho othor four speculators proceoded to tho nearest " pub," and had their drinkß. A Bocond round was insisted upon, and when Armstrong appeared, Jones having squandered fivo shillings out ol' six, throw down tho rti-n-mining " bob " telling tho winnor ho could melt his share. Armstrong demandod tho 3s, which according In tho usual rulo ho considered ho wub cntitlod to, and when Junes refused ho forthwith look out a summons. Tho cuso camo bofiiro tho Cnrlorton licucli, with tho l'Cßult that the plaintiff was informed that bets lire not legally recoverable.

The freehold of tho land on which the Melbourne Bijou Theatro stood was bought by tho Boy. Mr Brewstcr many years ago for £39. He now receives £1300 a year m rental. This ig a good specimen of " unearned increment." The hurricane which passed over Samoa on March 18 did great damage at Nine, Savage island, where 673 house!, three churches, two schoolhouses, and about two hundred cocoanut trees were destroyed. On another of the Savage Group wreckage was washed up indicating the wreck of a ship. Tho Tcmuka Town Board held a special meeting on Monday evening. Present — Messrs K. F. Gray (chairman), S. Clinch, P. Coira, and G. J. Mason. The resolution passed on the 15th April that a rate of J of a penny m tho £ bo Btruck to defray the expense of removing nighsoil, was confirmed. North Canterbury farmers are making money out of their straw. An E':le»mere farmer hit the Sydney market with a shipment of oat sheaf chaff, and netted £i 5s per ton. Another who usually burns his Btraw, this year exchanged it for a cheque for £100. Mr Job Osborne, of Leeston, has contracted to Bend over to Sydney from 500 to 1000 tons of chaff and pressed hay. As n Masterton amateur theatrical company was returning from Greytown tho other night one of tho ladies met with a sirgulur accident. The end of a loose shawl she wrs wearing caught m the spokeß of tho wheel of the carnage, and drow bo tightly round her neck that sho turned black m the face. The shawl fortunately broke, otherwise sho would certainly have been killed. The south-easterly swell of the last few days had more easting m it than ÜBual, especially when at its height, — indeed it was rather north-easterly at first — and its effect m driving back the shingle at the breakwater, or m grinding it up, or both, is very distinct. The watermarks are decidedly landward of where they wero a week ago. The direction of the break on Waimataltai spit waß such as to drive the spit southward, and to weaken and drive back tho north end. The Illustrated Australian Fetes, published at Melbourne on May 7th contains a two page picture lubelled " Aorangi, tho cloud piercer." The name Buggests our "cloud piercer " Mount Cook, and the picture has some resemblance to the appearance of the mountain, but it would puzzle Mr HuddleBtone to take a tourist to any point where he could get sucli a view of Mount Cook as is given m this engraving. It represents the whole mountain from summit to wooded valleys below, as a singlo precipitous peak. A public meeting of tho members of the Tomuka Wesleyan Chnrch was held on Monday night. Tea was provided by thu ladies o£ the congregation. Iha attendance was good, and tho Rev. K. S. Bunn presidod. Mr H. M. Miles, the secretary, presented the balance sheet of tho recent bazaar, which showed that the total Bum realised was £158 4s. Mr J. Brown moved a hearty vote of thanks to all those who had contributed to this result, which had exceeded their expectations. Tho motion was seconded by Mr Holwell, and carried unanimously. The chairman stated that there had been received a very handsome sacramental service, but the donor had particularly requested that his namo might not bo mentioned. Mr Brown moved — "That the trustees gratefully accept the service for tho uee of the congregation," which was seconded by Mr McCallum and carried. Tho chairman further stated that they would receive m a few days, from another well-wisher, a handsome cedar table, and that he had on that evening to present them with an eight-day clock, tho (;ift of Mr Sims. It was movod that the gifts be accepted with hearty thanks, and several gentlomen having spoken to tho motion, it was carried unanimously. Votes of thanks wero carried to the building committee, and to the officials of tho loan Building Fund. Tho letting of the seats having been concluded tho meeting terminated. The Oamaru Mail makca merry over the Otago school inspectors' reports on the examations, m respect to tho figures given to represent results m " class subjects," that is, subjects examined m by questioning a whole class at once. In some cases, says the Mail, tho inspector sits down to look over written papers, and asks tho teacher to put the claßs through a catchccism, on history or geography, say ; the inspector listening and observing as well as he cun while going over the papers. When bo much time haß b,een spent m this way the inspector puts down some number to represent the " percentage 1 " to which tbe class is entitled, "it may bo H or 81, or any other number that comes readily to hia mind," and whether high or low dopenda very much upon his digestion, and tho difficulties ho moets with m going through tho papors. Or he may take the class himself and give it a " half hour's heckling" on some subject tho children happen to know very little about, and down goes some number about 40. "It seldom goes beiow 40 ; only nine schools out of 187 m Otago got less than JO last year — which must mean something very bad indeed." On the other hand tbe inspector may get on a hobby and looturo tho children about it for tho greater part of the time, nnd if thoy show an intelligent interest m his lecture" bo will go to his paper and put down 85 — which must moan very good indeod, as there woro only 10 schools m Otago that got moro than 85 last year." Sir W, Fox has published m tho New Zealand Herald a copy of tho protest of the Now Zealand Alliance, of which he is president, which waß forwardod to tho commissioners of tho Dunedin Exhibition. It states that, "Ab tho representatives of a very largo body of colonists united to promote the suppression of tho liquor traffic, with a Bubsrribing membership of 3800 In every part of tho colony, and on behalf of a largo number of others interested m tho question, wo beg to add our protests ngainst the proposed Bale of such liquors at tho Exhibition. The introduction of what will bo practically v publio house bar, or a number of ouch, into on Exhibition established for instructive purposes can be m no way beneficial nor m accord with the objeots which such an institution is for, and will be most offensive to, and m defianco of tho wishes of a very largo number of those who visit it. In referonco to remarks said to havo been mado by Sir Kobert Stout, as to tho harmlosncss of the introduction of intoxicating drinks into tho Melbourne Exhibition, we bog to say that we havo heard a very different estimate of its effects from persona whoso opportunities of judging wero quite equal to if not superior to hie. If the exhibition had been one supported entirely by local effort and at local ooat, we should have doubted tho propriety of our interference, but as wo understand thut a largo sum of tho colonial rovonuo has been promised by tho Government to tho local promoters of the exhibition, we, as taxpayors feol that wo havo a right to bo hoard." Tho commissioners subsequently decided (o allow tUc sale of iuloiicttiug liquor.

Snow fell m Dunedin on Weddpsday, and the hilta around the town where whitened. At Invercargill m the morning two inches of hail fell. The following team have been selected to play for the Timaru Football Club against tho Waihi Football Club to-morrow : — Back, Hclean ; half-backs, Perry (2), Lawrenson, Oiby, and Macintosh j forwards, Gooch, Qoodall, Chisholtn, LoCren, Pearse, Stokes, Coehran, Stubbs, and another. The game will be piayed on the Amateur Athletic grounds. The following are the names of the team picked to represent Waihi Club : — T. Hart (captain), Moore, Brinkmann, Wagstaff, McLood (2), Donald, FitzGerald, Fish, Wakely, Lewis, H. F. Hart, T. Stewart, Shallard (2), Jones. Play is to commence at half-past three o'clock, Tho other day a large dog was killed st the Thames Street railway crossing, Oamaru, and the attention of tho reputed owner having been called to tho sorrowful fact, he at once gave instructions that the remains should be decently buried, the coat of the interment being ss. Having paid the money, at the close of the day's business he proceeded homo, when to his chagrin as well as delight lie discovered his late lamented pet alive and well m its accustomed place at the rear of his premises. He oyed it all over and careesed it, and at last wus forced to (he conclusion that he had m a fit of unconscious magnanimity buried some other fellow's dog. The verdict of all who have used the "Jumbo" brand Baking Powder, is that it makes light, nutritous and digestive bread, cakes, paßtry, etc. As tho ingredients aro of the lineat qualities, and no injurious elements aro used m tho preparation, bread, etc., mudo with this powder will keep fresh and moist longer than with any other powder. Ask for Anderson's "Jumbo" brand Baking Powder. — |_Advt.] D. SlcGuinness begs to inform the public that he has cold out his interest iD the Club Hotel, but etill carries on the business of the Bailway Kefreshment Koome. First-class luncheons supplied daily from 12 noon till 3 p.m. Price, one shilling. Early breakfasts m time for first trains, Is 6d each.— [Advt.] SYNOPSIS OP NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. C. K. M. Kayo — Has accepted Mr Moffatt's tender for ploughing, T. and J. Thomson — Special buainoß3 notice. Friendly Societies' Dispensary— Has Dr Parker's •' Rheumaticon " on salo. J. Ballantyne and Co — Draw attention to wools and yarns. J. G. Cowan — Has just oponed winter clothing. L.D. P.— Chancre of business announcement. A. Gabites— Notes special quotations for clothing. Wanteds — Five notices. D. Owers — Has hunter for sale.