TOWN & COUNTRY

Timaru Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 5196, 17 July 1891, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY

A dead wholo obout 80ft long was floating off Lyttolton Heads on Wodnosd-y.

Mr Fergus urges tho Government to offer bonuses for fruit growing, oa a balanos to protection to other industries. Scarlatina has been prevalent m Ashburton lately, but the epidemic is Bubsidin j. The attendance at the schools has been materially affected by it. When Mr Blake snid m tho Hou3e on Wodneedav that the femalo franchise would lead to denominationaliem m education, members oriod m chorus, " No ." Tho Oamaru racing clubß protest Dc-met the proposed tofcalisator tax, because it would moan crushing out Ul3 smaller clubs, and they want to know why other amusements aro not to be taxed as well. A nice drop of rain fell on Wednesday, but not enough to make much difference to tbe country, and the clouds cleared away bofore morning. They returned, however, yesterday ofternoon, ond it ib to be hoped came to Btay. The rain here wob represented by a heavy fall of snow on some of the ranges. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Cullmantown Band of Hope was held on Tuesday ' evening. There wa3 a largo attendance, and 1 Mr Thompsom, senr., occupied tbe chnir. 1 A long and varied programme was gone 1 through by the following members :— Misses ! Hutchison, Butler, Bartlott (2), Thomson, "" r - iy n "h, Weaver, Pearson (2), Wakefield, nnd Messrs jlm.._.. '. „ , ' „. . and Pearson. Misa Lettie Mcllroy jji tu .. ; as organist. The Oamaru Mail reprintß the " Sheep Stealer's Confession " published by us a fow idays ago, and makes the following sensible I remarks upon it -. — " Tho dotails of the robberies, aod number of tho sheep stolen aro eiven with an admirublo accuracy, and l-fflect the greatest credit on tho splendid memory and methodical management of tbe perpetrators of the thefts. It is a pity that a lucrativo business such as that iv which the writer of the letter has be?n engaged should havo been practically ruined by this premature and unnecessary disclosure of the mode of conducting operaliouo. But m tho light of tho recent eonvictious at Timaru, for shoep stealing, we see an all-powerful reason for the concoction of a bogus confession by tho friends of the men convicted, for the purpose of casting doubt upon the guilt of tho convicted parties."

Captain Sutler and Hia Worship the Mayor occupied tho Magistrate's Bench yesterday to hoar a triple charge against one Julia Condon, of (1) being drunk at 5.5 p.mthe previous dny, (2) breaking a pane of glaso, value 33, tho properly of Ellen Breakwell, Barnard Street, and (3) assaulting Mrs Breakwcll. Defendunt pleaded guilty to tlio first and second charges and promised to pay for ropairing tho window, and as lo the third said sbe was bo tipsy she koew nothing about it, but sho was very sorry indeed. Mra Breakwell showed that dofendaut had been boar.liu2 with hor for a fortnight, and had behaved woll till Wednoaclny, when she became quorrol-ome and was ordered to pack up and leavo, whereupon sho becamo violent, put her landlady out of tbe house, and tbruat her hand through a window. Fined 20s, and ordeiod to pay 3s damages and 3s expenses, m default 8 days imprisonment.

We have just received a not unusual kind of letter, but. from an unusual source— -St Petersburg of all places : —"St Peter3burgh, the 14/26 May, 1891. To tbe editor of tbe Tl-tAßir HiujAid, Timaru. In January last there oppoared m your paper a noticß of tho saving of a man from drowning hy a boat from the German barque Bialfco, whereby took part my nopbow Mr Aloxandor Fey. Will you kindly Bend me the number of your paper m which this notico appeared. I encloso stamps, and remain, dear sir, yours vory respectfully, Ludwio Kattgisbt, c/o C. Noauder, Esq , St Potorsburgli, Russia." Tho letter is written m a good clerkly band, and might he takon for an Englishman's but for a few un-English forms of letters, and tho words " whereby took part." Curiously "St Petorsburgh " is mis-spelt by tho addition of a terminal " h," Probably tbis was out of compliment to British prejudice founded on the spelling of " Edinburgh," us tho letter is written on a ohcet of letter paper with "0. Neander, St Petersburg," printed on the corner. The writer does enclose "some stamps" A clean one is attached to the sheet as a " remittance," a Hussion stamp of (to us) undeoipherablo.valuo— except that it is "10 " eomothing or other— but presumably of the value of a daily pupor. But ho also, and as out of good nature, onclosos a score or moro of used stamps of different denominations, which should have a considerable market value if there are compoting philatelists about. Theee Russian B'ampa are rather smaller than ours, und aro very neatly engraved und printed. We shall have muoh pleasure m posting Mr Kaugort a copy of tho papor. Yesterday afternoon the paronts and friends of tho children attending the Albury district school met iv the sohoolroom to bid farewell to thoir teaohor, Miss Islip, who is loaving to bo married, Mr Batcholor took the ohair, nnd oxpresßod his appreciation of tho courteßy and kindness shown by Miss ißlip, both professionally and socially, during tho four years sho had been m chargo of tho school. Ho then oalled upon Mr Apploby, the stationmaster, to make a presentation of a purso of money to Miss Islip, on behalf of tho residents of tlio district. Mr Apploby read a letter from Mr E. Riohardson, chairman of tbe school couimittoo, who wbb to havo made the presentation, but waa unablo to attend owing to boing called away on business. Mr Appleby Baid Uo should be expressing the view of the residents of tho district m saying that it was with rogrot they wero called upon to part with Miss -Blip, booauao both from a publio aud a social st-rndpoint tbey wero loaing a shining light. The school, as Mr Hichardson pointed out m his letter, bad alwaya mudo a good record under Mi?s Islip's coroful troiuing. Tho ohildron wero losing a good teaohor and a valuable friend, and the residents wero parting with un clement m tho sooial circle which could bo very badly spared. But while they had theso causes for regret thoy might alao rejoioe, booouso Miss Islip was about to tako a stop into a position m which ono and all wished hor ovory joy and happiness, Misß Batcholor then m a cent little speeoh, presontod Miss Islip with a pretty hand-bog and lady's companion combined, as a token of esteem and regard from the scholars. Miss Islip thanked the School Committee and residents of tho distriot for the kindness whioh had always boon shown towards hor whilst m tbeir midst, and also for tho present expressions of thoir good will. Sho also thanked the ooholaro for thoir boautiful present, and hoped the same obodionco and attention whioh had beon so frooly givon to hor would also bo accordod bor siiocossor. Tho meeting was brought to a olose by tho scholars giving three hearty phcora for Miss lilip.

A special train from tho north arrived at Timaru at five minutes to elevon last night with the southern portion of the inward moil per s.a. Aorangi. After delivering tho local porliou of the mail, the special wont on to Oamaru. Tho Government Bureau of Industries j reports that at Tologa Bay 150 buehmen and several road-making hands aro required. Masterton wants 40 bushmen, Wongunui 50, and Raglan 20. On the Dargavillo and Hokianga gumlields men make from £2 to £4 | por week working long hours. I The Otago Daily Times says :— Mr Smith, alias Lord Wortley, who bus been having a good time of it up till lately m the Clutha and Tapanui districts, recently made his way to Dunedin, but failing to inspire tho desired confidence m the breasts of city tradesmen, turned bis altontion to the Taieri district. According to the Advocate, he ontered into negotiations with a farmer for the purchase of some Btock and land, but the farmer, instead of boing improsßed by his customer's title, rudely smote him hip and thigh, administering such a punishment as Lord Wortloy is likely to remember for many a day to come. " A residont of Napier," says the Daily Telegraph, who has been Btudying the Financial Statement and tho Property Tux Commissioner!' report presented to Parliament m 1390, writes to say that there are "■■- ■ -_ t., m ... i„ |,v, n Hawko'a Bay Provincial District who collectively pay ytnperly tax to tho amount of £6463 7s 6d, inoluding tho amount payablo by mortgagees. Under the land tax proposals these Bame fifteen gentlemen will pay £6470 19j 2d, a difference of £2 lis Bd. From the return mentioned it would also appoar that these fifteen settlors hold personal property to tho valuo of £504 985, all of which will escape specifio taxation undor Mr Bal'auce'a proposals. The complaints mads m Now Zealand concerning the management of the railways by a Commission, aro nothing like so numerous or serious ne those mado m Victoria. In the Victorian Assembly a week or so ago quite a storm of indignation was vented on tbe management of tho railways. " Nevor," declared Mr Bont, member for Brighton, " never have our railways been so badly managed, ond not a man m the whole coloDy can truthfully say that a single improvement hsa beon introduced m tho management of a single 1ir.0." Another member demanded of tbo Minister of Railways a promise that certain alterations of BOrvico be desired should be made at once. " I cannot lift my little finger to havo even a bit of putty put on a carriage window," replied tho Minister. Members demanded to know how long tho Minister of Railways intended to allow tuch an unsatisfactory stits of things to la_t, and tbis drew from Mr Shiels tho assuranoo that his amecdii. g bill would contain adequato propoeale for effecting a change.

The Taranaki Herald aayo : — Mr Archia McGiveD, tho diver who ia engaged m tho work of removing the wreck of the Hawea at tho breakwater, was tackle! by an octopus the otber day. The uncanny creature caught tho diver round tho legs and body with ita feelers, or tentacles, and gaTe him a nasty squeeze. McQ-iven at once gave the signal to his mates above to haul up, which ordor was carried out promptly ; but when tho direr got his head and shoulders out of the water, the octopus caught the ladder by which tbe diver ascended, and thus pinned his victim. The men m the punt, among whom wero Messrs S. Lovcridge, _, Lowe, and J. Rrid, then wont to work and released their mate by killing the octopus, which moasured about six feet from tho lip of one tentacle to auother. Tbis is tho second encounter McQiven has had with an octopus, tho othor occasion being m Wellington about three years ago, when he was engaged m the roclama'ioa works.

We take the following from tho Eangilikei Advocate :—" Whoso land is this ? " asked a Liberal luminary a short time ogo. " That is Mr 'b," was the reply. " SYhy," rejoined tho aforesaid luminary, " there ought to bo a dozen of you Eunterville people living on that," It was the remark of a "burster," a " burstist," a " buster up," a " buster," or whatever tho new sohool of spoilers calls itself. And yot when tho owner bought the land tho Provincial Council was ehort of money and was almost begging people to buy. When ho had bought it several of his friends doubted his good sense and said it would be folly on his part to oloar it. But ho did. Tho clearing, grossing, and fencing employed a largo number of mca who were _lad to get the work at a timo wbea work was vory difficult to obtain. Yet, as soon as it begins to bring m Borne rotiirn for the expenditure m iho shape of a fow fat sheep, and a few bales of wool, tho envious-eyed Liberal comes along, and as he notes the greenness of the pasture, longs to enter and to take advantage of anothor man's labour. That is Liberalism m a nutshell.