TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume 5264, Issue 5264, 15 October 1891, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Tomorrow evening a promenade concert is to be held m the Burkes Pass Sohoolroom ia Bid of the school prize fund.

We learn that the ship Zealandia arrived at liyttolton, at 11 o'olook yosterday morning. She left Timaru oa Suadcy last.

Owing to the continued wet weather the opening of the Wesley an tennis courts, arranged for to-day, ha? been postponed till Thursday, the 29th inst.

Among the paissngers booked for New Zea. land by the Tongariro before the mail left, were' Mr T. Tesobemaker, Mr and Mrs Bhodes and Dr and Mrs Lswaon, for South Canterbury. Mr Ot. P. Olulee ia on board tho Boric, now at Hobsrt or on her way hither.

There was anothor poor house at the Theatre Royal last eTflninn, due m great measure no doubt to tbe'heavy downpour of rain. Notwithetandiog the array of empty benches the company carried out a capital programme, the numerous items on which were fully appreciated.

A meeting of railway employees to consider the Railway Insurance Bill was held at the Timor u railway etation on Tuesday night, thexe being about 60 present, Mr Edwards, the chief clerk, boiag ia the chair. After considerable discussion a portion 6f the meeting thought it inadvisable to continue the discussion pending an alleged confersnoe botWeen the Hon. the Minister for Fublio Works, tho Commissioners, and the employees, the movor af tho motion to that effect quoting Hansard us authority. (The result was that 21 of those present decided by voto to abstain from diaoussion and tben left the meeting. Those that remained, however, continued the discussion and came to an unanimous conclusion by resolution that the Insurance Bill be approved of subject to esrtain alteration*, copies of which had already been circulator), the chairman being instructed to communicate with the authorities to that effect. After the customary vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting terminated. I

Colonel Gorton says he has serious thoughts of bringing out to New Zealand a Suffolk horse. Ho says:; They are boautiful horses, and I am euro for our work m New Zealand are more suitable than either the Oljrdesdalo or Shire. The latter are, if anything, more powerful than the Clydesdale, but ueithor are so active as the Puffolk. My brother Frod has got a Suffolk. mare, at Belstead that will pull four tone along a level road. I saw her myself take away a terrific load of clover hay on a big waggon, whioh is a ton when empty, and made nothing of it. She is not so big as my Hiiro, and I am euro would pull a mush heavier load, and .when she starts sho is bound to pull till somothing goes. The Suffolk horaeß are very popular, but have not got such good feet for tho hard roads as tho Clydesdale or Shire, but for general farm work ate perfect. This high praise of Suffolk horses may be fully deserved, but it ia open to suspicion, as Colonel Gorton eeemo to be a Suffolkman.

The rainmakers of Texai are nowhere m competition with Jupiter Pluvius when he makes up his mind to lot us have a dronohing. Tuesday was dear, calm, and hot. Towards evening a thin, mottled, fleeoy cloud overspread the heavens, and without any abominable noises or smells it gradually became denser and denser, and m tho small hours the oloudß began to drip to . some purpose. It would Ba interesting, though it might not be of the slightest praotioal use, to know how a dear sky is converted within a few hours into a cloudy and rainy ons, without, so far as can be seen, any arrival of additional moisture on a wind. Perhaps a vast body of cold air was passing, invisible, above tbe warm and well-charged stratum near the earth, and by rapidly absorbing the radiation from this, reduced its temperature below saturation point. If that is the explanation of yesterday's rain, then the artificial rainmaker cannot imitate it, unless he can get a site somewhere up thoro, and get a Haslam refrigerator at work.

Timaru will once more be favoured with a visit fram the always popular favourites Hugo's Buffalo Minetroh, who will play a ihort eeneon of throe nights — to-night, tomorrow, and. Saturday. Such night they will give an entire ohange of programme. Their list contains all the latest aonga, dancos, ekotchos, farces, etc Miss Prieoilla Verne will eing " Waiting to hear the Verdict' 1 for lbs Sret time here, and Mr Oharlas Hugo will oonvulao the audience with his original sayings and doings. Apart from theso well known artists the company include Miss Jessie Cleveland, Miss Rosy Andrew, Mia9 Violet Andrew, Mi«a Ethel Hugo, Mr Wai Hugo, Vincent Magae, Belle Andrew, Fred Hayward, Alf Haeby, Gregory Bros, Walter Cumuham, altogether forming one of tho strongoat combinations travelling. The prices charged for admission are 2e, le, and 6d . People wanting to enjoy a hearty laugh should hear the Buffalos to-night. A matinee will bo given on Saturdny for Bohools and families, prices le and 61 to all parts of the bouse. Colonel Gorton, well known as an auctioneer and stock agent m the Hongitikei district, is just now on a viait to the Old Country, and he has been looking et gome of tbe Old Country sheep fairs., In a letter* to a friend by a late, mail be cays i— The Suffolk sheop are coming greatly to the front, and are, without doubt, the best blaok faced sheep I have lean, having very large frames, and the butchers like them, as they do not run to fat so muoh as the Linooln, and are delicious eating. Ths auotionoer told me bis eon on his farm killed a wether 18-months old, weighing lGOlbs, They never keep them boyond that ago, and generally cell thorn as two-tooth. I will get the exaot weights from a man thoroughly to bo relied on, and suoh will astonish you. I feel convinood these cheep would do splendidly m Now Zealand, and would be just the kind to cross with our old Lincoln ewes for early lambs. They would yield tplondid lambs, big m frame and heavy m woighl., and be good tlflora. I caw the oross between ihe Ootswo'.d and the Suffolk owe, and the rosult was •zoelleot. Of oourio what is sguinet the Suffolk is that they only olip about 61bs of wool. I don't think they come on as fast as othor sheep, but I am told they would live who.ro other sheep would not. lam muoh taken with them for creasing our old owes to get lambs, end will further post myself up about them, but the sheep to my fancy for a general flook is undoubtedly the Ootswold. I like them better than tho Xiinoola ; they are bigger m oarcaee, nearly as good m wool, and the wool it finer, j

London notified on the 18th that heavy delay to all outward traiKo was caused by interruption on English laud lines.

We refer you to another column for tho list, and to W. Ponroee, Commerce Houee, for tbe special value offered m ladieB 1 jackets, millinery, and oostumes made to order. — [Advt ] Weathor permitting, the annual athletic sports of the Timaru High School will beheld at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's grounds to-dsy. Part I will begin at / 10 SO a m., pirt II at 2p m. The Strangers' Baoe and the Old Boys' Bace are fixed for 4 and 4 80 p m. respectively. The member fo? Timaru, Mr W. HallJonoß, had an interview with Mr Commissioner Hume yesterday, relative to the transfer of Sergeant-Major Mason from Timaru to Ohristchurch. In his reply tbe commissioner declined to rescind tbe instructions given, certain recent changes having bean mad 9 m the interests and for the good of tbe service' The mayor (Mr Boss), Mr W. Evans, and other residents also called on Colonel Hume and received a similar reply, Tbe annual meeting of subscribers to the Pareora Publio Library was held m the State school on Tuesday even'.ng. Tho report and balanoe sheet of the outgoing committee were read by the hon, seoretary, Mr H. B. Goodeve. The latter showed a balance m hand of £2 3s 6<i, including 10a subscriptions paid m the room. A new committee was elected as follows: —President and treasurer, Mr J. Campbell; hon. seoretary. Mr H. B. Goodeve; committee, Msssra J. Anstoy, J. Bapaey, J. Struthers, and H. Stonier. As & majority of members of the library committee were also members of the school committee, it wbb decided to hold quarterly meetings of the library committee at 630 p.m. on the last Mondays m Deoomber and March, and to call a special meeting for Monday, 26th, at 630 p.m., to consider tbe purchasing of new books. Members of the committee m the interim undertook to canvass for new subscribers, who since the discontinuance of the Government grant to libraries have been dropped off. Tbe question of the qualification for life membership was brought up, and further discussion postponed till next meeting. The oommilteo wish it to be knotrn that subscribers have the privilege of suggesting to the consideration of the committee the names of any sew books they would like to have purchased for tbe library. There will be on vie it m Messrs Rutland and Co.'a salerooms to-day, and sold by auction there to-morrow afternoon, a rare, beautiful, and valuable collection of Italian art work, m marble and alabaster. Those who desire to embellish thoir homes with permanent, practically indestructible, and beautiful objects, should not miss this oppor. tunity of making a ohoice of such things. The great part of the collection consists of somewhat massive vases and pedestaUed basins, m whits and veined marble, wonder* fully wrought with foliated ornaments, but there are also smaller knick-knacks, m mantel ornaments and Brticles at ones beautiful and useful. All are finely finished and polished, and as to the carved work wonder at the skill of the workman must everywhere be mingled with pleasure at the beauty of the matori&l and of the finished work. Borne of the smaller things, horses a few inches high, for instance, aro extremely well carved, and then finely polished. It is seldom that Timaru people have a chaneo of seeing, still lees of securing such works of art, and this opportunity should not bo miseed. The goods, eleven cases, have come direct from Italy, and have been unpacked and put together here, Signor Oaoobina nnd an assistant having been busy- the last three days m erecting and cementing the larger pieces. One should not miss the opportunity of seeing them displayed to-dsy.

SYNOPSIS Of NEW ADVEKTiSEMKNTf. Qraoie, Maclean and Co—Sell Trotting Club privileges, horses, etc, on Saturday, N.Z. Loan.—Hold animal salo of horses on 30th inst. Bnrke's Pass—Conoert m aid of school f nnds ou 16th inst. Burolay and Foot—Sell stook at Waitaki North on 19th inst. Mackenzie County Council—Call for tenders for bridge timber. Rutland and Co—Sell statuary to-morrow ; clearing salo at the Point on 20th inst. Theatre Royal—Hugo's programme for this evening. Timaru Trotting Club—Aoosptanoas and general entries on Friday. Wealeyan Tennis Courts—Opening of the season postponed till 29th inst. G. and T. Young—Have opened new goods suitable for presents.