TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1832, 6 August 1895, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

An earthquake (a slight one) was felt at Geraldine about 6 p.m. on Sunday. The earthquake was felt pretty strongly m North Canterbury. In Christchurch people were frightened, and some chimneys were shaken down. The exact time of the shock here was 20 seconds to 6 p.m., and the apparent direction was south-east to north-west.

The members of the Victoria Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Geraldine, met at the hall on Sunday morning for church parade, and marched to St. Mary's Anglican Church, where theservicewas conducted by the Rev. J. Preston (the Lodge Chaplain), wiio preached an able sermon for the occasion.

The draw of the Golf Club, for Mr R. H. Ferguson's prize, is as follows : — Gray (s) meets Turner (14) ; Macfarlane (10), Macgregor (1) ; Perry (12), Ferguson (4) ; Hamilton (10), Gow (10) ; Foden (18), Perston (4); F. Wake (12), Leech (12) ; Jefferson (12), McLaren (16) ; Davies (10), Sommerville (s) ; Lindsay (10), West (10) ; Higginbotham (s), Ronaldson (1); Smithson (14), Gunn (10). Play will start at once.

On behalf of the Lands Department the Geraldine Road Board has undertaken work at the Hae-Hae-Te-Moana Gorge to the extent of about £600, part of which money is a subsidy from the Government obtained by Mr Flatman, M.H.R. When fairly started, the works will employ about 30 or 40 men, the greater number of whom have already been put on. This should give immediate relief tomost of the surplus unemployed m the Geraldine district.

A curiosity was brought to the office yesterday by a couple of lads, intheahape of two queer fish which they had picked up on the beach at Jack's Point. So far as we could make them out by comparison with book descriptions, they were specimens of the " hag," an eellike fish, with a sucker mouth. Our first conclusion was that they were lampreys, but further search^ made it appear more likely that they were hags. At Home the fishermen hate the hag, because it destroys other fish, fastening on to them by its sucker mouth, and by means of teeth boring its way into its prey. Another curiosity was picked up at Dashing Rocks on Sunday, m a specimen of the sea-cucumber, seaslug, trepang, or beche-de-mer. It was a small one, about two and a half inches long and nearly an inch m diameter,and green m colour — very like a stumpy gherkin. We do not recollect hearing of any of these large slugs being found at Timaru before.

Owing to the majority of members being engaged last evening, the monthly meeting of the Timaru School Committee was put off' for a week. We learn that Mr A. G. Anderson (Glasson and Co.) has received the appointment of secretary to the Tiniara Mutual Terminating Building Society. The Temuka Brass Band gave a sacred concert m the park on Sunday afternoon, a collection being taken up m aid of their old leader, Mv D. Bryan, who hag not been able to work since April last through illness. The public responded veiy freely, the sum of £2 12s 4d being collected. The playing of the band was much admired. The park looked very lively, a good attendance being present. We have received from the publishers, through Mr T. Wagstaff, No. 6 of the Windsor Magazine, which completes the first volume of that periodical. It is quite equal m merit to the numbers which have preceded it, the illustrations being as usual excellent. The interest m the serial stories is well sustained, and the articles and shorter stories all form very attractive reading. In announcing the commencement of the second volume, the publishers are enabled to state that the success of the first has been very great, and they promise a number of original features m future issues. The Dresden Piano Company's manager, Mr J. A. X. Eiedle, begs to apologise to the immense number of clients who were unable to receive proper attention (owing to the immense crush), on Saturday evening, and desires to notify that he was compelled to wire to Dunedin for fresh stock to replenish his threepenny, sixpenny, ninepenny and shilling tables of sheet music, which contain the most popular items of the day, and are largely patronised by the music-loving population of Timaru. Pianos, organs, and harmoniums are still further reduced, as the whole of the Dresden's immense stock must be sold during this present week.— [Advf..] The usual monthly meeting of the Chrysanthemum Club was held on Saturday evening at the president's office, all the members being present but Mr Foden whose apology was accepted. The president occupied the chair. The secretary reported that most of the members had sent m their selections, the selection ranging over 70 varieties. A letter was read from the hon. secretary of the Horticultural Society covering a resolution thanking this committee for their suggestions re chrysanthemum show. Mr T. J. Smith was elected a member of committee vice Mr Bold resigned. Miss Baoafield, Mrs G. Collier, and Mr D. Craw were elected members of the club. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Juvenile Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Southern Cross, No. 3123, was held last evening. Bro. Shepherd, C.R., presided . The Woodwards reported that one member had declared off the sick fund. One candidate was duly initiated into the order. Bro. Osborne, P.C.R., proposed, and Bro. Buchanan seconded v That Bro. Grahame be elected S.C.R. m the place of Bro. Bright."— Carried. Bro. Grahame was then initiated. Accounts to the amount of £41 were passed for payment, on the motion of Bros. Osborne and Buchanan. The Court was duly closed by the C.R. at half-past 8 o'clock. The receipts for the evening were 15s, and expenditure £41. The concert m aid of the Hook School funds was held last Thursday evening and was well patronised. The programme was long and varied. Among the performers werp Miss Munro, of Kingsdown, Misses Oxby and Malthug, of Timaru, Mr and Miss Martin, of Otaio, Mesdames Coltman and Guy, Messrs Collins, Goldstone, Coltman, Hoskings, Scott, Shackleton, Cornelius,

The concert m aid of the Hook School funds was held last Thursday evening and was well patronised. The programme was long and varied. Among the performers werp Miss Munro, of Kingsdown, Misses Oxby and Malthua, of Timaru, Mr and Miss Martin, of Otaio, Mesdames Coltman and Guy, Messrs Collins, Goldstone, Coltman, Hoskings, Scott, Shackleton, Cornelius, of Waimate, and Mr and Miss Buckley, of Hook. Comic items were numerous, and fairly well received. The musical honours of the evening were well earned by, and unanimously given to, Miss Munro. Mr Bradshaw occupied the chair, and after the programme had come to an end he called for three cheers for the performers, which were heartily given. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up till the small hours.

A very pleasing ceremony took place at the Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon. Master Jacob Hill, who has for a long time been connected with the church and school, was presented with a set of studs and sleeve links, suitably inscribed, as a small token of the esteem and respect m which he is held by the scholars. The presentation was made by Mr Charles Clements, on behalf of the scholars. Master Hill suitably replied, thanking them for their unexpected gift. Although he was going away to England he would not forget the many happy hours he had spent m their midst. The Rev. Mr Brown concluded by wishing him a pleasant journey, and urged on all present to so live that should they not see their friend on this earth they should see him on the new earth when they meet to part no more.