TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2889, 14 December 1898, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

. * ; Farmers are preparing for the harvest already, to judge by the number of reapers and binders being railed away from Timaru. The rain which waa light here yesterday fell m torrents m the Hinds and Ashburton districts, and also 'on the downs, back from Temuka at Hilton.| Captain Edwin advised yesterday that the southeaster would give place to a northerly gale after from eight to sixteen hours ; barometer fall ; sea heavy after some hours. We understand that the merchants and storekeepers m town have agreed to close their respective establishments on December 26th and 27th, and January 2nd and 3rd. The South Canterbury Mounted Rifles are to parade at the drill shed, Temaka, on Friday at 9.30 a.m., for volley, independent, and class firing, and election of officers ; on the 22nd inst. for mounted company drill. ihe adjourned meeting of the canvassing committee m connection with the visit of the Battalion Band to the Dunedin contest, will beheld m the Town Hall buildings this evening at 8 o'clock. A good attendance is expected. . i One of the detectives sent from the south. to Auckland to stop sneak-thiev-ing at the Exhibition had his own pockets rifled there. The thief considerately returned some papers, with a note i to the effect that the next time he would I take the detective's watch. I When the Mayor-elect notified on Monday that he intended to dispense with the customary' »• semi-banquet " to celebrate his installation, a teetotal Councillor asked, "Is ie not a grave departure to.do the Councillors c»ut of their usual booze?" Messrs William Wreford (Cave), William Frederick Stevenson (Fairlie), and Alfred William Gaze (Temuka), have been gazetted rangers under the Animals Protection Acts, and officers under the Fisheries Conservation Act 1884, for the district of South Canterbury. Mr Mackenzie has made A start with the inverting of the Bank Gully, above the Woollen Mill. The mere layman looking at the work so far as it has gone must wonder why the drain is so crooked, where the ground would have permitted it to be nearly straight. The Foreman of Works reported to the Borough Council on Monday that the new metal put on Stafford Street South has been " blinded." One could not tell this from the appearance of it, nor infer it from the way vehicles carefully keep to the sides of the street. The distribution of prizes at the Timaru Main School will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. The committee will be glad to Bee as many parents and friends present as can possibly attend, and extend a cordial invitation to all interested to be present. Messrs Ballantyne and Co. have a special advertisement respecting holidays. Their business premises and factories will be closed as follows .--Tomorrow at 1 p.m. ; on Friday all day ; on 22nd inst. at 1 p.m. ; on 26th inst., | all day ; on 29th inst at 1 p.m ; on January 2nd all day ; on January sth at 1 p.m. The Ashbwton Guardiana&yB — Thefiurvey Department has despatched a party to the Whitcombe Pass track to run the grade to the top of the saddle. This done, the track will be benched 18 inches wide, so that foot passengers can go through with ease. The weather has been bad m Westland, but hopes are held out that the work will be got through this summer. The volume of statutes for 1898 came to hand on Monday, a bookof 419 pages, containing 42 public, 26 local and personal, and 2 private Acts. The Mining Act, a consolidating measure, occupies 127 pages, or more than a fourth of the volume. Lyttelton, which obtains its water supply through the tunnel from artesian wells m Heathcojie Valley, finds the yield of the wells decreasing while the demand for water is increasing. There is plenty of water to spare for household purposes, for which its use is supposed to be restricted ; but when the consumption runs up to 37* gallons per head of the population it is clear that there is illicit drinking from the taps going on. We make a point df constantly offering fresh goods. Each week brings uafrom'the other hemisphere packages of. the latest materials and novelties. To-day we open ex s.s. Ruahine, new dresses, new corsets, new lace and silk ties, new washing gloves and veils, new muslins, new pink and blueginghamß, new sunshades, hdkfs m fancy boxes, toys, ornaments, glassware, Xmas cards, purses, hand bags, photo frames, plaquea, dolls, &c, so. Peorose's Drapery Establishment. -CAfcy*,]

Particulars are given m an advertisement of a Bi-chloride of Gold Institute for the treatment of those who suffer from an appetite for liquor, which has been opened m Donedin. Similar institutes have been established at various towns m the North Island during the past yearand a half. The institute guarantees to eradicate all desire for intoxicants leaving the patient m the same condition as regards liquor or narcotics as they were previous to first indulging m the same. At a meeting of the ladies' committee of the limaru Floral Society, held last evening, there being present Mrs F. smith, Mre Cross, Miss Rowley, Miss Knowles and Miss Allen, reports were received from the various ladies who are preparing floral drills, dances, marches, etc., m which the scholars from the main, aouth, and other schools will take part. It was decided that the items should be performed during the early part of the evening, and that ladies' floral sprays, and men's buttonholes be disposed of during tha show. The question of floral decorations was discussed, and it was suggested that all members and others be requested to bring to the hall on the moraine of the show as many flowers as possible. The lady teachers undertook to bring before the scholars the prizes offered by the society for the best hand bouquet for competition by children attending any school, to be made up m the hall. SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association — Slock aale at Studholme on Friday. Eallantyne and Co.— Particulars of holidays this week and at Christmas and Hew Year. M.Z. railways— Excursion lares for Christmas holidays. Moaeyele works -Particulars of new cycles and repairs. D. I.C.— Are showing samples of carpets and linoleums. Ttmaru Main School— Distribution of prizes tomorrow, mercery ftm * Mvr P n y — Have opened men's new Hondal Lanka tea— l*et*us \ n sa*i«w>, B.C. Mounted Rifle* -Parades tot tmsuna. i«.xt week. • > Mayor of Kaiapoi— Has splendid form to let by tender. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board-Call tenders for supplies. : Bi-chloride of gold cure- Full parti >ulars. Box 23, P. 0., Tiraaru— Wants respectable youtb. Wanteds— Three notices.