TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2917, 24 January 1899, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Captain Edwin sends thefollowing :— Wind strong to moderate from W. to S.W. and S., at all places. Barometer further rise everywhere. &3ea moderate on both coasts. Operations at the bovril works, Manaiai are (says the local paper) being rapidly pushed on, and soon a start will be made extracting. This industry will cause something between £400 and £500 per month to circulate, and the worka will employ about ten men. Mr H. G. Wake, first assistant extra master at the Waimate District High School, has been appointed rector of the Hokitika District High School. Mr Wake is a " Timaru boy," and old schoolmates and friends will no doubt be very pleased to hear this news,

We learn that the 3 o'clock train on Thursday next, 26th inst., is being delayed until 5.45 p.m., on account of the limaru Tourists' Cycling Club sports. The annual meeting of members of the bt. Patrick's Day Sports Association will be held m the Institute Hall to-morrow evening. A good attendance is desired, as important business is to be dealt with. We find that we were mistaken m our statement yesterday that no medical man was m attendance on the late Mr Kiworthy tfuring his sudden and fatal illness. His medical adviser was at the house by 11 o'clock on Saturday night, and was present at Mr El worthy's death, which took place early on Sunday morning. fceports which came to hand m town yesterday were to the effect that fortunately the rain of Sunday had done very little damage Lo the crops. The fine sunshine and drying wind of yesterday were all that could be wished for, but last evening the weather wore an unsettled look again. The newest and most seasonable dress goods at leas than half-price at Messrs D.-ivies and Murphy's yreat sale. Dress lengths from 2a lid ; coloured dress a toils from 6d yri ; black grenadines, 12- 2 L ri, Is 4*d, Is 10* d yd ; new prints from 2Jd yd : black lustn-s, Is 4id, Is 9.1 yd ; white muslins, 3£<i, 4£<l. Dressmaking 8b lid, any style.— [Auvt] The Napier Harbour Board have decided to repair thfir breakwater to the present pdcl. a member asked what assurance they had that the big oceangoing vessels would come to it when ihia new contract waa completed ? The secrotary «;iid none at all, and so far as he knew th^y would n«*ver come m under finy circumstances. It might be the fault of the insurance agents ; he could not say. We v.'ould respectively a?k your attention to aome of our spec al lines at Piile prices. Men's heavy dungareetrousers 3s 9d pair rivetied, heavy all wool aox Is 9dfor 2 pairs, beaver troupers 7s lid pair, glut's tweed vests 3-* 1H all sizes, gem's suits from 17* 6-1, boys' straw hats 91 each, boy*', youths' and men's ready-made clothing at greatly reduced prices. -Penrose's Drapery Establishment.— [Adyt.] Word was received by relatives m town yesterday morning of the death at Geraldine of an old South Canterbury settler, Mr Benjamin Gibson. We do not know when he arrived m the colony, but he was busily aud successfully employed as bush contractor and carter m the Arowhenua bush m the early days of Timaru. He was subsequently engaged m business m Timaru, and later was storekeeping m Geraldjne. In his speech at Hokitika last week the Premier said he noticed that during Hip recent race meetings they had put, £3000 through the totalisator. Dunedin! had a population of 30,000, but it only put through £4000. Perhaps it would be said that because a majority of the Dunedin people were Scotch they were more canny. These toialisalor speculations pointed out to him one of the greatest evils and dangers of this country— the growth of the spirit of gambling. They were failing m their duty to their children by encouraging this gambling. The JRev. W. C. Woodward preached to excellent congregations m the Bnrnard Street Church on Sunday, and gave two eloquent discourses. This evening, at 8 o'clock, Mr Woodward will deliver a limelight lecture m the Barnard Street Church, the subject being " Through the Wonderland of the world." The lecture will be illustrated by beautiful hand-painted views which have b;?en imported at considerable expense, nnd these will be shown by means of a powerful bi-unial oxy-ether limelight apparatus, equal to any yet shown m Timaru. The lecture has drawn crowded audiences elsewhere. Some illustrated songs including the " Better Land" and " The Holy City " will also be sung. A silver coin collection will be made at the door. It is reported that a prospector, who has been at work for some time past near Taupo, believes he has made a discovery of great importance, namely, thatalluvial gold deposits exist m that locality. On Saturday week the Maoris interested m a large block of land near Taupo held a meeting to discuss the matter. Mr M'Ksy,the Government Geologist, wishes to inspect the alleged find, but the matter was referred to Te Heuheu Tukino, the wellknown chief, and he vetoed any further exploration at present. This is to be regretted, as the prospector is an old West Coaster, and wished the Government expert to examine his find. We learn that the Duolop Company have arrauged to pace Calder, the cyclist, right through to Dunedin. Calder leaves Christchurch at midnight to-night, and expects to pass throngh Timaru at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning. Heis ridinga Sterling, and Mr W. Priest, of the agents here, has arranged for several riders to pace him to St. Andrews. He will be met there by the Waimate contingent, who will take him as far as Studbolme, where the Oamaru riders will connect. The ride is one of about 250 miles, and Calder has every confidence that he will put up a record. Our Waimate correspondent writes :— The weather is proving too dull to be for the good of the harvest m the locality Very little harvesting has yet been done, and m some places a black mould is coming on the wheat husks. Farmers are afraid that it is a. blight that will run through the district unless dry and ripening weather sets m immediately. Some barley, oats, and grass seed, can be seen m stook, and give promise of an abundant yield. The farmers are making every preparation for a busy time, and all the mills and binders are being put into good repair. There are at present eight threshing mills m Messrs Wills Bros, yards undergoing overhauling, which shows that the mill-owners expect a busy season. Reports of takes of big fish are still coming to hand from the Opihi. Early last week the river was too much m flood for successful fishing, but on Friday and Saturday began to clear finely for daylight minnow fishing. The veteran, Mr C. Nicholas, got hold of several good fish on Friday night, including a 12 pounder, and on Saturday night some grand fish were landed. Mr James Ogilvie got a beauty weighing 151 b, one of 81b, and several smaller ones ; Mr E. Richardson, junr., one of 121 b and several other good ones ranging ' from s!b ;Mr P. Foster got one of 101 b; - Mr F. Pallißer and Mr C. Opie each one of 81b, and Mr W. Mendelson one of ' 7lb, all m addition to several smaller > fish ; and others who were fairly successful were Messrs Macintosh, Bowman, ] Shury, and one or two others. The ( river waa improving m order yesterday, and as the bar is m fair order we expect ' to hear of other excellent takws m a t day or two. A young man named Harry Carter, < who emulating Schilling is on a " walk ( round the world and will neither beg, borrow nor steal," arrived at Timaru at i 4.£0 yesterday afternoon. He left his home m Christchurch at 12.20 on Friday and expects to return m June, 1903. He carries a diary with him and m it are the names of principal residents whose offices or places he has called at and got their signatures. He has already got the names m it of well known people 1 at Christchurch, Addington, Hornby, Burnham, Dunsandel, Rakaia, and Ashburton. He arrived at the latter place at 6.5 p.m on Saturday, and at 9.20 a.m. on Sunday had passed Tin wald and had reached Bangitata by evening. He left there yesterday morning and arrived at Timaru as above. He leaves f here this morning and expects to get to j Oamaru to-morrow. Carter is a strong i young man, and is nothing the worse of his close on 100 mile walk so far. < He c expects to meet with many strange ex- { perienceß, and hopes to be present at r the Paris Edition,

A peculiarity about a thunderstorm at Hastings last week was the presence of a substance resembling sulphur m the watei-courees after the ruin. It. is understood that the Government has decided not to work the Mokihiuui coal mine as a State Socialistic concern, as proposed by some members of Parliament, but to lease it again. According to the Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, (Japtain William Jackson Barry, the well-known pioneer, celebrated his eightieth birthday m Auckland on Thursday. Captain Barry showed that he waa undaunted by old age, for he sang "The Death of Nelson," and treated the party to come dancing. According to the estimate of the Harbour Engineer, there were 762.000 cubic yards of sand accumulated round the Plymouth breakwater m November lass, and tiie average drift of sand for the last 18 years has been about 70,000 cubic yarda per annum. The cost of maintaining the port for ever by meanß of annd-pmnp dredging should not exceed £1000 a year for working expenses. The auniversary of the birth of Burns, Scotia's bard, is to be celebrated tomorrow evening. Between 30 and 40 gentlemen have co iar uignified their intention of being present, and kindred j spirits are requested to It- aye their names either with Messrs Crerar, Dalg'.eiah or (Jraigie. It is intended lo make the gathering, which will be held m the .Sophia estreat Hall, as homely as possible, and a reasonable subscription has been fixed so as to insure a good attendance. The South Canterbury Battalion Band will give an open-air concert to-morrow evening, at the Ship corner. This will be the last time the baud will be under the baton of Lieutenant Mohr, aa he has severed his connection with the band on receiving a lucrative appointment m Invercargin. Mr Mohr leaves Timaru by < j xpreae on Saturday for his u^w lioise. We understand that he will be, entertained by the members ot trie b:ind at a smoking concert on Friday evening at the Drill Shed. The Lyttelton Tunes says : — lt i« not generally known tiiafc through communication between (Jhristchurch and Dunedin has been established by telephone. Arrangements have now been made by which any subscribe at either cud can communicate with the other place during any portion of Sunday, a charge of 2s 6d being made. On Sunday a wellknown Canterbury sbeep dealer rang up Dunedin from siumner, and completed the purchase of a Hue of 6000 sheep by telephone. The message could be heard as distinctly as on the shorter lines. Attention is directed to the advertisement giving particulars of a grand variety concert to be held m the Theatre Royal on Thursday, 26th inst., the proceeds to be given to Mr Adolf Fischer, who got burnt out last Christmas. Well wishers siucerely hope to see the theatre packed to its utmost capacity. The programme if n varied and lengthy one, introducing Messrs Gus Jones, George Kraus, and F. Macdonald, who will render all the latest up to date comics. Limelight views of a tour round the world wiil be shown and operated by Mr Charles Knight, pnd gramophone selections by " Moa." The Timaru City itifles will give the sword bayonet exercise and physical drill, the whole to conclude with the sidesplitting farce "Hurrah for Casey," the characters to be taken by McKennah Brothers, I). Straehan, T. Macdonald, Edgar Collins, and Miss Vere de Vere. The Battalion Band have very kindly offered to play before the doors open. The prices, 23 and Is, should ensure a good house. The Agricultural Department has received a report from Mr H. C. Cameron, Inspector of Produce (or the New Zealand Government m London, dated 16th December, m which he states that on examining the Gothic's last cargo of butter he found considerable variation m the different brands. There was not the same evenness nor fineness of quality m most of them that characterised the shipments from New Zealand last year. Amongst those sampled very few could be classed as " choicest." Consignees when called upon verified that view. Owing to the scarcity of butter, however, objections that might otherwise have been taken were not raised, nnd ail went into consumption at good prices. As far as could be ascertained, the price obtained for most parcels went to 110s, with a range of 108s to 112s. The butter market was at the time of writing showing signs of inactivity, and prices had receded during the previous, week. Heavy shipments were expected, and buyers were lying back for reduced rates. Mr Cameron thinks they were right, and anticipates that butter will be much lower than last year. In the opinion of Mr. Cameron the prospects m reference to cheese are distinctly encouraging, but he does not report so favourably m regard to mutton* A well attended meeting of the committee of the Mackenzie Collie Dog Club was held on Saturday evening at McMillan's Hotel, when it was decided that, on account of Good Friday being one of their usual days, the trials be held on April 6th and following day. It is anticipated from present indications that the usual success will attend this fixture, which is yearly growing m popularity. The services of Mr W. O. Rutherford have again been secured as judge at the forthcoming meeting, which will be run under the usual rules, excepting that m this case all dogs have to be entered m the name pf owner, and merino sheep will be used for the huntaway class, instead of, as of late years, half breds ; and this year, m the youths' claes (under 18 years), the sheep have to be •• pulled " about 200yds,, held m ring to the satisfaction of the judge, and taken off ground, which is a much easier task than that formerly allotted to the juvenile competitors. The club have this year resolved to award a gold medal valued at £2 2s as a champion medal to the dog that secures to its owner the honour of having his name engraved on the club's champion cup. 4 private individual gives a similar prize to the dog that scores most points m classes 1., 11.,