TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 7 May 1901, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Captain Edwin predicts :—West to southwest and south gale, glass rise, tides high, and indications for rain.

At .Court yesterday morning, before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M., a drunk, arrested on Saturday, 'was fined 10s or 48 hours' imprisonment. A further charge of damaging a cell utensil was proved, and accused was ordered to pay 7s 6d for. it. Ther Rev. W. Gillies is at present on a visit to the West Coast in connection with his New Century Fund mission. The Greymouth "Evening Star" of April 30th contains a report of his sermon on "Giving,' which was listened to ivith deep interest by a large congregation. The Timaru Beautifying Society has a long way to go before it' overtakes the London County Council in its efforts to beautify London. The Council has already succeeded in restocking the parks with many kinds of wild birds, and now the Parks Committee are inquiring whether thev can also restore them with butterflies.

As a result of, the back chain breaking on a dray near Mr Storrier's on Saturday, the two shafts were, broken off close to the body of the dray.- The dray was loaded with wheat at the time. We saw another instance of the back chain of a dray breaking while going down hill yesterday morning, and had it not been for the help of a passer-by, the driver would have been in an awkward predicament.

A meeting of the committee appointed to welcome Trooper T. R. Moss home from South Africa was held at the residence of Mr H. E. Smith, Winchester, on Saturday evening, when every member was present. It was resolved to hold a social gathering in Victoria Hall, Winchester, on Thursday evening, the 23 rd instant, in honour of Trooper Moss. Major Young, V.D., and Mr W. Deßenzy, chairman of the local Patriotic Committee, were chosen to give short speeches, and several first class singers have promised to give their assistance. Messrs Murray and Heap, of Temuka, will supply the music for the dance. Messrs W. and James Moore were added to the committee, and the secretary was requested to procure tickets as soon as possible. The meeting then terminated. Mr Gus Jones, lion, secretary to the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club, has received 62 entries for the various events at the club's annual meeting to-mor-row and Thursday. This is a capital entry, and gives promise of first-rate sport. Among the visiting athletes whose names appear on the list are H. Bradshaw (Waitaki), J. Friedlander (Ashburtbn), and J. Anderson, E. W. Cardale, W. C. Flewellen, E. T. Harper, G. Rich, S. Pentecost, and W. F. Simpson, all of Christchurch. In addition to this liberal outside support, there are numerous local athletes, and 11 High School boys for the events open' to them. Should the weather prove fine, the meeting, from an athletic point of view, at anyrate, should bei a decided success. The arrangements in connection with the meeting are almost complete. The races on the first day's programme are sparselv filled, I though the meeting of Simpson and Pente- I cost in the long distance events should be i worth going to see itself. An afternoon tea booth will be on the grounds each day, to which all visitors to the meeting are cordially invited. The sports to-mor-row commence at 11.30 a.m., and should the troopers return on Thursday* the hour will probably be fixed early so as to have the sports over by the time the train reaches Timaru.

Mr D. Mahoney has a 9-roomed house and acre of ground for sale. Particulars are advertised.

Members of the ball committee again request that returned troopers who have not already done so, will send their names to the secretary.

On Saturday last Messrs John Kelland, 196; W. P. Studholme, 183; K. Brophy, 180; J. M. Barker, 172; and A. Metcalf, 160, were returned as members of the Geraldine Road Board, the old Board being reelected. Mr F. R. Flatman, junr., the defeated candidate, polled 124, and there were six informal votes. Mr T. Dyer acted as Returning Officer. The annual dance of the Fairlie Lawn Tennis Club was held in the Public Hall on Friday evening, and was attended by a large number of members and friends. The hall was nicely decorated and the floor in first class order, an energetic committee having worked well during the day. Tha music was supplied by Langdown's ba.n.l, and left nothing to be desired. The supper was supplied by the lady members of the club, and' was excellent. The dance was carried on till an early hour, and was votsd by all a complete success.

The comet is increasing in apparent size and visibility, and last evening a second tail very much longer and broader -than the -bright one previously seen, became visible. This was separated from the other at an angle to the southward of about 20 degrees. This part of the tail was faint, but persons with good eyesight claimed to be able to trace it to a point which made it at least 40 degrees in, length. We do not know how far the comet is away from us, but if only half as far away as the sun, that angular measurement shows that the longer part of the tail stretches over thirty million miles. About 35 rank and file of the Port Guards turned out last evening for the first time in their new khaki uniforms, which we must say are a great improvement on the old naval rig out. Captain Raymond took command, and after examining arms and men, marched the company .down the street, where some movements were gone through. The company went through the manoeuvres very smartly, their uniforms adding greatly to outward appearance. ■ After a good parade the company was brought to the drill shed, ar.d after a few words from the captain, fismissed.

A fire occurred on the railway line on Saturday between the Washdyke station and the bluegum crossing at Mr Robertson's, immediately after the express from the north had passed. About four or five chain of plantation and the boundary gorse fence was burned, also a stack of oatsheaves ' which were on the other side of the gorse Hence, together with a large quantity of empty sacks which were placed in readiness for filling with chaff. The stack belonged to Mr Riddle, whose land adjoins the railway at this point, and his loss is a very serious one. Mr Robertson, who happened to be at hand, cut the gorse fence and checked the fire, otherwise it might have proved very destructive. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Juvenile Foresters was held last Friday evening, Bro. E. Smith, C.R., presiding over a large attendance of members. One candidate was proposed for membership, and one initiated into the. order. After the usual business had been gone through the social committee met to make final arrangements for the society's annual social, to be held on Thursday next, May 9th, in' the Assembly Rooms. Those selling tickets reported that they were going off well, and that very few remained unsold. As the committee have made great efforts to ensure the social being a success, there is every prospect of a good turn out, the best the lodge has yet held. The annual treat of the Sunday School in connection with the Anglican Church, at Fairlie and Silverstream, was held on Saturday last in the grounds at Canfield, the residence of Mr F. R. Gillingham. Owing doubtless to the boisterous day very few w«re present from Silverstream, but under the shelter of the trees the northwester was little felt, and games went on merrily all the afternoon. Messrs F. R. Gillingham and C. J. Talbot, the respective superintendents, assisted by a, number of ladies and gentlemen, teachers in the school, and friends, took much trouble to make the children happy, and judging by the faces were, completely successful. Afternoon tea, with a plentiful supply of cakes andjapples, was dispensed by the ladies, and the : gathering broke up at 5 o'clock with three cheers for Mr GiUingham. A very successful gift sale was held in the Volunteer Hall, at Temuka, on Saturday last, when the promoters were able to offer, in aid of the funds of the Primitive Methodist Church, a capital collection of useful garments, homely accessories, and produce. The work stalls were entrusted to Mesdames E. Prattley, R. Metson, Preddy, ajnd Phillips. Misses Cooper, Smith, and Fawdrey, took charge of the refreshment stall, Misses Preddy and Smith of the Christmas tree and a sweets stall. In the evening Master Sharpe conducted a nail-driving competition for the amusement of visitors. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, the sale -was declared open by Councillor Buxton, who is to act as DeputyMayor He was introduced, by the Rev. Mr Sharpe, and was cordially welcomed. The attendance in the afternoon was only i fair, but it improved in the evening, when ! good business was done. . There was especially good enquiry for produce. The principal credit for giving, collecting, and selling the same, is to be accorded to Messrs Smart, Smith, and E. Prattley. For th? convenience of their many customers and to fully- show its practical working, Mr Whyte, Timarn manager for Messrs Booth and Macdonald, has had an Union oil engine fully fitted up. It is of horse-power, and is driven by benzine and electricity, the latter igniting the oil instantly, so that tha engine is set in motion at once. All the working parts are fully exposed to view, and the construction is so simple that .an intelligent lad pan start or stop the engine, which requires absolutely no attention. The " Union" has found great flavour, and is being used for a multitude of purposes on stations and farms and at country! houses. In steamers also it is of great : use, and is made up to 1000 h.p. All interested in up-to-date machinexy should give Mr Whyte or Mr Holwell (his assistant) a call, and see the Union spinning along. Another implement added to the Timaru show rooms since we last enjoyed a stroll through them is the " Superior" drill, which is fitted with flexible wire tubes. This tube is so made that no stone or other obstruction met with in sowing oats, wheat or barley, will injure it, as it can be twisted or twirled into almost any shape and then come out straight again.

Messrs Palmer and, Co., blacksmiths, are busily engaged just now on same heavy ironwork ' for the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association's new buildings. The present job is some massive tie plates in wrought iron, which rest on the cast iron pillars which support the ironbark bressemers, and act as a huge clip to keep these beams together. In order to properly carry out i the work of making these couplings, Mr Palmer had a special anvil cast, and also erected a double blast fire for heating them. A first class job is made of the plates. Incidentally we learned that this ironwork was very nearly being done at Christchurch, there being an idea that it could not be done as cheaply and as well at Timaru. Also that the Harbour Board, for instance, sends away to Dunedin and Christchurch for wrought ironwork that could be done quite as well and as reasonably at Timaru; and that, too, without giving the local smiths a chance of tendering or even asking them for a price. Tho smiths do not care who gets a job, so lone as work is kept in Timaru; and maintain that as ratepayers and tradesmen of the towiA they should be given every support. And they also maintain that their charges are quite as reasonable as those of the towns named.

SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. National Mortgage and Agency Co.— Stock sale at Studholme on Friday. Guinness and LeCren—Farm for sale by auction at Pleasant Point on 20th inst. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.—Studholme stock sale on. Friday next.

Dalgety and Co.—Sale of stock at Studholme yards on Friday. Ballantytne and Co. Particulars and prices of ladies' gloves. D. Malioney Has town section and buildings for sale. South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club —Sports to-morrow and Thursday. New Zealand Shipping Co. —Paparoa due here on Friday next. J. G. Cowan Details of ladies' waterproofs and costumes. James Wilson, Fairlie Wants boy for farm. Reid and Gray—Want a good ploughman. S. Mackenzie and G. Talbot—Warning to trespassers. J. S. Rutherford, Albury Wants experienced shepherd. Wanteds —Two notices.