TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 8 May 1901, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Berne advises that the Teheran telegraph, -route-has-been--restored: -~ - The rainfall at Orari Gorge Station for April was 2.25 inches. The Harbour Board have put up a notice warning the public from going along the tipping works during working hours. Robert Ferguson, of Pareora, is gazetted an officer under the Fisheries Conservation Act, and a ranger under the Animals Protection Acifc, for South Canterbury. A supplement to the "Gazette" of the 25th ult. contains new rules and regulations made by the Judges respecting the conduct of divorce cases before the Court.

The revenue from the Government railways last financial year was £1,727,236, of Trhich £940,290 was-earned by the Hurunui-Bluff. section. The. expenditure on this section was 63.02 per cent, of the receipts.

A wry successful blast was fired at the quarry yesterday, loosening a * great quantity of stone.'; ;The:locality/of the -bl*4t is at the back of where the first series of blasts was fired,towards" the creek, and; preparations are. in hand ? for a zigzag, return track for the crane and trucks to pick up the,stone.. The, seaward face of the shingle.approach to the mole-has. now; been .defended, by. a deposit." of rubble, and tipping from the staging has been resumed. Some heavy blocks of rubble have been put over the outer arm, where the damage was done by the'late heavy sea.

' A start has been made' with- the* deposit of material to reclaim from, the harbour'the'space necessary for the new railway approach to themain wharf, and a train of eleven trucks of small rubble has arrived from Lyttelton for the retaining "wall- . ■ - !< .

It is -understood that the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is making inquiries from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the banks whether or not it is pro? posed to keep May 24th as a holiday. Any proposal to increase the number of holidays (says the "Press") is generally opposed by business men. The Eight Hon.. Douglas. Mackinnon Baillie. Hamilton:. Cochrane, Earl of Dun- [ donald, of 34, Portman Square, London, England, is applying for a New Zealand patent, for an improvement in -tea 'and . cofiee-pots-r-the pot being so made that it can' "stand on either its bottom or its end:" S. F. Newman, of Peel. Forest, seeks to patent a waterproofing, mixture..',. Many of the early pioneers state it as their conviction that the climate is changing throughout New Zealand, the seasons being much later than. in former years; and the weather this year certainly gives ground for the supposition. Residents in the Wakatipu district state that the harvest now takes place there in March and April, whereas in the "seventies" harvesting was general in January and early in February. Southerly gale soon, with rain, glass rise, sea heavy, weather colder. These were Captain Edwin's forecasts yesterday. He must have sent the forecast for Wellington, as the southerly gale was> blowing all the way south from here when he received his 9 a.m. bulletins. At that hour Port Chalmers reported S.W. gale, showery and squally; sea rough. The sea was rough at) the Nuggets, heavy -at Bluff; so that we may expect another heavy sea. At the Theatre Royal on Monday night, Mr James Bain, the lion comique- of Australia, is to appear, with a number of artists from Dix's Gaiety Company. Among the members of the company are Miss Ida Clarkson, the Scottish nightingale, Mr, Arthur Holm, the Australian basso, Claude Sulivan, a juvenile comedian, Miss Ivy Akerstein, musician, little Alma, the midget serio-comic, and others. The Dix Company have had a long run in Christchurch and Dunedia.

Judge Ward arrived from the north yesterday for the sitting of the District Court to-morrow.

Mr James Sinclair, of the Waimate branch of the Acclimatisation Society of Waimate and Waitaki, who recently petitioned the Colonial Secretory to iemove hares- from the list of animals under the head of game in the district, has been informed that the request is granted • s firm the 2nd May.

It has been, reported on good authority, -at Waimate, that within the last few days a valuable discovery of what appears to be good coal has been made in the Upper-: Makikihi district, at the foot of the Hunter Range, near the source of the Hunter Creek. Some specimens have been sent to the Government Analyst at Wellington for examination.

The weather is very mixed just now. Monday was summerlike, and was followed by a warm nor'-west blow during the aright. This chopped round to the south-west, and the change whitened the Hunters Hills near Mount Nimrod with snow. Yesterday the wind remained in the same, quarter, and blew cold enough! -while the sun shone through it hotly.

The Wellington correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" telegraphs :—The discovery of a diamond field in the South Island has- been reported to the Mines Department by Mr William Atkinson, who asks if he is entitled to. a reward of, £IOOO for his find. He has been referred to the regulations under the Mining Act as to rewards for the discovery of new mining fields, and has been informed that a reward can only be paid in accordance therewith after the -discovery has been proved to be payable. An inspection parade of the ;City Rifles was held last evening, there being about 30 members present, Captain Gillies and Lieutenant Amos also being on parade. The company was inspected and afterwards drilled in extended order under the command of Captain Gillies. Lieutenant Amos next put the men through some company formations, after which the sword bayonet exercise was gone through. The junior sergeants then took. chaTge, and volley firing and manual exercises were done. This concluded a. very good parad*. ,_ Four of the New Zealand troopers returning from South Africa hail from Wai r mate, arid a committee' is now engaged in endeavouring to find out the time their arrival may be expected in Waimate, with a view of giving them a hearty welcome. The committee have been, appointed to make such arrangements as may be deemed advisable for the occasion. The social in honour of their return is to be deferred until the arrival of the Goldstone brothers, of Waimate, whose return is announced ta be in about a fortnight's time from tLe present. Our Waimate correspondent writes : After a long spell of very dry weather, with occasional frosty nights, the weather changed on Monday night when a fierce south-west wind set in, and a considerable quantity of snow fell onthe Hunter Range. -The pastures for some time past have presented a parched appearance, and feed for sheep and-cattle is scarce, the'turnip crop in this district not being up to the average either in area of land or amount of produce. With the present appearance of the pastures there is reason for serious apprehension with regari to, food supply for sheep, - so generally kept on the small as well as on the large farms of late years. The ' ordinary monthly meeting, of the Winchester School Committee was "held on Monday evening, when the following members were present:—Messrs W. Deßenzy (chairman), C Haar, J. Scott, D. McCaskill, J. Boston, and J. Wilks. The master reported that there were 90 pupils on the roll with an average of 76,4; that Mr Haar had attended to the spouting and lepaired the pump, and that Miss Aimers fully expected to resume work! at the end of her leave of absence. It was resolved that Mr D. McCaskill should act as a trustee for the Sayings' Bank account instead of Mr Opie. A small account was passed icr payment, and the meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman. The Auckland Board of Education, on the recommendation of theiChief Inspector, has appointed the following dates for the hoisting and saluting of the flag at .the public schools: —January 3rd; Commonwealth Day; January 29th, Anniversary Day; February sth, Treaty of Waitangi; March 17th, St. Patrick's Day; April 23rd, St. George's Day; May; 24th, Victoria Day; June 3rd, Duke of York's Birthday; June 15th, Magna Charta signed; July Ist, Dominion Day; August 28th, Slavery Abolished in British Possessions; October 12th, Columbus discovered New World; October 21st, Sailing- First New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, ; and also Battle of Trafalgar; October 22nd, Captain Cook's landing in New Zealand; November the King'sTTJirtEday; "November'3oth, St. Andrew's Day ;\ December 13th, Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand.

"When in Timaru recently," saya the editor-of this month's "Triad," "I paid a visit to the studio of Mr W. Greene. This work has greatly improved since his visit to Australia. Mr Greene's composition is invariably good, and the scheme of colour in nearly all his pictures ist satisfactory. Occasionally his drawing is at fault, but in this respect also there is a marked improvement. Moreover, Mr Greene is himself keenly alive to any occasional defect in his drawing, and is probably his'own severest critic. He would not allow, I am sure, any work conspicuously out of drawing to leave his studio. Timaru is fortunate in having so clever and painstaking an. artist and .teacher. In thia issue appear reproductions of three of Mr Greene's pictures." The reproductions are very good prints from photos that are on view in Mr Ferrier's window.

At the meeting of the Land Board last Thursday, a number of transfers of:licenses: were dealt with v It-was decided to "request B. Horgan, holder.'of a lease in perpetuity at Orakipaba, to show reason why his lease should not be forfeited for noncompliance with conditions," and to inform B; Langridge, Otaio, Settlement,,.that.he. must reside on his" lease ,fwithin ihree months. It was resolved''to grant F. Mulcock a lease of the Hook riverbed, near his property, at a rental of 30s per annum, for., thirty ;-years ? to the, usual conditions. ;'- The', ; B.6ard 'considered 1 the complaint of the' Waimate County Council regarding the spread of gorse on the Kohika Settlement roads, and it was decided that the Board .regretted; ;that the Council had not insisted;on.;Jh» roads being cleared of gorse prior to"tne'Government acquisition -of -the- -land-,--and • that to request the new settlers to clear .the gorse would be an injustice and an admission of neglect on 'the 'Council's part in not requesting the previous owner to effect the clearance. It was unanimously resolved to give .Mr Meehan notice to) discontinue slaughtering upon land within Mprven township. .. The Wai-iti School Committee held a special meeting : on Monday^'6thi inst., to appoint a caretaker. Present Messrs Mcßride (chairman), Fonseca, Ellis, Simpson, 1 Chatteris, Matheson, and Morris. Miss Charteris' tender as caretaker for twelve months was accepted. It was resolved that ordinary business should, be proceeded with. The headmaster's report was read and adopted. His request that the fences should be seen to could not be entertained this month as the committee were without funds. The secretary was directed to write to the Education Board re spouting repairs, and to get the approval r of the Board to a resolution that was passed that the committee give the Wai-iti Reception Committee the use of the schoolroom one Friday night this month to hold their smoke concert in honour of Trooper Greig's return. It was resolved to hold the annual concert and dance on May 31st, and a special committee was selected to deal with the same. The. chairman was requested to see to the coal and wood supply for the winter. A i circular re school excursion to Christchurch | was simply received, the committee refusing j to undertake the responsibility at this sea- \ son of the year.

It takes something real good to catch on now, and a good thing doesn't struggle long for existence. It is just so with " A Colonial Welcome Waltz." The m»lody is rich and full with splendid bass solos which make it very effective, and now that -the festive welcome to our returning troops, and the approaching visit of H.M.R., the Duka and Duchess of York, are the topic of the hour, this particular waltz "will fill the bill exactly.—(Advt.)

The many interested will be glad to learn that Major Jowsey, Captain Crawshaw, Captain Bourn, and the Timaru troopers, will arrive here at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Their welcome will bo'a most enthusiastic one.

At the Magistrate's Court, Geraldine, yesterday,' "before Messrs F. W. Stubbs and J. W. Pye, J.P's., Robert Hughes applied for an order against Charles Trengrove to obtain possession of a blacksmith's shop which defendant occupied and would not vacate. The order was granted with costs, against defendant. At,the Police Court, Waimate, yesterday, before the Eev. G. Barclay and Mr W. .Petit, J.P's., the police charged a man nith being drunk and disorderly in a public place at Waimate on Saturday evening, tiie 4th instant. Accused was convicted, and fined 20s with costs 2s; in default fourteen days in Timaru gaol. Yesterday we printed the prices of the tender which the Timaru Main School Committee accepted for fuel for the coming year. Mr Foster, the successful tenderer, wishes us to state, that these prices are not fixed ones, but are subject to rise or fall, cod the tender was accepted on these conditions. !A.s regards the Shag Point quotation this is wrong, lignite being the coal tendered for at 25s per ton. : The' Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association will hold an important sale of agricultural and pastoral properties at Tattersall's rooms, Timaru, on Saturday, the 18th inst. The properties to be sold include 900 acres and 302 acres of the Opuha estate, a 339 acre farm at St. Andrews, 183 acres at Kakahu, and 196 acres near Geraldine. The farms are all of an excellent class, and the sales should attract a lot of attention.

The fortnightly meeting of the United An'cient Order of Druids was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, the A.D., Bro; Niall, presiding over a fair attendance of members'. After routine business had been transacted, one candidate was initiated into the order by the A.D. Three persons were proposed for membership. The receipts for the evening were £l9 2s lid. The Lodge was closed at 9.30 by the A.D.

: A peculiar mistake has been made in connection with the school grounds at Hastwell (says the "Wairarapa Times")., The site originally intended by the Educa-' tion Board for the school buildings was found to be unsuitable, and an exchange for this present site was effected. By some . complication the present site, together with the schoolhouse, was sold by auction the other day in Masterton, in mistake for the original site, the purchaser tieing a well-known business man. The settlement of such a curious mistake will be watched for with ii.terest.

' White Island, Bay of Plenty, gave a beautiful display on Tuesday last. There was a dead calm in the attmosphere, says the " Times," and a great volume of steam was rising, funnel-shaped, from the crater. After ascending to the upper strata of the atmosphere at 4000 or 5000 feet, it spread out into the typical volcanic umbrella or mushroom-shaped cloud, dark underneath and snowy-white on top, and probably a couple of miles in diameter. In the afternoon the cloud was much reduced and'distorted, leaning apparently towards the northward"

jThe "Evening Post" says:—The right of women to vote in parish affairs was raised at the meeting of St. Peter's Parish recently by Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, who proposed that the parish representa--tives on the Diocesan Synod should be directed to support the proposal. A similar motion had, he pointed out, been carried before, though' then opposed by the Vicar, who, he hoped, had now changed his mind. For his own part he had at one time been opposed to the reform, but he* now recognised that it was bound to come, and they might just as well give way with a good grace. The unfairness of the present system, under which the .women did all -the work and were not allowed to vote, was palpable. The Mocesan Synod had supported the oefonn, but it had been rejected by the Geneutl •Synod. Mr R. Wllberfoss supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. The usual monthly, meeting of the Mackenzie Library and Social Club was held in the Library on Monday evening. Present: Messrs Burn (chairman), McLean, Banks, Talbot* Hamilton, Saunders, Ferens, .and Wallace (secretary). It was decided: that on| all occasions when the gymnasium wrts to :be open the caretaker be in charge, in order to .ensure *hat the property.of the club and of the Mounted Rifles corps should be! taken care of. It was 1 agreed to open the room on Thursday and Saturday to see how the members supported the proposed classes; to purchase a fresh supply of books for circulation, and to consider the purchaseof some good works of.reference.:! The offer of Mr J. Dundas Hamilton to give a lecture on!his South Africaa experiences was accepted with thanks, and the data was fixed for, 23rd May in the-Public Halli It. was also decided to hold the usual fancy dress ball on 14th June. * The 'new magazines 'to be iput on the reading room table are the " Scientific American" and the "Strand Magazine." • At ten o'clock on Saturday night, says the " Lyttelton Times," the residence of Mr R. Meredith, M.H.R. for Ashley, at Stoke, near Cust, was completely destroyed by fire, together with all the contents. The fire started in Miss Meredith's bedroom, but under what circumstances cannot be ascertained. The young lady retired early, and at ten o'clock Mrs Meredith, hearing a noise, went to her room, and found the place in a blaze. Her daughter, in a dazed state, was vainly endeavouring to beat out'the. flames. Mr Meredith and his sons.tried to put out the fire; with bucketa-of water, but failed to do. ; so, arid there being a'stiff north-west breeze at the time, the house, which stood ontthe top of .a hill, was quickly a mass of flames, r Only a few articles wer« saved, including about ohV hundred volumes of Mr MeredithV valuable" and; ertensiva library." Miss Meredith was" rather severely burned.about the hands,:and face. The insurances were £350 on the house, and £3OO on the contents,.in-the;Njew Zealand Farmers' Co-operative,-., Association.., ... Mr Meredith.,estimates his loss at;£2oo:;,cra, the furniture and library > , ' -:; • , -

1 SYNOPSIS OP NEW • ADyERTISE- ' .-,- : , ; ;i -..? ■ MENTS,; .. Guinness and. LeCren—Stock sale at Studholme on Friday; special horse sale at Studholme on 16th inst. NeW Zealand Loan . and Mercantile Agency Co.—Additional, entries for Sfri'lholme sale. a

Begg and Co.—" A Colonial Welcome," waltz.

New Zealand Clothing Factory—Prices for men's waterproof coats. • §haw, Savill and Albion Co.—Dates of departure of .cargo steamers. ■' ; M. Mullin—List of ■properties for sale, town and Country. '; Levels Homestead—Wants a ploughman. ''• J. Stack—Has land at Pareora to let for cropping.

In Bankruptcy Ke James Pergusson ; creditors meet 13th inst.

Funeral Notice—By Lister and Barrie. Assessment Court Sits at Timaru at Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Wednesday next. Q. G. Bridges—Land Transfer Act notices.

■ Oates, Lowry and Co.—Details of stock of ladies' and' gents' bicycles. John. Lawlor, Waihao Forks —■ Notice under the Licensing Act. J. E. Beckingham—lmportant notice to those requiring best furniture. Court Southern Cross—Brethren fall in at 1 p.m. to-morrow for procession. Major Wright—Order of procession for to-morrow's reception.

Lieut.-Colonel Bailey—District order for reception of returning troops. Wanteds —Four notices.