TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11648, 4 January 1902, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

1 Captain Edwin advised at 9 a.m. yesiterday : —Moderate southerly winds, glass rise, ordinary tides. The coal, exported from Westport last year, amounted to 453,863 tons, being an increase of over 65,000 tons on the previous year.

Mr E. T. Dadelszen, the RegistrarGeneral, left for Hobart on Thursday, to attend a conference of Australasian statisticians.

Important Notice. As premises are coming down, I am selling the whole stock of boots and shoes at regardless of cost. Balance will be sold bv auction.—Prosser's Arcade Boot Shop.—(Advt.)

An old man named Valentine Keisanoski, a Pole, was charged at the Magistrates Court, Christchurch, yesiterday, with wilTully setting fire to his house early on Boxins; morning, at Marshlands. Accused and his family had been living on bad terms, and not long ago the family marie an unsuccessful attempt to get the old man committed to the lunatic asylum. Accused was committed for trial.

I A novel way of testing the hotel ac- £ commodation in New Plymouth at holiday ' time was used on Christmas Eve. A young country settler dressed up in swell attire, put. a five pound note in his pocket to prove his bona fides and sallied forth. He invoked the kindly assistance of a constable. who was, however, not let into the " know." They toured round the hostels, but in every case found the same answer. "No room." Finally the visitor from the country thanked the constable for his kindness, and hied off to a friend's house to spend the evening and find a place to rest his weary head for the night.

Tite Timaru Borough Coumcal invite supplies -for variipas works. close on the 13th inst., at 7 p.m.

Volunteers should note 'that the time for oonipetitioia for the cup has been extended to the 28th February. Captain Findlay -will be welcomed back to- Temuka on the 7th inst., at a conversazione in the drill shed.

The Rev. H. G. Shepherd, of will-,preach at the services in Trinity Presbyterian Church to-morrow.

A meeting of the Morven branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union will be held in the schoolroom on Tuesday nest at 8 p.m., to discuss important business.

George Styles, of Belmont, was brought before the Magistrates Court at Wellington yesterday on ji further charge of threatening to shoot his wife, and was bound over to keep the peace for sis months.

Mr Ayson, Inspector of Fisheries, is proceeding to Hakateramea. hatchery, to lay out some extensions and l improvements. It is intended to try again the acclimatisation of the Atlantic salmon, and the Agent-General is to obtain a supply of ova. -At this year's annual meeting of the Timaru Burns' Club the celebration of the poet's birthday will take the form of a concert of Burns' songs, with an address Mr J. J. Ramsay, of Dunedin, will deliver the address.

South Canterbury's rainy season is not usually midsumtner, but this year—or rather these years, 1901-2—it is the case. The moist weather has lasted quite long enough, and further continuance of it must mean a good deal of mischief among the grain crops through rust. Neckwear, a very important item in fashionable apparel, is now- well catered for at Adams and Co.'s. Those lovely chiffon ruffles and ostrich boas, with an endless variety in lace scarves and collarettes, up to date silk scarfs at a small advance on landed prices. Adams and Co. (Advt.) At the Magistrates' Qpurt- on Thursday morning, before Mr Makepeace Howe, J.P., a man who was arrested the previous evening for drunkenness by Constable Joyce, was convicted and discharged on paying 5s for express hire. A prohibited person, arrested the same night by Constable Perniskie for drunkenness, was fined ss.

Nine pairs of dressed table poultry, exhibited at the South Canterbury Poultiy Society's show last July, were shipped Home in the Papanui, the prizes having to be awarded according to the prices obtained for the birds in London. Mr Fjed. Watson, the Society's secretary, has received word that the birds were among the produce destroyed by the unfortunate fire on the steamer. Mounted Constable Crawford, as agent for the Labour Bureau, has several vacancies for farm and,station hands at

present, and he informs us that labour, especially lads for country work, is difficult to obtain. At the present time he has vacancies for a general farm hand, and for five lads who can milk, kill sheep, and

make themselves generally useful on a farm.

It's the same everywhere, time tells the story, and 99 times out of every 100 the demand is for the Brinsmead piano, because they are built to last, not for 5 or 10 years, but for a lifetime. Their tone appeals to the ear, their durability and price to your pocket, their direct appeal is to you. Why reject it? Interview them at Begg's, next Theatre.—(Advt.)

A cricket match will be played on the Athletic Grounds against the Waiwetu Club (Wellington) on Wednesday next, at 11 a.m. sharp. The following have been chosen to represent Timaru : —Adcock, Brodrick, Cox, Dalgleish, Fulton, C. Goldstone, Gresson, Reid, W. Thomas, Valentine, and Ziesler. Anyone unable to play is requested to inform the secretary immediately. Practices will be held every evening.

At the Waimate Police Court yesterday, before the Rev. G. Barclay and Mr W. Petit, J.P.S, two cases of drunkenness were dealt with. A first offender was fined ss, and the other offender, against whom there have been four convictions in the last six months, was sentenced to 14 days' in Timaru Gaol. Prohibition orders agairisty both offenders were granted, on the application of the police. The Battalion Band were unfortunately forgotten in the few preparations for the send-off to the members oi the Eighth Contingent yesterday, until it wads too late to get a good muster, and the bandsmen who were available at short notice were misinformed as to which train the men would' travel by. Consequently twelve or thirteen bandsmen turned up for the 5 o'clock express, when the men had gone by the 4.30 train. •

The thirteenth annual show of the Temuka Floral and Horticultural Society will be xheld. in the drillshed at Temuka on January 9th. Sj)ecial prizes are offered for the best landscape oil painting, the twelve heaviest hen eggs, the most points by new members in cut flowers, and several extra special prizes will also be given. The arrangements up to the present are much more satisfactory than usual. All entries close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next, at Mr F. A. Butterfield's office, Temuka. The Rev. G. H. Gray died suddenly early yesterday morning at Greymouth. He had been failing for some time, and he had a sudden attack on Thursday night of angina pectoris. Death was- caused by failure of the heart's action. He was 60 years of age, and leaves a grown-up family of thirteen. The deceased gentleman intended retiring from active service at the conference in April. Profound sympathy is felt for the widow and family. The Rev. Mr Gray was Wesleyan minister at Waimate about six-years ago. Messrs F. J. Rolleston and Mackie are doing some hard work as mountaineers. On Christmas Eve they bicycled from Burkes Pass to the Hermitage in one day, making an early start, of course, and reaching the Hermitage at 9.50 p.m. On Christmas Day they walked to Brodrick's hut, and on Boxing Day climbed both peaks of the Hochstetter Dome, one peak a day being enough for most mountaineers. They returned to the Hermitage next day via the Ball Pass," and when last heard from were about to start for the West Coast. With respect to the establishment of a District High School at New Plymouth, the secretary of the School Committee has received a letter as follows from Mr G. Hogben :—" The proposal either to establish a District High School at New Plymouth or to' give free education at New Plymouth High School to a certain number of pupils that have passed Standard VI., has been under the Minister's consideration, together with applications of the same kind from other places similarly situated. lam now directed to inform, you that the magnitude of the interests involved has led the Minister to the conclusion that decision with regard to these questions must be postponed until the next session of the General Assembly." The Oamaru Caledonian Society established a record in running the first championship meeting entrusted to a South ' Island Society. Their gate money amounted to £464 4s, and takings, at the evening carnival to £l5B 19s. The total revenue

will be about £llOO, and as the Society's expenditure is estimated at about £7OO, there will be a handsome balance to credit. At first the Society were rather shy at taking on such a big contract as running the championships, out once having decided to do so, they left nothing undone to ensure success. " The result is most gratifying to them, and a credit- to their pluck and management. Visitors were present from all over the South Island, the steamer excursions from Dunedin bringing just on 1000 people.

About 10.30 o'clock on New Year's night the firebell rang at Geraldine .to bring out the Brigade to quench a fire which was raging in the local bush domain. It appears . thfit a private picnic party from Timaru or Temuka spent the day in this bush, and must have left a fire burning at the foot of a hollow black-pine tree, which, after burning through near the root, fell like a firebrand amongst a lot of bramble and scrub. If a nor'wester had' been blowing and the undergrowth in the bush had been dry, there' might have been a disastrous fire, and it might even have been serious as it was if the tree had fallen towards the heart of the bush instead of into a fairly open space near the road. The Fire Brigade, under Captain Mcllroy, turned out promptly, and with the assistance of the public cut away some of the scrub and pulled the burning tree out- of reach of the bush, keeping guard on it till a cart arrived with a tank of water and buckets. It seems a pity that picnic parties are not more careful in the matter of fires, and the mild scare which the public got on New Year's night will probably end in an example being made of some one, and picnics in the bush being altogether barred.

The Rev. S. Buchanan will preach in the Primitive Methodist. Church'' to-morrow.. The subject in the morning will be " The Christian's Heritage," and in the evening " The Unexplored Future."

A lady from Rome, who recently visited Rotorua" has informed the Health Department that she considers the volcanic marvels of that district far excel those of the Yellowstone Valley and Iceland, with which she is well acquainted. The colonial mails, which left Auckland per Sonoma on the 30th November, arrived in London on the night of the Ist inst., four, days late. The colonial mails which left Melbourne on the 27th November per Omrah arrived in London on the night of the 28th December, one day early. To-morrow being New Year Sunday, the services tit the Wesleyan Church will have special reference to the occasion. The Rev. J. N. Buttle will preach morning and evening, and after the latter service, Holy Communion will be administerd. Mr Buttle will also preach at Fairview in the afternoon.

As an instance of the extent to which farmers are being affected by the present low price of wool, the " Hawera Star" states that at a recent sale a bale of 4021b of first - class English Leicester brought but 2jd per lb, and netted the grower but £1 3s 3d, less exchange. A short time ago a bale qJI such wool Would have been good for £2D. The large sum of £2300 was paid away for milk by the Crown Dairy Company in the Woodville district for the month of November, says the " Dannevirlce Advocate." One settler close to Woodville, started the month with ■ thirteen milking cows, and finished the month with twentyone, and his cheque for the month was between £3l and £32.

By invitation of the Ashburton Mounted Rifles the Timaru Garrison Band proceeds to Ashburton by the ordinary express today. The corps attends church parade at Tinwald on Sunday, the band playing it from Ashburton to the church. Dur-

ing the afternoon the band will render a varied' programme of music in a central position.

Speaking at the meeting of the North Canterbury Centre of the League of Wheelmen, Mr I. Montague stated that a rider who had been informed that he had been fined half-a-crown for looking round whilst riding in a race had remarked quite cheerfully—"l don't mind paying half-a-crown for a look round or two, especially when it enables me to win a 50s prize." The cyclist was then informed that if he was found repeating the offence he would be fined a sovereign on every occasion—the maximum fine allowed by the rules.

Private advice that has been recieved in Dunedin with reference to the outrage at the New Hebrides committed by a French labour .or recruiting vessel, owned by a French syndicate, states that the French have admitted that the vessel was to blame for firing and burning houses belonging t® the Melanesian Mission, and steps have been taken to pay compensation to Mr Edgell, the missionary in charge. It is stated " that the French fired into every house at the (mission station before burning it, .but fortunately no one was killed. The controversy (says the Melbourne " Argus") between the Premier of New Souths Wales and New Zealand regarding the degree of success which their last loans met with in the London market, is rather amusing. Neither loan, as a matter of fact, could be regarded as a complete success, if the underwriting support were eliminated, although, of course, some of the exceptional support might have been re- | ceived had there been no underwriting. But nothing can" be positively affirmed on - this point. What does appear to be the | case is that of each of the two loans the general public got about half. The favourite turn in the stock markets will, no doubt, help the underwriters to get out soon.- The Treasurer of New Zealand was correct in stating that his loan was issued at a time when a large portion of the New South Wales loan had still to be unloaded. But, as he had very little to boast about, it was hardly politic to make the statemem. CALED ONIAN■ GROUNDS.—ANOTHER COMPLAINT. A lady/ who attends the Caledonian sports -Regularly year after year, wishes ( us to add one more to the complaints published yesterday. This is a complaint of the insufficiency of the spectators' terrace round the arena to accommodate comfortably the crowd at the first day of the sports. One cannot, she very properly says, stand still all the afternoon, and to walk about, andi seek one's friends—one of the chief pleasures and probably the chief attraction to the visitors, is to meet one's friends there—is to face certain inconvenience, and possible danger of a fall on the steep and slippery outside slope of the terrace. As for taking young children to the sports, in the present condition of the grounds, it .is quite out the question, and consequently many mothersmust stay at home, who would like to go to the sports gathering, to see the sports and meet old friends. We can quite endorse the lady's complaint. The terrace would be none too wide, if twice as wide as it is. Another defect about it is that it is crossed by two ravines or gorged paths, so stesp-sided that one runs great •risk of a fall unless one looks very carefully to his going, and that caution should not be necessary in a place specially made for a people's gathering; SAVED FROM THE BOERS. ' A man named George H. Davis, who was arreted by Constable Crawford yesterday morning for failing to provide for his illegitimate child, came before Mr C. A. Wray at the Magistrates Court yesterday. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and was ordered to find a surety for £SO and himself for £SO, to pay 7s 6d a week; in default three months' imprisonment in Lyttelton Gaol. He was then taken over to the police office, and while he was sitting there, Constable Crawford recognised him by a photo and description in the " Police Gazette" of 1900 as an old offender named George Ernest Webber, alias ■ Williams, alias George H. Davis. He was convicted in Napier on June 20th, 1899, of house-breaking on three charges, and was sentenced to twelve months on each charge. He was also convicted at Nelson on February 27th, 1899, of four charges of theft, and sentenced to twelve months for each, concurrent. He has been in the Fairlie district for about 12 months, and came dpwn by the 10.30 a.m. train yesterday, as one of those accepted for the Eighth Contingent. Constable Crawford happened to be at the railway station when the train arrived, with the warrant in his pocket for the man's arrest on the charge mentioned above, and arrested him as he left the Defence Office on being dismissed till express time. SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Farmers' Exchange Co.—Sell poultry, furniture, cutlery, etc., this/day. Maling and Shallcrass—Kive stock market at Geraldine on Wednesday next. Dalgety and Co.—Stock sale at Geraldine on Wednesday. Guinness and LeCren, at Washdyke on .Tuesday; harvest sale on 16th inst.; have valuable farm for private sale. Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Asso- ' ciatior,—Washdvke stock sale on Tuesday; I Geraldine on Wednesday; clearing sale at Geraldine on Bth inst. ' Ballantyne and Co.—Addresses of departments, west and east side of Stafford versions of papers and magazines. Christchurch Boys' High School—Next term commences on 30th inst; new boys examined on 28th inst. Temuka Floral and Horticultural Society —Annual show on January 9th. New Zealand Farmers' Union —Meeting of Morven branch on January 7th. Trinity Presbyterian Church—-Rev. H. G. Shepherd will preach to-morrow. Levels County Council —Important notice respecting uncolltected rates. Drilkhed, Temuka —Grand conversazione to Captain Findlay on January 7th. District Order—Notice of competition for Sargood Cup. South Canterburv Club—Want a boy. J. G. Cowan—Has new hats, mercery, and clothing. J. Strachan—Has several town sections for sale. P. G. Allen Vegetable plants now readv. . Penrose's Drapery Establishment —Prices for bovs' suits. Primitive Methodist Church —Services for to-morrow. D. West—lnvites tenders for. the erection of a brick building. New Zealand Clothing Factory—lnvitation to call and inspect stock.

Levels Homestead—Want a camp cook. Timuru Borough Council—Call tenders * for blacksmith's and other work. R. Kelland, Fair view—Wants a good ploughman. Lister and Barrie—Funeral notice. Wanteds—Two notices.