TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11662, 22 January 1902, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The bakers of Timnru hold their annual picnic at Gordon's Bush to-morrow. The Port Guards fire to-night for trophies presented by Lieutenant Iverr. Contain Edwin wired yesterday as fols J —Strong to moderate westerly winds, glas- line, sea and tides moderate. The Timaru Pigeon Flying Club get off a lace to-morrow from Clinton. The birds were sent south to-day. The members of the Troopers' Memorial Fund- Committee are reminded that a meeting will be held in tlie Borough Council Chambers this evening at 8 o'clock. Important Notice. As premises are coming down, I am selling the whole stock of boots and shoes at regardless of cost. Balance witl be sold by auction. —Prosser's Arcade Boot Shop.—(Advt.)

The Garrison Band, will play a short programme in Strathallan street on Thursday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. Miss Hor.vc, of Dunedin, is to give a lecture on " Theosophy, Religion and Science" in the Sophia stieet Hall at' 8 o'clock tills evening.

The Napier police returns show an increase of 72 cases of drunkenness in the East Coast police district during the year, the figures being 563, as against 491. The Agricultural Department has ascertained that the mortality among sheep at Lovell's Flat, Otago, is due to over-feed-ing on new grass, which sprang up after the long spell of dry weather. The most up-to-date sewing machine is the Seamstress. This machine will sew silk or leather, will tuck, hem, fell, gather, bind, braid, quilt, etc., etc. We give a five years' guarantee. But the machine should last a life-time. Hand machine, £3 IDs; treadle, £5 10s. —Adams and Co., drapers. (Advt.) The Gisborne " Times " states that a few nights ago band practice was being held as usual .at a Gisborne band shed, and the conductor said, " We wi!l play 'Lohengrin' nest. Are you ready—one, two," beat the conductor! Not a sound in response. The conductor could not make tlie strange ! action of the bandsmen out. and inipai tiently cried, " Come, boys, are you ready ? One, two." Again no sound. It was a [ piece of German music, and the bandsmen I positively refused to strike a note.

The Mackenzie Mounted Rifles go into camp in the Athletic Grounds, Fair lie, for a week, on Thursday next. All preparations have been made for the comfort of men and horses and in spite of drawbacks, which this year have been many, there should be a good attendance. Every man should endeavour to be present at least part- of the time, as on no other occasion can tlie instruction so necessary for a corps be given. Sergeant-Major Crespin is to be present as instructor. The camp will be pitched on Thursday morning, and the men march in in the afternoon.

The express train from the south, says the " Otago Daily Times," was delayed for ] 20 minutes at Mosgiel on Saturday night, owing to a rather peculiar occurrence. For some little distance southward of Mosgiel the engine-driver noticed that the steam was falling unaccountably. When the train drew up at the platform an examination was made, and it was found that the smokebox had become blocked with soot and other matter, which had to be removed with a shovel. This operation naturally allowed the steam pressure to dxop still further, and after the dealing process some time was occupied in bringing the steain to the required standard again. The London "Times" of December 6th records the death at Great Yarmouth on December 4th of Captain Henry William Thierens, R.N., who entered the Navy in 1875. The deceased officer became lieutenant in 1884, commander in 1898, and was placed on the retired list, with permission to assume the rank of captain in November last. Captain Thierens . was midshipman of the Active during the old colonial and Zulu wars, 1877-79, and held the medal for that service. He.was on the Australian station for some years, and frequently visited New Zealand, where his relatives live. The deceased officer was the youngest son of Mr J. C. Thierens, of Christchurch, and a brother of Mrs George H. Rhodes, of Claremont,. According to the " New Zealand Times," the Minister of Lands has not received any

reports that rabbits are on the%icrease in parts of Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, and he does not think that such is the case. He has, however, been advised that in some districts in the southern portion of the Middle Island rabbits were becoming more numerous. Mr Duncan says this is to some, extent due to the fact that men .who trap for factories only carry on operations during a portion of the year. When they are at work, moreover, they take pains not to get young rabbits. They avoid getting these by placing the traps well out from the burrows or fairly deep in the ground. ■Landowners in some cases are incliEed to depend -on trapping, as it gives a better return than poisoning, which results only m the obtaining of skins.

A few minutes before the express train left for the north last night, a horse, which was attached to a gig driven by Mr William Hay. bolted from the station, and after a great deal of kicking and plunging, succeeded in smashing both the shafts and the splash-board, when opposite the new Customs Office. Mr Hay, who stuck bravely to the reins, and his two daughters, who had just returned from a holiday, were thrown out. Although nobodv was seriously hurt, Mr Hay and one of his daughters received a severe shaking. The horse, which was plunging violently when the shafts broke, was soon held and freed by willing hands and the trap was taken away to be repaired. Mr Hay's conspicuous courage in sticking to the reins, especially as he was thrown into a position of great dangar, was admired by all who saw the bolt.

Mr J. Thompson's homing pigeon Royal Star reached his loft on Monday in such a state that it was a great surprise to his owner how the poor bird managed to fly at all. Royal Star had with 10 other homers been sent to Napier, in the best of condition; he returned home half plucked. Only five feathers were left in one wing, the" back was almost plucked bare and both the club ring and racing ring had been taken off its leg. Altogether the bird was terribly knocked about. The inference is that Royal Star broke the journey south and fell among thieves, who cruelly stripped off the feathers and rings, thinking that this would effectually stop the bird and defy identification. It was a very cruel thing to da, and if the Timaru Club can get any information on the matter it will take it to Court.

•The "Press" says:—Mr W. Reece, who is a member of the local branch of the Navy League, took occasion whilst in London to visit the headquarters of the League, and was fortunate in meeting the chairman and also the secretary. Commander W. C. Crutch ley, R.N.R. v Mr Reece endeavoured to ascertain the wishes of the executive of the League as to the necessity for action being taken in the colonies in continuation of the efforts made to assist the League. Loyally, the League has been dormant, under the impression that matters were going on satisfactorily, but the. opinion expressed to Mr Reece was that the League was as energetic as ever, and very desirous of receiving every assistance from the colonial branches. - A considerable amount of special literature is in preparation, supplies _of which the different centres will receive shortly. The "Press" savs :—We stili think that. Christ church is taking the more dignified course in refraining from hysterical antiGerniun meetings just, at this moment. The spirit of the colony is shown by its action in sending fresh contingents to the war, by ihe attitude of the Government, and by" the tone of its Press. There is 110 nesd to foment strife, to stir up bitterness of feeling and to rave and shriek after the fashion of excitable people on the Continent, unless, indeed, it is really desired that the Empire shall go to war with Germany, and it is thought the people are not sufficiently screwed up to concert, pitch. For months past there have been anti-English meetings all over Germany, at which many foolish speeches were made. Those meetings. disturbed the serenity of the British public at that time not one jot. The net result was meiely to excite a vast amount of foolish and ignorant prejudice in the minds of the German people, which seems likely to react somewhat disastrously on German trade. We do not think that is an example which we ought to follow.

IJr T. Nishikawa, of the Fisheries Bureau of the Japanese Government, has begun a tour of inspection of the New Zealand fisheries. Japan has extensive fisheries, and an expert trade of large dimensions to China. I!r Nishikawa's mission to Aust.arlia and New Zealand is to ascertain the kind of fish which live in these waters, fishing methods, curing methods, and all about fisheries geaeiafly. On his return to Japan, Dr Nishikawa reports to his Gpvevi.aneiit, with a view to bringing the Japanese fish industiy to perfection. On Thursday, says a. correspondent of the Dunedin " Star."' the visitor went to La.:e Wakatipu, which, he said, was famous, and where he linked- tu see evidences of successful acclimatisation of _ He was pleased and instructed by his visit. Dr Nishikawa's tour is part of Japans efforts to exparxl commerce. Experts in mining, engineering, agriculture, and other branches of trade are now' busily engaged 111 Europe investigating the most modem methods and machinery in use, with the object of bringing Japan thoroughly up-to-date. JJr Nishikawa is a graduate of Kio University. He speaks English accurately, though not finer tly, and reads French and German. As a representative of the progressive, en-terprising-.Eastern race which has come to the front so rapidly in recent years, Dr Nishikawaj is a most interesting man.

The "Press" says:-—-The first of the r.eiv season's grain w<js carted to the Chertsev station on Saturday last. This was a. line of 600 bushels of Algerian outs, from the farm of Mr R. Mulligan. Everything (writes a correspondent) points to a very satisfactory year for the farmers in tha't district, yields being apparently of a good average and quality. The Native Minister expresses himself well pleased at the manner in which the Maori Councils Act and the Mifuri Land Administration Act have been received by those" for whose benefit they were framed. Mr' Carroll will leave shortly on a tour of all the native districts of the colony for the purpose of explaining to"the Maoris the provisions of both Acts. 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.) The members of the Railway Goods Department, Timaru, bade farewell to one of their 'number, Mr Hartley, yesterday. Mr Hartley has been transferred to Asliburi ton. In making the presentation (a silver ' mounted walking stick, and pipe), Mr Marcus briefly alluded to the good qualities of their guest and hoped that he would be successful in his new sphere. Mr Hartley suitably replied, thanking hi:; comrades for their valuable presents. Inquiries made by the Agricultural Department- show that the harbour boards in Auckland. Lvttelton, and Otago are unable to furnish the accommodation required for flax which is to be graded. Storage at those ports will consequently have to be obtained from private firms. As soon as arrangements for accommodation have been made the Agricultural Department will frame regulations for the compulsory grading of the flax, intended for export. The "Lyttelton Times" says:—Messrs Graham and Greig, contractors for the Cathedral, were busy on Monday morning in taking down the steel casing that was used inside the top portion of the spire. The men have now completed their work of removing the stone from the top of the spire, and all that remains to be done before the rebuilding is commenced is to put on a temporary iron roof, to take down the top part of the scaffolding, and tightly secure the remaining portion with wire ropes, so as to render it safe until the work of rebuilding is commenced. A FAREWELL. A number of friends of Mr H. C. Bilton, who is about to leave Timaru for Christchurch, entertained him'at the Club Hotel last evening, to. bid him farewell. Dr R. S. Reid was moved to the chair, and after the toast of " The King," he proposed the health of the guest of the evening. In doing so, Dr Reid said that it was with the greatest regret that they had met to say farewell to Mr Biltor.'. He had known him for nearly seventeen years, and had always found him the same courteous, kindly gentleman ; in fact, to know him one day was to know him always. Mr Bilton's leaving would be a great loss to the musical world o? Timaru. a loss that they could not reasonably expect to be made good, for as a. flautist, Mr Bilton had few superiors in the colony, and not many equals. He assured Mr Bilton that he was taking with him the heartfelt good wishes of all present and of many others who would have wished to be present; and he felt sure that he would not be long in his new home ere he had around him many as warm friends as those he was leaving, as lie was a man whose qualities of heart and mind eminently fitted him not only to make but also to keep friends. In conclusion, Dr Reid, on behalf of those present, handled to Mr Bilton a small token of their esteem, with a hope that lie wculd long wear it, feeling that was only a.small earnest of the great regard in which his friends have held him. Others added a few remarks, endorsing the chairman's address, and Mr Bilton suitably replied. * SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association—Stock sale at Studholme to-mor-row : horses and lifeboat at Tattersall s on Saturday. > National Mortgage and Agency Co. Studholme stock sale to-morrow. New Zealand . Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.—Sale of stock at. Studholme to-morrow. Davies and Murpliy Quotations for great stocktaking sale. John Mee—Has Hetton household coal to land ex- La Bella. C. S. Fraser —Has sections and houses for sale. J. S. Turnbull—Calls tenders for alterations to Club Hotel. Hay and Son—Very best biscuits on !sale : * picnic parties catered for. Albury—Meeting of Church Extension Committee at 6 p.m. to-morroiy. Man to drive binder wanted Apply Trilford's stables on Saturday, i J. Dinnicombs —Calls tenders for harvesting at Kingsdown. Lost—Buggy cushion; reward on return to King's stables. A. W. McKenzie —Has apricots, peaches, and plums on sale. Wanteds—-Three notices.