TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11700, 8 March 1902, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The Opihi was reported to be in heavy flood again yesterday, and all fords on it and its tributaries!-were said to'be dan-' gerous to cross. • The Mahurangi Lime and Cement Works, Auckland, last year put out 4000 tons of hydraulic lime and 6000 tons of hydraulic cement.

London advises that the chief delay in the international traffic is west of Aden, owing to interruption of the Mediterranean cables.

Ladies' chrome shoes, button or lace, 5s 6d; bluchers, 4s 9d; men's shooters. 7s 9d; children's from Is pair to clear. Last few days at Prosser's Arcade Boot Shop.— (Advu)

A by-law prohibiting expectoration .on the footpaths of Dunedin has been formally confirmed by the City Council. The Mayor said that he had been informed that there was a perceptible abatement of the nuisance.

A meeting of shareholders is called ;at the Grosvenor Hotel this (Saturday) evening, at 9 o'clock* to discuss important business in connection with the Royal Sovereign, Prince Imperial and Union Jack dredging companies.

In consequence, of several prominent members of the. committee, and the secretary, being unable to be present, the meeting of the Seddon Memorial Committee, called for lasti evaning had to be postponed. The Maori Council at Hastings, realising that land- values are depreciated, by the spread of noxious weeds, has started, to sweep away the blackberry, sweats briar, and thistles from the various, settlements in its district.

The brethren, of the Timaru Lodge, of Druids and Court Southern Cross (Foresters) are sunpnoned to meet at their, lodgerooms to-morrow afternoon and take part in the Mayoral church partade. The Orangemen ana. also summoned. The Stock. D-epartment has issued! the following notice: —"The dipping, season being now fairly advanced, owners are notified, that from this date informations will be. laid against those whose sheep are found affected with lice. The onus of dipping such sheep to the satisfaction of the. Stock Department will be: with persons taking delivery after saUV"

Willi the introduction of upjto-date labour saving machinery and increased facility for a large output, Messrs Marriott and Marriott, of London, ba.y.« placed a piano, on the market which Begg and Co. next Theatre are able to sell at £37 10s. This- is the result of using th« new American automatic oiano machinery, and is undoubtedly the biggest and best valu» ever offeied for the money.—(Advt.) • The " Evening Post" says : —The deershooting season in the Wairarapa opened tfc-day. It had been loo&ed forward l to with keen anticipation not only by stalkers, but by settlers in the Wairarapa, upon whose property in many instances much damage has been done through the almost alarming increase in deer. The depredations of the young deer in parts of the Goldstone district have caused loud complaints on the part of settlers- during the past few months. The season will close on 30th April. Alexander, the unrivalled Australian Blondin, will appear in Timaru next Thursday night, next to the Commercial Hotel. The press speak of this talented performer as a pastmaster of his profession ; that he is as much at home on the high wire as most people are on terra firma. He rides a hobby horse across, gives an amusing actblindfolded, dances the highland fling in good time, wheels a barrow, carries a boy or lady across, sits on a chair, rides a "bievcle "to and 'fro amid a blaze of fireworks. He will be assisted by a funny clown and a lady performer.

The "Evening Post" says :—The work of placing the lighthouse on East Island, off the East Cape, in telephonic communication, with the mainland will be completed in about six months. The cable (six miles long) has been ordered from Home, and arrangements are being made to run a telephone line between Awanui and the Cape. The Minister for Marine admits that it is most'desirable that there' should also be a- telephone line to the Cape Palliser lighthouse, but he considers, in the interest of the shipping community, that the work of making the connection with the East Cape lighthouse should be undertaken first. The hon. gentleman hopes to be able during 1903 to make the connection with Cape Palliser.

The delegates' to the Fire Brigade Conference at Hoki'Mlw, which sits oil Monday, are arriving.

To-morrow in St. Mary's C'huro'li harvest thanksgiving services will be held, at the morning and evening services.

Recruits are wanted for the City Rifles,. and should apply to Captain J. L. Gillies at the drill shed on Tuesday evening next, :;t half-past 8 o'clock. The annual general meeting of the Tiniaru Milling Company is to be held at the Royal Flouring Mills on the 22nd hist, at 11.30 a.m. The annual business meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held in the Sophia street, hall on the 22nd inst., at 1.30 p.m.

Hockey and golf players will find an excellent stock of sticks, clubs, etc., at Mr F. Cullmann's sporting goods depot. Inspection is courteously invited. Yesterday at 11.20 a.m. Captain Edwin advised as follows :—North to east and south-east heavy gale after four hours from now. Glass fall, heavy sea, heavy rain, very high tides.

It is said the Government will subsidise Mr McMurran, an American journalist, to write up New Zealand. The Wellington pressmen are indignant, and intend to protest.

There are over 5000 pairs of boots and shoes, consisting of American, English and Colonial lines, all marked at bedrock prices at Whittaker's annual sale for one month only, commencing Friday, 14th February. It will pay yott to inspect our stock before purchasing elsewhere.— (Advt.)

The Rev. S. Buchanan will preach in the Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday, morning at 11, evening at 6.30. Subject morning, " The Leaven of the Pharisees"; evening, " Rich, afterwards Poor." The Washdyke service will be taken by Mr Boothroyd. By virtue of its own merits the Seamstress sewing machine is finding a place in thousands of New Zealand homes. The factory (an American) covers seven acres, and is capable of turning out 500 machines per day. See prices—Hand machine, £3 10s; treadle, £5 10s. Adams and Co.— (Advt.). A rather unusual occurrence, says the " Lyttelton Times," was witnessed in Papanui last week, when a cat caught a weasel in the year of Mr H. J. Hopkins.., After a struggle it succeeded in. killing the weasel. These animals are now becoming a pest in the suburbs, and fowl roosts, axe suffering considerably from their depredations.

A Cremation Society has been formed m Dunedin, and the secretary has informed the City Council that the cost of a crematorium is from £20.00 to £3OOO, according to whether the chapel adjunct is built of wood or of stone. The furnace costs £550 f.o.b. in England. One cremation requires about a ton of coal for heating the furnace; when heated one cwt suffices for the process.

In to-day's "Herald" will be seen an advertisement referring to that well-known stallion Clydebank, which will be offered for sale by auction on Wednesday at Awamoa. This is a well-known sire in Waimate district, as prize-winner and stockfetter, and it is to be hoped he will be ought by someone in the district where the horse is so well known.

The Agricultural Department lias been advised that there is a, profitable market fir South Africa for 40,000 head of poultry per month. Fowls were recently selling at Johannesburg at 16s per pair, and eggs were fetching from 3s 6<J to 4s 6d per. dozen. During the present season the Agricultural' Department sold 20,000 eggs for breeding purposes, and was unable to supply the demand. The Dunedin "Star" hears that the lovely islet of lona,. in Patterson Inlet, Stewart Island, has been let by the Southland Land Board for tinrber cutting prposes at a rental of five shillings per annum. The Minister of Lands should take immediate steps to inquire into tha truth of this, adds the "Star." A rental of £IOOO would be a low price for such desecration. lona is one ofrthe few beauty spots of the inlet. In connection with the action brought by-Mr Jellicoe against Mr Haselden, S.M., claiming £SOT for libel, the plaintiff (says' the " Post") Has been served with a suni,mons to appear before Mi' Justice Williams and show cause why the case should not be adjourned until it has been decided whether the occasion on which the alleged lfb'el was uttered was not privileged, and whether, if it was privileged, the plaintiff can Tecover damages under the circumstances set out in the statement of claim and defence' without proof of special damage, upoir the ground, that questions of public interest are involved. At the Dunedin Court yesterday Samuel Thomas Bolton, Mayor of West Harbour, Archibald Walker, foreman painter in the employ of the Union Company, John Matfiieson, and JbPai Walker, were charged with stealing varnish, turpentine and lead, valued at £2 I4s 6d, the property of the Union Company. Mathieson and John Walker were also jointly charged on five other similar informations, alleging similar thefts, dating back to August. 1900. Bolt(m was further charged on four informations with receiving the same goods knowdngf them to have been stolen. The accused were remanded for " a week. Mr Sim has been retained for Bolton, and Mr Hanlon for the other defendants, who will assert their innocence.

Bishop Julius, at Tuesday night's meeting of the Christchurch Choral Association, intimated for the first time that Dr Bradshaw, deputy organist at Manchester Cathedral, and lately organist at Scarborough, would arrive in Christchurch on or about April 18th. He was sure that all musical people and members of the choirs would give him a hearty welcome when he did arrive. Dr Bradshaw had been trained in the Victoria College, Manchester, and was a man, of considerable powers, having very high, recommendations from some of the most capable men in England. Although yet a young man, Dr Bradshaw had had a treat deal' of experience, and had been a choir boy in the English Cathedrals from his early years", and had been thoroughly trained in cathedral work in England. Bishop Julius added that he had very little doubt they would find Dr Bradshaw a veryefficient helper in all musical work, and hehoped in their devotional work in the-U*-thedral and the diocese. (Applause.) A case wherein the mate of the barque Jessie Osborne, whose name is George Pinkertorr, was charged with assaulting subordinates on the high seas, was heard at the Wellington Magistrate s Court last week. Mr Jellicoe appeared for the complainants, and said that the assaults were of such a serious nature that some evidence ought- to be heard. The vessel, of which defendant was chief mate, had'been m the colony some few months ago and on sailing for England the lads and apprentices had complained of the accused s conduct towards them. They understood that lie (defendant) was not to- go- in the ship again on tho outward voyage, but he did come with her, and the oondrrct previously complained of had been- renewed on trie high seas a.nd in port at Wellington. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate said defendant had rather been led away by a nervous temperament, and that his conduct as complained of arose more from the surrounding circumstances than natural disposition. But. perhaps the simplest form of dealing with the case was the best. His Worship said he would abandon his previously expressed intention of binding the defendant over to keep the peace, and instead of doing that would fine him 20s in each of the four separate informations, and costs- 10s 6d; in default of payment, seven days' imprisonment.

A caution to and other contractors, whose business requires the temporary obstruction of roads and streets, is contained in a Magisterial decision given at Invercargill a few days ago. A builder was sued for £ls damages sustained by a cyclist to himself and his machine, through riding at night into a pile of bricks placed on the edge of a street, and alleged by the claimant to be insufficiently lighted. The plaintiff stated that a light was burning, but so dimly that it did not show the brick?, and this was corroborated by another person. The defendant asserted, and also called corroborative evidence, that the lamp in the obstruction was burning brightly, and that it was reasonably sufficient for the purpose for which it was intended. The Magistrate 'said the Court must not consider howlittle the contractor should do to give warning of obstructions, but' what should be considered ample light. The onus lay on the defendant to show that the light was sufficient, and the evidence for the defence had not satisfied him that the obstructions were properly lighted. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £7 10s and £4 2s costs. This caution, we should say, should be taken note of by some contractors of Timaru, who seem to act on the principle of severe economy in lighting the obstructions they place on the streets. ' .:',',•' _«

The Wellington Committee for the presentation to i\o Premier has decided to ask the Christcl>ircb. Committee to act as a central committee for the colony, for the collection of signatures and subscriptions; also to adopt the Chrixtehuruh proposal that the address be bound in book form with all the signatures, and bo presented at Christchurch.

A public museum was opened in New Plymouth last week. It is arranged in a room in the Borough Council Chambers,

and it is hoped to make it a specially valuable one as years go by, as a repository of Maori curios, Taranaki being, it was claimed, the hub of the Maori world. In opening the museum the Mayor said the expenses had been £2l odd, and the receipts had been five subscriptions totalling £lO 2s.

Two tenders have been received by the Government for a direct steam service with .South Africa. One tender is from tho Blue Star line. Liverpool, and the other from the Union Company, as agents for the Aew Zealand and South African Company. The offer of the Blue Star Company is for an eleven and a half knot boat running monthly, and the Cabinet has decided to accept it if certain details can be satisfactorily arranged. The AgentGeneral has been instructed to get certain information with a. view to the offer being accepted. The annual meeting of the Polynesian Society was held at New Plymouth on ■ Thursday night. The secretary's report stated that the membership-was"now 216, an increase of 12, but regret was oxpressed that so many subscriptions were in arrears. This prevents necessary work in binding records and other matters. Mr E. Tregear was elected ' president, and Messrs Percy Smith, F, P. Corkill, M. Fraser, W. Kerr, W. L. Newman, and W. H. Skinner were chosen as the 1 Council. After the close of business Mr Percy Smith gave an account of his recent trip to the .Savage Islands. Mr McGowan, Commissioner of Taxes, received a deputation from the Mii'sterton branch of the Farmers' Union last Saturday, to discuss the system of Government valuations. Mr McGowan pointed'out that the Act had been amended, and lie had no power whatever in the matter. It was provided now that two settlers should be appointed by the Government in adjusting disputes in connection with valuations. It was pointed out to the Commissioner that it was unfair for the Government to select two settlers, as the farmers themselves should be allowed to appoint a representative. He recognised the fairness of the suggestion, and stated that he would bring the matter before the Government, •when it will be fully considered. Our Morven correspondent writes: —Mr Joseph Trjzise, farmer at Morven, and till last week a platolayer on the MorvenWaitaki portion of "the main line, was, on bidding his fellow-workmen good-bye, presented by them with 'a- handsome purse, as a memento of the good feeling which for the eleven years during which they have worked together, has attended their companionship. Mr Trezise's many friends join his mates in wishing him as much success in farming as has marked Lis work on the line. Rain set in last night, and has continued steadily all day, and is falling thickly now without any sign of leaving off. A considerable quantity of grain which is still in stook is certain to sustain' damage. The Masterton branch of the Farmers'" Union last Saturday discussed fire insurance rates on farm properties. One member stated that while South Island farmers paid 12s 6d per hundred, in. the' North Island they had to. pay 16s and ITs, and as much' as 20s and 22s 6d for? outbuildings. Tho difference was rather extraordinary. Quoting from the official Gazette of 1901, the total loss by fire in the- colony was £370,000, of which £2700 was- farm properties, and a portion of that was not covered by insurance. The farmers had to pay for the lot. Another" member said that what made the difference in insurance rates in the North and ' South Islands was that there was more • risk in the former, owing to the large area- • ofhush country.

The rain which set in on Wednesday evening, and fell lightly on Thursday and Thursday evening, became much heavieryesterday and hist night, and there is reason' to fear that considerable damage mustbe done in the grain fields, where the crops • are not yet harvested. Before this fall there were cases in the Albury districtwhere ripe crops could not be harvested owing to the ground being too soft to allow • the reaper to work; and after this fall it will be much worse, and that cause of delay will be widely extended. All along the coast near Timaru and northward only - late pieces remained to be harvested; but \ around Waimate and all along the hills, we believe, there is a considerable amount' of crop in stonk, and this will have gof a thorough soaking that will require somespecially drving weather to save it from ruination. 'From the fact, that the ground' was everywhere already saturated, the' weight of "rain falling yesterday and lastnight might reasonably be expected to cause hiffh floods in the main rivers today: The wind is unfortunately in the- . direction whence it blows up our heavier floods, and Captain Edwin prognosticates details of weather that in combination means heavy floods. .

PROTECTION AGAINST FROST. E.\tery year thousands of pounds are. lost to farmers through crops being injured by fiiost. It appears that this can be obviated by u> simple device. In France, where so much depends upon the protection of tho grape crop from this enemy to cultivators, a. night watchman is kept on duty, ;vnd, in the event of frost, tolls an alarm from the village church. The peasantry then form out before sunrise and light bonfires, the smoke from which melts the hoar rime be- ' fore it can do any damage. Profiting by 'this example, those in charge of the vineI yards at Messrs Williams and Beetham's ' Lnndsdowne Estate, near Masterton, Lavealso adopted a system of smoke-making, but on very simple and economical lines. Their practice is to place a small quantity _ of coal-tar in each o£ a number of paint tins, and to set fire to this by dropping into the' tin a wisp of dry hay. A dense smoke at once arises,-and"spreads over a-large area. The advantage of having the smoke-raiser thus tinder control is that it oan be Carrie* to the windward or to any spot where its influence can be most advantageously felt.

READING FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT. If a man sits down, thinks for a while over wliat he has read during the past few months, and then tries to make an estimate of the amount of profit be has gained from that reading, his first impression, if he is at all a constant reader, will be the .large number of books he has read, it will surprise him thais ho has been able to get through so much. But when his first.shock of surprise passes away, he will probably consider how- much profit he has derived from all these books that he has read... 131 most cases, tin*-pro-fit will be found to, be very inconsiderable when compared with the 'length of time that has been expended. It is very easy to read a book, even a book that is calculated to do. oaa good, without deriving from it any considerable amount of, information. It. is. still easier to read many books, and (from the confusion resulting from a want, of system), to find &hat one might just as, well have read almost no books at all; for tho only profit that is usually dei-yced from unsystematic reading is, that tho. time might, at any rate, have been put to a worse use. In almost every walk of life, it is the man whiz is systematic who is able to gain the largest profit from any undertaking in which he is engaged—it is so, to a very great extent, with reading. To the man with a small library, the difficulty of a clioice of books and the difficulty of putting* before himself a plan of reading do nut present themselves ; but we are speaking here to the man who is about to acquire a complete library of history, art, literature, science, and general reading, and wc shall endeavour to give him some help, and to fho*r him how lie can best use this library «>f his not only for his own benefit, but how he in turn can, show- his children lnw to use it best for their profit. The library we are referring to is the " Encyclopaedia Britanniea." This great work is. offered residents of the colony by the " Daily Mail" of London nn exceptionally favourable terms. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Wright. Stephenson and Co.—Sell stallion Clydebank on Wednesday next. Ben "Jonas—Sale of produce, etc., at Beswick street rooms to-day. Mnling and Shallcrass—Stock sale at Geraldine on Wednesday. Guinness and LeCren, Ltd.—Point sale on Monday, Tenluka Tuesday, Geraldine Wednesday. Mortgage an( L Agency Co.—

Temaka stnck sale on Tuesday,. Geraldice on Wednesday. Ciinterboiy Farmers —- rfatiou - Market at Temuka on takini: entries for Timaru ram :air, wr-» at Studholnie on 18th inst.; . reserve tor *aie and faim to let by tender. UC. Tumbull and Co.—A'.e baye.- - wheat and potatoes: sacks tor sa.e. Penrose's Draperv Establishment— 1 rice, for macintoshes and winter F' I'™- 1 '™- D. J. Caldwell—Builders ironmongery, etc.. at market rates. Gold dredsine-lotportant meeung o. shareholders "at Grcsvecor to-nglu. Timaru Hospital-Wants a respectable Exhibition nest to Commercial Hotel on Thursday nightSmam Agricultural and Pastond Association—Annual meeting on the 22nd inst. F. Cullmann— Important notice to hockey and golf players. Lieut.-Colonel Bailey—lmportant district order. Tiniarn Milling C". —Annual general meeting on 22nd inst. Madam Elvino—Last opportunity of consultation.

Timaru City Rifles—Recruits are want ed: apply drill ■shed Tuesday. Court Southern Cross —Notice to breth ren of Mavoral Sunday.

St. Mary's Church—Harvest thanksgiving services to-morrow. T. B. Garrick, Totara Valley—Wants a ploughman. Primitive Methodist Church—Services for to-morrow. United Ancient Order of Dreids—Members to attend church to-morrow. Funeral notices—Bv J. E. Be<-kingham. Lister and Barrie: of Mrs Buckley. Wanteds—Four notices.