TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11985, 6 February 1903, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Sir John Hall and Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst and family ore passengers for England by the Ruapehu, which left Wellington yesterday.

The reports received by the Agricultural Department show that if the weather does not prove unfavourable the yield of grain throughout the colony will bo" iully as large as that of last vear.

As a result of the survey conducted at Gisborne on Wednesday by Captain Davidson, the barque Gladys will be taken to Auckland. Her agents are negotiating for -i he services of a tug. , °

The weather forecast from Wellington yesterday was as follows:—"Winds between north-west and wast and south-west,' barometer fall, tides ordinary, rain •probable."

In another column Messrs J. H. Smith and Son advertise that they have purchased t-lie business lately carried on under the name of J..H. Smith and Co., and they solicit a continuance of the support so liberally accorded the late firm.

The Orange Lodges o! Timaru are requested to meet in their hall at 2 o'clock on Sunday next to join in the procession on Mayoral Sunday. It is hoped that all the members will muster in full force and as the invitation cordially embraces sister lodges, the parade should be a d€cided success.

A special telegram to a Christchurch contemporary states that the position with regard to the provision of a proper hospital in Wellington for the treatment of infectious diseases remains unaltered. The local hospital, and the tents and temporary hr.spital at Berhanipore, are still taxed to their utmost limit in the matter of %c----eommodation, and it is now necessary to isolate, as far as possible, those cases which cannot be admitted to proper hospital treatment. »

At Hamilton (Waikato) a school" teacher was charged with having unduly punished a scholar. It was shown that the bov's evidence was untrue, and the case was dismissed, with costs against the parents. The Waikato " Argus," in commenting on the case, says : " It is to be regretted that the magisterial sentence could not reach the boy and procure for Mm a good sound birching. • If school, children are allowed to lie in our courts with impunity it will be no. longer a matter for surprise that perjury is almost as prevalent in our courts as truthful swearing.'-' ■'""' V'--'

A meeting of farmers -will be held in the Sophia Street Hall at 2 p.m. tomorrow, to discuss the question of threshing charges. The Levels County Council notify that on and after the 18th inst., summonses will be issued lor the recovery of all unpaid rates. The Battalion Band wish to thank Mr Levien for a supply of cordials during the concert on Caroline Bay sands yesterday. The members muc-ii appreciated the gilt.

The "Taranaki Herald" states that an effort was made to a portion of the New Plymouth borough's debentures locally, but only £IOOO worth was actually taken up, the balance of £40,000 being disposed of in Auckland.

The lady cricketers of Timaru are giving an interesting demonstration " with bat and ball" on Saturday. The match will be played on the Athletic Grounds, and it is to be hoped that ab* many as possible of the South Canterbury representatives to play against Lord Kawke's team will be present and greatly benefit by the display. Two well-known cricketeis will captain tne teams, and Messrs Lindsay and Perry have kindly consented to act as umpires. The members of the South Canterbury Mounted Bides wiil parade mounted in review order on Wednesday, 11th inst., at the Timaru drillshed, at 4 p.m. The parade is called for the purpose of welcoming his Excellency the Governors son, Lieutenant Viscount Northland, who is returning from South Africa,- and as his Excellency is hon. colonel of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifle Battalion, it is expected that every mat will attend to do honour to his son. Returned troopers are asked to wear their medals.

At about 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon Mr J. (1. Goodwin's shearing shed at Eversley, Fairlie, was burnt down. The uprights of the sides of the shed were of live willows and the roof of thatch. The owner of the building was in an adjoining paddock, when the fire took place. The contents of the shed, among which were a chaff-cutter and shearing machines with a motor wheel alongside the shed which was used for driving the machines, weie destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown.

In accordance with an Order-in-Council, dated January 12th, 1903, the first statutory meeting of the Morven Recreation Domain Board was held at the schoolhouse on Wednesday night. The Board consists of five members, Messrs D. Kennedy, M. Cooney, W. Beer, A. Forsyth and J. Callaghan. It meets once a month, or from time to time as it may determine, and its members hold office for a term of ten years. The principal business on Wednesday was to choose a chairman. On the motion of Messrs Forsyth and Kennedy the office was conferred upon Mr Beer. A meeting of ladies . who have in hand the carrying out of the Sports Carnival during next Show Week was held in the : Town Hall buildings yesterday afternoon.

Mrs C. T. H. Perry presided over a. good attendance. The meeting was a preliminary one, to settle details relating to future -work. It was decided that the first meeting for' work be held on the 16th inst. Letters were read from, several ladies ex- t pressing their willingness to help on the" Carnival, and wishing it every success. After settling minor details the meeting was adjourned till the 16th inst. The " Otago Daily Times" says:—During the coming winter the travelling public will be supplied with an improved light on the railway trains. The Department has at present in course of erection an acetylene gas plant for the generation of acetylene gas,' which is to be * used in conjunction with the Pintsch oil gas at present used in the carriages. The twoplants are to be close, together at the rear of the Dunedin station, and it is the intention to mix a certain portion of the ! acetylene gas with lie oil gas, which will result in a whiter and more brilliant light being provided in the carriages. The preliminary works will take some time, but jthe improved illuminant will be ready for use by the beginning of winter. : It is authoritatively stated (says the Auckland " Star")' that a determined'" attempt will be made this coming session in Parliament by a number of southern members to induce the Government to discontinue its subsidy to' the steamers running between San Francisco and Auckland under the Oceanic Company's flag. For the past twelve months, it is averred, an agent has been engaged locally from Dunedin, with a view to ascertaining the exact number of men employed on each mail steamer as labourers, the quantity of bunker coal '■ taken on board, and an approximate estimate of the -money paid in wages, etc., v during the steamers' stay in Auckland. The" object of securing these figures would be to construe them to the disadvantage of the service.

The annual report of the actuary for friendly societies for 1901 shows that there are -altogether 3493 branches of such institutions in Australasia, the total number of members iieing. 314,846, or an average of 90 members per branch. Victoria possesses nearly 33 per cent, of the branches, per cent, of the members, and 30 per cent, of the capital. The accumulated funds of the societies in Victoria were 51,250,000, New Zealand and New South Wales, at the . end' of 1900,- and South Australia, at the .end of 1899, coming, next a million of money/each. -The Queensland societies at the end of 1901 had funds .amounting to £250,000. The proportion of capital to membership is highest in New Zealand, where it reaches £l9 per head, Victoria coming second with £l3.

The heats of a pair-oar race of the Timaru Rowing Club were rowed in the harbour last evening. The sea- was very smooth and the course was marked off by buoys near the north mole. In the firstbeat Collins and Price beat McKenzie and Pritchard by about three lengths, the successful crew beating the others every time at the turns. In the next heat between Mnndell and Porter, and Knight and Lane, the former obtained a lead of a length on the first turn and gradually drew away and won by about two lengths. The next heat was the best of the three. Both, crews got away well and they were on terms at the end of the third length, but Priest's crew lost a good length at the turn, their weak point. However, rowing well they drew up on the leaders, who finished scarcely half a length in front of them. The semi-final between Mundell and Wade's crews will be rowed this evening at 6.30, and the final will take place tomorrow evening.

The South Canterbury Dairy Factory Company and their manager have had a nice compliment paid them. Their first shipment of butter to London recently arrived there, and the firm for whom it was bought here have cabled out to their agent to obtain a quotation for the February output of the " Filbert" brand. All the butter from the factory has received a high percentage mark for quality from the Government grader, and the satisfaction of the London merchants with the first shipmen* proves that the "Filbert" butter is possessed, of keeping qualities. Ws are informed- that the butter-fat tests at the factory and creameries bears put the contention of Mr Scott, who, when advocating' the -establishment of a dairy factory in this district, argued that country which can turn out fat lambs must be good for buttermaking too. The butter-fat teste in the North Island, we believe, range betweek. 3 and 4 per cent. Here there are few supplies under 4 per cent., and there are some suppliers whose mill: gives 5 per cent. of butter-fat. The progress of the factory is indicated in the fact that the output now approaches six tons per week.

The " O.tago Daily Times" says:—Some months since Mr Donald Ross, one of the guides on the Te Anau-Milford track, saw in the Science Notes of the " Witness" an account of the Amore -wireless telegraphy and telephonic system. He wrote to the holders of the patent for particulars of the system with a view of ascertaining its cost and suitability for establishing c/mmranication between The Key and the foot of Te Anau Lake, the head of the. lake and Mintaro Camp, and Mintaro Camp and Sutherland's, at Milford Sound. It is understood that the system will work for a distance of 20 miles. Mr Boss received a reply from Messrs Armstrong and Co., London, to the effect that at present they are not in a position to take orders' for installing the apparatus, the demands for which are already very great. They are making complete arrangements to enable I them to promptly attend to all orders that may be sent in, and as soon as they are ready will communicate further with Mr Boss: Meantime he has referred the cpr- [ respondence to Mr Donne, of the Tourist Departmehtu who asks to : te- furnished , with any further information that' may -fib. Stained- ': \...\ .. ; : - . :"\:;

The Blackball Coal Company shipped irom. Greymouth last week 2218 tons, and the Brunner Company 2592 tons of coal and 54 tons of coke. The Westport Company's output was 11,055 tons.

All do;:bts as to Madame Melba canyins; out her New Zealand tour may now be = eonsidered as beyond question. Mr G. Barnes, who arrived at the Bluff by the Monowai, advises the Duaedin " Star" that lie will make the preliminary arrangements for the visit.

The Mayor of Timaru (Mr James Craigie) extends an invitation to the Volunteers, bands, Fire Brigade, friendly societies, members of local bodies, and the public, to attend divine service on Sunday afternoon next. The procession is to be formed at the Town Hall at 2 p.m. Two innocent-looking young men (says the " Kawhia. Settler") visited Kawhia a few days ago, when they made themselves very agreeable with the residents. The resalt of their visit has been the serving of 24 summonses oh seven persons for alleged selling liquor without a license. An old Thamesite (says the "Advertiser"), conversing on the early mining days of Thames, referred to an incident which occurred in connection with a deal in Caledonian shares. For a £2O debt a well-known Thames identity accepted in settlement about 150 Caledonians, and two weeks biter he sold the parcel at the rate of £250 a share, gaining in round numbers for his £2O no less than £37,500.

The Wellington " Evening IPost " says :■ — Captain Jackson Barry, who has been inn some weeks, had news yesterday morning from the Brett Publishing Company stating that they wer£ at work on his book, and would advise him shortly when it would be ready for distribution. Yesterday Captain Barry was seized by a fit of giddiness at the entrance to the General Post Office, and fell down the steps. He had to be assisted to his home. The "Egmont Post" relates that on Saturday last, while Mr J. Butcher, manager of the Stratford Bacon Curing Company, was placing some fish in the refrigerating room of the factory, the door «f the freezing room, became closed. Mr I Butcher had a very small piece of candle with him, and this went out just afterwards, leaving him in absolute darkness. He managed to find a small crowbar, which is used for separating the blocks of ice, and with that he worked at the door for two hours. Thinking that the clamps at the top of the door were holding the door closed, he first worked through the upper part of the door, which is 12in thick and composed of four thicknesses of wood, with woollen padding. When he managed to get through at this point he found that a like process was necessary at the bottom of the door, but hs pluckily stuck to his task and eventually liberated himself. After performing some duties in and about the factory, Mr Butcher's overstrung nerves collapsed for a time, but no ill effects will follow the incarceration. He had a narrow escape from death by freezing. It will be remembered that at the time of. the Elingamite wreck the unfortunate people who were on the raft declared after their rescue that on the Monday or Tuesday night after the wreck a small steamer came close to them and stopped,for some time, but failed to pick the raft up. ' In conversation with Captain Aas, of the aux-

iliary schooner Tortagen, -which has just arrived at Auckland from Woolongong, a

"iJJew Zealand Herald" reporter.learned that the vessel seen by those on the raft was the Tortagen. The vessel -was bound from Newcastle to Gisborne with a cargo of coal on the occasion, and was in the vicinity of the Three Kings when the Elingamite was wrecked. On. the night in question the weather came on very thick, and Captain Aas decided to stop and take soundings, so as to be sure of his position. This took somewhere about twenty minutes, at the expiry of which the vessel stood on her course again, the crew little knowing that men in the most desperate straits possible were 'so near in need of assistance, which would have been willingly rendered had their presence been, known at the time.

At Penrose's on Saturday next, February 7th, Mr Moss Jonas will offer by auction a good assortment of floorcloths, linoleums, carpets, rugs, carpet squares, blinds, curtains, quilts, calicos, flannels, boys' and men's suits, gent's suit lengths, dresses, ladies' fawn jackets, capes, mantles, and other items. These sales present to you the advantage of buying seasonable drapery at prices which you yourselves fix. The goods we have offered at each' of the four preceding sales have been sold without reserve ; this method will be continued as long as the sales' last. We anticipate a crowded sale, and would 'recommend an early visit.—Penrose's Drapery 'Establishment:—(Advt.)

We have been complimented on the build of some of our advertisements of the New Century Soft Rubber Hair Curlers. We don't claim any ability in that direction. We simply speak the truth.—(Advt.) A cold at this season is most annoying, and should not be neglected. . Chamberlain's Cough Remedy- will relieve the lungs, make expectoration easy, effect a quick cure, and leave the system in a healthy condition. • It always cures, and cures quickly. J. C. Oddie sells it.—(Advt.) On the second page of our issue to-day we give full particulars of an ever-increas-ing tax your children will have to pay which you may be causing, and that is the tax on the player's strength, caused by a poor piano, which is a daily and hourly obstacle to the young player's progress. Why not- exchange it for a Brinsmead?— (Advt.) For a pain in the side or chest there is nothing' better than, a piece of flannel dampened with ..Chamberlain's Pain Balm arid applied to the seat of pain. This same treatment is a sure cure for lame back. One application gives relief. Try it. J. C. Oddie sells it.—(Advt.) CAROLINE BAY.

Yesterday afternoon being quite summerlike, and the Battalion Band having promised to play there, Caroline Bay was largely patronised. There must have been over a thousand visitors, during the afternoon ; and the playing of the band proved attractive, as was seen in the way the crowd collected as near the music as they Leonid find seating on the grass or the timber facing of the terrace. The sight of so many people sitting suggested that one of the most important elements in the improvement of Caroline Bay is the provision of plentiful seating, and this, it need hardly be said, can be supplied independently of any landscape schemes. It would not signify how rough the seats were; they could hardly be rougher than the timber and the ground now used for the purpose. Probably if the Borough Council undertook-to put up some rough seats in the meantime, it would be a good plan to test the public preference as to situation for them by placing one set well back on the sands, or on the grass, and another set just above highwater mark. Other improvements which need not wait for the spending of a loan is making a decent path to the sands under the viaduct at Maori Hill,; . and when the :™::vho'.ir Board finishes' its share of the' tiack from Strathallan street (with which it is proceeding very slowly), easier paths to the sands should be rri'ade at the i old baths. A good deal could be done to make the sands more convenient as a resort, at small expense, by attending to small matters that are quite within the Borough Council's means. SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION RESERVES.

Sir Vv r . J. Steward and: Messrs W. W. Tanner and F. R. Flatman, members of the House of Representatives, waited on the Canterbury College Board 1 of Governors on Wednesday afternoon in connection with some South Canterbury reserves. Sir William Steward said that he had heard that the College was proposing to lease for a term of some fourteen years two reserves, Nos. 674 and 675, about 220 acres in area, in his district. (These reserves are at Ota'io, and are at present occupied by Mr S. Cameron.) There was a large demand for small holdings in the' neighbourhood of those reserves, 'and the Government, holding no land there, was unable to satisfy it. The people were anxious that the small holdings required should be obtained from the College reserve. He had mentioned the matter at the meeting of Canterbury members, held that morning, and the deputation had been appointed to approach the Board. He understood that the Board would if anything, increased revenue from the small holdings, and though, of course, there would be extra trouble - with a larger number of tenants, he - felt. sure that the Board' would desire to advance the cause of settlement. He suggested \tbiat the 1 ' make en.r qniries. into.the ,matt«r 7 . and'; ' if gossiblej

withdraw its present advertised offer. Mr Tanner briefly supported the suggestionmade by Sir William Steward. In answer to questions, the deputation stated that (he holdings should be from five to twenty acres. The land was excellent, and in was understood that the proposed settlerswould be prepared to build. The chairman of the Board said that, while the Board could not entertain any proposal that woidd interfere with its revenue, yet he thought it would, if possible, favourably consider the present proposal. The deputation then withdrew. The Board decided to withdraw its advertisement offering the reserves for lease, and to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for consideration.—(" Lyttelton Times.") SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISE-

-MENTS. Muling and Shallcrass— Harvest horse sale at Geraldine on 13th inst. Guinness and LeCren, Ltd.—First-class farm for sale at early date. Lost—Cheque on Bank of New Zealand • return J. Talian. ■ '

Levels County Council—Notice of recovery of unpaid rates. ' Registrar Canterbury College—Reserves at Otaio withdrawn from tender.

J. it. Smith and Son—Business notice of Timaru Shoeing Forge. Loyal Orange Lodges—Summons to members to attend Mayoral Sunday. Wesleyan Church—Services for Sunday next, Bth inst. The Mayor of Timaru—lnvitation to Volunteers and others for parade on Sunday. India Gauze Underclothing—On sale at J. G. Cowan's. Salvage Company—Cheapest cash drapers and clothiers. Sophia St, Hall—Meeting of farmers re threshing charges 2 p.m. to-monow. J. O'Leary, St. Andrews—Wants tenders for stooking and forking. A. Martin, Otaio—Calls tenders for stooking crop. L. H. Tempero—Blankets to be sold cheap. Massey Harris Depot—Bicycles for hire. Wanteds—Eight notices.