TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13807, 19 January 1909, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Tlio annual meeting of the Tiniu.rU Poultry Club will bo hold'next week. South British Insurance sliaros sol'l on the Stock Exchange, Dunedin, yesterday at £2 10s.

Cable messages addressed to "Piatt, Temperance Hotel, Tiniaru," and " Harry Lazarus, Timaru," await delivery at the Telegraph Office. The potato blight which has made its appearance in different portions o) the Dominion has begun to show ill several parts of South Canterbury, though not to any serious extent. The destruction of crops by the severe hailstorm of Friday in the Ist. Andrews district is to be seen ill all directions. The oat crops which were about ready for harvesting suffered most. i

Mr F. S. Shrimpton, tho secretary, has received £1 from Mr Jas. Blythv Temuka, £1 Is from the AVestport Coal Company, and £} from Mr R. Taylor, Geraldine, in aid of the Jubilee celebration fund. Messrs Turnbull Bros., liavo let a contract for the addition of a third storey to one of their shops facing George street, opposite tho Bank. of New Zealand. This is tho building which was formerly used for tea rooms purposes. The second floor where tlio tearooms were is being remodelled, and another storey built over it,' _for, a; Christcliurch photographer, who intends to open a studio here. ' Judging by the entries that liavai been received, the success of tlie Timaru Rowing Club's Swimming Club's Gaslight Carnival on Thursday evening is assured. The public will have an opportunity of seeing some good racing, and some novel events aro included' in the programme. The Marine Band have kindly offered to assist, wliilo the Timaru Gas Company aro making excellent lighting arrangments for. tlio evening.

' Vegetation bordering street channels is becoming a great nuisance, tho frequent showers being most favourable to its growth. The most robust weeds are the docks, and in somo of tlio streets not more than a mile from, tho ' ccntro of the town, the side-channelling is almost blocked by them. In somo of tho streets, too, recent clay formation is a perfect quagmire, and in otlieil streets, the narrow ones particularly, pools of water and slush are abundant. Tho borough staff will need augmenting if tho wot spell continues. • The King's trumpeter, Mr William Short, L.R.A.M., undoubtedly one of tho greatest authorities on band instruments, writes under date of January Ist, 100!), to tho Drfi&don Piano Company, Dunodiu: —"The B flat trumpet used by mo at my recital in Knox Church on December 16th last was manufactured by Messrs Hawkes and Son, of London, England. This is tho same instrument used by mo at tlie funeral of the late Queen Victoria of blessed memory, as also at the Coronation service in AVtstminster Abbey, and has given me the Nghest satisfaction in every sense—tone quality, durability, and finish. The tone is lasting, ;and is as good now as on the day I •first used it years ago. Signed, William Short, L.R.A.M., principal trumpet lI.M. the King's band, and conductor of London County Council Band." Hawkes' are again on top at; the Christcliurch contest. Enough said.. ...

Chilblains (broken or unbroken) sores of all kinds relieved immediately by * "Red Cross" Ointment. Is 6d everywhere...

At the Magistrate's Court, Fairlie, yesterday, Mr C. A. Wray presided at a brief sitting. In the civil case, W. Bain v. James Young, claim £24 7s 6d, Mr W. Shan* (instructed by Mr Jas. Hay)appeared for plaintiff. Judgment went by default for the amount claimed and costs. One other case against the same defendant was adjourned. .

The late J. S. Gibson, who was for a jjreat many years a staunch supporter of the Timaru Horticultural Society, gave or bequeated. a sum of money to provide: a Challenge Cup as' a gift to the- Society. The cup has been pro-J cured through Messrs Bower and Ferguson, in whose window it is now on view. It is" a large silver goblet, on an ebony base, a " handsome prize well; worth strenuously competing for. On its broad > bowl it hears an inscription " Timaru-Floral and Horticultural Society, Gibson Memorial Cup, 1908." Mr Francis Arenas, who died at Cliristehurch on Saturday, was a native of Spain. He came out to Victoria in 1850, then to the West Coast, - and in 1872 he crossed over to this ■ coast, married Mrs Stranks, widow of the proprietor of the Crown Hotel, Temuka, and together they carried on the Hotel for some time. Mr Arenas and his wife, made a trip to Spain, and , whilst on this tour Mrs Arenas died. He was subsequently married again in 187 S. to -Miss Fletcher, and on his return to the colony he built the Cafe de Paris in Cashel street, and carried on>the hotel business .there for a number of years. ;

\ The swagger, nuisance is sometimes a ■ serious one, but it assumed, rather aggravated dimensions in the opinion of a farmer of the southern end of the North Otago district the other day. in tne morning, about 6.30, -he Saw three men approach his front entrance and' camp there. At eight o'clock one; rof them went up to the house ana asked for the usual billy of tea and something to eat, supplementing the application with an announcement that there were three'of them. Therequest was granted/not altogether, willingly; but the climax was reached when half, an hour later the three men boarded the same train as the farmer and travelled to Oamaru, consuming a bottle of whisky on. the journey. An Auckland photographer has received the following charming simple letter from a little girl in San Francisco:—"Dear Sir, —I was reading in the paper about the nice welcome you gave, our fleet. I'/have a brother who is - a petty officer on the New Jersey, and he sent a lot of postals and curios to my. big sister and the girl next door. So I thought if there was a kind person who goes in your store who can speak" American would send some little curios made by the natives or a postal to me I would he very much obliged, and would send some American thing .in exchange. I saw your name on my sister's postals, so I thought you wouldn't mind telling somebody. P.S. : —Please do not think I am hold, because our house was burned down in the big earthquake and fire, and I haven't any more toys,, so I would like -to put some interesting things in my room. I am sending you four postals to sell in your store for your trouble. The lace isfor your little girl." The annual exhibition of- the Timaru Floral and Horticultural Society willhe held this year during the first week in March, and local enthusiasts in tins particular line are now making pre- > parations for it. The show is to extend over two days—a change which should tend to further popularise it, and _ extend its usefulness as an educative medium. The show catalogues haVe been in circulation for some time, the committee having got them out early so that intending exhibitors .will have - ample time for the •• preparation of exhibits. It is a very comprehensive catalogue, and a glance through its - pages' shows tliat lovers of horticulture ill all its branches have been liberally "catered for. The handsome silver memorial cup, value £lO, presented by the, late -Mr J. S. Gibson, is to be given this year for the best collection of twelve varieties of sweet peas. This competition, which' is open only to members of the Society, arousing much interest, and there is likely to be keen competition for the honour of winning the cup. Home industries again -. find a place iu the catalogue, and provision is made for a number of competitions for school children, the principal being the competition'for the Hurdley shield. The oldest inhabitant of Wellington ' has-died (saya the "Dominion ). Ha age. which might have been anything over 100 years, was unknown, but ne had lived for about 25 ono of the tuatara 1 lizard cases in the Dominlon Museum, and was one or the origLnal tuataras given to the institution. He was apparently very old when ne was taken from one of the Brothers Islands and placed in the museum, tor since that day he had not shown a sign of increasing old age or growth. He was so old that he tad lost the usual dorsal ridge of spines, and he was almost toothless. He lived the simple |jf e with one (Companion, captured at the same time as himself, and apparently ofi about equal antiquity. For a quarter of a century they had borne a stoical existence in the glass case, feeding in the summer on small pieces of meat j given them once a fortnight, with blow-flies for a treat, and hibernating through the winter. The director of the museum (Mr A. Hamilton) states that they never" showed joy or sorrow op any other sort of emotion during that long period, but the scaly companion of the deceased reptile appeared genuinely distressed when the dead body was removed from, the case. A - cast of it bas been taken, wbich will be kept in the museum as a memorial.

L. B. James, Chemist, Timaru, has been appointed agent in South Canterbury for the Veedee, a small hancimachine for vibratory massage. _ Ine Veedee instantly stops pain and is recommended for Rheumatism _ and all nervous affections. Full partis JS cn application... Often people wonder how it is that owners of Darracq" cars are so seldom troubled with mishaps; but _on examining these cars thoroughly it will be found that they have one-third lesa parts than any other make of cars in existence. It is a recognised fact amongst all great authorities, at Home that to anyone who wants n. car for constant hard work, and also for cheapness upkeep and reliability the Darracq stands alone. Their ever repeated wins in Reliability Test all over the world testify to the above points. The new model 14/161 i.p. which under test is actually 56 Brake h.p., although only landed a few weeks ago is already considered by experts to be the quietest and most flexible little family car in the colony. Anyone interested in the purchase of a motor car should not decide until they have had a run in one of these little cars, the total weight of which is 15cwt, and which travels at a speed of 40 miles an hour besides being a wonderful hill climber, and exceptionally ecconomical in petrol. Darracqs are.also making a small pattern 4 cvclinder 12/14h.p., which will be retailed at £350. The new pattern De Dions for which we are also taking orders for indent are the following 10/12b.>v. 4 cylinder, 15,14h.p. 4 cylinder, 'and 18h.p.. Further information and trials will be given on application at Messrs Skeates and Bockaert's Garage, this firm being the sole New Zealand agents for both De Dion and Darracqs...

The Warrimoo ,with an English mail arrived at the Bluff at 7.25 a.m. yesterday. A heavy fall of snow has fallen on the Kiikanui and Kurow ranges, the result of the cold south-westerly weather.

A special meeting of the Timaru branch of the General Labourers' Union will he held in the Foresters' Hall at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board will be held on Friday next. The Standing Committee will meet on the previous day. A novel feature of the New Zealand 'Conference of the Methodist Church, to be held in the Ta'rapaki Street Church, ': Wellington, commencing on February 25, will he a men's banquet, to which about 300 Methodist laymen and minis.ters will probably be invited. I The very interesting sight of a pair of white mice working a tread-mill, is ito be seen in Mrs Tate's window, Stafford street. The mice and their machine are in a glass case, and the speed •at which these pretty creatures work the mill is surprising. They keep it going sometimes for an hour,, without seeming in any way overworked. The " Hawke's Bay Herald" reports j that Mr Thomas Brinson, senr., was tossed over a fence by a cow the other morning. He received a nasty - gash on the forehead from of her hor"*. Having disposed of Mr Brinson, the ;cow rushed towards a child playing on the road, but before she got to it a cyclist rode along at full speed,- jerked the youngster over a ; fence, and then jumped over himself. A rumour was somehow started and spread that a Timaru man was to make , at 10 a.m. yesterday, an attempt to ■ solve the mystery of Maskelyne and Devant's Cabinet illusion, and an er roneous idea about a certain " £IOOO reward " was mixed up with the rumour. A number of people assembled _v the Theatre, only to find that some practical ioker had played an illusion of his own upon their credulity. "They, are called razors, because it it said that a man can shave with them," remarked Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., to a "Post" reporter, referring to the trout, of Rotarua. In all the. smoke rooms, he says, one can hear anglers complaining about the wretched' condition of the fish. The trouble is that the trout are too plentiful, their food is too meaere, and their enemies are too scarce. Therefore, they wear a lean and hungry look. Some of them have fair backs, but they " fall away to nothing," and they show no fight. They go on increasing and multiplying, and their food supplies go on decreasing. An angler goes out in high hopes, which are raised still higher when he 'gets a bite a moment after a cast, but he becomes as limp as .the trout when the fisherman discovers that he has hooked a creature almost too tired to waggle its tail.. He makes other casts, and pulls up other skeletons, plenty of them. Then he_ goes back to the smokeroom at the Spa, and brethren of many lands—Great Britain, Argentine, United States, Australia condole with him, and, reversing the usual procedure of anglers, they vie with one another in recounting memories of weedy catches. _ . Saturday's "Southland Daily News," in its editorial columns, says: —To the requests lie is sure to make for more; expenditure on some of the resorts;, under his charge, the new Minister-:; "of that ilk" will probably receive the an-; svrer that his is not the only depsrtmeat in want of the inevitable "more.'! The answer will, no doubt, make hini develope his sense of diSeriicinaiion. The consequence will 1 e the disf> 1 try that there are -ome things of "urgency" which his liepirtmcct cannot do without. In this connection lie hps a gloden "rule for his j;ijid.»nce- It is to aim always ft f 0 greatest.g.oO. of the greatest r'JniJer. Now ? omit Cook is the wonder qf the Dominion, without doubt, hut for every one vho succumbs to the attractions jaf the glorious district that bears the name there are a hundred who find the picturesque knot of southern lakes constituting the Maori Switzerland, si superior "draw." It is out .of the question to consider a tender of. £12,000 for a new hotel at the Hermitage for the one. On the other hand, it is imperative to spend the money on the accommodation of the hundred.

The Weekly Press (arriving -torday) will contain seven pages, illustrating the, Timaru Jubilee Processipn, held last Thursday. Order 'at once. T. Wagstaff, Educational Bookseller...

To Travellers and Touris'iS. —Make your trip pleasant by getti.ig us to handle your baggage. We can save you no end of trouble. Bsggage collected' from ship, station or hotel, and transported to any address safely, quickly. Excellent storage accommodation and spacious sample rooms always available. Note name: N.Z. Express Co. Offices throughout the Dominion. ...

Any angler to be reaily successful and happy should purchase Hardy's celebrated fishing tackle, one of Loewes latest pipes "and a shilling's worth of Rangitata tobacco mixiure. He will then catcli heaps of trrut and the giving of them away will give him as much pleasure as the catching. A splendid stock of above goods st Tasker's Sporting Depot, Timaru. ... Messrs Hansen aad Co., General Merchants, Shortland, Thames, N.2., say: "From our experience in selling Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Iv&rrhoea Remedy we are satisfied that a few doses of it is efficient to cure anyone suffering from colic, diarrhoea or pains in the stomach." For sale er'uywhere...

Use Icilma Cream and watch your skin grow clearer, the only face cream which keeps the skin as nature intended. Snoivy, greaseless, delicately perfumed, Icilma is nature's own protection. In jars, 2s 6d, 4s and 8s 6d, post free, from J. Baxter, chemist Timaru. ...

It is not enough to have good .clothes ; you must wear them well. In other words, vou must use aP. D. Corset. Of all models, the P.D., is the riiosi delightful. It confers that suggestion of rare distinction which marks the gentlewoman. It gives to an effective costume the necessary note of personal quality, the indefinable grace of strle. Wear no other. All stores sell it. ...

Ladies who wear size 2 in ladies boots or shoes, in black or tan, should call at Souters Boot Emporium, and inspect his large stccks in this size. Mr Soutor, tells us that Timaru ladies must have • small feet, as_ he sells a considerable number of sizo 2\s for ladies. Again ho stocks size B's for ladies and size 11 for men. We have no doubt that the size 11 for men would fit the 7ft. 2in. "Kiltie."... All skin eruptions, sore legs, varicee ulcers, quickly heafed with _ "Red Cross" Ointment. Is 6d chemists and grocers... A number of stock auctioneers, dealers and farmers who vere travelling by train to the Studholne sale one day last week, grew very enthusiastic about an English waterproof boot, that someof the party were weiring. The boots were made by a veiy old high-class Northampton Boot Manufacturer. They are made of a light wcterproof leather, and are bladder lined, and are guaranteed absolutely waterproof. These boots can only be obtained at J. w. Souter's, the brightesl, busiest and biggest direct importer of boots and =hoes in South Canterbury...

Members and intending members of the Timaru AVaterside Workers' Union are reminded that a meeting will be held to-night, at 7.30 in the shelter shed,. Wharf street. Two applications for pateiits -sent to Wellington from South Canterbury are recorded in last week's Patents Gazette. C. M. Cruickshank and' G. Hadlee, of Timaru, have invented a "bathroom, etc., steam preventer," and H. E. Tliew, Rangitata, a tine-harrow attachment.

Mournful places these days are the Labour Union offices (say the "Dominion"), and some sad ' stories are told of hard luck and fruitless searcliings for employment. The position has become so acute during the past week or two, consequent upon the arrival of a large number of immigrants and the unusual slackness of the times, that union secretaries predict a bad winter.

The superabundance of rain is now causing much anxiety both in town and country, but particularly in the country. Better crops than this year's were never before seen in South Canterbury, but it is feared that they Will be spoiled .with rust—some of them are already showing signs of it—if the weather does not speedily take a turn for the better. What is wanted is a spell oi warm dry weather to ripen and harden the grain. During the past fortnight, the crops, so far as ripening is concerned, have beeii at a standstill.

A party of Russians are at present staying in Wellington. The object of the'visitors is to investigate New Zealand's land for settlement schemes. They have recently been in Manila, and intend visiting Australia in the interests of a party of 900 families representing 2000. persons with a capital of between £50,000 and £60,000 which they desire to invest in land settlement in these colonies. They ■ have had an interview with the Under-Secretary for Lands; The names of the leaders Of •the. party are Vladimir Pisaenke and W. Sleiffner.

The potato crop is considered one of the most promising for years in the Masterton district. A local farmer who has a large area in tubers told an "Age" reporter that his crops are looking better than previous crops for many seasons past. He states that a neighbour of his, who a few years ago netted £7OO out. of twenty acres of potatoes, has. a larger area down this season in a crop which looks even hotter than his record crop. On tlie Fernridge are to be found the chief potato areas in the Masterton district, and here prospects are excellent. No sign of Irish blight is reported. "Telegraphists' cramp" is a disease by no means unknown in New Zealand. During ttyc past two or three years several cases have occurred in the Victorian staff. In the supplementary report of the Committee on Industrial Diseases, published in London :at the end .of November, it is recom- : mended that the disease be added to 'the compensation list. The havoc t caused by the disease is revealed in the minutes of evidence taken by the committee. According to Dr Sinclair, second medical officer at the General Post Office in London, no fewer than 2.75 ner cent, of the total staff employed in telegraphy—numbering over 18,000—are so affected. One effect of the ailment is to produce illegibility, and moreover, in his opinion, the complaint is incurable when it becomes established.

A little, knowledge is a dangerous thing, as a suburban youth realised on Boxing Day. It was at a West Coast "Christmas "camp, and the youth had been frightened by an ugly-looking insect as they were pitching the tents. " That's harmless," exclaimed an old hand, "what you think the sting is only the ovidepository, the instrument for inserting its eggs in convenient places " ; and he seized the insect and delivered to the youth a little lecture on the wonders of things. Oti Boxing Day another insect frightened some of the girls. "That's harmless,", explained the youth, "what you think the sting is only the ovidepository, the instrument for inserting its eggs in convenient places"; and lie xnit his hand out to seize the insect, intending in his turn to deliver to the girls a little lecture on the wonders of things. But there are insects and insects, and this time it wasn't a depository but the genuine article; and the youth explained afterwards that he now understands what it is like to come in contact with a live wire.

The annual meeting in connection with St. Andrew's Public Library and Hall was held in the library-room, St. Andrews, on Saturday. Mr B. Gifford presided. The balance sheet of the library, showed that the receipts had been £ll 10s, and that £8 14s 6d had been expended ill new books and magazines. The expenditure in connection with the Public Hall had been over £7O. New seating accommodation had been provided, and the inside lining was nearly completed- It was stated that a resident of the district had generously offered to lend thp money required to complete the lining, at a very small r,ate .of interest. Votps. of thanks were passed to the Hall Coin-, wittee, arid' their secretary for the energy they had displayed in getting up benefit concerts in aid of the Hall funds. A vote; of thanks was also passed' to the aiiditor, Mr Gifford. j.ne following committees were elected: — Messrs Gifford, Hawkes, Dunbar, W. Stowell and Mrs Dutson to act for the library and Messrs Kennedy, O'Louglilin, Emery,. Williams, Gifford, Habbard and BesleV for the Public Hall.

A fine figure is an excellent, tiling in woman. ' Any figure is improved when supported and .beau ified by a P.D. Corset. Strengthening nervous tone, upbuilding physical stamina, the P.D. is the guardian of health, and keeps the period of wrinkles stil afar off. No other Corset approaches it. in consistent excellence. All stores sell it..;

" Red Cross" Ointment soothes as well as heals. Never irritates. Reduces inflamation. Is 6d grocers and chemists...

SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. C.F.C.A. —Stock sale, at Cave, oil Friday. N.M. and A. Co. btudholmc stock sale, oil Friday. Jonas and Co. —Fruit of all kinds, Taranaki business for sale. Borough Council —Notice to householders, re drainage. P. W. Hutton and Co.—" Weekly Press" Jubilee procession number. Willieni Grant—Calls tenders for harvesting. - Swimming—Gaslight display lluirsdav evening. D. C. Turn bull and Co.—Oregon timber of all sizes oil sale. Hedges Bros. —Perambulators, invalid chairs, push carts. Lost—Collie, apply Edward Cartwright, Opihi. E. W. Wade and Co. —Special harvesting ironmongery. Waterside Workers' Union —Meeting, this evening. , ' Reduction sale—At Nora Dene nnllinerv. House for sale —Address, apply Herald Office. . At Thomson's—Jubilee sale in full swing. , T . . General - Labourers Union —Innaru branch meet to-morrow. The White House —Quotations at sale on now. Workman's furniture store —Heavy stocks in all lines. Wanteds—Five notices.