TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13829, 15 February 1909, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Full particulars of the wreck of thy s.s. Penguin arc set forth ill other eolums. Tlio wreck, and the sad loss ot life attaching to it, caused a profound sensation in Timaru. Several or those who lost their lives have relatives or are well-known in South Canterbury. Yesterday at the "Wesley an Church, the Rev. Mr Baumber, and at Chalmers IJhurch, the Rev. Mr Marshall, made feeling reference both in prayer and sermon to the disaster, arid the choir rendered special hymns. Mr W. W. Dunstcrville, late of our evening contemporary, has joined the literary staff of the " Timaru Herald " as from to-day. Taking advantage of tlio lino weather which prevailed yesterday, farmers were to lie seen at work in different parts of the district, some cutting, and others stacking tlieir grain. The plumbing business lately carried on by Mr W. M. Nisbet, has now been floated into ji limited liability company. Tlie directors having secured mor'o commodious iiremises lately occupied by Mr D. J. Caldwell, arc extending the scope of the business. Large stocks of gas-fittings and sanitary ware have been imported, and the company arc now prepared to connect buildings with the now drainago scheme. Letters addressed as follows, are awaiting claimants at the Timaru Post Office: —From the United Kingdom, Miss Byrne, Miss Brown, Chas. Baker, R.. E. Edwards, Timaru, Hugh Black, Hose well settlement, F. Griffin, Waslidyke, H. Curtis, and C. R. Pollock, Temuka, James Scott, Invercargill, and T. W. Smith, Makikilii. From South Africa—T. 'Culhert, Gleniti. From U. S.A. —T. Hardie. Waimate. From Victoria—E. J. Murphy, (jamaru. From New South Wales —Dr C.. North, Timaru. Miss F. Rankin, Timam, and A; G. Weeks, South Canterbury*

The pair of cubs which were seen in the lions cage at tlie circus , here last week, are valued at £4OO by Mr Wirth. " The Southland News understands that -the proposal to hold a first-class band contest in Invercargill next spring is not being allowed to lapse. A farmer in the Southbridge district had a twenty-acre paddock of Algerian oats threshed last weekj which averaged 85 bushels per acre: The line was disposed of at Is 9d per bushel.

The annual installation of officers of L.O.L. No. 13, will take place in the Orange Hall, Bank street" this evening. The lodge wall be opened at 7.30 p.m. and visiting brethren will be received at o'clock. To-morrow, the Reserves Committee of the Christchurch City Council will inspect the city's reserves at Geraldine. The property comprises about 2000 acres or second-class land, and is let to a tenant, whose lease will expire in April next. . It appears" that Melbourne has not yet attained the stage of civilisation marked "humanised milk." A late number of the Argus " has an article crowing over the benefits of a " Lady Talbot Milk Institute," which undertakes to supply clean and sweet cows' milk for babies.

The Wellington Hospital Trustees have adopted plans for a fever hospital of 39 beds, at a cost of £15,500, or'verv nearly £4OO per bed. Some of the trustees thought the cost rather high, Dr Frengley, District Health Officer, showed that the cost at Home ranged from £284 to £512 per bed. A farmer and butcher when giving evidence in the Supreme Court at Mastertori the other day, said that fifty out of every hundred butchers made a practice of removing the ears from sheepskins. This statement jrather surprised His Honour Mr Justice Cooper, ' who stated that such a practice was in contravention of the Slaughtering Act. The penalty is a fine of £SO. A committee meeting of. the Floral Society was held on Saturday, evening. W. G. Irwin (in the chair), J. Iv.- McDonald, R. Grant, G. E. Knowles junr., H. S. Russell, C. A. Schmidt, G. J. Sealey, ■> J. Wallace, A. McDonald, C. S. Howard, A. Beswick, D., A. Edgar. An apology was "received from Dr Bett. A letter was received from Mr J. H. Coombs offering to provide an orchestra of ten players for both nights of the show, and the 'offer was abcepted. The staging committee handed in a plan showing in detail how it was proposed to erect the staging and arrange the exhibits, and members of committee agreed that the arrangements were complete' and the plan as submitted was adopted. A distinct feature of the show is to be the artistic decoration of the building, nhd Mr Knowles was given charge of this. The following stewards were appointed: —Pot plants and cut flowers, Messrs. Knowles .senr. and junr.. nnd G. J. Sealey; ; Fruit, Messrs A. Beswick and J. A. McDonald; Vegetables, Messrs and Patterson; Decorations, Messrs C. A. Schnndt and H. S. Russell ; Home Industries, Mr D. H. Edgar; School Children's exhibits,. Mr R. Gra.nt; General Supervisor, Mr W. G. Irwin. Mr J. A. McDonald prcrepfi to arrange, for door-keepers. This concluded the business. A meeting of the Managers of the

Timarii Technical Class Association was held iu the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. There were present —Messrs-' John Jackson (in the chair), C. S. Howard, E. Holdgate, G. Dalglish 8.A., C. A. Schmidt, G. J. Sealey, E. Preen, G. Blaok, R. Godfrey and the secretary. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs James Cr.aigie M.P., and Tom Hawkey. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and duly confirmed. Correspondence was read from .the secretary of the Timaru Literary and Debating Society, asking for the use of one of the rooms in which to hold meetings of the society. After some discussion, on the motion of Mr Se&ley, it was agreed that Messrs Jackson and Dalglish _ and the director he appointed a committee to confer tvith the secretary. Letters with regard to art work and wool-class-ing were till after the annual meeting. A letter was read from the Auditor-General certifying the correctnes of the annual balance-sheet. The ■- report and - balance-sheet to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association were taken as read and adopted, on the motion of Mr Dalglish seconded bv ]\£r Black. . Some discussion took place as to the date of the annual meeting, and the matter of fixinsr the date was left to the chairman and director. It was agreed to leave all matters in connection with the ceremony of opening the new building and arranging the prospectus for the inonniini' session to the new committee, ivlio will t-nke office next month. Acfounts to tlie amount, of £9 were passed fnr mvment. V vote of thanks to the cli-.;r lirontrlrfc tlie meeting to a close. Distinctiveness of style, gracefulness and attractiveness of figure, combined with perfect freedom and comfort, is desired bv every woman, and the P.D. corset has a world-wide reputation for imparting these great essential points to the wearer. Science and skill have combined to render P.D. corsets absolutely unrivalled for durability; they will wear considerably longer than any other make. ... All merchants having goods or parcels requiring delivery should realise the advantage of getting us to handle their consignments from beginning to end—goods- collected and shipped, dues paid, goods distributed, and charges collected—all done without trouble and worrv to themselves. Try our system. You'll find it economical, labour-savinc. —N.Z. Express Co. Offices throughout the Dominion^..

THE DATLY COST OF MOTORING HOW TO SAVE MONEY.

As the motor car is coming into daily use it should be necessary for owners and others to carefully consider the running costs for oil. In the early days of the motor cars the cost of oil was a secondary consideration, but today it is proved by the recent trials that many of the cars are petrol-eaters. There is a considerable drily saving to be made by motorists driving cars which arc proved by official tests to be economical in fuel consumption. It will be surprising to the public to be made aware of some of the facts in reference to the petrol test on the second day of the Reliability Trial c:ganised by the Canterbury Automobile Association. The distance run on the petrol test day was 148 miles, and reckoning petrol at eighteen pence a gallon (Christchurch price), the official figures of the Association prove that certain cars consumed the astonishing amount of over eighteen shillings' worth ;,f petrol for the 148 miles. By the way of comparison and to show the daily saviurr in cash, we point to the Talbot team. The 15 Talbot, the winner of the petrol prize, used under eight shillings' worth of petrol, showing a clear savin" of over ten shillings on cne day's" trip. The 10-16 French Talbot used sis and ninepence worth. The 25 Talbot used nine shillings' worth, while the remaining 15 Talbot used nine and fourpence worth, all the Talbot team being fully loaded with four passengers. The Talbot team was awarded first, second and third prizes for tightst aggregate marks for reliability, petrol consnmDtion, and hill climbing. Adams, Ltd., Stafford Street:.,

A trio of drunks occupied the cells at the police station last. night. The sale by the N.M. and A. Co. at Hill Brothers' farm is at Pleasant Valley, not at Pleasant Point.

Mr W. R. McGrath, the veterinary horse dentist, will visit A 1 bury to-mor-row, and stay till Saturday.' Messages can be left at West's hotel.

Owing to a difficulty in arranging for a special train the Waimate school excursion to Timaru has been postponed from February 28tlj, and will probably take place on March 11th or 18th. .. The Government Valuers have not yet quite completed the work of valuing the part of Orari Gorge station which is under offer to the Government. The estate is looking particularly well just now, and it is said to be well adapted .for close settlement. It is within nine miles of Geraldine, and ..a portion of it is within two miles of Woodbury.

The final of the Pleasant Point youths' cycle race was run off on Saturday evening. E. Anderson, Friel, Dossett and Mclntyre started; the distance wasi six miles, and' after an exciting race Anderson beat Friel by three yards; Dossett and ' Mclntyre pulled out. Time, 21fmin on a rough and heavy track.' Anderson is 13] years of age, and Friel 14J years.

In connection with the recent sad .fatality at St. Mary's Church, many people have expressed a-desire that the stone which killed Mr Given should not be used in any part of the building. Mr Mcßride, the contractor, informs 'us that the stone has been broken up, and that, neither in whole nor in part will it find" a place in St. Mary's' Church.

Our local correspondent, writing on Saturday evening," says: —Waimate weather this week (except Wednesday afternoon and night) : has been favourable for harvest work, which is pretty general in all direction*, and the bulking of heads of stooks seems to point to good' yields. Owing to the. busy time in the country the town -was today. much quieter than js usual on a Saturday. About 1 a.m. yesterday morning the Fire Brigade's services were called for to extinguish a fire among some empty packing cases, -at the rear of Hutton and Co's. The fire had a good hold upon some very combustible material, and tlie flame made a glow' in the cloudy sky, that lit up the neighbourhood. This did not last long. The Brigade got a jet to play, and the fire was out in a second or two. A crop of barley which has just been threshed from one of the Compstall paddocks (Kingsdown), yielded 40 bushels per acre. Some samples of new wheat changed hands in town on Saturday, when up to 3s 8d per bushel was paid. Tlie chief demand comes from southern millers whose stocks have got into small compass. Some new oats were also offering'on, Saturday, but th6re was a difference of three pence per bushel between/what growers were asking (Is 6d) and what merchants were prepared to give (Is 3d). ' A well-attended meeting of delegates ! of the South Canterbury Hockey Association was held in Hutchison's Tea Rooms on Friday night. Mr A. G. Poison occupied the chair. The busi-; ness of the evening was to discuss matters for the coming season. Tlie affairs/ of the Association were /reported to be; in a very sound financial condition. It ; was decided to hold tlie. annual moeting of the Association in the last week in March.. As a large number of both sexes have expressed their intention of joining .the ranks of tlie hockeyites, a very successful season is anticipated. A meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of dommerce was held on Friday evening. Present: —Messrs M. White (president), W. Priest, D_ G. Turnbull, J. P. Newman, R. H. Bowie, W. Penrose, G. S. Cray and the secretary, Mr C. S. Fraser. Apology was made for the .absence of Mr Turner. Correspondence was received from the Temuka Butter and Cheese Company with reference to the heavy extra charges which dairy Companies have to bear through being unable to ship their produce from Timaru, the railage from Temuka to Lyttelton being 14s 3d while to Timaru it is only 4s 3d per ton. Tlie remedy would be cool storige at Timaru. The committee were in structed to collect data bearing upon the question and subsequently interview the committee of tlie Harbour Bftard. Mr Bowie was added to the transport committee. The report 'of this committee regarding railage questions to be brought forward at the conference by the Oamnru Chamber was received and approved. It was resolved that the alteration in tlie terms of Calcutta drafts on London be considered at- the conference of Chambers to be held in Wellington in March. Correspondence was received advocating the '■ons+mctior of a branch railwav of .12 miles un Totarn Vallev. and nno+l>"r of 15 miles to the Pareora limekilns. Baxter's concentrated vinegar essence should be in every house. One bottle simnly added to a gallon of cold water produces splendid vinegar. For pickling purposes it is the best, obtainable. Price. Is 6d ner bottle, from J. Baxter, chemist, Timaru. ...

Farmers are now very busy bringing in their crops. Souter's- Boot Sale j has the best crop of bargains in boots and shoes that has ever been seen in South Canterbury. One and all should reap the benefit of Souter's harvest of boot bargains. Make hay while the sun Shines. Do not delay, call at Souter?s boot sale, and lay in a' stock of good boots cheap. Souter's Annual Boot Sale. Now on in real earnest. Often people wonder how it is that owners of Darracq cars arc so seldom troubled with mishaps, but on examining these cars thoroughly it will be found that they have one-third less 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 a car for constant hard work, and also for cheapness of 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, 14/16 h.p., which under test is actually 16 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 fnotor car should not decide until they have had a run in one of these little cars, the total weight of which is 15 cwt, and which travels at a speed of 40 miles an hour, besides being a wonderful hill climber, and exceptionally economical in petrol. Darracqs arc also making a small pattern 4 cvliuder 12/14 h.p., which will be retailed at £350. The new pattern, De Dions, for which we are also taking orders for indent, are the following : 10/12 h.p. 4 cylinder j 12/14 h.p. 4 cylinder, and 18 h.p. Further information and trials will be given on application at Messrs Skeates and Bockaert's garage, this firm being tlie sole New Zealand agents for both Dc Dion and Darracqs. ...

There will be a number of our readers who will be nleased to hear that Souter's Boot Sale is now on. We understand that ladies' brown boots and shoes are on sale at very much reduced prices. Ladies' brown shoes, usual price 10s 6d, 12s 6d, 14s 6d, 16s Gel sale price Ts lid, 8s lid, lis 9d, 12s 6d. The stock must be reduced bv March Ist, hence the unusual reduction- Souter's Bo<;t Sale now on. ...