TOWN & COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14341, 13 January 1911, Page 5

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Rev. D. O. Bates' summary and forecast:—"Rain has fallen in the southern but the weather has 6een very warm and hazy in most parts of the country. Moderate to strong easterly winds have prevailed m Hie far north nad westerlies about Coofc Strait, and variable winds elsewhere. A gate is reported this evening at Farewell Spffc. The barometer has been tmsteadv, but with a falling tendency everywhere. Present indications are" for a change in the weather conditions, increasing haze and humidity preceding unsettled and cloudy weather, especially in the north. Strong northerly winds are probable north of Westport and Kaikoura, and southeasterly elsewhere." In consequence of a heayy rate setting in last night, the Garrison Band's municipal concert in Alexandra Square had to be postponed. Weather permitting it will be given this evening. A fungus has been found on Californian thistle at Totara, near Oamaru. SpeflMnens were sent to theGovernmenz biologist, Mr A. H. Cockayne, who is experimenting on the feasibility. of cultivating the fungus for distribution. The Carpenters' Union of Wellington are asking for a new award, and in doing bo break fresh ground. They ask that instead of a weekly halfholiday, no work at all shall be required on Saturdays, unless paid for at doable rate. An ordinary rate of Is 8d an hour is asked for. Another novelty is a demand to be supplied with hot water, for the mid-day mealj .A- decided change of weather occurred yesterday. The forenoon was hot, the afternoon cool, the sky hecoming heavily clouded. In the evening a heavy rain set in, with a pelting shower driven by a strong southerly wind. Presently the wind moderated, and the rain came down more heavily. A soaking rain continued through the email hours of the morning.

The natural enemy of the white pine borer, 'some specimens of which were shown to Mr Waite, curator of the Canterbury Museum, are said by him to be a tiny member of the ichneumon family, some of the larger members of which are well known to country residents, as bright red, slender-waisted, quick-moving insects. Mr Waite says the borer-killer is quite small, only three-sixteenths of an inch long, the ovipositor (tail) of the female being about the same length. The antennae or horns are also about the same length as the body. They are dark brown in colour, • wings transparent with cloudy grey markings. The Christchurch Meat Company, who now own the Burnside freezing works, Dunedin, have just had the works enlarged. A brick store for 30,000 carcases has been added, the engine room enlarged, and another 7oton refrigerator is being installed. Messrs Panton and Son, of Tiniaru, wero the architects; and G. Lawrence and Sons the contractors. The builders bad to do the work in IS weeks, and Mr. Panton says they did it well. The contract price was between £SOOO and £"6000, tho machinery of course not included. James' Concentrated Vinegar Essence. The contents of a Is 6d lo'.t'e added to one gallon of co'd water will produce splendid vinegar suitaole for table use and for pickling pnnnscs. If is guaranteed absola.ely pure r.c'J of. superior flavour. Price Is (-d from li. B. James, l):'spensing Chemist, Tizuara... The " Oamaru Mail" has been informed that trouble arose at one of the up-country shearing sheds on Friday last. The manager and the shearers differed in opinion as to the condition of certain sheep, the men refusing to shear on the ground that the sheep were wet. The manager maintained that they were dry, and informed the shearers that unless work was continued they would be naid off. The men agreed to accept dismissal, and were well away from the station wn»n they received a rressage from the manager that he had 'made a mistake amroff<--ring them the opportunity of returning. Tin's the shearers refused, and were subsequently filled by others.

Phospliol is nn emulsion of Cod liver Oil vrith Hypophospliites, and is the finest nerve, bone, fat and muscle builder known, ut

! V Xc.v Pis-mouth terrain Jay.s that j the Admiralty are cv.d.utiy hi receipt | t .f a consignment of oi crude I petroleum from the '1 araiieka 1 ftrofeuni Company's bores at Molnroa, for i tiiev have cabled asking the flash point : of 'the oil Thev have licen referred i to .Air Price, of Paisley, Scotland w|,„ ir-.de an alaiivs.s of the oil. Oil is ■i-stilt flowing satisfactorily at No. 2 and : No.. 3 bores. It appears that the diary of Liouten- ; ant Boyd Alexander, who was niurd'eri ed near tho Kreneh Sudan a year ago, . was found after h'-j death. It has now reached England, and reveals i lie fact '■ that he was"So(K> feet up the Kaie.er.m Peak, at the time of tho earthquake aail eruption which continued f'U- 'ivo days with unabated severity. A'.i the : way thereafter /treat difficulties were l exporeneed in getting food, for the i story had gone abroad that the etirth- [ quake had l)oen caused by a white man j who had gone tip and fired his gun ] down the erafcr-r, thereby roti<sin£ to j nngeT tlte devil, who, the natives iie- ! lievo. dwells within the mountain. And | so the people fled in terror from Licuj tenant Alexandor's'advancc, driving <S I their rattle and leaving the villages |.deserted. Vinegar.—Make your own table and pickling • vinegar with Baxter's Con- | centrated Vinjgar Essence, which pro- | duces a vinegar far superior to the old I cask vinegar usually 'supplied. Sold i in bottles sufficient to produce one gal- ; lon. Price Is 6d. Baxter's PharI macies, Timaru and Fairlio. ...