Sixty Years Ago

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 6

Sixty Years Ago

“The Timaru Herald” November 22, 1879 Heavy Death Rate According to vital statistics tor October, the death rate for the borough of Timaru is higher than in any other in the colony. Trout Liberated Our Winchester correspondent writes: Mr J. Raine arrived from Christchurch on Thursday with 1000 young trout, which he and Mr Young distributed in the various streams in the district. Those released some time ago are progressing very iavourably. and many of them may be seen disporting themselves in the different pools about here. The present lot will be a great acquisition, and when matured, our creeks will be fairly stocked. “Only a Village” On Thursday a menagerie, consisting of some live bears and monkeys and some stuffed snakes, etc., passed through Timaru by rail en route from Christchurch to Oamaru, During the few minutes that the train stopped here the proprietor of the show was asked casually why he did not exhibit his collection of curiosities n Timaru. He replied, “Why I was told in Christchurch that Timaru was only a small country village and that Oamaru was the only town of consequence between Christchurch and Dunedin.” This is how it is done bv our Christchurch friends! Electric Light at a Distance An interesting experiment to test the extent of the illuminating powers of the Maxim electric light was recently made one evening at the Saratoga springs, New York. An open parabolic reflector was used—no lenses and care was taken by Mr Maxim to set the points of the carbons a little on one side of each other ano to adjust them exactly to the focus of the reflector. This having been accomplished the light was turned toward a spot in Ballston, Spa, New York, seven and a half miles distant, where by previous arrangement, a group of several hundred persons were assembled to witness the The place was instantly illuminated to such an extent that ordinary printing could be read and the time seen on watches. The experiment was made at 9.30 pan.