TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 3 August 1888, Page 31

TIM A R U .

m (From an occasional Correspondent.) "W.^N other matters for comment fail, it is not an unusual resource to fall back upon " the weather." However, we have had such an unusual experience of that commodity here during the past week that a few remarks about it may not be out of place. During the middle and latter parts of the week we hive had a heavy and steady downpour of rain, and in consequence a series of floods, accidents to bridges and railway lines. Communication was completely stopped with the McKeoaie Country, the snow there being— according to that infallible authority " the oldest resident " — the heaviest known for years Temnka, Winchester, Geraldine, and Pleasant Point all seemed to have shared in the storm.and all the low-lying lands in these districts are converted into mushroom lakes for tbe time being. On Saturday night the rain ceased, but it will take a few days before things resume their wonted appearance. The choir has been rather unfortunate of late in losing some of its leading members. I am glad to see, however, that the place rendered vacant by Mrs. Filmer, who recently left for Melbourne, and who was leading soprano in the choir, is very creditably filled by Miss Conway, lately of Dnnedin. This lady possesses a clear musical voice, of good range and power, and will, without doubt, be a great acquisition. Mr. T. W. Tymona who has resided here for the past seven years w about leaving Timaru, to embark in business on the West Coast. ■"• Tymons carries with him the best wishes of all his co-religionists in Timaru. A true Irishmen he has never been found wanting in any movement brought forward for the beaefit of his countrymen at Home. As a member of the local branch of the Hibernian Society, he has been an indefatigable worker, and it is due to hie earnest canvassing that the Branch can lay claim to the greater number ot its members. I learn that the officers and members of the Branch do not intend to allow Mr. Tymons to depart without giving him a tangible proof of their regard. v ..^.half-yearly meeting of St. Mary's Branch, H.A.C.B.S. was held on the 14th inst. The election of officers resulted as follows :— President, T. Sheehy ; vice-president, W. Cunningham; Treasurer, M. Oranmtch ; secretary Andrew Wilson ; guardian, G. Matthews ; sick visitors, Brothers L. Hartnett, J. Wdlley, and Jno. Maloney. The balance sheet was read as showing the Branch to be in a fairly flouruhing condition, The hey. Father Foley paid a high tribute of praiss to the retiring officers, and complimented the Branch on its steady progress. Apropos of friendly societies, the registrar for New Zealand, in an addreaa delivered in Wellington in January last to an assemblage of delegates from tbe various societies established in the colony, pointed out some fundamental errors existing in the management of most of them. One of these errors, viz. equal contributions irrespective of age at entry," unfortunately applies to the Hibernian bociety, and the principle is so manifestly unjust to young members that theNSooner a reform is made in that particular the better. As an example, a young man aged twenty years joins the societj and pays Is per week as a contribution ; a man aged forty years joins and pays the same contribution per week. If they both live to the age of sixty y eara the younger member pays Is per week for twenty years longer tnan the older one. The branches in New Zealand should combine to have this particular altered and a graduated scale of contributions adopted. — Borne months ago steps were taken to form a Branch of the Society at Temuka and at first the idea was taken up by the re&idents there with a lively interest. Latterly, however, the matter seems to nang fire." It is to be hoped the promoters there will stir up and snow a little more energy, as there is every facility for establishing a strong Branch of the Society in Temuka.