TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 17, 23 August 1895, Page 1

TIMARU.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) The winter we are now about emerging from has been the stTerest ever experienced in this town and district. In Tim am and its immediate vicinity nothing very disastrous has occurred, the only cause of complaint being the intense cold and excessive rainfall, accompanied with one or two light enowstorms, bat in the McKeneie and back country the result has been calamitous. Continuous and severe snowstorm*, followed by heavy frosts with cold and piercing winds have played havoc amongst the flocka on the rune, Sheep by the thousands have been snowed up for months without a possibility of rescuing them, and it is computed that at the very least more than half a million of those unfortunate animals have perished, while those that will survive, or are rescued, are practically worthless. The poor brutes are reduced to such an extremity of hunger that they are eating the wool from each other's backs. Up to the present there is scarcely a black patch difcemable on the snow-clad ranges, and in some of the flat country the enow lies from three and a half to four feet deep, The exact extent of the terrible loss cannot yet be accertaiced, nor, in fact, accurately computed until shearing time, but the above estimate is supposed to be within the mark. A valuable and handsome addition has been made to the church property by the purctase of tbe Louse and grounds immediately adjoining the church oq the north side of tbe Town B ilt and known as " The Priory." It consists of mort than four acres of land with a handsome two-storey dwelling thereon which is now used as tbe presbytery. Tbe property was secured at a very reasonable figure by the Bey Father Hurlio, who deserves the warmest congratula'ions of his parishioners for the successful manner in which he negotiated the purchase. Tbebuildiug is well appointed and, previous to its occupation by the priests, it was thoroughly renovate 1 and improved. It will be a much needed and pleasant change for the reverend Fathers as tbe old presby'ery was far too small and inconvenient for their requirements. With this addition the total acreage of the church property, including the convent grounds, amounts to between 18 and 20 acres. It seems like the hand of fate that the gentleman who, about fifteen years ago, erected this building just purchased should hay« designated it " The Priory," aod that now it should fall into tbe hands of the Church to whic^ that name peculiarly belongs. Tbe South Can'erbury Board of Education has granted tbe application made to them to have the Catholic schools in their district examine \by tbe Government Inspector. The examination has taken place and the report of the Inspector will be brought forward at the next meeting of tbe Education Board, which ia fixed on the first Thursday in the month. In hie preliminary visit the Inspector

reported that be considered tbe staff at tbe Brothers' school insofficient, bnt notwithstanding this I am confident that all schools will give a good account of themselves. Apropos of the Brothers' schools, it is gratifying to learn that two of their pupils lately sent to 8t Joseph's College, Hunter Hil'i Melbourne — viz, Thomas Mara and Alexander HoDonald, both Timaru boys, passed tbe junior university examination and acquitted them selves creditably. While under the tnition of tbe Brothers here both boys passed the jnnior Civil Service Examination. In the college there are also three Timaru boys intended for the Brotherhood undergoing their novitiate — riz, Masters O'Shea, Me Atee and Qiinn. Tne college is a handsome and magnificent s ructure of the same style of architecture as St Patrick's, Wellington . Tbe two departments— viz, that set aside for tbe instruction of youths undergoing their novitiate for tbe Brotherhood and that for ordinary college educational purpose! are separate and distinct. This novitiate department is meant to be tbe feeder from which the supply of the Marist Brothers is to be drawn to srpply tbe man; applications mide by diff rent communities for their services. It is with very great regret I have to chronicle the death at Wai mate of Mr Martin J. Meagher, who was resident school teacher here for many years, and who was highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. Mr Meagher was a native of ParsoDStown, in Ireland, but had spent t u .e greater pirt of his manhood in the colonies. He was a genial, intelligent man, toi k a great interest in Home politic?, was an ardent Home Buler and a first rate conversatio aliet. His death took all his Timaru acqua ntances by surprise and the deepest sympathy ib felt for his wife and children in their sad bereavement. — jR / P.