GOSSIPPY NOTES

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 137, 9 November 1877, Page 2

GOSSIPPY NOTES

(from our timaru gossip.)

Tlie Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show has on nil sides been pronounced a success. A smart shower, which lasted for half an hour early in the morning, cooled the air and laid the dust for the rest of the day. Fully five hundred move people were present than on any other occasion. The number of exhibits, too, were very much greater than in former years, and the improvement in the quality of the stock was most marked, particularly so in long-woolled sheep. The cattle were nothing extraordinary, and very little elevated above the ordinary ruck, with the exceptior* of one or two really very good bulls, which ought to improve the stock in the district if breeders are careful. In implements, tbe gorsecutting and the reaping and binding machines drew many visitors. The gorsecutters were both constructed on the same principle—that by Mr John Anderson of Christchurch showing more careful designing and better finish than that by Messrs Reid and Gray, though the latter was tbe lightest and handiest machine. Messrs Findlay and Henry, of Temuka, were to have sent an exhibit in this class, but from having had to make an alteration in their machine, were too late to enter it. I believe theirs is made on the.reapingmachine principle, knives working between fingers—one knife to cut the top of the fence, and another to trim the sides—thus avoiding going over the ground twice as in the others. The reapers and binders were Wood's patent. A great want felt at this show, and more particularly complained of by the ladies, was the want of seats on the ground.

During the week the Primitive Methodists have been luxuriating in a " grand " bazaar, though were the grandness comes in I could not find out, as there was nothing particular to see ; well, there were one or two young ladies, but then they were compensated for by too many little girls. An ancient white cockatoo took my fancy more th n anything else; this venerable bird had recently arrived from Newcastle in the brig Moa. and he imitated to perfection the delightful music produced by the masts and spars of' a vessel rolling in a seaway.

Our old friend J. L. Hall has been playing at the Theatre Royal here to good houses. A.nongst the rising " stars," I think we can count Miss Laura Wiseman. This lady's voice, .which formerly told very much against her, has, improved muchly. Miss Alice Johns has been&ncored each time she has sung ; her voice is good, particularly in the low notes. Nothing from my pen would add laurels to Mrs and Mr Hall's fame.

Speaking of farming, we have had very little rain for over two months, and the crops are beginning to suffer. The grass gets eaten off by stock too rapidly in consequence of this summer dryness, and farmers are praying for s/l . wet Sunday. 5.0U know the old fanner's proverb— " Sunday rains are farmers' blessings " ; as long as it does not interfere with the week's work it is all right, though there are men here I know who would like to lose a week's work could their desires on ; this head be satisfied.

The Maoris predict a dry season, and they are generally correct. These sweet gushing children of nature have no more intellectual employment than watching their great mother—take my tip.

The South Canterbury Club are astounding us us 'by their eccentric vagaries. Some half dozen of the "bloated squatter" tribe—most of them beimj station managers—met and called themselves by the foregoing name. Several professional men of good standing have been blackballed. One of our leading bankers, so disgusted with the evident snobbishness of the club, withdrew after his election. Another —a man of high standing in his profession, whose character is unimpeachable, and whose house has always been open to those forming the' clvb —has been blackballed at the last election. " Count that man happy though he is not dead." The keystone of Christianity is charity. One who professes to be an active and ardent supporter of a certain church here, recently turned two respectable looking, young ladies out of his special pew (it will seat six), and occupied it by himself, he being one of the dii majorum gentium.