TIMARU.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1266, 9 April 1878, Page 3

TIMARU.

[fbo3i the foebespondent oe thepbess.] Monday. The annunl show of the Temuka and Geraldine Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which took place a few days ago, was, I regret to say, an almost absolute failure, owing to the poor patronage bestowed upon it by agriculturists and Bheop-farmors in the district. Tho society, however, have ex pressed their determination to continue the show —a decision which I think is to be regretted. In the first place the gatherings are held at the wrong time of the year, viz , in the middle of the harvest season, when farmers are fully employed ; and, in tho second, Temuka is too near Tirnaru, and stock owners prefer exhibiting only once a year in the district, and then at the show where there is tho greatest competition, better judging, and where there are bettor and higher class awards given. I think it is a mistake to multiply these gatherings too much, and that good ones at Tirnaru and Christchurcb are quite sufficient for all purposes. That tho majority of people in the Geraldine and Temuka districts are of much the same opinion, is proved by the poor support they accord to their local show. I have already mentioned by telegraph an accident which occurred at the Tirnaru railway station on Friday, by which a young lad named Musker was seriously injured. Tho poor fellow, who was dreadfully crushed about the stomach, died early yesterday morning, after suffering intense agony. No blame can be attached to any individual person for the accident, and considering the cramped state o' the shunting yard here, it is a wonder dozens of others have not already occurred. Sir John Coode passes through Tirnaru on or about Saturday next, en route to Milford Lagoon. Although our Harbor Board have declined to take advantage of his services officially, I believe it has been arranged that somo of the members will receive him privately, and give him all available information about the spot where his breakwater is not to to be. I have no doubt he will be very curious to visit Tirnaru on his own account; and I can inngine the inward chuckle which he will give vent to when the plan that is to be i 3 explained to him, and the objections to his own grriously placed before him. It is to be hoped that tho opponents of his scheme will themselves meet him fa r e to face. I should dearly like to hear the conversation between them, for it would, without doubt, prove highly interesting and instructive to the amateurs. Nothing further has been heard from tho Royal Commission ; but I understand that the delay is owing to the absence of Mr Henderson from Wellington, and that a final reply cannot be expected for ten days or a fortnight yet. Fresh borings by tho Harbor Board's engineer have confirmed what I already told you, that the bottom of the roadstead is all that could bo desired as a foundation for a Breakwater. The borings were carried out for a distance of between 500 and GOO feet from the shore, imd the exact result was that a six or seven feet layer of hard clay and gravel was found covering an even and continuous bed of rock. The census returns for the town of Tirnaru show a very large addition to the population during the last four years; and should the present rate of increase continue, before many vears arc passed there will bo few towns in the colony with a larger population than Tirnaru. The Oamaru people have been boasting for a long time past of the manner in which they were leaving us behind ; but despite the advantage of a breakwater which they possess, Tirnaru has advanced almost two to their one, and is now ordy nine 60uls behind them ; whereas at last census it was almost as many hundreds. As a recent visitor to the South said, if there was one thing the Oamaru people could beat those of any other place in the colony at, it was " blowing." The long spell of almost uninterrupted dryweather which we have had, welcome as it undoubtedly has been for harvest operations, has told very much on the gras.', which is now very scarce —indeed in some parts of the district not a green blade is to be seen for mile-* ; and already the stock are beginning to suffer exceedingly. If rain does not fall shortly, there will be a great scarcity of feed through tho winter, and owners of stock will have to thin their herds or Hocks considerably. The great bulk of the crops are now in. in splendid condition, and any little damage which might; be caused by rain to those still standing would be nothing coinpared with the good which would result, to live stock. G-eneral satisfaction is felt at the result of the election of the new Education Board for South Canterbury, and it is admitted on all hands that a better choice could [not have been made. Messrs Belfic Id, Tate, Granger, and the Rev. Gillies belong to the town of Tirnaru ; the Rav. Barclay and Mr Postlethwaite to Geraldine; Mr In wood to Winchester; Mr Goldsmith to Waimate ; and Mr Howell to Pleasant Point. All parts of the district are therefore represented by the Board. Another public meeting is to be held at Geraldine this evening re the proposed branch railway to that place. Local opinions differ very much aB to the best route, but it is probable that, it will be decided to-night tu aecu.ro

i the services of a Government engineer, and [ obtain his opinion upon the matter. | The people of Te-muka are at present I seriously offended with their Road Board b. cause the members of the. latter will not do us the " free and enlightened" electors com- ; mar.d them. The Hoard have all along, with i feelings of modesty which do them credit, declined to admit reporters or the general public to their meetings, and have allowed tiie to publish only the minutes of their meetings. This has raised the ire of the people, who do not believe in the members of the Board hiding their candles under a bushel, but want to know how every member votes and what he says about every new ditch or footpath. A. short, time since a public meeting was held at which resolutions wire passed instructing the Board to admit reporters, &c. These orders, however, were not obeyed, for at a meeting held last week the Board told the ratepayers in effect that they might go and be hanged. Another public meeting is now to bo held, at which it is intended to mike it unpleasantly sultry for those refractory members. The nomination of a member in the House of Representatives for the district of Timaru lakes place to day at noon, and as Mr Richard Turnb'ull up to the present moment is the only candidate on the board, he will in all probability have a walk over. Since Mr Wakefield dec-lined to stand, all interest in the election has died out, and it will be one of the tamest affairs of the kind ever known in the colony.