TIMARU.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1357, 20 June 1878, Page 3

TIMARU.

[FBOM THE COBBE3PONDENT OF THE PRESS.] Tuesday, June IS. People here are looking eagerly forwa d to the laying of the foundation s'.one for the Breakwater, an event which will probably take place in about a month or six weeks hence. The Harbor Board are putting forth every exertion to have all the necessary materials and plant ready by that time. It is intended to mark the occasion with great rejoicings. The news that 40,000 acres have been—or are about to be—reserved for the Milford Harbor Works has wounded the feelings of the Timaru people, who say that what is sauce for the goose is ditto for the gander, and that aa a reserve for this place was refused, so ought ono to be for Milford. Steps will bo taken to try again next session to obtain a land endowment for the Timaru Breakwater. At last there is to be a change in our Resident Magistracy. Strange to say, although every one has hitherto been only too ready to find fault with Mr Woollcombe's administration of justice, everyone is now eager to express it as his opinion that we might have had a much worse man, and that, after all, " Daddy " was not so black as he was painted. No one will, I feel sure, begrudge him the pension to which twenty years' service has entitled him. The rumored appointment of Mr Mellish as his successor gives general satisfaction, and, as he has a good deal of property and many family connections in this district, the change Bhould be a welcome one to him. The Steeplechase Meeting arranged to lake place here on July 15th promises to be a success both in a monetary and sporting point of view. Subscriptions are coming in liberally, and I do not think there is any fear of its being a pecuniary loss. A number of new horses (locally owned) will be brought out, and the Maiden will in all probability bring a large field together. The oourse, I understand, is to bo same as that on which the Grand National Steeplechases were run last year, and is a stiff piece of up and down hill country. It is situated on Captain Cain's property, abutting on North street, and within ten minutes' walk of the centre of the town. Not for fifteen or twenty years past has the port of Timaru been visited with such a terrific sea as was ruening from Thursday last to yesterday evening. The damage it has done to the landing services (including a quantify of preserved meat and tallow which was -washed away), cannot be estimated at less than £2OO, and it will take some time to re-make ihe beach. At one time fears were entertained for the safety of t;he George street store, but through the shingle banking up on the seaward face, it was. left almost uninjured. The weather seems now to have moderated, and boating operations will be resumed to-morrow. There is a groit deal of produce awaiting shipment, including several thousand caseß of preserved meat tor English ships at Port Chalmers. All the Btores in town are choked with grain, and the Himalaya's c.n'go will be ready for her as soon as she arrives. Farmers are very busy ploughing and sowing, and a large additional percentage of land will bo placed under cr.>p this year as , compared with last. This increase is principally noticeable at the Hook, Makikihi, and VVaihd to tho south, Mount llorviMo and Albury to tho back, and itakahu to the north. The heavy rains have relieved both agriculturists and' pastoraiists of all anxiety aa to crops and pasture, and prospects at present are exceedingly bright. AH branches of general business are more active in Timaru than they have been for years past, and trade is bi\*k. New shops, hotels, and privalc residences are springing up in all parts of the town. The only for cpmpiuint'is that, owing to the scarcity of. carpenters, who can make 15s or 16s per day, many buildings are delayed. Messrs Bruce and O.rry.sbv 'a new mills, both of six storeys, on t/io beach, are just completed, and another of similar magnitude, for a third person, is being commenced close to them. A new hotel, to cost £3OOO, is starting up just opposite the Courthouse in North street, while the Criterion, in the maiu South road, and next to the " Herald " office, is to be greatly enlarged and improved. In fact, I cannot enumerate half tho in,pvov»ments now being made, bet thing is very noticeable, tha.t all the new places of business are beifig erected in a style which will eventually malee Timaru ono of the handsomest towns in New Zealand.