NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7074, 21 February 1893, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

lit W. Shilling, fruiterer, has on view s remarkably fine specimen of peaches, grown by Mr Pearce, at Orari. The fruitgrowers of the Taieri, “the garden of New Zialand,’ would find it very hard to grow such fine fruit, which for bloom, size, and dessert qualities could not be beaten in the colony. The Lalm Wahaiipv, Mail reports that one of tho severest storms that has been experienced for a long time raged throughout the district last Monday afternoon, and in the majority of instances stripped the fruit trees of their fruit, besides breaking down many trees—both fruit and forest. To show the force of the wind, it mentions that Messrs Rob rtson and HaUenatein’a two large grain stores at Frankton were blown clean to the ground—with the exception of the stone wall and door frame of one of the buildings.

A Woodvillo settler had eighteen fullgrown turkeys killed the other day by stoats and weasels. The Woodvillo paper comments upon the occurrence as follows ; Yet tho Wairarapa sheep-farmers are spending another £6OO in importing more of these vermin, which are becoming the curse of the settler. If the Government would have this shipment of stoats and weasels sunk io Wellington harbour they would earn tho gratitude of the settlers. The Wairarapa eheepfarmers are only making a rod for their own backs.

A social gathering in connection with the Primitive Methodist Young People’s oTasa i was held last evening in the lodge room at the Oddfellows’ Hall, when various games were indulged in, and during an interval refreshments were handed round by the young ladies, During the evening one of the lady members presented a beautiful penholder and pencil case to the Bev. W. 0. Woodward, on behalf of the class, as be is soon to remove from Timaru to his new charge at Geraldine, and expressed her appreciation of the interest he has taken in the young people of the church and congregation during his stay in Timaru, and kindly wishes for bis future welfare. Hearty thanks were paseed to the ladies for providing the good things, and altogether an enjoyable evening was spent.

The Hon. Dr Grace, president of the District Medical Association, has written the following letter to the Mayor of Wellington : —“ The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Medical Association desires to express to |yon its astonishment at yoor having endorsed

the testimonials of Mrs A. M. L. Pctta and Mr J.O. Harrison, thus influencing public opinion in favour of persons whose qualifications are refused registration by the Registrar General. 1 he effect is that hundreds of working people are misled. This association thinks the Mayor ought to exhibit more discretion in his official capacity than is required from ordinary citizens, and he should not give testimonials without enquiry.” The Evening Press says that these testimonials come from a large number of influential citizens, and gives a list of names.

The death of a New Zealand pioneer and a member of one of the oldest families of the Wesleyan mission, Mrs Wallis, wife of the Eev. James Wallis, of Mount Eden road, is announced by the New Zealand Herald. Mrs Wallis came to the New Zealand mission field ia 1837, three years before this was proclaimed n British colony. After a brief stay at Hokianga, the headquarters of the Wesleyan mission, she and her husband moved to Kaipara and spent over a year there. In 1889 Mr Wallis was selected to establish a new mission station at Waingaroa Fouth, Raglan. There for three and twenty vears ho and his wife resided and brought up their largo family. In 1863 severe domestic sickness obliged them to leave Raglan. They resided for throe years in Onehunga, and since 1866 their home was in Auckland. Wo have received from Messrs Macmillan and 00., through Messrs P. W. Hutton and 00., a copy of “ Don Oreino,” a novel by F, Marion Crawford. The book is in some sort a sequel to two previous books by the same author, namely, “ Saraoinesca ” and “ Sant’ ilario." A number of the same characters are introduced, and the scene is entirely laid in Borne. It is a story of the modern city, ! and the changed and changing state of Roman society in the latter end of the nineteenth century. Wo cannot honestly say that the book is equal to “ Saracinesca.” The plot is meagre, and the development sometimes slower than was necessary ; nevertheless “ Don Orsino ” ia pleasantly written, the leading charocters are sketched with a strong hand, and much of the dialogue is equal to the author's best, which is flaying a good deal. The book will doubtless have a large sale.

The final heat of the Titnam Rowing Club’s double sculling races came off last evening, Barnes and Johnston going out to meet Allan and Truman. The water was a trifle lively outside but smooth inside the harbour. The boats kept well together to the mole, where Allan and Trumau drew away and won a good race by about a couple of lengths. The final races of the season will be the President’s fours, for which there are 24 entries, and some good contests are looked forward to. The following are the crews :—Bourne (stroke), Waite, Bowie, Black, T. Bowie (cos) j Allen (stroke), Rutherford, A. Eilton, A. J. Mayne, W. Raymond (cox) ; F. A. Raymond, LoOron, H. Bilton, McKenzie, W. Priest (cos) • Orr, J, Coy, Truman, Parr, Knight (cox); Barnes, Gus. Jones, H. Mayne, J. South, W. Bowie (cox) ; E. Jones, Bowron, Obisholm, B. Jonas, Stubbs (cox).

A meeting was held in the Foresters’ Hall, i Waimate, on Saturday night, to discuss the “ threshing difficulty.” Mr T. Brown occupied tho chair, and stated the object of the meeting. Messrs J. O’Brien, Birchfield, Lundon, Minogue, Kennedy, Smith, and Parnell, spoke on behalf of tho workers ; and Messrs McOlintock, Hawkins Bros, 0. V. Olarke and Mr Quinn’s agent appeared for the millownera. After a lengthy discussion it was decided “ That a stand should be made for 10s per 1000 for oats, and 12s for wheat ” An amendment moved by tho mill-owners was lost. Subsequently the union committee met and decided that taking into consideration the present price of grain, the millowners’ offer of meeting the union half way (this being an all round rise of Is per 1000) be accepted ; at the same time the opinion was expressed that the work was honestly worth 10s and 12s. The decision of the union seems to have given general satisfaction, and yesterday several mills started to work at the Is per 1000 rise. UNIVERSAL PRAISE. Unimpeachable skin authorities, wellknown public men and actresses, to whom appearance is capital, have at one time and another come forward unsolicited to sing the praises of Peabs’ Soax».