The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1878.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 103, 11 December 1878, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1878.

Cricket. —A match, Married v. Single, will take place next Saturday week at the ‘ Temnka Park Grounds. ■/The Temuka School Committee. — . ’’Thf* usual meeting of the Temuka School ' Committee was In-Id on Tuesday, Decemrber 10th. Present—Messrs A. Wilson (Chairman) Gray, Blyth, and Donn. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter from the Royal Arowhenua Lodge of M.U., 1.0.0. F. was read and considered. It was resolved that the Lodge be asked to pay L2, and that they be released from their engagement. A considerable discussion then took place ts + u the prizes, ami the length of holi lay to he given, and it was resolved that t ! e Ch innan should consult with the Schoolmaster, and then call a special meeting IVolved that the date of Committee meeting be inserted in the Temuka. Leader. Mr Donn stated that the boys’ pump was out of order, and it was resolved that the same be attended to, Messrs Donn and Hooper were appointed a visiting committee for the month. Masonic Ball. This ball, which comes off to-night, ought to prove a great success. At any rate no pains have been spared by the Stewards to make it so. The arrangements made are of a very

: acter. The hall lias been tastefully'-'ornn mooted with ever-, greens, and other things usually pressed into service for this purpose. A large marquee-will .be i rected to serve as a sup-per-room, ami a*smaller one to serve as a gentlemen's smoking-room, tlius leaving" the two sin 11 rooms at the back to be utilized as ladies’ dressing-rooms. The arrangements for the supper have been entrusted to Mr L. Tombs, and, as is well known, they could not have been placed in better ha ids. The musicians engiged for the occasion are Messrs Juncker, piano ; Langdown, violin ; and .Rogers, of Waimate, cornet. These names, at least the two first, the last we have not the pleasure of recognizing - , are a guarantee that the orchestra will not be found wanting. (Heigho ! Its’ a good while till night yet.) Sports on Boxing Day. —The programme of the annual Boxing Day sports, held under the auspices of the 1.0.G.T. of Temnka, is published iu another column. For some years these sports have been very popular, and last year the attendance was very large. A good round sum is offered in prizes for various athletic sports, and the number of competitors in most events will probably be large. Subscription-lists are lying in the various places of business in Temnka, and they are being filled at an encour iging rate.

Temuka Fire Brigade.— The br’gade turned out for practice on Monday evening. The practice was very “slow.” We think, and we believe the members will agree with us that there is room for considerable improvement in the organisation of the brigade. No one who witnessed the turnout, and who knows anything about fire-brigades, and who bas any real interest in the efficiency of this one, could be satisfied with what he saw. Perhaps it does not signify. So little interest is taken in the matter by those most concerned—the owners of property liable to be injured or destroyed by fire—that it would seem they do not care whether the brigade continues to exist or not. Of course, that is their business, and as a matter of fact it is to be looked at from a. business point of view. If, however, it be conceded that a really efficient brigade would have a positive value for the townspeople, it b ‘hoves them to see that it be made efficient. This they could easily do if they would only attend the proper meetings, and use their influence in the right direction, endeavouring to secure the appointment of really efficient and energetic officers, and demand that the discipline of the working members be made as perfect as that of any similar body e’sewlmre. It is iu the matter of discipline that we apprehend the brigade is most f mlty. This is not their fault None of the working members have been members of brigades previously, consequently it would be absurd to expect good discipline. A competent person offered to come from Timaru to instruct them on very reasonable terms but the state of the exchequer would not permit of their closing with the offer at the time. The members would gladly do so if they could. This question of discipline, then, is narrowed down to a simple question of pounds, shillings, and pence. There is an other thing besides this one of comparative ignorance that tells agiinst the proper working of the brigade. Several appliances are required. Proper belts in which to carry tools, and a hosereel would simplify the working much. The procuring of these articles and others that are needed almost as much, additional lengths of hose for instance, is simply a treasurer’s question. The brigade is-not absolutely without funds, since the insurance companies subscribe pretty liberal'}’ to its support. What the brigade most requires is the moral support of those who would be only too glad to reap benefit from its existence in time of need. Some of tbe working- members we understand turn out unwillingly on account of the hard labor of working the pump, and this makes the labor harder for those who do turn out. Perhaps we may be permitted to suggest that the mere working of the pump is almost the very last matter that needs attention. In case of a fire there are always plenty of willing workers. What does require attention is the arrangement' of all p irts of the apparatus for working. Let the practices be chiefly ‘ dry ’ practices, and when a ‘ wet ’ practice is tried let it be with as short a hose as possible. A short hose will give a branebman as good a practice as a long one, while the pump will be much more easily worked. We wish weT to the brigade, and desii-e only to see it become a credit to Temuka —which it is not at present.

Temuka. Mechanics’ Institute. —The ordinary monthly Committee meeting of the Temnka Mechanics’ institute was held in the reading-room on Friday, the 6th December. A letter was read from the President, regretting his inability to be present, and in his absence Dr Hayes was voted to the chair. Tbe minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Librarian’s report was then read and considered. Accounts to the amount of L 8 18s were passed, viz,— Librarian, L 5 15s, and George -n.vood, Christchurch, for book-binding, L 3 3s. Proposed by Mr Wareiug, seconded by Mr Mendelson, and carried unanimously, —“Thatthe Secretary be instructed, on behalf of the members i f the Institute, to

convey their most cordial th nks to Mr .Wakefield fur his very handsome present of a "book on (he indigenous grasses' of New Zealand. ’ v A vote of thunks'to the chair terminated the-'proceeding*.

Horsp Trial -.4~A,'pulling m-it-ii came off on Saturday List between two pairs of horses belonging to R. Hoare and H. Rogers for L 5 a-side. The load was estimated at about three tons, and was drawn over a piece of common loose riverbed. Mr lioare’s horses pulled the load about 23 feet, several lifts being allowed. Mr Rogers’ tea n failed to take the same load more than about two and a-h df feet. Botli teams tried staunchly to do what was required of them. Messrs M. Barrett and W. H. Fletcher acted as umpires. On the conclusion of this trial Mr H. Holloway made a wager of L2O a-side with Mr Barrett that he would get two horses in Temnka to pud the same load uver the same ground twice as far as Hoare’s horses had done. The trial was made on Monday morning, Mr Holloway bunging his own black mare and a black horse belonging to Mr Radford. The horses tried hard and honestly for'a full hour, but failed to take the load half the required distance, as they fell about two feet short of the distance the load was taken by Hoare’s horses, As the wager was they should take it twice as far Mr Holloway of course lost. H. Rogers and W. H. Fletcher acted as umpires on this occasion. Sales at Geraldine.— On Friday last Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. offered for sale by auction some of Mr Postlethwaite’s township or suburban sections at Geraldine. Only two small sections were sold, the rest being withdrawn, off rs not reaching the owner’s reserve. We have been given to understand that the conditions of sale were of a character to deter buyers from investing, at any rate the hearing them loft an unfavorable impression on the minds of a great many. The conditions, even had they been simple and most favorable to purchasers were so lengthy that they should have been cither printed for distribution or posted up for easy reference. Three other properties, belonging to another person, were then offered, but none sold. The grounds and buildings of the Waihi Bush School were also offered, but not sold. Yesterday Messrs Mundell and Co. held their second sale. The entries comprised 20 acres of rural land, 7 horses, 33 bead of cattle, and a road contractor’s plant.

St. Savxouk’s Church, Temuka.— —A meeting of the parishioners of St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka. was held in the church on Ffi lay evening, the 6;h inst., at 7.30 p.m., for the purpose of electing churchwardens and vestrymen, such a proceeding being rendered necessary owing to the Synod having con<ti tnted the district a parish. The R *v, F. Clinton presided. Mi Campbell was elected parish churchwar len, and the Rev Mr Clinton re-appointed Mr Wood minister’s churchw irden. M tssrs Pildes, Cummins, Tavernier, Meyer, Pilhrow, S. D. B irk or, Talbot, Radford, and Micintosh were elected vestrymen. The meeting then passed a resolution authorising the erection of a two-stalled stable and carriage house in the church paddock. Also a resolution legalizing the election of Mr Rutland (who receives a sal iry as choirmaster) as vestryman. A m -eting' of vestrymen, presided over by the clergyman, was afterwards held, when it was resolved to ca'l for tenders for the erection of stable. and for giving the church two coats of paint. The gift auction in aid of the Parsonage Fund, which was advertised to he held on the 18th inst. is unavoidably postponed till after the Christmas holidays. Due notice will be given of the date on which the auction will be held. In the meantime it will much facilitate the making of the needful arrangements if intending donors will kindly send to Mr Pilhrow lists of the articles they purpose giving.

S. 0. Board of Education.— We observe from the report of the South Canterbury Board of Education’s meeting of last Wednesday that Mr Granger has resigned. We also hear that Mr Postleth waite has also made up his mind to resign. We are heartily sorry for this, both gentlemen are pains-taking, conscientious, and thoroughly up to the work that may come before them, giving their time for the good of their country, especially for the purpose of seeing that the rising generation are by education raised above tbe beasts of the field. We would very much regret their resignation, and hope they will re-consider the matter. We do not know where we could get men to 211 their place who have the same knowledge and information about educational matter’s, and who are gentlemen who prefer acting to talking. We do not wonder, however, that lovers of peace should prefer their own quiet firesides to the scenes of division and strife so often their lot to be witnesses of. If we are to have a Board of Education we must have the services of such gentlemen as will do what is right, let the consequences be what they may. We think, though, there will nevpr-be confidence felt in this Board by the country settlers till a fairer proportion of the members are drawn from the country districts.

Kakahu School Committee. - This committee held their ordinary monthly meeting on Friday, the 6th inst, the meeting on the previous Monday having

la >sed for w;int of a quorum. There were present M‘S.si’3 Itooke (Gh iirm in) Woodley, IBradley, Hjy, Skinner, and Beattie. After disposing of the minutes of the previous meeting, Mr Rooke laid ;a voucher for LG 15s for., incidental , expenditure before the committee: Tliis amount had in error been paid to the Geraldine bank, instead of-.the one-at Temnka. Mr Rooke undertook to set the matter right with the banks, and the secretary was instructed to inform the Board of their mistake. A voucher for Ll 3 15s was received, being amount due for salaries for the month of October. It was agreed that the Christinas holidays extend from December 20th to December 29, with New Year’s Day added. Proposed by Mr Beattie, seconded by Mr Rooke, and carried, “ That the Board be requested to instruct its architect to take the necessary steps for the enlargement of the teacher’s residence, according to requests preferred on two previous occasions.’’ Mr Hay moved that the Board be written to, requesting that the school be inspected before the Christmas holidays. It had not been examined for thirteen months. He was sure that the progress of the scholars was deterred by the lapse of so long a time between the visits of the inspector. Messrs Skinner, Rooke, Beattie, and Speight, were appointed a committee to arrange for, and manage the entertainment to be given in aid of the children’s prizes fund. Sub-scription-lists in aid of the children's treat were distributed to each of the members. Small accounts to the amount of LI 10s l|d being passed for payment, the meeting adjourned sine die.

Gehaldine School Committee. A meeting of this committee was held, on Thursday last. Present —Dr Pish (Chairman) the revs Jas Preston, and George Barclay, and Mr David Shaw. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Miss M'Phee, complaining of the dirty state of the school-room. It was reported that the matter had been attended to. A letter from the Secretary to the Board of Education informed the committee that the Board had decided to recommend the conversion of the Geraldine district school in+o a district high school. A second letter advised that a sum of Ll 3 10s had been paid to the credit of the committee for incidentals for the quarter ending with December. A letter from the Inspector enclosed his report upon the examination of four candi dates to be passed into the fourth standard, to make up the number required to form a high s drool. Accounts to the amount of L 3 7s 81 were passed for payment. It was resolved to grant a holiday of three weeks at ChrisMnas, and a similar one at next midwinter. An am mdinent proposed by Mr Shaw to grant only two weeks at Christmas w s lost. The committe; were authorised by the Board to obtain certain school requisites, the cost of which wdl lie defrayed by the Board. Applications fur cleaning the school are invited—to be sent in before the 19th inst.

Cricket.— Oa Saturday last a one innings mate!, was played be! ween elevens of Geraldine and Temuka, at Temuka, when Geraldine scored another -in. Geraldine made 83, of which number 49 were due to Moore’s vigorous hitting, and 17 to extras. Temuka made 54, Pelham Jones making 17 of these, and extras giving 18. Ten of the Geraldine bats therefore made 20 runs, and ten of Terauka 19. For Geraldine Moore bowled 93 balls for 14 runs and 3 wickets ; McFarlane, 30 balls for 7 runs and 0 wickets ; and Pearpoint 64 balls for 12 runs and 7 wickets. Pearpoint was ‘ dead on,’ and his effective bowling kept down the scores of Temuka. The bowling of Temuka was not recorded, but it must also have been good, since, with the exception of Moore, no one made much stand. The Winchester Club sent an eleven to the Washdyke on the same day, and beat their opponents easily, winding in one innings with 73 runs to spare.

The Weather. —The blistering drought of the past weeks was slightly broken on Satui’day night, a useful rain falling during a few hours. No doubt comparatively slight as it was it will have done a great deal of good. A great deal more could, however, be absorbed by the parched soil. It is now almost, or quite too late, to save a great many of the crops on tbe lighter soils, they being burned completely brown. The word 1 ‘aesthetic” is being bandied about a good deal just nov, so we may make use of it be - e. The rain had its aesthetic as well as its material value, for tbe face of nature washed by it looked so much fresher and brighter for the ablution that the hearts of everyone must have been delighted at the change.