The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 125, 1 March 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1879.

Pjjesbytejuax CiirJiCH.—The Rev Mr McKenzio will preach in the Presbyterian Church, Temuka, at 330 p.m. to-morrow. We are informed that there is a likelihood of this congregation, with the diatricts of Temuka, Milford, Waitohi, and Kakahu, being formed into a separate parish shortly, and that a minister for the same yvill have to be appointed. We arc encouraged to invite all parishioners to hear such ministers from a distance as may be deputed to preach at Temuka. Temuka-Oxfoud Railway.—lt will be seen from the letter handed to us by Mr Wilson, chairman of the late public meeting, re the interior railway line, which he has just received from the-Under-Secretary for Public Works that the meeting, resolutions, and petition, have borne good fruit. There is now no room for doubt about the matter. The commencement of railway works in the district will be a guarantee to the public that the Government do not intend neglecting South Canterbury—indeed we have no reason whatever to find fault with the present Government in any matter. In relation to the Milford Harbour works Sir Grcorge Grey and his Ministers have been most courteous, and have promised their most hearty support if Sir J. Coode's report is a favorable one. It is more than possible that the report may be in this country by the next mail, when the question of harbor works will be finally set at rest. Meantime the sooner that railways are started, to converge at Milford, the better. Geraluixe Eoad Board Distiuct Acreage.—We have much pleasure in inserting Mr Postlet.hwaite's letter. We could not understand how a gentleman, who in other things is so careful, could have made such a slip. The basis for his argument, or rather the source from which he derived his information, anyone would have thought yvas quite to bo depended upon. It is a pity though that this should have happened, as the extreme measures that were adopted in connection with the County Council Act might not have been resorted to. It is much to be regretted that that Act was not brought into operation. Allowing for every extravagant expression that might have been provoked as well as for every wrong statement of misguided electors, we think it a mistake that the whole county should not have had an opportunity, after a fair trial, of s.'i.yin«whether or not it is beneficial to the district. The interest of anyone in this matter is the interest of all, and none, we believe, who arc connected with the Council, would do a single thing that they did not believe would tend for the good of the whole. If the Act had been in operation there would have been no cause for a Geraldine correspondent, signing himself " Talbot Forest," passing unfavorable strictures upon his fellow towns-

I men. We said from the bes'innini;. and wl

say so still, that the Chairman of the Council was right when he .-sud the whole county were liable for the Rangitata bridge works. The ease, however, is now altered, and it may possibly turn' out that "Talbot Forest " is Registration* Of "Votks. -- We would draw the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another column by Mr CI eo.

.Bolton, who kindly undertakes to supply voters who may not have their names on the electoral roll with the requisite forms for doing so. We would remind electors that they must have their names registered during the ensuing month of March, otherwise they will not be qualified to give their vote for a member of Parliament should a dissolution of the Assembly take place during next session or before March ISSO. The grave questions that are sure to come before Parliament during its next sitting-—such as the education question, the franchise, trienniarParliaments, and others —are sure to stir up the colony from end to end, and it therefore behoves all who wish well to their country to see that they are in a position to give their vote in the way their conscience dictates.

Tin-: Kaitangata Catastrophe.—Subscriptions in almost all the towns in this Colony are now coming in for the relief of the widows and orphans of the unfortunate ■victims who perished by the late explosion in the company's mine. We hope that Temuka will not forget to give its mite. A Dunedin paper reports that " a young lady left, at his Worship the Mayor's office, recently, a small parcel, but declined to give her name. On being opened the package was found to contain a small tin money-receiving box containing the following : —A note reading thus : ' The money enclosed in this box was gathered by a little girl with the intention of buying a beloved sister a watch, but when she heard of the many little children who had lost their fathers in this sad coal-mine accident, she wished it to be sent to them instead. She has no idea how much the box contains, as it was her intention not to open it until it was full ; but however little is in it is given with a sympathising heart, and it will perhaps cheer the heart of some poor mother to know that even our little ones feel for them in their sad sorrow.' The sum of LI 3s Ski, and a small nugget of gold, were the rest of the contents." The ' New Zealander ' appeals to the people of Wellington in the following manner: —" It is not at all likely that the wives and children of the coalminers have much money, and therefore it behoves us, as Christians, to do all we can to relieve those who have, by this sad catastrophe, lost their bread-winners. It is all very well to say that "charity begins at home," but in a ease of this sort we should look a little beyond ourselves.

Fatal Accident.—Sergeant Major Kerr met with an accident, which has since caused his death, on Thursday afternoon last, while proceeding to Winchester to superintend the firing for the District prizes. While driving on the main road several persons noticed that the horse was going faster than the usual rate, and swerving to the side of the road. On Hearing Wheclbnnd's corner deceased was thrown out, falling upon his head with great violence. Mr Wheel band and others picked the unfortunate niau up, and immediately sent for l)r Hayes, who had him conveyed to the Royal Hotel, where he expired soon after four the following morning. Deceased has left a wife and a large family at Christ-church. An inquest will he held here to day.