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Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 141, 30 April 1879, Page 2

An Additional Tax. —It is said in Wellington that next session Government will propose a tax of another penny per acre on all taxable lands. Adelaide Wheat.—The ' Adelaide Observer' estimates the total yield of wheat (his season in South Australia at 9,007,621 bushels, making seven bushels and a fraction per aero. The Governor's Yisit.—His Excellency the Governor is expected to arrive in Timaru on Friday next. O.n Friday night there will be a citizens' ball at the Mechanics' Institute, Timaru, tickets for which can be obtained from any of the gentlemen named in the advertisement which appears in another part of this paper. Riot at Gerat/dine.—Three men belonging to a road gang were arrested last week at Ccraldinc for assaulting the proprietor of the Rangitata Hotel, together with his wife and several inmates, and smashing sundry windows. They were brought before Dr Trevor on Thursday, and remanded. More Chinese for New Zealand. —The Province of Otngo has been enriched, as regards population, by about 100 Chinese. We believe they came (says the ' Otago Daily Times ') from Sydney by the Rofcorua. They landed by train from Port Chalmers on Friday evening, and were soon stowed away in the Chinese quarters of Stafford and Walker streets. Fire Brigade.—Yv T e are requested to state that a dry practice of the Tcmuka Brigade will take pkco next Monday evening, when it is hoped that all members will attend. It is a pity tbafc->a,uch .a luke-warm interest is taken bv the public invthe Brigade, especially when we notice the exertions made by Captain Gentleman aiulWhers hi trying to make it worthy of the name ot a fire brigade. Fire at Winchester. —The quiet inhabitants of Winchester were aroused from their plccd shortly before two o'clock on Mori day ing last by an lost by tin' pc alarm of fire. No time Mihj of the town«hip in

discovering the spot, which turned out to be an j old combine threshing machine, belonging to i Mr A. Mein, and which had been left outside , the railway gates for a few days. The fire i was too for advanced to admit of anything being done to save the machine. The police are at present engaged in investigating the matter. Auction Sale.—To-morrow, as will bo observed by advertisement in another column, Messrs Maclean and Stewart will offer for positive sale a superior lot of stock, implements, &c, the property of Mr J. P. Wilson, at Ins homestead, near Winchester. We desire to call the attention of farmers and others to this sale, on account of the variety of the lots to be offered, containing as they do some of the choicest draught marcs, colts, and geldings in the district, besides a very superior lot of store cattle, ewes, and lambs ; also a pure-bred bull. Mr Wilson's farms being all laid down in grass, he wishes to dispose of the plant, &c. The sale wdl commence at 11 o'ciock. Resident Magistrate's Couiit. —On account of Mr Gruinness, the new Magistrate, not being able to be here in time for flic Court summoned for this day it will probably have to be adjourned for a fortnight. Eiee. —At about five o'clock yesterday afternoon a new store at the back of Mr Essery's was discovered to bo on lire, and the alarm was quickly given to the brigade station, but owing to;there being a plentiful snpplj of water on the premises the owner wa3 enabled to get it under without the assistance of the brigade. It appears that a lad of Mr Essery's got iu the store, had been striking matches, and ignited some scrim which soon spread, and being frightened ran and told his father, who with the assistance of some friends quickly got it under. In the building there were some L3OO worth of stock, and it was uninsured. Pkesbytekian Chithch Committee Meeting.—The final meeting of the several committees of the Presbyterian Church, Parish of Cfcraldinc, took place in the Church, Temuka, yesterday afternoon—the .Rev Mr Barclay in the chair. All the financial matters being settled between the different districts, the united committee was dissolved. Thereafter the Rev Mr Gillies, Moderator of the Presbytery, took the chair. After duly constituting the meeting by prayer (as a congregational meeting), the reverend gentleman stated that Temuka was now a separate parish, wholly depending upon its own resources. The first thing to be done was to provide for the supply of ordinances for the parish of Temuka. A resolution was passed that service should be held by whatever minister officiated both morning and evening at Temuka, and twice a month, at 2.30 p.m., at Waitohi Flat, but in the meantime, till a supply of ministers are found, the service to bo held at the usual hour in the afternoon. The work which the committee has before it is no light matter, but as it has been the wish of the parishioners fO'.' some time back to have an evening service, this will now be accomplished ; and as the committee possesses several very energetic members, we have no doubt they will bo able to accomplish all that has to be done. It has been a want Ion;; felt that there was no resident minister connected with this body here. Several young probationers ]'ust arrived from England are spoken of as likely to visit Temuka in turn, from which in time no doubt one will bo chosen to be their minister, On Sunday next the services will be held at the usual hour—3.3o | p.m. Australia*? Mutual Pkovident Society. —We have received a copy of the report of the 30th annual meeting of the above society, which was read at the Chamber of Commerce, Sydney, on the 23rd instant. It must be satisfactory for members to learn that the new business clone during tlio year IS7B exceeded that transacted in the preceding year. The report states that during the twelve months ending 31st December, IS7S, there have been received 83G4 proposals for sums amounting to ,63,273,037, of which 2G55 were declined, withdrawn, or not completed, amounting to £1,097,145, leaving 6209 proposals accepted and completed, assuring £2,175,912. Claims have arisen under 239 life policies by the death of 209 members, amounting to £118,953 9s 7d, Pinoluding £13,278 9s 7d for bonus additions. Sixteen endowment assurances have also matured, amounting to £7807 ISs, including £1757 18s for bonus additions. The accumulated fund now stands.at £2,019,157 17s 9d, showing an increase of £349,295 15s 9d, the balance of receipts over disbursements during the year. The number of policies distributed since the establishment of the society to the 31st December, 1873, is 40,311, assuring £17,570,063, of which 11,095 have been discontinued, leaving 35,213 existing policies, assuring £13,392,121. The annual income from premiums amounts to £407G72 18s Gd, and from interest to £1161,279 lis, making the total annual revenue of the society £621,958 9s Gd.