The Pjjoxoqbapit. —This really wonderful machine (the pkonograp.., or talking and singing machine) was exhibited last evening next to the Royal Hotel. It was patronised largely by the Temuka play going public. The phonograph is one of the greatest wonders of the ago. Words spoken into the tube of the machine can, by simply turning a small handle, be repealed in a few second’s time, or the tinfoil “ on which the needle pricked the words when spoken,” could be sent to any part of the world, and could, by placing the tinfoil on another machine, bo repeated with startling discovery. The proprietor deserves to be complimented for the energy and perseseverance with which ho strives to please the public of Temuka, and if the success with which his attempts to please- were greeted be any criterion, he will certainly bo a favourite with the rather fastidious public of Temuka. Wo strongly advise all who have not seen this ■Really wonderful piece of mechanism to “ roll up ” and see it opposite the Crown Hotel.
Tne i Li:\vki't.'. —lb is with plea-mv fclu.t wo announce-that this small bn* select troupe of itars will perform in IheTyohmtrer Hall, Tomnka, this evening. The” 1 Hewetts have visited nearly every town in the co ony of New Zealand, and have on their every appearance been patronised by large and fashionable audiences. Not only are they appreciated by the play-going public, but the Pro s also speaks in laudatory terms of their entertaintainments. It is a notorious fact that small troupes sometimes resort to vulgarity to gain the approbation of then’ auni nees, but wo, having on more than occasion been present at the entertainment of the Hewetts, can testify to the entire absence of anything approaching lowness. Mr Trank llcwett—who was educated in one of the beat musical establishments in America—is one of the most accomplished and v orsatile musicians of the day, being an able master of every known musical instrument in vogue. Miss Eva Hewotfc /is a valuable pianiste, and her good accompaniment adds greatly to the success of the entertainment. To-night’s performance will be a real musical treat, and we should advise all lovers of legitimate entertainments to attend at the Volunteer Hall, and see and hear for themselves. Dramatic Performance. —The TUmuka Dramatic Club gave an entertainment at the Volunteer Hall, there being a very good attendance. The piece played was the trial seen)) from the Pickwick Papers. The enfccrtaiment was in aid of the Hand Fund. The piece was placed upon the stage in a very creditable manner, and all the actors acquitted themselves in a masterly style. The entertainment concluded with a first-class farce, and being played in good style, sent the audience homo in good humour. ’Frisco Mail. —The ’Frisco mail is due at Auckland on Wednesday next, when wc believe the Milford Harbor report is expected. Tim P bince Imperial.— The Now York Herald thus bitterly contrasts the sons of Q.uocn Victoria with the son of the Empress Eugenio, the unfortunate Prince Imperial: — “They dine here. They wine there. They hold a lev 'e to-day, and lay a corner stone tomorrow'. This rraoious Highness is the ornament of a garden party ; that other is the cynosure at a flower show. So much for the sons of the Queen. Now turn to look at the stranger Prince. What do you see ? A dead young face that stares to the sky from a Zulu cornfield. A body stripped and deserted, gashed with eighteen wounds, the least at death, and every one in front. A corpse borne on crossed lances, fit bier for as brave a soldier as ever faced death.” A Goon Dock —An American sportsman tells.a story of a slow railroad in a northern part of the States. He says he wont there shooting, and came to a short lino of road on which there was a single car, the forward end of which was partitioned off for baggage. Ho took his dog into the car with him and placed him under the seat. Presently the conductor Came along, and insisted that the dog should go into the baggage-room, which, after some altercation, was agreed to ; but here the baggage ma ter demanded 50 cents., which was denounced by the -sportsman as a “ rank swindle,” a “put up job ” between the conductor and the baggag? master. Ho added that sooner t han pay it he would tie the dog to the train and let him “ work His passage.” The conductor assented, and the dog was hitched to the rear of (the train. The dog—so the narrator says —kept along easily with (he train, bqt the conductor began to get uneasy, making frequent trips to the engineer, urging him to increase the speed of the train, and back again to watch the effect u p ou the dog. Tlie latter began to show’ signs of fatigue, but after a while caught his “second wind,” and was keeping along as before. The conductor now ordered the engineer to heave all the coal into th' furnace, and stir up-the five, which, being done, the speed was perceptibly increased. The conductor again went to the rear of the car to observe the effect, but the dog had suddenly disappeared, whereupon he immediately ’ and with a most triumphant air callel the (sportsman’s attention to the fact. The latter, after taking a -glance at the situation, quietly pointed to a crack in the floor of the. car, “ And there,” said he, “ was the dog comfortably trotting along unci eft the. car, and licking the grease from one of the axle-boxes ! ” Fob THE Ladie.3. — A’ Homo paper says that at the Exeter Assizes some time ago an amusing discussion too c place between Mr Baron Huddlcstone, the bar, and the jury, with regard to the evidence of a female witness. The learned counsel for the defence remarked that women, under certain circumstances, would swear to anything, upon which his Lordship remarked'that although ids experience of women was not sufficient to enable him to go as far as this, yet it was an undoubted fact that a woman told a lie a great deal better than a man, and with much more effect. Whether .it was that a man felt his dignity to a certain extent offended by recourse to untruth he could not answer, but it was certain a woman did tell a lie much more logically, and stick to it with much more pertinacity, and with much greater appearance of truth, than a man. A Tragic Evert. —A tragic event, surrounded bv extraordinary circumstances, is reported from Barie, a commune in the Gironde. Francois Grilhon, a well-to-do farmer, quarrelled with His son-in-law about the division of some property, and, believing himself unjustly dealt with, resolved on vengeance. He first set fire to his son-in-law’s mill ; ho then went home, and after arming himself with a double-barrelled'gun, sot fire to liis own bouse. While the buildings were in flames he threw a quantity of money, in notes and gold, into the fire, and walked up and down with hi* gun cocked, to prevent anybody trying to put out the flames. A large crowd gathered round, but nobodv ventured to interfere. As soon as the bouse was burned to the ground, lie took off his hat and coat, and placing the muzzle of the gun to his mouth, and his foot ou die trigger, blew out his own brains. Second Sight.—A very extraordinary act is just now the talk of one of our West End Hotels, says a London correspondent. A lady who lias lately arrived from Australia had a dream about six weeks ago that her half-sister who was still in the colonics, had been accidentally killed. The dream impressed itself upon her so strongly that she made a note of it in her diary, telling her husband about it at the time. A day or two since she received the sad intelligence that the lady in question had been accidentally killed by being thrown from a carriage, and on consulting her diary found that, allowing for the difference between London aud the colony, her sister had been killed about the time of the dream. This story is not fiction; I have ascertained the facts, and can vouch for its truth. It reveals a very strange coincidence, it nothing more. A Costly Drink.— The late Carl Bock, who was some time ago the first singer of his time, was a great favorite of the late Czar of Russia, who one day told Beck to ask a favor of him, at the same time promising to grant it. Beck, instead of soliciting money or patronage, said lie would like to drink a bottle of champagne with the Czar, both drinking out of the bottle. The Romanoff was hugely offended, bub kept his word aud ordered the “ fiz.” Beck, however, paid for his temerity by receiving orders the same night to leave Russia within three days, a promise being at the same time exacted that he would never divulge the above. This account has just been discovered in Beck’s papers after his death.
PeDESTRIAKISM IN DUN ED IN. —At UIC suggestion of several local pedestrians, Mr A # Austin, of Dunedin, intends instituting a twenty-four hours’ walking contest, with the object of ascertaining the powers of our walkers. The competition will be open to the whole colony, and as valuable prizes will be given, there is every reason to believe that numerous entries will be received. Several gentlemen interested in athletics are taking up the matter, and the proposed arrangements arc as follows :—The man who walks the longest, distance in the twenty-four hours to receive the Champion Walking Belt of New Zealand and the sum of £lO ; the second to receive £10; the third, £5 ; and a prize to be given to everyone walking over 100 miles in the given time. In order that there should be no lack of inducements for pedestrians in other parts of the colony to enter, a free passage to Dunedin will be given to ail actual competitors. Already Messrs Claxton, Scott, Brookes, Cotton, Allen, and Drummond have signified their intention of entering, and Mr Austin has communicated by telegraph with the leading pedestrians in the northern parts of the colony. It is proposed to hold the match early next month, and the competition will be carried out strictly, so that there shall be no doubt as to the genuineness of the i esults arrived at.
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Temuka Leader, Issue 177, 20 September 1879, Page 2
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1,754Untitled Temuka Leader, Issue 177, 20 September 1879, Page 2
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