LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 235, 17 February 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Weather. —Sunday was one of the hottest days ever experienced in Timaru and Temuka since its sett lenient. Between 12 and 1 p.m. the thermometer registered 98 in the shade, and 130 in the sun. About 2 p.m., a strong Nor’-wester set in, and prevailed up to 5 p.m., doing great damage to fruit trees, and injuring a considerable number of oat crops.

A Gift Auction.— lt will be observed on reference to our advertising columns that the friends of the Wesleyan Clmrcli, Temuka, purpose holding a gift auction in April, and that those willing to "ssist in this good work may hand in contributions of any sort to the personr named in the advertisement. This is a good chan, o for all who may bo blessed with an abundant harvest to show their gratitude to tbe Giver of great mercies by subscribing to the gift auction. Makikihi- —The crops in the district ate looking splendid. It is estimated that wheat will average 40 bushels,and oats 50. Very little barley is grown here, but what there is is looking well. The he.-tun Sunday made a vast difference to the ripening of the grain.

Cricket. —A match was played at the Washdyke on Saturday last between the Washdyke and Phoenix (Timaru) clubs Timaru came off victorious. Mr Foster acted as umpire for Timaru, and Mr Ohionoil for Washdyke.

Fatal Accident. —A man named John Burns was killed at Timaru on Saturday last by a fall of earth. When removed it was found that the poor fellow’s thigh, arm and back were broken. Deceased leaves a wife and six children.

Narrow Escape. — A man in charge of a trap, near the goods shed in Timaru,had a narrow escape from being killed last Saturday. The man, it appears, had the horse and (rap too near the line, and not being able to see the engine approaching, the trap was struck on one side, knocking the animal down and throwing the occudant to the ground. No injuries were sustained, beyond the trap being smashed.

Not Good Enough.— Under the head" ing, “A Telegraphist who wouldn’t be Fined,” the Marlborough Express writes In a tecent issue we stated our opinion as to the bad effect of the infliction of a fine of L 5 on those operators in our local office who took part in the late strike, and recent events have, to a certain extent, realised our expectations. Mr W. Hood, a cadet in the department, and the recipient of the princely income of L 6 6s 8d per month } was one of the unfortunates liable to this penalty, over and above tbe reduction of his pay for the days he was off duty. On the receipt of the balance of his first month’s salary he took; fright at the idea of the tine being deducted from his next cheque, and in a moment of desperation on Thursday last, took his departure with out going through the formality of tender, ing his resignation. It certainly appears that the lad had grounds for the step, as it is difficult to conceive how, on the receipt of his meagre salary, he could liquidate all his debts, if the tine was imposed. We fail to see why the strikists at this office and Dunedin should be mulcted in the sum in the sum of L 5, while men who belong to luver -argiil, Outnarn and Wellington are only fined 10s. aitd Napier 255. We hope the Government will re-consider the matter, or the nieji may be led to do some (•dog desperate.

jjiK j- . %.'■ x Y > mitem H !! ).i Knndav 1 -ad wis well

at'-.-nded, and .W'der'Batt made a full exposition i f lh'> principles of Mormon Many of his hearers were rather taken aback at the way ho handled his sn'-jeot, and flvy cone'M !e I that the religion ot the L tter D-a S .int-s is-not *o ho d ns; ised after i] 1, ’on 4 w • hay ■ not hear ! that the preacher made any convert 4. Those who may be a little unhappy pr for to put up with their troubles than put their neck* into a'noose that might bo drawn rather too tight to ho in ke -ping with the free and easy life that they have enjoyed in Now Zealand.

A Fine Trout. —The finest trout of the season was taken from the Avon, C nistchnrch, on the 9th, by Mr J Piper. The fish, a female one, was a perfect picture in shape, and beautifully marked. It was in splendid condition, and weighed fully 2411) The fish was taken with a phantom winnow, and gave its unfortunate raptor an exciting half-lmm’s sport before he got if safelv landed.

Terrorism —The following threatening notice was found posted up near Warronpoint, No wry : —‘‘Please take notice, any man that comes into this country to give more (l an LI an aero for land may bring lu’s sheet and coffin with him, for we wil] not encourage extortionate landlords like Brady. The night they come their houses will be n duced to ashes.”

A Moon Plan —-“An ingenious member of « Southern Cuy Council has hit upon apian,” says the New Zealand Sun, “ hy which the entire cost of maintenance of the hospital'and other charitable institutions is to be defrayed from ihe Government subsidy of L for L on the amount raised bj r voluntary suliscriptions. The plan is this : All tradesmen supplying the institution are to lie allowed to charge double price for their goods, provided they return 50 per cent, in the form of a subscription or donation. On this sum the Corporation would claim the equivalent Government subsidy, which would pay the tradesman. The thing is very simple. We wonder other City Councillors have not thought of it.”

“That Big Drummer.” — A somewhat amusing episode occurred at Pastor 0 tiniquy’s lecture in a hall at Auckland lately (says the N.Z. Herald). liortly after the pastor had commenced his address, a brass band began to practice in a Catholic school room adjacent, which effectually prevented the speaker being heard with comfort. The windows of the hah, which had been lowered for ventilation, were promptly pushed up, but still the big dnnnmer’a paroxysmal efforts were brought home to the ears, if not the heart 4, (4 the audience “Music hath charms to soothe the savag e breast,” but that evening’s attempt to exemplify it was a decided exception to the truth. That drummer, there is re-son to believe, is a Caiathimipian by perai-slon, and can obtain a testimonial as to bis “ initial energy ” on application to Pasto Chiniquy.

Impudence. —As an instance of the audicity of eels, the Tapanui Courier relates the following :—“ A son of Mr John Howat’s was recently returning with his father from a fishing excursion, and just before leaving the Pomahaka pro. ceeded to damp the fish. Whilst, doing so a large eoi deliberately snatched a small trout, weighing about three-fourths of a pound, out of the lad’s hands and made off with it.”

Mr John Bright.— Afc the great banat New York in honor of Mr Potter, M.P. Mr Evarts, who presided, proposed a toast to Mr John Bright—“the first public man in England.” Mr Evarts dwelt with emphasis upon the title of “Mr,” which was common to both England and America, and was applied to the most eminent men in both countries. “I might,’ said Mr Evarts, “have carried my illustration back 104 years, and called the Englishman’s attention to Mr Pit, Mr Fox, and Mr Sheridan as great men who had borne the simple title. I now give you the toast— ‘ John Bright, the great Commoner of England ; our friend and the world’s friend—a lover of justice,a lover of liberty and a lover of all mankind’. —(Loud cheering.) We send by our guest a message to his great countryman to assure bim of the love and gratitude of forty millions of people, and to prefer this single request that he would not die until he has seen America.”—(Loud cheers.) Waimea Plains. —The amount expended by the New Zealand Agricultural Company on the Waimea Plains portion of their estate during the last year in improvements—breaking up, cropping, and fencing—has been considerable, in fact, much larger than almost any one would imagine. From a reliable source, we (Gore paper) learn that the sura is over £20,000. More than 0000 acres of land have been broken up, and miles of fencing erected. The crops will, it is anticipated, give a capital return, as judging from their present appearance, the yield it is full}' ex. pected will be, large. As evidence of the fertility of the land we may mention that a portion of it leased prior to the Company acquiring the estate has produced six; successive crops of oats. That of last year yielded seventy bushels to the acre, while this year’s crop looks even better. Two bags of oats sown on a small patch in another place yielded exactly seventy times that number. And the potatoes grown on Mr Gee’s land, near the Pyramids, are certainly among the finest we have seen this year

V'jj oorls that —*• Harvest is now , pre* ty gcncr-il throughput the district, but in consequence of the fong continued drongh he crops upon the ridges are light "and (iher.t! is also a good-d aiLof blight. As to .■'ag.‘s, wii '".vo only heard of M ah hour ! eim>.'giv'*n b ifcevmi at litis reduced rate ■we believe out f >\v men wilt be employed this season. W tit ’oats at Is to Is 3d per bushel, it is evident every expedient must be adopted in order to reduce, the expenditure in comvoiioTi with-harvest ” • Diptlvria Ims. - broken out, amongst the native population at Yap, and f< ur scrims cases are reported. Dr Earquhar has left iiOtilalousa to rendu" prMAssiour 1 assistance, It is hopes! the disease will quickly be statin ,ed out,