LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 282, 17 August 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We would remind our coursing friends 'of the special general meeting of the Club to be held in the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, this evening.

On Friday evening last Mrs Heap, the former proprietor of the Royal Hotel, and Mr Peter Ooira, present proprietor, held one of the largest social gatherings that lias yet been held in remuka, in the Volunteer Hall. There could not be under 300 dancers in the room at one time. Dancing commenced at o'clock, and was kept up with spirit till an early hour in the morning. In the supper room the tables were literally oaded. Peace and goodwill prevailed throughout. Games were provided in the anti-rooms for those who were not disposed for dancing, and many a keen tussel took place during the evening; indeed, at times the excitement was greater here than in the ballroom, which, was too crowded for comfort. The host and hostess being both favorites in the place, all turned out, young and old, to show their respect for their old respected settlers. The correspondent of the Otago Daily " Time?,' at "Wellington, telegraphed on IVidpy last that the Government had received information that morning that 100 Natives from Parihaka appeared on a hill seaward of tlu Constabulary Camp, and commenced to pull up ferns, amidst cheering. They afterwards laid ferns on the road, near the Camp, and disappeared. There is evidently some political signification in this, but what is not known.

The Queensland Government offers a bonus of £SOO for the production of the first 500 tons of iron.

Frostfish are reported to have been found in large numbers on the Oamaru beach during the past few days.

The Evening Post suggests that the present is a fitting opportunity for reducing the Governor's salary from £7500 to £SOOO, or even less. The Post points out that the Governor of Tasmania gets only £3500 per anutn. The Otago Daily Times of Saturday last says : —' The Dunedin detectives yesterday attempted to make a seizure which they thought would put them on the track of a still, but instead ot' the cask of home made whisky t'-ey thought they were securing, they -were distressed to find it nothing more harmful than a cask of buttermilk.

The Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Mail is responsible for the following :—" It is authoritatively asserted that Governor BpHiiiabn's removal has been occasioned by jus assenting to the Maori Prisoners Bill which retains the West Coast delinquents in gaol till after the next session, and 'deprives them of the right of trial.' A curious attempt to discourage drinking by bringing public opinion to bear is worth nothing. An Act has been passed by the Massachusets Senate to prohibit the erection of screens* in bar rooms. The principle of the. measure is, of course, that a good many men who have not the grace of abstinence are nevertheless not depraved enough.to drink in 'the fierce light which beats' uponjthe bar. But before the triumph of this kind of legislation is complete, the ' giant evil of the backdoor' —so American reformer} insist—must be dealt with.

A meeting of the leading Jews has been convened from all parts of the world to be held in London, for the purpose of considering the advisability of assimi'ating the Jewish with the Christian Sabbath. The Admiralty has published an account of the unsuccessful search by JELM.S., Comus for the shipwrecked crew of the Knowsly Hall at the Crozet and neighboring islands. Captain East states that

the Comus left the Cape on Feb 21s£ with a pilot named Benjamin Miller from Saldana Bay. They explored succesively Hoy Island, the Twelve Aposlles, Penguin island, the Possession island, and East island, concerning all of which Captain East gives interesting , particulars Hoe Island was found to be swarming with game—sea elephants, seals, albatross, penguins, and many birds in large numbers, some of which were shot by the crew A hut was erected on the island, and provisions Rtored on March 6th, with a notice board stating that they were only for shipwrecked people. Signa ! s were fired from the ship at various placos, and landing parties sent ashore without finding any trace of inhabitants.. On the 28ih the Comus arrived at Isle de Bourbon, where a party of. 22 French fisher, men were found, to whom Captain East gave a supply of provisions. This party had seen or heard nothing of any shipwrecked crows. The Comus afterwards sailed for Singapore.