LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 324, 2 December 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are in receipt of the current number of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald, which contains a number of representations of the Melbourne Exhibition.

It was reported in town yesterday that Mrs Nugent Wood, wife of the R.M. of Temuka and Geraldine, died suddenly at Riverton, on Tuesday last We (says O. D Times) hear tint there 's some probability of an intercolonial Football team being sent to England, ami that at least three of the menib rs e likely to be selected fioni Dunediu players

A serious accident- by which a little girl named Lock wood had her arm fractured, while her. father received severe injuries to his back —happened at Mount Horrible, on Monday last, by the capsizing of a dray.

The N.S.W. Government have extended Laycock'a leave for two months. His victory in the Hop Bitters Regatta lias given much satisfaction, and bunting was displayed.

Replying to a deputation of farmers, at Christchurch, Saturday, Mr J. P. Muxwell, manager of the i ail ways, .said he had decided to recommend the Government to make a reduction of lOd per ton in the carriage of grain, which would leave the rates rather higher than under the tariff, but would not make them exces-

sive. Sir Arthur Gordon arrived at Wellington on Monday, at 10'30 a. m , but did not land till near 5 o'clock, when the usual loyal addresses were read and lesponded to. A supplementary Gazette issued the same evening contacted the proclamation of the assumption of Sir Arthur Gordon to the Governorship of New Zealand.

The No 1 Teinuka Rifle Volunteers ar e notified to parade at the Volunteer Hall, on Friday morning, at 10 o'clock, ia uniform, with undress caps, to proceed to the rifle range to fire for the dislr.ct prizes. We understand the sum to be tired for amounts to £l7.

A. numerously attended meeting of the Turnuka unci Tiuiaru Yeomanry Cavalry was held at the Star Hotel on Tuesday evening last (Mr MeGaiinness in the chair) for the election of officers, with the following result: Ooptaiu, Mr Wright, of Timiiu; Lieutenant, MrJ.T. M. Ilayhurst; Sub-Lieutenant, Mr-T. S. Lewis. Mr Durham, of Timaru, received the post of Veterinary Surgeon to the troop. We learn that when Mr Marcroft, the famed sheep breeder, was on his way to the Dunedin Show with 13 choice Leicester and Romney Marsh rams, Mr R. A. Barker of Orari, pounced upon him and secured, at a good price, four of the best Itomney Marshers This is in our opinion a wise purchase on the part of Mr Barker, who has stut.kto the Romneys through thick and thin- A good sire is, as we have repeatedly stated, of the utinest importance, jf the breeder desires to improve or i-etain the character of his flock or hold. We shall take an early opportunity of having a look at Mr Marcroft's slud sheep and cattle, whith, as evidence that they are really good, is the fact that he travels so far as Dunedin to compete with the able breeders in that province. The rams bought by Mr Barker, being enter d for the show, will be sent forward by to-day's train. "We shall be pleased to hear that th'jy have been successful in cpmpetingfor pr'zes.

The body of the boy Alexander Murray Bell, who accompanied the lato Louis Raddon on the night of Thursday last, was found on Monday washed ashore between Nixon's and Opihi Hotel, only a short distance from the place where Raddon's body was found lying beneath the dray. The boys age was between seven and eight, and was the grandson of the unfortunate nun who was killed. An inquest was held the same afternoon, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

The inquest on tlie body of Miss Dobie wa§ concluded, at Opnnuku on Monthly The jury acquitted Stunnard, who was the first charged with the murder, and the Coroner congratulated him,. Baying that l)e left the room entirely /ree, and without a stain on his character. The Maori, when itskt'd if he had anything to say, said, " I did it." When asked again if he knew what he really hud said, he answered—" I know I killed the woman ; it was a great sin or crime I know." There was immense excitement, and most of those present were deeply moved. The prisoner remained calm throughout tho hearing of the evidence. After his committal the prisoner said he did not want to be tried again, but wanted to meet hu» at

TJie Lynch Family„of Beflringers appeared nt Geraldine on Tuesday evening, and were ptitroniscd by. a large'»uri appreciative audience , They also appeared at rhe Volunteer Hall, Temukai last night There was a capital »itendance, and the etiterfciiinmi m. parsed off most successfully, the audience separating highly pleased with the performance

The usual monthly sale of stock was held at the Winchester yards yesterday The number yarded .vas as follows : Horses, 7 ; cuttle, 120; sheep, 450 The attendance of buyers was good, and the prices attained satisfactory, although in some cases the sale was retarded by the high reserve placed upon the lots

A story that comes from America seems to sho v thai the highwayman of romance is sti 1 extant. A stage coach in Kentucky s was stopped within tbe last week or two in a manner that would have done credit to Claude Duval himself. Near Cave City two horsemen dashed out of a wood and brought the vehiclo to a stand. Then, under tlie influence of two revolvers, the occupants were ordered to alight, and .vere kept in a line by one of the visitors while the other examined their pockets. The whole tiling was done in the pleasantest manner, the plunderers apologising profusely, and regretting the necessity that compelled them to put iheir victims to any inconvenience. They took the trouble even to note down all the passengers' names and addresses, with the promise to return the forceil loan when they lighted upon better times. And thereupor, handing back their pocket-books and railway purses, they vanished, after sending through the o.'.e lady of the party a polite message to some mutual female acquaintances. But for the loss of watches aud some hundreds of dollars, the ep ; sode would have been rather pleasing than other-

wtse. An Australian paper recently says : —" News wis brought into Colac that two young men, named Jacob and G. Price, are missing from Gerangemete, und«.r circumstauces that point to the probability that they have committed suicide. They are the sons of Mr William Pric<v a farmer, and arc aged 22 and 20 years respectively. They were observed to be very melancholy on Friday morning, and the younger (George) said there was nothing worth living for. Jacob left the house carrying a single-1 >arrelled gun, and after followed, taking with him a tomahawk and spade. Before leaving, George told his sistt-r that he had made tip his mind to die, and had chosen the bite of a snake as his mode of death. He returned a few hours afterwards, and displayed h snake's h*-ad saying it was thehead of a snake that had bitten him, that he had but a few hours to live, and would hide himself where they would never find him. He has not seen since,and Jacob never rei urned . There has b en insanify in the family, ami it is feared that they hive both committed suicide. Tho police are now miking inquiries into the u ise."