The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1880. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 331, 21 December 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1880. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A telegraph-station atSydenham, Christ churcli, County of Selwyn, is now open to the public. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, at a Banco sslting of the Supreme Cpurt in Christchurch on Friday last, refused a new trial iii the case Hegira- v. O’Driscoll and others fur the Boxing Day riot. Mr Harper argued for the Crown, and Mr Joynt for the applicants.

The programme of the Boxing Day Sports, to be held under the auspices of the Loyal Alexandrova Lodge, 1.0.0. F., will be found in our advertising columns. In all seventeen events will come off, and we understand no trouble or expense will be spared to make the sports a grand success.

Wo would ag{j,in draw attention to the performance to be given by Professor and Madame Hiselmeyer in the Volunteer Hall to-night From the high reputation which the Piofessor brings with him from the South, we can confidently recommend the entertainment as first class

A meeting of the Temuka and Geraldine Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held in the Star Hotel on Friday last (K. A. Barker, Esq., President, in the chair). Minutes of former meeting were read and confirmed, after which the 01) airman stated that the object in view in calling the members together was to consider the advisability of placing the Association under the “Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Act, 1877.” The secretary, Mr Wills, read the Act showing the many advantages to be obtained-by being an incorporated body. The meeting was unanimously of opinion that the Association should be placed under the Act, and all present expressed a willingness to do his best to secure the necessary number of members to enable the office bearers to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance. It was ultimately unanimously

resolved that a committee of all the influential members of the Society and others be appointed to canvas the district to procure signatures and subscriptions from intending members of the Association ; the subscription entitling persons to become members to be for the first year ten shillings. The Committee to report progress to a general meeting to be held about one month hence

Cole’s Circus arrived in Timaru by special early on Saturday morning, and there were two performances given—one in the afternoon, aud oue in the evening, and the tent on both occasions was densely crammed The different feats appertaining to a circus were cleverly executed, and gave entire satisfaction. Though the demand of an extra “ bob ” to see the side shew did not meet with the same approval judging from .the hooting and hissing that followed the announcement. The side show consisted of two dwarfs—Baron Littlefinger and Count Rosebud—each 31 inches in height, aged 31 and 33 years, weighing 51 aud 621bs respectively; Dr Granville, the living skeleton, a man of the ordinary height, who weighs only 601 bs, having a natural head, but legs and arms like a broom handle ; a troupe of Indians, arrayed in their war costume; a talking machine, etc. In the managerie, attached to the circus, were to be seen leopards, Malayan tapirs, South African hippopotamus, zebra, antelope, sea lion serpents, tigers, silver lion of California, spqtted axes deer, besides many other animals and creatures. The late specials were largely patronised, and the one that left Timaru for Temuka, Winchester and the Qrari consisted of thirteen carriages. The Timaru regatta came off on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, and in tl}6. early part of the day the water was all that could ba desired for boating purposes. In the Landing Service Whaleboat Race—3 miles, first prize £l2, second £4—the Government Landing Service Blue Bell came in first, Cain’s Landing Service Othello second, and the George-street Landing Service Waitangi third. The Amateur Four-Oar Race—distance 2£ miles, first prize £lO, second £3—was won by the Timaru Club’s Minna, Reid’s Titania second, and Cooper's Blue Boy third- ' The Sculler’s Race was a farce. For the Champion Race Handicap—distance 4 miles, first prize £2O, second £6—five started, Bradley’s Zebra (scratch) 1, Gottis’ Pinafore (35ft) 2, and Duncan’s Snowdrop 3. The race was won easily by about a quarter of a mile. The sailing race (in open boats) brought five to the starting point, and was won easily by Perry’s Italia, with Mercia second. At this stage the sea became fough, and the pair, par race did not come off The Waipa, when going to the starting . point, capsized, and the occupants were [ quickly rescued by a passing boat none (the worse for their ducking. Tho Yolua-

teer Race—-open to members of the Rocket Brigade, Fire Brigade, and Artillery Corps, pulled in uniform—was won by the Rocket Brigade’s Rocket, the Fire Brigade’s Bruce .second, and the Artillery’s Bombardier ■third. The first and second prices fop the Tub Race fell to Carmichael and Hart rS' jspecfcively, Davis taking the special prize for his comical d ress. The prize in the Tub Hunt fell to Finlayson.

An adjourned meeting of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association store was hold on Saturday in Mr Green’s Mr Postlethwaite in the chair. There was a good attendance. The following Directors vvere elected from the twentyfour gentlemen nominated ** Messrs W. Postletbwaite, J. Page, J. Hayhurst, J. Talbot C. Bourn, J Kelland, four,, J. E Godwyn, J. S, Rutherford, W’ B! Howell, t[, Caipphell, A, Clelland, M, Studholrpe, W. JJ, Slack, J. Bradshaw, and J. Ruckle, Messrs C'ulee and Eiesler were elect,ed auditors. Trie Articles of Association were further considered apd finally approved. A vote of thanks to Mr Thornhill Cooper for his action ip initiating, and bis exertions in assisting to establish the Association was proposed arid carried unanimously. The Directors held a meeting, but the business transacted was of a private nature. They meet again at II 3o on the 24th inst,, at the same place.

Respecting the carrying of specie and bullion in steamers, the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Morning - Herald observes ; —“ It seems to me altogether a mistaken method to lock up gold boxes in darkrooms. The preferable mode would seem to be to place them in strongly-barred cages in the saloon, where they weuld be continually under everybody’s eye. This principle has been advantageously adopted in Melbourne, and I daresay in other large cities also, for the better security of jewellers’ shops, which are now kept lighted at night, the windows being protected by iron-bar shutters, through which anybody cau see, I have never heard of a jeweller’s shop being robbed at night since this peactice came into use. Thieves as we all know, prefer darkness and solitude. 1 know a gentleman who makes a practice of keeping the gas in his hall and one of his rooms burning all night. Nearly all his neighbors’ houses from time to time been broken into, but hj.s lias not even been attempted. It adds a little to his gas bill, but he says he is sure the exexpenditure is justified by the result, and I think he is right. We all know that many dangerous neighborhoods haye been rendered safe by their being better lighted.”

An English paper by the Suez mail says: —“ A war between Russia and China, according to the St. Petersburg Herald, seems inevitable, and we are told that extensive preparations are being made for the contingency. Admiral Lessowski even, according to another account, has recommended an immediate advance on Pekin by land and sea, avowing that the Chinese army, despite all its efforts, is incapable of resistance. The Norddeutsche Allegemeine Zeitung, on the other hand, hears from St. Petersburg tlvst the Chinese have finally become convinced of the necessity for making concessions, and have, therefore, furnished their representative in the Russian capital with full powers, with the view of bringing the long-spun-out negotiations to a final and satisfactory close. Be this the case or not the Russians will scarcely be inclined to embark on an encounter with China until certified that there is no .immediate occasion for a display of their military power in Europe. And they must be rather in doubt about this still.”

In the town of Alboa, in Scotland, the Police Commissioners have agreed to publish in the local newspapers the names and addresses of all who do not pay the Borough taxes. The Chief Magistrate remarked that the list would cause amazement among the well-to-do people in the town.

||The Jewish Herald states that the Committee of the Victorian Granch of the Anglo-Jewish Association have decided to take steps towards convening an Intercolonial Jewish Conference. The boards of management of the various congregations are invited to join in the movement,

In 1864 the Victorian Legislative fixed the salary of the Governor of that felony at £IO,OOO a year, but subsequently complacent Ministers have increased the allowance until it now amounts to £15,000 The Age, in demanding a material reductions; mentions that a special train, costing £6O, was the othei day providedTn order that the Governor might shoot six snipe. Such waste must cease. Tlie saucepan that cooks the Governor’s cauliflowereven the cauliflower itself —is State property. If he breaks a tumbler the State replaces it; if his cook cracks a kettle it is mended at the expense of the general revenue. The Governor’s private flowerbeds and kitchen garden have confessedly absorbed more than £2OO a year, which is rather a high sum to pay for watering his flower-pots and raising peas and passion fruit tor his table.

A leading London house sent recently in one day to the General Post office 2 tons 18cwt. of circulars, paying postage thereon to the amount of £583. The house in question has 33 departments, but these circulars were sent out from only 20 of them.

Mr J. W. Hamilton, of Flints Bush, says the Western Star, has resolved to try a new. experiment m the matter of exports. Being dissatisfied with the low price now ruling for butter, he has determined, rather- than accept that price, to send a tr'sl shipment Home, and with that view he is now salting down a large quantity, which he intends sending home per Jessie Reaclman, which will sail from Bluff shortly. The expel iment ig being looked upon with some interest, and the possibilities, under favorable conditions, of a new export trade being developed are the subject of discussion among those interested. Of course the price realised will depend altogether upon the condition in which the butter reaches Home ? but, as Mr Hamilton very properly remarks, even as grease it will there command a price equal to that now ruling here for prime qualities of butter. We shall be glad to be able to report that the experiment has proved a success.