LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 332, 23 December 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In consequence of Saturday next being Christmas day, the Leader will not be published on that day. Mr K. F. Gray will hold a sale of poultry, tea, furniture, &c, at his rooms, at 2 p.m. to-morrow.

The Tiraaru Evening Telegraph is defunct, ahd the goodwill and plant have been purchased by the South Canterbury Times.

We would remind all those interested that the entries for No 1, 5. 9, 11 and 14 events in the Oddfellows’ Sports, close to morrow evening. The handicaps will be declared and posted on the 25th.

Yesterday at Orari, as a man named Johnston, a German, was driving a dray the horses attempted to bolt Johnston, in jumping out, caught his foot, and falling on the back of his head was instantaneously killed

At the {Supreme Court, Timaru, on Tuesday, before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, John Cunningham and James Gilchrist were charged with stealing L 6 10s from the Upper Waitaki Hotel. The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty against Gilchrist, and guilty against the other prisoner, who was sentenced to 8 years penal servitude. Charles Inder, indicted for horse stealing, were acquitted. The jury, after an hour’s deliberation, brought in a verdict against John Pound, accused of horse stealing. Professor Hazelmayer gave his unique entertainment in the Volunteer Hall on Tuesday evening. The tricks are really clever and well executed. The birds and mice gare great amusement, and altogether, the, performance was one that deserved to be more largely patronised. The distribution of prizes to scholars, and the breaking up ot the Timaru Public School took place on Tuesday afternoon. According to our contemporary (the Timaru Herald) the inlant school, to the number of 500 mustered in their own room ai- 2 o’clock, and received their prizes!. The pupils of the upper schools, parentsancPfriends, then arrived, and the general distribution of prizes took place. An entertainment was given in the evening in the Theatre Royal, which was crowded, and a long programme was carried out to the great enjoyment of all present. In the N.Z. Gazette, which we have just received from the Government Prin ter, the recently elected Mayors are gazetted as Justices of the Peace.

From returns in the Gazette we notice that the rainfall throughout the Colony for the mouth of November was in excess of the average of the same month in previous years, with the exception of the Christchurch district, where it was a little more than half the average.

The recent welcome showers are, we fear, almost too late for the crops on the plains. The north westers of last week dried up all before them, and did much to bring about a premature harvest. As a rule the crops are thin, the straw will be scanty, but the ears are tolerably well filled. There is every probability that reapers will be in full work immediately after the holidays. Judging from our own observation, we should say that the turnip crop will be a total failure.

A case of considerable importance to Commission Agents was heard at the District Court, Dunedin, on Monday, when S. S. Hutchison sued Guthrie & Co., for Ll5O commission on the sale of 3000 shares. The defence was that the plaintiff was an employee of the company, receiving a salary and there fore not entitled to commission ; but it was shown upon cross-examination that he received commission prior to the floating of the company. The jury found a verdict for the full amount claimed.

At the R.M, Court, Dunedin, on Monday S. Shaw sued William White for £IOO, damages sustained by plaintiff inconsequence of a quantity of chaff supplied to him by defendant containing pieces of

wire. Evidence was taken which showed that two of plaintiff’s bullocks had died after eating the chaff, and that a post mortem showed the presence of wire in their stomachs, and also that all his other bullocks had suffered.

The English butchers are making a good thing out of the recent importations of meat from America. John 'Bull is a strong believer in “ Good old English roast'beef,” and, as'there ■is“a"gtrong pre* judice against foreign meat, the butchers are labelling their joints, “ Prime English’’ and realising high prices for them. In many cases the prime English comes from America, but where ignorance is bliss, &c. At the inquest on the body of Luke Finnie, who was killed last Thursday, by the explosion of a blast at the Wingatui Section of the Otago Central Railway, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental Death.” The Chinaman, Ah Shee, who was severely injured at the same time, is now in a fair way for recovery.