LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 363, 15 March 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Temuka Hotel. —An announcement appears in our advertising columns to the effect that the Temuka Hotel, under the proprietorship of Mr J. M. Ollivier, having undergone extensive alterations and additions, the new wing is now open for the-accommodation of the public. The additions include two parlors, one commercial room, and one billiard room. The latter is spacious and lofty, 24ft x 20ft, and fitted up with one of Allcock’s black-wood tables. The latter is already very extensively patronised. As such alterations coaid not have been carried out except at considerable expense, we trust that the genial boniface will have many friends rally round him, and speedily recoup him in his disbursements in this particular respect. Clever Arrest. Sergeant Carlyon succeeded in effecting a clever capture this morning under the following circumstances : —On Saturday night last a man named Peter Johansen was robbed by his mate, Gelton Coburn, of 30s, being half the proceeds of a cheque. The robbery took place near the Opilii bridge. Information being given to the police, Sergt. Carlyon proceeded north by the early train yesterday morning, accompanied by the prosecutor, On the train stopping at the Hinds railway station, the Sergeant discovered his man near the platform, and immediately put his arresting warrant into execution. The man on being confronted with the prosecutor, was recognised as being the individual sought after. The only clue the sergeant had was by the peculiar shade of the brown color of his hat. We understand that the same individual, under the alias of Cruickshank, is ‘ ‘ wanted ” at Timaru on a charge of forgery. Wesleyan Church. —On Sunday last the Rev. J. P. Lewis, of St Paul’s Church, Waimate, preached in the Wesleyan Church to crowded congregations, who listened attentively to his eloquent discourses. Ford at the Ofihi. —We notice that the approach to the ford over the Opihi river, near the bridge now under repair, is of a very steep descent, and we would urge on the Oveiseer to the Board the necessity of sloping it off ere some serious accident happens.

Temora Goldfield —Latest reports state that the diggers are leaving Temora by dozens, in consequence, of there beibg no water. . The Coercion Act and the Land League. —The Land League has issued a manifesto expressing their defiance of the Irish Coercion Act. Arrest of a Female Forger. —The Baroness de Friedland, a Bonapartist, and a personal friend of the ex-Empiess Eugenie, has. been arrested in Paris for, forgery to a large amount. , -

Disestablishment of the Church of England. —lt is asserted .that. 150 out of the 600 odd members of the British House of Commons are in favor of the disestablishment of the Church-of England. : . A Cleric Down on Consultations. A monster petition is being got up by the Rev. J. U. Davis, of Dunedin, to be presented to Parliament, urging the legislature to take measures for the suppression of consultations, sweeps, lotteries, and other common forms of gambling.

An Exciting Scene. —No small amount of excitement was manifested at an inquest held in Sydney the other day on the body of a man who had been found dead. The coroner was addressing the jury wfieur one of them got up, and, in a most indignant manner, stated that he would no longer sit and bear the ravings of a drunkard.

A Terrific Explosion.— An explosion in rhe Pennsylvania. Oil Refinery broke the windows a mile distant. A thousand barrels of oil, many buildings, and the wharves were destroyed.

Maynooth College on the Land Question.— The Catholic clergy at Maynooth College have resolved that the immediate and thorough form of the land laws would call back peace and security, but they fear that a fictitious peace caused by the .Coercion Bill, which has led to many’tenants paying rents, will encourage the Lords to reject or nullify the Laud Bill.Mr Bradlaugh and the Maori Prisoners—Mr Bradlaugh brought under the notice of the House of Commons some remarks made by District Judge Shaw, of Taranaki, in sentencing the Maori prisoners. The Bight Hon. Grant Duff said the Judge was under the control of the Colonial Government.

State of Trade in Russia.—Mr Thornton. the well-known English millionaire in Russia, who is also known in New Zealand, has closed one of the largest cloth manufactories in the world, and discharged 1,500 hands in St. Petersburg, owing to the dulness of the trade; Frozen Meat ComipAnY;—On Saturday last, at a sheeting held in DuuSjdin, it was resolved to form a Company for the export of frozen meat and other produce. Journalistic. —The prospectus of a nefv Society paper to be started in Wellington, has just been issued.

St Patrick's Day in Auckland.—A telegram announces that the Mayor of Auckland has declined to proclaim St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday for the Friendly Societies’ demonstration on account of the division of public feeling. Exodus from Timaru.—During the past week between sixty and seventy persons left Timaru to obtain employment in Sydney. An Expected Maori Row.— At Waitangi, Bay of Islands, a native meeting will take place on the 23rd instant, when a row is expected, there being several grievances existing between the races in the district.

The Weather.—On Saturday night last the weather, which during the week had been more than unusually sultry, took a sudden change. The wind veered round to the -south-east, and at a little after midnight there was a heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by a perfect, downpour of rain, which lasted for about four hours. Yesterday the weather continued cold. It is hoped that the change will have a beneficial effect on the sanitary condition of the town and district. England’s Share of the Afghan War. —England pays five millions sterling to the Indian Government as its share of the cost of the Afghan war. The Irish Arms Bill. —This Bill was read a third time and passed in the House of Commons on the 11th instant and transmitted to the House of Lords for consideration. , New Zealand Wheat.—At the date of last advices from London, New Zealand wheat, ex ship, was quoted at 455, and Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, 49a, 6d. An Important Seizure,—At Kanturk, in the County Cork, an important seizure of military weapons, consisting of 100 pikes, took place last week.

Patent Medicine. —A Gazette notice intimates that Dr H. Williams has, under “ The Trades Marks Act, registered a trade mark, viz , a demi-eagle enclosed in a garter and buckle, for a patent medicine.

A Serious Loss. —We hear that Mr James Smith, farmer, of Milford, has sustained a somewhat serious loss. -It -appears that on Saturday last four of hi*' horses partook too freely of some wheat tailings that were in bags left <>n a 'dray" at his farm, resulting in their foundering. A veterinary surgeon was called in, who did his best to save them. One, however, succumbed on Sunday last, and the three others are still in a very bad condition.

Resumption op Hostilities at the Cape —At' &i’pefown, on the 10th instant, iutelligelnee was received from Basutoland that the negotiations for peace which were proceeding between the colonial commander and the Basutos having failed the armistice has now entirely ceased, and hostilities between the two forces have been resumed.'

Sk Parnell’s Manifesto,— has been issued-by Mr Parnell' in whicj# the Irish voters in England are exhorted - to resist the Legislativejjneasareg of the present Liberal Government to the utmost, and to oppose the return of further members of the party to Parliament. An Extraordinary Yield. —AtMosgie ' last week Messri/Youngfeand SmUlie threshed out a crop of wheat yielding ninety bushels to the acre. Sale. I —Op Wednesday next Mr K. F. Gray will hold bis usual monthly sale of live .and dead stdck at bis yards. Further entries will be received up to the time of sale’. The auctioneer also announces , that no yardage -fees will be charged. The sale will commence at noon.

■The Governor’s Tour.— Shortly after eleven o’clock yesterday morning the special train conveying His Excellency the Governor, the Hon J. Hall, the Rokotui of Thokaundrovi, Mr Victor Williamson, Captain Knollys, C.M.G., Aide-de-camp ; MejsrsJE._P., Murray and.H.H- Romilly, Private Secretaries, and 6. Browne, Secretary • to the High Commissioner, passed the station; There were only-about a’dpzeru pefs&ns on the platform at the time, who saluted the ‘‘flying squadron'” by taking off their hats. So quickly did the train pass the .station’ tharnotTefeh/ thelfeatures of any occupants of the carriage were discemable. We trust that on the retutn journey, His Excellency the induced to show. himself-ion the: platform of . the carriage, evefi if time will not permit the train to stop a shortTvhile. ■ London Hospital SundayFund.— The total .amount collected;in.London during the past year in aid of this fund £30,411. : 4-r The Wealth of Great Britain.— lt is said that, the annual income of Great Britain amounts to two thousand millions sterling an& that two hundred millions are yearly added to the already:stupendous mass of British ,capital. l l A Train Stopped by Caterpillars.— To say that a train had been stopped by caterpillars would sound like a Yankee yarn, yet such a thing (according to the Rangitikei Advocate) actually took place on the local railway a few days ago. In the neigbboihood of Turakina an army of ■ caterpillars, hundreds of thousands strong, 4 was marching across the line, bound fof'a j new field of pats, when the train came along. Thousands of the creeping vermin were crushed by the wheels of the engine, and suddenly the train came to a dead stop. On examination it was found that the wheels of the engine bad become so greasy that they kept on revolving with-

out advancing—they could not grip the rails. The guard and the engine-driver procured sand and strewed it on the rails, and the train made a fresh start, but it was found that during tbe stoppage caterpillars in thousands had' .crawled all over the engine, and over all the carriages, inside and out.

Parnell’s Leadership. Tbe New York Herald, in ad article bn the Irish difficulty entitled “Mr Parnell; drops the mask,” says “We fear Parnell’s leadership will prove as disastrous to Ireland as that of Jefferson Davis was to our seceding States. Davis also acted within the Constitution as long as he cotild, but, with Southern independence as his proclaimed purpose, to resort to force was inevitable. The South was relatively much stronger than Ireland, and its vain conflict with • superior forces should be a warning to the ' misguided Irish, who, are equally brave, but would be more quickly subdued. Irish independence is a visionary hope. No competent judge believes that England : w il] consent to a separation, or can doubt her ability to enforce her authority in the Island if it conies to a trial of physical strength. But Mr Parnell at last shows his colours and acknowledges his real purpose.” British Newspapers.--The extent to which parties axe represented in the newspaper Press at Home will be seen -from the following statement, which is practically accurate Conservative journals ; England, 250; ■Wslespir;- Scotland, 21; Ireland, 40 ; The Islands, 5, Total Conservative journals, 330. Liberal journals: England, 316 ; Wales, 29 ; Scotland, 78 ; Ireland, 51 ; The Islands, .8. Total Liberal journals, 482, Independent journals : England, 429 ; Wales, 21; Scotland, 60 ; Ireland, 47 ; The Island, 7. Total Independent journals, 564. are in England 995 newspapers ; in Wales, 46 ; in Scotland, 159 ; in Ireland, 138 ; in the Islands, 20 ; making a grand tbtal of 1376 papers. 7, ' , London Wool Sales.—lt is gratifying- | to note that at the Wool sales in London there was, up to tbe 11th inst., a good demand by home-and-foreign-buyers. On • ■ that date 13,700 bales were offered. The 'Frisco Mail.—A special tram, en route for the South",’ arrived at the Temuka station, at' half-past nine o’clock on Saturday night with the’Frisco mail. The Terauka portion was delivered at the Post Office immediately the letters and paper*, were sorted.