LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 364, 17 March 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Penny Savings’ Bank Cards. —We have been requested to state, for the information of school children, that the Postmaster hare has received a supply of the cards recently issued by Government. We would advise the youth of Temuka who may be of a thrifty turn of mind to lose no time, but begin at once and save up their pence

Telephone. —Between Kaitangata and Gatlins 1 River the telephone has been substituted for the telegraph. Fire Brigade Resignation. —The Tiinaru Volunteer Fire Brigade having sent in their resignation to the Timaru Borough Counoil, the latter on Monday evening last accepted the same. Scientific Visit to New Zealand.— The Alpine Club of England have proposed to visit New Zealand for the purpose of thoroughly exploring the fine mountainous scenery of the Colony. The members of the Club have favorably received the idea, and it is anticipated that a considerable number will visit New Zealand shortly.

Timaru Mechanics’ Institute-—The President of the Institute has received intimation that His Excellency the Governor will lay the foundation stone of the new building on the 24th, inst., at 10 a.m.

The Town Clock. —We understand that subscriptions for the purchase of a clock to be placed in the tower of the Catholic Church are coming in very freely, and it is anticipated that in the course of a few weeks the vvliole amount necessary will hayp been collected. We believe two qr three of the ladies, who, in the first instance, had promised to canvass, have since declined ; and foy this reason, we urge on the others to use every effort to fill up the blank made by these deserters. Disaster to. Another N.Z. {Ship,— The sailing ship Zealandia, from New Zealand, went aground in the Thames, and had to be docked in order to ascertain the damage sustained by he?-. Departure of a Land Leaguer for N.Z.—A person named Walsh, one of the members of the Land League, and amongst those who were prosecuted for sedition, has left Ireland for New Zealand. It is staled that the object of such visit is to make arrangements in the Australasian Colonies for the collection of subscriptions p,n behalf of the Land League.

Retrenchment with a Vengeance,— As an instance of the manner ia which the railway authorities fall in with the Government scheme of retrenchment, we may mention that on Tuesday morning last a special engine conveyed Mr Back, the District Traffic Manager, from Dunedin to Christchurch. No doubt it was desirable to make his absence from his office as brief as possible, but still we do not think this would have tounterpoised the cost of consumption of coal, the engineer and fireman’s wages, and wear and tear of the engine itself. A Large Casting.— During the last week a largo casting was completed at Messrs Scolt Bros,’ foundry, Christchurch, in the shape of a cylinder for a new compressed horizontal steam engine.- It is the largest in the Colony, being 4ft long and 2ft 4in in diameter, and the weight 30c wt.

St. Patrick’s Day.— To-day the sons of Erin celebrate the anniversary of their Patron Saint in Timaru in a manner hitherto unaltempted by them. A short while since a meeting was held, at which it was resolved to hold athletic sports on the old ground of the South Canterbury A. and P. Association, at the rear of the Melville Hotel, and a liberal programme has been provided. In addition to this the Committee have decided to hold a baby shotf, which no doubt will prove one of the prigcipal features of (he day’s proceedings. A band will also be on the ground, which should be an additional incentive to a large gathering of spectators. Should the weather prove favorable, the sports should be a great success. For the sporting fraternity there will be the Pleasant Point races, a special train being improvisoed for the occasion, and alterations are made in the hours of departure of trains between Timaru, Ashburton and Oamaru. The “Demon” Bowler. —lt is rumored in Christchurch that Mr F. R. Spofforth, the “ demon ” bowler, has had an offer of a position in the Union Bank, at Christchurch, which he is likely to accept. Mr Purarnor, the Dunedin cricketer, is also about to take up his residence in the Cathedral city. | Cheap Advertising.—We notice that it is a very prevailing custom in this township to post notices of lectures, etc., up in the tradesmen's windows, and in one instance, in the lobby of the Postoffice itself. Such $ proceeding may, or may not. be made on the score of economy To suit our present purpose we will suppose that it is, l?nt let us ask our townspeople if they are acting justly towards the cause they wish to serve? Would it not be far wiser to duly notify lectures, soirees, meetings, etc., through the medium of the paper which is published In their midst ? Taking a journalistic view of th<i matter, it is a “ penny wise and pound foolish ” policy, for what they may expend in judicious advertising they will gain in much larger audiences than would bethe case in merely sticking up a few writteh' notices in the tradesmen’s windows. From our long journal" istic experience we unhesitatingly assert this, and, aa an instance in point, we heard of some persons who would have attended a recent lecture in this town had they seen the same duly notified in this journal. Our readers should bear this in mind, that our local columns are always devoted to the more fully giving publicity to advertisements forwarded to us. so tha* advertisers possess a double advantage in this respect. In making the above remarks we desire to state that it is our wish to keep on friendly business terms with all parties, and that if in our career we may tread on the corns of some, we trust they will fake our remarks in the kindly spirit which they are intended to convey.

Exhibition Commissioner. —The Government has appointed E. Wakefield, Esq., M.H.R., Commissioner, to report on the Ashburton Industrial Exhibition.

'• Auction Sale. —Mr K. F. Gray will hold a large clearing sale of live and dead stock (the property of W. Bramley, Esq.} at his sale yards, Temuka, on the 24th instant. For particulars we refer our readers to our advertising columns.

Maori Grievances.— The Maoris of Auckland have subscribed £4OOO to cover the cost o,f erecting the Waitemata hall, and to defray the cost of sending delegates to England, for the purpose of day-

ing before the Queen their grievances. The latter will be discussed at tHeir approaching meeting at Orakei. Property Tax,—Up to the night of Monday last the sum of £91fi,735 had been collected throughout the Colony on account of the Property Tax, Tbmuka and Geraldine A. and PAssociation. —We would remind members of the Association that a meeting will be to-morrow, Friday,'at the Star Hotel. As the business to transact is very important, a large attendance is requested, The Minister for Public Worrs,— A correspondent to the Otago Daily Times states that the Hon R. Olliver has left Wellington on a visit to the South on public business connected with his department. At Timaru he will confer with the Harbor Board regarding sea encroachments, railway and other matters. Let ps hope that his visit wi'l result in much good for the benefit of the district, and that his Ministerial promises may not turn out to be like the pie-crqats of ofd — made to be broken. The Christchurch Shooting Case . From the West Coast Times we learn that ith'e would-be assassin Beanfield was some years ago working in the neighborhood of Ross. He bore a character for violence, and was brought into unpleasant relations with the police there. He committed a murderous assault at . Ross on a Mrs Dobson, and* threatened one or two persons with violence. He was at the time we refer to, married, and deserted his wife. He ,was, we believe, a French sailor, and'muat have known Spring, the man he endeavored to shoot, at Ross, as the two men were working at the latter place at the same time.

Rust. —lt is stated that in the South of Otago the wheat crops are suffering very severely from rust. One farmer informs an exchange that the greater portion of one of his paddocks of wheat will not be worth more than ninepence per bushel, and nearly the whole of the farmers, are troubled more or less by this plague. The Grain Traffic. —So great a quantity of grain is now being delivered at the various stations on the south line of railway that the authorities are at the present time, owing to the scarcity of shipping at Lyttelton, unable to receive much more, and the station-masters have been notified that consignees must delay forwarding their grain for a short time, owing to want of storage.

New Goldfield. —At Grahamstown the new ground taken up on the Waihi Plains is being worked by a large number of men in a vigorous manner, the reef having beeu traced for a distance of two miles.

Bank Holiday.—Tiie Bank of New Zealand will be closed to-day, it being St. Patrick’s Day. The English Supply Bill —On Monday last, in the House of Commons, the Government , introduced a motion to the effect that the Supply Bill should be declared “urgent.” After considerable debate,, during which much opposition was shown on both sides of the House to the proposition, the motion was finally negatived by a large majority. The Land League. — On Sunday last large meetings were held in twenty places in Ireland under the auspices of the Land League, all of them passing off without any disturbance. The London Wool Sales. —At the wood sales, on Monday last, 8800 bales were catalogued. There was an active demand for the lots offered, and the tone of the sale was firm throughout. Sy. Patrick’s Day in Auckland.—The mayor of Auckland has at last given way and proclaimed to-day, in that city, as a public holiday. The Friendly Societies have promised in future to avoid holding their demonstrations on national holidays, owing to party'feehng. Prison Department v. The Press.— The gaol officials ,at Dunedin haye received a circular from the Prison Department prohibiting them giving information to the Press. The Irish Coercion Act. —Forty arrests were made up to March Bth last, and the provisions of the Act will apply first to the Counties of Galway and Mayo, and to Kerry second. The Temora Goldfield. —Latest accounts confirm the belief that a real goldfield will eventually be found in the vicinity of the Grey range. Experienced diggers soy no lead will be discovered at Mount Brown.' Two residents of Wiloannia have returned from the diggings, bringing some beautiful specimens of uuggety gold, in all lOoza. One piece weighed sozs." of solid gold. Blarney, Death’s Paddock, is a failuie, so far as gold-bearing stone is concerned. The place is deserted. Presbyterian Assembly. During a meeting of the Assembly held in Wellington on Tuesday last, it was decided that the next Assembly be held in Christchurch in February, 1882. Court-Mourning. —The English Court, it is offibiklly announced, will go into mourning for one mopth for the late Emperor of Russia.

Tax on Shepherds’ Dogs. —ln North Canterbury a petition to the General Assembly is being largely signed, praying for the repeal of the tax on shepherds’ dogs, and, if necessary, to increase the duty on spprting dogsT.M.I.A. —On Monday evening next the usual fortnigbflj^JiiiiiMi^fc^lil

Tethuka Mutual Improvement Association will be held in the Good Templars' Hdl, at which Dr Hayes will deliver an essay on “ Evolution. ■’

The New Emperor op Russia.— The Czarewitch, Alexander, has ascended the throne of Russia, under the title of Alexander 111., and was received with shouts of acclamation by the people This augurs well so far for me future,, but the country being in such a condition he will have a verydiffer-nit fore him to conciliate the masses. truly be said “ Uneasy lies the head thatwears a crown,” The Wellington Asylum Enquiry.— Evidence is still being taken before the Asylum Commissioners, and the proceedings are likely to extend over another week.

The. Governor's Tour South,- Following up our remarks in which the special train, conveying the Governor and suite, flew past the Terquka railway station on Monday last, we may state that the township has since—heenjn a state of utter depression on account, not so much that the inhabitants were unable to catch a glimpse of the Governor himself, but that they were not allowed to see a real live Rokotui of Thokaundroyi. Such jawbreaking words the Temukaites have been unused to, and they might have been re-> warded for (heir trouble in trying to pronounce‘therfi by the sight of the savage gorilla, or whatever or whomsoevei the name may be applied to. Black v. Write. According to a Queensland paper a good story is told of a merino squatter in the North. The other day his “super” informed him that news had come in that one of the Kanaka boys had just died, “ This is awful, ” exclaimed (he squatter in a tone of anguish at the loss of his “ boy.” “ There most have been gross carelessness somewhere, and, if I can prove it, by Jove, I’ll,” etc., and then the pair proceeded on to the paddock where the body lay on its face. Being turned over, joy—it is found to be that of a white man. “What a confounded fuss about nothing,” remarks the happy squatter.

Outspoken.— ln the course of his sermon at St Paul’s Wesleyan Church, In-, yercargill, recently,the Rev. Mr Bunn said that on such an occasion as the race week it behoved the pulpit to speak out with no uncertain sound. The rev. gentleman then acted on this expressed opinion, and not only spoke against horse-racing and its attendant evils, but theatre-going, billiards, and dancing. The Claimant.— The House of Lords, on the 11th inst., dismissed -«,ae appeal made on behalf of the co T -Vict Thomas Oastrfcu alias Arthur. Orton, against ( the judgment of the Cour» off Appeal in June last in discharging the writ of error, which it was thought to prove against the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1874, in awarding two successive sentences of penal servitude on the two counts of the indictment. Another Industry. — A new source of local industry is about being started at Halcombe. The Advocate states that Mr Marsh, a chemist, has purchased 70 acres of land at Kakarika, and intends erecting a mill there 4o crush linseed. Experiments on a small scale have proved that the European flax will grow luxuriantly op the West Coast. Hence Mr Marsh is not likely to go short of raw material, for it would pay the settlers well to grow flax if they could get a local market for it. It is hard to say why we in New Zealand should not manufacture our own linen instead of importing it, since we have abundance of land and a very suitable climate for producing flax. In the event of no local demand arising for flax for linen manufacture, it is not improbable that Mr Marsh may start a paper manufactory to utilise the waste fibre.