The Tumeka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 374, 12 April 1881, Page 2

The Tumeka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bank Holiday.—The Bank of JS T cw Zealand will be closed from Thursday, 14th inst to Tuesday, 19th instant. Geraldine County Council The usual monthly meeting of the Council is cilled for to-day, at the office, Timaru, at a quarter past eleven a. m. Fortnightly Sale.— Mr K. F- Gray, will hold his regular fortnightly sale of live and dead stock at his yards, Temuka, on Thursday next at noon. Temuka Park Board.—Owing to there not being a sufficient number of members present to form quorum, on Thursday evening - last, the usual monthly meeting lapsed-. Another Gold Robbery.—Qne thousand sovereigns, in a bag ware missing from the Commercial Bunk of Australia, Melbourne, on Saturday last. The whole affair is involved in mystery, but evidence indicates (hat the money was stolen. The Easter Encampment.—We understand that about thirty-five members of the Temuka Brass Band will take part in the programme at the Easter encampment at Oamaru, under command of Captain Young. They will in all probability leave by train on Friday next. An Eastern Wizard.—To-night and to-morrow evening the pleasure-seekers of Timaru and surrounding districts will have an opportunity of a few hours' enjoyment in the company of Professor L. Tambourini, who, as a necromancer and wizard of the East will give displays of his ability in. the art of legerdemain, sleight-of-hand, etc, in the Volunteer Hall. Our exchanges speak well of the visitor, and no, doubt h» wj)l be wjII patronised. Gift Auction* —From the earnest manner in which the members of the. congregation, especially the ladies, have re-, sponded to the appeal mad e to them in. aid of the Presbyterian Manse fund, we have no hesitation in believing that the gift auction, to be held to-morrow in Mr Gray's sale rooms, and also the auction of live and dead stock and produce at his yards, will prove, a great success, resulting in a considerable sum being raised. The disposal of fancy goods will take place at twelve o'clock and the auction of live stock etc. at eleven o'clock.

An awkwaep "Ftx."—By marrying his mother-in-law a Rockford, lU* man has become grandfather to,, his own children and narrowly escapes being his own step-, father. Honors for Hanlan.—The municipal council of. Toronto has offered Hanlan, the champion Canadian sculler, the freedom of the city, aad the remission of the rent and taxes of his island hotel for life. Cost op Drinking and Smoking.—ln the course of his speech at Patea, Major Atkinson said that £2,000,000 were annually spent by the people of the Colony in drink and tobacco. Times can't be so bad after all. A "Happy" Darjpe.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Akaroa, the other day, a Maori rejoicing in the name of Happy was fined 10s and costs, for being discovered by the police in a " happy" state of obfustication^ Murphyana.—The Akaroa Ma'l is responsible for information supplied to the effect that the " we " h,ad been shown an extraordinary " murphy " which weighed no less than 31bs 12ozs. It will bo disposed of "in lots to suit purchasers." The American Harvest.—R,ecent accounts state that the harvest prospects of America are considered most satisfactory and it is anticipated that the yield of wheat this season will be unusually large. Th,e cotton crop is also likely to be excellent. Timaru Kace Privileges.—On Saturday last, Mr Jonas disposed of the privileges at the ensuing race meeting at Timaru, realising £362. As some of them were bought in, it is estimated that the total will eventnally reach as high as £SOO. Alterations to the Crown Hotel.— Tenders are. called in our advertising columns for a moveable partition, and alterations to the bar of the Crown Hotel, to be sont in to Mr Blyth not later than six o'clock on Thursday evening, the 14th instant. Queer Manners. —At Wellington, last week, Frederick Manners, a Sunday school teacher, was charged with stealing a'tub from a Chinaman. When searched a Bible, three hymn books, and a euchre pack of cards were found upon him. The case was remanded for the production of further evidence. The Boer Commandant. —It is stated that Loubert, who has been appointed Commandant by the revolted Boers i,n the Transvaal, was formerly a clerk in Melbourne. He arrived there from the Cape, but finding Australia too slow for his ambition, soon returned to the place from whence he cams. The Asylum Enquiry.—ln all probability the report of the Royal Commission on the Mount View Lunatic Asylum, Wellington will be presented to the Govfmor, to-morrow. Up to the present time, according to the " Own correspondent" of the Chrislchtirch Press, not the. slightest inkling of its purport has been allowed to transpire. Extensive Auction Sale. Mjessr 8 Wildie, Allen and Stumbles, in conjunction with Mr K. F. Gray, announce that, in consequence of Mr J. Meyer having let his farm to Mr E. Lees, they will dispose of a quantity of surplus live and dead stock at the farm, Arowhenua, on Thursday, 21st April. The sale will commence at noon. Attempted Suicide.—A Timaru exchange states that a man named Peter Kepper, who on Wednesday last was, for warded to the Old Meu's Home at Ashburton, made a deliberate attempt to commit suicide on Friday last. He stated he was tired of his life, and then went into a small room, where he inflicted three severe cuts on his throat with a razor. Kepper formerly lived at Temuka, and has been several times in the Hospital. He has always been a man of peculiar habits. Defeat of the Timaru Champion.An exchange states that at the Hippodrome, Melbourne, on 19th March last, O'Connor.and Cann again met, when an very exciting race ensued, the Geelongite winning by less than a yard. Time—55min. 17secs. Cann is now the permanent holderof the belt.'having scored three wins. He has since challenged O'Connor to walk seven miles on a straight road for £25, and also announces he will walk any pedestrian in the Australian Colonies for £5 0 and upwards. How to Keep Potatoes.— To keep potatoes intended for the use of the table from sprouting, until new potatoes grow, take boiling water, pour into a tub, turn in as many pototoes as the water will entirely cover, then pour off all the water, handle the potatoes carefully, laying up in a dry place on boards, only one layer deep, and see if you do not have good potatoes the year round, without hard strings and watery ends caused by growing. More Red Tapeism.—lt may not be generally known that all persons in future desirous to bring actions in. a Resident Magistrate's Court, will have to fill up a form requesting the issue of a summons. It is provided by tbe new rules that " the clerk shall tequire every plaintiff to deliver to him a plaint in the form B in the schedule thereto, such plaint to be signed by the plaintiff, or his solicitor, or some person duly authorised by him in that behalf; ; and no entry shall be made in the plaint-book until the above-mentioned plaint has,been. delivered to the <?lerk^