The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 399, 11 June 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wesleyan Chtjbch.—The list of service in connection with this church to be held to-morrow is announced in o-ar advertising columns..-.,,.. Licensing Coujit. The adjourned annual,sitting of the Licensing Court, for the district of Temuka will he held on Monday next at the Resident Magistrate's Court, at noon. "There are no new applications'for licenses; Postponement = os); Concert. — Owing to the inclemency of the weather yesterday, the members of the Temuka Brass Band wisely postponed their concert, which would otherwise have taken place last evening, till Tuesday next, 14th inst.

Oamaktj Steeplechases.—These events came off on Thursday last, although the weather was most unpropitious. The Maiden'Steeplechase of. 40 sovs. distance 2 miles was won by Mr Foster's Sailor Boy;. Oamaru Steeplechase,:Handicap of 100 sovs, distance about 3 miles, was won by Mr J. H, Lunn'a Clarence. Selling Stakes of 4K> sovs, distnnce 2 miles by Mr Anderson's Robin Hood and the Consolation Stakes by Agent. The attendance was limited to about 4CO parsonf. RoBBE&r.—A few daya ago the private room occupied by a gentleman staying at the Temuka Hotel, was entered by some person, who oh tained possession:, of a valuable gold I watch and chain belonging* to him. It is ; premised that observing a buueh of keys laying on a chair, the robber, by the use of them, opened a portmanteau and abstracted the sum of £lO therefrom. He also took from the room a blanket. About the same time,another room in the hotel was entered and two of the beds stripped of three blankets and t.vo counterpanes. Emboldened by success, the robber, or robbers, for more than one we should imagine was concerned therein, entered 'another bedroom and took some casii out of a pair of trousers' pockets that were, hanging up near the 1 bed." We 'understand that a man was arrested on Thursday night last at Winchester, with the blankets and'counter panes in his possession, which have since been identified. The prisoner, whose name is William Brown was taken before the Bench, at Timaru, yesterday, and remanded to the Court here on Monday nextT.MJ.A.—An ordinary meeting of the members of the Temuka Mutual Improvement Association was held in the Good Templars* Hall last Thursday evening. Owing to the inclement state of the weather only a,few members and friends were present. Mr Hayhurst was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Brown, one of the leaders of the debata chosen for the evening, being absent, an impromptu debate "Are the Chinese desirable Colonists?" was then opened affirmatively by Mr Bolton, profarma who was upheldjby Messrs McCann, Hayhurst, and Cooper, the negative side being ; taken by Messrs Diddoms, Hussell, and Mackay who - eventually won the day by a majority of four. Proposed by Mr Mackay and seconded by Mr Cooper—*' That the debate ' Is free education necessary in New'Zealand }■' be postponed to this day fortnight." : ''.''As an amendment it V<is proposed' by Mr Diddaras, conded by Mr "McOann—" That it b e " postponed till this night week-" ; As a further amendment, it was proposed by Mr Smith, and seconded by Mr Pinckney —<', That fife; be postponed till this night three weeks, there being nothing selected for that evening." On being put to the voto the latter was carried by a majority of one. The usual vote of thanks terminated the proeedings.

To Contractors..—We would remind contractors that lenders for roofing etc, of stock and implement sheds and supplying timber for same, at Dinder farm r Waitohi Downs, will close on Monday next. Fire: at Saltwater Creek. —At nn early hour yesterday morning the riporisman's Arms, at Sultwuter Creek caught fire, ;but through the . exertions of the' Timaru Fire Brigade the back portion was saved. It is supposed to >hape originated in the bar, through t!h»*3Xploaion- of a kerosene lamp; The Weather—During tlic past few days thejweather has been, truly wrei.cl ed>. culminating yesterday in a continuousdownpour of rain which' lasted thrDtigout the night causing jthe rivers Temuka and Opihi to gradually rise.. Up to the' present time we have not heard of any' damage being done. Concert.. —On Mondny evening nexta tea meeting and-concert will be-given the Good Templar* iw their Halli. At the bitter the chair wilt Be lafceu- by the Rev. J. Chaffers-Welsh', and other- ministers will also be present. We believe the programme is a very attractive one; and theonly thing required to render the entertainment a success will be fine weather., i • Advance Temcka.—As an. iosiancethat the township is recovering from- the effects of bad limes, slowly though surely,, we may note that Mr W. Essery has opened his recently erected premises as a pork, bacon, and small goods' shop, and?' from the excellence of the various articles most temptingly displayed, ho doubt he will derive that pecuniary benefit for his enterpriso which he deserves. Having, experienced of late increasing demandsin connection with his oil and color trade h& has been compelled to fit up one of his; shops .recently occupied by Mr Burke,, bootmaker, where this branch of his business will in future be carried on. This will enable him to display to better advantage his large stock of china, glassware,, and general merchandise, for disposal in his old premises on the south side of Mr K F. Gray's auction room. We heartily wish Mr Essery success. Opening of Parliament.—The thir d session of the seventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened on Thursday last by his Excellency the Governor. In the course of his Speech he referred to the-. Native question, intimating that the course prescribed by Parliament to bring to a termination the unsatisfactory state of affairs had been steadily pursued, and had up to the present time been attended with marked That consequent the intercolonial conference held im Sydney in the month of January a bill will be laid before the House* for the; regulation and restriction of the ®f Chinese intfi'the Colony. Proposals wu'ttid come under consideration for giving assistance to" companies prepared to construct or continue main lines of railway. Carefully'considered plans for rendering land, thecjexisting leases of which, for pastoral -purposes will shortly cense,, would be Ifeid before them for rendering them more generally useful to the State. Bills would be aubniitted to them for the-re-distribution of the representatives of the people and for the regulation of elections. The measures necessary togive effect to the renderiog of the administration of justice more speedy and efficacious and at the same time less costly as recommended by the Commissioners appointed last year for the purpose of considering the same, wontd be submitted during the present session. Bills for the abolition'of restraint on| the alienation of land' ; for the regulation of administration of charitable aid; for the consolidation and amendment On thelicensing laws; for the amendment of theexisting law re administration of native reserves ; for rating Crown Lands; and for providing for the grant of assistanceto local Public Works He had vieited mmy districts of the Colony and hid observed signs of inci easing wealth,, spread of settlement, energy and activity in industrial pursuits. They might rely with, confidence on his ' hearty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decisions of the Legislature; '