The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 401, 16 June 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, — Another eruption of jMount Vesuvius has taken place, streams of lava poured clown the sides of the mountain, causing considerable damage. T.M.I.A. —At the weekly meeting to be held this evening of the Tenmka Mutual Improvement Assertion, in the Good Templars' Hall, there will be readings and recitations. The Eingmsh Wool Exhibition.—At the instance of the New Zealand Government, it has been decided by the promoters of the wool exhibition to be held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, to establish an auction in connection therewith in order that the actual selling price of the exhibits can bo ascertained. A Bull in a Bkeakfast Room. —A bullock that had been frightened in the stree's rushed into tlio King's Arms Hotel, Exeter,' entered a room where a family were .it breakfast, and placed its feet on the table, scattering the people in all directions. Ono of the parties rushed from the room, shut ling the door after him, and the bullock il;eii at tempted to jump through the window ; the door, however, was reopened, and \,ha animal left (he house by the way he came

Omission. —ln tlie' report of the annual meeting of the Lioensing Commissioners in our last issue we omitted to state that Mr J. Meyor applied for an expression of opinion as to whether, should he. erect a'i hotel in the Arowhentia township, the Commissioners would entertain favorably an application for a license for the saino. The Commissioners informed Mr Meyer that they would prefer waiting to see what would be done by the Assembly in respect to the new Licensing Bill now before the House before they expressed an opinion on the. matter. Tax on Wedding Rings.—A correspondent writes to an English paper : —' It is but little knowi; that matrimony, an expensive luxury at all times, is rendered more so in this country by a tax upon wedding-rings. The duty is 17s an ounce, and the revouuo. derived therefrom is about £20,000 per annum. The fashion of wearing very thick weddingrings has greatly inore;sed tlie. revenue o late years—viz., fnyn £6OOO to £20,000. Foreigners may well laugh at our calling ourselves a free trado nation. In iio other country in the world is, a weddingring taxed. The Address jn Reply.—ln tho House, of Representatives on Tuesday last ilr Collins moved the address in reply, which was seconded by Mr Fulton. >Sir George Grey, in a very masterly speech, spoke a-t considerable length on the Opposition side- Mr- Wakefield followed, criticising both Sir George Grey, and the present Government. Dr Wallis considered the Governor's speech dull, vague and unsatisfactory, After Colonel Trimble had spoken, Mr Bunny moved tho adjournment of the debate which was carried. New use fok Photootapiis,—An o.ld resident in the Timaru district named Charles Riddle was the other day taken before the Resident Magistrate and remanded for tnedicil examination on a charge of being of unsound mind. Sinc e then he has attempted to make away with himself by cutting tho. veins in his wrist with a "gem" photo, which he had secreted about his person. Dr Hammond was called in, who dressed the wound. The man is now in no danger.

Value of Astrology.—On ono occasion a Jew Astrologer had predicted tli.it the Caliph Haroun Alraschid would die within the year, and the sovereign was much exercised abput thp prophecy, and refused to be comforted. At last Yahya, his Vizier, and Jaafer's father undertook to quiet the royal mind. Sending for the Jew, he asked him how long he (the astrologor himself) would live. The Jew replied that his art told him he would reach a ripe old age. " Will the Commander of the Faithful order him to be immediately executed V asked Yahya. " Oil ! certainly," said the Caliph; and the wretched man's head was struck off then and there. " Your Majesty now sees the value of the fellow's predictions,' said Yahya.—Now Plutarch.

The Sate of Ireland.—Accounts from Ireland state that agrarian outrages continue. A farmer has been murdered in Gal way for refusing to comply with tjhe dictates of the Land League. He was shot by a man who, up to May 30lh last had not been apprehended. While a body of police were protecting some process servers in County Clare, they were attacked by a large mob. The police were compelled to firo upon the rioters, and killedsix of them. Serious eviction riots have occurred, at ClpnmeL, Tipperary. The peasantry assembled in large numbers, and resisted the police, and military forces. The latter were at length ordered to fire, and thirty peo w wounded.

In Memoriam —lt is Baid, says the World, that each member of HM. Go-

vernment has been the recipient of a large pblack-bordered card, with the following inscription ;— * In memory of Honour, wife of John Bull, who, after a severe attack in expired last week at the Cape. Her end was peace.' Gift Auction.--Qu Tuesday last a gift auction, in aid of the funds of Geraldine anil Ternuka VYesJeyan Circuit was held in the auction room of Mr W. Maalin, kindly lent for the occasion. The room was opened as a fancy bazaar for the sale of fancy and other articles at 2 p.m., the Rev. Mr Fee, pastor of the Circuit delivering an address befitting the occasion. At 6 p.m. all unsold goods, consisting of live and dead stock, trees, fancy and useful articles, etc., consisting of more than 200 lots were submitted to hammer by Mr Maslin through whose instrumentality good prices were obtained, the rsnm being crowded with bidders and there was keen competition for every lot submitted. At eleven p.m, when the auction was brought to a close, the Rev Mr Fee proposed and Mr J. Brown, of Temnka, seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the donors, also to Mr Maslin* for his kind services gratuitously rendered. We understand that nearly £SO was realjsed.