LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 609, 22 November 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Jam and Pickle Factory. —lt is stated that a number of merchants in Dunedin, have decided, in view of the heavy protective duties, to start a jam and pickle manufactory in that city. The Clock. —After considerable tinavoi iable delay the tower of the Roman Catholic Church is being prepared to receive the clock. Mr Adams, of Christ church, will, we understand, arrive here to-day for the purpose of erecting machinery connected with the works. Electoral. Mr Hayhurst addressed the Geraldine electois at the Rangitata last evening, and to-night will meet the electors at South Orari. Mr D, Leach has signified his intention of addressing the electors in tiie Volunteer hall Tern aka, this evening at? half-past seven o’clock. Presentation —On Saturday last the Rev. T. Fee>, presented Miss. Brown with a handsome salver and cake basket, on behalf of the Temnka Wesleyan congregation as-a. tokens of their appreciation that lady’s services as organist and choir leader of the cimrcli for several years past The letter accompanying the gift was signed by the R' j v T. F.e, and Mr Rees Thomas, Circuit Steward'.

Noumea. —The report of Consul Layard from Noumea gives a poor account of the condition of New Caledonia. “I have stated, ” he writes, that this Island can never be a colony in (he true sense of the word. As n penal settlement it will last just so long as the French Government maintains its extensive staff of officials and the-naval and military forces necessary to curb the convicts. Withdraw these, and I am confident that at the end of the year not a single person that can leave 'he island will remain on it.” Blank Warrants. The Auck'a- d Star condemns in unqualified terms the issue of blank warrants reported to have been msde in connection with the proceedings at Parihaka. The whole question of blank or general warrants, it says, was definitely settled in 17G3, when John Wilkes and a number of ot' ers were arrested on one. Lord Chief Justice Pratt characterised the issue of such warrants as totally subversive of the liberty of the subject.” Wilkes obtained £IOOO damages for illegal arrest, and others arrested with him 4-300, Extraordinary Discovery. —An extraordinary discovery was made by the guard in charge of a train to Melbourne, at the Meredith station. A number of long woolled sheep had been placed in a truck attached to the train, and wrapped inrathei damp coverings. On arriving at Lai Lai station the guard’s attention was attracted to their panting, bat of (his he did not take much notice, as he belie ved it to be the effect of the hot weather,. How ever, on arriving at Meredith station, ho went to.look at them again, and, to hisgreat surprise, diccovered three of them to be on fire, the flames of which he lost no time in extinguishing. They had evidently not been on fire long, as could he b en from the damage done to there coverings and wool, but if the occurence had not been noticed so soon their is but little doubt but that the rest of the sheep in the truck, together with the three mentioned, would have been seriously burned before the next station had been reached. The fire, which was at first thought to have originated from a spark oat of the engine, arose from spontaneous combustion.

Telegraph Extension.— The telegraph system tins made but little headway in China, tint its growth in Japan lias been very rapid. It was introduced in 187 L and at the beginning of last year comprised 9,345 miies of wire. During last year the totd number of telegrams readied 1,262 756 The Volunteers.—On Saturday the drum and fife band, attached <o the No 1 Company Temuka Volunteers left for Lyttelton to welcome their comrades-re-turning- from ‘‘ the' front.” Dp to fiver cdclock yesterday,- evening, according.- to a telegram-, received, the South' Canterbury contingent had not arrived at Lyt-t'-lron. Doubts are therefore entertained that! they will; not be able to arrive here till: she last train this evening. Bad News. —The crop and pasture prospects throughout the greater portion of the agricultural districts of Victoria continue very critical (says the Leader), owing to the continued absence of. a s-uf-fic'oat fall of rain. In the coast districts the reports are not unfavorable, but in the interior the harvest prospects are very gloomy indeed. A correspondent says that the year 1861 was similar to the present one up to the sth October, when the rain set in, and the ciops, especially the late ones, turned out very well.

Mr J'. Brown’s stores will.be- closed tomorrow (Wednesdey), Messrs Cray and Davidson trustees in Mr Boyd Thomson’s estate caution persons against paying moneys’ due to the estate to any but the authorised collector, Mr ishwell.