The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 913, 4 February 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wesleyan Chtjech Services.— The list of services to be held in the various Wesleyan Chuiches in the circuit, will be found jn another column. What he is. —“ By blood,” says Mr Gladstone, “ I am a Scotchman, by birth a Lancashireman, by residence a Londoner and by marriage a Welshman. Progression. —Tenders have already been invited for a site for the proposed Ashburton Woollen Factory. This is a step in th® right direction, and indicates earnestness on the part of the promoters. A Warning. —At tbe R.M. Court, Timer u, on Wednesday last, J. Rattray was charged on the information of G, Pratt, railway guard, with transferring a railway ticket, and lined £2 and costs 21s.

Appropriate. —At a late concert in an Australian township prizes were distributed, and a Chinaman won a chest of tea, while a young lady received the privilege of having a free shave at the local barber’s for six months. Pigeon Tournament,—-We would remind intending competitors in the above, which takes place on Wednesday, 15th February, that entries close on or before Wednesday next. Particulars are given in our advertising column?.

Committed fob Trial.—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, John Thomas Healey was committed for trial on three charges, consisting of forgery and uttering. Pail was fixed as follows, accused at £SOO, and two sureties of £250 each*

Auction Sales. —Messrs J. T. Ford and Co,, auctioneers, ’Timaru, will dispose of to-day, 669 acres of freehold land, situate at Pleasant Yalley, the property of Mr T* —On Monday next Messrs Maclean and Stewart will sell at Studholme Junction, on account of various owners } 12,050 sheep. The Electric Light. writing in the N.Z. Mail says : —When the Mayor and Councillors of a certain Australian municipality, were debating the desirability of having the electric light, one intelligent member of the body settled the question by asking his brother CouncUers just to consider, in all sincerity, whether or not they would like the public to see the condition in which they went home P You can, said he, steer clear of a lamp, but with the electric light there is no such possibility. Three Sisters Drowned. —A great sensation has been occasioned at Albury, (Australia), by the drowning of three sisters, dressmakers, named Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Katherine Pastorello, aged 22. 19, and 13 respectively. They had been living at Albury for some time, and were qniet, respectable, honest girls. They went to the river to bathe, about dark. One of the girls got out of her depth, and called the others to her assistance, Ihe result being that all three were drowned. Their bodies have been recovered.

An Unfortunate Man. —On Tuesday last while the horse and trap belonging to Mr H. Simpson, whose house and entire family were lost in the fire at West Eyreton on Monday morning, were standing in the yard of Mr Frizzell, the blinkers were incautiously removed by the brother of Mr Simpson. No sooner were the eyes of the animal uncovered than with a snort of frighj-, it commenced to kick, and totally destroyed the fore part of the trap. It then bolted, came into collision with a chimney, which it pulled down, ran against the side of a house, and completely the wheels into pieces. Misfortune seems to have marked Mr Simpson out for a victim indeed. —Telegraph.

Paraffin.—A Napier telegram states that the result of the test at Melbourne of a ton j of paraffin taken-from the Southern Cross Company’s claim is considered highly satisfactory. One-third of the material is marketable, the net value iu its rude state as dug out being £ls 8s per ton. It is said to be present in enormous quantities, one seam be : ng thirty feet thick and over all the area of ground. The shares are at a high premium here.* The P'leo Swamp.— Sp.'aking of the draining operations at thePiako swamp, the Waikato Times says:—“No one knew, no one possibly could know, whether the land when drained would be worth anything at all; and up to the present there are 20,000 o. 30,030 a )res of the estate which would not feed a sparrow to the a :re,’ and this after an expenditure up to the date of over £143,000 against -which the company can only pla ;e a sum of £18,003 for 'and sold,” St Saviour’s Church, Temuka.—The monthly vesfcy meerng was held on Wednesday, the Ist instant, at 7.30 p.m. Present —Rev J. ChsTers-Welsh (in the cha : r), Messrs Cox (Churchwarden). Rutland, P.Ubrow, Franks, O’Halloran and Inwood, After the termination of the usual business, the fo"ow‘ng statement was made 'f the results of the annual parish gathering:— Receipts, £4O 2s; expenses, £6 8s Id - balance paid to the churchwardens, £33 13s lid. The following resolution was passed : —“ That the heart-felt thanks of the vestry be conveyed to aU the ladies and gentlemen who contributed to the success of the annual gathering by their gifts and assistance.” Diorama of the Zulu War. —Next week Thompson’s Colossal Mirror of the Zulu War will exhibit in the Mechanics’ Institute, Temuka. Every important incident, from the read mg of the ultimatum by John Dunn to the chiefs on the Tulega River to the decisive blow dealt by the troops under Lord Chelmsford, is strikingly pdurtvayed in the exhibition, and a really good orchestra supplies the accompanying music. The paintings are first-class. In addition to the attractions offered by the merits of the diorama itself, the proprietor holds forth another in the shape of a number of gifts # In conclusion we would remark that the entertainment is for two nights —not one, as stated in. the bills -Monday and Tuesday next.

Decrease op Marriage in France. — For a considerable time past (says the 4.shbmfcon Guardian) there has been a startling decrease, it seen)s, in the number of marriages contracted in France. This fact has engaged the particular attention of a member of the French Chamber, who proposes to deal with it in a manner which has often been suggested in fun, but which is now proposed in sober earnest. This is to impose a tax on bachelors,, and the member of the French Parliament above referred to is actually contemplating the introduction of a b‘ll providing that every bachelor between the age of SO and 35 shall pay to the State a yearly tax of five francs, the sum being doubled immediately be bad passed bis thirty fifth year, and until bis fortieth, and increases in proportion as he advances in bfe without entering the connubial state until the yearly tax reaches 100 francs. Undecided. —lt has long been a moot point whether single or married men make the best soldiers. Some maintain that the lack of wife and family tend to make a man more reckless of his life, and therefore a good soldier. Others say the married man is almost a veteran when he enters the service, being inured to combat, therefore a good soldier. Tn the recent Tunisian campaign a French colonel was questioned upon this point. “ Both are right,” said he. “ Look yonder. Do you see that battalion of happy ) devil-may-care fellows ? They are all single men, and they would take their i'ves in the'r hands. But look again. Do you see those taciturn, sombre, gloomy-looking men there ? They are all married, and in a hand-to-hand fight they are terrible.” “ What is the name of the battalion?” asked the enquirer. “ They are called,” said the colonel gravely, “The Children of Despair !” Orthodox Ending.—The A 'ford Forest abduction case, which has been exciting a good deal of interest in Ashburton, the Court being crowded* yesterday, has ended in the fashion beloved by the writer of the three volume novel, after all. Fowler, the alleged abductor, on Wednesday consented to marry “ the only girl he ever loved,” to use nis own words, and on that condition was merely formally remanded for a week to a'low of the marriage being consummated, and on production of the evidence of the ceremony having taken place he was to be discharged from custody. Evidently thinking “the sooner the better,” the lovers were married by the Registrar on Wednesday afternoon, and Fowler was discharged on Thursday morning. All’s we’l that ends well. Let us hope that, l : ke the lovers in the novels, this couple “ may live happy ever afterwards.” Ashburton Guardian..

Alleged Libel, —We learn from the Taien Advocate that “ a splendid thing for the lawyers is likely to ceme before the Dundin Courts shortly. It is a case of libel, and the damages will be laid at 20,000. A certain Dunedin gentleman, who is supposed to know something about the law, is the representative of a wealthy English Company, and on their behalf deals with large amounts of mo ney. Some time since the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company received an anonymous letter cautioning him to keep his eye on the Dunedin agent, for if too much confidence was reposed in him there might bo reason to repent it. The penmanship Of the anonymous correspondent has been closely compared with the writing of a Dunedin gentleman, who knows something about railways. Photographed copies of his letters hare been sent home, and ex perts have declared the writing to be identically the same. One of Dunedin’s merchant princes is also said to be interested in the matter. Some disclosures are expected.”

The North Train. —The late train from Christchurch on Thursday last was an hour and a half late, to the no small discomfort of intending passengers from the Temuka station. The delay was caused by the engine getting off tire line while shunting at Bakais.