LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 939, 18 April 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Delerium Tremens. —Michael Keefe, in a fit of delirium tremens, drowned himself in a creek at Kankaupakepa, Bay of Islands.

Another Timarh Absconder. —There is a rumour afloat that a bosom friend of J. M. Shepherd has left Timavu without taking learc of his friends. Some people thick he will find out his friend again and join him. The Irish Chief Secretary.—The administration of the Eight Hon W E Forster, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, haying given dissatisfaction to the Radical section of the Liberal party, a movement is on foot to supersede him. West Coast Railway.—One of the promoters of the West Coast railway scheme has received i.ifo.nmtion by cable from Sir Julim Vogel to the effect that the prospects of an application to the London market for floating the shaves are favorable.

Eapb. —At the R.M, Court at Christihurch, last Friday, A. W. Simpson was charged with criminally assaulting a girl o£ 18. Accused was remanded ti’l April 18th, being admitted to bail in the sum of £7C3. Extensive Works.—The Harbor Board of Auckland decided to spend the proposed £150,000 loan ns follows : New dock, £120,000; new offices, £4000; Hobson street wharf, £6CO ; new T, Queen street wharf, £9OO ; stone beacon at Eangitoto, £1000; contingencies, £IO,OOO. Ox Dit,—We understand that efforts are being made to get up a sufficient number of singers in Temuka and Timaru to compete for the prize at the forthcoming singing competition in connection with the Christchurch Exhibition; Mr Edmonds had an interview with some of the leading Timaru singers, and it is possible he will be selected as conductor. Statistics.—According to the most recent statistics, the States which have more than 40.000. inhabitants are the following ; Chinese Empire, 426,000 000; British Empire, 285.000. ; Russian Empire, 88,000,000 ; United States of America, 51,000,000; Herman Empire, 47,000,000 ; Turkish Empire, 46.000. j French Republic (with colonies) 46.000.

New Zealand v. Australia. —A telegram in the Melbourne Age runs as follows j —A well-known New Zealand sportsman offers to back four men in New Zealand to row any four in Australia in four-oared outriggers, for £SOO a side. He will take £l5O to £IOO and match Hearn, the champion sculler of New Zealand, to row either of the brothers Edwards, of Victoria, in the best boats.”

Virtuous Indignation.—Great indignation is expressed in Napier at the aceountj published in northern and southern papers of alleged widespread and dangerous sickness in that district. The vital statistics prove Napier to be the healthiest town in New Zealand. Mr D. Colenzo offers £2O to start a fund to prosecute the authors of the accounts published, if it be possible to find them.

Don’t Open.—Some travellers were recently visiting at an elegant private garden at Palermo, in Sicily, and among the little ornamental buildings they came to one on which was written, “Don’t open.” This prohibition only served to excite their curiosity, and they very uncivilly proceeded to disobey their hospitable owner’s injunction. On opening the door a forcible jet of water was squirted full into their faces.

E.M. Court —At the above Court yesterday before J. Beswick Esq, E.M., Margaret Velvin was fined 15s and costs for allowing three cows belonging to her to wandei on the railway. W. H. Walton for allowing one horse to wander on the railway was fined 5s and costs. K. F. Gray, for allowing two cows belonging to him to wander on the railway was fined 10s and costs. The case of Franks v. Grant was adjourned till next Court day.

Harvest Yield in Malvern District. — A correspondent lias supplied the Christchurch Telegraph with the following information ;—So far as can be ascertained, the following are the results of the harvest — Wheat, from 83 highest, down to 6,5, and even 4 bushels to the acre—average 10 bushels ; oats, as Irgh as 35 bushels, down to that nob worth cutting for the machine — average 20 bushels; The Very little barley grown in our district has been exceedingly poor.

Attempt on the Life of an Irish Landlord. —Further details have been received of the attack on Mr Smythe, a Westmeath landlord. He and his wife, and Lady Monck, a companion of the family, were driving to church when they were fired at. Mr Smythe and Lady Monck both narrowly escaped, but Mrs Smythe was killed, her head being completely shattered. The outrage has caused a profound sensation. Murders in Ireland are increasing in fre-

quency. Murder Wild Out. —The widow of a murdered man in France was induced to look into the eyes of a corpse, and deny, if she dared, that she saw his murderer in them, according to a popular belief; She looked shrieked, and fainted. She distinctly saw her own face. It was the result of a device of the family doctor, and the son of the murdered man, who, like his father was a bird and animal stuffer* He had put a pair of enamelled eyes into his father’s head, and the woman, whom the murdered man had mar* ried about twelve monthts before, confessed her crime. Strange Disclosure. The following mysterious paragraph appears in a letter of the London correspondent of a West of England paper :—“ A statement has reached mo in reference to the late mysterious murder of Lieutenant Toper, of Chatham Barracks, which indicates that we are on the ere of a disclosure In respect to that tragic event which will throw into the shade the sensations and romantic crimes of the last quarter of a century. I must for the present content myself by saying that the perpetrator of the deed is just consulting with his friends whether he will avow has part in the transaction, and deliver himself up fer trial, or quit his position in society and leave ibis country for ever.

The Caswell Sotjkh Marble. —The following is from the Melbourne Argus : —“A sample of white marble from the Caswell Sound Marble mine, on the coast of New Zealand, wa:> tested yesterday at the FootsCray Stoneeutting Works, and at the establishment of Messrs' Chambers and Clutten in Londsdale street. The block cut at Footscvay weighed about half a ton and was

dlrlded into nine tablets. The stone is of good color, close grained, and easy to work; it takes a high polish and it is beliered that as soon as the quarries are fully opened, a . sufficient quantity of marble can be obtained to supply almost any demand. As soon as the block cut through yesterday is prepared, the tablets wU' be exhibits.! at various place 1 in the city.” 1

The Political Situation. There is nothing new in the polical situation. It is now denied that Sir George Grey has been asked to form a Ministry. It is said the Governor wants to take his advice only. The Natives are highly elated at the prospect of Sir George Grey getting Into power again. Sir George Grey arrived in Wel’ngton last Sunday morning, but aothmg has transpired as regards his interview with the Governor.— The Cbristchi” , ch Telegraph gives the following as the likely constitution of the new Cabinet to be formed by Sir George Grey ; Hon James Macandrew as Colonial Treasurer and Customs ; Hon W. Montgomery, Lands and Immigration j Hon Colonel Whitmore, Defence Minister j Mr Wm.tfHutchison, Postmaster General and Education • Mr E. G. Wright, Public Works j Mr DeLatour, Native Minister; Mr Vincent Pyke, Minister of Mines ; with either Mr Downie Stewart or Mr Stout as AttorneyGeneral, without a seat. Sir George take# the Colonial Secretaryship in addition to the Premiership.

The Newspapers Superseded, For some time past a practice has existed in London and some of the large cities at Home of supplying news to subscribers, which has never been established in the A company engages to supply subscriber* at their own houses with all the principal items of news, home and foreign, day by day, for a certain consideration. The subscriber has to state where he desires the news to be delivered. If at hi* private residence, a recording instrument is fitted up, which is provided with a ro 1 ! of prepared paper. The instrument is put into electrical communication with the transmitting office, and upon this ribbon of paper is printed, in roman latter*, the news as it is sent. The instrument is so arranged that the printed news can be taken from the instrument without deranging it for continuing its work of recording the news as it is transmitted over the wires connecting with the central station. Each day a skilled mechanic vieits each subscriber’* instrument, and adjusts it for the next twenty-four hours’ work, and thus the work of despatching and receiving news goes on day by day. The system is stated to be becoming popular, and the British people are taking nearly as kindly to it as they do to the telephone. The Paper Mild Cohpanv.—A meeting of the directors of the proposed Paper Mill Company was held in the Star Hotel, Temuka> on Friday evening, the 14th inst. Mr J. Hayhurst occupied the chair; The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Dr Hayes, on behalf of the subcommittee appointed to draw up prospectus, stated that although it was resolved some months ago to make endeavors to float the project after harvest, yet the sub-committee thought it advisable before incurring more expenses to call a meeting of directors to consider the matter, as the sub-committee were, after mature consideration, of opinion that the prospects of floating the company were not more favorable now than previous to harvest. The directors were 'of opinion that the district is not at present ripe for a project of such magnitude, and approved the action of the sub-committee. It was proposed by Mr Paterson, seconded by Mr Mendelson, and carried —“ That the proposed company be wound up, and the money returned to the shareholders pro rata.’' Mr Ashwell was appointed to wind up the affairs of the company, under the supervision of Messrs Hayhurst, Mackay, and Mendelson. It wa* felt by those present to be a matter of regret that this scheme of starting a local industry of such importance to the district had fallen to the ground, and they could only attribute its failure to want of enterprise in the inhabitants, coupled with depressed times. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.

Dr Hayes has removed to the house re* cently occupied by the late Dr Cummings, Mr W. Hislop, grocer, Timaru, advertises for a constant supply of good butter and eggs-

Messrs Matson, Cox and Co,, auctioneers, Ashburton, offer one guinea reward to anyone giving them information of a dark bay gelding supposed to have strayed towards the Maori settlement at Temuka.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart, in conjunction with Messrs J. T.Ford and Co, will offer for sale on the 21st instant, a large number of horses, cattle, and implements belonging to Mr O. P. MoCallum. On the 22nd they will sell, in their horse bazaar, a large number of drays, ploughs, harrows, and horses.