LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9411, 27 May 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Australian Cricketers. —In the match between the Australians and Orleans Club the match was drawn in favour of the English team. Wesleyan Church Services. —The list of services to bo held in the various Wesleyan Churches in this circuit will be found in our advertising columns; New Titles. —Amongst others the Hon John Hall and Colonel Whitmore have been created Knights Commanders of the Order of St Michael and St George. Total Abstinence. —As a result of the mission given by Mrs Hampson in Timaru, a total abstinence society has been formed there. Mr James Granger is President, and at its first meeting held last Thursday evening 95 names were enrolled. Cyclone in America. —Another cyclone has passed over the United States which was more destructive in its effects than those which have recently visited the country. A large amount of property was destroyed and twenty persons are reported as killed. Athletic. —A match has been made between Messrs J M O’Connor and C Scrimshaw to run half a mile for £SO a side. It is not unlikely that Mr C Hulston, of Christchurch, will presently challenge any runner in New Zealand for specified distances. Loyalty oe Good Templars. —On the motion of Sh- William Fox, the Grand lodge of Good Templars now holding a special session in Auckland passed a resolution expressive of their thankfulness to Providenc for preserving the life of the Queen from assassination. Trades’ Protection Association. —We understand that a meeting of the Trades’ Protection Association will be held this evening in the Star Hotel, to consider several matters relating to the bankruptcy laws. As a Bill is about to be introduced into Parliament, now is the time for making suggestions. Narrow Escape* —A bushman named Charles Hay was found on Thursday last at Waikouaiti in a hut by a settler named Cantivell. He bad lain since Saturday, wounded and without food. Ho was half unconscious and said a tree had fallen on him. There were burns on his neck for which he could not account. Rewi akd Sib George Grey. —Rew has written a letter to Sir George Grey asking him to use his influence to get some leading Members of Parliament to go to Auckland to tell the Maories what the intentions of the Government are towards Maories. This would end all trouble between the races, and. they could live in peace and prosperity. Embezzlement. —Thomas William Tait was brought up on remand in Invercargill last Thursday charged with embezzling Government moneys while he had been engaged as goods clerk at the Invercargill Railway Station. A further remand was granted, a material witness being absent. The auditor has not yet completed his examination of the hooks, but it is rumoured tbat be has already d'seovered defalcations amounting to more than £IOOO. A Curious Case, —A sensational case of two friends named Neville and Adamson, who killed their dogs and then committed suicide in company, near Gawler, in 1878, came up in the Supreme Court in Adelaide, in an action by the Curator of Intestate Estates, against the Mutual Life Assurance Company, for the amount of a policy of £4OO on tho life of Neville* Neville’s real name was Twenally. He was well-known in some parts of Yictoria. It appears he was in embarrassed circumstances and deliberately committed suicide so that tho amount of the policy could go towards his liabilities, the Company not allowing death by suicide to .vitiate the policy. The claim was resisted on the grounds that it was a pure case of felo de se, and the policy obtained by fraud. The jury gave a verdict against them, on the ground that Neville committed suicide while insane.

AccLMATrsATioK. —The Acclimatisation Society of Dunedin, in their report state that 3121 hawks had been destroyed during the year. Deer ai-e thriving well. There is no positive proof of the success of English salmon in New Zealand waters, nor of the success of American salmon liberated in 1877 Of sea trout the Society report as follows : “ The Council lias through private members been made aware of many sea trout having been caught in Otago harbor by fishermen during the year. It is said that fishermen live on them, and it is certain that many citizens of Dunedin have them frequently on their dinner tables. Until the law is altered it is not very easy to convict anyone for taking or killing these fish illegally, but it is to •be hoped that the Fisheries Sill which lias been before Parliament during the last two sessions, and will probably be brought in again at the approaching session, may pro- i vide for this.”

Bank Holiday. —Next Monday being Whitmonday the Bank of New Zealand will be closed. Railway Accident. —A stock train going north with sheep early last Wednesday morning was thrown off the line by the engine striking a horse near Shag Point Junction. The engine was just entering a bridge when it went off and it smashed the bridge considerably. Fifteen waggons filled with sheep ran off, and many of the sheep wer e killed, and a number injured. The engine turned right over. The driver was thrown twenty yards ahead of the engine, and escaped unhurt. The fireman, however landed amongst the debris, and it was two or three hours before he was found. He was badly bruised and scalded. It was stated in an evening paper that the engine driver and fireman were on duty for thirty-six hours previously, but this is incorrect, as they had joined the train at Palmerston, and were on duty less than an hour. The lino was blocked for some hours. Christchurch Criminals. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, last Thursday,William Anderson, alias Grice, Was charged with stealing a hair brush from the Exhibition. He was also charged in connection with Edward Longmore, alias Geo. Adams, alias Elms, alias Elsdale, with having committed several burglaries in High street, on the night of April 21st or morning of April 22nd. Sergeant Mason said he was compelled to apply for a week’s remand, as the two piisoners had evidently some connection with the man who had shot at Mr Deans. The whole three had been seen about the Ricoarton Bush in company, near the spot were the stolen property had recently been found by the police. The police were not prepared to proceed with the case at present, and could not do so in fact till the third man referred to was in custody. The Bench remanded the prisoner to June Ist, The Frozen Meat Industry. The frozen meau industry of the Australasian colonies is threatened with a powerful competitor in the shape of the new Direct American Fresh Meat Company, which has just been formed in Great Britain for the purpose of importing fresh meat in the carcase, from direct sources of supply on the American seaboard and elsewhere, to the United Kingdom. The promoters allege that the American supply is practically inexhaustible, and that it can be laid down in England, by means of the cold dry process, in as prime condition as regards quality, freshness, flavor, and appearance as on the day it was killed. Special attention is directed to the fact that the meat is not frozen, as is the case with the meat from the Australian colonies, and it is calculated that it can be sold in London for a profit at 3ad per lb. Australia and New Zealand will havs to look to it. A few more shpiments such as those recently received in London would ruin the trade for ever, even without the menaced American competition. —Wellington Post, R.M. Court. —At the above Court last Thursday D, Farquharson was brought up before Sir J. Mendelson, J.P., charged with having stolen a peach tree from the garden of Mr G. Geddes. Mrs Geddes gave evidence to the effect that she was coming home from her father’s house at 7,30 o’clock in the morning of the 25th, and saw the accused near the garden with the tree in his cart, when she spoke to him he frightened her so that she ran away for help. The accused then put the tree back in the garden in the same place as he had taken it from. The accused, electing to be sworn, stated that as he was driving in a cart by the residence of Mr Geddes he saw something strange in the fence, and on going the next morning found it was a tree; that he took it out of the fence, and put it into his cart, then drove round to the front gate for the purpose of putting the tree hack in the garden, and as ho was at the gate Mrs Geddes came up. His Worship declined to credit the story of the accused, and sentenced him to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labor.

Attention is directed to the advertisement of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New' Zealand by which they state that they are prepared to take orders and deliver machine screened rye grass at present rates. Opportunity is thus offered to sowers for securing it at prices much less than they will be in spring.