The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1982. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9418, 13 June 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1982. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tax on Land. —The Trades and Labour Council hare forwarded a resolution to Mr Bathgate, M.H.R., expressing the opinion that if the Government carry out their proposals to lease agricultural lands, a tax on land already sold will be necessary, which should be especially heavy on unoccupied agricultural land. Sib Aethue Gordon. —The Town and Country Journal says:—“ It is whispered in well informed political circles that Sir Arthur Gordon will receive an appointment in Ireland after retiring from New ZealandThe rumor may have some foundation when it is remembered that Lady Gordon is a daughter of Mr Shaw-Lefevre, and that Sir Arthur was at one time private secretary to Mr Gladstone,” Youthful Maeeiagbs.— Youthful marriages are not uncommon in California. A boy of fifteen has recently married a girl of thirteen. They took another boy and his father into their plans, when a clergyman was sent for, who made them one flesh for a dollar and a half, which the groom had in his jacket pocket. Well, there is another case in point, where a girl of fourteen has had two husbands. She was married at eleven, and divorced from the first man to marry her stepfather.

Butter and Cheese Factory.—A meeting of the provisional directors of the proposed Butter and Cheese Factory ■will take place this afternoon, at 3 o’clock, in the Star Hotel.

Distraint tor Rent.—With regard to < Mr Holmes’ Bill before Parliament bearing on the above question the Timaru Chamber of Commerce passed the following resolution:—“That this Chamber is of opinion , that the proposal to abolish distraint for rent is calculated to do serious injury to ■ owners of property, and is detrimental to the 1 interests of honest lenents; and they are 1 also of opinion that should this proposal become law, power should be given the lessor to summarily eject a tenant without notice upon a failure to pay rent.” The Eight Hours Bile. —From the Wellington Post it appears that Colonel Trimble’s motion to exclude from the operation of this Bill persons employed in agricultural and psrtoral pursuits was carried. The telegraphic report of the discussion left this point doubtful. During the discussion Mr Sheehan said the affirmation by hon. members that the Bill should not apply to domestic servants was a blot upon the House. Doubtful.—A member of the staff of the Eangitikei Advocate, whilst travelling up the Wangaehu river recently, accepted an invitation to stay at Aperahama’s house, near Kaiwhangaroa, where he was received and hospitably entertained by a cleanly and intelligent Maori girl, aged about 18, who informed him in plain English that she had been born deaf and dumb, and was still perfectly deaf, but that by dint of perseverance and assistance she had learned the art of lip reading, and afterwards of forming and uttering words and sentences which she herself could not hear. Our contemposary vouches for the truth of this. Suicide. —G-eorge Mackay, aged 23, a carpenter, who was lodging at Kirk’s Hotel, Hawera, got out of bod last Saturday morning and deliberately cut his throat. The windpipe and arteries were severed ; in fact his head was only held on his shoulders by the vertebrae. Death ensued in three minutes. His wife, who was sleeping in the same room, endeavored to snatch the razor) but was too late. Mackay only arrived from Glasgow per the Westport, and since then worked for Holly and Ewings, of Wellington. Mackay was a very sober man, but subject to fits of melancholy, the only attrioutable cause being what he considered incapacity for work. Bankruptcy Laws.—The Timaru Chamber of Commerce has passed the following resolution:—“ That the members for South Canterbury be asked to support and urge an alteration in the Bankruptcy Act, whereby greater stringency as to allowing discharges to bankrupts shall be enforced, and endorse the recommendation of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce as to the amount of composition which shall entitle a bankrupt to his discharge) and that any person who may become insolvent shall go to an official appointed for the purpose and file a declaration of insolvency before him, for which a charge fixed by law made; no lawyers’ expenses whatever being allowed out of the estate.” Wincheser Fair Committee. —A meeting of this Committee was held in the Committee room on Saturday evening, the 10th inst, to consider the necessity, or otherwise, of holding fortnightly fairs. There were present; Messrs John Kelland (Chairman), W. Deßenzy, Jas. Paterson, W. Arlstin, Aitkin, Cain and H. E. Smith. Several other members who had intended to be present were unable to attend on account of the unfavorable state of the weatherThe Chairman, in explaining the object of meeting, said it was the general feeling of the outside public that it was advisable to hold more than one fair a month. For his own part while recognising the fact that farmers could not always attend markets when held often, yet he thought the time had arrived when the district could support two fairs in the month. It sometimes happened, especially in the months of March, April and May, that auctioneers could not get through all the stock submitted. After a desultory conversation,in which all the members’ present spoke in favour of the change, it was proposed by Mr Deßenzy,and seconded by Mr Austin—“ That the fair for the future be on the first and third Thursdays of each month.” Carried unaniously. Proposed by Mr Deßenzy and seconded by Mr Aitkin—“That notice of the same be advertised in tbs Timaru Herald and the Christchurch Times, and that posters be circulated throughout the various districts.” The chairman was asked to write to Mr Swinton requesting him to have luncheon on the table at half-past eleven, in order that the sales might commence earlier than at present. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business ef the meeting. Mr Smith, the yard manager informs us that the average number of sheep offered at the Winchester sales for the last six months was 5057, and of cattle 107, exclusive of those submitted at the old yards, We direct attention to the very important sale of freehold property which will be held by Mr K. F. Gray to-day. The property to bo sold comprhes the sections next Mr Blyth’s property, and the house lately occupied by Mr John Creamer,- 2 quarter-acre sections in the township of Arowhenua; sections 20-1 and 206 near the Catholic Church ; section 15 in Hamilton street, besides other properties. The sale will take place at his rooms, at 2 o clock. To-morrow, at the Temuka Mills, Mr K. F. Gray will sell (under destraint for rent, unless previously settled) flour, wheat, oats, potatoes, horses, buggies, harness, etc.