LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9424, 29 June 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

—. . Tick Otago Pai-er Mills. —Messrs Forgusou and Mitchell haro purehaifcd the Otago Taper Mills for £1225. Tin: Wesxpokt.—The steamer Weatporfc was sold by public auction at Wellington on Thursday, ami realised £l2 10s. Coxswirriox of Tka.— lieeent return* show that Australia, next to China, b the greatest tea-drinking eouutrv i n the world j the consumption per head being 71bs, as against -l.Slbs in the United Kingdom. Wkestlixo. —At Dunedin, Shule has accepted Strong's challenge to wrestle in Border style on, condition' that it eoiues off in the Theatre. Thornton, who holds the position of Cornish champion, challenges Professor Miller or Sladeiu collar and elbow or catch-as-can style. DirriiiucxT Tastes. —Mr W. B. Bradlaugh (says an exchange), the brother of tho member for Northampton, is at present cqiu ducting an evangelistic service at Jedburgh with marked success, lie is aided in his religious services by a young lady who siugs hvuius and solos very prettily.

The Land League. Michael Davitt telegraphs that he expects a sacrifice will bo to satisfy the vengeance of Irish landlordism and that he lias private information that he, himself, will be the sacrifice selected. Gift Auction. —We remind our reader* that the St Saviour's Church gift auction will be held to day in the Volunteer Hall, and that the auction sale in connection with it will he held at 11 o'clock by Mr K. E. Gray in his salerooms. The gift auction will open at 2 o'clock. New Enterprise.—A company has been formed in Timaru, to be called the Timaru Steam Collier Company (Limited), with a capital of £IO,OOO, in shares of £SO each, for the purpose of getting a steamship to run in the coal trade to the West Coast. Messrs J. Jackson, W. Evans, M. Kennedy, J. S. CKbson, K Taplin, and C. Bowker, were appointed provisional directors. Convincing.—Bridget (says _Egle3 in the Australasian) is literal. Her predecessor had left her hired ssrvice, owing to have fallen ill of gastric fever. Xow, in that house cooking |9 effected by means of a gas stove, witli ■which Bridget soon fell into difficulties. Having also heard why the late cook had she promptly gave notice to her mistress " to suit herself." " But won't you remain until I can get someone to take your place ?" " Do you want me to get the gastric fever with that nasty stove, like the last girl did ?" The Kakahit Coal Company.—Mr John Hayhurst, one of the members of the . directory of the proposed Kakahu Coal ' Company, had to appear in the Timaru Courthouse on Tuesday, to answer a sumI mons claiming from him the sum of £3l 5s ! for printing prospectuses and advertising in ■ the South Canterbury Times. It appeared I that Air Hayhurst had nothing to do with the matter further than that his name ! »ppeared on the prospectus as one of the directory. The case was adjourned for a week. ! An Eight-legged Calf. —Says the Christ--1 church Telegraph : —A most interesting lusus | natura), in the shape of an eight-legged calf, ■ is now on exhibition at Lyttleton. It was calved in Sydney, and lias two distinct bodies | as far as the shoulders, where they unite. , There are two tails and four hind legs ; there are also four front legs, tvro being in the I proper place, the other two sticking out from ! the back of the shoulders. There is only one ' head, and although the shape of the mouth is there is actually no mouth at all. The fiead is more like that of a kangaroo than a calf, and there is an' additional eye situated upon the shoulder. - ' Pboposed Amendment or the Bank-btjt-tcy Laws.—The delegates of the Chain- • ber of Commerce have submitted to the Minister of Justice -the proposals for amend- ' ments which are deemed necessary in the | bankruptcy laws. - The chief points are i I these : —To rest the administiation of bank- ! '„ rupt estates in an official assignee ; to withhold a discharge from any debtor whose j 1 estate does not pay a dividend of at least 10s in the £, unless the debtor can show sufficient j i cause for his failure, the burden of proof I being' placed on him ; to render the law so far f as possible deterrent, and to vest bankruptcy jurisdiction in two Judges specially appointed I for the purpose. The Joint Committee of j the House promised to consider these sugj geetions. How to Scare Burglars.—Murray, the I Whitehall burglar, now in Denuemora prison, , •ays the small barking dog is the most for fundable objoet to success that members of his I profession have to encounter. While electric alarms, patent fastenings and such devices are thoroughly understood and evaded by burglars, who always make, in the disguise of v- p-xUavS; begjmiy h-jonus, •.-re. a. day -r-jraminfl-tl..u of liie !(.. !•» invh-J<?4i hi ni-jdii, i i !tf lifct If i;:uiiii'" ibnt -T-ii! j-un i.mjU'.t '''•:• "jf"". \ bui''/:.ii.i=. j.iiii otiin .t'lii nil ui'i>. ;iii''; bsrl • ■• >nLJuuailr, is r.be on<: u;uliucl thai ne*.y «hiuio?rs :, and cannot be bribed. He advise* •very family therefore to keep a small terrier or rat ! do<\ and train him from puppyhood to bark ■whenever a stranger appears on the premises. ! Novel Deabitng- Societies. —There have lately sprung up in England (says the Home News) exhibiting every sign of popularity and vitality, debating societies, which present I novel and interesting features. Those institu V tions, that are already widely scattered W throughout the country, take for their model B —which they faithfully copy in almost all {^particulars—the constitution of the Lower |i House of Parliament. They have ministries, l> eabinets, speakers, oppbsitions/cress-benches, I whips, etc.. and are in short, just so many I replicas of the House ef Commons, These I mimic parliaments are becoming valuable ( instruments of political education, and a. training for those who aim at culTtivatmg the habit of public speaking, and making themselves conversant with -the pratiee of Parliament. The debates are conducted with liveliness and without acrimony, i and are marked by vigor, originality, power of condensation, and some gifts of rhetoric. ( Arrest of Another Maori Murderer. —Winiata, the murderer of a fellow servant at Cleghorn'a farm, Epsom, in January, 1875, i and who has since been a refugee in the King Country, was captured on Thursday, and i taken into Hamilton by Constable Gillies. > Plans for the capture were laid by the police at! the Whatiwhatilioe meeting. Winiata wai then living at Tc Kuiti, 45 miles inland. The police enlisted the services of a half-caste named Barlow, who went to Te Kuiti trading for pigs with Winiata, supplying him with j grog, and making himself generally agreeable. ; Having ingratiated himself in this way in Wmiata's confidence, he induced him to come into his (Barlow's) settlement, twentyl five miles from Kihikihi. Here Barlow, first made Winiata very drunk, seized ■ hiin and conveyed him to Te Awamutu, I -diifive he delivered him to the local police. I Wuriata (with the consent of the authorities) I telegraphed to Tawhaio :— ,! I have arrived [ 4 tit JJaiui ton. It is for you to speak or act."

Indecent Assault.—A man named John Watson has been arrested at Grevmouth charged with bavin-: committed an indecent assault on a child eight years of age, named Mary Phelan. Bolt.—-Last Tuesday evening in Sod Town, a horse, attached to a dray, containing a number of pigs, the property of Mr E. Pratley, took fright and bolted some distance. During the run a son of the owner was thrown out, but not greatly hurt. Jealousy.—Jane McKollar and Frances McXair, inspired by jealousy, fought a duel near Lamberton, South Carolina. A tigress like conflict was ended by the McNair woman stabbing McKollar to the heart with a bowie knife. The victor swooned at the sight of the blood. Canterbury Salkyards.-—Attention is directed to an advertisement in another column from which it will bo seen that after the Ist of July stock will be received at the stages erected at the railway siding adjoining the above yards. All stock must be consigned to the Secretary, Mr Mackeig, or some accredited agent. A Fearful Murder.—A case of revolting parricide is reported from near Muscaline. Indiana. Two girls and a brotho r conspired to murder their father. The brother did the deed, with the understanding that the youugest sister should confess to it and escape punishment from her extreme youth, being only 15. War in Europe.—A profound sensation has been caused in diplomatic circles through out Europe by the statement made by the Imperial Chancellor in th» German Reichstag Bismarck took occasion to avow his conviction that matters were rapidly ripening for a crisis, and predicted a general upheaval throughout Europe at an early date. Gold in Africa.—CapUin Burton and Commander Cameron have brought to England suck accounts from the Gold Coast of Africa that geographical and scientific circles are interested. They report the presence of gsld in su«h quantities that Eastern Africa must repeat the auriferous history of Australia and California. Electric Light.—At a meeting in Wellington last Monday evening, it was resolved to form a company to be called the New Zealand Electris Light Company (Limited), for the purpose of undertaking the business of public and private lighting, and applying electricity to locomotion. A committee was appointed to prepare articlos of association. It is intended that the operations of the Company shall extend to the whole of New Zealand. The Ph<exix Park Murder.—A man named Davidson, who arrived at St Petersburg on the 18th from Stockholm, has been arrested on suspicion of being one of the Phomix Park assassins. He was recognised by a scar on the left cheek. A subscription started in Indiana for information leading to the arrest of the Irish landlords who hired the murderers of Lord Cavendish and Mr Burke m Phoenix Park lias reached 2,600 dollars. Concert and Lecture—A very enjoyable entertainment under the auspices of the 1.0.G.T. took place last evening in the Volunteer Hall. There was a fair attendance, the chair being taken by the Rev T. Fee. The lecture by the Rev: D. Gordon was listened to with grea.. attention by those present, but as we could not do justice to the lecturer and those who took part in the concert in the time at our disposal, we hold , over an extended report of the entertainment till our next issue. Juvenile Larceny.—ln Timaru last Tuesday about 11 boys, between the ages of about sevsn and fifteen, were charged with stealing copper bolts and some brass engine fittings belonging to Messrs Smith and f-'-ihr-.M! ,-iiid the I>y*l- Kaa'd Hoard. It ap-p.-Tiivi! llm,'; .Vie.-?is Smith ••■•id' ■ ib»on who m i-fl the ywr.-Us;ei'» --f i-h* <>t th'.- Duks ot! Sjii.lisii-lK.iid. had. 1 *t-■ bolts i.bov ineiilioiu. d in a-.tore in Chiuvli stixet trom Tbi<"h the boys stole them, and afterwards sold thorn to a Chinaman; The fittings were taken from a traction engine, standing on the Road Boards property. James Blanchot, a lad of 15 years, was sentenced to three years' in the Reformatory. Harry Browning was sentenced to two years' in the Reformatory and 24 lashes, and Stephen Gardner to two whippings and seven days' imprisonment. Several other boys were sentenced to be whipped and imprisoned, some for 21 hours', and others for 18 houi-3'. Never Owned a Rabbit. —At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Masterton, Robert Brown, a demure-looking man, pleaded guilty to a charge of neglecting to kill the vermin on his property at Taratahi. Mr Wardell, R.M. : Have you anything to say for yourself ?—Defendant : I ne'er owned a rabbit in ma life.—(Laughter.) And who owns them ? Farquhar Gray and ma neebors roond aboot.—(Renewed laughter.) Are they branded where you know them ? Ou aye, some of them are well branded. — (Laughter.) But how do you fix the ownership ?—I ken them by the looks of them. Are you living on the land ? —Deed no. They've stairved me aff it. They ate the grass ; ma sheep deed, and sae I'm workin' on the roadside. Can't you get some one to live on it, and kill the rabbits ?—l've tried, but canna ; I've offered to lease it, but nae ane will tak it.—(The heavy sigh that followed cause renewe d merriment.) How much have you ?—Twa hunncr and thirteen acres. Have you tried to clear the rabbits off it ?—Haven't I! I've had men and dugs, wrocht masel nicht and day, but they only grow the thicker. You've done nothing lately ?—I thocht they had gane o' their ane accord after catin' me oot. When I last saw it I only saw three. Then you have grass again ?—Half a fit high.mon. (Laughter.) And why don't you put sheep on itp—l've nae bawbees to buy them. Th,e case was adjourned for fourteen days, Mr Wardell threatening a heavy penalty if Brown did not fight the rabbits in the meantime. —Waira* j rapa Stara

Mr K A Barker invites tenders for clearing all the drains on the Ohapi estate. Mr X F Gray will sell at. his rooms today, at 11 o'clock, household furniture and effects. Messrs Maclean and Stewart advertise their monthly stock sales at Pleasant Point and Studholme Junction.