LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1024, 31 October 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand's Resources. —A vein of graphite bas been struck at Coromandel.

The Projected Anglo-Maori Laitd Company.—Prospectuses of the B»glish and Maori Land Company are being freely distributed among the Waikato natives. LoYAI, Al/EXANDROVNA LODGE, 1.0.0. F., No. 13.—The attention of the members of the above lodge is directed to an announcement in another column, to the effect that the usual fortnightly meeting will be held to-night at 7 30 o'clock, instead of to-morrow evening. The alteration has been made in consequence of tue Presentation Concert to Mr A. Cox taking place on Wednesday evenin"', and will allow members to be present at that pleasant gathering without neglecting their lodge duties.

Ju vknile Ente'RI'KISE. —Complaints hare been frequently made of the lack of enterprise in this district, bu'i if the subject of our remarks is a fair specimen of the ri;ing generation, there will be no necessity to stir up our future residents to industry. There is in this town a lad of about 12 summer* who has been frequently employed by certain people to recover their stray horses. The?c people were surprised at the frequency with which their horses strayed away, they could not understand the reason of it, until die morning recently they found their hoises had strayed again. They at once set about recovering the horses, and to their great surprise found, on making enquires, that they had been driven over the river by the lad whom they had so frequently employed to find them. It afterwards turned out that this same youth had on that and other occasions driven the horses away for the purpose of ru-cating a job for himself to find them. If the : honesty of the boy must b» condemned his enterprise and ingenuity must be admired. He will iloafc the paper mill yet, if he does not get into the elutehei of ho police.

The Oamartj Woollen Factory^--The plans and specifications for the proposed woollen factory were received from Home on Saturday, and tenders for the erection of a portion of the buildings will be at once called for.

Holiday Tkain Arrangements.—The attention of our readers is directed to the announcement in our advertising colums anent the railway arrangements for the Prince of Wales' Birthday and Chaistchurch races and show.

Another Patent. —An improved permanent way for tramways and railways has been patented by W. A. Harper and T. O Dennison, of Oamaru. The cost of the proposed way is about £BOO per mile, as against £I6OO for the present system.

Private Lunatic A3ylum.—Mr James Hume, formerly of the public Lunatic Asylum, has opened the first private Lunatic Asylum in the colony, within three and a half miles of Dunedin, on an estate of 90 acres. It has accommodation for 22 male and 18 fema'e patients. It will be lighted with Binr.ie's gas.

The Christchurch-West Coast Railway.—The railway agitation is being carried on with great energy throughout the West Coast. A public meeting is to bo held at Grreymouth next, to form a working committee. The G-rey County Chairman addressed a meeting of the Railway League at Reefton last Saturday night. Mutual cooperation was decided upon. Mr Weston, M.H.R., and Mr E. Wicks, of Christchurch, have been invited to act as delegates to rcpre. sent the West Coast at any Canterbury railway meetings ; especially that to be held there on November 9th.

Breach op Promise Cases. —The air is full of rumours of breach of promise cases in Wanganui, but one case (according to the local evening paper) is particularly interesting. A young gentleman not unknown to the clothing department has been corresponding with a young lady in the domestic line of life "with a view of matrimony." All was arranged|for the consummation of their future bliss when the young man relented, and sent a letter to the lady asking her to break off the match. In reply he received a "lawyer's letter" purporting to have been sent at the instigation of the fair one by a well-known firm of solicitors in the town, and threatening him with a breach of promise case, damages to be laid at £SOO. In his terror of the dire consequences the relenting lover sought the advice of » legal friend, wh 0 pointed out to him [that the document was not a "lawyer's letter,'' but had been sent him by some friendly hand. The young man's misery has been slightly relaxed, but he yet awaits with terror the young lady's reply, while at the same time he wants to know the "fradulent man" that wrote the threatening letter ; but, if rumour speaks truly, he is not likely to find out, and must await in silence the consequences of his folly.

PUKSENXATIOS CONCERT TO Mk A. COX, — It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers of the above concert, -which cornea off tomorrow evening in the Volunteer Hall. Mr Cox is a very old resident in this district) who, by his kindly disposition, has made himself universally beloved. He has always identified himself with Sunday School, charitable, and eTery kind of concerts, held for good objects, in fact he has been the life and soul of entertainments in this district, and it is only meet that now when he is about io remove from amongst us the good services he has rendered should be recognised in a suitable manner. No more suitable way could be adopted than by giving an entertainment free of all costs in honor of him who has been the best patron of suck amusements, and we feel sure that ther« is no one who will not rtalise how well merited the compliment is. The advertisement invites all Mr Cox's friends to be present. As their name is legion, not alene in this district but throughot the length and breadth of Canterbury, only a small number can attend. We have no doubt, however, that the hall will be thoroughly filled. Tickets can be obtained from the lion sec, or any of the committee, and we believe that we are right in saying that the goodwill of the people in general for Mr Cox's will also be expressed in a substantial manner.

South Orari School Committee. — This Committee held their ordinary meeting on October 21. Present—Messrs May (Chairman, pro tem), Turpin, McLeod > Wadsworth, and Bates. Former minutes were read and confirmed. A circular letter was read from the Board with forms of ap plication for books etT., kept in stock for sale to Committees, and a price list of sama. The teacher reported the quarter's attendance to hare been 42, and requested the Committee lo procure a map rack, and one more desk, the same size as tlie last. Besolved—" That the Chairman apply to the Board for the articles named, and request that a pupil tcicher be allowed to the school ; the attendance during the last quarter warraning the the same." Besolved—" That Mr L.mdon's offer for placing a bench in front of the School be accepted ; also, that of Mr Turpin for the erection of a fence across the teacher's paddock." The visitor (Mr Turpm) reported that everything appeared to be ffoing on satisfactorily. Mr Wadsworth was appointed visitor for the ensuing month. Mr MeLeod paid in £1 ss, being the amount collected from the dancing class for the use of the schoolroom. Mr Binskin interviewed the Committee on behalf of the dancing class, requesting permission to use the room on one more evening as usual, and for the whole night of Friday, the 3rd of November, for the purpose of closing with a ball. The Committee agreed to let the room for the one evening on the usual terms, and for the Friday night free of charge, subject to the usual arrangements for the maintenance of order, the dance eornmittee to bear the eXr pense of clearing the room and replacing everything as they find it. The meeting then adjourned to the third Saturday in JN TOTember,

Winchester —The concei t and dance in aid of th» school harmonium fund will come off this eveniug.

Erratum. —There was a mistake in our issue of Saturday. It was stated that if U cow were milked for 32 weeks of the year, that would leave her dry for the remaining ten weeks of the year. It needs no great amount of learning to se* that we meant to say that she would be dry 20 weeks of the year.

Horrible Relics.—The morbid taste that some people have for the horrible has been largely demonstrated in Washington, from which place a friend oE mine has lately come, says the ' Frisco correspondent of an Auckland centemporcry. He tells me that there is f he greatest excitement over the hide of Guiteau, and also the coffin and the rope which hung him. At the present moment the skeleton of the assassin swings gracefully over the backbone of his victim in the museum, the coffin has been cut up into small pieces and distributed among hundreds of people whose passion is bric-a-brac, and fc he rope has been similarly distributed. But the worst, the very worst, and most disgusting part of tha business is that the skin of the malefactor is all doled out to admirers of such trophies, and is actually being made ornaments to append to watch chains, etc., while the screws of the coffin are worn as charms by the officers of the gaol.

Geraldine School Committee.—The monthly meeting of the G-eraldine School Committee was held in the schoolroom, Geraldine, on Thursday last. Present — Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (Chairman), Cook, A. Sherratt, W; Coltman, N. Dunlop. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read and considered :—.From the Board of Education re payment of teachers' salaries, and re depot for the supply of school books and stationery; from the Head Master re attendance, and asking for a map of Australia and New Zealand, also drawing attention to sundry necessary repairs. Resolved—- " That the Board be asked to supply a map of Australia and New Zealand." Mr Coltman reported that he and Mr Cook had visited the school during the month and fouud everything going on satisfactorily, but that the ventilation of the infants' room was in urgent need of improvement. Resolved—- " That the Chairman and Messrs Sherratt and Coltman be empowered to have the plaster repaired, and to devise some means for improving the ventilation of the Infant»' Department." The report of the Examines on the sewing of the girls attending the school was read, and considered very satisfactory, The following is a list of awards for sewing ; —Standard YI. —Mary Dunlop, 1. Standard V. —Mary McLean, 1; Maria Reed, 2, Standard IV.—Rose Taylor, 1; Mary Scroggie, 2 ; Maggie McLeod, 3. Standard lll.—Margaret McKay, 1 ; Madeline, Kennedy, 2; Margaret Mackenzie, 3. Standard II. —Emma Walker, 1; Annie Perry, 2. Standard I. —Jessie Morrison 1 ; Amy Hughes, 2 ; Maggie Dunlop, 3 ; Esther Pizzey, 4. The examiners, Mesdames Andrews, Cook and Sherratt reported as follows :—" The examiners desire to slate that they think the needlework as a whole is very good and very creditable to the instructress; especially in the lower standards, as it is here that the foundation is laid for future excellence. In the case of the higher classes this has, or should have, been done in the time of former teachers." Messrs Dunlop and Williams were appointed a Visiting Committee for the ensuing month, and the meeting then terminated.

Peesbttekiax Sabbath School. — A con-J cert -was given last Friday evening in the Volunteer Hall by the children attending the Sunday School of the Presbyterian Church* There was a large attendance, and everything passed off very satisfactorily. The Eev. D. Gordon occupied the chair, and delivered a very able address. He regretted that some members of the congregation absented themselves from entertainments like the one they were giving that evening because they did not approve of them. It was very much to be regretted that these people could not see J their way to encourage snch things, because there could be no doubt that a Service of j Song was very acceptable to God. The rev. (renfcleman then delivered a very powerful ' address on the Poetry of the Scriptures, \ pointing out its beauties, and how powerful it was to stir up the people to devotional exercises. Poetry was adopted in the in- i spired writings as a language in which to worship God, and he held that sacred concerts must be pleasing to God also. Mr 3. i H. Edmonds conducted the concert, and the j following programme was gone through very efficiently, the voices of the children blend - ing splendidly together. The children sang '' The Sunday School Volunteer Soog," " Lead me to Jesus," "The '•'Keep Step," "I Love the Sabbath School," <: Sweet it is to Known," " Watch and Pray," " Happy Sabbath School," "Oh 1 whither y now so Bright; and Gay," and ' Good 2\ighfc," ' accompanied by Miss Blyth on the piauo.l Miss McNair was in excellent voice, and sang a solo in very good style. A recitation was given in a very creditable manner by Master Fauvel. Considering his age he recited with much dramatic power, and seemed to understand thoroughly what he was reciting. A ' recitation was given also by Miss McCallum who spoke in a clear, distinct voice, and with - o-ood effect. Master Storey played a piano - fore solo very creditably and was loudly ap- j plauded. Mrs Bout, as usual, created quite a furor by her manner of singing " Where .is Heaven," and had to respond tpytmt e . nc wlj*| Mrs Edmonds also sang very will, "He w| ■) Despised." Both were accompanied on the piano by Mr D. L. Inwood, whose musicH' talents are too well known to need being referred to any further.. jfTliq jentcrtainment;' was enjoyable ;in f AbLtfeaUßev D. Gor-] dun's address on the PlMs^''rhetf.B&Je_. would well have repaid a visit to the Hall, and the whole programme wound up with tiiej National Anthem.

Stock: Sale.—Mr K. F. Gray will hold a sale of live and dead stock, etc, at his yards, to-morrow. Is Ltjck's Wat.—Mr Frederic Maccabe, the celebrated character actor, who has been in Australia for some months past, has just come in for an unexpected piece of luck. It seems that five years ago he gave £5,000 for 3ome property in Leeds, and at the time he was called a fool for throwing away his money. Last Tuesday he received a cablegram from his lawyer, telling him that he could sell it for £50,000, and asking him for instructions. Mr Maccabe, who is now in Sydney, cabled on Monday last telling the lawyer to sell.

Ths Auckland Shooting Case. —Both the victims of the Pokeno shooting case are likely to recover. The ball fired at the father passed through the lower part of the ecalp> grazing, but not fracturing, the skull. It was extracted on the other side of the head. The bullet in the son's head was fired too low to touch the brain, and is lodged somewhere in the upper part of the face. Its exact locality is not yet ascertained. Both men are perfectly sensible. The parricide's mother is dead. The father was formerly a draper in London and came out with some means, intending to commence farming. The son had been engaged, since his arrival with theatrical companies, going under the name of Bertie Lonne. Latterly he had been engaged to a young lady at Tauranga, and it is supposed that his recent visit to the father was for the purpose of obtaining money to marry her, and that the father's refusal to supply it led to the desperate deed. While at Tauranga young Lcng was most abstemious, not eccentric, but very excitable.

Dbttnken Animals—A St. Louis paper tells of two dogs that are habitual drunkards. One is a poodle and the other a small terrier. They have been addicted to the flowing bowl for some time, and they seem to enjoy their drink as much as some men do. They get their "tipple" at the beer trough of a saloon, and usually begin drinking early in the afternoon. By 9 o'clock they are lively, and exhibit their hilarity by chasing each, other around the room, barking &c. This lasts until 9 o'clock, ■when they become quarrelsome, and often get into a fight with each other. Then they stagger off to their corners and retire for the night. In the morning they are blear eyed and dull, and look and act as if they were ashamed of allowing themselves to be overcome by their appetites. The terrier, however, is ready for his beer again at an early hour, but one would think that the poodle had "sworn off," for he avoids the trough for leveral hours; but at last the temptation overcomes him and at noon he again indulges) and a few hours find theni both drunk again. St Alban's Chuhch, Pleasant Point. —A meeting of the Parishioners of the above Church was held last Saturday evening, the Eev J. Chaffers-Welsh in the chair. Colonel Eichbaum related what had occurred at the meeting of the Synod at which the petition of the parish to be separated from Temuka ' was granted. The Eev Mr Welsh then stated that the Bishop, with whom the appointment of a minister to a new cure rests, had requested him to take .marge of the district. He felt considerable regret at the thought of learing the Temuka, but he had placed himself in the Bishop's hands, and believed it would be easier to obtain a suitable clergyman for the parent parish than for the new and. untried district. He then informed the Committee that the] Bishop had decided that the cure should be designated " The Parochial District of TeNgawai." The following resolutions were then carried —"That this meeting regards with the greatest satisfaction the prospect of obtaining the services of the Rev. J. Chaffers-Welsh • for the parochial district of Te Ngawai." " That the Chairman be requested to place in the hands of the members of the church of Alburyjthe resolution previously passed, and to state that the members of St Alban's Church, Pleasant Point, are anxious to obtain the concurrence and cordial help of the members at Albury." It was decided to hold a general meeting next Wednesday evening.

Mr W. C. Andrews notifies the impounding of a white heifer. Mr James Blyth invites tenders for. the erection of a stable and granary. The Temuka Roard Board invites tenders for a great number of road works. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold a sale of wool and skins at their rooms tomorrow ; they will attend Winchester Fair on Wednesday, and sell cattle and sheep ; also Studholme Junction on Monday next and sell horses cattle and sheep. They have fo r private sale two lots of sheep.