The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1026, 4 November 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Outgoing Mail.—The outgoing mail viz 'Frisco will close at the local Postoffice to-day.

Temuka Weslhyan CnuKcn..—-The Eev. T. Fee will conduct the morning and evening services at the above church to-morrow.

Licensing Meeting.—The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Comuiittes for the Temuka District will be held on Friday the Bth of December next. Pmsh of Temuka.—Our readers are reminded of the Parishioners meeting which takes place next Monday evening. The busi ness to be considered by those present is most important, and a large meeting is to be wished for. Incoeeect Rumor.—A rumor somehow gaised currency in Temuka last Thuasday that Miss Louisa Rowe, who took the veil i\i the Hokitika Convent a few days ago had since died. On making enquiries we learn that the rumor had not the slightest foundation in fact.

Fatal Accidents.—At Bracepets, Masterfcon, on Thursday a bush faller named James Duncan, aged 18, had his leg crushed by a falling tree. He was removed to the Masterton Hospital where he died yesterday from the shock to the nervous system. A child named Bugden was drowned in tke Tokomairiro Eivcr on Thursday. While playing on the bank it fell into the river.

Eire at Christchttrch. Elmswood House, the residence of Mr R. H. Rhodes, on the Papanui road, about a mile north of Christchurch, was burned down on Wednesday afternoon. The insurances are said to amount to £7OOO, the Union and Royal Offices being heavy losers. We understand that a sister of a man named Yallendar, who is employed by Mr E. Lee, of tin's town was so badly burned in it that she has since died. Fatal Fight.—A fatal affray took place at Hororata on Wednesday. Two men named Perry and Hobbs, had a fight, that was provoked by the former. After one round the men closed and fell to the ground, from which ' Perry Dever rose again. Hobbs bore the reputation of being quiet and sober, while Perry was quarrelsome and eccentric. He was said to have been in a lunatic asylum. ! At His Old Thicks. A disgraceful riot occurred at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, last Thursday night. Ben Allah, the con-juror, was giving an entertainment, and in the gift distribution did not act up to his promises. The audience broke the gangway through the Theatre and | destroyed the chairs, etc., portions of which were thrown at the conjuror, who escaped precipitately by the ba"k door. A large mob followed him to his hotel, hooting and behaving in a disgraceful manner.

Otago Bible, Tract and Book Society.— Attention is directed to the advertisement of the agent of the above Society. Those who remember that gentleman will be pleased to know that he purposes paying Temuka a visit next week, where he will remain for about two weeks. He bringß a large assortment of good useful literature, which is marked at English published prices, a boon which should be largely taken advantage of, more especially as we have no established bookseller in the town.

Explanation.—Concerning the score of cattle supposed to have been given by Tawhiao to the Native Minister, an explanation (says the Taranaki Herald) has now come to light. Tawhiao followed the ex. ample of Te Whiti. When the Constabulary were sent to Pariliaka, Te Whiti sent them food. The Maori King could do no less, and sent twenty head of store cattle to the officer commanding the Armed Constabulary, who did not know what to do with them until a Cabinet meeting had been held, when they were put out to grass, waiting the disposal of the Native Minister. A Young Philosopher. A correspondent of a contemporary says:—One of the most calmly philosophical speeches I ever heard, I heard the other day from the mouth of an urchin. The scene was a play-field attached to a, most respectable academical establishment. Hoys were busy cricketing, and engaged in other sports. Espying one solitary little fellow stretched out on the grass in listless abandonment of all control over his limbs, ' Find the weither too warm for exertion ? ' I remarked. 'No,' he said; 'but when I bore myself doing nothing, playtime seems so much longer.' I have not yet recovered from the stupendous depth of this answer. Making- Acquaintances.—Two gentlemen of business lived in the same street They were not acquainted. The formal process of introduction had not taken place, and of course they could not speak, for that would be forward and improper you know. These men passed each other three times a day usua'ly for seven years without a look of recognition. One winter's day they met suddenly on a slippery corner. The feet of one went away suddenly, tripped the other's and their owners rolled over and over down hill until checked by the gutter. Apologies were exchanged, hands were shook, and the two men were acquainted. The reader may help himself to the moral. Another story points in the same direction. A poiketbook was found and left where it could be obtained by the owner, who said when he was told who found it : 'I know him very well; I've seen him a great many times, and if I were acquainted him I would thank him.'—New London, Conn., Telegram.'

Mb J. L. Hall in Trouble.—Mr John Lawrence Hall, the well known-comedian, convened a first meeting of his creditors at the Supreme Courthouse, Auckland, last Wednesday. According to filed statements, the debtor's liabilities amount to £919 5s Bd, the principal item being a sum of £7lO 3s Bd, alleged to be due to Mr F. Marc Willmott. theatrical agent, of Christchurch, which claim however, Mr Hall disputes. The only asset is about £25 worth of theatrical dresses.

Suicide.—A telegram from Wanganui states that the body of a woman named Mrs Shannon, the wife of a foundry blacksmith, was found floating in the river on "Wednesday morning. It appears that deceased left her house about seven o'clock, and must have committed suicide by drowning shortly afterwards. She was of unsound mind, having recently been an inmate of the Mount View Asylum, but had partially recovered, and had been sent home in consequence.

Accident at thk Fkench Pass.—The cutter Southern Cross brings news of a fatal ajcident at the French Pass on Sunday night. The cutter Huunah Jane, a very small vessel, left Nelson for Pelorus Sound on Saturday night .in charge of a man named Harvey, and with him were Win. Hayward and his son (a fine young fellow about 20 years of age). In attempting the Pass on Sunday night the current carried the cutter against the beacon with considerable force, and in a few minutes afterwards young Hayward was missed from the boat. His father, who was almost frantic, was with difficulty stopped from jumping after him. The cutter after some time was got off and taken to Turner's Bay for repairs.

A Scare.—A most amusing incident took place last Thursday evening. Mr Coltman left his shop on that evening to go to Greraldine, and some young men who were sitting behind the house some time afterwards were surprised at hearing a kind of noise inside, as if someone was trying to open the safe. Believing that Mr Coltman was away from home, they at once concluded that a thief was at work there, and the fleetest of foot set off with ail possible speed to inform Constable Morton of the affair. The constable came, but meantime a number of other men had constituted themselves into a Vigilence Committee and surrounded the house, so as to prevent the supposed thief from escaping. They were all very much disconcerted, however, when they found that Mr Coltman himself was the supposed thief. After having gono a part of the way to Geraldine he changed his mind and returned home, and on finding several persons sitting down near the shop he went in quietly, and made the noise that led to the commotion.

A Father's Self-Sacrifice.—Originality of conception and vigor in execution alike characterise the expedient adopted a few days ago by a Parisian father to obtain his only son's exemption from the conscription of 1882. The youth, it appears, had drawn a 'bad number,' and the prospect of his exposure to the perils and fatigues of military service plunged his mother into mi.-'i dnrk depths of despair that her husband, unable to endure the contemplation of her sore affliction, made up his mind one day to take a measure which could not fail to avert the threatened separation of mother and son. While they were weeping in one another's arms, he suddenly clasped thern both in a convulsive embrace, murmuring the word 'Adieu!' and rushed from the house to the nearest bridge over the Seine, where h« sprang head foremost into the river. Fortunately 5 some boatmen, who saw him foil, promptly put off from the quay, and succeeded with considerable difficulty in rescuing him alive, but insensible. He was conveyed to the morgue and there stripped in order to be subjected to the usual restorative process of violent friction. In accordance with the regulations of that institution, his clothe 8 were searched, with a view to establishing his identity and in his pocketbook was found a sheet of note paper upon which he had written down his name, address, and the following touching sentence: —'The child shall not be parted from his mother ; he is a widow's only son.' Never yet, in all probability, has a tale of sublime self-sacrifice been told iu so few words. —London Telegraph .

TeNga-wai Parochial District.—A meeting of the parishioners of the Pleasant Point division of this district was held in the church la9t Wednesday evening to consider matters connected with the stationing of a resident clergyman. Mr Acton was voted to the chair. The Chairman and Colonel Eichbaurii addressed those present; from which it appeared that an endowment of £433 12i was made throughMr Howell eleven years ago towards the stipend of a resident clergyman in connection with St. Alban's Church. Pleasant Point. The annual income now resulting was about £BO, while the income from this source has accumulated in the Bank to the extent of £240. This £SO with £SO grant from Clergy Stipend Fund, £3O contribution from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and £SO guaranteed by the Albury division of the district, left £7O to be raised by that portion of the country lying between Washdyke and the Cave, and to the South of the river Opihi. This was felt to be easily within the resources of the district, though past financial results were anything but encouraging. It was shown that during the current year, out of £4O promised to the Clergy Stipend Fund of Temuka parish, only £9 13s had been paid, and that by six persons. Colonel Eichbamu, and Messrs Carter, Kerslake and Fendall undertook to canvas the district during the ensuing week, and report on Thursday, 9th November. Mr Carter moved, Mr Kerslake seconded, and it was enthusiast ically caried—'That this meeting expresses great satisfaction at the prospect of securing the services of tho Eev Mr Welsh.' Messrs Kerslake, Mee, Carter, Acton, Fendall, Eichbaum and Halstead were elected a Financial Committee. A Tote of thanks to the chairman Urininated fche meeting. |

Vital Statistics.—The following are the vital statistics for the district of Temuka for the month of October, 1882: Births, 16 ; marriages, 1 ; deaths, 2.

N.Z. Riflh Association's Annual Mehting.—The shooting at the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting opens at nine today with the Nelson match. There are 340 competitors at Dunedin, The largest number of competitors at any previous meeting was 110. It is expected that the final competition for the championship will take place on Tuesday afternoon. The competitors complain of the range, there being a background of white sand. There is every appearance of fine weather. Ifc has been decided to give a citizens' ball to the representatives in the Grarrison Hall on the evening of the 10th msfc. Tiie list of stewards is an influential one, and is headed by His Honor Judge Williams and His Worship tho Mayor.

Queer Fish. —Mr Turner, fishmonger yesterday caught in a net in the Milford lagoon several large gropers and a queer looking fish which some call an elephant fish. The body has notbinjj to distingush it, except that the skin appears very thick and that its fins are very large ; but the head is extremely remarkable. It beai'3 a strong resemblance to an elephant's head, it having a trunk over the nose, two large fins behind the gills about six inches in length, and at the back of the head is another large fin with a bone-like a spear about an eighth of an inch in thickness growing up beside it. The head is not flat, but has a very prominent forehead and underneath;the trunk is a well developed nose much like that of a cat. It has not been weighed nor measured yet, but it looks about two and a-half feet long, twelve inches around the girth and from ten to fifteen lbs in weight. Altogether it is a very queer fish. Tea and Concert at G-eraldine—The anniversary tea and concert in connection with the Welcome Retreat Lodge, No. 44. 1.0.Gr.T., was held last Monday evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, G-eraldine, which had been

nicely decorated. About 150 persons sat down to tea, Mr J. Williams catered and gave every satisfaction. After tea the room was cleared for the concert, which, like the tea, was well patronised, and was successful. The chair was occupied by Mr W. Maslin, who apologised for the absence of several performers. J Mrs Manning very kindly played several selections on the pianoforte, and also accompanied certain songs. The following was the programme of songs, readings, etc., gone through : —Pianoforte solo, ' The Grand Duchess,' Mrs Manning ; song, ' Nobody's Child,' Mr Johnston ; song, ' Scotland tha brave,' Mr Turner ; recitation, Mr Warren ; song, ' The Homes of England,' Miss Kalaugher ; recitation, Mr Manning ; duet, 'The Pilot brave,' Mr and Miss Brown (encored and responded to with the ' Singing Lesson,') ; song,' The Picture of Innocence,' MrHobson; song, ' Juanita,' Miss Dunlop ; reading, Mr T. Sherratt; song, ' The Blue Bells of Scotlane!,' Miss Helera ; song, ' Mulligan Guards, 1 Mr Kreger; recitation, ' Poems of Miss Eliza Cook,' Mr Coltman ; song, 'Bouquetiere,'Miss Brown ; song, 'Exhibition Lodgers,' Mr Hobson Part II. —Selection, ' Scotch airs,' Mrs Manning ; address on the Temperance movement by Mr Sando, Grand Lodge officer; song, Mr Wells ; song, 'Friends of old,' Mr Manning ; song, ' That's where you make the mistake,' Mr Carter; recitation, Mr Patrick ; song, ' Punctuality,' Mr Johnston (encored and responded to with ' Poor Old Joe,') 5 song Miss Brown ; song, ' The Union Jack of Old England,' Mr Turner ; rending, Mr T. Sherratt j song, Mr Wells ; G-od Save the Queen. The usual votes of thanks, and congratulatory addresses terminated the entertainment. The proceeds amounted to the satisfactory sum of £l2. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co will hold a sale of cattle, etc., at Washdyke Yards on Monday. Mr John M. Ollivier notifies that lie will at the next sitting of the Licensing Committee for this district apply for a transfer of license of the Temuka Hotel to Mr Robert Fcnton. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold their usual weekly sale of horses, drays harness etc., at their Bazaar, Timaru, to-day. They will hold a sale at Washdyke on Monday ; and also one at Studholme Junction Yards, on the same date.