LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1032, 18 November 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ’Frisco Mail. —The Temuka portion of the above mail arrived by the express train yesterday. Wesleyan Church, Temuka.— Mr S. Uuxton will conduct the morning and evening services at the above church to-morrow.

Temuka School Committee.— A special meeting of the above Committee was held last Thursday evening. A full report appears elsewhere. The Eye, Ear and Throat. —Dr Wilkins, of Christchurch specialist for diseases of the eye, car, and throat, may be consulted for a week at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, after the 28th instant.

Sating Labok. —The Kaiapoi Woollen Company have introduced a gas engine into their Christchurch factory, in order to work the sewing machines and relieve the operatives of the labor.

The National Bank. —The ninth annual meeting of shareholders in the National Insurance Company was held in Dunedin on Wednesday. Mr Keith Eamsay, Vice-Chair-man of Directors, presided. The Directors’ report was adopted. It recommended a dividend of 10 per cent, making wath the interim dividend 20 per cent for the year, and carrying forward £5619. The usual votes of thanks, &c., were accorded. Messrs Marshall, Glexxdinning, and Hallcnstein were elected directors.

The New E. C. Bishop op Auckland. — Bishop Luck had an enthusiastic reception from the Catholic community at Auckland. Father Downey handed to the Bishop a beautiful beuquet of red geranuims and white roses (the episcopal colors) which had been arranged by Bishop Oowie, and despatched by him through Messrs Ilealy and Dignan for presentation to his fellow prelate in this diocese. A crowded public meeting was held in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the evening, when addresses were presented to him by the clergy and laity.

Supposed Murder. —A rumour is cnrrcrfc at Tc Awamutu that Savage, Mr Tolo’s servant, supposed to have been accidentally drowned in the Pune on the sth inst, was murdered by a native named Pukekore. It is reported that a native named Mampoto stated in anTiotel at Kihikihi on the 13th to a lad named Benjamin Ward that Pukekore killed Savago and threw him into the river. The statement reached the ears of Constable Gills (the man who arranged Winiata’s arrest and captured Pakara and Pihoi), and lie brought Ward and Maniopoto together, when the latter denied all knowledge of the crime. iPukekore is now in the native country, but the police believe the story deserves credence.

Gone.— One of the most remarkable cams of “ mysterious disappearance ” on record is that of the engine of Kauasas Pacific Railway that, went down into the Kiowa creek, some 30 miles west of Denver, one black, stormy night, several years ago. The stream, which is ordinanllj insignificant, had been transformed by a sudden flood into a roaring torrent which swept the bridge away, and the engine'plunged in and was swallowed up in the quicksand. Repeated efforts hare been made by boring and digging to find the lost locomotive, but we learn from good authority that they have all been to no purpose ; the thirty tons of iron and steel have burrowed beyond discovery. Possibly they are working down toward China, and will ere long turn up as the first locomotive in the Celestial Emp

The Oamabu Snow. —The annual show under the auspices of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association took place on Thursday and Friday last. It Was a great success.

The Otago Central Railway. —Tenders are about to be called for a further section of the Otago central line, which will carry the line twenty-four miles from the junction with the main trunk line, and nine miles further will carry it to Sutton, which will be the first point at which the line will be available for traffic.

What it Lacks — With all its wonderful fertility America has, it seems, some barren places. There are regions of this class on the Union Pacific Railway. A traveller, we are told, met a person who was so unfortunate as to have his residence there, and the traveller said, “ This isn’t such a bad country. All it lacks is water and good society.” “ Xes,” said the poor emigrant, with some bitter truth and point, “ Yes, that’s all that Hades lacks.”

A Successful Company.—The Mosgiel Woollen Company’s report shows that the balance on the year’s opera! ions available for distribution is £-1522. The Directors recommend the payment of a 10 per cent absorbing £2BCO, and that the balance of £1722 be carried to the new profit and loss account. The additions during the year amounted to £13,9-19 13s 2d, and the stock and raw material now in the hands of the Company are valued £21,533.

No Happiness fob Her.—On her wedding day an Indiana girl wrote something, sealed it in an envelope, and gave it to an intimate friend. “Ifl am alive six months from now,” said she, “ give this back to me unopened. If lam dead, read it.” On the day that the half year expired the bride committed suicide, and the enclosure was found to be a statement that she expected no joy from the marriage, but was willing to give it a trial before deciding to take her own

Early Fruit. —We (Ashburton Guardian) have been shown some beautiful strawberries by Mr Handed, grown in the neighbourhood of Ashburton, and which are remarkably well dcreloped for the time of the year. We hare also been shown some cherries grown by a Unmet-street resident, which are exceedingly tempting in appearance, and as sweet as sugar. The same gentleman has some gooseberry trees in his gardes already bending beneath the weight of fruit, some of the berries being an inch long. Putting on Airs. —The other day a colored lady of standing, Mrs Simpson, purchased a Gainsborough and visited Mrs Fennel. It was evident that Mrs Simpson posssessed a few airs which she wished to display over Fennel. “My husband,” said Mrs Simpson, “ wanted meter get a finer hat den dis, but reflecting dat the 20dols. bills in the bottom of de drawer was gotten sorter scarce like, I concluded to content myself wid a five dollar hat.” “ Well yer was savin’,” remarked Mrs Fennel, and then, stepping to the door, exclaimed : “ Tildy, take dut IG_>>i->l. bill away from dat chile. He tore up two yesterday. Dar ain’t no sense in allowin’ chillun ter ’stroy money in dat way.” Mrs Simpson retired, realising that her hat was a failure.

He was not Accepted. —Evidently the schoolmaster ia abroad in the vicinity of Grey, town (Wellington), The Working Men’* Club there advertised for a caretaker, and received the following application :—“Willington, Oktobur 18, 1882 dear Sur, — i hour you want a kustodeen in the papur. wall cum at the wages you are givin i was horned at Bally - gurtheen County Cork Ireland have bin hear 18 years cum in 1861. w T e have 9 childer ouldest wan 12 years av age yunges thro minths. if theur is a pebanner in the Club xuy ouldest gurl can play an it as she tuk musik(lessons the rest av them are good little thins, ‘and very amusin’ and will be all at hoame with the members if tha ar at all soshiabel. let me know whin to kum up and whether you will meat mo at the Stachun i fell sure urc plaice will suite me if you hav enny sing songs i wall alays Obleege wdth wan as iam a Good hand at it you mite tel me wat toime you shet up and wat time openin from Yours afektorato —.”

Waitohi Flat School Committee.—A meeting of the above Committee was held at the school on Monday last, all t ho members being present. The minutes of the last ordinary and two special meetings were read and confirmed. The newly appointed master, • Mr Campbell, attended and informed the Committee what hooks and other requisites would be required at once. He also suggested that instead of selling slate pencils, pons, blotting paper, etc , in small quantities to the pupils, it would be a better plan to charge a small sum, say 6d per quarter, to each, and the Committee to supply what i 3 required, lie considered that it would tend to the better working of the school. It was resolved that the plan be tried, to commence from the first of December, and the master was authorised to charge 6d per quarter for each pupil, payable in advance, but in cases where several children of one family-are in the infants’ room, hs may at his discretion charge a smaller contribution, say Id each. It was resolved —“ That the Board of Education be asked to appjint Mister G. Anderson as pupil teacher, and Mrs Gibbs as sewing mistress temporarily.” The master was requeued to prepare a list of school requisites, and hand it to the Chairman as soon as possible, in order that they might be procured from the Board of Education if possible on Saturday (to-day.) Mr Currie reported that the Board’s architect had paid a visit to the school that day for the purpose of seeing what repairs were required about the house, and be (Mr Currie) understood that the work would be put in hand immediately. An account from Mr MoClintock was deferred for payment pending Mr Currie endeavouring to get him to put a new cover to the well, the cost of which can be included in the account and paid at the next meeting. The meeting then | terminated. i

Not to Happen Again. —A merchant in the city was accustomed to demand an excuse of his clerks when they arrived late. The excuse given, he invariably added, ‘ Yery well ; but don’t let it happen again.’ One morning a married clerk, being behind time, was promptly interrogated as to the cause. Slightly embarrassed, ho replied, ‘ The truth is, sir, I had an addition to my family this morning, and it was not convenient to be here sooner.’ ‘ Yery well,’ said the merchant, in his quick, nervous manner ; but 1 don’t Ist it happen again.’ They All Do It.- —The following is said by iEgles to be an extract from the commonplace book of a young country attorney just settled in the township of a new clearing :—Saturday afternoon, four [p.m., and I in my office writing—too wet, muddy and miserable for anything else. People in town can’t imagine what the mud is like—yellow—tenacious — diabolical. A fellow has just come in for a cheque in a debt case, which I have given him, after collaring 6s 8d from the costs I got from defendant, in addition to the £1 Is from my client. Yery disreputable, but we all do it. Plaintiff went away perfectly satis fied. So he ought.” Domestic Life. —Last Wednesday night an information was given to the Auckland police that Henry G-eddes Hunter, whose wife isa boarding-house keeper, had attempted suicide by taking phosphorus. The police found the man lying on the verandah with phosphorus shining on his lips and fingers, while there was a severe gash on the top of his head. Emetics were administered with success. It subsequently transpired that Hunter had had an altercation with his wife, who struck him on the head with a chair leg, and there is reason to believe that he smeared his face with phosphorus to make her believe he had committed suicide.

The Reason. —This is how “yEgles” transposes in the “ Australasian ” a story which the late Dr Norman Macleod used to tell with great glee, himself being the parson whose safety wss so carefully looked to : —ln a country township the only resident ministers were the Presbyterian and the Wesleyan. A rigid old Presbyterian on one occasion sent for the latter to spiritually console his daughter who was dangerously ill. The call was readily responded to, and after a conversation with the patient, the visitor said that, although he was at all times willing to visit the sick, no matter of what creed, ho was surprised that he should have been sent for in preference to their own clergyman. The mother frankly explained that though “ nae doot ” the other would have “ done tha lassie mair guid,” still she was so bad with the scarlet fever “ we were afraid to risk our ain minister,”

Too Much Fob Them. — A correspondent writing to the Dunedin Star, referring to the report that the Highlanders, before they charged the Egyptians at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir gave a “ wild cheer,” says the state ment is a misconception. He quotes from a letter ■written by an eye-witness of the attack, and gives the “ true ” version, as follows: “When the Highlanders were about 1000 yards from the Egyptian entrenchments every bag piper in the brigade simultaneously struck up the pilbroch. The effect on the Egyptians was like that of an electric shock. Officers who were giving the word of command suddenly became speechless ; soldiers who were in the act of taking aim let their muskets fall from their hands ; horror and dismay sat on every countenance ; and then along the line the cry burst forth * The Evil One ! the Evil One ! God has forsaken us !’—and, throwing their arms to the ground, and sticking their fingers iu their ears, the pell-mell rout began.”

Jouenalistic Life. ■ — “ The ‘ wettest newspaper office in the known universe,” according to a. contributor to the Colonial Printers’ Art Journal, existed on the West Coast twelve years ago. The writer says : The proprietor drank deeply ; the editor used to stagger into the office “ tight as a bean,” and, with a huge wet towel round his head like a turbaned Turk, would scratch off voluminous leaders, which the next,morning would delight with their vigour the critical readers of that powerful journal. The reporters were shakers of the first water, or rather spirit, for little of aqua ever cooled their burning throttles ; and the manager, is it not on record that he spent the whole of his wages on drink one week, and afterwards had 104 “ hatter’s” drinks on the slate when he came to square up next pay-day ? The comps, followed as well as they could the bibulous example shown them, and altogether the whole party could be backed against anything of their size and weight in New Zealand, which is a tolerably wide saying.

A Rough Diamond.— The Ilobavt Mercury of a recent date remarks that in their obituary of the 29th September, appeared a notice recording the death of an old colonist, Robert Warrior, briekmaker, of the Cascade road, at the advanced age of 78 years. Ey thrift and steady attention to business, Warrior accumulated a considerable sum of money, possessing, besides the property upon which he resided, the brickyard adjoining the cascade grant, as well as several houses occupied by people in his employ, sonic of whom had been in his service for nearly 20 years. Warrior was the subject of a long and painful illness, and for some time previous to his demise, having no relations, carefully thought out the best method of distributing the competency be had obtained by many years of patient toil. He was an unlettered man, straightforward in all his dealings, and a good friend. During his illness lie had frequently given expression to a sentiment that is worthy of imitation, viz., “Those had the best right to bis money who had helped him to get it.” Acting upon the principle enunciated, be left to bis servants, independently of a banquest in money, die houses and grounds occupied by them. He left various legacies to industrial shools. lie also settled a very handsome annuity upon lis adopted daughter, and ordered the •esidue of his estate to be divided between hree of his personal friends, one being his ( nodical attendant. 1

Bolt. —A horse from the Arowhenua station was frightened by something at the railway ■tation about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and bolted with a dray, to which it was attache t, down the street towards the Eoad Board Office. It turned the corners splendidly, came up the road to the town, steered clear of a buggy that was in the middle of the street near Mr Story’s stables, went round Ackroyd’e corner, and passed by a mob of sheep without injuring any of them. After having passed Mr Langskail’s bootmaker’s shop, it turned in on the footpath and was stopped by the fence. Neither the horse nor the dray sustained any injury, although certainly they lad some very narrow

escapes. An Unfortunate Fijian. —An unfortunate accident recently occurred at Baku, Ovalau, (Fiji), by which an unfortunate Fijian lost his life. The deceased, being dressed in one of the heavy flax likus worn by the natives on holiday occasions, round which were wrapped numerous folds of tappa, safe down upon a lighted smouldering cinder, when the liku, which, as most Fijian apparel is, was well saturated with cocoanut oil, im - mediately became ignited and burst into flames, and before the miserable man could divest himself of it, the upper part of his body and arms were literally roasted, the skin having peeled off his back and arms in flakes. The patient, when received into the hospital, was beyond hope, and did not long survive after his admission.” An Extraordinary Foal. —The New Zealand Herald is responsible for the following : —“ During the present season a mare belonging to Mr James Ellett, of Mangere (Auckland), gave birth to a foal which presented the most hideous and monstrous appearance conceivable. The general formation of his head resembled a donkey’s ; even the hair that covered it, and its ears were longer than an ordinary donkey’s ; it had but one eye, and that centred in the forehead, fiery red in appearance, and protruding an inch and a-half, shaped like an inverted thimble. The upper jaw was very peculiar, while the under jaw curled over its mouth, and closed or rested on the face, just under the eye. There were peculiarities in other respects about the head, but the body was fairly developed. The foal lived for a few days, but was unable to suck, and Mr Ellett thinks that in trying to feed it chocked with the milk. It was intended to preserve the crea - tnre, 1 we have been told that it was sent to a taxidermist for that purpose.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold a sale of horses, drays, harness, etc., at their Horse Bazaar, Timaru, to-day. On Monday, at Washdyke Yards, they will sell fat and store cattle and sheep. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co., will hold a sale of cattle and sheep at Washdyke Yards next Monday.