The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1043, 14 December 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1882. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Suspected Foul Fla v. —It Is rumored that the people suspect foul play in the case of Hamilton who died several days ago at Auckland, it was supposed from falling against a bedstead. Some particulars already to hand arc reported to be most sensational.

Found Dead. — A man, name unknown, was found dead in a water hole at Albury. The water was only 18 inches deep, and it is supposed that while getting a drink he was seized Avith a lit and foil face doAvnwards in the water.

Fatal Accident.-— A young married man named John Stephenson was killed on Monday at One Tree Point. He avus a trolly man, and AVas found on tho tramway. Ho had been run over. He gave no account of the accident, and died shortly after being found. Concert and Ball at Milford. —An advertisement in another column announces that a concert and dance in aid of the prize fund of the Milford District School will take place at the Schoolroom, Milford, on Friday, the 29th instant. A very enjoyable time may be spent by attending.

The Suicide of J. M. Shepherd. —An inquest ou the body of J. M. Shepherd, who shot himself on Monday last at Timaru, was held on Tuesday. The evidence Avas substantially the same as that given in our last issue, and >lie jury returned a verdict that deceased commuted suicide while suffering under temporary insanity.

The Tiaiaku Harbor Loan. —in another column will be found a list of the polling places in connection with the above. At a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last Monday, the Mayor Avas authorised to call a public meeting of all interested for the purpose of furthering the object. At a meeting of the Levels Board Board ou Tuesday, the following resolution Avas passed : —“ That the members of this Board unanimously agree to act in assiseing the Harbor - Board to carry through the raising of the loan for extension of harbor works, as they consider a harbor in South Canterbury to be one of the most important aims for the district to attain.”

Bush Fires. —The town of Reefton had a narrow escape from total destruction by lire on Monday. Bush lircs surrounded the toAvn and, favored by a strong gale of Avind, the flames invaded the houses. Tho Catholic school, the Survey Office, and the Conn house repeatedly caught lire, but the entire population turned out and the flames Avere extinguished, and after live hours’ incessant labor the lire Avas driven back. A house in Bridge street, opposite the Bank of Hew Zealand, caught lire, but the flames were fortunately put out by Avrecking the building, A shower of IiA r o sparks fell upon the toAvn for hours, but tho roofs of the houses Avere all manned, and the spread of Ike lire avus prevented. The escape of the town Avas truly providential.

Suspicious.—The naked body of an infant female child about 13 hours old, was found nbout noon on Tuesday floating in the water near the railway works, Thames. There was a wound of a slight nature on the back of the head, A postmortem examination showed that the child had lived after birth. The police believe they have a clue to the mother. The Late Mr Julius Mendelson.— The funeral of the late Mr Julius Mendelson took place last Tuesday at 4 o’clock, and was one of the largest over witnessed in Temaka. A large number of people came from Christchurch, and from all parts of South Canterbury, and the first part of the cortege had reached the Road Board office before the last part had passed Mr Gray’s auction rooms. Mr Mendelson was an honorary member of the local lodge of Oddfellows, and there were about 40 of the brethren —some of whom came from Timaru and Geraldine —walked at the head of the procession. There was only one theme on the lips of all, and that was regret at the untimely end of the-deceased.

E.M. Court. —At the above Court last Tuesday, before S. D. Barker and E. Ac'on, Esqrs., J.P’s, John Meuzies was charged with having cruelly ill-treated a horse by stabbing it wi'ha pocket knife. The horse, which wan brought into the Cour houso yard, was literally covered with blood that flowed from ten wounds which ha - ! been inflic'ed upon it. The evidence of Joseph Sawyer, barman at the Arowhenua Hotel, was to the effect that ho had seen ihe prisoner crossing the Opihi and repeated'y sucking the horse wiih a knife. Evidence of the condition of the horse having been given by Constable Bourke, the accused said that the horse would not moye for him, and that he had enly used a nail. The Bench commented on the atrocious conduct of the accused, and said they would be neglecting their duty if they let him off with a fine. He was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor.

Supreme Court, Timaru.—Afc the above Court last Tuesday, Alice Bramble, for larceny from her employer, was sentenced to six months. George Yine, ; for embezzling various sums, the property of Johnstone and Green, butchers, of Timaru, received twelve months’ hard labor. His Honor said that masters were greatly to blame in such cases as this one and that of Saunders. They bad no right to put men in positions of trust without making enquiries about their previous character. The whole of Tuesday was occupied with the trial of Thomas E. Lyle who was charged on an indictment of four counts with setting fire to a shop in Timaru belonging to Samuel Breadley, with intent (I) to injure the said Samuel Breadley, (2) with intent to injure, (3) with intent to defraud the Standard Insurance Company and (4) with intent to defraud. After having heard the evidence, the jury retired at ten minutes to six and returned in half an hour, and in answer to the usual question said they found the prisoner not guilty, and the prisoner was. discharged. Yesterday Ah Ling, a China*man, charged with receiving stolen property, was discharged. Jim Luck and Ah Chow, similarly charged, were also acquitted. The Eraser Case.—A meeting of owners of sections in the Scotch Cemetery was held on Monday night to consider the non execution of deed of trust. Fifty persons were present. The land was conveyed by Mr Wilson in 1861 to the Rev. C, Fraser, T. S. Duncan, R. Wilkin, W. B. Bray, G. D. Lockhart, J. Anderson, and W. Wilson, as trustees appointed by the members of the Free Church in Christchurch. It was shown the deed of trust had not yet been signed. The Rev. C. Fraser received all payments for sections, and had not accounted for them. Several meetings of trustees had been held to try and get the deed signed, but ,vl r Fraser could never be got to attend. _ It was stated at the meeting that some sections in the cemetery had been sold three and four times over to different parties. Mr Fraser gave receipts for the money in his own name, and said he had been authorised to receive the funds by the Deacons Court of St. Andrews Church. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution regretting the neglect of the trustees in not executing the deed, and requesting them to do so without delay, and asking for an explanation.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold a sale of horses from the Station of Mr Sibbald, Mackenzie Country, to-morrow. The horses include draught and light. Messrs Blyth and Bolton, trustees in the estate of Mr D. Leach, notify that they have appointed Mr J. Ash well, Commission Agent Temuka, to collect debts due to the estate. Messrs 11. Wilkin and Co. announce that they have been appointed agents for the Osborne Reaper and Binder. They also announce tbit they have a number of stud sheep for sale privately, the property of Mr Pearson, of Burnt Hill.