LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1060, 27 January 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

/Temuea Wesleyan Church.—The Rev 'M Pee will conduct the morning and evening services in the above church to-morrow. I 'The oamaeu Murder Case.—The aboye case, which has occupied the Supreme Court in Dunedin for the last few days was concluded yesterday. The jury after two hours’ deliberation acquitted Beatlio. Outrage,—A native named Amoavi nearly killed a man named Wilkinson at Waitara, on Wednesday, by hitting him on the head with a boot haring a steel tip on it. Wilkinson’s life is in danger, and the case has been remanded.

Timabtj Haeboe Board, Nominations of candidates for a seat on the Timaru Harbor Board, to represent the Temuka Road District, must be made with Mr W. Wills the Returning officer before noon on Saturday next. The necessary forms can be had on application to Mr W. Wills.

Public Meeting at Geraldine.— ln response to a requisition Mr W. Postlethwaito Chairman of the Geraldine Road Board has convened a public meeting of the ratepayers in the Geraldine Road Board, for the purpose of considering matters of importance to the district. The action of the Board re Peckham’s Road is mentioned as one of the subjects. The meeting will bo held in the Geraldine Road Board Office next Wednesday, at 2 p.m. Mysterious Disappearance. —A mysterious disappearance is reported in Wellington. A man named Jas. McMahon, a bottler, lost his child while at the Druids’ sports on Monday, and the same night be went in search of it. Nothing has been seen of him since, and it is feared he has met with some fatality.

Shouting.— Judge Dowling, of New South Wales, in a case before him at the quarter sessions, expressed his strong disapproral of the custom of * shouting,’ which prevails so generally, and leads, as the judge thinks, to so much intemperance. In some cases eo much harm follows the practice that Bus- 1 Honor would, it it were possible, make it a misdemeanor, punishable by law, in order to put a stop to it.

Embezzlement.— The charges against Mr and Mrs Massey in connection with the Dunedin Corporation frauds were advanced another stage last Thursday, two more witnesses being examined on behalf of the Corporation. An adjournment for a week was then granted, but it is understood that it will be a fortnight before the case is resumed, as that time will nearly elapse before the necessary witnesses can arrive from Melbourne.

Flooding the Sahaba. — Dr Lena, describing his journey across the Sahara, says at Taudeni ho crossed a depression in the desert only 145 to 170 metres, while the remainder of the desert usually reaches as much as 240 to 300 metros above the sea level; and he remarks that throughout his journey he did not meet with depressions below the sea level. The schemes for flooding the Sahara are, therefore, hopeless and misleading.

Litebatubb fob the Rouges.— A new weekly has made its appearance in It is called The Rag, aad the following sentences from the commencement of its leading article will sufficiently indicate its character: —‘ G-ood morning, my rorty pals, Hope you are pleased to see me. This will be the properest rag chucked out of any paper showing crib in London; no tommy-rot, no advertisements, no pound of flour aud two plums, all real jam and no mistake.”

Swimming Match. —A distance swimming match took place in the Dunedin harbor last Wednesday morning between R. Phelan and Q-. Cayton. They started from the Rattray street jetty. Both men kept together until they came to Ravensbourne, when Cayton gave up. Phelan kept on until half a mile past Bourke’s, a distance of four miles and a half, when he had to give in on account of the coldness of the water. The time was 2 hour# 15 minutes 5 seconds.

Tee Queen’s Bounty.— Our readers will recollect that some few months ago a Mrs Moss, of Winchester, gave birth to triplets and thereby became a claimant to the Queeip’s Bounty. Wo learn that through the efforts of Mr Postlethwaite, M.H.R., and Dr Hayes, the application for the bounty has been successful, and yesterday the doctor had tfio pleasure of notifying to the father the soothing intelligence that £3 3s had been allocated to him.

The Moses Fire Case. —lt will be remembered that about eighteen months agoa fire occurred in the drapery shop kept by Moses Bros., of Timaru. The result of an inquest on the fire was that the Moses Bros, had to stand their trial for burning their own shop, but they were acquitted. They brought an action against the Norwich Union Insurance Company last Wednesday in Christchurch for £650, the amount for which their goods were insured. The case was nonsuited.

Wesleyan Conference.—At the WesA leyan Conference the Bier. Mr Morley was appointed t© adrocate a loan fund, a junior minister being appointed as his assistant. Curates Abernethy, Bellow, Hudson, Isitt Wills and Murray were admitted fully a, ministers, and Lowry, Bothwell, Newbold, Wallis and Dean were received as candidates for the ministry and finally made supernumeraries for the year. A deputation was appointed to convey a friendly greeting to the Primitive Methodist district meeting.

Steam Communication. The Agent* General has cabled that, at the last moment, he has found it necessary to make a material alteration in the draft contract for a direct steam service to How Zealand, and was therefore unable to forward a copy of the contract by the out-going mail, as he had intended. In consequence of the alteration he has been compelled to extend the time for the receipt of tenders until 30th April next. A copy of the contract as amended will be sent to New Zealand as early as possible, and will be in plenty of time for colonial tenders.

Beet Root Wine.—The writer of Science, Gossip, in the Australasian says' Whaf; my readers think of wine not made from grapes, or even gooseberries, but from beetroot. A patent brought out by an Englishman for this purpose has been purchased by a French firm. Both red and white wine can be manufactured from the beet, and it is said to marvellously resemble the product of the grape. The beet is boiled and pressed, and the juice fermented. White beet is used to produce white wine. As everybody knows, the beetroot is very rich in saccarhine matter, and if we are to have manufactured red wine, I should prefer beet to logwood.’

Meetings op Householders.— At Geral* dine Flat at the annual meeting of householders held on Monday evening, Mr D, Shaw occupied the chair. The annual report and balance sheet were read and approved, the latter showing a credit balance of £§* 16s 3d. The following gentlemen were elected as members of the Committee for the ensuing year Messrs Shaw, Rose, Bell, Kelman, McShane, South and McQuillan. Afc a. meeting of the newly-elected Committee Mr John Bell was chosen Chairman, and it was agreed to nominate the Rev. G. Barclay for a seat on the Education Board. At Woodbury there was a fair attendance. Mr Gr. Wood occupied the chair. The outgoing Committee presented a report which was J considered satisfactory, and adopted. Twelve householders were nominated for the newL- •

Committee, and on a ballot being tftken the following were chosen : —Messrs A . Cormack, T. Martin, J. Webb, F. R. Flatman, J. Mackenzie A. Irvine, and G. Wood. Mr Flatman was elected Chairman of the new Committee.

Property Tax.—The total amount of the property tax paid throughout the colony up to Thursday amounts to about £30,000 This amount, however, does not include the amounts paid at Post-offices. A Lady Biovciist.—They hare some, thing new to talk about in Auckland. The Star of Thursday says The sensation in in Queen street to-day was a lady,on ahi cycle. She had not ventured upon so great an innovation as the bloomer costume, but wore the orthodox skirt, from beneath which, however, peeped a large display of red stockings. Businessmen raised their weary eyes from tbeir engrossing tasks, and as they cast a glance atthedaringjequestnenne, sighed, * The world is progressing,’

Cheap Sam op Dbapbbt.— Attention is directed to Messrs T. P. Coghlan and Go’s advertisement notifying that they have opened a branch in Mr W. Storey’s shop Temuka. The cheap sale is the consequence of a dissolution of partnership in the firm, but we are authorised to state that should sufficient inducement offer, Mr Coghlan will establish a permanent business in Temuka. This is exactly what is required. We want pushing business like people who nnderstand business, and with business tact and habits about them. We should therefore suggest the desirability ef encouraging Mr Coghlan to establish himself here by patronising him. One thing we vr'sh to point out; Mr Coghlan has only been twelve months in business ia Tim arn and consequently he cannot have' any accumulation of old goods to dispose of. His goods have only been twelve months in stock, which is a sufficient guarantee that it is no old rubbish be is coming here to dispose of.

Ditoecb Copet. —ln the Divorce Court in Wellington last Thursday two cases were decided. The first was that of Maynard v. Maynard and another. The petition was for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of the wife’s adultery with Honi Mokaia, the co-respondent. The petitioner is a butcher, residing at Gisborne, and was married to the respondent, Catherine Moko, in 1866. Two children were issue of the marriage, both of whom were dead. In 1870 the petitioner was scouting with despatches in the Mounted Volunteers, and on his return, after an absence of two days, found his wife bad left with a man named Thatcher, of Matta. He did not hare time to follow her. Petitioner saw bis wife while living at Ormond, near Gisborne, in February last. One of the Maoris, Honi Mokaia, with whom she was in company said, * I have got your woman.’ He added that she had borne him a child, and another was shortly expected. His Honor granted a decree, nisi; The other case was that of Barber r. Barber (Wellington). The petition was for a dissolution of marriage on the ground of the wife’s adultery with one Adams, now deceased. The parties were married at Wellington in 1866, and lived together until 1869, when respondent left the petitioner. He had been to Church, and when he returned he learnt that his wife had gone. Subsequently he he.*rd that she had gone to Australia and was living with a man named Adams, a fireman on board the steamer Tararus, who was drowned on the wreck of that steamer. Respondent returned to Wellington about two months ago, and had a child with her. Evidence was called to prove that respondent admitted that Adams was the father of the child, and that it was' horn in Queensland, His Honor granted ;a decree nisi, after which the Court adjourned/ Messrs Maclean and Stewart have a nearly new Howard reaper and binder for sale. %

Messrs R. Wilkin trad Co., will Isold their usual sale of horses etc,, at Timaru to-day. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold their usual sale of horses, drays and harness at their Horse Bazaar, Timaru, to-day.

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the Committee of the above was held last evening. Present— MessrsO’Halloran (in the chair), Twomey, Gray, Lawson and Ashwell. The annual report was adopted. After passing some accounts, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Gray, seconded by Mr Lawson—‘That in recognition of the excellent manner in which the Institute has been kept, and the extremely good order in which the books have been found by those who took stock, this Committee desires to place on record their approbation of the valuable and painstaking services rendered during the the past year by Mrs George Bolton.’ After attending to some further business the meeting closed. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members of the above Institute was held last night. The President (Dr Hayes) occupied the chair. About thirteen members were present. The minutes of the last annual general meeting, and of a special meeting, were confirmed. The following report was read : “ Report of Committee for year ending 31st December, 1882. “ Gentlemen, Your Committee at the close of their year of office have the pleasure of submitting to you their annual report and balance-sheet, which they trust will be found satisfactory. “The income of the Institute from various sources during the year 1882 was £56 8s 2d, against an expenditure of £7lßs4d.

“In spite of the funds of the institute having been managed with the greatest economy, it is discouraging to find that without external aid our present income from subscriptions would be quite inadequate meet the demands upon it. “The number of members on the books at the close of the year was:— Yearly members, 27; half-yearly members, 15 ; quarterly members, 47 ; total, 89 ; against 62 at the close of the previous year (1881), showing au increase in the number of members of 27. “ Your Committee have to report that stock has been taken with the following result(A) Reference Works, 22 ; (B) Historical, Works, 42 ; (0) Biographical Works, 18 ; ( D) Geographical Works, Travels, etc., 10;

{Ej Religious Works, 16 ; (F) Scientific Works, 56 ; ( G ) Poetry and the Drama, 29; ( H) Fiction, 527; (I) General Literature, 139. Total, 859.

■ “ The outgoing Committee recommend to their successors the desirability of increasing the funds of the Institute by disposing of the papers after they have lain on the tables for one month. The present Committee have disposed of several papers in this manner, and hope the incoming Committee will be still more successful.

“ Your Committee have made application for a share of the subsidy allocated by the General Assembly for the use of public Libraries. “It is with the most sincere regret that we record the loss that we have sustained during the past year by the death of Mr Julius Mendelson whe was one of the trustees of the Institute, and who hae taken an active interest in its welfare since its foundation.”

On the motion of Mr Wood, seconded by Mr Surridge, the report and balancesheet were adopted. Mr O’Halloran drew attention to the fact that one of the trustees was dead, and another wan absent from the colony. It was necessary that persons should be elected in their stead.

The following officers were elected President, Dr Hayes; Vice-President, W. G. Aspinall; Treasurer, Mr John Wood ; Secretary, Mr J. Ashwell, Commute—Mecsrs Gray. Dlyth, McS. Gentlemun, Lawson. Surridge, Lee, O’Halloran Whitehead, Mackay and Franks. On the motion of Mr Wood,-seconded by Mr Surridge, a vote of thanks to the retiring officers was carried. The meeting then adjourned.