LOCAL. AND GENERAL

Temuka Leader, Issue 1079, 6 March 1883, Page 2

LOCAL. AND GENERAL

The Cbeswick Belief Fund.— At a meeting of the Melbourne Central Committee of the Creswick relief fund, it was announced that the total received and known as coming to hand, was £17,400 ; £IO,OOO of this was in the Bank at 5 per cent.

Temuka Eoad Boabd.—The monthly meeting of the above Board will be held today, when applications for the post of overseer and secretary will be received. Contractors are reminded that their tenders arc to be in before 10 o’clock. The Eight Hohes Movement. —The Trades and Labor Council, Dunedin, intend

organising a ssries of public meetings throughout the colony during the Parliamentary session, with the object of arousing public interest in the Eight Hours Working Men’s Bill.

The Kaiapoi Clothing Faotobt.—On Saturday Mr T. G-. Pascoe, manager of the Kaiapoi Clothing Factory, was presented by the employees with a valuable silver salver, to commemorate the first anniversary of the factory. This commenced with 80 ope ratives, and now has nearly 200, Bad News From Inveecaegill.—Accounts received from the country of the effect of Thursday’s northwester, arc to the effect that a large quantity of grain has been lost, the total value being several thousand pounds. It is said that in some parts, after the gale, on resuming reaping operations it was found the straw was quite brittle, breaking in the binders. In one place nothing but straw was left.

Burial or Chinese. — Ifc is a remarkable thing that the Chinese attach so much importance to the burial of their dead in the land from which they came, but so it is. Wo (Dunedin S(ai’) learn that in connection with the recent movement amongst the MonogoHans of this island for the transportation of their dead to China, they have collected among the Canton men alone the sum of £9OOO.

Edmonds’s Glee Club —Attention is directed to a notification in another column to the effect that the above Club will give the second concert of the season in the Volunteer Hall on the 21st inst. The piece selected for the occasion is the popular opera H.M.S. Pinafore, which has been industrious'y rehearsed for the past three months, A full rehearsal will take place next Wednesday night.

Ingenious Amusement.— The latest form of amusement at Auckland is filling in, during the twilight hours, the latch key holes of doors with putty. By 1 a.m. this attains a consistency that defies the institution of the latchkey. Thus it has come to pass that tableaux of no little animation have been witnessed in the early hours of the morning in certain quiet streets. It is hot known yet if it is an invention of married ladies.

A Disappointment.— Two Napier ‘ sports ’ met with a sad disappointment on the Dunedin Cup. They bad wired, says the Hawke’s Bay Herald, to a friend in Dunedin to invest in the totalizator on Admant, and when the news came that that horse was the winner they were naturally quite jubilant, arc! ‘ shouted ’ for several friends, expecting that the dividend would bo a large one, as indeed it would have been, for the £2 they had sent by telegraphic money order would have brought them £l2O. Their feelings may therefore be imagined when later on they received a telegram from their friend at Dunedin that he bad been unable to invest their money.

Pkettv Goings On.—A conflict of authority has arisen at Pukckohe between the Eaihvay and Postal and Telegraph Departments. The Railway Department attempted to oust the Postmaster and Telegraphist who occupies a part of the station buildings, while that officer, fortified it is said by orders from headquarters, refused to evacuate. The door of the Telegraph Office w r as broken open forcibly at two o’clock by a railway porter by the order of the Stationmaster. An attempt has been made to take possession of the telegraphic instruments, but hitherto without success, and the matter still remains in dispute between the Railway and Telegraph Departments. The Stationmastor is believed to bo ' act : ng under instructions from Mr A. Y. Macdonald, the District Railway Manager. The Sfationmaste has been burnt in effigy.

Colonial Ohueches. —The legal status of colonial churches has attracted some attention recently, which has induced Lord Blackford to contribute to the Guardian an account of the legal growth of the colonial episcopate, of the progress of which he has for soma years been officially cognisant. The historical details he supplies, says an exchange, are in many respects curious, and, as he points out, not least as a characteristic instance of the mode in which English law develops itself. Scholastic Squabbles. —At the Southland Education Board on Friday the Invercargill School Committee forwarded a report ou the general state of the school. The Visitingj Committee had found the Infant Department overcrowded, although the large new room asked for by the Head Master had been built. On investigation it was found the new room was occupied by what the Master said was a model shool, to which any teacher could come and show what should be taught. In this room were selected pupils from the upper standard, under the charge of Mr E. Gurr, a son of the Head Master. The door had been fastened up between the infant room and the model shool. The Committee remonstrated, and were told by the Head Master that he never intended to use the room for infants and would not, and if the Inspector spoke about it he would tell him to mind his own business. Mr Gammel, the Inspector, broke open the door and rearranged the school, breaking up the ‘ model ’ school. The Board endorsed the Committee’s action, and accepted Mr Gurr’s resignation. The Inspector laid a comp’aint against E. Gurr, an underteacher, of insubordination on a surprise visit. When he ordered a class to stand up and march from the room, Gurr ordered them to resume their seats, and persisted in it, besides using disrespectful

language. Waitohi Flat Scool. —A meeting of this Committee was held on Monday, February 26th, all the members being present. After the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, the following correspondence was read : —Two circulars having reference to the election of members on the Board of Education ; a letter from the Board requesting the remittance of a cheque for £6 14s in payment of books and school requisites supplied to the Committee ; from Mr D. M. Mackay, Temuka, agreoingon behalf of the Presbyterian congregation, to the charge of 10s per quarter towards the cost of cleaning the room. It was resolved unanimously that the Rev. George Barclay, Mr Edward Wakefield, and

Mr William Balfour be voted for to fill the vacancies, and Mr John Talbot for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr H. Belfield. It was decided that a cheque for £5 2s 4d be forwarded to the Board, being amount of account rendered. The chairman stated that ha had , as requested at the last meeting, written to the Board asking that the Inspector’s report be forwarded with as little delay as possible. It had not, however, come to hand yet. It was resolved that the Board’s attention be again drawn to the subject by a fresh application. The teacher submitted a price list, as proposed by him, of books, &e., to be supplied 'to school children, which was approved of; also a report for the week which tho school had been open since the holidays. The average attendance had only reached 22, Mr Currie was asked and agreed to get a leak in the roof of the schoolhouse repaired, Messrs Moore, Anderson and Currie were appointed a committee to arrange for holding the treat and sports which had been postponed until after harvest. After the chairman and teacher had been authorised to procure a few suitable books for prizes, the meeting terminated. Child Murder at Wanganui. A Coroner’s inquest was held at Wanganui on Friday last, on the body of the half-caste child found on the beach a few days ago. The evidence showed that the mother, Phoebe Teitoh, had taken the child out on Monday last, stating that an aunt was going to take it up tho country by that afternoon’s tram; that on her return she stated that the child had gone away accordingly, that a lady at Christchurch was going to adopt it, and that the mother was never to see it again. When arrested by the police, the mother said she took the child for a walk on the whaif on Monday, and it fell overboard. She did not call out for assistance, though she admitted it was cruel of her to Hold hei tongue. She admitted the child found was hers, but denied killing it. Subsequently, in the lockup, she made another statement to tho effect that the father of the child went for a walk with her on the wharf, the chil d being with them; that he threatened to shoot her, and demanded the child, and on being refused by her be threw the child into the river ; he threatened to murder her if she said anything about it. She told the police first that the father of the drowned child, who was not her husband, came from India, and afterwards that he was either a Chinaman or a half-caste Chinaman. She strenuously denied killing the child herself. At the inquest she volunteered a long statement of her past four years’ history, and repeated the statement about tho man throwing tho child off the wharf, and gave a circumstantial description of the man’s appearance and clothes. She concluded by solemnly swearing her innocence of the crime. The jury found that tho deceased child was thrown into the river either by the man whom she says is its father or herself. Four jurors dissented from this, and wished a simple verdict of wilful murder against the woman to be returned. The Coroner committed her for trial for wilful murder to the April sittings of the Supreme Court, The accused has led a dissolute life ■ for many years. Her husband loft her two years ago. She has three children, each by a different father. The *jnotive suggested for tho crime is that the woman was unable to support the two children living with her, both of whom, however, were apparently well nurtured and cared for by her. The third child is kept by her husband’s family. Ihe police have been unable to discover any man answering to the description of him whom the accused charges with throwing the child into the river.

A Hoax. —One of the new-obum policemen as they are called, unmindful of a similar joke roceiiily played on one of his confreres in Otago, fell a victim to a practical joke recently, says the New Zealand Times, perpetrated by a well known publican. The policeman had an eye against Sunday traders, and watched the Bank Hotel all the forenoon, and was just leaving to seek fresh fields and pastures new, when he espied a boy coining out of the back premises of the said hotel carrying an ominous looking bag. The policeman pounced on the youngster and seized bis bag, and took out of it what he thought was beer. The wily boniface, however, was on the look out too, and, seeing the police on the watch, had filled the hot’le with cold tea. The guardian of the peace collared his prize and did not find out that he was sold until someone who was in the joke informed him of the bottle's contents. Even after he bad tasted it he was somewhat dubious, but at length had to admit that he bad been sold. Rival Race Clubs.— The tradesmen of Timam recently formed a Racing Club, and called it the Timaru Tradesmen’s Jockey Club The intention was to more especially favor the running of local horses, only two events to be open to the competition of horses owned outside the district. A deputation was appointed to wait on the S.C. Jockey Club to request the use of the grounds of the latter Club on Anniversary Day, for the purpose of holding a meeting. On Friday evening the deputation fulfiled their mission. The deputation consisted of Messrs W. Gunn, W. Bush, and H. Coxhead. Mr Gunn was spokesman, and having explained the matter he and his confreres withdrew. After considering the request, the SC. Jockey Club unanimously passed the following resolution: —‘ That the S.C, Jockey Club regrets that it cannot see its way to meet the Timam Tradesmen’s Jockey Club without its being prejudicial to racing interests in South Canterbury, especially as it is anticipated the S.C. Jockey Club will shortly bold a Spring Meeting as well as an annual Autumn Meeting and Steeplechase.’ The Tradesmen’s Club will now take into consideration the advisiability of procuring a racecourse for themselves.

A R.M. as a Prosecutor. —Mr I. N. Watt, R.M., cut a queer figure as prosecutor in a case in the Dunedin Police Court on Saturday. He sued a carter for obstructing his progress along the footpath, by standing his cart across it, and gave evidence that he was passing along the footpath with his umbrella up to keep off the sleet, when it was suddenly tilted up and he found his eye in collision with some wood projecting over the side of the cart. The cart was standing :k :' ,I ’'’ footpath. Three witnesses for the del'eucj, however, swore that neither horse nor cart was on the footpath j that the horse’s fore feet were over a yard inside the path, though the timber projected slightly. Re • butting evidence was given by Mr Watt as to the horse being over the crossing. He stated emphatically that the first and third witnesses for the defence had deliberately perjured themselves, and ho characterised the defence as a barefaced case of lying. Two Justices were on the Bench, and they decided against Mr Watt, saying it was evident that he was excited at the time, and might have moved slightly into the timber yard. In dismissing the ease, they also wished reluctantly to remark that they thonght Mr Watt’s remarks as to the evidence for the defence were not justified, and that though he was a Resident Magistrate he should not. take upon himself to remark upon witnesses in the manner he had. That was for the Bench to do if necessary.

Domestic Servants.— Mr 0. de L'Eau, Auckland, thinks it would be better to draw a supply of domestic servants from Continental countries rather than from Britain The countries he named are France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. He states that the female servants of those countries are far, better than British servants ; they are more willing to work ; naturally more polite ,- are more obliging in disposilion ; are faithful to those who employ them, it bei ’g not an uncommon thing for a woman in those countries to spend a lifetime in the service of those by whom she was first employed. He also states that the Dutch girls especially are patterns of cleanliness and tidiness, affording a strong contrast to many of the household helps found in the colonies. There would be no difficulty in getting domestic servants of good character from these countries, and many would only be too glad to get an opportunity of coming here. An engagement could be made before leaving their homes as to wsges and period of service, a year or longer, and if such engagements were made Mr De L’Eau is quite satisfied that the girls brought out would faithfully discharge the obligations they entered into, He suggests the formation of an association of Auckland citizens who require the servicss of female servants, to club together and get out the number required. Even on the question of religion, he believes that servants from those countries could be obtained, either Protestants or Homan Catholics, in any proportion which may b» desired.—Hew Zealand Herald. Madame Lotti Wii-mot.— This ce'ebrated lecturess appeared in the Volunteer Hall last Sunday evening, and delivered a discourse on Freethougbt. There was a fair audience, and the lecture was listened to with profound attention throughout, the applause being frequent and enthusiastic. Madame Lotti Wilmot is a lady posessing a splendid presence) she is about 5 feet 10 inches in height, has a splendid figure, and good regular features, she is graceful in her movements, and taken altogether she is a fine woman. To these acquisitions may bo added a clear ringing voice, which could be heard in all parts of the hall, and distinct articulation with the exception of some defect in the use of the letter ‘ r in fact she appears to have been fitted up by nature purposely for the occupation in which she is engaged. Her lecture was delivered with considerable ability and eloquence,

although illogical in its conclusions. The language was good and free from coarseness, but it was poured out with such rapidity that it could not possibly make any very lasting im pression. She commenced by expatiating on the beauties of being able to think of everything without the curb of religion being put on the mind. The mind of man thirsted for information, but it was, kept in darkness by orthodox teaching, she said ; but she forgot to mention what more could be taught by freethought. She ridiculed the idea of a woman being made from the rib of a man, on the ground that if that was the way woman first came into the wai-ld the same operation would havo’gone on since ; but she neglected to give us any better information on the subject of the creation. The clergy had fettered the mind of woman, she said, and in the next breath stated that man was ruled by woman from his cradle to the grave. She then ridiculed faith, urging that one would

not believe blindly in commercial matters, and farther on asked her audience to put faith in spiritualism. She saw everything soul-saving and beautiful in spiritualism, but failed to give us any idea of what it was. In fact it appeared to us that it was a less tangible sort of arrangement by far than the orthodoxy she had so much denounced. She next had a fling at monarchy, showing what a great burden it was on the shoulders of the State, and predicted that as soon as the present Queen died there would be a revolution in England and monarchy knocked on the head. Of course all tiie abuses of Government were the result of orthordoxy, but she omitted to say that staunch believers in the orthodox religion, think as freely, speak as freely, and disapprove as freely of the burden of Royalty as the so-called freethinkers. She believed in Jesus Christ as a great reformer and a good man who performed cures magnetically ; but it is doubtful whether any amount of magnetism could raise the dead anu perform the other miraclesHere again we have as incomprehensible a theme for thought as there is in the religious aspects of the question, Madame Lotti Wilmot is a very clever woman, a very able and eloquent lecturess, and very entertaining, but she cannot do good by rushing from one mystery to another. She possesses talent, and it is a pity she does not devote them to something more tangible and more useful than Freethought, For instance her lecture on Love, Courtship and Marriage delivered last night could not fail to instruct and enlighten, while it was most amusing. If she took our advice she would lake up subjects of that kind and let religion alone, at anyrate until she gets something better than it to put in its place. There was a fair attendance at her lecture last night, and she was listened too attentively and. frequently applauded. She commenced by dwelling briefly, but forcibly, on the importance of the two words ‘ Courtship’ and ‘ marriage,’ as it was on them the whole happiness of life depended. Taking courtship first, she divided it under three heads, viz., whom to court, how to court, and when to court, treating each in an interesting and instructive way. She also dealt with marriage in an equally pleasant manner, and evidently delighted her audience, judging from the manner in which she was applauded. On the whole the lecture was very good. At the close she said that if they encouraged her she would deliver her lecture ‘ Melbourne by day and Melbourne by night ’ before leaving here. This announcement having been received with tremendous applause, she stated that the lecture would be delivered at the same time and place this evening.

Messrs R. Wilkin and Co. hare a 2i- horsepower engine for private sale. W. S. Gillam, of Timaru, Painter, has filed. Mr H. S. Austin is his solicitor.

Mr J. Blyth invites tenders for the erection of a cottage at Orari, for Mr J. Wadsworth. Mr C. Heid, tobacconist, notfies that he has on sale a work entitled ‘ New Zealand Beds,’ by Madame Lotti Wilmot, being a sequel to Beds I have slept in.’

Messrs Maclean and Stewart have a freehold farm of 325 acres, situated at Tapanui, Otago, for sale. They will hold a clearing sale on the farm of Mr J. Kelland, junr., Kakahu, to-morrow.