LOCAL AND GENERAL

Temuka Leader, Issue 1082, 13 March 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bank Holiday.- Sa:urday next being St. "Patricks' Day.will be observed by the Bank of New Zealand as a holiday. Milneb Stephen in Tbotjble—lt is stated that proceedings for false pretences have been takeu against Mr Milner Stephen.

Noteworthy.—The fivsfc steel boiler made in New Zealand has been constructed for the Mosgiel Woollen factory by Kineaid, McQueen and Co.

Cricket Match. —The linal match .be« tween the All England and Victorian Elevens is now proceeding. The Victorians made 284 in their first innings, and the Englishmen up to the present have made 47 for the loss of 7 wickets. Major Atkinson's Stumping Tour. — The arrangements for Major Atkinson's tour through the South Island have been slightly altered. It u now probable that he speaks at Christchurch first on Monday, the 19th. He will thon proceed to the late districts, returning thence to Dunedin. Impressive.—The following is said to have been the wind up of a charity sermon at Ipswich, Queensland :—'' You sing," said the preacher, addressing his congregation, " with fervor and intense earnestness the beautiful hymn, ' Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.' And thon (changing his voice, and spoakiug half satirically) you fumbtfl in your pockets for a threepenny bit."

Tab Visit of a Land Leaouer.—An Auckland telegram slates that that Mr Redmond, M.P., the Land Leaguer, is expected shortly to risit that city, and several Com mitee meetings have already been held for the purpose of giving him a welcome. Bishop Luck has addressed a letter to the Roman Catholic clergy of his diocese, urging them not to countenance Mr Redmond on his pnbhc appearance as a delegate of the Land League, but it is stated that several of the clergy intend disregarding the Bishop's directions.

Nilsbon IN Chinatown.—The Diva weni through Chinatown ('Frisco) the other night, and was much amused. She was at their theatro, went through the joss house, and ate at a restaurant. At a jeweller's shop she stopped to buy a ring. • You likee ling, you payee five dollar,' said John ; but madame, with an eye to her pocket, tried to beat him down to four, which he would not have. She paid the full price, but imagine her looking at a dollar when she carries 8000 dollars out of the town for singing about twenty songs, mostly ballads. Some people never get enough. The Crops in the Waieaeapa The Star says:—"We regret to hear that nearly a third of the grain harvested in and around Masterton has been damaged by the late rains and a good deal has been destroyed. Some stacks were barely finished when the rain came on, and some were imperfectly constructed. The consequence is that from the roof downwards the wheat has got damp and is beginning to grow. Messrs Chamberlain Bros., Welch, and Campbell, and the Maoris at Te Ore Ore are spoken of as heavy suf ferers." South Canterbury is evidently not, the only district in New Zealaud which has suffered from a.wet harvest. His Excellency the G-ovebnob's Toub. —The Governor stayed at Lawrence, in the Tuapeka district, last Friday night, and on Saturday morning visited the Blue Spur and other cement gold-workings. He arrived in Dunedin at 5.50 p.m. and drove straight to tho Horticultural Show, which was the best over held there. There was no public speak ing. Oil Saturday His Excellency the Governor was presented with an address by four Chinese merchants on behalf of their fellow-countryman. His Excellency, in reply, said .—' Whilst lam the Governor of this rich and fertile country I feel sure that I shall be able to rely on the loyal, law-abiding and peaceful sp>nt of the Chinese residents in New Zealand, and I trust that they will be able t:> carry on the various industries, whether mining, or agricultural, in which they are engaged with success to themselvas and to the benefit of the community of which t hey form a part.' He added that in the Straits Settlements and in South Australia he had made the acquaintance of numbers of Ghiueso His Excelleuoy inspected Brown, Ewing andCo.'sj astablishmont in the afternoon.

Tb Whim at Pabih.aka—Parihaka was almost deserted when Te Whiti arrived, the majority of the natives being ergagsd at work in the bush. As soon as the news reachod them however, they lost no time in assembling at Parihaka, and greeted the chief with songi of welcome. A number of natives were assembled on Saturday morning at Parihaka from various directions, and it is stated that a large meeting will be held on the 28th of this month, Te Whiti'a regular annual meeting day, for the purpose of inaugurating the meeting again, when representatives of all the tribes of the district are to be invited.

. The Weather. —Bain began to fall on Sunday, and continued unsettled iup to the time of going to press. This has been the worst season tor harvesting -for;; the last 13 years, and it is probable that a great deal if harm will be done. We are informed, however, on good authority, that the damage will not be so serious as was expected: One of our largest farmers who had'his orop out through the rain of about a fortnight ago finds now that it sustained very little, damage with, the exception of a few sheaves that had been lying on the ground. The quality of his wheat' is excellent, and he is not ready to part with it unless he gets the top price for it.

Pbophbcy Bubst Up.—Mr Wiggins, a Canadian astronomer, prophecied about a month ago, that a terrible storm would visit the Australian Colonies on the 10th of this month. That was last Saturday, and as there is no appearance of the storm yet we may safely conclude that it only existed in the imagination of Mr Wiggins. This caused a good deal of alarm, and to some people great inconvenience. There were many who put off their sea -journeys for no other reason than that they were afraid of the storm. The comet willalso doubtless fail to realise the anticipations of the Scotch Astronomer Koyal. It would be well to hold an enquiry as to the sanity of some of these scientifio people. Eeally it is too bad that they should be frightoning people with, their nonsensical prophecies.

Return of the Maori Prophet to Parih.vxa—.—The Government steamer Stella, with Te Whiti and Tohu on board, arrived at Opunake at eight o'clock on Friday morning. There was a crowd of Europeans on th» beach, but few natives were present, it not being generally known where the chiefs would laud. They received a most demonstrative welcome from the natives. T 6 Whiti addressed a few words to them, and the party drove in a Government trap to Parihaka, accompanied by Colonel Roberts, Captain Messenger, and a native interpreter. Te Whiti and Tohu looked remarkably well. The party arrived at Parihaka at noon, when, Te Whiti and Tohu wero released. At several points on the road between Opunake and Parihaka numbers of natives were assembled, who heartily welcomed the return of the prophot and his henchman.

Butter and Cheese Factory.—A meeting of the directors of the Temuka Butter, Cheese and Bacon Curing Factory Company (Limited), was held iu the Wallingford Hotel last Saturday evening. Present —Messrs Guild (Chairman), Hayhurst, Gray, Cain, and Austin. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting to be to pass accounts. It having appeared that there was £641 due to the Company, the question was discussed as to the advisibility of pressing shareholders to pay up, and it was ultimately decided that all moneys not paid up by the 31st of March next should be charged interest at the rate of 10 per cent. Messrs Hayhurst and Gray were appointed to confer with the architect, with regard to certain alterations suggested by the contractor to be made in the building. Accounts to the amount of £174 were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated. Surprised.—A Wakatipu settler recently entertained an angel unawares.' The correspondent of the Orago Daily Times writes : —" During the recent hot weather a bachelor settler in this district, hailing ' frae the land o' cakes' received a visit from a gentleman, who asked for a drink of toj,. Our bachelor, who conducts h'u establishment upon the principles of a canny Scot, complained of the frequency of callers, and grudgingly poured out some tea into a dirty pannikin. Aeon* versatiou showed that the visitor was also a Scotsman, and that both came from nearly the same place. Yet this did not" soften th« host towards his visitor. Upon taking his leave the visitor presented his host with his card, which read— f Lord Gordon Lennox.' Picture the dismay of our bachelor, who> being born on the Duke of Gordon's estate' had been trained to look upon the duoal family as second only to that of the Queen.

Accident.—On last Saturday evening as Mr Boyd Thornton and Mi* Smith were driving in a gig in front of the office of this paper, Hie horse took fright at a perambulate j? and bol'od on to the footpath. The gig e une suddenly in contact with a post, result* ing in the two shafts being and both occupants were thrown out. Mr Thomson was thrown so violently that he turned a somei* sault in the air, but fortunately he carre down on his feet, and escaped unhurt. Mr Smith was thrown down bet.ween the horse and the trap, and was slightly hurt. The breaking of the shafts released the hone, which bolted down the street, and in turning into tho stable at the back of Mr Thomson g shop went on the concrete footpath in front of Messrs Seigeit and Fauvel's shop, where ife fell and narrowly escaped- breaking the window. It was slightly hurt in the knee, but not seriously. The gig was all that sustained much injury, that having both shafts smashed and the axle bent.

A boy is wanted for the office of this paper. A small round locket, with two boy's photos has been lost. Finder to return it to Mr Siegert. Mr W. A. Murray advertises that ho iB a cash purchaser of wheat; oats, and barley, delivered at eontitrv stations and will supply cornsacks aud.twine at lowest rates.

Messrs Robfc. Wilkin and Co. will hold the first of a series of sales of wool, skins and hides, at Tiraaru, to morrow. They hare for sale at Albury, and a 33 acre farm near Pleasant Point; also a number of sheep of all ages for sale. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold a most important Bale at the Washdyke, of leasehold property and lire and dead stock, to-morrow; they will a'so holds sale of skins on the same date. On Friday they will hold a sale of furniture, horses, carriages, etc., on the premises of D. McGruinness, Esq., Timaru. At the South Canterbury Ram Fair on the 29th they will sell Merino and Lincoln Rams Attention is directed to Mr T. GL Rowley's advertisement in another column. We have seen Mr Rowley's stock of sporting materials, and can sav that it is equal, if not superior, to any in either Dunedin or Christchurch. The exhibition of guns of all descriptions is of a very high class, the modern breech-loader predominating, though the muzzle-loader, now considered obsolete by the majority of sportsmen, is well represented. These vary in price from 30s for a single-barrelled muzzle-loading ' fowling piece 'up to nearly twice as many guineas, for.a deuble-barrelled breech-loader, with the latest improvements. In 'fancy' requisites—things, that is, that our grandfathers did without—there are decoy ducks, skilfully got up, duck calls to complete the deception, game bags, and numerous other articles now considered necessary to oomplete the equipment of the shooter. A more interesting article to many people is a sample gun barrel, showing the various stages of manufacture from the primary twist—resembling the thread of a screw tap—to the weld and finish; and samples of powder, from coarse grr'n up to pebble qualities. As giving some idea of the extent to which the shooting leason has grown, Mr Rowley's preliminary stock of ammunition comprises ronghly about 4£ tons of shot, over a quarter of a ton of gunpowder, and cartridge cases and caps innumerable, a supply that would mean ex» termination if the duck of to-day were as simple as his auceslors. j