LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1114, 28 June 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

CrBRALDINE WITEB WOBKS' BlLL.—Tllis Bill vrill be considered in Committee ef the House to day. Tkmitka Football Club.—We ar.i glad to note that this club is going in extensively for practice. They will meet in the Temuka Park for a friendly sc r immagi on Saturday next, at 2 p.m., and every subsequent Saturday throughout the season. Ripormatiow of Juveniles. —Amongst the various matters dealt with in the Inspector of Prisons' report, tabled in the House of Represen'atives, is that in connection with juveniles who may be committed to prison for breaches of th« law. He regrets that during his visit* to the larger prisons he observed so many of them, and suggosts that some steps •hould be taken to reform them, and render them useful members of society in after life. The establishment of a reformatory fa,rm on a large scale is specially dwelt upon, or, failing that, the establishment of a training ship, to be stationed at Timaru, where, under the lee of the break water, it can be safely anchored, and it will be witbin easy distance of the goal. He also suggests that owing to there being so few prisoners confined therein, the Timaru gaol should be reduced to principal warden,

Erratum. —An error crept into our report of the Wesleyan Church, G-eraldiuo, entertainment The trio was not by Mesdaniss C.E and T. Sherratt, as stated, bu 1 ; by Mr C. E. Sherratt.Miss Andrews and Master R. Andrews.

Lotal Alkxandroyna Lodge, 1.0.0. F The brethren of this Lodge are requested to nnefc in their Lodge room, Temuka, tomorrow, 29th inst, at 2 p.m , to follow the remains of Bro. Ackroyd's son to the Temuka

cemetery. Death of an old Colonist,-—A telegram announces the death of the Eev Mr Hobbs the oldest Wesleyan Missionary in the Australasian Colonies. He was 84 years of age and the father of Mr Hobbs M.H.R. He arrived in New Zealand in 18823.

Dunedin G-aol ENQUIRY.—This enquiry drags along its weary existence, Mr Stout, who is appearing for Mr Caldwell, (the late Governor of the gaol) cross-examining the witnesses -who had given evidence prior t° his attending the enquiry.

The Late Mister Ackroyd The friends of Mr William Aokroyd are invited lo attend the funeral of his late son, which will leave his residence, Tetnubi, tomorrow, at 3 p.m. The children attending the Temuka Sunday end day schools are aho invited to meet at the sohoolhouse, at half past two p.m. in order to follow also. Meanness in High Places. The Pielding Star writes in reference to a paragraph published recently from the Hawkes Bay Herald: —"We know of a resident in Wellington, who, Jhough possessing considerable property, went to the old country, married a buxom widow with several grownup children, and came out to the colony as free immigrants! There's no guaging the meanness of some people." The Small Bird Nuisance.—Regarding the small bird nuisance, a writer in a Canterbury journal states:—We were much troubled here wit h the small birds about three years ago. I mixed the grain I was using with coal tar, about a pint of tar to eight bushels of grain, first, I emptied the grasn ou t on a floor and mixed it properly, I found that no bird or fowl would touch it, and it came up fine, and even the larks did not interfere with it after it germinated. I made it known to our farmers, here and they have this year pretty generally adopted it in wheat sowing. One of them came to me lately and said "I mixed 30 bags of seed with tar and not one bird touched it and I went through tho drill without any trouble." It is equally suitable for any kind of grain, and if it does sticklin the drill, a little sand relieves the difficutty.

Thk Blub Ribbon Abmv.—A meeting of the above was held at the Rangitata Isknd Schoolroom an Monday evening last» Mr S. Buxton in the chair. The meeting oponprl by singing a hjtaa, after which the Chairman engaged in prayer. Addresses were delivered by the Chairman and Me.-srs Scott and Andrews, of Ashburton. A few friends and children were present, and joined in singing a few Sankey'a hymns, Mr T. Buxton presiding at the organ. Mr Scott, who first addressed the meeting, gave a very interesting temperanca Bpeecb. Headings were also given by the Misses Buxton and J. Buxton. Mr Andrews then spoke at length on the Blue Kibbon movement, which pleased the audience exceedingly. The Chairman said he should be glad if all present would sign before leaving. After singing another byma 43 signed the pledge, and donned the ribbon. The meeting then closed in the usual manner, thus ending a very enjoyable evening. A Bot Ratcatcheb.— Ralph Corbit an ingenious twelve year-old boj of Honeybrook, Chester County, Pa., has dovised a novel a 'of getting rid of rats, which infested his father's cellars. He has constructed out of old fruit jars a battery of three Leyden jars, whieh he connects and places upon a large iron plate which touches,' the tinfoil on the outside. The bait is so arranged that when the rat steps up the plate and seiz es the bait he at once makes the connection between the outside and inside of the jars, and they are discharged through his body killing him literally a? quick as lightning. He charges the jars by the means of an e'ectric machine, al o construe'ed by himself, lie ran a couple of wires through the floor to'he cellar from the room above, and as soon as lie would hear a rat £qu?ik he would immediately iccharge U'c? buttery The first time 1 e put the machine in operation he slaughtered twouty«live r,its iu the of three hours, and in two days the cellar was entirely cleared of the pests.—Mercantile Age.

A CANTEEBURr GOLDFIELD.—About four months ago (says the Christchurcb Telegraph) a party of prospectors discovered goH in considerable quantities in a locality not more than forty-fire miles from Christchurcb. Sampler of the auriferous sand were handed to the Hon W. Rolleston, aud by him were forwarded to the General Government Analyistat Wellington (Mr McKay). The sand which he tested measured two quarts, and weighed ten pounds, and he has reported that pay-dirt of this description will run loz 6dwts 14grs to the ton. The discorerers of the field decline to indie ite the locality at present, as it is anticipated that a company will be formed which will subscribe a bonus of £SOO, and in addition to this tke discoverers will net? one-half of the Government subsidy. Samples of the sand are now on view at the Yaliey Hotel, Heathcote, and also at the Western Mining Exchange. Gold shows very plainly throughout, and when ex* i.mined under the microscope it is foun<s to be of very fin 6 quality, and tho sand is shown to be comprised to a considerable extent of minute garnets and rubies. The prospectors state that they carefully examined a considerable area of ground on the field and found the same indications to exist, and it moy be mon'ioned that none of the sinkings from whence this auriferous sand was obtained exceeded four feet in depth. There is also an abundant supply of water in the neighborhood.

Thk Financial Statement. Th» Colonial Treasurer delivered his financial statement last night. It consisted of 15,000 words of a telegraphic message, but as it came very late we were not able to publish it. PkorosED Borough of Temuka.—ln another column will be found a notification from Mr K. P. Qray, the Chairman of Committee, intimating that a petition will be presented to His Excellency the G-orernor praying him to constitute a certain portion of the Temuka Road District a borough, under the provisions of " The Muncipal Corporations' Act, 1876," to be called the Borough of Temuka.

The Gebaldink Dairy and Bacoxcuring Company.—A meeting of the provisional directors of the above proposed Company was held last Monday evening, Messrs Coltman and Shiers who visited Ashburton submitted a most favorable report of what they saw, which was to the effect that the Ashburton Company had made £IOOO profit or 20 per cent, on their capital, although the factory had been only seven month working. Mr W. S. Mashn wa§ appointed broker, and it was decided to issue a prospectus at once and push on the sale of shares as fast as possible. The Bank of New South Wales was appointed as the Company's bank, Dr Poster was appointed solicitor, and Mr J. Y. Ward secretary. Between 350 and 400 shares, hire been taken up, so there is no danger of the thing not floating.

The Surveyor of the Temuka Road Board invites tenders for several works. For par* ticulars see our advertising columns. Mr Maslin will hold a great clearing salt of timber etc at Mr Gr. Meredith's Mills, Bush, to day at noon. Messrs Mundell and Co., will hold their usual monthly stock sale at their rooms, Geraldine, on Wednesday, 4th July. Mesrss Mollison, Duthie and Co. intend holding a clearing sale of drapery, etc, at Geraldine. One Pound reward is offered by Dr Foster to anyone ret urning to him a brown pony that strayed from .his paddock in Greraldine. Mr Woodhead invites tenders for leasing for a period of four years from Ist August next, about 20 acres of land with a good eight-roomed house thereon. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will sell a large quantity of frui*, forest trees and shrubs at Pleasant Point, to-morrow, imme fiately after the stock sale. They will also hold a sale of draught horses at their repository, Timaru, on Saturday next.