LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1119, 10 July 1883, Page 2

LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

The Band.—The Temuka Brass Band Will give an open air concert this evening. Gebaidine Koad Boabd.—The usual monthly meeting of the Board will take place torclay, in'their office at 10 a.m. ; ; ' -ABiOH Find.—A piece of quartz which DvHector says will yield Go7oz of gold it© the ton, has been found between Lowry Bay and Pencai-row Heads, near Wellington.! Tkatblllng on His Fame.—Priestly.wbo 6.yuie month* ago narrowly escaped being found guilty of the murder of Mr Hamilton in Auckland is about to lecture on what jhe knows'of the murder. |

; Happy Man.—Mr John Tyrrel, proprietor of the Westport Star, has been presented with a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address as a testimony of the sympathy felt for him in connection with an action for libel. . - ' T! .i a EOTAX AIBXANDBOTNA- LODGE, 1.0.0 F., TehtJkA.—The Secretary to ; this Lodge an nounces that tlie installation'of officers forithe ensuing term will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall.tto morrow evening. At the conclusion of the installation a banquet will be held; Gebaldinb Brass Band.—We understand that the instruments for this band hive now come to hand, and the members will commence practice at onoe under the leadership ( of Mr Weston. The promoter of the band)' Mr Krusej hopes that the members will at tend punctually, so that they will, ere long, give a good account of themselves. Entertainment at Gebak>ine.—We would remied our. readers of the entertainmentiwhich takes place at Geraldineto night, at 7.30 o'clock. Yen. Archdeacon Harper of; Timaru, will deliver a lecture on' The ; Sun/ and vocal and instrumental'' music -will farm a'partof the evening's Sacbed Concebt.—On the ,25th of this month, a grand Sacred Concert will be given in the new St. Mary's Church, Geraidine, iu aid of the furnishing fund. The programme will'contain ensamples of the music in vogue at'the various Christhu Churches, and duels and solos by the bs 1 ) talent in tlie district. Tickets can be obtained vwj where.

Auction Sale at <?erat.dive,—Messrs J: Munriell will hold a sale of freehold property situat d in Geraldins ai their s-leroom*, to-da/. Geram>ink Racecopkse.—Considerable alterations are at the present time being undertaken in connection with the Gero.kline racecourse. The straight is being widened and other improvements ma 'e, so material benefit will result at ..tire enuiing -meeting, •-■•■'■ White Washing."—Tn'taelis l ; of insolvents appearing in Saturday's Dunedin notice the name of L. A. Norman, prints.—. debts ( £29l;i9s'.6dV The bankrupt was "for. some time "resident in Temuka, and doubt'lesj ' many of our tradespeople will remember him. • ;•; : \ - ■■

IMPROVEMENTS IN GBEALDINKi—TheTfIaX surrounding the new"St, Mary's church has been cleared away,'and the fencing commenced. Some of the local tradesmen are enlarging their premises, with the view of an enlargement of their/ business transactions. Taken : altogether, ti-ading: matters are'looking up in the township. .

Sudden Death at/. Eht/baeb Fiat.— On Saturday last, an infdnt son of Mr Wm. Howes, of Rhubarb Flat, died somewhat suddenly. It appears that it had been ailing since its birth (three days before), and on the day mentioned its father left home to i3sk medical aid, but on his roturn found the child had died during -his absence. The Coroner for the district has been communicated with, but we ddlhbfc know at prese'nfc whether it will be deemed necessary to., hold

an inquest. Death by MiSADvaNTtrftE.—An inquest was hold in Dunedin on Saturday touching the death of Alexander Stuart (son of the Eev. Dr. Stuart, the widely known and much esteemed Presbyterian clergyman), who was found c"ead in bed. It was shown that a large quantity of cynanide of potassium; was in his stomach. He was taking borax for sore throat, and the two things were; in exactly similar p l ials. The jury found that death proceeded from his accidentally swallowing poison. Deceased had retired to bed in splendid spirits, and was shortly going to New South Wales. He was a surveyor, and was aged twenty seven.

Miu'oud School Committee, The monthly meeting of this Committee was held on May sth. Present—Messrs Woodley (Chairman),- Maze, Woodbead and Brown. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The report of the schoolmaster was read. It showed that there had been a more regular attendance of * 'scholars during the' last' week.- • A : letter was read from the Board, of Education stating that the master had received three months, notice of the .termination of his, engagement.:; A letter was read from Mr George Pratley asking for the use of the schoolroom'every Friday, night; for the purpose of holding a dancing class. The request .'was granted,' condiiiohal on.,the applicant pay in* five shillings per nigifc fojfci theu ee of thd room. The amount realised by the recent concert end dance in aid of the incidental fund, was £5 4j. 6d. , ;Sundry'; accounts were passed for paymont, and th« meeting adjourned > till'"the firafc Monday in August/.; i. V; .; "■'.'.'■./.:'

Shag: Point Coal.—ln another, column

'wil'l'be found f an advertisement pointing 'out the advantages of'Usiuj the above coal. We have 'tried ity- and can say that it is better value for the money than Kaitangita. It burns brightly and leaves no cinders. A fire of it put inthegrate at night will be found burning'next morning. From a-patriotic point of view people should burn this coal inj preference toi .the imported article; as it is a'local iudiistry of importance to the colony. It employs between 90 and 100 men per day, who turn 120 ton*: of, coal per ■/■ day out ot two seams, one of: which i' 250 feet deep, and the other 150 feet.- There are 40 horsepower engines atl work iii hoisting the coal .and/itsl double cage is capable of lifting one ton per minute. -The Company are, also carrying on in connection with the noal mite an extensive drain-pipe and brick-making factory, and their articles are widely used andifavorably known. Such an; enterprise as this is well worthy of support, as it keep* money in the country. There is too much, /money leaving this colony in the .shape of Interest, an| tjbe Co3{l of imported goods, and it is the "duty of colonists to do 'everything'theV can'to'avoid Ihia,/ whenever a locally produced'article 1 can be had for less money than, {-he iit)por!,e.l one, as in this case of the Sfliag Point coal." Entertainment.—There was but a very poor attendance at the entertainment given, by Mr Tsece and his company last Saturday night in the Volunteer Hall, Ternuka. The Entertainment, .consisted of .two overtures by MssßallVwlio played splendidly, although, the piano; [was/, in> yery bad order; fou r recitations by Mr Tepee, three spngs # bj Miss Thompson, two songs.brMr Warrington, two concertina solos by Mr D. Hurt, and a sailor's .hornpipe and aplpg 4*"ceiby^Mr,-Berry. Mr Teece [waSLpf course ,the ;centre ( figup of the company, and rendered the pieces ' Shemus b'BrienV Over-the hill id- the poor house, ' Maior' 'The Raven." ThV'Quack Doctor/'and'' Not so bad.' His delivery was >bry clever, was* 'good. He -seems to understand his subject thoroughly and gives a true expression to the feeling in'ended to be pourtrayed. Mr Warrington was iin splendid voice, and : sang'capitally. Mr Hurt's imitation of the Highland? Piper and the peal of, .bells..was.also,, good, and Mr, was thoroughly appreciated. At tha ofi the ent£rtainm>Ht; My Teece made a sp'ef ch, in which he complained very bitterly of |ihe want of "support given him in Temuka. There was an excuse for it, certainly .as it was Saturday night, but "if Mr Teece knew Temuka as well as'well as .others --he .would not be surprised at not being supports d. It is a very remarkable fact that the-two greatest frauds that have come —to this town— Beu Allah and Jem Mace had crowded houses, while good entertainments never could draw a house.

St. Mast's Church, Geraldine.—The above beautiful church has been completed bo far as it is intended to go on with it at present with, the exception of its internal furniture. In a few weeks it will be furnished also-the fittings ore being got up at i.> present— and then it will be one of the prettied churohes in the district. It is 66 feet long byiartßßtaride ; 38 feat from floor to ceiling, and it has a porch 15 feet by 10 feet. The style of architecture is the perpen dicular Qatbic, and it has been faithfully adhered tcvthroughout. It is lit by 15 lead lights and cathedral green glass win-lows with a rose windew in the end. The window* are lancet shaped, and ornamented with a Gothic mould resting on carved bosses. -The roof is an open Gothic one, composed of six arches, and carved mouldod principles resting on carved corbells. A Gothic "panelled dado of remu and, kauri about four feet six inches high, lines the whole of the interior, with the exception of the ejtst end, 'where three Golhie arches will lead to the 'chancel organ chamber, and vestry room when they are built. . On the ridge of the roof is a : cast iron cresting, and each end is finished ' off with finials. The building is of brick, cemented throughout, and when finished will bo a substantial and beautiful building. It is aot Ihe intention to go on further with the buildingT'at present. The plans show a tower and steeple at the west end, and a -"crucifix-shaped addition at the east, where the chancel, the vestry, aiid the organ chamber are to be, but these are not to be carried out at present. Fearful Tragedy at Dunedin.—The most terrible tragedy that has occurred in this Colony for a long time was witnessed in Dunedin last Friday evening, when a man George Timothy Stephenson blew him ,'.self and his wife to atoms, with a charge of dynamite. It appears that Stephenson was once a,bank clerk, and married the wife whom he has now murdered, ten years ago, against her parents will. They were married • by the - Rev Dr Stuart, of Dunedin, after which they went to L>e in Cromwell, where .he engaged in mining. They had three children, one of whom died. Some time after they went to live in Dunedin and subsequently

' Stephenson obtained a separation arid order against her husband, Four years ago Stephenson went to the North Island, and two years after he returned, and has been going from bad to worse in Dunedin

ever since. In the meantime the wife was firing with her father, who is a painter, in the employ of Messrs Fish and Son, and supporting herself and her children with her earnings, she being employed as a milliner by Messrs Saunders, Mcßeath andCo, which position she

oecupied at the time of her death. Her husband ever since his return had been annoying her, and she frequently gave him money to keep him quiet. But this was not sufficient, he still continued to persecute her, and in May last hi-was bound over to keep thejjeagsv-towards her, and on another occasion he was sent to goal for seven days for his conduct towards her. He made many attempts to get the custody of the children but always failed, and tnat seems to have been bis principal grievance. On the ovening in question he followed her when she was going home from her work, and catching hold of her by the throat fired a dynamite cartridge. In a moment both were tying mangled on the street, with both their heads shattered to pieces. In his pocket was found a cartridge similar to Mie one it is conjectured

he did the deed with. It had a head fuse

inserted at one end, and tied by a piece of thread to the fuse was a match, head out-

wards. He evidently struck the match and then waved the cartridge in the air after the

fuse caught to make it burn brisker. On him also was found a letter drawn out to the Minister of Justice, asking that the

separation order obtained by his wife should bt> s t aside A portion of bis brains was

found 2 yards away bespattered over a laurel hedge and on the roof of an adjoining house, and one of his wife's fingers in the next Btreet. Crowds of people visited the scene of the tragedy on Sunday but there was very little to be seen. At the inquest on Saturday, the father of the deceased woman deposed that he h«d lived in constant fear in consequence of the threats of Stephenson against the life of his wife and children, and against himself. The jury found a verdict that the deceased, Stephenson, and his wife met their death by a dynamite cartridge fired .by Stephenson, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show in what state of mind he was. They added a rider recommending that no person should be allowed to purchase or use dynamite without a license.

Mr K. Sando, broker, Timaru, advertises a number of properties for sale.

Mr Wm. Coltman, watchmaker, Geraldine, has atr.ip*an'l harnesi for sale —price £l2.

Messrs R. Wikin and Co. will hold a sale of skins, hides, and tallow at their Timaru salerooms to-morrow.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart will hold a sale of wool skins, etc, at their Timaru Horse Bazaar, to-morrow.

Mr W Helena, Geraldine, notifies that all cattle, horses, etc, straying on his property Eaukapuka bush, will be impounded if not immediately removed. The Engineer to the Temuka Road Board nojifles that the track past Mr Oldfield'i property, near Temuka river, is on private land and not open to the public. Mr George Dyson notifies that if the owner of a black and white sheep dog, which has been at his place for two month*, does not claim it before the 18th July it will be sold to defray expenses. • Mr R. H. Pearpoinfc advertises that all accounts due in the etlate of the late J. Mendeleon on account of the Temuka and Geraldine stores must be paid to the respective places without delay.

Never Keturn.—lt is said that one out of every four real invalids who go to foreign countries to recover health never return, except as a corpse. The undertakers, next to the hotelkeepers, have the most profitable business. This excessive mortality may be prevented, and patients saved arid cured under the enre of friends and loved ones at home, if they will but ute Hop Bitters in time. Bead.