LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1124, 21 July 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Temuka Butter and Cheese Com pany. —Mr W. Upton invito tenders for the erection of a cottage, piggery, and the necessary plant for the factory. Tenders close on the 27th. Defence of the Colonies.— Sir Edward Strickland has declared against the military organisation and defence of the colony, and considers the money spent on it most unprofitable. The Claimant.—The Government of New South Wales will resist application for the release of the lunatic Creswell to be identified as Arthur Orton, as they are in possession of information concerning Cresswell from the lima of his arrival in (lie colony to the present date. Divorce. —An interesting divorce ease comes on at Dunedin before Judge William' next month. The petitioner, George Ballingall Stuart, of Victoria, seeks to have his marriage with Lucic Stuart annulled on the ground of her adultery with William Say Dickson. Ha claims £2OOO damages. The main issue is as to the custody of a child horn of the marriage.

Oddfellows’ Ball. —On Thursday evening last, notwithstanding the fact 'hat the weather was anything bub promising, there was a good attendance at the Oddfellows’ Ball, Geraldine, which took place in their hall. Mr W. Lawson acted in a very efficient manner as M.C., and Miss McClelland and Mr Somerville carried out the musical portion of the programme to the satisfaction of all present. The company broke up at n early hour on the following morning, highly pleased with their evening’s enjoyment.

Direct Steam.— The New Zealand Shipping Company are advised by cable that the British Queen arrived at Plymouth on the 16th inst. Her refrigerators had worked well, and her meat was in good condition. The Doric is to leave London this month for Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton She has already 210 passengers booked, and brings also 250 Government {migrants. The Fenstanton is to leave London on the 25th for Port Chalmers and Lyttelton.

Cholera and Smallpox.— The Fijian ports are declared infected. The ship Poonah which recently arrived there from Calcutta brought the disease with her. Twenty six of her passengers died from cholera during the voyage. The steamer Penguin which armed at Auckland from Leruka on the 17th inslant landed her passengers immediately after arrival, and this led to great excitement on it becoming known that persons from the infected district had arrived in the colony. What the result will be cannot be told.

Matrimonial Arrangement. The Bromley episode at Gisborna lias been amicably arranged, and the cases withdrawn from the Court. The defendant admitted that he was lawfully married to the lady who came here from Sydney to see him. It was stated in evidence that Bromley was married to the woman he lived with as his wife in Gisborne, but there appear* to be some difficulty in producing the register of such alleged marriage. Mrs Bromley, it is understood, accepts £SO and returns to her family in Australia.

Sensational Shooting Cask.— ln Sydney recently a sensational shooting case occurred at the Paddington Barracks. At about halfpast 2 o’clock a man was seen looking curiously about the entrance of the barracks. No one accosting him, he entered and walked towards the sentry on duty, who was a few paces from him. He then drew a revolver and fired, but luckily he fired low, The shot hit the sentry, inflicting an ugly wound in the leg. The man then rushed aw iy to the guardreom, which he entered, firing shot after shot. Several soldiers narrowly escaped the ball*, one of which whistled close beneath Sergeant Pirie’s nose. The sergeant, however, concluded that he had a madman to deal with, and said, ' Don’t be a fool. Drop 'hat revolver, and shake hands.’ The would-be ossassain did so, and no sooner was his band gripped than it was held fast. The sergeant closed with the man, others came to his assistance, and in a few moments the disturbance was ended by the prisoner being securely handcuffed. A large number of cartridges were found in his pockets. He proved to be a man named William Hunter, suffering from religious mania.

AClekgtman in Tboubib.— ' iEgles,’ in the Australasian, tells the following: Archdeacon M , of New Zealand, was a gentleman remarkable for getting into minor scrapes through innocent meddlesomeness. Shortly afrer landing in England npon a brief holiday tour, he was walking along a railway platform, when he descried a few yards in front of him a gentleman whose back he recognised as that of an old New Zealand friend. Inspired by an impulse to playfully surprise his old aquaintanco, the Archdeacon plucked at a pocket-hankerchief which was hanging out, but in an instant the stalwart hand of a policeman was oh his arm ‘ Come with me, and co r re quietly,’ said the guardian of the peace. ‘You mistake mo Slid the prisoner, ‘I am Archdeacon M , of ,in New Zealand.’ pointing to his clerical attire; ‘ Oh, that won’t do,’ said his captor : ‘ that game is often tried on.’ ‘ Bnt,’ remonstrated the archdeacon, ‘ that gentleman in front is a friend of mine. Ask him who I am.’ To this reasonable request the policeman acceded. Overtaking the rev. gentleman’s friend, the policeman tapped him on the back, and as ho turned round the archdeacon saw, to his horror, the face of an entire stranger, * This person,’ said the policeman, ‘ just sow picked your pocket. He says you are a friend of his!’ ‘ Never saw him before in my lifs!’ was the reply And the policeman, now certain that ho had got hold of an accomplished impostor, ran him in. It was only by communicating with the Bishop of Lichfield, under whom be had served in the Diocese of New Zealand, that the sportive archdeacon after a time obtained his release.

The Dunedin Gaol Inquire. -The Dunedin gaol inqui -y is proceeding at Wellington I'li. l witnesses still bear ts'imony to ilt j multy exorcised by the lute gaoler* Caldwell.

Geraldine Coursing Club. —The following arc the nominations for the two events r.o come off on the 25th ; —All Aged : I). M. lloss, (3) ; Thus Swinton, (3) ; T Farrell, (1); M. Connolly, (1). Puppy Stakes : D. M. Ro 8, (3) ; T. Swinton, 1.

Loss cr a Valuable Greyhound.— Yesterday morning Mr Connelly’s greyhound, ‘ Sally ’ was found dead in her kennel, at Geraldine. This will be a re*ions loss to her owner. ‘Sally’ wag the winner at the recent coursing match in one of Mr Poslletluvaite’s paddocks.

The Blue Ribbon Army. —The Blue Ribbon Anny has commenced an attack on Timaru. At a meeting held in the Oddfellows’ Hall there last Thursday evening there was a crowded attendance. The Rev D. Gordon and Mr 1L Sando were among the speakers, and exhorte 1 those present to enroll themselves in the movement.

Salvation Charity —Captain ’ Burford has paid the £lO fine imposed on Eiordan at Dunedin, for an outrage on the Salvation Army in Dunedin. Riordan was unable to piy the fine, and was commencing to serve t lie term of three months in gaol when the SalvaTon Captain paid the money and oh-

tained hia release. A Gold Fever. —Information ha* been received in Christchurch through Mr H. Thomson, M IJ.E, that Government will offer a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield in Can'erbury, A considerable amount of excitement prevails in that town in cor'am quarters, on account of the alleged discovery of gold near SoutUbndge. It is s'ated t! at a number of men have alrealy left to try their fortune at the supposed goldfield.

Harbor Board in a Fix -The Bluff Harbor Board is in a mess. It wanted to elect a chairman recently, with the result, that there were two candidates. An equal number voted for each and as the clerk who was in the chair could not vote there was a dead lock. One party met a few days after and elected their own man. When it came to confirm the minutes subsequently the other party left, and there was not a quorum present so nothing could be done. The clerk had no y right to preside over the election in the first instance, so the thing is illegal. Sacred Concert at Geraldine —A grand sacred concert will be held at Geraldine next Wednesday evening, in aid of St Mary’s Church. The concert is being got up by Mr Willoughby, and a reference to the programme which we publish elsewhere will show that it is one of unusual excellence. All the talent in the various choits in all the churches of all the denominations in South Canterbury have consented to assist, and specimens of the Church music of each will form part of the programme. The concert will be under the direction of Mr Edmonds. Trial of Disc Harrows.— Yesterday afievnoon a trial of the Carlyle Disc Harrows took place in a paddock in Geraldine, kindly placed at Mr Mundell’s (the local agent) disposal by Mr R. H. P'istlethwaite, Owing to the heavy downpour of rain on the night previous, the ground, just ploughed, was very heavy, which showed off the efficient manner in which the harrows worked to greater advantage. There were a good many farmers and others interested present. The result proved most satisfactory as the harrows thoroughly pulverised the soil by cutting, lifting and turning it. One wry great advantage it has over the older kind of harrows is that it cannot bo clogged. We particularly noticed a patent levelling device whereby the driver can maintain an even pressure on the whole length of the harrows, and force all the discs to cut into the ground an equal depth. Mr Ross, of the firm of G. Booth and Sons., Christchurch, was in charge of the machine. The thanks of all present are due to Mr Webster, who is in charge of fie estate during Mr Postlethwaite’s absence, for valuable assistance rendered. Hunt y. Sir Authde Gordon. —A case in which Mr Hunt, erstwhile Chief Secretary for Samoa, sued Sir Authur Gordon (our late governor) for £BOOO damages for illegal arrest, commenced last Tuesday in the Supreme Cour*. We'lington. Ihe evidence of the plaintiff was to the effect that on the 11th March, 1880, ho was appointed Chief Secretary and Ministers of Lands by the King of Samoa. The consuls strongly opposed bis appointment. In the following September Sir Arthur Gordon came. The ktler’s secretary told him (witness) that a charge of disturbing the peace of the island was laid against him. He showed Sir Arthur a letter from the King denying that he was dangerous to the peace of (he Island. H* met Sir Arthur and the other Consuls, and to’d them he was quite willing to co-operate with them in anything that was for the good of Samoa. Sir Arthur said be considered it d-sirable tha* he should cease all connection with the King, as although witness might be deposed he would still rule the country. Hf* - * also told witness to clear out of the Island by*t> a certain date or he would be arrested and placed in prison for a couple of yean. H.M.S. Cormorant came, and its captain told witness he would bombard the town if the Samoans would not give witness up. He was kept in prison for 19 days, after which he was taken to Fiji and allowed to go at large. He then proceeded against Sir Arthur Gordon. The case is still proceeding.

Mrs Wood advertises for a general servant. If not previously released the Geraldine poundkeeper will gall two red and white heifers on Monday next. The trustees in the bankrupt estates of WA. Murray, of Winchester, and J. Langskail, b 'Otraaker, of Tcmuka, notify that Mr J. Ash well, accountant, of Tetnuka is authorised to collect all debts due in the estates. A.ll claims against the estate of J. Langskail, are to be sent in to Mr W. Davidson, Timaru, trustee.