LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1145, 6 September 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Weathbb.— Very heavy rain fell alj day yesterday, and there was no appearance of it clearing off when wo went to press Fears are entertained that we shall have another flood.

Heid Oves.—We are compelled to hold over our report of the proceedings at the quarterly meeting of the Geraldine Station in connection with the Primitive Methodist Churches at Geraldine and Temuka till our next.

Pioughing Match Meeting. The meeting of persons interested in getting up a ploughing match in the Geraldine district, convened for yesterday afternoon, was postponed owing to the inclemency of the weather.

Geealdinb Philhaemonic Society.— The first meeting for practice of the newlyformed Society was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall in Geraldine, on Tuesday evening last. There were about thirty persons present. Mr J H Edmonds, of Temuka, who has been appointed conductor to the Society was present. The successful result of the evening augurs well for its future operations. Miss Fish played the accompaniment, on the piano. Suicide. —A man named Chas. Macfarlane shot himself through the head on Monday last in the hut of a man named Irvine, at Rimu, Auckland, The weapon belonged to Irvine, who was absent when the occurrence took place. Mactarlane was getting a good living by letting a horse to diggers to draw up washdirt. No reason is assigned for the suicide, except that deceased had been drinking; The deceased was unmarried and was native of Ireland.

Masonic. —An emergency meeting of the. Lodge Southern Star, No 619, S.C., takes place this evening in the Masonic Hall, Geraldine, at half-past 7 o’clock.

A Dangerous Barmaid.—A barmaid at the Pacific Hotel, Auckland, Isabella Parry, was arrested on Monday afternoon. A lodger in the hotel, named Chas. MoFafilo, charged her with threatening to riddle him with bullets. A loaded revolver was found in her room.

Alford best Minerals. —We are afraid that Alford Forest is doomed to produce no payable minerals of any kind. The first rush was for diamonds, then it was gold, and now it is tin, but it would appear that this will not be a success either, as Professor Bickerton’s analysis of the sand shows only one per cent tin. An Indignant Barmaid.—A barmaid at one of the leading hotels in Dunedin, feeling insulted by some remarks made toiler the other day by an individual notorious for his attention to the fair sex, told him ho would hear more of it. She waited upon the alleged insulter on Monday afternoon at bis office, and produced a horsewhip from beneath her dress and used it pretty freely across his face, neck, and shoulders, and to such an extent that he did not consider flight ignominious, The affair has naturally caused a good deal of comment.

Irish-Australian Convention. The Irish-Australian Convention will be held in St. Patrick’s Hall, Melbourne, on November 7th, by which time the Eedmonds will have completed their tour of the colonies. J. S. Eedmond will preside and offer the inaugural address. The object of the Convention is the founding and organising of an Irish National League in Australia on a permanent basis, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Now Zealand, and Queensland will send delegates. Mr O’Doherty, M.L.G., and Mr McCrostan, late Minister for Public Works, represent Queensland. Temuka Board of Health.— At the conclusion of tho Road Board meeting last Tuesday, a meeting of the above was held. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that the places at the east side of the Main street wore well kept, but that the back yards between the Main street and Vine street were not so good. Tho Vine street drain wanted clearing out, and a place at the junction of Vine and High streets was a receptacle for filth. The pan system was not in every case adopted; The Board decided to have the drain in Vine street cleared, and also to have cesspools removed where they were likely to be injurious to health.

Conditional Immortality.—A six nights debate on the doctrine of conditional immortality, between G A Brown, affirmative, and B Hudson (Presbyterian student), negative, was inaugurated in the Theatre Royal, Auckland, last Thursday night, Councillor Thompson being Chairman. There was a large audience, and on the platform wore the Eeys D Bruce, T W Dunn, McKenzie and Fraser, Presbyterians ; G Carter, Baptist ; and T Hamer, Congregationalist. Tho two sections into which the audience were divided enthusiastically applauded their respective champions during the debate. We rather think that at the close of the discussion the audience will be as wise as they were before.

A Yankee Stobt.— ln the collection of the marvellous the Yankee journalist licks all creation. In a recent issue of a New York paper 1 appeared the following ' Captain Augustus G Hall and the crew of the schooner Annie L Hall vouch for the following : On March 30th, while on the Grand Bank, in latitude 30deg. lOmin., longitude 33deg., they discovered an immense live trunk turtle, which was at first thought to be a vessel bottom up- The schooner passed within 25ft of the monster, and those on board had ample opportunity to estimate its dimensions by a comparison with the length of the schooner. The turtle was at least 40ft long 30£t wide and 30ft from the apex of the back to the bottom of the under shell.' The flippers wore 20ft long. It was not deemed advisable to attempt its capture.’ Quite appropriately this neat little story was headed ‘ A Whopper!' and we should think it was one too.

The Daegatimb Chabges.— The report of the Court appointed to inquire into the charges made by Mr Dargavillo against the Premier and Major Atkinson has been laid before the House, After recapitulating all the circumstances connected with the case the Committee wind up as follows : —The Committee, therefoi’o, find that Mr Dargaville having disavowed any intention to impute personal dishonor or dishonesty to the Premier or Colonial Treasurer, any such charge contained or dedueible from his speech is wholly without foundation. That Mr Dargaville has adhered to the charge of corruption; and has called evidence in support of the same, resting his case upon one particular transaction ; that the evidence with regard to that transaction wholly fails to substantiate the charge and allegations of political corruption based upon it. The charge is therefore entirely unfounded.

The Samoan Paeuambnt.— Some interesting information respecting the habits and customs of the Samoans was given by Mr W. J, Hunt in the course of his evidence at the Supreme Court at Wellington on the occasion of the recent action Hunt v. Gordon. The witness mentioned, among other things, that one building sufficed for the accommodation of both Houses of Parliament, one body occupy ing the principal chamber as soon as the other had vacated it. The members did not care for chairs and stools, but preferred to sit on mats after the fashion of the Maoris, and when engaged in transacting the business of the country wore usually attired in a shirt and a peicc of native cloth round the loins. Sometimes, however, the weather was so fearfully warm that the first-mentioned garment was dispensed with. The natives were adverse to the use. of hats and preferred to go about bare-headed, their hair being dyed something like the color of the lawyers' wigs by the application of lime.

Extraordinary,’ If True,—The correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says ; ’ Mr Turnbull startled the nerves of the House in no small degree during the course of the debate on the case of the woman Theresa, by slating that a petition to the House had that morning received from an ex-policeman, offering to prove that the police had suppressed a certain charge of murder, and had burnt a man’s house down in order to trump up a charge of arson against him, for which he penal- servitude.’ Horse Taming,---On Saturday afternoon last Mr Fleming, of Geraldine, gava ariotlier exlußltibn 'of liTs^slclll, as a horsa tamer, at Woodbury. Unfortunately, owing to the wet weather, the attendance of i persons interested was small Mr Fleming went through the same process as that on a similar occasion at Geraldine, in a very satisfactory manner. Mr Fleming promised the Woodbury people a repetition of his skill on Saturday next, when a largo attendance of farmers anti •thers is expected, Several young horses will then be on the ground.

•Temuka Licensing Court.—The usual quarterly meeting of the Temuka Licensing Court was held last Tuesday. Present— Messrs J. Talbot (Chairman), J. Paterson, J. Meyer and R, A. Barker. ' The police reported very - favorably of all, tlie houses in, the district excepting two. With regard toy the Wallingford Hotel they reported that there was no stable and ’ ihat' the waterclosets were objectionably’near the house. Mr Storey stated that many' ef the hotels in Timam had no stables, and many of them had the waterclosets under the same roof: The Bench decided that there was sufficient stable accomodation in town, and that ho was to .remove the water closets. Mr Storey intimated that he was willing to comply with the instructions of the Court: In the case of the other hotelkeeper it was decided to caution him to the effect that if things continued as they were his license would be cancelled. The Court then rose. 1 ' Geraldine County Council.—At the meeting of the above body held yesterday, the Chairman detailed what happened to the deputation that went to Ashburton re Eangitata bridge, and -recommended that, they should pay the money at once and be done with it. He admitted that the deputation only got laughed at. The Ashburton Council declined, to discuss the matter wh them. After’some discussion, Mr Moody moved, Mr Clulee seconded, and it was carried— ‘ That Messrs Measpn and Marchant (either or both), be appointed to.report upon the Eangitata traffic bridge, the' suitability of the piles used, and also as to the manner in . which they were driven; and report to the. Council on.the subject, with power to take evidence as to workmanship. To report to the Council within fourteen days if possible. 1 It was also decided to inform the Ashburton Council of this step, and to hold a special meeting within fourteen days to receive the report. Mr Moody gave notice of his intento move—* That at next meeting a rate of •no halfpenny in the £ be levied, in order to meet liabilites for bridges and other purposes in the County.’ Mr Moody • moved, and Mr Talbot seconded-—* That the Temuka Road Board be informed that the Council wilLtfc consider the whole question of taking over bridges of the County at the next meeting j in the meantime any qrgently needed expenditure incurred by the Board will be allo wed for in any arrangement arrived at.’ Carried.

: Good Tesiplabt.— On Monday last the usual meeting of the members of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, No. 44, 1.0.G.T., was held in the schoolroom, Geraldine. There was a good attendance: The minutes of the previous-meeting were read and confirmed.One candidate was initiated as a member of the Order. The installation of officers for the ensuing term was then proceeded with, the interesting ceremony being performed by the GD.W.C.T., Bro, Patrick, in a very impressive manner. The following are the names of the new officers: —W.O.T., Bro. F. Bethune; W.Y.T., Sister Maslin; W.S., Bro. Fleming; W. 0., Sister Kirby ; W.F.S., Bro. T Sherratt; W.M., Bro, Dunford; W.J.G., Bro. J Bennett; W.L.S., Sister Dunlop ; W.R.S., Sister Dunford; W.A.S., Bro, Newport ; and W.T., Bro. W Fleming. The following Committees wore also appointed Harmony Committee Bros. T Sherratt, Pratt and Warren. Finance Committee —Bros. Fleming, G Ward and Pratt. Visiting Committee—Bros. Bennett, Dunford and Gaiger. Sick Committee--Sisters Kirby, Dunford and Maslin, and Bros. Brown, Berry and Sutherland, Some capital songs and recitations were given during the evening, and the lodge cloned in peace and harmony.

Mr J, H. Dickinson, of the Temuka Mills, Milford, has a quiet cow, in full profit, tor sale.

Tenders are required by Mr Jas Hamilton, Geraldine, for ploughing 100 acres (mo re or less). Tenders to be in by Wednesday next. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co, will attend Winchester Fair to-day, when they will sell milch cows, and fat and store cattle and sheep. Mr J. W. Yelvin, grocer and draper, Temuka, announces that he intends to sell everything at greatly reduced prices for cash, and that one trial will convince customers of the cheapness of his goods. Messrs J. Mundell and Co, auctioneers, Geraldine, announce that they will sell on the Geraldine Racecourse Reserve, tomorrow under distraint for rent, 274 sacks of good wheat, and 21 sacks second wheat. Mr Boyd Thomson, Temuka, notifies that he has disposed of his business to Messrs Peter Thomson and Edward Smith, and that he has in consequence placed his book debts in the hands of Mr W. G. Aspinall for collection, to whom they must be paid before the 10th inst.

£IOO Reward.—They cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, blood, liver, nerves and kidneys, and £IOO will bo paid for a case they will not euro or help, or for anything impure or injurious found in them—Hop Bittere. Test it,--liead.