LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 30 October 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Birthday Bail.—The annual Prince of Wales’ birthdajj ball will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Nor. 9th next (Prince of Wales’ birthday).

Kate Notice.—-The Clerk to the Tetnuka Hoad Board notifies that he will be in attendance at Road Board Office to receive rates on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 to 4 o’clock, and on Saturdays from 9 to 12, to receive rates.

The Fkozhh Meat Tbadb.—The Dunedin Refrigerating Company have received the following cable : —‘The British King’s moat is turning out in very good order, and realising an average of 6d per lb. The market has a declining tendency.’ Libel Action. —An action against the Otago Daily Times by Mr J Dennistoun for £6OO damages on account of an alleged libel contained in a 1 Passing Note’ published in that paper, was concluded on Friday, the jury returning a verdict for the defendants with £B3 costs.

, An Australian Murder. —Maroney, one of the two men tried for the horrible murder of a man named Watson, near Kojonah (Western Australia), has made a statement to the effect that he and Watkins, the other accused, met the deceased in the bush when looking for sandal wood. Watkins raised his gun and fired at Watson who fell, Watkins subsequently striking him on the head with the butt of hi* gun. Maroney asked Watkins what he did that for, and he replied that deceased bad got more sandal wood than they could cut in a year. Both men then put the body between two logs and burnt it, afterwardsTdking out the bones and buttons, and removing them some distance away. The police doubt the statement, believing Maroney to be more guilty than he represents. The Gale,—Last Sunday afternoon a tremendous north-west gale set in at Temuka. The gale increased during the night and towards noon yesterday it was so fierce that to pass along the street was next door to an impossibility. So dense was the clouds of dust flying around that objects at a few yards distance were not discernible, At Geraldine the gale was accompanied with a downpour of rain, the latter only lasting a short time. The wind continued with unabated fury throughout the night and yesterday morning. Its violence and the clouds of dust and small stones flying, about caused a complete cessation of business. Beyond some outhouses being overturned wo hare not heard of any special damage being done. Ah Ihgbhous Prisoner,—lt seems that there have been 1 gaol revelations ’ in Tasmania as well as in New Zealand. A discovery was recently made at the Campbell-streel gaol, Hobart, of a prisoner having for months made his way periodically into the female division and robbed the larder, and fiom the Hobart Mercury wo learn that the culprit, Joseph Cooper, alias ‘Holy Joe,’ was sentensed to three months’ imprisonment. A full investigation made by Mr. R. A. Atkins, the governor of the gaol, revealed a deal of ingenuity on the part of the prisoner which was scarcely credible, and certainly not creditable to the gaol officers. The passage by which he reached the female department was a ventilator which ran beneath the floor of the cells, and was little more than twelve inches square. A hole had been out in the floor of the cell, and another in the pantry to which the culprit resorted ; and the lower panel of the pantry door had been nearly cut away.

A Candid Opinion. A learned Judge of the City of London Court, who is nothing if not outspoken, told a suitor recently that * a j ury is at all times the most incompetent tribunal known in the law of England,’ However that may be (adds a Home paper) it must be admitted that individual jurymen sometimes do strange things; and the con duct, of one of the coroner’s jury which had been inquiring ‘ the Walthamstow tragedy’ was rightly described by the doctor concerned in the case as ‘ scandalous and indelicate.’ The juryman in question had visited the mother of the murdered cbildrem and he admitted that he' might have used’ such observations ‘as that ‘ it was no use trying to get her husband off the rope,’ and that ‘ in the opinion of the jury, she had driven her husband to commit the crime through jealousy.’ It is not at all surprising that the poor woman’s recovery should have been retarded by the juryman’s visit, although he assured the coroner that the visit was ■ of a kindlr nature, to sep if he could be of i any service.’ j

Thb Oamaeu Haeboe At a meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board on Saturday it was decided to use every effort to get a berth reariy for the steamer Delhi, which is expected about February. The Delhi takes 20,000 Dozen sheep from the Oamaru disDjbt for London. County Rate.— The Clerk to the l|pidine County Council notifies that at a special meeting of the Geraldine County Council on the 20th hist, a special rate of one farthing in the £ for the year ending SOth March, 1884, was struck over the whole County, and will be due on ihe Ist Horeni. ber. Mr Wm. Rt, Uprichurd is the subcollector for Temuka, Mr C. E. Sherratt for Geraldine, and Mr R. Irvine for Peel Forest.

Thb Pabihaka Mbetihg.—An Opunake telegram states that one hundred and twenty natives from Wanganui, Waitotara, Patea, Hawera and Waimate, on their usual monthly visit in the hope of getting tbiough to Parihaka for a korero, were met on Saturday morning by Colonel Roberts and a small detachment of the A.C. force, who stopped them at the bridge south of the township. No korero took place, and fchey'-went back as peaceably as they came.

The Timabu Show.— The annual tihow in connection with the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association comes off to day and to-morrow, ,on the Association’s groundei Wai i i Road, to-morrow being the day for the general show. Mr F. Back,the General Traffic Manager, notifies that Saturday return tickets to Timaru will be issued at Christchurch and Oamaru and all intervening railway stations, which will be available for return up to and including Ist November,

Thb Govbbnoe at Tabahaki.—His Excellency the Governor paid a visit to New Plymouth on Saturday last. On landing at the breakwater, be highly praised the substantial nature of the structure, and said that he had no conception it was such a creditable work. His Excellency then drove into town, where ]a large number of country settler* were assembled. He passed through two triumphal arches to the Government building where nearly a thousand children were gathered, who sang the National Anthem, and the Borough Council presented an address. Addresses were also presented from the County Council and Friendly Societies. In reply His Excellency said he had never experienced a more enthusiastic reception than that day’s. A Pauper Fuhehal.—An occurrence \ which areused the indignation of largo Acrowds took place in Cierkeawell on 22nd August. The contractor to the. Holborn Union was' in the art of removing from the public mortuary five dead bodies, which were to be interred in the cemetery at Finchley; and while passing through Exmouth street the conveyance broke down, and (be coffins containing the bodies were precipitated into the street. A large crowd assembled, and great excitement prevajj#! In answer to the indignant remonstrance* of the populace, the man in charge of the funeral conveyance said that the contract with the guardians was so ridiculously low that he could not afford to take tho bodies to the cemetery one at a time, and had to wait till four or five were ready for burial. The shells containing the bodies were taken : back to the mortuary on the shoulder* of persons who volunteered their services. Bklfield School Committee. The ordinary monthly meeting was held at the house ef Mr Newport, on Thursday “25th inst. at 7.30 p.m, Members present— Messrs Gunn (Chairman), Griffiths, Annals, Newport, and Taylor. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated he had no correspondence to road, and regretted to say he had had no further communication re question of site. Ho had seen the Chairman of the Board only yesterday and he stated that up till theu he had not been informed of the site being gazetted. He, however, hoped for some information by next meeting of the Board which takes place next week. Until the site was secured nothing could done in the way of commencing building operations Oonnderable disappointment wa« expressed at the delay occasioned, and on the motion of Mr Taylor it was resolved to again write to the Board urging them to use every endeavor to push the matter..* A small account forstationery from Messrs P, W. Hutton and Co. was submitted,but as the Committee have no incidental fund at present it was ordered to stand over. The Chairman then intimated that as ha would shortly be leaving the district he was obliged to resign his seat on the Committee. He congratulated them on the efforts they were making to procure a school for the district and hoped soon to hoar they had accomplished their object, Mr Taylor moved —* That the Committee desire to express their regret at losing Mr Gunn, and beg to record their hearty thanks for the interest he has taken in their business, and the satisfactory manner in which he has discharged the duties of Chairman.’ He felt sure they would all miss him. Mr Gunn thanked thorn for their kindly expressions towards himself. The work was a labor of love 4, him and lie was only too pleased to ha ot, any service to them. They were fortunate in having others on the Committee that could serve them equally as well. Ho would now ask them, under Clause 64 of the Education Act, to propose another person to fill his place on the Committee. On the motion of Mr Annals,Mr G. Palmer was duly elected to fill the vacancy. It now for them to elect their future Chairman. Mr Taylor was proposed but de dined. On the morion of Mr Newport seconded by Mr Annals, Mr E. Griffiiha was elected to the position, ‘This concluded the business and the meeting dosed. The next meeting takes place bn the last x Thursday to Nevemb&r. *

Pedestbianism.—The B 0 hours’ walking match between Scott and Edwards for £SO a side was won by the latter by one mile and one lap, twenty two laps making a mile. The total distance covered was: Edwards 192 miles 16 laps, and Scott 191 miles 15 laps. About •fc ; 3000 spectators w ere present at the finish. f, S.C. Ebfeigebatikg Comi-axy.—id a meeting of the Provisional Directors of the above Company held last Saturday, it. was decided to recommend a site for the works to a general meeting of shareholders to be held on the 19th Nov. next. Permanent Directors will be elected at the same meeting. Sudden Death,—A daughter of Mr J, Gome, farmer, Whiteman’s Valley, near Upper Hutb (Wellington), died suddenly on . Saturday She had been to Wellington, and on returning home complained of being ill, She retired to bed, and in a few minutes ■ called out for assistance, remarking she was dying. Assistance was rendered, but she , died almost immediately. The medical opinion is that the symptoms are those of poisoning, but nothing is known as to bow it could have been taken. It is probable that a post mortem examination and inquest will take place. . American Trade. —A.u American paper remarks: — 1 The trade to Australia and New Zealand shows a healthy and sound growth. It is not so large as wo could wish, nor will it be until the unnatural restrictions upon trade now imposed by tbe United States are removed. We export to these countries ihore than throe times as much as we import—a . difference which is paid in money—although one article is produced there of which we are greatly in need, but which is now kept out by heavy duties, namely, wool. We import much of that commodity in comparison with ’ the other articles that are brought in, but ; could as easily use millions of dollars m we now do hundreds of thousands. The trade is confined to this point and Boston, no other American seaports sending out vessels in this trade. In 1881,87, vessels sailed from this country to Australia and New Zealand, , carrying 106,536 tons of merchandise; in 1882, vessels sailed, carrying 138,154 tons.’..'

Fiat School Committee.— The ordinary monthly meeting of the Committee of the above school was held in the •choolroom on Thursday evening last. The members present were Mr Shaw (in the chair) and Messrs Rose and South. The minutes ofjfcfevious meeting were read and conA letter from Mr Qurr, Inspector oßnools, intimating that he would hold the annual examination on the 30th inst.,was read. After some discussion upon the injustice of examining tlhe school two months before the usuafttime, it was unanimously resolved to instruct the Chairman to meet Mr Gurr the \day of examination and request that some -jallowance be made by him for examining the jischolars before the usual twelve months’ ■•preparation had expired. Mr D. Shaw made i an application for the use of the schoolroom .011 Sundays for the purpose of holding a Sunday school. Permission was granted. The teacher’s report for the past month was read and approved. The average attendance was 37. The meeting adjourned to the last Thursday iu November.

Suicide of a Clergyman. A fearful tragedy was enacted on board the steamer Manitoban, on her late voyage to Quebec. Among the cabin passengers from Glasgow was the Rev. Mr Sweet, a Preebyterian clergyman, whose most remarkab’e conduct can only be accounted for on the theory of temporary insanity. When the vessel was passing through the Straits of Belle Isle, the unfortunate man was observed to rush on the deck with his throat cut, and, before anything could be done to prevent him, be had thrown himself overboard. The alarm was at once given, and tde ship was put about with all possible despatch. The Manitoban was running, however, at the time at a rate of 14 knots an hour, and it was therefore nearly half-au-hour before the body of Mr Sweet could be recovered. Strange to say, it floated on the water, and when brought on board there was still life in it. The unfortunate maa seemed to have suffered little or nothing by his halfhour’s float upon the surface of the sea, but the gash in the throat was a fearful one, and bad to bo stitched by the medical officer on board in four or five different places. The unfortunate man expired soon after the Manitoban arrived in port. Mr Sweet was 49 years of age.

A reward of 10s is offered for the recovery of a sealskin purse, with two rings contained in it. Messrs J. Mundell and Co, auctioneers, Geraldine, will hold their monthly stock sale on Wednesday the 7th November. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co, auctioneers, Titnaru, announce a special sale of hunters, hacks, ladiei’ and harness horses, cn Thursday next, Messrs T. and J, Thomson, drapers and silk mercers, Timaru, invites the attention of visitors to the Timaru show to their splendid display of choice goods, particulars of which will bo found in advertisement. Wells’ ‘ Rough on Corns.'—Ask for Wells’ Rough on Corns.’ Quick relief ; complete, permanent cure. Oorasjyparts, bunions.. Moses, Moss and Co, SMlney, Qeneral Agents. 1 . Mothers Don’t Know. -How many children are punished for being uncouth, walful and indifferent to wistrnctions or rewards simply because they are out of health ! An intelligent lady said of a child of this kind : “ Mother don’t know that she should give the little one moderate doses of Hop Bitters for two or three weeks, and tho child would be all a parent could desire.” Look for. A Lovely Chaplet— A late fashion report says ; “Nothing cun be prettier than a chaplet of hop vines in blossom." A recent medical review says: “Nothing can be » better renovator of the health than Hop Bitters. They aid in all the operations of nature ; toning np the weak stomach, assisting the food to become properly assimi'ated, and promote healthy action in all the organs. Tim dictates oi fu-Jpon, as well as tho laws of health, ■\ alike favour a right applications of hops.” Head.