LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1182, 6 December 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Licensing Commissioners,— The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Commissioners for the Geraldine district will be held in the Courthouse, Geraldine, this morning.

The Cedes,—Most of the crops in and around Geraldine district are looking well but they are very poor at Woodbury, there being large quantities of sorrel amongst the cereals.

Hilton Mail Seetice.— We would remind all persons interested that a meeting will be held in the schoolroom, Kikahu, at 6 p.m., to consider the proposed postal route for Hilton, Gapes’ Valley and Pleasant Valiev.

The Annexation Conebebnob.— At the Conference on Monday a series of resolutions on the subject of annexation of New Guinea and other islands were agreed to unanimously. It is expected that the Conference will come to a conclusion to morrow.

The County Question.—A petition is in course of cirsu'ation in the Geraldine and Mount Feel districts for signatures, prtying His Excellency the Governor to suspend the operations of the Counties Act in the same. We understand that this movement is with (he sanction of the Geraldine Eoad Board.

Service of Song—“ Uncle Tom”.—We would again remind our readers that this interesting Service of Song will be given by the St. Saviour’s Church Sunday School children, assisted by the choir, in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, this evening. The connective readings will be given by the Eev T. Hamilton.

A Fijian Execution,—A Fijian sentenced to death, was executed at Suva. The whole affair (says the Times) was most pitiable. The poor wretch was half dead from fright before he was placed on the scaffold, and when there it was found that he was not properly pinioned, and the operation had to be renewed. He crouched down on the platform and had to be held up by others tint he might be properly killed. Temuka Fibb Beioadb.—The regular monthly meeting of the Brigade was held in the engine shed on Wednesday, December 3rd, 1883, Leiut. Gentlemun in the chair. The Secretary reported that he had received the sum of £25 from the United : Insurance Companies as their contribution towards (he support of the Brigade. Ee suction hose, it was resolved write to the Secretary of the United Fire Brigade Association to procure four lengths of suction hose, one branch, and one threeway coupling for the use of the Brigade.” Ee practice it was proposed, seconded and carried—" That a practice be held on Monday evening, the 10th December.” Accounts to the amount of £ll2s were passed for payment. One new member was proposed, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Domestic . FjJWOiTy.—At ' the ChrL-t church Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning, Alexander McMillan was charged with larencv at Oamam. It appeared that the accused had-eloped with a Mrs Tre'oar from Oamaru. He was formerly engaged to MraTreloar but went to England, and on his return found she had married. Her husband was away from home, and The two came on to Christchurch, the woman taking some of her husband’s property away with her. It was this that the accused was charged with stealing. His Worship remarked that it was a case of latency by implication, and would be no case unless adultery could bo proved. Inspector Pender said the prosecutor was not in a position to prove adultery. Mr Treloar informed the Bench that he was not anxious to proceed with the ease as his wife had promised to return with him to Oamaru and lie was quite saitsfied. Accused was discharged.

The Late Mb Swinton.— The funeral of the late Mr Thoa. Swiuton took place yesterday and was’ largely attended. About fortythree Masons, belonging to the various Lodges in the district, walked in front of the hearse, and it was followed by twenty-one carriages, besides a good many on horseback. He vjjjts given a Masonic burial. The N. Z, Shipping Compant.—The New Zealand Shipping Company have received a cable that their second steamer, Aorangi, left London for Wellington, via Plymouth and the Cape on November 30tb, with a full cargo and a large' number of passengers. The British King reached the u Capei,.on November 28tbjTand.sailed'theVsame dayJfbr Wellington.:, ; ■ ■; ;

The Ministee pob Public Woeks.—The flbn. Mr Mitohelson accompanied by Mr J. £l/ Sui ter, the Member ' foir 1 Gladstone ; Mr Maxwell, General Manager of Eailways; Mr Blair,Engineer-in-chief for the Middle Island; Mr Austin, District Engipeyr;:; and Mr E. Back, District Traffic paid a visit to Albury, Fairlie Creek, and Burke’s Pass, on Tuesday. In the evening he left for Oamaru.

■ The Explosion at the Powder Mills. —The explosion at theOwike‘Powder Mill# on Eriday did about £2OO worth of damage, the whole building being demolished and some of the lighter machinery damaged. The explosion is attributed I to a fire which was started near the mill by men engaged in the bush felling timber..,, jltis*expected will resume in three weeks. Me. Brtcb, and Mr Bryce’s proposals bave been aoe'epted by the Ngatimaniopoto and other tribW'of Kingites. Application for a Native Land Court for determination of titles hat been'made, signed ; by Eewi, Hiliri, Te Paerata,' Tabnui, Wahanui and Hopti. These are great chiefs and great land owners. Hitiri has.the chief say in the Hauhau lands of Taupp countj.

The Triumph. T.he ~position of tha Triumph, now on the , .rocksi at Tiritiri, ii unaltered, At the conclusion ( of;,a consultation held at/Auckland; on '-Tuesday, the Captain decided: to > abandon'/(.h'eiJsteamer to the underwriters, but they refused to take her over. , A meeliogof engineer? has been held, and it was held by them that the vessel could be got off by means of compressed'air. Further attempts will‘ Be‘fta'd# to get the steamer off, but she is 1 in a' !i VSfV dangerous position. T ( A Serious Fiee.— At the Malaura on day morning a fire broke out on the premises used by Mr E. Steele for the: manufacture of rabbit exterminators.,..<Mr Steele escaped from the. building badly; burnt,:but his son, a boy. of ten, was rescued id atf Unconscious state by a neighbour. 'Thd'building was destroyed. Mr Steele and the boy are so much injured as to be unable to state how the fire originated. Later news states that the boy S eele, burned in the fire at Mataura, died on Tuesday morning., His,father is in a very precarious state. Gold at the Rakaia. —The gold bearing reef in the Rakaia Gorge;has’been traced cropping out along the west bank of North Creek, (a stream flowing Anto’Moa Creek, a tributary of the Wilberfoi’ce) ' across a saddle 4100 feet up tlie ranges, and to what is called Unknown Creek, covering a djstaUce of about three ~or four miles. Samples of quarts showing gold obtained from the hills neaf. North Creek are on view in Christchurch. A “Glacier” Quartz Mining J Company has been formed to work this reef,' and they will apply for a lease of thirteen add a half acres near Browning’s Pass.

Sensational Suicide 'at Dunedin.— James Young, a watchmaker, committed suicide in South Dunedin list Saturday, Deceased arrived in the colony four months ago from Great Britain by the British. Kinn. On his arrival he went to live with his uncle, Mr Cunningham, %t,South Dunedin, and became attached to one of Mr Cunningham's daughters, but his suit was discouraged by his uncle. A short time since deceased went to Outturn, and there opened a small shop as a watchmaker and working 'jeweller. On Thursday he came to town, and met Mias Cunningham, who declined to have anything to cay to him. After this he knotked about town drinking and once or twice spoke of committing suicide. On Saturday,about two hours before he shot himself, ho told a young woman at Kensington that he had been badly treated, and that he would do something at Cunningham’s at ten o’clock. Mr ham was told what (ihe deceased had said, and sent for the police, who were in the housa.and were making enquiries at the time that Young fired the first shot. Tlie.'first shot seemed to be fired into the'•itreet. Then deceased ran from the building and again, the second shot penetrating his right breast. Young wrote this let er, addressed to a vepoiter of the Daily Times : —“ Done deed mysel f , all through love ; blame my friendi for deed, al their fault, promised me their daughter’s hand, and withdrew consent cannot live without her. Let:®!! who value true love shun them who have been my curse all through, life.” At the inquest a verdict of '“Suicide while insane” was returned. The depd was" evidently premeditated, as the deceased left a letter explaining nbou’the owners of articles <of jewellery left in his shop for repair. The iury added that no b ! ame was attached to Mr Cunningham, who was deceased’s uncle, and father of the girl alluded to.