LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1125, 12 January 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Gbbaldinb Public School. —This »chc o 1 will re-open on Monday next at the usual hour.

Evangelistic Services. Mr W. B. Hayes announces in our advertising columns that he will hold Evangelistic Services in the Good Templar Hall, Geraldine, to morrow at 11 a.m., and half-past 6 p.m. Dhukz and Disorderly. —On Friday last, before S. D. Barker Esq., J.P., Temuka, a man named Charles Edwards was fined ss, with the option of 24 hours' imprisonment, Ha accepted the litter alternative.

T«B Tkmtjka Beass Baud:—Weather, permitting, the above Band wiil Tisit Winchester on Monday evening next and play selections in the open air. The members of the Band will meet in uniform at the Oddfellows' Hall at 7 p.m. sharp.

A Stbangb Cabh.—The Gisborie Eesident Magistrate's Court was occupied all Thursday in hearing a charge of alleged rape preferred against Eichard Grreenaway, baker, on Mary Walker, a shopwoman where he worked. The offence is alleged to have been committed while the woman was insensible through a fall from a horse. The case was dismissed without calling on the defence. Amotheb Bush.—A telegram from Westport states that a rush has set in to Larrikins Creek, Upper Mokinui, where Carson and I party obtained their gold. All the men employed on the harbor works have left, also some from the coal mines, besides other laborers. Ground is pegged out on each side •f the prospectors'. The new ground is j iituated twenty miles up the river from the beach, ten miles of which is very rough travelling. Woodteae'b ClBCr/s.—On Thursday evening last, this long talked of and expected circus performed in Geraldine to a very large audience. The large tent was pitched on the vacant ground opposite the Geraldine Hotel. On the arrival of the Company the band attached thereto played some lively airs whilst driving through the township. The performaacei were gone through to the manifest delight of both young and old. The management cannot but feel gratified at the financial result of the entertainment.

Got Their Deskbts.-—A batch of larrikins received a lesson in the Waimate Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning. It was proved that they had in company with four others, unknown, visited a farmhouse belonging to one Simmons, at Makikihi, at 2 a.m. on New Year's Day, kicked up a tremendous row, and hurled stones on the roof and through the windows, doing damage to the amount of £2. The farmer remonstrated, and was called outside and knocked down, and struck several times. Tbe offenders, four in number, were fined in a maximum penalty of £5, with the alternative of a month's imprisonment, tbe Besident Magistrate stating that the bench was determined to put down the nuisance of larrikinism. Only one of them paid tbe fine. Sunday School Tbbat.—On Thursday afternoon last, the streets presented a veiy animated appearance in Geraldine. Groups of youngsters, and 'oldsters' too, for that matter, were to be seen wending their way towards the Park, for the purpose of taking part in the Church of England picnic and annual gathering. Had the weather at that time proved finer, no doubt there would have been a much larger attendance, but a nor'westtrly wind, and a shower of rain deterred many from being present. The afternoon was spent in races being improvisioned for the youngsters, and tea, cake, buns, etc., were afterwards served out al fresco. The Company began to disperse a little before dusk> after thoroughly enjoying their annual treat. About 400 children sat down to the tea. The adult tables were presided over by Mejdames , Preston, Fish, Hawke, Burridge and Pizzie. Fruit was kindly supplied by Mesdames Postlethwaite, Pye, Messrs Angus Macdonald, Hawke and others. The races were ably managed by Mr Hughes, and at the close of the day's entertainment bags of lollies were distributed to all the children attending St. Mary's Sunday School. Special thanks are due to Mr Huffey, who erected the refreshment booth for the use of the adulti, and has kindly performed a similar work for some years past free of all cost. This Uttwganvillk Mubdib. —A Greymouth telegram states that an inquest was held at Dunganville on Monday on the body of James Gifford, before Coroner Stratford. John Donoghue who has been arrested on suspicion of being the murderer, was not present at the inquest. The evidence of Dr Morice went to show that there were twentytwo severe wounds on the body of deceased three in the throat, any one of which would cause almost instantaneous death. One wound in the breast cut through a rib and penetrated the left lung three and a half inches. On the body was found a deposit receipt on the Union Bank for £lO2 10s, and a silver watch and gold chain. He left McKenzies store about a quarter past elevsn on Saturday night to go in the direction of New River Terrace, and accused left about tha same time to go in the same direction. Both were quite sober. Yells or shouts of a human being as if in agony were heard some little time after. One girl who heard the first three cries fainted, she was so frightened. Two men went in the direction of the sound Which was only 100 yards away, but they had tc partially clear the.way among scrub and brambles, and necessarily made a good deal of noise, but they saw nothing. Evident* was given to the effect that a person pant ing, as if out of breath, was heard passing that •ight the houses of Annet and P. Mynton, but the person was not seen. Between the legs of the corpse, was found an umbrella, recognised as Donoghue's. Gifford also had ' »n umbrella when he left the store, but that has not been found. Close to the body a new billycock hat and a sheath knife with three brass rivets in the handle were picked up, snd it is said these can be identified as the property of Donoghue. The iury returned a verdict of wilful an i malicious murder against some person unknown. Accused's body and apparel were minutely examined. 4. mark was found over the left eye, and on the cheek and forehead, while the bands were scratched. Some bruises were found on the back of accused, while the wearing apparel bore sigc» as if an attempt had been made to wash out some stains. At the request of Sergeant O'Grady a remand was granted for eight days. Accused has been mining in this colony and Victoria for the last 17 years and is known among his acquaintances as ' Mad Jack," on account of his eccen'ric conduct at times. The prisoner was brought in o Ore? mouth on Tuesday evening. Ha is a thick set, powerful man.

N.Z. Tobacco.—£49oo worth »f shares in the New Zealand Tobacco Growing and Manufacturing Company hare been subscribed in Auckland. The Company will hare 280 tons of leaf in process of manufacture by April next.

Eifle Club.—One of the outcomes of the recent matches between a Timaru civilian team and several volunteer companies has been the formation of-a Eifle Club in Timaru. On Wednesday evening a meeting of the promoters and others was held, wlien this was decided {upon. The subscription is to be £1 per annum.

N.Z. Insubance Comeant.—At the annua 1 meeting of the above Company in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon, the Directors' report was adopted. It recommended a dividend of 3s per share for the half year and the carrying forward of £30,000 to the reserve fund. This, with the reinsurance fund, now stands at £200,000, Gebaldihe Daibt Factoby.—At Tuesday's meeting of the Geraldine Eoad Board, a letter was read from the Chairman of Directors of the Greraldine Butter Factory asking for permission to obtain stone from the quarry at the Point, Pleasant Yalley, for the Company's proposed new buildings. The permission was granted.

Pbouliab Case.—At the Auckland E.M. Court on Monday, Edwards, the pedestrian, was sued for £SO by J. H. Pollock, a butcher, ef Wellington, alleged to have been lost by plaintiff acting as guarantee for Edwards when the latter had an hotel in Wanganui. Edwards repudiated the debt, and said that a blank cheque produced with his signature was a forgery. His Worship nonsuited plaintiff with costs, £3 13s, remarking that the whole thing was unsatisfactory. An application was made to the Court to impound the cheque, pending further proceedings. On the following morning Edwards was charged at the Police Court with wilful perjury. He was arrested on the represenation of a telegram, and the cast was therefore dismissed. Before a warrant arrived he had sailed for San Francisco by the mail steamer.

Good Teiiplaby.—The regular meeting of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, 1.0.G.T., Gerakline, was held in the Good Tsrnplar Hall. The Chair was occupied by Bro. T. Sherratt, W.C.T. The minutei of the formar meeting having been read and confirmed, the roll of officers was called, and the following were declared absent: —The W.M., W.F.S., and P.W.C.T. Two candidates were initiated as members of the Order. For the ofilce of D.D.G.W.C.T., Bro. W. Coltman, senr., was nominated from this Ledge. For the Grand Lodge, Bro. G. H. Patrick was nominated from this Lodge, and for the office of Lodge Deputy Bro. W. S. Maslin was nominated and elected. The Lodge was then closed for harmony, when songs, readings, and recitations were given by Miss Maslin and Bros. Sherratt, Freeman, Patrick, and Hoskins. An address was also given by Bro. Coltman, sen. The LodgeDeputy appointed the 21st inst. as a degree meeting for conferring the second and third degrees on all eligible members. It was decided that the next meeting be an open Lodge and that a charge of 6d for each person be made. It was also resolved that, all members of the Lodge in the district be invited free. The Lodge was then closed in peace and harmony by Bro. Sherratt, W.C.T.

Athletic—The stakes at the Dunedin Caledonian gathering were paid over on Monday night. Burke took £4B for running, Dinnie and Murray, the dancer, came next with £2B each. Dinnie also got £SO from the Society for his prince. The sum taken at the gates for three days was £IOG3, and the stakes paid over amounted to nearly £SOO. W. A. Spiers, of Dargaville, Auckland, formerly a prize-taker for dancing at Dunedm games, telegraphs his willingness to dance a Highland fling with Donald Dinnie for £IOO. Donald has agreed to dance young Murray " if judges who understand the Highland fling can be found." W. Matheion, of local hammer throwing fame, has also accepted Dinnie's challenge to him in that feat on level terms. Arrangements have been concluded by which Dona'd Dinnie will give exhibitions of his skill in the principal towns of Australia, under the management of Mr J. Pickersgi'l, and in

connection with the panorama. A wrestling match in the Grceco-Koman style between Miller, of Melbourne, and Dinnio will take place at Melbourne.

Stn?EBME Courts.—ln Auckland on Monday, before Judge Gillies, John Cash, an old man, was found guilty of stealing articles of clothing, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Alfred Hyde, for forgery, was sentenced to three years. loani, a nature, for wholesale sheep stealing, got three years ; and Parahanei, another natiye, for breaking and entering, fire years. la Wellington on Monday, before Judge Eichmond, Peter Jansen, a Dane, charged with larceny, was sentence! to 18 months'hard labor. Alexander Anderson, on a charge of attempting to murder his paramour, Miry White, was found guilty and sentenced to three years' hard labor. In Christchurch on Monday, before Judge Johnston, Charles Schneider, wa» sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labor, for forgery. At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Thursday, the principal case was the charge against John Newton, of indecent assault upon a girl eleven years old, in the mining district of Nevis. He was found guilty, and on being challenged said all ho had to say was that the girl was a consenting party when she came to his hut. Hi Honor said : " Prisoner, you seem to hava done your best to corrupt •nd rum this child, and although you have not used violence, yet I think it is a case where severe punishment should be inflated. If the child, indeed, as you say, freely consented, she did so because t'irough your prior conduct she had become depraved. The sen: ence of the Court is that you be kept in penal servitude in the Colony of New Zealand for the term of seven years, and further tbat you be privately whipped with a cat-o'-nine tails receiving 25 lubW

Temuka Mechanics' Institute. The annual meeting of subscribers to this Institute takes place in the Beading Room on Friday, the 18th inst. The business will be to adopt the balance sheet, .select officers for the ensuing year.

The Dunbdin Muedkb Case,—The trial of Pearce for the murder of his paramour nt Dunedin takes place next Monday. At the request of the prisoner, the 1 Government have employed a lawyer to defend him, prisoner stating that he had no funds to procure one himself.

Adjusting Diffeshnceb.—At the la 8 t meeting of the Mackenzie County Council a letter was received from Mr Clulee, reporting on the subject of accounts between the Geraldrae and Mackenzio Counties, to the effect that the Mackenzie County was indebted to the Geraldine County in the sum of £375 18s being that district's share of the debt balance atanding against the original Geraldine County on Sept 30th. It was resolved—- « That Mr Clulee be thanked for his exhaustive report; and that the sum of £375 18s be immediately paid to the Geraldine County Council."

High. Pbaisb.—The Home correspondent of the Wellington Post writes :—Mr Alfred Saunders, who announces himself as "An Englishman many years resident in New Zealand," has just issued through Messrs Sampson, Low, Marston and Co., " A Prac tical Poultry Book for England and New Zealand," entitled "Our Domestic Birds." The papers unhesitatingly declare this work " worth any dozen of the best on the subject," and add that "Mr Saunders not only knows what he writes about, but is able to make his readers understand as well." Independent of poultry, the book is worth reading for the information it contains on food-digesting hereditary influences, and evolution. A Dilemma. —A most unprecedented difficulty arose during the proceedings at the criminal session of the Christchurch Supreme Court on Monday (says the Press). A jury took charge of two cases one Eegina v. Pritchard, indecent assault, and the other Eegina v. John Laurence, lareeny from a vessel. In the former a verdict was returned of " Guilty," and the prisoner remanded for a aentence. In the other the jury were considering their verdict when it was discovered that a person then supposed to be a juror was in the box as another person, having answered to the name of Arnold whilst his name was Harnett. On investigation the matter was further complicated by finding that the person who had served on one jury and returned a verdict was not a juror at all, but had gone into the box thinking his name had been called. His Honor, after carefully going through the cases on all fours with this one, decided that he would consider the matter and consult his brother judges. Judge Johnston on Wednesday decided to treat both cases tried on Monday, when a wrong man was in the jury box, as null. SuictDXS ik Southland.—An inquest was held on Saturday at Lumsden on the body of Geo. McClintock runholder at DnncraigeD, Lake Te Anau. Dawson, his partner, deposed that he left deceased in good spirits on Monday to post letters, and on returning next day found him dead in the hut with a buliet wound through the head. A gun lay on the floor, and a stick with which he appeared to have pushed the trigger. Deceased's circumstances were good, and he was the last man witness would have thought of committing suicide. A verdict of suicide while suffering from temporary insanity was returned. The inquest on Mark Wilson, who cut his throat at Waianawa on Friday, held at the Invercargill Hospital on Monday, disclosed the great determination of the man and strong vitality. He cut pieces out of his throat with an old table knife, making a hole about three by two inches, destroying the thyroid cartilage. The deed was done after dinner, jet Wilson, a man of 61 years, was able to walk to a buggy and drive to the hospital at midnight. He had been depressed in spirits for some days, having become intoxicated on New Year a Day for the first time that his friends knew of. His brother attributed the deed to the effect of that imprudence. A verdict of temporary insanity was found. 1.0.0.F.—0n Tuesday evening last, the half-yearly meeting of the Gladstone Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Fairlie Creek, was held for the purpose of installing the newlyelected officers for the ensuing term. Bro. G. Ward, D.D.G.M., conducted the interesting ceremony, ably assisted by Bro. W. Stonehouse, of Geraldine. The following are the names of the officers : N.G., Bro. ±Sennett; VG., Bro. W. Struthers ; Secretary, Bro. F. Gilliogham; Treasurer, Bro. Binney ; Warder, Bro. D. McKay, junr. ; Conductor, W. C. Pye; R.S. to N.G., Bro. Gall; L.S. toN.G., Bro. J. Rowe; R.S. to V.G.. Bro. Walker; L.S. to V.G., Bro. T. Burgess ; R S.S.. Bro. Gall; L L.S , Bro. J. Keller. Bros. C. Pye, Gall and Wilson were appointed an Audit Committee ; Bros. Rowe, Close and James Wilson Visiting Committee, and Bros. Gilling" ham, Close, Ga'l, Gall, Pye, Bennett and BiDney, Standing Committee ; three to form a quorum. Several accounts were passed for payment, amounting to SPJI 128 lOd. This included payment to Grand Lodge, funeral fund, and to the Lodge doctor for professional services during the preceding term. It was resolved that the agreement -A-itb the present doctor continue another term. At the conclusion of the business the brethren sat down to a capital spread, after which the loyal, patriotic and fraternal toasts were duly honored, interspersed with some capital singing. The brethren di&persed, after spending a very

enjoyable evening. We are informed that thiß Lodge is making considerable headway ; there being at the present time 67 financial members on the books, and of this number 61 are benefit and 16

honoiary members. The balance-sheet as presented that night showed a credit balance of £63, after paying for regalia, etc.

Alleged Forgery. A young man named Charles Littlecott was arrested at Longbeach on Thursday by Detective Kirby, charged with having committed forgery at Peel Forest. He was brought up at the B.M. Court, Timaru, yesterday, and from the evidence adduced it appeared that he was recently paid a cheque for £1 2s, by Mr Michael Mitton, station manager for the Hon. Mr Aclaud, and, having altered it to £7 2s, he prevailed upon a Mrs McCoy of Pael Forest, to cash it. The cheque was subsequently presented at the Union Bank, Timaru. and there duly honored. On the application of Inspector Broham the case was remanded till 14th inst.

A bay gelding will be sold at the Geradine Pound by the Poundkeeper to-day, if not previously released. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co, auctioneers, Timaru, hold their next sale of live stock at the Washdyke Yards next Tuesday. Tenders are invited for stooking and stacking 500 acres crop. Application to be made to the Rev D. Gordon or Mr R. R. Browne.

Mrs Michael Foley advertises a section for sale in Arowhenua village settlement. Particulars will be found in the advertisement. Messrs J. Mundell and Co, auctioneers, Geraldine, will hold a sale of furniture, harmonium, (nearly new) farm produce, etc., at their salerooms today. Mr George Bolton, trustee in the bankrupt estate of Robert Worthington, farmer, of Temuka, notifies that all claims against the estase must be sent in to Y-vx not later than the 19th inst.

Messrs Maslin and Sherratt, auctioneers, Geraldine, will hold a sale of miscellaneous items, comprising a Hornsby side delivery reaper, plough, tip dray, side saddle, drapery, etc, at their auction rooms to-day. Mr George Bolton the creditors' trustee in the bankrupt estate of Peter Sinclair, of Temuka, overseer, a bankrupt, notifies that all accounts owing to the estate mu»t be paid before the 22nd inst. to Mr J. Ashwell. Cured of Drinking.—''A young friend of mine was cured of an insatiable thirst for liquor, that had so prostrated his system that he was unable to do any business. He was entirely cured by the use of Hop Bitters. It allayed all that burning thirst, took away the appetite for liquor, made his nerves steady, and hb has remained a sober and ateady man for more than two years, and has no desire to return to his cups." From a leading R.R. Official. Read Advt.