LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 17 January 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temdka District High School,— This school will re open on Monday next. Masonic. —The regular meeting of the Lodge Southern Star, No. 619, S.C., takes place in the Masonic Hall, Geraldine, this evening at half past seven o’clock.

The 4.BCHBIBHOPBIO of Sydney. —The Vatican has invited Archbishop Croke, of Cashel, to succeed the late Archbishop Vaughan, of Sydney, and is now awaiting bis consent before the appointment is confirmed.

Pleasant Valley School.— We under stand that a tea and dance will take place in the schoolroom, Pleasant Valley this evening 5 during which the prizes to the children attending the public school will be distn buted. Primitive Methodist Chhech Temdka —The anniversary services in connection wi h the above church will bo conducted nex Sunday by the Kev 'T. Saddler. A soiree in connection with the same will take place on the following Monday. Thu; Frozen Meat Trade. —Steps are being taken in India to run steamers between that country and Australia, for the purpose of entering into the frozen meat trade. Ibis will make another outlet for the surplus stock of these colonies.

Temuka Mechanics’ Institute. The annual meeting of members of this Institute takes place to-morrow evening in the reading room. The annual report and balance sheet will bo brought up for adop ion, and the election of officers for the ensuing year will take place. RESTITUTION. —The Rev. Father Vaughan, Dunedin, handed to the Secretary of the Waitnea Plains Railway Company on Tuesday morning the sum of £22 10s, being an amount embezz’ed some years ago by a per son whose name is not disclosed. Has Freethought ever produced such a result ? Wrestling. —The wresilmg match Hudson v. Dinnie came off on Tuesday night in the Queen’s Theatre, Dunedin. Hudson threw Dinnie in the Border style twice. In a style called ‘ The Huggie,’ or ancient Cumberland, Hudson threw Dinnie twice out of three. In the Graeco-Roman style Dinnie threw Hudson very heavily, and hurt him so severely that Hudson was unable to continue, and it was arranged that the match should stand over. Trotting Match.—A trotting match for £5 aside came off yesterday between Mr M. Wightman’s grey mare, with Mr Edgeworth in the saddle, and Mr Smithson’s pony, ridden by its owner. They started from Mr Clyne’s farm about 11 o’clock, but shortly after the sta-ter’s horse bolted, with the result that Mi Smithson’s pony broke and he had to go back. This occurred (wo or three time-', and so the grey mare had it all her own way.

Offending Against the Law. —At yesterday’s sitting of the Distriat Court one Mark Healy handed in the necessary documents for obtaining authority to adopt Annie Lough, a child six years of age. As it appeared that the papers had not been prepared by a lawyer, Mr Tosswill, on behalf of the Law Society, asked who prepared them and he was informed that Mr Steward, M.H.R., had done so. Mr Tosswi'l submitted this was an offence, but His Honor said it was a matter for the Law Society to consider. It is not likely that any more wi.l bo heard of it.

Bolt. —An extraordinary bolt took place yesterday. A horse, attached to a spring cart in which Mrs Trezise was seated, got the bit out of its mouth and bolted away from the fan A of Messrs Matthews and Trezise, Waitohi, and never stopped till it reached Mr Nicholas’s stables, Temuka, a distance of about ten miles. Mrs Trezise bravely held on to the reins all the time, and though the bit vas •ut of the horse’s mouth she managed to steer dear of all obstacles. No damage was sustained.

Mr Wakefield at Leestow. —Mr Wakefield addressed the electors of Selwvn last Tuesday night. He disclosed the secret of the Government opposition to his candidature, at the Inangahua election. On it. beeomtne known that he intended to contest Inangahua, be received a telegram from Wellington, asking wat his patform was to be. He replied, what it always bad hem, leaving it to Government to say whether theirs was altered or not. He had then been asked if he required assi-tance, to which he replied he would wait till he had consulted his constituents. The Government, at once took this to mean that he was no supporter of theirs, and put Mr Shaw into the field against him. He had no confiden-e in the present. Government, and would so to Wellington as the fupporteroft.be O position. He then proceeded to explain his political opinions in detail. Okafi Bridge Public School.— The following is the report of the ActingInspecforof Schools for South Canterbury, held on Dec., 14th, 1883 ‘ Number on books, 43; number present at examination, 37 ; number presented in Standards, 22; average attendance, 23. Standard "V., presented 1, passed 1 ; Standard IY., presented 3, passed 1 ; Standard 111., presented 7, passed 3; Standard 11., presented 6, passed 4; Standard 1., presented 5, passed 4; Total presented 22 ; passed 13. Present classification of the pupils Standard V., passed 1; Standard IV., passed 1 ; Standard 111., passed 6 ; Standard 11. passed 9 ; Standard I, passed 7 ; below the Stan dards, 20 ; total, 44. This school is in a very’ poor condition. I hope the present teacher, who has not been long in charge, will succeed in his attempts at improvt. menti.—JohhQuhb, Acting Inspector* ’

Bishop Habpeb. —Bishop Harper, thfl Primate of New Zealand, arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday night on the first visit he has paid to that Diocese for twelve years.

A Triple Alliance. — Late telegrams from London state that the terms of the triple agreement which has been entered into between Germanr, Austria and Italy were published on the 2nd January. They stipulate an unreserved al iance between Italy and Austria, but they exonerate Italy from assisting Germany should, that country be engaged in war with France. The treaty is condemned by the French Press, and the French Government are, it is said, preparing to protest against it.

Presbyterian Synod. —The Presbyterian Synod opened in Dunedin on Tuesday night, and the incoming Moderator, the Rev. Greig, delivered the customary address. It dealt with the causes of the falling off in the attendance at Church, which were stated to bo infidelity, indifference, and dissatisfaction with the churches as at present existing. It also regretted the exclusion of the Bible from schools and the fai'ure of the recent attempt by the Dunedn ministers to teach religion in day schools. A Committee was appointed to draw up an Address to the Governor.

A Go-ahead Company. —The Directors of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company have accepted tenders in England for 5 03 tons of 531 b steel rails, and the first instalment of 330 tom is on board the s.sAorangi. Five engines of special design, and a complete equipment of rolling stock for the railway have also been contracted for. Passenger cars are being imported from America, and will be about 38ft in length, and similar to those in use on the Southern railway. Some of the waggons will be manufactured in the colony.

Scalded to Death. —At the Wellington Lunatic Asylum on Tuesday an inquest was held on the body of a patient named William Dryden, who met with his death under somewhat peculiar circumstances. He was taken to the bathroom for the purpose of having a bath. The warder turned on the hot water, and while his back was turned Dryden jumped into it. Before taken out he was so badly scalded as to result in his death. The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” and added the following rider—" The jury are of opinion that the head attendant should be responsible in future for strictly carrying out the bathing rules.”

Temuka Licensing Court.— The adjourned meeting of the Temuka Licensing Court was held on Tuesday. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman) R. A. Barker, and J. Meyer. An application was made for a transfer of the license of the Temuka Hotel from R. Fenton to J. 8. Smithson. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Smithson said ha had taken a lease of the house for five years, and had paid Mr Fenton £4OO for the stock and furniture. Constable Morton had no objec ion further than that the applica’ion had not been put in timely enough, and thus that the legal formalities had not been complied with. After due consideration it was decided that these irregularities were of too trifling a nature to refuse the license, so it was granted.

The Primitive Methoidst Conference at Dunedin. —The Primitive Methodist Conference hare made the following settlement of stations for the coming year : —New Plymouth, J. Gray and J. Long ; Wellington, A. J. Smith, P. N. Hun*er and W. J. Dean ; Auck ! and, W. S. Potter and J. Booth Eoyd ; . Invercargill, D. Gotten and W. Laycock ; Hmaru, Joseph S’nrn; Thames, C. E. Barley ; Greendale, P. W. .Tones ; Ashburton, F. Nixon ; Christchurch, J. Ward ; Dunedin C. E. Ward and J. Dumbell; Janawatu, J. Clover ; O.imaru, T. Saddler ; Geraldine, Mr Henry Clark (probationer) , Wain ate, Mr ‘ R. Freeman (probationer). Wo lear i that „ Mr Clark has accepted the appointment ? The recommendation of the Committee * which sat in Christchurch in July ' last on tie matter of Mie Union of the respective Methodist bodies in New Zealand was considered. The constitution suggested for the united body being of a very liberal character, and specially adapted to secure the full recognition of the laity in Church Government, was accepted by he Conference.

Curious Hallucination. A singular case was heard at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. A laboring man, named John Collier, was charged with failing to support liis wife and five young children. The plea of not guilty was recorded. The prosecutrix, who appeared in the Court with her face bandaged and a young child in her arms, related a most wonderful tale to his - Worship. Mrs Collier declined to recognise accused as her husband, although the man asserted that lie was married to her at Chris'church elevm years ago. In the course of her evidence the woman said that she had not seen her husband for some time. Defendant was something like the man to whom she was married, but she was positive he was not her husband. Collier did not oossess any marks on his body like those possessed by defendant, and in other respects there was no resemblance. His handwriting, for instance, was quite different, and the letters which he sent were like those of a man who was courting. Her husband was an affectionate man but be never committed himself in that manner, and she was convinced that the letters were not those of the person whom she had married. In reply to a question from the bench, Mrs Collier admitted she was now cohabiting with accused, but denied that; she regarded him as her husband. Accused explained to the Court that the woman was his wife, and expressed his willingness to look after her and the children. Sergeant Anderson stated that shortly after the arrival of the woman from the South she was examined by two doctors, only one of whom pronounced her insane, and she was accordingly discharged. In dismissing the information, Mr Wardell remarked that the case was one of the most wonderful he had ever heard*

The Crops. —There Seems a probability of a pretty good harvest in his district. The weather has of late been favorable t > the ripening of the crops, and the heavy rain experienced last Sunday has done but little damage. If anything like fine weather continues, f harvesting will become general in about a fortnight, and the yield will be about the average. Valedictory. —The many friends of Mr W. B. Hayes, who has labored so diligently for nearly a year in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, will be glad to learn that he has received a call to labor in the Otaio district, having been unanimously accepted by the Presbytery of the Scotch Church for South Canterbury. He has announced that he will preach his farewell sermons on Sunday next, in the morning at the Good Templars’ Hall and m the evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, at the usual hour, v Charge Against a Salvationist. —At the Salvation Army meeting in We’hngton last Tuesday evening' Detective Walker arrested a Salvationist named Harry Goodwood, on a charge of rape, on the sworn information of a girl named Ellen Paine, who. alleges that the offence was committed in the domain last Friday night under the following circumstances :—They had met that evening at the Army meeting at the Temperance Hall. The complainant, who is a single woman and a recent arrival in the colony, is in the service at a place at the Kyber Pass road, and the accused after the meeting volunteered to escort her home, and suggested, as ihe nearest road, they should go through the domain. Miss Paine, who was not acquainted with the lonely character of the route, consented to go that way. The offence is alleged to have been committed in the domain on the road home. The accused is well-known in Auckland, and is a about 30 years of age. Blue Ribbon Army and Band of Hope. —The first meeting after the vacation, was held in the Good Templar Hall, Geraldine, on Tuesday evening last, there being a large attendance of members. After a pleasant evening was spent, in which a number of members took part, the President, Mr W. B. Hayes, gave a brief address to the children, during which he announced his intention of leaving the district, but that the meetings would still continue to be held. At the close a business meeting was held. The President having stated that he had received a call which would necessitate his leaving Geraldine, paid a high tribute in regard to the hearty manner in which the officers had supported him in the temperance work they were all engaged in, and announced with regret his resignation. On the motion of Mr T. Sherratt, a very hearty vote of thanks was recorded to the retiring President. Mr Sherratt bore high testimony to the great interest which Mr Hayes had manifested in the cause of temperance in that and other departments of the work. The President very feelingly returned thanks. The election to fill the vacant chair then took place, when Mr T. Sherratt was unanimously chosen. It was also resolved that in order to keep the movement, as it had hitherto been, * strictly undenominational, the future ’ meetings be held in the Good Templar Hall, Mr W. Fleming. Secretary, being authorised to make the application. It was also resolved to continue the meetings fortnightly. The meeting then closed with the Beneicdtion. ~ Tenders for harvesting on the Hon. Mr t - Rollesion’s estate close to-day. a:- Messrs Moore Bros., Gapes Yalley, Geraldine, invite tenders for harvesting 118 acres wheat, and 52 acres oats. Particulars will be found in the advertisement. Mr Thomas Hall, of Timaru, accountant in bankruptcy, has been appointed trustee in the bankrupt estate of Richard Knowles, of Temuka, a debtor. Messrs N. Dunlop and Co., of Geraldine, notify that, they intend applying at the next meeting of the Geraldine County Council for a license to slaughter on R.S. 5006 in the Geraldine Road District. ‘Rough on Rats.’— Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants,_ bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gophers. Druggists. Moses, Moss and Co, Sydney, General Agents. 2