LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1129, 22 January 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Selwtn Election. —A writ for the Selwyn election has been issued, and is returnable on Feburary 27th. Important Sale in Timabh.— Messrs R, Wilkin and Co, will hold a most extensive sale of freehold town property in Timaru, belonging to Mr Geo. Filmer, to-day. Also, at the same time and place, a large quantity of builders’ ironmongery and plant. The Methodist Union. —At the sitting of the Free Methodist Church Assembly in Auckland the amendment of the Rev. Mr Baxter— “ That the Assembly could not recommend to their colonial churches the adoption of a basis of union not to the approbation of the Home authorities,” was rejected by 13 to 4 after a two days’ debate. The Dunedin Thagbdt. —The second trial of Wm. Pearce, for murder of his paramour commenced yesterday. The Crown Prosecutor ordered two jurymen to stand aside, and prisoner’s counsel challenged twelve jurymen. The defence will be that the deceased accidentally inflicted the wound on herself with the knife carried by Pearce, and that she did not know of it, hence her not mentioning it. Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine.— The erection of new premises for this bank has arleady commenced on the vacant piece of ground next the Courthouse, The foundations will be concrete, and the building itself of wood, the size over all being 58ft x 60ft. It will contain ten rooms, the banking room being 26ft 6in x 19ft, the entrance thereto being 20ft in height. The manager’s room will be 13ft 6in x 12ft. The back portion of the premises will be for the private apartments of the manager, consisting of dining room, sitting room, three bedrooms, kitchen and scullery. Mcssis Armson, Collins and Lloyd are the architects ; Messrs Foster and May, builders ; and Mr Annand, of Timaru, Clerk of the works

The Kennedy Family.— The Kennedy Family with their “ Twa hours at Hatne” are again in New Zealand, and are as popular as ever. Their final concert at Invercargill on Friday night was immense ; the house being the largest ever seen there at the performance of professionals. Mr Kennedy, in a farewell speech, said that in his experience all over the world, and taking the population of the town into account, he had never performed to larger audiences than in Invercargill ; a fact he ascribed to the strong Scottish national feeling in the district. The Comet. —Mr Beverly writes to the Dunedin Star that the comet was distinctly visible last Sunday night from half past nine till ten. It set at a quarter past ten. At fifty past nine it was due West, near the horizon, but will continue ascending about two degrees each night at the same hour. It is as bright as a third magnitude star, with a faint tail about two degrees long, as seen with an opera glass. To the naked eye the tail was barely perceptible, owing to the unusua’ly protracted twilight. It will be in perihelion on the 26tb, and brightest at the end of Feburary. Fire in Christchurch.- On Saturday night a fire occurred in High street, Christchurch, by which were destroyed the premises occupied by Alfred Simpson bookseller ; Church, draper ; Delaware, grocer ; and Smith, boot and shoe maker The fine new building of the Empire Hotel prevented the spread of the flames in one direction, and the brick wall of Petersen’s, jeweller, in the other. A heavy rain also assisted by extinguishing the large flakes of burning material which fell on the neighbouring roofs. The Fire Brigade worked hard tor throe hours. The damage is estimated at £IO,OOO. Delaware was uninsured, and the insurances so far as ascertained want certifying as to details. Severe Storm at Ashburton, —A very severe and destructive storm (says the Christchurch Press) passed over the town and a portion of the district of Ashburton on Thursday afternoon. Heavy peals of thunder were accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning, followed by a most violent storm of wind, rain and hail. In the Ashburton Forks district the hail storm raged with such severity as to almost completely destroy a large area of wheat and oat crop, cutting the corn clean to the ground, and completely shivering the stalks. Messrs Sargent, Frisby, Corbett, and others will bo heavy losers. At Greenstreet the glass in several windows in Mr Corsbie’s house was smashed to pieces. Considerable damage was also done to the crops at Winchmore. At Dromore the storm was also severe, and at times it was a matter of impossibility to beat against it on horse, back. Ihe damage done to the crops appears to have been confined to the Ashburton Forks district, Winchmore, and further to ■ wards the hills. The Ashburton Mail alleges that some of the hailstones ware an inch in diameter, and terms them ‘ miniature icebergs.’

South Cantebbuby Reebigebating Company.—An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the Company took place in Timaru last Sunday, the business being to consider the advisability of changing the site ot the Company’s proposed works from Mr Rhodes’ site (a section between the Washdyke and Timaru) to any other the shareholders might deem more suitable. The meeting was called in compliance with a petition to that effect, signed by a large number of shareholders. There was a fair attendance. Mr E. Elworthy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presided, and stated the business of the meeting. At an informal meeting held a fortnight before, a number of notices of motion had been tabled, and the first on the list to be considered would be Mr Wigley’s. Copies of these notices ot motion had been forwarded to each shareholder. Mr Wigley then moved—‘That the Directors’ action in choosing a site be approved of,” prefacing it with a few favorable remarks. Mr W. E. Aplin seconded the resolution. Messrs J. Talbot, S. D. Barker, W. B. Howell, J. Page, W. Moody and others having discussed the matter the resolution was put to the vote, when twenty-sis voted for, and thirteen against it. Mr S. D. Barker then demanded a poll, and this will take place on Saturday, February 2, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the Secretary’s office. FabewelXi SebviOßS. —On Sunday evening last Mr W. B. Hayes preached his farewell sermon in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, to a crowded congregation. He chose for his text the 3rd chapter of the Book of Judges and 'the 2oth verse —“I have a message fjom the Lord unto thee,” and handled his subject most impressively. He first addressed himself to the aged Christians, and bid them not to be “ weary in well doing •” then to the young converts, to the backslider, and lastly to those whom he had many times admonished. At the conclusion he gave a brief outline of his career among the Primitive Methodists of Geraldine and his reason for severence from the connexion, and took advantage of the occasion to publicly apologise to Mr W. Coltman and his family for an injustice he had done them in not admitting them into fellowship with the Church. He then with great fervour addressed himself to the young converts, and asked them to rally round Mr H. Clark, who would shortly be amongst them to minister to them in spiritual things. He then asked those who had received good during his stay amongst them ,to stand up and thus testify publicly to the same. About thirty persons, old and young immediately did so. On giving out the hymn, concluding the service, Mr Hayes was so overcome with emotion that he had to desist from the usual reading out of the verses. He afterwards announced that prior to his leaving, toward the end of the week, he would visit the members of his late congregation and bid them a personal farewell. Mr Hayes will preach his induction service at Otaio next Sunday.

The N.Z, Shipping Company and the Port op Txmaeh.—lt is rumored that for ihe present the New Zealand Shipping Company will send no more vessels to Timaru to load direct for Home, and that produce sent by their line of vessels will have to be sent via Lyttelton or Port Chalmers. The Wesleyan Conference.— The Wesleyan Conference was opened in Wellington on Friday last. There was a large congregation, and the Bev. B. Bavin delivered his retiring address. The Bev. W. Morley was elected President,. and the " Rev. H. Bull Secretary. The first reading of the appointments stations the Bev. Mr Wills at Temuka, the Bev. Mr Fairclough at Timaru, the Bev. Mr Burns at Waimate, and the Bar. Mr Standage at Ashburton. Of course alterations may be made. The following percentages .of increase during the past ten years were reported by the Secretary Ministers, 55 per cent.; Church members, 91; Sunday scholars, 84; churches and other preaching places, 65 ; attendants, 101. Mr Shiers, Geraldine, has a first class haolCVs for sale. A reward is offered for the recovery of a dark blue overcoat with velvet collar. Messrs B. Wilkin and Co. will hold a sals of skins, fat, etc., at their rooms, Timaru, to-morrow. Messrs J. Mundell and Go;, will hold their monthly stock sale on Wednesday the 6th Feburary next. ’ ■ Mr K, F. Gray advertises the entries made to date for his monthly stock sale on Thursday next. Further entries will he received. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will sell a S-b.p. engine and combine wi'b all necessary appurbances at Temuka on Thursday next. Mr Willoughby, of Geraldine, announces that he will pay a reward of one pound to anyone delivering a chestnut gelding hack (for brand see advertisement) at the police sta ion, Geraldine. Tenders are invited by the Temuka Linseed, Oil, Cake and Fibre Company, Limited, for building two concrete tanks and sinking a well. Specifications to be seen at the Company’s office, and tenders close on Thursday next. Cured of Drinking.— ‘‘A young friend of mine was cured of an insatiable thirst for liquor, that had so prostrated hie 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 he has remained a sober and steady man for more than two years, and has no desire to return to his cups.” From a leading R.R. Official. Read Advt.