LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1139, 14 February 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Parliament. Parliament bai been prorogued uutil April 7th. Masonic. —The usual monthly meeting of Lodge Southern Star, Wo 619, S.C., will bo held this evening in the Masonic Hall, Geraldine, at 7.30 o’clock. Commuted. —The sentence of death passed on J. Pearce, for the murder of his paramour at Dunedin, has been commuted to imprisonment for life. Deownbd. —On Tuesday morning, the body of a boy named Andrew Geddes, 13 years old, was found in a creek near Bangiora. His clothes were on the bank, and he had evidently been drowned while bathing. Blue Bibbon Item,. —His Honour Judge Ward is a strong supporter of the Blue Bibbon movement. He wears the " bit of blue ” himself, and at Lyttelton the other evening he and Mrs Ward each addressed a Blue Bibbon meeting. Importation of Mongooses. —Ten mongooses, out of eleven recently shipped from Calcutta, arrived in Blenheim on Tuesday. The animals, which will form the nucleus of a breeding establishment, are for Mr F, Bichmond, of Bichmond Brook. Important Sale.— Messrs J. Mundell and Co. will hold a clearing sale of very superior household furniture, etc,on the premises of Mrs Fraser, of Orari, who is leaving the district, cn Friday, the 22nd February. Particulars will be found in the advertisement. AWondebful Case.— A Brisbane telegram in the Melbourne papers says; “Mr Jones, who was so severely injured at Rockhampton by a circular saw, is still alive. The saw cut through five ribs. The heart and left lung can be eesn in full working order. Only one case of a similar nature has been before recorded.” Visit op a Man-op-Wab to Timabu.— The Timaru Harbour Master has received the following telegram from Captain Bridge of fI.M.S, Espiogle, now in Lyttleton:— “ Weather permitting, Espiegle will probably be off Timaru during Thursday forenoon.” The draught of the Espiegle is about 17 feet, and, weather permitting, she will be taken inside the breakwater.

Thk Shag Point Coal Co.—Work ho* been suspended in the Shag Point colliery, by injunction of the Inspector of mines, on account of the workings being in danger of being flooded by the rolume of water which has acoumula'ed in the upper submarine workings of the mine. The mine was putting out 100 tons per day, and the entire population of the tillage of Shag Point, numbering about 400 souls, were dependant on the work given by the mine for support. The Rivketon Lbpee. The Chinese leper at Riverton, about whose cose so much has been heard lately, was found hanging by his neck in a hut on Tuesday. Ho was then quite dead. He is belierad to hare committed suicide. A telegram received from Invercargill yesterday s'ates that the Chinaman who committed suicide yesterday was not the leper but another celestial at Roundhill, who, it is said, had reason to suppose that bo was afflicted with tba same malady* <

Licensing Committee.—The first meeting of the newly appointed Licensing Committee for the Raukapuka district will be held to-day at the Courthouse, Geraldine at 11 a.m. Breach of Promise.—Miss Nellie Fortesque (Miss Finney), the well-known actress of the Saroy Theatre, intends bringing an action against Lord Arthur Win. Carmoyle, the second and oldest living son of Lord Cairns, for a breach of promise. It is reported that damages will be fixed at fifty thousand pounds.

Success of the Mahdi.—Another important battle has been gained by the Egyptian rebels. The town of Siokat in Souakim after several weeks’ resistance has bad at length to capitulate and the Governor and 600 men were slaughtered as they were leaving the town. They did not give up until they wore starving, and they spiked the guns before leaving.

Temuka Chmbtbxt Board.— A meeting of tbs above Board was held last Tuesday. Present Messrs Gray (Chairman), Hayhurst, Blyth, and Barker. Messrs Blyth, Hayhurst aad the Chairman were appointed to audit the accounts. An understanding was come to that the piece of land at the other side of the creek should be fenced, and a rustic bridge leading to it erected. A Dangerous Practice.—A reprehensible practice of crossing the railway at Temnka with hones or cattle when the engine is ■hunting at present obtains, and if the animals are one of these times made into mincemeat, or their owners are involved in a law case and mulcted in heavy damages, the latter will only have themselves to blame. One or twa flagrant cases have occurred during this week.

Fatal Accident at Westport.— A terrible accident occurred on the Westport Coal Company’s incline on Tuesday afternoon Joseph Brown, a butcher and a member of the County Council, and William Harrison, a storekeeper, of Waunangaroa and Denniston, respectively, were ascending in an empty truck, when the shackling of the descending loaded truck broke. The full truck dashed into the empty one, killing Brown instantaneously and seriously injuring Harrison The latter was taken to the Hospital. Brown leaves a wife and large family. His neck and back were broken.

A Trustful Toung Woman. A Michigan girl told her young man (that she would never marry him until ho was worth SIO,OOO. So he started out with a brave heart to make it. “ How are you getting on, George ?” she asked at the expiration of a couple of months. “ Well,” George said hopefully, “I have saved |22.” The girl dropped her eye-lashes, and blushingly remarked ; “ I reckon that’s near enough, George.” She was willing to trust him for the little balance.

Thb Rbv. Chas. Clarke. Many of our readers will be glad to hear ot the Rev. Chas. Clarke, the talented lecturer, who some years ago paid us a visit. A correspondent informs a Geelong paper that “ the Rev. Charles Clarke is fixed at Ealing in charge of the Baptist congregation. He is quite himself, as when lecturing in Australia. In appearance he has aged, like the rest of us, and has fallen considerably iato flesh too. The other evening I went to bear him lecture on Westminster Abbey. The church was crowded, and he was immensely appreciated.”

Tawaiao’s Visit to England.— Tawhiao arrived in Auckland from Waikato on Tuesday night, accompanied by Tu Tawhiao (hie eldest eon), Te Wheoro, M.H.R., a Wanganui chief, and two other chiefs. His visit has no political object, but is to arrange certain matters before going to England. Te Wheoro intends going, also two or three northern chiefs, and it is understood Mcßeth will accompany the party. The date is not exactly fixed, pending communication from Southern chiefs. Tawhiao intends interviewing the Aborigines’ Protection Society with a view to making representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and Parliament as to alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Wbathei.—-After a week’s spell of fine harvest weather throughout the district, culminating in regular tropical heat on Monday afternoon last, it suddenly changed at about 1 o’clock on Tuesday morning when a heavy downpour of rain set in, lasting till a little after 8 a.m. when it gradually cleared up. It was intensely cold throughout the morning, and on the clouds lifting the Southern Alps were observed capped with snow. In the afternoon it again came over cloudy and a small shower of rain fell, but it cleared off, and the light was line, but very cold. Yesterday (Wednesday) was all that could be desired for the harvest ers, and work was resumed xn"those fields that were ready for the reaper.

( Oub Financial Position. The North Otago Times has been “ figuring” out our position, and proves it to be most unconi fortable. Following is the result: —“ Taking the Colonial Treasurer’s estimate, the jnlerest to be paid on borrowed in oner is £2,500,000; and adding the difference between the value of the Colony’s imports ami exports to the above amount, would bring t ho sum to be annaallv paid away by colonists up to £4,451,261. It is calculated that there are but 50,000 workers in the Colony, the remainder being women and children ; am), if the President of the Industrial Exhibition’s figures can be trusted, the amount to be earned annually by each bread-winner before ho actually earns anything for himself is £B9. This sum appears to be enormous, but it j s based on figures that have been carefully compiled. How many colonists ever think that the high pressure pace the Colony has been driven along at since the policy of Sir Julius Yogel was initiated, has involved them in obligations of this nature ? If they gave it a thought, they would see bow necessary it is to the ex ; stence of the credit of the Colony that a revolution should take place in the manner of its government.” ,

Sports ok Sx. Patrick's Dat at QnAlr DIKE. —To-morrow evening a meeting of all persons interested will be held in the Crown hotel, Geraldine, for the purpose ot appoint* ing a Committee to carry out the sports on St. Patrick’s Day.

Trial of Reapers and Binders.—A trial of reapers and binders took place at Timara on Tuesday last, under the auspices of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Associa* tion. The following is the result of the trial; Ist, McCormick,3a 3r 30p, 2h 22m, 134 points; 2nd, Johnstone, 4a Ir, 2h 52m, 133 points 3rd, Wood, 4a Ir, 2h 24m, 132 points; 4lh, Osborne, 3a 3r 30p, 2h 2m, 130 points ; sth, Hornsby, 4a Ir, 3h 9m, 113 points ; fit fa, Howard, 4a Ir, 3h, 89 points. The Howard retired after working 3 hours. The McCormick machine thus won the first prize of £lO offered by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Johnstone the second prize of £5. The ground alloted was very unequal. Messrs J. Lawrie, G. F. Lovegrove, J. Smith, W. S. Harknsss, Guild, and J. Talbot acted as judges.

Mr James Blyth invites tenders for the erection of a dwelling house at Rangitata. Tenders close on Saturday, 23rd inst. Mr W. Fleming, tinsmith, Geraldine, announces that in future his business will be carried on under the name of J. Fleming and Son.

Mr Wm. Walker, farmer, Waitobi, authorises Mr J. H. Jackson, bootmaker, Temnka, to collect all debts due to the latter and secured to Mr Walker by a bill of sale.

CRICKET.

TASMANIA F, CHRISTCHURCH. This match was concluded last Monday amid great excitement. Tasmania. First Innings 226 Second Innings 125 Total 351 Canterbury. First Innings „ 203 Second Innings 148 Total 353 Christchurch still had one wicket to fall*