LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1144, 23 February 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wool Sale.—Messrs R. Wilkin and Co. will hold their next wool sale in Timaru on Wednesday next. , Bicycling.—A hundred mile bicycle race took place on Thursday from Mosgiel to Lawrence and back. It was won by O’Keefe, in 11 hours 25 minutes. Only three entered, and two finished. N. Z. Tobacco. The New Zealand Tobacco Company have taken premises in Beach road, Auckland, and expect shortly to be employing one hundred and fifty men in the manufacture of tobacco. The Fenstanton.—The Fenstanton has arrived at Fort Chalmers. Her passage occupied 52 days, but jlu was detained 5 days in the British Channel by a heavy fog. She brings 2500 tons of cargo, of which 1600 tons are for Otago. Delivery op Letters in Temur a. Some few days ago representations were made to us to the effect that the letters by the express train from Dunedn were not delivered until nest morning, and that they were consequently delayed about 18 hours. We called the attention of the Postmaster to this fact, and ho with nis usual desire to please, communicated at once with the Chief Postmaster who has given instructions to have letters arriving by the south express delivered in the main street as far as the English Church. This we hope will bo found satisfactory. St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka. A branch of the “ Young Men’s Friendly Society” has been formed in connection with this Church, with the object of promoting friendly intercourse between young men and profitable amusements, e.g., classes for debates, study of Holy Scriptures, musib* etc. The Society consists of associates and members. Associates must be over 20 years and communicants of the Church of England. Any person male or female over 15 years of age may become a member. Ladies may become honoary members and t associates without payment. It is intended to hare periodical social reunions. Tbmdka Linseed, Oil, Cake and Fibre Company, Limited. A meeting of the Directors of the above Company was held on Wednesday evening, at the Wallingford Hotel. Present—Messrs Jno. Talbot (Chairman), R, A. Barker, J. T. M. Hayhurst, Lyon, and E. Brown, The minutes of the previous meeting were read end confirmed. The plans and specifications for the building required were produced by Mr TJpton, architect, and with a few slight alterations were approved of. Mr Upton was instructed to call for tenders, and to have the building completed as soon as possible. Mr Daris, who was in attendance, suggested the purchase of seed from Home for next season’s sowing, and it was decided to expend £SO in the importation of first-class seed, to enable the Company to supply the farmers on the most advantageous terms. Mr Davis stated that the concrete tanks would be completed by the end of the week, and it was arranged that Mr Lyon should test his combine as a mean* of thrashing the seed, on Monday next. Another pump being required, the Secretary received instruction* to obtain on*.

Alarm of Fire in Timaru.— An alarm of fire was raised on Thursday evening about ten o’clock. The cause was a shed in Shears’ brickyard taking fire, but the fire was extinguished before much damage was done. One of the local papers estimaees the damage at £5. Promenade Concert. —The second of a series of promenade concerts by the Geraldine Brass Band will be given in the Geraldine Park this evening, commencing at half-past seven and lasting to nine p.m. The same programme will be gone through as that given last Saturday evening. The Triumph. —The s.s. Triumph has been thoroughly cleaned, and is to be docked soon, Mr Fraser intends to send Home by the outgoing mail an order for the iron plates required to rebuild the fora part of the vessel, which were so seriously damaged as to require almost entire renewal. The Pantomime Girls. —The pantomime girls had their passage paid to Wellington from Dunedin on Wednesday, pressure having been brought to bear on the management of the Mother Goose Company for that purpose. One of the girls who at first refused to go, and afterwards changed her mind, had her passage paid by Miss Pomeroy Personalities. —At the Education Board meeting in Dunedin on Thursday, there was a personal altercation between Mr McKenzie, M.H.R., and Mr Elder. Mr Elder said, in reference to an accusation of personal motives, “ All I can do is to give you the he direct.” To which Mr McKenzie replied, and “ I give you the lie direct. If you were not a mean low skunk, you would not say such a thing.” Slade in America. —An American paper says that Sullivan and Slade (who has severed his conneetion with Jem Mace) have been engaged by Mr. A. Smith to give boxing exhibitions throughout the United States. The same authority states that Sullivan has taken the pledge, and by doing so hopes “to preserve unimpaired for years to come the wonderful physical powers of the greatest man of his profession that tbe century has produced.” The Big Showman. —Barnum’s agent at Rangoon has just done a good stroke of business in securing a white or sacred elephant at 15,000 r. The animal is now being brought down the Salwent to Martaban, and will be shipped to England by an early steamer. Barnum has been less successful, however, in his attempts to engage the hairy family from Mandalay, though he was prepared to give 50,000 r, for their hire. St. Patrick’s Day Sports. —The adjourned meeting of those interested in the holding of athletic sports at Geraldine, on St. Patrick’s Day, was held at the Geraldine Hotel last evening. A report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. We are glad to learn that the subscription lists show that substantial support to the sports will be given, and a capital day’s enjoyment, if the consent of the Clerk of the Weather be obtained, may be anticipated. H.Z.S. Co’s Line.— The How Zealand Shipping Company are advised by their agents at Hobart that the s.s. Ruapehu arrived all well at that port at nine o’clock on Thursday morning, and sailed for Auckland at nine on Friday evening. The same Company have received the following cable message from London dated February 19th :—The British King arrived, all well, at Madeira at 6 p.mon Feburary 18th. She will he in time for the coming wool sales. Her refrigerator has worked well, and the meat is in prime condition. The Licensing Elections in Auckland. —The Temperance people are jubilant over their recent victory in the Licensing elections, and are having tickets printed to commemorate the event. The estimated effect of the decision at the polling booths, re the ten o’clock closing of public-houses, has depreciated hotel property in the city by £50,000, One publican near the Opera House, it is eomputed, Will lose £3OOO. The City Council will lose £IOOO a year in license fees. The Mayor and three City Councillors were rejected as being on the licensed victuallers’ ticket. H.Z. Mutton in London. —The Argus’ London correspondent tells the following story :“A gentleman in a fashionable neighbourhood discovered on the shank of a leg of mutton when brought to table a very small peice of paper, which, on being unravelled, contained the name of the Hew Zealand Frozen Meat Company. Calling on his butcher next day, ha said, “ Mr So-and-so, you sent me Hew Zealand mutton yestosday.” The butcher, thus challenged, thought it best to admit it, and said, “ Oh, yes, sir, certainly I did.” “ Then,” said the customer, “ot

course you are not going to charge me English price.” “ Oh, certainly not,” said the butcher, and the little contretemps was easily adjusted. The customer, however, said on leaving, “I tell you what, though, Mr Butcher, you haven’t sent me such a good peice of mutton as that for the past six months.”

The Natives and the Surveys. —The , Taranaki Herald’s TJrenui correspondent writes as follows : —“ Rawsou and Mountford’s survey party have gone up to the source of the Waitara river, and, I imagine, will remain there until further orders. The natives are packing provisions that were up the Tongaporutu river to the dep6t on the Waitara river. The goods, etc., which Tamata and his party stole they have taken away in canoes to their own settlement, either to Puketopu cr Matihehu on the Wanganui river. I hear they have also H. Skeet’s theodolite, which was in the whare. Tamata asked Waite where Skeet was, and said if he found him he would kill him. He told Waite his, name. This is the same native who a few years back caught Skeet in the bush in that district when he was brought into Wanganui by Topini’s party. Tamata and the party that killed Moffatt are not particularly strong in numbers, possibly not a hundred, unless joined by some other natives, which would be doubtful.”

H. Z. Oil Company. —There has been an explosion of petroleum gas in the South Pacific Company’s bore, which has filled with loose debris eighty feet of the bottom of tbe hole. This, however, is below the pipes, and as the boring tools were out at the time, no harm is done beyond the necessity of taking out the stuff. The explosion is thought to show the certain nearness of oil.

1.0.0. ROn Thursday evening last a well attended meeting was held in the Good Templar hall, Geraldine, for the purpose of hearing Bro. Levy, of Hawkes Bay, a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites, enunciate the principles of the Order. Mr J. S. Waite was voted to the chair, who read the advertisement inserted in the Geraldine Guardian convening the meeting, after which he remarked that he hoped that many persons’ esp ecially young men would,at the close of the meeting assist in the opening of a Eechabite Tent in the township. He then called on the Good Templar choir to sing the Opening Ode. This having been done, he introduced Bro. Levy to those present, and requested him. to address the meeting. Bro, Levy accordingly did so, and at considerable length gave quotations from the tabulated statements of tbe Order, claiming that it was established on a very sound basis under the “ Friendly Societies’ Act.” He also explained the system the Order had adopted in regard to the fees and the proportion set apart for the Sick and Funeral Fund as well as the General Management Fund. The benefits to be derived through joining the Order were also dwelt upon. Bro. Levy then sat down amidst applause, after stating if any of those present desired any further information on the subject he would be glad to reply to their questions. Mrs Glass and Miss Andrews then sang a duet, “ The Good we all may do,” and several questions having been asked in regard to the fees, &c., the meeting terminated. At the conclusion a few persons enrolled their names as proposed members of the Order, but there not being sufiicient to open a Tent, this was postponed for the present. Presbyterian Assembly.— The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church is now sitting at Wellington and is very largely attended. The Retiring Moderator thanked the Assembly for the consideration and kindness he had received at their hands, and the Rev Mr Doull, of Bulls, was appointed his successor. Mr Doull, after thanking them for the honor conferred upon him, delivered an address on “ Some phases of thought in relation to Revelations, and the lessons to be derived therefrom.” The Rev Mr Sidey, of Auckland, was unanimously appointed Clerk. The Rev James Paterson moved the adoption of the report on the ministers’ widows’ and orphans’ fund, and that the opinion of a competent actuary be obtained as to the financial position of the fund. The report on the infirm and aged ministers fund was read and agreed to. On Thursday, the Rev Mr Paterson read the report of the Church Extension Committee, which showed that the Presbyterian Church was steadily increasing in tbe colony. The report also stated that it ‘was desirable to raise the stipends of ministers to £250, and for that purpose the congregation should be urged to contribute liberally to this scheme; that there were several districts requiring student evangelists, but the Church had none to send ; that the cordial thanks of the assembly were due to the Home Church for their generosity to this Church. Mr Paterson urged that organisations should be formed in connection with all eongrega tions for the purpose of collecting moneys in aid of church extension. Mr Ogg, Treasurer of the Committee, then read the balance-sheet. In some respects the balance-sheet was gratifying, but in others it was disappointing, some of the wealthier congregations not contributing as they should have done. A larger balance-sheet was presented last year than they had this; in fact, the funds were a little short this year. The report was adopted.

South Orari School Committee. — This Committee held their ordinary meeting on Monday, the 18th. Present —Messrs K. A, Barker (Chairman), Stewart, Gregg, Bisset and Binskin, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that he had paid two small accounts, and authorised the breaking up of the school, on the Bth, for harvest holidays. The Committee having forgotten to fix the date at last meeting, the re-opening date has yet to be decided on. The gymnastic apparatus had been put up satisfactorily, except that the Roman rings were combined wi;h the girls’ swing instead of being separate, as ordered. Miss Fraser has sent in her resignation of the position of Sewing Mistress, and the Board has accepted the same. Resolved —‘ That the Chairman invite applications for the post of Sewing Mistress, to be sent in by Thursday, the 28th, and that a special meeting be held on Saturday, the Ist March.’ Resolved--*That the school re-open on the 3rd of March.’ A number of circulars and election notices were received from the Board ; also letters from other Committees and one of the candidates concerning the coming elections. Resolved—‘ That no vote be recorded for the extraordinary vacancy.’ For the annual election to the South Canterbury Education Board, Mr Bisset proposed that the names of Messrs Steward, Russell and Barker be sent in. This not being seconded, Mr Stewart proposed, and Mr Binskin seconded‘That the names sent in be Messrs Russell. Cordon and Barker.’ This was carried, Mr Bisset dissenting. The teacher reported the average attendance to be 42, and drew attention to the want of a load of shingle at the school gate and some repairs to the pump. In the absence of Mr Bates, there was no Visitor’s report. Mr Bisset was appointed Visitor for the ensuing month. The meeting then adjourned till the Ist of March.

Temuka Band Bazaar. —lt has been deemed advisable by tbe promoters of the above bazaar and conversazione to postpone it till the 27tb of March next. By that time the harvest will have been secured, and tins will doubtless allow many ti patronise it who would now have to stay away. Meanwhile it is to be hoped that its well-wishers will kindly do their best in the way of preparing for it.

Dunedin Races. —The races at Dundin commenced on Thursday last and were well attended. The Hurdle Race of 100 sovs was won by Mr Foster’s Rocket; the Dunedin Cup, a sweepstakes of 15 sovs with 500 sovs added, by Hon. G. Maclean’s Lady Emma ; the Champagne Stakes, a sweepstake of 10 sovs each with 150 sovs added, for two-year-olds, by Hon. G. Maclean’s Lady Evelyn ; the Selling Race, of 60 sovs, by Mr O’Brien’s Trumpeter ; the Publican’s Handicap, of 100 sovs, by Mr W. Stevenson’s Taiaroa ; the Maiden Plate, of 100 sovs, by Mr Pollock’s Miss Griffiths, and the Steward’s Purse, of 150 sovs by Mr Cutis’s Sou’Wester. On Friday, the Tally-ho Handicap* of 80 sovs was won by Hercules ; the County Stakes, a sweep of 5 sovs with 200 sovs, added, for ;2-year-olds, by Watersprite colt; and the Jockey Club Handicap by the Hon. G. Maclean’s Lady Emma.

The Life of an M.P.—An M.P., deploring the evil effects of London habits on the health, said that were it not for Hop Bitters he could not live through the irregular hours he was forced to keep. Said he : “As soon as I feel weak and exhausted from long night sessions and meals at irregular hours, I resort to my Hop Bitters instead of stimulants. They regulate my bowels and keep my appetite good, my brain clear, and my strength and health are preserved.” See Advt.

Adamastor, Dunedin, advertues B Hovelty Consultation on the Christchurch Autumn Handicap. Mr K. F. Gray will hold his monthly stock sale at Temuka on Friday next. Entries are being received. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co., will hold a sale of freehold property situate in Sandie Town, Timaru, on Thursday next. Tenders are invited for the erection of a shed for the Temuka Linseed Company. Tenders close on Monday next. Tenders for the erection of a house near Rangitata for Mr T. Hawke, close with Mr James Blyth, Temuka, to-day.

A reward of £1 will be given to anyone returning a bay mare to Mr C. Hammond, or to the Crown Hotel, Geraldine. A description of the mare appears in our advertising columns. Messrs J. Mundell and Co, will sell by public auction on Wednesday next, on the premises, the section and house now in the occupation of Mr John Baker, Woodbury, together with his household furniture and effects.