LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1152, 15 March 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Operatic and Dramatic Society. —The members of the Temuka Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society meet for full rehearsal in the Volunteer Hall on Monday evening next, at 7.45 o’clock.

Sports Ball. —On Monday evening next a grand ball will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, No effort has been spared by the promoters to make it a success, and the music will be rendered by Miss McClellan and Mr R. Somerville. A Disappointed Bankrupt.— His Honor Justice Gillies the other day at Auckland refused to grant the discharge of a bankrupt in whose estates there were no assets, His Honor pointing out that the object of the Act was to distribute the estate among creditors, not t o release the debtor.

The Milton Pottery. The Napier shareholders in the Milton Pottery Company have received summonses for non-payment of the last call, dated August 1882, for 10s. The shareholders are likely to contest the claim, and move for a special audit of accounts from the floating of the Company.

Troubles or an Apiarist.—ln the Christchurch R.M. Court, on Thursday, a beekeeper was sued for 10s damages, for trespass in following a swarm of bees on to plaintiff’s premises. The Bench gave judgment for defendant, and remarked that plaintiff’s refusal to allow defendant to take his swarm was unneighborly.

Fracas at a Salvation Army Meeting. —On Wednesday evening as the Salvation Army was returning to the Barracks in Christchurch, after the usual parade through the streets it was attacked at the entrance, and in the struggle a man was kicked in the abdomenj and a girl about eight years old received a blow in the face.

Suicide of a Ctrl.—A girl named Eliza Hercock, aged 15, committed suicide on Monday at Taweru, Wellington, by taking arsenic. She concealed the cause of her illness till the following day, when a doctor was sent for. She died immediately after his arrival. The supposed cause is a trumpery disagreement with her brother. The Weather and the Crops.—During the past week the weather In' v - ■ •i-tIL.'-.t but favorable for the harvest, a; ,i occasionally, keeping the stocks that were still standing too wet to stack, and there has been no wind to dry them. Fortunately however, the great bulk of the crop* have been gathered and stacked. St. Patrick’s Day Sports.—Monday next being St. Patrick’s Day, will be duly observed in Geraldine, where sports will be held in the Domain, commencing at 11 a.m. On Thursday night last, Mr D. McKenzie, the handicapper for the 100yds, 250yds and the hurdle races received from the Hon. Secretary the nominations for those events, the result of which appears in another column. A meeting of the Sports Committee was held last evening in the Crown Hotel when all final arrange, ments were made. It only requires fine weather to render the sports a success. Official Economy. A most amusing instance of official economy has come under our notice. A.n officer of the Insurance Department has written to us a letter, asking us to supply him with a certain number of copies of this paper containing the report of the recent Mackay case. He enclosed stamps to pay for the papers, and instructed us to address them “On Government Insurance Business.” His letter came “On Government Insurance Business,” and so we suppose do his letters to “ his sister* and his cousins and his aunts.” That man ought to succeed. N.Z. Frozen Meat. —The Frome Times, an English provincial paper, of January 16th, states that Mr J. W. Oram, late of Christchurch, and now residing in England, received by the s.s. lonic a consignment of frozen sheep and lambs from bis brother, M r Henry Oram, of Christchurch. After making a number of presents Mr J. W. Oram had the remainder sold by auction in Midsommer, Norton and Bath, and realised an average of 71- per lb by the carcase at Bath, and at Midsommer Norton 81-d for mutton and lOd ' for lamb. The paper states that the meat was very good and fresh.

Local Option. —lt is stated that a conference of Dunedin Licensing Committees has been held, and a decision come to to close all hotels in the city, but the four principal ones—the Grand, Wain’s, the City and the Criterion. The Licensed Victuallers Association held a meeting on Wednesday, and resolved that the time has now arrived when more unanimous action should be taken in reference to their interests. A Committee was appointed to consider matters affecting the trade, and to call a further meeting shortly.—A telegram from Dunedin on Thursday denies that any conference of Licensing Commit! oes has been held, but says it is understood that in three of the city districts ten o’clock closing will be carried out, except in • lie case of four hotels mentioned. In the other district, Dunedin South, the publicans’ candidates are in a majority on the Bench.

A Clerical Impostor.—A clerical impostor, Doctor Rodger, alias Cecil Johnaton, was arrested in Auckland on Thursday. His career of swindling is a perfect romance. Commissioner o? Crown Lands.—ln the last Gazette, John Holland Baxter is appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Canterbury vice John Marshman, who retires.

Direct Steam. The lonic arrived at Wellington at 7 o’clock on Thursday morning. She left London on January 24th, and made the voyage in forty-three days fire hours, exclusive of stoppages. The longest day’s run was 338 miles. She has twenty first-class passengers, thirty-nine second, seventy-four third cabin, and 238 steerage, and 2147 tons of cargo. There were no deaths on thevoyage and one birth.

The Present Depression,—Mr John Bathgate, M.H.R., Dunedin, addressed a meeting of his constituents on Thursday night on “ Suggestions in reference to the present distress.” He advocated a complete financial separation from the North Island ; the abolition of centralised Government; the appointment of resident Ministers in several parts of the colony ; the abolition of party government. the election of Ministers by districts, and tbe appointment of a Premier by each Parliament; the issue of a Government paper currency ; the formation of a class of banks such as citizens’ banks, farmers’ banks, etc., and reform and retrenchment in the Civil Service. The Natives at Parihaea. —Over 200 Maoris, headed by Titokowaru, went to Opanako on Wednesday morning. At the Waiwa bridge they were turned back. Colonel Roberts, accompanied by Captains Powell and Messenger, met them on the hill. Captain Messenger told Titokowaru that so many would not be permitted to pass to Parihaka. The crowd then turned back perfect order being maintained. The natives at Parihaka are settling down to European ways. Large quantities of bread are consumed, and a couple of bakers are kept hard at work supplying their wants. They are going to have a large feast at Parihaka on the 17th, the anniversary of Te Whiti’s propaganda. Champagne, blanc mange and other like luxuries will be supplied, “ Twa Hours at Hame,”—Mr Joseph Mackay, travelling agent for the Colonial Mutual Insurance Association, appeared in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Thursday night last, when despite counter attractions the hall was well filled, and a very enjoyable evening spent. Mr Mackay, in introducing himself to the audience in a new character, stated he made his first bow as a public lecturer to the inhabitants of Geraldine, in token of heartfelt gratitude for the many kindnesses bestowed on him during his season of adversity, when mere strangers to him had proved the genuienness of their friendship towards one who was being trampled on as they thought, by the powers that be. He said he should never forget the degradation that had been unjustly thrust on him ine Graldine, when on a cold, wet morning, at 2 o’clock, shivering, footsore and weary, he had been thrust into a felon’s cell. He should never forget the salt, salt ham and mouldy bread that next morning were handed him by a paternal Government, when for once a cup of tea would hare proved a Godsend, but no tea was obtainable to quench his burning thirst. Still, he should always look back on the few friends there with feelings of thankfulness. Ho recited from several Scotch authors in regard to the liberty of the British subject, and interspersed his lecture with a few Scotch songs, which were cleverly and impressively welled forth from a heart in thorough sympathy with the authors. Mr Mackay will lecture in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Monday evening next. The main object of his lecture appeared to be upon the wrontrs he was said to be suffering from through the prosecution recently instituted by Government,

The Mubdeb Near Beeeton.— ln the murder case against Donoghue, the evidence of O’Grady, Hector, and Moller concluded the case for the Crown on Thursday morning, and Mr Guinness for the prisoner called no evidence. The Crown Prosecutor spoke for two hours, and was followed by Mr Guinness in a speech lasting one hour. The Judge summed up at length, reviewing the evidence thoroughly. The jury retired at 5.20 and returned into Court at 6.30 with a verdict of “ Guilty.” The prisoner in answering to the usual question, said “ My Lord, I am innocent of the crime. Oh, God, witness this murder to take place, fori know lam to be sentenced to death. I shall meet the jurymen who have found me guilty above, and then they will be able to say if I was guilty. lam a Roman ; Catholic and if all the priests ami bishops come to console me I will tell them I am innocent. I am going to meet my God, and am not afraid to do so.” The prisoner then said Constable Nash had told the truth, but he did not care about the other witnesses. He then proceeded “ I shall go to my God, who alone knows I did not commit the murder. I have been fifteen years in New Zealand, and I defy any man to say I served him a dirty trick. If I ever had words with another man I stripped and had it out, and . generally got a thrashing. I again say lam innocent. I suppose I have only a short time to live. I would not commit the crime, nor would I stand by and see another commit it. I will say that the jury who found me guilty and the officials who helped them will not be long after me. I have no more to say except to ask that what I bare said may be remembered against me when I am lying rotting in my grave. I am innocent of the crime. Now, my Lord, you may proceed with your sentence.” His Honor then assumed the blackcap, and passed sentence of death in the usual form. The Court was crowded during the trial, and intense interest was taken in the proceedings. The prisoner preserved a collected demeanor throughout, showing no sign* of nervousness.

— 1 ■ ■ ' ■■■■■■—■ The Roman Catholic College at 5 Wellington.—The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of St. Patrick’s college Wellington, will take place on Sunday next. The Bishops of Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington, and a large number of clergy and laity from all parts of the colony will be present. The new building will be a magnificent one, and will afford aecommodation for seven professors and 140 students. It was designed by Mr Turnbull, of Wellington. Postal Facilities. —Mr B. D. O’Hal, loran is doing his best to make everything connected with his department as convenient as possible for the people of Temuka. He has suggested to his superior officer the desirability of having receiving boxes put up in certain parts of the town with the result that it is to be done at once. Mr Cook, postmaster, of Timaru, visited Temuka yesterday, and decided on placing a receiving box at Mr Darroch’s shop, and another at Mrj Uprichard’sjhouse in Arowhenua. ThiA will be a great convenience to people living near these places. Drunken Stuff. —How many children and women are slowly but surely dying, or rather being killed, by excessive doctoring, or the daily use of some drug or drunken stuff called medicine, that no one knows what it is made of, who can easily be cured and saved by Hop Bitters, which is so pure, simple, and harmles* that the most frail woman, weakest invalid, or smallest child can trust it ! See * Advt, Tenders close to-day for works for the Temuka Road Board. Mr E. H. Postlefchwaite, Geraldine, invites tenders for the supply of 40 cords mixed firewood.

Messrs Gabites and Plante, drapers and o’ othlers, Timaru, announce the opening up of their autumn and winter goods.