LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1153, 18 March 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Band Contest, —Arrangements for the band contest in connection with the Easter Review at Oamaru are completed. Three prizes of £4O, £25, and £lO respectively will be given, and the contest will be open to (he whole colony. Blue Ribbon. —At the meeting of the Blue Ribbon Army in Temuka on Thursday evening next, in the Volunteer Hall, the principal speaker will be Sir William Fox, who has recently been lecturing at Christchurch and elsewhere. The Ministers of the town will also take part.

An Alleged Fiee Raises, —At Hawera a man named Suiter has been committed for trial for arson. A witness named Brooks swore that some time ago Suiter urged him to get insured, so that they could burn their shops, which adjoin, and get the insurance money to go away with.

Alleged Embezzlement. —Mr Daniel C, Maunsell, for a long time past Private Secretary to various Premiers and Ministers, on Thursday filed his schedule at Wellington, and was on Friday arrested for embezzlement of £267, Government money. It is understood the deficiency is in imprests made to him from time to time to pay travelling expenses while on Ministerial tours, and which has not been properly accounted for. Maunsell was brought up on Friday evening and remanded to Tuesday, bail being allowed, himself in £SOO, and two sureties of £250 each.

Tub New Government Printing. Offices.—Plans for the new Government Printing Office will be prepared immediately, and tenders invited.

Stealing from a Grave. —A charge of stealing from a grave in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, was preferred at the City Police Court on Friday morning against a married woman named Moyse. The offence was clearly proved, but as the prosecution did not press the charge strongly the Bench let the accused off with a fine of £2, Tawhiao’s Visit to England. —‘ King ’ Tawhiao, accompanied by his three sons— Tute, Eewi and Houana—has arrived in Auckland en route for Kawau, to consult Sir George Grey as to his visit to England. They have been advised by friends in Auckland not to go by way of America, for fear of getting into trouble, but to go by a direct steamer.

Sad Accident.— Captain Oliver, of the Koranui, from Westport to Wellington reports that at 9.30 on Thursday morning when off Farewell Spit, three of the crew, Fred Ahlgren, apprentice, James Moir Wright, A. 8., brother of the second officer, and a Swedish sailor were engaged cleaning the outside of the lifeboat, standing on the gangway rigged up for the purpose when one of the ropes broke, tilting the gangway up, the men being precipitated into the sea. A boat was lowered, life-belts were thrown out, and the steamer was put astern ; but before the boat reached them Alghren and Wright had disappeared. The Swede managed to float till rescued; he said both men had clutched him.

Breach op Promise Cask.—A breach of promise of marriage action is likely to occupy the attention of the Supreme Court, Dunedin, shortly. The plaintiff (Kate Mann) alleges that she entered the service of defendant, David Hunter Merven, of Roxburgen, as housekeeper, on October Ist, 1882, at a salary of £1 per week, and remained in such service till November 14th, 1883, No part of such wages having been paid she claims £SB. On a second count the plaintiff claims £2OO for breach of promise of marriage, alleging that while she was in the defendant’s employ, they agreed to marry, but that defendant has since neglected and refused to marry her. The defendant in his pleadings admits that plaintiff entered into his service on October Ist, 1882, and remained till July 18th, 1883, when she was obliged to discontinue in his service, and states that he paid her certain sums of money for and on account of her wages, and paid divers persons other sums of money for and at "her request. He denies that there was ever an agreement to marry, and charges her with gross impropriety. West Coast Railway.—Mr T. O. Kelsey, as promoter of a Company for the construction of the Canterbury-West Coast Railway, had an interview with the Government on Thursday and Friday at Wellington. His object was mainly to ascertain what amount and the character of assistance which might be obtained from the Government, under provisions of the Railway Construction and Land Act, towards the construction of a railway across the South Island by a private company. He was requested to formulate the views of the company in a specific shap° and place them in writing, when the matter would receive the careful consideration of the Cabinet. Instructions been given to ascertain what area of land would be available under the Act, also its quality and character. This information will be obtained as soon as possible. It is understood Ministers are desirous of affording every practical assistance to the undertaking that the law will allow, if the scheme assumes a definite workable shape. In reference to this matter " the Inangahua Times learns a private source that Mr Kelsey, of Christchurch, who has just ret urned from Europe, has arranged in London for the formation of a company with a capital of £1,500,000, to construct the East and West Coast railway via the Cannibal Gorge.”

Cokfidbnck Betrayed. Rumors have been flying about Auckland anent a case of levanting which in some of its phases displays a greater amount of moral turpitude than even the notorious Harjes case. The adherents of an influential city congregation have bean much exercised because the levanter bore the reputation of being one of the most exemplary young men connected with their church. Within the course of the past year or two a German gentlemen named Proebsting commenced business in Port street rs a commission agent, and he was soon doing a large business with local merchants on behalf of his principals, influential German firms. Near Proebsting’s office a young man named Huxtable hung up his sign as agent for a portrait company, and as he was a regular church-goer and made large outward professions of religion, be was regarded by those with whom he came in contact as a model young man. Proebsting formed an acquaintance with his promising young neighbor, and in time acquaintance ripened into the warmest friendship. So much confidence did Proebsting place in Huxtable’s integrity, that when in August last he was compelled to proceed to Germany on business he left Unstable in charge of his affairs. .Before his departure Proebsting gave Unstable a power of attorney to collect several large bills as tiiey became due. In August last Mr Proebsting left for bis native land. Shortly after the departure of the last’Frisco anil steamer some of Proebsting’s friends ascertained that bis locum tenens Lad unaccountably disappeared. They caused inquiries to be made, and ascertained that the interesting young man had been a passenger to America, It is known that he collected at least £SOO on bills due to Proebsting, but it is believed his defalcations will be found to exceed £IOOO. Proebsting expected to return to the colony about May, but whether he has yet left Germany on his return journey or not there is no means of ascertaining. On Friday last a friend sent a cable to his German address, mentioning Huxtable’s departure, but as no reply has been received it is probable that he is now on his way to the colony. Huxtable took a through ticket to Liverpool.

Cricket. The annual match between Otago and Canterbury concluded last Saturday, at Dunedin, Otago winning by 27 runs. The scores were—Otago, Ist innings, 104; 2nd do, 73 ; total, 177; Canterbury, Ist innings, 44; second do, 106 ; total, 150. Holiday. Efforts were made to keep yesterday (St. Patrick’s Day) as a holiday in Temuka. All the storekeepers agreed to close except Mr Brown, who refused to do so. The consequence was that all the others then decided to keep open, and so the employees’ efforts to got a holiday proved a failure.

Hugged to Death. —A gentleman named Arthur Legrand Stafford, believed to be ah Englishman, was out hunting lately in Maine (U.S.), when a sudden snowstorm came on. As Mr Stafford did not return, search was made for him, it being feared that he had missed his way in the snow. He wa» found quite dead, closely hugged by a bear. The animal was also quite dead, haring been mortally stabbed by its victim.

Grain and Wool Store eor Geraldine. The enterprising auctioneering firm of Messrs J. Mundell and Co., at Geraldine, are about to erect at the rear of their stabling establishment, a large grain and wool store. This will supply the farmers in the district with what they have needed for a long while past, and we trust that the'plucky spirit with which Messrs Mundell and Co. have entered into the undertaking will meet with financial success. The building will be of wood, 36ft in length by 30ft in width, with lift studs and iron roofing. There will be a roadway along the centre of the building covered with tanned hark, each side of which, for a distance of Bft to the walls, will be laid down with concrete flooring for storing bags of grain, etc. Drays will therefore be enabled to enter the building and unload inside. The whole will be finished in about six weeks.

The Rabbit Plague.— A correspondent of the Melbourne Argus writes:—l have found pastillencea made of the following ingredients very useful in the extermination of rabbits and other vermin in England, and thinking that it might be of use in exterminating the pest in the colony, I beg to advise you, and will be obliged by your inserting my note in your valuable and widely circulated paper : - Two-thirds common gunpowder, one-third cayenne pepper, made into wet squibs about the length and substance of a finger. Find out the entrance to the burrows, and stop the bolt holes with a turflight the pastille and place as far inside the burrow as practicable, close the orifice with a turf, or a bag filled with earth or sand to prevent the escape of the dense vapour, which causes almost immediate suffocation of all living animals. This New Railway Tariff. —An indig-, nation meeting of farmers and merchants, was held on Saturday afternoon at the Christchurch Corn Exchange to protest against the new Railway tariff. About sixty parsons were present, including Messrs Holmes, White, Ivess, Pearson and Wynn. Williams, M.H.R.’s; the President of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and the President of the Industrial Association. An apology was read from Mr McMillan, M.H.R. The following resolutions were passed ; —“ That this meeting condemns the action of the Government in raising the railway tariff, on the ground that the present time is most inopportune for such action.” —Proposed by Mr Pearson and seconded by Mr Higgins. “ That meetings be held at as early a date as possible at all the large centres of population in every agricultural district in Canterbury for the purpose of considering the action of the Government re the railway tariff, and passing such resolutions as may be thought necessary.”—Proposed by Mr Bluett, and seconded by Mr Milne. “That a strong protest be sent to the Premier conveying the feeling of this meeting against the increase of the tariff, and suggesting that its coming into force be postponed until the meeting of Parliament.” —Proposed by Mr Wynn-Williams and seconded by Mr Ivess. “ That the Chairman of this meeting be requested to invite the Canterbury Members to attend a meeting to consider the action to be taken to stay the putting in force of the tariff.” —Proposed by Mr H. Bennets and seconded by Mr Howland. “That a League be formed having for its object the calling of meetings at various centres to protest against the proposed increase of the tarriff, such Committee to be Messrs Perryman, Macpherson, Cl’issold, Stead, Bruce, Higgins, Gamack, Bluett, Paxton, Banks, Coster, Benn, and the mover, with power to add to their number.” Proposed by Mr Henderson and seconded by Mr Paxton. A telegram conveying the protest of the meeting and signed by the Members of the House of Representatives present and the Chairman of the meeting, was dispatched to the Premier before the meeting closed. In moving the first resolution, Mr Pearson, M.H.R., said he had telegraphed to the Premier as follows: —“Consider increase of gram tariff very unfair action after promises made to Canterbury members session 1882 ; specially inopportune so late, when large transactions have been made on strength of old rates. Immense discontent here. —W. F. Pearson.” To that he had received the following reply : much regret necessity for increase, but the fact that after fair experience of late rates the railways as a whole produced only about two per cent, compelled change, and the Government felt that the necessities of the country demanded such an increase as has been made; should gladly have delayed if Government could have seen their way, but having regard to the decline in Customs revenue, did not feel justified in such course.” A_n. A. Atkinson. This was the last straw straw that had broken the camel’s back so far his support of the Government was concerned. Skinny Men. —‘Wells’ Health Renewer restores health and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, Impotence, Debility. New Zealand Drug Co,, General Agents. 1 ,

Bazaar and Conversazione. The bazaar and conversazione in aid of the Temuka Brass Band Uniform Fund takes place on the 27th inst., in the Yalunteer Hall, Temuka, and intending contributors are requested to kindly forward their gifts to the Hon. Secretary or Mr Harrison on or before the 26th.

Larceny as a Bailee, —At the District Court, Timaru, yesterday, before His Honor Judge Ward, a man named C. Goddard was charged with the larceny as a bailee of £6, the property of Mr G. E. Ansley, of the Shamrock Hotel. The prisoner it appeared was given a £5 and a £1 notes by Mr Ansley to get change for him, and instead of returning with it, decamped to Dunedin. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment with hard labor, his previous good charactei being taken into account.

Entertainment. —Mr Joseph Mack ay gave an entertainment to a large audience in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last night. The entertainment consisted of songs, readings, recitations, etc., and were highly appreciated. He incidentally referred to his recent arrest, and said that one of the persons whom he had been charged with embezzling money from had, on that day, insured with him in another Company, for which he was now travelling, At the close of his entertainment he invited all present to insure their lives.

Mr D. Inwood, Winchester, has lost six pigs, noses ringed. Mrs Russell, Arowhenua, notifies that oa and after the Ist April next she will sell for cash only, the goods being marked at the lowest possible prices. All outstanding accounts are to be settled by the 31st inst.j Facts. —Close confinement and careful attention to all factory work gives the operatives pallid faces, poor appetites, languid miserable feelings, poor blood, inactive liver, kidneys, etc., and all the physicians and medicines in the world cannot help them unless they get out of doors or use Hop Bitters. None will suffer if they will use it freely. See Advt.