LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1154, 20 March 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stoppage op Roads. —In our advertising columns appears a notice of deviV-on mid closing of certain roads in the Gera.uine district. A Queer Decision. —Mr Booth, the Gisborne R.M., has dismissed a charge of Sunday trading as the liquor sold was “ shandy-gaff,” which*is not mentioned in the Act. Challenge.—As an outcome of the St. Patrick’s Day Sports at Geraldine, Mr J. Cummings, of Timaru, challenges Mr G. Rae, of Mount Peel, to a hop, step and jump and long jump contests, for £2O, or upwards. The New Railway Tabipp.—A meeting Races foe Temuka.—A meeting of those interested in sporting matters is convened for to-morrow night .at the Temuka Hotel, to take into consideration the advisability of holding a race meeting t Temuka.

of the Canterbury membeis of Parliament is convened for to-morrow, in the Christchurch Corn Exchange, to consider the best means of staying the new railway tariff. The following telegram has been handed to the Press for publication : “ Wellington, 17th March. W. H. Wynn Williams, M.H.RRailway tariff telegram and letter received. Will reply fully in a few days.—H. A. Atkinson.” N.Z.S. Co’s Line. The New Zealand Shipping Company has received the following telegram :—“ London March 17th. The Doric arrived at Rio Janeiro on March 16th, all well. Her refrigerator worked Satisfactorily, and her meat is in prime condition The British King sailed from Plymouth for Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton on March 15th. The Aorangi will sail from Plymouth for Port Chalmers and Lyttelton on March 29th.”

Sunday Tbading.— At the Dunedin Police Court on Monday Gerald Eager ( licensee of the Anchor Hotel, was fined 40a and costs for Sunday trading, and had his license endorsed. The Bench said, in reference to the defence that the barman sold contrary to instructions, that in these cases it was no use to bring evidence as to having discharged the barman, for that was merely a farce. The barman in this case was discharged two or three times under similar circumstances.

Bible Reading in Schools. —A meeting of clergymen and others taking an interest in Biblical instruction in schools was held in Dunedin on Monday. The following resolution was carried —“ That while for the present it is resolved to maintain the existing plan of giving religious instruction in our public schools by Bible classes out of hours (a plan confessedly inadequate), the meeting is strongly of opinion that the most satisfactory solution of this question, and that most in harmony with public feeling, is the daily reading of a portion of the Scriptures in the school and the opening [of the school with the Lord’s prayer.”

Muff Cricket Match. —lt is proposed to hold a muff cricket match at Geraldine at an early date.

Timbee Sale. —Messrs Maslin and Sherratt will hold a sale of 55,000 ft sawn timber at the Raukapuka sawmills on Tuesday, March 25th. Particulars will be found in the advertisement.

The Aemed Constabulary.— It is intended to reduce the number of Armed Constabulary, so that at the beginning of the year (Ist April), the total number will be only 500. The reduction has been carried on for some time, but at the Ist of the present month notice was given to between sixty and seventy men that their services would be dispensed with on the 31st. Found Drowned. The Press says that the body of a man named Edward Davis was found on Tuesday in the Heathcote River at the back of the Soap Factory, near the Ferry road. He was last heard of at half-past nine in the morning, when he left his home in the North Opawa, and went towards Woolston. His son who was living with him, states that he was addicted to drink, and was in very low spirits.

Attempted Suicide. A man named Arthur H. Brightmoro attempted to commit suicide on Tuesday afternoon at his house in Stephen street, Sydenham. He had sharpened a knife, and with it ho tried to cut his throat, but only inflicted a very slight wound. Dr. Russell, who was called in, ordered his arrest, as he was not fit to be left alone a moment. Mrs Brightmore states that her husband returned from Auckland a week ago and has been in very low spirits ever since. On Saturday he got a piece of rope and made a noose on it, evidently contemplating suicide by hanging, but she watched him so that he had no opportunityto effect his purpose. He was conveyed to the Police Dep&t.—Press.

A Monstkous Act.—The inhabitants of the Hue Denoyez at Belleville, France, were a short time since, horrified to see a young woman rush out of a house into the street with all her clothing on fire. They threw blankets over her, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Sh# was carried into a chemist’s shop, dreadfully burnt, and her life being in danger, was thence taken to the hospital. It transpired that she was the wife of a charcoal dealer named Jumillac, and that, in consequence of a violent quarrel between them, the monster had thrown the contents of a bottle of mineral essence over her, and deliberately set light to it with alucifer match.

St. Patbick’s Day.—We have received a letter in reference to holding a holiday in Temuka on St. Patrick’s Day. The writer does not disclose his name, and winds up with the following sentence : —“ If you do not insert this you will hear from X sooner than you expect.” We never insert the letters of writers who do not send us their real names, but even had this writer complied with this rule we should have declined his letter on account of the threat contained in the above paragraph. Let us hear from him as soon as he likes, but one thing he may as well keep in mind, and that is he must write in polite language or we shall consign his letters to the wastepaper basket.

Libbeal Basks. —The New Zealand Times contains the following:—“People who find their bankers churlishly refuse them further advances, or are troubled with bankers’ letters calling up their overdrafts, will be glad to learn that a South Australian bank is applying for a charter to trade in New Zealand. As the managers will be new to the country and eager to get business, no doubt they will not be ‘ conservative, 1 but be far more reasonable in making advances. Perhaps the newcomer will stimulate the older banks, and the people will revel in further debts. This much is certain, that any new bank will find hosts of our citizens only too glad to use the bank's money and pay interest; in fact, they will be glad to take all the bank can spare.”

St. Patrick’s College, Wellington. The offertory at the laying of the foundation atone of St. Patrick’s College on Sunday slightly exceeded £I2OO. Bishop Redwood gave £l5O, and it is understood that each of the other bishops gave a similar amount. The Pontifical Vespers and the Benediction of Holy Sacrament were Celebrated in the Cathedral before an immense congregation. The procession had to be abandoned as the church was so crowded. Bishop Luck preached at the High Mass in the merning, when there was a large congregation ; and Bishop Moran subsequently. At both services there was magnificent music, the choir being greatly strengthened and a full band added to the organ. At the laying of the foundation stone, Bishop Redwood read a letter from the Roman Catholic prelates of Australia, regretting their inability to attend, and expressing their best wishes for the institution.

“ Sold.” —He was telling the story in the billiard-room of a Denver hotel. Said he ; There were three of us, you see, and Nevada was a cold climate for us. We were dead broke, half starred, and clean discouraged, when along came a New Yorker. He wouldn’t play cards, wouldn’t be robbed, and we couldn’t stick him with forged land patents or bogus pre eruptions. One day we trailed out and dug a hole into a hill and salted it a bit, and rushed back and offered the New Yorker the big discovery for 3000 dollars, cash down. “ And he bit ?” “ Took right hold like a pair of pincers. Why, he never even stopped to beat us down. We got a cool thousand apiece, and made for ’Frisco.” “ Party cool was that.” “ Well I dunno. If there was anything cool in that transaction it was the way that New Yorker hunted up a pard, set miners to work, bought machinery, and took over 750,000 dollars out of that ’ar hole inside of eight months Maybe we got over fee”~ig flat, but I guess not.”

St. Joseph’s School, Temuka .—The children attending this school held their first pic-nic and entertainment yesterday. Most of them attended Mass, -which was celebrated at 9 a.m., and received Holy Communion, after which they retired to the schoolroom for breakfast. After this all kinds of juvenile games were indulged in till about 2.30 p.m., when an entertainment was held. The entertainment consisted of songs, dialogues, and a dramatic performance, all of which were very well rendered, considering the short time the school has been established, and the fact that the children were all very young. Some of the children acquitted themselves with remarkable ability and gave evidence of having been carefully trained, which reflected great credit on their teachers, There was a large attendance of the parents and friends of the children, the schoolroom being well filled, and judging from the frequency with which they applauded they were highly pleased. At the close of the proceedings the Rev. Father Fauvel spoke most encouragingly to the children, and told them he was greatly pleased with the excellent manner in which they had acquitted themselves.

He thanked the Sisters of the Convent for the entertainment, and complimented them on the efficiency with which the children had enacted their various parts. He felt sure, judging from the progress they had already made, that the children would be able to give a good account of themselves at the end of the year. At 4 p.m. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was held in the Church, at which all of them were present. This brought the proceedings to a close, when the childre« separated for their respective homes, highly elated with the day’s amusement.

“High Jinks” at Pabihaka.—Tuesday was a great feast day at Parihaka. About 100 natives and 100 Europeans were present. Te Whiti entertained the pakehas and Tohu the Maoris. Te Whiti was nicely dressed, and proved a most attentive host, having tablecloths, cruet-stands, knives, forks and spoons, and everything in regular European fashion. A sirloin of beef, a shoulder of mutton, fowls, plum pudding, blanc manges, almonds and raisins, and various wines, beer, etc., composed the dinner, to which Te Whiti welcomed all pakehas, men, women and children, in the marae where Te Whiti and Tohu formerly harrangued the multitude^ A large crowd of Maoris sat down to the repast, Tohu going up and down and seeing everything right. Each man and woman was served with a cup and saucer, bread and butter being brought in on large trays, and served out by waiters attired gaily in worked aprons and with towels slung across their shoulders in orthodox fashion. There was a procession of about twenty women, dressed in E uropean clothes for the privilege of exhibiting their figures and dresses. They had to contribute some silver as they entered Te Whiti’s house, but to what purpose the money was devoted did not transpire. Tohu, who was dressed in European costume, addressed a few words to them, denouncing extravagance in dress. One of the women replied to his remarks. There appeared a general tendency towards European ways and customs, so different from two or three years ago when all the natives who came to Parihaka at once assumed the Maori blanket or mat. Although Tohu served out grog to all the natives, no drunkenness and no disorder of any kind was to be seen. Everything was scrupulously clean so far as food was concerned, and the pah was minh cleaner than it used to be. A public meeting is talked of to petition for the right of the Maoris to use the public highway like other people.

His Excellency ihe Govbenok at Kaweia. —The following particulars of the Governor’s visit to Kawhia are to hand :—A** Kawhia His Excellency landed, and was met and welcomed by the native chiefs and people. Hone Te One, Hone Wekere, and Pikia, chiefs of the Ngatihikaira tribe ; Tatahi Pahi, chief of the Ngatihana, and Takia Taimanawere were spokesmen for the natives, and on their behalf expressed great pleasure at His Excellency’s visit. Pahi said the natives did not desire to sell their land, but to lease it. Their boundary was ten miles from the shore, and they considered themselves responsible for what happened within that boundary. His Excellency replied thanking the natives for their friendly greeting. He said he had found Kawhia was a fine harbor where ships could stay in calm weather while the ocean was disturbed, and its beauty was beyond his expectations. He then referred to the recently increased value of land, one eighth of an acre having sold for £4OJ, and attributed this to the advantage derivable from the establishment of a town there. He wished to see the land cultivated even more than at present, so that the natives would become prosperous by securing money from their produce. He entreated them to refrain from spending money on drink, which destroyed both body and soul. They should remain sober and work. They could build good houses and decorate them, have fine gardens, buggies and horses, and good roads, and could also have made roads such as that being made between Aoate and Kawhia, and also towards Alexandria, which would open up the country to the harbor, and tend to their welfare. His Excellency also urged upon the natives the advisability of educating their children, and in conclusion asked them to decline the advice of those who said the Maoris should sail in a canoe by themselves. They should not trust to their little canoe, but come into the big ship with the Europeans. A.t the conclusion of the Governor’s address some of the chiefs begged His Excellency to arrange that no hotels should be licensed in the place ; that a native school should be established, and that the Armed Constabulary who had been withdrawn should be allowed to return. At the close of the meeting His Excellency visited the old missionary station, after which he re-embarked.

Accidents. —Charles Stewart, aged 12, son o£ Mr Stewart, timber merchant, Auckland, was thrown from his horse on Monday owing to it becoming startled at the circus band. He never recovered consciousness, and died at four o’clock yesterday morning.—A boy named Kelly, about 16 years of age, was accidentally shot through the right arm at the Kelson rifle butts yesterday morning. The danger flag was flying, but no notice was taken of it. Both bones were broken.

An Expensive Return. —Last session the House of Representatives, on the motion of Mr E. G. Wright, ordered that there be laid on the table a return showing the several amounts received under the headings wool, timber, grain, merchandise, minerals, firewood, parcels, dogs, horses, cattle, and sheep, which made up the total sum of £403,420 2s lOd given in return No. 4 attached to the Public Works Statement, The preparation of this return was commenced in the middle of November, and since then eight clerk* have been continuously employed upon it. It is now approaching completion, and covers upwards of 14,000 double foolscap sheets especially printed and ruled for the purpose. Strange Insubordination. —Who has not experienced a sort of malady when all the faculties seem in rebellion, and labor is absolutely impossible 1 It is a condition of nerves and stomach and brain that can only be cured by the use of that irresistibe remedy. Hop Bitters. Read Advt.

Tenders for contracts for the Mount Peel Road Board close at 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Mr J. Tangney,bootmaker, Ternuka, notifies that all outstanding accounts due to him must he paid before the 31st March. Messrs J. Baliautyne and Go., drapers, etc., Timaru, announce that they are now opening their autumn goods, and invite inspection. Mr G. Lorens, Ternuka, offers £1 reward for the recovery of a light draught filly, iron grey, lost from the Hae-hae-te moana riverbed.

Mr J. Barratt, so well and favorably known as a coachbuilder in South Canterbury, has recommenced business in Timaru, His advertisement will be found elsewhere.

Mr K. F. Gray will hold a sale of horses, buggy, American waggon, etc. (seized under distress warrant), at his sale yards, Ternuka, on Monday next, unless the claim is previously lettled.

Mr H. Clapham announces that he has started a clothing factory in Timaru, at which customers can obtain clothes, manufactured from the best English and Colonial tweeds, at wholesale price. Messrs J. Mundell and Co., instructed by Mr W. Leishman will hold a clearing sale of goodwill of grass land, horses, farm implements, household furniture, books, etc., at the homestead, Fernside, Gapes’ Valley, on Friday, 11th April. Skill in the Workshop. —To do good work the mechanic must have good health. If long hours of confinement in close rooms have enfeebled his hand or dimmed his sight, let him at once, and before some organic trouble appears, take plenty of Hop Bitters. His system will be rejuvenated, his nerves strengthened, his sight become clear, and the whole constitution be built up to a higher working condition. Read Advt.