LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1165, 15 April 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Major Atkinson. Major Atkinson returned to Wellington from New Plymouth on Sunday and was expected to leave for the South yesterday. Horse Fair.—The horse fair at Geraldine takes place at Messrs Mundell and Co's. saleyards to-morrow. Messrs Mundell and Co. are now receiving entries for th« auction sale. A Heavy Rate. The Waimea Plains (Otago) Railway Company met on Friday and confirmed a resolution levying a rate of 3s 4d in the £ on property in the district served by the railway. Quadrille Assembly. During the winter months fast approaching Geraldine will not be without some amusement, as a public meeting of thoie interested in the formation of a quadrille assembly is announced to be held in the Crown Hotel, Geraldine, on Thursday next at 7.30 p.m. Our Laws.—To Whiti is a keen humorist, and somewhat of a satirist also, as his latest utterance evidences. He says the laws of Moses were engraved on stone, those of the Komans on tablets, and those of Great Britain on the best steel, but the laws of New Zealand, he thinks, have been impressed upon india-rubber so that the Government may str«tch them as they please. Cum Gkano Salis.—Political rumours are now the order of the day. The latest floating about Geraldine is that Sir John Hall who (prior to going to England was the chosen one of the Selwyn electors), will shortly return to these shores and will again seek election for that seat in Parliament. Should this be the case Mr "Wakefield will not contest the seat, but stand for the Geraldine electorate. As Others See Us.—Tradesman in various places in Canterbury (says the Cromwell Argus) are indulging in the pleasing contemplation of having to open their shops only half-a-day. The r«ason assigned for this intention, so we understand, is that they intend to go out and work the other half to supplement their daily earnings. Cooperation and hard times are the causes which have brought about this state of matters. Anniversary Services. —On Sunday last the anniversary services in connection with the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, I Geraldine, were held, being conducted by the Rev. P. Wills, of Temuka. The Church was crowded on both occasions. In the afternoon, the usual prizes were given to the scholars, Mr P. Wille handing the same to the recipients. He afterwards delivered a short address to the children and parents, many of the latter being present. Electric "Breeks."—A New Zealand resident now on a visit to Scotland carried with him some of those customs peculiar to colonial life, among others that of lighting matches on the nether garments. He happened to put that free and easy mode of striking matches into practice in presence of a youthful denizen of the secluded valley of Eledston, in Perthshire, and was no doubt vastly amused when the boy exclaimed j " Eli! see till the mon wi' the electric breeks." The Premier's Speech.—Commenting on Major Atkinson's address, the Otago Daily Times says : —lt looks to us as if the Major were courting defeat next session in the hope that a new Ministry may make sufficient blunders during the year to enable him to corao forward at the general election with a fresh policy and new colleagues. It is almost incredible that so able a man should have made such a poor speech, without announcing the shadow of a policy, unless he is tired of office. Possibly he feels himself that he has exhausted his mandate. Mr Bryce's Libel Action Against Rusdkn. —lt is, perhaps, not generally known (says the Wellington correspondent of the Press) that Mr Bryce's action against Mr Rusden for a libel contained in the History of New Zealand is still in full swing and is being pressed on by Mr Bryce as vigorously as possible. His legal representatives are instructed to use every effort to bring the case to trial as soon as possible. Mr Bryce is determined to pursue it to the bitter end. It is very likely he will have to go to England about it after the session, as the case will bo tried in London, but this is not yet definitely settled.

Conclusive.—A lady &t the Ejber Pass has recently presented her " rejoicing " spouse with triplets. The Mayor of Auckland, in imitation of her Majesty the Queen of whom he is a very distant representative, has presented the family with the customary royal bounty of £3. The Auckland Weekly commenting upon this event, considers that the amount is far too little and suggests that as each immigrant is supposed to be worth £125 to the Colony, the Royal bounty should hare been £375. Our contemporary further says that the State ought to fork out that sum. The Ashburton Mail indignantly protests. It would b« establishing a principle which thousands would take advantage of, and before long every birth in the colony would be a triplet. "We are poor enough now—we would be bankrupt then. Fiues. —A fire broke out early on Saturday morning at Whitcombe's bakeyr, Ponsonby (Auckland), in the bakehouse, which with his stables was destroyed. The machinery was insured for £l9O in the Royal; the building was uninsured. A grocer's shop and dwelling house, at the corner of Colombo street and Holly road, Chiiatchurch, leased from the Church Property Trustees by Walter George Barker, was burnt on Saturday. The stock and furniture were insured for £250 in the National, and the building for £2OO in the Standard. A house, the j property of Mr F. Dunlop, Oatnaru, was j destroyed by fire on Sunday. The house and furniture were insured for £550 in the Union office. Highway Robbery Almost, to sell the poisonous, drunicen, purging stuffs as medicine to honest men, innocent women, and harmless children to weaken and destroy their systems and health, when pure, harmless Hop Bitters caD be had that cures always and continually at a trifling cost. Ask druggists or physicians. Read AdTt, The Geraldine Road Board invite tenders for building two spans at Sharp's bridge, over the Kakahu river. A reward is offered for the recovery of a siver bracelet, lost on Sunday last between Arowhenua and the Temuka English Church. Mr R. A. Barker, Ohapi, Orari, has good oats or wheat straw chaff for sale. He is also prepared to cut farmers' sheaves or straw, and will grind oats, peas, beans, &c, &c. Full particulars as to charges will be found in his advertisement.