LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 19 April 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Opihi Bridge. —Our readers will be pleased to notice that the Opihi bridge is again open for light traffic. Government Economy. The Government have reduced Major Ropata’s allowance from £3OO to £2OO, on the ground of “ urgent need of economy.” Testimonial. —Major Slater, late Captain commanding the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, has received from this regiment a testimonial in the shape of a massive silver claret jug and salver to match. Court Fees. Government have under consideration a new scale of fees for Supreme and Magistrate’s Courts and that in certain charges there will be a substantial increase. Valedictory. —On Tuesday evening next a dinner will be given by his many friends to C. G. Tripp, Esq. (who is on the eve of his departure for the Old Country for a short visit). It will lake place in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine. Thanksgiving Services. Harvest thanksgiving services will be held in St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, to-morrow morning and evening. Contributions of flowers, fruit, vegetables, and cereals will be thankfully received at the Parsonage this morning. Sib Julius Vogel. —Sir Julius Vogel, who arrived in the Tongariro, still suffers from gout badly, and mores about with difficulty. He states that his main object in visiting New Zealand is for the benefit of his health. He will remain in this colony for at least four months, and will then probably visit Australia-

ThbN.Z. Shipping- Compact’s Stbamkes. —The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, have received by last mail a letter advising them that their three new steamships—Tongariro, Aorangi and Ruapehu—have been surveyed and found to fulfil the necessary conditions for admission to the Admiralty list of merchant ships suited for employment for State purposes, and have been accordingly entered on that list.

Gbbaldinb County Council At the Geraldine County Council’s last meeting the following business was transacted besides what appeared in our last issue : The Secretary was instructed to take legal proceedings against two persons who had infringed the Slaughter-house Regulations, by sailing meat without licenses. Owing to the meeting being a small one, Mr Talbot withdrew his notice of motion that the Council take over all bridges on main lines of road ; and for the same reason Mr Sherratt withdrew his, that the expenditure of the Road Boards on such bridges during the last year be recouped to them. It was understood that both motions will be moved at next meeting. Accounts amounting to £74 14s 7cl were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned till May 21sfc. Good Teuplahy. —The Grand Lodge session of Good Templars concluded their sitting at Oamaru on Wednesday morning. The following officers were elected ; G.W.0.r., Bro. John Harding, Hawke’s Bay. G.W.Y.T., Bro. Robert Neill, Lawrence ; D.W.S., Bro. D. C. Cameron, Dunedin ; G. W.T., Bro. Wm. Carr, Dunedin ; G.S.J.T., Bro. B. C. Robbins, Hawera; G.W.C., Bro. K. Sando, Timaru ; G.W.M., Bro. G. R. Armstrong, Akaroa ; P.W.C.T., Bro. J. Efford, Christchurch. It was decided that the next session should be held on the Tuesday of Easter week next year. The Executive was directed to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that houses licensed for the sale of liquor are in some instances used as post offices, contrary to the provisions of the Licensing, Act and the postal regulations.

Nbw Map op thb Temuka Road Boabd District. —The new map of the Temuka Road district, prepared under the direction of the Temuka Eoad Board, is now to hand, and can be obtained from the Surveyor for 10s each. The map is most complete in its details.

The Eiot ox the Auckland Eacbcouesb. A meeting of the Stewards of the Auckland Racing Club has been held, Mr B. Tonks presiding, at which it was decided to communicate with the Club’s solicitors in regard to taking legal proceedings against the ringleaders of the riot at the races on Tuesday. It was resolved that a full dividend be paid to the backers of Mitrailleuse in the Consolation, and no money be refunded to the backers of other horses. Mr Bercival stated that, acting under compulsion, he had paid £248 at the time of the disturbance.

Coubsins. —The opening meeting of the season of the S.O. Coursing Club took place at the Pareora Station on Thursday last. The day was beautifully fine, and the attendance good. Puppy Stakes : First dog, £l2 12s j second dog, £6 6s ; third dog, £2 2s. Mr Lawne’s Black Bess beat Mr Dalgleish’s Hockheimer, and won the stake. Mr Blennerhasset’s Heather Bell third. Mr M. Connolly’s Tirginia Water was beaten ia the first round. All Aged Stakes: First dog, £l6 16s; second dog, £S 8s ; two dogs £3 3s each. Messrs Ross and Co.’s bdl and w d Three Springs beat Mr Hibbard’s Miss Dawo ; third prizetakers—Messrs Ross and Co.’s Grand Duchess and Musketeer. Mr T. Farrell’s Glasgow Collie was hasten in the second round.

FIBB Near Woodeuby.— On Thursday morning last, about 5 o’clock the house belonging to Mr M. E. Heatley on the main road towards Woodbury was burned to the ground. It appears that at that hour Mr Heatley had risen and lighted the fire, after which he went outside to giro his horse a feed preparatory to bringing a load into Geraldine. Shortly afterwards he obserred the house to be on fire, and such a hold had the derour. ing element on the building that nothing could bo done to stay its progress. Mr Heatley roused the family and they with difficulty escaped with their lires. Unfortunately scarcely anything was sared. A fine plantation of trees around the house also sustained serious injury. It is surmised that a portion of the ignited wood must hare fallen out of the fireplace on to the floor of the kitchen and thus set fire to the building. The premises were insured iu the How Zealand Insurance Office for £l5O, and the furniture for £l5O in the Lirerpool and London and Globe Insurance Office.

Bankrupts Beware. —A number of bankrupts under the new Act came before His Honor Judge Ward, at the monthly sitting of the District Court at Timaru, for examination on Wednesday last. During the examination of one, His Honor said “ it might be as well for bankrupts to be made aware that until they hare paid the whole of the wages due they cannot obtain their orders of discharge. In this estate there wore three claims for wages, and until those were paid an order of discharge would not bo granted. He would adjourn this examination till next Court day.” During the examination of another, Mr Knubley, who appeared for the Deputy Assignee, remarked that there seemed to be an idea current that the Assignee was bound to take action to recorer moneys, whether there was money or not in the estate, and that somebody would pay him. His Honor said if the Assignee took action be must hare a guarantee from the creditors. He was not bound to take action.

Wholbbali Abbbst. —At the R.M. Court, on Wednisday (lays the Ashburton Hail) C. Phyiick, G. T. John*, J. J. Johw, W, Johm, W. Martin, W. Wilcox, and F. Finnerty were charged, on the information of William Saunders, with the larceny of £2OO worth of grain from Dundai, the property of Samuel Saunders, on Sunday last. The caie is somewhat complicated, arising out of the adverse claims of the landlord and lienee to the possession of the grain in question. One, Patrick Dooley, rented land from William Saunders some time ago. He gave a lien to a commission agent, named William Smith On Thursday last the grain was advertised for sale, and sold under alleged distraint for rent, S. Saunders being the purchaser. Acting on the written opinion of his solicitor, Mr Smith seized the grain in question, engaging the accused as his agents. This was done on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and on their approaching Ashburton with their drayi, the accused were arrested on W. Saunders’s information. Sergeant Felton appeared to conduct the prosecution, aud Mr Caygill for the defence. The case was remanded till Saturday next (to-day).

Disposixg op the Honobabium. —The Rev. Father Kean, of Geraldine, has done a graceful thing in acknowledging publicly the receipt of £lO from Mr Postlethwaite as hia donation to the fund for the erection of a Roman Catholic Presbytery in Geraldine. This is not the first time Mr Poatlethwaite haa contributed liberal donations to institutions in this district, but not one of them has had the courtesy to acknowledge them. For a long time we have been cognisant of this fact; we knew that Mr Postlothwaite had distributed his honorarium pretty evenly between the various institutions in the district, and we have been waiting for some one of them to give publicity to the matter. We have published reports of lodge meetings and other meetings, but not one of them contained even a resolution thanking Mr Postlethwaite for his munificence. We have been all along very desirous of commending the laudable manner in which Mr Postlethwaite had disposed of his honorarium, but nothing has hitherto been made public to give us the opportunity. In this matter he has set a noble example to all others, and whatever his faults as a politician may be, there is one he has not, and that is sticking selfishly to the money he receives for the time he spends in Wellington. We hope many others will follow the example given them by Mr Postlethwaite.

Quadrille Assembly. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a quadrille assembly in Geraldine is convened for Thursday next at the Crown Hotel, Geraldine.

Arrival op thb s.s, Tobgaeiro. —The s.B. Tongariro arrived at Port Chalmers on Thursday, after a passage of 45 days and 13 minutes from Plymouth, the actual steaming time being 41 days 9 hours 33 minutes. She has 30 saloon and 138 second and third class passengers. Ho complaints were made by the passengers. One death occurred on the voyage, that of a child 16 months old, and two boys were born. The bulk of the cargo is for Port Chalmers and the remainder for Lyttelton. Sir Julius and Lady and Miss Yogel are amoig the passengers. Architectural Structure. Some months ago we announced that Mr Upton was one of the competitors for the plans for the new Town Hall in Brisbane. The result of the competition is now known. There were in all 26 architects competed, as many as five of them being from London, and Mr Upton representing New 1 Zealand. The published report states that the greatest difficulty was experienced in selecting the most suitable plan, as all of them were admirable. In the letter from the Mayor, Mr Upton is specially thanked, and his name is well up amongst the list of competitors. The first place, however, was accorded to a Melbourne man, second place being given to a Brisbane architect. Mr Upton’s plans will be exhibited for a week in the vestibule of Mr Collins’s auction room, Timaru, and it would be well worth the while of visitors’ to Timaru to see them. St. Saviour’s Church Bazaar.— Owing to the lateness of the hour and the hurry in which we got up our report of St. Saviour’s Church concert, some mistakes occurred. Mrs Hamilton’s name was omtited from amongst the ladits who had charge of the stalls, and Miss McNair got no credit for having sung excellently. After the sale Messrs Morris, of Pleasant Point, again delighted the audience by playing a splendid musical selection, Mr Greenwood sang a local song capitally, and Mr Wilkinson contributed a very amusing comic song, for which he received a warm encore. At the close of the entertainment Mr B. D. O’Halloran moved a vote of thanks to the ladies who had so ably assisted at the bazaar, and expressed his thanks on behalf of the Committee to the people for their kind patronage. The whole proceeding* came to a close about 11 o’clock. The bazaar was a great success. The exact sum realised is not yet known, but so for as can bo -judged at present the the gross receipts will be about £llO. This is yery good for one day’s work. In another column the Incumbent and Vestry thank all who in any way contributed to the success of the gathering.

Truth and Soberness. —What is the best family medicine in the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costiveness and biliousness, aid digestion, and stimulate the whole system 1 Truth and soberneso compel us to answer, Hop Bitters, being pure, perfect and harmless. See Advt.

The Temuka Road Board invites tenders for 10,000 fest (*r more) of black pine planking. Robin Hood’s Great Novelty Company publish their programme on the Dunedin Birthday Handicap and Grand National Steeplechase. The programmes are 10s each. Particulars in the advertisement.

The Pooenii Novelty Company, Christchurch, publish their programme on the Canterbury Grand National Steeplechase, to be run on the 24th of May. Programmes arc five shillings each. Particulars in the advertisement.