The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1884.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1172, 1 May 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1884.

THE CREDIT OF THE COLONY. We canuot help admiring the pluck and ability which the Premier displayed at the meeting in Christchurch. Stormy as the Dunedin meeting was, the Christchurch one was far more stormy ; but Major Atkinson managed to weather through it, and make a good speech from his own standpoint. He deprecated the cry raised by the Opposition respecting the depressed state of the colony, and was most heroic in the hopeful way in which he looked upon our future prospects. What a change has come over the Major since the time lie was trying to oust the Grey Ministry out of office. Who does not remember the way in which Major Atkinson and the Hall Ministry ran down the credit of the colony then? Was there ever in New Zealand a man who did more harm to the colony by crying out “ stinking fish ” than Major Atkinson when he took office after the Grey Government ? Did he not represent matters to be in the most deplorable state, and had not his contemptible whining the effect of damaging our credit in England and keeping the proper class of emigrants away from us ? Nobody knows the amount of damage the croaking of Major Atkinson did to this colony in those days. The London correspondent of the Otago Witness of the 25th of December, 1880, wrote : and the United States are reaping a splendid harvest of scared British farmers, and New Zealand would reap the best of all but for the indescribably dismal stories which are coming Home from the colony. It is a thousand pities that it should be so, and especially that these stories ehould be so exaggerated, as many of them plainly are. I can read between the lines two distinct sources of exaggeration. Some are political, and have their origin in a desire to exaggerate the difficulties of the colony in order to make capital out of the blunders and faults of the late Government. Those who are guilty of this, little think how far-reaching is the harm they do, and how they are making a rod under which their own backs will smart when they diminish the credit of the colony and scare away the class which just now the colony moat needs—capitalist farmers. It is exactly this class of statements which most surely finds its way Horae, and is made most of, where not one in a thousand has colonial knowledge enough to discount it at its trui value.” Major Atkinson did not scruple in those days to raise the cry of hard times and ruin, but now it is very wicked for any other persons to do it. What they ought to do is to put confidence in themselves and the colony, and latjncdi out into further borrowing and more immigration. But Major Atkinson did more than this. In either 1879 or 1880—

we forgot which—Parliament voted the sum of £79,000 to be spent in providing work for the unemployed, Major Atkinson did not spend this money, as directed by Parliament. He kept it in the treasury coffers, and came before the Legislature strutting like a game cock and boasting that he had a surplus ol £IOO,OOO ; whereas, in reality, he had robbed the working men of New Zealand of this money. The result of keeping this money was that thousands of men left the colony. Our readers will remember how they used to leave Timaru in those days by the sailing vessels as well as steamers, and bow epecial accommodation was provided for them by some of the coal vessels. Some of these were men who had been in the colony for years, who were good workmen and had some money saved, but the management of Major Atkinson drove them away by keeping the money which the Legislature voted for providing employment for them, in order to shew a large surplus at the end of the year. Now, this Government has ever since been importing people into the colony to make up the number their own villainous conduct drove away. It is very well for Major Atkinson now to tell the people to have confidence in themselves and the colony. The people have confidence in themselves and the colony, but they have been ruined by the scoundrelly manner m which they have been governed, and they know a change is very much wanted.

LOCAL AND dENERAL.

Held Over. —We have received a number of letters to the Editor which are unavoidably held over until our next issue, when they will be published. Vital Statistics.— The following are the vital statistics for the month ended April 30th 1884, registered at the office, Geraldine :—Births, 12 ; marriages, 1 ; deaths, 2. The Effects of Wkbstling. —Professor Miller and Donald Dinnie wrestled at the Melbourne Exhibition building on Saturday night, the 19bh April, and during the struggle Miller broke his ankle. Ratkpatees’ Meetings. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Mount Peel Road District takes place to day. The onnual meeting of the Temuka Road District ratepayers will take place next Tuesday.

Unpaid Property Tax. —The amount of the Property Tax remaining unpaid for the year ending March 31st is only L4OOO, and for the recovery of this, summonses against defaulters are now being prepared for issue.

Sheep Worrying. —We have heard of several instances lately of sheep having been worried and killed by dogs on the lands of farmers on the Geraldine Road, The owners of them are vowing vengeance against the canine depredators if caught.

The Member tor Geraldine. —lt is almost unnecessary to remind the electors in the Geraldine district that W. Pestlethwaito, Esq. M.H.R., will address them to-morrow ereuing in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, at half-past 7 o’clock. There will doubtless be a large attendance.

General Gordon. — Special telegrams to the Melbourns Age,dated London, April 23rd, state that the recent dispatches from General Gordon at Khartoum, and the peril in which he is supposed to be placed, have created great excitement in England. A movement is on foot to raise a band of 2000 Volunteers to proceed to the Soudan to effect his rescue.

Roman Catholic Diocesan Stnod. The first Diocesan Synod ever held in Auckland in connection with the Roman Catholic Church will be opened to day in St. Patrick’s Cathedral with the celebration of Pontifical High Mass. At the close of the Mass the laity will withdraw, and the Synod will be constituted by clergy alone from all parts of the diocese. The matters for consideration are chiefly connected with the administration of the diocese. On Sunday afternoon the foundation stone of St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be laid with becoming ceremonies by the Bishop. During next week Bishop Luck leaves on a visit to Rome. Entertainment. —On to-morrow and Saturday evenings, Mr F. W. Fisher’s Australian Comedy and Burlesque Company will give two entertainments at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine. The members of the Company have recently arrived from the West Coast, where they have had a most successful run for the past three months. Mr St. Clair is the advance agent. Entertainments of asimi'ar character in Geraldine have been few and far between for a long while past, and the Company, very naturally, expect, bumper houses on both occasions.

Geraldine Hoad Board Election.— The following wore nominated yesterday as candidates to fill the two vacancies on the Geraldine Road Board caused by the retiring, by ballot, of Messrs W. Postlethwaite, and W. Deßenzy : Messrs R. H. Postlethwaite (nominated by Mr W. Coltman) ; J. Mundell (nominated by Mr W. S. Maslin) ; and W. Ueßenzy (nominated by Mr Pearpoint). The poll will take place on Wednesday next, May 7th, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the return of two of the above persons, at the Road Board office, Geraldine, the schoolroom, Woodbury ; and the schoolroom, Hilton.

Postponement.— The lecture in aid of tbs ~~ building fund of St. Mary’s Church, Geraldine, is postponed, owing to the illness of th« lecturer. Assault with Intent.— Earnest Davia was charged before Mr Beswick in Timaru yesterday with an assault with intent on a servant girl, aged 17 years, named Alice Smith. It appeared that the parties mat in the street in Timaru on the night of 24th of April last,{and that on the way home the accused attempted to assault the complainant twice. Mr Haraersley appeared for the accused, who was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court,bail being in £2OO and two sureties of £IOO each. K.M. Court, Temuka.— At the above Court yesterday, before S. D. Barker, Esq., J.P., John Lennan was charged with having on the previous night been drunk and disorderly. Constable Burke stated that on the previous evening he heard a noise in the Crown Hotel. accused was expelled from the hotel, aed as he tried to get back the constable arrested him. On the way to the lock-up he was very disorderly. He was fined 20s. Accused said he would not pay the money, but would go to gaol instoadThe constable, however, had money belonging to the accused in his possession, and paid the fine in to Court. The accused protested against this, as he wanted to go to gaol instead of paying, bnt it was of no avail, the Court stuck to the money, the law being that as the accused had money he had to pay. Geraldine County Council. —At a meeting of the above, held yesterday, Mr John Talbot was elected Chairman vice Mr J. C. McKerrow, resigned. Mr Sherratt was appointed member of the Harbor Board vice Mr McKerrow, resigned. A letter from the Levels Hoad Board asking the Council to take over the maintenance of the Pareora and Opihi Bridges was read, but as there was a small attendance the matter was deferred. On the motion of Mr Mackay, seconded by Mr Moody, it was resolved—‘That the extension and repairs to the approaches of the Opihi Bridge bo proceeded with, in accordance with the sanction of the Hoads and Bridges Construction Act; Mr Meason to call for tenders, and that the Chairman and Mr Moody be authorised to accept the same.' Mr Moody was elected Treasurer vice Mr McKerrow. 1.0.G.T. The usual meeting of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, No. 44, I. was held in the Good Templar Hall, Geraldine, on Monday evening last, Bro. T. Sherratt, W.C.T., presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, after which two candidates were proposed for membership, and duly elected. The nomination of officers for the ensuing terra was then proceeded with, resulting as follows: W.C.T., Bro. T. Sherratt (re-elected) ; W.Y.T., Sister Kirby; W.S., Bro. E. Logan ; W.F.S., Bro. J. Quinn ; W.T., ... Bro. W. G. Sherratt; W.C., Sister M» Ward ; W.M., Bro. A. Dunford; W.1.G., Bro. J. Brown; W.0.G., Bro. J. Fifefield ; W.R. H.S., Sister M. Dunlop; W.L.H.S., Sister E. Maslin ; W.A.S., Bro. G. Bethune; W.D.M., Sister E. Fleming. Bros. W. S. Maslin and G. H. Patrick intimated they had received their commissionsas D.D.G.W.O.T, and D.W.C.T. respectively. The Lodge was afterwards opened for harmony, when Bros. Sherratt, Logan and Sister E. Maslin contributed songs and readings. The Lodge was then closed by the W.C.T. Despairing Bankers. The number of suicides among the brightest and most capable of business men, bankers and others, will be reduced to a happy minimum as soon as the specific virtues of Hop Bitters are known. As all men who work with their brains and neglect to take the needed exercise, the food taken does not nourish ; and dangerous debility, physicsl and mortal, ensue. Read Advt. Mr G. Ward, Geraldine, has 90 acres arable land for sale on the Geraldine Downs. One hundred bushels feed oats are required by Mr W. E. Barker, Waikonini, The Temuka Road Board invite fenders for several road works, and also for 10,000 feat of B.P. planking. Messrs Maslin and Sherratt hold tbair weekly auction sale of miscellaneous good*, dairv produce, etc., at their rooms, Temuka, to day.