LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1176, 10 May 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Volunteers. —We understand that the Volunteers are making elaborate preparation# for their annual bail) which will take place this year on the 26th May.

Geraldine Dairy Factory.— The Secretary to the Geraldine Dairy’Factory Company (Limited) announces that the tender of Mr Thomas Henderson has been accepted for the manager’s houso and shelving. Small Birds’ Nuisance.—The Overseer to the Geraldine Eoad Board intimates that farmers in the district can have small quantities of their own wheat poisoned by Mr Cock , chemist, Geraldine, for the destruction of small birds, on obtaining an order from himself. Lucky Immigrants.— Ail the single and married men who arrived by the British King have either found employment or have gone to their friends in various parts of the province of Auckland. The single women who booked for Auckland are engaged, and twenty young women who booked for Canterbury, but who have no friends there, hare decided to remain in Auckland and take situations there. The young women are of a superior class. A Tribute to Major Ropata.— Major Ropata was on Thursday presented, at Gisborne, with a numerously signed letter expressing the feelings of the resident s_ at his past services, and the injustice done him by the Government in reducing his allowance hy two thirds ; also hoping that Parliament would rectify the matter. The old chief, in a brief reply quoted the Maori proverb of a dog being fed by its master as long as it could limp, and being knocked on the head when no longer of use. He said he had for years expected to be sent to arrest Te Kooti, but whatever the Government might do, he and those under his influence would remain steadfast and loyal. He was received with great enthusiasm, and was visibly affected.

Tbmuka Town Board. —We learn from a telegram received from Wsllington that the proclamation constituting Wallingford a Town District has been signed by the Governor. We may expect in a few days farther information fixing the date for the election of members, etc. A Tribute to the Blub Ribbon.—Referring to the diminution of crime in the Wellington district as evidenced by the limited number of oases taken before him during the past few days, Mr Wardell, R.M., remarked at the close of the business at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday that he had no doubt such a state of things had been mainly brought about by the operations of the Blue Ribbon and Salvation Armies.

Athletic. The annual sports of the South Canterbury Athletic Club came off in Timaru on Wednesday and Thursday. The attendance was good and the events fairly contested. The Champion Challenge Cup, valued at about 80 guineas, was taken by Mr E. N. Robinson. The Cup is held by the winner only during the year in which it is won and reverts to the Club, a gold medal being presented to the winner. Mr Parker’s Challenge Cup was also won by Mr E. N, Robinson. Mr Godby’s Challenge Cup was won by Mr Herbert A. LsCren, Mr Saunders’s Challenge Cup by Mr E. S. Rutherford, and the Ladies’ Cub by Mr H. A. LaCren. O. D. R. Ward v. National.Bank.— The case of Ward y. the National Bank, begun on Tuesday, at Dunedin, was continued on Wednesday, when Mr Haggitt addressed the jury on behalf of the Bank, and Mr Stout for the plaintiff. The jury retired at 12.30 p.m., and at 1.4 p.m. returned into Court, amweiing the issues as follows:—(1) Did the Bank at the giving of the first guarantee conceal from the plaintiff fact* which it was the Bank’s dutv to communicate, and of which the plaintiff was ignorant ? —Yes. (2) Was the sum of £IOOO advanced under the first guarantee ?—No. (3) Did Mr Stevens, at the time of the plaintiff giving the second guarantee, make untrue statements respecting the transactions of the Bank with King and the financial position of King ?—Yes. (4) Were the statements made by Stevens believing them to be true ? —No. (5) Were they made recklessly by Stevens ?—Yes. (6) Was the plaintiff induced to give the second guarantee by these statements ?—Yes. On Mr Stout’s application, His Honor certified for a special jury. The West Coast Murder. The Wellington correspondent of the Press wires : Executive Council on Wednesday, at which all the Ministers except Mr Mitchelson, who {s away from Wellington, were present. The principal business, it is understood, was to consider the case of the man O’Donoghue, who was convicted of murder on the West Coast, but concerning whose sanity doubts were subsequently raised, and on whose case Dr Grabham, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, was specially instructed to report. The Government, I believe, were unable to deal with the matter before, as, since Dr Grabham’s report was sent in, very few of the Ministers have been together in Wellington at one time. The Executive Council arrived at a decision as to the fate of the convict, but its nature will not be made public until His Excellency notifies his pleasure in the matter.” The Mackat Embezzlement Case.— The Post of Wednesday night says it is understood that M- George Thorne, junior, the Superintendent of Agents in the Government Insurance Department, has been suspended from duty, in consequence, it is believed? of certain matters which came to light in connection with the recent prosecution of Joseph Mackay, one of the travelling agents, lb is not yet known what further steps will be taken in the matter. The own correspondent of the Press (who also represents the Post) gives the following additional particulars ;—“ Some excitement was caused in Wellington on Wednesday by a report that Mr George Thorne, Superintendent of Agent* in the Government Insurance Department, had been suspended owing to disclosures made during the Mackay prosecution. The defendant in that case, it may be remembered, circulated broadcast what purported to be copies of some letters and telegrams which had passed between him and Mr Thorne. Some of them certainly were of a very extraordinary character. The authorities maintain a strict silence on the subject, but I believe serious differences have arisen over the affair, and that unless attempts which are being to adjust the matter are successful, the department is likely to come again prominent ly before the public.” A Thief’s Rebuke.— The Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, one of the Massachussetts Judges from 1808 to 1813, was wont to relate the following anecdote with great relish ; —One George White an expert thief, who had been an inmate of every gaol and prison in the Commonwealth, was at one time on trial before a Court at which Judge Sedgwick presided. While the Attorney-General was making the argument for the prosecution, one of the jurors leaned forward and eovered his eyes with his hands. Noticing this, White rose in the dock and said, with the ccolest impudence: “You may as well stop, Mr Attorney-General ; you have talked one of the jurymen to sleep.” The AttorneyGeneral was struck speechless with astonishment at this unlocked for interruption, and as soon as he recovered liimself he turned on the prisoner, and exclaimed with paasionat? vehemence ; “ You thief ! You villain ! Your forehead should be branded with the word ‘ thief,’ which stamps your character !’’ and proceeded to lash him with a torrent of invective, not forgetting to taunt him with the fact that nine indictments were then pending agahist him in time very CourtWhite stood calm and apparently' unmoved throughout the stinging reproof of the irascible Attorney-General, and at its conclusion he quietly remarked: “You may now proceed, sir; you have waked him up 1” i

Eire is Wellington. St. John’ Presbyterian Church and schoolroom, Willis street, Wellington, was totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning about 6 o’clock. The fire broke out in the schoolroom, which had not been open since Tuesday night. The flames soon got complete mastery, and the water supply was deficient. The Brigade had been turned out about an hour before to a fire in a brickyard in Tory street, a high wind was blowing, and the flames spread from - the schoolroom to the church, and could not be checked. The organ, books, music, carpet, and everything moveable, was got out of the church. The library and records, and the harmonium in the schoolroom were destroyed The fire spread to a private residence (Mr Spinks’) at Te Aro. Jameson’s grocery, and several other buildings in Willis Street were partially destroyed. On the north side of the church a private dwelling and a largo two storey workshop were completely gutted. At one time the fire seemed likely to sweep the whole street. The roofs of several houses at a considerable distance from the churchwere on fire. 'The Wellington Dorcas Society lose their sewing machines and other property in the schoolroom. The fire is believed to bo a clear case of incendiarism. The insurances are—On the schoolroom, £SOO in the Northern Office, and the Church for £3OOO in the Northern Office, reinsured for £IOOO in the South British, £SOO in the London, Liverpool and Globe.

Entertainment*— Miss Carry Nelson’s Comic Operetta Company will give two of their charming entertainments in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Thursday . and Friday evenings next. According to our southern exchanges the entertain* raent provided by the company is remarkably good. Speaking of an entertainment given at Oamaru, the Man B aya :—“The programme consisted of character sketches, recitations, songs and dances. Miss Nelson is a host in herself } she has a really fine voice, and she renders the fine music of her father, the ■>* late Sydney Nelson, with truly remarkable power and gracefulness. Naturally, therefore, her singing gives great pleasure to the listeners, and last night’s audience showed by their frequent applause that they thoroughly enjoyed ‘ and appreciated its effects. Miss Lottie’s dancing was very clever and graceful, and led to repeated encores. Mr MTadyen recited some portions of ‘Tana O’Shanter,’ and otherwise assisted in carrying out the programme. But the strong point of the entertainment are beyond; doubt the songs given by Mis s Nelson, and her singing of Bayley’s fine ballad (as set to her father’s music) 1 Steer my barque to Erin’s Isle ’ is alone worth the charge made for admission to the hall. Miss Nelson is also a clever and vivacious actress, and her part last night in the ‘Daughter of the Regiment/ was characterised throughout by pleasing piquancy.” Remedy for Hard Times. Stop spending so much on fine clothes, rich food, and style. Buy good food, cheaper and better clothing, and stop the habit of using expensive or quack doctors or humbug medicine that does you only harm, but put your trust in the greatest of alt simple, pure remedies, Hop Bitters, that cures always at a trifling cost, and you will see better times and good health. Read Advt. “ Boaz” publishes elsewhere particular* ot a drawing on a novel principle for the colony. This is his third drawing. The five chief prizes in the second drawing were distributed as follows : —First prize, £3OO, to Christchurch ; second prize, £l5O, to New Plymouth ; third prize, £IOO, to Dunedin * fourth prize, £6O, to Wellington; fifth prize, £6O, to Palmerston N. in in... .. I I II ■———-■