LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1264, 13 November 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thb Member tor Akaroa.—Mr Montgomery, the Member for Akaron left Auckland on Tuesday by the mail steamer en route to England.

Land Nationalisation.—The Auckland Parliamentary Union, which now consists of upwards of 300 members, passed by an overwhelming majority a Bill in favour of land Nationalisation. Wesley aw Conference.— Tho Australasian Wesleyan Conference commenced its sittings in the Durham Street Churcb, Christchurcb, yr-sterday. The butiness was of a purely forma! charcter. Vaqhancy.—Wil!u;;» Kirk was charged with vagrancy at the Eosidont Magistrate's Court, Temuka, last, Monday, and remanded to Timaru for medical treatment. The poor fellow appeared to be of unsound mind, and had slept out for several nights previously.

Death of a Horse.—A valuable horse bel.ngiug to Mr P. Wareing died near Selwyn, on the road to Ohristchuroh. Mr and Mrs Wareing leftTemuka in cheir trap intending to drive to Christchurch, a few days ago, and when they reached the place indicated the horse dropped down dead. Geraldine Town Board.—The Over, seer, Mr C. E. Sherr.itfc, invites tenders for various works in the Town District of Geraldine, particulars of which will be found in the advertisement. Specifications may be seen at the Board's Office, where tenders must be sent in by 4 p.m. on the 19th inst. The Salmon.—The acclimatisation of salmon would seem to be an accomplished f-ict, judging by the following from the Biverton Star :—" Piscatorial enthusiasts will be rejoiced to learn that two fish pronounced by experts to bo real salmon were caught in the river on Thursday evening! a short distance above the bridge, by a net, along with a number of other fish. They weighed close on a pound each, and from the appearance of the gills they have not been out of the frenh water. This is only anothnr proof that the ova placed in Jacob's River some years ago has not been altogether profitless, and shows the necessity for rigorous measures being takon to conserve the salmon in the river—now that the fact that there are a certain number i n onr stream has been placed beyond a doubt—and prevent their wholesale destruction." ]

The Ohristchuroh Show. The weather, which for the past week had been dreadfully wet and unseasonable, cleared off yesterday, and the Christchurch Show, the succesi of which it was feared bad weather would mar, was a great success. Crowds of visitors attended the Show. The display was a grand one, despite the fact that a number of Southern breeders did not exhibit this year. The following .medals were awarded :—Gold medal for the best bull of any age, G. Steel's Eosa's Earl ; gold medal for the best cow, John Deans's Duchess of Brunswick VI. Two silver medals for merino sheep were taken by W. H. Teschemaker, and two by Mr A. McMaster, 11. R. and J. E. Parker, H. Overton, 0. Withorell, W. Boag, H. J. Washbourne, J. Deans, and Dudley and Northey also secured medals in various classes of sheep. Phrenology.—Professor LioMedo, the well-known phrenologist, gave a very interesting and instructive lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine, on \londay evening. The audience was net a large one. The lecturer took for his subject several of the organs of the brain which form the character of a person, elucidating it in plain homely language which the most simple could not fail to understand. He was listened to most attentively throughout, and the audience went away well satisfied with the evening's entertainment. As wdl he seen by advertisement in/ another column the Professor purposeg holding entertainments at the schoolhouse, Woodbury, on Friday evening, and at Peel Forest on Saturday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. Ho should be well patronised, as his entertainments are not only amusing but instructive. .

I The Governor's Piper.— Mr Munro, of j Paimerston (Otago), the piper who perJ formed wit!) such effect at the members' | ball in Wellington, has been appointed i piper to his Excellency the Governor. I Each Betwjjen Stsambbs.— In a race between the steamers Clansman, Wellington, and Waitaki from Wellington to Auckland, the two first-named steamers, finished a dead heat, beating the Waitaki by twa hours in the twenty-four. The speed attained was twelve miles an hour.

Auction Sales.—Mr W. S. Maslin holds a sale ut his rooms, Geraldine, to-morrow, of a nice little compact freehold farm of 55 acres, with house and improvements in, Gapes' Valley. At the same time ho will offer a section and house in Geraldine fronting on the Main and Cole's Roads, and lately in tiro occupation of Mr James Guilford.—Mr Maslin also publishes full particulars anent the sale of Mr Wm. Hopkinson's property and stock, the .date being fixed for the 17th November. H.M.S. Wasp.—lt wrll be remembered that news reached this colony about six weeks ago to the effect that H.M.S. Wasp had been wrecked on the coast of Ireland. According to the Derry correspondent of the Freoman's, journal the vessel was told off to take an evicting party to the Island Innistrabul. The island is the property of Sir Robert Bateson Harvey, and some of the tenants on it owed him £76 ss. The Wasp had been despatched by the Government to take the evicting party off, but she was wrecked off Tory Island, and 52 of her crew were drowned. Only eight

escaped. Thb American Phesident.—The Timaru Herald evidently knows very little about American politics. In its leader on the election of Cleveland as President it stated that " Blaine is a red republican, and was supported by O'Donovan Rossa. Of course, this is an insinuation that Blaine had the support of the Irish in American. This is not a fact. Blaine is a republican ; Cleveland is a democrat, and the Irish in America are democrats to a man. Irishmen never support republicans, and their candidate on this occasion was Cleveland, who, in fact, is half an Irishman, as his mother was an Irish lady named Ctfei .

Christchurch Presbytery.—At a meeting of the above, held last Tuesday, the Rev. A. M. Baattie, for Mr Blake, moved, and it was agreed—" That the last day of the year being a quin-centenary of John Wycliffe's death, the various ministers be requested to make reference to his life and works."—The "Rev. J. Ehnslie, as convener of the Itangitata Committee, reported that Mr J. H. Twentyman and Mr E. 0. Morley had offered a gift of eight acres of land or £3O in money, provided a building be erected at once, which offer had been accepted with conditions attached. It was agreed to convey to Messr3 Twentyman and Morley the thanks of the Presbytery for their munificent gift. The Rev. J. Hill read a statement of the circumstances attending the resignation of the Rev. Mr Slocombe, and the form of certificate which it was agreed to forward to that gentleman.

Extbaobdinakx Kevelations.—lreland still continues to supply news of a sensational character. The boycotting is a thin" of the past, but the sequel to it is not less exciting. Recently two informers named Casey and Philpin, made public confessions of having sworn falsely in the Maauitrasma murder trials. They say they were compelled to do bo by Mr George Bolton,the Crown Prosecutor, who told them that if they did not swear as he desired they would be hanged. Owing to the evidence they gave a man named Myles Joyce was hanged end several others transported for life, and they now assert that these men were innocent. It was the iury who hanged Myles Joyce that was accused of drunkenness and riotous conduct. The confessions have been made in a. church in the presence of the Archbishop and priests of the diocese, and the subject is still occupying

public attention. Another informer named Grrundy has also confessed that the ovidence which he gave, and on which Joe Poole was hanged, was false, and that both Mr G-eo. Bolton and Inspector Mallon forced him to give it. Auother informer named Cole lijß made a similar confession, and an ex-police-man who has since joined the aitillarj has himself up as the author of a murder in Kerry, on account of which a man named Poff was hanged. Altogether interest is being kept up in Irish matters. Cannibalism in the Eockt Mountains.—Whatever may be the truth of ' the story as to the Greely expedition, a well-authenticated case of cannibalism ig reported by the Courier dea Etai's Unis from the Rocky Mountains. A short time back a man half dead from inanition, and apparently insane, was found wandering upon the banks of the Kicking Horse River. When brought to himself the unfortunate man stated that he was a California!! miner named William Owens, and that he had started from lOunloops in June, with a companion named Joseph Williams, in search of a silver mine. They had intended to reach the Colombo Kiver, bnt falling short of provisions, they had trudged on for six days without food. On the seventh day Williams threw himself on the ground, . and said that he could not go any farther. Me died of exhaustion in a few minutes, ( and Owens says that he cut slices of flesh , from his legs and thighs, and that it \Vas j by eating small mouthftils of this that he a was able to continuo his journey. He a had been Hying on human flesh for six f days when he was found, and a small t quantity was still tied up in the corner of fc his handkerchief. The unfortunate man, ) who was reduced to such terrible straits, i had several hundred pounds in bank notes n with him, \o

Immiqkatiok and Esri obation.—During the month of October there arrived in the colony 1638 persons, and the departures numbered 704. Of the arrivals 790 were from the United Kingdom and 786 were from Australia. Of the departures 9 were for the Uuited Kingdom and 570 for Australia. Ten Chinamen arrived and 66 left during the iponth.

The Resident JMaqisibaik.—Mr J. S. Beswick, the Resident Magistrate, took his »2&t on the Bench in Timaru on Monday morning, and was congratulated by Mr 0. T. Perry (on behalf of the bar) at his recovery from sickness, and also expressed a hope that it would be permanent. Mr Beswick briefly returned thanks, paid a high tribute of praise to Mr Robinson who had officiated in his absence, and said he had experienced great sympathy during his illness. Wool Sale.—The first New Zealand wool »ale of the season was held in Christchurch on Monday, when the ]S".Z.L. and M.A. Company, submitted 1056 bales greasy and scoured wools, of which 947 bales were sold under the hammer. The greasy wools consisted chiefly of half and crossbred sorts, for which there was animated competition, the price for the former reaching lOd and for the latter 8d per lb. Greasy merino was in small supply, and fetched up to 9d,j scoured merino up to 16fd ; scoured half bred up to 14d. There was a large attendance of buyers, and the sale passed off with great spirit.

Sia Henby Paekes' Ebtikbment ieom Public Life.—Sir Henry Parkea ha» resigned his seat in the Assembly for Tenfcerfield, N.S.W. He published an address to his oon stituents, stating he felt a growing disinclination for the labors of political life in the present Parliament. Political character bad almost disappeared from the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and personal objects, to put the matter in the mildest form, had to a great extent supplanted legitimate debate. He had lately seen immense sums of public money Toted away owing to private pressure and bargaining. He was not prepared to waste the remainder of his life in contending against such forces. He had taken the step deliberately, with no intention of seeking or accepting a seat in Parliament in the future. He proceeded to comment strongly on the unfavorable terms of the new Land Act and the railway proposals and prophesied a financial crisis.

A Chinese Fo-jtebal.—A novelty in tha way of funerals (says the Wellington Mail) took place in Wellington on Tuesday afternoon, the occasion being the interment of the remains of a Chinaman named Chang Wow, who died at the Hospital a day or two ago. The procession left the hospital at about 2 o'clock in the following order : Fint, the undertaker walking by the side of a Chinaman with a white puggaree wound round his hat, who distributed pieces of perforated paper along the road ; the coffin, borne by five Chinamen, carrying in addition a brandy box and a sack; then the friends who were very numerous, eaoh celestial smoking a cigarette. When the cortege arrived at the English cemetery, where the deceased was to be interred, the gentleman with the puggaree removed the lid of the coffin, and exposed to view all that remained of the late Chinaman. Out of a bag he produced a new wideawake hat, which he placed at the head of the corpse. A new white shirt, snd two pairs of socks were thrown into the coffin, and a pair of Chinese slippers, minus the soles, where placed on the feet of the deceased. A number of Chinese tapers, or were then stuck into the ground and lighted, emitting a smell like tiiat of incense, during which process, the mourners threw about fifteen shillings' worth of silver into the coffin, together witli a paper on which Chinese character* were inscribed. The lid was then screwed down, and the coffin having been deposited in the grave, the Chinamen distributed biscuits, lollies, apples, cigars, and several bottles of brandy among the Europeans present, all of which had been conveyed to the cemetery in the coffin. This concluded a very novel and interesting ceremony.

Telegraphic News.—Trooper Prose, of the Wairoa Light Horse was shot at the rifla range at Waverly (Auckland) on Saturday last. The deceased was marking, and came out of the butts without putting out the danger board. Trooper Watt fired at the time, and shot him dead. The deceased leaves a wife and six children. —Divers afc work at the Lastingham have found an arm, whicu is supposed to belong to the body of the captain's wife. Other parts of the body were out of sight, but the diver concluded ifc was a woman's arm, from the fact of a, wedding ring being visible on one of the finders.—A man named Albert Payne was committed for trial at Christehurch on Monday for perjury. It appeari that some time ago he was accused in the R.M. Court of perjury, and ha then swore that the arresting constables were drunk. Hence the charge. —The Premier has replied as follows to a telegram from the Seoretary of the Trades and Labor Council, Dunedin : "Be the manufacture of locomotives : Tenders will be called for as soon as plans and specifications, which are now in hand, can be got ready."—The Auckland City Council has authorised the expenditure of £IO,OOO to provide work for the unemployed.—Albert White, sculling champion of Auckland, who rowed against Hearn and Messenger, was easily beaten at the Whau regatta by G. E. Bailey a promising local sculler aged 19, son of a well-known shipbuilder.—The Auckland Harbour Board have accepted the tender of Pierce Laingin (£88,836), for the construction of the Calliope Dock. The Engineer's estimate was £98,674 md the highest tender £129,964. They also accepted the tender of Ealloon, of London, "or the construction of a dredge, the amount jeing £18,350.—A Maori, whare has been jurned down at Tologa Bay, and an old V!aoii woman was burnt to death in it. Two Ua.»ri women tried to rescue her, but got icarly suffocated themselves.—At the inquest n th« body of Captain Culmer, of the barque

Clyde, on Monday night, the lad Gibson gave evidence that he saw the deceased bleeding very much about the face. A verdict was given to the effect that the captain was killed by a epar striking him. He is to be buried in Christchurcb, where his mother resides.— At the opening of the waterworks at Queeustown, Lake Wakatipu, on Monday, tbe Mayor, Mr J. Eeid, was presented with a purse of 50 sovs.—-Mr Peter McKellar a well-known runholder, died at Invercargill on Tuesday, aged 57 year*.—A lad named Miller, a halfcaste from the Lakes district, was killed by the horse which he was riding rearing and falling on him at tlie conclusion of the "Winton races on Monday. He had no friends in the district. His mother is supposed to be resident in Dunedin.—The house ef a man named Peter Devereux, East Winton • (Otago) was burned down on Monday. The children had lit a fire outside the house to play at picnicing.—The Bluff Harbour Board are hopeful that they ■will get a further endowment of land, probably in the Seaward Busb. Not a Bbteeaob. beverage, but a medicine, with curative properties of the highest degree, containing no poisonous drugs. Tbey do not bear do*n an already debilitated system, bub build it up. One bottle contain* more real hop strength than a barrel of ordinary beer. iPhysioians prescribe them.—Bochester EvenngEr press, on Hop Bitters." Read Advt.

Messrs G. Purdie and Co., of the Golden Plough Seed Warehouse, Tirnaru, announce that tbey are prepared to supply filed turnip ieed of every description at the rate of 8d per lb in quantities of not less than 561bs.