LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1300, 7 February 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

N.Z.S. Co'S LiHB-Tbe S.S. Aorangi leaves Wellington for Home on the 14th of this month. Temuka. Public Chairman of the Temuka Public School invites applications for the post of Secretary to the Committee at a salary of £lO per annum, Pbesbyterian Chuech, Temuka. —A precentor is wanted for this Church. Application?, with testimoiiala, to be sent to the Secretary, Mr H. A. Eout, by the 20th February next. Benevolent Societ?. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Benevolent Society in Temuka will take place in the Church of England Parsonage, Temuka, on Tuesday next. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton is the convener. Fubnitube Sale.—Attention is directed to an advertisement regarding n sole of furniture by Messrs J. Mundell and Co., at Geraldine, on Wednesday next. The furniture will be on view at the Auctioneer's salerooms on Monday. Frozen Meat Trade.—The following are the shippers of meat by the Aorangi : —J. Gibson, 101; J. Shand, 307 ; W. Souter, 66; D. M'Kellar, 816; G. G. Russell, 470 ; E. El worthy, 307 ; Begg Bros., 390 ; W. Sheath, 111; {Murray, Roberts and Co., 517; J. Smaill, 52; G. M'Donald, 134 ; L. G. Fenvvick, 99; G. P. Gardiner, 295 ; J. R. Elder, 182 ; Hon. M. Holmes, 508; W. Patrick, 146 ; Reid and Duncans, 318; J. Allan, 202; M. 0. Orball, 393; N.Z. and A.L. Co. (Olydevale), 1009; Mrs M'Neil, 30; S. G. Smith, 5. The Weather.—The heavy rain which fell on Sunday last'seems to have settled the weather, and during the jweek it has been all that could be wished. The crops are now ripening fast, and next week, if the fine weather continues, will see harvest in full swiDg, In the Geraldine district the heavy cropTof oats are very much laid by wind and rain, which will make the cutting a troublesome work. The grain is very soft as may be expected from such a moist season, but it will improve to a certain extent if plenty of dry weather ensues. Temuka Young Men's Club. —1 wellattended meeting was held in the Club room on Thursday evening last. In the absence of the Rev. T. A. Hamilton (who unavoidably was absent) Mr O'Halloi'au occupied the chair. The minutes of list meeting were road, and on the motion of Mr Russell seconded by Mr Q-. F. Prattley were passed. Several accounts were then brought forward for payment and other business Jealt with. It was then decided that a general meeting should be called to arrange for essays, de> bates, etc., for the coming season. Mr Russell suggested that as the days were getting shorter steps should be taken at once to hold weekly meetings for the purpose of having lectures, essays and debates. He looked back with great pleasure on the most enjoyable cveniDgs spent last season, and for one would bo very glad to see them started as soon as possible. Several other members spoke in favour of Mr '.Russell's suggestion, and it was then decided to call a meeting of all the members at an early date to make the necessary arrangemouts. A vote of thank* to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

Resident Magistbate's Coubt, Q-ebal-dine.—The Resident Magistrate, Mr Baddeloy, will sit at G-eraldine on Monday at half-past twelve. Timaru Licensing; Committee. The poll for the election of a Committee for the Timaru Licensing District resulted in the return of Messrs E. GL Stericker, W. Brans, J. Jackson, W. C. Bewick and E. G-. Kerr. Gebaldine Road Board.—The ordinary monthly meeting will be held in the office on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Tenders for shingling Pye'a road, Raukapuka, are to be sent in, addressed to the Chairman, not laUr than 10 a.m. on that day. Supposed Oveb Pressure.—On Tuesday a little girl, one of the pupils at the Rangiora school (says the Press), died from the effects of brain fever, brought on, it is supposed, by over-zeilous study. In her delirium before death supervened, she kept constantly going over sums, writing lessons, geography, and other subjects which are found in the school table. A Noisy Cebw.— Miss Annie Teesdale, a lieutenant in the Salvation Army charged with obstructing the thoroughfare in Blenheim, stated :—" We all stood still and the policemen, too—bless them ; all I hope is they are all saved. Our object is to get people to hear salvation. We like to keep peac<* with everyone, but beat of all we like to please God. If Mt Fildes is annoyed with the noise herp, I do not know what he will do in Heaven, as they make a tremendous noise there." Railway Excursion.—The railway excursion from Christchurch to Timaiu on Thursday was an immense success. Two trains ran : one composed of 28 carriage, the other of 27. The number of excursionists wa9 1846, and it says much for the train arrangements that everything passed off without accident. Mr Back personally superintended the arrangements. The visitors amused themselves in all kinds of ways, some going on board the Titan and enjoying a trip round the harbor, others strolling along the beach, examining the breakwater, visiting the Park, hospital, &c. As the number of would-be excursionists was in excess of the train accommodation it is proposed to repeat the trip next Thursday.

Native Matters.— ; Rewi has succeeded in obtaining from Mr Ballance the restoration of bis pension of £2OO per annum, which was forfeited by Mr Bryce. The arrears are also to be paid. A great point was made at the meeting at Auckland on Wednesday by Mr Ballance. He referred to a remark of a Chief that the Queen's power was supreme in New Zealand, and clinohod the remark by saying there was no need to go out of the colony to find the power of the Queen, sinoe it existed |in full force in the Colonial Government and Parliament, who were able and willing to redresss all grievances. The Minister has been very successful and well received. It has been agreed to leave the matter of lands over till the titUs are settled by the Native Lands Court. Tawhaio and his party are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mr Ballance at Whatiwhatihoe. Old Waikato settlers state that Tawhaio cannot be shunted in any settlement of the railway quejtion, however much Waihanui and his party may desire it.

A Strakse Story.—*A man and his wife who arrived at Invercargill on Tuesday tell a singular story of how they were duped into making a -journey on foot from Christchurch, a distance of 370 miles. They state they were passengers by the ship Waimate, th« husband being a gardener. Shortly after their arrival in the colony both their children died and he could get no work. On* evening he met a man who said he had a place at Invercargill and engaged him at 5s 6d a day to go down and work on i*. The pair having no funds, started to walk there, thankful for a chance of work. They were twenty one days on the road, in boisterous weather, and frequently slept out. On arrival they found that no one of th» name of Henty was known there, and their case became desperate. The woman being near her confinement, their case was brought under the notice of the Benevolent Institute and lodging was provided, since which the »x----immigration officer has obtained a situation for them.

School Treat at Oram Bridge.— The children attending the Orari Bridge School were given their annual treat yesterday in the school grounds. The day was beautifully fine, and though the attendance was not large everyone passed a very enjoyable day. Races were got up by members of the Committee, and the following is a list of the events contested : 100 yards race for boys : Ist prize 2s 6d, 2nd Is, 3rd 6d—W. Grant, 1 ; J. Lawlor, 2; J. O'Brien, 3. 75 yards race for boys : Ist prize Is, 2nd 6d —D. McGillicuddy, 1; J. Ha*vke, 2. 50 yards race for boys : Ist prize Is, 2nd 6d—T. Tarbottom, 1 ; J. Macdonald, 2. 75yards race for girls : Ist prize Is, 2nd 6d—J. Reid, 1; R. Smith, 2. 100 yards race for girls: let prize 2s, 2nd Is, 3rd 6d—M. Tarbottom, 1 ; B. Davie, 2 ; E. McGillcuddy, 3. High jump : Ist prize Is—J. O'Brien, 1 ; J. Lawlor and Ashby, 2nd, 6d each, Long jump : Ist prize Is 6d, 2nd Is—J. O'Brien, 1; Ashby, 2. The children were then given their tea under the shade of the school building, about 75 sitting down. Tea for the adults was tastefully laid out in the schoolroom. The prizes to the children were distributed after the tea had been cleared away. A report of the distribution of prizes, and of the concert held in the evening, will appear in our next issue. We may mention that £8 had been collected by the Committee, £4 of which was spent in prizes, and part ot the balance went towards the expenses of the treat. The eatables were supplied by Messrs J. Williams and Son, and were of first-class quality. j

Mobb Work.—The Gazette notifies the appointment ©f Mr H. 0. S. Baddeley, R.M., Ashburton and Geraldine, to be R.M. at Aknroo, with extended jurisdiction to £IOO. Suioidb. —Timaru was the scene of a sad oase of suicide on Wednesday evening last. It appears that Mrs Olive Kay, about 45 years of age, the wife of George Kay, a bricklayer, had been unwell for the past 12 months, and about threo weeks ago had to take to her bed. On Wednesday evening, about half-past seven o'clock, Mrs Kay asked her son (a lad of 15) to get her a razor for the purpose of cutting her toe nails. He complied with the request and then left the room, *s she seemed disposed to sleep. About half-past nine, the nurse (a Mrs Ann Cullimore) left the room to prepare some arrowroot, and the unfortunate woman at once took advantage of her absence to commit the rash act, for a about minute afterwards the nurse heard a gurgling noise and on going into the room found her with her throat cut and the bed covered with blood. A doctor was at once sent for, but none oould be procured till a quarter past eleven, and by that time Mrs Kay was quite dead. An inquest was held, when Dr Lovegrove gave evidence to the effect that nothing oould have saved the life of the deceased after the wound was inflicted, as her wind pipe was completely servered. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.

The Marionettes. Webb's Royal Marionettes appeared in the Volnnteer Ball, Temuka, last Thursday evening to an average audience. The entertainment was a capital one, and the audience manifested the pleasure they derived from it by frequently applauding the performance. In the first part the corps D'Automatique were highly amusing, and the figures went through the performance with a precision very life-like. The stilt clown, the animated skeleton, and the Turkish juggler were very cleveily done. The animated skeleton was an object of much interest, especially to the juvenile portion. It frequently separated into various parts, while the parts kept danc ing all over the stage, yet, after keeping time to the music, all its members went together again. The Christy Minstrel troupe were Yery realistic and their jokes created much amusement. The pantomime of Beauty and the Beast was very entertaining, the scenery of which was changed in the twinkling of an •ye. The scenery was beautiful and everything passed off most satisfactorily. Mr Harland sang a ballad in excellent voice and with good eflect. He has a splendid baritone voice, and he knows how t© use it to advantage. He was loudly encored but did not respond. The transformation scene with lime-light effects was really beautiful, and on the whole the entertainment was the best of its kind we have aeon in New Zealand, An attempt was made to give a matinee yesterday afternoon, but a sufficient number of persons not turning up the manager decided not to hold it. Last night they showed again,when the attendance was much better, and everything passed off satisfactorily. The music was capital. They will appear this evening in Timaru.

Attention is directed to Mr Twomey's notice to the people of Geraldine whici appears in our advertising columns. Messrs Siegert and Faurel announce that they have on sale elevator and conveyor canvases made in their own factory by Mr T. B. Sheen, at prices lower than Christchurch. They are the agents for the Osborne twine binder (one of these machines can now be seen on view at their yards), and publish a very flattering testimonia in reference to it. They also have on sale wool packs, cornsacks, twine, and all kinds of oil and harvest requirements at lowest prices. The same firm advertise that they have opened a dressmaking department in the Stone Store, Temuka, under the managemeat of Miss Elkis, and are prepared to guarantee good fit and style. Orders will be taken on and after Monday next.