LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1308, 26 February 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Masonic.—The regular monthly meeting of Lodge Southern Star, 619, S.C., Geraldine, takes place this evening. The Rev. Geo. Barclay, P.M., delivers a lecture. A Fortunate Arrest.—Last Tuesday night (says the Press) a man was found in the street by the police in a helpless stake of intoxication. When searched at the depot a small leather satchel was found on him containing £lo], of which £75 was in gold. Temuka Rifles. —A special full-dress parade takes place to-morrow evening, when the advisability of procuring undress uniforms will be considered. There being a few vacancies for recruits those wishing to join are requested to leave their names with the officers of the Company, and present themselves at the Volunteer Hall to-morrow night at 8 o'clock. We understand that several members of the Corps have signified their willingness to proceed to the Soudan. Pedestrianism.—Mr Alfred Austin writes to the Dunedin Star that by next mail he will send to the London Sportsman a challenge for Joe Seott to walk any man in the world twelve or twenty-four hours, for £250 a side, or twenty-four hours alone for £SOO a Bide. A six days' go-as-you-please, twelve hours a day, began at Dunedin on Monday. The competitors are Rayner, Fosse, Swan, and Crofts. The Goternoe. —The Governor, accompanied by Major Eccles, A.D.C., left Wellington for Sydney in the steamer Tekapo, at 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening. In the Gazette issued on Tuesday afternoon it is stated that the absence of the Governor from the colony will not exceed a month, and that it is for the purpose of visiting the Governor of Victoria. The Gazette appoints His Honor Chief Justice Sir James Prendcrgast to be Deputy - Governor during his Excellency's absence. High Freights.—The Oamaru Mail has a strong article on the high freights which are charged by the shipping companies, and says that a combination exists between them to keep up these freights. Frozen meat is sold iu London at 4£d to 5d per lb, but 3id to 3|d per lb goes in freights and charges, leaving only Id to lid to the producer. High freights, no doubt, are doing harm, but what can be done ? The Mail fails to suggest a remedy. It says that Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. are sending their wool and grain via Sydney and find it cheaper than by sending them direct. Prospects of New South Wales. —A valued correspondent at present residing in New South Wales assures us that the outlook in that Colony is of a most promising character. Railways, bridges and other public works are in course of construction everywhere, with the result that money is plentiful and work not difficult to find* Many of the quartz-reefs and alluvial field have received an impetus of late by vuluable discoveries, and he states that, generally, business is in a flourishing condition. The recent heavy downful of rain has created confidence among the runholders and settlers and been a saving to the colony of millions of pounds.—Exchange.

Thought Beading in Berlin. The Berlin correspondent of the " Standard" telegraphs that Mr Stuart Cumberland performed an extraordinary thought-read-ing experiment on Mr H. M. Stanley, at his hotel in tbd. city, on Sunday. The task appointed was to mark out on a map of Africa, and under the usual thought reading conditions, the route which Mr Stanley had determined in his own mind to follow on his next visit to the Dark Continent. Mr Stuart Cumberland was entirely successful—firstly, in fixing on Mr Stanley's intended point of departure, and in following stage by stage the route to be followed. After his last public performance on Thursday, Mr Stuart Cumberland handed the receipts, amounting to 2000 marks, for the sick poor of Berlin. Kaiiavay Excursion.—The railway excursion to Ashburton takes place to-dap. The Ashburton people hare been making great efforts to provide amusements for their visitors, and we have no doubt that all who take part in the excursion will thoroughly enjoy themselves. To-morrow is the last day on which tickets to Dunedin available for return up to the 7th March will be issued. The attendance at the rases this year is expected to be very large.—ln view of the forthcoming railway excursion from Christchureh to Timaru an application was made to the Lyttelton Harbor Board on Tuesday for the use of the tug free of charge on the day that the excursion takes place. The application was not granted, it being held that it would not be right of the Board to interfere with private enterprise. It was said that there were plenty of launches and pleasurs boati plying for. hire in the harbor, and th« owners of the same had promised to reduce the fares on that day.

Thk Mail Service.— A deputation from the Auckland Chamber of Commjrce waited upon the Colonial Treasurer on Tuesday with regard to the Sun Francisco mail sorvice. It waj pointed out fast steamers left on Saturdays, and there would be a material gain in time if the mails were despatched by them instead of the Thursday's boat as at present. Sir Julius Vogel replied that one great difficulty in. the way of the proposed change was the invincible objection which persons had at Home to mails dosing on Saturday evening. Besides, the sating of time even at present would not amount to much, and he saw no reason why in the regular course of competition, Thursday's boats should not very soon outrival Saturday's ones in point of speed. The deputation suggested it would be advisable to shorten the lengths of the Pacific route by leaving out Honolulu as a port of call. Sir Julius Vogel expressed the opinion that if the steamers did not call at Honolulu New Zealand would require to pay an additional sum of £20,000 towards the subsidy, to make up for the loss of traffic entailed upon the Company. Ho was favourable to the stoamors culling at Samoa and Tonga at well. The whole subject was under the conlideration of Government.

Concert at Geraldine.—The Geraldine Cricket Club propose holding another concert in a few weeks' time. A meeting will be held in a day or two and a committee formed to take steps to carry out the concert.

Child Desertion.—At the Police Court, Christchurch, on Tuesday last, Mary Bruland alias Mary Morrison was charged with deserting a child ten months old in Timaru. She had been deserted by her husband, and had three children already in the Industrial School, Sergeant Barlow asked to have the accused remanded to Timaru, and his request was granted. The Hkbo or Khartoum.—At Monday's meeting of the Timaru Borough Council a petition was read from thirty-one citizens of that township to the following effect—- " Desiring that the memory of th« hero of Khartoum may long be kept green amongst us, the undersigned citizens respeotfully request that the Recreation Ground, situated on the West belt of the Borough, may be named ' Gordon Square,' as a small memento of the manliness, bravery and devotion to duty of our fellow-countryman, General Gordon." The petition was left to be dealt with by the Finance Committee. Sporting.—-The Wellington Club having decided to hold a race meeting on May Ist and 2nd, we learn from the Guardian that the Ashburton Club's Secretary has telegraphed to that Club pointing out that the dates, would clash with the Ashburton meeting. The *ame paper " learns by telegraph from the Secretary of the Geraldine Eaoing Club that in consequence of the Ashburton Club's race meeting clashing with that of Geraldme, the Committee of the Geraldine Club met on Tuesday and determined to extend their time for receiving nominations until the 17th March." It also hopes that this is only preliminary to an alteration being made in the date of meeting.

An Indian Curiosity.—A well-known squatter in the district, on opening the other day a bale of Calcutta woolpacks, came across what he thought might be a dynamite cartridga. He forwarded it to the police officer in Geraldine, who is carefully preserving it for his chief's inspection. It is a small wooden box or bottle, ovalshaped, about 2in. long and ljin. wide, with a stopper about l£in. long. The bottle is partly filled with a fine powder resembling mustard, but lighter in color and without smell. The article, which is painted red and blue, seems to have been in use, and no doubt belonged to one of the factory hands who packed the bale. Probably upon its contents being analysed it will prove to be nothing more destructive than a flea powder.

Yolunteees foe the Soudan.—Since the offer made by Captain Hamereley for service in the Soudan he has received offers from nearly every man who went to Parihaka with him. Volunteers in Tunaru are very anxious to hear the decision of the Government on the matter, and trust that in any case the Imperial Government will be communicated with.—At a parade of the Ashburton Volunteers on Tuesday evening Captain Douglas informed the men that he had received a letter from Captain Hamersley, of Timaru, asking if any of the Ashburton volunteers would be willing, in the event of volunteers from New Zealand being accepted to proceed under him to the Soudan. Captain Douglas asked those who were willing to go to hold up their rifles, and fifteen of the company immediately responded and gave in their names as willing to proceed on active service for the suppression of the Soudan rebellion. Captain Douglas informed the volunteers that in any case their services would not bo required .till about July, so that they would have plenty of time to become proficient in drill, and to make any other arrangements necessary. It is expected several others will volunteer their services. The Fishing Indusxkt.— The Auckland Herald sajs : —When the Easfc Lothian was here, the second mate, Mr Pratt, who was a Qsher in his youth, was so impressed with the fine opening for fishing here upon a large scale that when he returned Home he separated from the ship at London, went to his native district, and talked over the prospects of establishing a fishing-station at Auckland!, such as exist along the north-east coast of Scotland. The result was that several fishermen with means joined, a number of trawl nets with 30ft beam were procured, and all the requisite material for carrying on the trade obtained, and the purty came out to Newcastle in New South Wales in a new vessel that was being sent out to that place. They reached here by the Union Company's steamer th'e other day, and expect to start in the course of a week or so. The men connected with the enterprise are all members of the Eoyal Naval Eeserve, and we can only wish them success in the enterprise they are to engage in without cost to the colony in any form. When it is proved that these pioneers have established a successful trade, others will loon follow, and before a vear has run its course the ocean around us will be in a fair way of yielding up some of its finny wealth to thi hardy sons of North Britain."

The Chairman of the Temuka Park Board, Mr K. F. Gray, invites tenders for painting the pavilion ; also for making shutters for the same building. Tenders close on Monday next. Mr Alexander E. Allan notifies by an advertisement elsewhere that he has commenced business in Oilivier's Auction Eoom Temuka, as a grain merchant and general produce dealer. He also announces that he has tea, sugar and general stores for sale at Timaru prices. Mr Allan is so long and so favourably known in this district that he needs no commendation from us. We wish him success in his new undertaking. Messrs Siegert and Fauvel, Temuka, announce that they are now holding a great cash clearing sale of drapery. They have placed their drapery department under the charge of a draper from one of the best houses in DuneJin, and he will keep nothing bub the newest, most fashionable, and best materials. They also quote a few of the prices of some of the grocery lines they are nowoffering, and to these attention is direoUd.