LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1314, 12 March 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Geraldine Literary Institute.—' The Government grant (his year for Public Libraries was £4OOO, which has been divided among 385 Libraries. The amount the Geraldine Literary Institute has received is £l2 5s 6d,

Wesleyan Church.-—The Ofcagp Daily Time* says :—“The Bev. Mr Thomas, who for the last three years ha* been the Wesleyan minister at Port . Chalmer*, hat been transferred to the Temuka district. It is the intention of ths members of the church to hold a soiree to take farewell of him.”

Missing.—Monday’s Oamaru Times says : “Mr J. Gray, a telegraphist in the local telegraph-office, has been misted from his work during the last three days, and as he gave no intimation of any intention to leave the service, or of absenting himself from bis duties, some uneasiness it felt on his account. He was in the habit of taking long walks into the country both by day and by night, and his brother officers in the department fear that some mishap might have befallen him. Parties are out in all directions but so far have failed to find any trace of him.”,'

Laying the Foundation Stone op the Geraldine Town Board Offices.—An interesting ceremony took place at Geraldine on Tuesday morning, the occasion being the laying of the foundation atone of the Town Board’s new office by Mr Psarpoint, Chairman of the Board. Only about a dozen persona were present, ths proceedings having been kept quiet. In the stone wars placed some current coins, a document bearing the names of the Members and Overseer of the Town Board, and the architect and contractors for the building. Copies of the local papers were also deposited in the stone. Mr Pearpoint briefly mentioned the success the Board had been, and then proceeded to lay the stone, This having been dons he declared it duly laid. Success to the Town Board was then drunk by those present, and the proceedings terminated. New Guinea.—Major-General Scratohley’s commission, as Special Commissioner for New Guinea, is published in the Gazette. The following is an extract: —“ We have been pleased to take under our protsotionjand jurisdiction the southern shore of New Guinea and the country adjacent thereto from the 15lst meridian of east longitude, eastward s ( far as Bast Cape, including the islands adjacent thereto and in Qosohen Straits, and southward of the said straits as far south and east to include Bosnian Island. And we do require you, to the utmost of your power, to promote religion and civilisation among the native inhabitants of the Protectorate, and you are especially to take care to protect them in their persons and in the free enjoyment of their land and other possessions, and by all lawful means to prevent and restrain all violence and injustice which may in any manner be practiced or attempted against them. And we do hereby authorise and empower you, as occasion may require, 'to appoint all such officers as you may think necessary for our service in the said Protectorate, if provision shall have bean made for their payment; and all such officers shall hold their offices during our pleasure.”

Personal - -Mr Thos. Farrell, the wellknown and genial host of the Crown Hotel, Geraldine, leaves for Christchurch to-day to take passage for Homo by the b.b. Eimutaka. Mr Farrell’s visit will not bo a long one, as he only intends to remain about a month at Home. We wish him a pleasant trip.

Railway Excursion to Lyttelton.— The excursion from South Canterbury to Christchurch and Lyttelton takes place to-day, and as far as wo can gather it is likely to be well patronised. The train passes Temuka at 9 o’clock, Winchester at 9.15, and Orari at 9.23, The excursionists from this district are reminded that the return train leaves Lyttelton at 5 p.m. and Christchurch at 6.35. Last evening about 150 tickets were sold in Temuka, and about 1500 in Timaru.

Geraldine Dairy Factory. The Secretary, Mr W. Coltman, last week received a telegram from the New Zealand Shipping Company saying that there was only available space for four tons of cheese in the E.M.S.S. Rimutaka, but on Monday Mr Coltman received a farther telegram from the Company, stating that they would be able to take the quantity at first intended, viz., eight tons, which has been duly forwarded to Lyttelton. When the Dairy Factory was first started Mr 0. G. Tripp gave a donation of £lO, instead of taking shares, with a promise of a similar sum when the first ton of cheese should be produced. Mr Coltman on Tuesday received Mr Tripp’s second donation of £lO. Mr Tripp deserves the thanks of the shareholders and public generally for his liberality in giving such practical support to one of our local industries.

R.M. Court, Temur a. —At the above Court yesterday, before S. D. Barker and D. Inwood, Esqrs,, J.P.’*., J. R. Least was charged on the information of J, T. M. Hayhurst with having used towards him abusive and threatening language. Mr Aspinall appeared for the defendant, who pleaded guilty and apologised. A fine of 10s and costs was inflicted. Civil Cases— J. W. Velvin v. H. Kahu, claim £6 6s 7d; judgment summons; ordered to pay at the rate of £1 per week, or in default of any payment 14 days’ imprisonment. J. W. Velvin v. R. Hornbrook, claim £9 lls 3d ; ordered to pay within 14 days or go to gaol for 14 days, Samuel JEtewlings v. R. H. Pearpoint, claim £2O for rent. Dr Foster for plaintiff and Mr Hamersley for defendant. This was an action arising out of the bankruptcy of one Trengrove. It appeared that Trengrove rented a section in Terauka from the plaintiff that ho filed sometime ago, and that Mr Pearpoint was appointed trustee in his estate, and was now sued for the rent. J. M. Batham, chief clerk injjthe Land Transfer Office, Christchurch, produced a lease made between Hewlings and Trengrove. C. J. Rayner, agent tor Mr Hewlings, stated that Mr Pearpoint had paid him rents and that he had elected to take the lease. After the last payment Mr Pearpoint referred him to the late Mr Mendelaon's executors for whom he had boon acting. Mr Hamersley asked for a nonsuit on the ground that it had not been shown that Mr Pearpoint had consented to take the lease, and that the Act bearing on the subjsct had not bean complied with. Dr Foster said ha had «übpoauaed Mr Howloy to prove this but he bad not attended, The plaintiff was nonsuited with costs £2 2s. The Court then adjourned. Landsli? at Obsbi Gobse.—A rather remarkable occurrence is reported as having taken place last Wednesday evening on Mr 0. G. Tripp’s station at Orari Gorge. Tip on the downs on the station, about a quarter of a mile from the homestead, there is a bit of a swamp at the bottom of a good-sised hill. This swamp is drained by a few little creeks, the largest of which runs down through a narrow gully. On ths evening in question two-thirds of the swamp appears to have been carried bodily down the gully a distance of about from 20 to 30 chains where it came to a standstill and may be now seen. Of course there is nothing very remarkable about this. Landslips of a similar kind have frequently occurred in various parts of tbs world, but its action on its passage down the gully has puzzled everyone who has eeen it, On one side of the gully it has ploughed the face of the bank to a depth of about four feet leaving a face as even and as smooth as if it had been gone over by a plough or purposely smoothed off by the hand of man. On the opposite side the action has bean altogether different. Here large blocks of clay and soil have been lifted bodily out of the bank and placed higher up on the slope of the declivity running down to the creek. One would think that these blocks of earth would have been swept along with the moving mass, but instead of that they have been dug as it were promiscuously here and there out of the bank and placed comfortably behind where they had so long lain, while the whole face of the bank is jagged and unevenly washed away. There are several theories as to how this occurred, some bolding that it was done by 1 lightning, but that appears to us more improbable than that it was pushed back by the swamp as it passed on its downward journey. The most reasonable conclusion to come to is that the water which moved the swamp had its full force turned towards the bank, and that it thus threw up these blocks, A few trees which grew on the bank were also lifted up by the roots, and are lying there. It .is well that it did not come down further, as if it did it would hare taken away a shearer’s whare and some fences. As it is, the principal damage done is that it has blocked up a much-used track, but that can be soon put right.

Coursing.— A private coursing match was held on the ttiukapuka estate on Tuesday last, at the invitation of Mr Briscoe. An All-Aged Sweep of 10a each was run, eight dogs entering, the winner being Mr Ryan’s Forest King. A Puppy Stakes was divided between two of Mr M. Connolly’s puppies. Cricket. —The following are the names of the Temuka team for the match with Oamaru on Saturday next : Messrs W, H. Hargreaves

(capt.), J. T. M. Hayhurst, J. J. Heap, Dr Hayes, E, \V. Qurr, W. Bryars, Jno. Ogilvie, G. P, Wood, L. E. Haines, and E. Brown. The members are particularly requested to be at the corner of Mr Brown’s store at 5.16 a.ra. on Saturday to proceed to Timaru where they will catch the 7.20 a.m. train for Oamaru. School Teeat at Gates’s Valley.— The annual school treat and presentation of prizes was held on Friday last in the school grounds. The children and their parents collected there about 3 p.m. and proceedings commenced with races and jumping for boys, for which there were various prizes, etc., given. Then the girls’ sports took place. After that all adjourned to the school for tea, whore the tables were ably superintended over by the Misses Buck, Gapes, and Page, and Mrs Boutcher. The attendance was large, in spite of the harvest, the room being well filled. Grace was sung by the children, Miss Buck presiding at the harmonium. Tea over, the most interesting ceremony took place : the presentation of an address and handsome gold necklace to Miss Buck (mistress) by the children, parents and friends. The presents, tion was made by Mr W. M. Moore (Chairman of the School Committee) who read the address, referred to Miss Buck’s abilities as a teacher, her general kindness and courtesy, and the esteem entertained for her by all in the district, and expressed a hope that she would long be spared to live amongst them. Miss Buck ( who was taken by surprise, feelingly returned thanks. General regret was expressed at the absence of Mrs Tindall and her who, with Mr and Mrs McDonnell, had been most energetic in getting up the testimonial. The Chairman then addressed to the children a few remarks, congratulating the successful and encouraging the unsuccessful ones, and pointing out their duties. He then presented the prizes, which were very good ones, as follows Standard YI: Ist prize, Jane Tindall ; Standard Y: Ist, Charlotte Boutcher; Standard IV ; Ist, Susan Bray; 2nd, Barbara Patrick ; Standard Ilf: Ist, Alice Howe ; 2nd, Altneda Grove*; Standard II : Ist, Thos. Tindall; Standard 1: Ist, Sarah Taylor; 2nd, James Love. Small children below Standard* also received presents of pretty hooka. Sewing prizes, of workboxes and bags, were given as follows Standard -YI, Jane Tindall; Standard Y, Charlotte Boutcher; Standard IY, Susan Bray; Standard 111, Mary Taylor; Standard I, Sarah Taylor. A handsome basket, presented by Mr P, W. Hutton for the best and most popular girl in the school, was then awarded by the children. Voting by ballot was taken, and, though nearly every girl received votes —even the smallest—the majority, by far, were in favor of Jane Tindall, to whom the prize was presented. The Chairman then called for three cheers for Miss Buck, which were heartily given ; as also were three

cheers for the Chairman, when called for by Mr Bouteher. A lottery bag was then held, and every boy and girl in the school had a dip for handkerchiefs, prints, stockings, Ifnives, whistles, etc., etc. Bags of lollies were distributed, and the sports came to an end. Messrs Cameron and Townend con* ducted games and races satisfactorily, and Miss Buck the lottery, and all contributed to children’s enjoyment.

, Messrs West and Barber, architects, invite tenders for moving the Good Templras’ flail, Temuka. Specifications are to be seen at the Beehive Stores.

To-morrow Mr K. F. Gray will hold a clearing sale of dairy cows, hay, apples, household furniture, &0., at .The Willows, Temuka, Mr J. E. Leask having sold hi* farm and determined to leave the district.

Thb Life of an M.P.— An M.P., deploring the evil effects of London habits on the health, said that were it not for the American Hop Bitters he could not live through with the irregular hours he was forced to keep. Said he; 11 As soon as I feel weak and exhausted from long night sessions and meals at irregular hours, I resort to my Hop Bittters instead of stimulants. They regulate my bowels and keep my appetite good, my brain clear, and my strength and health are preserved.” See Advt.