LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1321, 31 March 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Geraldine Town Board. The usual fortnightly meeting of this Board will be held to-morrow evening at half-past seven. Woodbury Races.—Owners of horses entered for the Handicap Hurdles and Woodbury Cup are reminded that acceptances close on the 2nd April. Preliminary Sale Notice.—Messrs J. Mundell and Co. notify in our advertising columns this morning that they have received instructions to sell, on a date to be named, the whole-of the live and dead farm stock of Mr Tbos. Hardcastle, junr,, Springbank, Woodbury. The Baldwins.—As we announced in our Inst issue, Professor and Mrs Baldwin, Theught Readers and Clairvoyant, appear to-morrow night in the Volunteer Hull, Temuka. The entertainment given is of a most interesting character, and no doubt will attract a large attendance. Sale at Geraldine.—Messrs J. Mundell and Co. hold their monthly sale of stock at the Geraldine Saleyards to-morrow, and in our advertising colum* will bo found a list of the entries to date. The vendors’ names should be sufficient to attract a largo attendance at the sale.

St. Patrick's College, Wellington.— It has been announced in the Tablet that the formal opening of St, Patrick’s College, Wellington, will take place on the 31st of May next, and that on the following day classes will be-formed. Prospectuses maybe had from any of the local clergymen, the rector of the College, or his Lordship Bishop Eedwood.

Aquatics.—The sculling match between William Beach and Edward Hanlan for the championship of the world, and £SOO a-sid« took place on the Parramatta river on Saturday last. Beach won by six lengths. Time, 23mins. 45secs.—The boat race between Oxford and Cambrigde, according to Router, resulted in a Tictory for Oxford. Salts at Kynnerslet. -In our advertising columns will be found full particulars with regard to the sale by Mr K. F. Gray (in conjunction with Mr E. R. Guinness) of Mr S. D. Barker’s live and dead farm stock at Kynneraloy on (he 8 h Anri 1 . The notice is well worth llie attention of farmers and breeders.

Distribution of Prizes.—On Wednesday evening the prizes will be distributed, in the Oddfellows’ Hal!, Geraldine, to the children attending the Public School. The distribution will be interspersed with singing by the children, and solos by several well known and popular singers. 'J he school will break up for the Eas'er holidays on Wednesday afternoon and reassemble on Monday, the 13th of Aprd.

Tub N.Z. Militia. —ln the event of war with Russia it is probable that the N.Z, Militia (first class) will be called out.

Sale of Oeown Lands. —To-morrow, at Christchurch, there will be submitted to public auction sections 248, 254, 255, 332 and 336, each containing 1 rood, in the township of Geraldine. The upset price is £l2 per section.

Maobi Yoluntebes foe the Soudan.— Telegrams from Wellington inform us that Taraahana, an influential chief, and son of the well known Thomson, has telegraphed to the Native Minister offering to send 200 of the Kingites to the Soudan. The Easter Encampment. The members of the Temuka Rifle Company are requested to fall in at the Volunteer Hall next Friday morning at 6 o’clock, prior to a start being made for Winchester. Each man is to provide himself with blankets (made into a horse collar swag), tin pannikin, and knife, fork, and spoon.

Nabeow Escape. -According to the Southland News, a Government official who was bathing in Bluff Harbour saw what he thought to bo a bunch of seaweed, and gently kicked it, when a yell and a jump astonished his companions, and when he reached the shore it was found that an octopus had its long suckers firmly entwined round one of his legs. It did not let go until fairly out of water, when it released its hold and shot out seawards so quickly a s to avoid capture.

Mr John Wood. —Mr John Wood, late head teacher of the Temuka District High School, seems to have ingratiated himself into the good opinion of the people of Southbridge, and to be just as popular there as he was in Temuka. His appointment to the Timaru School has annoyed some of the residents there evidently, for one irate parent has written to the Lyttelton Times accusing the Timaru Committee of having connvived at taking Mr Wood away from Southbridge, and calling upon the Southbridge Committee to ask the North Canterbury Board of Education not to accept his resignation. To this Mr Wood has replied to the effect that the Timaru School Committee had not asked him to offer himself as a candidate for the school, and that be only did so in compliance with the wishes of some of bis Timaru friends. We are glad that Mr Wood has rendered himself so popular, and that he has now been appointed to so important a school testifies to the ability, industry, and intelligence he employs in the discharge of his duties.

A Dangerous Tourist. —The Oamaru Times writes -Itis now known that last year Russia obtained a great deal of information concerning Afghanistan by sending one of its salaried officials on a socalled scientific tour through those regions. While professedly looking for nothing but geological and botanical specimens, the official in question spent his time chiefly in collecting all manner of information concerning the wealth, the political condition and the defences of the country. It is not quite pleasing to recall the fact that last year a Russian mining engineer made an ostensible professional tour of inspection amongst the mining districts of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand Most likely this gentleman, while in New Zealand, at any rate, travelled over our railways on a free pass politely presented to him by our benevolent Government ; and it is not at all improbable that his tour of the Colonies may have been made solely for the purpose of obtaining for his Goverment information concerning our resource, and general condition not otherwise obtainable by them. Harvest Thanksgivings.— -The annual harvest thanksgiving services were held in St, Saviour’s Church, Temuka, last Sunday. The Church was splendidly decorated with hnrvest products, flowers and evergreens, and the attendance at boih services was very large, the church being crowded. At (he morning there were about 50 members of the volunteer corps, including the band, present, and the Rev. Mr Hamilton preached from Isaiah ix., 3, a very eloquent sermon. He compared the joy of the soldier after victory with that of the farmer after having secured the fruits of his toil. The evening service was conducted by the Rev. T. Jasper Smythe, of Pleasant Point, the Rev. Mr Hamilton having exchanged pulpits with him for that evening. The rev. gentleman took for his text John vi., 35, and preached a very impressive sermon, dwelling on what a grand country this was, and how thankful they ought to be for the many blessings which a Bountiful Providence has bestowed upon then). He mentioned that ho came to New Zealand from Australia because of the splendid accounts ho had heard of it, but found after arriving that he had never been told half its goodness. Ho pointed out that they iiad now secured a year’s supply, and for this they ought to be thankful. As God had supplied them, so ought they to contiibute towards the support of His Church, and he then referred to. the text wherein God rebuked the people for robbing him, and promised to shower His blessings on such as rondeied to Him what was His due. This was the first occasion on which the Rev Mr Smy'ho «as beard in Temuka, and his sermon made a great impression. At both the morning and evening services the anthem “ Ye Shall Dwe'l in the Lord” was sung by the Choir under the leadership of Mr W. G. Rutland, Mr Prondlork presiding at the organ. The music was splendid, and the singing capital.

Football. —A meeting was hel'l on Saturday evening in the cricket pavilion, Geraldine, to take the initiation steps to form a football club. Two members were deputed to arrange for a suitable ground, and after several other small items of business had been disposed of the meeting adjourned till Thursday evening. Temuka Young Men’s Club. The members of the above Club are earnestly requested to attend a meeting to be held this evening in the Club room, to consider the advisability of amalgamating with the Mechanics’ Institute. We trust there will be a large attendance. A Good Yield.— Perhaps the best yield of potatoes from one stalk ever known in this district was that which was dug a few days ago by Mr Thos. Talbot, of Waitohi. He dug 12ibs of potatoes from cne stalk, some of which weighed 11b, and when they were all together they nearly filled a bucket. The Easter Holidays.—We draw the attention of our readers to a notice in our advertising columns regarding the train arrangements for the Euster holidays,From it, it will be seen that excursion tickets to Dunedin, available for return up to and including the 18th April, will be issued at the Temuka station from the 2nd to 6th April inclusive, the return fares being ; first class, 23s 6d j second class, 17s 6d, and passengers have the privilege of breaking the journey at any elation on the direct line of route. A special night train leaves Christchurch for Dunedin at 8.30 p.vn. on the 2nd April, and will call at Temuka for passengers at excursion rates. Saturday return tickets from any station (o any station will be issued from the 2nd to 6th April (inclusive) and be available for return till the 11th April. The Hanlan and Beach Race.— The victory achieved by Beach over Hanlan is one which Australians may well rejoice over. Hanlan came with a great flourish of trumpets ; he had never been beaten ; and it is rather flattering that Australia has produced his master. Au stralians are certainly getting their names up. Donald Dinnie came to the colonies also and got some ugly knocking about in Dunedin, the Australians cicketers held their own in England, and, in fact, Australians have proved themselves equal, if not superior, to their British cousins in all athletic games. When we consider that England has 35 millions of people, against about 3 millions in the Australian colonies, the victories achieved are the more creditable, and now, when an Australian has secured the rowing championship of the world, there is every reason to rejoice.

Maobi Fanaticism. —A correspondent writing from Hokianga on Thursday last gays that Meri still holds forth at Eaikoke. A large square is formed with whares around, and all within the boundary is laid down as sacred ground, and is reserved for the elect. The number of her followers is increasing daily ; the latest accounts state the total to be 1500 to 1600. Meri’s last prophecy was that if the cleansing river did not appear on the 28th inst., and all the elect assemble as she has already foretold, she would suddenly disappear for three days. Should she not return after three days, it portends that the pakeha has mads away with her; then the elect are to arise and avenge her death. Telegrams received by the Native Minister yesterday state that the natives are now quietly dispersing to their homes, and by Thursday next the whole of the alien tribes will have left, '

The Late Tbotjt Selling Case.— ln Christchurch last Friday, before Judg* Johnston, according to the Press, Mr Jovnt applied for an order directing the removal of an appeal from the District Court, Tiimru, to the Supreme Court. The appellant, John Carmichael, was convicted before J. S. Beswick, Resident Magistrate at Temuka, ( of purchasing trout illegally, and was fined £5 ss, He appealed against the conviction, and now applied, as there were several difficult questions of law therein, that the case should be removed into the Supreme Court. The defendant in the Court below pleaded that tho regulation prohibiting the sale of trout for two years in the South Canterbury district was ultra vires of the Governor. Mr George Harper, who was watching the case for the appellant, applied to have the case heard at Timaru, on the ground that the witnesses resided in the district. Mr Joynt did not consider if at all necessaay for witnesses to be beard in the matter. His Honor made the order, as prayed, for the removal of the appeal to the Supreme Court for argument, it being understood that the question of place of bearing tho appeal should stand over until next Chamber day. Rakgitata School,— A. very successful entertainment was held in the Bangilata Schoolroom last Friday in aid of the prize fund. There was a good attendance, and amongst them were many from Temuka who went to assist in tho entertainment. The Chair was occupied by Mr A, Russell, of Temuka, and Miss Blyth opened the proceedings with an overture on the which was capitally rendered. Miss Blyth, Miss Russell, and Master McLeod also accompanied the singing. Mr Qurr sang “ Our Jack’s Come Home To-day” an 1 was encored. Miss Marshall sang well, as also did the Misses Taylor, Russell and Mr Naugbton. Miss Velvin received an enthusiastic encore for her singing, and the duet by the Misses May and McLeod was similarly recognised by the audience, Mr David Henry, of Temuka, was accorded an ovation for the excellent manner in which he sang “ When the Kye Comes Hume, ” and “ Heather Bill-.” Mi?s McL»od gave a recitation entitled “Love Lightens Labour,” which was duly appreciated, and Mr Gurr a comic song which created quite a furore. Mr J. Roberts proposed a vote of thanks to the singers, and also to the Chairman, both of which were carried by acclamation, and the whole wound up whh the National Anthem. A dance was held there afterwards, at which there were ~ bout 20 ..’ou pies present, and dancing was kept up spiritedly till about 4 a.m. ou Saturday, t

Remarkable Incidents,— A dog was accidentally entombed in a stack built on the 12th inst. on the farm of Mr James Gregg, Orari, and it remained there until the 26th, when the stack was threshed. The dog was therefore 14 days in the stack, ;; and it is rather remarkable that it survived such a long imprisonment. From a Northern paper wi learn that a dog was shut up in a .Church there for eight days. It ate some candles that were left in the Church, and tore the altar cloth into shreds, and when discovered it was in a very emaciated condition. Church Parade. —The Church parade of the Temuka Rifle Volunteers held laat Sunday was a great success. About 30 of the corps assembled at the. Hall under command of Captain Hayhurst, Major Young also being present, and after going through certain manoeuvres inarched, headed by their band which numbered 16 members to the Church. After Church they marched back again to the enlivening strains of martial music excellently played by the band. New life seems to have been infused into the oorpsjby the amalgamation with the band, and its appearance now is a credit to the town. We would suggest to the Geraldine people if they form a Volunteer corps to make an effort to secure the band. Wells’ “Rough on Cobnsl”—Aek for Wells’ “Rough on darns,” Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warte bunion*. Kempthorne 1 Prosser and do., Agents, dhrintehurch. 1 -

Mr John Paterson announces that any person trespassing on the Winchester or Springfield farms will be prosecuted. A general meeting of the creditors of Henry Hodgson, Tinsmith, Temuka, is convened for the 9th April, to take into consideration his intended application oh the 16th April for his order of discharge. Mr W. GK Aspinall is his solicitor. Mobal Tuemttjdbßlame attaches to a jury of intelligent men when they condemn a man for crime whose moral nature has been perverted by indigestion, diseased liver and kidneys. A thoughtful judge may well consider whether society would not be better served by ordering a bottle of American Co.’s Hop Bitters for tne unfortunate in the dock instead of years of penal seivitude. Bead AdrM