LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1328, 16 April 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Anglo-Kussian Difficulty, Government yesterday received from the Agent-General a telegram, stating that the position of affairs between England and Russia is very serious, and that it behoves New Zealand, in.common with allother parts of the Empire, to hasten the completion of its defence preparations. A Long Job. —lt came out at the meeting of the Geraldine Road Board on Tuesday that it had taken no less than eight years te complete the transfer of a certain peice of land. That transfer must have been ont of sight, if not out of mind, for a lengthened period in the lawyer’s office, for we do not think that transfers usually take such a long time to complete. A Scare, —From a passenger by train from Dunedin yesterday we learned that the good people down there were considerably alarmed at the appearance of a man-of-war off the Ocean Beach. Many of course put down the stranger as being a Russian cruiser, but it will probably turn out to be H.M.S. Espiegle, which lately left an Australian port under sealed orders.

Immigration and Emmigration.—Tlio returns for March show that during that mouth 1569 persons arrived in the colony and 1271 left it. Alleged Perjury. — An information has been laid against a witness for perjury in a case recently heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Geraldine. The Grain Season. —The number of sacks of grain received by rail at Timam up to the 11th inst. was 38,715, and bv road 9,777, making a grand total of 48,492.

Temuka Young Men’s Club. —A meeting of the members of this Club takes place to-morrow evening. Further reference is made to the meeting in our leading columns.

Personal.—W'e learn that Mr Finch, Postmaster of Geraldine, will return to his duties about next Tuesday or Wednesday. His holiday has been a lengthened one, he having been away about three months.

Linseed. —The Temuka Linseed Oil, Cake, and Fibre Company offer, through our advertising columns, £3 per ton for Linseed if delivered at the Company’s works unthreshed and in good condition and approved quality. The Company also announce that they can supply seed (grown from imported seed) at 6s per bushel in quantities of not less than one sack,

Maori Representative. The elevation of Taiaroa to the Upper House has created a vacancy in the representation of the Southern Maori District. Mr Pratt, well-known in this district, is one of the candidates and has recently visited the Arowhenua pah on bis canvassing tour. The Temuka Maoris, however do not seem well-disposed towards him. They say Taiaroa “sold ” them, and it is useless to send any one to Parliament. At present they are disposed to elect no representative at all. The Volunteer Encampment.—The residents of Winchester appear to be well satisfied with the conduct of the volunteers at the recent encampment there, and at a meeting last week the following resolution was passed “ That all lbs residents have much pleasure in recording their approval of the admirable behavior of the Volunteers, and in testifying to the fact that not a single complaint had been made either of unruly or disorderly conduct, but, on the contrary, many and constant were the praises of the behaviour of one and all.” An Important Decision.—A case of some importance to those connected with Clubs and Societies was decided in the R.M. Court, Timaru, on Tuesday last. The Hon. Sec. to the Timaru Athletic Club was sued for an amount incurred for advertising on behalf of the Club, He pleaded that he had no funds belonging to the Society, though he believed the Treasurer had, and that he did not hold himself individually liable. His Worship (Mr H. W. Robinson) gave judgment for the amount claimed and costs, holding that in cases of this kind each individual member of a Club is liable'for his acts, and that he had his remedy against the other members.

A Terrible Crime. A remarkable tragedy was discovered on the 6th April in South Melbourne, It appears that for some time past a man named Bowden had laboured under a delusion that he was perpetually surrounded by larrikins anxious to kill him. He carried about a revolver, and his wife becoming alarmed, asked the police to interfere, as she thought her life was m danger. The police declined to do so unless a warrant was taken out, which the wife would not do. On Monday, the 6th, the couple seemed on excellent term?, but on Tuesday morning when their house was entered their bodies were found lying side by side, the husband with a revolver in his hand with three chambers still loaded. It is supposed be shot his wife and then himself.

Obscene Language. — A correspondent signing himself" Respect” writes to us to complain of obscene language which he heard made use of recently at a school concert and dance. We sympathise with what he says, but, as ho gives names and other details chat might lead to some further trouble, wo cannot publish his letter in full. His complaint is that he attended a school concert and dance; that he heard there a man making use of the most disgraceful language ho had ever heard ; and that the people seemed not to heed him, although women and children were present. He justly blames the people for tolerating this, and says that they will not get , outsiders to attend their concerts if they tolerate such conduct. Our correspondent would have done the proper thing if he had laid an information against the man for such disgusting behaviour. Ha would have got a month’s imprisonment for it, Temuka Football Club.— The annual general meeting of the Temuka Football Club was held in the Wallingford Hotel on Monday evening. There was a very fair number present, and Mr Haines occupied the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The balance-sheet for the past year, which showed a balance on the credit side, was adopted. election of officers for the ensuing season then took place, which resulted as followsPresient, Mr Hargreaves ; Vice-President, Mr J. Paterson ; Captain, Mi Haines ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr E. W, Gurr ; Committee, Messrs G, Wood, J. Ogilvie, and J. T. M. Hayhurst. It was resolved that an application be made to be affiliated to the Canterbury Rugby Union. Votes of thanks to the Secretary and Captain terminated the proceedings.

Don’t Dik in thk House.— “ Rough on Bats " clears out rats, mice, beetles, roaches, bed bugs, fl.es, ants, insects, moles, jack* rabbits, gophers. Kempt home, Prosser and Co., Ohriatcburoh. i

Winchetek Church. The annual meeting of the congregation vvas held on Monday, when there was a good attendance, including several ladies, the Incumbent presiding. The report for the past year, with balance-sheet, was read by Mr In wood, Treasurer, and showed the receipts to have been from all sources £64 odd. Working expenses, including Building Society shares, insurance and also cost of painting roof, £25, leaving a balance of £3B remitted to the stipend fund. The average attendance showed an increase of ten per service over that of last year, while in most respects the comparison was satisfactory. But the Treasurer reminded the members of the church that the apparent increase in funds collected .was due to the receipt of two new and liberal subscriptions rather than to the maintenance of old ones. There had been losses by death and removal, and many members were in arrears with subscriptions; but for these causes, a much better balance-sheet would have been presented. The rev. chairman referred to the various matters dwelt upon in the report, and also spoke feelingly of the death of two members of the congregation. Officers were elected as follows : Churchwardens, Messrs Cooke and Ensor; Vestrymen, Messrs Page, R. Smith, Bishop, Cliff, Klee, H, Smith and In wood. The desirablenes of evening services having been mentioned it was resolved, after discussion, not to interfere with the present morning services, but in addition to hold evening services, except when the Presbyterian service is held in the school. Sundry matters of detail were discussed, and votes of thanks passed to the Sunday School teachers, the choir, and to all who had assisted in church work. The Incumbent also added a few remarks of encouragement and advice. The meeting closed with a sincere vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Hamilton for his faithful and earnest discharge of his duty, more especially considering the adverse circumstances of the past year, and the hope was expressed that the attachment between him and the parish might be a lasting and mutual one, in suite of any present difficulties.

A Terkibde Accident. —Avertible accident occurred last Tuesday on the farm of Mr John Kelland, Kakahu, On this farm Mr White’S machine was threshing for Mr M, A. Toomey, and amongst those engaged in the work was a youth of about 20 years of age named Thomas Gilbert, He had only just started work as bandcutter, when somehow his foot slipped into the beaters, with the result that the foot was cut clean off above the ankle joint, and the lower part of his leg completely shattered. The foot was taken through the machine, and was afterwards found lying,6n shakers, while ths boot went up the elevators, lie in all probability would have been killed only for the presence of mind of the feeder, Mr Thomas Hampton, who, when he saw the accident threw, him back on the straw. The whole thing happened as quick as lightning. Immediate steps were taken to stop the bleeding, and for this purpose a bandage was put on above the knee This answered the purpose until Mr Richard Sharp, who has had some experience in tins respect, came and bandaged the injured limb, and the man was"then put into a trap and brought to Temuka. In the meantime, however, Dr Hayes had huon sent for, and he met the trap which was bringing the poor sufferer into town. After seeing that all immediate danger was over, the doctor ordered the man to be taken to Mrs Henderson’s house, and there ho still lies. Finding, ou examination, that amputation was necessary, Dr Hayes telegraphed to Timaru for medical aid, and in the evening Dr Drew (of the hospital) came out, and the Jnjured leg was cut off about three inches below the the knee-joint. Gilbert is amative of Auckland, and only came to this district recently from Napier, where his brother and some other relations of his reside. Ho had been for some time previously cooking for Mr Caleb Bateman, and had only been working on Mr White’s machine for about fifteen minutes before the accident occurred. He had the repudiation of being an active, hard-working, cheerful young man, and great sympathy is felt for him throughout the district.

The Murder of a Warder bi a Lunatic. —In our telegraphic news published last issue it was mentioned that a lunatic named Jas, Trewhellar (an inmate of the Auckland'Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum) had murdered one of the warders. The following are a few further particulars A number of patients were at work in a potato field under three warders, of whom the deceased was one. Trewhellar was working some distance from the others, and Thomson requiring him is believed to bars gone to ask him for his pitchfork. The first intimation the other warders had of the tragedy was by one of them, Warders Hughes, hearing a blow struck and on looking round he eaw Thomson on the ground and Trewheller standing over him with a pitchfork raised. Two other blows were struck before Warders Hughes and Maccouge could reach the spot, and secure the patient, who at first seemed as if he were determined to defend himself. He was promptly secured and appeared to be highly satisfied with his exploit, saying it was the best he could do. The other patients did not make the slightest movement, but kept working on as if the murder had not happened. Death must have been instantaneous as Thomson’s neck was dislocated and he was quite dead when reached by his assistants.

The weapon with which the deed was committed is an old four-pronged pitchfork and rather light,, Several hairs still adhere to the side of the prongs, showing that it was with that portion of the weapon the blow was struck. Joseph Thomson, the deceased, was a powerful-looking young man, and about 25 years of age, single, and had a sister living in Christchurch, who recently paid a visit to him. He had been in the asylum since last September and was a great favourite with the patients. Chas. Trewhellar is 28 years of age and was formerly a laborer at Hunua, near Papakura. Ho was admitted to the asylum on December 24th, 1883, suffering from a delusive mania. For a short time after his admission he absolutely refused to eat food, but otherwise his conduct has been good. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that the deceased was murdered by Trewhellar, who is of unsound mind and not responsible for his actions. No blame is attached to the other attendants.

Tenders for erecting a two.roomed cottage for Mr Eli Mitchell, at Waitohi, close today. Lbunon Stuff.—How many children and women are slowly and surely dying, or rather being killed, by excessive doctoring, or the daily use of some drug or drunken stuff called medicine, that no one knows what it is made of, who can easily be cured and saved by American Go’s, Hop Bitters which is so pure, simple, and harmless, that the most frail woman, weakest invalid, or smallest child can trust in it I—See1—See Advfe.