LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1348, 2 June 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pupil T«vchbes’ Examination. The annual examination of pupil teachers commences on Juno 23rd.

Temuka Town Boabd. The monthly meeting of the Temuka Town Board takes place to-morrow evening. R.M. Coubt, Geraldine. Trengrove’s case will be beard before Justices of the Peace this morning at ten o’clock.

Gebaldine Town Boabd. The next ordinary monthly meeting of this Board will be held on Thursday evening next in the new office.

Vital Statistics,— The following are the ▼ital statistics for the Geraldine district for the month ended May 31st : Births, 15; marriages, 1; deaths, 5. Political Meeting. —Mr W. Rolleston, M.H.R., addresses bis constituents this evening in the Temuka Volunteer Hall, and to-raorrovr evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine. Conscience Stbicken, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer acknowledges the receipt of £l4O from some one in New South Wales who states that many years ago he wronged the Government of New Zealand to that amount.

Monthly Stock Sale.— Messrs J. Mundell and Co. bold their monthly stock sale at Geraldine to-morrow, June 3rd, A number of entries for the sale are published in our advertising columns, and further entries will be received up to hour of sale. Temuka Road Boabd. — The monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board takes place to-day. Among the business will be the consideration of tenders for shingling Studholme street and for drain, Main South Road, and applications for the position of poundkeeper.

Geraldine Road Boabd. —Tenders are invited by this Board for various works, particulars of which will be found in the advertisement. Specifications may be seen at the office, where tenders are to be sent in addressed to the Chairman, and endorsed with the number of the contract, before 10 a.m. on Tuesday the 9th inst.

The Black Hole of Calcutta.—The Englishman newspaper .mentions an interesting historical discovery lately made in Calcutta. This is the exact site of the monument erected to Holwell, the survivor and analyst of the Black Hole. Special interest attaches to the monument, as it marks the spot where the victims were buried. When the search began the Government of Bengal gave a small sum, but that grant was expended, and the work continued at the cost of Dr Hunter and some other gentlemen. It is proposed to mark the spot with a slab. Disc Habbow Tbiai.— The trial previously notified of a new style of disc harrow came off on the farm of Mr R. Taylor, Geraldine, on Saturday. • The implement shown was one of Messrs P. and D. Duncan’s latest improvements, and one of the members of the firm was down and explained the mode of working it to those present at the trial. The harrow was tried on lea land, lately ploughed, and of a sufficiently he. vy nature to thoroughly test the adaptability of the implement as a cultivator. The chief points of improvement in this harrow are its lightness of draught, non-liability to choke on rough land, simplicity of construction and ease with which it can be packed for travelling, and last, but not least in these times, the lowness of its price. The harrow was worked by four of Mr Taylor’s horses, but three ordinary farm horses should be able to work it wuh ease except on exceptionally heavy land. By simple contrivances the harrow can be packed up for travelling in about five minutes. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. are the agents in Geraldine for these harrows, and they sold the one shown immediately after the trial.

Thanks. —ln another column Mr ThomaGilborl returns thanks to all who ren dered him services during his illness. Lecture on “ Russia.”—The Rev. Jasper Smythe, of Pleasant Point, delivers a lecture on “ Russia” in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, next Tuesday evening. The admission will be Is, the proceeds being devoted to the aiding of • poor widow. The Rev. Mr Hamilton will occupy the chair.

Herbert's Diorama.—The above was exhibited in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last Saturday evening to a small audience. The views were exceedingly good, and the lecture was instructive and entertaining. The comic pictures created roars of laughter. It is to be regretted that the attendance was so small.

Narrow Escape ibom Fire.—Yesterday, about half-past eleven, the Bush Hotel, Geraldine, had a narrow escape of being burned down. Some persons on the street saw flames through one of the windows of the long room, and they at once rushsd into the house and gave the alarm. On entering the room it was found the window curtains were on fire, and these were speedily pulled down and the fire quenched. Fortunately no damage wae done beyond the loss of the curtains aid a cane-seated chair. It is supposed the fire was originated by some one throwing a lighted match down close to the curtains.

Burning! of Wheat.—Early on Sunday morning last Mr Gaffaney discovered some wheat belonging to him on fire. The wheat had heed threshed some time ago and was lying in bags near the road leading into Timaru, The fire, when discovered, had destroyed about 40 bags of wheat, and only about 10 bags could be saved. It is supposed that the fire must have been caused by the carelessness of some swaggers who must have slept in the straw wiih which the heap of bags was covered. The wheat was insured in Mr Ashwell’s office. Mr Ashwell visited the scene of the fire yesterday, and recognised Mr Gaffaney’s claim on the Insurance Company.

Accident, —On last Sunday morning when the Rev. Mr Hamilton reached the Washdyke to hold Diyine Serrice, he tied his horse to fence as usual and gars it a feed. Something frightened the animal, however, and it bolted away with the buggy to which it was attached, with the result that the vehicle was reduced to a complete wreck. The horse, however, sustained no injury, and the Rev. Mr Hamilton having obtained the loan of a saddle reached Temuka in time to keep his engagements to hold a service at Milford. The buggy was broken to a degree that renders it impossible to mend it. Masonic. —'The usual monthly meeting of Lodge Southern Star, No. 619, S.C!., was held in the Lodge-room, Geraldine, on Thursday evening, May 28th. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Bro. Young, R.W.M. ; Bro. J. Williams, D.M.; Bro. N. Dunlop, S.M. ; Bro. B. Gould, S.W. ; Bro. W. Ooltman, J.W. ; Bro. J. W. Pye, Secretary ; Bro. W. Shiers, Treasurer ; Bro. G. H. Patrick, S.D. ; Bro. C. Waller, J.D. ; Bro. D. Andrews, LG. ; Bro. R. Scott, Tyler; Bro. W. Willoughby, M.G.; Bro. Rev. Geo. Barclay, Chaplain ; Bros. N. Dunlop and W. Ooltman were elected Auditors.

Mr R. T. Booth.— Mr R. T. Booth lectured at Kaiapoi on Sunday evening and at the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, lasi evening. At Kaiapoi on Sunday evening, in commencing his address, he made the following remarks ; —“ He was glad to visit Kaiapoi again. Up to Friday he was afraid he should not have been present. Several people along the line between Kaiapoi and Dunedin would, he feared, be a little hurt when they knew he had come on, but having reason to know that efforts of the temperance party in Kaiapoi were being put forth, he was glad to set aside sentiment to assist them in the suppression of the liquor traffic, and he hoped they would not rest till all the public-houses in that fair town were closed.” *

The Dunedin Gaol Scandal.— According to the Wellington Press, Mr Caldwell, late governor of the Dunedin Gaol, has asked for another enquiry. It says: “We learn as a fact that Mr Caldwell has employed a solicitor to work up and conduct the case for him, and that the application is already before Government for consideration. The ground of the demand for a fresh enquiry is an allegation that the former Commission wrongfully rejected important independent evidence on behalf of Mr Caldwell, and wrongfully received suborned and perjured evidence on behalf of and prepared by Captain Hume. Hereupon it is requested that the Inspector of Prisons should immediately be suspended, pending the enquiry, and that, on the allegations of Mr Caldwell being proved to the satisfaction of the Government or a Commission appointed by them, Captain Hume should be degraded and dismissed the public service. The object of all this is, we are assured, not to obtain the Inspectorship of Prisons for Mr Caldwell, or even the restitution of his post as Governor of the Dunedin Gaol ; but to rehabilitate his character by the ove r throw of bis rival and alleged oppressor, and so to revive and affirm his claim to a pension.”

The Bbbnnan Toepedo.— A London telegram states that “ Captain” Brennan, of Victoria, has received a large sum from the British Government for bis patent rights in the torpedo bearing his name. This must refer to Mr Louis Brennan, of Melbourne, who has invented a torpedo, but how he has obtained the title of “ Captain” is inexplicable. If he had gone to America wa could understand it. The American genius who conferred on Mr John Hayhurst the title of “ Judge” would not hesitate to give Mr Brennan the title of “Captain.” However, we know that Mr Brennan is no captain, unless be has been made one within the last year or two, Mr Brennan is a young Irishman, of about 30 years of age. He came to Melbourne with his parents when very young, and was educated as an engineer. When very young his mechanical skill was recognised, and at the age of 22 years be commenced to make the torpedo. He at first made a very diminutive one, and on testing it he found it worked well. He succeeded after a good deal of perseverance, in gaining the attention of the Victorian Government, and his torpedo was open to public inspection at Government House. Sir William Jervois, our present able and deservedly-popular Governor, took notice of it, and Col. Scratchley and himself tested it in the Melbourne harbor. They gave a very favorable opinion of it, and the Victorian Government voted Mr Brennan £3OO for the purpose of effecting further improvements in it. The trial made of it after this proved a great success, aod Mr Brennan decided to go to England. About 12 months ago a t legratn was received from Home stating that it had been tested most successfully, and now we find that he has at last succeeded in securing a reward for the labor he bestowed upon it. It will be remembered that whelm His Excellency the Governor lectured in Wellington not long ago he recommended the Brennan torpedo as the most suitable for New Zealand. The Government, however, adopted the Whitehead torpedo,

Supposed Suicide. A man named Anderson, a shepherd on the Levels estate, was found dead in his hut on Sunday, death having been cauied by a gunshot wound. It is supposed that the wound was self-inflicted. The body was removed to the Point, where an inquest takes place this morning.

Entertainment.— The entertaiment in aid of St. Saviour’s Church Organ Fund given in the Volunteer Hall, Teinuka, last evening, was a success. The attendance was moderate, considering that the night was so cold. The performance opened with an overture played by Mrs Hayhurst in her finished style, and songs were sung by Mrs Hargreaves, Misses Lee, Brown, and Ladbrooke, and Messrs Pilbrow, Pinckney, and Clinch, in a manner that gave entire satisfaction. Miss Rowe contributed a recitation in first-rate style. The second part consisted of a very amusing comedietta entitled : “He laughs best who laughs last.” In this the characters were sustained by Messrs E, W. Gurr, L. Rayner, R, Pinckney and Misses Ladbrooke and Rowe, all of whom acquitted themselves very creditably. The whole wound up with the National Anthem, Owing to a severe cold Mrs Rout was not able to sing, a fact which was a source of disappointment to many.

Mr R. H. Fearpoint, Geraldine, advertises for a strong lad to take a situation in the country. Any applicant must be able to milk and make himself generally useful. Unless the matter is previously settled, there will be a sale of cattle, sheep, and sheep dogs at Winchester on Thursday next. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

Messrs Tasker and Co., Butchers, Geraldine, announce that they have disposed of their business to Mr W. Lawson, and solicit for tbs purchaser a continuance of the patronage that has been so liberally bestowed upon themselyes. All accounts owing to the firm of Tasker and Co. are to be paid only to Mr W. Postlethwaite. Teeth and Sobeesess. —What is the best family medicine in the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costiveness and biliousness, aid digestion, and stimulate the whole system ? Truth and soberness compel us to answer American Co.'s Hop Bitters, being pure, perfect and harmless.— Bead Advt V