LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1380, 18 August 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Late Coach Accident at Christchurch. —Mr J. F. Cooper, injured in the coach accident with the late Mr , Hebden, died yesterday. The Public Works Statement.—The Public Works Statement will probably be delivered at the end of the week, should the no-confidence motion be negatived. Lite Stock or the Colony.— According to the latest returns, the colony possesses 14,056,266 sheep, 698,637 head of cattle, 161,736 horses, 11,223 goats, and 200,083 pigs. The Fijian Sugar Crop. —The prospects of the cane crop in Fiji are very good. At Rewa they are magnificent. Some of the estates have given from three to six tons per acre, although 25 cwt is the average production in cane growing countries. Fijian Finances. —It was stated in the Legislative Council of Fiji that the annual expenditure is £7OOO over receipts, and it was decided to bring under the notice of the Colonial Secretary the desirability of reducing the Governor’s salary. E.M. Court, Temuka.— At the above Court, Temuka, yesterday, before A, M. Clark, Esq., J.P., John Tandy was charged with having broken into Airs Swinton’s Hotel, at Winchester, on tho 15th inst., and stolen therefrom several bottles of beer. At the request of the police the case was remanded till Wednesday next. The Legislative Council. —lt is said that Sir F. Whitaker seems disinclined to accept tho resolutions of the Committee re the constitution of the Legislative Council as final, and it is reported that ho will introduce a Bill this session dealing with tho constitution of the Council, probably or, the lines of a draft Bill he prepared in 1883, but which was never introduced. The principle of that Bill was ten years tenure and election on the Hare system of representation. Mineral Products op the Colony.— ln order that the mineral resources of New Zealand may bo properly represented to the people at Homo, the Minister of Mines, Wellington, will bo pleased to receive specimens of the mines, etc., to bo forwarded to England free of cost, for display at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, to bo held in London next year. It is notified in another column that specimens of coal, building stone, limestone, or other mineral products will be received at the Road Board Office, Geraldine, up to October Ist next. Timaru Parliamentary Union.— On Friday evening the old Timaru Parliamentary Union was dissolved and a new one formed. The Union has hitherto been held under the management of the Technical School, and the governing body held that the session had lasted long enough, and was a burden on the funds of the school. The members of the Union on the other hand contended that it was their subscriptions which had bolstered up tho Technical School and enabled it to pay its way. The Premier in bis final statement said that the wish of the Ministry hud always been to assist the School and keep tho Union going, “ but when they, at the previous sitting, found tho Opposition Benches packed by a number of youths who rose and sat down at the magic wave of tho hon. Member for Coromandel’s (Mr Dawson) hand, they felt it useless te tiy and carry on business. He characterised the packing as an insult to tho dignity of the House.” Mr Dawson is Rector of the Timaru High School and is at the head of tho Technical School movement. About 40 members joined the new Uniou, the session of Thick is to last for six weeks.

The Kakahu Minerals— ln our advertising columns Mr John Talbot .convenes a meeting of those interested in the prospecting of the Kakahu district for Friday afternoon, at 4 o’clock, in Mr Ash well’s office, Tomukn. It may be mentioned that there can now be seen at Mr Ashwell’s office specimens of coal, limestone, sand, etc., found in the Kakahu district. A No-Confidenoe Motion.— At a meeting of the Opposition on Saturday it was decided to table a no-confidence motion. The Opposition believe they can command some 50 or more votes, but Ministerialists assert, that they have the support of not less than 49. Both parties are evidently depending on the support of the same members, so the result is extremely problematical at present.

Sporting.— The following are the results of the Heathcote Races, which took place yesterday Hurdle Race, of 50 sovs :Mr J. Kerr’s Baldie (Sat 12!b) I, Mr T. Sheenan’s Master Agnes (12stl01b) 2, Mr U. Harris’s Ingomar (Sat 71b) 3; nine others started ; totalisator, inside £26 12s, outside £4O 10s, Hack Hurdles ; Presto 1, Adventure 2, Mammon 3 ; Five others ran ; Totalisator, inside £5 18a. Time Trot: Doctor 1, Raddle 2, Billy 3 ; eight others -started ; totalisator, £6 Is. Winter Handicap: Life Buoy (7sfc 71b) 1, Talebearer (9st 51b) 2, Conundrum (7st 121 b) 3 ; Rocket, Puck, Ravenswood, and Skipjack also ran ; totalisator, £l4 3Gs. Discoveries at Otago Heads.— While carrying on work at the quarries at Otago Heads, says the Otago Daily Times, a largo cave was recently discovered, which should prove of some interest to geologists and others interested in such matters. It was reached from another cave which is well known to those who have visited the works, ami was discovered quite by accident. There was no entrance observable, the breaking down of some stuff having shown the opening; and it contained a quantity of shingle similar to that on the Oamarn and Timaru beaches, as also pieces of timber of various kinds in a good state of preservation. The cave having been hermetically sealed, and at a considerable eleyation from the beach, some points of interest are presented for the consideration of our local savans. There is also a further subject for study, in the shape of a well of pure fresh water, which has been tmnk close to the beach. The water is perfectly fresh, and is under the level of the sea water at high tide, and only a few feet distant. It has proved a great boon, as previous to its discovery good water for the use of the prisoners had been unobtainable within easy reach. Lord Salisbury and Russia.— ln view of the accession to power of the new Government, the Times points out that there are important questions to be settled in connection with external policy which cannot be postponed or treated provisionally. But it urges that, even in matters of administration, a Government which is in a minority cannot well reverse the policy of its predecessors. Referring to the language used by certain Russian newspapers, it observes “ These threats will strengthen rather than weaken Lord Salisbury’s hands. The Russian Government, it is added, will seek no explanation of the ‘recent intemperate language’ of the new Foreign Secretary, of which the discretion may be fairly questioned, but, which was, at least, as fully within the sphere of legitimate public criticism as the imputations cast in M. de Giers’ despatches on the character and conduct of Sir P. Lurasden and Lord Dufferin, The treatment of the Suez Canal controversy by the incoming Cabinet must be guided by the same rule as the management of the Russian negotiations. Lord Salisbury must take his stand on the principles la'd down by Lord Granvile, but with more firmness in maintaining them than his predecessor has shown.” Insulting the British Kavv. —The details of the outrageous insult offered to the English navy and people by the Russian Admiral commanding the man-of-war Vladimir Monomak have, says an exchange, at length reached England. Erom the information to hand it appears that the little English squadron, headed by the Agamemnon entered the harbour of Yokohama, where the Russian ship was lying, when suddenly the latter beat to quarters and turned her guns directly on our leading vessel. Cupt. Long, of the Agamemnon, is, however, not an officer to be trifled with, and he immediately gave orders that if a single rifle shot was fired by the Russians she was to be rammed at once, in which case bis Imperial Majesty the Czar would have been minus a ship. However, after this display of insolence, the Russians thought discretion was the better part of valour, and when Captain Long demanded an explanation the Admiral said he was not sure if the countries were at war, and so thought it better to be prepared for eventualities. On its being pointed out to him that he was in the territorial waters of a neutral Power, he had the supreme audacity to answer that lie was indifferent lo neutrality if the neutral Power was not strong enough to enforce it. Captain Long communicated tin’s speech to the Japanese authorities, who, acting at once on the hint, stationed a powerful turret-ship alongside the Vladimir Monomak, with orders to blow her out of the water should she commence hostilities. The English squadron then went a few miles lower down the bay, and got ready to capture the Russian if war broke out. Wells’ “Rough on Cobns.” —Ask for Wells’ “Rough on Corns.” Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. Kempthorne Prosser and Co., Agents, Christchurch. 1 Don’t Die in the House,— “ Rough on Rats ” clears out rats, mice, beetles, roaches bad bugs, flies, ants, insects, moles, jackrabbits, gophers, Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., Christchurch. 1

SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS.

E. Prouting, Geraldine. —Funeral notice, E. Burke, Geraldine Flat—Has grass seed for eale. W. U. Slack, Geraldine —Notice re lenders accepted. F. W. Badham, Bulmer—lnvites lenders for ploughing. J. IJ. Kiehardson, Linda—lnvites tenders for ploughing, etc. Temuka Leader and Geraldine Guardian— To owners of stud horses. Overseer Geraldine Road Board—Notification re mineral products. Temuka Town Board—Tenders for 100 yards fine riverbed shingle close to-morrow. Time. Cadwallader. —Tenders for cutting and burning gorso fences on the lion. W. Rolleslon’s farm close to-morrow. Fredk. Storey, Temuka. —Notice re application for transfer of license of the Wallingford Hotel to Peter Ooira. John Talbot.—Meeting of those interested in prospecting the Kakahu district, in Mr Ash well’s office, Temuka, on Friday at 4 p.m.