LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1387, 3 September 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Vital Statistics. —The following are the vital statistics for Geraldine for the month ended August 31st:—Births 17; Marriages 1; Deaths 4. Winchester Fair.— Winchester Fair takes place to-morrow, having been postponed on account of the Hunt Cub Steeplechases. The Gbain Sbasok.—Up to the 29th inst. there were received by rail at Timaru 203,953 sacks of grain, and by road 88,447, making a grand total of 292,400 sacks. Hoeses Wanted. —Messrs J. Mundelland Co., announces that they are prepared to purchase from 70 to 100 really g od young draught horsat. Thi« should be a good opportunity for farmers to dispose of superfluous stock. G-ebaldinb Ceickkt Club.—The annual general meeting of the members of the Geralding Cricket Club will be held next Tuesday evening in the Geraldine Hotel. The business to come before the meeting will be to receive the statement of accounts for the past year, election of officers for the ensuing season, and other business. The meeting will be at half past seven sharp, and all cricketers are invited to attend* j

Caution. The Geraldine Rifles being about to commence target practice afc their range, the public are informed ic our advertising columna that while firing is going on a red flag will be hoisted on the hill above the range on Mr Ward's land. Trespassers on the range wid be prosecuted. Hobse Racing.—The occupation of men who race horses is, in the opinion of u majority of the raombors of the Upper House of a decidedly questionable character. Dr Pollen says that " a whole army of men and troops of horses, which in a colony of this kind,oug'it to be more productively employed, were engaged in the nefarious business of robbing the public, for it was nothing else. He said it was an organised system of swindling, and nothing more or less."

Important to Ratepayers. A very important notice to ratepaysrs in theTemuka district whose rates are unpaid wdl be found in our advertising columns. All rates owing for the years 18S3 to 1884 inclusive are to be sued for within 7 days, and all due for the current year within 14 days. Should the owners not be known, steps will be taken to sell the land. No exceptions are to bo made—however small the amount due may bo it will be sued for. Much expense and trouble will therefore be suved by the prompt payment of rates due. It may be mentioned that persons having ceased, to occupy land and whosa names remain on the rate roll are still liable for the payment of rates.

" Rough on Rats."—The Colonial Secretary has issued the following notice undor date Wellington, 24th August, 1885 :-" The attention of all persons who sell, or keep open shops for retailing, dispensing, or compounding poisons is called to the fact that the preparation commonly known as ' Rough on Rats,' contaius arsenic, and is therefore a poison within the terms of Part 1 of the first Schedule to 'The sale of Poisons Act, 1871.' Attention is also called to the provisions of seotion 12 of the Act, which prescribes the regulations to be observed iu the sale of poisons, and there is reason to believe that these regulations are not always strictly carried out as respects the poison above referred to. This notice is substituted for that garetted on the 6th instant relating to the same subject." Entertainment. —On Tuesday evening the scholars attending the Public School, G-eraldine, enjoyed an unexpected treat, Mr C. Wiggins, of Sumner College, who is on a visit in the district, having kindly exhibited his magic lantern views in the school. Although the notice was short, the schoolroom was crowded, many adults as well as children being present. The admittance was free for the children, but a small fee was paid by the adultß, the proceeds of which were given to the school prize fund. The views were beautiful and most clearly exhibited, and, together with the interesting description given by Mr Wiggins, engaged the attention of the children for fully an hour and a-half. Mr T. Sherratt and Masters W. Stonehouse and H. Baughen supplied some musical selections which added to the evening's enjoyment.. At the close the master, Mr Hughes, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wiggins for his kindness in providing such an entertainment. The motion was carried with acclamation. The child'en then dispersed, having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Timabu Harbor Works. The Mayor of Timaru, Mr John Jackson, recently paid a visit to Wellington on various matters of importance to the borough, and at last meeting of the Council gave a brief account of his doings. Amongst other things he made it his duty to approach the Minister of Lands on the subject of an endowment of land for the Timaru Harbor Board. " He (the Mayor) had represented very strongly to the Minister the vast benefits derived from the construcof the Breakwater, had drawn his attention to the large area of land that had been reclaimed, which was valued at many thousands, and pointed out that it would be only fair for the Government to give Timaru something in return. The Minister promised that in the event of any harbor in New Zealand being given an endowmeat Timaru should be among the first. Fis Worship continued that it was in his opinion incumbent upon all the local bodies—the Harbor Board, Borough and Geraldine County Councils, Levels Road Board, Temuka and Geraldine Town Boards, etc.—to strongly place before the members for the district this most important question of endowments, as it was certain that the Harbor Board could not always pay money out of loan. He pointed out that the port was in a certain sense heavily handicapped as regards shipping rates —by ocean-going steamers especially—and that the local bodies might well consider this question also." The Hon. Mr Ballance's reply was a very " promising " one—he appears to be good at making promises which only concern his successors, whoever they may be—but that is the utmost that can be said in favor of it.

Pleasant Valley School Committer. —The regular monthly meeting of this Committee wa9 held in the schoolroom on Aug. 29th. Present —Messrs A. Lysaght (Chairman), K. Brophy, 19. Gregun, J. Mu'vihill, K. Quaid, and P. Paull. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education to the effect that £5 16s 8d had been paid into the Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, to the credit of the Committee as third quarter's incidentals. From the Schoolmaster, requesting the Committee to put a screen across the school between the junior and senior classes. After considering the probable cost of same, it was resolved to write to the Board of Education and ask for a grant of £3 for that purpose ; also to request the Board to Bend out their architect to inspect the school buildings, and make an estimate of tbe cost of various repairs which are required, as the Committee are not competent to make an estimate Mr K. Brophy stated, on behalf of the Visiting Committee, that each time they visited the school they found it working satisfactorily. He also stated that gorse cutting around fche school ground, and shingling around the Master's house, had been finished to the satisfaction of the subcommittee. The Chairman stated he had puid during the month some minor accounts. His action was approved of. He also stated that he had received for book accounts £5 6s 10d, and paid the same into the Bank. Proposed by Mr K. Brophy, seconded by Mr J. Mulvihill—" That Messrs A. Lysaght and K. Quaid act as a Visiting Committee for the ensuing month." Accounts amounting to £3 15s 5d were passed for paymant, and the meeting ad■journad till the last Saturday in September. Primitive Methodist Church, Gerali>ine. —The quarterly tea meeting in connection with the above church wa3 held on Monday evening. A first-class tea was provided by Mesdames Martin and King, to which ample justice was done by who sat down to it, about seventy in number. After the tea had been cleared away, the Ecv. H. Clark, pastor of the church, delivered a lecture on the life of the late James A. Garfield, President of the United States. Mr Win. King presided during the evening. The lecturer prefaced his remarks by saying that no one could study the character of such a man as the late President without feeling highly stimulated, and such a study had a tendency to raise anyone in the social stage. Mr Clark then by a I

series of anecdotes illustrated in a clear and lucid manner the various traits of character of the man who. rose from a humble position in the backwoods of America to the Presidency of the States. The lecturer handled his subject in a manner which kept the interest of his audience fully alive, and showed that he had expended no small amount of pains to make himself thoroughly master of it. The lecture lasted about two hours, everyone listening attentively throughout, and at the conclusion Mr Clark v\as heartily applauded. The church choir rendered several hymns during the evening. Before the meeting dispersed votes of thanks to the lecturer, to the ladies who had gratuitously provided the tea, and to the choir and Chairman, were carried by acclamation. The proceeds of the tea will form a very satisfactory addition to the funds of the church. Wiood son Clergymen.— "I bolievoit to bo all wTongand tven wicked for clergymen or otber publio men to be led into giving testimonials to qusck doo'ors or vilo stuffa called medicines, but when a really meritorious aitio'e is made up cf oommon valuable remediea known to a! 1 , and that all phyeioians uee and trust in diily, TVe ehould freely oommend it I therefore cheerfully nrd heartily oommeud iiop Bitten for the good they have done me and my friends, firmly believing they have no equal for family use. I will not be without them,"—Rev. Holloway's Pills —Epidemic diseases.— The alarming increase of English oholera and diarrlce.i should be a warning to everyone to subdue at once any irregularity tending towards disease Hollowaj's Pills should now be in every household to rectify all impure states of blood, to remedy weakness, and to overoome impaired general health. Nothing oan bo simpler than the instructions for taking this corrective medicine, nothing more efficient than its cleansing powers, nothing more harmless than its vegetable ingredients. Hollo way'a is the best physio during the summer seasons, when deoaying fruits and unwholesome vegetables are frequently de ranging the bowels, and daily exposing thousands, through their negligence in permitting disordered aotion, to the dangers of diarrlcea, dysentery, and oholera.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS

J. A. Young—Winchester Fair takes plaoe to-morrow.

VV. M. Moore, G-eraldme—Notice to the public re target practice. Mrs Brisco, The Pines, Geraldine —Wants a general servant. J. MuHdell and Co., Geraldine—Wants 70 to 100 really good draught mares or geldings. E. Hardcastle, Geraldine—Annual general meeting of Geraldine Cricket Club on Bth September. In Bankruptcy—ln re William Walker, of Waifcohi, farmer. First meeting of creditors on 7th September. W. Polhill—Notice re pigs trespassing on land belonging to the Hon. L. Walker or the Ruakapuka Downs. H. R. Webb, Chrietchurch—Tenders for lease for 14 years of 195 acres at Upper Waitohi Flat and now in the occupation of Mr Robert Baxter.