LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1393, 17 September 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Masonic.— The monthly meeting; of Lodge .Southern Star, No. 619, S.C., Geraldine, takes place this evening;

Mount Peel Road Board. l. The monthly meeting of the Mount Peel Road Board takes place to-morrow. Contractors are reminded that tenders for shingling Mount Peel road close at 11 a.m.

New Patent. —Mr F, J. Noble, of Timaru, has applied for a patent for the manufacture of news paper, white and colored printing paper, and compressed paper goods, from native grasses, straw or wood, together with the process in connection therewith. Horse Parade. —The annual parade of entire.horses under the auspices of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association will take place on the old show grounds, Timaru, on the 26th September. Owners of horses are reminded that entries close on the 24th, at noon.

Fishing Tackle, — Mr T. G, Rowlov the well-known purveyor of spoiling requisites, in Timaru, draws attention, in our advertising columns to the fact that ho has just received a splendid assortment of fishing tackle ex s,s. Kaikouru. Anglers can rely upon receiving good value at this establishment. He has novelties of a rare and useful kind, which anglers will find extremely valuable.

The Shadows of London.—Mr Fred. Crook repeats his lecture on this subject in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, to-morrow night. The lecture is well worth hearing. The price of admission has been fixed at Is for adults and 6d for children under 15 years. &.ny surplus over exposes are to be devoted to the funds of the Temuka Cricket Club.

The Prorogation. —lt is expected tlio prorogation of Parliament will take place next Tuesday or Wednesday. The Grain Season. —Up to the 12th inst. 208,507 sacks of grain were received by rail ai Timaru, and by road 77,192, making a grand total of 235,789, Street Lighting. —Timaru will in future be lighted with kerosene. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Borough Council the lender of J. Passmore at £5 2s Gd per lamp per annum was accepted.

Reduction in Freight. —The Minister of Public Works, has promised to reduce the freight, on wool on the Wairarapa line from 6s 3d to 5s Id per bale, and also to make reductions on merchandise.

Again Free. —The girl Mary O’Brien, who ran away from the Burnham Industrial School some days ago and was recaptured by the Lyttelton police last Thursday night, again absconded from the Institution on Wednesday evening.

Volunteer Band Concert.— We understand that great preparations are bemg made to secure success for the above concert, which is coming off next Tuesday, The performers are practising diligently, and have acquired gieat proficiency. The concert will be well worth attending. Spring Drapery.— Messrs T. and J. Thomson, Timaru, announce the arrival of their spring shipments of drapery, gloves, hosiery, Manchester goods, etc. The dressmaking and tnilinery departments connected with this establishment are under competent supervision. Full particulars of the show of goods now on view, etc., will be found in our advertising columns. R.M. Court, Temuka.—At the above Court, yesterday, before J. S, Beswick, Esq.. R.M., the case of A. Edgeler v. D. Dunn, for assault, was called, but there was no appearance of either party and so it was struck out. The only other case before the Court was one in which John Cunnard sued T, King for £1 15s. The defendant admitted the claim and was ordered to pay at the rate of 5s per week. Temperance. —Mr Matthew Burnett is now delivering a series of temperance addresses in Timaru, and with good result. On Monday night, the first of the mission, His Worship the Mayor signed the pledge, but not many others followed his example. On Tuesday, however, 49 donned the blue.—We understand that arrangements are being made to get Mr Mali Lew Burnett to visit Temuka. He is expected to remain here for a week. Property Tax. —ln our advertising columns Mr J, Sperrey, Properly Tax Commissioner, announces that statements of real and personal property must read) Wellington before the 21st October. Assessors will, as far as possible, deliver forms of statements to property owners, but should they omit to do so, owners must procure them—either from any Postmaster or from the local Property Tax Assessor,

S.O. Caledonian Society. —At a meeting of this Society on Tuesday night, Mr Alex. Sinclair was elected President. The balance-sheet showed Miat the receipts had been £515 Os Bd, and the expenditure £377 2s lid, there being a fixed deposit at the Rank of New Zealand i<f£!3G, and cash in the hands of the Secretary, £( 17s 9d. The price of a life member’s ticket was reduced to £5, and it was decided that the purchase of a 10s ticket should constitute membership.

Puzzled Customs’ OmcEES.-A curiou ß story is being told that some time ago a' Melbourne firm indented a new and costly tiara for Archbishop Goold, set with precious stones. The tiara reached Melbourne last week, but a difficulty arose at the Customs as to how it should be classified. The officials proposed to regard it as belonging to “ hats and caps,” and a clerk who went to clear it put it on his head so that he might be able to make a declaration that it had been worn. That would not do, however, and finally after the discussion of several plans, it was resolved to pass it as <( samples.”

Funeral —The funeral of the late Mr Thos, Tindall took place on Tuesday. The deceased beihg a Mason the brethren of Lodge Southern Ssar, No, 619, S.C., assembled at the Lodge room, and with members also from St. George’s Lodge, E.C., Temuka, and Winchester Lodge, E. 0., formed into procession and joined the funeral cortege, Tne burial service was conducted by the Rev. T. A. Hamilton, of Temuka, and the Eev. Geo. Barclay, Chaplain of Lodge Southern Star, performed the Masonic rites at the grave. The funeral procession was a very large one, and represented all classes, Mr Tindall being held in respect by all who knew him. The Totalisatoe. —Speaking of the effects of the toialisator, the Australasian of the 15th ultimo says ■“ Many of the Queensland Racing Clubs, thanks to the totahsator, have been enabled to get out of debt and increase their stakes. Hut it is in New Zealand where the “ infernal machine ” has done good service. In the southern colony they can boast of a New Zealand Cup of 1000 sovs. The Auckland Racing Club adds more to its Derby than either the V.R.O. or A.J.C. Even at Napier they give 600 soys to a handicap, and the Dunedin Cup, Canterbury Cup, and other races are familiar as household words in the mouths of all New Zealanders.

District Court, Timaru. —At this Court yesterday, before His Honor .Judge Ward, the public examination of William Walker (Mr Knubley), Geo. Meredith (Mr Aspinall), and Thos. Joseph Shute, bankrupts, were declared closed. James Tait, C. Bourn, J. T. Burgess, J. Q. Mackay, and P. Kyne were granted orders of discharge. Orders for payment of costs out of the bankrupt estates of R. Storm, C. Bourn, and J. T. Burgess were granted, and an application for a similar order in the estate of Leo Pastorelli was postponed till next Court day. An application that certain of the trustees’ claims in the estate of W. A. Murray should be disallowed was adjourned till October 2nd.

Temuka School Committee. The usual monthly meeting of ihe Temuka School Committee was held last Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs Brown (in (he chair), Blyth, Gray, Lee, and Miles. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Master’s report was to the following effect ;—Average attendance: Boys, 192 ; girls, 144.2 ; total, 336.2. Strict average : Boys, 134.2 : girls, 103.7 ; total, 237.9. Highest attendance, 258. Enclosed in the report was a cheque for £2 Is 3d, for stationery fees. On the motion of Mr Gray it was resolved that the list of absentees from school attendance submitted by the Head Master be handed by the Secretary to the police to deal with. Messrs Brown and Miles were appointed Visitors for the ensuing month. The meeting then terminated.

The Ban Francisco Mail Service It is not believed that an acceptable San Francisco service can lie obtained at a smaller cost than £50,000, which the House does not seem very willing to grant, and judging from opinions ' expressed in the lobbies the suggested Sydney-Honolulu plan appears very unpopular.

A Soldier’s Companion.—The idea of an English soldier carrying with him upon a campaign a Hebrew Bible is curious, but this seems actually to have been the ease with Captain Mercer, who was killed in 18G3, when leading un attack upon a Maori position. The Rev. Dr Rosebv, at the conclusion of a lecture delivered by him at Dunedin the other evening, exhibited the identical volume, a rather bulky one, earned by Captain Mercer, and sold with his other effects after his death. It is a complete collection of the Scriptures in Hebrew, and was purchased by Dr Koseby at a secondhand book stall in Sydney many years ago.

A Marvellous Well.—A uurvellous well, giving out fire and water simultaneously is owned by an American living near Stockton, California. Having reached excellent water at a moderate depth when sinking a well, the owner put a small lube inside the larger bore-pipe and bored down to a considerable depth, where he found a large stream strongly charged with gas. This bubbled up like a fountain, and on being tried burned brilliantly, t hus the outer tube provided water, and the inner tube fire ; so the ingenious American had suitable pipes laid on, and now gets a capital supply of drinking water from one part of the well, while the other provides all the fuel for the household, though its illuminating powers is not very satisfactory —at least, so says an American conlemparary.

Swindling and Forgery. —At the R.M. Court, Christchurch, on Monday (says the Press), Margaret Mary Belinda Todd, alias Ellen Young, alias Margaret Gtuickshank, pleaded guilty to having by false pretences obtained from George Simmons of the George and Dragon Hotel, Templeton, board and lodging to the value of £2 Bs. Mr Beetham said that from the fact of her having received several sentences previously for similar offences, and her notorious character, the Bencli saw no use in dealing leniently with her. She was sentenced to be imprisoned for one year. She was further charged with uttering, witli Black, Beattie and Co., a Bank of New Zealand cheque for £lll 4s, bearing the forged signature of Theodore Kennedy, of Greymouth. On the application of Inspector Pender she was remanded on tins charge for seven days.

Temuka Parliamentary Union. --The usual weekly meeting of the above was held last Tuesday, but only about 12 members were present. On the Speaker taking the Chair, several notices of questions and motions for next sitting were given in. On the no-confidence motion coming up, the Premier submitted that due notice of it had not been given, and objected to the discussion on it going on. After this point had been discussed the motion was withdrawn and notice given of a “ noconfidence ” motion for next sitting. The debate on the Public Works Statement was then taken, and after some discussion the amendment proposed by Mr Gaze to the effect that (he £250,000 far (he East and West Coast Railway be reduced to £5 was negatived—The debate was thou adjourned, Mr Bolton’s Abolition of Action for Breach of Promise of Marriage Bill was debated and rejected. The House then adjourned until that night fortnight. The House adjourned for a fortnight on account of the Band concert taking place on next Tuesday evening.

The Tongakibo.— The s.s. Tongariro arrived at Port Chalmers on Tuesday, after a passage of 45 days ; actual steaming 42 days 4 hours 3 minutes. Left Plymouth at 2.55 p.m. on August. 1 with 382 passengers, and 251 bags mails. Arrived at Teneriffe at 2 a.m. on August 6 ; left at 11.40 a.m. same day. At 6.30 p.m. on 7th, discovered the main shaft of No. 4 bearing badly broken. Stopped engines and set canvas, and after a delay of 10 hours one of Thomson’s patent couplings was fitted, and she was again put under steam, the speed gradually increasing to full speed. The coupling worked admirably. Beached Capetown at 4.40 a.m. on August 22, took on board four bags of mails and three passengers, leaving again at 4.24 p.m. on 23rd. Had fresh to moderate westerlies, and passed Cape Lewin at 4 a.m. on Blh inst., Snares at 4 a.m. on 15th, and Nugget ts at 6.27 p.m. Anchored at the Heads at 10.45 p.m. The Tongariro brings 650 tons of cargo for Dunedin; 1150 for Lyttelton; 738 for Wellington; 657 for Auckland. No births nor deaths on the passage ; of the passengers 150 are nominated immigrants, principally for Northern ports. She crossed the bar at 6.40 a.m,, drawing 21ft 6in aft, and 18ft Gin forward, at threequarter flood.

Incidents in a Conductor’s Life,—A tramway conductor’s life, like a policeman’s, is not a happy one. The other day, says the Auckland Herald, a lady in passing out of a tramcar without the delivery of her ticket allowed her hand to rest musingly in that of the conductor, while she incidentally indicated where she resided. On Saturday night another conductor got a lady’s hand, but it was somewhat differently applied. The frisky damsel skipped into a tramcar in Hobson street, and the conductor, whose attention was absorbed in endeavoring to extract an exasperating toot from the new whistle supplied to the conductors, did not give much heed to her at first. At last an incident occurred which led him to believe that she had been drinking and he requested her respectfully, but firmly, to get out of the car. She did so, but managed in leaving the tailboard to give him one straight from the shoulder in the face, the balance of her sentiments being expressed from the side pavement. The adolescent conductor has now his doubts as to whether lovely woman is quite as angelic as he had deemed her to be.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISE MENPS.

J. Sperrey—Notice re Property Tax. T, G. Rowley, Timaru —Notice re fishing tackle.

A. Maxwell, Geraldine —Wants a load of good wheaten straw, Mich, Mitton—lnvites tenders for ploughing at Mount Peel Station. F. W. Stubbs—House Parade, under the auspices of Timaru A. and P. Association, on 26th.

J. W. Miles, “ The Hall,” Temuka — Wants six apprentices for the dressmaking department. T. and J. Thomson, Timaru—Are now making a show of new goods for the spring season ex s.s. Doric and Tongariro. J. Mundell and Co., Geraldine —Sale of produce, groceries, furniture, crockery, boots, etc., at their salerooms, on Saturday.