LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1456, 19 January 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Mechanics’ Institute.—The annual meeting of the members of the Temuka Mechanics’ Institute takes place this evening. Obituary.—The Venerable Archdeacon Wilson died at his late residence, Broomfield, Upper Biccarton, on Saturday, in his seventy-third year. Temuka School.—The Christmas holidays expired on Saturday last, and yesterday the school was re-opened. The attendance of scholars was not at all large, owing to the inclement state of the weather.—The Winchester school also reopened yesterday. Parish Festival.—The annual parish festival and school treat in connection with St. Mary’s Church, takes place tomorrow in the Geraldine Park, and should the weather prove propitious a great success is sure to result. The children are requested to assemble at 2 p.m. Clearing Sale at Geraldine.—Attention is directed to the sale to-day, at Geraldine, by Messrs James A. Gracie and Co., in conjunction with Messsa J. Mundell and Co., of Mr David Denoon’s livery stable plant, consisting of horses, harness, buggies, etc., and goodwill of lease of stables, etc. Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka. —The anniversary services in connection with this Church will be preached on Sunday next by the Rev. H. Clark. On the following Monday a tea and public meeting will Rake place, the admission to the tea being Is 6d for adults and Is for children. The meeting will be addressed by the Rev. Mr Clark and other friends. Seadown Water-Sufplv.—The Clerk to the Geraldine County Council, Mr F. W. Stubbs, announces that a plan of the Seadown Water Supply District is now open for inspection at the County Council’s office, Timnru, and that all persons affected by the construction of the said works, and objecting to the same, are required to lodge their complaints not later than Friday, the 26th February next. The Funeral of Mrs Thoh. Wadsworth. The sadden death of Mrs Wadsworth on Thursday last, at Orari, was a painful shock to a large number of friends and acquaintances, Mrs Wadsworth had been in the district a great many years and she was well-known and respected in almost every part of it. Her funeral, which took place on Sunday, was attended by a large concourae of people, and as the hearse passed through Geraldine on its way to the cemetery, it was followed by thirty conveyances and fifty horsemen, and a Urge number of townspeople also joined the procession. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev., Jag. Preston. Howard's Antecedents. writes to the Tapanui Courier as follows: Ido not know whether the A. Howard who has caused the “Sumner mystery ” is remembered about Tapanui, though he whs employed a considerable time at the late Glenkenich mills, and more recently at the Tapanui flour mills at boiler repairing. His history is rather romantic, he having been an American oil speculator end a Californian digger, where he lost part of a thumb in a fight about a claim. He started on his way to India to go into engineering, and w s shipwrecked on the voyage. He was, howvver, picked up by a whaler going to Greenland, where be spent a season. He came to New Zealand fully ten years ago, and got some money from his oil shares, and went atrip with his wife and family round the world, visiting Melbourne and Sydney Exhibitions. More recently he was sawmill managing in Fiji.

Temuka School Committee, The monthly meeting of the above Committee was held last night. Present—Messrs Hayhurst (Chairman), Brown, Bljtb, Lee, and Miles. The minutes of the previous meeting were road and confirmed. Letters were read from the Board of Education, asking the Committee to nominate two members for serving on the Board of Education, On the motion of Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Miles, it. was resolved that the Rev. G. Barclay and Mr Goldsmith be nominated. From the tame source, asking for the school accounts to be sent to the Board. From the same, enclosing testimonials of candidates for the position of second master. From the sain ', declining to refund money expended by the Committee unauthorised by the Board. From Mr Gurr, asking for a testimonial. It was resolved to grant the request. The Visiting Committtee reported that several small repairs were required, the piobablo cost of which would be about £2 10s, It was decided to apply to the Board for the amount. Messrs Gray and Bolton were appointed Visitors for the ensuing month. Applications for the position of second master were then opened, and out of five candidates Mr J. D, Harper was recommended. Mr Harper is at present head master of the Mandeville School, North Canterbury.

Dock Charges on Frozen Meat.— Messrs Miles and Co. have received a telegram advising that a further reduction in the dock charges for storage of frozen mutton is likely to be made.

R.M. Court, Temuka.— At the above Court last Monday, before S. D. Barker, Esq., J.P., a man named William Collins was fined 10s for having been drunk and disorderly on the previous evening. Behind Time. —The express train from the south was nearly an hour late on Saturday, being delayed by excessive traffic. Saturday was the day on which the excursion tickets issued during the Christmas holidays expired.

The Howard Cask, Howard, Mrs Howard, and the two Godfreys were brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, on Saturday morning for the purpose of being formally remanded to Monday. Mr Joynt, Howard’s counsel, however, obtained a further remand to January 25th, as he is now engaged in the Supreme Court. Property Tax.— The Property Tax Commissioner, Mr J. Sperrey, announces that all owners who did not send m a statement of all real and personal property belonging to them on the Ist of October last are required to furnish such statements to him before the 17th February next. It is worth noting that proceedings will be taken against any owner M whether liable to taxation or not,” who neglects to forward snob statement.

Trial op a Reaper and Binder.— Owing to th« weather being unfavorable Messrs Siegert and Fauvel’s trial of the Osborne Twine Binder was not held last Saturday, A start was nude but it was found the crop was unfit to cut. The little that was seen of the machine in the field, however, was extremely satisfactory. It cut and tied a green oaten crop with the greatest ease; in fact the driver, Mr W. Walker, of Waitohi, told ns it is the beat he has handled. An advertisement appears elsewhere to the effect that the trial has been postponed until to-morrow (weather permitting), when it is to be hoped there will be a large attendance of farmers present in the paddock adjoining the railway station. Should the weather not prove favorable to-morrow the trial will take place on Thursday.

Suicide. —Mr W. F. Warner, of Christchurch (says the Press) received a telegram on Saturday that one Oharle* Lockwood, a ihepherd and station hand, well known in the Bakaia district, had committed suicide. From information to hand, it appears that he with his brother were out prospecting in Browning’s Pass. He lived in a hut, and recently had been engaged in building others. On Thursday he was last seen. He was then in a despondent frame of mind, presumably caused by commercial losses. At one time bs was fairly well to do, and occupied the WmdwhUtle Hotel. His body was discovered by the employees of the Christchurch Goldmining Company, whoso claim is in the vicinity. Noticing no one about the hut for a couple of days the men made a search, and discovered Lockwood’s body in a bunk. Hanging over the side was one arm, the vein of which had been severed, so that it is presumed the man bled to death. Access to the spot is so difficult that it is probable no it.quest will be held,

International Cihcus, —Messrs Sharman and Stoodley’s Grand International Circus played in Temuka on Saturday night, and in Geraldine last night. At both places they had good houses. The circus is really a very good one—much better, in fact, than we expected. The riding of Miss Eosini is excellent. While riding round the ring she does many clever things, including throwing fom balls in the air and catching them one after the other in their descent; she also whirls a plate on the top of a stick with one hand while she tosses up the balls with the other, Mr Sharman also does some very clever things, and is a very fair clown, only that he is objectionably coarse. He walked all round the ring on a large ball, performing at the sane time dexterous tricks. The riding and the acrobatic parts were well done, and the tight wire walking was also very good. There were several novelties, which we had not seen before, that were well done, and on the whole the audience had every reason to be well pleased.

Chieomanct in thb Pohch Coubts.— Among the now methods for simplifying the unwieldy processes of the law, none is more noteworthy and suggestive than the science of chiromancy, which appears to be becoming fashionable in Police Courts. It was applied with striking success in two cases the other day. In one of these the prisoner, who was charged with begging, pleaded that he had done bard work, but was now unable to get any; the gaoler then examined his hands, and declared they showed signs of hard work, and .the man was let off with a nominal punishment. In the other case, the accused said he was a carpenter, but was out of work. The examination of bis hands showed that he had done no carpentering work lately, and he was accordingly sentenced to the full penalty for his offence. Thus by the exercise of a highly useful but little studied art the the truth is at once arrived at, and the trouble and expense of calling witnesses are saved. Chiromancy, tnorover, evidently only marks the beginning of a new state of things, and we may fairly expect a time when every gaoler will be a skilled phrenologist, and be provided by the Government with a copy of Lavater 1 * works, as no less indispeneible to his calling than his bunch of keys. Ranqitata IsiiAND.—A meeting (of the Gospel Temperance Society was held in the above school room on Wednesday evening, the 18th. The evening being fine and light, there were present as many as could find accomodation in the building. After singing one of Sankey’s hymns, and prayer being offered up by the Chairman (Sir Buxton), few of the members of the Band of Hope were called on to give recitations, etc. Recitations by Masters David Watt and Thos. Scott received well merited applause, as also did readings by Misses Sarah Wright and Jane Buck, The Chairman then called on the Bev. T. A. Hamilton, who had not been able to leave Temuka till 5 p.m., through ministerial duties, thus having to make a great effort to be present. The speaker took for bis subject “ Water v. Alcohol,” and gave a most instructive and interesting address, which was listened to with great interest, the only regret being that the speaker had not time enough, through the meeting starting late. At the close the Chairman invited those who had not signed to do so, but only one complied with the request. Many, however, looked more favorably on the temperance question than when they came. The Chairman then proposed a vote of thanks to the rev, speaker, which was carried with much enthusiasm. ThoßevMrHam iton thanked the audience for the yote of thanks, and said he would be pleased to be present at some future time. This event will be looked forward to as a great treat by all who were pres, nt, and no doubt some who had not quite made up their minds to take Mr Hamilton’s advice will think of what he has told them. Several of Sankey’s hymns were sung during the evening, and Mr Thos. Buxton presided at the org*n. Prayer being offered up by the Chairman brought the meeting to a dose.

Cricket,— ln view of a match next Saturday—Volunteers of Temuka v, Civilians — the following members are requested to practice as much as possible during the week ;—Messrs Hargreaves, Haines, Rout, Pinckney, Wood, Bethune, Bryars, Outton, McCaskill, Ogilvie, Murray, Gaze, Hart, Velvin, and Dr Hayes.

An Expensive Ride.—-At the R.M, Court, Waimate, last Friday a man named R. Muir pleaded guiliy to a charge of riding in a railway carriage between Timaru and Makikihi a few days ago without having paid his fare or provided himself with a ticket, but said he was hurried at the time. He was fined £l, and rail fare 4s fid.

District Court, Timaru,— -At the District Court, Timaru, yesterday, before His Honor Judge Ward, a number of bankruptcy cases were dealt with. On the application of Mr Knubley, the public examination of John William Stonyer was defrrrsd till next Court day. In re James McDonald, Mr Knubley, on behalf of sundry creditors, asked that the public examination of the bankrupt should be adjourned in order that a clearer statement should be placed before the Court. There had been a loss of £2500, but the debtor had not shown a siugle transaction in which a specific loss had been sustained. Mr White (for the debtor) urged that tbe statement was the best the debtor could make, and suggested that as McDonald was present be could give his sworn testimony. The bankrupt was then examined by Mr Knubley, Ho said that he had had large transactions in sheep and cattle, but he could not give any detailed account of how the loss of £1670 was made up. He attributed the failure to bad seasons. During tbe year, from September 1882 to September 1883, £9OOO had been passed through the Bank by him. The sum of £1670 included payments to farm servants. His Honor adjourned the examination till the 4th February. In re Henry Thomson O’SulUvan or Carter, the matter was allowed to stand over. Orders of discharge were granted to Wm Parker (Mr Ormsby), Benjamin Gibson (Mr Ormsby), Win. Jacob Jack (Mr Lynch), and George Barclay (Mr Lynch). Application* for solicitors’ costs were granted in the following cases; Henry Thomson O’Sullivan, or Carter (Mr White, for Mr Aspinall), and Wrn. Jacob Jack (Mr Lynch), His Honor Judge Ward fixed the 16th February as the date on which George Arthur Smith and James Pepprell Radford should apply for their discharge, Letters of administration were granted in the estates of Thomas Tindall and Sarah Amos.

Ihdisbstiok.— The main cause of nervousness is indigestion, and that is caused by weakness of the stomach. No one can hare sound nerves and good health without using American Go’s Hop Bitters to strengthen the stomach, purify the blood, and keep the liver and kidneys active, to carry off all the poisonous and waste matter of the system, See Advt. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENT. J. Sperrey, Commissioner Property TaxNotice re statements of property. Siegert and Fauvel—Notice re trial of the Osborne Twine Binder. Mrs Hargreaves, Bank of New Zealand, Temuka—Wants a nurse girl. Geraldine County Council—Notice to those affected by the Seadown water supply scheme. Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka— Notice re anniversary services, and tea and public meeting. In Bankruptcy—Re Samuel Burrows, of Temuka, hotel keeper. Mr W. GK Aspinall is bis solicitor.—The first meeting of creditors on Friday next.