LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1505, 13 May 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

R.M, Court, Ghbaidinb. The next sitting of this Court will be held on Monday, May 17th. Gbbaidine Road Boabd.— There will be a special meeting of the newly-elected Road Board at Geraldine to-day at 3.30 p.m. Tbscuka Road Boabd.—A special meeting of the Temuka Road Board takes place at 11 o’clock this morning, when a Chairman will be elected. Crown Land.— Government expect to hare some 400,000 acres on the North Island Trunk line very shortly. A large proportion is already secured. Timahu Clothing Factory.— The official opening of the Timaru Woollen Factory will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday next, and the Factory will remain open far inspection throughout the day, the machinery being kept in motion for the edification of visitors. His Worship the Mayor will declare the Factory open. Mb Bbtcs. —Mr Bryce, the late Native Minister, arrived at Auckland per the Tainui on Monday afternoon. He was welcomed by Messrs E. Mitchelson, Peacock, and Moss, ' M.H.R.’s, Sir Frederick Whitaker and other friends. He was afterwards presented with an address, signed by a number of the leading citizens, at the Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor presented the address. Mr Bryce made a suitable reply. Three cheers were given for him at the close of the proceedings. Conference of Southern M.H.R.'s.— Mr J. H. NewlynJhas written to say that all the members of the House of Representatives likely to pass through Christchurch, on their way t® Wellington, have been asked to meet the Secretary of the Colonial Land Association as a prelude to the introduction of the Land Association Act at an early period of the session. The meeting will, we believe, take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday next, 15tb, at the Commercial Hotel. The presence of farmers who can manage to leave their work will be heartily welcome. Nbw Guinea Tragedies. — A telegram from Townsville slates that during the recent trip of the schooner Elsie she touched at an island on the south-east coast of New Guinea, and on the beach found a deserted hut, on one of the boards of which was:—“James Collins, 1877 1 loak for bottle” A bottle was found containing documents, but owing to the paper being mouldy the writing was illegible. Another board was discovered on the beach, on which was written, “July 20, for Willis’ Group.” There were three graves, which appeared to be those of white men, near the but, in which were a number of wheelbarrows and portions of the wreck of a vessel, the name of which was indistinguishable.

A COUBTBOUS PoSTMASXiR. Geraldine is favored in having a postmaster, in the person of Mr Finch, who at all times does the most in his power to oblige the public. The thanks of the district are especially due to him for his courteous action on Monday last. When this gentleman heard that the Geraldine portion of the English mail had arrived at Orari by special train he immediately put his own hersa into his buggy and drove to the station for it, brought it to Geraldine, and had it sorted long before the office was closed at fire o'clock. Had it not been for this action on the part of Mr Finch the public would not have been able to receive their letters at the window at least till between seven and eight o’clock.

Vouthtkbk Bald.— The annual ball under the auspices of the Temuka Rifles takes place on the night of the 24th May. Tickets can now be obtained from the officers of the Company, or the Secretary, Mr Q. J. Mason. WbliOomb Retreat Lodge, No. 44, 1.0. G. t'.—At the weekly meeting of this Lodge, held on Monday, it was decided to hold an open Lodge meeting on Monday evening, May 17ch, and Messrs C. B. Sherratt, W. M aslin, and A. Fisher were appointed a Committee to carry out the necessary arrangements. It was also decided to visit the Pride of Mount Peel Lodge on Tuesday, May 18th. Temuka Daibt Comtakt.—A meeting of the Directors of the above Company was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs Guild (Chairman), Paterson, Gray, Austin, Cain, Brown, and Barker. The Secretary reported that 8394 gallons of milk had been received during the past month, for which £129 9s had been paid. Accounts to the amount of £l7 9s were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned. Profosbd Ahowhbnua Towk Distbiot. “At yesterday’s meeting of the County Council the petition praying that Arowbenua may be constituted a Town District was considered, and the Chairman was authorised to give the consent of the Council to the granting of the petition, provided the Temuka Read Board make no objection on or before the 18th May. Doubtless the matter will come before the special mseting of the Temuka Road Board to-day. Tub Fibs at Hoboldut. -Further particulars of the Honolulu fire state that acres of buildings were destroyed, six to eight thousand Chinese were rendered destitute and homeless, and two lives were lost. The losses of the German Insurance Companies are £25,500, American £4150, British £10,300. The insurance in colonial companies make up a total of £45,400. The Hawaiian Council voted £3OOO for the relief of the sufferers. The British warships Satellite and Heroine landed a brigade of seaman to aid in suppressing the fire, but the Chinese shopkeepers, in violation of the law, frustrated their efforts. Dynamite was used 'o blow up houses to arrest the progress of the fire.

Footbail. A meeting of the newlyresuscitated “ Wanderers ” Club was held on Monday craning at Geraldine, Mr P. Bethune in the chair. The following officers and committee were appointed ; —Captain, P. Bethune ; Secretary, A. Erskine ; Committee, Messrs Milkrd, Fleming, and Poster. L'he office of deputy-captain was ordered to stand over till a future meeting. It was decided that the name of the club be the same as before, the uniform to be blue with a white Maltese cross on the left shoulder. A deputation, consisting of Messrs A. Erskine and A. Pisher, was appointed to wait on the Chairman of the Domain Board asking for the use of the Park as a ground for playing. —A scratch match will be played at Temuka this afternoon.

Band op Hops, Geeaddine.—The weekly meeting of the Geraldine Band of Hope was held on Monday evening last, when the superintendent, Mr J. C. Waite, and his assistant, Mr W. Q. Sherralt, installed the following officers for the ensuing terra ending June 30 h Presiding Officer, Mr W. Mashn 5 Vice-President, jfdna Sherratt j Secretary, Harry Howard ; Treasurer, Miss Andrews j Chaplain, Emily Maslin; Inside Guard, John Ward j Outside Guard, Richard Coombs ; Marshal, Frank Dunford. After the business of the meeting was concluded songs and recitations were given by Violet Dunford, Emily Maslin, Ellen Bowkett, Alice Clarke and Willie Maslin. The superintendent and his assistant then addressed the meetiag, commending the members for coming forward with recitations and readings without requiring to be pressed.

Thu TaIAEOA Ekquiht. —The Taiaroa enquiry was resumed on Monday afternoon, Grant and Hutton were the two last witnesses examined. Neither bad anything to say as to the cause of the wreck, and both were of opinion that it was too dangerous to attempt to land on the night of the disaster. The former said that the chief officer told him in the boat be thought they were about fire miles from Kaikoura. Hutton said he saw land at 7 p.m. ahead on the starboard side, but it did not seem too clou. Williamson, the helmsman, told him that the mate ordered him not to alter tha helm before he went down and called the captain. Had the helm been put down and the anginas lent full speed astern when the danger was discovered she would not hare gone ashore. He was a sailor by profession. He never asked the captain where they whereafter they struck. Mr Bell addressed the Court for the Collector of Customs, and the Court adjourned.

The Nbw Hbbeidbb.— The Premier has 1 forwarded the fallowing telegram to the Premier of Victoria regarding the views held by the Gevernment in reference to the New Hebribes Our view is that proposed agreement to cede New Hebrides on condition convictism being stopped to all French possessions, Opara (Rapa) ceded, and Raratonga to be open to British annexation, most favorable arrangement, and such as colony should heartily approve if no objection stood in way, but we think that Presbyterians have undeniable claims to object to cession, their mission haring been formed on the faith of denationalisation, and before seconding the proposal wo think their consent should be obtained, and have addressed letter to church recognising the magnitude of sacrifice they would make, but appealing to them net to a'and in way of white population of Australasia obtaining priceless boon stoppio g '•onviot deportation to Pacific.—Robt. Stout.”

Fraud on a Bank.—A correspondent of the Pre s writes: —A Sydney bank has been imposed upon in a most audacious manner. A person opened an account for a comparatively amad amount at the Federal Bank, at the corner;of Kins; street and Pitt street, in January last. Withdrawals were made upon this account until the amount was reduced to £l7. On Wednesday a man handed the ledger-keeper a cheque for £l2 on this account, and it was initialled in the usual way. It was subsequently presented for payment at the counter, the amount having in the meantime been altered from £l2 to £I2OO, No suspicion was aroused by the amouut of the cheque, the man presenting it being simply asked how he would take the money. He replied, 600 in notes and 600 in gold, and these sums haring been handed to him, he left the Bank with them in his possession. The forgery was not discovered until some time afterwards, and the police were then immediately communicated wl h. The forgery appears to have been done in a somewhat clumsy manner. The alterations were very clumsily done, being written in thicker ink than was originally used. "You Don’t Know Theib Yalub;”— “They cursd me of biliousness and kidney complaint, as recommended. I had a halfbottle left, which I used for my two little girls, who the doctors and neighbors said could not be cured. lam confident 1 should have lost both of them one night if I had not had the American Oo.'s Hop Bitters in my house to use, That is why I say you do not know half the value of American Hop Bitten, and do not recommend then highly enough." See advt.