TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1506, 15 May 1886, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

At a meeting of the Auckland Operative Bootmakers’ Union it was decided to moderate the demand upon employers. In the revised tariff reductions are made in several instances. Members of the Wellington Harbor Board and City Council paid an official visit to the Japanese warship Tsukuba on Friday. A petition has been filed in the Wellington Divorce Court by Mrs Eveline Sawkins, of Wellington, praying for a dissolution of her marriage with Thomas Geerge Sawkins, journalist, on the ground of desertion, cruelty, and adultery. At an influentially attended meeting of the Wool Growers’ Association held at Christchurch, on Wednesday, there appeared to be a general opinion that no time should be lost in fencing the rabbits, which are said to be swarming in the Amuri district, out of Canterbury, pending the passing of a bill enabling Rabbit Boards to levy rates. Many of those present expressed their willingness to contribute Id or |d per sheep to eetablish a fund for that purpose. It was estimated that the amount thus represented in the room would be about £BOO. The auditors of tbe Kaiapoi Borough Council, whose clerk whs missing some days ago, have reported that, after considerable trouble'and difficulty in examining the books, which were kept in a very bad manner, they have succeeded in preparing an accurate balance sheet, and after a careful and searching audit they fiud that the cash is correct, it is understood that the clerk has been taking a holiday on bis own account. At a meeting of the Charitable Aid Board on Wednesday, a report was presented from the Orphanage Committee, enclosing another from the newly appointed master, who says: “1 was surprised to find, on taking up my duties at tbe Orphanage, that the children had been greatly neglected in many respects, particularly the girls, and, as regards clothing, were in a state bordering closely on destitution, while the hairdressing apparatus for ninety-sixcnildren consisted of half an old dressing comb. As to food, 1 found the dinners were fairly good, but the rai'k given for breakfast and tea had been so diluted with water that it would not make a good drink for a thirsty child much less an article of diet. I found the floors of the dormitories clean, but the blankets belonging to each bed without exception were dirty, many of them filthy, but are folded with the greatest care and neatness.” In consequence of the above reports from the master, as well as from personal inspection, tht committee has taken tbe necessary steps to have tbe institution and its inmates placed in a thoroughly efficient state. Samples of the blankets and clothes were produced at the meeting, and three members of the Board who had visited (he Orphanage confirmed the report. Margery Turner and Geo. Campbell, a couple who attempted to elope to Melbourne and were arrested at the Bluff, appeared at tbe Dunedin Police Court, on Wednesday on a charge of stealing linen belonging to Mrs Tnrnei’a husband. The charge against ihe woman was withdrawn by the husband, and the case against Campbell was adjourned, bail being allowed.

Noble’s temperance mission meeting at Auckland was very successful. Ho intends coming south if invited. The Otago Land Board on Wednesday resolved to recommend the Government to set aside « thousand acres, underthb A Homested system, at Waikain, and to request the Surveyor-General to report as s to suitable blocks in other districts. Mr R. M. Taylor was elected M.H.B. for Sydenham. . The numbers polled were R. M. Taylor, 438 ;J. LvScott, 418 ;S. P. Andrews,,232 ;G. G. Jolly, 2. A Chinese lodgioghouse keeper at Auckland, Gong Wye, was fined £5 and • costs for the filthy state of his premises. lit Mr Noble, second officer of Hawea, who jumped into the waiter to the assistance of His Excellency . the. Governor at Onehunga on the 3rd hist,, has been presented by the Governor with a handsome binocular glass bearing an inscription referring to his gallant scii The annual report and balance-sheet of the Colonial Insurance Company, showa that after transferring reserve fund to profit and Joss account there remains a debit balance of £2793 4s 5d to be carried forward.

Mr Ritchey, late master of the Orphanage, has published astatemjnt in reply to the reports of the Orphanage Committee and the new master. lie statfg that the old and torn blansets complained of were only used for a special purpose. Before he left the Orphanage he served out good blankets to all who required them, and the regulation of half-yearly washing was strictly adhered to. He had the greatest difficulty in procuring from the comnvttee, who were adverse to him, proper c'othing for the girls, bat the children were neatly dressed in bis time, or they could not have attended divine service's very Sunday as’they had. He complains that the Orphanage Committee have sentenced him first and tried him afterwards, anc asks the public to hear both sides before pronouncing judgment.