LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1513, 1 June 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

BoAbd Meetings. —The monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board takes place to-day, that of the Geraldine Town Board to-uight, and that of the Temuka Town Board to-morrow night. Geraldine Monthly Sale.— This sale takes place to-morrow. In our advertising columns will be found the entries up to date with Messrs J. U undell and Co. Salk at Woodbury,— Messrs J. Mundell and Go., instructed by Mrs Harmer, hold an important sale of freehold property, household furniture, etc., it Woodbury to day. The sals commences at 12 o’clock.

Victoria Lodge, No. 19, 1.0.0. F., Geraldine. — A special meeting of this lodge was held on Friday erening for the purpose of receiring ths Grand Secretary, Mr Willies* Reid. After the usual routine business, several matters of interest to the brethren were, discussed, and the Lodge closed.

Cbiokit.—A match between the Au«tralian Eleren and the Oxford University, which was played last Thursday and Friday, resulted in the defeat of the University team. The scores were:— Australians : First innings, 70 ; second, 38; total, 108. University: First innings, 45 ; second, 38 ; total, 83. In the second innings Spofforth took six wickets for twenty runs, and Garrett secured four for ten runs. Thb Kimbeelbt Goldfields. —lt is rumored that Messrs Siegert and Fauvel intend sending an agent to the Kimberley goldfields to sell on their behalf horses and produce. We commend the enterprise of the firm. Doubtless there is something to be made out of it.—We understand it is the intention of several persons to proceed from this district to the new goldfields, with the intention of trying their luck. At present the arrangement is that they shall leave Geraldine about the 26th inst. After Four Yeaes.— At the Ashburton R. M. Court on Friday (says the Press), Frederick, alias William Thomson, wabrought up on a charge of stealing a horse, the property of J. W. Mcßae. The alleged offence took place in Ashburton in 1882. Since that time accused has been away in Queensland. Latterly he has been working at Craigieburn, on the West Coast Road, where he was arrest°d on Friday by Detective R, Neill.

Gbbaldirb Dbauatic Compart.— A meeting of the Geraldine Amateur Dramatic and Christy Minstrel Company was held at the Secretary’s office on Saturday evening. Mr G. Kruse occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the Chairman stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of settling accounts in connection with the recent entertainment at Ornri, which was done. It was decided to give an entertain, ment at Geraldine on Friday evening, July 2nd. The piece selected to be performed was Mr J. Barnes’ A doctor pro tem.” The Secretary was requested to write out the parts for the various performers. It was decided to advertise the entertainment in the Gbbaldikb QpabdllH and South Canter, bury Times one week prior to its taking place, and that posters should be distributed freely. V olttntbbbb.— ln his recent sermon to the Volunteer* in Geraldine, the Rev. Mr Barc’ay enumerated the ssrvices rendered by volunteers in England. He said that ” In the volunteers did good service in repelling the attacks of French privateers and others en Ireland. In 1782 the volunteers materially assisted in obtaining the pew Constitution for Ireland, In 1803 the volunteers got the credit of making Napoleon think twice before invading England. In 1852 and 1853, and again in 1859 and 1860, the great massing of the volunteers in Britain is said to bare deterred Napoleon 111 from carrying out a hostile attack on British shores,” For our part wo think volunteer, ing is not receiving anything like proper encouragement, either in this colony or elsewhere. Volunteers are sometimes sneered at ; it is said that if called upon to fight they would not do so. We see no just reason for coming to this conclusion. The regulars are hirelings, they fight for pay; the volunteers prepare themselves at great inconvenience to themselves, and without pay, so ae to be able to defend their country if required. The volunteers’ motives are noble, unselfish, and patriotic j the regular soldiers are actuated by selfishness, In most cases they enlist because they are too lazy to do anything else, The volunteers of this colony are as British as the British soldiers, and we see no reason why t he latter should hold a monopoly of courage and endurance and fighting qualities.

WrHOKHITB* Faib.—The monthly fair at Winchester takes place on Thursday next.

A “ M BTBovotiTAit.” —Xu the course of an interview with a reporter from the Auckland Star a dignitary of the Cathsho Church, whose name is not given but who waapresentat the reoent Plenary Council in Sydney, said j—- “ The New Zealand Bishops are immediately ■ubjset to the Holy See, and the Australian Bishops hare no control over them. They will have a hierarchy of their own soon. A fourth diocese is to be created in New Zealand, Christchurch most likely being its centre, and the constitution of this diocese will entitle New Zealand to hare a metropolitan.” This (says (he Post) confirms the rumor current during the recent visit of Cardinal Moran that Bishop Redwood is likely soon to be advanced to the dignity of Archbishop of New Zealand.

English Sporting. Cablegrams to band state that the Derby was run at Epsom on Wednesday last—the Duke of Westminster’s b c Ormond# (Bend’ Or— Lily Agnes) being Ist, Mr R. Peck’s oh c The Bard (Petrarch—Magdelene) 2, Mr T. R. Graham’s b c St. Mirin (Hermit — Lady Paramount) 3. The Oaks Stakes of 60 hovb. each, h. ft., for fillies then three-year-olds, 8-t lOlbs, one and a-half miles (139 subs.), was won by the Duke of Hamilton’s b f Miss dummy (Petrarch —Lady Portland), Prince SoltikofPs b f Argo-Navis (New Holland—Meteor) 2, Mr A. Benholm’s ch f Braw Lass (SeeSaw—Princess Louie Victoria) 3.

Gkraldinb Racing Club. The Stewards of this Club held a meeting on Friday evening when it was decided to disqualify the Messrs Hobbs, the horse Bordorman, and the rider, Mnxengarb, during the pleasure of the Stewards, for “ pulling ” in the Handicap Hurdles In the second day’s racing. The following amounts were paid over by the Club in connection with the races :—Messrs M. and C. Hobbs, £ll3 10s 6d ; Mr H. D. Bradley, £ll2 2s ; Mr H. Lunn, £76 19a; Mr J, Moorhead, £6O 6s 6d; Mr S. Higgott, £3B 19s ; Mr J. Higgins, £35 3s Mr H. Hammond, £2B 19s 6d ; Mr H. Coulter, £l3 6s, and several small sums, making a total of £489 8s 6d.

Pleasant Valley School Committee. —The monthly meeting of this Committee was held last Thursday evening Present —Messrs K. Brophy (Chairman), A, Lysaght, and A. Best. The minutes of the last monthly and special meetings were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education, intimating their intention to call tenders for roofing the Master’s house with iron. From Mrs Quaid, offering to purchase ths colonial oven from the Committee for ss. The offer was accepted. The Master wrote applying for some school requisites. It was decided to attend to the same. Tenders for taking down the fence were received as follow J Best, £1; K. Quaid,- 12s (accepted). Upon the proposition of Mr Best, seconded by Mr Lysaght, it was decided to call tenders for the supply of four cords of firewood. Mr K. Brophy, on behalf of the Visitors, reported that they had visited the school, and found everything satisfactory. Messrs Lysaght and Best were appeinted Visitors for the ensuing month, and the meeting terminated.

Protection o» Girls.— The Rev. T. A. Hamilton has received a copy of a petition which it is intended shall be presented to Pal lament, praying that the age of consent by young girls nay be raised from 12 to 16 years. In the note accompanying the petition the following appears : —“ The law in New Zealand at present ceases to protect girls over twelve years of age- Does any good father or nother think that their daughters are responsible women as soon as thsy have passed their twelfth birthday P Would they allow them to be in circumstances where they are unprotected P But the law says, ‘Yes, a girl of twelve is ftee to adopt a vicious life; ’ and the trettimony of those well qualified to know i« that in this our city there is a large number of young girls following such a life. At whose door lies the evil P round whose neck shall the millstone be banged P Surely in thie matter we all sin until we bare as a community made it impossible that a girl under sixteen can sell her virtue, and the sot be blameless in the eyes of the law.” Persons willing to sign the petition will find it at Mr C. J. Raynsr's shop. We are not in favor of stirring up these matters—the less said about them the better—but in thie instance we have no hesitation in saying that tbs suggested alteration in the law is most desirable, and we trust the Rev. Mr Hamilton will get everyone to sign the petition.

Govbhnmbrt Irsdeanoe. —We have re coived the annual report of the Government Life Insurance Association. It states that the number of new proposals received during the year numbered 6423 for a total sum of £1,393,249, as against 4520 proposals in the previous year for £1,137,217. The accumulated funds at the end of 1885 amounted to £1,102,034 11» lid, being an increase of £129,258 17s 3d. The report directs attention to the great expense the Association has been at in consequence of the appointment of a Board, and states that the Board is lending money on mortgage. At the next annual meeting Mr H. D. Bell will move the following resolution“ That it is desirable the business of the Government Life Insurance Association should be returned to the charge of the Government." Failing this resolutioa being approved, Mr Bell will move the following resolutions, approved by the Board as an alternative " 1. That the Board should be reduced to six members, of whom three should be elected, and the other three should be the Solicitor-General, the Secretary to the Treasury, and either the Public Trustee or the Commissioner of Property. Tax, Three to bo a quorum if the Chairman be present, or four if the Chairman be not present. 2. That the Government appoint one of the members of the Board to be Chairman, 3. That each official member of the Board should receive an honorarium of fifty guineas, and each elected member should receive one hundred guineas per annum, and the Chairman such sum in addition as the Board may fix, not exceeding £2OO, 4. That the nominated members shall cease to be members of the Board on the day the Act comes into operatic'’, and shall not be reappointed, 5, That power should be given to the Board, at its option, to grant compensation to officers on retirement, and to make compassionate allowances to the widows and young children of officers who die whilst in the service. 6. That in case of any fresh appointments of the General Manager and the Actuary, the Board’s power shall be exercised, subject to the approval of the Governor.” Mr Fisher will move the following resolution*, as an amendment to both the above " 1. That the Central Board be reconstituted, and that it consist of seven members, four to be elected by the policyholders, and three to be nominated by the Government —the three nominated members not to be officers of the Government. 2. That the Board so reconstituted shall elect its own Chairman. 3, That the honoraria be fixed at £IOO for eaoh member of the Board, except the Chairman of Directors, who ehall receive £3OO per annum.” i

More Pressure. —At a meeting of Otago members at Wellington yesterday, at which 22 were present, the Premier being the only one absent, a resolution was carried that the Otago line must be pushed to a payable point, namely, at least as far as Taieri Lake, Another resolution was carried that no new lines should be constructed until the Otago Central was carried to a payable point. Football. The members of the Temuka Football Club went in for some hard practice at Winchester where many of them reside—on Saturday afternoon, There were about 15 present, and all entered into the game heartily, some first-rate play resulting.- The Wanderers Football Club bad a practice io the Geraldine Park the same afternoon and did some good work. Truth and Soberness— What is the best family madicine in the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costivenets and biliousness, and aid digestion, and stimulate the whole system ? Truth and soberness compel us toanswer, American Go’s Hop Bitters, being pure, perfect and harmless. —3sa Advt. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Winchester Pair—Thursday, June 3rd. Dance at Gapes’ Talley—On Friday, 18th June. J. A. Young, Winchester—Wants a strong, active lad. In Bankruptcy—ln re Frank Connell and Henere Kokoro, Geraldine Road Board—lnvite tenders for a number of porks. Orari Bridge School Committee tender* for fencing. James Blyth, Temuka—lnvites tenders for stubbing and bunting gores at ths Presby* terian Manse, Temuka. J. Brown, Beehive Stores, Temuka— Notifies the arrival of a large stock of calicoes, sheetings, flannels, dress materials, boots and shoes, men’s and bovs’ clothing, etc., which will ba slaughtered at any price during the present month. A few of the cash quotations are given in the advertisement. J. M. Naughton, Orari—Notifies that he has sold his business to Mr W. Mason, of Bangitata, and requests that accounts owing be paid before the 30th June. Mr W. Mason announces that he will do everything in his power for the convenience of his patrons, and hopes that the liberal patronage bestowed on his predecessor will be continued.