LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1519, 15 June 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Immigration and —During the month of May 1917 persons arrived in the colony and 1489 departed. Temuka Rifles. —The Temuka Rifles will assemble at their hall, on Thursday evening next at a quarter past seven, for inspection by the officer commanding the district. The Bangitata Footbridge. —The Hon. W. Bolleston has been informed that the footbridge over the Bangitata, so losg spoken of and wished for, will be completed within five ar six weeks. Good Temflabt.;— The meeting adververtised to be held on the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, last Saturday night, for the purpose of reorganising the Templar Lodge, fell through, as very few persons attended it. M» BuBNETT.—Mr Matt hew Burnett, the temperance' advocate, opened a five days’ mission at Blenheim on Friday night. There •wps a crowded meeting, with the Mayor in the chair. Over I(X> pledges were taken. The >.s. Triumph from Hew Zealand, loaded with grain and with a large number of passengers aboard en route for Kimberley, grounded when entering Sydney harbor, but got off and steamed up to the wharf. Temperance Meeting at Winchester. —The first meeting of the nowly.formed Temperance Union; at Winchester takes place at 7 o’clock on Thursday evening next, when there will be a free tea, free entertainment, and no collection. The school should be crowded.

Difkrrrd Payment Land. —On aud after J one 22nd there will be open for selection at the Land Offices, Christchurch and Timaru, on deferred payment, at the upset price of 3fls per acre, a number of sections at Ashwick Flat. The sections range in area from 254 to 320 acres.

Msaonio. —The R.W.M., Mr W. Young, of the Masonic Lodge, Geraldine, notifies in another colummdhal/i the installation of the rfficers of the, .Lodge will lake place on Thursday evening next. A banquet will bs held in the Oddfellows’ Hall at the conclusion of tbe ceremony. Dance at Gatos’ Valley.— A dance in aid of the school funds takes place in the schoolroom at Gapes’ Valley on Friday evening next. The charge for admission has bten fixed at 2s 6d for gentlemen, Indies being free. The dance should result in several pounds being netted for the school. Coursing. —The Tradesmen’s Coursing Club concluded their‘second meeting at, the Levels on Friday; The Puppy Stakes fell to Mr M. Hope, - whose two dogs, Sorrel and Black Rose,i were - leit for the final round. The All Aged wag won by Mr Wright’s Don Pedro with Mr Kelly’jS Vanity Fair runner op-

Tbmuka Dbum imd Fif« Bajjd.—Tomorrow evening the; .Jemuka Drum and Fife Band—which was formed a few weeks ago—meet in tke rooms lately occupied by the Young Men’s Club. .StrProudlijck has been appointed bandmaster, and, as the members meet twice a Week for 1- practice, they should soon become efficient.'*

Cbicket.— The Australians commenced the match with a Cambridge team on Thursday, which ended in a draw on Saturday, greatif-d 1 f avor • fiwfc innings of the for 143 rm-s. The Australians in thdr first innings made 222, and in the second (wlUj only fire wickets down) 326. Jarvis carried,outhii bat for 96. Seteee SirowSioiK.— A surrey party in the Upper Clarence District, Nelson, were caught m a severe stann on Thursday. Two of the party, namely', v Messrs Park (cadet) and Hugh lWmpßon\(cham*.an), died from exposure. * Mr F. Smithy the district surveror, and-. four hands, i were-rescued by a party from McArthur’s St. James’ Station.

Fkbb Lrotubi. —To-morrow evening MrHenry Olapcott, lecturer for the Government Lift Aisociation, will deliver a lecture in the Temuka Volunteer Hall, showing the progress and present position of the Association. The lectnrer manages to make his addresses most entertaining, and a visit to the Hall to-morrow night will be well repaid. Ladies are particularly invited.

Census. — The census returns show the population of the colony to be 573,480 an increase of 91,461 during the past five years, exclusive of Maoris and Chinese. The jsopulafion of the South Island numbers 326,076, and that of the North 247,404. In the North Island there are 283 Chinamen and in the South 4083. The population of. the County of, Geraldine is 5,932, of Timaru 6,561, and of Gladstone 5,496.

Cbhetebt BOB' WoODBtBY.— In accord ence with the request of the Woodbury Domain Board, the Hon. W. Bolleston applied to the Non. Mr Ballance, Minister of Lands, that ten acres of the domain might be taken for a cemetery. Mr. Ballance replied that the change could only be made by special legislative autherity, and promised to make provision in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill for the session to give sffact to the wishes of the domain board, Tisiabu Woollen Facxobt. —Ths Timaru Woollen Factory Company notify that they have blankets, flannels, plaidings, pilot cloths, all-twist serges, meltons, plain and fancy worsted cloths, etc., now on hand, and ready for immediate sale. The samples of the Company's manufacture on view at the various establishments are apparently of splendid quality, and should take well with the public. It is to be hoped that there will be a gcod demand for the Company's goods.

Geraldine Road Board. —ln our advertising columns the Geraldine Road Board give notice that it is their intention at their next meeting to sinks a rat# of one half penny in the pound, and that the Rate Book will be open for inspection between the hours of 30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Road Board office, Geraldine from July 15th to August 31st.

New Gold Discovery. —The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says -Mr O’Connor has received a letter from the Karamea, West Coast, stating that good gold has been found in that locality. Thirty-four men are on the ground. One grain to the dish is often obtained. Part of the ground is driving ground, and part good for sluicing. The men are making from.£3 to £4 per week.

Larceny.—At the R.M. Court, Temuka, last Saturday, Thomas Nelson was brought up on remand charged with the larceny of pipes arid tobacco, of the value of 3s, from the house of Mr F, Colvillo, Milford, and pleaded guilty. The same lad had not long since been before the Court for a similar offence. The case bad been remanded from the previous day so as to get two Justices of the Peace to hear it, as one could not deal with it. On Saturday, however, the second J.P, could not bo got, and so he was brought before Mr K. F. Gray, who dismissed him with a very severe caution. One J.P. could not convict, the case being an indictable offence, and hence, perhaps, the reason he got off so lightly.

Home Rule. —The Lyttelton Times publishes the following telegram from its Wellington correspondent:—Last night, Mr O’Conor, member for Buller, forwarded to Mr Gladstone n cablegram expressing the sympathy of a large number of members of the Assembly with hie efforts to obtain Home Rule for Ireland. The message was as follows; —“Gladstone, London. Our sympathies with you : Grey, Montgomery, Atkinson, Stout, Macaudrew, and fifty members of the General Assembly, New Zealand.” The full list of signatures is ee follows Sir G. Grey, Sir R. Ston*-, Major Atkinson, Sir M. O’Rorke, Messrs Montgomery, Tolo, Ballance, Larnaoh, Cadman, Dargaville, Locke, Mitchelson, Moss, Ihompson, Samuel, Bruce, Fisher, Wilson, Levestam, O’Conor, Dodson, All wright, Holmes, Ivesi, Reese, Steward, Taylor, Turnbull, Guinness, Barron, Brown, Duncan, flislop, Joyce, John M’Kenzie, Pyke, Ross, Hakuene, Wi Pers, To Ao, Pratt, amd the following Legislative Councillors : Hons. Messrs Buckley, Baillie, Bathgate, Grace, Reeves, and Wilson.

Temperance. —On last Friday afternoon Mr J. Harding attended the publio school, 1 and after the business of the day had closed 1 he delivered an address to tbe children. He ' illustrated tbe address by diagrams, showing ' the waste caused by the destruction of barley in the process of making beer. On Friday evening he attended a Blue Ribbon tea meet- . ing at the Waitobi schoolroom. There was 1 a very large attendance, and the Rev. T, A. i Hamilton occupied the chair. Tbe tea was i excellent, and after it was done full justice , to the publio meeting was opened in the i usual manner. The Chairman delivered a very telling address, and Mr Harding made I the principal speech of the evening. It was illustrated by diagrams showing the waste of I food through the destruction of barley in making beer. A few signed the pledge, and ’ after singing some hymns, accompanied by Mrs W. Q. Thomas on tbe harmonium, the Eov. Mr Thomas moved a vote of thanks to Mr Harding for his able address, and also to 1 the Chairman. The votes were carried by 1 acclamation. During the evening several ' recitations ware given very effectively, and Mr Andrews read a statement showing the 1 financial condition of the Blue Ribbon movement in Waitobi. The society after having paid all its liabilities had about £2 of a credit balance. The Saltation Army.— The Salvation Army is at present celebrating its second anniversary in Temuka. Adjutant Graham, of Dunedin, accompanied by Cadet Young, of Port Chalmers, arrived by express train from the South on Saturday, and were met by Captain Williams and a small contingent at the railway station. The Amy met at seven o’clock in their barracks and shortly after paraded the streets. After returning a very successful meeting was held. On Sunday morning knee-drill was held in the barracks ; at 11 a.m., 3 p.ra., and 7 p.m,, services were held in the Volunteer Hall, and on each occasion there was a very large attendance. Last evening Adjutant Graham, accompanied by a detachment of the local corps, visited Wuitohi outpost, and the local services were conducted by Cadet Young. Major Barritt is expected here by the express train to-day, to be present to-night at the great Salvation tea meeting. Great preparations are being made for the - tea meeting, which will be held in the Volunteer Hall. The meeting will be led by Major Barritt, assisted by Adjutant Graham, Captain Colley (of Timaru), and the limaru Brass Band, (and several of the local clergymen have signified then intention to be present, “After Many Days. ”—Oae of those iiar(« ling instances of unexpected reparation of a wrong which are heard of now and again, and help to redeem the generally bad opinion ( of human nature which pessimists are wont to r entertain, occurred in Wellington recently. It appears (says the Evening Post) that a well known house agent seventeen years ago lent a friend '* a fiver.” The good natured aot apparently had the effect which Shakespeare says may bo expected of lending, namely, the loss of both friend and loan. At aH7 rate neither man nor money were seen agiftm Oa Friday last, however, Mr w«s surprised to receive, through a wellknown\firm °f solicitors, a cheque for £4B enclosed'iP * letter, which explained that it was the returned with interest. This story (add.* the Post) is perfectly true, but we should fiction those of our readers who hare odd ni.oney outstanding, not to flatter themeoleves they are likely to be similarly fortunate, nJr would we recommend those who are inclined to lend Kisouous fivers on fiho strength of the thus osst upon the s waters returning manyfold after many days. \ Education Report.—The\*nuu»l report of the Minister of Education w a * presented to Parliament on Tuesday. Jt is exceptionally voluminous, occupying, tfhh appendices, 127 closely printed pages. 'Jhe report states that the average school attendance for the year waa 90,802, which is 911 excess of the previous year. The number admitted during the year (50,629) is nearly the total number on (he booia at the end oi the year (102,407). The irregularity and iflt* fulness of school attendance thue an diminishing rather than increasing, bulk unsteadiness of the attendance undoubtedly'', militates agsinstthe efficiency of (he schools. The proportion of children under seven years of age is steadily diminishing, and (he proportion between seven and ten are inoreas- '' ing. The number of boys exceeds (hat of girls by about 3} per oent. The girls attend somewhat less regularly than the boys. The proportion of pupils above the fourth standard is slowly increasing. The number of scholars that paisied a standard during the year was 41,309, or 40 per oent. of the roil number, a higher percentage than has been reached before. There are more than 400 children '

attending schools who ate not learning to write, and over 450 not learning arithmetic. The number of icboole in operation rose from 987 to 1021 daring the year. The number of echools did not inoreaee in pro* portion to the attendance. In 1884 the mean number infaverage attendance at each aohool wee 77.8; in 1886 it wae 90. The demand for the great American remedy, Hop Bitter*, in thie part of the world ha* become *o great that the Hop Bitten Co., whose headquarters are at Rochester, Hew York, U.B.A-, hare been compelled to open a laboratory in Melbourne. It is in charge of Mr M. H. Yen Bergh, a gentleman of several years* experience with hie Company and the trade may be assured of receiving goods equal to the parent house, and the most courteous treatment. The H. B. 00. hare establishments at London, Paris, Antwerp, Belgium, Breda, Holland, and Toronto, and their American Bitters are probably the beat known medicine in the wotld. SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS. Tiroaru Woollen Factory —■ Notice re manufactures. Lodge Southern Star, Geraldine —Regular meeting on Thureday evening; installation of oflioere.

Temuka Rifl»s—lnspection parade on Thursday evening.

Free Lecture At Temuka to-morrow evening, by Mr Mr H. Clapcott.

Temuka Drum and Fife Band —Meet at the premises formerly used by tbe Young Men's Club to-morrow evening.

J. Mundell and Co.—Have 50 sores, ol lusnips to let on the Peel Forest road. Ten; ders close on Monday, 21st June.

Geraldine Hoad Board—Notice of intention to strike a rate of in the £ at next meet* ing. Bate book now open for inspection. J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Grown Lands Land at .Ashwick Flat open for deferred payments, on and after June 27th, at the rate of 30s per acre.