LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1549, 28 August 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

B.M. Coubt, Gebaldine.—A sitting of this Court takes place bn Monday next. Mail News—Some rery interesting news by the mail will be found on our fourth page. South Cantbbbubt Battalion, A Wellington telegram states that the undermentioned corps have been formed into a battalion under the designation of the South Canterbury Battalion of Rifle Volunteers; — Timaru, Temulca, Ashburton, Geraldine, and Waimate Rifle Volunteers, and Ashburton Guards. New Hotel at Wellington.—The new hotel to be erected at Wellington by the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society will be tbo largest and most complete in New 1 Zealand, considerably outdoing the Grand Hotel in Dunedin. It is said that the Manager has already been 1 offered £IBOO a year for a lease of the hotel alone. LBASEHOLDs.—rIn our advertising columns will be found particulars of Government sections open for perpetual lease at Arundel. The sections vary in size from 14 to 24 acres, and the rents fixed are extremely low. The charge for the lease is only 10s, and persons desirous of securing a small piece of land on very easy terms should look after these allotments at once. C Singulab Fatal Accident.—A singular death occnred at Tapanui, where a boy, while going through a paddeck, fell down dead. A medical examination showed that his neck was dislocated and fractured. The boy, whose name was Thomas Haugh, was with a companion at the and they were being threatened by the owner of the land at the time of the occurence. Gbbaldinb Town Boabd. —The triennial general election of the Geraldine Town Board takes place on the 16th September, when all the present members go out of office, but are eligible for re'election. Candidates for seats on the Board must be nominated with Mr 0. E. Sherratt, the Returning Officer, before noon on Wednesday, the Bth September, at the Town Board Office. St. Maei’s Chuboh, Tikabu. The consecration of the now St. Mary’s Church at Timaru took place on Thursday, the ceremony being performed by His Lordship the Primate. The attendance at the service was very large, the building being crammed, and among the visiting clergy were His Lordship the Bishop of Dunedin (Dr Neville) the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch (Dr Jacobs) and the Revs., J, Preston, IV A. Hamilton, T. Jasper S&vthe, G. Poster, 0. Coates, A.Kirkmun, T. Flavell, L. Brady, and W. Harper. Protection in Auckland. —A speed i meeting of the Auckland Federated Ironworkers was held on Tuesday evening. It was resolved —"That any mechanic required to work on the new ferry boate exact the highest wages, proprietors having imported plant they ought to have been employed to make.” It was also resolved—" That every effort be made to oust all the members representing us in Parliament at thp next general elections for ell the electoral districts of Auckland, except Mr Mos?, they not having supported him in his motion in the House to impose a tax on imported machinery,”

Rath.— Mr R. A. Barker, (ho Chairman of the South Orari River Board no ifi s in our advertising columns that the Board intend, on the 23rd September, to strike a rato of id in the £. Hom PROPERTY.— The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company offer at auction to-day, st Tiinaru, the Star of the South Bote), Bangitata, and between five and six acres of land. B.S. Charitable Aid Boabd. At a special meeting of the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board last Wednesday, a letter was read from the Premier’s office, stating that the Waimate County Council had forwarded a copy of a resolution objecting to the contribution required of it by the South Canterbury Board, and requesting the Board to be good enough to appoint a Commissioner in terms of section 44 of the Act, and inform Mr Beswiok, who has been appointed t he Resident Magistrate to sit with the Commissioners. Mr E. Or. Kerr was appointed Oommisionei-. After a sharp discussion the tender of Mr Alex. Sinclair, for additions to the Timaru Hospital was accepted, the amount being £3416. Mr Talbot’s notice ef motion that the resolution referring to Dr Hayes’ claim of £3 3s was lost, and Mr Barker gave notice of a motion for next meeting at which the whole question of outside practitioners’ attendance at the hospital will be settled one way or the other, Wanted a* Owner.— S«ys ih« Press: —in May last, with the first excursion to Culverdeb, a brown and white dog of a cross breed was left by the train which took on the visitors at the Rangiorn railway station, and ever since then, whether by day or night, the poor animal has visited every train in quest of its master or owner. The faithful friend turns up on the sound of an approaching whistle, and after wistfully examining the p'lssengers slinks away. It refuses the attention of the railway officials and others. Any attempts to coax it or approach it is the signal for an immediate scamper away. Where it sleeps, where it eats, and what becomes of it between the trains is a mystery which no one has taken the ttouble to unravel. Hitherto it has apparently wintered well on its own earnings, for it is sleek and in good condition. All attempts to hunt it from the railway premises when the trains are approaching are unavailing. The dog seems to have its mission to perform, and it inspects the passengers at all risks. Alleged Robbery.— At ths R.M. Court Timaru, on Thursday last, Dennis Barrett was brought up on remand charged with having stolen on February 25th, 1886, from the house of Michael McAteer, one silver watch, valued at £lO, one silver chain valued at £l, and a purse containing 5» in money, the property of the said Michael MoAteer. Michael McAteer stated that he was a farmer residing at Arowhenua. On the morning of February 25th last be left his house about 8 o’clock, shutting the kitchen door, and taking the brass knob of the handle with him. The front door was also fastened. He returned at 10 o’clock, and found bis watch and chain, which were in a vest hanging up in one of the rooms, gone, alio a leather purse or pocket-book, m which was the sum of ss. The purse was in his trousers’ pocket when be left the house. The front door was pulled to, but not closed, when witness returned. Identified the watch and chain produced es his property. Had seen accused about the place before, and the latter had been in his (witness’) house about three or .four months prior to February. Patrick Connell stated that be saw the accused go in the direction of McAteer’s house on one day in February, but could not say the exact date. Janies Tickers deposed to accused giving him the watch as security for money lent, and Barrett was then committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Oamaru. South Obabi Rites Boabd.—A meeting of this Board was held last Tuesday evening, in Breadley’s Hotel, [Present —Messrs Barker, Bissett, Breadley, and Coles. On the motion of Mr. Breadley, Mr R. A. Barker was elected Chairman. Mr Barker, on taking the chair, detailed the circumstances, and read the correspondence, that led to the election held bn the 13th inst., which was necessary to bring the Board under the provisions of the River Boards Act 1884. A letter was read from the Returning Officer, notifying that Ihe following gentlemen bad been duly elected Messrs Biobard Alfred Barker, Christopher Bissett, Samuel Breadley, Richard .Coles, and Henry John Clad* stones. He also enclosed a Gazette notice fixing the first meeting of the Board at Mr Breadley’s on August 26th, at 7.30. It was resolved that ihe Chairman sign cheques as formerly ; that he apply to Government for five copies of the Act, collect the rent owing, and arrange with Mr Bolton regarding the rate account. Mr Henderson interviewed the Board about the difficulty of access to bis house, now that Mr Coles was going to fence. It was resolved that Messrs Bissett and Breadley be authorised to deal with the question, and arrange for the sowing of more willows where necessary. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Bissett, seconded by Mr Coles —" That the Board meet again on the 23rd September, at 2 o’clock, for the purpose of passing a resolution te strike a rate of one farthing in the £ on the rateable value of the property in the district, for the year ending 31st March, 1887; that the same be publicly notified, and that fourteen days’ notice of the same be given to members of the Board.” After passing accounts amounting to £6 3s 4d, the Board adjourned to the 23rd September. Tab Weather.— Within the last four days we have experienced weather that would in its time be seasonable at each of the four seasons; Spring, summer, autumn, and winter have a>l been represented by the weather we have had this week. The clear, warm days in the early part of the week templed people to hope that spring bad at last come, and that we bad, for some time at least, seen the last of tho wet that had prevailed almost Without cessation during this month. Hope was doomed to disappointment in this case, however, for as day succeeded day the glass steadily fell, and with it the hopes of the public. On Thursday the culminating point was reached, it being one of the moat winterly days we have bad this season. Snow began to fall in Geraldine at about three o’clock, and continued pretty heavily for about half-an-bour. By that time the whole face of the country was covered in a mantle of white. However farmers may have looked at it from an agricultural point of view, the snow certainly made tho landscape look very pretty. The appearance of the pisoe of bush at the back of the Geraldine township wag exceedingly picturesque- —the dark foliage of the trees partially covered with snow standing out in beautiful contrast, to ths general whiteness of the surroundings. One enterprising photographer in the township took advantage of the opportunity to take a photographic view of the bush. Old and young went in heartily for snowballing. School being over shortly after the enow fell, the boys almost took possession of the town, those persons wbese business compelled them to be about having to run the gauntlet of some 40 or 50 urchins, each with one or more snowballs, With which be w fl * intent on hitting some unfortunate pedestrian. Heavy abowors of .snow also fell on Friday morning at Gpral-' dine and Temuka. It soon melted away, however, but the day continued bitterly cold,

U.A.O.D.—An endeavor it being made to start a branch of this order at Geraldine, Mr R. Dariow formerly of the Pioneer Lodge, Christchurch, and District President of No 12 district, N.Z., is taking the names of those persot s who would be would be willing to become members of the new lodge. If he (tan succeed in securing the names of twenty*, fire persjne he Will take the necessary steps to hare the lodge started in ■Geraldine. The Order of Druids is a rery popular one, and at present one of the strongest in Timaru. The initiatory fees and annual inbsoriptions being rery Iqw bring it within the reach of all, and there should be no difficulty in establishing a good lodge in Geraldine. MrDarlow will be happy to gire all necessary information on the subjeot. ,