The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1567, 19 March 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Coming Session. Parliament gis definitely announced to meet on Tuesday, April 26th.

Football.—The Otago Rugby linion intend sending a football team round the colony this season. Bale at Temuka.—Mr K. P. Gray, instructed by Mr Q-uerin, sells a large quantity of household furniture and effects on the premises (oppoiite the public school) to-day, The sale will commence at 1 o'clock. Woodbtjby Eaobs.—Nominations for the Handicap Hurdle Eaces, All Aged Handicap, District Race, and Woodbury Cup cldee with the Secretary, Mr J. H. Dean, on Monday. Qualification fee must accompany each nominations.

Viliage Special Settlemcnt.—Mr J. E, March will explain the regulations under which land may be taken up under the Village Homestead Special SettlementSoheme, at the Courthouse, Temuka, on Monday svening at 8 o'clock.

A Jubilee Festival.—A Jubilee village festival opened at Nelson on Thursday afternoon, The receipts are to go to the Cathedral Church Fand. There are a number of shows, with May:pole dances, etc, whilst at night the grounds are illuminated by the electric light and innumerable incandescent lamps, the effeot being excellent. So far the festival has been largely attended.

Dbath of a Conyiot.—A conviot named Richard Serrell died in the Wellington gaol last Saturday evening. Serrell, who was 77 years of age, was sentenced to death at Napier on Ist February 1866 foi the murder of a man named Foam, and the sentence was afterwards respited to tme of penal servitude for life. Deceßsed during his term of imprisonment has conducted himself very well. He was an old suldier, having belonged to the 48th Regiment, and was one of the most inoffensive prisoners in the gaol. A Haunted Ship.—A Norwegian bargue, the Hquando, which recently put into the port of Bathurst, in New Brunswick, has been abandoned by her offices and orew, who one and all declare that the vessel is haunted, and that nothing will induce them to go to sea in her again. When she was in San Francisco some years ago the captain and his wifo murdered the first mate, severing his head completely from his body with an axe. Her next master was killed in a mutiny, and his two immediate successors died on board. The Norwegian Consul at Bathurst engaged two watchmen to look after the deserted craft, but a single night on board was enough for them. They allege that they saw " a beadles < man walking in the cabin, thav handspikes flaw round the deck, that the bedclothes were pulled off, that a cold clammy hand wag laid on their faces, and that they heard ghostly voices bidding them to depart." District Coitbt, Timabtt.—At the District Court, Timaru, en Wednesdav, before His Honor Judge Broad, several oases relating to Hall and Meason's estate were set down for hearing. The application for aa order calling on Mr T. W. Hall to deliver up certain sheep, or their >alue, to the Deputy Assignee was withdrawn. Mr Hay (who appeared for Mr T.. W. Htll) applied for costs against the Deputy Assignee. To this Mr Hamersley (for the creditors) objected, as the action had been withdrawn without the consent of the creditors. Mr Smitbson (who appeared for the Deputy Assignee) said the action had been withdrawn because the creditors had failed to indmnify his client. This Mr Hamersley denied. Finally Mr Hay was allowed costs and His Honor decided that the costs of motion as between Messrs Hamersley and Smitbson should stand over. Mr Smithson moved, on behalf of the Deputy Assignee, for the rejection of Mr Gracie's proof of debt in the estate of Hall and Meason. Mr Hamersley opposed. He said that Mr Gracie had been appointed supervisor at the first meeting of creditors, and no objection had been taken until that day—three months after the proof of debt had been lodged. After some argument His Honor reserved his decision as it was stated the case was a test one. Mr Hamersley applied for an order directing appellant to pay costs of respondent. The application was adjourned. Mr Hamersley was granted an order for payment of petitioning creditors' cos's out of the sumo estate. Mr Hay was granted solicitor's cos s in the bankrupt estate of W. Patrick. The proof of debt of Percy Nind Ward in the esiate of Mogndge and Wiltshire wus admitted. Messrs Hamersley and Wood were granted solicitors' costs in the bankrupt estate of John Smith, senr. On Friday judgment was given in favor of Mr Grade's poof of debt being admitted. In the other case in which judgment was reserved the appeal was allowed.

Geraidine Rifles. —The annual meeting of the Geraldin6 Rifle Company will be held on Tuesday evening next, after the Government inspection parade. R.M. Court, Timaku.—At tbiß Court on Friday a first offender was fined 5a for drunkenness. James O'Malley was fined 20a for fighting in the Main street at Pleasant Point. A prohibition order, to take effect in the Titnaru Licensing District, was granted against John Breen. Primitive Methodist Chuboh, QbeaiDINE. -Special services will be conducted at this ohuroh to-morrow by the Rev. W. J. Dean, who has been newly appointed to this charge from Timaru. The services will be in connection with the Sunday School Anniversary which takes place to-morrow. The tea and public meeting usual in connection with such anniversaries takes place on Tuesday evening, tea will be on the tebl os at 6 o'clock, New Tbaotion and Combine. —Mr W. G. Campbell had a public trial of hisnewlvimported engine and combine at the farm of Mr L. Willcock, Geraidine, yesterday. The machinery was visited by a great many people during|the day who expressed their admiration at the excellent manner in whioh the work was performed. There is very little doubt that Mr Campbell's enterprise in importing such valuable machinery will meet with the reward it merits. Gospel Addbessbb.—To-morrow Mr W Corrie Johnston, who has been at Geraidine during the week, gives an address in the Woodbury Bohoolhouse at 3 o'clook. At in„tfre evening he will deliver an address in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine, and at a later hour the same night the first of three lectures on "The Lord's Second Coming." Lectures will also be given by Mr Johnston in the same Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The Oiabidge Relief Fund.—The Rev. T. A. Hamilton begs to acknowledge the following subscriptions received during the week to the Claridge Belief Fund :—F. W. Badham,£l; Key. T. A. Hamihon, 10s; Ah Pea, ss; E. Brogden, 2s 6d; Wm. Young, 2s 6d ; Sympathiser, 3s; E. Pilbrow, 2s 6d; M. Riordan, 2s; J. Meyer, 2s; Driving to Pound, Is ; E. Copestake, 2s 6d j Geo. Dyson, 2s 6d ; H. M. Fletoher, Is; Burke, 2s; E. W. Browker, Is ; T,Brealy, 2s 6d ; A friend, Is; H. Brogden, 2s; A friend, 2s; J. Grant, Is j Ah Pea, 2j 6d; total, £3 10s 6d. The lists are still open at the business premises of Messrs Copestake, J. Brown, P. Coira, C. J. Rayoer, E. Pilbrow, C. H. Reid, Siegert and Fauvel, A. R. Allan, Velvin and Taylor, J. W. Miles, and the Post Office. Further amounts received will be acknowledged next Saturday, Napieb Spbing Meeting.—The following are the results of the races run at Napier on Napier on Wednesday last:—Selling Handicap of 60 sovs., The B&rd, 1; Handicap Hurdles of 100 sovs., Volcano, l; Burke Memorial Stakes Handioap of 100 sovs., Pearl, 1; Juvenile Handicap of 100 sovs., Lady Florin, 1 • Provincial Handicap, Waitin', 1 j Grand Stand Handicap of 120 sovs., Mr Mason's Spade Guinea, 1; Hawkes B»y St. Leger of 300 sovs., Mr Chaß. Jones' British Lion, 1; Hospital Race of 20 sore., Mr Derritt's Deceiver, 1; Third Handioap Hurdle Race of 150 sovs., Mr Ellery Harris' Denbeigb, 1 ; Tradesmen's Handicap of 300 sovs., Messrs Stock and Conroy's Salisbury, 1; Noyel Hand-cap of 100 sovs, Messrs Evans' Psycho, 1; Consolation of. 50 sovs., Mr Mason's Vinaigrette, 1. This concluded the meeting. During the three days £15,095 was put through the totalisator. The Loss of the Lyttelton; On Wednesday, at the Supreme Court, Wellington, in the case of Shaw, Savill and Co. against the Timaru Harbor Board, damage for the loss of the ship Lyttelton, the evidence of Captain Hill (Master of the Grafton), I. J. Bradley, and Geo. Sunnaway was taken, and the Court adjourned till the following day. On Thursday Robert Storm, the Assistant-Harbor Master at Timaru at the time of the wreek, gave evidence, but it was unimportant. Lawrence Lennie, a diver, gave evidence as to his examination

of the vessel's bottom, and finding the anchor through it near the bow on the port side. There was also a break on the same aide of the vessel, but further aft. Witness had asked the agent of the vessel £l5O for the information concerning the anchor through the bottom, but the offer was refused. He detailed the condition of the vessel's bottom as surveyed by him, all of which particulars have been pub* lished. The Court then adjourned till the following day. Accidents. —On Thursday last a Timaru resident hired a horse and buggy from Mr Jabez Lukey at Timaru, and, vith a lady and child, started to visit some friends at Winchester. All went well until Mr Lee's farm, on the road between Temuka and Winchester, was reached, when the horse shied at a passing grain-loaded dray, and immediately after V commenced to kick viciously. The splash* board was soon destroyed, and the buggy was run into'the gorse fence at the side of the road, where it was overturned, and completely wrecked. The occu- . pants escaped unhurt, and the horse ' was secured all right. —Mr J. Murphy was knocked down and partially stunned by a horse on the Pleasant Point racecourse on Thursday. No bones were broken,—On Tuesday morning a horse attached to a dray, belonging to Mr F. Prattley, bolted just after coming out of the middle gate of the Temuka Park. It did not go fur before it commenced to kick and plunge vigorously, and in a very short time had freed itself from the dray. The only damage done was a slight breakage of the harness.

Thb WabOfmob AND COLONIAL Dbjbnob. ■—The Governor has received a despatch from the War Office, making a number of suggestions, the outcome of the recommendations made by various Commissions which have been appointed to consider the question. The despatch is in the form of a cirouhr, and one of its chief proposals is the establishment of what is termed a Defence Committee, consisting of experienced officers, to advise tke local authorities on all matters connected with defence. It has been refered by His Excellenoy to his advisers, and is now under the consideration of the defence authorities. It is understood that the Imperial Government io it endorses an opinion which has before found expression, that if Russia does go to war with England overt aotion will be taken by the former prior to or without any formal declaration of war, and that this aotion will almost certainly take the form of a descent on the Australian colonies. The Imperial Government possesses, and has furnished to the Colonial Governments, absolute proof thotthii is what Russia intended and was prepared for when an outbreak of war appeared imminent a few years ago. At that time a British man of war paid a visit to Wakapu-ika, where the Australian cable reaches the New Zsaland shore, and refrained some time, until all danger of a sudden visit had passed away. The cable operators were warned to preserve secrecy, which w.a done with such effect that even the Government knew nothing about it for soma time. |

A Narrow Escape from Starvation. —a man named Thos. Taylor, said to be between 60 or 70 years of age, was taken to Timaru on Thursday from the Grampians station, where he had been lost and wag almost starved to death. It is said he was looking for work and lost himself, and, becoming weak from want of food and exposure, had to lay down, ten days elapsing between the time he lost himself and when he was found by a shepherd. He was taken to the homestead and cared for till he was able to be removed to Timaru as stated above.

Mysterious.—A paragraph purporting to be exti acted from a Sydney paper has been going round at Wellington, descriptive of a den in Sydney whither kidnapped persons are conveyed and imprisoned. The author mentions, amongst other victims, a "man from New Zealand, kept there at the instanoe of a business man, the reason being his efforts to promote temperance." Mr A. R. Levy, whose mysterious explanation have betn much canvassed, left in the Wakatipu, for Sydney, on Saturday, to obtain evidenoe for the prosecution of a libel action. He had not seen this paragraph, but his relatives consider it corroborative of his story, and say he was only let out of the den because his instalments were not regularly paid. Levy said he had been in a place of the sort desoribed. Railway Refreshment Rooks, Timabu. —D. McGuinness begs to inform his uumer ous friends, and the travelling public in particular, that having taken the above rooms for a fresh term he has decided to reduce the charges hitherto made, and in future they will be as follow : —Breakfast in readiness for early trains, Is 6d; Hot Lunch or Dinner, served up in the hitherto well-known profuse style, on arrival of North and South Express trains, Is 6d. Tea and Coffee always in readiness, and choice confeotionery, <&c. Ihe lessee would especially draw attention to the Ladies' Private Dining-room, which has been specially arranged and furnished for their convenience. A waitress is always in attendance. The usual Is Lunches are still continued at, the Club Hotel.—Advt. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENT. Geraidine Poundkeeper—Notice re pounded sheep. W. 8. Maslin—Preliminary notioe re sale on 30th inst. W. A. Hobbs, Manager, Temuka —Is now selling a large quantity of cheap tweeds. Geraidine Rifles—Government Inspection Parade, and annual weeting on Tuesday evening. Primitive Methodist Church, Geraidine— Special services to-morrow ; tea and public meeting on Tuesday. W. Corrie Johnston— Conducts services in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraidine, to-night. Lectures on Monday and Tuesday eveniDgs at 7.45. J. Mundell and Co.—Have a farm of 995 acres (within two miles of Geraidine Dairy Factory) rich agricultural land for sale privately.