LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1560, 24 March 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tbmdka Monthly Sale.—The monthly sale at Temuka takes plrce to-morrow. Mr K. F. Gray and Messrs J. Mnndell advertise entries. Woodbury Races. —The entries for the Woodbury Cup, Handicap Hurdles, and All-aged District Race will be found on our fourth page. Parliament.— A Gazette issued on Monday afternoon calls Parliament together for the dispatch of business at two o’clock on Tuesday, April 26tb. A Hbaty Pbnalty.— The proprietors of the Brisbane Telegraph were fined £IOO for inserting an advertisement, “ Lost, black and tan terrier ; finder handsomely rewarded ; ne questions asked,” thereby advertising an offer to compound a felony. The Tbmdka Park Swans. Two swans and three cygnets belonging to the Temuka Park Board having strayed to the Milford Lagoon the public are cautioned against interfering with the same, and sportsmen are Specially requested to protect them. Persons found interfering with the birds will be prosecuted. Obiokbt. —The cricket match, Smokers v. Non-smokers, was concluded at Melbourne on Monday. Ths former, who on Saturday lost three wickets for 267 runs, continued their innings, which closed, for 356. Being in & minority of 447, they bad to follow on, and had lost five wickets for 135 runs when ths stumps ware drawn. The match was drawn.

Lbfbost. —A Portuguese rabbitter, named Silva, 'recently went’ into Invercargill for medical treatment at the hospital, and it was found that he was leprous. The hospital authorities declined to keep him, and the matter was referred to the Charitable Aid Board. It appears, however, that the Borough Council, as the local Board of Health, must deal with the man, and he will be kept in the hospital till after their next meeting. This makes the second case of this disease in the Southland district. A Tbbbiblb Case.—A medical man at Gunnedah (N.S.W.) has written to the Minister of)Justice, drawing attention to what appears to be ■an extraordinary case in the town of Breeza. It appears that a half-casts girl named Margaret Sampson, being in labour, called in and was attended to by an unqualified person. This man performed an operation on the girl, with the result that she and her child died. The father and mother of the deceased made some statement to Dr Haynes of a. horrifying character about the perso* who is said to have performed the operation. Dr Haynes states that he admitted that it wag performed with carpenters’ tools.

The R.M. Courts and Petty Debts.— Says the Wellington correspondent of the Press : —There is an extraordioary conflict of testimony as to the Ministerial intentions respecting a Bill to render trade debts under £2O irrecoverable, The Evening Post stated on Saturday that it was in course of preparation and would be introduced. The New Zealand Times to-day (Monday) asserted on authority that this was incorrect, and that no such measure ,was being prepared by the Government. I .am informed by a member that the latter version is correct, and that no inch Bill is under preparation, eo 1 simply give the information as received, but the discrepancy is very-singular.”

A Kimbbelby Tragedy.— Franz Erdman alias Earning, a Kimberley digger, has been sentenced to death for the murder of his mate, named Johnston. Erdmon shot Johnstone while the latter was lying in bed, buried the body, took possession of Johnston’s effects, and fled for Derby. A digger passing the spot where the murder took place felt the ground soft. He dug for rations, and found the body. The defence was that the prisoner shot Johnston at the latter’s request, after be had made a futile attempt to commit suicide. It is supposed that that the condemned man was concerned in the murder of the bank officials, Borrup and Anketell, at Eocburn three years ago.

Parcels Post.— The Wellington Evening Post eaye ; —The parcels post will be established in this colony early in the spring. Enquiries have been made why it bts not been established earlier, since authority was given to do eo Lst session. The fact, we believe, is (hat the initiation of the system will cost a considerable sum, wbiob the PostmasterGeneral was unwilling to incur during the current year. Orders hare now been given for the necessary apparatus, and the system will be initiated about June or July. At present it is not proposed to establish a parcels post beyond the limits of the colony. There is a difference of opinion as to bow far this is desirable, and the Legislature hai not yet authorised it*

Thk Electric Light. The Timaru Milling Company have entered into a contract with Walter Prince, electric engineer, of Dunedin, for the lighting of their mill by the incandescent electric light. Pleasant Yallet School.— The annual treat and distribution of prizes in connection with this school, which was to have taken place to-day, has been postponed till Thursday next. Due notice will be given. Sib W. F. D. Jbbvois oh Defence,— The Governor opened the new Garrison Hall at Fort Chalmers on Monday afternoon. In bis remarks he said that they must remember that the defence of New Zealand was a naval defence, and it depended on lines of communication at sea. But in connection with that defence, and supporting and forming portion of ir, was the protection of the ports of Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. If these were not protected the result would be that a naval squadron would have to operate for their protection instead oi looking out for the enemy at sea on line* of communication where he should be met. The defences of these ports were therefore part and parcel of the naval defence of the colony, and the volunteers at these ports existed to protect them, as they were the nucleus of naval defence, and at the same time a great source of wealth to the colony. Obabi'Bridge School Committee, The monthly meeting of this Committee was held in the schoolroom on Saturday evening, March 19th, Present—Messrs L. Grant (Chairman), A. Metcalf, A; McLean, G. Helem, J. Wharton, and Wm. Ashby. The minute* of the previoos meeting were read and confirmed. The Inspector’s report for the year was received and read. The following is a copy Head Master, Mr G. Steven. Standard V.—Presented 4, passed J, failed 3; Standard IV.—Presented 6, failed 6; Standard lll.—Presented 6, passed 2, failed 4 ; Standard 11.-Pre-sented 7, passed 3, failed 3 ; Standard I. —Presented 10, passed 7, failed 2; below Standard I—l 4. Percentage of passes, 27; percentage of failures, 28 1 percentage of class sublets, 41; additionalmarks, 64. A fair start has been made with the beginners in the lower preparatory classes. The upper class has made good progress. General Remarks—This school has been allowed to fall into a very bad state, but I look forward with confidence to its being raised to a thorough state of efficiency under its new Master.— James Gibson Qow, M.A., Inspector.—Some further routine business was transacted, and it was also decided to hold a concert and ball on Friday, April Ist. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting, Sootsbuen School Oommitthb.—A meeting of the Scotsburn School Committee was held recently. Present —Messrs W. B. Barker (Chairman), J. Pithie, W. Johnstoun, J. Freeman, R. Thew, and W. Handford. The Inspector’s report on the school was read. This examination took place on the 9th February, and the following remarks are passed by the Inspector j—“ Mr Boskrage does bis work with skill and vigor, and the hard task of conducting a school of this size without aid has been performed with considerable success. The pupils of Standard IV. are a backward lot, but all the others did very well in pass subjects, and earned Teiy good marks in class subjects. The children are well behaved and are quiet and orderly in all their movements." The following is an abstract of results Standard V.—Presented S, passed 3; Standard IV.—Presented 3, passed 0j Standard 111. -Presented 9, passed 7 ; Standard ll.—Presented 4, passed 4- Standard I.—Presented 9, passed 8; preparing far Standard 1.—16; total pre • seated —46, passed 22j percentage of passes—--47. Additional marks, 38: i.e., repetition and recitation, 14j needlework, 10; subject matter of reading lessons, 14. The work of the preparatory classes was good in amount and quality. — The Committee was very pleased at the satisfactory report, and agreed to apply to the Board requesting that Miss M. Langford might be appointed as pupil teacher to assist Mr Boskruge in his duties. Accounts to the amount of £4 4s 4d were passed for payment. The Chairman was requested to apply to the Education Board for the erection of a lean-to, 6 x 10, to store wood, school utensils, etc., in; also for Natural History cards. The school attendance was stated to be—Boys 22, girls 28, total 50 j average attendance 39. Messrs J. Freeman and W. |E. Barker were appointed visitors till next meeting. South Obabi School Committbk.— The monthly meeting of the South Orari School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening last, 21st inst. Present— Messrs B. A. Barker (Chairman), Bisset, McLeod, Ellis, Naughton, Coles, and May. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A circular was read from the S.C. Caledonian Society re scholarship offered by the Society, end stating conditions. The Inspector’s report was read, ' and the Committee resolved that the report be returned to the Board noted as under j—- “ The Committee are gratified at this school having passed so good an examination, the Inspector’s remarks on the general conduct of [ the school being fully borne out by their own , observation daring the past year, and they gladly take this opportunity to express their complete satisfaction with the present teaching staff.” The Master's report showed that the strict average attendance for the last four weeks wasßoys 16, girls 18, total 34; No. on roll: Boys 22, girls 25, total 47. A supply of firewood was ordered to be procured, and a week's holiday at Easter granted. Mr Bisset having been too busy lately bad no report to present as visitor. Mr Ellis was appointed visitor for next month. Subscriptions were received on account of the treat and prizes to the amount of £8 9s ltd, in addition to £2 Is 3d already paid. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Bob-Ooommittee, and to the ladies who assisted in making the treat such a success. Accounts to the amount of £6 15s 5d were passed for payment, after which the meeting adjourned.—The following is the examination report on the school, referred to above ; —Examined 22nd January, 1887. Head Teacher, Donald Munro. Summary of presentation and pass results. —Standard Vl. Presented 1, passed 1; Standard V.—Presented 2, failed 1, passed 1; Standard IV.— Presented 6, failed 2, passed 4; Standard lll,—Presented 6, absent 1, failed 1, passed 4; Standard ll.—Presented 6, absent 2, excepted 1, passed 3; Standard I.—Presented 10, absent .1, passed 9 ; preparing for Standard I. —Presented 14; Total—Presented 45, absent 4, excepted 1, failed 4, passed 15. Percentage of passes, 48 j percentage of failures, 15; percentage on class subjects, 65 j additional marks, 48. Character of work done in the Preparatory class—The pupils of this class havs been carefully taught, and do all their work well. General Remarks—The school is conducted with skill and intelligence, and the pupils hare been very successful in their examination. Reading is lent in Standard 1., and very good in the other classes. I was well pleased to find so much oare devoted to this very important subject. The children are orderly and well mannered.— Jas. Gibioh Qow, M.A., Inspector.

Concert and Ball.—By an advertise* ment which appears in another column it will be seen that it is intended to hold a concert and ball at the Otari Bridge schoolroom on Friday evening, April Ist, in aid of the prize fund, and to provide the necessities for the annual treat. R.M. Court, Timaru. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, Mr J. Jackson on the Bench, a man was fined 5s for drunkenness, George and Charles Parker were charged with indecently assaulting Jane Fleming Dines at Fairlie Creek, On the application of the police the case was remanded till Thursday next, the 31st inst. Bail was allowed. Murder of a Native Woman.—The body of Kaihai, a native woman, on a charge of murdering whom Tephia Nero is under arrest, was exhumed at Hawera on Tuesday morning, and an inquest opened at Otakeho, before Mr 0. A. Wray, the Coroner. The medical evidence given as the result of a pose mortem examination was very conclusive as to the woman having been brutally mur* dered. The skull was found to be fractured, the breast smashed in, and extensive injury had been done to the abdomen. 'The arms, legs, and, m fact, all the parts of the body weie more or less injured, but the neck was not found dislocated as had been expected, owing to recent rumors. After the medical evidence had been given, Inspector Fardy applied for an adjournment till Monday, the 4th April. There is immense difficulty in getting evidence, the natives declining to give any assistance, to make any statements, or in any way to countenance the proceed* mgs. But the police hope before the inquest is renewed to have obtained some information which will enable them to bring the crime home to the murderer.

Sheep-Shearing Machine.— A sheep, shearing machine, invented by Mr Wolsey, a runbolder, has been tried at Qoldebrough and Co.’e Wool Staree, Melbourne with great success. Flookowners took much interest in the trials, which were largely attended, and a committee of welUknown wool-growers were appointed to report on the capabilities of the machine. Three or four trials were held, in some cases against hand shearers. The strong point of the machine is tbe ex* ceedingly olean out of the wool and its regular shearing. The Committee, after very careful consideration, decided that tbe quality of tbe work was all that could be desired, and that double-cutting the wool Would be impossible except the machine was worked by an unskilled operator. As to the question of time, the Committee decided that the speed of tbe machine would be about equal to that of a fair average shearer. As ordinary station sheep shearing hand, who had never worked the machine before, sheared bis first sheep in eight minutes, and did the work well. The coat of tbe machine is about £lO. Tbe deeoieion of the Committee was that the first •ost of the machine would be considerable! but this would be more than counterbalanced by the superiority of the work and better condition of the fleece, freedom from outs to the eheep, and greater ease to the work* men.

Skinny Men.— (< Wells’ Health Benewer,” restores health, and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, Impotence, Sexual Debility. At Chemists and Druggists. Eempthome, Prosier and Op.. Agents, Christchurch. 2 Railway Refreshment Rooms, Timaru. —D. MoGuinness begs to inform his numerous friends, and the travelling public in particular, that having taken the above rooms for a fresh term he has decided to reduce the chargee hitherto made, and in future they will be as follow Breakfast in readiness for early trains, Is fid; Hot Lunch or Dinner, served up in the hitherto well-known profuse style, on arrival of North and Sautb Express trains, Is 6d. Tea and Coffee always in readiness, and choice confectionery, &o. The 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.