LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1608, 16 July 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

SiatBTOH Off a Moa. —A complete skeleton of a moa his been discovered at Oromwoll. There are brownish feathers on the back of the head.

Boxing.—A boxing match haß been arranged at Wellington between Matthews and Richardson for £IOO it side and the championship of New Zealand. Sam op Cattle. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. notify that they will soli 100 head of store cuttle, at their yards, Geraldine, on Wednesday next. Political Retorm. A meeting to discuss the advisability of starting a branch of the Political Reform Association takes place in the Town Board office, Geraldine, this evening at 7.30 o'clock. Geraldine Floral and Horticultural SociE#r. An advertisement appearing elsewhere moounces ihut the annual meeting of this Society takes place in the Good Templur Hall, Geraldine, on Thurs* day next at 7.30 p.m.

A LIBKEAI! Obfbe. The Melbourne Cricket Club bavo cabled to Mr W. G. Grace, offering bim £ISOO, for his own and his wife's expenses, to join the cricket team about to visit Australia. Mr W. W. Reid is to receive £BOO and a'l expenses. Supposed Escapees.-—Two foreigners, who have been recently arrested at Cooktown, ore •apposed to be escapees from New Caledonia. They stated that they had sailed in an Italian vessel for the New 0-uinea Coast, and had been wrecked. They had undergone great hardships in the busb, and had been chased by n«tiv-g. A Raba Avis. —A rora avii in the shape of a yellow kea has been shot near Lake Wanaka. The usual. color of the kea is green. The one in question is a bright jellow, and on the back of the head and point of t>il red, and tips of wings greon. It is said ti bo a most beaufcifnl bird. This unique specimen has been stuffed by a well-known laxidermifj. Anotheb SwiNDLß.—.lnformation bas been received by the New Zealand Postal Department that tho Postmaster-General at Washton, by virtue of tho discretion allowed bim by law, has issued an order forbidding the Postmaster at New York to deliver registered correspondence to tbo British and American Claim Agency (which is engaged in an unlawful business) or to pay money orders drawn in its favor. Postmasters in this colony have been authorised to refuse to issue money orders, or accept registered correspondence for the agenoy.

Too Gbeat a Dbawbaok. A certain Australian youth, who, to the world's surprise some time ago married a rich widow of sixtv.flve, wcs asked the other day: "You don't mean to say you have really separated from your wife?" "Yes," w&.s the reply. "Its quite true. Incompatibility of temper. The money was right enough. My wife was—well, something of a mortgago over the assets ; but what I could not stand was my eldest stepson tryin? to punch my head every morning. He was bigger than I wa?, and our tempers were utterly incompatible. I knew he'd do it sooner or later, so I left." Jubilee Donations. The Montreal Herald, of the 17th ult., records two magnificent donations towards a fitting memorial of the jubilee, made by Sir George Stephen and Sir Donald A. Smith, who offered between them, 1,000,000 dollars (£200,000), for the erection of a hospital in Montreal, to be known as "The Royal Victoria Hospital," the conditions being the Municipality should set apart the site and erect the building as soon as possible. The offer was gratefully accepted, with the remark that its prinoely munificence had never keen equalled on the continent of America.

Pebtbtttal Motion.—Dr William H. Gray, of West Fall, is quite sure that he has at last discovered the secret of perpetual motion, and has constructed a wheel which he thinks will run for ever. It derives its motion from the attraction of gravitation, a mechanical movement being placed on the wheel in such a way that the dosoendirg side is the heaviest. By the force of its action it keeps the wheel steadily in motion. The wheel is twenty-six inches in diameter by eight inches in thickness, and is mountpd on a wooden frame resembling a grindstone frame. The wheel is keyed to a steel axle, which rests on a brass bearing. Dr Gray has had one of the machines at work at his house working steadily for the past; three months. He labored 20 years over his invention. Our Volunteers. —A Government inspection parade of the Temuka Rifles was held on Wednesday evening twenty-Dine rank and file being present, with Lieuts. White and Findlay in command. Major Newall and Sergfc.-Mnjor Jones represented the Staff. After inspection by M.jor Newall, the men were exercised in musketry practice for about an hour and a half, when they were dismissed. It is to be regretted that the parados are not better attended. Several times dudng the past three months the members present have been short of the required number to entitle the parade to be counted for .capitation purposes. Some difficulty may now be experienced in getting the required number. Narrow Escape.—A penaniional mining accident occurred at the Pearl Company's mine, Sandhutg', in the stopos nt the lC6oft level. An immense mas* of stone, estimated to wnigb 100 tons, came down and buried three men, who had a most miraculous escape. Jt happened that a big block of stone held back the fallen mass, and the men happened to be buried just over o pass communicating with the level below. This pass was full of quartz ; but a miner hslow, with great presence of mind, emptied the pass, and managed to release the men. Pour other men managed to get into the end of the level, where they were imprisoned for a time. The accident created a great sensation, and the escape is regarded as a most miraculous one.

Worth Knowing.—The tomato leaf is credited with almost extraordinary powers in eradicating blight that may attack trees. Attention appears to have been firat drawn to this fact in VHlpiraiso, where a gent'eman placed the leavea of the tomato around tha branches and trucks of peach treeß which had been attacked and found to his aurpriae that not an enemy remained, exoept where a curled leaf prevented the tomato leaf from exeroising its influence. Another applica? tion banished the rest of the blight. The infusion from some tomato leaves steeped in fresh water sprinkled over roses, oranges, and other plants onmpletely freed them fr im inseo 8. The discovery is an importi<nt on- o fcb.oS9 engaged in sardening operat on% J

Queensland J.P.'s.— A correspondent of I the Western Grazier thinks " It is about time some alteration was made in the laws which allow a Queensland J.P., who is working for a roadside pub. at 20s a week and tuoker, to sign a warrant for the arrest of a respectable citizen." Football, A match between the Titnaru Invincibles and the tbird 'fifteen of the Temuka Club took place last Thursday In the Terauka Park, and resulted in a victory for the Timaru Club by eix points to nil. The Temuka boye were over-weighted. « ■ * Sale op A Hotel. columns Messrs J. Mundell and Co. announce that, under instructions from Mr Eeubon Johnson, they will sell by auction on the 23rd July, the Grown Hotel, Geraldine, together with livery stables and outbuildings adjoining. The property is undoubtedly a good one and to anyone desirous of entering upon the business the opportunity the sale offers a firstrate chance. Mr Johnson is about to leave for England. Attacked sr Bees.—Papers to hand from India contain accounts of a singular occurrence off Dehrs, when the Viceroy of India, with Lady Dufferin, was besieged in the church by a swarm of bees from the belfry. The red couts of the Viceroy's bodyguard greatly excited the insects, and as the escort waited outside the edifice tbey wore. attacked and put to flight. One horse was so badly Btung that it lay down and a fire had to be lighted before the bees would leave it. Ladies and children wore Bhrieking, horses pluDging and bolting, and the soldiers and people were chased a quarter of a mile.

Dynamite Accident.—Two children were brought into the Greymouth Hospital on Wednesday evening from the Midland Kailway works, near Arnold. Some men were dynamiting logs for removal from the line when three children of one family, named Egan, standing at the corner of their residence close by, were all struck in the legs by pieces of shattered wood from the explosion. One was slightly injured, but Mary Egan, nine years old, received a compound fracture of the loft leg, just above the ankle, while the younger one, only eighteen months old, bad one leg fractured also. The Reason Whs;—Down in the Oamaru district a gentleman recently discoursed to some children in one of the Sunday schools on "Precious thing"," and in tho course'of his remarks he said the Biblo was more preoious than gold. He then, with the object, no doubt, of testing their susceptibility for Bible admonitions, asked them which they would prefer, the Bible or gold. All but one, who cried out for gold, elected to take the Bible. The little fellow who preferred gold was asked afterwards by his father why he preferred gold, and the answer was—" Why, if you have the gold, you can buy the Bible and have the change out."

Another Religious Seot.—One of the etraDgest of religious sects is that which calls itself the "New and Latter Hoaee of Israel." Its head-quarters are in Chatham, England, in which town its devotees are building on immense temple which will cost £50,000. They believe thnt they will "ot die, and that they are the remnant of true Israelites who will reign with Christ for a thousand years. Their founder wns a man nnmed Jezriel, who is now dead. His death was a great shock to the beliovers, but his wife claimed that it was nn accident, and declared herself to ba his successor.

Dbebncb or Pahis.—Since the last war between Prance and Germany immense improvement! have been made in the fortifications in and around Paris. A new line cf forte, far outside of the old ones, has been erected. In all, 24 foits baye been built, and these contain a'l the improvements of modern warfare. Their barracks and magazines are all below the ground, and they form such a wide circle about the oily that it will hardly bo posublo to besiege it in future. It took 300,000 Germans to encircle the old line ; it ought to require an almost incalculable force to invest the new. The walls of Paris have been domonsi rated to be useless, and the French do not rely on them in any way as a means of defence. The Maoris and the Jubilee.—On Thursday last the Maoris celebrated the Jubilee at St. Stephen’s Fab, near Eaiapoi. A special train ran from Christchurch and was well patronised, and the attendance of Europeans to witness the proceedings was vary large. There was a large procession, in which three ministers, the school children, a brass band, Maori men and women, footballer p, and bicyclists took part. Divine service was conducted in the church by the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, and an oak was planted in the school grounds. During the day an address was presented to the Hon. E. Richardson, and the Mayors of Christchurch, Eaiapoi. and Rangiora, testifying the loyalty of the Maoris to the Queen, and speeches were made by the gemlemon a imed, A great feast took place in the afternoon, of which a bullock roasted whole and nicely cooked was a feature. Altogether the Maori Jubilee Celebration was a great success, and all who took part in it, or witnessed it, will remember it with pleasure, Geealdinb Mutual Imphotbmenx Class, —The usual fortnightly meeting of the members of this class took place in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Wednesday evening last. There was a fair attendance of members. In the absence of the President Mr W. Coltman, senr., was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. One new member was elected. The subject for the evening's debate was “Capital punishment, is it de’irable it should be abolished ?” Mr H. N. Hiskens argued in the affirmative, and Mr W. Coltman, junr,, in the negative, i Several of the "other members present also spoke on the measure, and the vote was then taken, when the majority voted with the affirmative. The rosignat on of the President (Dr Poster) was tendered, he having left the district, and was accepted with regret. The election of a successor to the office will take place at the next meeting. Mr Coltman, junr., gave notice of motion—“ That it is desirable to change the night of meeting.” The subject for dehate on Wednesday week will be of considerable local interest, and a

very warm discussion is anticipated. Neat Workmanship.— One of the Tomuka blacksmiths, Mr John Smith, or as he is called from his nationality “ Scotch Jock,” has just completed a beautifully hnished miniature set of blacksmith’s tools, which may now be seen at the Wallingford Hotel. The set consists of an anvil, vyce, pair of pincers, sledpe and hand hammers. The vyce measures

2£in in height, and is tin across the jaws. It Is properly fitted with screw and worm, and works in every way as well as if it was of the ordinary size. The anvil, which is fitted to a block of proportionate size, measures 2£in the point of the horn to the butt, and is famished with the tool used for cutting iron, which is technically called a “hardy.” The pincers are of the shape of ordinary blacksmith's pincers, and are well finished, The sledge hammer measures |in in length and the band hammer is in proportion to it. The weight of the whole set 1s lose than i' Z. They are remarkably well i finished and polished, Mr Smith has also made some excellent veterinary nlamba ” >

in cast steel, which compare favorably f with any manufactured in the best Sheffield factories. Kaiotay Kefbbshment Rooms, Timae?. —D. MoGruinness begs to inform his numerous friends, and the travelling publio 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 ohoice confeotionery, &o; lhe lessee would 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 Lnncb.es are still continued at the Club Hotel.—Advt.i