LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1664, 24 November 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Saib AT TkMUXA. —Mr K. F. Qrav sells fat and store cattle and sheep, and light and draught horses, etc., at Temuka to-morrow.

Tea Mbbtikg at Waitohi. — A monster tea meeting under the auspices of the Salvation Atmj takes place in schoolroom this evening. The Temuka corps will be present. Railway Rbtubni.— The New Zealand Railway receipts for the 28 weeks ended October 16th wire £621,194, and the expenses £380,438, as against £601,493 and £380,446 respectively for the corresponding period of last year. CoHOBBT AT TbMVKA.— The annual entertainment by the children attending the school conducted in Temuka by the Sisters of St. Joseph will tale place, as usual, on the Anniversary of th* Province, the 16th of December. Great piins are being taken to ensure a thorough success. STRUCK BY LIGHTKIitO. During the recent thunderstorm :u this district one of the poets of a gallowi standing on Mr Frank Young's farm, Eakaiu read, was struck by lightning. The poit was of stringy bark, about.fifteen feet hifh and sis inches through, and it was shatteredto within three feet of the ground, pieces being found hurled to a distance of five chains. Narrow Espapb.— A man while crossing the footbridge over the Temuka River near the Manse, yesterday morning, narrowly escaped losing his horse. He was leading the animal across, and on reaching the eastern end, where a couple of planks reach from the bridge to the riverbed, it missed its footing, and fell into the stream. The horae fell on its back, and for a short time disappeared, becoming entangled in some wire that had been washed there. The owner gave the beast up for lost, but after some desperate struggles it managed to free itself and get out. Ofbn Aib Comobet. Last evsning the Temuka Brats Band gave an open-air concert, taking their stand on a section opposite the Leader office, and the number of persons who assembled proved bow much the Band’s efforts to provide a pleasant evening’s entertainment were appreciated. It is to bo hoped that as the summer advance the Band will see their way to give frequent musical evenings, and doubless the public will then extend them their hearty support. The folio wing were the pieces played »—March, " A Flower from Mother’* Grave ” (Robinson) ; waits, " Bridal Rose " (Webb) ; march, “ Old Polks at Homo ” (Robinson); polka, “On tbs Green M (Webb) j quadrilles, “ Bridlington Quay 1 ' (Haigh) 5 walls, “Merrv Maids” (Robinson) j march, “Forester*’ (Allan) j polks, “ Click Clack ’* (Welsh); valsette, “ Fairyland * (Warren). ■ Man Missing.—A man named Alfred Route, who. has left his family at Rangiora for the past fortnight, has been seen wandering about the Horse Shoe Spur bush, near Mount Grey, and fears are entertained for his safety. Ho called on his brothoMo-law, a ahopherd, who tried to detain him till the police were communioatei with on Saturday last. Rouse, however, made his escape, and in spite of a careful search by Mounted Constable Costin and the shepherd referred to, no trace has been found of the men’s camp. The country which Rouse has chosen for his quarters is covered with 200 acres of bush, and extremely rugged. Rouse is about 6ft 7in, straight bui't, not vn r y stoat, has dark bushy whiskers and beard turning grey. Ho has with him a blanket, oilskin coat, a spare pair of bools, and a tomahawk. He has some time since announced his intention of giving up work, and it is thought that the man’s mind is affected.—Press.

A Diabolical Outrage.— A diabolical outrage has been committed at Narringal, a bush township, 10 miles north-of Warrambool. On Satuday, 12th instf 4t 6 o’clock, a farmer named Henry Miles, on going into his stockyard, discovered that a dray loaded with wood the night before, ready for despatch to Warrnarabool, had been set on fiye and totally consumed. The remains were still smouldering, and on searching around to discover the cause of thefire- he had his attention drawn to a draught horse in an adjoining paddock. On examining the animal he found its oatrails trailing from a jagged wound in the region of the stomach. The poor creature seemed in intense agony, and though the intestmes wore replaced and the wound successfully atitched, the animal died,in a few minutes, it is suppoied the wound was caused by a sharp billhook., The police were communicated with and aft iroh was instantly made to discover the instrument used in the crnol deed, so far without success. Whilst searching the paddocks some small heaps of grain were discovered, and these wore brought in for analysis aa they are suspected of being poisoned. The police aver that they have some clue to the perpetrators of the crime, but very little hope is entertained of their being brought to justice. ■ Oil on Troubled Waters.— Captain Kuhlmann, of the North German Lloyds steamer Main, has reported in Berlin some successful experiments in the use of oil during the prevalence of fioayy «p«s on the voyage between Bremen and New .York. Ho secured a success “great beyond conception.” Captain Euhlmann’s own words tire- as follows “We were in 50deg. N. and 23deg. W., in stormy weather with a high eea from the west. We steered weal, and thus had the aoa light in front of us, so that the vessel pitched and rolled badly, taking the heavy seas at th® bows. The passengers could not remain on deck for the sets which rolled from the fore part and flooded th© deck, and, moreover, the boats hanging in the davits threatened to be washed away in the shifting of the vessel. I resolved in this emergency to experiment with oi), and two pipes opening on the aides of the ship were stopped with tow and then filled with oil, which flowed slowly through the tow. 1 eoou observed the effect, for from the fore.hroude to the •torn no water came over. The sna had 7 , .. -h* reason of the oiling. We lost Us power-, -chas, and the opened the doors and appro..

passangers could stay on dock at wu.. The oiling was continued seven hours, and the small quantity of 51b was used." Captain Kuhlmann is so elated with his experience that he adrift* other navigators to adopt the plan.

Pbrfbtual Leases.— Forty-eight village settlers at PabmUia, near Masterton, have sent a petition to Parliament asking that no attempt be made to alter the tenure of their holdings, os they prefer perpetual lease to freehold. This is a practical proof of the success of Tillage Settlements.

Entertainment at Waitohi Flat.—A magic lantern entertainment, followed by a concert and dance, will take place in the Waitohi Flat schoolroom to-morrow evening. A first rate evening’s amusement will be provided, and as the proceeds are to be added to the school funds, there should be a large attendance.

R.M. Court, Temuka.—No cases acre adjudicated on at the Temuka R.M. Court yesterday. Only two case# were set down for hearing, and these were adjourned, In one the plaintiff and defendant were engaged at the District Court. Mr K. F. Gray, J.P., was on the Bench.

An Indulgent Father.-An Italic composer has written an opera which is to be produced simultaneously in seventeen theatres during the coming winter. He is the son of a milliona’ro, named Franchetti, who has hired the whole of them in order to give young hopiful a satisfactory show. It is even reported that an American theatre has been secured for the same purpose. A Thoughtful Diva.— Madame MarieRose Maploson, following the excellent example of Mrs Bsrnard-Beere, is not only sending all the bouquets presented to her during a performance to the Hospitals, but has requested the donors of them to send (hem round to the stage door, instead of throwing them on the stage, or handing them up through the orchestra, in ordet that they may reach their ultimate recipients in as fresh and fragrant a condition as possible. Ashburton Raobs.— The Spring Meeting of the A«hburton Racing Club commenced yesterday, and were largely attended. Handicap Hurdle Race of 40 sots., second horss 5 sots.: Messrs M. and O. Hobbi’s Effigy 1, Mr W. 0. RutherfordV Mainboom 2 j dividend £2 8«. County Plate of 30 *ovs., second horse 6 sovs.: Mr S, H. Lftnon s Oliver Cromwell 1, Mr H. Lee'e Nelly 2 j dividend £2 19i. Ashburton Cup Handicap of 70 sots., snoond horsa 7 son.: Mr M. Sherwin’s Quibble 1, Mr R. Rutherford’s Ravensoreig 2 ; dividend £1 16s. Hobsb Taming and Training To the disappointment of a greet many; Sir Andrew Le Fleming was unable to give an exhibition of his skill in the way of horse taming and training at Temuka last evening, in consequence of his being unable to secure horses. As he will appear at Geraldine to-night »t Messrs J. Mundell and Go’s Horse Repository, he was obliged to postpone his exhibition in Temuka till to-morrow (Friday) evening, when it will take place in Mr Gray’s Salerooms. All who take an interest jn horses should attend Sir Andrew’* exhibitions. Land Settlement. Land settlement appears to bo still going on steadily, no fewer than 1252 persons having settled on see’ions in six months from March till September of the present year. _ They were dis'ributed over provincial cistriots as follows: - Auckland, 389 ; Taranaki, 55 ; Hawke’s Bay, 123 ; Wellington, 141; Nelson, 85 ; Marlborough, 3 ; Canterbury, 141; Otago, 251 ; Southland, 64. Of these 407 were settled under the Village Homestead Special Settlement system. 211 on cash lands, 184 on deferred parmenls, 104 on deferred payment village settlement, 70 oo special settlement. The Author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” —Recent reports that the health of Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe was failing have led her to write the following letter:—“ I was 76 on ray last birthday, and have all my bodily power* perfect; can w«'k from three to seven miles a day without undue fatigue ; have a healthy appetite, and quiet sleep every night, Iq view of all these items, I scarcely think that 1 am a subject for lamentation, Ido not lament over myself. It is true that Ido not intend to write any more for the public. I always thought that authors should stop in good time, before readers stop reading ; and T think I may siy tbit I hive dona my part and ought to leave the stage to younger actors,” Ttn Midland Railway. The Wellington correspondent of the Ashburton Guardian telegraphed yesterday “I hoarnuthoritatu lively that Sir J. Vogel ha< been appointed New Zealand Managing Director of. the Midland Railway Company, and it is expected he will shortly proceed t ) England in connection with the financial part of the buaines*. In fact, it is itated that it was principally on this account that ho wai chosen in preference to the Hon. E. Richardson who was running him for the position, though the latter was supposed to have more experience on the subject of railway management. It is thought that it was in consequence of the fact of his appointment that he remarked yesterday tb it he was nqt seeking office, which at tba time was laughed at by Ministers. So far as I can gather, there will be no necessity for Sir Julius to resign his position as a member.” Heir to Two Millions. A Home paper is responsible for the following;— Mr Thomas Fitzmaurice Burke, who recently has been officially apprised that he is the heir to a fortune of two {pillions sterling, has just been paying a visit f o Old Bromptao, Chatham, in which town he formerly resided for many years, The onormona wealth of’which Mr Burke will shortly come into possession has been bequeathed by his half-brother, Samuel Buiko Loan, formerly of Prospect Villa, Cork, Ireland, This Mr Loan emigrated to Australia in 1852, and, going up country during the gold fever, open-d a store on the goldfield, and rapidly accumulated a fortune. At a later period Mr Loan removed to New Zoiland, bis good fortune and sound judgment iq |j, voting hji cnqsiqg tiia alrpidy lapge fortune to swell rapidly. When he died at Auckland, Now Zealand, last November, at the age of seventy-two years, he w«a possessed in round figures of about £2,000,000. A Lady's Retbnqb.—“ Soms years ago a lady lervad her bridegroom with as isvere a revenge as the Willenhall gentleman bestowed on his would-be bride lately, A friend of mine met,]an exejted crowd running out of the door* of St. Oeorgwl, Hanover Square, bridgroom protesting, brideimaids weeping, and the bride herself sweeping disdainfully to her carriage alone. On inquiry it transpired that on walking up the aisle the bride had siumbled and trodden on her dress, and her unwary lover had ejaculated under his brsath ‘ How stupid !’ The procession passed on, and the service began, and no interruption occurred until 'he question was put ' Wilt thou have this man/etc, Then to the amassment of everyone present, and the utter confusion of the unlucky bridegroom, the hdy replied m a clear hud voice, ‘Not so stupid!' and, turning away from the altar, one withering glaaoe at the rej-cied husband, left the enured 'hen and there. She was an heir.-., and 'he mortified bridegroom cursed the ill-starred readiness of » tongue that bad SO swiftly and unexpectedly wrecked his life,” .

Open bob Tkawio, The bridge over Cooper’s creek, by Badham’a, is now open for light traffic. Ah Imposxube Exposed,— ‘Miss Fay, who has receired several flattering notices in leading London papers, was giving a “Spiritualistic” stance at Blackburn on September 20; but the performance came to a sudden termination, for some people in the audience struck lights. Miss Fay was supposed to be floating across the room in semidarkness, but as the figure passed over the heads of the audiesco it was caught, and lo! the Spiritualistic object was found to be nothing but a dummy of worsted and gauze, manipulated by wires, while Miss Pay herself was seen to have climbed to the roof. There was a disturbance after this, the platform was stormed, and the police had to be called in.

The Rabbit Pest.— The conservator of of forests in South Australia has received a letter from the conservator of forests of Cape Colony, in which the latter recommends the importation into Australia of the wild cat of Asia and Africa for the purpose of destroying the rabbits. The writer says that in India and Africa, although frequent atteraptshave been made to introduce rabbits the attempts have been rendered abortive owing to the way in which the wild cats prey upon them. He says that the climate of Cape Colony has a temperature resembling that of Australia. Litters of wild cats could be shipped by French steamers, via Mauritius, in a month.

The Grand Old Max.— The Hawarden carrier lo Chester is an old lady who is familiarly called by the villagers “ Lady Margaret Hughes.” For thirty years she has regularly carried the parcels from Hawarden to Chester, and from Chester to the Castle. Need it bo stated that Lady Margaret is a great Radical t and whenever the Right Hon. W. B. Gladstone leaves home on any important political mission she is sure to be seen on the platform of the railway station. The other afternoon Mr and Mrs Gladstone called on "Lady Margaret,” and the latter, having the kettle on the hob, promptly invited the visitors to taka lea with her. Mr and Mrs Gladstone accepted the invitation, and in the little cottage they sat (with Lady Margaret at the head of the table) for nearly an hour chatting with the old lady about past times and scenes at Hawarden. A Council or Woken.— The town of Syracuse, in Kansas, boasts since last April of the unique distinction of possessing a municipal council composed exclusively of members of the gentler sex. A tourist who lately made a-pilgrimage to what he calls the “ Mecca of the Women’s Bights Movement” declares in a letter to the Memphis Appeal that the citizens are unanimous in admitting that the town is batter governedjby the munioipl body than it was before. Nor have its members lost any of the bloom of the femineity in the exercise of their novel functions. “My short acquaintance with those women,” the pilgrim declares, " convinced me that silting on council chairs and wrestling with questions of city policy had no effect lo unsex them. I looked in vain for masculine tendencies.” The townspeople gave various reasons for the course adopted, but the most likely appeared to be that of an estate agent, who said they wanted to advertise the town.

The Sobhb had Chanßbd.—A prominent city man and his partner were the best of friends, and their intimacy extended to per* sonai as well as business matters, H s partner was a bachelor, who wu in tho habit of reading him letters of an ardent and affectionate nature from a young hdy who signed herself " Susie.” Tho hero of the story went away on an extended (rip, and returned just m time to attend the wedding of his partner,. Wishing to show bis goodwill, he sent the happy oouple a wedding present, and at the wedding reception stepped gallantly forward to pay his respects. '! I hardly feel like a stranger,” he said in his sweetest tones, addressing the bride; “in fact, I feel as though I ought to be quite well acquainted with my partner's wife, since he has often done me the honor to rend extracts from his dear Susie’s letters,” The face of the husband and the speaker were studies as the bride drew herself up and said emphatically and distinctly ; “ I beg your pardon, eir! My name is Ilelsn!” Orange Cuwhre.— The New Zealand Herald states that.the cilture of oranges in the Auckland province is gradually being extended, We were sbown a sample of oranges and lemons grown at Mahurangi by Mr E. Morrison, which show that the district is quite congenial to the orange tree. Tho oldest tree that Mr Morrison baa is a seedling, about 24 years old. It has been bearing for several years and tho heaviest crop yet reaped from it was 75doz, or 900 saleable fruit. This is fairly satisfactory, especially when it is known that for years to come the quantity of fruit produce is likely to largely increase. He has younger trees of tho Parramatta orange growing and be iring fruit freely, and producing weH-fhvoured fruit. Lemon trees be also has, which are doing well. Mr Morrison has also a number of trees of the bitter orange growing, and a few fruiting, but as yet the oldest of these are only beginning to come into a bearing condition. Several of the settlers are now devoting some attention to this class of fruit. AootnsNTa.—On last Tuesday morning, as Mr A. Frew’s boy was driving into Temuka with a milk cart, the bames got loose, and consequently the shafts slipped oat of tho backhand and fell to the ground. The boy who was driving was precipitated to the ground, but escaped any serious injury The horse finding that something was wrong commenced to plunge and kick till it b.-oke everything that bound it and freed itself from the trap. The two shafts were smashed, several straps were broken, and a Urge quantity of milk was lost, but no further damage was done. As Mr T. Parke, of Milford, was driving into Temuka on Monmorning, his horse was frightened by a passing traction engine, and attempted to bolt. Before it was pacified both traces were broken,—We regret to learn that Mr Geo. Preddy, of Temuka, mat with rather a nasty accident last evening. ECa was riding up the Mein street on one hone and leading another, and when nearly opposite the office of the Temuka Lsadbb the band struck up, and frightened his horse. The frightened animal commenced to play up, and reared so high that it fell backwards with Mr Preddy under it, The boras got up quickly, and Messrs John McGrath and John Andrews went immediately to Mr Freddy’s assistance, whom they found in a semi-censcious condition. They found that he was suffering from a wound on the side of the heed, and the pressure on hie foot had burst the upper leather of his »hoe. Mr T. Ouanion wtnt immediately to Dr Hayes’s house, but instead of going down the doctor ordered the injared tmm to be taken to his surgery. By the time the messenger had returned Mr Preddy had recovered full consciousness, and aleoted to go to consult Dr Campbell. He was very much shaken and bru'sed, and complained much of hie knee, but he was well enough to remount a quieter horse and to proceed homewards, So far as we can gather his injuries are not serious, but it must be that the accident 3 ijqoet dangerous os*.

To the ladies of Tiuuru and iurroandin| J district.— Another reduction to meet the' times. A cup of tea or coffee with oaks sup* plied at all hours at the Bailway Refreshment Booms for fid. Luncheon as usual. A waitress in attendance for ladies. Tbs Shilling Lunches still continue at the Club Hotel. D. MoGuinness, Proprietor.—Advt, SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS, Smart Boy Wanted TkkUIA Leads* Office. Grand Juvenile Concert—At Temuka on 18th December. H. Faurel, Temuka—Has 6-roomed hense with half acre ef land for sale. South Orari School Committee—Advertise for sewiag mistress and charwoman. In Bank ruptey—Be Thomas Copestiks, of Temuka, storekeeper. W. G. Aspinall, solicitor. Temuka Road Board Bridge over Conner's creek, by Badham's, open lor light traffic. J. Mufidoll and Co., with Gracie, Maclean, and Adam—Sell valuable Olydesdale horses (bred by Mr R. Matthews, Temuka) at Timara, on Saturday next. Caution —D. Raggett, travelling agent of the N.Z. Bible, Tract, and Book Society, cautious the public that the Society has no agsnt in the district except himself.