The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1671, 10 December 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oddfellows Spobts,— ln our ad Tflrising columns will be found the programme of the annual sports gathering under the auspices of the Alexandrova Lodge at Temuka on Boxing Day. It is a fret-class one and doubtless the gathering will prove a great success, as similar'?, ones have done in past years.

A Miniaturi Watch#— There is a watch in the Swiss museum only 8-16 tbs of , an inch in diameter inserted in the top of » pencil case. Its little dial not only indicate* the hours, minutes, and seconds, but also the days of tbs month.

Cricket. —The following are the names of the team selected to play for the Geraldine Club ia the match against Temuka which takes place in Geraldine to-day;—Dr Fish, Major Moore, Fitzgerald, H. W. Moore, E. Mabin, f. Kallaugher, R. H. Pearpoint, G. Slack, Wilson Smith, Ward, and Wegulin. The Maori Votb.— Mr Sidney Taivrhanga evidently realises the truth of the old adage which affirms that “ open confession is good for the soul.' 1 Ho asserted openly in the House on Thursday evening that the reason the Maoris had determined to support *he Government was because the Premier had agreed to leave the Native representation as it is. Accident.— On Thursdays fternoon Miss Kohn, ofTimaru, was thrown from her horse near the Wallingford Hotel, Temuka. She was taken up senseless and carried into the hotel, where she received every attention. Dr Hayes was subsequently G a l)ed in and found that beyond a few bruises and abrasions she had sustained little injury. Train Arrangements for the HomDAfs.— ln our advertising columns will be found a notice of importance to those intending to visit Christchurch on or about Anniversary Day. On that day the first ftrain to Christchurch will leave Timaru at 7.5 a.m,, Temuka 7.42, Winchester 7.54, and Orari at 8,6, arriving in Cbriatchurch at 12.10 p.m, For this train excursion tickets, available for return till (be 19th, wid be issued at 18s first-class and 13s secondaclass. Saturday return tickets from any station to any station within the province of Canterbury, available for return till the 19th, will bo issued on the 15th and 16th insts. There will be no goods traffic on the 16th. Goan Butter. —We (Taranaki Herald) understand that some visitors from England recently purchased three jars of butter from Jas. Rossiter, containing ten pounds each, for the purpose of using on the voyage homo. The first jar was opened at Aden, the second at Sue*, and the third on arrival at Plymouth, the contents of the last jar being as good and in as sound condition as if only just potted. Ic was simply kept in an ordinary box under the bunk. Several of the passengers asked the parties who took the butter for some of that “ good Taranoki butter,” that supplied by the ship being like oil, while Mr Bossiter’s butter was sweat and firm* This will show that good, well-made, sound butter, when packed in jars, will keep in transit to the old country. The Waitotara Seat.— The Judges have thrown out Mr Bryce’s petition, holding that the charge of corrupt practice was not sustained. Mr Hutchison will therefore bold his seat for Waitosara. Briefly, the judgment was to the effect that not a single charge had been sustained, and that the charges of treating on polling day and days other than polling day did not come within tho Statute of Non Zealand or Common Law on Treating. An application that respondeat should pay his own costs was not entertained, as the Court held that there was a large number of charges abandoned and many failed. If the petition had been confined to a few suspicious circumstances the Court might have ordered respondent to pay his own costs, but under the circumstances would not do so.

Temtoa Dairy Factor*.— Tho monthly meeting of the Directors of the Temnka Dairy Company was held on Tuesday afternoon* Present—Messrs Cain, Mason, Scott, Quinn, and Dr Hayes. In the absence of Mr Brown, DU Hayes was voted to the chair. After formal business the Secretary reported that during the past month 28,526 gallons of milk had been received at the Factory at a cosl of £3BO 14s JOd, Correspondence was considered from certain shipping’ firms, and the arrangements made for the shipment to London of six tons of cheese perKaikoura were approved of, It was decided to make a further shipment as soon as the cheese was matured. Mr Geo. Lynch, the contractor for the erection of the manager’s cottage, waited upod the Committee, and applied for an extension of time to complete his contract. • After duo consideration the contrect period Was extended for a fortnight. • All the Directors not being present it was decided to postpone the consideration of several important matters until Monday, 12tb inst., when & special meeting will take place. The meeting then terminated, A “ Prohibits * Strategy.— The Wangaoui corresphndent of tha Taapeka Times tells the following story of a prohibitionist's strategy to supply himself with “long beers”j—“A ‘prohibited’ person, who is exceedingly fond of 1 long beers,’ and who is, at the same time, suspected of being a little soft in the bead, was, during last full moon, at a loss to know how to obtain a cooling draught. The man was too well known to the publicans in town, and the only thing, and which appeared to him a simple device, was to disguise himself. He obtained the necessary burnt cork, Boon completed the process of coloring, and, attired in the garb of a man who had been doing a long tramp, arrived at a public house in the night when all was quiet and called for a ‘ long beer.’ The fair Hebe who was attending to the bar pump, with usual good nature at once proceeded to serve him. He stood glancing at his own notice en the wallg and a smile stole over his face as he received the liquor. Alas, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip, for as he was throwing back his head to dispose of the welcome beverage the maid noticed a white neck. The pewter was instantly snatched from him, and the prohibited one walked out of the bar without even protesting. Whether he went into tie next hotel and played the same joke rumor does not say ; but next morning he wag seep in a wheelbarrow, with one lad in the shafts and another in the lead, sitting astride the vehicle, looking quite happy, squeezing away at an old accordion, and making a most disagreeable npiee,

Dxitiilhhibi.— A petition ii to be oir. culated througont the country districts of Otago urging the desirability of re-establish-ing distilleries in New Zealand,

TaKNEANOB in BNaLAKD.—During th e last fiscal year the receipts from taxes on te a in England greatly increased, while the tax on alcoholic liquors fell off £190,000, and an wine £93,000. Export 01 Fobnitubb.—A Wellington exchange says that by a boat shortly leaving for Queensland, a Wellington man will take the complete furniture of an. hotel which he intends starting m that colony. It is improbable that such a consignment has ever before left New Zealand for so distant a destination.

Su«aßßXiTß.— The Opunako correspondent of the Hawera Star writes | —“ The Stella was in the bay this week taking soundings, it is supposed with a view to reporting on the suitableness of a jetty to assisfrthe local trade, but nothing authentic is heard.* The Wanganui Herald wants to know whether this is a "sop” given by tha Major to his Opunake constituents. Who knows f

I» Banihcitot.— At a sitting of the District Court, in Timaru, on Thursday, before T. Howley Bsf., Registrar, Mr J. W. White appeared to submit a petition from certain creditors in the estate, that George Oanavan be adjudged a bankrupt. The application was made under sec. 41, sub-sec. 2 of the Bankruptcy Act, and the petition ’set forth, inter alia, that on May 18th he had left his home and was believed to have levanted to America. The order was granted with costs.

The Weather.— On Thursday afternoon another extraordinary climatic change took place. The morning was beautifully fine, but shortly after noon a cold wind sprang up from the south, and was followed by a nasty squall of hail aud rain. In the Orari and Rangitata districts it was felt most Severely, f.nd towards the hills rain fell very heavily. Some little losses have occurred among the shorn sheep, but the crops do not appear to have suffered much. ' Absenteeism. — A return tabled in the House on Monday night shows that real property owned in New Zealand by 1140 absentees is £3,672,741; personal, £5,082,694; making a total of £8,765,435. All are believed to be permanent absentees. Another return showed that the number of persons owning more than 2000 acres of land in New Zealand, and who are not known to have resided in the colony during the last twelve months, is fifty-six. A footnote to the "return states that so far as known to the department these are all the absentee owners of over 2000 acres.

licpoetant Altebations.— An Ordor in Council makes regulations under the Education Act, which will come into force on let January, 1888. The moat important are that it shall not be lawful for the teacher of any public school to-retain upoa the roll of his school, or to place upon such roll the name of any child whose age is lees than six years, or of any child who hae passed the sixth standard of Education prescribed by regulations made under the said Act; (2) from and after the first April no payment shall be made by the Colonial Treasurer to any education board on account of school attendance of any child who has passed the sixth standard. Hm Expectations. —At Grey town recently (says the Standard) a debtor was undergoing cross-examination by the deputy assignee, when the following colloquy took place Deputy Assignee, ‘•Do you receive money from home I” Debtor, “ I have had some.” Deputy Assignee (brightening up), “Oh 1 Have you had any lately I” Debtor, “ Not very lately." Deputy Assignee, “ Well, how long since twelve months I” Debtor,; “More than .that," Deputy Assignee, “ Well, tell us how long.” Debtor, “ £ think >t must be twelve years ago.” Deputy Assignee (warmly), “ Why didn’t you say so at first. Now, are you expecting any money from home ? ” Debtor, “Yes, I think no,” Deputy Assignee (brightening up again), “ Oh, you are t When do you hope to receive it 1 ” Debtor, “ I can’t say; I haven’t any idea.” Deputy Assignee, “But if you have money coming to you, you can surely tell vs when you expect it.” Debtor, 1 don’t think I can.” Deputy Assignee, “ Why not!” Debtor, “ Because the person is not dead yet.” The Deputy Assignee

looked the debtor iu the face for afa

minute, but there was not a shadow of a smile on it, and the subject of “ great expectations” dropped.

The CiiUfOSNiAM Thistle,— The Californian thistle, about which there has lately been so much talk, has been found in considerable quantity in the neighborhood of Temuka. Specimens of it are to

be seen at the Temuka Road Board office, and farmers who are as yet unaware of the appearance of the plant will do well to make themselves acquainted with it. The specimens in question have been furnished by Mr T, Parke, of Milford, and he deserves all praise for the trouble he has taken to bring the matter into notice. It is said the plant is more difficult to eradicate than any of the other now numerous noxious weeds that farmers have to contend with. The roots are tough and jointed, and the smallest portion left in the soil is sufficient to produce a plant. The ordinary methods of scarifying or hoeing are thus comparatively useless, Mr Fussell, of the Laud Office, Timaru, and Mr Murphy, of the Christchurch A. and P. Association, Invite farmers to correspond with them on the subject, with the view of steps being taken for its eradication. It will doubtless also have been noted that Mr Mackenzie, the member for Cluthaj has moved in the matter iu the House of Representatives. As bearing on the subject, the following letter sent to Mr Murphy by Mr W. Thompson, of Burnham, may be interesting;-.“Dear Sir, I see the question of the Californian thistle has been brought before your Association. I presume this thistle is similar, if not the same, as the Canadian thistle, and if so, save us from it. I spent some years in Upper Canada, and there it takes possession of the land, especially if the soil is good. It grows from three to six feet high, and as thick as wheat, and rooted to a depth of ten feet where the soil will admit. To eradicate this pest is next to impossible, as I think every inch of the roots will grow, therefore to work tho soil only favors its growth. If you wish to see the thistle master of the situation, take a trip to Upper Canada and travel along the banks of Lake On* tario from Kingston to Toronto, and there you will see the thistle in ies home. As a peat, I would place it against all our other weeds here.” To the ladies of Timaru and surrounding district.— Another reduction to meet the times. A cup of tea or coffes with cake supplied at all hours at the Railway Refreshment Rooms fpr qd. Lunoheop as usqal. A waitress in attendance for ladies. The Shilling Lunches still continue at the Club Hotel. D. MoGuinnesSj Proprietor.—Adrt.