LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1674, 17 December 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Excursion Tbaik.—An excursion train with about 300 passengers travelled from Chiistchurch to Timaru yesterday morniug and returned in the evening. Death OF Remenh.—News has roached Melbourne that the celebrated Hungarian violinist, M. Edouard Renieuyi, who lately visited this colony, has lost his life on the coaat of Madagascar by shipwreck. AcciDBHT.—A picnic party from Timaru met with a alight accident at Winchester yesterday. Juab in front of Mr BuddV home one of the wheels of tbeir buggy broke into pieces, but no one received any injury. Saitation Abhy, Tbmuka.—On Monday evening next the Salvatibn Army hold a monster demonstration, including a tea and after meeting, to welcome to Temuka Colonel and Mrs Taylor, from India, the new Divisional officers in New Zealand. Great efforts have been made to make the demonstration a sueceas. TIMABtJ High School—On Wednesday lost the Timaru High School broke up for the Christmas vacation, and the prizes gained by the most successful pupils .were awarded. The display of work done during the year 1 was first class, and was greatly admired by all who had the privilege of looking at it. The Hector, Mr A. Halketfc-Dawson, delivered his annual report, which was most interesting. Addresses were delivered by the Chairman of the Board of Governors (the Ven. Archdeacon Harper), and the Bevs. G-.J Barclay and T. Jasper Smythe. Gekaldine Resident Magistrate's Court. —At the above Court on Thursday, before R. H. Pearpoint and H. TV. Moore, Esqs., J.P.'s the only case set down for bearing was a civil one- - J. lliordan v. C. J. Foster, claim £6 4s, for goods supplied.. Defendant's evidence had been taken at Chrietchu'rch. :He admitted liability to the extent of £4 4s 9d, and produced receipts for the balance. Defendant had offered to con* fess iudgment to the extent of £4 4j 9d to save expenses, but plaintiff had refused to accept it. Plaintiff, being sworn, admitted that he had received the sums for which the receipt? put in were given, but had omitted to enter some of th9m. The Bench considered that plaintiff should pay the cost of the examination, as he had refused to accept defendant's offer to confess judgment. They did not think defendant should ba saddled . with the cost. Judgment would be given for £4 4s 9d, less the cost of examination 10s. The Court then rose. Gbbaldinb School Cohmittbk. The mootbly meeting of this Committee was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. Present—Messrs W. S. Maslin (Chairman), G. Taylor, C. B. Sherratt,' J. Biordan, and J. Cunningham. An apology from Mr Pearpoint for non-attendance was read. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr A. White tendered his resignation us a member of the Committee, as he is leaving for the Old Country. On the proposition of Mr Cunningham, seconded by MrSherrattthesame was acoepted, with regret. It was decided to elect the householder who stood eighth in the voting at the annual meeting, Jt was decided that the arrangements for the oonoert to be held on the 23rd inet. should be left in the hands of the Chairman, Mr Cunningham, and the head master. The selection of prizes for the school was left in the hands of the Chairman, Mr Pearpoint, and the head -master; the prices to be obtained iu the district, if possible. Mr A. Fisher wrote offering a special prize for the dux of the Bchool. The offer was accepted with thanks. Messrs Pearpoint and Taylor were appointed Visitors for the ensuing month, and the meeting terminated.

Obabi Wool Womb.—Mr A. W. Emor, of the Orari wool works, advertises elsewhere that he is a buyer of wool, sheepskins, etc.; also that he scours wool by Williams' patent machinery. Mr Ensor intends holding a publio trial of this machinery so that the public will be afforded an opportunity of judging of the working, NnVf Pamb. —We have reeeivd the prospectus of a new paper entitled "The Catholic Times." It is to make its Appearance on the first Saturday in January next, and has taken for its motto the hackneyed and much-abused one of " Measure?, not Men." Its aims are to be a hiph-class Catholic newspaper, to advocate the interests of Catholics, and to criticise fair and impartially public questions. It is to bo publisher! in Wellington, and sent post free to any address for £1 5s per year. A OrMOtrs Dibootbbt.—A historian named Salamon recently found in the archives of Buda Pesth 500 wills dated from 1852 to 1874, which had been deposited by the testators, and should have been published when they died, bmfc were quite forgotten. The wills which were not invalid in consequence of tbe length of time which has elapsed will now be published, and complicated lawsuits ' are certain to follow in many cases. Thirtyfour wills are still legal, and the names have been made known, so that great excitement prevajls in a number of Hungarian families. Cabkied Omp BY a Shabk.—A Sydney telegram gives the following fuller particulars of the recent tragic hathing fatality : " While a number of youn» mon were bathing off the steam wharf at Ryde, on the Parrainatta river, a very large shark, 12 or 14 feet long, suddenly darted alongside the jetty and snatched away a young man named Thomas Cochrane, who was just clutching at the jetty, knocking over another bather who was standing at the edge of the wharf. The shark, holding Cochrane by bis siae, disappeared with the unfortunate young man, whose body was not seen for some minutes afterwards, when he appeared on the surface for a moment and again sank. The water was deeply dyed with blood where Cochrane was dragged down." 1.0.G.T., Pkbl Fokbst,—The Relief of Peel Farest Lodge, 1.0.G.T., on Tuesday evening last held an open meeting. Avery pleasing item was the singing by the Band of Hope of several Crystal Spring Songs, and numerous recitations, which were very well rendered and received. Messrs fialpk Elder, G. Newman, and J. B. Whetton also kindly assisted with songs. The following is tho detailed programme {—Overture on piano, Sister Barker ;. glee, " Sweet and Low," Sister Barker and BroS. Barker, Coolme, and Handford ; recitation, " The Captain's Daughter," Rebecca Handford; song, (Crystal Spring No. 38) Band of Hope } song, "Mill May," Bro. Handford; recitation, " Beefsteak and Liyar," Bro. George Pithie j song, " The Fisher," Bro. Barker 5 recitation, " The Girls and Boys," Edith Pithie; tong, "My Diriirig Dwells Over the Sea," Brog. Cooling and Handford, with flute accompaniment; recitation, "Teddie's Prayer," Charlie Bowerby} song (Crystal Spring, No. 46), Band of Hope 5 song, " Shells of tho Ocean," Sister Pithie. An interval was then onnounced for refreshment, which was indulged in with the usual intemperance by the temperance advocates present, especially the juvenile aspirants, one little girl having been heard to say after getting outside a dozen or so buns, "My, weren't they naSt.y!" The following comprised the latter half of the programme:—Overture on piano, Sister Barker 5 recitation, " The Boy," Mary Thew ; flute solo, Bro. Cooling j reoitition, " The Angel's Ladder," Martha Hewson; sing, "The Last Rose of Summer," Sjstar Pithie ; recitation, " The Boy and the Echo," Emily Bull; song (Crystal Spring, No. 18), Band of Hepe; song, "Cleansing Fires," Bro. Barker j song, " Chiming Bells," Bro. Handford; song, "The Wooden Bocker," Bro. Cooling ; song, " Meet Mo To-night," Bro. W. Rae. The singing of No. 99 in Crystal Spring by tho Band of Hope brought a most enjoyable meeting to a close. The members of the lodge were in mourning for the late R.W.G.0.T., Bro. J. B. Finch. The aUendanoe was only moderate considering the liberal programme produced by the brothers and sisters of the lodge, which deserved a far larger audience; the children's singing was a great treat and surprise to everyone. A bumper house may be anticipated tbe next time the Good Templars of Peel Forest throw open their meeting to the publio. Fbeaks 05 Nattjbb.—On last Wednesday there were exhibited in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine, and on Thursday night in Temuka, two extraordinary freaks of nature in the persons of the Circassian youth and General Mite. The Circassian youth is certainly an object to be remembered. To see him in the Btreet dressed up in walking costume one would sot him down as a very straight, wiry old gentleman, but closer acquaintance shows him to be young. His name is Unzie Khourt, and he was born in the Circassian Mountains. He has been exhibited since ha was three years of age, and for a time formed a part of Burnum's " greatest show on earth." He is tall and gentlemanly, and is attractive and pleasing in his manners.' His skin is almost snow-white, with scarcely any coloring, and his eyebrows and hair are still whiter. His eyes are of a decidedly pink color, with very small pupils, and they inoessantly oscillate—they are never motionless for a second. But, though he is remarkable 10 far as the f ea« tures we have mentioned are concerned, it is his head of hair that attracts all the attention. As he Bays himself, he is a man that travels on his head. He is only 20 years of age, and has travelled aimost the whole world. His hair is indescribable, It is about two feet in length, and stands straight out from his head in a round bush. Most people are sceptical as to its reality, but very little examination banishes doubt on that head. That it is real and natural, though very unusual, must be the verdict of all. General Mite, who off the stage goes by the plain and unadorned name of Willie Robinson, and who first saw the light of day 25 years ago in Broadway, New York, is a healthy, strong robust 3|ft man. He, too, shows peculiarities which must always attract attention. He it doublejointed all over his body. He exposes to yie w the joints of his fingers and his knees, and doubt must no longer exist after they are once seen. The double joints move, and are to be seen as plainly as one joint can be teen in anyone else. His body is very stout; his legs are very short, and he carries on his shoulders a well-screwed-on head, in which there is a vigorous intellect. He is all there so far as the head is concerned: he sings songs, recites, and cracks jokes, and is alto? gether, as his countrymen would say, ''an amusing cms." Cora Lee is an attractive young gipsy, who gives a sort of awe-inspiring air to the whole thing by giving the curious a glimpse of the future. She tells fortunes on cards, as all gipsies do, and, of course, tells them correotly. A fair number of people were attracted, to see the show, and tihsy appeared very inuch satisfied. After the show was oyer General Mite and the CirI cassian youth adjourned to the Temuka Hotel to play billiards. The General was the observed of all observers. He was only three inches teller than the table, but he proved himself a very good billiard player, and was not long in the room before he hud won two games—one from his friend and another from a local celebrity. The Company left for Timaru yesterday.

Flowbk Show.—The annual Tim urn Flower Show took place yesterday. Tho exhibits here numerous, nod lion in quality. There was a large attendance of visitors during the day and evening. Railway Returns^—The following are the railway returns for the four weeks ending NoTember 12 : Receipts : North Wand, £22,312 8s 6d ; Middle Island, £46,091 6» 10d ; total, £68,403 15s 4d. corresponding period last year, £69,007 10s. Expenditure : North Island, £16,996 13s 7d; Middle Island, £31,567 16s 5d ; total, £48,564 93; corresponding period hat year, £j1,067 17s 81.

The Chbisthas Hohdatb.—ln our sdrertising oolumns will be found the train arrangements made for the Christmas holidays. From the 2nd December to 3rd January (inclusive) tickets available for return till the 16th January (inclusive) will be issued from any station to any station. Special fares are announced from Temuka to Ohristohurch, Dunedin, Invcroargill, and Kingston. A special night train will run from Ohristohurch to Dunedin, stopping at intermediate stations, on the 24th.

State Forests.—A return laid on the table of the House on Thursday disclosed the following tacts :—The total revenue received from State forests since the appointment of the present chief conservator (16th October 1885 to 25th November 1887) is £6580 18s 6d. The actual expenditure during same period was £12,003 5s Id. The revenue of the department for the year ending 31st March q IBB6 was £3874. The average amount of revenue obtained from all the New Zealand forests by the Crown Lands department for timber-cutting licenses from 1883 to 1885 was £2930. The report states that the loss by waste and useless destruction of standing timber has been reduced. Last season not n single kauri waß destroyed by fire. \t Maniototo, WairangajKirekireoajand Papatawa 1600 acres have been planted with black and golden wattle, red gum, ironbark, yarrol, stringy bark, otc. Portions of the plantations are estimated to yield a minimum net income of £ISOO per annum within six years, increasing 15 per cent, per annum for five years. As there are rumours as to the proposed abolition of tho above department, Mr Moat has put a question on the Order Paper to elicit information. He asks the Government whether, as commonly reported, it is the intention to aboltßh the State Forest Department ; and if so, do they intend to adopt the same precautionary measures to preserve kauri forests from fire as were so successfully t-doptnd by that department lust summer ; also, whether they intend to take atepa to preserve the young forest plantations or to extend them. Balmy sleep, good digestion, rioh blood, elastic step, and cheerfulness, in Dr Soulo's American Co/a Hop Bitten. Read and believe advt.

To the ladies of Timaru and surrounding district. — Another reduction to meet the times. A cup of tea or coffee with cake supplied at all hours at the Railway &ci reshment Rooms for 6d. Luncheon as usual. < A waitreis in attendance for ladies. The Shilling Lunches still continue at the Club Hotel. D. Mc&uinness, Proprietor.—Advt. Baxtbh'b Lung Pbbbbbtkb has gained great popularity in this district as a sperdy and effectual remedy in the treatment ot Coughs, Colds, Bbonohitib, and othei ohest. and throat complaints. Road advt., and try it. Coughs, Colds, Bbokohitis, &0., are quickly cured by using Bixter's "Lung'Preserrer." This old-established and larorite medicino is pleasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical, legal, and clerical professions. For testimonials boo advt. Sold by all patent medicine

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. A. W. Ensor—ln a buyer of wool, sheepaking, etc. Train Arrangements—Fares for Ohristmai holidays, J. D. Richards, Dinda Farm, Waitohi— Wanta a strong boy. Francis Franks, Temuka—Notifies that ha has now on tap bis celebrated Ohristmai ale; ban fresh yeast always on hand. Wm, Upton Slack, Woodside, Pleasant Valley—Wants a good girl as housemaid, and a boy to milk and make himself useful. Commitaioner Crown Lands, Christohurch —Notice re forfeited deferred payment sections in Orari Village Homestead Special Settlement open for application on 16th Jnnuury at Lend Offices, Chriitchuroh and Timaru.