LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1684, 10 January 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. Kakahu Bush School. This school re-assembled after the Christmas holidays yesterday. Sale op Freehold Property.— Messrs G-raeie, Maclean, and Adam hold a sale of valuable freehold property in Temuka to-day.

Temuka Mechanics' Institute. The annual meeting of members of this Institute will take place on Friday evening next at 8 o clock. The San Francisco Mail, The mail matter for this district was brought down yesterday by the express train from Christchurch.

Mb Brown's Opinion.— Mr J. O. Brown thinks it would pay the Colony to give Major Atkinson sis weight in.go'd on the condition that he will hold aloof from politics. Board Meetings. The Temuka and Geraldine Road Boards hold their monthly meetings to*day. The monthly meeting of the Arowhenua Town Boardtakes place to-morrow evening. The Fashions. —At a conference of ladies held m Bond Street, London, on the subject of dress, it was decided that the plumage of small birds should no longer be considered as fashionable trimming for robes or bonnets:— It has been noticed in Wellington that the newly arrived girls by the Eaikoura don’t wear dress improvers. struck by Lightning.—A >heep raiser named Thompson, living in the division ef Victoria West, Cape Colony, South Africa, drove a flock of 1430 ewes up to a small building in which he intended to taka shelter from the storm. As the sheep huddled around the building, it was struck by lightning and shattered, and 790 of the sheep were instantly killed.

Anniversary Services at the Primitive Methodist Chdrch. On Sunday laat the Rev. T. E, Jones, the “ Fiery Welshman,” addressed largo congregations at the Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka. His addresses, which were characterised by the utmost zeal and fervour, were listened to with the utmost attention, and made an evidently good oppression. A number of appropriate hymnV weyp rendered by the choir, under the leadership of frlrs Airey. The collection, which was a substantial onp ? fas in aid of the Trust Fund. i

A Lady “ Spout.” —“ During her visit to Loud and Lady Coventry, at Croome Court, Worcestershire,” says the Liverpool Catholic Times, “ the Oomtesse de Paris shot 228 rabbits to her own gun in three days,” Superfluous Letters. —A little pamphlet advocating a new system of condensed printing states that it costs the London Times £SOO a year to use the superfluous “a” in the English spelling of such words ns favour, colour, endeavour, etc., counting material, labor, and space at advertising rates. . Description op a Marquis. —“ The Marquis of Drogheda was not to be “ got at” by'the Auckland interviewers, aud : (he Herald lot him down thus:—“He is a tall, rather stout, inoffensive old gentleman, of about with a straggling iron-grey beard, and placid countenance.” A Sensational Exhibit.—Says the Hastings Star;—We bear that Mr Bowman, one of our local carriers, has a notion of doing a bit in the show line. He has, so it is said, heard of a petrified child somewhere in the I'anpo country, and intends leaving with a coach and pair , shortly to bring the wonderful curiosity down. i.

Strange Animal.— The Palmerston Times states that a nondescript animal, captured near Dunback, has been on view. It has a ferretlooking head and a symmetrioilly-shaped body, with a long tail, resembling in appearance the Australian opposum. The animal has a beautiful coat of fur. The genera belief is that it is a cross between a ferret and a rabbit.

Co- operation. —The Auckland Woollen Company have orders on hand to keep their machinery hard at Wft|}? day. and night for several months. The promoter stales that the Company’s success, ia greatly due to its extensive share-list of small holders, distributed among the people, and the firm intention of citizens and the country folks to support sound local industry. , LoNdon Hospital. —At the annual public meeting of the London’ Hospital it was reported that the .institution had now, been in existence fourteen years, and had ■ recaivhd within its : . walls over , 4000 patients and more than 96,000 outpatients. It had treated a large variety of diseases, and had dens so with success, while in only five cases daring the whole' of that time had alcoholic treatment been given, and it was hoped that in the future even this small percentage would disappear. A Mean Insurance Agent.— Life insurance agents are generally cussed by all and sundry, but, : says the Wanganui Herald, the Porirua blacksmith seams to have as good a reason as anyone for his dislike'to the whole' tribe. ' He says;— I “Yduknorv, sir, I was, once engaged to a young, girl, and, one of those lifo insurance agents.persuaded her not tomarry unless her husband’s life was insured.! Well, be,came to me, and I insured for £300.1 Well, what do y6ii think hs did ? He wentto my rival, and got him to insure for £SOO, ;and the .girl t married him. I hate those ' agents,That I db.*l' l j; , RBUfBBNOHMENT.r-The whole of the employees irt the Forestry Department have received notice that -their -services will be dispensed with at the end of the month. It is estimated that £10,(100 per annum wijl be saved by the abolition -of this department. The Cabinet will probably meet on, the 16th, when the retrenchment scheme will be discussed. The principal reduction will, it is understood,' be', ip the mine* and survey, stock, forest, and immigration -departments, and a large number of the officers f in those departments have already received notice.

Sale oe Woek 'and Tea Meeting.— On Thursday afternoon next, at 3 o'clock, a sale of work in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan Church will take place in the Temuka Volunteer Hall, A large stock of useful ‘ arid fancy articles has been prepared End gifts of farm produce and lire stock hare been promised, and if buyers only attend in sufficient numbers, and with plenty \ of cash, the debt, under which the Church is now suffering should .soon be a thing of the past. Persons who hare promised gifts should delirer the same as early as possible to those who have the management of the sale. v In the evening; a tea meeting will be held. 7 1 ’■■ * ’ ! The New Zealand Institute. The' New Zealand Institute completed its sitting' at Nelson on Friday evening.. Motions were passed deprecating the raising of the school age and doing. away with the working average. A motion was passed affirming the desirability of continuing training collages. The desirability of admitting children who passed the fifth standard at 12 and the sixth standard at 13 to a four years’ course of secondary education was affirmed. The Council will meet next year at, Wellington. Mr McMorrin vt as elected President for the ensuing year; Mr J. Q-. 8. Scott was reelected Treasurer, and Mr Worthington Secretary.

Eibb at Geealdink.—A painter’s shop, with a four-roomed house attached, belonging to Mr R. H. Pratt, was burnt down on Saturday morning. The fire was first discovered about five o’clock by Mr B, Gibson, who was getting his horse ready to go to Timaru. Mr Gibson immediately gave the alarm to Mr J. Biordan, whose premises adjoin. The fire { had, however, obtained such a hold that any attempt to arrest its progress was useless, and the place was completely destroyed. The origin of the fire is a mystery, as no one was living in the place, Mr Pratt having recently removed to a house he hss just completed at the Other end of the town. The building was insured in the New Zealand Office for £IOO.

' Sidnkt Exhibition;— By the Waikatipu, which left Lyttelton on Sunday evening, several exhibits were shipped for the Sydney Centennial Exhibition. Mr James Rowe, of Christchurch, takes 19 Berkshire pigs and 15 Yorkshires, hot including litters. Among them are Countess, first-prize Yorkshire sow this year at Timaru, Ashburton; Rangiora, Christchurch, and Dunedin; Pride *f Canterbury, Yorkshire sow under six months,, firstprize taker at Timaru, Ashburton, and Christchurch; Young Samson, first-prize young boar at Timaru . and Ashburton. Messrs Andrews and Sevan and Messrs Reid and Gray send chaff cutters, and Mr T. D. Green sends hams and bacon.' The vessel has also on board 27 Ayrshire cadle, taken by Mr JT. B. Ferguson, of Blueskin, and an Alderney bull from Mr McKay’s herd at Taieri,

Rabbits and Ferrets.— Ferrate have been found to be no match for the rabbi is on the Otematata Bnn. At a special meeting of the Oaraaru Harbor Board recently, Pearson, writing on behalf of Messrs Tescbjsmakor and Ritchie, stated that “ ferrets had been turned out en Otematata many years ago, and for some time they appeared to keep the rabbits in check, but latterly the rabbitta obtained the supremacy, and last winter the ferrets appeared to have taken to eating the poisoned rabbits, as they have been found all over the run, so, in the face of this, it would be a waste of money to turn out ferrets there.” He pointed put that the turning out of stoats and weasels would be of no use to the present tenant*, whose lease expires in three years,and he therethat a bonus should be paid op tjie ships.

Oddpellowship, Tbmdka. —The installation of officers of the Alexandrovna Lodge, Temuka, took place last evening. The installation was conducted by D.D.Q.M. Bro. Donn, assisted by P.Q.’fl Bros. Dunford and Davie. The following officers were installed : N.G., Bro, F. Archer ; Y.G., Bro. G. Phillips; Secretary, Bro. J. Blyth ; Treasurer, Bro. J. Whitehead ; R.S. to N.G., Bro. T. Larcombe ; L.S. to N.G., Bro. J. Beri ; Conductor, Bro. H. Dunford ; 1.G., Bro. J. Davis; R.S. to Y.G., Bro. A. Sufridge.

Found Out. —A barman at one of the grand stand booths at the Melbourne races entered upon his work fully equipped for action. The caterer had discovered that some of his assistants were taking substantial toll out of the proceeds of business passing through their hands, and. secret arrangements wore made for keeping watch over their doings. The barman in question was seen during the pressure of custom to slip a sixpence inside his collar, and upon his being taken and searched, between £2 and £3 in small coins were found concealed about' his person. He had long stockings on and his underclothing was tightly fastened by belts at the knees, so that he formed in fact an animated purse for the occasion. Money dropped in at the neck was quite secure from falling out when h* walked about, and he doubtless anticipated a fair pile when he undressed himself. He got three months. An Ingenious Swindle. —A very curious plan of cheating the Parisian authorities of the octroi duty chargeable on wine and most articles of food has been lately discovered owing to an accident. For some time past a gentleman has been in the habit of driving his elegant victoria every evening past the city barrier in the Bois de Boulogne, He was always accompanied by a groom, also well dressed, who seemed generally to sleep on- the box by his master’s sido. In due time, after passing, the well-appointed carriage would returo, and the officials became so accustomed to its appearance as to cease to devote any scrutiny to it. But one evening the victoria ran into a heavy waggon, and both master and groom were thrown out. The former was picked up insensible, whilst from a deep wound in the latter, there poured not bldod, but burgundy. The interesting menial was composed of zinc, cleverly modelled and artistically painted. The carriage itself was then examined, nnd was found to contain a zinc well also full of wine. The master, of course, only recovered his senses to find himself in the hands of the police. Alleged Horse Stealing. Sergeant Livingstone arrested Jonathan Roberts on Saturday night, at 10 o’clock at the WaShdyke on a charge of stealing a horse, saddle, and bridle, at Mount Somers., It appears (says. the Timaru Mail) that Roberts, who had been employed as a, wool-classer, or something of the sort, by Mr Hood, left suddenly on January 6, and the horse was missed almost immediately after. The Timaru police were informed of the affair by Sergeant Felton. It was discovered that on Saturday morning a horse was brought to Mr Jonas’s saleyard by a boy, who presented a letter purporting to be signed by one Beattie, junr., Kakau, directing that the horse be sold for anything it might fetch, it was duly sold for £l4. The boy was told he could have the cheque at 3 o,clock, but he did not wait for it. As no one called for the cheque, Sergeant Livingstone, went out to Washdyke, whence the boy had .• come, and there he found thatJonathan Rpberts, had despatched him with the horse and the letter, and was, then asleep a,t the Doncaster Hofei. . The sergeant arrested him in the bedroom and took, him into Timaru. Yesterday tho : accused, -was ;brdught up at the R.M. Court, charged , with stealing a horse, saddle, bridle, and martingale. On the application of Inspector Pender, a remand, was granted till Wednesday, We know Dr Soule's Hop Bitten are above and beyond all as a nutritious tonic and curative. Genuine if made by American do. Read thoroughly the advt, ■■ The vigor of youth given to the oged and, infirm by using Dr Soule’s Hop Bitters made by American 00. Try it. Bead advt.

Baxter’s Lung Peesbbvbe has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy in the treatment ot Coughs, Coeds, Bronchitis, and other chest and throat complaints. Read advt. and try it. “Bough on Oatabbh.”— Corrects of. fenaive odors at once. Complete cure c{ worst chronic oases, also unequalled as ga’glo for dipthoria, sore throat,' foul brave. Kempthome, Proa jar and 0 0., Agents, Oariotohuroh, 4

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. D. McDonald, Woodbury—layitss tendsrs for building church. Temuka Mechanics’ Institute Annual meeting of members on Friday evening next. J. H. Dean, Woodbury Hotel—lnvites tenders for improvement! at Mrs Murray’s dwelling house at Woodbury. B. F. Gray, Auctioneer, Temuka—ll :s Kpworth farm, near Temuka, for sals in one or more lots. Particulars from Mr John Meyer or auctioneer. ,

Gleudinning and Dobie, Dunedin—Notify that all accounts owing to the Ift e firm of Leslie, Lane, and Dobie, Drapers, Dunedin, must be paid on or before the 29th January, or they will b: sued for. C. B, Eichbaum, Medical Hall—Notifies that his stock at Geraldine is now replete with every description of drugs, patent medicines, toilet requisites, etc., and he is prepared to make up physicians’ prescriptions with the purest drugs at Timaru prices. T. and J. Thomson, Drapers and Silk Mercers j Timaru—Notify that in consequence of the retirement of Mr J. P. Thomson from the firm, they are now holding a great sale of their magnificent stock of general drapery, hosiery, gloves, laces, mantles, millinery, eto. The sale will last for 21 days. James Winning, General Storekeeper, Temuka—While acknowledging psst favors, notifies that he has just received new seasons’ manilla and English hemp binding twines, lard, lubricating, castor, and colza oils, hay forks, rakes, and all requisite for the coming harvest; hai a large and varied stock of drapery, grocery, ironmongery, crockery, boots and shoes, etc., at reasonable prices.

Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines, is highly impressed with the extent and prospects of the Gisborne petroleum district. He is to prepare a report on the subjactfor Government. The Auckland Board cf Education is vigorously protesting against the proposal of the Government to discontinue the subsidy to I heir Girls’ High School. A young lady named Jessie Gray, living with Mrs Macfarlane, of Coldstream, was found dead io bed ou Sunday morning, oho appeared quite well' when she went to bed on Saturday night. Heart disease is supposed to be the pausp of dp*th.