LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1736, 12 May 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sale at Qeealdine, —Messrs J. Mundell and Co. soil freehold property and household furniture and effoets at Geraldine to-day. Volunteer Ball.— The annual ball under the auspices of the Temuka Rifles will bo held on tho-24ih May (Quaen’a Birthday), Tea, Concert an® Dance, —A tea, concert and dance in aid of:.tho funds of the Gapes’ Valley school takes place on Friday, the 18th May. “Folet’s Festivities.”— On Friday and Saturday evening next, Mr J. W. D. Foley will give an entertainment in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. Mr Foley givas a first-class entertainment, and doubtless will be well supported. According to reports published in papers wherever ho has, appeared, Mr Foley is very clever, and changes characters with extraordinary rapidity. The public may rely on it that his entertainment is not a fraud. The Escaped Prisoner.— A rumour was current oq Thursday that Roberts, the escaped convict, had been seen neir Miyfield, but it lacks confirmation. Thursday night’s Ashburton Guardian staled that it was expected his arrest would shortly ba effected.

Pbocliae Mania.— Very strange symp'oms of what may be termed insanity were exhibited down South last week. A farmer living near Fukernu named Hugh McPhail had worried himself so much ovar his monetary troubles that it appears his mind became affected. He went to Gore to meet some of his creditors whom ha was unable to pay, and to humble himself be took off his ordinary clothing and donned a sack, with holes cut in it for his head and arms. Ho was noticed in this state, however, and, according to the Mat mra Ensign, Dr Cox ordered his removal to the Asylum. He has a wife and fam ly of eight children. Alexandrovna Lodge, I.O.O.F.—The regular monthly meeting of the above Lodge was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Temuka, on Monday evening last. The Lodge was opened by Bro. Larcomba, V.G., in Ihe absence of the N.G. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Apologies from Bros. Archer, Heap, and Davis were read and accepted. A candidate for membership was ballotted for and elected a i member of tiie lodge. The quarterly return sheet was mad and passed for payment. The lodge was then closed in tbe usual manner. Tub Delights op Rinsing.— The Tnieri Advocate goes into hysterics over the delights of rink'ng, and rhapsodises as follows Those who think that life is not worth living we advise to try % quarter of an hour on roller skates. We guarantee that inside of the first fifteen minutes on skates they will experience sensations to which they had pteviously been utter strangers. Sensations that will stir up their feelings and awaken within their souls now ideas concerning the ups and downs of life. The first quarter of an hour passed, new sensations arrive, and the skater, gliding smoothly around the rink, with one arm round the slender waist of his best girl, feels as happy as a spotted angel in golden wings sitting on the edge of a crimson cloud playing the iew’s harp and eating bread and treacle.”

L.O.G.T. —The weekly meeting of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, No. 44, 1.0.G.T., Geraldine, was held on Monday eveirng last, there being a good attendance of members. After the roll of officers had been called out, the installation of officers for the ensuing term took place, the ceremony being performed by the Lodge Deputy, Bro. T. Sherratt, assisted by Bro. W. Coltman, junr., acting as Deputy Grand Marshall. ’the following as the officers elected s—o. T., Bro. Ferguson; V.T., Bro. J. Biown ; Secretary, Bro. A. Fishar (re-elected) ; A.S., Bro. Brooker; F.S., re-elected; Treasurer, Bro. Hardy; Chaplain, Sister Dunlop ; Marshal, Bro. Stringer ; 1.G., Bro. Rennie ; 0.G., Bro. Peterson. Sister Duniop kindly provided.refreshment?. Votes of thanks were passed to the lodge deputy and his assistants, and to Sister Dunlop,

Acclimatisation— .TheGeraldineOoun'y j Acclimatisation Society recently purchased from the Canterbury Society 1200 j young salmon, at a cost of £3O, and theso I were brought down and liberated on the j 2nd instant—looo in the Ternufca river by ( the bridge on the main road, and 200 in the lagoon in the Temuka Park, The latter will be liberated in the river when they increase in siz u . They have also purchased 900 young salmon trout at a cost of £2 per hundred. These were j brought down on Thursday by Mr Farr, . o! the Canterbury Society, and he was mat at the railway station by Mr Aspinall, Secretary ef the Geraldine Society, Mr N. C. Nicholas, and others. The fish were liberated in the Tcmuku river near the Oxford bridge. The salmon averaged from 5 to 7 inches in length, and the salmon trout from 2 to 5 inches. The Society is doing good work in stocking the streams with fish. Walking Against Time. -A good deal of commotion was caused in Tetnnkn yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock, the cause being Mr Henry Cioss, M.A., starting to walk against time to Winchester. Mr Cross is a fine specimen of a splendidly deve'opud athlete, and it appears lint some conversation took place between himself and his fellow - boarders as to the time it would take to walk to Winchester—a distance of about four miles or so. Mr Cross held he could do it under 45 minutes, but others held he could not, and the argument resulted in Mr Cross being challenged to prove it. Whether there were bets on it is a matter of very small importance. Mr Cross accepted the challenge, and arranged to walk to Wmrhes'er. He started a few minutes before 5 o’clock, itccompanitd by MrF.K. Gray walking on foot, a few traps crowded wi'h interested “sports,” anl others on horseback. For some reason the programme was changed on the way up, and instead of walking from Teinuka to Winchester Mr Cross w-alked from Winchester toTermika, and made a record which will take others all their time to beat, He aid (ho journey in 42 minutes 42 seconds, and came in as fresh as a daisy, without having a hair turned. It is contemplated by others, we believe, to try 1 o heat this record, but we doubt very much whether it can bo done by any of our local “ pods.”

R.M. Court, Temuka. —At the above Court yesterday, before K. F. Cray, Esq., Henry Higgit was fined 20s, or in default one week’s imprisonment, for having been drunk while in charge of a horse and trap. <■ The Primate.—The Press understands that a pet tion is being numerously signed in the southern portion of the diocese of Christchurch asking the Primate of New Zealand to reconsider his proposed resignation of the Bishopric.

Shearing Sheep by Electricity.—A sheep-farmor of Dunbaok, Otigo, named Arthur Buck Kitchener, has applied for a patent for shearing sheep or other animals bearing wool or hair by means of wire healed by electricity. A Loss. —A return has besn prepared, on a motion last session of Mr O'Oallaghan, showmg the result of the issue of market tickets on the Hmunui-Bluff line, compared with those of ordinary single fare return tickets for a iinulir period. The result has been that, while 7880 more journeys wore made, the revenue aooiuing therefrom is £543 lesj.

Savings Bank Returns. From the Savings Bank returns it appears that where a in the year 1867 there were only 6977 depositors for an aggregate sura of £96,372 ; in 1887 depositors numbered 136,197, and their aggregate amount was £1,312,151. The largest deposit was in 1885, the amount boim; £1,341,000. the next £1,325,852 in 1882. Last year therefore stands third.

Destruction of Rabbits.—Messrs Riddock, owners of a station in Wilcanniu, have adopled a in fiod of poisoning rabbits with phosphorous wheat, which they find very successful. They have a machine resemblng that used for planting corn, which mabis n : furrow as it goes along, and drops feeds about every 3'’t, On going over the ground the nest day scarcely a seed was left, whilst there were dead rabbits lying about everywhere. There are four of these machines continually travelling over the station.

Fiuks. —On Wednesday night last Mr Eli Mitchell, of Wailohi, had two slacks of wheat destroyed by fire. The stacks, with four others, were insured for £loo—only a very small part of their value. It is supposed tne fire was an incendiary one. On Tuesday morning a combine and elevator, two pairs of shafts, harness, and about 800 bushels of wheat —600 threshed —were destroyed on Studliohno'i W.aimite Estate. The cause of the fire is unknown. The threshing plant was insured for £250, and the wheat was uls; insured.

A Knottx Point.—lu the Appeal Court, Wellington, on Wednesday, a case in re the Land Tranfer Act 1885, ex parte the District Land Registrar at Oaristchurch, to have the registration of certain land in Canterbury cancelled, is of interest, on account of the fact that Hull, the Tunaru poisoner, is mixed up in the transaction. Lysagbt and Measoa were mortgagees of the land under the Land Transfer Act, and Meason was in partnership with Hall. Hall, by fraud, induced Meason to sign a trunfer of the mortgage in favor of McKaowo, and forged Lyaaghl’s signature thereto. McKeown paid the purchase money to Hall, who acted as his agent, and Hall, as McKcown’s agent or broker, procured the transfi-r to bo registered, and handed (ha documents of title to MeKeown, appropriating the money to his own use. Judgment was reserved.

PbESBYTEBIAN Chdboh — On Tuesday evening a masting of tbe ladies connected with the Tetnuka Presbyterian Church bazaar took plico in the house of Mrs McOnskill to perfect one of the mmy moneyraising schemes decided upon. Useful work was done, and satisfactory arrangements made. The object of the undertaking is lo wipe out n debt of £250, contracted in more prosperous limes, and for which interest is now being paid. Believing that a Church in debt is handicapped as regards earnest Christian work, the ladies, who are generally far-sighted and foremost in every good work, have entered upon the tusk they have set themselves with an energy, harmony, perseverance, and oneness of aim that, deserve to be crowned with abundant success. Proposing us it docs to get, rid of an old burden which weighs heavily and acts injuriously in many ways, the scheme will commend itself to tbe warm, sympathy of the beneficent public generally. We understand that novel",y will be largely call 4 into service, and many attractions introduced from other districts and lauds. The transformation of the hall and tbo fitting up are being already taken into consideration. Although no collectors of money, material, or produce have been appointed, several gentlemen have offered valuable contributions. The Committee, feeling that the strain could not be maintained for uu indefinite period, purpose holding the bazaar before tbe close of the present year, and are hopeful it will be a gnat success. Fatal Accident. -On Tuesday evening last, abeut 5.30, the body of Mr Wm. Moody, a settler m South Canterbury of 15 years, and one of the most prominent business men in Timaru, was found drowned iu Little Pighunting Creek, about five miles to the south of Timaru, just below the railway bridge, and near where lie resided. On Tuesday morning Mr Moody left Inmo with, the intention of vis.ting a neighbour, and then returning and proceeding to his place of business in Titaaru. He paid tbe visit he intended, and then gave some orders to the men working on his farm. This was the last seen of him ulive. As he did not return home, his family conjectured that he had determined to walk into Timaru. That anything was wrong was not thought of till he failed to return home about five o’clock in the evening by train, and a search was nt once commenced. About half-past five Jamas Mann, one of the employees on tiie farm, found the body of his employer in an upright position in the creek before mentioned, in about eight feet of water. With assistance the body was got out, but life was extinct. A stick belonging to the deceased was found about sixty yards above the bridge, and his watch was found to have stopped at two minutes past twelve o’clock. His hat was on his head, his clothing not in the slightest disarranged, and he apparently died with scarcely a struggle. It is thought that he was attempting to cross the railway bridge, and, being very nervous, he missed his footing and fell between the sleepers into the water. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. The deceased was atone time general manager for the N.Z. Meat Preserving Company, and was a member of several public bodies, notably the Timaru Harbor Board, the Geraldine County Council, and Levels Road Board, of all of which he was for some time Chairman. H's life was insured for £2OOO. He leaves a widow and six children and an aged mother to mourn his loss.

Given up by the Doctors. “ I» it possible that Mr Godfrey i» up and at work, and oared by so simple a remedy ?” “ I assure you that ha ia entirely cured, and with nothing but Dr. Soule’s American Hop Bitten; and only ten days ago his doctors gave him up and said he must die, ” " Well-a day ! ” This is remarkable ! ” I will go thin day aud got some for my poor George. I know hops are good.—Post.

Baxter’s Lung Prkserveb has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy m the treilmont ot Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, and othet chest, and t,hro*t complaints. Read advt. and try it.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS,

Concert and Dance —At Gapes’s Valley on 18th May. Temuka Rifles—Notice re ball on Queen’s Birthday. ' F. Dierok, Geraldine—Has large supply of stone piles on hand. J. W. D. Foley—Notice re entertainment in Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on 18' h and 19th, H. Parker, Geraldine—Advertises opening of a select dancing class at Geraldine on Monday next.

Temuka Road Board—Notify that until further notice rates due to the Board must be paid to Mr F. Archer, James Epps and Co, Homoeopathic Chemists, London, England Epps’s Cocoa.