LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1739, 19 May 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tmuiq-uation and Eki«bation. —Daring the month of April 775 persons arrived in the colony and 1725 departed from it. The Rabbit Nuisance. —The Awatam Rabbit Board, Marlborough, imported 137 stoats and weasels by the Doric, which arrived at Lyltelton on Thursday* They are to be released on rabbit-infested land. Find on Goad. —A discovery of coal baa been made on the property of the Midland Railway Company, near Mount Torlesse, and is now on view at Christchurch. The ceal has a bright appearance, burns freely, and is full of gas. Expoet op Hobbes. — A Wellington firm intend shipping 250 horses to India shortly by the s.s. Tekapo, One hundred and fifty will be procured* in the South Island, and the rest in the North. Some produce and preserved meat will also be sent. Fatal Accident.—A child named Clarke, sixteen months old, the son of Mr G. K, Clarke, Christchurch, was drowned in a bucket at Christchurch on Thursday last. The child had been seen running about the house a few minutes before it was found drowned, Balance-Shbbt. columns will be found the balance-sheet ot the Temuka Town Beard for the year ending 31st March, 1888. The receipts amounted to £512 17c 41, and the expenditure to £432 lOi 81, leaving a balance of £BO 6i Bd. The assets show a balance oyer liabilities of £916 10* 2d. Pbeoautionabt. —lt is the custom in England on the death of the Sovereign for Ministers to resign, and appointments to be terminated. This may be expected to occur again in the ordinary course of events, and the Government are taking the precaution to bring in this session a Demise of the Crown Bill, which will provide that in New Zealand offices shall not be interfered with by the death of the sovereign.—Exchange. Gisbobnb Oil Spbines. —lnspector Gordon has reported to the Government at great length on the oil industry at Poverty Bay. Ho believes that in a few years the supply of oil will deyelop into an important industry. Speaking of the South Pacific Oil Company, which has struck oil, he says j—“ There is little doubt that a large supply will be obtained, but it becomes a question now of capital to develop the springs. This will take time, and although I have little doubt as to the ultimate success, I think that two years will elapse before the Company will be in a position to supply oil.” The Railways,— The General Manager’s report on working railways has been presented to Parliament, The report states that the gross revenue is£so,ooo less than four years ago, owing to reduction in rates and charges, but these have favored local producers. There are 1758 miles of line open, as against 1727 in the previous year. Interest at the rata of £2 6s has been earned. The expenditure has been £687,328, nearly £12,000 less than the previous year. In eight years £IOO,OOO worth of work in trucks and carriages has been done in the Government workshops of a kind which had previously been imported. There are 200 i a wer bands employed than three years ago. The cost of repairing damage to th» Wellington line by the great storm of 28th March has been only £ISOO. The locomotives built by Scott Bros., of Christchurch, are stated to be showing fair results. Sihoulab Cbazb. —The latest craze among the fashionable ladies in America, according to a Chicago newspaper, is to wear a diamond embedded in one of their front teeth! This remarkable development of feminine vanity is said to owe its origin to a fayorite burlesque actress in New York, who thought it would be very delightful indeed to flash dazzling gleams of light upon her admirers every time she opened her mouth. The diamond —of coarse a very small one—is fixed in a false front tooth two-thirds of the size of the natural incisor, a corresponding portion cf which is cut away, and the false tooth “ pivoted ” ou to the real one. Were the gem embedded in a natural tooth, it would speedily cause it to decay. The tooth selected for adornment is always the most prominent, and the lady to whom the credit of this brilliant inspiration is due is said to baye created a great sensation upon her first appearance with a diamond in her mouth. The New York dentist who aided her to achieve this triumph says ho has received half-a-dozen ordeis for front teeth set with diamonds.

Catholic Schools.—Mr Yinoeni Pyke has given notice in the House of his Roman Catholic Schools Bill, giving state aid to Catholic schools.

Still They do, —One hundred and eighty passengers sailed in the Te Anau which left Auckland for Sydney on Wednesday. Fifty other applications for passages were refused, owing to want of accommodation.

The Customs. —Changes being anticipated in the Customs duties, large clearances of goods from bond are being made. During the present month Meessrs Nelson, Moats and 00. have paid over £4OOO to clear tea from bond, valued at from £25,000 to £30,000. The Tabhi. —lt is supposed in seme quarters that the Goyernmsnt will propose an addition of 3d per lb on tea and Jd on sugar. Apart from these items, it is expected that the new Tariff Bill will be mainly of a mildly protective character.

Beiiqnbd. —Mr H. S. Baddeley, R.M., has sent in to Government his resignation of the office of Sheriff ot Auckland and Police Magistrate. It is stated that the fees received by Mr Boddeloy did rot amount to anything like the promised sum, and he has therefore resigned, fie is entitled to a pension. Gobh Dairy Factory.— The Gore Dairy Factory Company have sold their season's make of cheese to a Brisbane firm at sjd par lb, f.o.b. at the Bluff, and could have sold ten more tons at the same rate. A factory on the same principle as the Gore one is to be started at Tapanui. Timar* Hariob Board— At the Timaru Harbor Board meeting on Wednesday last, after considering in committee the aubjeot of the large fixed deposit falling duo on the 31st May, it was resolved—- “ That in reference to the fixed deposit of the board which falls due on the 31st May, the Chairman be empowered to effect the necessary arrangements wiih (he Bank of New Zealand for fixed deposit.” Accounts to the amount of £2691 15s were passed for payment. The remainder ot the business transacted was reported in our last issue.

Chinese Morality.— A reporter of tho N.Z. Herald, who has been Interviewing Sir G. Grey, asked him, “ Are the Chinese more immoral tha i we are I” To this Sir George replied—" They have a different kind of morality ; 1 would hardly like to give a judgment on the question, but they allow many customs very abhorrent to us. For instance, you can buy a wife. I could send to China for a 50dol wife, and 1 could bring an action against a man if ha supplied me for that money with one worth only 30dol. But mind, I consider some of their laws as good as laws could be.”

The Esoafed Convict.— Roberts, who recently escaped from the Timaru gaol, is said to have been seen at Makikihi on Tuesday, where be made some purchases at a little store. After leaving Makikihi he made off in the direction of Hunter’s Hills. Me was reported to be not at all short of money, having worked at a threshing mill in the district for a week. The police, however, who were soon on the spot, failed to find any trace of the man up to yesterday morning. The shirt; flannel, and veat worn by Roberts when he escaped were found on Wednesday by a person who was out rabbiting to the south of Saltwater oreek. They were secreted in a gorse fence.

The Education Report. —The annual report of the Minister of Education was presented to Parliament on Wednesday evening. It states that the present annual reduction in educational expenditure effected by substituting " strict ” for " working ” average, cutting down the allowance for expenses, and withdrawing the training grant, is in all £39,750. The daily attendance for tho year, estimated according to working average, is 87,937, and for the fourth quarter 89,550. The corresponding numbers for 1886 were 83,405 and 85,847, the respective increases for the year being, therefore, 4532 and 4246. There were 110,919 pupils on the rolls at the end of the year, or more by 41,591 than at the end of 1886.

Village Settlement*. Tho Napier Evening News says Week after week, month after month, the big block organs try to decry the Tillage Settlements, founded by the lute Government, and mainly upon the principle that no man should own or occupy less than 10,000 acres of land. It is astonishing to notice the diligence with which they will pile up mis-statement upon misstatement, until they bare raised a vast mountain of falsehoods, with which they hope to crush the small settler out of existence. Mora especially do they ridicule the Pahiatua and Woodville settlements as being absolute failures. We learn upon the rery best and reliable authority that exactly the contrary is the case. At Pahiatua alone, a settlement hewn out of the virgin forest by the sturdy settlers planted by the late Gorernment, upwards of 60 new callages have been erected during the last six months. The Crown Lands Sanger reports that if any section is giren up there are at once a score or so of applicants for it, and that, in fact, at tho present time sections are practically impossible to get -and this is what the big block organs call failure ! Would that New Zealand had more of such failures and less of the 100,000-acre blocks, whore a couple of shepherds, a rouse-about, and a Chinese cook are the sole beings who find employment.” Geraldine Public Svoets Oomicitxib.— A meeting of this committee was held at the Geraldine Hotel on Wednesday evening last. Present—Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (chairman), Q. Ward, J. Turner, J. W. Pyo, R. Taylor, and ths Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from Mr W. Duncac, Timaru, winner of the second prize m the bicycle race, asking the Committee to hold the cup won by him till another sports day, and allow him to choose in its place some article of use to the value of his prize, or else to have the cup engraved. Tbs whole question of engraving the cups was then brought up, and after discussion tho Committee decided to forward them to the winners without being engraved, as they considered they wers good value for the prizes offered. The Geraldine Band’s account far £5 for services rendered on the day of the sports was next discussed. Several of the committee stated that they counted the number of players present, and there were not as many as stipulated for, and also remarked on the small amount of playing done. After consideration it was decided, seeing that no written agreement had been drawn up, to pay the full amount, the secretary at the same time to notify tbs Band that the committee were not satisfied with the carrying out of their agreement. Mr P. J. Bell, the handioapper, wrote requesting his account for £3 3s for handicapping to be forwarded to him. The Committee were decidedly of opinion that the whole amount should not be paid, as Mr Bell had agreed to come out to Gerajdin# with the handicaps, foi the Committee to go over them with him, and had not done so. it was finally decided to pay Mr Bell the sum of £2 2s, without prejudice, in satisfaction of his claim. The accounts passed amounted to £l6 15s Bd. The Secretary was instructed to immediately endeavor to got in the subscription books from the committee, wuh the subscriptions paid to them by the public, with a new to settling the committee’s business for the year. A vote of tbauks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

Thk Population.—The estimated population of the colony on the 31st March last was 146,913.

Football. The match between the ; I «mukaand Timaru Clubs, which wai to >s played in the Temuka Park to-day, has ion postponed, owing to the Timaro Club ling unable to send a team to Temuka. All ■ambers are requested to be on the ground • 3 p.m. sharp, as there will be a scratch uae between a picked fifteen verms the mainder ot the Club.

Loyal Albxandbovya Lodsi, 1.0.0. F., BMUEA. —The usual fortnightly meeting of i 8 above Lodge was held oh Monday ist. There was a good attendance of memJifl, all officers, with one exception, being ■resent. The minutes of the provioue meet* ig were read and confirmed. A oiroular om the Grand Lodge re change* in the at the biennial seision wm ■asd. Copies of the annual report; and oalanoe-sheets of the Grand Lodge were received. An account due to the Grand Lodge was passed for payments Bro. Yhitehuad was authorised to attend to eoma * repairs to the roof of the hall. The receipt! f ')r the night amounted to £3 8* 3d,

FoiißY's Fhbtivitibs.— Ae we anticipated» f he entertainment given by Mr J. W. D, j'oley in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last uvoning, proved the convene of a fraud. It was one of the most enjoyable and laughterprovoking entertainments we have seen in Temuka. The first part consisted of a piece entitled “ Bomer’* Relations.” Bomer is a newly-married man, who has invited all hie wife’s relatione to bin house to a bell, and they prove most extraordinary people. They all belong to different nationalities and occupy different positions in life, and they an personated by Mr Foley himself. He changes with most extraordinary rapidity, now appearing as a servant girl, next as a heavy swell, then a Gorman, an Iriih woman with an irritable baby, a bride, and so on, till aT the characters are delineated. In every character he represented he was extremely successful, and as the language was very humorous and witty, the bouse was kept in roars of laughter all the +ii»t. He sang and danced well and frequently, and never disappeared unaccompanied by great applause. Mr Foley opened the second part of his entertainment with an exhibition of his ventriloquial powers, which certainly are the best we have witnessed. He had two comical looking puppets, which he made sing amusingly and speak the drollest things possible, evidently to the intense delight of' the audience. Unlike most ventriloquists not a motion of Mr Foley’s month is observable while making his puppets apeak, neither can anyone notice that ho makei the •lighest effort. He is certainly a first-lass ventriloquist. This was followed by a change to a Chinaman, who sang and danced fantastically, and played "Homo, Sweet Borne” delightfully on bottles arranged in a row on a table. The change to a Scotch girl was a 8 .nick as lightning, and she sang, danced, and played the " Highland Fling ” on bottles. She had barely disappeared when an Irishman, all the way from Limerick,' introduced himself. He had had a terrible amount of trouble since his arrival in the country. Ha had bought a farm from the Loan and Mercantile, and now it belonged to the Bank of New Zealand. A song and an Irish jig by a flower girl terminated one of the best entertainments ever held in Temuka, and when we say that all the characters were represented by Mr Fvley himself, it is sufficient to show that he is an actor of great versatility. Every character was delineated in & first-class manner, and the delight of the audience was manifested in frequent bursts of applause which was 'as genuine as it was hearty. As we anticipated, the deception recently practised upon the people doubtless prerented many from attending, and consequently the audience was not so largo as might be expected, still there was a fair house, bat wo feel certain that there will bs a pretty.full hall this evening, when Mr and Mrs Foley will appear in a com dietia entitled “ Matrimony. ” For the benefit of school children and ‘persons living at a distance, Mr Foley will : giro a pe formauco at 2.30 p.m., when we hope to see a large attendance of the rising generations. Mr Foley’s ventriloquial conversation with his puppets is just what the young people will enjoy. It is only right that we should add that the whole entertainment was free from the slightest taint of any thing objectionable, and nobody need hesitate in going on that. Account.; It is extremely funny, but it stop* at genuine fan. There is not, from beginning to end, s coarse word.

The best medicine known is Sandbk and Sons’ Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds,: influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious, cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, bums, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is tho safest remedy—no. swelling—no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation ef thejlungs, swellings, &0., diarrhoea, dysentry diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe,- patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with, medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, and reject all others-

Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, &«., are quickly cured by using Baxter’s “ Lung Preserver.” This old-established and favorite medicine is phasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical, legal, and clerical professions. For testimonials, see advt. Sold by all patent medicine vendors.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. J. W. D. Foley,—Notice re last appearance in Temuka to-night. J. Mundell and Co.—Hold akin sale at Geraldine on Monday, 28th May .. W. 8. Maelin—Sells househdlj furniture and effects at Geraldine, on Tuesday, Temuka Town Board Publish balancesheet for the year ending March 31st, 1888. K. F. Gray, Chairman Arowhenua Cemetery Board—Notifies that all applications for graves must be made to the caretaker at the cemetery, Mr W. Wills having resigned tho secretaryship. ...

Moss Jonas, Auctioneer, Timaru— Will sell horses, drays, harness, ploughs, oowi, wheat, etc., under distraint for rent (unless previously settled), on the farm occupied by Mr Simpson, Waitohi Flat, on Monday next. T. and J, Thomson, Drapers, and Silk Mercers, Timaru—Have made arragements whereby they are able to complete in twentyfour hours, nicely finished ladies’ costumes j have a splendid assortment of dress stuffs. Notify arrival of 163 jackets ami ulsters ex Kaikoura. ’ .

Job Brown Beehive Stores, * Temuka.— Advises the public to buy for cash , and save money; enumerates a few of this many cheap nuee he is selling, including calico, dress materials, holland, ulsters, men’s clothing etc. Drummond end GHasson, Drapers, Clothiers, Milliners, and Dressmakers, Timuru—Notify that they have just opened a special purchase of new Celoniai dress goods ; dressmaking m charge of Miss Napier; hold full range of gloves, ribbons, laces, hosiery, etc, .South British insurance Company, Paid up Capital and Reserve £220,000 W. (i. Aspinall, Solicitor, Temuka, has been up' pointed agent for Temuka and Winchester and is prepare'j to effect insurances on every description of property at lowest current rates.