LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1807, 25 October 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Salk ok Deapeey.—Mr W. 8. Maslin will hold a large sale of drapery at Geraldine tomorrow.

Sale op Crown Lands. A sale of Crown lands takes place at the Temuka Courthouse at noon to-day. Sunntside Astlum. it is estimated by the Minister for Public Works that the repairs to Sunnyslde Lunatic Asylum will cost about £IO,OOO. From £15,000 to £16,000 was the first estimate. Concert and Dance at Gapks’s Vallet. —A concert and dance in aid of ilia prize fund of the Gapes’a Valley School takes place to-morrow evening. There will be a first rate programme for the concert, and good music for the dance.

Temuka Town Board.—A special meeting of the Temuka Town Board was held last evening. Present—Messrs.Gray (chairman), Coira, Clinch, Blyth, and Mason. The object of the meeting was to appoint a clerk and overseer to the Board, and after some consideration Mr E. Pilbrow was sslected out of eight candidates. The meeting then adjourned.

Cricket. —The formal opening of the Geraldine Cricket Clubs season takes place at Geraldine to-day, when a match, Married v. Single, will be played. The Club have had the ground put in order and the pitch mown and rolled, and an enjoyable game may be expected. Any peison who feels disposed to indulge in an afternoon’s cricket is invited to puc in an appearance, as there will be a place for all who attend. The game will start at baitpast two sharp.

Bib Robert Stout. —Sir Robert and Lady Stout returned to New Zealand in the Te Anau, The vessel brought 52 steerage passengers from Melbourne. Arrival ob R.M.S. Abawa. —The Arawa, from London, via Teneriffe, Capetown, and Hobart, arrived at Wellington on Monday, She left London on the Bth September, with 347 passengers, of whom 110 were for Australian ports. Accident to a Horse.—An accident happened at Geraldine yesterday whereby Mr F. Lynch lost a good upstanding hack. Mr Lynch, who was attending the stock sale, tethered the horse (o some broom growing on the bank of the Waihi river, opposite the saleyards. The bank is here about fifteen feet high, with a straight face, and the horse while feeding fell over the face, breaking its back, and having to he shot to and its sufferings. Rxnkino Carnival.—A grand national fancy dress carnival will take place in the Zealandia rink tkis evening, and as it will positively he the last Ibis season a large attendance may be expected. The grand march of skaters in fancy costume will taka place at 9 o’ clock, and after 10 o’clock there will be dancing and skating alternately. Gentlemen will be charged Is extra for the dance. Refreshments will be obtainable. Alleges Cube job Dbunonebss.—A Russian physician declares that strychnine is an infallible cure for drunkenness, adrainis' tsred in subcutaneous injection. The effect of the strychnine solution is to change’ the craving for drink to positive aversion, and this change is effected in a day; After a treatment of eight or ten days the patient may be discharged. The strychnine is ad* ministered by dissolving Igr. in 200 drops of water, and injecting five drops of the solution every 24 hours.

The Esoaybb Pbisonbr.—'The proper name of the Maori (John Murray), who escaped from the gaol at Addington the other day, is Pekaoui Apurona. He is, according to an exchange, to all intents a professional burglar. In 1882 he was convicted of this offence and sentenced to two years. In 1884 he received another sentence, aud in 1885 a sentence of three years. It is now supposed by the police ihat he was connected with the robberies of the ironmonger/ stores in Christchurch and other burglaries which have been complained of.

Muedbe by a Lunatic.—A sad fatality occurred at the Asylum for the Insane at Ararat, Victoria, on Saturday. Several patients who were considered harmless ware sent out ae usual to work on the asylum farm. A young man named John Forster and an older man named Spellacy, who had always agreed well with one another, were working close together, when the latter, wiibout a word of warning, struck Forster a terrible blow with a spade, inflicting a wound above the forehead, and fracturing the skull. The man died in a short time. Spellacy showed no dangerous symptoms before striking Forster. Anglin®.—The rivers in their present condition appear to be furnishing anglers with capital sport. During the past week some good baskets have been made, especially with the fly. Yesterday afternoon Mr J. L. Flint was in a position to confirm Mr Thruaton’e report re young salmon. In the course of about a couple of hours he hooked no Pss than eight, ail nice lively fish. They are now of such a s'ze as to present very distinctive features and they cannot readily be mistaken. As they appear to be very voracious, it may be as well to caution anglers about them, or otherwise many may be destroyed. Only a Pansy Blossom.—Frank Howard, the singer and composer, has told a charming little story concerning tbs inspiration which caused him to write the song “ Only a Pansy Blossom.” He had gone to Greely, lo .sa, accompanied by his wife, to see about buying a farm for a homestead. They walked through some lovely meadow land, which they liked, and in one of the winding paths through the tall grass Mrs Howard lingered. “ Wb»t are you picking P” the singer called. “ Only a pansy blossom/' was the answer. Out of the expression grew the idea of the song. The royalties the composer received almost paid for the farm, and be now has a garden on the spat where his wife found the pansy blossom. Mklboubnb Exhibition. Sir James Hector cablet from Melbourne to the acting executive commissioners at Wellington that the following awards have been made to New Zealand exhibitors as alimentary products i —Oats : J. and' T. Meek, Oamaru, Ist; the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, 2nd, Barley i New Zealand Bad Australian Land Company/ Ist and 2nd ;A. G. Tell, Picton, 3rd. Tares : J. Grigg, Longbeaoh, 2nd. Byegrass seed : T. Sutton,. Thorn bury, list; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, 2nd. Cocksfoot j W, MeKeener, Normanby, Ist. Potatoes ; Hon. W. Matthew Holmes, Oamaru, Ist.

Attacked bt a Stallion.— The Wairarapa Standard says that a stallion mads a savage attack on Mr John Eglington, of Warekaukau, on the coast, about thirty miles from Featherston. He vyas riding a mare, at the time, whan the entire rushed at him, seised him by the thigh, j lifting him clean out of the saddle, shook him, and then dropped him, and made off after' the mare. This took place about 10 a.m. dn Thursday morning. Dr M'Lennan, of (Featherston, reached him in the afternoon. It was difficult to make out the exact extent of the injuries, owing to the swelling caused by the extravasation of blood into the soft tissues under the skin. The .thigh was unbroken and the main arteries of the linjibs were uninjured, but there is no doiibt that the muscles are considerably torn under the skin. As he was living thirty miles from medical aid, Dr M'Lennan recommended bis removal to his home at the Lower Suit, for which place he left on Friday afternoon. It is a grave accident, but the sufferer has youth and good health on bis side. Too Bad a Jo*e. —The i Marlborough Times says A story reaches us from* across the water relative to a sorry trick played upon a peaceful gentleman, who has not lived all his life in the country. The victim of the practical! joke recently purchase 1 a horse, sod shortly afterwards he rode off soma miles toi visit a friend. Whilst the two worthies ; were chattiog pleasantly indoors, and the horse was standing by the roadside! hitched up to the fence, some young then passed by, and recognising the stedd were seised with a wioked inspiration 1 . They forthwith took the saddle from the horsa and simply tuiniog it round, j back to front, replaced it and departed. | At length the owner of the animal came forth, and mounting his steed rode (off, charmingly innocent of tha trick that had been played upon him. On reaching home the appearance of the horseman and the position of his saddle caused a little wonderment, but not so much amusement as was derived by the party of practical jokers passed on the way. The worthy horseman admitted that his return ride was the reverse of comfortable, but till now he is totally unable to imagine how ibp saddle became turned, ,

Sfeoial Bank Holiday.— T odnesday, the 31st October, has been appointed a special bank holiday at the Temuks offices of the Bank of New South Wales and Bank of New Zealand.

More Libel.—Mr Law, ex-Manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Adelaide, h is instructed his solicitors to take action for libel against the proprietors of the New Zealand Herald. That paper, in commenting on the proceedings at Monday’s meeting of shareholders,says ; “Mr Law a manner quite tookjthe meeting by surprise, and the general opinion was that Mr Law had demonstrated by his bearing that lie was not a fit man to be entrusted with the control of the Bank in an important place like Adelaide.*’ Fatal Gun Accident.—A sad accident happened on Tuesday last to a young man named William Horne, aged about seventeen years, who was at work seven miles from Raikaia on the north side of the river. He had been rolling, and when finished had gone into the camp and taken up a gun that was in his tent by the muzzle, trailing it along, for the purpose of shooting a hare. When about, a chain from the tent the gun went off, lodging the contents in his chest. He was found shortly after by a mm named Maxwell and brought to Rakaifl and lodged at the Railway Hotel. Dr Cord nor was soon in attendance and on examination it was found that the case was hopeless. The poor fellow made a deposition before a Justice of the Peace as to the causa of ths accident. He died about half-past eight in the evening, Before his death he was visited by the ; Rev. Mr Riddel, Presbyterian minister.— i Press.

CierqtminJs Sons —Some controversy took place recently regarding clergymen's sons turning out well. The Chicago News has the following to the point “This is a great year for clergymen’s sons, notwithstanding the old theory that they and deacons’ daughters never turn out well. Grover Cleveltnd, Democratic c mdidate for the Presidency, is the son of a Presbyterian clergyman. AUeo G. Thurman, ditto for the Vice-Presidency, is the son of a Methodist clergyman. Benjamin Harrison, Republican candidate for the Presidency, is the son-in-law of a Presbyterian clergyman. Levi P. Morton, ditto for the Vice-Presidency, is the son of a Congregational clergyman. Calvin S. Brice, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee in charge of the campaign, is the son ot a Presbyterian clergyman. Matthew Stanley Quay, chairman of the Republican National Committee, is also the son of a Presbyterian clergyman.

Diath op an Old Colonist. Mrs Gillies, mother of Mr Justice Gillies, and the Rev. W. Gillies, of Timaru, died »t Dunedin on Tuesday morning, oged 87. A Dunedin contemporary gives the following particulars regarding the deceased lady : “ The'deoeased lady, who was born in Glasgow in 1802, was the grand child of a French Huguenot who emigrated to Scotland. She was married in 1826 so Mr John Gillies, of Rothesay, and with her husbmd and most of their children arrived in Dunedin in the ship Shin's Castle in 1852. During her long residence here she gained the respect and esteem of all, and though after the death of her husband 17 years ago she lived a very retired life, her aid and assistance was often sought and freely given, and apart from her own family the news of her death will.be sorely fell by many others. Of her family of nine the deceased lady is survived . by four sons and three daughters. The sons are Mr Justice Gillies (of Auckland), Mr John L. Gillies (secretary of the Otago Harbour Board), the Bev. William Gillies (of Timaru), aud Mr Jamea Gillies (of New South Wales) ; the daughters are—Mrs M'lndoe (South Dunedin), Mrs Burnside (Anderson’s Bay), and Mrs Farquhar M'Rae (Auckland), The deceased lady is survived also by 52 grand children and by 10 great grand children. TRAGEDY ON THE HIQH SEAS. A Paris telegram in the London Daily Telegraph states that a terrible tragedy took place at sea on board the French ship Tarapaca, which has just entered the port of Dunkirk. The Tarapaca is a fourmaster, owned by a Bordeaux firm, and was coming home from Chili with a cargo 6£ nitrate of soda. The vessel was manned by a large crew, some of whom were South Americans, or foreign castaways and deserters, who were shipped at Iquique. When in mid-Atlantic some of the men became mutinous, and the captain, assisted by the first mate, the boattwain, and a few of the sailors, bad to defend the quarter-deck, which was besieged by the mutineers from the forecastle. Bloodthirsty encounters were fought with firearms, cutlass, and marlinspikes, and two sailors were battered to death. After their bodies had been thrown overboard comparative tranquility was restored on the vessel. Several seamen have reached port in a precarious condition, and the captain and first mats have been suspended while full investigition is being made by the maritime authorities into all the circumstances of this new tragedy on the high seas. The Lighting os Timaku.—The lighting of the streets of Timarii was the subject of a very animated discussion at the meeting of the Timaru Borough Council on Monday evening. Some time ago, the Council, being dissatisfied with the price charged by the Gas Company for lighting the streets, it was decided to invite tender* for lighting the town by electricity, and an expense of £23 was incurred in the preparation and printing of specifications and necessary advertising. On the night the tenders for lighting the streets closed no tender was receiyed for electric lighting, but a telegram from a Mr Ford was read, stating that he had sent a registered latter con'aming a lender for lighting'! he streets by electricity. After a long discussion, it was decided to accept the offer of the Gas Company to light the streets, tbsy having mads a considerable reduction in their charge par lamp. On the letter from Mr Ford being received by the Mayor (Mr Jonas) he directed the Town Clerk to return it, so it never came before the Council. This caused considerable dissatisfaction, and the Town Clerk wrote for a copy. This was received by the Council on Monday night. The offer wae to light the streets of Timaru at the rate ef £2 17s 6d per lamp per annum, and according to one of the councillors if it had been accepted the number of lights could have been inoreased and the expense of lighting the town reduced by £2OO yearly. It was elicited that the agreement with the Gas Company, which is for two years, could be terminated by giving six months’ notice, and it was decided to invite Mr Ford (agent for Messrs ERolle and Parker, Wolverhampton) to visit Timaru and explain the system of lighting he proposed. A proposal to allow him £lO for expenses was negatived. The remarks of some of the councillors were yery vigorous, and one said that if the ratepayers wore of his opinion they would bold an indignation meeting. The Mayor is at present absent on a visit to the Melbourne Exhibition. It now costs the Council £5 5s per lamp per annum.

Earthquakes.—Telegrams to band from Wanganui, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitika, and Ohristohuroh report that a ebook of earthquake was felt at those places between 8 and 8.20 o’clock on Tuesday evening.

The Latest Amusement.— Homburg has been unusually lively this year with Brig, tooratic company, invalided ond otherwise.* Several fair American maids and matrons, as usual, have been conspicuous in the royal set, which includes the Prince of Wales, A new sport has, it seems, baen started at this fashionable continental resort. It was started at a picnic. Certain gentlemen backed themselves to race with wheelbarrows, each barrow to contain a lady. One of the most desperate contests was between Mr Muuroe Ferguson, M.P., and Lard Spenoer. Mr Ferguson won, but only through an accident. Lord Spenoer earn* to grief with his barrow and its fair passenger. She sustained some injuries, but they were not serious, and a diamond bangle will be one of the heirloime of her family. It was presented by Lord Spencer as some solatium for her bruises, not to mention her vexation at the ridiculous figure they must have out in the presence of a fashionable, if ‘larky,” assemblage. Indian Whmat.— Sir Samuel Baker, in the Fortnightly Review, gives us some curioua information about the condition of Indian wheat. He says;—“ln the Liverpool market there exists, I believe, a recognised standard of dirtiness for Indian wheat, and an allowance of a percentage of dirt has had a peculiar effect on the Indian trade. The agents for the grbat houses in Bombay who purchase wheat from the producers add a large proportion of fine soil to the corn when delivered toe clean at their up-country stores. It is thus brought down to the low-market standard at Liverpool and is shipped accordingly, ,I{ only 6 par cent of dirt is added to the wheat when purchased in India, it results in onetwentieth of impurity, thus, out of twenty cargoes . one shipload of earth would be conveyed from' Bombay to Liverpool instead of wheat.”

Weather Plant.— That remarkable specimec of the vegetable world, the “ weather plant, M continues, says a Vienna correspondent, to excite considerable interest here. Man of science who on its first recovery were Unwilling to express an opinion on its prognosticating virtues, now agree, after extensive experiments, that the shrub is in truth prophetic. Thirty-two thousand trials m»de during the past three years tend to piove its infallibility. The plant itself is a, legume commonly called the “Paternoster pea,” but known in botany as the Abrus Pereginus. It is a native of Cornea and Tunis. Its leaf and twig strongly resemble those of the acacia.

The more de icate leaves of its upper branoes foretell the state of the weather 48 hours ii advance, whre i's lower ami and hardier leaves indicate all atmospheric changes three days beforehand. The judications consist in a change in the posit! m of the leaves and in the line and fall of the twigs and brauchiets. Robbed bt a Prisoner. —Does a term of imprisonment purge u man of his evil p'opeositiea ? This is a question which is very often asked. The following incident (says the Weiiagton Press), which is vouched for by a gentleman holding a high social position, goes to prove that in all cases, at all events, it does not. By iho steamer Rotorua from the 'outb last week three prisoners were brought to. Wsl icgton from one of the gaols down South. They were accomodated in the steerage, and had free liberty to any part of that department. The gentleman mentioned above was also a steertge passenger by the Rotorua, and in consequence of having a considerable amount of money about him be did not relish the idea of these three misguided men being too well acquainted with him. On retiring for the night he put his roll of notes into the inside pocket of his overcoat which be then rolled up and put under his pillow. On waking in the morning he, te satiny himself as to the safety oil the money, put his hand into his and lo I the money was gone, Ha at once reported the occurrence to tba fijrat officer he saw, no doubt through enter taining a suspicion or two of bis .own. The three delinquents were arrainged" and searched, and the roll of notes complete was extracted from the jumper of one of them. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson left Christchurch for the south yesterdty morning. The Wild Wave, barque, with 3170 sacks of wheat, sailed from Oamaru for Hobart yesterday.

Wilson, the Salvationist Captain, was released from Addington gaol, Christchurch, yesterday. Two hundred Salvationists with the band met him outside the gaol and escorted him to Cathedral square where they held an open-air service in the presence of a large crowd.' Dr McGregor, Inspector-General of lunatic asylums, now visiting Victoria, is enquiring into the Victorian system of managing hospitals, lunatic asylums, and dispensing charitable aid in that cu'ony, and will make a voluminous report on these subjects on bis return to this colony next week.

Goughs, Colds, Bronchitis, &0., are quickly cured by using Baxter’s “ Lung Preserver.” This old-established and favorite medicine is pleasant 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.

Homoway’s Film.—Health or Wealth.— No sane person would hesitate an instant in the choice between these two conditions. Now is the season to secure the former either by restoring or confirming it. These Fills expel all impurities from the system which fogs, foul vapours, and variable temperatures engendered during winter; this medicine also acta most wholesomely upon the skin by disgorging the liver of its accumulated bile, and by exciting the kidneys to more energetic action i it increases the appetite for food and strengthens the digestive process. The stomach and liver, with which most disorders originate, are fully under the control of these regenerative Fills, which act very kindly yet more efficiently on the tendersst bowels. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEHUNTS. W. Young, Undertaker—Funeral notice re the late daughter of Mr H. Coulter. Bank of New South Wales and Bank of New Zealand —Notice re special holiday at Temuka on 31st. W. S. Maalin—Will hold an immense sale of drapery, on account of Mr Jas. Winning, at Geraldine to-morrow. Chairman Temuka Sehool Committee Invites applications for position of secretary to the Committss; applications close tomorrow. Drummond and Olasson, Drapers, Clothiers and General Outfitters —Notify that they have opened out. a splendid assortment of seasonable goods in Storey’s buildings, Temuka, \ / \ -f