LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1834, 29 December 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Holidays.—On Tuesday and Wednesday next, the Ist and 2nd January, the stores in Temuka will bo closed. Tbain AebAnoements. —In our advertising eolumnß will be fouod the holiday railway fares to Christohuroh, Dunedin, and other places. Tenders.—Tenders for the supply of rations ,and buriuh to the Charitable Aid Department for the Temuka, Geraldine, Timaiu and Waimate distriots close to-day. ' Furniture Sale.—The sale of furniture, etc., of the Temuka Hotel took place on Thursday and Friday, Mr K. F. Gray wielding the hammer. There was a fair attendance, and reasonable prices were realized. Gtltn Auction,—At four o'clock this afternoon a gift auction of live stook, fowls, etc., in connection with the Catholio Baziar, will take place near the Temuka Tolunteor Hall. One thousand bricks kindly given by Mr Whitehead will be among the lots offered. Intending contributors are requested to send in their gifts before the hour mentioned. Fatal Accident. About 7 o'clock yesterday .morning the stokers of the goods train from Mauriceville to Magterton suddenly missed William Gudsell, the driver. They irnmedialely Btopped the engine, and in the bottom of a creek, below a bridge, found Gudsell dead, with his brains knocked out. It is supposed he was looking out for pigs on the line, when his head came in contact with the timber of the bridge. The deceased was not long from Oamaru. He leaves a wife and two children. Proposed Band of Hope Picnic,— Owing to there being no Good Templar picnic in Geraldine this year the energetic conductors of the Band of Hope there have, decided to give the children a treat in tbe way of a picnic, which it is proposed to hold about the 24th of January, provided sufficient nssistance ia rendered by the public. There will be about 80 children to provide for,'and the public are boing asked to assist by gifts in the way of rations, cash, or gifts for prizas. It is intended to give the youngsters a change* if possible, by taking them to some plnce out of Geraldine, and the offer of a waggon or other vehicle for that purpose, as also the use of a paddock with boilers for ten, milk, or other articles will be gladly accepted. It is to ba hoped the public will respond liberally for such an excellent purpose.

i Catholic Bazaar.—la the hurried manner in which we compiled our report of the Roman Catholic Bazaar a few alight > omissions were made. On Mesdames Twomey and Beri'a stall there was a beautiful table, on which there was a drape in crewel work, made by Mrs Graham, which wa3 really one of the ornaments of the bazaar. The same lady also contributed a beautiful tea cosy of the same class of work, and Miss McGrath ought also to have been credited with some excellent specimens of crewel work. On Mesdames Hoare and O'Driecoll's stall there was a magnificent pictnre frame, in which there was a very large picture of tho Bishop of the diocese, made by Miss Deborah Hoare. This consisted of gilt leather work, and never have we seen anything of its kind equal to it. Miss Sullivan's name was also omitted from the list of donors. She contributed a handsomely-worked black satin crewel work cunhion, which was amongst the best articles on the stall. The bizaar was opened again at 3 o'clock last Thursday, but very little business was done until the evening, when the attendance ma very fuir. There was also a very fair attendance last evening, and on this afternoon it will be opened at 3 o clock. The gift auction will take place at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and as the public geoer&lly has contributed most liberally, it is expected there will be a good sale. A very important item of the gift auction ia 1000 bricks, which have been kindly contributed by Mr Jo36j>h Whitehead. i

Lake Tb Anau.—Te Ansu, the finest lake in Now ZeitlaDd, is now open lo tourists, a steamer having been launched whioh will connect with the Milr'ord Sound track.

Heavy Rain.—A very heavj. shower of tain, preceded by hail, fell throughout | the district on Friday morning, clearing off at about 7 a.m. The rain will have a very beneficial effec'. Pbksbttbbian Chukchi—To-morrow the Bev. G. Barclay will oonducl the morning service at Geraldine, »nd the evening service at Woodburv (at 6 p.m). The Rev. Mr Archibald will preach at Kakahu Bush at 3 p.m , and at Geraldine at 6.30. Militabt Toubnament.—The Military Tournament on the Tiraaru Racecourse on Wednesday last was very successful, the programme arranged being gone through without a hitch. About 300 volunteers were on the ground, some coming from Christchurch and Ashburton. Thirty-one of the Geraldine j Rifles, under Captain Pearpoint, took part in the evolutions.

Stewabt Island Tin.—Professor Black's testing of the area in Stewart Island in which tin wis discovered was most satisfactory, and a company is being formed to work the same. Representatives of Tasmanian capitalists have cabled for an expert to come over. Government is to be requested to connect the island by mail and by cable. 'Hot We atheb.—Telegrams from Melbourne and Adelaide state that the weather has been phenomenally hot during the last few days. In Victoria disastrous bush fires have been raging in the neighborhood of Elmore, Echuca, and Cambardewn. At Adelaide on Chrittmas Day the thermometer showed 107 in the shade.

Wem. Deserted.—A stranger in the district, who had made himself' offensive by using obscene language at a dance at, the Temuka Oddfollows' Hall on tho even-, ing of Boxing Day, waa arrested by Constable Morton. He was brought before Mr A. M. Clark the following morning, and (sentenced io4B hours' imprisonment. Chinese LAW.—The celestials firmly believe that if three boys are born in a triplet they must be at once beheaded, according to Chinese law, as a prophecy exists that one of a triplet of boys will be the future destroyer and invader of the Empire. Girls don't count, much (o the relief of the wife of a certain mandarin, who has lately given birth to three baby daughters. Ohuboh Okfebtobies,— Seeing the fine raiment that is conspicuous in many churches, and the evidently Bmall contributions when the plates or baskets are passed, one is not surprised that a London preachor exclaimed : «' When I look at the congregation, I say, Where are tho poor? When I count the offertory in the yesfcry, I say, Where are the rich ? "

Considebing THB Poob.—On Thursday afternoon 400 poor people, including 10 widowe, 10 deserted wires, and many families of the unemployed, were entertained ot dinner in the Y.M.O.A. rooms, Christchuroh. Bishop Harper delivered an address and said grace. A free concert followed, after which, at. o. pablic meeting, the Major in the chair, Mr Herrick, manager of the deslituta honin, staled that since Juno 20th he had given 7273 meali.

Roman Catholic Chtjbch.—The Right Rev. Dr Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch, will preach at St. Joseph's Church, Temuka, at the 10.30 Mass to-morrow morning. In the afternoon His Lordship will bavo for Pleasant Point, where he will lay the foundation stone of the new church of St. Mary's, which is now being erected in that townshio, and deliver an address. • A special train will run from Timaru, and doubtless there will ba a largo gathering on the occasion. Heavy Damages.— Mrs ■ Butterell, of Dunolly, obtained a verdict in the Supreme Court, Melbourne, against her brother, Wm. George, of Kew ; for false imprisonment. Mrs Butterell was on a visit to her brother when a family difference arose, and the htter looked Mrs Butterell out, and then when she gained access to the house and refused to leave he gave her into custody for trespass. The jury awarded her £IOOO damages.

" Wibe or the Dead."—Upwards of 300,000 wreaths were plaoed on the grates of the Vienna Central Comotery early in November, and quite as many found their way to the small suburban burial grounds. Before the snow sots in the wreaths will be collected and piled up in a huge heap—the height of a three-storeyed house— and will then be sold by auction. The iron and brass wire with which they are made is then extracted, and, after being smelted, is re-manufactured into wire. The old wire, which is called in trade " wire of the dead," represents an average value of 80,000 florins. Shock of Eabthquake. A shock of earthquake was felt throughout the district on Thursday evening, about 27 minutes past nine o'clock. The direction appeared to be from south to north-east, and the shock was sharp enough to make wooden i buildings screak, crockery and windows i rattle, and set chandeliers, etc, in motion. The shock was felt in Timaru and throughout Forth Canterbury. At Christchurch the town clook was stopped, and some consternation was created in the theatre and the •Salvation Army barracks, where a womaa fainted, but there was no serious panic. No damage is reported. Mkat and Strength.—-All the heavy worV of the world is not done by men who eat meat. The Roman soldiers, who built such wonderful roads and carried a weight of armour that would crush the average farm hand, lived on coarse brown bread and sour wine. They were temperate in diet and regular in exercise. The Spanish peasant works every day and dances half the night, yet eats only his black bread, onions, and water raeloni The Smyrna porter eats only a little fruit and some olives, yet he walks ofl with his load of 1001 b. The coolie fed on rice is more active and can endure more than the

negro fed on fat.—Contributed. Bor Murderers.— The following extract ia from an Englieh paper:—ln all tho history of crime surely there exists no case which will quite match the record which comes from Tunbridge Wells. Two working,lads determine upon the murder of a foreman who has offended one of them ; then the poor man is lured into a quiet spot, and shot at close quarters by the youth whom the toss of a coin had designated was to do the actual killing. When asked the other day, after his apprehension, "What grudge Dobell (the youth who fired the shot) could have against Lawrence (the foreman) seeing that he never worked under him," Gower

airily answered, "Oh, he's a friend of mine, and as true as steel." The murderers not having been suspected in the meanwhile, two months after the commission of tho crime, Dobell, signing himself "Another Whitechapel Mur-

derer," wrote a letter to the local Advertiser, in which, haviog obtained " a small space in your valuable paper," he went on to recount " a few facts concerning the death of tho late Mr Lawrence." This letter contained a vivid account of the murdor; but the local police, of course, treated it as a hoax, and the murderers rsmained undiscovered.

Wbslbyan Ohoeoh, Temuka.—The Rev. R. 8. Bunn will oonducfc the services at this Church to-morrow. The subjects of his addresses will be found in our advertising columns.

Thb Daiby Interest in the StATB3.— The magnitude of the dairy interest in the prairie States of . the American "Onion may be imagined (says a London paper) from the statement that there were 4,819,371 milch cows there in 1887. lo.wa alone produced 86,000,0001 b of butter list yea*, and Minnesot* 40,000,0001 b. A Laroe Strawberry. The genia showers and warm sun of the past few days have had the effect of ripening and bringing on fruit amazingly. Mr J. Pye, of the Raukapuka Nursery, had on view at Geraldine on Thursday last a monster strawberry that turned the scale when fresh picked at 2|oz, It was of a kind known as Smith s Refresher, a variety Mr Pye has obtained at considerable expense. A Skekdid Donation. The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian hears that the trustees of the Princess Alice Orphanage, Birmingham, whioh institution forms one of the circle under the direction of Dr Stephenson, has ]ust received a cheque for three thousand guineas from the foundressesof the Nechells Charities, to be devoted to the erection and partial endowment of a home for orphan girls. Honey.—The Lyttelton Times mentions that among tlio items of commercial news received from Home lately was one which, though small, is satisfactory. A lot of twenty kegs, each containing one hundredweight of honey, was sold in London at prices ranging from 49s to 55s per hundredweight. The former figure waß given for some houey which was slightly faulty in color. Thb Cbown Lands Guide.—The " Crown Lands Guide " is again issued by the Government, and the last number to hand contains a mass of information which should be of service to all seeking land for settlement. There is an abridged explanation of the land laws, and a list with descriptions of Orown lauds throughout the colony bow open for settlement. It is stated that 13,000,000 acres of land still belong to the Maoris, or to Europeans who have purchased from them ; that 34,000,000 belong.to the Crown, of which 15,000,000 are open grass or fern country, 10,000,000 forest, ind 9,000,000 barren mountain lops, lakes, and worthless country ; and that 19,000,000 have been sold or disposed of in education and other public reserves. Domestic Tbaqkdy.—A tragic occurrence took place at a small farm called Hendre Moohtre, near Newton, Montgomeryshire, on October 23. The tenant of the farm, a man named Abraham Morris, and his son Edward, 25 years of age, had been drinking together at a publio house a short distance from their house, on their way home. About 11 o'clock a;quarrel arose between them, and on arriving at Hendre the son challenged the father to fight. The latter refused, whereupon the son said, '• One of us must die," and immediately took up a loaded gun which stood near at h-ind, and resting Iho stock on the ground, with the barrell pointing to his head, he pulled the trigger. A farm servant rushed forward, but was too late to prevent the gun going off. Death was instantaneous. To add to the painful character of the affair, the mother and two sisters as well as tho father of the deceased were present.

Belfield School Committee. The ordinary monthly meeting was held in the schoolroom on December 15th. PresentMessrs E. Griffiths (Chairman), Woulfe, Ellery, and Greenaway. The minutes of the previous meeting were rend and confirmed. After some routine business was dealt with, the matter of the children's annual treat was discussed, when it was decided to collect subscriptions for the same, the Committee to meet again on the 27th December to arrange as to time, etc., when the treat should be held. The Committee met as agreed on the above date, when it was found that enough money had been collected to provide refreshments, and it was decided to hold the treat on New Year's Day at the school, the children to assemble at 2 p.m.

Painfui Death of a Child. A little two year old daughter of Mr Kyran Brophy, Pleasant Valley, met with an exceedingly painful death on Thursday last. It seems that the little girl was in the habit, as soon as she was up on these bright summer mornings, of running out on the verandth in her nightdress to enjoy the sunshine. On the morning in question a fire had been light&d under the copper outside for purposes of th e weekly wash, and the child, unnoticed by any one, went too close to this, and set fire to her nightdress. The first thing that attracted attention was the child runni»g away from the fire with her little sister trying to catch

her. Even then the fact of her nightdress being on fire was not apparent, as the running of the child kept the flames low. Mr Bropby, who was n little distance off, at length saw what was the matter, and running caught the little girl and put out the flames.'

The ohild, however, was badly burnt, and despite all that could be done by Dr Fish, who wis sent for immediately, she died about two o'clock yesterday morning. The parents of the ohild are exceedingly distressed by the painful accident. An inquest will be held. Kangitata Island.—The anniversary

sermons in connection with the above Sunday School were preached by Mr J. Winning, of Temuka, who spoke in the afternoon from I. Corinthians, xvi., 13, and in the evening from I, Corinthians, iii., 9 and 10; in both cases preaching earnest and instructive sermons, to which the congregation listened with pleasure and

profit. On Christmas day the annual treat was held, and in spite of the inclement state of the weather a goodly number were present, there being visitors from Cbristchurch, Temuka, Hilton, Geraldine, and other distant place 3, all kindly assisting to make the treat a success. The tables were presided over by the Misses Grainger (3), Meredith, and Wright. After justice had been done to tbe good things provided some games

were heartily entered into, after which tbe school was cleared for a public meeting, which was presided over by Mr Grainger, the Superintendent of the school, who, after making aoae suitable remarks re the working of the school for the ensuing year, called on Mr J. Buck (the treasurer) to read the report, which proved very satisfactory, showing a credit balance up to date of £5 9s 6d. During tbe evening amusing and instructive addresses were given by Messrs H,

Holland (Greendale), Wright, and Barney, interspersed by singing by the choir, Miss Meredith presiding at tbe organ. Songs were also contributed by Mrs Burn (Hilton), Miss vv*ntson (Weedon), and

Miss Grainger, all of which were given in good style, soliciting the hearty applause of the company. On tbe motion of Mr T. Buxton, seconded by Mr H. Voycß, a [ hearty vote of thanks to the singers was carried. The singing of the Doxology | and pronouncing of tho Benediction brought to a close a very ODJoyable evening.

Lady Cavendish.— A London correspondent says: "After visiting her brother a missionary in South Africa, Lady Frederick Caveadish will proceed to Canterbury, New Zealand, where the family own valuuble property. It is not ernted how long she roeana to remain theMV

Strange Behaviour. On Tuesday evening a young man residing near Kaiapoi,who had injured one of his fingers in a machine, caused a commotion in the hairdresser's shop of Mr McDougal by expressing a determination to eat it, and trying to carry the same into eflect. Dickie bad been to Dr Murray with a leq'jest thatbe would perform umputation. The doctor, however, decided to pat it in splints and dreßsed it. The patient palled this off, and after trying to bite the digit off his hand without success, also failed to stamp it off with his foot. Several persons interfered, and the policeman on duty warned him to go home or be would provide for him. The man complained that he could not bear the pain. Thb Cheese Maeket—Buyers of cheese (eays the Mataura Ensign) have been very pertinacious this jear, and, thanks to the general state of despondency, have been very successful. They secured the whole of the output of a number of Otago and Southland factories at 5d per lb, which seemed at the time to be a fair enough prioe. But those directors, or factory owners, who refused to listen to the voice of the charmer are not likely to regret their hardness of heart. Cheese, like most other products, is going up, and those producers whose name is a sufficient guarantee for a good article can now obtain 6d per lb. That price was accepted recently for a parcel of Gore oheese. There is also every prospect of the value or the product rising yet more. No matter what happens it can scarcely fall. The trouble at present in Southland is not the prospect of prices, bub the difficulty of supplying orders. The weather is so bad that the milk supply is nothing like what it ought to be, and ai a natural result there will not be as much cheese made this season as could in ordinary oircumstances be turned out.

Dishonest Police.—Two extraordinary trialH have just taken pi ice at Bucharest. In one the Direetors of Police and a high official of his department were charged with having tortured prisoners in order to extort confessions from them. The case was proved, and the accused were: sen-' tonced to a fine of 2000 fr each. As they will probably be dismissed from their posts they will receive substantial, if not sufficient, punishment. The other trial was that of some men who formed part of a very large associ»tion of swindlers trading in so-called •'golden water.' This water was said to have wonderful scientific properties, and to enable its possessors to make gold coins. Hundreds of dishonest persona became purchasers of the water, and no lesi th»n 500,000 fr passed through the hands cf the swindlers. There is no doubt th»t they had some subordinate police officials in their pay, for several men who discovered they had been tricked and demanded to have their money returned, were not only kept quiet, but made to disgorge more money under threat of being arrested for coining. All the accused were sentenced to imprison' inent for terms of one and two years, England and Italt.—Signor Crispi, the Italian Premier, in the course of a recent interview* with a Daily Telegraph correspondent:—•"As far as Italy and England are concerned, it cannot be too freey admitted or too emphatically insisted upon, that we want you and you want us. With immense sacrifices we have created, armed, and organised a vast host. We are now in a position, at a few weeks' notice, to send out from Italy from 500,000 to 600,000 excellent soldiers, and yet to keep at home a force fully adequate to defend our frontier and coasts against foreign attack, as a land military power, disposing of such resources as these in the way of effective fighting troops, our alliance may some day be of paramount importance to Great Britain. On the other hand, we may require your support in the Mediterranean, and it must always be of the greatest moment to a country occupying the geographical position occupied by Italy*to have the strongest naval power in the world for its firm friend and staunch ally. 1 '

Baxter's , Lung Pbeseetbb ' has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy in the treatment ot Coughs, Colds, Bbonohitis and other chest and throat oomplaints. jß(fl advt.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENT. Temuka Stores-r Close on Tuesday and Wednesday next. Wesleyan Church, Temuka—Rev. B. S. Bunn will conduct services to-morrow. J. Mundell and Co.-Publish entries for monthly stock sale at Geraldine on Wednesday next. Presbyterian Church—Notice re lervicea at* Goraldine, Woodbury and Kakahu Bush tomorrow.

Comer and Larcombe, Undertakers—Notic* re the funeral of the late "wife of Mr W. Hoare this aflersoon.

D. West,- Architect, Timaru tenders for the removal and re-ereotion of the manse at Geraldine.

• Webster and Macdonald—Have lost sheep dog, offer reward; also publish particulars of stock sale for Wednesday next. Grand Catholio Bazaar at Temuka—Great reductions made in the prioes; open to-day from three o'clock j Monday positively last night.

In Bankruptcy-Re David Denoon; notice re intended application for order of discharge and meeting of creditors for the purpose of assenting thereto.

Koman Oatholio Ohuroh—Notioe that the Rißhfc Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch, will preach at Temuka to-morrow merning, and will lay tho foundation stone of oburohat Pleasant Point to-morrow afternoon.