LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1838, 8 January 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Boas Boaeb. meeting of the Temuka Road' Board takes place to-day. The Vacant Judgeship.— lt is alleged that someone will be appointed to the Supreme Court Judgeship this week, but that it will not be Judge Ward. Winohestbe Faib. —■ Winchester Fair takes place to-day, when Messrs J; Mundell and Co. and Messrs Webster and .Macdonald will sell sheep, cattle, etc. In our advertising columns will be found the lines to be submitted by Messrs Webster and Macdonald. Pulpit and Stage.—Dr Parker, a leading Independent clergyman of London, in the course of an interview on the effect of the stage on the morals of the people, expressed the opinion that some actors were the best Christians that ever lived, while others irere the refuse of the theatrical world.' In some instances the stage served as good a purpose as the Church. Land Boabd. At a meeting of the Canterbury Land Board on Thursday last, the following was among the business transacted Section 757, Arowhenua, quarter acre, granted under deferred payment to Alexander Martin j section 49, reserve 350, at the Hinds, granted to Gerald R. Richards on perpetual lease, containing 140 acres; 34jr acres in the Geraldine dietnct, sold to William Postlathwaite. Wholes am Smuggling. Detective O’Brien, on Saturday, at Oamaru, made a seizure of about half a ton .of tobacco on which the duty bad not been paid. The tobacco was consigned by rail to a tobacconist there, and part of it Ind been removed from the railway station when the seizure was nude. The police, however, have all the tobacco in their possession now. The tobacco must bare been smuggled ashore at Port Chalmers, or somewhere else near that place.

i Canterbury Land Hoard on Thursday last, the following was among the business trans--1 actedSection 757, Arowhenua, quarter * acre, granted under deferred payment to I Alexander Martin j section 49, reserve 350, 3 at the Hinds, granted to Gerald R. Richards J on perpetual lease, containing 140 acres; ' 34jr acres in the Geraldine district, sold to 3 William Fostlathwaite. 3 Wholes am Smus&lin*. Detective 1 O’Brien, on Saturday, at Oamaru, made a ) seizure of about half a ton of tobacco on t which the duty bad not been paid. The tobacco was consigned by rail to a tobacconist * there, and part of it Lid been removed from 3 the railway station when the seizure was * nude. The police, however, have all the 3 tobacco in their possession now. The tobacco 3 must bars been smuggled ashore at Port I Chalmers, or somewhere else near that place. b Oddjsliows Social Gathering.—-The 1 members of the Oddfellows Lodge, Geraldine, 0 propose holding a social gathering on Friday evening next for the purpose of celebrating 3 the instillation of officers for the ensuing f term. It is intended to make the gathering ) an enjoyable one, and with that end in view g it has been decided to admit the lady friends of the members on the night in question, ' The small fee of 2s is charged for admission, £ and no doubt the gathering will be well - patronised. * Imiboved Financial Prospects,—lt has 1 just been ascertained that the savings in ) expenditure during the current year will g amount to a much larger sum than had been deemed probable when the Estimates were 1 framed, and a very substantial gain in this * respect is considered safe, though the amount j is not yet computed. Also, the Government ) have learned that very heavy shipments of dutiable goods will arrive in the colony at the end of February and during March, so, what 3 with receipts on this score, and the recent 5 improvements in railways and the general t saving in expenditure, the Premier is sanguine I now that any deficit will be avoided, and that the income and expenditure will at least ' balance one another. The last few days ' have made a wonderful difference in the ■ financial outlook—all on the right side. The Melbourne Meat Famine. The 1 Auckland Star, referring to the Meli bourne meat famine, and the desirability of , northern farmers shipping cattle to Melbourne, says t —“ The Union S.S. Company hare risen to the occasion by resuming the 1 weekly services between Auckland and ' Sydney, and it is to be hoped, if the southern ’ farmers do not take advantage of the Mel--1 bourne market, that direct means of communication will be provided between Auckland and the Victorian capital. Produce is bringing very remunerative prices in Melbourne at present, and our fine fat cattle would, even after the voyage, be in such good condition as to command the top price ia the market. Our supplies of stock are ample for all demands that may be made upon them. We can spare large quantities without making meat any dearer to our ortn population, and our farmers ought to be stimulated to 1 exertion by the knowledge that, while they would be averting the threatened meat famine in Melbourne, they would be doing remarkably well for themselves.” The Railway Oomhissionbsship.—lt is understood that the question of the Railway Board will positively be settled one way or the other this week when the full Cabinet assembles, as the Government are determined not to allow it to remain ,opep any longer. The protracted uncertainty has been found to hare a demoralising tendency as regardstbe Railway Department, and has given general dissatisfaction. The candidate recommended for the Chief Ooramissionership by the AgentGeneral doss not seem to improve on acquaintance, if current rumor be correct. It is asserted that his railway experience is confined to one line, and to the goods department of that line, while in this limited sphere he is only a “ district ” second in command, and so can have had no opportunity of experience in the larger matters of railway management, his acquaintance being limited to that particular branch of departmental detail. So goes the report, for which, of course, Ido not propose to vouch. It seems, however, to rest on some foundation of credible authority, and, if this be the case, his appointment is scarcely likely. Failing any Chief Commissioner from England, it is rumored that the scheme provided by the i Government Railways Act will be revised, , and the consent of Parliament asked to a fresh plan, by which there would be no Chief Commissioner, but a board of three commissioners holding equal powers, and that in ( such case the appointments would be made { and the rearrangements carried out subject to , the ratification of Parliament when it meets. * This may or may not be correct, hut it is c regarded in well-informed quarters es the c most probable outcome.—Otago Daily Times, t The Post believes that the name of railway f expert recommended by the Agent-General is Mr Rees, Assistant-Deputy General Manager on the Western line, Liverpool district, , I

Leatb of Absence.—Mr Murray, manager of the Bank of MVw Zealand, has obtained six months' leave of absence in consequence of ill-health. Property Tax Statements. —An im- . portunt announcement to persons who have '■ not yet forwurded statements of their pro- '. perly to the Property.Tox Commissioner will be found in our advertising columns. Important Sale --Messrs J. Mundell and Co. hold an important sale of freehold property, witchuiaker and jswtlhr'a stock-in-trade, household furniture, etc., on account of Mr Wm, Coltman, at Goraldine, to-mo'row. St. Marys Church, Geraldine.—An J advertisement elsewhere notifies that the j annual Sunday School treat and pariah festival ia connection with the above Church lakes place on Thursday next. This gathering has in past years proved a most enjoyable outing, and no doubt that of Thursday will be no exception to the rule. Woodburx. —Our correspondent, writing on Sunday, says:—" A very severe noith-we6t gale of wind is etill blowing at Woodbury, and fire is raging in the bush belonging to Messrs Taylor aod Hitman, Musgrave, arid Turtori. A great many of the inhabitants are trying to stay the progress of the fire. I hear that it has consumed a large quantity of the firawood put up ready for sale, some 100 cords, at least. The gale has done considerable damage. One crop of hay in cock has b«en completely carried away, Mr Dean, of the Woodbury Hotel, being the owner. The roof of the stable of the hotel has also been nartly carried away. The fruit trees in the district have suffered severely." We expect to hear of more damage. Corn Exchange.—The annual meeting of the Canterbury Corn Exchange was held at Christchurch on Saturday. The chairman's report stated that there had been an increase of members, but a slight falling off in the amount of subscriptions. He ur&ed members to make every i exertion -o secure the success of the Dunedin Exhibition. He also said that the sy3tem of railway-weighing was still very unsatisfactory as between buyers and sellers, so much depending on how aud when the trucks ware tared, and the state I of the weather when weighing produce. Often as much as 3cwt to swt in trucks , was the difference of the tare weight, and that supplied by the railway department. 1 Complaints were also numerous.as to the i carelessness of the railway people in ' putting clean sacks of corn into dirty ' coal trucks without being properly swept 1 and cleaned. Shipmasters took tdvantage ' of this, and in such cases declioed to give ! " clean " receipts for produce. It was to 1 be regretted that more reliance could not be placed upon the annual grain statistics which were yearly collected at consider- ' able expense by the Government. It had 1 been suggested" that these yearly returns 1 might eusily be verified, or, otherwise, by ' a weekly statement from the threshing ' machines (which would of course have to ' be lie nsed) of acreage and qmnlity of bushels threthed. The matter was t»oi thy , of the consideration of Government, whos-i i interest it should be to place the most , trustworthy information of all kinds before the colooy. Mr James Gamack ' was re-elected chairman.

BYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS,

Fredk. Oldfield, Temuka—Notice re farm at Eerrytown. J. Sperrey—lmportant notica re propertytax statements. R. H. Pearpoint cutting and grubbing gone. : St. Mary's, Geraldine—Annual treat and • parish festival on Thursday, 10th inefc. Victoria Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Gefaldine— Social gathering on Friday evening next. J. Mundell and Oo—Will Bell bioyole at Grerßldine on Wednesday. F.JIW. Stubbs, Clerk Geraldine County Council Notice re persons appointed to colleot dog tax. In Bankruptcy—Re) Geo. Dyson, of Temuka, clerk, and Jas. Marshall, of Temuka, baker, bankrupts. J. T. M. Hayhurst-Notifies that Mr B. Trumper's tender has been acoepted for forming road to mill. W. Deßenzy and A. W. Ensor, Churchwardens—lnvite tenders for completing churoh at Winchester. Geraldine Road Board—lnvite tenderssfor driving iron rails at Belfield, clearing out drain and cutting cocksfoot. J. H. Walker, Andre wville, Temuka— Announces that he is prepared to undertake the repairing and adjusting of reapers and binders, and keeps extras and lubricating oils in slock; tinware repaired and made to order.