LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1872, 30 March 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Meeting of Fruitgkowbes.—A meeting of fraitgrowers takes place at Geraldine this evening. The Shooting Season.—We would again , draw attention to the fict that the shooting season for nativ« game doeß nob open until the 18th April. Anyone found Hhooting before that date will be prosecuted. GrEBALDINE MONTHLY Sale. This sale takes place on Wednesday next. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. one! Messrs Webster and Maedonald advertise numerous and prime lines of stock. Both firms receive entries to hour of sale. Wateb StrpMT fob Waitohi Flat.— A meeting of persons interested in the question of a. water supply for the Waitohi Hat district ■will take place m the schoolroom on Wednesday evening next. The subject is one of great importance to Battlers in the district, and we hope to see the meeting largely attended. Alleged Fohgeht. —At the Resident Masistrate's Court, Timaru, on Wednesday, William Howson was committed for trial at t he next sitting of the Supreme Court, Timaru, on a oharge of forging a cheque (purporting to be signed by Robert Dryßdalo) for £lllss, and uttering the same, well knowing it to be I forged. A. Gr. Anderson, whose wifo cashed | the cheque, deposed to seeing the accused S on the following morning, after the oheque \ had been presented at the bask and marked 'no account,' and he promised to refund the money. He called on the aooused twice, and after seeing Mr Drysdale, who said Lhe cheque was not his, he informed the police, The accused was arrested in Ohristchurch. J Diocbsan SriroD. —The Synod at Chris/- , church on Thursday night reaolyed to promote ' a Bill in the next session of Parliament, authorising the church propwrty trustees to pay the mortgagess, on behalf of the dabentureholders, £BSB and interest, being the amount paid by thorn for property tax, arrears thereof, and legal costs up to and including the decision of the Court of Appeal in connection with the Englieh loan of £50,000. The Bill is to provide that such payment shall sot interfere with the law in the Court of Appeal in the case of Aynsley and others versus the church property trustees. The resolution is to take effect on receipt by the trustees from the mortgagees of an understanding on their part to accept the decision of the Court of Appeal as final in respect of the payment of properly tax by mortgagees on the loin in future. The . bishop threatened to veto the hat portion, j but refrained on being assured that if he did I so the mortgagees would gat no relief.

, The CniSTESB.—The Wellington Evening Poat cays - — "A. few months ago we mentioned that, the Chinese in Wellington had received a communication from tho Einporor enjoining them not to enter into any business arrangements which would tend to retard their speedy return to the .Flowery Land should a proclamation to come back be issued i as the result of the differences of opiuioti which at present exist between tho Australian colonies and the Government at Pekin on Iko fubject of immigration. We n>w learn that another document has just been received by the Celestials of this district, impressing upon them the necessity of bearing in mind the injunction in tho previous communication, and stating that it ia quite possible that they will bo called upon to either return to the land of their birth, or remain where they are and cease to be regarded as Chinese eubjectu. A gentleman who is taking a deep interest in tho movements of the Chinese in Wellington informs u* that, since tho last oomiaunication has come to hand many of tho men have become deeply concerned at. the position of affairs, and are disinclined to cater into new busmen urrangoaienta. i

IsDiAN Wheat pob Sydney. Says the Chnalchurch Telegraph : Gillanders Arbuthnot unci Co. telegraph from Calcutta, under date of 23rd March : " Calcutta club wheat hiudnd in Bydoey, 4801 b, cost, freight and insurance, exchange ut Bixty days, Backs us when*, 34) per quarter, equal io 4>j 3d per bushel."

Pbhsonal. Tho Rev. Geo, Barclay raturned to Geraldme from his trip north, whence he had gone for the benefit of his health, on Thursday evening. The rev. gontfenoan is much improved by his holiday, and it is to be hoped the improveawt will be a lasting one. Mr Barclay was heartily welcomed by a largo number of his friends yesterday. - • Whsmyah Chukcji, Tjmuea.— Wesleyan Church at Temuka is now atmoit completed, the fixing and varnishing of the seats andj a few small jobs being till that remains to be done. The formal opening of the church is oxpected to take place in about a month's time. At the last congregational meeting it was decided to poslpone the gift auction until May.

A Hawker jkom Jerusalem. —At the Ashburton R.M. Court yesterday, according-to the Guardian, a hawker n»med George, who said ho had come direct from Jerusalem, and could only speak Arubic, was charged with hiwking without, a Hcsbso. He had gone to tho residenoe of the Sergeant of Police, and when asked for his license replied "Me no savee. Me no tpeak English. Me come from Jerusalem." Tho case was dismissed.

Auction Sales.—By advertisements appearing elsewhere Messrs J. Mundell and Co. notify the sale by them during April of the stock and plant of two extensive estates. The first is that of Mr D. Findlay, Kakahu, which takes place on Wednesday, April 10th, and the second the splendid Btoek and plant of Mr W. U. Slack's Woodside [estate. The list in both cases is a long one, that of the Woodside property being especially so. A perusal of both advertisements will repay tboje o\\%he look-out to purchase farm requisites. ' Sudden Death at Geealdinb.—A painfully sudden death occurred at Geraldine on Wednesday jevooiug last. Airs W. Stonehouse had been ailing with musoaUr rheumatism for the past two or three weeks, and was confined to her bed with that painful malady. On Wednesday she appeared to bo much better, and about eight o'olock was quite cheerful and bright. About ten o'clock ho wevor, she was taken suddenly ill, and died in two or three minutes, before any assitance could be obtained. Dr Fish, who had boen attending, her was Bent for im« mediately, but found life extinct. The cause of death was a weak heart and syncope. Deceased leaves a husband and a largefamily.

A Sagacious Horse.—Mr Elaton tells rather a tall story—for the truth of which, however, he vouches—at* illustrative of the sagacity of his well-known brown mare. It appears that the entrauce to her p'iddock is closed by an iron bolt and nut, but notwithstanding that the latter has been tightly screwed home by a spanner, the bar "has been frequently found down and the mare missing. A watch being set it was discovered that the mare deliberately and skilfully unscrewed the nut with her teeth —a feat the difficulty of which will be appreciated when we state that it takes thirteen turns on the thread of the bolt to screw it home, and that it cannot be unscrewed with the fingers. Ashburton Guardian. Temuka KlliiEg.—Oolonol Bailey inipec/etl the Temuka Rifles last Wednesday and informed them that arrangements had been made to hold an encampment with the North Canterbury corps this year somewhere in the neighborhood of Bangiora. Tne tram would leave Timaru on the Thursday evaning previous to Easter Monday, picking up the co'ps en route, and was expected to reaoh Kangiora at about 4 o'clock on the following morning, where the camp would be ready, and they would have nothing to do only to turn in. Thoy would have three good days in camp, and they must make up their minds to go i.i tor good, hard work. On Monday afternoon they would start on the return journey, and reach their homes during the night, and be ready to go to their work oa Tuesday morning as usual., He urged upon all to go. They had a grant from the Government, which he believed would bo sufficient to defray expenses, so no corps would be called to contribute. They all knew that they learned more in camp during a few days than they would at home all the yoar. Above all, he wished the South Canterbury corps to set a good example to all others by their good behaviour and discipline.

Thk Old C©mpiaint.—On 1 ast Thursday afternoon a gentleman who had been indulging rather freely in Ihe cup that cheers aud inebriates, rendered himself bo objectionable that one hoteikeeper had to insist on his throwing his custom into the r opposition shop. After having travelled \ from one hotel to another for some time \ he at last became rather boisterous, and was thrown bodily out of one of them, and he actually fell into the arms of Constable Tarrant, who happened to be passing by at the same moment. The coostable of coursj embraced him lovingly, gripping with his left hand the collar of his coat and holding his right hand in hii. Immediately they became fast friends, indeed, such a liking did the constable take to him that he would sooner pSrt with the apple of his eye than with his newly-found acquaintance, and thus linked together by such inseperable ties they marched side by side down to the police station. Yesterday morning the noisy gentleman appeared in the Police Court, before K. F. Gray, Esq., J. P., charged with having been drunk and disorderly on the previous evening. On making a promise not to let it occur again he whs dismissed with a caution, as it was his first offence, at l j ast it was the first time he was caught at it.

Rouaii AGHicpr/riJßAii Society's Show.— The Minister for Lands has received from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies the prize list and regulations of am agricultural exhibition (o be held at Windsor Great Park, ii June, 1889 ; also enclosing a copy of a loiter from his Koyal Highness th« Prince of Wales, acting president of tho Koyol Agricultural Society of England, in connection with the same. His itoyal Highness says, amongst other tilings, that it is hoped on this occasion , to bring together the finest and largest collec- ' lion of pedigree live stock that has over been exhibited in any part of the world; oad in view of the increased extent to which purebrod animal j- urn being annually exported from the United Kingdom to the colonies, the council think that the representatives of agriculture abroad nny be mide acquainted with tho particulars of tho exhibition which tho society are sanguine will attract largo numbers of colonial visitors. la the summary of prizes it is shown that the total yuluo of prizes, respectively, for horses will be £3OOO, for cattle £3952, for sb|ep £2507 ; in farm and dairy produce, forjfbin £135, for wool £M4, for cheese £252, for butler £39, for jnm and preserved fruits £9O, for agricultural appliances £155, for butter - makers' competition £53, und for horse-shoeing competition £42,

Sobaxohbp.--Mr J. Horris's Bed Ensign has been Bwatched for all engagements at the Geraldine Kacing Club's Autumn Meeting. Habtmt Thamksgitinqs. We notioe that, the Temuka Presbjterian Cburoh next Sabbatb day will be devoted to a thanksgiving service for a bountiful harvest, and wn have do doubt much intsresr, will b« evinced in it, seeing that a great authority has said "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thina inerease." SOMNAMAUHSM. A singular case of somnambulism is reported at Snmt road. On Sunday night last (the Taraniki reports), the 10th inst, tho son of a aetfler got ou> of bed in bis sleep »nd travelled all the way to Waitara, where he was "Htetand next morning. The mystery U ttovy ho could have travelled all that way iu the drenching win without waking. Ho cannot give any explanation of tho occurrence, and was" entirely unconscious until ho was found lying on tho road and awakened. His parents only missed him a short time before he returned home. Deaths fhom Thirst.— Tho Quoenalander of a receet date says : Two deaths from thirst occurred in the bush last week, one a shepherd on Nive Junction, the other an old man named Head, who died about four mi'es from the Ticklemon mail stage. Nothing has since been beard of the missing billiard-marker, Fitzherbert, who started to walk from Adavale to Chnrleville. He is generally believed to be dead, as no man could go twenty-four hours, without water this hot weather. Papers that belonged to him show that ho watt well connected, and had bean trained for the law. The papers indicate that his brother is Orown Solicitor of New Zealand, and the deceased was a nephew of Sir William Fiizherberl, lately of New Zealand. Deceased's father, who is dead, was a well-known barrister in Devon, England. Bktertainmbst. —Mr and Mrs Foley appeared in their really very enjoyable entertainment "Moments of Merriment" last Thursday evening in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, to a very fair house, considering that the weather was anything but favorable. The stage was v»ry nicely got up, and all details calculated to make the evening's amusement as enjoyable as possible were carefully attended to. The first part, which | took exactly au hour to play, consisted of a j sort of a domestic comedy, the characters in S which were: a liveried butler, an Irish old lady, who owned the house and a magnificent temper, ber son and daughter, a young sailor, a Captain Slipslop, and a fire-eating military gentleman next door. All the trouble arose out of the Irish lady and her next-door neighbor having fallen out over the election of a mayor for the town ; but the quirrel did nob extend to the younger branches of the families. While the old people were quarrelling, the young people were making love, and on this all the fun binges. The old lady's son and the daughter of the military gentleman get married privately, knowing full well that to get parental consent is

impossible ; and a son next door and th» old lady's daughter make up their mind to elope. The old lady finds it all out through letters having bean" beautifully mixed up by the butler, who cannot read, although he cm drink whiskey and deny that he ever taated it in his life. The indignation of the old lady runs very high, although she makes great efforts to keep her temper. The penitence of the young people can by no means mollify the old lady, who i* going to cut them off with a shilling, when the gentleman next door

v arrives on the scene in a towering ruge, conWequont on a letter which the butler had put /into his letter-box, but which was not intended

for bim. He brings with him a brace of :; pistole, and insists on the old hdy fighting u duel with him. After a good dual of pliy, the quarrel leadi to a mutual explanation, and the old lady avows her intention of forgiving her.erring children, and consenting to their marriage, wheD, to her great surprise, tbo fire-eating military man throws aff hi» disguise, anal diiciosea hirasolf as her eon. Il was her own son who had been personating the gentleman next door, and succeeded in extracting from her the consont to his marriage. Mr Foley personated the butler, the old lady, the sailor, and the soldier to perfection. His versatility is something remarkable, and the rapidity with which he changed from one lo the other elicited enthusiastic appliiisc. He changed not only dresses, but also his manner, his voice, his action, his individuality—and it would be bard lo say which he delineated best. Mrs Foley changed dresses from the dashing young gentloman to tho petulant, impatient young lady, and also to the fire-eating military gentlemaa next door, with equal rapidity, and acted ail the parts in a very spirited and artistic manner. The second part consisted of character sketches, singing, and dancing, in which both were equally auceeseful. On the whole, the performance was extremely enjoyable, and they kept the audience in roars of laughter from beginning to end. Last night they appeared again to a very fair audience, the front seats being better filled than on the previous evening. The entertainment consisted of character Bketches and specialties, including singing and dancing, ventriloquism, and the playing of music on ordinary brandy bottles. Jur Foley kept the audience in roars of laughter the whole evening single-handed, his sketches of English, Irish, Hootch, and lJutoh characters were really very clever, and he played "Home, Sweet Home." on the bottles delightfully. For this he was [repeatedly encored, and played " The College Hornpipe " and "The Wearing of the Green" splendidly, jtfext Monday and Tuesday he -.'ill appear in Geraldine, and we strongly recommend those desirous of spending a vory pleasint evening to go and see him. His entertainment is free from the slightest coarseness, and is one of the most enjoyable that anyone could listen to. A Company hoi been formed at Dunodin with n capital of £IOOO, for the purpose of establishing a magazine under the title of «' Zn i.andio."

Baxter's Ltjno Pbrskbveh has gained great popularity in this dfttnor, us u speedy and effectual remedy in the iraatment ot Coughs, Colds, Übonchitis, and othei chest and throat complaints. Head advt.