LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1948, 26 September 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Trottino Ciwr A trotting olub has bean formed in Timaru, and a meeting will bo held next month. Sportinw, —lt is reported that Merrie England has been sold privately to a Sydney sportsman for £ISOO. Midland Railway.— The Midland Railway Company are calling for tenders for five contracts, over which half a million will be spent. Honest Dairymen. —Twelve samples of milk from separate dairies supplying Christchurch were submitted to Professor Bickerton for analysis. Ho reports them pure and of good quality. Larceny. —At Timaru on Tuesday a cabinetmaker named William Powell was sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment for stealing firewood from a baker’s yard. He had been previously warned by the police, but said ho was too smart to be caught, A previous conviction was mentioned against Powell. (

Bank Holiday. —The banks at Temuka and Geraldine will be closed to-morrow. Timaru Show. —lntending competitors are reminded that samples of potted butter (not less than 14'b), must be left with the secretary, Mr F. W, Stubbs, Timaru, sot later than Saturday next. Special Orders. —ln our advertising columns will be found the special orders passed by the Geraldine County Council dealing with the rates in the Orari-Waihi and Geraldina Flat water supply districts.

The Railways.—Mr S, Vaile states that comparing 1889 with 1883, there was an increase of population, 89,300; an increase of capital expended on railways, £3,011,611 ; an increase of railways open, 404 miles ; an increase of train mileage, 83,675 miles ; and, with all these increases, ihere were decreases in net revenue, £9,956 ; in amount received for coaching, £39,215 ; in passengers carried, 150,576; and in interest earned, 16» per cent. Such results cau only be described as disastrous.”

Rifle Match.— A rifle match between a team ehoaen from the Tecnukt Rifle corps, and a team of Timaru Civilians will take place at tbe Temuka butts to-day. The following will represent the Temuka Rifles:—Lieutenant Findlay, Sergeants Hobbs and Woodhead, Corporals Levons, Whitehead, and Clinch, Privates Austin, Watt, Sira, and H, Lavery, Emergencies; Privates Scott, Sadburnd, and Wright. The men are requested to be on the ground at 2 o’clock. Faithful Unto Death.—A letter from Johnstown states that when the chapel of the Episcopal Methodists was being cleared of the accumulated rubbish the bodies of a man and woman were found locked in each other’s arms. Owing to the rigidity of death it was impossible to separate them, and they were consigned to the grave as they were found. They were a young couple who were being married in the chapel, and the ceremony was near the end when the water came in. The minister and the witnesses, it is stated, escaped.

Women’s Rights.— Sweden would seem to be a country after the heart of the most pronounced advocate of women’s rights. Women are there employed in all the vocations which ordinarily are conceded to be the peculiar property of mankind, and it is now triumphantly announced that Swedish women will shortly receive equal political rights with their husbands and other male relatives. Vvhat avenues of occupation are left to the men is not stated, but it is presumed that they find abundance of work in caring for their homes and taking care of the babies. Sinking a Man-of-war.— Toulon, the great naval port of Franc#, sap plies the following amusing story of a plague of bugs which caused tbe sinking of the torpedo Oonleuvrine. The members ot those nauseous insects that swarm in every corner of the boat seem to be endless. The celluloid, of which the Oonleuvrine is built, seems to be their favorite haunt, for all the surfaces of the material are black with bugs. The ordinary insect killers were powerless, and on the advice of the Maritime Prefect the Minister of Marine, Admiral Krantz, gave order* for the Couleuvrine to be sunk and kept under salt water for three days. Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. —Aa amusing mot recently got abroad apropos of Lord Salisbury’s interview with the deputation which waited on him to seal the doom of the Irish Lord-Lieutenant. It shows that Colonel Waring has a pretty wit, which has biterfco been hidden under a bushel. Tbs deputation having pointed out as an excellent excuse for abolishing the office the impossibility of getting anyone to accept it—“ Oh, no,” quoth Lord Salisbury, “ I was just about to tell you, gentlemen, that it has been accepted by—er—Lord Zetland.” “ Well, ray Lord,” returned Colonel Waring premptly, “ that shows yon have run through to the end of the alphabet; wa hope you’ll write finis after that.”

Geraldine Hiding Club’s Spring MbetiNO. — Fhio fixture commences today, and should tho weather prove fine should bo a decided success, The number of acceptors has proved very satisfactory. Tke committee, as usual, have made the very best arrangements that lay in their power to secure the comfort of their patrons. A spscial train will run from Timaru arriving before the first and leaving after the last race. Visitors from Christchurch will also be able to arrive in time for the first race, and the last race will be run before the departure of the express going north, thus coming and returning in one day. Altogether the arrangements are about as complete as can be made, . and it only requires fine weather to make the meeting (I boom.” The Past Session. —fhe Sydney Horsing Herald on Tuesday published an article reviewing the workdonedurioglast session ofthe NewZealandParliaraent. Tt'considers that the compromise suggested by the Ministry with respect to the quastien of representation was a fair one, and that the city members would have acted wisely in accepting it, instead of founding charges of partiality against the Government. It goes on to say that the outcome of the conflict was to render the position of the Government more secure, though, strange to say, their command of the House was not made one whit firmer. Sumtniog up, the Hera'd says, “ While the Government weathered the session, there were unmistakeable warnings that unless they were prepared to essentially modify the property tax, or submit a method of increasing the revenue more in harmony with publie sentiment, they would be left in the cold at the next general election." This result, the Herald thinks, would be regretted, considering that Sir H. A. Atkinson had done so much to restore the credit of tho colony. Priob or Land. —There was a lot of haggling about the purchase of a suburban allotment near Melbourne, says "Atticus” in the Leader, but in the end a difference of £1 a foot threatened to put an end to the bargain. The vendor, through his agent, an eminent auctioneer, wanted £25 a foot for the frontage, while the vendee stuck at £24, Two or three glasses of wine were drunk during tho 'negotiations, and the vendor seeing that time—which was money—was passing, and that the vendee was obdurate, said,Well, suppese we say 24 guineas ? ” “ Done I ” cried the vendee, and he signed an agreement to that effect. The next day he was aware ef the fact that be had undertaken to pay more than he intended, and the auctioneer generously consented to change the price to £26. “ You see,” said he, in explanation to his principal, “ the blessed idiot I migbc have brought us into Equity and I! have upset the thing altogether.” * ■

The Star Hotel.— We understand that the Stiir Hotel, Temuku, has been purchased by Mr John Angland from Mr M. Quinn for £1250. A Rake Visitor. — A Urge specimen of the ribbon fish, twelve feet long, fiftaen inches deep, and three inches wide, was caught in Nelson harbor oo Sunday. These deep sea fish are very rare.

Just So. England has over one million dollars invested in the manufacture of idols for heathen countries, and yet the churches of that country are continually calling for more money and more missionaries to suppress idolatry.

The o amaru Seat.— At the nomination of candidates for the Oamaru seat in the House of Representatives on Monday, Mr T. W. Hislop and Mr D. Dunn were nominated. The show of hands was in favor of Mr Hislop, and the poll takes place on Monday next. Tkmwka Rifles.— A Government Inspection parade of the above corps was held last night. Present—3o rank and file, under the command of Lieut. White. Staff-Sergt.-Major Jones, who was present, exercised the company for about an hour and a half iu various movements under the new manual, when they were dismissed.

Eighteen-Eighty-Eight.— I The general opinion chat the year 1888 was one of the coldest and gloomiest ever known in England is confirmed by the report of the Astronomer Royal. The temperature of the year was below the average of 47 years, and there were only three months —those of May, November, and December —in which it was up to the mean. The amount of sunshine was only one-fourth of what was possible, and not more than two-thirds of that enjoyed in 1887.

Accident.-—A rather serious accident happened in Timaru on Tuesday last to Captain Woolloombe, a very old settler, and for many years Resident Magistral* in this district. He had just get into a buggy, intending to drive home, when the horse bolted, and a few hundred yards from the starting place the vehicle collided with a fence and he was thrown to the ground heavily. He was badly shaken and bruised, and the small bones and ankle of his right leg were broken. Thb Late Galb,— The most serious injury done by the late gale has so far escaped our notice. It is the damage dona to the spire of the Roman Catholic Church in Temuka. At between four and six feet from the top the slender tapering column has been broken, and pushed to one side to the extent of over a couple of inches. The damage could of course have been very readily remedied if it were not so far from the ground, but to get up to it is undoubtedly not an easy matter. -The damage is on this account very serious, and it will cost something to put it right. The New Wesleyan Church at Nelson.— His Excellency the Governor laid the foundation stone of St. John’s Wesleyan Church this afternoon. The whole ceremony was a great success, and was witnessed by 4009 people. The Governor and Lady Onslow met with a warm and heaity reception. The Rev. Oliver read an address, and presented His Excellency with a silver trowel, mallet, and level, with a casket. The Governor haring declared the stone well and truly laid, expressed gratification at the expressions of loya'ty to the Queen, and on bshalf of Lady Onslow and h’raself at the true hospitality shows them. He alluded to the * presence of the Bishop of Nelson, and said in this freer and happier laud, this brighter Britain, true liberality in religious matters offered another example to those at Home. The Bishop of Nelson made an admirable speech, saying that they each had their views, and adhered to them conscientiously, but they felt that there were more points on which they agreed than disagreed. With that view, and remembering the adverse influences at work, he said they followed the advice of Lord Nelson, who, when two of bis Commanders were at variance, laid, “ There is the enemy ; you must be friends.” Others who took a prominent part were the Mayor (Mr John Sharp), the Rev, P. Oalder, Presbyterian), and Archdeacon Miles, and the Rev. J. Crump. The verdict of all who have used the “ Jumbo ” brand Baking Powder, is that it makes light, nutritious, emi digestive bread cakes, pastry, etc. As the ingredients are of the finest qualities, and no injurious elements being used in the preparation, bread, etc., made with this powder will keep fresh and moist longer than with any other powder. Ask for Anderson’s " Jumbo ” brand Baking Powder.—[Advt, 11.