LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2031, 10 April 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dance at Temuka. —A dance under the auspices of the Temuka Quadrille Assembly will take place in the Oddfellows’ Hall this evening,

Temuka Mechanics’ Institute,—The monthly meeting of this committee was held on Tuesday evening last, Messrs J. B:yth (chairman), McCaskill, Andrews, Lee, and Storey being present. The librarian’s report was read, and cash handed in to the amount of £2 16s. Concert and Dance at Pleasant Valley.— A concert and dance in aid of the funds of the Pleasant Valley School will be held to-morrow evening. A nice programme has been arranged, and as the object is good and entertainments are scarce in the district, a large attendance is expected.

Accident.—John Waterhouse, an employ 4 of Messrs Jones and Palliser, c nconlraotors for the blneatone protective works at the Timaru cliffs, met with a serious accident on Tuesday. He was in the act of levering a large piece of stone when he fell, and other pieces of stone near by rolled on to him, injuring him internally, fracturing one of his legs, and breaking an ankle. He is expected to recover.

Wesleyan Church. —The quarterly meeting was hold on Tuesday evening in the vestry of the new church. A pleasant, harmonious meeting was not the only feature of the gathering. Whilst the proportions of circuit liabilities are far from comforting, yet the income for the quarter was within a shade of meeting the quarter’s expenditure. At the church social tea meeting this evening a full report will be given.

Maoris and Christianity. —The Maoris at Orakei have been celebrating the jubilee of the introduction of Christianity among them. Bishop Hudfield was one of the clergymen who originally preached the Oospel to them. There was a great gathering of natives from all parts of the province, and the celebration concluded with a procession of §OO Maoris clad in white to the church, Tawhaiao'a great native meeting has been fixed for April 24' h.

.Panorama at Temuka, To-morrow evening a panorama depicting the history : \ nd e *P, loits of t,IB Kelly Gang, the Paris Exhibition, portraits of Men of the Day, and scenes in England, France, Switzerland, etc., etc., will be shown in the Temuka Volunteer Hall. A number of songs will also be given, as well as some clever conjuring tricks. The entertainment appears to have given every satisfaction in other places, judging by the testimonials given to the proprietors. The Pool of Bethesda.— Some further researches have been made in regard to the Pool of Eetiiesda by the Pore Leon C.e, who has charge of the Church of St. Anne at Jerusalem. By the door that descends to the middle of the Pool some very interesting remains of a mural painting have beau discovered. Tue Arabs have destroyed the heads and hands of the figures, but thero is still visible the beaiiiifui and well-preserved nimbus of a winged figure, which causes the water by which it is surrounded in the picture to be moved and agitated. It is an exact interpretation of the first part of the fourth verse of the fifth chapter of Si. John, “an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water.”

Draughts. —On Monday evening last, at Timaru, Sergeant-Major Mason, of that pi ice, and Mr W. Storey, jun., of J’emuka, tried conclusions at six games of draughts, of which Mr Storey won noless than four. This was exiremely good, During tho Easter holidays Mr J, Sim, of Temuka, visited (he Dunedin Draughts (Jiub, and played against two of the members. With Mr Brodie he played eight games, the semes being two wus each and four draws. With Mr Lucas three games were plavod, Mr Min winning two and losing the’ third. Mr Btndio is a very promising young player, who, it may be mentioned, gained third pmee in the recent intercolonial draughts tournumeo'. Mr Sun is, therefore, to be congratulated on the firm stand ha was able to make against, him.

. Temuka Licensing Bench.— An adjourned meeting of the Temuka Licensing Bench was held at the Courthouse, Temnka, on. Tuesday list. p rbS(jnt _Messrs ia bot (Chairman), Quinn, Ensor, Meyer, anc Allan, ihe only business was the question of renewal of the license of the iemuka Hotel, the licensee of which had been granted a mouth’s grace, either to L , ? f r aso, Raymond appeared on t-half of the mortgagee and intimated hat arrangements had been mane to lease e h° el to Mr McGuire. Every effort fha 6en made to ex pedite matters, but siln ssar y documents had only been rJSnn pr6 ! 10,,s ' d «y. aild he therefore Idrfw u n kfid that the bench u , r McGuire to take possession on tho The P°L ce objected, on , ip°, und tbat the present licensee was not fit to have control of the house, and unc! eHake the responth« i T ° 1 S - properly conducted for win ni e 7 emnff da - VB * Tho Bench were meet aa far as p able, but could not permit Mr Fenton thaTnZl 011 the hoUße * The y suggested that perhaps it might be closed for a few ays ,, i ' dr Raymond thought not. as when the license was again applied for local option claims might intervene, Mr McGuire was willing to taka charge in the meantime, but the police again objected, as he would really not be a respons hie person. The Bench retired to consider the matter, and during tho interval the licensee, who was unfit to appear i u Court, was arrested and taken to the lock-up. On the Bench returning they were informed of the circumstance, and Constable Morton intimating his intention of applying next day for a remand, so that the licensee might have medical treatment it v?as agreed that an adjournment should be made for a week, Mr McGuire to be ready to take possession uu the day named in Um application. j

New Plymouth Petroleum,—A letter by last mail states that the company formed in London to work the petroleum at New Plymouth will commence operations in May next. The Exhibition.—The Exhibition attendance last week was 24,197, of which cash admissions represented 15,973. Up to the end of the nineteenth week the total attendance was 546 540. A Useful Plant.—Mr Wilton, Marton, has growing in his garden a flower called the kaipoc, which is fatal to the whole species of moths. The Rangitikei Advocate says it has seen some of the flowers, on each of which was a full-grown specimen of the common moth, Some of them, were alive, but they could make no attempt to flv. It seems that moths are fond cf the flower, and once tbev gel their probosces into it, they never fly again, Ic has been suggested that if this flower wore grown in sufficient quantities in orchards, the codlin moth post would soon become a thing of the past. Christchurch Cathedral.—Four alabaster panels have been received from England for the Cathedral pulpit, illustrating scenes of New Zealand Church history. They bear high relief representations of Bishop Selwyn preaching to the Maoris, receiving Bishop Harper on the latter s arrival at Lyttelton, announcing the settlement of the Church constitution at St. Stephen s, Parnell, and the consecration of Bishop Patieson. The panels wore procured by a subscription promoted by the Hon. H. B, Gresson, are of a very high order cf arr, and executed by Mr Clark, tlie well-known sculptor. A Success.—The system of “zonal” railway tickets iu Austria, it is said, is showing astonishing results, and producing quite a sensation. In four months— August to November— the number of passengers has nearly tripled. During four months of 1888 the number of railway tickets issued was 1.616,000, while in the corresponding period of last year 4,300 000 were issued. The tickets are available within a certain radius of zone. No one had dared to hope for such a happy result, y o ', notwithstanding a radical lowering of tates, the receipts have increased from 3,188,000 florins to 3,784 000 florins. This is an increase of 600,000 florins, when a great falling off in the receipts ’was expected on all hands. No doubt this experiment of the Hungarian Government . will make a little noise in Europ", or indeed, all over the world. *

Rough on a Lawyer,—At the recent criminal sittmgs in Nelson a woman was charged with having robbed a lawyer, while the latter was drunk, of £IOO. JNo true bill was found. Thus Judge Richmond on the prosecutor :—“ He has bsen described by bis own counsel in this Court as a man not without redeeming virtues • but by his own confession hia"habita are such as to be a scandal to the place, and he has subjected himself to much diag’race. If be could only see himself as others see him, as dicent people mus*, no effort would be 100 gre ,t for him to deliver himself from the vice by which he inflicts so much suffering on himself and others, and disgrace to the community and profession to which ha belongs. It is in a public sense I speak; but if what I say may aiouso in him a sense of his own degradation, I shall be happy. I have no Intention of inflicting pain in speaking as I am doing.” In another case the Judge said : “ The vice of drunkenness is see°n in an even more disgusting form. The filthiest imagination could not exceed what is revealed hero, and the Yahoos of Swift appear matters of fact in comparison.”

Fox-Hunting on a Bull. —During the hunting with Sir Watkin Wynn’s hounds recently, a remarkable incident occurred. The meet was at Broughall Smithy, near Whitchurch, and the weather boing of the most lovely kind, there was a large field out. About noon a fox was found in a covert near the residence of Mr Ethelstone, J.P., of Hurton, and a clinking run past Terrick Hall, through Bubuey, Iscoed, &c., to within a few fields of Malpns followed. When the hounds were in full cry on a farm near the Wyches, a .young man got on the back of a bull and joined in t he chase for fully an hour, to the no email astonishment and amusement of those present, and the way in which he cleared the fences is described as marvellous. Heedless to say, Billy was neither saddled nor bridled ; nevertheless the youth seemed to have an agreeable “mount,” and he “kept his seat” the whole time, and ho was undoubtedly the hero of the day. It is said this is not the fiist time the bull has followed tho hounds, in the locality it is well-known that the youth in question generally gets astride of the bull when ho felches the cows up, and no sheep dog cou'd do his work more expeditiously.

Bazaar and Gift Auction. The bazaar in connection with St. Sivioui'a Church, Temuka, was reopened on Tueeday afternoon, but the attendance until evenmg was only moderate. Those present, however, were intent on busing, and tho stall-holders disposed of a very fair share ot their most useful goods. In the evening far more people w-rre present, and tho most valuable articles were readily disposed of by act union. A large doll, dressed as a bride, was eagedy competed for, and by a freak of forlune returned to tho donor’s hands Towards ten o’clock the produce, fowls', dc., were disposed of by auction by Mr K. F. Gray, and found ready purchasers. Unfortunately the demand exceeded the supply, a fact that farmers of liberal disposition may gracefully bear in remembrance until next occasion. Among the gifts of produce were some exceptionally fine cabbages and carrots, given by Mr J. B. Wareing, Each cabbage although not full-grown was literally an armfull. Ali the ladies again worked well, and they were able to enlist the services of several gentlemen friends. To all the thunks of the vestry are due. Mr Moyer as usual lent his horse and trap for bringing i n produce, etc. The horse is now so accustomed to tin’s work (hat it should shortly be able to collect on its own account. Besides those mentioned in our lust iisno, the vestry desire to thank Mr for kindly auctioneering the goods Mr Sweet for decorations, Mr Meyer, and Miss Lovegrovo fora small parcel,’ and all those who assisted in promoting the success of the gathering, especially those ot other denominations who contributed such handsome gifts. The takings wore as follows :—Stall in centre of had, £33 IQs ; side stalls, £22; refreshment stall, £j ; produce. £o 5s ; admission fees, £lO 10s ; total, £BO ss. After paying expanses it is expected that about £75 will remain to go to tho funds of tho church.

Palmistry, —Mrs J. H. Hickton, w lio gives readings of by palmistry, may now ba consulted at the Geraldine Hotel, Mrs Hickton was very successful during her stay in Temuka. The Primacy Question-. —It is thought probable that the Primacy difficulty will be settled very shonly, and that a meeting of the General Synod will soon be commenced to elect a Primate and confirm the election of Archdeacon Julius, who will probably be const crated on May Ist.

Started to Death.—At Omlton, New Brunswick, two eccentric sisters, Eihn and Johanna Synnatt, related to members of a local legal firm of high standing, have died a horrible death from starvation. They were in the habit of living alone.' On enquiries being made at their house Ellen was found to ba dead, and her body was in the last stage of putrefaction. Johanna at the time of the discovery was still alive, and lived long enough to be able (o say that both became id of typhoid fever, and wero unable to go out and get aid or to cook their food. They had been starving for 21 days, duiiag which time they lived upon biscuits, which had been stored under their mattress.

A Bill ®f Costs. —Lawyers’ bills of costs have always been the subject of much ridicule and bitter pleasantry. None of the bills told of in truth or fiation, however, quite equal one which has recently been occupying the individual attention of the recipient and the Supreme Court registrars. This particular account was rendered to cer'ain natives, and the amount of it was only £6003. The exact language used by the Maoris when they receiyed this bill has not been preserved for historic reference, but there is reason to believe it was expressive and free. Subsequent investigations by the registrars led to a sum of £4600 being knocked off, and the amount of the bill as it now stands (subject to further reduction) is £I4OO. E.Z. Times.

Life in .Russia. Djspitchea from Russia in the American papers say that the strike in Russia is in tnuh a revolt, and is treated as such by the authorities’ Facta have come to light which show the terrible punishment dealt out, to striking workmen. A falling off in trade called the proprietors of certain large mills to discharge a number of men. When this became known a crowd of semi-savage working men gathered about the mill and destroyed valuable property. The police dispersed them. During the night fifty of the ringleaders were spirited away. The men then prayed for mercy. It is learned that the 50 men were taken to the salt mines at Cracow, where they were scourged, starved, and treated so barbarously that they sought death as a release. The whole fifty committed suicide. Peter’s Pence.—We learn from Ro'ra" of the sums taken las-t year for St. Peter’s pence : From Austria came about £16.000 ; Spain, £BOOO ; France, £12,800 ; Germany, £7200 ; Ireland, £6OOO ; England. £3BOO ; Belgium £62®fl , Switzerland, £2200 ; ' £3108; North America, £7400; South America, £12,400 ; Afric>, £3800; Asia, £4OOO ; Roumania, £4OOO ; Italy, £14,200; and Portugal, £6OOO. Other sums making up £4OOO were collected in Australia, Oceania, Russia, Sweden, Norway, &c. The who e sum received was about about £120,000, being less by £6OOO than what was received in 1888. ffhe European States which contributed nothing to St. Peter’s pence were Turkey Montenegro, Greece, and Servia,— Daily Times.

Blondes. —lt is said that blondes are growing noticeably rarer in America. One writer, in fact, ha? recently declared that they have almost disappeared from New England, and the prediction is freely ventured that, as a result of the cosmopolitan mixing of races in this country, the American girl of the future will be a brown-haired, dark-eyed creature, smaller as a typo than the girl of to-day, but plumper and less angular. These evidences of the passing away of the blonde may seem to be confirmed by a hasty examination of existing facts. The women one sees on Broadway, for example, or in the restaurants and theatres of New York and Boston, are in the main brunettes, and a blonde is conspicuous, usually, by her presence. And while New England, as has been said, is almost destitute of blondes, the most celebrated pretty women in Old England to-day have dark hair and dark eyes. Following the Precedent. —Recent cablegrams announced that the town of Bourke, in New South Wales, was in some danger. The following from the Age will show how the residents procea led to prepare for the flood “The people of Bourke have exhibited presence of mind in a remarkable degree in the face of ihe danger from the Darling tributaries that have been menacing their town. At u meeting called to devise measures of protection against the expected flood, it was decided to erect a dam round (he town,* but even under the shadow of peril itself’ the residents did not forget what was due to themselves and Ihe Government in such a contingency. They petitioned for a sum of £750 to carry out the work, the money was granted, and tenders have been let accordingly. This to proceed according to rule and precedent. It is d : squioting lc think what might have happened had ihe flood reached the (own before ihese formalities were completed.”

Fescue of Castaways. Despatches received at Queenstown from Vancouver Island state that on February s'h three Eoglishmsn were landed there from the American ship Wanderer, which rescued them from the uninhabited island of S, n Alesandro, where they had been for four years. They state that in October, 1885. they took passage in the Japanese vessel M»tsuc Mum, at Hakodate for Amomati and while crossing the Straits of r ssurgarn a gale was encountered, which blow them out of their coarse. For eighty days they were tossed about ; and, finally, the vessel was driven ashore on the Island of San Alesandro, and five of the crew were drowned. The vessel was patched up, and left again ; but os she was leaking badly the Englishmen refused to trust themselves in her, and determined to remain on the island until soma passing vessel should rescue them. The three castaways lived chi fly on fruit which grew on the island They also caught sea birds, and with hooks made out of parts of the works of a watch succeeded iu catching fish. They suffered considerable privations, especially from want of clothing, and had all giveaway to despair, whan ilia Wanderer rescued them l>unng their stay on the island several vessels passed, but not sufficiently near to nohoe tbe signals. When rescued the • man presented a wild appearance. j

A Patent.-Mr Leonard Rayner (lale of Temuka) eiusa entering upon the engineering business bus made an improvement upon the Dover Egg Beater, winch he has forwarded to the firm, who have accepted and patented it. They will, of courup, allow him remuneration for his inventive ability.

Pifle Match. —The Alpha MartiniHenry R fie Glub, Christchurch, fired a match with Richmond, New South Wales at d won by 127 points, making 796 against 669. There were 10 men a side, 7’shots at 400 yards, 500 yards, and 600 yards. The New South Wales men fired in rainy, thick weather. Another match is to be arranged. Horse-Training. —Professor Hickton gave an exhibition of .his horse-training capabilities last night in a tent on the sections opposite the Temuka Leader office. There was a moderate attendance, but not so many as might have been expected. The professor was only sble to secure one horse to operate on. This was a two-year-o'd colt belonging to Johnny Kahu, which never w«s handled before. It proved, however, very quiet, and in tea minutes time it was a : eeping on the floor with (ho Professor lying between its leg’. Two m'uutea later the Professor, with a little boy, was standing on its back while the horse went round the ring. In a quarter of aa hone three boys were riding the horse round the ring. The horse was then as quiet ns pos ible, and the Professor showed how horses could be trained to perform tricks, and gave many useful hints in horse-breaking. Of course we haye not seen the professor at hie beat but from the way he handled (he animal all felt satisfied that it was in the hands of a master. Ha will, we believe, appear shortly in Geraldine. If he gets vicious horses to handle ha will be worth seeing. One thing about him is that no one need be afraid of giving him his horse, as his methods are kindness and gentle treatment.

The Signal-Core on Trains.—A slight accident (says the Ashburton Mail °o£ April 8), which, however, might easily have developed into something more serious, occurred to the special late train for the south on Thursday night. Shortly after leaving the Waihao Station, and while running at about twenty-five miles an hour, one of the carriages towards the end of the long train of some thirteen or so commenced bumping ia a curious fashion, and every now and then pieces cl shingle flaw up and struck the windows while flashes of light, as of fire, were seen amongst the wheels. The guard came out on one of the platforms waving a red lamp as a signal to the engine driver that something was wrong, but the signal was not seen, and it was not until after the guard had made his way through the long string of carriages to the head of the train that the driver was made aware that anyI thing out of the common had occurred. Steam was then shut off, and the train brought to a standsiill, something like five minutes after the alarm was first given. It was then found that one of the bracing rods of the under carriage had broken and was dragging, ploughing up the shingle, the flashes noticed being the result of the friction between stone and iron. The broken rod was speedily fastened tip, and the train resumed i( a journey, nobody, happily, being a penny the worse. Had the rod jammed under a sleeper the result might, however, have bean different. The lifctle contretemps, however, brought out Very clearly the necessity of a signal cord being always used as a connection between the guard and the engine driver, instead of only occasionally as is now the ease the tram on Thursday night having nt>i such safeguard. Indeed, we have several 1 times recently in travelling by rail noticed that the signal cord has been conspicuous by -ts absence. This ought not to be the case.

, The verdiot of all who have used tho , Jumbo ' brand Baking Powder is that it makes light, nutritious, ani digestive bread : ?* ke !> P Mtr y. «to. As the ingredients are of the finest qualities, and no injurioui element being used in the preparation, bread, etc made with this powder will keep fresh and moist longer than with any other powder. Isk for Anderson's « Jumbo" brand Bakint pawder.—rADVT. 1.l * SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. 5' notice. Bobart Sojith, Smithfisld-Has 200 acres to let for cropping. Whtf? ??■"!, Board -l°v.te tenders for 600 bushels of feed oats. B. R. Maedonald— Notifies that all trespassers on the Waitui or Pakihi estates will be prosecuted. Mrs Hioklon, Character . Beading by Pdlmwtry r i[iy ba consulted at the (Jeraldine Hotel, Gbrjddin*. apply for a t-ansfer of the licence of «,« Temuka Hotel to Thoe. Mc&uire Williams and ColTilb, Blacksmiths, etc.,' Temuka-Cll attention to their ZmUadU winnower; horse shoeing department Z£ charge of Mr Jamas Grant. Petsr Imch (hte with" Booth and Mac dooald Ohnstoharch) - Hl , commenced business in Temuka as B ho>r and general Mack.m,th -t the next to the Yolu, tee Mall, Temuka.