LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2132, 2 December 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dentistry, —Mr T. G. Rowley, surgeon dentist, visits Geraldine to-day. Gold.—The Wakatipu Dredging Company, Otago, obtained 52 ounces of retorted gold. Beer Duty. The beer duly for November was £5190, against £5114 for October and £5055 for November 1889.

Temuka Stock Rale.—The fortnightly sale of stock at Temuka takes place today. Messrs A. E. Cox and E. R, Guinness advertise entries.

The Drought. —At both St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, and at St, John’s, Winchester, special prayers for ruin wore offered up on Sunday last. Prayers for rain were also offered up at St. Joseph’s Church, Temuka, on Sunday evening. Railway Revenue. —The net railway revenue up to dale is over £IOO,OOO above the estimate, but the next four months are not expected to yield as ranch as last year, in conetqeoce of there being no exhibition. The Commissioners anticipate that they will at the end of the year have a email surplus over the estimate.

Customs Retenue. —The Customs Revenue collected at Titmru last month amounted to £1872 6*31. The cuatoma duty for the colony whs £127,364, against £123,541 for Ociober, and £122,072 for November last year. The -slimale for the eight months was £1,009 854, so that at present the Customs revenue shows a surplus of £23,188, though the primage duty has been stopped and the strike was expected to largely afLct last month’s receipts. The Weather.— The weather in this district continues dry and unseasonable. On Sunday it was particularly hot and yesterday afternoon a scorching nor’wester was blowing for some hours, and the air was filled with dust. The grain and root crops are beginning to suffir severely, and the grass, except in favored positions, appears quite scorched up. A telegram to hand from Wellington yesterday states : “ A violent northerly gale set in on Sunday afternoon and in the evening was followed by rain. Some damage was done to the small craft in the harbor, and the German man-of-war Leipzig dragged her anchor slightly. Considerable damage was done on shore to gardens and orchards. A tremendous rain is falling. Streets are fl mded in «I 1 direction?, The Goverrimfoit buildings are ;■ blockaded.’’ A telegram from Dunedin I stated the weather was very threatening. I

Board Meetings. —The monthly meeting of the Tetnuka Road Board will be held to-day, that of the Geraldine Town Board to-night, and that of the Tetnuka Town Board to-morrow night. Fire in a Ohuroh. — A fire broke out in the new Roman Catholic Church at Palmerston North on Thursday morning, but was extinguished before much damage was done. Incendiarism is suspected. Saltation Army, Geraldine. The Salvation Army have reoemly purchased a section of land in Geraldine whereon they intend to erect commodious barracks. It is expected the foundation stone will be laid in January next. This is a sign of progress. Coal Mining. —The Kaitangata Coal Company distribute between £7OO and £BOO in wages fortnightly. Our Balolutha contemporary says that “ a good man and a boy can earn from £l2 to £l4 in a fortnight and no miner worth his salt makes leas than 10s a day,” Pickpockets at a Baiuar.— At the Army and Navy Bazaar, heid in the Auckland Garrison Hall, under the auspices of St. Peter’s pariah, pickpocketing was rife, and one of the spieler class was eaught in the act of abstracting a purse from a lady’s pocket. Political Addresses. —Mr A, E. G. Rhodes speaks at the Pleasant Point Assembly Rooms to-night and at Geialdine te*morrow night. Mr S. Buxton will address a meeting at Tetnuka to-night. Mr J. M. Twomey will speak at Rairview to-night and at Claremont to-morrow night, Christchurch Cathedral. — A church parade of the United Friendly Societies took place at Christchurch on Sunday afternoon in the cathedral, which was densely crowded with the members. Bishop Julius preached. This was the first gathering of the kind held there for many years.

Naval Headquarters. —ln military circ'es in Sydney it ia reported that RearAdmiral Scott would be not unwilling to remove the headquarters of the Australian squadron from Sydney to New Zealand, and further that this desire is not altogether unconnected with the recent dispute as to the precedence of the Admiral of tho Fleet. Rain. A welcome rain fell in the Oamaru district on Fndaj night, giving a short reprieve to the farmers, but more is required to be of permanent value. A number of settlers in the district have already turned sheep into their crops. Rain is urgently needed in this district. In fact, some of the crops are already apparently irreparably injured through want of rain. False Declaration. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Masterton on Friday Thomas Sloan was committed for trial on a charge of registering the death of Mary Bassil, wife of John Bassil, of Duntroon, under the name of Mary Ann Sloan, It appears that Sloan left Duntroon with Mrs Bassil about three years ago, and they were living harmoniously together us man and wife up to the time of her dea:b, when to evade cariosity and to protect his own character Sloan registered the woman as hii wife.

Wkestlin©. —The wrestling match bstween Duncan C. Rosa aad Harry Dunn was commenced ch novo at Dunedin on Friday night, when there was a large attendance. Dunn won the first two styles (American side-hold arid oatch-as catchcan) ; Ross won the next two styles (Cornish and Graeco-Roman). Just before midnight they commenced the final bout in the collar-and-elbow style, and neither contestant securing nor boing likely to gain a fall in the collar-and-elbow style it was decided to make the match a draw, notwithstanding that the judges requested them to wrestle to a finish. The stake is divided.

New Licensing Bill, A new Licensing Bill has been introduced into the New South Wales Legislative Assembly by Sir Henry Parkes. It provides tor granting licenses to publicans for u period of three years. This lengthened term of licenses will be regarded as sufficient compensation to the publican for any loss he may suffer thereafter. The measure also sets forth that a thirds majority of householders c%a pre= vent the renewal of a license, and a simple majority can reduce the number of licenses io any district by a certain number, or determine whether or not new licenses are to be granted. “ Patience.” —We would again remind our readers that Gilbert and Sullivan’s very popular opera “Patience” will be given by the Ashburton Amateur Operatic Company in the Theatre Royal, Timaru, to-morrow evening, and that a special train will leave Drari for Timaru at 6.20 and Temuka at 6.50, returning at 11.30. In our advertising columns will be found the cist of characters and other particulars, and photographs of the principal performers can be seen at Mr Dann’s, Chemist, Temuka. We referred in our last issue to the merits of the performers, and we believe that those who visit the Theatre Royal to-morrow night will be well repaid.

Larceny or Spirits.— At tbe Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, a man named John Breen was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labor for stealing a case of gin, valued at £4 10a, from Mr Ritchey, of the Club Hotel. The evidence wont to show that the accused was engaged to assist a carter who was delivering goods from the railway to the hotel. The collar door was left open, and accused took a case of Geneva home in a hag, and soon drank himse f ioto delirium tremens. His place »ai searched and parts of the missing case found, and afterwards his wife gave to the police five full bottles and one half full of liquor, which lie had hidden away. Accused got a|very bad character for drunkenness.

Extraordinary Conduct.—The Greymouth School Committee notified by advertisement on Friday to parents and teachers that the State and District High Schools m that town are closed until further notice. This action arose out of the course the board pursued regarding the head teacher, Mr Stewart. It is understood that the committee demanded an inquiry, but, being unable to receive a satisfactory answer from the Minister, they adopted the course of closing both schools in the hope of expediting the getting of an inquiry. [Later news states that the State school was opened on Monday morning as usual by a tradesman, acting for the Board of Education. Sf-verai policemen were in attendance to prevent any disturbance. Mi ch dissatisfaction has been expressed at the action of the committee in closing the schools. It appears that they handed over the control of the high school to the board some tim® ago.]

R.M. Court, Geraldine. —An adjourned sitting of this court was held on Friday evening last at half-past eight, when John Campbell was again brought up on remand. The police stated that they had found 17 more of the missing sheep, and had no further objection to offer to accused being admitted to bail. Accused was then remanded till Tuesday next, to he further remanded on that day till the following Tuesday at half-past nine. Bail was allowed, himself in one surety of £2OO, and two sureties of £2OO each.

SYNOPSIS OF ADYERTISMIiENTS. Geraldine Road Board—lnvite tenders for repairs to office. Quinneas & Cox—Sell sheep, cattle and pigs at Temuka to-day. Cowan’s Clothing and Outfitting House, Timaru—Prices for Kaiapoi tweed suits made to order.