The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2148, 10 January 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cricket. —ln a erne innings match at Waimata the Waimato team made 158 and Ashburton 64.

Geraldine Roadßoard. —The monthly meeting of the G«raldine Boad Board will be held on Monday next. Sugar,—The Colonial Soger Refining Company hare reduced the prices of their Nos. 1,2, and 3 sugars ten shillings per 1 on.

Whblbtan Ohuboh, Tbmuka. —The Rev E, 3. Bunn will conduct the morning and evening services m the above church tomorrow.

Great Expectations.—ln view of (he healthy state of the revenue the Government are looking forward to a conaidersurplos at the end of the year. Dunedin Harbor Board. —The receipt# of this board during the past year were £44,794, and expenditure £60,848. The board has still a credit balance, however, of £10,400.

Sculling. —The sculling race between McLean and Stansbnry for £2OO aside and the championship of (he world has been arranged. The race will be rowed towards the end of April at Sydney.

Political. —lt is rumored that some changes will be made in the personnsl of the Ministry before Parliomeot meets, uud that Sir Woo, Fuzherbert wiil resign the speakership of the Legislative Council, Maori Election. —Eight candidates have been uomia tel for cba set in the Haunts of KopresenUtiues rendered vac-nt by the de-Uh of Mr Sydney Taiwhanga. The poll takas place on tba 7th February.

Shearers and Labourers Union.—A meeting of the members of the Temuka branch of the Shearers and Labourers Union will be held this evening to deal with importtant business.

Wrestling, —ln our advertising columns Mr J. H. W. Uru accepts Mr SThornley'a challenge to wrestle (Uumbpr. land style), in Temuka on Wednesday next, provided the stake is increased to £lO a side.

Gold. —lt is understood that the Island Block Company, Otago, during a course of ten hours sluicing hat week obtained Blba weight of gold, and during the present week have secured between |3oozs and 40ozs daily. Dunedin Jockey Glbb,— The Dunedin Jockey Club have added £IBOO 7 s 6d to their reserve fund, being the profits on the meetings held under its auspices during the year. The club has now £6550 on deposit. N.Z. Insurance Co.—The New Zealand Insurance Company’s annual report proposes a dividend at the rate of 12£ per cent, for the year. With the appropriations proposed the reinsurance and reserve funde will stand at £250,000. Legislative Council. —A petition to His Excellency the Governor praying that he will not sanction any further appointments to the Legislative Council until Parliament meets is now being circulatsd in the Temuka district fer signatures. Deserted Wives. —The chairman of the Dunedin Charitable Aid Board advocates the abolition of giving out-door relief to deserted wives and children, and the adoption of the English system of only giving such a home in the workhouse. This, he thinks, will make desertion less frequSot. Concert at Gapes’ Valley, —The concert held last night at the Gapes’ Valley school room in aid of ths school funds was a decided success from every point of view. The quality of the musical and other items rendered was aboye the average of country school concerts. Dancing was continued with great spirit till well into Saturday morning. A detailed report will appear in our nest issue. Good Templars, Geraldine, —At the weekly meeting of this Lodge there was a good attendance, the C,T., Bro J M Sutherland, presiding. It was resolved to hold the recitation competition on Monday evening next. Ihe prizes to be cempeted for are three valeable books, presented by Bro W S Maalic.. A good dea 1 of interest ja being taken in the competition, and it is expected the judges will have no light task. Only members of Welcome Retreat and rater lodges will be allowed to be preseni. Trial of a New Patent. —By an advertisement which appears elsewhere it will be seen (hat a trial of Mr G. Squire's ‘ Draught pole steadier,’ for which letters patent have just been issued, will take place at bis farm, Gapes’ Valley, on Ihe afternoon of Wednesday next, Jan. 14. Mr Squired patent is an ingenious device by which the side draught of reapers and binders and other agricultural implements is obviated. Mr Squire deserves every credit for hie cleverness in dealing with the perplexing question of side draught. Farmers and others interested will have an opportunity of seeing the patent at work on Wednesday.

The Reduced Postage. —The reduction in the ocean postage does not seem to have affected Che first znatl under the new regime. The Tainui only took 11,935 letters (including 70 post cards) as against 9584 by the lonic m December, and 11,944 by the Coptic in November. The Government calculate the colony loses one lathing upon eeoh letter under the 2|d rate. The payment to the mail steamers is 12s per lb for letters, and the average coat of each is 2f d. On letters via Brindisi the loss is Id each, but not many go by that route. The Government is under engagement with the Imperial authorities to reduce the Brindisi rate from 6d to 2£d also next year, Eduoatiolal Institute. —At Aukland on Wednesday, Mr Wake’s motion for more efficiently bringing the resolutions of the Institute before tne Government was carired and referred to a cammittee. The report of the committee on freedom of classification recommended that steps be taken to secure greater freedom for teachers to classify their pupils so that the annual examinations of inupeotors shall have less effect encouraging oram. On Thursday it was agreed to recommend the esablishmsnt of a court of appeal for teachers, to consist of the Minister of Education, the Inspecter-General, and one teacher. Also that agriculture be made an alternate subject in axamioations. On Friday resolution affirming the desirability of establishing a teachers benefit society was passed. It was decided that the next meeting of the council shall be held at Cbrisohurch on January sth, 1892. Officers were selected for the ensuing term ; —President, Mr Scott (Chrischurch) • Secretary, Mr Worthington • Treasurer, Mr Gundry j special members of the Executive, Messrs White (Dunedin), MoMorran, and Watson (Wellington). Thanks ware passed to the Minister of Education and the secretary of the Department, for| careful consideration o I the Institute’s recommendations.

Alleged Robbery. —At the R.M. Court, Timaro, on Thursday, a young man named Henry Clark, a fireman on the Rangatira, was charged with stealing from the person of Thomas Cowell on Wednesday a pocket-book containing six £1 notes and some papers. The informant stated that he was a farm labourer belonging to Temuka. He was in Timaro on Wednesday and had £7 in money. In the evening be was drinking with accused in the Royal Hotel, and when he left, shortly before eleven o’clock, accused went out with the pretence of seeing him home. Witness was not much intoxicated and rejected the offer. Accused then shook hands with him, and while doing so pnt bis hand into witness’s breast-pocket took out the pockei-boek and ran. Witness informed the police and wont on board the Rangatira with the detective, and picked out the man. He had no doubt at all that he was the man. The accused was remanded.—On Thursday the case again came before the Court. Evidence was given to show that Cowell had a pocket book and money on him before the robbery. The prisoner deposed that by the invitation of Cowell he joined in the drinks at the Royal on Wednesday night, having previously been with him from about 6.30 to 8 in the early evening. One of the men, Mackay, was very like witness and he h«d been mistaken for witness several times. After coming out of the Royal witness shook hands with Cowell, said good night,acd went down to bis ship. The others walked away in the opposite direction. Witness got on board at 10 minutes past 11, and turned in. He oou'd not explain why ho had not told the police ef hia likeness to Mackay, The accused was committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court, Mr Hay appeared for the defence.

Good Work.—The Dunedin petition protesting against any further appoinrnents to the Legislative Council has, up to the present been signed by 3500. A similar petition from Invarcirgill received by Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R, boars 1094 signatures. Grown Land Returns. —During December 20,884 acres of Grown lands were taken up, 13,692 being under prepetual 1ea88,6062 under the cash system,and 2230 on deferred payement* Under the three systems there were taken up in Auckland 9319 acres, in Otago 5595 acres in Wellington 1763 acres, in Canterbury 1622 acres, in Nelson 1507 seres, in Taranaki 4SI acres, in Hawke’s Bay 329 acres, in Southland 100 acres, and in Marlborough 154 acres.

Fires. —By a fire at the Bast Coast, N.Z., it is estimated that 15,000 acres of grass were burnt, besides a quantity of fencidg and a number of sheep. Oo Thursday two small shops at Gore, Southland, occupied by A. L. Brown shoemaker, and Smith seedsman, were burnt. The insurances amount to £476. A twelveroomed bouse at Moroingtoo, owned and occupied by Ex-Registrar Ures was burned down on Thursday morning. The house was insured for £I2OO and the furniture for £SOO. Laurie and Company’s confectionery manufactory and a cottage at Newmarket, Auckland, were destroyed by fire last Thursday night. The damage is estimoted at £IOOO, about half covered by insurance in the South British. The London Bellringers. This talented Company will appear in the Geraldine Volunteer Hall this evening, and in the Temuka Volunteer Hall on Monday evening, and, as no doubt many of our readers are anxious to know what class of entertainment they are going to witness, we clip the following from the Auckland Herald of the 11th November : —“The opening number last night was an overture, 1 Welcome,’ composed by Herr von Mehden, and played by a brass quintette, the composer himself leading on the cornet, and it was a very musics! number. Victor Faust—the youngest member of the company—followed with a comic song, ‘ Mamma’s Baby Boy,’ after which the Bellringers performed the 1 Marseillaise.’ There are five performers, and they displayed so much musical skill and real ability as to call forth enthusiastic applause. As a second item they played ‘Ring the Ball, Watchman,’ and, in rssponse to a farther encore, to which no denial would he taken, they played 1 Rule, Britannia.’ After a humorous Yorkshire impersonation in song and dance by Mr Gus. Lynch, Herr von Mehden came forward, cornet in hand. He commenced the well-known opening strains of ‘ The Death of Nelson,’ theotherinstrumentaliats playing an accompaniment behind the scenes. The effect was excellent, Herr Mehden showed a thorough mastery over the instrument, producing magnificent forte and beautiful piano effects. He was accorded hearty rounds of applause, and, in response to an earnest encore, he played alone ‘ Annie Laurie,’ the soft, plaintive strains of which were most artistically and effectually produced. Perhaps one of the most absurd musical performances ever produced before any audience is that of Messrs F, and E. Faust—two skilled violinists. It is made so immensely ludicrous that it takes time to see the cleverness of the performance, but it is really wonderful to see these brothers tumbling about on the stage, leaping somersaults over each other, playing on each other’s violins, and yet never losing time or tune. It was a wonderful performance, and was uproariously applauded and encored, when there was a repetition of other extraordinary phases of their extraordinary powers of producing correct musie under the most perplexing circumstances. The feat of one of the brothers in playing ’ The Carnival of Venice ’ while he held the bow with bis knees and the fiddle in both bands was considered the acme of skill, until he placed one end of the bow on the floor, grasped the other with his knees, and rasped as if ha was sawing a log with the violin, yet retaining all ths air and notes of the muaio. As gymnasts the Fausts are simply perfect. One brother lies on his back and tosses his younger brother off hia upturned feet, but with such precision that he always alights safely. We cannot attempt to describe this wonderful acrobatic performance, but we may mention that in one instance, while the boy lay on bis back on his brother's upturned feet, he was tossed into the air, turned two complete somersaults, and alighted in a standing position on the upturned feet of the reclining man as if it was tha moat natural position in the world. The second part of the programme was equally interesting. The Bellringers played ‘ The Blue Bells of Scotland,’ with variations, very musically; then Mr Ted Faust and Herr Mehden played a duet on the mandoline and guitar, an air from ‘Boccaccio,’ so sweetly that they had to respond to an encore, when they substituted * Come Back to Erin,’ which was greatly appreciated. Herr Mehden gave an excellent performance on wine glasses, as well as on the xylophone, and sleigh bells, and other instruments, proving his ability to produce sweet music from almost any instrument. The Fausts also gave other exhibitions of their, wonderful drollery and skill, and the final pantomimic sketch, ‘The School Days of Nicholas Nickleby,’ in which Mr Faust, senior, took part, convulsed the audience with iaughter. No batter two hours of mirth and music has ever been furnished to an Auck and audience, and we have no hesitation in predicting for the clever combination a most successful season. It will be seen by advertisement that the management announces that those who had tickets for last night, but who were unable to find room, will permitted to use them tonight.” SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Presbyterian Ohuroh, Geraldine —Organist wanted.

Hay & Postlethwaito Partnership notice.

Wesleyan Church, Temuka— Services for to-morrow.

H. Williams —Funeral notice re lats son of Mr Jas, Rowe.

J. H. W. Urn —Acceptance of S. Thornley’s wrestling challenge. Cox and Guinness—Sell cattle, sheep, and pigs at Temuka oa Tuesday. Fergusson end Meredith —Have 2D acres of bush at Woodbury for sale cheap.

J. Mundell and Co.—Publish list of entries for Temuka stock sale on Tuesday.

Amalgamated Shearers and Laborers Union, Temuka—Meeting ihis evening. Trial of “ Draught Pole Steadier ” —At 0. Squire’s, Gapes’ Talley, on Wednesday, 14th,

J. W. Miles, The Stone Store, Temuka —Is now offering special bargains ia surplus summer drapery. T. Maloney, Geraldine—Has fcfee grazing of 28 acres of splendid grass land at Orari to let for about fire months.

Geraldine Floral, Horticultural, and Industrial Association—Sixth annual show-on Thursday next in Geraldine Volunteer Hall.

H. B. Webster and Co.—Advertise entries for stock sale at Temuka on Tuesday ; are now booking orders for Winchester monthly sale on Monday next; publish particulars of sale of furniture at Temuka on Tuesday.