LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2152, 20 January 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Geraldine Live Stock Sale. The fortnightly Bale of live stock at Geraldine takes place tc-morrow. Entries are ad- ' vertised by Messrs Mundell & Co. and Gox and Guinness. W BESTLINB. —On Saturday evening a wrestling mulch, Cumberland style, brtween J. H. TJru and S. Thornley look place in the Volunteer Drillahod, Temuka. There was a very fair attendance, but scarcely sufficient notice of the event had been given. The contest between the two men was watched with much interest, both of them having distinguished themselves at the various Caledonian spirts. The utmost good feeling was displayed, although the result was disappointing to the local men, as CJru secured three falls out of five. It is probable that another milch will be arranged shortly.

Coal Export. —The coal export from Westport for the week ended Saturday was 33J2 tons. .

Small Biros’ Egos. —ln our advertising columns it is announced that the Temuka Road Board has discontinued purchasing small birds’ eggs.

An Oli> Defender. —At the R.M, Court, Timaru, yesterday, Thos. Woods, who has a long record of convictions, wa* sent to gaol for twenty-one days for drunkenness. Co- operative Society. —An Invercargill auctioneering agency firm has been successfully floated into a Farmers’ Cooperative, on the same lines as the Christchurch and Timaru ones. Economy Wanted. —lt is stated that a movement is on foot, both in the North and South of the colony, to consolidate a party devoted to retrenchment in the administration of public moneys. Expected Floods. Brief telegrams from Sydney and Brisbane, dated (he 16ib, stated that heavy rains bad fallen in the country districts and floods were feared. Anxiety was felt as (o the safety of Bonrke.

Artesian Water-Supply. —The attempt to put down an artesian well at Treveona has been abandoned. The pipes were driven to about 240 ft. without obtaining the necessary flow. A trial is now being made at the Temuka saleyards. If successful it would be a great boon. Imports and Exports. —The imports last quarter were £1,559,508 and exports £2,257,300. For the year ended December 31sl the imports were £6,300,577; exports £9,824,109. These figures show an increase in both instances, the exports for 1889 being £6,297.097 ; imports £9,339,265.

Suspicious.— John Anderson’s bakery and general store, Taranaki street, Wellington, were burnt yesterday morning. Insurances : £3OO in the North German, £2OO in the Federation, and £SOO in the Commercial Union. Anderson said he had only time to jump out of a window, bm the police are not satisfied with the circumstances of (he fire and an inquest will be held.

A Correction.— Owing to a mispl icing of the tickets, and a consequent wrong entry, : we stated in our report of the Geraldine F ewer Show that Mina Dunlop had been awarded second prize for the essay on the district of Geraldine, whereas Maggie Morrison carried off the second priz - *. It should also have been mentioned that the refreshment table, at which a good business was done, was superintended by Misses Byrne (2) and N. Stonehouse.

A Missing Steamer. —A telegram from Invercargill yesterday says :—“ If the Eukanni does not return to-morrow the Government will despatch the Hinemoa to the Maequarries, It is now twenty-six days since the steamer K»kanui sailed for the Maequarries to relievo Mr Hatch’s penguin oilers and anxiety is beginning to be felt. Mr Hatch’s vessel Gratitude left the river in tow of the steamer Invercargill for the Maequarries on Saturday evening, Mr Hatch himself being a passenger.”

Stabbing Case at Timaru,— At the R, M. Court, Timaru, yesterday, Halvor Olsen, a Swede, was committed for trial on a charge of stabbing Carl Hooper, a German, on board (he barque Rialto, on the evening of the 13ih. The evidence went to show that the men were on shore on the night of the occurrence, though not in company, and Olsen got 100 much drink. Ihe men met on the wharf on their return to the ship, when O’sen wanted to fight, aed on getting on board it is alleged he slabbed Hooper a number of times with a sheath knife. No one was on deck when the attack was commenced, but the carpenter, Wihlin, a Swede, heard Hooper crying out ‘ Olsen is stabbing me,’ and interfered. The mate was called, and Olsen went on shore, when he said that Hooper and the Swede were chasing him round the ship and he ‘ went’ for them with bis fists, but not with a knife. His face was covered with blood. Prisoner reserved his defence.

Progress of Settlement.— The program of settlement in the four principal pans of the colony during the last three months is shown by the largest returns of land taken up under the most important systems of tenure such as follows ;—Gash sales Auckland, 63 settlers,4sßß acres ; Otago, 58 settlers, 1825 acres ; Canterbury, 140 settlers, 4610 a. ; Wellington, 16 settlers, 1657 acres. Deferred payment—Nelson, 27 settlers, 2270 acres, Auckland, 13 settlers 1807 a ; Wellington, 7 settlers, 877 acres ; Taranaki, settlers, 1144 acres. Perpetual lease—Auckland, 58 settlers, , 11,831 acres; Wellington, 43 settlers, 19,847 acres ; Otago. 26 settlers, 5144 acres; Taranaki, 14 settlers, 3295 acres. The totals for the whole colony were : Cash purchses, 199 settlers, 15,373 acres ; deferred payment, 66 settlers, 7655 acres ; perpetual lease, 164 settlers, 45,142 acres. For nioe months of the year the totals were, cash system 448 purchasers, 84,857 acres; deferred payment, 215 settlers 28,745 acres ; perpetual lease, 586 settlers, 220,687 acres. Saltation Army, Geraldine. The above organisation has been holding a series of special meetings in Geraldine and Peel gForeat, Major Vince (Divisional Officer) and Captain Tremain (Divisional Secretary) being down from Christchurch to lead these special meetings. Both officers received a splendid reception (it being their first visit) in the Oddfellows' Hall on Sat urday night. Captain Tremain sang a solo, accompanied by Captain Battray on the banjo, that being his maiden effort on the banjo. Captain Tremain also had a few words. Then the Major gave a few extracts from “ In Darkest England, and the Way Out.” He said that General Booth proposed to establish a social scheme for the reclamation of the masses. There were in England three millions of people who were homeless and had no means of livelihood, and for the purpose of reclaiming those people the scheme had been propounded, It had been taken up by the leading people of the day, from the Queen, Prince of Wales, Duke of Fife, Archdeacou Farrar, Cardinal Manning, and other leading philanthropists of the day. One of tha leading actors of London had said that if nine other gentlemen would subscribe £IOO3 each he would do likewise. He quoted the scheme at some length. The usual Sunday meetings were held, led on by Major Vince and Capcain Tremain, crowded houses being the result of the visit. Altogether the series of meetings have been a thorough success throughout, and the officers in charge, Captain Rattray and Lieutenant Scott, are to be con- , gratulated on their success, »

Ceioiet. —The match arranged to take place at Temuka on Saturday between Temuka and Pleasant Point teams did not take place, Pleasant Point being unable to get a team together, A scratch match was held, which proved very enjoyable. Fires. —The wooUhed and 40 bales of wool belonging to Mr Wm. Adams, of Langleydale station, near Blenheim, were destryed by fire at 1 o’clock on Thursday morning. The origin of the fiie is unknown. The insurance is £SOO in the National.—A cottage at Pelicbot Bay, Dunedin, owned by R. Albernethy, was destroyed by fire on Friday night. The house and furniture were insured for £3OO.

Supposed Murder Case.— A telegram from from Napier on Saturday says : Chadwick, (he supposed murderer of Matheson, is still missing. The police are searching, in several directions, and others are waiting at different stations where it is possible he may emerge from the bush. It is believed he has perished. He was a qniet, inoffensive man, and had not been known to quarrel with the deceased.

District Court, Timaru, — At the District Court, Timaru, on Saturday, before His Honor Judge Ward, M. Buckley, a bankrupt, was granted no order of discharge on the application of Mr Hay. Letters of administration were granted to the widow of the late Timothy C. Qoaney. On the application of Mr Cathro probate was granted of the will of the late Margaret Yelvin, of Temuka. St. Saviour’s Sunday School, Temuka.—Four special prizes for “ long distance” attendance, gifts of Mr and Mrs Herbert, were awarded on Sunday last to Leonard Goodeve, Johanna Palmer, Ada Ackroyd, and Mercedes Greaves. The recipients nil live outside a distance of three miles from the Church, and have succeeded in putting in very full attendances. The superintendent, in presenting the prizes, expressed his pleasure that through the kindness of the donors the assiduous attendance of those who attended under great disadvantage as regards distance was now amply rewarded.

The Whitaker-Hctohison Libel Suit. —lt is thought that the WhitakerHutchison libel suit, now set down for trial on the 3rd February* will , not be

heard on that date, becaase.an appeal has been initiated by plaintiff against the order made by the Chief Justice in Chambers allowing Mr Hutchison's pleas implicating Sir Harry Atkinson and Mr Mitchelaon to stand. This appeal is to be argued at the first Banco sitting

after the law vacation, which does not expire till the 31st inst. The mam case, of course, cannot be proceeded with till the minor point is decided. False Marriage Declaration.— At the Christchurch Police Court on Friday morning Herbert Mortimer Stonyer, of Pareora, was charged with making a false declaration under the Marriage Act, to the effect that a girl to whom be was married was 21 years of age, and had b;en seven days resident in Christchurch, whereas the girl, Margaret Bissett, was only 18, The bench dismissed the case ic; regard to the matter of residence, but on the other charge, the reference to age, committed him for trial, fhe mother of girl said she refused her consent to the marriage in September ; that the girl was living with Mrs Stonyer at Pareora prior to the marriage, and that she instituted the proceedings with a view to rectifying the marriage certificate and pioving the identity of her daughter, and not to punish the accused. N.Z. Rifle Association.— The thirteenth annual meeting of the .New Zealand Rfle Association, which opens to-day, promises to be a great suoces. The range is situate at Omaranui, on the hanks of the Tulaekuri river, nearly ten miles from Napier, and in its main features, Captain Somerville says, is the best that has been obtained since the formation of the association. Twenty-seven targets have been erected, and the trench is one of the cleanest and easiest to work in that Captain Somerville has met with. The camp, which consists of about 70 tents, occupies the position of the old pah at Omaranui, where an engagement took place with a party of Han Haus in 1886. The competitors are not expected to exceed 220. The championship will not be fired for this year until all the other

events have been got off. Lieutenant Earles, of the third battalion Victoria

Rifles, and Messrs Cairns and Sloane, of the Yarrawonga Rifli Club, are the only representatives of Australia. Science Conference. —At the Australasian Science Association oo Friday the proceedings consisted of the delivery of presidential addresses in various sections. In Sections H., Sanitary Science, and Section 1,, Literature and Education, the addresses elicited interesting discussions. The three most interesting addresses were those of the Hon. Dr Campbell, of Adelaide, who advocated teaching hygiene and sanitary science in national schools ; G. S. Griffiths, of Melbourne, who urged that antarctic exploration offered considerable advantages to science, and would lead to the establish-

ment of a flourishing whale fishery ; and of R, H. Roe, of Brisbane Grammar School, who expressed the opinion that classics should be optional in the high school course. All three papers were read by deputies, the writers being absent. The sectional meetings were well attended. Saturday was devoted to the discussion of the various papers in the different sections. Yesterday in Section F, Economy and Social Science, an interesting paper on "Australian political achievements nnd aspirations” was read by Mr Nesbitt (Adelaide) and a discussion followed. In other Sections the most notable paper was one in Section D, Biology, by Mr G. M. Thompson, on “ Some aspects of acclimatisation in New Zealand.” In the afternoon an excursion was made to the Drairage Board’s works.