LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2158, 3 February 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tbmstka Mechanics’ Institute,—Members are reminded that the annual meeting takes place this evening at 8 o’clock. A Fat Dividend. —The Now Zealand Accident Insurance Company hay® declared a dividend at the rate of 12J par cent, per annnm. Sale at Tbmuka. —Mr W. S. Mislin holds a 8»la of blacksmiths’ and wheelwrights’ too's on the premises of Messrs Williams & Colville, Temuka, to-morrow.

Coal Export —The coal export from Westport for the we j k ending Siturday was 5973 tons. This was the largest week y export up to the priaent, the previous r cord being 5800 ion*. Geraldine Stock Sale. —The fortnightly sale of stock at Geraldine takes place to-morrow. Messrs J. Mundell & Co,, H. B, Webster & Co., and A. E. Cox and E. R. Guinness advertise entries.

An Unprofitable Shipment. —Out of a shipment of 374 stoats and weasels consigned to the W“irarapa North Ribbit Board only fifty arrived, thus entailing a loss of several hundred pounls on toe board.

A Paying Company. —The Southland Frozen Meat Company pay a dividend of 8 per cent., absorbing near’y £IOO9, and carry forward nearly £3OOO. Nearly sixty thousand sheep and lambs were frozen during the year. Service at the Maori Pah. The little Maori church at the Arowheaua Pah was well filled on Sunday afternoon, when service was conducted by the Rev. A. Blake. Several visitors were also present from Temuka, and considerab’e interest seemed to be taken in the gathering. The Huntley Coal Mine Disaster.— Informations have been issued against Collies, the manager of the Huntley mine, and McLeUan, Kay, and Montgomery, the three contractors for catting the dip which c illapsad, The cases will be heard at Hun'ley on Wednesday, and are expected to occupy several days.

The Late Mr Spbrkey, —Mr R. Thompsan says that in reference to his charges against the late Mr Sperrey, he looks upon the matter as a contest between himself and Sir Harry Atkinson. If it is proved that the charges made are false he (Mr Thompson) says he will resign his seat, and if Sir Harry Atkinson fails to prove that they are falsa he will call upon Sir Harry Atkinson to resign his seat as Sp°aker of the Upper House.

Another Vacant Seat.—The Evening Post draws attention to the fact that during the session leave of absence was not asked for Mr W. S. Allen, who was returned for Te Aroha seat whilst in England, and who is on his way out. The Post contends that thereby the seat is now vacant. Part i. of clause 58 provides that the seat ot any member of the House of .Representatives shall become vacant “ if for one whole session of the General Assembly In fails, without permission of the House, to give his attendance in the House." South Orabx School Committee. — The monthly meeting of the above Committee was held on Monday, January 26. Present—Messrs Bates, Bsnnett, O’Neill, i Ellis, and McLsod (Chairman). After routine, correspondence was read as follows ;—(1) From the S.C. Board of Education, circular re audit of books ; (2) From the same re the nomination of two members to the vacancies on the board ; (3) The head mister’s report, which showed the roll number to be 95 and the average attendance to be 74. It was resolved to nominate Messrs Talbot and Gray. The balance-sheet for the treat fund was read and found to be correct. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to those who so liberally subscribed to the treat fund and to those ladies who kindly assisted at Ihe ireat. Accounts amounting to £3 16r 6d were pissed for payment and the meeting terminated,

Timaru Habbor Board. —Mr Richard A. Barker was duly nominated yesterday for the repae«entation of the Temuku Road District on the Timaru Harbor Board, and being the only candidate was declared re-elected.

Meeting at Orari Bridge School.— A meeting of the ratepayers in the OrariWaihi Water District will be held at the Orari Bridge School to-morrow evening to discußS matters relating to the extension of the district. The meeting will commence at 7.30.

Bikes.— An unoccupied store on the Spit, Napier, formerly the Union Bank premises, and adjoining the extensive stores and bond of Robjohns and Co., was destroyed by fire at an early hoar yesterday morning. By the exertion of the brigade the fire was confined to the building, but considerable damage was done to Robjohns’ premises. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mews from Wairoa states that Carroll’s wool shed has beec destroyed by fire, with 28 bales of wool. The insurance on the Spit building is £BOO in the Standard. A Good Day’s Work, — A shearer at. the Knapdale shed—Mr Thomas M’Donald, of Mataura—put through (says the Mataura Ensign) a remarkably good day’s work on a recent occasion, negotiating 160 full-woolod big crossbreds in 10 minutes lees than regulations hours. Had the shed been filled, he could have deprived four other sheep of their wool. He had the aid of the Wolsely. A few issues back we quoted what was regarded as a phenomenal day’s work in another shed, but M’Dooald has beaten lhat record; In the words of the tonsorial artist, wo cry— Next !

A Donation. —Captain Walton, of the Geraldine Fire Brigade, has just had handed to him by the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, a cheque for £2 10a, that amount being the bank’s saving on its insurance premium for the year, owing to the town being supplied with a water supply and fire brigade. The donation is much appreciated by the brigade, who wish to return their thanks for the same. Remembering the large amount of promises made by prominent business men in the town to do likewise if a brigade were formed, the latter body should soon be looking about for investments for their surplus capital. Geraldine School Committee. A special meeting of this committee was held on Friday evening for the purpose of appointing a pupil teacher in the room of Mr James Colbert, who had been appointed assistant master. Mr R. H. Pearpoint occupied the chair, and there were present Messrs W. S. Mas'in, A. White, 0. E. Sherratt and J. Riordan. There were five applicants for the post, two girls and three boys. The rule followed in the pasthad been for a girl to succeed a girl and a boy a boy, and it was decided to adhere to the rule. The voting resulted in Seymour Willoughby receiving the appointment, It was decided that the special and other prizes should be distributed on Thursday week at 3 p.m. Tejiuka Presbyterian Church.— The annual congregational meeting was held on Friday evening last at 7.30 p.m. The Rev. J. Dickson occupied the chair. There was a fair attendance. Reports of session, Sabbath School, and Committee were submitted and adopted, and ordered to be printed in the usual way. Seven members of committee retired, according to law, and the following were elected to fid their places—Messrs Bruce (secretary), S. McOully, Scott, MoCaskiU, Darrooh, Galbraith, and Wallace. The Rev. Mr Dickson, on behalf of the session, asked the congregation to choose four additional elders. Votes of thanks were passed to the choir, Sabbath school teachers, temperance workers, Mr Blyth for his efficient services as treasurer, Mr McCaakill, secretary, and to Miss Paterson for her kindness and efficient services at the harmonium.

Geraldine Public School, During last week the competitive examination for the silver medal offered by Mr H. W. Moore for the dux of the above school was conducted by the head master, Mr J. Aitken. There were nine candidates, and the examination extended over three days. Mr Aitken cays the contest was the closest he has ever witnessed. Of the nine competitors some six or seven kept very close together, each one of them leading at various stages, and at one time two of them being equal. The medal finally wont to Master Seymour Willoughby, who succeeded in getting 65 marks out of a possible 92, the next highest being 62 marks. For judging the reading, writing and drawing, in which subjects the decision depends a great deal on the taste of the examiner, Mr Aitken obtained the cooperation of Mr H. W. Moore. A prize of one guinea for the cleanest books kept during the year was obtained by Jenny Fyfe, who also has the sowing prize for the fifth standard. The Banks’ Peninsula Election Petition. —The hearing of the Akaroa election petition was concluded at 4 p.m. ou Friday. Sir Robert Stout’s main contention was that the principle had been distinctly laid down that the court could not disturb an election for a blunder or irregularity not expressly shown to have altered the result. In support of this he cited Regina v, Teschemaker, N.Z. Jurist, vol. 1, page 78, and Regina v. Jones, N.Z. Jurist vol. 2, page 45, and several English cases. He submitted that the roll was not conclusive evidence that all whose names were on it, and who did not vote, were entitled to vote, as they might have voted in another electorate. Mr Fisher, in reply, submitted that in the Wakanui case the principle was laid down that the roll was conclusive as to the right of those whose names were thereon to vote. There were 465 parsons on the roll who did not vote and the Court had a right to draw the inference that these persons would have exercised their vote, but could not. The majority for Mr Joyce was only 107, and it was quite impossible to say to what extent bo owed his majority to the fact of the Lyttelton booth being open till 7 o'clock. Mr Macgregor had a majority at eight booths, and ae all these closed at 6 o’clock, he lost the benefit of the votes which might have been polled had they kept open till 7 o’clock. The other aide said that many freeholders might have voted in other districts, but the enus of proving this rested on them. Two witnesses had stated that they went to Little Akaloa polling place to vote, but found it closed at 6.15 p.m., and were thus prevented.— Their Honors gave judgment yesterday morning, and came to the conclusion that the case of the petitioner failed, Mr Joyce is therefore declared properly returned. The petitioner was ordered to pay costs.

Board Meetings, —The monthly meeting of the Temuka Hoad Board will bo held to-day, that of the Geraldine Town Board this evening, and that of the Temuka Town Board tomorrow evening. Resigned. —At a meeting of the vestry of St. Mary’s, Christchurch, on Friday evening, the Rev. Charles Flavel announced his resignation of the incumbency, as he intended to go Home to gain further experience and knowledge. The resignation was received with regret. Mr Flavel arrived in the colony in 1869. and has been in charge of Merivale pariah fourteen and a-half years. He took a lively interest in all public matters. Ur Barnakdo’s Homes, —At Bt. Saviour's Church on Sunday afternoon the Rev, T. A. Hamilton addressed the Sunday School children on the subject of Dr Bernardo’s homes, and thoroughly aroused their sympathy. A 1 the close of the address a collection was taken up for the worthy object, and the sum of £1 lls was handed in. Collections will also be made at the Winchester Sunday School, and the whole remitted by the first outgoing mail. Several private donations are also promised, and it is hoped that the sum forwarded will be a creditable one. Timaru Hospital.—The following is a return of patients in the Timaru Hospital for the month ended January 31st ; Patients under treatment at date of last return ; Males 14, females 6, total 20 ; admitted during month : Males 17, females 5, total 22; totals treated : Males 31, females 11, total 42. Discharged daring month :—Cured ; Males 12, females 0, I total 12 ; relieved ; Males 3, females 4, total 7 ; dead : 1 (Sarah Newton); totals discharged : Males 15, females 5, total 20. Remaining under treatment; Males 16, females 6, total 22. Out-patients treated during the month : Males 24, females 27) total 61.

OBDFBLLOWS’ 6001 AX.— -The installation social in connection with the Victoria Lodge of Oddfellows, Geraldine, held on Friday evening last, was a pronounced success in every way, A first-class working Committee had been appointed, and they spared no effort to bring about a successful gathering. The hall was nicely decorated with ferns, etc. There were a great many persons preaenr. First-class music was supplied by Messrs Hullen Bros., of Waitohi, Mr Richardson making an efficient M.C. The refreshment table was presided over by Mr and Mrs F, Bowkelt, assisted by Miss Bowkett, the catering being done by Messrs J. Williams & Son. During the evening songs were sung by Messrs Morton and Macdonald, and a very pleasant gathering broke up about 3.30 a.m. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. W. Wills, Returning Offioer--*-Notifies that Mr R. A. Barker has been elected a member of the Timaru Harbor Board. J. Mundell & Co,-—'Have acres in the township of Orari, with two substantial dwellings thereon, for private sale. Alex. Kelraan—Meeting of ratepayers in Orari-Waibi Water Supplj District at Orari Bridge school to-morrow evening. Jas. Grant, Temuka—Notifies that he has commenced business as a horse sboor, general blacksmith, etc., In premises near the Stone Store, Temuka, and hopes to receive support.