The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2159, 5 February 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Harbor Board Election. —Mr John Talbot has been re-elected to represent the Mount Peel Road District on the Timaru Harbor Board, Mr F. R, Flathas been re-elected to represent the Geraldine Road District. Sale at Moana. —The largo clearing sale of liye and dead stock, household furniture, etc., at Moana, by Messrs H. B. Webster & Co., associated with Messrs J, Mundell & Co., takes place to-day. commencing at 11 o’clock sharp.

Temuka Rifles.— The above company paraded at the Drill Shed, Temuira, last night, and after inspection ware marched to the road, where, under Sergeant-Major Jones, they ware put through a number of evolutions. There was a good muster, Lieutenant Cullen being in command. Presbyterian Chueoh, Ot»so. —The Dunedin Presbytery appointed Mr Roberts Commissioner to the Church of Scotland, and carried a resolution asking the Governor to use his influence to have effect given to the wishes of the Baratongan natives in stopping the sale of intoxicants in the Harvey Group. A Bhookin<j Case. —Four children of a woman named Lund, whose ages ranged from two to ton years, have been rescued from a brothel at Auckland, where they were kept by their mother, and were yesterday morning committed to the Industrial school; It was stated in evidence that Mrs Loud, had another boy, whom she recently sold to a Chinaman for £5 and he had been taken to China, Temuka Stock Sale,— Messrs J. Mundell & Co. have already begun to make extensive additions to their Temuka Yards. This is a sign that the venture has been a great success. In addition to the yards a splendid concrete sheep-dip has been erected, and wiil no doubt be found a great convenience by the farming community. Legal. —ln our advertising columns Mr C. Howard Tripp announces that he has commenced practising as a barrister and solicitor in Timaru. Mr Tripp is a son of Mr C. G. Tripp, of Orari Gorge, Woodbury, and since his arrival from Home, where he passed his examinations, has had several years’ experience with Messrs Harper & Co., Christchurch, Water Supply. The boring for artesian water still continues in the paddock near Messrs Mundell & Co.’s Saleyards, Temuka, but so far water has not been found. The boring has been continued through 75 feet of sandstone, and the bottom of it has not yet been reached. The total depth reached yesterday was 190 feet, and ns the limit is 200 feet it is expected it will be reached nest Saturday. Political. —At a mee’ing of settlers of the Victoria and Mangaatua Valley, near Woodyille, last Tuesday night, it was resolved to petit'oo Mr Seddoo to bring iu a bill to repeal the Act by which the Railway Commissioners were appointed and a committee was selected to draw up the petition.—The Minister of Defence is considering the question of a thorough classification of the police. A third member is to be appointed on the Native Commission. Terrible Hailstoem in Southland,— A terrific hailstorm was experienced at Riverton on Tuesday, preceded by a tremendous thunderstorm. A shower of hailstones, some of them as large as hens’ eggs, lasted ten minutes. Not a single sky light or conservatory escaped, nearly every pane of glass being completely riddled. Fruit and vegetab'es suffered severely. A schoolboy named Miller was blinded for a time by the lightning and was sent home. The electrical disturbance covered other parts of the district, but not so severely, and the hailstorm was confined to Riverton.

Village Settlements,— The Hon. W. Copley, M ; L.C„ nod Commissioner of Crown Lands, of South Australia (accompanied by his wife and Mr M, J. Sowden, hie private secretaiy), is at present touring the colony, inquiring into the working of our land laws, and more particularly our village settlements. He arrived at the Bluff on the 25th ult., and since then has visited the only village settlement in Southland, at Seaward Bush, visited Wakitipu, and spent a couple of days at Dunedin, and on Monday arrived at Timaru. On Tuesday morning, accompanied by Mr March, he visited the Beaconsfiald village settlement, and in the afternoon those at Arowhenna and Orari. He seemed p'eased with what he saw, and expressed his pleasure at the cmrtesy he had experienced from all the officers of the Lands Department he has met, and his thanks to the Minister of Lands for issuing instructions that his inquiries were to be facilitated as much as possible. In an interview Mr Copley explained that in South Australia they have a system in vogue somewhat s : mi!ar to our village settlement one, viz , the “ homestead block” one, and where the land is good, and some work to be got from neighboring settlers, it bos been very succesful. For that purpose the Government is utilising a number of reserves originally set apart for the natives, but now not required for that purpose. These are cut up into blocks varying in area from 2 to 20 acres. However, the good land is mostly now in private hands, and last session the Government passed a vote of £20,00® for the repurchase of land for cutting up. The Government will obtain offers (f land, and submit them to the Legislature for approval or otherwise. Land is cheaper in South Australia than New Zealand, ordinary farming land bdng worth from £2 to £5 per acre. The system of making advances to assist the homestead settlers in starting (as practised by Mr Ballance when Minister of Lands a few years ago) had been advocated in South Australia, but has not been tried ; the wisdom or otherwise of this course ia one of the points of the inquiry. There is some complaint in South Australia', as in New Zealand, about large estates. The late Government proposed a bursting-up tax, and were defeated upon it, iu the middle of last session, when the present Government came into power. The railways are now paying five per cent, on cost of construction, and this is looked upon as a fair index of the prosperity of the I country.

The Exhibition. — The Exhibition balance-sheet shows a return equal to 15a per pound to the shareholders.

Distinguished Catholic Visitoks. Archbishop Carr, of Melbourne ; Bishop Moore, of Ballarat; and Dr Higgins, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, arrived by the Manapouri, On arrival at Invercargill they were met by Bishop Moran and a large number of Catholics, who cheered as the dignitaries drove off.

A Matter for Surprise. —The Auckland Liberal Association passed a resolution on Monday night expressing surprise and regret “ that His Excellency the Governor practically ignored the petition forwarded praying him not to appoint members of the Legislative Council until Parliament met."

Customs Revenue, —The amount of Customs revenue collected during the past month was £115,044 11s 4d. During December, 1890, £131,734 13s lOd was collected, and for January, 1890, the total was £132,888 Is 104. The amount of revenue received during the past ten months exceeds the estimate by £23,871

Beer Duty. —The beer duty collected during the past month amounted to £4840 15s 7d. For December, 1890, the total was £7322 4s Bd, and for January, 1890, £SIOB 10s. The estimate for the ten months ending January was £45,000, but the amount of the duty col ected during that period was £47,944 13a 9J, leaving a surplus of £2944 13s 91. A Valuable Plant. —ln one of the driest and most barren parts of the Christchurch Gardens there are growing several clusters of an exceedingly interesting plant—the Lathyrua Sylvestria—a variety of everlasting pea. This plant is one that should command the attention of settlers who have patches of sand-soil on their farms or large areas of riverbed. This pea is a good fodder plant. Cattle, horses, sheep, pigs eat it readily. Cows feeding on it give large quantities of milk, and the milk yields rich cream. It makes a heavy crop, giving as much as 17 tons of green fodder or 4 tons of hay the second year. When once planted it will last for ages, and takes such root in the soil that it is valuable for holding drift sand. As it has thrived in the driest and most barren part of the Christchurch Gardens through the vicissitudes ©f an unusually severe season, it has been proved adapted to the New Zealand climate, and there is no doubt that it is capable of flourishing even on the sandhills. —Press. Strong Praise.— An article on New Zealand by Professor Strong which appears in Good Words closes as follows : “There are certain spots in the world whose memories haunt one like one’s shadow—more, in fact, than one’s shadow is in the habit of haunting one in this dingy clime. And of all the places which have the most sovereign power to cast sunshine on the memories of its sunny self 1 can think of none more potent than New Zealand ; and New Zealand has the very extraordinary property of causing all who once set foot on her shores to pass beneath the indescribable spell of her witchery, I never met anyone who, having tasted life in his new island home, would consent to exchange his abode. It is very hard to analyse this magic power of the beautiful gem of the antipodes, and to say what is the particular point that makes New Zealanders feel that their land affords them a pleasure unfelt before, and even yet scarce realised. Switzerland has loftier peaks and fairer towns, Tyrol may boast of prettier outlines, Scotland has her classic heather and her brown hillsides, Norway historic memories that linger in her winding fiords, but having gazed at and fancied myself in love with each of these sirens in turn, I am ever drawn back to my ideal beauty—New Zealand. Nature does not often play the prodigal. To New Zealand aha has given all her charms, and keeps them fresh and imperiously beautiful as Cleopatra’s.’' Temuka Mechanics' Institute.—At the annual meeting of members of the Temuka Mechanics’ Institute—a report of which appears elsewhere—the picture presented of the financial condition of the institute was a simply deplorable one. In a populous district where the inhabitants must surely require some mental pabulum besides that afforded by the newspapers only sufficient subscriptions can be procured to enable the committee to pay the barest working expenses. To say the least, it is discreditable to the intelligence of the community that such an institution should he allowed to languish. The subscription—ten shillings per annum—is low enough, and yet only some 60 persona out of, say, 400 adults can be induced to avail themselves of the privileges ©f membership. Another year like the past and the institute will have to be closed. The building is falling into disrepair, the supply of books cannot be supplemented with new ones under existing circumstances, and such little interest as is yet taken will naturally fade away. If such a thing takes place it will be a lasting disgrace to the township. The committee are, as may be imagined, somewhat sick of the whole affair. Their efforts appear to be totally unappreciated, and only that there are a few men among us with a strong sense of their public duty there would be no such thing as a committee at all. It is to be hoped that the ensuing year may witness a change. A subscription lait for the purchase of new books is still open, and the public are invited to give towards it any trifle that they can spare. Possibly an entertainment may be organised and a lecture or two given, and it has been suggested that the Temuka Caledonian Society might with propriety devote a small portion of their funds towards assisting this moribund institution. A vigorous infusion of practical sympathy—otherwise cash—would soon restore it to rude health, and then possibly the townspeople, of Temuka nstead offiouting it, would feel proud that such an institution existed in their midst. ,

The heat medicine Known is Bandkk and Sons’ EuosrvPTi Extract, Test its eminent poweiful effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, 'be they wounds, burns, scald in ge, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling—no inflammation, Like surprising effects produced in oroup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, &c., diarrhoea, dysentry diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe j patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, .and reject all others.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. W. G Rutland—Funeral notice re late R. A, Barker. Temuka Branch Shearers’ and Laborers’ Union—Meeting on Saturday evening. Woodb.ury—The Gospel will be preached in the Woodbury Schoolroom on Sunday afternoon.

C. Howard Tripp, Barrister and Solicitor —Has commenced practice in Timaru on his own account.

L. 0. Matthias, Qapee’s Valley—Offers reward for return of, or information in reference to, lost chestnut mare.

0. E. Sberratt, Returning Officer—Notifies that Mr R, Flntman has been elected a member of the Timaru Harbor Board.

Robt. Irvine, Returning Officer—Notifies that Mr John Talbot has been elected a member of the Timarn Harbor Board.