LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2161, 10 February 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Magisterial. —There was a clean sheet at the Temnka R.M Court yesterday. Gold.— -The Sew Hoy Big Beach dredge (Otago) has obtained a cake of 90 ounces of retorted gold. The Egmonx Seat, —Mr Bruce and Mr McGuire have been nominated for Egmont. No others are expected. Winchester Fair.—The next Winchester Fair will be held on Tuesday next, 17th instant. Arowhenua Town Board. The monthly meeting of the Arowhenua Town Board wi l be held to-morrow evening. CoAn Exp»bt.—The coal export from Westport for last week was 4375 tons. On Friday 1472 tons were lowered from the mtne. Tbmuka Stock Sale.— The fortnightly B>lb of stock at Temuka takes place today. Messrs K. R. Guinness and A. E. Cox advertise entries.

After Petroleum. The petroleum experts have now sunk 320 feet at New Plymouth, and they consider the indications very satisfactory. Canterbury Land Board. —At a meeting of the Canturbury Land Board on Thujsdsy section 36339, 203 acres, Rangitata district, was granted to James Charles on perpetual lease. Federal Council.— Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir George Grey, and Captain Russell have consented to represent New Zealand at the Federal Convention to be held in Sydney. A Short Sitting. —The monthly sitting of the Geraldine Road Board, held yesterday, was the shortest held by the Board for a very long lime, all the business being practically concluded in a little over an hour.

Cricket — a match betweeu the Colonial C.C. and Temuka C O. has been arranged to take place on Saturday next in the Victoria Park. The Temuka team will be picked on Thursday evening. Members of the club are requested to practice each evening. Greymouth and Westport Harbors. —The Government have replied to a deputation re the Greymouth and Westport Harbors that they will withdraw three officials fri m the board and replace them by members nominated by the Government. This will have the effect of throwing the proceedings open to the public. When Parliament meets further proposals will probably be submitted. Supreme Court. The following criminal cases will be heard at the Supreme Court sitting in Timaru, which commences to-day. Mr Justice Dennistoun will preside. E. L, Perceval, forgery and uttering (three charges); Jean Chari, breaking into and stealing from a shop; Kdwiard Rnssell, larceny (two charges) ; John Campbell, sheep stealing; Daniel Mann, alias Grahnm, stealing from a dwelling; flalvor Olsen, assault with intsnt to murder ; Isaac Price, larceny of wool ; Hy. Clark, stealing from the person.

Government Contracts. —The following instructions have hem issued by the Minister of Public Works ; —That in future in the general terms and conditions of all Government contracts a clause he inserted that the Engineer-in-Charge and the Clerk of Works be instructed not to recognise any sub-contractors. The sub-letting of woik, or having the same done as piecework, shall be a ground for cancellation of contract, and penalties on a 1 per cent, basis on the value of the work found to have been done by sab-contract or piecework shall be imposed. Macphbrson’s Phenomenal Run.—The telegram from Auckland announces that Macpherson, the great Sjdoey amateur, had won the 250yda Championship of Xew Zealand in 24 sec, which is equal to nine yards under evens, a feat no man in the world can accomp ish, will lead local athletes to wonder how Macpherson came to be credited with doing such a phenomenal performance. In the list place the time-keepecs have blundered somewhere—just where we cannot say—unless the course was short. If the course was incorrectly measured, and had a fall in it, if the runners had a wind behind them, and if the pistol “hung ” as reported, then all these things put together make it quite possible that Macpherson did win the race in 24 l-10tb sec. ; but he did not run 250 yards in that lime. —Lyttelton Times.

A Diamond Robbery. —A 12,000d0l diamond robbery has came to light at Los Audgelos, On the evening of January 7 Mr L. M. Wagner, a jeweller, reported at the police headquarters the lose of a pocket-book aoe! a lot of diamonds, supposed to have dropped out of his pocket while out driving. An advertisement was also put in the papers offering a reward of SOOdol for the return of the properly, and no questions asked, No description of the property was given, nor was its value stated. Wagner now says the diamonds were stolen from a desk in his store. He says a San Francisco man, a jeweller, was in the store, and he showed trim the diamonds, and then placed them in a drawer of the desk and went riding. On his return the diamonds and pocket book were missing. No trace of either has since been found. Wagner refuses to give the name of the man who was in the store and went riding with him, and declines to give any particulars beyond the fact (hat the diamonds wore stolen and the loss is X2,000d01.

National M. and A. Oo.—A cable message from London says : The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand has declared a dividend of 5 per cent. Volunteers’ Undress Uniforms. The Minister of Defence has approved of the new undress uniform for Volunteers. The color is brown, and the material similar to kharkee. County Council Flection. —An election for the return of a member of the Geraldine County Council in the room of the late Mr R. A. Baiker will be held on the 27th February. Candidates must, be nominated with MrF. W. Stubbs, before noon, or as soon ihereafter as possible, on the 16th February. Wreck at Fiji. — The Rotokino has arrived at Auckland from Fiji. She brings news of the total wreck of the barque Lochnaw, of Sydney, on a reef north of New Caledonia. She drifted ashore in a calm and became a total wreck. All hands were saved. A Meeting of Sympathy. A re-

presentative meeting of Freethinkers, Sir R. Stout presiding, passed a resolution of sorrow at the news of Mr Bradlaugh's death, of affectionate sympathy with his daughter, and of deep regret at the irreparable loss the Freetbought and Radical parties have sustained. Gold Rush. —Back Creek rush, West Coast, continues to develop. More claims have been bottomed on payable gold during the week. Jack and party washed up 36 loads, which gave a return of lOdwts to the load. They have over four feet of wash. Twenty claims are on gold which should return £lO to £2O a man per week. Wellington Drainage Proposals.The poll which was taken in connection with the Wellington City Council’s drainage scheme resulted in the proposals being rejected. Half the number of voters and votes on the roll, 1551 and 2886 respectively, were required to be registered, but only 1244 persons voted, possessing 2637 votes. Of the latter 1290 were in favor of the loan. The Governor's Movements. The

Governor has abandoned his trip through the Uriwera country for the present. He will go to Lake Waikaremoana, and thence to Waiolapu Valley on his way to Auckland. The countess will probably make a trip along the northern coasts in the Hinetnoa. It is understood the Uriwaras asked the Governor to postpone his visit till they were ready to give him a suitable reception. A Railway Case,—At the Invercargill Police Court a man was charged with travelliog first class on a second class ticket, while second class accommodation was available. The information was dismissed on the point raised by counsel that it did not sta’e that the defendant did so “knowingly and wilfully.” The same defendant was fined £1 and costs for threatening the guard with violence, and for taking possession of a ticket. The Ministry. Mr J. W. Ward, Postmaster-General, received a semipublic reception on arrival at Invercargill from Wellington, and in returning thanks for the congratulatory remarks of the mayor he said he was proud to belong to such a ministry, every member of which, save one, bad risen from the ranks. He expressed the conviction that the present Government would bring down a satisfactory policy, but gave no indication what it would be. Let off Easily. —At Invercargill Ben Bowen, for harboring a Milford convict at 'he station where he was cook, was fined Is and costs, Mr Rawson remarking that the man, who had a large family, had lost his employment over the affair. Bowen’s offence was not very s°rious, and the police, to whom ho denied knowledge of the man, did cot state who they were, and were in plain clothes. He know Lewis, the negro convict, having been in Lyttelton gaol with him, and was afraid to tell the police, as Lewis was close behind and carried a sheath knife. Railway Returns.— The following are the railway returns for the four weeks ending January 3rd, shillings and pence omitted ; North Island : Receipts, £84,122 ; expenditure, £15,437. Middle Island ; Receipts, £64,258 ; expenditure, £34.314. Grand total : Receipts, £98,381; expenditure, £49,752. Compared with last year the single first class passenger tickets show a decrease of 48,911, and second class an increase of 168,749; but

the return tickets show an increase of 4096 first class and 186,236 second class. Timber shows a decrease of 17.698 tons and minerals 9503 tons, but nearly everything else has increased. A Snake in New Zealand.— About two weeks ago mention was made in the newspapers of a snake having been found near Gatlin’s River by Dr Smith, who killed it and sent it to the Dunedin

Museum. It was examined by the Hon. Captain Fraser, and from his description of the snake Sir James Hector recognises it to be a specimen of the harmless water snake, pelamia, which abounds in the tropical part of the Pacific Ocean. No doubt the specimen had drifted to the New Zealand coast and taken to the shore. A specimen of the same sea snake was obtained some years ago at the Bay of Islands, and is now in the Wellington Museum. Brass and Military Bands Association. A meeting of the New Zealand Brass and Military Binds Association was held at Christchurch on Saturday night Representatives attended from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and Oamaru, and several other binds in both islands were represented by proxy. It was decided to hold a contest under the auspices of the association in Dunedin during the last week of November, to be arranged by a local committee ; and that the contest piece be secured through Wright and Round, to be specially arranged for brass bands, and to contain solos for all the leading instruments. Advising the Prisoner.—The following story is told of a well-known American advocate. When General B was a young barrister, a man, arraigned for murder, had no counsel, ‘Mr B said the judge, ‘ take the prisoner into the room at the hack of the court, hear his story, and give him the best advice you can.’ Mr B retired with the prisoner, and in half-ao-hour returned alone into aourf. ‘ Where fa the prisoner?’ asked the judge. ‘ Wall, judge,’ said Mr B i Heard his story, and then, as you diree'ed me, I gave him the beat advice I could. L said ; Prisoner, if I were you I should jet out of the window and make tracks. Be slid down the water-pipe, and the last - saw of him he was getting over a atone ’ence half a mile away.

Marriages in New Zealand,—Tlia following quotations from the statistical handbook just published by the Government conveys information not generally known The ages at which persons may contract binding inirriagea in the colony are the same as in England, viz., 12 years io females and 14 for males. Marriages may be contracted at earlier ages than those stated, but they would be voidable at the discretion of either of the parties upon reaching the age of 12 or 14 as the case may be, and without the necessity of proceedings in Court. For the period 1874-89 inclusive, 12 females under 14 years of age have married. Of these one was only 11 years old. During Ihe same time only three males under 17 have married ; these have all reached 16 years of age. The average age of the males in the colony who married in 1889 was 29.9 years, and of the females 24.6 years.

The Honorarium The Dunedin Globe says:—“The pertinacity of the Conservative Press in tin listing upon the Liberal* the onus of a second session this year, and accusing them of forcing it solely for the sake of the extra honorarium, is most amazing., As a consequence of the agita'ion there is now a very general feeling in fayor of a fixed yearly salary for members, regardless of the number of sessions held. In view of the expense and inconvenience with which Conservatives are systematically attempting to hamper Labor members that salary must be fixed at a higher rate than the present honorarium. It should in no case be less than £2OO, with actual travelling expenses added. If the colony were in a position j to pay £SO more it should be done, but in the meantime £2OO is as much as the Colonial Treasury can afford. We sincerely trust to see this matter taken up , next session, and a Bill passed to the above effect.”

The Railway Commissioners and Their Men. —EVom enquiries made (says the Lyttelton Times) we gather that the reply of the Railway Commissioners to Mr Perceval’s letter, which was published on Saturday, is distinctly misleading. Mr Perceval wrote asking if there was any trulh in the statement that the railway men seeking ire-employment had been refused permanent work owing to their being over thirty-five years of age* and the reply he received was to the fffact that the statement was not true, and that the men would be eligible for employment when suitable vacancies occurred. We have seen some of the replies to applications for re-smplayment, and in these it is distinctly stated that the men will be put on the list for casual woik, but they cannot be given permanent employment owing to their being over thirty-five. It may be mentioned that it is freely stated that men considerably over that age, but who were not concerned in the recent labor trouble, have received permanent appointments.

A Sydney “ Social Scheme.”— Tha scheme which is being initiated by the clergy of the Anglican Church in the Sydney diocese for ameliorating the condition of the unemployed in not unlike that pht forward by General Booth. The plan proposed is to provide the unemployed with food, shelter, and advice; finding them something to do to test their willingness to work, and to prepare them for making a permanent livelihood. A refuge for the homeless and shipwrecked in life will also be provided, where they can have temporary employment, and be brought under moral and religious influences. Attached to the refuge will be a labor yard, so that no man may be rejected because he has not the means of payment. The establishment of a labor bureau, by whieh employers and employer might be brought together, forms an important portion of the scheme. It is proposed to keep a register of all the unemployed in Sydney, divided into their several trades, and to invite employers to send in their requirements. The clergy in the country are to be requested to fill up forms, which will be supplied, setting forth in what ways there are openings for labor in their districts; and, Itstly, as much more labor is needed in country than in town, it is proposed to have a farm for tha cultivation of vegetables, where men unfitted for any other sort of work can be made useful.

Strikes and their Costliness.—An interesting report by Mr J. Burnett, labor correspondent to the Bunt of Trade, on the strikes that occurred lasi year, haa just been issued, From this it appea that in 1889 strikes took place in 3164 establishments in Great Bitain. Asia 1888, 67 per cem!. of the strikes were due to claims for advanced wages, alth rugh in some cases there were other points of dispute involved. Of those for advances in Wiges4B, 3 per cant, were successful. The proportion of those pn;lially succeasfol was 31.5 per cent, ;10 7 per cent, were nob at all successful, ami the results were unknown in tine remaining strikes. Of the financial arpeot of str kes, some interesting particulars are given. Taking 597 of the strikes, the los-> of wages is estimated at £652,000, wli’la the loss to each individual would be a little over £3 ss, For 930 of the strikes the loss fop the 344,840 persons engaged is taken at £1,122,500. tn 216 instances it is shown by employers whose men have been on strike that the value of fixed capital laid, idle was £14,450,962; while in 169 instances the ruteab e value of property laid idle was £268,684. In 233 strikes the estimiled outlay caused by laying down and reopening the works on strike was £160,219. On the other hand the returns sent in by trade unions show that in 369 strikes the amount expended in support of the men by strike committe sor trade unions was £63.636. The returns also show that in 44(1 strikes the weekly wages earned before the stoppages amounted in the aggregate to £153,504, while the estimated loss of wages in 292 of these strikes was £294,175.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Winchester Fair—Takes plica op Tuesday next. E. R. Guionesa and A, E. Oox—Eutrles for stock sale at Temuka to-day. J. Beri—Funeral notice re the late Mrs John Swaney, of Rangitata Island. F, W. Stubbs, Returning OfficerNotice re election of member of Gera'dina Oiunty Council, J. Brown, Beehive Stores, Temuka—is now holding a cheap sale of. drapery, clothing, bools and shoos, for one month only ; invites an early call. Has Donaghy’s celebrated binding twines and all harvest requisites on sale 5 quotes prices.