The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2162, 12 February 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Masonic. —The next quarterly communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand will be held at Invercargill next month. Maori Election. —Epari Timutu Kupa, a Government supporter, has been elected for the Northern Maori district, vice Sydney Taiwhanga, deceased. Weather forecast. —Captain El win forecasts the approach of a period of heavy easterly gules and a heavy rainfall, etpecial y in the northern districts. Howling. —The three-rink medal match at Christchurch on Tuesday evening between Timaru and Sydenham resulted in fayor of the former, the scores being 17—17, 20—18, and 20—10. Geraldine Public School.— The distribution of prizes and certificates will take place at the Geraldine School this afternoon, and parents and friends are cordially invited lo be present. Export of Butter. —There was shipped from New Plymouth during January 149 tons of butter. This does not inc'ude a great quantity which goes to Wellington by rail. Thunderstorn at Waikato. A thunderstorm and he ivy fall of rain took place on (Saturday in the Waikate district. Considerable damage has been done to the harvest there. Damaging a Road, —At a meeting of the Levels Road Board it was decided to prosecuted the person who had damaged the Arowhanua-Pleasant Point road by ploughing it up.

Fiji News. — A severe ihunderstorm is reported as having occurred at Suva, Fiji, on the 23rd January. Several houses were blown down, and some people were injured, but none of them seriously, Shirdey Baker Deposed. —The Samoa correspondent of the New Zealand Herald states that Mr Shirley W. Baker, late Premier of Tonga, left here quietly by the lale San Francisco mail steamer for the United States. Victims of the Tarawer\ Eruption —An Auckland telegram says that the dead bodies of two children, victims of the Tarawera eruption, the son and daughter of a chief named Puetio, have been discovered at Wairoa, near Uotorua.

Temperance Meetings. — On Monday and Tuesday evenings next Mr J. Knott will give soma of Gough’s great orations in the Werluyan Church, Tenauka. Mr Knott has the name of being an eloquent speaker, and those who attend should enjoy themselves. Admission will be free, but collections will be made to defray expenses. Crown Lands. —Attention is directed to an advertisement bv the Canterbury Land Board regarding village settlement lands at Cennington, near the Cave Railway Station, which will be open for eeTction for cash, deferred payment, or perpetual leasee, on Wednesday next, 18th. The allotments range in size from 22 to 56 acres, and each contains a proportion of agricultural and grazing land. The allotments are well worth the attention of working men on the lookout for a home.

St Patrick’s Day Sports. — A meeting of members of the St Patrick’s Day Sports' Association, Geraldine,will take place on Tuesday evening, when the annual report and balance-sheet w;ll bo submitted, and the programme for the sports on the 17th March arranged. A large attendance is hoped for. The sports are becoming most popular, and this year should be more largely attended than ever. Challenging a Jury.—Jurymen from this district were at a discount yesterday in the Supreme Court, Titnaru, when the jury to try John Campbell for a o-iling was eutpinellod. The Crown Prosecu or slaughtered them wholesale. The moment a juryman from this aide of the Opihi made his appearance Mr While told him to stand down. Mr Hay, too, had hiv innings, but hs was far more reason J>'e in the number he challenged than Mr White, and the result of it all was that when the panel was exhausted there were only eight jurymen in the box. The trouble then was how to gat the other four jurors,

and this was got over by Mr White withdrawing his objections to those he had already rejec ed and recalling them. On what grounds some Teiuuka men who never saw Joan Campbell were challenged at first is more than any one can to'l.

The Timaku Gaol —At the close of their ordinary duties at the SupiemeCourt, Timaru, the grand jury made the following presentment to the judge : —“ May it please your Honour, Pub'ic feeling in this district has been very much aroused at the acton of the Government in o osing the Timaru Goal, as it is felt that great inconvenience must necessarily arise therefrom, as all prisoners have to await trial in Lyttelton Gaol and are therefore debarred the help of counsel in frequent intercourse with a view lo their defence. It is felt that the importance of the town and district warrants a continuance of the local institution, and we respectful/ request that you, as admia ; atrator of justice, will bring the matter prominently before the proper authorities, in older (hat the recent order may be rescinded.” His Honour said he would see that the presentment was forwarded to the proper quarter.

Presbyterian General Assembly The Presbyterian General Assembly was opened at St. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, on Tuesday night. The Pev. C. S. Ogg was formally installed as moderator, and delivered an address, mainly in advocacy of promoting Home missions in sparsely-populated districts, and more concentrated and practical training for student evangelists. He approved of the suggestion that there should be a service book for the Presbyterian Church, which ministers might use at their option. On Wednesday the first hour was spent in devotional exercise. A letter was rend from the moderator explaining his inability, on account of il health, to be present to open the assembly. Great sympathy » as expressed for the Key. Mr Birnett. A committee was appointed to draw up a minute re ilia death of the Rev. John McKay, of Otabm. The Rev. Sidey read the treasurer's report, wh cb showed the funds of the church to be very prosperous, A sum of £224 5s fid had been contributed for Assembly’s expenses, £351 for foreign missions, £l3O for ihe Maori and Chinese missions, £129 for the aged and infirm ministers fund, and £lls by the Sabbath school fer ihe foreign mission and “ Dayanting" A request from the presbytery of Westland asking that Mr D. Anderson bo allowed io marry aqd baptise was granted,

Timaru Harbor Board. —The harbor I elections at Timaru resulted in ihe return | of Captain Woollcombe, and Messrs J. S. Gibson and J. HiU. Captain Sutter, an old and very useful member of the board, was defeated. Farming in Otago. — A few farmers at Waikoikoi, Otago, are experimenting with linseed this season. Mr George Milnes has cut a m g.i.fijent held o ( rye, which had attained a height of nearly six feet, A Bankrupt's Losses —James Black, who hied his petition of insolvency, in a statement of his affairs before the Official Assignee at Auckland, said that he came to the colony with £18,090, which he invested in various ways. His losses approximately during the last three years kid amounted to £12,000. Wrestling. — The wrestling in five styles between Duncan Ross and George Robinson, for £25 a side, at the Christchurch Theatre on Tuesday night, resulted in a draw. Robinson won the American side-hold and the Cumberland. Ross won the c<toh-as-oatch-can and GrsecoRoman. The collar-and-elbow was a draw.

Fire. —A fire broke out on Tuesday morning on the Wellington Harbor steamer Mana, causing about £2OO damage. It originated in one of the bunkers amongst cotton waste, which it is supposed became ignited by spontaneous combustion. The flames were extinguished by the fire brigade. The vessel is uninsured. The Late Sir W. Fiizhbrbert. —The funeral of the late Sir William Fitzherbert took place at Wellington on Tuesday, and was largely attended, amongst those present, being the deceased’s sons, the Hons. J, B illance, W. P. Reeves, and A, S. Cad man, and Sir Harry Atkinson, and many Maoris, The Government offices were closed. Volunteer Encampments. —The localities of the volunteer encampments for next Easter are now decided upon. That for the North Island will be he'd at Palmerston North, and for the South Island at Oamaru. No restriction will be placed on the participation of corps, but the cost will be limited to the amount of last year. Lieut.-Oo’onel Stapp wl have charge of the camp at Palmerston North.

A Want Supplied. —The dffisulty of obtaii.ing a regular supply of fresh fihh at Geraldine has been much felt by the residents of the lowa and district. This difficulty is about to be done away with, as Mrs E. O’Brien has just opened a shop next door to Mr M. Connolly’s, Geraldine, where she intends to have regular supp'ies of all kinds of fish, including oysters in season. Mrs O’Brien has also opened a registry office in connect on wth her business.

An Outraged Wife —An outraged wife, signing herself Charlotte Greig, writes as follows to the Otago Daily Times:—“Sir, —Seeing that John Greig, my husband, has placed my name »s unworthy of his trust, I can assure you that his action is without foundation or cause, for I have never contracted a debt in his name, neither has he ever paid a bill for me, and the action he has taken he his done without ever consulting me or giving me any indication that he would do so ; and 1 have done this to vindicate my own character,” A Careless Starter.— A curious case of manslaughter was heard at the Court of Quarter Sessions recently at Wagga Wagga, before Judge Forbes, in which James--Braoe was charged with causing the death of Joseph Craig at Brookong station. Last October sports were being held on the station, when the accused was appointed starter and was given a revolver loaded with ball cartridge. When starting the race Bruce held the revolver behind him, the competitors being in front. The deceased was sitting, with others, on a seat a few yards away, and when the accused pulled the trigger Craig received the charge in the left temple. He became unconscious and never rallied, dying the next day. The whole of the evidence showed the affiir to be an accident, and the jury, after seven minutes’ consideration, returned a verdict of acquittal. Unfair Competition. —Th e Nor th 01 ago Times has returned to the charge againsi the system of differential rating on the railways, and says :—“ Between Duued’n aud OdDiaru a tariff exists that, wb ie it benefits one class of persons, does a great deal of injury to others, and is apparently aimed at centralising trade. Certain classes of goods are earned from Dunedin to Camara at 32s 6 I a ton, but to intermediate places the rate per mile is considerably more than twice what it is between the places named. Were the railways a good paying investment for the colony this kind of thing might be justifiable enough, bat unfortunately the railways donetpiy, and colonists as a whole have to be taxed to make up the difference between receipts and expenditure. it, therefore, follows that country settlers and shopkeepers between Dunedin and Oarnaru are doubly taxed to keep the system going.” This is the way the Railway Commissioners are competing with the Port of Camara.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Temuka Road Board—lmportant notice ro unpaid rates, R. Taylor, Woodbury—Caution to owners of wandering pigs. J. Riordan, Geraldine—lnvites tenders for repairs to store ; labor only, P, O'Mara, Temuka—Will not be responsible fur bis wife’s debts. Temperance Meetings—ln Temuka Wesleyan Church on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Canterbury Land Board Notice re allotments in Caonington Village Settlement open for selection.

St. Patrick's Day : Sports, Geraldine— Public meeting on 17th inst. to arrange for sports meeting. Mrs B. O’Brien—Has opened a fish shop and registry office next to Mr M. Connolly’s, Geraldine. J. B. Rutland and Co., Titnaru—Are cash buyers of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, ect.; have binding twine, oornsacks, etc., on sale. Jas. Graigie, South Canterbury Glass, Paints, and Paperhanginge Warehouse, Timaru—Keeps the largest stock of paperhangings between Christchurch and Dunedin; direct importer of all goods used in the trade. James Philp, Ironmonger, Timaru—Direct importer of builders’ and house-furnishing, ironmongery, ranges, cutlery, etc.; cartridges carefully loaded ; furnace frames and every description of tinware made on the premises.