LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2169, 28 February 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Football.—Footballers are reminded that (he annual meeting of the Temuka Football Club takes place in the Wallingford Hotel this evening. Wesleyan Church, Temuka.—At the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, to-morrow, the services will be special —relating to the centennary of the death of the Rev, John Wesley. The Rev. R. S, Bnnn will officiate, St. Saviour’s and St. John’s Churches. —The Rev. H. H. S Hamilton, of Banks’ Peninsula, will officiate at St. Saviour’s Church. Temuka, in the morning, and at St. John’s, Winchester, in tbe afternoon. OrrosmsH to Rages, —ln opposition to the races at Forbury, Dunedin, a Christian Convention, on the lines of the Keswick Convention, was held at Blanket Bay, near Fort Chalmers. Only between 200 and 300 attended, a number much below what was anticipated. Addresses were delivered by both clergy and laity, tbe Salvation Army Band assisting with hymns. Horticultural. —Mr H, T. Clinch’s garden ic Temuka is at the present time a very pretty sight to look at. The show of aators, dahlias, etc., is magnificent, and reflects great credit on Mr Clinch’d skill as an amateur gardener. The seeds were obtained from Mr West, nurseryman, Dunedin, and the display of flowers now in bloom in Mr Clinch’s garden is a sufficient guarantee of their quality. Lecture at Geraldine.—Those who were present at the meeting in tha Presbyterian Church, on Thursday evening enjoyed a treat. The Rev. Mr Robjohns, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, gave a most interesting and entertaining sketch of the origin and work of the society. Mr Robjohns quoted a number of statistics showing tbe wonderful growth and progress made by the society, especially in recent years. He mentioned that the object of his visit was, if possible, to form a branch of the society at Geraldine. Dr Fish occupied tbe chair, and at tbe close of the lecture a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Robjohns on the motion of Mr Aitken. A collection waa taken up in aid of the funds of the society. Tbe results were very satisfactory. Primitive Methobist Church, Geraldine. —By an announcement which appears elsewhere it will be seen that the Rev. G. Clement, who has been stationed at Geraldine for the past two years, preaches bis farewell sermons in that church to-morrow morning and evening, and at Temuka at 3 o’clock. On Monday evening a farewell tea meeting will be held, tea being on the tables at 6.30 p.m. The number of tickets already sold are sufficient to secure a good attendance, and as great interest is being taken in the meeting there will doubtless be a very successful gathering. Mr Clement has been moat earnest in tbe discharge of his duties while in Geraldine, and takes with him the good wishes of a large circle of friends. He goes to Waddington, where he has been stationed. Rumor has it that he is bound for the 11 United States ” shortly.

Important Sewing Machine Case, —Id the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Invercargill, an action was brought for the hire of a sewing machine under peroultar circumstances, the claim being for £25 15a, while the actual value of the machine was £ll. The machine bad been hired at 2s 6d a week, to become the property of the hirer when the payments totalled £ll. He paid up to £6 16a in Jan., 1886, and rest was claimed since that date, the plaintiff not having resumed the possession of his property. The counsel for the defence contended that all the Singer Company was entitled to was the balance of the value of the machine £4 6s. For the plaintiffs it wee urged that as the defendant had never exercised the right of purchase, the machine might have been valueless, as the plaintiffs were kept out of their money all these years, they ought to recoyer the rent. An offer had been made to pay the balance of the purchase money and all costs, but was refused by the plaintiff. Mr Eawson, 8.M., said the agreement was perfectly clear. Had the defendant gone on paying the machine would haye belonged to him in 1888. He did not do so and was therefore liable for the rent, even although that was more than the value of the machine. Judgment would be for plaintiffs, with costs £3lss. The machine has thus cost the defendant over £36, Winchester School Committee,— The monthly meeting of the Winchester School Committee was held on Monday evening. Present —Messrs Ensor (Chairman), Harrison, Jones, W. Fhilp, Connolly, and Soston. After routine, Mr Jones drew the chairman's attention to the report appearing in the Temrxa Leader re distribution of prizes. The chairman explained that the prizes were given as equally as possible to all children who passed the inspector’s examination, and that the figures, Ist, 2;-id, 3rd, etc,, were a reporter’s error, and should not have been put in. Mr Carston’a account for a pump was passed as correct. Messrs Gray, Pearpoint, and Talbot were chosen to fill the ordinary vacancies occurring on the Board, and Messrs Balfour and Storey for the extraordinary vacancies, Mr James McLeod, of Orari, declining to stand. The question of the maslet’s complaint of the caretaker's neglect was (hen considered. The chairman stated that in «n*wtr to an urgent letter from the bead teacher be bad yisited the school and surroundings. The caretaker stated that she could not carry out her contract, as a cesspool sunk in the school paddock had been filled by the head teacher. He (the chairman) bad instruc ed the caretaker to make the best arrangement possible until the Committee meeting. On the following day he received a peremptory letter from the head teacher, stating that a previous committee bad given him absolute use of the spare school lands, and that be should regard an entrance thereon as a trespass. The caretaker also received a similar letter. Mr Deßenzy, as previous chairman, came to explain the previous committee’s reuaon for letting this land, stating that the land was given to the master for growing root crops, not for for grazing ; that tbs master had himself drawn up the specification for the cesspool, but upon the appointment of the present caretaker had filled it up. Mr Connolly proposed, Mr Jones seconded, and it was carried—" That a new pit be sunk in a convenient place,” Mr Harrison proposed, Mr Philp seconded, and it was carried—" That the committee have considered the question of Irespass, which they cannot recognise ; that they have eome to the conclusion that if any more difficulties apes they mgat take the lend back into thejr owp fyands again, Mr /ones rqoved as aq aiqendiqent—" That the yrordn ‘pannot repognise ! bp oqjitted, but on the ousting vote of the chairman this wap Ipgt, i

Shearers and Laborers Union.—An important meeting of the Temuka branch of the Shearers and Laborers Union wi I be held to-night, when subscriptions wi 1 be received and officers elected. All members whose subscriptions are unpaid after the 31st March will be struck off tbe roll.

Export op Oats.—The barque Gazelle Bailee from Invercargill on Wednesday for Guan with a full carg® of oats. Tbe ship Jriccieth Castle, no w loading, takes forty thousand sacks Home, and the barque Elizabeth Graham ; s to be put on the berth for London. This season’s crops are looking well, but the area under oats is not so large as last year. Sib Geob«b Gebt’s Politics. —In reply to a deputation of electors of Newton Sir Geo, Grey consented to stand for that seat. He expressed himself strongly in favour of retrenchment, amalgamation of offices and local option. With regard to borrowing, he had seen every great city raise to pre-eminence through borrowing wisely. It eoemed fair that existing people should look to those who were to succeed them to pay something for the advantages which they would derive from the present public works. For this present reason ho though it unwise to pledge himself that New Zealand was never to borrow again. Their welfare would probably require borrowing until there had been brought about a much batter state of things than at present. Village Settlements Wanted. At Christchurch on Thursday Mr W. R. Perceval waited on the Minister of Lands urging him to make provision for work for the unemployed before winter, as there will probably be considerable distress during tbe cold season. He suggested tbe immediate establishment of more village settlements in Canterbury. The Minister said tbat he was having enquiries made with a view of establishing more ' village settlements, Tbe amended regulations for village settlements would be published shortly, He would endeavor to ascertain what work was available. Oo Wednesday the member for Ashley waited on Mr McKenzie and urged that some village settlers at the Humoui gorge should be allowed to take up an additional area of 15i) acres each, as there was little or no opportuni'y in the vicinity of their obtaining any employment outside their own laud. Tbe minister said be sympathised with tbe rrquest, and would do all he coold to enlarge tbe area alloied to each settler. When be returned from Otago ho would visit the settlement and see for himae'f, In reply to another request be also said he thought the charge, of £2 made by Government for inspecting' steam engines was too much, and would like to see it reduced to £l.

The Power of the Press.— They have a curious specimen of a newspaper in the little town of Opotiki. It has contrived to set the whold community by the ears. It was the proprietor who, a little more than a year ago, got up a fifth-of-November effigy of the local Church of England clergyman, and mounted on horseback, headed a disorderly procession in order to cremate it. The local policeman, with two or three churchwardens, routed the cavalcade, and carried off the effigy. The persistent attacks upon the Rev. Mr Wills have led the local larrikins to regard him as fair game, and the unlucky parson has been insulted, assaulted by ruffians in disguise, and placed in fear of his life. All theae attacks have been chronicled with immense approval by the Herald, which narrates a fresh assault in this elegant style : "Mr Wills has again had his ——- kicked.” It is not too much to say that this violence has been instigated by the paper. Two out of three cowards who lately maltreated Mr Wills at night were Identified, and got off with a paltry fine. The Herald found fault with the parson for seeking the protection of the court, and profanely reminded him of the Scripture text; " Vengeance is Mine.” In the issue of the 6th January, the editor rejoicingly narrates the action of a dastardly youth who struck the reverend gentleman several blows across the face with a heavy whip. We regret to notice that bail was found for the assailant. Mr Wills’s offence was that he took a leading part in a temperance organisation, whereby the craft of the newspaper man—a brewer —was endangered. As chairman of the school committee it was also his task to hold inquiry into s >me complaints against a local teacher. This is all, save that he has said and written very injudicious things—editors have been known to dc likewise—but he has done nothing to warrant the malignant persecution of which he has been the subject.—Typo.

' The Late Mb Tuenbull.—-At Timaru on Thursday last Major Steward, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr A. E. Q. Rhode?, aod Me W. Hall Jones, M.H. R.’s, who were a committee appointed by the subscribers (the members of both Houses of Parliament), for the purpose, accompanied by the Mayor, Mr Ross, the Ven, Archdeacon Harper, and Mr George upon Mrs Turnbull to make a presentation to the family of the lute esteemed member for Timaru, Mr Richard 1 Turnbull. The presentation was made by M jor Steward, who exp’ained that it was at first proposed that the subscribers should place a tombstone over the place where Mr Turnbull’s remains were interred, but learning it was probable that, the citizens of Timaru would discharge that duty, they having put a few pounds together, concluded that their expenditure should take the form of the presentation of the family of some memorial, the p'acingiaSt. Miry's Church of a tablet, which should set forth that it was there erected by members of the Legislature, and also the bearing of the expenses incurred during Mr Turnbull's last illness. The presentation was made in touching terms, and the Ven. Archdeacon Harper and the Mayor of Timaru also made a few remarks. The presentation was acknowledged by Mrs Turnbull and one of her sons, Mr James Turnbull. The address was signed by the members of the Executive, and members and clerks of both Houses of Parliament. It read as follows; —"In kindly remembrance of Richard Turnbull, honest, outspoken, fearless, large-hearted and just, during sixteen sessions—lß79-1890—Member of the House of Representatives for the electoral district of Timaru, who died in Wellington while attending the fourth session of the tenth Parliament of New Zealand, on 17th July, 1890, this memorial is presented to his widow and family by the undermentioned members of the Executive Government, members of both branches of the Legislature, and officers of the House of Representatives, by whqm a tablet to hijj nqenjory hqs been erected in St. Mary's Guurch, Timaru.” The address was engrossed in Wellington and handsomely framed,

Unbbaided Bhbbp, —ln Timaru yesterday W. B. Howell pleaded guilty to a charge laid by Mr Sutton, Sheep Inspector, of haring 20 unbrmded sheep orer four months old, and was fined fid each.

Runs to Let Eight leases of runs were put up at audios at the Laud Office, Nelson, yesterday. AH went at the upsei price but two. Wharfon’s run, Waiau, was bid up f»om £528 to £584, and Walter Rutherford’s, on the Clarence, from £SB lo £l9B. An Unlucky Shipment. —When ! the Aorangi left London for Hew Zealand there were shipped to the order of the Government 185 polecats and ferrets, 93 stoats, and 28 weasels, but oat of this shipment of 303 only 15 have arrived alive, these being 2 polecats and 13 stoats, the remainder having died on the voyage. The polecats and ferrets wore intended for the South Island. Minisiheial Movement,— The Hon. John McKenzie, minister for lands, passed through by express train yesterday en route for Waimate, where be goes to see what may be done in the way of a village settlement there. He was accompanied by Major Steward, Speader of the House of Representatives, and Mr March, Steward of reserves. At timaru he was met by His Worship the Mayor, and leading citizens, who had a few miautea conversation with him. Mr Hall-Jones, M.H.R. also accompanied him to Waimate. Major Steward was in high glee. He has been working hard for several years, and now he says that for the first time ha has a Minister of Lands who is in thorough sympathy with him in his desire for laud settlement.

Smoke Concert.— Mr A. R. Allan, who is about to leuTe Temuka for the North Island, was entertained at a smoke concert at the Star Hotel last night. The affair was held under the auspices of the Temuka Caledonian Society, of which Mr Allen was an active director. As a consequence a number of bis Caledonian friends, as well as the general public, put{in an appearance. Mr A. M. Clark occupied the chair, and under bis general directorship a very enjoyable evening was spent. The health of the guest of the evening was duly honored, and songs were contributed by a number of gentleman present. Further details will appear in our next. Disturbing the Salvation Armt.— In Timaru yesterday Albert Ward and William Cam's, two youths, pleaded not guilty to a charge of disturbing the Salvation Army congregation, on the 24th lost, Sergeant-Major Mason stated that the defendants are employed in a stable adjoining the Salvation Army barracks in Bsswick street and sleep there. Complaints had been made that the Army disturbed the h rses, and it seemed that in retaliation these lads got into the loft and made noises. The Army officers had been complaining of this for some time. Captain Dixon recognised the defendant Garvis. He saw him through a crack in the wall, and Oarvis threw water at him through the crack. He stated that the annoyaoca had been experienced for some months, and as he was going away, and female! officers coming, he Wanted lo have it stopped before he left. Constable Tarrant stated he wes on duty on Tuesday night, and bearing “an awful noise ” went into the barracks to pee what was the matter and then found the noise proceeded from the stable, He went round to the stable and found the two boys in the loft where the noise came from, He beard cries of “Do you feel dry? Do you feel bad?" boo-booing and howling. The Bench held the case proved, and as a heavy penalty was not asked for, they imposed a fine of Is each by way of caution, and threatened severe punishment if the offence was repeated.

Inebriety.— ln Timaru, yesterday, Dennis Heffernan pleaded not guilty to charges of being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and trap with wilfully driving on the wrong side of the road. George Naylor, Government insurance agent, gave evidence to the effect that they were driving from Timarn to Wasbdyke in a in a baggy on the 11th inst., and saw defendant driving a spring cart ahead of them in a reckless fashion—sometimes at a walk and again at a furious pace. They overtook the man, walking his horse, where the road reaches the Wasbdyke flat, and as he was on the off side of the road called out to him to make room for them to pass. There was plenty of room for him to pall to the left—room enough for two vehicles to pass—but he would not pull aside. As they drove past him on the narrow space to his right, the mao palled bis horse across and caused a collision in which their buggy was damaged. They drove on, and defendant came after them, until his horse’s bead was over the back of their buggy. At the first available place they pulled altogether off the road to let him go on and get rid of him. Both were positive it was defendant, and that he was 100 intoxicated to be fit to have charge of a horse and cart. Defendant denied that be was the man, but admitted (hat he drove out of town that afte>nooo, and be called a witness to prove that he was sober when he left the stables. The Bench considered both cha'gesof diunkenness and obstructing the road to be proved, and imposed a fine of 10s on each, in default a weeks imprisonment.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Wesleyan Church, Temuka Services for to-morrow. Box 10, Post Office, Geraldine—Housekeeper wanted. Temuka Branch Shearer»’ and Laborers’ Union—lmportant meeting to-night. Geraldine Town Baard—lnvites tenders for purchase and removal of firewood. J. Wilson Smith—Has 20-acre paddock adjoining the Geraldine Dairy Factory to let. Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine —Farewell sermons by Rev. G. Clement to-morrow. E. R. Guinness and A. E. Cox—Sell cattle, sheep and pigs at Geraldine on Wednesday. J. Mundell & Co.—Advertise list of entries for Geraldine stock sale for Wednesday next, Cowan s Clothing and Outfitting House, Timacu—Orders for waterproofs can now be given ; any style ; best material, T. Cheyno Farnie, M. A., Temuka— Important notice to teachers and others »e private tuition; Saturday classes commence March 7. T. & J. Thomson, Drapers and Silk Mercers, Timaru—Autumn norolties just opened in mantles, millinery, dress goods, etc., etc. } lowest possible advance on landed cost, H. B. Webster & Oo,—Publish entries for stock sale at Geraldine on Wednesday ; preliminary notice re clearing sale of live and dead farm stook at Hilton on account, of Mr ft P. Seuley,