LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2181, 28 March 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Harvest Home. —ln pLce of the annual Rzaar a “ Harvest Horne ” will take place on Monday nest in connection with St, Saviour’s Church, Temuka. This will take the form of a tea and social in the Drillshed. The tea will be on the tables at half-past six, and the social will commence at 8 punctually* For the latter an elaborate programm« has been prepared. A choir, comprising the best available local talent, has been rehearsing glees and madrigals for some weeks past, under the leadership of Mr W. G. Rutland, and his attained an unwonted degree of proficiency. There will also be some solos and duets, and an opportunity will be given for round games, if desired, and also for country dances, and so forth. The whole promises to ha very enjoyabL, and a decided innovation upon the stereotyped gatherings. In the course of the evening addresses are promised by several gentlemen.

A Donation. —The Otago Acclimatisation Society has received a donation of £SO from Mr Blackwood, Melbourne. Coal —Prospecting operations at the Blackball coal lease, Greytnouth, resulted ia striking a seam of good coal. As it dips out it can be worked on a level with free draining, entailing oo cost. It is a latge field.

Tim art? Harbor Commission. —Messrs O’Connor and Goodall, Civil Engineers, who have been appointed by the Timaru Harbor Board to report on the best method of dealing with the ehing'e difficulty, arrived at Timaru on Wednesday.

Auctions. —The attention of farmers and others is directed to a number of notices re the Geraldine Ram and Ewe Fair, and clearing sales of farming plant, which will be found in our advertising columns. The entries for the Ram and Ewe Fair are already very large.

Sale of a Run. —The Oamaru Harbor Board endowment, Otematata station, was offered for sale on Thursday morning in two lots. Lot 1,63 010 acres, was sold to Mr W. B, Cameron at the upset, £1312. Lot 2, 5750 acres was sold to the same gentleman at £l7O, or £sl above the upset.

Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka.—The services at this church tomorrow will be coi.ducted by the newlyappointed poster, the Rev. W. C, Wood. Tliis will be the first time the rev. gentleman has preached at the Temuka chmch cince hie appointment to the charge of the circuit.

Arowhenua Creek Reserves. —A plan of the proposed Garden Reserves along che creek-in the Arowhenua township can now bo seen at the Arowhenua Town Board Office. It is requested that any communications in connection therewith be sent to the Crown Lands Commissioner, Christcbmch, before the 14th April,

The Tug Mana. —The Timaru Harbor Board’s tug Mana was placed on the slip at Lyttelton on Wednesday for a thorough cleaning. She has done very satisfactory work during the fortnight she has been at work at Lyttelton. It may be mentioned that the slip at Timaru is now being strengthened sufficiently to accommodate the Mana in future. Science Lessons. —A. committee of the Wellington Education Board has been appointed to consider Dr Newman's resolution “ That for science lessons there shall be taught chemistry appropriate to the manufactures of the district, and in country schools the chemistry of agriculture.”

The Temperance Party at Dunedin. —The temperance party decided that the platform of the moderate party would not suit, and it was decided to nominate Messrs A. 0. Begg, A. Barr, A. C. Broad, J, Wright, and tha Bev. W. Heady as prohibition candidates at the coming licensing election. It was decided to issue a circular requesting the supporters of temperance to intimate to such grocers as hold bottle licenses lhal they could not support them as long as they held such licenses.

The Tainui. —R.M.S. Tainui left Plymouth for Wellington on Saturday last. The Newton Seat. —Sir George Grey was nominated for the Newton aeat on Wednesday.

Dance at Temuka.—A dance will be held in the old echoolhouae. Temuka, ou Monday evening, Wesleyan Chueoh, Temuka. —The Rev. R. S. Bunn will conduct the morning and evening services (in the above church tomorrow, and will preach at Waitohi in the afternoon. Co-operation. —The co-operative unemployed at Westport have signed the contract for three sections of the MoUihinui Railway, They number 150. They find only 100 can bo employed on the sections. Two more sections unlet have been applied for by the Denniston unemployed, numbering seventy-five. This is more than can be employed ou the remaining sections. The member for the district communicated with the Government, warning them not to send more working men there.

Fire Brigades Conference. The Fire Brigade Conference closed its sittings at Auckland on Wednesday. Lieutenant Smith, Christchurch, was re-elected president for the third term, and Sub-Inspector Gilberd, of Napier, secretary. A suggestion was made that a premium should be paid by members to form an accident and insurance fund. The matter is to be referred to the executive of the association. It was decided to hold the next conference at Christchurch.

Cmi Service Boabd. The Civil Service Borad ia constituted *8 follows : Mr W. S, Eeid, Solicitor-General; Mr J. S, Cooper, Under-Secretary for the Colony ; Mr O. M. Orombie, Property tax Coimmmssioner ;MrJ. G. Gavin, Assistant Controller and Auditor-General ; and Mr H. J. H, Eliott, Under Secretary for Crown Lands. Tbs functions ot the board will be to advise the Government on the general administration, efficiency and discipline of the Civil Service ; also as to economy, promotions and classification. Ministers will still be responsible to Parliament for the efficiency of the service and the Civil Service Bill will bo drafted, in that direction.

Amalgamation. —Messrs Webster and Fisher, chairman and manager of the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, have left Dunedin for Sydney, A basis of agreement has been arrived at with the Union Steamship Company, subject to confirmation by the shareholders of the Tasmanian Company, by which the business of the two companies will practically be amalgamated. At any rate there will be no active competition as at present. The Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company will retain its board ot management, and will control the boats running from porta there. Probably the Rotomahana will be placed on the trade between Hobart and Melbourne, with the T.S.N, Company’s Pateena, one of the largest steamers of the latter company, extending her voyage to New Zealand. Government Policy. —Replying to a deputation of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday the 800. J. G, Ward explained his attitude in regard to the ’Frisco mail service, showing that the impression that he was prejudiced against it was erroneous. Mr Ward stated it was the intention of the Government to propose the establishment of a universal penny post in the colony. He would do all be could to provide that cool chambers for the export of dairy produce should be fitted up on board the ’Frisco steamers, Mr Ward announced to the deputation that be had that morning recoivt-d a cablegram from Mr R. J. Creighton from ’Frisco, stating that the Subsidy Bill had passed. He said it was matter of satiatnction that in all probability some (assistance would be given at last by the American Government in carrying on the service. Dommyism Prosecutions. —The committal of Mr Coleman Phillips by the Resident Magistrate (says the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) was not a surprise to anyone who has read the reports of the proceedings. Rumor has it that Mr Phillips is not to be the only victimj It ia said that the Lands Department ia busy preparing a host of informations, clerks working night and day gathering facts, inspecting declarations, making out cases for the opinion of counsel. The thing has got hold of the public mind, and men tell you that 150 cases have been made out, and that a number of prosecutions will be initiated at once, The names of members of both Houses, past and present, and prominent men in both islands, are freely mentioned ; all of which means, of course, that in certain circles there ia a panic, more or leas violent.

The Holidays. —The special train on Thursday night for Oamaru and Dunedin was well filled. It arrived at Temaka shortly after twelve o’clock, but was joined by only one or two paseengeis On Good Frida} there were a number of holiday makeia visiting popular resort, both by road and rail, A large number of bicyclists visited Winchester aud Geraldine, and several shooting and picnic parties were made up. The several popular spots on the rivers also had their quota of anglers, and a few decent takes were made. Quite a number of anglers made for the Hangitata, several camps being established for the three days. The principal attractions on Monday will be the Harvest Home in connection with 8t Saviour’s Church, and a dance in (he evening, the Oamaru review, and the races and bazaar at Fairlie Creek, Special train arrangements are advertised for th*latter events.

The Agent-Generalship.—A rumor has obtained currency in Wellington that Sir Dillon Bell’s successor as AgenlQeoeral wi'l be Sir William Jervois, •' The appointment, if it were made, would be a popular one. There is no fresh information yet as to the pending conversion of loans, nor is any expected until Juno ; but sanguine expectations are entertained by financial authorities that the operation will bo entirely successful, and will not only relieve the colony of a large sum in annual interest, but will also render available some £500,000 in the shape of released sinking fund for appropriation towards railway extensions, &c. As Sir William is an engineer by profession, his professional knowledge would be of value, and would allow of Mr Blackett’s services as consulting engineer in London being dispensed with without causing inconvenience. The New Zialaud Times conaiders a better successor to Sir F. D. Bell could not be found thm Sir W, F. D. Jervois,

St Saviour's Church.— At the above church, to morrow special harvest thanksgiving services, as well as the customary Easter services, will be held. The church as usual, will be decorated and (here will be special psalms and hymns. There will ba a celebration of the Holy Communion at the morning service. The offerings of the day by a rule of the church are a gift to the incumbent. There is a custom in Germany that apprentices, after the expiration of their term of service, shall travel two years before becoming maatera—-hence journey men.