LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2183, 2 April 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tbe Tug Mana. —The Timaru Harbor Board’s tug Mana returned to Timaru yesterday, after a fortnight’s work and a thorough cleaning. She gave every satisfaction at Lyttelton. Charitable Aid. — The Wellington Charit.ible Aid Board’s estimates for the year amount to £7257. Of this amount £4623 will be levied oo the local bodies. The Hospital Board levies £2570 on tbe local bodies. Government Life Insurance. — With reference to a statement which has appeared in print that a Commission is to inquire into working of the Government Insurance Office the Premier states that the Government is quite satisfied with the management, and has no intention of appointing a Commission. Co-operation. —The Dennis ton unemployed miners, to whom the Minister of Public Works gave one of tbe sections Mokibinui railway at the usual rates, are preparing to lake up the contract. The ‘Vesiport unemployed have set to work on three sections given them, work being c irria I on under the 00-operafioo system. Prohibition in Raratonga, The British Consular Agent in the Hervey Group, Mr Exham, who is at present in Auckland, states that the new liquor hws put into force at Raratonga by the native authorities at the suggestion of Mr Moss, the New Zealand resident, have proved most satisfactory, and the consensus of opinion throughout the Group is in their favor.

Whiicombe and Tombs Dispute The Nelson Board yesterday morning passed the following in reply to tbe Ot»go Trades and Labor Council;—"That this board cannot recognise that the Otago Trades and Labor Council is « proper body to advise education boards as to the selection of school books, a matter to which the Nelson Board has hitherto devoted much time and attention.” The Southland Harvest. —The Gore Standard reports that a good deil of g>aiu is still in stock about Wyudham ; and worse still, a largo quanitity is yet uncut It is feared that this means a serious loss to some farmers, as the straw is bent in every direction, leaving it impossible to pin a machine through it; indeed, the only way of gathering it in, in many cases, will be by reporting to those old agricultural implements—the scythe and hook. The Shooting Season, —The shooting season for native game opened yesteiday, and a number of sportsmen were out at peep of day to have a shot at the grey ducks. Except in favored spots game does not appear to have been very plentiful, Di Hayes and party, from a well-preserved piece of water near the mill, took some brpce, and a good bag was also made by a young sportsman on the Opihi riverbed. Mr T. Rooney secured a faw, and it is reported that a party at the Rangitata made a good haul. The Milford lagoon w»s nearly deserted by the ducks just before the season commenced, although they had formerly congregated there. The birds are all in good condition , but there are a large number of young ones, showing that, wherever they fieye got to now, the season has been a good one for breeding.

Concert and Dance. —A concert and dance io aid of the prize fund takes place in the Hilton schoolroom to-morrow evening. The concert will commence at 8 o’clock.

Postponed Sale. —Messrs J. Mundell and Co. have postponed their clearing sa>e on account of Mr T. M. Brosnahan, Levels Plains—previously advertised for to-morrow—until Thursday next. Otago Central Railway. —The Rp.i'way Commissioners will take over the Otogo Central Railway to Middlemarch, on the 9th of April. It is not known whether the Minister of Public Works will be able to attend as at first intended. Auctions, —To-day Mr W. S. Mislin holds a clearing sale of live and dead farm stock, household furniture, eic., on account of Mr Robert Ford, at Gapes’s Valley. To-morrow he will hold an extensive clearing sale on account of Mr W. Ellery, at Belfield, Orari, together with 130 acres of leasehold. foil particulars will be found in our advertising col urn dp. Timaru Tannery Company. —At an extraordinary general meeting of the Timaru Tannery and Boot Factory Company on Tuesday last it was decided to wind up the company voluntarily. Messrs Tipping and Zlesler were appointed liquidators, their remuneration being fixed at £6O.

Cricket. —The interproviocia) cricket match between Wellington and Canterbury was finished on Tuesday morning, the former winning by 8 wickets. Moorhouae carried out his bat for 37, and Blacklock for 20. A single innings match between Canterbury and Wellington in the afternoon resulted in another victory for the local team by 3 wickets ond 13 runs. Canterbury scored 106 and We - lington 119 for the loss of 7 wickets. Christchurch Cathedral.— The plans for the restoration of the Cathedral spire show that in appearance it will be similar to the original form. About fifteen feet will be taken down before commencing to build in fire bricks. The finiats and cross will be of light copper work, and will rest upon a socket so as to allow them to play in a high wind or earthquake. Along chain and heavy weight will be attached to the lower end of the finial to keep the whole in position. Island News. —The.s.p. Richmond has arrived from the Islands. Mr Exbam, British Consul at Raratonga, is a passenger. Papeete, Society Islands, has been formed into a municipality, which will ensure absolute control of its own finances instead of being under subjection to the French Government in this renp-ct. The Kaiatea natives are quiet, and there is no farther talk of rebellion against the French. The French Government am removing nearly all the troops from Tahiti by a transport, for home.

Tolstoi on Tobacco.—On the subject of tobacco it is interesting to note that Count Tolstoi ascribes the smoking of it, as well as the drinking of wine, simply and solely to the desire to drown the warning voice of conscience.” The smoker, it seems, tends to become a “stolid, quiescent, and stagnant ” being, both “ intellectually and morally.” What a curious description of Thomas Carlyle, to take one obvious instance ! Count Tolstoi's defence of his thesis will be found in the new number of the Contemporary Review. Taranaki Jubilee, —The people of Taranaki are just now celebrating their Jubilee with an exhibition, A, and P. Show, Sports, Processions, etc. At th a opening of the exhibition at New Plymouth the Hon. the Premier, in referring to the progress of the Province, took occasion to mention the great success the harbor works had proved, and said a little further expenditure only was needed to make them as useful as those at Timaru and Oamaru. Seven thousand persons took part in the festivities on Tuesday.

TubOamaew Encampment.—The naval battle at Oamaru on Monday ended in a fiasco. The land forces were all in position, but the Ouragooa, after passing across the bay and discharging three mild puffs of smoke, steamed away for Lyttelton. Large numbers of excursionists had been drawn to the town to see the battle, and were greatly disgusted with the way the mao-o’-war treated the affair. The opinion was expressed that it would have been better not to have sent the Curagoa at all than for such an exhibition to have taken place. The volunteers returned to their homes during Tuesday night. A Good Time.—Mr T. Gunnion, who is thoroughly in hia element when promoling the enjoyment of his friends, arranged a pleasant little dance for the evening of Easter Monday. For the occasion the old schoolroom at Temuka was engaged, and this, with a little fixing up, made a capital ballrooro B There was nothing elaborate, but everything was very nice, and a moderate charge for admission caused some thirty couples to put in an appearance. Messrs Hullen Bros,, who are earning an enviable reputation in this particular line, supplied the music, while Mr Edward Ley, of Pleasant Point, made his debdt at Temuka in the character of M. 0., and acquitted himself admirably. When it is added that the catering was entrusted to Mr D. McCaekill, it will be seen that none of the elements were wanting for those present to enjoy “a real good time,” and this they, admittedly did, dancing being kept up until the small hours.

1 Brazilian Republic.— Our cablegrams reeendy announced that General Fons-ca has been elected President of the New Brazilian Republic. The prospects of the new republic are not brilliant according to the correspondent of the Washington Star, who recently wrote »s follows:—“The new republic will not last long —say five years at the utmost—, unless a miracle befalls it. The Government seems to have gone actually and continues to hand out concession after concession and appropriation after appropriation to whoever asks for one, utterly oblivious of a limit, although within the last month there bus been appropriated more than 20 limes as much money as the country is worth ! A crash will come some day, aod if poor Dorn Pedro were here to-morrow I think the country would welcome him. The Argentine Republic is even worse oft", having been ‘ boomed ’ to death, its army completely demoralised and war threatened by (Jtiili; exchange at such a rate that for every one of United States dollars wo received at the banks 3dol l£s Argentine paper ; business failures and suicides pitifully numerous, and the hordes of emigrants they spent bo much to secure rushing nway by shiploads. One year in these countries has taught us to appreciate } the United Stales ifl Uia north as payer I before," I

Beer Duty. —The beer duty for the year was £58,030, giving a surplus of £4031. The receipts of last month were £5417 as against £5374 for the same month last year.

Customs. —The Customs dnty for March £122,713 against £123,607 for Mareh was 1890, and £136,501 in February. The receipts for the year were £1,527,233, giving a surplus above the estimate of £74,733. In his statement published in January Sir H. Atkinson estimated the surplus at £89,000, based on anticipated receipts £400,000 during (he first three months of this year, but the receipts have not been up to expectations last mouth. It w«s expected the duties on the Rimutaka’a cargo would have come in, but owing to the holidays they have not been collected.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTSJ. Meyer, Epworth—Has a 25-acre farm for sale. J. A. Young, Winchester—Wants n man or smart lad. J. Mundell & Co.—Have postponed clearing sale of live and dead farm stock on account of Mr T, M. Brosnahan, until Wednesday next. Ceylon and Indian Tea Association Important notice ro Standard Ceylon and Indian teas; adverlisa agents for Temuka and Geraldine. St. Saviour’s Church Vestry—Advertise thanks to all who in any way assisted the recent ‘ Harvest Home ’ gathering ; notice re election of synodsman ; annual meeting of parishioners on Thursday next. H. B. Webster & Co.—lnvite tenders for the 14 years’ lease of the unsold portion of the Raukapuka estate, consisting of 1700 acres—together with the house, woolahed, yards, etc. —either as a whole or in three lots.