LOCAL and GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2212, 9 June 1891, Page 2

LOCAL and GENERAL.

Sudden Death. —Mr J, Struthers Williams, well-known solicitor, of Christchurch, died somewhat suddenly last Friday morning, the svpposed cause being heart disease. Attempted Suicide A report that Ohemia, the Kaiswarra murderer, attempted suicide in Auckland gaol is correct. He inflicted a wound on himself with the ordinary tin knife supplied for gaol use, and lost a pint of blood, but soon recovered. Fatal Drowning. Peter Bloom, a workman on the Napier harbor works was drowned last Friday. Several men were engaged in preparing blocks for a monolith on a level with tbe water, when a wave washed Bloom off. Mr Carr, the engineer, dived after him, but fruitlessly. False Pretences. George Bell, farmer and contractor, of Darfield, was committed for trial on a charge of obtaining £IOO by false pretences from George King and Go. He got the loan of £IOO from King, giving a lien over property, crops, horses, and plant. Afterwards he disposed of the greater portion of thesa to another man.

Convicted op Murder, The Wairoa South murder trial is concluded, and evidence was given of the arrest of the accused after Yeitch was assanlted, and the finding of a watch belonging to Yeitch in the loft where Floyd slept. For the defence medical evidence waa called as to the prisoner’s sanity. Dr Walker deposed that ha had come to the conclusion that prisoner was only feigning insanity. Drs King and Bakewell gave evidence to the effect that he was weak in mind. After the addresses of counsel and the Judge’s summing up the jury returned a verdict that prisoner was guilty of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 15 years’ penal servitude.

Kleptomania.—ln Waimate last I'ri» day Edward Pratiay, of Makikihi, was brought up on remand, charged with stealing a buggy bridle, at Makikihi on the 24th October last, the property of the Rev. J. S, Smalley ; housebreaking and larcency in the shop of James Meehan, Makikihi, on the 4<h July iast, of goods is the value of £3 16a ; stealing a quantity of table linen and clothing from the Makikihi Hotel on the 17th April and 19th May lart, ths value of tho property being £7 16a ; stealing clothing valued at 15s, belonging to James Meehan ; stealing in May, 1890, goods belonging to John Dore, then of Makikihi; also with petty larceny of goods of small value, atdiffarenl dates, belonging to W. F. Childs, Mrs Moran, and A. Carter. Mr Raymond appeared for prisoner, and pleaded that he was afflicted with kleptomania, as tbe articles alleged to have been stolen were hoarded and not at all used. He was sentenced to 20 days imprisonment for the petty larceny, and committed for trial pn the other charges.

Clean (sheet. —There was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court, Temoka, yesterday. New Auctioneers’ Bill.— The new Auctioneers’ Bill will provide for auctioneers being able to soil in all part* of the co'ony, for valuers to pay a license fen of £2O, and auctioneers’ clerks £lO fee, to iimire that valuationf shall not be made by incempetent persons. The Second Gough.—The temperance folk at Geraldare in lively expectation of a visit from the world-renowned temperance lecturer, Mr E, Tennyson Smith. Mr Smith will visit Geraldine on Thursday and Friday, giving tw© of Gough’s orations. Title of Honorable. A despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies is gazetted, stating that the Queen has been pleased to approve of Messrs Edwin Mitcheisen, Thomas Fergns, George Frederick Richardson, and Thomas William Hislep, being allowed to retain the title of “Honorable” within the colony of New island. Fire. —By a fire in Wellington a twelveroomed house in Tinakori road waa destroyed. The property, which was nooccupied was owned by Mrs T. Young. It was uninsured and hud been on fire on two occasions last week. Nothing at present is known of the origin and tbe fire is attributed to larrikins. Gold.—Mr Craig’s freehold in Hokitika borough, on the south ride of (he river, i* burning out remarkably well. Last week’s result for ten men waa over 77ozs. value £Bollls. Tbe returns tor soma months have been very good. Tbe Bank of New Zealand shipped 19290z5. of go d ; value, £7720, from the West Coast. Industry. —The Government propose to form a Department of Industry with a Minister probably Mr Reeves, at the head, for tbe purpose of providing fu l information as to the state of tbe labor market. A bureau will be established in each large town, where all available information will be collected and published. Ministers think tbiis will cure the unemployed difficulty to a large extent and su keep men in tbe country. They also intend to offer every inducement to men to settle on land where public works are in progress. The Legislative Council. —The Hon. T. H. Wigley’s seat in the Legislative Council becomes vacant through his absence without leave for two sessions. This reduces the number of Councillors to 42. A Wellington telegram says:—A number of members are already in town and about twenty seats have been marked off. Amongst these there is the Hon. W. Wigley, who despite the alleged forfeiture of his seat, will, it is understood, claim the right to resume it on tbe ground that the January session was not a real session.

Licensing Committees. —The chairman of the Wellington Licensing Committee has notified that he will net grant any more licensees to single women, the present licenses alone excepted. The license of the Foresters was granted oh condition that the bouse should be rebuilt within 13 months. —In Dunedin the granting of licenses to the Stafford, West Coast, and North Dunedin hotels waa adjourned for a month. In the case of the Supreme Court hotel Mr Soloman said his client would proceed no further. It is stated that the licenses of the four hotels will be cancelled. Geraldine Presbyterian Church.— There waa a large congregation at the morning service of the Geraldine Presbyterian Church last Sunday, «hoo the Rev. Gerdou Webster, of Bt. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, preached an excellent, invigorating discourse on tbe paubie of the Ten Virgins, choosing for his text Matthew xxv., 2. At the evening service, which was very largely attended, the rev. gentleman again chose for bis subject odo of Christ’s parables, viz., that of the fig tree, and delivered an interesting and lucid exposition en tbe same. A synopsis of those excellent sermons was prepared for the but we found it impossible to publish it owing to pressure on onr space. I.O.O.F.— The usual meeting of the Victoiia Lodge, No. 20, 1.0.0. F., was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Thursday evening last, when there was a good attendance of members. Bro. H, N. Hiakens having left the district forwarded his resignation, which waa accepted with very great regret. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Bre. Hiskens for the vary able manner -in which he bad earned out his duties as secretary. The grand secretary, Bro. Wm. Reid was also accorded a hearty vote of thanks for attending to the books of the lodge. The lodge decided to bold the usual installation social on. Thursday, July 2nd, that being also tbe night of the {retaliation ef officers, The lodge was then closed by the N.G, Licensing.—All the Timaru licenses were granted yesterday with tbe exception' of the Clarendon and the Club. In reference to the Clarendon Hotel, the licensee, Mr W. Moore, promised last year to rebuild, but owing to tbe agitation with regard to prohibition be had not done: so. He asked, through Mr J. W. White, for three months to consider tbe question.. He was given one month, the chairman stating that be himself bad advised Mr Moore not te build, as a committee might hive been elected who would rob him of it. In the case of tbe Club Hotel it was reported that a portion of tbe house had been let as a gentlemen’s club, contrary to the provisions of the Act, and the case was adjourned for 14 days to give the licensee time to consider bis position. In tbe case of the Ship Hotel the licensee was

cautioned to conduct tbe bouse better. A i the licenses is (ha Levels District were granted on the previous Saturday. Fire Brigades.— The Fire Brigades Bill drafted by the Wellington City Council for submission to the Municipal Conference, provides for the es abliahmeut of fire brigade bonds and a gazette district, such boards to consist of 7 members, two by insurance companies, with a president appointed by the Governor. The boards are to make regulations for maintaining thoroughly equipped brigades, and to regulate the height of buildings, nature of roofs, and for conducting houses of public entertainments, sod providing escape there* from. Owners of uninsured property are to be made liable to tbs boards for expenses in protecting it from fire ; such expanses are sot exceed one-fifth of tbe value of the property. Funds for the maintenance of the brigades are to be contributed in equal proportien by tbe Government, borough council, and insurance companies, the contributions of the latter to ba divided among tbe companies in proportion to their premium | reaeipls for the year. 1 1

Geraldine Stock Sale The fortnightly sale of s-K.ek <«t Geraldine takes place to-morrow. A number of entries are advertised in another column. Temoka Riple-i. -Colonel Gordon will inspect this corps to morrow evening at 7.30, all absentees will be fined. As (his is the firet vis t of the colonel a full muster is particularly wished for. Tehuka Licensing Committee Flection.— Sir Robeit Stout h»s been communicated with respecting the above election, and we understand that it ie his (.pinion that it csin.be upset. The chief ground is that a large number of ratepayers who ought to have been on tbe roll were not on it, and consequently were deprived of their right to vote. A Court Scene,— While sitting in the Geraldine Courthouse the other day one could almost imagine oneself seeing in real life one of those court, scenes so graphically described by Charles Dickens. A poor wonun was appealing for protection against her husband, who, it was alleged, had illused her by hitting her over the back with a piece of firewood. This poor woman vaa evidently bewildered in the august presence of tbe gentlemen ■it the bar, etc., etc., and, like Sam Weller, in a very ludicrous manner she misinteipretated almost every question put to her by the magistrate. For instance the magistrate asked : “ Is your husbmd a bad tempered man?” The poor woman probably could net see what he was driving at, and no doubt thinking shat Temperance and Prohibition bad gotten into the heads of most people, she construed the word tempered ,to mean something connected with temperance for she replied very confidently; “Your Worship he is riot a good templar ! ” Of course ths court laughed outright, and the clerk by way of habit thundered "Silence 1 ” with a smile playing around the corners of bis mouth.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Temuka 11 flea—lnspection parade tomorrow evening. B. Tsnnyaon Smith-—.Notica re meetings at Geraldine. A, E. Cox Advertises entries for Geraldine stock sale. W. Stevens, Orsri—Has turnips, etc., to let for sheep feed. T. Herlihy, Geraldine Poundqeepsr— Notice re bay gending hack. J. Murray, Manager, Urari—lnvites tenders for breaking up tussock land. J. Tangney, Bootmakei, Temuka— Publishes price list of boots and for repairs. J, Mundell and Co.— tenders for goodwill of lease of 349 acies, and for 392 acres, situate at Coopers Oitek.