The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2216, 18 June 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL.,

Salmon, Professor Button reports that the second lot of fish taken from the A.parima are salmon without a doubt.

Dance.—A dance will be held in the Scotsburn schoolroom to-morrow evening. Refreshments and good music have been arranged for. Boys' Institute. Stepß are being taken to form a Boys' Institute in Wellington. Of £BOO said to be needed £4OO have been already subscribed.

Ohristohurch Licensing Election.— The Obristchurch Licensing Committee have granted all the licenses applied for in their district, but expressed their determination to put down Sunday trading. Charge of Obstruction. Emerson arrested IVitineri and his wife at Okeoire, Auckland, on Monday, on a charge of obstructing on the Thames Valley Land Company's estate. They acknowledged destroying the bridge, but claimed the land. The cise was remanded.

Concert, Etc., at Ransitika Valley. —To-morrow a concert in aid of the funds of the local Sabbath School will be held in the Rangitira Valley public schoolroom. A very nice programme has been prepared and in the course of the evening the Key. A. B. Todd will relate " The Story of a Charmed Life." Considering the object the school should be crowded. Oamaru Licensing Election. The polling for the eleotion of a licensing committee took place at Oamaru on Tuesday, and resulted in the reversal of the previous decision of the ratepayers. The polling was as follows:—For the moderates, 1267; for the prohibitionists, 1082. The oumber that polled at the last election was 349, and on the present occasion 491.

Too Late. An Auckland telegram BaVB : —John Burke, late of the Costley's Elome, on whose behalf Lord Onslow used his good offices to procure Dr Koch's tuberGuline, has died. When the operation was perfoimed little hope of success was felt, as Burke was in an advanced state of consumption. The post mortem showed that both lungs had practically gone. No trace of either beneficial or ill effects could be noticed as resulting from the use of tuberculine.

Who Shaw. Decide, etc. Passing tfnough Geraldine of late travellers have been amazed to ace emblazoned in letters of indigo over the entrance to the Oddfellows' Hall " The Second Gough." A great diversity of opinion has arisen with regard to the correct pronunciation of thia term; and rumor hath it that an nnsophistics ted greenhorn some where from the backwoods was heard exclaiming the other day in words of wander, within the precincts of the Oddfellows' Hall : •• Wbat'a this Second Gowch ; is it an animal for show?" "Oh! Ah! Ah J" laughed a bystander. "The Beeond Gowch ! The Second Gowch i Why yoo don't call it Gowch, you call it Gow, man I It's the Second Gow, the bluaribboner ! " The greenkorn aaid "Ho !" and went Mb way, but a pedantic young man t»pped the bystander on the left shoulder and in tones of solemn correction informed him that he had "made an eraw." It was neither "the Sacond Gowch," nor the "frVcond Gow." but it w»b "the Second Gowfc'h." -For the benefit of those who are in dotuM; we beg to state that it is neither "Gowch/ "Gow," nor "Gowgh," but "Goff."

Gebaldine Fire Bbicjade. The Geraldine Fire Bridade turned out on Tuesday evening last for reel practice, to., and did some good work.

Concert. —A concert is to be held in Geraldine in aid of Br Banurdo'i home, and every effort is being employed to make it a success. A long and varied programme is to be gone through. The programme will appear in a future issue.

Waitohi School Committee.—At the last meeiiog of the Waitohi Sshool Committee the question of the decreased attendance at the school was discussed. It was found that there was on'y an average attendance of 32 out of a roil, of over 60, and it was decided unanimously that the compulsory clauses of the Act should he rigidly enforced.

Rounders.—At 4 o'clock this afternoon a match at rounders will take place in the Temuka Park between the Convent School and Public School girls. Much interest is being taken in the match, which should prove an enjoyable one. The following will represent the Convent School: — M. Lavery (captain), Lucy Quinn, E. Brosnan, M. Davis, B. Earl, M. Brophy, E. Batemau, M. Helvin, M. Bourke, and K. Lavery. Football.—Owing to the Timaru Club not being able to send out a second fifteen to play the Temuka in the Cup match today they forfeit same, which oounts a win for the local team. The Temuka senend fifteen now have 2£ points towards the junior flag,—There will be a practice in the Temuka Park this afternoon, and a good attendance is requested in vu>vv of the Cup match with the Timaru first at Timaru on Saturday.

Liobnsing Vote.—Mr H. Field, secretary of the New Zealand Alliaaoe, contributes to the Auckland press some interesting figures relative to the licensing elections that were fought on Prohibition lines. "la 43 districts theassue of Prohibition has been before the eleotors, many of the principal cities and towns being among the districts tested. From 20 districts 1 have the fall particulars (taken from newspapers) of tke numbers voting. Ia thsse, there were 17,324 votes cast for Prohibition and 21,281 for license ; there being thus a majority of only 3,957 out of 38,605 votes recorded. Of the twenty distriots seven returned Prohibition's. In fourteen other, dietrits Prohibitionsts were unopposed. In six others, license men were returned, bat I have not seen the particulars of the voting. In the three remaining districts I have no information as to the result of tber contest, though certain that tho Prohibition flag was unfurled* In addition to the above, Wanganni elected three men pledged to refuse the hoenoea of five hotels.

Licensing Troubles.— It is atatsd that it ia the intention of the applicants whose licenses were refused by the Sydenham licensing beach to bring separata actions in the Supreme Uourfc against individual members of the committee, with the objaot of recovering damages for loss sustained by reason of such refusal. Experts estimate the depreciation in the value of properties affected at close on £IO,OOO. The Uunedin Licensing Committee confirmed the refusal of licenses to the Stafford, West Coast, and North Dunedin hotels. The Wairio (Invercargill) Licensing Committee granted a nerr license in face of the option poll declaring against increase. The reason given for disregarding the vote ' is that the polling places were limited to one for the whole district, which comprises three ridings, and that consequently the majority of the ratepayers were prevented from voting. The committee contend that the poll was not a true expression of the opinion of the residents. Complications are likely to arise. This is the funniest thing on record. Then the committee ought to resign as they admittedly do not represent the majority. EXRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE WITH Btfßglaxs.—Mrs E. M. Montgomerie, widow of the late well-known Melbourne brewer, had a sensational experience at her residence at South Yarra one morning last week at about 3 o'clock, At that hour she wars aroused by a noise in her bedroom, and discovered two men, whose faces were muffhd, atanding by her bedside, with " dark " hnterns in their hands. She asked them what they wanted, and one replied, " We want your diamond necklacs." Mrs Montgomerie told them the necklace was in a bank in the city, and they appeared satisfied that she was not concealing the truth, for they asked no more questions about it, but turned their attention to ready cash. In answer to their querns she told them she had but £5 in the house, and pointed out whore it. was. While one secured the note, the other kept guard over Mrs Montgomerie with a stick. Having looked hastily around the loom to see if there was any more money about, the robbers left. As they were disappearing from the room, one of them in a spirit of exasperating pleasantry tossed Mrs Montgomerie a shilling, saying, "Here's a shilling to remember us by." The necklace they were in search of is one that is valued at about £2OOO, and some two years ago it was the subject of considerable dispute | between the late Mr Montgomerie and the customs authorities because of a dieI agreement over the amount which should be levied upon it for customs duties when it was imported. Temperance Meetings.—This evening a re-union of total abstainers will be held in the Temuka Volunteer Hall, under the auspices of the Good Hope Lodge, at which Mr E. Tenoyson Smith will be present. —To-morrow evening Mr Smith will lecture in the Winchester Public Hall, which should be crowded.—The attendance at the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine, on Monday night was again very good. On this occasion Mr Smith merged his original lecture " The trial of a notorious thief and rebber" into his lecture on " Is prohibition right t" The opiDion of most people who have attended Mr Smith's meetings in Geraldine is that be is even I better in his original lectures than in his recitals of Gongb'a orations. This can easily be accounted for. Mr Smith, like every other speaker, is more at home In that which emauutes from his own brain than in reiterating the words and ideas of others; At the close of Monday night's lecture about 49 went forward and signed the pledge, some of whom were leading men in Geraldine. Mr P. Flatman occupied the chair, and the Bev. vV. O, Wood was a'so on the platform. The latter gentleman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Smith for the great amount of good he had accompltshed in Geraldine, and suggested that it would be a good thing if a club of some kind were formed for the young men of the district who had signed the pledge. Mr Maslin seconded the vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, ana the meeting terminated. »

Eia Yielbs.—On W<»iniwa flats, Southland, Mr Grieve has threshed 114 bushels of oats per acre, and Mr Ronald 112 bushels this season. In the latter case the paddock when cropped ten years ago yielded 108 bushels the first year, and 100 bushels the second.

&EATiira.—Layers of roller skating will be pleased to learn that Mr J. G. Lyon has determined lo open the Tamuka Skating Rink for a couple of nights—on Friday and Saturday nights. The admision fee ia only 6d for gentlemen, ladies being admitted free. A oh&rge of Is will be made for skates, and the rink will be open from 7.30 till 10. Model for Englishwomen.—" The Princess »f Wales," said Ward McAllister, the other day, M ig the best dressed woman in the world. I don't believe that she ever wears the same dross twice, and she has her hair dressed in Paris eveiy day. She wears false hair, you know, and she sends her wigs to Paris daily. While one wig is going across the Cba»uel to France to be dressed, the other is coming to London."

R.M. Cotjrt, Gebaldinb.—C. A. Wray Esq., R.M., and H. W. Moore, Esq., J.P., were ia attendance at the R.M, Court, Geraldine, on Tuesday last, but the only business done was the remittal of the sureties on Michael Quaid, and an order made that he keep the peace for sis months on his own recognisance of £lO. The adjourned by-law casa against R. H. Pearpoibt was not continued, the beach having decided that a fresh charge should be made.

Slander.—At Wellington on Tuesday a Mr Nicholaou sued W. J. Meek (who recently sued Miss Attwood for the return of some jewellery while he was engaged to her) for £560 damages for slander. Shortly after bis marriage with Misa Attwood was broken off he married a Miss Nicholson, daughter of the well-knowu scenic artist of that name. It appeared from the evidence that statements had been made as (o defendant's behaviour to his wife before be married her, she being a girl of 20 and be an old man of 66, and these led to a quarrel between Meek and bis father-inrlaw. The former wrote letters to the masonic lodge officially repudiating the charges brought by Nicholson, and oalling the latter a convict, felon, and liberated souvict. Owing, however, to his peculiar spelling it was not at all clear whether he wrote felon or fellow. He claimed (hat the word was the latter ; plaintiff considered it to be the former. Thomas Carr said the defendant had aaked him to try and get plaintiff's consent to his marriage, as Miss Nicholson was likely to have a child through him. Meek denied this. A verdict for £SO damages wasleturned.

Imhortant Case.—An important case arising out of the transactions of the late J, B. Greaaon was heard at the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Denniston and a special jury of twelve at Chrintchurch on Monday. It was brought by the Bank of Australia to recover £SOOO from Cook Reynell. On account of a guarantee of Greason's overdraft signed by him the Bank advanced £5003. On this defendant pleaded that Greaaon obtained the signature fraudulently. He read a guarantee stating the amount as £SOO, which was what defendant agreed to become responsible for. The document was filled in for £SOOO either thin or afterwards, but Ksynell did not notice when signing how it was filled in, as he had implicit confidence in Gresson, who had managed his affairs for many years and always acted honorably. Beynell also signed a certificate to the effect that the guarantee had been read to him, and he aoknov/ledged himself responsible for the amount mentioned therein. The bank contended that he had been guilty of negligence, but the jury by a two-thirds verdict found that he had not. Mr Justice Dennis on gave judgment for tha defendant, but there are legal,points- to bo argued in Banco. Mr Wilding and Mr Stringer appeared for the plaintiff; Mr Harper and Mr Martin for the defendant.