LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2221, 30 June 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Frozen Biter.— The Kakabn river is frozen over.

Temuka Stock Sam. —The Temuka fortnightly stock sale takes place to-day. Txmuka Town Board. The monthly meeting of this Board will be held tomorrow evening. Shearers for i hsthalia. The Waihora sailed from Lyttelton for Rockhampton and Brisbane with 204 shearers, 50 of whom were booked at Christchurch. School Holidays. The Geraldine school children are st present enjoying the luxury of a week’s holidays. Their midwinter holidays commenced yesterday. Dr Barnardo’s Homes. When all moneys are in it is believed that aom»thing like £27 will be realised on the recent concert at Geraldine in aid of Dr Barnardo’s home for destitute children. Prosperous City. —At the Auckland City Council meeting the mayor stated that during the last year tbe corporation spent £1723 less than their income, and are steadily cutting down tha overdraft. Divorce. —ln the Divorce Court, Wellington, decrees nisi were granted in Laffoley v. Laffoley, wife’s petition on the grounds of adultery and desertion, and Stark v. Stark, husband’s petition on the grounds of adultery. Football.— The following is the Waihi team picked to p'sy against tbe Colonials on Thursday, July 2nd, on the Waihi ground : —Moore, Bryan, Blissett, South, Coles, H. Upie, Bell, Hendersons (2), Austin, Burborougb, Ford, J. South, Wakely, and Enser, Gas Explosion. —An explosion of gas took place in Oamaru in the shop of Mr A. Kilgour, confectioner. When Mr Kilgour went in with a lighted candle he was knocked down but was dragged out of the building which took fire and was gutted. The stook was insured for £l4O in thePbesnix, and the building for £IOO in the South British.

Sees Stealings— ln the sheep stealing case referred to in eur last issue, the oeurt sat up to nine o’clock last Friday evening in Timaru with the result that tbe accused reserved hia defence and was committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself in £IOO, and two sureties of £IOO each. There is another charge against him, viz., stealing 63 sheep valued at £2O from a Mr McLeod. His name is David Campbell, he came from Otago recently, and at bis owe request bis trial will take place in Oamaru.

.Romantic Story of Fortukk.— A few days ago, says a Ballarat telegram id he Age, an advertisement appeared in tbe Age from Mr Cuilmor, solicitor of Cbaneery lane, London, inquiring for the address or whereabouts of Henry Mottlee, as tbe snm ef £17,009 was awaiting payment to him by tbe Court of Chancery. The man advertised for is, it seems, a resident of Ballarat, and to-day be became aware of his good luok in s somewhat singular manner. Mottlee, who, together with hia wife and family* occupies a small bouse on the Smythesdale road, sent one of hia children to-day to a neighbouring shop to purchase a tallow caudle. The candle on being purchased was wrapped in a piece of The Age, which contained the “ missing friends” advertisements, and on the girl taking tbe candle home Mottlee pickod up the wrapper after it bad been thrown on to tbe floor, and commenced to read it.. It is almost needless to mention that he was surprised when be read that be bad come iu for a fortune of £17,000. The lucky man has to apply personally in London before August 30tb,

Collection of Rates. —Mr Jackson Palmer brought under tbe notice of Parliament hardship suffered by ratepayers through tbe iadifferenoe of collectors. He said that Mr Geo. Holdehip wae sued by the Bay of lelands County Council for one shilling and tenpsnce for rates, Tbongh Mr Holdehip is well known in Auckland, tbe case was taken into Court, and judgment given for £2 0s 7d, as follows Rates, Is lOd ; summons, 7s ; witnesses, 6s 3d ; solicitor, £1 Is; advartissraent, 5a 6d. He wants to insist on personal service. The Hon. W. P. Reeves said that Mr Palmer bad quoted a case of hardship. Bo would make enquiries, and if be found that abases were general, an endeavor would be made to effect a remedy. Mr R. Thompson raraarkep that he bopsd Government would not throw any obstacits whatever in the way of local bodies collecting their rates.

Calbbokian Social. —With regard to oar remarks anent the refreshments at the late Caledonian Social, some of the officers of the Caledonian Society complain that onr strictures were too itidisorimiaatiog. They say that while there were some good grounds for the accusation so far as some of those present were concerned, the great majority of the gentlemen present behaved as they ought to have done. We have no doubt that this is right, aud we have no hesitation in so far giving publicity to it. It would indeed have been surprising bad they ail done wrong. The fact is oar reporter was net present at all, and would not have known anything about it only for the representations which were made to him. These representations were no doubt exaggerated, aud hence the whole tiiTag. "“However, it was not the fault of our reporter, and we cannot allow him to be blamed for it. We hope Ibis explanation will be found sufficient.

An Old Claim, —An action was brought in the Auckland Supreme Court by James William Carr and others as trustees of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, founded in 1843, against William Thomas, to recover possession of certain land and £IOO mesne profits. The defence was that there was more than twenty years unbroken occupation by the defendant and bis predecessors the plaintiffs were out of possession more than forty years. The case brought out the eirly history of Auckland. Of the original trustees of the Society Hennessey went to California, and has never been heard of for the last thirty years. McKain died in Glasgow, and Hunter went to Melbourne thirty years ago. His Honor said he would decide at once on the question of fact. It was quite clear that continuous possession had been held from the time the land was taken by Stewart. Then as to the plaintiff being out of possession for more than forty years, that was equal clear. The only evidence that they wer ever in possession was that the hall was erected forty-eight years ago, and it soon disappeated. He would take time to consider the bearing of the oases cited on the facts, and give his decision. Three of the original fonndars of the Society gave evidence, Joshua Robinson, Joseph Newman, and Major Donovah ; all over 70,

Sabah Bernhardt. This famous noireea is, it is said, getting rather stout. An American paper said so recently and tbe devine Sarah was very mnoh annoyed over it. The Sydney Bulletin has bitoff her weakness delightfully. The Bulletin soys— 14 An empty esrr<ags drove up from the wharf to the hotel and Sarah Bbrohardt stepped out of it.” Thie is the most delioiuu.i hit of irony wa have some across. The Bulletin wanted, to insinuate that she was so thin that tbs carriage was empty.

Benefit Society. The friendly societies are very much eppessd to the benefit society scheme instituted by the Union Shipping Company for the benefit of their employes. The Labor Conference passed the following resolution on the subject : *• That this conference thoroughly sympathises with the seamen’s delegation in reference to the iniquitous benefit scheme proposed by the Union Steam Ship Company, and that the labor members in Parliament and the Government be urged to prevent the adoption of such a scheme if possible.

Tembka Cricket Club.—A general meetiog of the Temuka Cricket Club was held last night. Mr E. Brown, SobCaptain, took the chair. Moved by Mr Diguan, seconded by Mr Herbert, and carried—" That the Secretary bs authorised to make arrangements to have tbe cricket ground kept io order during the year. It was decided that a levy of 2s a member be made to settle outstanding accounts, and that tbs Secretary pay tbe same as soon as the money is available. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to tbe Park Board for having put the ground in order for the Cricket Club. Government Insurance. The Con-troller-General will, it is said, by virtue of the suthority with wbich.be is invested by law, open immediately a searching investigation into the position and working ef tbs Government Insurance Department. After the result of tbe recent inquiry into the Public Trust Office. The Coni roller deems it desirable that tbe other somewhat analogous department (however satisfactory its position and administration may seem to be) should bs thoroughly examined, if only to satisfy the public that no grounds exist exist for any such imputations as those which have been oast at the Public Trust office. Ebe Controller-Genera! will not consult tbe Government as to this intention of bis, but will simply set on his own inherent authority and in exercise of the statutory powers reposed In him. Disorderly House. —After bearing the evidence in. the case in which,Thomas Richmond, was charged with keeping a disorderly house, yesterday, in Timaru, Hia Worship, the Resident Magistrate, said the evidence was not sufficient to support the charge. At tbe same time he thought the police were justified in doing what they had done. There was sufficient evidence to show that persons of bad character were allowed to go to the house, and that it was a nuisance that ought to be put down. One of the persons staying there had been convicted of theft, but he had been employed there, and there was no law to prevent anyone employing a person although he had been couvicted. After the mao had served his sentence he was as eligible for employment bb anyone elec. As to ibo robberies in the place, one was a very old affair, and there was nothing te show that Richmond knew anything about it. Tbe real state of things appeared to be that women of loose character were in tbe habit of going there, but it did net appear that they did so in such a way as to bring the defendant under this particular section. He hoped this prosecution would be a warning to accused, and that he would in his own interest, and in the interest of the public and of common dsqeney, try to purge his place ef this nuisance. Tbe information was dismissed. SYNOPSIS OF ADTRRTI3KMENTB. A. M. Clark—lnvites tenders for cleaning creek. Arowhenua Tewn Board—lnvit tender! for road formation. H. Kokero—lnvites tenders for taking crop off 18 acres'land. A. E. Cox Advertises entries for Temuka stock sale to-day. E. B. Amyes, Gapes’s Valley—lnvites tenders for ploughing, harrowing, etc. ; Temuka Road Board—lnvites tenders for making a crossing and cleaning drain. G. Edgeler, Chimney S weep, Temuka— Thanks hia friends and the public for past support and solicits a continuance; prompt attention to orders.