LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2222, 2 July 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

R.M. Court, Geraldine. —There was no sitting of the Geraldine R.M. Court on Tuesday last. Rinking. —Rinking is becoming the order of the day in Geraldine in the present keen frosty weather, and we hear that a club for roller skaters has been formed. Dummyism. —At the Otago Land Board yesterday Mrs Anne Matheson wrote alleging dummyism in respect to an application of Mr John Matheson, her husband, to transfer three grazing sections at Strath-Taieri, to one Webb, a rabbitor, on Pogson’s run. After a lengthy enquiry the board refused to grant the transfer.

Te Aroha Election.-^— Colonel Fraser, Sir Walter Buller, and Dr Broome, have been nominated for the Te Aroha seat.

Social.— We draw our readers attention to the fact that the Oddfellows hold the installation social to-night, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine. Spurious Coin.— At Christchurch a young man named George Syvlet was committed for trial for uttering a silvered penny for a half-crown. —Attempts have been made at Auckland to put counterfeit sovereigns into circulation. Totalisators. —The Ashburton Racing Club have resolved to ask the district members to oppose the proposal to tax the totalisator. The Tinwald Club have issued a similar resolution.

Narrow Escape.— Mr Nicholls, teller at the Bank of New South Wales, was washed off the breakwater at Napier. He swam round to the wharf, and saved himself through being a powerful swimmer. Railway Scheme. —At a meeting of members of Parliament held yesterday a committee, consisting of Messrs Thompson (Auckland), Palmer, Rees, and Earnshaw, was formed to advocate a trial of Vaile’s system on some section of the New Zealand railways. Magisterial.— A first offender was charged before M. Quinn, Esq., J.P., at the Courthouse, Temuka, on Wednesday, with creating a disturbance at the Arowhenua Hotel, and with damaging the property of the licensee. After hearing the evidence of Constable Morton the presiding Justice gave the accused a severe caution, and ordered him to pay the estimated cost of damages, 40s, and lined him 10s costs.

Divorce. —The Maoris are getting civilised. In Dunedin last Monday before the Supreme Court a Maori woman named Margaret Louisa Pratt sued for a divorce from her husband, Henry Pratt, on the ground of "desertion and adultery, and got it. They were married at the Bluff in 1888 arid lived together at Puketeraki for some time, but the husband left her, and went to the North Island where he is living with a Maori widow.

Income Tax.— The Employers’ Conference at Wellington had a discussion on the financial proposals of the Government, and a resolution was passed condemning the overflowing impost of a shilling income tax, and objecting to any difference being made between incomes. No objection was taken to the income tax per se, but the general feeling of the meeting was that traders had got used to the property tax, and would prefer to see it left alone.

Unruly Firemen. —The firemen of the Tongariro struck at Lyttelton on Monday because two of their mates were prosecuted for assaulting a foreigner who had been sent aboard, by the Shipping Federation as greaser. They were brought up at the Lyttelton Magistrates Court and agreed to resume duty. They were ordered to pay the ' costs; One man charged with assault was sent to gaol for a month; another was fined 40s, in default one month’s imprisonment. Lecture. The Rev. Rutherford Waddell lectured in Timaru last Monday evening. In the course of his discourse he said according to the local paper that under feudalism or serfdom the British workman was better off than to-day. The Wars of the Roses impoverished the Nobles, causing them to dismiss their retainers, and the shutting of the Monasteries by Henry "7111 rendered large numbers destitute. The labor saving machinery of the present time was reducing wages to the' merest Cost of living. The present state of things could not last, but who could tell what the change would be. Capitalists were combining together into gigantic rings and trusts, and destroying themselves. It was calculated that if everyone was properly employed, two hours work per day would be sufficient to produce all that was necessary for life. The change may come by evolution or revolution, but it must come sooner or later. The lecturer was enthusiastically applauded. Free Pardon. — A free pardon is to be granted to Walter Tricker, of Rangitikei, North Island. In 1883 a man named Raynor was murdered at Bulls, and a reward of £2OO was offered for the discovery of the murderer. A half-caste youth swore he saw Tricker commit the murder, and at his trial Tricker set up an alibi, but the jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death. The public were displeased, and, headed by Archdeacon Stock, a petition was got up, resulting in, the prisoner being allowed his freedom after having served 6£ years. The best riders on the best horses went over the ground supposed to have been crossed by the prisoner between the time of committing the murder and the time at which he was known to have been in another part of the district, with the result that it was pronounced a physical impossibility for him to have committed the murder. The consequence was that it was generally believed that Tricker was innocent. He has lived since in the Rangitikei district, where he has accumulated some property. He is anxious to will it to someone, but as he has never received a free pardon he cannot do so. The people of the district are now petitioning for a free pardon for him, and no doubt it will be granted. Church Co-operation.— -At a meeting of the Auckland Ministers’ Association to consider the question of church cooperation, after considerable discussion, the following resolutions were decided upon unanimously:—(l) The name of the proposed church co-operative body to be the United Evangelical Church Council. (2) The Council to consist of all ministers willing to join, and of two members from the congregation of any church to each minister. (3) Members of the Council to be elected by their respective Church Courts. (4) The objects of the Council shall be to proihote union and co-operation in Christian work, to confer from time to time on the moral and religious condition of the community, and the best means of furthering the welfare of the people in matters spiritual; to widen the functions of the Christian Church in questions political or moral for the well-being of the community; to take such steps as may be practicable to provide Christian services, especially amongst the people in the country districts, without waste of energy and resources. Each church will ■ be communicated with in reference to the scheme, and the foregoing resolutions will be submitted as

recommendations to the first meeting of the Council. The ministers present seemed unanimously in favor of the Churches’ Union scheme.

Serious Matter.— ln his address to the Chamber of Commerce of Wellington the president referred to the increase of deaths in the colony during the past year from cancer, which he attributed to the want of proper inspection of slaughterhouses and dairies. The statistics showed that 216; cases were treated and 63 deaths resulted', Prosperous District. —Mr Newton King, president of the Chamber of Commerce of New Plymouth, in his address said that the district had advanced considerably during the year, and that prices of cattle had risen 50 per cent during the last six months. Both imports and exports had increased. The present year’s returns would be very large. The district was making rapid strides every year. I.O.G.T.—The Welcome Retreat Good Templar Lodge held their usual weekly meeting on Monday evening last, when there was a large attendance—especially of young ladies. Two new members were initiated, and it was resolved that Monday night next be an open meeting of the lodge, and, also, that a blue-ribbon tea meeting be held at the date of the next full moon. An advertisement of this will appear in our columns of a future issue.

Customs Returns. The customs revenue for June is £102,384 against £102,716 for June 1890, and £115,164 £or May this year. In June the contributions were : Auckland, £2.0,757 Wellington, : £20,298 ; Lyttelton, and Christchurch, £19,230; Dunedin, £22,039. For the first quarter of the financial year the Customs revenue is £351,247 4s 8d being £32,502 15s 4d below the treasurer’s estimate for that period. The beer duty for June was £38,422 ; June of the previous year, £3930 ; May of this year, £4034. The collections were—Auckland, £884; Wellington, £391; Christchurch, £727; Dunedin, £939. The total for the quarter is £12,875 10s 7d. This is £2124 9s 5d below the treasurer’s estimate.

A Long Felt Want. —The only commodious hall that Geraldine possesses is the Volunteer Hall, but this hall presents such a barren appearance internally that it almost gives one the “ shivers ” to think of sitting in it for two hours or more to witness a performance of any kind. ’The Oddfellows’ Hall, on the other hand, although very 'comfortable is scarcely large enough for ah entertainment of any importance; as witness the late “ Barnardo concert.” Many people who have driven in from the outlying districts could not gain admittance, although some of them had tickets in their possession. Since last Thursday’s concert public opinion has become so strongly in favor of a change of some sort that Mr R. H. Pearpoint has at once set about ordering timber, etc., to put the Volunteer Hall into proper condition. To defray expenses it has been deemed advisable to give an entertainment similar in character, if not in detail, to the one held on Thursday last. It will probably be a few weeks before the entertainment can be held, but in the meantime the Volunteer Hall will be lined, and new scenery erected, together with a large drop curtain on the stage.

Winchester School Committee. — A special meeting of the above committee was held on Monday, June 29th.. - Present—Messrs A. W. Ensor (chairman), Jones, Haar, Carston, Bishop, Harrison, and Connolly. The principal business was to consider the appointment of a mistress and to draw up caretaker’s rules. Accounts amounting to £3 2s 3d were passed for payment. The master’s report was read and considered. The applications for the position of assistant mistress were read and considered. Proposed by Mr Jones, seconded by Mr Carston, and carried—“ That Miss Frances Hawke be appointed mistress.” Proposed by Mr Harrison, seconded by Mr Bishop, and carried — e - That in case of Miss Hawke not accepting the appointment Miss Kate Boswell be appointed. The caretaker’s rules were then drawn up and considered. The master complained that on Saturday last four boys had damaged the screen of the boys’ closet with stones, and had also thrown numerous stones into the school through the upper windows. It was resolved that the parents of the offenders should be written to and requested to pay for the screen. It was decided to grant a fortnight’s holiday for the school, to commence on Saturday next. Messrs Harrison and Connolly were appointed visitors for the month, and the meeting terminated. The best medicine known is Sander and Sons’ Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, bums, scalding, burises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling —no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of lungs, swelling, &c., diarrhoea, dysentery, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs, In use at hospital and medical clinics all over the globe; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approval article, and reject all others. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Reid & Gray—Special notice re Chilled Digging Ploughs. Tbmuka Leader Office Notice re lost fur victorine. Hon. W. Rolleston’s Farm Boy wanted to milk, etc. J. W. Pye, Victoria House, Geraldine — Genuine and special reductions for July; Maurice Lawlor, Orari traffic bridge— Invites tenders for turnips and grass land. Matthews & Trezise—lnvite tenders for stubbing, cutting, and burning gorse, Bradley & Co., Huffey’s Corner, Geraldine—lnvite the public to inspect the value they are offering. T. & J. Thomson, Drapers and Silk Mercers, Timnru—Notify that they land this week new goods for fancy department suitable for the coming season. J. B. 1 Rutland & Co., Auctioneers, Timaru—Return thanks for support accorded them during the past twelve months, and have now reduced the rate of commission charged by one half.