LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2235, 1 August 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wesleyan Church, Temuka. The services for to-morrow will be found in our advertising columns.

.Primitive Methodist Church. The services for to-morrow in connection with this Church will be found in our advertising columns. Irish Politics. —We may expect some stir in Irish Politics now, as Messrs Dillon and O’Brien are out of gaol once again. We hope they will keep out of it now.

Mysterious. —Mr S. White Parsons, landlord of the Mitre Hotel at Lyttelton, was picked up on the footpath in front of his hotel before 10 o’clock on Thursday morning unconscious, with a fractured jaw and bruises on his face and arms and right knee. He afterwards became partially conscious, but was unable to tell how the injuries had been caused. He is in a critical state. Eight Hours Demonstration. —The Parnell memorial demonstration took place on Tuesday evening at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. The attendance was estimated at 6000. A procession of fire brigades and .bands marched through the the town to the Park, where sports were held by electric light. At 9 o’clock rain came on, not enough to spoil the attendance though it spoiled the sports'. Vhrv Good.— Whilst lecturing on the Tabernacle of Israel at Geraldine on Tuesday evening last Mr Grove referred to the distinction made between the rich and the poor both in the world and the church. The rich man always had the front seat in the sanctuary now-a-days. In fact, he was given the front position everywhere. He was surprised to hear Europeans continually “ running down ” poor John Chinaman, while they themselves were always following his example. On the goldfields where he, the Speaker, had been, the Chinamen carried out the Oriental custom of walking in single file, and the wealthiest Chinaman was always put in the front. In like manner Europeans were always putting the rich man to the fore.

The Hayhurst Case. —The Lyttelton Times of yesterdaysays : —“A report was current in the city yesterday afternoon that the celebrated Hayhurst case has collapsed. The authority for this statement lends a colour to the report, as it is from a source from which very reliable information could arise. The effect of the rumour is that no poison had been found in the body by the analysts, and should this prove correct the end of this phase of the sensation is at hand. Our correspondent informs us that a similar rumour was current in Timaru yesterday, but was generally discredited, as it was considered that Dr Black would take every precaution to prevent the result of " the analysis leaking out.” ' We may add to this that nothing is known so far as Temuka is concerned. No • one ever believed the poison theory, and there is very little talked about it locally. It is creating a greater sensation in other towns than it is doing in Temuka.

Chasing ' A Lunatic.— Our Ashburton correspondent ' writes < — An exciting chase after a lunatic occurred in the neighborhood of Alford Forest one day last week. It appeared that the poor fellow had imagined himself crossed in love, and stated that the lady with whose wiles he had been enamoured had finished him off by placing an electrical machine on his head. At anyrate he was seen behaving in a very strange manner near the residences of Messrs Cooper and W. Cookson, and eventually he appeared before the amazed inhabitants divested of all his clothes, even his boots and socks having deen discarded. Some of the .'inhabitants immediately started in pursuit of the poor demented fellow, but he ' immediately made across country and led the way over fences that neither horsemen not pedestrians would look at, some of the obstacles he cleared being over five feet in height. He ran at an almost incredible speed and soon distanced his pursuers, who, however, to use a coursing phrase, ran cunning, and by taking several short cuts came up with the man near the new schoolhouse. They commenced to put some clothes on him, but he offered some resistance and at first insisted on a pair of trousers for each leg. His feet were cut about by the stones he had gone over and his legs were covered with gorse prickles. His clothes were afterwards found in the bush. The man was afterwards brought before the Ashburton J.P.’s and committed to Sunnyside.—Press. Arbitration.— The question in dispute between, the Farmers’ Co-operative Association and Mr H. Nicholson, of Waitohi has, we understand, been settled by arbitration in a manner not altogether satisfactory to Mr Nicholson. We have not the exact details, but roughly they may be stated as follows: —In 1889 Mr Nicholson went into Timaru and got an offer of 3s 9d per bushel for his grain, but refused to accept it because the Farmers’ Co-operative Society advised to, and undertook to send his ■ grain to Sydney for him. To this he agreed. He got from the Farmers’ Cooperative Society an advance of £SOO on the wheat, and the society insured it for £BOO against the risk of taking it to Sydney. The next he heard of it was that some of it had been sold in Sydney for 4s Id, and he then placed a reserve of 4s 4d on it. Subsequently the wheat was sold at a much lower figure, and instead of Mr Nicholson receiving a good round sum over and above the £6OO he had drawn against the wheat the Farmers’ Co-operative Society brought him in debt to the amount of £l4l some odd shillings. The matter has hung fire ever since, and at last arbitration was agreed upon. The Farmers’ Co-operative Society appointed one arbitrator and Mr Nicholson another, and in addition to these two names—one being nominated by each party—were placed in a hat, and . the man whose name was drawn was to act as referee. In this case the name submitted by the society was drawn, so that really the Court of Arbitrators consisted of two persons nominated by the Farmers’ Co-operative Society and one nominated by Mr Nicholson. However, the gentlemen who as arbitrators may safely be regarded as above suspicion of doing any-, thing wrong. The result of it all was that instead of having to pay £l4l back to the Farmers’ Coperative Society Mr Nichqlsqn lyill have only about £9O to pay, so that practically the society’s account was cut down by £6O.

The Coptic.— The R.M.S. Coptic arrived at Wellington on Wednesday. She left Plymouth on June 13th, and Hobart on Friday last. She had a smooth passage, and brings 53 passengers and a full cargo.

Alleged Embezzlement. — J. Pierce, secretary of the Gisborne Building Society, has disappeared, and there is a deficiency of £3lO in his accounts. It is supposed he has levanted, probably to America. Steps are being taken to secure his arrest.

Drowned.— A lad named Morrison, 10 years of age, was drowned at Wellington, while attempting to save a younger brother, who had fallen into the water. A passer-by rescued the latter, but did not notice the other lad was in the water until too late. Alleged Infanticide. —At Christchurch the inquest on the alleged infanticide case and charge of wilful murder against the putative mother, Mary Jane Amos, has been adjourned till the 7th August, as the woman still is unable to appear.

Fatal Accident.— Mr John Cameron, manager of the Lakes Station, Hurunui, was thrown from a young horse, dragged a short distance and kicked on the head on Monday evening. He was taken to Waikari and died on Wednesday evening without recovering consciousness.

Export op Potatoes' —Messrs P. Cunningham and Co. of Chistchurch have received a cable froni London in reference to a shipment of potatoes have arrived in fairly good order, but it is estimated will not net, after paying freight and other expences at this side, more than 22s 6d per ton.” Forgery. —William Davey was charged at Sheffield, North Canterbury, on Wednesday, with five cases of forgery, and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on each of three charges, and three months each on the other two, or twelve months in all. Davey was only , recently released after serving a sentence for similar offences at Timaru. .•Sunday Trading. —The Government are being urged by Mr Joyce to take the proper steps either to amend the licensing laws in the direction of abating Sunday trading, or to issue regulations requesting the detective police in the large towns of the colony to prosecute those publicans who make the residents of those towns intoxicated on the Sabbath day. Sudden Deaths. —At Addington on Tuesday evening a milkman named Jackson dropped down dead while walking home. Heart disease is supposed to be the cause.—William Robertson Wilson, a man of weak intellect, died suddenly at Christchurch the same evening. He fell,into the fire about ten days previously, and his death resulted from the bums and the shock he received. Fancy Dress Ball.— The Temuka Caledonian Society’s fancy dress ball, which takes place on August 27th, will be a sight- worth seeing this year, as great preparations are being made for it. The committee are making arrangements to have everything of the very best. The two halls are engaged, and the supper will be on an extensive scale. With good music and a good floor it will be one of the best turn-outs ever held in the district. Geraldine Rifles. There was a muster of 28 at parade on Thursday even-' ing when the last aiming and position drill was gone through in the presence of Colonel Bailey. At a committee meeting of the company held afterwards it was decided to shift from the old range to the new, where the distance will be about double that of the old. The old-fashioned markers’ hut, it was agreed, should be done away with, and the new approved subterraneous method adopted. Buggy Accident.— Two gentlemen from Timaru met with a mishap at the Opihi Bridge last Thursday night. They were driving into Timaru in a buggy and as it was very dark their vehicle came in contact with the side of the bridge, with the result that the harness gave way and the horse got free. The animal made good use of its liberty, and clered out, and the gentlemen had to return to Temuka and stay all night. On the following morning they proceeded to look for the horse, which late in the afternoon they picked up at Winchester. With the exception of some slight damage to the harness nothing was injured, and they went away yesterday afternoon. Auckland Bootmakers. —The Auckland Employers’ Association have passed the following resolution: —“Having considered the proposal of the Dunedin Employers’ Association to hold a conference at Wellington on the subject of the present boot strike, it is resolved that whereas the boot manufactures agreed when the strike first began to leave the settlement of the dispute to any fairdealing competent men, but the Operative Bootmakers’ Union refused arbitration or conciliation from any source, and the manufacturers regarding that as an ultimatum, then engaged free skilled and other labor which they are in honour bound and intend loyally to stand by, feel that the time has now gone ’by for conferences, and they decline the proposal, being determined to carry on their own business unfettered by outside influences or organisations.” Wesleyan Social. —The usual quarterly social tea in connection with the Temuka Wesleyan Church was held last Thursday evening in the Social Hall. The tea was provided by the young ladies of the congregation, and it was presided over by the Misses Brown, Storey, McCallum, and Webster. The tea was in every respect excellent, and after full justice had been done to it the social part of the programme was opened with an anthem, sung by a very efficient choir, under the leadership of the Rev. Mr Dellow, the harmonium being presided over by Mr Harrison. Speeches were delivered by the Revs. W. 0. Wood and Dellow, and songs were given by Mrs Holdgate and the Rev. Mr Dellow. During the evening financial matters were discussed, and it was finally decided to hold a bazaar and gift auction in April next year. The evening was so enjoyably spent, too, that it was thought desirable to hold such entertainments frequently, and a committee to make arrangements for future socials was appointed. Cordial votes of thanks to the young ladies who provided the tqa were passed, aqd sqoh of the time as was not occupied with these matters was spent in ] playing all kinds of indoor games. i

R.M. Court, Temuka. —On last Thursday a man named. Syme was charged with having been drunk and disorderly, before M. Quinn, Esq., J.P. He was fined 10s, or 48 hours’ imprisonment.

Oamaru Harbor Board Retrenchment.—The Oamaru Harbor Board met yesterday, when the special committee appointed to report on what retrenchment was possible, reported that the following employees had received one month’s notice that their services would be dispensed with:—T. Fairly, (carpenter;) Brady, (lighthouse keeper) ; T. Inglis, (craneman); that the salary of Captain Sewell, (harbourmaster), would be reduced to £270; of R. P, Crouch, to £ll3s per month, and of Forrester and Peach, of the clerical department to £3OO and £2OO per annum respectively. They also recommended that the marine insurance be discontinued on the dredge “Progress” while not working. The report was adopted, with an expression of regret at having to dispense with the services ,$t old servants. The reductions represent a saving of £B4O per annum.

Successful Contractor. —We are glad to find that our fellow townsman, Mr Fletcher, is becoming a. very successful contractor. After finishing large waterraces in North ; Canterbury, he took the contract of building a new stock bridge and repairing the old traffic bridge at Tangawai, and this he has now successfully finished. He has just now entered upon the contract of redecking the Orari bridge, and we learn also that he has got a large contract of close on £I7OO, to construct water-races for the Waimate County Council, at Waitaki. With regard to the Waitaki contract there was a tender in for £SO lower than Mr Fletcher’s tender, but notwithstanding this he got the contract. This appears to prove that Mr Fletcher has a name for doing good work.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS,

Wesleyan Church, Temuka—Services for to-morrow. M. McS. Gentlemun-r-Invites tenders for lease of farm.

Grand United Temperance Social—-At Temuka shortly. Temuka Caledonian Society—Fancy dress ball on August 27th. Aspinall & Salmond Bankruptcy notice re Williams & Colville.

Jeremiah Connelly—Seed and feed oats for sale. Geraldine Hoad Board—Notice of intention to close roads. Primitive Methodist Church—Services to-morrow at Geraldine and Temuka. J. Mundell and Co.-—Geraldine live stock sale on Wednesday August 11.

Temuka Black Star Minstrels—Give entertainment at Temuka on August 11. Temperance Social—Yote of thanks to all who assisted at recent social at Geraldine. H. B. Webster & Co.— Advertises entries of sheep, cattle, and pigs for Geraldine Stock Sale.

Davies and Murphy, Drapers etc., Timaru—Are giving great bargains in all departments during last days of sale. A. E. Cox—Sells sheep, cattle, and pigs at Geraldine on Wednesday; sells valuable freehold property pn account executors late Mr 8.. A. Barker, on sth August.