TELEPHONE FOR GERALDINE

Temuka Leader, Issue 2239, 11 August 1891, Page 3

TELEPHONE FOR GERALDINE

A meeting was held in the Town Beard office, Geraldine, yesterday afternoon, to consider and take steps to have telephone communication between Geraldine and Timaru, and also between business places etc., in Geraldine. Mr A White occupied the chair and there was a good number of business people present. The chairman explained the nature of the meeting, and called on Mr Webster, the main mover in the matter, to explain. Mr Webster said that it had struck two or 'three that such a thing as telephone communication between Geraldine and Timaru and elsewhere would be a great advantage to the township, and he wrote first of all to those interested in the matter, and was advised then to write to the Superintendent of the Post and Telegraph Department and he received the following reply :—" That an exchange will be opened at Geraldine provided six subscribers are found who will each pay £6 per annum for five years and sign a bond to that Effect. The fee for connection with Timaru will be sixpence for six minutes or fraction thereof to subscribers, and one shilling to non-subscribers. Each subscriber will have a telephone at his office, which will be in communication with the Geraldine Post Office on an annunciator ; and on ringing- up the officer in charge the subscriber will be switched through to Timarn on a wire to be run for the purpose. The subscriber will then ring up the Timaru exchange in the same way as if he were in Timaru and will then be switched on to the_ Timaru subscriber whose number he gives. A list of Timarn subscribers will be supplied to each subscriber in Geraldine. Only one subscriber at a time will be able to use ■ the'through wire to Timaru and vice versa I have, etc., C. Lemon, Superintendent." Mr Webster telegraphed to Mr Lemon I yesterday morning to know whether Geraldine subscribers could communicate 'with one another in Geraldine, and he received a reply that they could talk to one another in Geraldine and there would be no extra charge beyond the initial fee of £6. If, however, a subscriber joined to Timaru the additional charge would be made. Mr Mundell proposed that the matter of getting telephone communication as desired be entertained, and those present set to work and get subscribers. ; Mr Webster seconded the motion and hoped the thing would be carried out. The names of Messrs Webster, Dunlop, and Mundell were then taken ae subscribers, and these three gentlemen were appointed to canvas for other subscribers, The meeting thon ended.

SUPREME COURT. The crimiiial'session of the Christchurch Supreme Court commenced yesterday, before Mr Justice Denniston. His Honour in charging the Grand Jury said the calendar on this occasion was both long and serious, and he was not able to congratulate the jury on the same absence of cases of violence as was the case at two previous sessions. Out of 15 cases a large number were cases of violence. There was one case of attempted murder, one of manslaughter, three of robbery with violence, and one of indecent assault. His Honour then proceeded to refer to the various cases. Charles Dewar, Arthur Feast, Harry Feast, and Samuel Dobbinson, for breaking into and entering a bakehouse, pleaded " guilty." Charles Dewar was further charged with breaking into the warehouse of Aaron Ayers, and stealing bananas and dates and keys. He was found guilty but recommended to mercy. Dobbinson and Arthur Feast were placed on probation for six months. Harry Feast and Dewar were each ordered to find a surety of £SO to come up for sentence when called upon, and to be on good behaviour for twelve months. William James Crisp, charged with forgery and false pretences by obtaining a sum of £3 from James Kiddey, pleaded guilty. The same prisoner was also charged with having forged the nameof Patrick McSweeney to a withdrawal notice for £5 from the Post Office Savings Bank. He again pleaded guilty, and said that after a long abstinence he had taken drink and 'did not know what he was doing. He desired to make restitution to those whom he had robbed. He was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment on each indictment. Mary Ann Smith, for forging the signature of a local constable on a promissory note and uttering the same, pleaded guilty. No money had been obtained. His Honor made an order admitting accused to probation for three months, and ordered her to pay £5, the costs of the prosecution.

The Sea Serpent. Alfred Ford Mathews, surveyor, writes to the Gisborne Herald that while on board theManapouri, from Auckland to Gisborne, on Friday July 24th, he and several others distinctly saw a sea serpent resembling tho one seen from the Rotomahana off Portland Island. The serpent when seen from the Manapouri was -a few miles north of East Cape, so it evidently has been travelling south. The time was between eight and nine in the morning. The monster was also seen by the ship's officer in charge. It was watched for over _ ten minutes, and was travelling slowly, raising itself twenty or thirty feet out of the water every two minutes. It would from time to time lift its head and part of its body to a great height perpendicularly, and when in that position turn its body round in a most peculiar manner, displaying a black back and white belly and two armlet appendages of great length, which appeared to dangle about like a broken limb on a human being. It would then suddenly drop back into the water, scattering it in all directions. It had a flat head and was half a mile distant from the ship. Other passengers confirm the statement. Maoris to whom Mr Matthews has mentioned the matter state it is the Taniwha. The reason he has not mentioned the subject before is that people were liable to treat it with derision.