LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2245, 25 August 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Gapes's Valley School. —This evening a concert and dance will be given in the Gapes's Valley School in aid of the school funds. Eefreshments will be provided for the dance.

Trade with the Islands.—The Ivanhoe, schooner, was launched at Auckland on Saturday and is to enter the Raratonga trade. Two other vessels are building for the island trade

Underpaid Teachers.—A return furnished to the Auckland Education Board shows that the cost of placing the male and female teachers on the same scale will be £IO,OOO. Action was deferred. The Coptic—The R.M.S. Coptic sailed from Lyttelton for London on Saturday. Among her cargo she takes 1000 sacks of wheat, 250 casks tallow, 700 bales wool, 12,000 sacks oats, 400 sacks peas and beans, 20,000 carcases of mutton. The lonic, —The R.M.S. lonic arrived at Wellington from London at 4.38 on Sunday morning. She brings 70 passengers, nine bags of mails, 19 boxes of parcels post, and 2100 tons of cargo. All on board have arrived in good health. The passage occupied 41 days 12 hours 38 minutes. Suicide.—Robert Burgess, a young man, the son of a dairy farmer near Johnsonivlle, AVellington, shot himself through the head with a breechloader on Sunday morning. He had breakfast with his family at 7 a.m., but retired before it was over and committed the deed. No cause is at present known.

The Indian Trade. —At a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association, Colonel Carr drew attention to the desirability of encouraging the export trade to India. The suggestion was favorably received, and it is believed that there is a good market for tinned meats and colonial oats. Thmuka Rifles. Members of the Temuka Rifle Corps are reminded that a Government Inspection Parade will be held to-morrow evening at half-past seven o'clock, and aft.erwards a special meeting will be held for the purpose of electing an officer. A full attendance is requested and members should note that absentees will be fined.

Coursing.—At the Champion Coursing Meeting, Dunedin, the Maiden Stakes was won by Mr R. Allen's blk w.b. Pineapple, with Mr J. R. Sewell's b b Spruce runner up; The Champion Stakes was won by Mr J, B. Hill's f w b Wild Rose, with Mr W. Gardner's wf b Magenta runner up; and The Second Sapling Stakes by Mr H. S. Irving's r d Index, with Mr O. R. Wise's r d Sir James second.

Carbine. —A cablegram from Melbourne dated the 23rd, states that Carbine has injured one of his forelegs, but is still doing slow work. The injury does not appear so bad when the horse gallops, but commences to swell as soon as he stops. It is considered certain that Carbine will not fulfill his Sydney engagements. There is a good deal of doubt as to whether he can be got ready for his spring engagements at Melbourne.

Salvation Army, Geraldine.—There was a " big day " at the Salvation Army meetings on Sunday last when " farewells " were given to Captain (late Lieutenant) Purdue. The newly-promoted Captain, together with Captain Murray, conducted the services during the day and evening, and two persons went forward to the penitent form. Captain Purdue leaves on Wednesday (to-morrow) for Hastings, and takes with her the good wishes of many. Fatal Accident. —A shocking accident occurred at Christchurch on Saturday morning. A horse attached to a buggy belonging to a son of Dr Mac Lean Stewart bolted through the busiest part of the city, and knocked down an elderly woman at the corner of High and Lichfield streets, killing her almost instantaneously. The shock of the collision freed the horse from the conveyance. The woman was identified as Mrs Charlotte Johnson, residing on Perry road. The horse ran away from its owner's yard, when the winkers were taken off to give it a feed.

Obituary.—We have to record the death of an old Geraldine identity, viz., Mr Daniel Mclllraith, at the age of 47 years. He will be remembered as the driver of Mr Young's coach between Geraldine and Winchester a number of years ago, also the driver of Messrs J. Mundell and Co.'s coach for about five years, runningbetween Geraldine and Orari. He was much respected and a general favofite with all who were acquainted with him or had dealings with him in his capacity as coachdriver. About seven years ago he gave up thecoachdriving and took over the license of the Bush Hotel, Geraldine, in which business he continued for some time. His death was rather a surprise to many people, as he did not, before the time of his beath, appear to be ailing much. His funeral took place yesterday (Monday) at 3 p.m., and was largely attended.

Accidents. —On last Sunday two lads named Goldstone and Connell were shooting ducks on the Opihi riverbed when the former met with a very serious accident, which will disable him for life. He was in the act of shooting when the gun exploded, .shattering his left hand very badly. Dr Hayes was sent for and he found the hand very badly shattered. He had to amputate the index finger completely, and it is doubtful whether he will be able to save the thumb, while some of the bones in the palm of the hand are broken. The lad ia not more than 12 or 14 years of age, and ought not to have been allowed to handle a gun. This ought to be a warning to parents to keep firearms out of the reach of lads of that age.—An accident occurred to Mr P. Power, of the Royal Hotel, Temuka, last Sunday evening. He was driving home from Newlands, and when between Mr Robinson's and Mr C. McAuiiffe's Arowhenua, the horse shied, and he was thrown out, with the result that the wheel ran over his leg and bruised it considerably, and that he, was much shaken. He is, however, progressing favorably,

Bank Official Changes.—r Still more changes (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) among our local bank officers. Mr Fish, who for a period of a little over a year has occupied the position of accountant in the Naseby branch of the Bank of New South Wales, has been removed to Christchurch, his successor being Mr Hogg, of Wanganui. Mr Fish will be greatly missed in athletic circles. He has ably captained the Prospectors Football Club during the present reason, and the loss of his services will be much felt. On Monday night a smoke concert was tendered to Mr Fish and Mr Ladd (whose departure ftjr footballers have also cause to regret) at the Royal Hotel. There Wai? .a very large attendance, and Mr S.E. M'Carthy presided. In -j;he course of the evening, in a very neat speech, he presented Mr Fish, on behalf of his many friends, with a sovereign case containing a number of sovereign, and Mr Ladd with a very nice locket. The health of the recipients was then drunk with musical honors. Messrs Fish and Ladd briefly responded, thanking those present for the totally unexpected presentations. The health of Mr Hogg, MiFish's successor, was also drunk, and a number of songs were sung during the evening, a very jolly time being spent.— The Mr Fish referred to here is Mr F. Fish, son of Dr Fish, Geraldine.

Found at Last.—Bowerman's buggy, stolen three months ago, was found on the roadside near the Drummond Hotel Southland, yesterday.

Temuka Stock Sale.—The fortnightly sale of stock takes place at Temuka to-day. Messrs H. B. Webster & Co. and A. B. ?Cox advertise entries for it.

Labour.—Though the Labour Bureau at Invercargill has been open for three months only eight applications for work have been received. Employment for ploughmen and farm hands is readily obtained. Pound Drowned.—The body of Mr A. Dundas, surveyor, of Palmerston North, who has been missing for three weeks, was found on Oriental Bay, Wellington, yesterday. The body is much decomposed. Nothing is known as to how it got in the water.

St. Saviour's Sunday School.—The foundation stone of St. Saviour's Church Sunday School will be laid on Thursday afternoon, at half-past three o'clock, by Mr H. R. Webb, the Synodsman for the Parish. As the event takes place on a holiday no doubt there will be a large attendance to witness the ceremony. Shocking Accident. —The explosion of a boiler caused the collapse of a five storey building in New York city. The ground floor was occupied by a restaurant keeper, a cigar factory and printing works being situated in the upper storeys. A large number of people were buried in the ruins which caught fire shortly after the collapse. About sixty persons were either killed by the falling timbers or burnt to death, among the number being several who were lunching in the restaurant when the accident occurred. Some of the unfortunates were slowly roasted to death before the eyes of the rescuers. Recreation Reserve, Orari.— The following is a copy of a letter received by Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., in connection with an application made by him to the Government to permanently set apart a portion of land at Orari for recreation purposes: Survey. Wellington, 21st August, 1891. Sir,—Referring to your letter of the 2nd January last I have now the honor to inform you that lots 5 and 6, block Tx, Orari Village Settlement (reserve 2!)j39), containing 9 acres 3 roods and 35 perches, have been permanently reserved for recreation purposes. The notice of tae reservation is published in Gazette No. r>7 of the 6th instant.—l have the honor, etc. A. Barron."

An Interesting Scene.—Yesterday, writes a correspondent of the Boston Post, I came upon a group whose attitude expressed a pained and puzzled interest. The centre figures were two very young 1 children holding each other by the hand, one sobbing, the other keeping back the tears. About them were kindly-intentioned women plying the littte things with questions and receiving answers altogether unsatisfactory when not unintelligible. The children had wandered from home and either from confnsion or because they could not speak plainly, it was impossible to learn from them where they lived, The mothers in the group tried baby talk with no success, and I was about to venture an experiment of my own when up stepped a school girl of 10 years with " Lemme try." Bending over the bigger of the two little ones she asked: " Where do you buy your candy 1 " Intelligence and speech awoke together in the sacred little brain that had been proof to cajolery and anxiety, and quick the answer came : " At Smithses." The link connecting the runaways with home had been found, and the discoverer marched off leading them in triumph. An Electrical Wedding. That übiquitous servant, and in some instances master of mankind, electricity, is now

making its presence felt in many novel places. The latest function in which it has been part is at a wedding in Baltimore. No sooner, it is reported, had the company been comfortably seated than the room burst into a flood of light from numerous varicoloured incandescent electric lamps hidden among the decorations. The entrance of the bride and bridegroom was welcomed by the artoaiatr.c ringing of electric bells and the playing of electrical musical instruments. After the first course, the room was plunged into semi-darkness, when suddenly from the floral decorations upon the table, there glowed tiny electric lamps. Not only the flowers, but the interior of the translucent vases in which some of them were gathered, scintillated with flashes of light. After a while a miniature electric lamp, which in some unexplained manner had attached itself

to the bride's hair, was seen to glow with dazzling brightness. A toast having been given, two serpents slowly uncoiled themselves and issued from the wine bottle that stood beside the bridal couple. Cigars and coffee were served, and the cigars were lighted by an electric lighter while coffee was prepared in full view oi the company by an electrical heater, The speeches that were made were liberally applauded by an electrical kettledrum placed under the table, and as the company dispersed, the electric current set off a hovel pyrotechnic display, amid the crimson glare of which the festivities ended. Edison Again.—America's greatest inventor —we might safely say the world's greatest inventor —Edison, is now engaged on an apparatus which, if it turns out well, well be one of the greatest marvels of this marvellous age. This apparatus is to provide telephonic communication with the sun ! The telephone between London and Paris, recently opened with such a flourish of trumpets, is a mere nothing to Edison's latest venture. And there are grounds for

expecting that he will succeed. The basis I of his experiment is the fact that disturbances in the sun affect the magnetism of the earth. Such affections of the earth's magnetism must be especially marked in districts containing much iron. Mr Edison has pitched upon a mountain of ironstone somewhere in the United States ; he will run a telegraph wire on poles, several times round the mountain; and then the mountain and wire will represent the soft iron magnet and the wire coil about it in a despatching telephone. Then precisely as any change in the magnetisation of the iron in the telephone is communicated to the wire through the agency of the electric battery, so, he expects, changes in the magnetic state of

the mountain through the action of the sun will affect the multiplied 'wire, and this in turn may be made to affect a receiving telephone, and by this means magnetic storms in the sun may be translated into sounds on the surface of the earth. Whether the sounds can be interpreted is quite another matter. That sounds will be heard in such a telephone, caused in sugh a manner, Mr Edison thinks is already pi'oved, by the fact that peculiar sounds are heard in the long distance telephones already used, And heard only at such hours of the day, and this with other attendant circumstances, led him to propose his direct .experiment. Exceptional activity on the sun's surface is known to influence the appearance of the Aurora, and this is well known to hamper the work pi; the telegraphists,

Alleged Fobgeey.—On last Saturday William Binley was arrested on a charge of having forged the name of John Grant to a promissory note for £25. He was brought up before C. A. "Wray Esq., R.M., yesterday, and remanded till Friday. He was released on bail.

Fancy Deess Ball.—The Caledonian Society's Fancy Dress Ball to be held in the Temuka Drill Shed on Thursday evening next promises to be an immense success, and a very large gathering is expected. Visitors from other towns will be numerous, and among the fancy dresses to be worn we hear of some very ancient and grotesque costumes. The Lagmohr Pipers are expected, and with Piper Mabin should give some stirring music. For the dance the very best music has been provided, and the floor has been specially prepared. The supper will be laid in the .Volunteer Hall, and is to be on an extensive scale. The decorations are to be a special feature. The programme will open at 8.30 with the Grand march, which will be the first time it has been performed in Temuka. During the March colored lights will be thrown on the dresses, and no doubt will have a very brilliant effect. Altogether we shall expect to see the best gathering ever held in Temuka, and no doubt a very enjoyable evening will be spent.

Baenaedo's Home.—We have been requested to publish the following letter which has been received by Mr Robert Smith, of Winchester: —" Dear Sir, —Very gratefully do I enclose my receipt for the welcome and encouraging gift which I have received through the Rev. Thomas A. Hamilton in the name of the members of your Sunday School. It will greatly oblige me if you will express to them my cordial " thank-you " for their generous remembrance of meandmine.Hardlyanythingconld be more touching than the thonght that these young people, so far away from the distress and destitution of our over-crowded cities, should keep such a warm corner in their hearts for the suffering little ones whom lam daily seeking out and saving. It will doubtless interest both you and the scholars to learn that during the present year nearly 800 boys and girls have entered the Homes for care and training and that to-day my family numbers close upon 4,000 Little Folks. We have already sent out 250 trained boys and lads to the Colonies, and placed out many others at home. To continue such a work of rescue and of training, makes heavy demands upon our funds, as you will easily realise. with renewed thanks and best Christian regards to one and all.—Yours, &c., Thos. J. Baenaedo."

SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS. Hilton Schoolroom—Notice re social and ! dance. N. Dunlop and Co. —Look out for squalls, great sale. Rev. W. C. Wood—Lecture at Wesleyan Hall, Temuka. W. Snushall—lnvites tenders for cutting and grubbing gorse. A. E. Cox—Advertise special entries for to-day's stock sale at Temuka. Temuka Rifles—Government Parade and special meeting to-morrow evening. THE STOLEN ROSE TREES. Beside a schoolhouse, neat and trim, Three pretty rose trees grew, And blossomed in the summer time, As other rose trees do. One was a lovely crimson red, The other a cloth of gold; ■ The third, a pink, it may be said, Whose leaves were stout and bold. A gentleman had placed them there A year or two ago, And watched them with a tender care To see if they would grow. And, though it was a country place, And all around was bare, The three assumed a rapid pace, As in a garden fair. But, sad it is for me to say That, in these days of ours, Some person stole those trees away To have their pretty flowers! Some other garden they will grace, And bloom as sweet and fair— But can the owner of that place Admire the flowers they bear ? Will not that rose of crimson hue, And that of creamy white, Remind him of his sin anew And all his pleasures slight? I would his footsteps I could trace Unto his very door— I'd put him in a safer place, Where he would steal no more! —R.I,, Rangitata, August 21st, 1891.