LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2254, 15 September 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Alleged Libfl.—Mr W. Or. Tusten, of Wellington, has served a writ on Mr C. J. Haselden, the Patent Officer, claiming £IOOO for libel.

Accident.—While superintending the discharge of the ship.Zealandia, at Timaru on Friday, Mr J. Jackson, coal merchant, fell down a hatch into the lowerFhold. He fractured the small bone of the left arm near the wrist, and was badly bruised and shaken.

Cycling.—Mr S. Salek made the journey from Ashburton to Timaru, on a bicycle on Sunday morning last in the exceptionally good time of 5 hours 41 minutes. Timaru Races.—Attention is directed to the train arrangements advertised for the Timaru races, which take place on Thursday and Friday next.

Geealdine Stock Sale.—The fortnightly stock sale at Geraldine takes place to-morrow. Numerous entries are advertised by Messrs J. Mundell St Co., H, B. Webster & Co., and A. E. Cox. Football.—The annual match between Otago and Canterbury took place at Dunedin on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for Otago by 8 points to 3. Four thousand spectators witnessed the match. Expensive Hobseflesh.—A London cablegram dated Sept.ll: says :—Mr Blundell Maple, who purchased the Derby winner Common, has bought the yearling colt by St Simon, for 6000 guineas, which is the highest price ever given in England.

Temuka Caledonian Society. The annual meeting of members of the Temuka Caledonian Society will take place in the Star Hotel to-morrow evening, when the annual report and balance-sheet will be presented, officers for the ensuing year elected, and other matters of importance dealt with. A full attendance is hoped for.

Entertainment at Temuka. We would remind our readers that a grand dramatic and musical entertainment in aid of St. Joseph's Church organ fund takes place in the Temuka Volunteer Hall this evening. We referred at length to the entertainment in our last issue, and need only how state that it is a first-class one and deserves to be well patronised.

Fatal Rat Hunt.—Richard Sandall, a well-known Wellington butcher, 56 years of age. met with his death in a remarkable manner. He was chasing, a rat in his shop, and fell from a bench. He came into contact with a meat hook, which struck him under the brow of the right eye. Sandall afterwards fell heavily to the ground, striking his head. He afterwards became delirious and was taken to the hospital, where he died half-an-hour after admission. ..

An Uncscausen Stort.—A young man named Bell, working at ftehotu, who had been missing from New Plymouth for two days, turned up on Friday morning. He reports being thrown from his horse on the beach on Wednesday, and remembers nothing until he found himself at sea on a log. He remained on the log till it floated near land, and then swam ashore. ' Medical Electricity.—Now that we are interested in electricity as a cure for disease, an item which appears in a Christchurch paper will be interesting. Dr Nedwill, who for many years occupied the position of medical adviser on sanitary matters to the Christchurch City Council, and was one of the leading medical practitioners in Christchurch, went Home to England some months ago, and has been studying the more recent methods of treating disease. In an interview with the correspondent of the Christchurch Press he says that what struck him most was " the advance made in treatment by electricity. I had no idea there was so much attention paid to it as there is. In most of the principal London schools there are special electrical departments now, and they seem to be growing." Dr Nedwill hasjdevoted special attention to electrical improvements in medical science, and intends to introduce this mode of treatment when he returns to practice in Christchurch in a few months. Hunt in Geraldine.—lt is a great pity the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals was not formed. On Saturday afternoon a chase took place aftei a poor inoffensive rooster within the township of Geraldine. In the chase there were men of all grades and sizes, and a few odd boys here and there. Among the men was a member of a certain school committee, a member of a certain town board, and others representing almost every trade and profession in Geraldine. The rooster was a game one, and refused to be caught, and ran this way and that way and every way but the right one for his pursuers. There was great excitement, mounting almost 'to a commotion, and everyone, like the hound after the hare, was panting to be the first to get at him, but the rooster chuckled defiance at his enemies. At last, however, he was brought to ground, and perhaps by this time has had his revenge on the digestive organs of some of his pursuers.

! Fire.—By a fire at Palmerston North on Saturday morning the following places were burnt—Pegden's shop and dwelling ; Ireland and Co., grocer's shop and warehouse ; George's drapery shop and dwelling house; Hodgson's tinsmith's shop and dwelling, and Wilson's Occidental hotel. Crumps, lawyer's office and Moreland's furniture shop were badly burnt. The occupants of the building escaped in their night dresses. Insurances are Pegden's £330 on the stock and furniture in the National, £6OO on the building in the New Zealand; estimated loss £2OOO. Ireland and Co., shop, £SOO on stock and £4OO on building in the Union, £250 on the stock in the Royal, £SOO on the stock stock in the Imperial, £BOO on the stock in the Phoenix; loss £7OO. George's shop and dwelling £4OO in the Union, £2OO in the New Zealand; loss £6OO. Hodgson's shop and dwelling £225 in the National; stock uninsured. Occidental £SOO injthe'Phoenix, £SOO in the Imperial, £250 in the Victoria; loss £6OO. The total estimated loss is £12,000.

Telephonic Communication. While our readers' minds are ripe on the subject of telephonic communication it may be interesting for them to know just about how far telephonic communication can be carried, according to the latest improvements at Home and elsewhere. Private communication, by which conversation in the natural voice can be carried on by means of electricity between two persons separated by a considerable distance, is by no means uncommon in the Old Country, but not until last March was any successful attempt made to communicate between two countries divided by the seas. The completion of the AngloFrench telephone was the first of this nature, and now a conversation can be held between one person in London and another in Paris just as easy as if both were in the same room. It was on March 15th last when the submarine line was first spoken through by M. Amiot, the InspectorGeneral of French Telegraphs. Lieutenant O'Meara, R.E., followed, and was the first Englishman to speak across the Channel. On the following Tuesday, M. Amiot, who had gone to London, thence addressed his colleagues in Paris, his first words being " Hallo ! Hallo!" Since the official inauguration the first message transmitted was one from the Prince of Wales to M. Carnot, President of the French Republic. I

Land foe Settlement. Kaingawa plain, Auckland, containing a quarter of a million acres, is to be cut up into blocks for settlement.

Social at Temuka.—A social will be given by the ladies of the congregation of the Wesleyan Church in the Social Hall on Thursday evening, for which a select programme has been arranged. Me Beyce.—The following reply has been received from Mr Bryce to the requisition from his constitutenta :—" lam deeply sensible of the manner in which my late constitutents are standing by me, but it is useless for me to stand as I could not feel able to re-enter the House while the censure is uncancelled." Colonial Bank.—The Colonial Bank's net profit for the half year is £18,862, to which is added the balance of £4557 from last half year. Deductions £2219 for taxation there is £21,230 available for distribution. A dividend of 7 per cent, absorbs £14,000, and £7230 is to be carried forward.

Fatal Accident.—William Fraser, an old man of 64 years, was kicked in the groin by a horse at Auckland on Friday morning which he was endeavouring to catch in a passage alongside his house where he lived at Devonport with his son-in-law named Collie Fraser. He thought lightly of the accident at the time, but on Saturday morning he died.

Libeeal Papees Wanted.—At a meeting of the Wellington Trades Council, a resolution was carried that in the interest of trades unions it is advisable to establish a Liberal newspaper in each of the four centres in the colony, and a committee was appointed to ascertain what support such a measure is likely to receive from the various unions.

Railway Insurance Proposal.—The Railway Servants' Society have received a notification from the Minister for Public Works that the Railway Employes Insurance Bill will not be introduced this session, but that during the recess the Government will, with the assistance of the employes and the Commissioners, endeavour to arrange an insurance scheme acceptable to all parties.

Mes Mason.—Mrs Mason lectured to ladies only yesterday afternoon in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. The hall was crowded, and the ladies who were present speak in the highest terms of Mrs Mason, as being kindly in her disposition, homely, and pleasing in her ways, and gentle womanly in her manners. The first part of her lecture showed how ladies in America were trained as physicians, and the good results which accrued therefrom. She also told them that she had obtained the degrees of Ph.D. and M.S. in the Mental Science University of Chicago, the gown of which institution she wore on the stage. She also exhibited a representation of a human body, in which all the organs were shown. At the close of the lecture several ladies went to consult her, and she is likely to be kept busy. She will lecture again to ladies only next Thursday afternoon on "how to cultivate good health." We may add that the letters Ph.D. utand for Doctor of Mental Philosophy, and the letters M.S. for Mental Scientist.

Professor Mason.—On last Saturday evening the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, was again crowded to hear Professor Mason on "The cause and cure of disease." After tracing the cause to many sources, the chief of which was abuse of food, he introduced his electropathic appliances, which he said would, if properly and skilfully used, cure anything which was cureable. This brought out a man who was under the influence of drink, and who demanded a trial. Professor Mason said that he would give a trial of his electromagnetic pad for ten days, and anyone who would say it did him no good would get his money back. He also made a phrenological examination of three subjects, and was loudly applauded by the audience, who evidently accepted the delineation as correct. Last night again the hall was crowded, and he delivered the best of all his lectures on " the skin in disease and health." He commenced with the head, and after having given a glance at the whole body treated even of corns and bunions. He gave many useful hints with regard to bathing and the necessity for cleanliness. After having given a great deal of extremely useful information he offered to teach anyone how to appiy electricity for the sum of £3. If, however, they thought this too much they could get up a class of twenty persons and he would teach them for £1 each. A list was then handed round, and nine put down their names as willing to learn. He told them that on next Wednesday evening again they would have an opportunity of putting down their names, but if more persons did not join he would not teach a class for £9. Mr Morris on both evenings was as successful as ever in amusing the audience >vith his comic songs. On next Weduesday Professor Mason will again lecture. The Post Office Report.—The postal and telegraph revenue increased 2-J per cent, last year, and the expenditure decreased by 4$ per cent. A surplus of £72,732 in receipts over expenditure was shown by the postal and telegraph department. During the year 21,501,937 letters were posted, and 22,415,260 delivered. Correspondence of all classes, as well as telegrams, money orders, and postal notes, contributed to the large increase during the financial year as compared with the preceding year. At the beginning of the current year, the aggregate deposits in the Postal Savings Bank amounted to £2,44?,876. The reduction in postage to and from England caused a very large falling off in the postal receipts during the last quarter of the year. Property tax to the amount of £202,031 was passed through the post office in the last financial year. During that period 20 new newspapers were registered, and 3 ceased to be published, and 35 magazines and catalogues were registered. Parcel post returns contribute an increase of 15 per cent, for the past year. A gold watch, a silver watch, two watch chains, three gold rinsrs, a silver ring, two broaches, two pair 3 of gold earrings, and one silver pencil case were found in letters which came into the dead letter office ; also, other property of the value of, £5625 19s Bd, consisting of post office orders, postal notes, j drafts (£2992), cheques (£1470), dividend warrants, promissory notes, stamps, bank notes, gold silver, and copper coins. The proportion of dead letters to the total correspondence is smaller than in any other colony, and only in Great Britain is it smaller. Last year 1106unclaimedregistered letters came into the dead letter office. One hundred and fifty-five letters, 954 newspapers, and 350 books were posted without addresses, 19 letters with libellous addresses were intercepted, 218 were wrongly addressed, 4001 were refusid by the addressess, and 16 were posted with previously used stamps. The Savings Bank depositors received £92,319 in interest last year, as compared with £84,809 in the previous year.

leish Evicted Tenants Fund.—Mr Cox, M.P., for Clare, lectured to a crowded audience in the St. James's Hall, Auckland, on Friday in aid of the Irish evicted tenants' fund, £6O being realised. It was resolved to form a local branch of the National Federation League. Accident to the South Expbess.— The South express alter leaving Temuka yesterday met with an aceident that caused J some delay. One of the cylinders of the / engine was found to have sustained some injury, and it was with no little difficulty that the Arowhenua siding was reached. From here a messenger was sent back to Temuka, and a telegram forwarded from there to Timaru. An engine from the latter place was sent out immediately after the departure of the' three o'clock train, and the carriages and passengers taken in. Rangitata Island Band of Hope The Rangitata Island Wesleyan Band of Hope held its usual monthly meeting on last Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance. The programme comprised readings-by Messrs H. Wright, F. .Watts, and J. Morrison; recitations by Messrs D. Watts and J. Buck; dialogue by Misseß Grainger, D. Watts, and J. Snell. As soon as the programme was finished a new committee was elected for the ensuing year Mr Grainger, Chairman; Mr D. Watts, treasurer; Miss S. Grainger, secretary: and Miss N. Grainger, Miss E. Watts H. --■ Watts, H. Wright, J. Buck, J. and W. Summerfield, J. and T. SnelL F. Watts, and J. Morrison as memhers of committee. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. • Mrs Winstone, Geraldine—Wants general servant. John Murray, Manager Orari Station— Wants a cook, Mrs Mason—Lectures to ladies only in Temuka on Thursday next. \. Concert at Waitohi—ln aid of Public Library on September 22nd. J.M. Naughton—Has accepted Bennett and Co.'s tender for gorse-grubbing, etc. Misses Henderson Have commenced business as dressmakers in Dyson street Temuka.

St. Joseph's Church, Temuka Grand entertainment to-night, in aid of organ fund. °

Robert Wilson, Temuka—Has 1 acre anifC 28 perches land, with 6-roomed house, etc., for sale.

Professor Manon—Publishes subjects of lectures at Temuka on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. Dr J. S. Hayes, Temuka—Notifies that during his temporary absence Dr Cayley will conduct his practice. Eobert Kennedy—Announces that he is still carrying on business in the Temuka Carriage Factory, adjoining Mr D. Henry's blacksmith's shop, and is prepared to execute orders for buggies, spring carts, > farm drays, etc.