LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2260, 29 September 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Waikato Seat.—Sir M. O’Rorke has definitely declined to contest the Waikato seat.

, Bank Holiday,—Thursday next will be observed as a holiday at the Banks in Temuka and Geraldine. The Trains.—ln our advertising columns will be found the train arrangements made for the Geraldine races to-morrow and Thursday. Geraldine County Anglers Society. —The annual meeting of members of this society takes place in the Crown Hotel, Temuka, this evening at 8 o’clock. Smuggling. Two seamen, William Trimin and Herbert Oomforth, detected by the Customs officers in smuggling tobacco from the steamer Tekoa, in Auckland were fined £2 2s 6d each, and the tobacco was forfeited. Geraldine Fire Brigade.—The Geraldine Brigade are badly in need of a new flag for their flag-pole. The present one has the appearance of an old window-blind. Perhaps the ladies will take pity on them, and moke them a new one. Social at Temuka.—The annual social in connection with the Temuka Football Club takes place in the Volunteer Hall this evening. No pains have been spared to make the social enjoyable and successful. Horse Parades. The annual parade of entire horses at Geraldine takes place to-day. Entries for the Timaru Parade on Saturday next close with the secretary of of the Timaru A. and P. Association, Mr F. W. Stubbs, at noon on Thursday. Libel. —In the case in which William Murdoch claimed £IOO from Joseph Payton, proprietor of the Wairarapa Daily, for alleged libel, His Hononr ruled that there was no inuendo in the paragraph referred to, and nonsuited the plaintiff with costs. Suspicious Death.—The body of a child was found in a hedge on the road side near Milton. The body, which is believed to be that of a six months’ old child, ' was much decomposed, and is supposed to have been in the place where it was found for some six weeks. Geraldine Stock Sale. —The fortnightly stock sale at Geraldine takes place to-day. Messrs H. B. Webster & Co. and A. E. Cox advertise entries. Messrs Mundell & Co. also sell a 20-acre bush section on account of the Hon. T. H. Wigley. The Weather.—Captain Edwin states that there is now an area of very low pressure to the westward which should arrive on the 29th, and that heavy northerly gales changing by west may be expected on the 27th and to midnight on the 29th. The Governor. The Governor and Lady Onslow and suite left Wellingtan for Lyttelton by the Hinemoa on Sunday night. His Excellency had intended to ride from Blenheim to Christchurch, but owing to the change in the weather the trip overland was abandoned. Popular Member.—Mr D. Pinkerton, M.H.R., on arrival at Dunedin was met at the railway station by a considerable number of persons considering the stormy night. Addresses were presented to him on behalf of the National Liberal Association, and the supporters of the female franchise. . Meeting op Farmers.—A meeting of farmers, to consider the best means to take for the selling of their wool this season, takes place in the Crown Hotel, Geraldine, to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o’clock. The meeting is convened by Mr A. Kelman, and as it is said his reasons for calling it are very important farmers should make it their business to, attend. Volunteers.—ln connection with the arrangements with the Union Company for a reduction in the passage money to competitors attending the New Zealand Military Tournament in Wellington, in November, the secretary explains that it is fully set out in the programme that the company will issue return tickets at single fares, with a corresponding reduction for horses. Drowned in Oamaru.—An elderly man, name unknown, was drowned on Friday night at about 8.30. The night was dark and rainy. Cries were heard proceeding from the harbour and Mr Nightingale, a railway employe, swam out to the rescue. He was unable to bring the man ashore and sang out for assistance. Sergeant Dwyer, of the police force, then swam out, and found that the man had gone under the water. He was raised to the surface, and a boat coming up all were taken ashore. The place where the man was drowned is an out-of-the way comer of the harbour, and, how he got there is a mystery. Temuka Floral and Horticultural Society.—At a meeting of the committee of the above Society, held last week, at which Mr E. Cutten presided, a very satisfactory report upon the prize schedule was submitted. Special prizes to a considerable amount have been promised, but it is hoped that more are forthcoming. Intending donors should give in their names at an early date, either to Mr E. C. Dann or to Mr H. M. Miles. A review of the position of the Society, as compared with last year, showed that very favorable progress has been made, and it is confidently expected that the next show will be an unqualified success. The Legal Profession.— I The Mercantile and Bankruptcy Gazette is responsible for the following: “ In Dunedin, there are about 70 practising lawyers, Christchurch has a similar contingent, while Wellington and Auckland have, respectively, rather more ; this gives, say, 300 in the four cities. The second-sized towns number amongst them another 100, and scattered throughout the country, as thick as plums in a pudding, are enough with those we have mentioned to make a grand total of at least 800 members of the legal brigade. Of these, say, 20 earn from LISOO to L3OOO per annum, 100 more, say, from LSOO to LISOO, whilst the others are earning enough to keep body and soul together, grubbing along from year to year without profit to themselves and with little honor to the profession to which they belong.” Lecture. —On Thursday next the Ven. Archdeacon Harper will deliver a lecture in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, in aid of the St. Saviour’s Sunday School Building Fund. The term lecture, perhaps, hardly applies to the rev. gentleman’s manner of - dealing with the subject, which is an account of his recent visit to the Old Country. He tells the story of his trip very pleasantly, and gives a great deal of interesting information about the many places he visited. Everyone’s heart is stirred by memories of home, and doubtless there will be a large attendance of those whose memories of the Old Country have not yet faded, as well as of their descendants. The lecture will be illustrated by magic-lantern views, under the manipulation of Mr Wilcocks. These have been exhibited in Timaru, and are said to be exceptionally good. .

Angling.— Anglers will be interested to know that Mr J. W. Velvin has on hand a large stock of anglers’ requisites. Mr Velvin having been for some time in trade, and being an angler himself, has no doubt been able to select the most desirable baits with which to lure the finny denizens of the. deep.

The Fruits or Labor.—A bar of iron worth one pound, worked into needles it is worth £2 ; male into horse-shoes, it is worth. £7O; made into pen-knife blades, it is worth £ 657; made into balance-springs of watches, it is worth £50,000. It is labor which gives this increased value to it. Labor is therefore the capital invested.

Electricity.—One of the latest proposed applications of electricity is a policeman’s club that contains a galvanic battery. When the rowdy seizes the club, thinking to wrest it from the policeman, the rowdy receives an electric shock, which astonishes and paralyses him rendering his capture an easy matter.

Horsee Parade. The stud horse parade was held in Christchurch last Saturday. There was a good attendance of the public, and the weather continued fine. There was a slight falling off in the entries, the local entries being 54, against 67 last year. There was an excellent, show of draught stock, of which several young colonial bred were much udmired. The only imported horse was Mr Gilmour’s Grand Master, bought last season in Sydney and imported from Scotland, At the sale afterwards Foreign Policy, by Lord Beaconsfield, was sold to Mr Kenneth Mclntosh, Rangiora, for 190 guineas. The blood horses were a good lot, Chainshot being much fancied. Old Hornby was sold to Mr Gerald Coward for 90 guineas, and a two-year-old by Vanguard to Mr George King for 22 guineas.

Sheaebes and Laboebes Union.—The annual meeting of the Geraldine branch of the Amalgamated Shearers and Laborers Union was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall,' Geraldine, on Saturday evening, when, on account of the short notice given of the meeting there was only a moderate attendance, After the chairman had explained to the meeting the business of the past year, which was in every respect satisfactory, the election of officers was proceeded with, with the result that the President, vice-President, .and Treasurer were re-elected. There were three applicants for the office of secretary. It was resolved that one of the members see a person whom the meeting thought competent for the office, and, that, if arrangements could be made he be elected. It was agreed that the chairman attend the Union meeting to be held in Waimate to bring several resolutions before it. It was. decided ,that the Union in future meet once in three months, and that the next meeting be held on the second Saturday in December, to be called by advertisement. The committee for the ensuing year 'was then elected and the meeting terminated.

Deowning Accident. —We have received a telegram from Ashburton to the effect that Mr James Pilbrdw, brother of Mr Edward Pilbrow, of Temuka, was drowned at 8 a.m. yesterday in the Rakaia river while fishing. Mr Pilbrow was born in England in the year 1837, and was therefore 54 years of age. He came to New Zealand in IB6o,'and was for a long time a settler in this district, where he carried on farming. He built the first brewery in Temuka, and after having carried on business in it for some time, He took up a farm at Pleasant Point, and lived there for some time. He subsequently went to live at Eiccarton, near Christchurch, and lately bought a farm near Ashburton, on which he was living at the time of his death. Mr Pilbrow took a great interest in sporting, and was the owner of some of the best racehorses in the colony, with which he was very successful. Mr Pilbrow leaves a wife and fourteen children (eight boys and six girls) to mourn his loss. Some of the family are grown up, but others are not. He was widely known and highly respected, and the news of his untimely death will be received with profound regret by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Suicide. —William Thomson a .retired pub. lican of Dunedin, committed suicide early last Sunday morning by shooting himself with a revolver, the muzzle of which he placed in his_ mouth and then fired. The reasons for suicide are not known. He was a widower with no family, but he had adopted two boys whose father died some years ago. He was in very comfortable circumstances, though it is understood that he had sustained losses recently. He at one time kept the Red Lion Hotel, and afterwards the Criterion. On retiring he advanced money to various institutions on condition that the interest'was paid dnring his lifetime ; the principal not to be repaid at all. The Masonic Hall, it is understood had money on these terms, and also the defunct Freethought Lyceum, in which he took a great interest. Deceased on retiring on Saturday appeared to be as c heerful as usual, and ou Sunday morning he told one of the boys adopted to keep up' the fires iu the vinery. He is said to have been a little worried over a Supreme Court action which came up in Chambers on Friday, when a summons was applied for calling on Thomson and Brew, as trustees of the late Charles Roberts, to show cause why a statement of accounts should not be filed. Thomson submitted himself and expressed his readiness, but stated that all the books were iu Brew’s possession. Brew did not appear. It is somewhat singular that the pistol which Thomson used is the same with which Roberts committed suicide.

Concert at Watohi,-— On Tuesday last a concert and dance was held in the Waitohi Flat schoolroom, the object being to augment the funds of the library. The chair was taken by Mr J. Fra'aer, the chairman of the School Committee, who in a lengthy speech referred to the value of a library in a country district, and to other subjects appropriate tb the Occasion. He apologised for the absence of a number of performers from Temuka. The arrangements regarding them had somehow miscarried, and consequently their programme would be a 'short one. He trusted the quality would make up for lack of quantity. He then introduced' the Hey. Mr Dellow, who sang “The Officer's Funeral” in a manner that was highly appreciated. Subsequently he sang “ The Charge of the Light Brigade,” and another song, both of which were remarkable for the expression thrown into them. They were heartily applauded. Mr Graham sang two songs capitally, “My Pretty Jane " being encored. Miss Brown and Master Cecil Brown delighted the audience with a couple of duets upou the violin, and Mr Donge played two violin solos with charming effect. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the performers, refreshments, both abundant and excellent, were dispensed by Mrs T. Talbot and Miss Cunningham. The latter has established herself as a most hospitable hostess at these gatherings, and visitors always receive from her the kindest attention. A dance, which was kept up until £he. small followed, and was much enjoyed. Mr T. Stevenson acted as M.C., and music was provided in turns by Messrs Fraser, Thornleyj Johnson. Steveoson, and HnUen. ' ■

Journalism. —At a well-attended meeting of journalists at Christchurch on Friday night, a branch of the Journalists’ Institute was formed. Mr G. R. Hart was elected president., Irrigation.— ln our advertising columns will be found notifications setting forth the proposal of the Geraldine County Council to borrow £3OOO for the purpose of carrying out irrigation works in the Waitohi Watersupply Enlarged District, and also regarding the proposed Levels Downs Water-supply District. SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS, A. Toomey—Stud notice re Banker, Temuka Road Board-Invites tenders for cleaning drain, cutting tussocks, etc. C. E. Sherratt —Has lost a horse cover. W. Whccllar.1 —Stud notice re Taieri Tom. John Fraser, Waitohi—Stud notice re Young Emperor. Lecture at Temuka —On Thursday evening; by Yen. Archdeacon Harper. Geraldine Races—Business places in Geraldine close at noon ou both race days. Professor Mason—Subjects of lectures at Geraldine for this evening and Wednesday: John Woodley, Winchester —Notifies that all trespassers On his land will be prosecuted. A.' Kelman Convenes meeting of farmers in the Crowh Hotel, Geraldine, on Wednesday next. A. B: COx—Advertises entries for Geraldine Stock Sale to-day; has half-bred hoggets for private sale. Geraldine County Council Notice re proposal to borrow £3OOO for Waitohi water-supply enlarged distsict; notifies that a copy of the petition re proposed Levels Downs water-supply district and map of the district are now. on view.