THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1891. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2293, 15 December 1891, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1891. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Appointment. —Mr Alexander Macpherson, late of Timaru, has been appointed secretary to the Longburn breezing Company, Wellington. There were over 100 applicants for the position. Sudden Death. —Mr Walter James Ollivier, grain merchant, formerly of R. Wilkin and Co., died suddenly at Christchurch on Saturday evening, it is supposed from apoplexy. He had been to business in the morning. Worth Looking After. There is some splendid grass at the railway station and along the line just now. Any wan out of a job might do worse than apply for it. The cocksfoot is exceptionally good, and should yield a lot of seed. Caledonian Sports. To-day Messrs J, Mnndell & Co. sell the privileges in connection with the forthcoming Caledonian Sports at Temuka. Intending competitors at the sports are reminded that entries close with the secretary, Mr Mogridge, to-day. School Concert at Geraldine.— The annual concert by the children attending the Geraldine Public School takes place in the Volunteer Hall this evening. A varied programme, winding up with the kinderspiel “ Rip Van Winkle,” will be given, and the Hall should be crowded.

Influenza.— The influenza epidemic is decreasing at Christchurch, though there are some severe cases of relapse. It has attacked a large number of horses in the Amberly district. Three public schools at Oamaru have been closed owing to the prevalence of the epidemic.

Property Tax. The revenue so far received under the property tax is considered very satisfactory by the department. The amount collected at the post offices throughout the colony up to the 10th inst., and in Wellington up to the 12th, is £195,858. All larger payments are not due till the second instalment on the 4th February nezt.

The Payne Family.— We would remind our readers that the Payne Family of vocalists and musicians appear in the Geraldine Volunteer Hall to-morrow evening, and in the Temuka Volunteer Hall on Thursday. The enjoyableness of their entertainments is well known, and they will doubtless be largely patronised.

Anniversary Day.— To-morrow being the Anniversary of the Province will be observed a public holiday. The Athletic Sports at Winchester are sure to attract a large gathering, and the usual picnics in connection with the various Sunday Schools will also be held. At Temuka the annual entertainment in connection with St. Joseph’s school will be held, while at Geraldine the Paynes have secured the Hall.

Angling Competition.— The Geraldine County Anglers’ Society’s annual competition takes place to-morrow and should be keenly contested. Mr A. M. Clark and Mr James Guild have granted permission to members of the Society to angle that day in waters under their control, and this courtesy will no doubt be readily taken advantage of. It has been decided to receive entries until 6 p.m. this evening at Mr Mogridge’s. The hour for fly fishing will be from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.

The Catholic School Concert.—The annual Grand Juvenile Musical and Dramatic Entertainment by the pupils attendingl St. Joseph’s School, Temuka, takes place to-morrow evening in the Volunteer HalL The forme? concerts ip connection with this school have been most enjoyable and successful, and this one should be equally so. All who desire a seat should attend early. Clover Shbllbr.—Mr Geo. Freddy, of Temuka, has just recpived from the makers, Messrs Andrews and Beavan, an improved clover sheller and grass seed dresser. A trial of the same will be held at an early date.. This is the only machine of the kind in the district, and Mr Freddy is to be commended for his enterprise. Farmers with clover crops will now have an opportunity of saving their own seed instead of relying on importations. False Diamonds. Captain Preece R.M., gave judgment at Christchurch in a curious case op Friday, A boiler-maker named Ross sold a brooch set with stones supposed to be diamonds for £BS to Sigusmpnd Cohen, pawnbroker, who swore that Ross gave a guarantee. Ross denied this.. Cohen gave him a cheque but stopped payment when he discovered that the stones were not genuine. Ross sued Cohen for the amount, but the, magistrate gave judgment for the defendant.

An Important Invention.—A Wellington telegram says :Mr Freyburg, a recent arrival by the Aorangi, has patented an invention fpr utilisng the snow produced by refrigerators on freezing vessels, and now thrown overboard as useless. He claims to have discovered economical and effective means of preserving low equal temperature on board ships for the purpose of preserving dairy produce, fruit, and similar articles ip transitu. The discovery will shortly be subjected to an exhaustive test at one of the local freezing works.

Severe Thunderstorm.—A Masterton telegram says that the most' violent thunderstorm ever experienced in the district raged for hours on Friday afternoon. The lightning was very vivid and rain descended in torrents, flooding the streets and doing considerable damage. A ball of fire ran along the wires and exploded in the Telegraph Office, fusing the instruments, but fortunately the operator was absent. The atmosphere was filled with a strong sulphurous odopr, and the storm was sufficiently alarming to stop the proceedings in the District Court for some time. No very serious damage is reported. Capsized.—Dr Hayes and Sir William Blunden had an involuntary bath in the Opihi on Thursday night. They were returning from a fishing expedition by way of the lower ford at Milford, and came across a snag in the river which capsized the gig. Dr Hayes, who was driving, finding the gig going over, threw himself out, but Dr Blunden went over with the gig - . Neither were hurt, and, singular to say, the horse got clear without injury to the trap and with only a broken hame strap. The brother practitioners constituted themselves a team and dragged the gig opt of the rivef, and having reharnessed the" horse made another, and this time a successful, attempt to cross. Fortunately the night was mild, but the journey home in wet clothes was by no, jfleanp enjoyable. i

Unpaid Rates. —The Geraldine County Council notifies that all unpaid general and water race rates will be sued for at the end of this month. Missing. —A settler named Norman McDonald, who lived with his mother near Kamo, in the Bay of Islands, has been missing since Tuesday last. Temuka Stock Sale. —The fortnightly stock sale at Temuka takes place to-day. Mr A, E. G. Cox advertises a special entry of a Duncan grass-seed stripper. Fatal Accident. —Gimlett, who accidently inflicted a severe wound on himself about a fortnight ago while working at the Gear Company’s slaughtering yards, Wellington, died in the hospital yesterday morning.

An Eccentric. A Taieri contemporary says:—A peculiar individual died at Waiau the other day. He allowed the pigs to roam at will about his house ; he existed upon soda scones and birds’ eggs,, he sometimes allowed his letters to lie three months before he called for them; and he died —regretted by none. Wesleyan Church.— At the Wesleyan District Meeting at Auckland the chairman stated he had received a letter from the Rev. W. L. Salter, stating he intended to return from Norfolk Island about February next year, and should expect a circuit at the next conference. An increase is reported of 41 church members, and 603 attendants upon public worship. Struck by Lightning.— Norman Kemp aged 19, a settler at Waiapu, Auckland, was killed by lightning at noon at Saturday. He was standing in the doorway of his cottage when he suddenly fell inwards quite dead. His sister was inthe room at who the time was rendered completely deaf. Some articles in the house were shivered by the fluid.

R.M. Court, Timaru. —At the R.M. Court, Timaru, yesterday, a man named Thomas Kirk, a fisherman, was charged with assaulting a woman named Mary Ann Brown, who lived with him as his wife, and Robert Owens, a wharf laborer, was charged with indecently assaulting Jane Owens, his own daughter, aged 12. Both cases were dismissed on account of the insufficiency of the evidence.

Accident to a Minister. While proceeding up the Wanganui river on Saturday, en route to Tokaanu, the Hon. Mr Cadman was thrown heavily from his horse, owing to the animal treading on a boulder and falling. He had nearly 30 miles to travel after the accident on a rough road. Mr Dawry proceeded to Takaanu and sent back a buggy. Mr Cadman had to ride 30 mile to meet the buggy, and this he did, though suffering very much, and arrived. at Takaanu at 8.30. He was much better yesterday morning, and hoped to be able to proceed yesterday and reach Otorohanga on Thursday.

South Orari School Committee.— The ordinary monthly meeting of the South Orari School Committee was held on Saturday, 12th inst., all the members being present. The inspector’s report on the annual standard examination was read and considered highly satisfactory, and it was unanimously resolved that a hearty vote of thanks be tendered to the teachers, Mr. Corbett and Miss Balfour, for the excellent results they obtained at the examination, it being gratifying to the committee to. see this year after year. The head , master reported that the roll number was 111, and the average attendance 79 ; also that some five children had failed to make half time. It was resolved that six week’s holidays should be given at Christmas, beginning on the 21st; that the treat should be held on the 22nd, and that it should be followed by a dance. Accounts amounting to £1 10s were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.

District Court. —The following cases are set down for hearing at the sitting of the District Court in Timaru commencing to-day:—C. Bishop y. J. Brown, same v. Miles, same v. Blyth—adjourned cases for argument. Mr Perry for plaintiff, Mr Salmond for defendants. J. Mundell v A, C, Ensor, goods sold and delivered (on authority to A. E. Ensor) £47 3s, Mr Perry for plaintiff. Gracie, Maclean and Co v same, goods sold and delievered £64 4s 7d. In Bankruptcy: Application will be made to relieve the Official Assignee in respect to six /cases. Probates: Probate of the wills is to be asked for of Thomas McOoll, Kerrytown, J. W. Wrenn, Timaru, and J. Hay, Kakahu, by Messrs Hay and Postlewaithe; Alice Farquharson, Temuka, by Messrs Aspinall and Salmond; and A. Mac pherson, Waimate, by Mr Cement; David Denoon, Geraldine, and Eliza Kelly, Timaru, by Mr Raymond.

Entertainment —On last Saturday evening the Akarman-Oanar is Combination Company appeared in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, to a fair house. The company is at present playing under great disadvantages inasmuch as that several of their leading artists are unable to appear owing to illness. Dr Canaris and Miss Beaumont are laid up in Dunedin, but they are expected to join the company daily. Still, notwithstan ling all this, the entertainment was very enjoyable. Too much praise could not be given to Miss Harris, the pianiste. She is undoubtedly the best pianiste who has ever played in Temuka. Mr Akarman is a splendid negro comedian, and Miss Pearl Akarman, both in Ringing, and dancing, and in the contortion act, acquitted herself in a manner that won applause. Tom Thumb, the smallest negro impersonator in the world, won great applause, and an encore for his singing and dancing, and he prqved himself an excellent actor besides. When the whole company is together, and in good condition, there cannot be a doubt but that they are a clever troupe. They appeared again last night to a good house, and gave an entire change of programme. A number of new farces and songs were given, and the audience seemed thoroughly pleased. Mr Akarman gave a few of his own parodies, and they created much amusement. The concluding farce fairly convulsed the audience with laughter, and sent all home in a good humor. Alleged Libel. The libel action brought by Mr J. Evison, editor and manager of the Catholic Times, against Mr Thornton, president, and Mr Heinrichs, secretary of the Typographical Association, began at Wellington yesterday morning. The libel complained of was contained in a letter to Archbishop Redwood, proprietor of the paper, accusing Evison of making a profit for bis own use by sweating the printers, and objecting to the degradation of being referred to a man who had been a freethought lecturer and writer. In bis evidence plaintiff said he had a fixed salary and got nothing else, but the printers were paid a fixed sum for getting the paper up. He admitted he had been a freethought lecturer, and had edited and conducted the Rationalist, a freethought paper, published in Auckland six years ago, but he never was an atheist. Plaintiff also detailed the efforts made to get him to make the Catholic Times a union paper, and his refusal to do sq. Mr Jellico cross-examined the plaintiff as tq his connection with the Rationalist, and read a number of extracts from a file of papers, some of which were, directed against the Remap, Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in reply to a pastoral letter of feia aimed against freethought.

The Premier. The Premier arrived at Auckland from New Plymouth last Saturday night, and is to address a public meeting on Thursday. Replying to a New Zealand Herald interviewer the Premier said that the Government policy had been most favourably received at the public meetings which he and other members of the Ministry had addressed in various parts of the colony. He attributed the influx of population which had now set in to various causes. The working classes saw more hope for themselves in New Zealand than either in Victoria or New South Wales. The financial disturbances in the latter colonies were a great factor in the influx, and so was the land policy of the Government of New Zealand. He did not think that the protectionist measures of the New South Wales Ministry would have any effect upon the agricultural industry of this colony. The same amount of produce would be sent from New Zealand as before, but the people in New South Wales would have to pay more for it. The Sydney market, he pointed out, must remain subsidiary to that of England.

The Timaru School. —At the last ordinary meeting of the Timaru School Committee a resolution was passed limiting the Christmas holidays, instead of the usual six weeks. The minority of the committee were not at all satisfied, and whether they are supported by the majority of the householders or not it is hard to say, but it is certain those who sided with them made the most noise, and the popular clamor resulted in a special meeting being held on Saturday evening, when the whole question was again gone into, and it was resolved after a long and a crimonious discussion—- “ That the headmaster be kindly requested to strike off from the mimiograph voting papers to be issued to householders, asking them to vote whether the holidays should be as passed by the committee, the same to be placed in a sealed envelope and addressed to the chairman, who shall call a meeting and open them, and on the result of that I the holidays will be determined.” One of I the committeemen who voted for the shorter term, to show the feeling that existed among the teachers, said that he was passed in the street by a conveyance containing five of the lady teachers, and as they passed they hooted and jeered him and called “ Four weeks’ holiday.” He thought such a display was well worthy of the name of larrikinism. After the meeting three of the lady teachers referred to called on him, and denied that they had taken any partin the hooting and jeering. It will be interesting to see the end of the squabble, as without a doubt the taking of a plebiscite will give rise to great dissatisfaction among certain of the householders. The Pneumatic and, Clincher Tyres when fitted to cycles, gives complete isolation from vibration. “ Star ” Safeties are made with pneumatic and clincher tyres.—Adams, Curties & Co., 70 Manchester street, Christchurch. ' Cycles from £5. —l2 SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. J. B. Wareing—Wants six men. E. C, Dann—Reward for.lost papers. Mrs T. Cheyne Farnie-r-Wants a general servant. Geraldine County Council notice re unpaid rates. A. E. Cox—Advertises entries for Temuka Stock Sale to-day. J. Kelland, Hilton—Tenders wanted for discing and sowing turnips. E. C. Dann, Temuka —Has just received Boys’ and Girls’ Annuals, Chatterbox. Christmas and New Year cards, &c. Arowhenua Domain Board Authority for Temuka Caledonian Society to use recreation grounds on Boxing Day.