LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2307, 19 January 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Grass Seed. A Palmerston North telegram says:—The grass seed this season is selling freely at 3£d for good samples. Geraldine Stock Sale.— The fortnightly sale of stock, etc., takes place at Geraldine to-morrow. I.O.G.T.—The election of officers in connection with the Victoria Lodge No. 19, Goraldine, will take place on Thursday, the 21st inst. Timaru Wool Sale. We would remind farmers, dealers, and others, that the second .wool sale of the season takes place in Timaru to-day. Wellington Flooded. —A very heavy fall of rain at Wellington on Sunday night flooded the streets, and scoured out the footpaths in many places in the more precipitous localities. An Expensive Stamp. A rare stamp probably the rarest in the world has just been sold by Mr J. W. Palmer, of 281 Strand, for the extraordinary sum of £250. It is an American stamp issued at Brattleborough in 1840. The original price of the stamp was 2£d. Wellington. Although the city valuation shows a comparatively small , increase, 173 new buildings were erected during the year. The total amount deducted for schools, etc., was £2,500. In December there were only 191 empty buildings, against 265 the previous year. Peel Forest Horticultural Show.— We would remind our readers in the Peel Forest District that the arfnual Horti- ! cultural Show will be held in the Scotsburn schoolroom on Friday next. All exhibits must be in the schoolroom by 11 o'clock on | the day of the show, and the public will be j a Imitted at 3 p.m. , Worth Trying.—A writer in " Our Dumb Animals" s lys that whenever a ;horse driven by himself has baulked he has got out of his carriage and gone to its fore foot, lifted it from the ground, and struck [ the shoe a few blows with a stone. He has | .-never failed to start a horse in that very I simple way, and he has, on several occasions. had baulky horses which had exhausted the patience of all former owners. Entertainment.—We would direct the I attention of our Geraldine readers to the fact t.jat the school children this evening give a repetition of the Kinderspiel " Rip van Winkle," which was given by them with so mu-jh success on a former occasion. The entertainment is considered one of the best of its kind, and we recommend it as well worth hearing. The proceeds go to the incidental and winter fuel funds of the school. The Late Cardinal Manning.—At the temperance conference at Dunedin on Friday night a resolution was passed expressing gratification at the progress of t3inperance reform, and .urging vigilance a-id unity on the temperance workers to help in achieving the great victory soon to be realised. A resolution was also carried unanimously expressing regret at the death oc Cardinal Manning, and appreciation of his great service in the temperance cause. Horse Market. From information which has been received from the Indian Government it appears that the number of imported horses which will be required for military purposes for the year 1892-93 will bj 1475. Of these 1275 are required to be Australian and Cape horses, and the balance Arabian and Persian. The Australian horses are to be from four to six years old and 14 hands 3in to 1G hands in height,

and the average price per horse delivered at the Indian port of purchase will be 650 rupees. Salvation Army, Geraldine. —Lieut. Hartland farewelled at Geraldine on Sunday evening, when there was a goo 3 number present at the Salvation Army meeting. She expressed her regret at having to leave her many kind friends in Geraldine, and hoped that in her new sphere of labour, she would be able to do good work. Lieut. Hartland, who was commissioned to Geraldine four months ago, has received " marching orders" from the Salvation Headquarters to proceed to the North Island as divisional Secretary of the Maori Department. Geraldine Literary Institute— The annual meeting of the Geraldine Literary Institute was held on Thursday afternoon last. Present—The Rev. A. B. Todd (in the chair), and Messrs A. E. Hawkins, W. Moore, M. C> Orbell, and F. Wilson Smith. The rules were revised, and the following Qffiee-bearers elected:—Patron, President, andVice-Presid'ent,re : elec|jei; Secretary and Treasurer, W. Thomas ; Oommit,tee, Rev. A. B. Todd, M. C. Orbell. A. E. Hawkins 1 ; H. B, Webster and H. W. Moore. The Treasurer's report showed receipts for year £22 4s, and expenditure £22 3s iSd. It was decided to members pf iilustrateds and Punches in lo|sfrqin £he beginning of Church qv Enqland at Pleasant Point.—The Rev. T. Jasper Smyth having resigned the incumbency of Tongawai, (which he has'held for eight years) in order ' £o accerif; that of St. Peter's, Akaroa, a ' meeting qftjhe yestry was held on Thursday last, to deal with, the matter. In a eulqgistic speech Mr Acton proposed;—" That this vestry desires to express its sincere regret at the proposed departure of the Incumbent, the Rev. T. Jasper Smyth." The motion was seconded by Colonel Eichbauui, and carried unaminonsly. The Rev. T, Jasper Smyth replied, thanking the speakers for their kindly expressions", and spacing tha£ he would reply more fully at another time.' It was resolved that the church wardens should communicate with the church officers qi Faijlie jCrreek and 'report 'the result to a future meeting. Buried Alive.—An Erie despatch says: _-Two months ago, Farmer George Heideoker, oi'STSS 1 township, apparently died verv suddenly of wnS!" as supposed to have been heart failure. The remitmS w ere buried four days later in Erie Cemetery. The remains were to be removed to-day, and when the casket was opened a horrifying spectacle was presented. The body was found lying on its face and ihe interior of. the casket bore traces of a terrible struggle with death. The distorted and blood-covered features bore ! evidence of horrible agony endured. The 1 clothing about the head and neck had been torn into shreds, as was likewise the lining of the coffin. The marks of finger : nails on the face, throat, and neck told of the awful despair of the doomed man, who tore his flesh in his terrible anguish. Several fingers had been bitfcsn off, and the hands torn with the teeth until they searcely resemlbed those of a human being. Thb Phonograph.—Mr Kelly w< s greeted with ft much larger audience at Geraldine on Friday evening than he was at Temuka. In fact, considering the Flower Show was held the evening before,

he did very well, and at the conclusion of the performance he had aboitt 40 on the platform to hear the instrument to greater advantage. The programme, which was similar in detail to that given at Temuka, was opened by Ar >: W. Stoaehouso playing into the machine a cornet solo, which was immediately afterwards reproduced to the wonderment of the audience. banjo solo "Amazon March," played by Mr Wm. West, champion of the United States, was loudly encored, as was also Mr Sturrock's j bagpipes solo. Mr Kelly was so pleased I wifh his sn ;cess in Ueraldine thaf; he has ' decided to pay i# a return visit in the course ' of a month or two, ' ' - - - . j

Extraordinary Growth. Messrs I Comer and Larcouibe brought to our office in Temuka, last evening, a sample of cock sfoot grass, which, measures seven feet nine inches in height. This was grown on Brookland farm, near AVinchester, the property of Mr H. J. Gladstone, and is evidence of the extraordinary fertility of the soil there. This is the talllest specimen of cocksfoot grass of which we have ever heard. Primitive Methodist Conference At the Primitive Methodist Conference at Christchurch on Friday Mr James Bellinger, mayor of New Plymouth, was .elected president; the Rev. W. Laycock, of Auckland, vice-president; the Rev. T. H. Lyon, of the Bluff, was appointed secretary, with the Rev. W. Woollass as assistant. Fraternal greetings were received from the District Conference of the United Methodist Free Church, sitting at Rangiora, and ware heartily reciprocated. It was reported that the church has 52 Sunday Schools with 457 teachers, and 3883 scholars, an increase of 6 schools and 329 scholars for the year.

Heavy Rainfall in Dunedin.— A tropical rainstorm occurred at Dunedin on Saturday afternoon, the heaviest downpour for years. The rainfall was so phenomenally heavy that few down pipes were able to carry off the water. In the Arcade several shops were completely flooded and much damage was done to stocks. The water poured down the side of Ross and Glendining's warehouse, flooding the cellars and causing bales of tweed to float. Kempthorne and Prosser's warehouse and Reynold's store were also badly visited. Shops on the southern side of Rattray street were badly flooded. The water poured over the floors of Adair, jeweller, and McFerran, chemist, accumulating in a back room of the latter, while a neighbouring restaurant was completely swamped.

The Wellington Election. The Wellington election took place on Friday last, and resulted in the election of Mr McLean. The votes recorded were as follow: McLean, 3403 ; Bell, 3252 ; majority for McLean, 151. The election was carried out with the utmost good feeling, and at one time the candidates drove together in a dogcart from one booth to another. There was of course considerable good-natured badinage on both sides, but in the booths good humor prevailed. Every description of vehicle was brought into requisition to bring voters to the poll, and the supporters of either candidate worked with great energy right up to the closing of the poll. When the doors were shut the betting was even money, and the most sanguine did not anticipate a large majority. Cricket —The interprovincial cricket match Canterbury v. Otago commenced on Friday at Dunedin, when the first innings of Canterbury closed for 9(> and the first iunnings of Otago for 101. On Saturday play was resumed at eleven, Canterbury batting, but in consequence of the rain which had fallen during the night, it was not a batsman's wicket and Downes (Otago) was simply unplayable. Within half an hour seven wickets had fallen, and when the ninth wicket went with the score at 31 a thunderstorm passed over the ground and play was stopped till half past two. Downes in one maiden over was credited with four wickets, two wickets with the

first two, and two with the last two balls of the over. Ultimately the innings of Canterbury closed for 83, making a total of 171). With the loss of five wickets Dunedin made the number required to win, viz., 79. Mount Peel Road Board. The monthly meeting of this board was held on Friday, Jan. 15th, all - ' the members being present. Correspondence was read and considered: From Mr R. McMillan, requesting that the - thistles be cut from his road.—To be reported on. From Mr A. Bain, enclosing cheque for £1 for grass seed.—To be acknowledged. The overseer's report was read. Resolved —" That the stable be painted " ; " That Mr Dugald Macfarlane be appointed returning officer, Mr R. Irvine having resigned " ; " That in future, if an application be made by the Owner of land for the benefit of one section only, then suoh person shall be called upon to pay half of the expense incurred by the board in such work," The Hon. J. B. A. Acland handed in his resignation, owing to his being about to leave the colony. Mr C. G. Tripp was elected chairman. Accounts passed for payment: Tehiuka Leader, £1 19s; Pps+rnaster, Timaru, £2 ; painting and repairs to dwelling and board room, £2O, F. Cooling. The board then adjourned until February 19th.

Like in the States. Stories about jibe SOO free use of firearms in the United States have sqmetimes been ridiculed by American critics as mere travellers' tales, or' tales with which native humour has delighted to " stuff " the verdant visitor. Mr Edward Wakefield, formerly of Wellington, who has just written an article in the Contemporary Review about the eg,sy practice, of homicide in the Republic, tells some expediences of his own. One of them is amusing. He had got off the train at a station in the south to buy lunch. Two very pleasant fellow passengers with whom he had got into conversation had promised to keep his [ seat for him. When he came back he ! found a tall, gaunt stranger about to take the" seat, 'but not faking it. $4: \\|akefiel l's two acquxintane'es hindered that'. "Each of them was holding a cup of coffee to his mouth with the left hand, while his right hand gfasped fi r'eyg|ver covering the intruder. 'pim'e. §eh}g §hOT§> they were drinking the coffee while they 'kept the IJritishef 's ,seatj.' " Mr Wakefield saw this. He also saw a sqlemn-looking pM man about half-way down t ae ' oa ¥i wno h ad drawn out from somewhere an enormous, antiquated, ivory -handled six-shooter, and was holding it up with his finger on the trigger, ready to take a hand in any little festivity that might arise. "He looked so disappointed when it all ended in nothing that I felt quite sorry for him."

; Smut in and v/ats.—A recent bulletin of the Kansas experiment station gives the results pf experiments in (jprayirig to prevent smut 'in oats and wheat. It sunis up the experiments as follows:—The amount of smut "in oat in 1891, in the fields about Manhattan, was 5f per cent, as shown by actual count. Potassium sulphide (liver pf sulphur) is as effectual in preventing qat smut as the hot water treatment previously recommended. It can be used at the rate of lib. in 20 gallons of water, the seed fiQ re™*^ l ! m . the solution 24 hours,, or xise about twice the amount and remove the seed in about 10 or 12 hours. Treatment of the seed with hot water or potassium sulphide both prevent the smut and increases the yield. It increases the yield, however, not merely by the amount which i equals the grain actually destroyed by the I smut, but by at least twice that amount. The loose srhilt Cf ""ieac was considerable in 18i)l in some of the plots on the college farm, in several cases being from 5 to 7 per cent and in fine case ID per cent, fiftyfour trials with various fungicide's did not furnish decisive evidence favorable in any case. Spraying spring wheat, barley, and oats, with liver of .sulphur, chloriile of iron, Bordeaux mixture, an 1 flowers of sulphur , did not prevent th 3 red rust. I

Temuka Rifles—The annual meeting of this corps takes place to-morrow even-

mg at 7.30. < Postponed.—The United Choir's _ re- v hearsal at Temuka arranged for to-night has been postponed until to-morrow night. Sale of Groceries. —Mr W. S. Maslin holds a large sale of groceries, etc., at Temuka to-day, on account of Mr D. Owers. Presbyterian Church, Temuka.— The annual soiree in connection with the Temuka Presbyterian Church takes \ place in the Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening. Educat t on of the Horse. This morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr Theodor Lichtwark, professor of horsemanship,will hold his horse-training class in Messrs N. Dunlop & Co.'s slaughter yards at Geraldine. All who are interested should not fail to be present. The Weather.—The heavy rain on Sunday night levelled a number of good crops in this district. At Belfield Messrs Tetheridge, Brown, and others found their best crops on the ground on Monday morning. Mr Giinson had a good crop of oats destroyed between Geraldine and Temuka. Return "Visit of Tennyson Smith. -. —Mr Tennyson Smith arrived in Temuka last Saturday, and on Sunday evening delivered a temperance lecture to a crowded audience in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. Last night the local lodge of Good Templars, headed by the Arovvhenua Brass Band and their banner, marched in procession to the Volunteer Hall, I Mr Tennyson Smith recited selections of V' ' the late J. B. Gough's orations. The chair was taken by Captain Sutherland, of the Salvation Army, and the hall was crowded. Chew Chong's Influenza Remedy.— The Otago Daily Times' Auckland correspondent telegraphs that Professor Thomas has shown conclusively that medical science is not to be indebted to Mr Chew Chong, of Taranaki, for enlightening us as to the cause and cure of influenza. The threadlike parasites which the Chinese merchant has taken from patients who were cured by him have been placed under the microscope and found to consist entirely of such fibres as the lower part of the skin is composed of. There were no parasites at all among them, and Mr Chew Chong has been industriously , picking out bits from the cuticle of his • patients. As some of these were furnished with a very tough epidermis, it is no wonder he frequently broke a needle in extracting the so-called parasite. Send Post Card to Adams, Curties & Co., 70, Manchester Street, Christchurch for illustrated list of cycles. Bicycles from £5, Safeties from £lO. —2 SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. 1.0.0. F., Victoria Lodge, No. 19—Election of officers. Geraldine School—" Blip Van Winkle "to be repeated to-night. United Choirs Rehearsal—Postponed until Wednesday evening. Graham Bros., Contractors, Raincliff— Invite tenders for harvesting. J. Mundell & Co. —Entries for Geraldine Live Stock Market to-morrow. Presbyterian Church, Temuka —Annual % soiree on Thursday evening next. Ballantvne and Co., Timaru —Half-yearly clearing sale starts on Friday next. M St. Patrick's Sports Association, Geraldine —General meeting of members. Peel Forest HorticultHral Show —ln Scotsburn schoolroom on Friday next. E. Tennyson Smith Programme of entertainment at Temuka this evening. D. West, Architect—lnvites tenders for the erection of bakehouse and oven for Mr ' J. T. M. Hayhurst. E. Tennyson Smith—Programme of entertainment ("Poetic Recitals")at Temuka this evening in Volunteer Hall.