LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2325, 1 March 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

De Baenardo’s Homes.—The collections in Otago in aid of Barnardo’s homes netted £389.

’Frisco Mail. The incoming ’Frisco mail is expected. to reach Temuka by the express train to-day. Coursing.—Mr D. M. Ross, of Timaru, has been unanimously appointed judge to the National Coursing Association of New Zealand. Geraldine Stock Sale. —I he fortnightly sale of stock at Geraldine takes place to-morrow. A large number of entries are advertised in another column.

Board Meetings.— The monthly meetings of the Temuka Road Board takes place to-day; that of the Geraldine Town Board this evening, and that of the Temuka Town Board to-morrow evening. Retiring Officers.,— The Government have decided on the abolition of the office of Inspector and Superintendent of branches of the Government Insurance Department, which has been held for some years by Mr D’Arcy Irvine, who retires on compensation. Mr Dick, the postmaster at Dunedin, is also to be retired. Primitive Methodist Church. —A. farewell tea will be given on Wednesday evening at Geraldine to the Rev. W. C. Wood, who is leaving for Wellington. The rev. gentleman has made himself well known among young men and others on the football field and elsewhere, and no doubt the attendance at his farewell tea will be large. After the tea a treat is in store for the public in the form of an address by the Rev. W. C. Woodward on “My trip to Tarawera and what I saw by the way.” Mr Woodward has delivered this lecture in Timaru and in other places, the general opinion being that it is well worth bearing. As there is no charge for admission to this there should be a large j number present.

The Mokau Coal Company. The Mokau Co-operative Coal Company (Wellington) has been compelled to go into liquidation. Mr A. Brown, who recently absconded, was the chairman, and the failure is said to be solely owing to his neglect and mismanagement.

The Eketahuna Murder. —At Eketahuna, Wellington, on Friday, Harrison and Smith were brought up on remand charged with the murder of Dalton, Most of the evidence given was similar to that adduced at the inquest. W. Skey Government analyst, stated that he had examined the articles sent him and found blood on the shirt only. He could not say how long it had been there, but it appeared recent. Both prisoners were committed for trial.

The Harvest. —lf the present weather holds out, and we have every reason to believe that it will, stacking will be completed this week. Those farmers who were lucky enough to secure their crops before the flood are now busy threshing out of the stack. It is the intention of some farmers to keep crops stacked after the flood for nearly six months before threshing. A Fever-Stricken place.— The barque Akaroa, from Santos, which has been off Otago Heads since Wednesday, was towed into port on Friday night, and all being well, admitted to pratique. Captain Murray gives a mournful account of the state of things at Santos. Hundreds of seamen are dying daily like rotten sheep. The barque Alastor was to follow the Akaroa to Port Chalmers for orders. All her hands had been down with fever. Captain Glazebrook was convalescent, but the second mate, Mr Hugh Lyle, a native of New Zealand, had died from yellow fever. The Akaroa made the passage in 60 days. Salvation Army Funerals.— Captain Furlong, of Christchurch, was in Geraldine on Sunday last, and inducted the burial services of the little >rirl Martha Pratt, who died suddenly on Wednesday, and Mr Samuel Chesterman, who died at Ashburton. The streets were lined with people, and Mrs Chesterman and her children had very many sympathisers. Mr Chesterman did not get a sunstroke, as was supposed, but died from- inflammation of the bowels, having taken a chill while working at Longbeach.

Attempted Robbery. —An adroit and nearly successful attempt at swindling has occurred at Christchurch. Two men, apparently Frenchmen, waited on a lady, offered her a quantity of household linen “at an enormous sacrifice,” and by their courteous manner and persuasive arguments induced her to buy £6O worth of goods which they delivered in a fourwheeled cab, and for which she paid partly in cash and partly in bills. On examining the goods delivered, her suspicions were aroused as to their value, and she communicated with her solicitors. They at once saw that the transaction was fraudulent, and finding out the men in the city threatened them with proceedings if they failed to disgorge the money and bills, which they reluctantly did.

Land for Settlement,— ln fulfilment of a promise given when addressing the settlers in Lawrence, the Hon. Mr Mackenzie has devoted considerable attention to the question of resuming pastoral runs for settlement, not only in Otago, but also in Southland and Canterbury, No less than 85 runs, containing altogether an area of 419,722 acres will be available for settlement twelve months hence ; and notice to that effect will be served on the runbolders before the end of the present month. The runs dealt with in this way up to the present time are in Southland, Otago, and Canterbury comprising 31 runs in Southland, total area 151,773 acres ; 43 runs in Otago, total area 242,649 acre*; 8 funs in Canterbury area 25,300 acres. The fact that a number of runs suitable for settlement have been let for 21 years without the right of resumption has greatly hampered the Miniser in his operations. Good Prospects. —At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr E.S.Harley, the vice president, who presided, said it was a matter of congratulation that trade though in a narrow compass was eminently satisfactory. 1 Credit was, sound and there had been no failures or events of any moment during the period under review to disturb the serenity of importers and manufacturers. It was a sad disappointment that, after the promise of a glorious harvest, the prospects had been so suddenly blighted by the recent unseasonable rainfall, He believed that in this part of the island at any rate the damage occasioned to the crops was not so serious as newspaper writers predicted. There was doubtless much grain sprouted, and the cost of harvesting had been greatly enhanced, but if the grain was allowed to mature in the stack, and was brought to market in shipping condition, there would be ready buyers at its full value. The rain had given such a plethora of feed for stock that store sheep were now selling at prices unheard of during the last decade. He urged greater activity in regard to securing a 'good representation at the Chicago exhibition, and said that the transactions in land, especially in improved farms, had recently been more numerous and on a larger scale than at any time since the land boom of 1878-9. Religious Education. This is how » in the Otago Daily Times pokes “ Li«- *>dvocates of religious educaJ* X XI, ~ , . .*? __

fun at the * 3 Relieve the collective tion : — lf we couia • -- •Trno(jg ) and testimony of presbyteries, o,- 1« Bishop Moran, ninertenths of the tuu.. population are in permanent revolt against the Education Act. But a special providence (under the direction of the Prince of Darkness, I suppose) ordains that these mutineers shall .all and Always pull different ways. 'Bible-in-schools wont help Roman, —would rather go to the stake; Roman wont help Bible-in-schools. —prefers to see him in purgatory ; Denominationalist—who is usually a mildeyed, melancholy lotus- eater calling himself Anglican—impartially declines to join

hands with either. This is the situation, undeniably a very pretty one, a credit to our common Christianity—a situation over which an insignificant minority of Jews, Freethinkers, and Chinamen is comfortably boss. The malcontents united might recast national education into any form they liked ; divided, they practically cancel one another. Well, since so it is, I suppose one must believe that so it ought to be. “ Whatever is is right.” For my own part, I confess, I find this easy-going optimism on the education question somewhat difficult, but in the case of our e steemed friends the lotus-eating Anglicans this and no other, I fancy, must be their innermost belief. How much do the Anglicans—who, be it remembered, are 250,000, more than a third of the population—contribute to the ecclesiastical protest against free, secular, compulsory, and —as they specially love to call it —“ godless ’’ education ? How much ? a triennial resolution. Merely that and nothing more. Thrice in a decade Anglicanism wakes up, passes its resolution, asking all it wants for itself, politely ignoring all that anybody else wants, and then returns to its slumbers. My private conviction is that Anglicanism doesn’t care twopence about 1 the matter, and he is a credulous man who can believe otherwise.

New Presbyterian Church. —On Friday the foundation stone of a new Presbyterian church at Blenheim was laid by Dr Elmslie, of Christchurch, who delivered an eloquent address on Presbyterianism. Mr Seddon was also asked to speak, and he made a humourous speech, winding up with a eulogy on the bible, as the foundation of the prosperity of the state. In the evening a conversazione was held, which was largely attended, and £42 was collectedfor the building fund.

Angling Society. A meeting of the Geraldine County Anglers Society was held at the Wallingford Hotel yesterday afternoon. Mr A. M. Clark presided. One account to the amount of £5 10s was passed for payment, and the chairman was authorised to arrange with Mr Cutten re signing of cheques, the secretary Mr Velvin having resigned. A letter was read from Mr J, A. Young urging the society to lay before the Acclimatisation Society the importance of making arrangements for the free passage of trout into the upper reaches of the rivers at spawning time. The letter was referred to the Acclimatisation Society. The meeting then adjourned. Fires. —The Railway Hotel at Richardson, West Coast, MrsMorrisey lessee, was burnt to the ground yesterday morning. The inmates escaped in their night dresses, and nothing was saved. The fire spread to adjoining premises and destroyed Johnston’s butcher shop and cottage, from which very little was saved, The insurance on the hotel was £BOO, on the furniture the amount is not known. The loss is considerable, as the hotel was the finest in the district. A shop and dwelling in South Dunedin, owned and occupied by Robert Price, water-works contractor, was burned down on Saturday night. The building was insured in the Norwich Union for £l5O, and the furniture for £IOO in the Union.

Temuka School Committee. —At a special meeting of the above, held last night, there were present Messrs Storey, Russell, E. Brown, and J. Cooper. Mr Storey was voted to the chair. The meeting was called to consider applications for the position of second master (for 8 months.) Of these three were received with the inspector’s report thereon. After consideration Mr Cooper moved, Mr Russell seconded, and it was carried M.A., F.Ph.S,, be recommended for the appointment of assistant master at the Temuka School.” The secretary was requested to notify the Education Board of the resolution. The meeting then terminated.

Extraordinary Conduct, A most extraordinary incident has ocourred in the Temuka district. One day last week a lad named William Williams, who recently came out of gaol after having served a sentence for petty larceny, went to Mr Charles Story and asked him for some chaff for bedding. Mr Story gave him the chaff and went away for a short time, and to his astonishment on his return he found his two stacks of straw in a blaze. Some neighbors rushed to render assistance, but nothing could be done to save the straw. Turning to the lad he asked how it happened, and he replied that he had trod on a match, which ignited and set the straw on fire. Mr Story laid an information against the lad, who was arrested, and on being brought before the Court yesterday was remanded for seven days.

Entertainment. Those wishing to enjoy a musical treat will have an opportunity of doing so to-morrow evening, when M. Leon-Driver will give one of his piano forte recitals in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. The programme appears in another column, and from it our readers will see that he will be assisted by some of the best singers in the town. M. LeonDriver, as a pianist, has a world-wide reputation, and his playing will doubtless prove a treat which Temuka people are not likely to enjoy again. As we have said in a previous issue, M. Leon-Driver does not confine himself to classical pieces. He will play “ Patrick’s Day,” “ The Minstrel Boy,” “ The Swanee River,” “ Auld Robin Gray,” and other popular pieces in a manner that has never been heard in Temuka before, and we confidently promise those who attend a musical treat such as they have seldom heard.

University Senate. —At the University Senate, Wellington, yesterday morning, a committee was set up to consider the question. of omitting mechanics from the medical preliminary examination. A committee was also appointed to consider sug-

gested alterations in the syllabus in biology. The committee on the question of dentistry, recommended that in consequence of the provisions of the Dentist Act Amendment Act, 1891, the regulations in dentistry at

page 106 of the calendar be omitted, and . this report was adopted. The principal recommendations made by the committee on the course in agriculture and engineering were agreed to. Dr Grace gave notice to move that a select committee be appointed to enquire into the system of teachingat the agricultural college, Lincoln, during the recess, with a view to bringing up a report to the Senate at the next sitting. R.M. Court, Temuka. — At the above Court yesterday, before J. T. M. Hayhurst and M. Quinn, Esqs., J.P.’s, James Adams

was charged with having made use of obscene language on the public street. The accused pleaded guilty. Constable Morton gave evidence to the effect that he was amongst a lot of young fellows when he made use of the language, which was abominable, and which he repeated several times. He wished to state that none of

the youths of the district were in the ’ - l 'it of using bad language. It was na,/ *- . -st-off scum of other districts always the • ihe bad language, who made use 01 - . . « * Constable Egan gave corroborative evidence, and the accused was sent to gaol for fourteen days. - William Williams was

brought up charged with hayipg set fire to two stacks of straw belonging to Chafes Story and remanded for seven days. The Court then rose. The Repairing Department of the New Zealand Cycle Works is specially organised for the prompt execution of repairs by skilled workmen. Adams 1 Curties & Co., 70, Manchester street, Christchurch. Cycles from £o. —8 SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. D. Charteris—Offers reward for return of lost mackintosh. Primitive Methodist Church—Farewell tea to the Rev. W. C. Wood at Geraldine, Miss Thompson, Dressmaker (late with

Mr Roulston), Temuka—Has commenced private dressmaking. Guinness and LeCren —Advertise entries for Geraldine stock sale to-morrow. J. Moran, late D. Taylor’s Store, Temuka —Has double bedstead and sundries for sale cheap. M. Leon-Driver —Programme of grand piano recital and concert in Temuka Volunteer Hall to-morrow night.

A report was published on January 30th that Lord Tollemache, who died recently, bequeathed to the Duke and Duchess of Teck, the parents of the Princess Mary, fiancee of the late Duke of Clarence, the greater part of his fortune, amounting to nearly £70,000 a year. Lord Tollemache was a neighbor of the Duke and Duchess,