LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2325, 3 March 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Geraldine St. Patrick’s Day Sports. —We remind those who are in training for the Geraldine St. Patrick’s Day Sports that entries close on Saturday next, March 5 th.

Typhoid in Wellington.—Fifty cases of typhoid fever are under treatment in the hospital, as against 121 last year. Three-fourths of the cases are from one particular locality of the city. Meeting oe Creditors. —A meeting of creditors in the estate of Byrne Bayley, farmer, takes place in the Deputy Assignee’s Office, Timaru, on Saturday afternoon. The business to be dealt with is important. Waitohi School Committee. A meeting of the above committee was held last Monday evening, all the members being present. After dealing with routine business, the question of considering applications for the post of teacher was taken in hand; and out of 8 applicants Mejsrs Forsyth, M.A., 81., and H. H. Allison, EL, were elected for recommendation to the board.

Pleasant Point School. —At a special meeting of the Pleasant Point School Committee it was decided to recomend Mr Marshall to the Board of Education for the head teachership, Mr Thompson having resigned. Failing Mr Marshall’s acceptance the committee recommended Mr Sterker. There were twenty-four applications for the position. Geraline Licensing Committee. —This committee met on Tuesday at noon. Present —Messrs A. White (chairman), H. B. Webster, F. W. Worner, and J. Riordan. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the Inspector’s reports on the public houses in the district were considered satisfactory. Mr M. C. Orbell was recommended as a likely person to fill a vacancy on the committee. The meeting then terminated.

Rangitata Station School. The monthly meeting of the Rangitata Station School Committee was held on Friday evening last. All the members were present. It was decided to vote for Messrs Goldsmith, Rhodes, and Jackson, as members of the Board of Education for South Canterbury. After the usual routine business a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Hawkes and Connal for the able manner in which they had worked in getting subscriptions in aid of the children’s treat and prize fund. It was agreed that the prizes should be procured and presented to the children when the school re-opened after the harvest holidays. Stallion Fight. A light between stallions at -Manaia is reported in the Hawera Star. If seems that Mr R. E. M’Rae’s Volunteer and the Clydesdale horse Prince Victor were both on a farm, but were kept with at least one paddock between them. The other morning, however, Volunteer broke through into the paddock adjoining Prince Victor, and the two stallions commenced fighting over the gate. Prince Victor seized Volunteer by the lower jaw and pulled him almost over the gate, breaking the top bar of the gate. The Clydesdale stallion, having thus got the advantage, continued to pull the thoroughbred over the broken gate. Whenever Prince Victor lost his hold he sat down owing to the force with which he was tugging. Finally he succeeded in dragging Volunteer completely over the gate, and he then tore Volunteer’s side open, exposing his entrails,besides otherwise knocking him about. Volunteer’s jaw was completely smashed, the bones rattling when his head was lifted. Curious News.—The Auckland Star remarks 'The old adage that we have to go from home to hear news of ourselves is strikingly exemplified by a cablegram from New Zealand whioh recently appeared in the jeading English papers. It speaks for itself. Here it is: “ Auckland, Wednesday. The influenza has invaded New Zealand, raging with widespread virulence. Alarge number of schools in this city and at other places have been closed on account of the prostration both of teachers and pupils. Many factories have also had to cease work. Great difficulty is experienced in keeping open the courts—Judges, counsel, and witnesses being daily absent. Many cases have had to be adjourned. Some newspapers have been delayed in publication, owing to editors and printers being laid lip. Nearly all business offices and shops are short-handed. The death-rate is greatly increased owing to the influenza and kindred disease's.” And yet people say the cablegrams in the- papers are not reliable. South Oraki School Committee.— The monthly meeting of the South Orari School Committee was held in the school on the 13th February. There were present Messrs O’Neil (Chairman), Brown, Bracefield and Ellis. The hnad master handed in his report which showed the rollnumber to be 105, and the average attendance only 09. He also asked to be supplied with some sets of squares and measures for teaching in connection with the new syllabus 0 — Granted. It was decided to strictly enfore the compulsory clauses of the Education Act in connection with the bad attendance. Correspondence was received from the Board' of Education stating that the sum -of £4 ].2s 6d had been paid into the credit of the committee, also asking the committee to nominate three members to fill vaciencies on the South Canterbury Board of Education. 'lt was decided to nominate Messrs G. H. Rhodes, Wm. Balfour and D. M. Boss. The board also asked the committee to reconsider the appointment of pupil teacher. There were nine applications. It was resolved on the motion of Mr BraCcfield,' seconded by Mr Brown, that Miss Alice Glanville bo appointed. Bracefield was appointed visitor for the ensuing I month- Accounts to the amount' of I .CIO 3s 3d’were pass id for payment ini connection with the children’s treat, and j the meeting terminated.

A Change, Pastor Birch, who had some trouble with the Tabernacle Concremation at Auckland, causing 1 numbers to secede and form the Union Church of which he has since been minister, has accepted a call from Oxford Terrace church, Christchurch. ' „ Drowned, —During the voyage of the barquentine Elinor Vernon, which arrived at Auckland frpm Port Chalmers, and when the vessel was three days out from that port, a seaman named Ernest M. Petersen, a native of Sweden, fell overboard while furl mg the jib and fcwas drowned.

Fruit Growing. —The Hon. W. P. Reeves left Christchurch for Wellington in the Rocoruaon Tuesday evening. In the afternoon a deputation from the Fruitgrowers’ Association interviewed him, and asked for more encouragement to the fruit-growing industry and stringent restrictions in regard to the codlin-moth. He requested them to put their views in writing, and said that the Government were anxious to do anything in reason to develope the fruit industry. The New Bishop of Nelson. Bishop Mules was formally welcomed at Nelson on Monday evening at a conversazione,which was very largely attended. Addresses were presented on behalf of the clergy and laity, and several speakers welcomed the Bishop, whose speech created a very favourable impression. He feelingly alluded to his predecessor and a similar gathering held there three years ago, and saked all for their sympathy and assistance.

Beer Duty. —The amount of beer duty collected last month, was £4515 10s 9d as compared with £4885 4s 3d for the previous month, and £4667 19s 3d for the corresponding month of the previous year. Auckland last month contributed £ll2B 2s !)d ;Wellington, £560 18s 9d ; Christchurch £Bl3 ?6s ; and Dunedin, £1312 Is 3d. For the eleven months of the financial year there is a deficit of £2830 12s Od, the Colonial Treasurer’s estimate being £55,000 while the amount reached has only been £52,169 Bs. Y.R.C. Autumn Meeting. The Autumn Meeting of the Victorian Racing Club was continued on Tuesday, the attendance being small. The Maiden Stakes was won by Arquebus, the Sires’ Produce Stakes by Autonomy, and the Hurdle Race by Sultan. The principal event of the day was the Australian Cup, of 1500 sovs. 2J miles, and this was won, after a grand race, by Highborn, with Strathmore second, and Forty Winks third, the time being 4min. 2) sec. The Junior Stakes was won by Birinjie, and the Bourke Handicap by Stromboli. The New Governor. The Premier states that the Government did not send any protest to the Colonial Office against allowing the name of the new Governor to become known before it was communicated to the press. Ministers, however, did consider that they had a right to feel aggrieved at the apparent want of courtesy, and instructed the AgentGeneral to enquire into the matter, and ascertain why no information had been sent to them until the appointment was generally known. Mr Perceval has not yet replied. Revenue Returns. —The Customs duty collected throughout the colony last month amounted to £164,844 7s sd. For the previous month the amount was £134,808 3s 7d, and for the corresponding month of 1891 £146,501 5s 9d. Last month’s total is with one exception the largest on record, The exception is the month of November 1888, when the alteration in the regulation caused a very large clearance at the Customs. The Colonial Treasurer’s estimate for the eleven months of the financial year was £1,407,083 6s 8d and the amount collected during that period was £1,478,141 2s 2d, leaving a surplus of £71,057,15s 6d. Athletic. The Amateur Atheletic Association has decided to send a team to England to compete at the Championship Meeting there, and they are appealing to the friends of athletics throughout thecolony for monetary assistance. The Treasurer, Mr C. H. Groxton, of Christchurch, has written to us asking us to make the fact known, so as to give local athletes an opportunity of contributing to the fund for defraying the expenses of the team, and we willingly do so. He has also asked us to receive subscriptions on his behalf, and we shall be happy to do that also, if any are offered. Any one therefore wishing to contribute to this fund can do so by paying his money to either the manager or editor of this paper, or by sending it direct to Mr C. H. Croxton, Box 103, Post Office Christchurch. Over £2OO has so far been subscribed in Christchurch. Poisoning Case at Dunedin. —AI Dunedin on Monday, at the inquest touching the death of Eda Webb, a child of lyear and II months, who died from the eflccts of poison, the evidence of the father was that he had put some “ Rough on Rats ” on pieces of bread for rats. He left the bread and poison in the kitchen close to where his wife was washing, and he took some of the bread to a neighbour. His wife had gone out to hang up clothes, and when he came back in five minutes he found that the bread had been touched, concluding it was by the dog. To make sure however, an emetic was given to the child who was in the front room when the poison was left in the kitchen. It appeared that the hospital house-surgeon, after treating' the child, told the mother to take it home, the reason being that there was a regulation that only children over two years should be admitted, except in case of urgmey. The jury returned a verdict of accidental poison, ing, and added a rider that the regulation excluding children under two years should be abolished. Meeting of Creditors. The first meeting of creditors of John Breakwell, labourer, of Temuka, was called for Tuesday, at the Deputy Assignee’s office, but no creditors attended. The following is the debtor’s statement of liabilities (all creditors of 'Temuka) :Dr Campbell. £1 os; Dr Blunden, £2 9s 6d; Dr Hayes, £3 2s 6d -, T, Barr, baker, £lB 13s ; Vallender and Watt, butchers, £4 17s 4d; W. McLeod, butcher, £1 0s 3d ; W. G. Gibbs, grocer, £4lssd; J.W. Miles, draper, £4 4s ; W. 0. Roulston, draper, £2 14s 8d ; Taylor, brewer, £1 ; M. Barr, labourer*, £2 Is; Ackroyd, butcher, 14s sd; B. Martin, rent, £5 8s ; total, £sl 11s Id. The debtor’s sworn statement showed that he is 26 years of age and hq s a wife and three children. He Is a farm labourer, and horsebreaker' ; has up property.'and kept no books.' He had had some misfortunes. Three years ago a horse fell with him and his jaw; after that he went to the Nprth Island, and while bushfalling a tree came (jqwn on Him aD -d h e was iatd up for six mpnths ; and last winter, he was kicked by a horse ’ and _ laid up again for six mouths. Taking these stoppages into account he did not think his earnings had averaged £1 a week for the last two years. All the accounts wei’G for necessaries, and most of them had been iqmiiing for some time. He had paid no one lately. Filed bceau.se M. Barr obtained ii judgment againsi him. He had no tools, and his furniture was not worth more than £5. The meeting was formally adjourned tUJ "Wednesday.

■^■ ECIDENT - —Miss Boyle, housekeeper at the Temuka Flour Mills, had the small bone of one leg broken by a kick from a cow. Ine injury was attended to by Dr Hayes, and she is progressing favorably. The New Liberal Paper.— The New Zealand Times yesterday morning announced the change of proprietorship, and that in future a broad and thorough support will be given to the principles and policy of the Liberal party. Fatal Accident. —A girl about sixteen years of age, Miss Winifred Wadis, who fell from a tree about a fortnight ago at Oketo, Auckland, near Raglan, and was impaled upon a stake, died on Tuesday from her injuries. Fire Brigade. The Temuka Fire Brigade had an hour’s practice last night, and showed their reputation for smartness is in no wise likely to be diminished should they compete at any of the coming sports on St. Patrick’s Day. A Stake in the Country.— Lord Onslow, a contemporary says, has early given his infant son Huia a “ stake in the country,” having insured him in the Government Insurance Office for £2500, to be paid over when the youngster becomes eighteen years of age.

Supreme Court. —At the Supreme Court, Napier, yesterday, the following sentences were passed:—James Duncan, for forgery, two charges, one year; Fred. Shellon, indecent assault, one month and a whipping of a dozen strokes ; Ernest Hallet, larceny, probation for two years, his father to enter into recognisances and pay costs. Married in Haste. —A Georgia editor, who is also areal estate agent, a building and loan association director, an attorney-at-law. clerk of the town council, and pastor of the village church, was recently called upon to perform the marriage ceremony, He was in a great hurry—in fact, the touple surprised him in the middle of a heavy editoral on the tariff. “ Time is money,” said he, without looking up from his work. “Do you want her.” The man said “ Yes.” “ And do you want him ?” The girl stammered an affirmative. “ Man and wife, cried the editor. “ One dollar. Bring me a load of wood for it —one third pine, balance oak.”

Power and Voice op the Bee. — In a recent work on the bee, Mr T, W. Cowan states that the insect can draw twenty times its own weight, can fly more than four miles an hour, and will seek food at a distance of four miles. By a beautiful mechanical adaptation its wings bear it forward or backward, with upward, downward, or suddenly arrested course. Its threefold voice organs are the vibrating wings, the vibrating rings of the abdomen, and a true vocal apparatus in the breathing apparatus or spiracle. The buzz is produced by the first two, and the hum, which may be “surely, cheerful, or colloquial significant,” by the vocal membrane. A number of bee’s notes have been interpreted. “ Humm ” is the cry of contentment, “ wuh-nuh-nuh ” glorifies the egg layings of the queen, “ shu-u-u ” is the note of the ■young bees at play, “ s-8-s-s ” means the muster of a swarm, “ b-r-r-r ” the slaughter or expulsion of the drones, and the “ tu-tu-tu ” of ihe newly hatched young queen is answered by the “ qua-qua-qua ” of the queens still imprisoned in their cells. University Senate.— At the University Senate, Wellington, yesterday, the Hon. Mr Tole was re-elected Senate member of the Board of Governors of Auckland College Grammar School. It was resolved —That in the requirements for honours in the physical science course, advanced laboratory work be substituted for the thesis' now required from candidates. That a select committee be appointed to draft a syllabus of work prescribed, and suggqgt necessary alterations in the honours statute. That in Section 2 of Statute 6, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the words “ at least ” be omitted before the words “ six subjects.” That the,Chancellor

be requested to take the necessary steps to obtain for the University the power of conferring the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Engineering. That the committee on the subject of physical science for honours consist of Dr Shand, Professors Cook, Scott, and Brown. That the Rev. Habens be added to the committee on December examinations. That the recommendation that candidates for the degrees of B.A. and B.S. be allowed pass their respective examinations in three sections, one at the end of the first year's term, be deferred until the next annual session.

Buried Alive. —A tragic incident is reported from the village of Proschovitsah, in the province of Kielce, Poland. In the cemetery of that village a few days ago a local physician was interred. The funeral took place in the forenoon, and as soon as the ceremony was over the sorrowing relatives returned to their homes. In the afternoon of the same day a second interment took place the new grave being in the immediate vicinity of the one which had been filled in a few hours previously While the funeral service was proceeding, the mourners were horrified to hear a succession of strange subterranean noises. Before they could recover from their astonishment, these sounds were followed by. a series of half-stifled shrieks, which plainly emanated from the adjacent grave. The officiating priest at once stopped the service, and the gravediggers, assisted as far as possible by the bystanders, set to work to re-open the grave. When the coffin was reached it was broken open. It was seen in a moment that the unfortunate doctor had been buried alive, but succor had come too late, and he had perished from suffocation while the work of rescue was actually in progress. The deceased was found to have turned upon his left side. In the agony of suffocation he had bitten his fingers to the bone, and had knocked his head against the sides of his terrible prison until his temples were covered with bruises. Presentation.— -The Welcome Ratreat Good Templar Bodge, Geraldine, held a coffee supper on Monday evening to bid farewell to the Rev. W. C. Wood before his departure for Wellington. The W.C.T., Bro. Bowkett, presided, and a number of songs, readings, and recitations were given during the evening. Later on the W.V.T., Bro. Taylor, presented Bro. Wood on behalf of the lodge with a purse of sovereigns in recognition of the services he had rendered the cause of temperance in the district'. In making the presentation he said they had hoped that the in Geraldine would secure his. services for another year, but it had been' ordered otherwise. They had admired hi» conduct both as a clergyman ip the district and also on the temperance platform. Wherever th<no tad been any wrongdoing he never hesitated to. sound his in reproval. In conclusion he hoped that Bro. Wood would not only be successful in his profession at. Wellington but also in working for the temperance cause. The Rev. W. G. Wood suitably responded, and said that the presentation came to him as a great surprise, and he thanked them heartily f 5r the kind manner in wlii cl l they had recognised his services, j also for their kind expressions of opinion. The little he had done had been prompted hy conscience, and the Prohibition Campaign conducted in Geraldine would always be one of his brightest recollections. He wished the local lodge every success, and in going to Wellington he hoped to join in with the lodge there. f

The Premier. —The Premier left Wellington for Wanganui yesterday. He will be absent eight days. The Tauranga Tragedy. —The little boy, Alexander Munro, the only surviving victim of the Tauranga Tragedy, is rapidly recovering, and is conscious.

Piano Recital. —M. Leon-Driver appeared last evening in the Temuka Volunteer Hall to a thin house, but notwithstanding this he went faithfully through the programme arranged. His playing was superb, and his execution marvellous, but we have not time in this issue to do him full justice. M. LeonDriver opened with “ The Swanee River,” which he played delightfully, maintaining the melody quite distinctly all through the most difficult and most rapidly executed variations. His rendering of “ Auld Robin Gray” with his left hand also gave infinite pleasure to the audience. The next piece, “ Paganini Etude,” was, we think, the most enjoyable of all. “II Trovatore” was also rendered in a masterly manner, and then came the piece de resistance, “ The Storm at Sea.” This is an extraordinary piece of music. It might more properly be called a piece of instrumentalism, if we may use the term, and no one could attempt it except an instrumentalist of the first order. It purports to trace the voyage of a ship through storm and sunshine, with waves surging, water rhppling, sailors singing, and thunder riming. It takes no effort of imagination to follow it through the greater part of the journey. The waves are very realistic, and so is the singing, and the thunder and storm breaks in on the calm with a terrible crash. This wound up M. Leon-Driver’s part of the programme, but no doubt he would have responded to encores if the attendance had beenjbetter. He played on a splendid piano obtained from Mr M. Scannell, and it is not too much to say that such music was never heard in Temuka before. Songs were contributed by Miss Lee, and Messrs Rutland, McOaskill, and E. Whitehead, all of whom were in good voice, and were loudly applauded by the audience. Bight Englishmen, each worth over £1,000,000, died last year.

The “ Star ” Cycles are Easy to Buy, Easy to Ride, and can be obtained on payments from 5s per week, or discount for cash.—-Adams, Curties&Co., 70, Manchester street, Christchurch. Cycles from £5. —9

SYNOPSIS OP ADVERTISEMENTS,

E. W. Body—Has sheep feed to let. Temuka Football Club—Annual meeting on Saturday evening. In Bankruptcy—Meeting of creditors of Byrne Bayley on March sth. Waihi Football Club —Annual meeting at Winchester on Saturday evening. Geraldine Town Board.—Notice re grant of use of Domain to St. [Patrick’s Sports Association.

Geraldine St. Patrick’s Day Sports Association.—Entries for sports to reach Secretary on March sth.