LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2346, 21 April 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

i Geraldine R.M. Court. There was no sitting of this Court on Tuesday. Concert and Dance.—A concert and dance will be held in the Gapes’s Valley schoolroom to-morrow evening. Geraldine Road Board.—An election of five members of the Geraldine Road takes place on the 6th May. Candidates must be nominated before noon on the 27th April, Carriage on Poisons—The Railway Commissioners notify that arsenic and other poisonous substances will not be carried on the railways unless securely packed. Broken, damaged, or leaky packages containing any poisonous substance will not accepted for conveyance. Important Sale op Horses, The attention of farmers, contractors, etc., is directed to the large sale of horses, harness, waggons, etc., advertised by Messrs J. Mundell and Co. to take place at Temuka, to-morrow, on account of Mr Jas. McCool, of Fairlie Creek. The sale will start at 12 o’clock. Entertainment at Geraldine.—We would again remind our readers in Geraldine and neighbourhood, that Wood’s Popular Concert Company give an entertainment in the Volunteer Hall, to -morrow evening. The company is a talented one, and we f&e) sure those who attend will thoroughly enjoy j/hewelves, Mr ToLLKMACifN’s Will.—With reference to the late Mr Tollenjache, whose will is the subject of some comment in the English papers, it has been ascertained that the >yill was made in New Zealand in 187-1. The amount of the property was £814,235 in the United gingdpm and £452,759 in New Zealand, in all £l,2(?(f)P-U- The New Zealand property has not contributed anything to the stamp duties as yet. Had it don® so, there would have been a surplus or revenue over the estimate under that heading f £he ifaiMijnt which will come in during the current Year will be probably over £3o,ooo.—Lyttelton Time?. Mount Peel road BoalU). —A meeting of the Mount Peel Road Board was held at their office on Thursday 14th. Members present—Messsrs C. GL Tripp. R Tn6\v, 11. Mackay, G. J.Dennistoan. Correspondence of a general character was read and considered. It was resolved that the annual meeting of ratepayers be held on Tuesday May 3rd, as the sth did not suit the chairman and other members. The statement of values, assessment roll of hum, had been received, and ike h! e rh was instructed to advertise that the same was ready for public inspection at the beard s office. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £7l 18s 8d and the meeting terminated.

Mount Peel Boad District, The 1 State-vent of Values, Assessment of Bolls, i are now on view at the Mount Peel Boad Boards office. N.Z. Mails. —Victoria and New South Wales Governments decline to lower the carriage rate of New Zealand mails across the continent, on the ground that they already pay more than they receive. Agricultural Statistics.— The Gazette contains a return of the estimated yield of grain in the county of Waitaki as follows. — In wheat 39,486 acres, estimated yield 971,701 bushels; in oats 19,726 acres, estimated yield 607,951 bushels; in barley 758 acres, estimated yield 19,188 bushels. Encounter With a Deer.— One of the deers lately released on the slopes of Mount Egmont followed quickly after Messrs J. N. Law and Strachan, two tourists, on the track near Dawson’s Pall. When Mr Law lost his way and dismounted in the dusk to find it, the stag closed, and finally charged Law, pinning him to the ground under his antlers. Whilst making a second rush Law seized the antlers and called to Strachan, who quickly cut the throat of the stag. It appears that the deer had been hand-reared, hence the trouble.

Highway Bobbery. A sensational sticking up case has been reported to the New Plymouth police. On Monday evening Henry Jordan was riding home up Carrington road, and when about a mile and a half from his home a man rode out from the hedge and said, “ Your money, or I’ll put a bullet through your brains,” at the same time pointing a revolver. The man wore a mask, and was dressed in a red coat and a small round tight fitting cap. He also carried a second revolver in a belt. Jordan had to turn out all his pockets, and then, finding that he had only a few shillings on him, the highwayman ordered Jordan to ride on and not look back, or he would be a dead man. Several others are reported to have seen the man. The police are trying to find out particulars about the afiair. A Voyage in a Cask. —An extraordinary discovery was made at Invercargill on Tuesday, in the shop of I). L. Matheson and Co. One of the employees was emptying a cask of salt herrings imported from England, when he noticed something moving among the fish. This proved to be a true lobster, about six inches long, and in a lively condition, notwithstanding the pressure to which it had been subjected for months at least. The fish is perfect, even the fine attennae being unbroken, and has all the characteristics as detailed in scientific works. Although immersed so long in strong brine the shell is the normal colour. The find is singularly interesting, seeing the recent attempt to introduce lobsters in a special tank by the mail steamers failed entirely.

Disease Among Horses. —The North Otago Times is informed that a large number of young horses in the Oamaru district are suffering from a disease which takes the form of violent purging. It has been ascertained that the stomachs of the animals were alive with a reddish worm, which in sone instances had almost perforated the stomach. Their presence in the stomach of the horse causes inflammation, which brings on the complaint from which the animals die. In the Papakaio and Waireka districts the disease has been most fatal. Old horses are rarely troubled with the complaint, the fatality being wholly among young animals. It is believed that feeding on new pastures is a preventitive of the disease, as it has been noticed that wherever the pasture is old, with water lying in pools within the poddocks, there the young horses have suffered most. One large breeder in the district has lost about twenty young horses from this cause. R.M. Court Temuka. —At the above Court last Tuesday, before Mr Twomey, J.P., James Sprattley, better known as “Jimmy the Fenian,” was brought up charged with having been guilty of disorderly conduct while drunk on the previous evening. The prisoner pleaded guilty. H. Lee, proprietor of the Crown Hotel, sworn, stated that on Monday afternoon the accused came into the hotel and demanded drink, but was put out. He 'returned again, and asked a man who was at the bar, to “ shout ” for him. The man refused to do so, and the accused then struck him, with his fist, in the face. Witness then had a great struggle with accused, in the course of which he made use of obscene language, and behaved very violently until Constable Egan arrested him. The accused was under the influence of drink, but knew well what he was doing. Constable Burke stated the accused was drunk when brought to the lock-up. The accused was fined £2, or seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour. Betting Shops. —On Monday afternoon the Wellington police made a raid on the betting shops in town, the proprietors of which have in the most open manner laid totalisator prices on all events in New Zealand, and starting prices on the principal events in Australia. Hitherto the proprietors of these betting houses have cloaked themselves under the idea that the simple explanation that they wired to their agents in New Zealand to put up the invested money on the machine would clear them of any responsibility, but on Monday the telegraph office was closed till 7 p.m, so that the money invested after ten that morning was stood by the proprietors. Upwards of £3OO was taken by the detectives, on the premises of Marten, the pork butcher, £lB5 of which Marten declares was money for the mare Ranee Nuna. £175 10s was taken at Yuille’s. At Simmonds’, butchers, and Patterson’s, no money was found, but in all instances books were taken which the police believed were used in betting transactions. The shops are still laying prices, but the proprietors are wiring the money away. Indue course the proprietors will appear in court.

Temuka School Committee. The regular monthly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday evening. Present Messrs W. G. Aspinall (chairman), E. Brown, J. Cooper, A. Russell, P. McOaskill, and W. Storey. The chairman stated that he had granted Mr Low, the second master, leave to absent himself from school from midday Thursday. His action was approved. The head master forwarded report on attendance return asked for by the secretary, and also a copy of the board’s report on scholarship examinations. The secretary was instructed to write to the Education Board, and convey the committee’s unanimous approval of the appointment of Mr Edge as acting head master. Accounts to the amount of £5 10s ( .)d were passed for payment. The secretary read a draft of annual report, and also of balance-sheet. These, with slight alterations were approved. The chairman took the opportunity of this being the last ordinary meeting to express his sense of the courteous treatment of himself by the committee, and ajso of their general kindly relations towords qne another during their term of office. Members thanked Mr Aspinall for his remarks, Mr Brown moyed a very cordial vote of thanks to the chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the meetings of the committee. Hu had not attended them all from business reasons, but when present bis services bad been invaluable. The motion was carried, and duly acknowledged. The meeting then terminated.

School Committee Election. —The following’ gentlemen have been nominated for election upon the Temuka School J Committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs ' W. Storey, H. M. Miles, C. Bates, P. B, Oldfield, J. Cooper, E. Brown, A. Bussell, and P. McCaskill. The Late Pike Brigade Social. — At a meeting of the social committee of the Temuka Fire Brigade last night, a vote of thanks was passed to the Temuka Volunteers for a donation of £1 Is, and to Mr McCaskill for a donation of £1 4s. J, Entertainment at Temuka. The Dobson-Kennedy Company announce that they will appear in Temuka on the 2nd May, when they will play “ Conn the Shaughraun.” The company is well spoken of by our exchanges, and visitors to the entertainment should spend a very pleasant evening. Constabulary. —Constable Bourke, who was stationed at Temuka some years ago, has entered upon his duties as constable in charge of Temuka and clerk of the court. He has been cordially welcomed by many former friends. Constable Egan has entered into the bonds of matrimony, and is at present on leave. The Edwards Case.— Begarding the Edwards case, nothing has yet reached the Government on the result, but I hear that a private letter received in town represents that Sir Horace Davey is hopeful of a verdict. It may, of course, bo natural that he should be, but the fact that he is hopeful is, nevertheless, regarded by a few who know it as a favourable sign.—Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times. The Phonograph. —Mr George Kelly, with the Phonograph, paid a return visit to Geraldine on Monday evening and to Temuka on Tuesday evening. The attendance on both occasions was small, doubtless owing to lack of publicity being given to the entertainments. The programme gone through was similar to those given on the previous visit of Mr Kelly, and seemed to be appreciated by those present.

Death from Thirst. —Richard Edwards, a static n hand, aged about 60, died in the Wilcannia district, N.S. Wales, early this month from thirst. It appears that the unfortunate man left Yantara for Mount Wood station on horseback, and having camped on the road he let he his horse go. It is supposed he could not find the horse again, and becoming exhausted for want of water tried to make for a well on the Mount Wood station, but failed in the attempt. His body was found alongside a fence leading to the well. Several deaths have occurred in the same district during the past summer from thirst in the bush. Parish Festival. To-day the Parish Festival annually held in connection with St. Saviour’s Church commences with a sale of work in the Temuka Volunteer Hall and auction of produce. As we have before noted, the sewing guild organised by the ladies of the congregation has been doing good work in the making up of a capital lot of useful articles of wearing apparel, &c., which should find a ready sale. Little attention has been paid to the fancy articles usually seen at bazaars, and which, however pretty, are rarely useful enough to tempt the average buyer “ to part ” with good grace. Raffles are tabooed, and business will be carried on strictly on. legitimate lines. The admission will be free. On Friday a social gathering will take place. To this the charge of Is will be made. The evening will be enlivened by music, and so forth, and there is also to bea tug of war, the competitors in which will be representatives of the volunteers, football, and-other clubs. This of itself should prove interesting. The arrangements for this item have been entrusted to Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst, who has spared no, trouble in getting entries and in making' the arrangements as complete as possible. As this is the last occasion of the kind upon which the Rev. T, A. Hamilton is likely to be present in his capacity as pastor, it is expected that the attendance will be unusually large. It may be mentioned that the proceeds are to to be devoted to the extinction of the debt upon the new hall, which has already proved a boon to the general community as well as to the Church.. We have been requested to draw attention to the fact that entries for the tug of war will be received up to noon on Friday. Some further particulars will be found in re advertising columns.

Presentation to the Rev. Mr Morley. —At the invitation of the Rev. W. Morley and Mrs Morley, who are about to leave Christchurch for Three Kings College, Auckland (to the charge of which the Rev. W. Morley has been appointed), about 100 of their friends assembled in the Durham street Wesleyan schoolroom on Saturday afternoon (says the Press) for the purpose of taking part in the celebration of they? silver wedding. The guests included ministers and ladies and gentlemen from all parts of Canterbury, and a large number of congratulatory telegrams were received from all parts of the colony from friends and former congregations. During the afternoon short addresses were given regretting the departure of Mr and Mrs Morley, and on behalf of rho ministers of Christchurch the Rev. Baumber presented Mr Morley with a writing table an I desk in cedar. Mr E. C. Brown, on behalf of the friends of the host and hostess, presented them with a silver salver filled with silver coins fresh from the mint. It bore the inscription: “ Filled with silver coins, and presented to the Rov W, and Mrs Morley on the occasion of their silver wedding, by a few friends at Christchurch, 16th April, 1892.” The Rev Mr Morley accepted the gifts, and in few appropriate words thanked the donors for their kindness and expressed his regret at leaving Christchurch.

Miss Hewitt’s Funeral.— The Hawke’s Bay Herald gives the following - account of the last rites rendered to the body of Miss Hewitt, who in her will clearly set out her 'desire to be buried at sea. Mr P. S. McLean was made executor under the will, and saw that all arrangements were carried out in a befitting manner so as to avoid shocking 1 any person’s susceptibilities, and to provide against the most remote chance of tlifek, coffin ever being washed ashore. Holes were bored in the coffin so that the sea water would enter it freely, and at the feet of the body were securely placed weights amounting to a total of 1751 b. The coffin was taken from the High School to the Spit with all the decorum of an ordinary funeral, and the hearse was followed by coaches containing a large number of the deceased’s friends, Upon the arrival at the port the coffin was placed upon the deck of the s.s, Fanny, which was fittingly prepared for the occasion. A number of the mourners went out with the steamer to witness the final ceremony, and Dean Hovell was on board by arrangement to read the burial service, The Fanny steamed out eight miles from port, and seven miles from the nearest land. By the time that distance had been covered daylight had departed, but the moon shone out clear and bright, making a glorious pathway of light to the horizon, and in thafrradiance the body was committed to tbw deep. The Fanny hove to while the funeral ceremony was in progress, and at the words “ We now commit her body the deep ” the coffin glided foot first, and almost without a splash,into the broad path of light formei upon the ripples by the - moon’s rays. Tfi scene was a very solemn and suggestiy one S

A Stag- Hunt.—A Notts clergyman published the following account of a “ stag hunt” which he has received from his son, a schoolboy receiving his education in Surrey. The rector thinks it gives an excellent idea of what this “ sport ” not infrequently amounts to. “ Dear Father,— There was a stag hunt here yesterday. The stag was an extremely small hind. They let it out of a sort of bathing machine in the village. It went out of the box, aud began grazing about thirty yards from the men. Then an old man drove it away with the whip. I saw the stag. The first one ran into a house in the village and hid behind a piano, where it was killed (of course by mistake) by the hounds. The second one was chased away, and ran into the yard of a public-house.” Our New Governor, —lf (says the Bulletin) the Earl of Glasgow had a mania for the turf, like his crotchety old predecessor (who bred Musket’s sire), one could understand him being sent out to bid for the sporting vote and interest of Maoriland. The incoming Gov., however, is alleged to be a dreary nonentity and a pious infliction of the most respectable character. He hates racing, and is altogether a dry, harsh individual in his 60th year. Evidently Knutsford considers that anything will do for the beastly Kawlinies (especially Maoriland) nowadays, provided that it carries a Scotch title. Kintore, Hopetoun, Hamilton, Glasgow 1 The Duke of Edinburgh will soon be forwarded as King of Australia if we don’t take care. A Lunatic’s Appetite— The authorities of our lunatic asylums (says the Lancet) have to exercise very great vigilance in the case of some patients under their charge, but they are not always successful in preventing the peculiar propensities of certain patients from manifesting themselves. A case in point is recorded from Aberdeen. A woman was admitted to the hospital in a weak, emaciated condition, laboring under active melancholia. Everything went on satisfactorily for a mouth, when she was seized with vomiting and other symptoms. From that time during the three months following the patient passed no fewer than 125 pins and sewing-needles, with, in addition, many darning needles and hairpins ; also a pair of spectacles in portions, and a crochet-needle. Although she had lost much flesh, at the end of the three months recuperative power set in, and she was slowly and gradually recovering both in mind and body, when an attack of pneumonia cut her off some two months later. Sheep in New Zealand— Colonel Gorton has a high word of praise for our New Zealand Lincolns. “I travelled a great deal,” he said to the Post reporter, “through Belgium, Switzerland, France, and parts of Germany, and visited every county south of York, except Cornwall. During this time I had an opportunity of visiting several shows, including the Royal show at Doncaster, and I had opportunities of seeing the best stock in England at the establishment of the famous breeder, Mr Hugh Aylmer, West Dereham Abbey, Norfolk, the Queen’s farm at Windsor, the Duke of Hamilton’s farms in Suffolk, and numerous other places. I suppose I saw the finest in England, but as regards Lincoln sheep I certainly consider that I have seen finer shows in New Zealand than I did in England, This is not to be wondered at. Duiding’s Lincoln sheep, which took the prize at the Royal show last year, have been imported into various parts of this colony, and the climate of New Zealand is far more suitable for the growth of sheep than that of England, and I have no hesitation in saying that I have seen finer Lincoln rams in New Zealand than I saw in the old country.” Destitution in Sydney. —No less than 400 unemployed men sought shelter in Brown’s stables, in Sydney, which have been granted for the use of destitute men at night. A visit to the place (says the Sydney Morning Herald) reveals a sad state of affairs existing among those in destitute circumstances. On the ground floor, where horses for sale were at one time exhibited, and on the first storey, which was used for the accommodation of buyers at horse sales, rows after rows of men were observed sleeping m their clothes —if they could be called such—on the bare flooring, and in some cases on the bare earth, and covered in the majority of instances with old newspapers, and in a few cases —where the men had been more fortunate —with sacks. Fully half of the men were bootless, and their feet were protected with rolls of newspapers tied round the ankles with pieces of string. They lay closely huddled together, and seemed thankful that they had not to face the blinding rain beating heavily on the roof. From different parts of the stables could be heard deep, consumptive coughs, and one poor young fellow was observed apparently near death. He had lain there, it appears, all the day, and an untouched cup of soup was by his side. A few of the healthy men willingly gave the sacks they had, so that he might be more comfortable, and another volunteered to sit by his side and attend him during the night. The police in charge of the establishment state that during the time the men have occupied the building for sleeping purposes—three or four days—not the slightest disorder has occurred, and that suspected or drunken persons have nst been admitted. , , , . It is hard to understand why playing football is considered easier than sawing wood. Consignment of Safety Bicyles, ex s.s. Pakeha Special offer, immediate delivery. Girder Star £ls, Marriott No. 7 £ls, Marriott No. 13, diamond frame, ball bearings all over, £l7 10s. Adams, Ourties and Co., 70 Manchester street, Christchurch. Cycles supplied on the hire purchase system from 5s per week. Advt,] SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. J. Wright, Rangitira Valley—Wants a ploughman. Mrs T. Cheyne Farnie, Geraldine—Wants a general servant. W. Harrison, Winchester Mills Has crushed oats on sale. Concert and Dance—At Gapes’s Talley School to-morrow. G, Levens, Bailiff —Notice re sale o f shop fittings, etc., at Temuka on Saturday. Dobson -Kennedy Company—Appear in Temuka, Volunteer Hall, on Monday evening*. Geraldine Private School —Mr J. Archibald, M.A., notifies that new quarter will begin on Monday next. D. Owers & Co.—Will re-open their Temuka branch on Saturday next; price list in next issue. . Tug of War—At St. Saviour’s Parish Festival on Friday ; entries received at Mr Dann’s shop up to noon on that day. W. Shiers, Returning Officer —Election of five members of Geraldine Road Board on May 6th; nominations close on April 27th. . Grade, Maclean and Co. (in conjunction with J. Mundell and Co.) —Sell improved farm of 667 acres, situate on Seadown, on Tuesday next, on account of Messrs Brown and Mitchell. Arthur Gabites, The Corner, Timaru— Notifies the purchase of large consignments of men’s and boys’ clothing, white and coloured blankets, union and cotton shirtings, etc.; gives quotations.