LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2360, 24 May 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

’Frisco Mail—The San Francisco Mail is expected to arrive by the express train to-day. Our New Governor. —Lord Glasgow arrives at Sydney on the 27thand leaves on the 29th. He is expected to reach Wellington on the sth or 6th of June. Serious Charge. The police at Queenstown, Otago, arrested Albert Bryant, a youth, for firing a pistol at a Chinaman. He admits the firing, but says that it was accidental.

The Edwards Appointment.—The Government have received a cable from the Agent-General, stating that the appeal in Buckley v. Edwards was allowed, the court holding that judges can only be appointed for whom a salary is fixed by law. No costs were allowed on either side.

Farewell Social. —We would remind our readers in the Winchester district that a social, for the purpose of bidding farewell to the Ruv. T. A. Hamilton, takes place in the Sunday School Room, Winchester, tomorrow evening. A cordial invitation is extended to all, and we feel sure the attendance will be very large. Found Dead.—Tne body of a man was found floating in the Auckland harbor. Evidently it had not been in the water very long. It was respectably dressed. A sovereign, knife, gold chain, and stop watch were found on the body.—Chung Low, a miner, 65 years of age, was found dead in a hut a mile above Beaumont bridge, Otago.

Hurricane at Miiinmao.- Mr 0. W. Turner, of Christchurch, has received a cable message from Messrs Ireland, Fraser and Co., stating that a terrific hurricane passed over Mauritius on the 29th April, doing immense damage to shipping and also to the sugar plantations. In consequence of the damage, it was estimated that the crop would not exceed (!0,000 tons sugar, or about half an average crop. The Dairy Industry. —lt is proposed to ask Parliament next session for a vote to assist the dairy industry. The attention of the department has been drawn to the importance of having cool chambers at the ports, and the Government will probably make arrangements for those conveniences. Mr Sorenson, the district Inspector’s, term is up, but the vacancy will not be filled till Mr Sawers returns from Melbourne. Acclimatisation. —At a meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society it was stated nothing definite has yet been settled as to the success or otherwise of the salmon experiment. The Rhine salmon have prospered fairly, but not the Rhine trout. Winged imported game has almost disappeared before stoats and weasels and rabbit poisoning, and nothing has been heard of the partridges, plovers, grouse, and mountain quail, which were liberated.

Court of Afreal.— Yesterday in the case Shaw Savill v. Timaru Harbor Board, the Appeal Court fixed the costs at JhSdh 1 (is, inclusive of witnesses expenses.—ln the Auckland Hospital Board v. Lovett, a ease alfectiugthe liability of a hospital board for maltreating patients, the Appeal Court allowed the appeal, with costs on the middle scale. —In the Sydenham Licensing case the court unanimously allowed the appeal, but without costs. —The court adjourned at I p.m. till Juno 17th, when the remaining judgments will be delivered. Queen’s Birthday.— To-day being the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's "Birthday will be observed as a public holiday. At Temuka and Geraldine the local Rifle Companies will fire a fcu-dc-joic , an 1 afterwards hold their annual competition for prizes. At Pleasant Point athletic sports and hack races will be held and these should attract a large number of pleasure seekers. At Temuka in the evening the annual social under the auspices of the Temuka Rifle Company will be held, and, judging by the enjoyable nature of theijr gatherings in the past, it should be very successful. Tue charge for admission to the social is only ils the double ticket. Racing Swindle. — At Guttenburg, a few miles from Yew York, there is a racing track which has a reputation for all sorts qf queep performances. They had a mare there named Gyda, und it had been noticed for some time that when she was at long odds she invariably won, but when favoured in the betting she as invariably losL On the 28th March she performed one of her usual antics, and it was noticed that her jockey when weighing out was fib heavier than when he weighed in. He was taken to the executive committee's room, where he was stripped and examined; on him was found a complete electric battery, the cups being contained in a belt with pockets around his waist, and from the battery wires conveyed the current to a spur, which was made specially for its work. Insolation was secured by a strong cloth of Ijjdja rubbep, and the whole thing so well devised that the application of the spur to ‘ GKlfi/f? gjde would make her third* she was '■’•“droCdltv'lj and induce hep to make being ex. - +,iu t h 0 f which she was tae best possible w ., ( . nß i nn,] capable. The boy was sevei. . - "the the owner of the mare was ruled track. There have been rumours ot tue use of electric batteries in racing, but this is the first time that the fact has been positively known, at least in that locality. Accident.— A lad about eleven years 9 f age. named Coffee, sonot a wharf labourer at Lyttelton, had an almost miraculous escape from instant death at Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon. He was riding in a spring dray driven by a young man named Brown, carter for Mr E Williams, and as they approached the railway crossing at the foot of Oxford street the crossing keeper signalled them to stop as an engine was shunting. Brown pulled up close f,O the line, but by some means, just as the engine was close upon them, the horse went forward, bringing the dray on to the line right iii front of the locomotive, which, struck it with considerable force, knocking it clear off the line. Brown, the driver of the dray, was thrown clear of the line, and escaped with nothing more serious than a fright and 1 a good shaking; hut the unhappy lad Coffee fell on to the cow-catcher and rolled between the rails, and the engine passed over him. Warned by the cries of those near at hand the lad had sufficient presence of mind to lie still till the engine was clear of him. When picked up, however, it was found tiiat he had received a nasty gash on the neck close behind the ear, several stitches being required to close the wound. His left leg - was also found to be very badly broken, being split for a considerable distance between the ankle and the knee. He was immediately taken to the casual ward where he was attended by Dr Roberts. The driver of the engine, Wrough, was much praised by those who witnessed the occurrence for the extreme smartness with 1 which he pulled up his engine. On enquiry J yesterday the lad was found to bo as well ' as could be expected.—Press,

Forgery.—A man named Michael Ford was committed for trial at Christchurch on Friday on several charges of forging and uttering cheques to different townspeople. 1 1. legao Rescue.—At the R.M. Court, Timaru, on Friday last, Eugene Heffernan was fined £1 and costs for illegally rescuing two horses from Benjamau Kelly, which the latter was taking to the Point Pound. .Solicitor’s fee and Court costs were allowed.

Southland Grain Traimtc.—The grain traffic on the Southland railways from the first week of March till the middle of May reached 281,000 sacks, against 188,000 in the corresponding period the previous year, being an increase of 93,000 or nearly 30 per cent.

Political Association. —At a private meeting at Christchurch ou Saturday, attended by about seventy fanners and nmholdcrs, it was decided to form an association to watch over the political interests of country settlers. It is intended to oppose the present system of taxation.

A Concession.—The Minister of Lands has undertaken that delegates to the Agricultural Conference at Christchurch will bo paid the cost of return railway or steamboat fare. Mr Ritchie, Secretary of Agriculture, will represent the Government at the conference, by permission of the delegates.

Drunken Unemployed.— Two of the unemployed who were being forwarded by t ie steamer Australia from Wellington to Gisborne, landed at Napier on Friday, and got drunk and disorderly. Thomas Ryan was sentenced to 3 months for resisting the police, and 2 months extra for damaging a uniform. The other VVm. Thomas, got 14 days. Larceny.—At the R.M. Court last Saturday, before Mr J. M. Tvvomey, J.P., John Breen was charged with having, on the previous evening, stolen ten sticks of tobacco and 21b of candle? from the shop of Mr Patrick, Winchester. Constable Bourke said that as the case had occurred late on the previous evening he was not prepared with evidence, and asked for a remand until Wednesday, the 25th inst. The case was accordingly remanded. Vessel in Distress.—Captain Romerill, of the steamer Kahn, reports that he sighted the barquentiue Jasper off Cape Palliser, flying signals of distress. She reported having loft Newcastle for Lyttelton on the 28th April, and had been for six days without water or provisions. Her cargo had shilted and the cabin was full of water. The Jasper had lost many of her sails, and had drifted from Kaikoura to Castlepoint. The Kahn supplied the vessel with the necessary wants.

Geraldine Rifles. The Geraldine Rifles nill assemble at 9.30 this morning, when they will do honor to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by firing a fcu-dc-joic , After this the men will put in a day's firing for prizes. The Company’s Cup will be fired for, also money prizes as follows : 20s, 10s, 7s fid, and 7s (id. The firing for Lieutenant McKenzie’s cup will be completed, and the annual firing for prizes collected, in which every man gets a prize, will also take place. This year, among other valuable prizes collected, is a handsome silver cup.

Rabbit Preserving.— Dissatisfaction is expressed at Invercargill with the intention of the Rabbit Department to order poisoning to commence about the middle of June. The rabbit preserving industry employs a thousand hands in Southland, most of whom will be thrown out of work, besides entailing a serious loss to the proprietors of works and involving a waste of food. Those engaged in the industry ask that the poisoning be postponed till the end of August and continued no longer than the middle of February. Fatal Accidents. —A seven-year-old son of Mr Scobie McKenzie, M.H.R., met with a fatal accident on Saturday. He was playing about an outhouse which was only high enough to allow him to stand up. He had evidently put his head but not his arms through a noose in a rope and was swinging himself, when the noose slipped and caught him under the chin. The jerk dislocated his neck. The rope was only two feet from the ground, and when the body was found the knees were just touching the ground.— A boy named Fraser, son of a wood and coal dealer at Caversham, Dunedin, was killed by the overturning of a cart. Two other lads who were in the cart at the time escaped. Runaway. Last Saturday morning, shortly after 10 o’clock, a Maori lad named Pari Te Aka and his sister were driving into town in a dray, when, after crossing the Temuka bridge, the horse took fright and bolted along the road and up the Main street until it had reached opposite the Leader office. Here a young man named J. MeCallumpluekily jumped in the dray and pulled up the horse. The young Maori woman jumped out when the horse bolted and escaped unhurt, but the Maori lad stuck to the reins manfully, and kept pulling with all his might the whole way. He diil not seem to realise the danger he was in, for he regarded it as good fun, and laughed heartily, while his sister, who appeared to have been frightened, was melting in tears. The street was pretty clear at the time and no harm was done to anything.

Political Items. The Government have decided to constitute a Portfolio of Labor, of which Mr Reeves will take charge as Minister of Labor, handing over the Yative and Police Departments to Mr Cadman, .Statistics will be collected, and fin anij,ual report presented. Probably a Bill will bo introduced to enable evidence to be obtained as to the condition of labor. —Both the Bills prepared by the Government and the Public Services Association for the classification of the Civil Service ape ready, and if a compromise cannot be agreed qu jjhe Government will lay both before the House. '|Jhe (Tavern meat Bill brings the railway men and everyone in their permanent employ under its scope.— A considerable amount qf repairs and alterations are going on ajb the Parliamentary Build ip git. A new foundation is being put in under the legislative Council Chamber and Library, the old qnes, phgqgh of totara. being thoroughly rotten. The Ifansard and other galleries are being- enlarged.

Smoke Concert. —Mr Robert McLeod was entertaine 1 at a smoke concert last Friday night by the Black Star Minstrels in recognition qf his services as musical conductor. Mr McLeod has resigned the position of accompanist to the cj.p.l), owing to private reasons, and the members entertained him as above, and also presented him with a silver albert chain and greenstone pendant. The concert was held in Mr F. Colville’s private residence, and a most enjoyable evening- was spent- Mr Arthur Clinch occupied the chair, and a long list of toasts was gone through, including the health of Mr McLeod, proposed by the chairman in a very eulogistic speech. He referred to the valuable assistance given to the clqb by Mr McLeod, and said they would not find it easy to fill his place. They all regretted his resignation, bqt his reasons were such that they all sympathised with him, Mr McLeod feelingly replied, and j thanked the club very sincerely for the honor they h a d dou e him. He regretted having to resign, as his epuneefiou with them had been a very happy one. and ho hoped they would be successful in the future. A large number of songs were sung, and a most agreeable evening was wound up with Auld Lang fejne.

_ Geraldine Stock Sale. The fortnightly sale of stock takes place at Geraldine to-morrow. A large number of entries are advertised in another column.

Private Wealth Of Australasia.— Mr Cogheau, the New South, Wales statistician estimates that the total private wealth for Australasia shows an increase of 088 millions starling in the 25 years preceding 1800, the total in that year being £l,l (I!),000,000. Of this about 821 millions, or 70 per cent., represented real estate. In the same year the average wealth per Australasian citizen stood at £30!).

Salvation Army Marriage Bureau.— As already mentioned, General Booth has e.-tablished a Salvation Array Matimonial Bureau. He announces the interesting fact iu the following eminently characteristic notice;—“Safety matches arc now made by the Social Wing without sulphur phosphorous, which will flame without striking. What do we mean ? Just this. That if you are unmarried and do not know where to chooso a partner, you can communicate with Colonel Barker, Matrimonial Bureau, 101 Queen Victoria street. E. 0., and he will most probably supply you with just what you want somebody loveable and good.”

The Poluill Gully Range. —The Polhill Gully Commission’s report was submitted to the Government ou Wednesday. The commissioners think it would have been preferable for the Government itself to have taken the land under the Public Works Act, and they also think there was uo apparent reason why the sum paid for the land should not have been placed on the Supplementary Estimates. No agents appear at any time to have been employed on behalf of the Government to effect the purchase. The average price of land bought by Messrs Kirk and Atkinson was £3(5 !)s Id per acre, and as it was sold by them to the Government at £Bl per acre, there could be no doubt of the extremely disadvantageous character of the agreement entered into with that firm by the Defence Department. There could be no doubt Messrs Kirk and Atkinson bad only purchased and transferred to the Government the cheapest and roughest portion of the land. The commissioners’ inquiries showed it was not desirable to incur any unavoidable further outlay on the purchase of the Polhill Gully rifle range.

Plain Speaking. —At a meeting of creditors at Timaru, in the estate of Geo. Murdoch, a painter, the principal creditor did some plain speaking. The debtor attributed his bankruptcy to a fire which destroyed his stock, etc., about eighteen months ago, when he got the insurance money, £IOO, but the value of the lost stock was £2OO over that, and latterly times had been slack. Mr McKeown questioned the bankrupt’s assertion that he had had a slack time, since New Year at all events But tncy all knew how it was. He had been wasting his ti a? e about public houses and travelling on his friends. He (McKeown) lent him £3O to pay wages on the Temuka job, but he did not pay them. The boys told him they had even to pay train fares. The bankrupt said he did not think he told Mr McKeown about the job when he borrowed the £3O. He had borrowed from him often before. Mr McKeown: Yes you did, and too often —once too often. If the debtor had acted properly he could have been as well off as anyone there. He had a job of £75, and sent two or three boys to do it. If he had nor spent his time about public houses instead of looking after his work, he would have been able to pay his tradesmen. —It was decided to invite tenders for the stock-in-trade, and place the accounts in the hands of a collector.

“ Booming ” New Zealand. The London correspondent of the Auckland Herald, writing ou April Ist, says:—“ Beut on ‘ booming ’ New Zealand, and encouraging emigrants to select the colony as their future home in preference to other portions of the Empire, Mr Perceval, the Agent-General, has decided to petition his Government to grant assisted passages to small farmers, agriculturists, and others having a little capital. As a necessary step towarls auy such arrangements, the shipping companies have been consulted in the matter, and they have expressed their willingness to concede a reduction of £ ( on a second class passage, on condition that the New Zealand Government will make a grant of a like amount. In this way the immigrants would pay only £2O instead of £3(5. Another proposal put forward by the Agent-General is that a certain sum shall be placed upon the estimates for advertising the colouy in London. This sum he puts at £SOO, which would include £2OO for printing; the balance of £3OO would cover the cost of a standing advertisement concerning New Zealand and * the workmen’s Paradise ’ in something like fifty papers. Another idea the Agent-General has is advertising New Zealand’s claims among the tourist class. He is now in correspondence with Messrs Cook and Son, with a view to see if they cannot arrange to include New Zealand in the circular tours they are organising- iu connection with the Chicago World’s Fair. Meanwhile, the Information Bureau at the Department’s offices is proving a success in every way.”

General Booth’s Over-sea Colonies —With reference to Ganeral Booth's colonisation scheme this week’s War Cry says :—“ According to our latest advices from Home, the general was still undecided as to the best site for his first over-sea colouy, Africa and New Zealand being apparently about equally well balanced. What more natural then that, in order to arrive at a right decision, the general should

make enquiries of the shipping- companies as to the cost of transport to New Zealand .’ We are confident that only this initial stage of proceedings has yet been reached. Besides it must not be lost sight qf that one of the principal planks of the programme for oversea cqlqnies was the preparation of the laud for the people—indeed, this was continually insisted on by the general in his speeches up and dqwn the colony. Those people whq'se vivid imaginations summon up a visiqn qf the genera}. gathering together 50Q emigrants apd shipping t>hcm of? to New Zealand within the next three mouths know little about the Salvation Army—the very fact that no instructions have been received from the international headquarters in London to make preparation fqr the pception of the over-sea colonists here precludes all id eg qf immediate action in the matter. Should, however, New Zealand be ultimately selected as the site of the general’s over-sea colony our fj-'iciydq and enemies may rest assured on this one point—that the who}e bifslpess will be done in an above-board and straightforward manner, with the hearty cooperation of tbe Government, the glad consent of the people, and the ringing approbation of the civilised world.” With reference to General Booth’s immigration scheme, Ministers state that the general gave a prqmise that before anything was done he would give them sufficient notice to enable any legislation that might be found necessary to be passed in the coming session. As they have receiveed no intimation from him and no reply to their cable message has yet from the AgentGeneral they are still at a loss how to explain the cable news of the last few days.

Shearers’ and Laborers’ Union. —■ A meeting of the above took place in Temuka last Saturday evening, and in the absence of the president Mr Sweet occupied the chair. Mr Hall intimated that he was leaving for Australia and wished someone to take up the secretaryship, but as no one seemed disposed to do so it was decided to hand over the books and papers to the Geraldine branch for the present. Temuka Musical Society.- -In response to an advertisement a meeting of those interested in the formation of a Musical Society was held in the Parish Room at 7.30 last night, but owing to counter attractions the attendance was somewhat small. Those present decided to adjourn the meeting until Monday evening, May doth, at the same time and pl«,ce, when it is earnestly hoped that there will be a larger number present, to discuss rules which will be brought forward by the provisional committee, and also to appoint officers, enroll members, and arrange for the first practice. Mount Peel Road Board. —A meeting of this board took place at their office on Friday, May 20th, it being found impossible to defer it until June 17th. Present— Messrs C. G. Tripp, G. J. Dennistoun, R. Thew, J. D. Acland, and R. Mackay. After the correspondence was read it was resolved —“That the clerk procure a tip-dray, two horses, and harness, for the back portion of the district; that tenders be called for making a road to Perpetual Lease Section 3(5,003.” Mr Fergusson interviewed the board to ask them to do some more shingling on Turner’s road. —The clerk to see what Mr Fergusson requires. Mr Broderick, on behalf of the Chief Surveyor, interviewed the board to ascertain if they had any objection to the road over the hill, near Mr W. E. Barker’s, being reduced to one chain wide.—The board agreed to this. Mr Tripp asked the board to allow his name to appear with those of Messrs Mackay, Acland, and Dennistoun supporting Mr Talbot in his action re shifting shingle. Pay sheet for month, £IOO Os 7d. The meeting then rose. Drunk and Disorderly. —A gentleman travelling under the name of O’Brien went into Mr Lee’s Crown Hotel, Temuka, yesterday afternoon, and demanded a drink. Some difference of opinion arose between himself and Mr Lee as regards the drink, and a tussle ensued, after which O’Brien found his way into the kitchen, where he behaved not altogether in the most decorous manner. From this he was ejected, and another tussle between Mr Lee and himself did not sweeten his temper, aud eventually he found his way into a private room, where some of the customers of the hotel were refreshing themselves. He immediately stripped off his coat and challenged any or all to fight, but uo one seemed prepared for a pugilistic encounter, till Mr Lee arrived on the scene. Mr Lee accepted the challenge, and invited him out into the backyard, but as soon as be reached there, thinking perhaps that discretion was the better part of valor, Mr Lee shut the door on him and left him there. The police by this time had arrived, only to see Mr O’Brien making hia way towards the police station, bent on laying an information against the publican for the way he had been treated. The police calmly and quietly followed up behind him, and he fell an easy prey to them. He will appear before the Court this morning. Bound Over. —At the R.M. Court, Timaru on Saturday, before two justices of the peace, Frederic Herman von Schoeneberg, cabinet-maker, was charged on two informations, by Detective Livingstone and Sergeant-Major McDonald, with threatening on the Ifithinst, to blow out the brains of six persons—the two informants, Messrs Wray, R.M., J. Jackson, J.P. T. Howley, clerk of court, and Sergeant-Major Mason, of Christchurch, and sureties of the peace were asked for to ensure his good behaviour. Mr J. White prosecuted aud Mr Salmond defended. The threat referred to was not made to the persons threatened but to Constable Tarrant, who showed that on the Kith inst. defendant brought him into his shop and asked him if he heard the news, and said if Sergt-Major McDonald did not pay some bill in eight days he would take legal proceedings, aud he would take a revolver to Court, and “blow the brains out of six of them.” Asked what six, he named the persons above mentioned. He added that he did not care what became of himself, he would throw the revolver on the floor, aud let the law do what it liked with him, aud that his wife would be all right, her people would look after her. He said Sergt-Major McDonald was not lit for his billet aud that he would get him the sack, and Mr Pender the sack, and Mr Howley the sack, and Mr Wray the sack; that Detective Livingstone was no good and should bo done away with. (Defendant: That’s right; I said that). Witness let the, several parties know of the threat to shoot them. From his manner at the time he did not consider it an idle remark; took it to be a threat he would carry out; believed he meant to do what he said. Took it to be his duty to report the con vrsntion and did so. —The several witnesses gave evidence that defendant is u man of violent temper, who would be very likely to do a person bodily injury if he had a weapon of any kind, in one of his angry fits. The informants swore that they consul ere 1 themselves in danger of bodily harm, as they had to be about at night, when they might meat defendant unawares. Detective Livingstone stated at one time the defendant pestered him about some person he eulle 1 “ Jack the Ripper.” He knew no reason at all why the threat should have been made against him, and he had not the slightest ill-feeling against defendant. He simply laid the information for self-protection. After hearing lengthy evidence, aud Mr Salmond for the defence, the Bench gave judgment that defendant enter into recognisances for £SO and fined two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace for six months, and also to j pay costs and solicitor’s fee. As he was unable to fin 1 sureties, be was yesterday removed to Lyttelton gaol. Special Offer of “Star” Cycles.— No. 7 Star with oue-incli solid tyres, £lO 10s; No. 8 Star solid tyres, £ls 10s. Send for catalogue. Star Cycles on Hire . Purchase from 5s par week. Adams, Curt ibs, & Co., 70 Manchester Street, Christchurch.—Advt. The once-boasted “ hop gardens of Hastings,” Hawke’s Bay, are now a thing of the past. The land has been parted with in a number of sections, and, speaking in general terms, all the bines q,re grubbed up. The largo oast-house stands empty and furlqi-q—a witness* tq what has been, but with littlp propose fog the future.

SYNOPSIS OP AJJ VBBTISEMENTS. Winchester Farewell social to Rev. T. A. Hamilton to-morrow evening. S. McCully—lnvites tenders for feeding off 10 acres turnips. Mr Sidney Wolf—Has vacancy for two pupils at Teinuka on Wednesday mornings. ■ J. iy. Miles, Stone S'fcore, Temuka—> Great sale of Bradley’s assigned stock cbm : meuces on Friday. J. Ballantyne & Co., Timarp—Are now showing a varied assortment of seasonable goods, and quote prices for n number qi; special lines.'