LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2378, 5 July 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

,n n ~,,.,,.r„AT — 'The Grattan Riggs comTheatrical.- -'Ha. drawing- large pany is still in Dune.- . ° houses. ■ Geraldine Stock Sale. The fortnightly sale of stock at Geraldine takes place to-morrow. Beer Duty. —The beer duty for the mouth was £ll (59. Auckland, £o>>7 ; Wellington, £500; Christchurch, £785 ; Dunedin, £O7O. For the quarter the total was £13,120.

Hunt Club. —At a meeting of the S.C. Hunt Club it was decided to hold a steeplechase meeting at the end of the hunting season. Eighty pounds were subscribed in the room for’stakes.

0 due elbows’ Social.— An installation social in connection with the Victoria Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Geraldine, takes place on Thursday evening, commencing at halfpast eight. Luncheon will be provided, and the music will be supplied by Messrs Lcvens and Oliver. Gentlemen are requested to wear white gloves. Past socials given by the Lodge have been very enjoyable, and doubtless this will be so.

Customs Revenue.— At Timaru during last month the Customs Revenue collected amountM to £1312 10s.lid. The Custom* revenue collected in New Zealand last month amounted to £115.032 ](!s2d, the estimate being £131.350. In the previous month the collections amounted to £130,821 !)s. The total for the first guarter of the present financial year is £377,511 12s 7d, or £10,238 7s 5d less than the estimate.

Geraldine Football Clujl— Although this club so far as the game of football is concerned does not exist, the members met on Saturday evening and unanimously agreed to hold their annual social this year, and a committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. The social will be held in the Volunteer Hall, on Thursday, August -Ith, *md the charge for admission is 2s (Id.

Railway Returns— During the four weeks ended May 28th the railway revenue amounted to .tS)i>,s()f), and the expenditure to .£81,002. The Railway Commissioners iu their aumxal report on the working railways of New Zealand, state that the gross receipts for the year were A 1,1 ir>,o;;i, working expenses £700,0f 7, net profit £408.!) U. The report goes on to show the excellent result of the past year’s working. So far the current year promises to be the best on record, according to Mr McKerrow.

Floods.— A Gisborne telegram says The heaviest floods experienced here for Hi years occurred to-day (Monday) owing to the heavy rains on Saturday night and Sunday. The homesteads of many settlers are surrounded by water, while several had to leave their dwellings. A Waipawa telegram says :—The river has overflowed its hanks and thosands o f acres are under water, and there has been considerable loss of stock ; culverts have heon carried away. No loss of life is reported. It is still raining and it is feared the worst is not over. South Orari School. —Asocial was held on Friday night in the South Orari School, in aid of the school funds, when there was a large number of couples present, and all present seemed to enjoy themselves. Dancing commenced at 8 o’clock and finished early on Saturday morning. Messrs Wilson and Bennett supplied the music ip a very efficient manner, and Mr Bracefield held the position of Master of Ceremonies. Financially the social was also a great success, and the treasurer was very well satisfied witii the result.

Valedictory. —At the Primitive Mcthf/disf Church, Geraldine, on Friday evening the meu+bep pf the choir met for the purpose of presenting' Mr Vr fiibbard, wild is leaving the district for the I-iojjdi Island, with four volumes of sacred songs and solos comprising three numbers of Choral Antheigs ap d pne complete Children’s Hosanna. The (shflijr niasgep, IVTr Amos Sherratt, in making the pjteseeutatiqu on behalf of the choir, spoke in high lepras of the many good qualities Mr Gibbard possessed, and thanked him for the good service he had rendered the choir as flautist. Several other members of the choir spoke, regretting the departure of Mr Gibbard from their midst, and Mr Gibbard feelingly responded. Tub Prohibition Question.— The temperance party held a public meeting in Wellington on Saturday evening, presided over by Mr McLean, M.H.H. for Well ington, protesting against compensation being granted to owners of hotels in the event of licenses being refused. The principal speaker was the pey. B. Walker, who quoted English and American Judgments against the granting of compensation. A petition against the Compensation to Publicans Bill is being taken round for signature. Opponents say the Bill has been sprung upon, the public suddenly, without allowing time for the country to express itself respecting it, and they claim that phe Victorian experiment pleases neither the public nor the publicans, and its repeal is being agitated for,

Boakd Meetings. —The monthly meeting 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.

auction Sale. — Mess H. B. Webster & Co. hold an auction sale of live and dead farm stock on account of Messrs McNab & McCarthy, at their farm, near the Rangitata Railway Station, to-day. The sale starts at 12 o’clock sharp, and will be an unreserved one.

Accidents. —On Saturday last a son of Mr D. McMillan, of the Tekapo Hotel, was thrown from the pony he was riding and had his right arm broken in two places. He was taken to Timaru for surgical treatment.—A young man named H. Robson had one of his arras broken while playing football at Pleasant Point one day last week.

Timaku Hospital.— During last month 112 males and 11 females were treated in the Timaru Hospital. Of these 1 died (2 males and 2 females), (5 males and 3 females wore discharged as cured, and 2 males and 2 females as relieved. There remained under treatment 31 patients. Seven males and 11 females were treated as outpatients. The matron acknowledges receipt of an anonymous gift of £1 towards the “ Convalescent Patients’ Furniture Fund, and also a quantity of books from Mrs Husband.

Football. —The following is the Waihi Third Fifteen picked to play against Darktown (Temuka) on Thursday, 7th inst., at Winchester; —R Austin, Moore (2), Opie (2), Colbert, Richards, Ensor, Taylor, South (2), Coppin (2), Henderson (2). The following will represent Temuka 2nd against Waihi third on Thursday:—Conolly, Fenton, Morton, Brown, Walker, Carr (2), Brosnahan, Collins, Marshall, Page, Grey, Anderson, Gaffaney, Fitzgerald. Emergencies Sheen, Spillane.—A Waihi team journeyed to Ashburton on Saturday and played a match there, which they won by fourteen points (two goals and two tries) to two points. The game, notwithstanding the scores, was well contested.

Alleged Highway Robbery. A telegram from New Plymouth says : —“ A highway robbery occurred on Saturday night at Omata, three miles from New Plymouth. The tollgate-keeper there was stuck up, and £5 in silver taken. The highwayman was dressed in an officer’s scarlet uniform and carried a sword and revolver. He went into the tollgate house at 8 p.m , presented the revolver within 18 inches of the tollgatekeeper’s head, and demanded money. The tollgate-keeper had a revolver in his pocket, but he was covered so closely that he saw he had no opportunity to use it. The police have no clue, but the robbery is considered to be the work of a larrikin. He has stuck up persons now three times, and got off successfully on each occasion.” The telegram reads very like a romance. Presbyterian Church, Temuka. —It will be seen by advertisement that on Wednesday evening there is to be a meeting in the Presbyterian Church, Temuka, to consider the propriety of erecting a new edifice. This, if decided upon, will be another step in the direction of progress and improvement. Several stores and private buildings have recently been erected, the Wesleyan Methodists have built an elegant and comfortable church, the English Church have just put up a Jg-ylid hall, the Primitive Methodists are in the act ol Citing a building becoming their Church, and the Presbyterians are on the move. We congratulate them on this step, and hope an edifice will result that will be an ornament to the town as well as a convenience to themselves. It will not fail, we are sure, for the want of ability on the part of the Presbyterian congregation. Over ten years ago tne Presbyterians were talking about building a new church ; the depression set in, and they have deferred taking action since. It may be taken as a sign of more prosperous times that they are now again moving in that direction.

The Licensing Question at Sydenham. —At a large meeting held in Sydenham, resolutions were almost unanimously adopted that the liquor traffic is a prolific source of crime, pauperism, and other social evils, endangering the future progress apd wellbeing of the colony and increasing the taxation ; that the inhabitants of each locality should be empowered to veto the issue and renewal of all licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors in their respective areas ; also that in view of the Bill now before Parliament, proposing to establish the principle of paying compensation to publicans for non-renewal of licenses, this meeting expresses a conviction that the principle of is inequitable, retrograde, and conservative, in the highest degree, and protests against its being embodied in this colony’s licensing legislation in any shape or form, The resolutions will be forwarded to the Government and every member of both Houses.

Important Law Case. —In the Appeal Court, Wellington, on Saturday, judgment was given in the case Robertson v. Ilowden and others. This was an appeal from a decision of Mr Justice Williams. Respondents are trustees in Robertson’s estate, and the action was brought to recover a sum of TIOOO, alleged to have been invested by them on insufficient security. Mr Justice Williams gave judgment foxrespondents (Messrs Howden, Larnach, Hagget, and Kitchen), in the Supreme Court, but the Appeal Court reversed their decision, so far as regards the first three named, and ordered the amount to be paid within three months. The judgment in the lower Court affecting Mr Kitchen was upheld. In the case McGrath v. Freer, an appeal from Mr Justice Dennistoun’s decision, the Court upheld the appeal, Judge Conolly dissenting. This action was brought in the lower Court to recover from respondent a sum of TIBOO which had been paid to the late J. B. Gresson on behalf of a purchase of land. Mr Justice Denniston gave judgment for respondent on the ground that Gresson was not his agent to receive the money, but this decision is now reversed. The Melsham Murder.— ln our last issue we published a brief account*'of the murder of a man named Richards by Louis Hamilton. Hamilton had been keeping company with a niece of Richards, Florence Adams, and she had broken off the engagement on account of facts detrimental to hexlover's character that had come to hexknowledge. Hamilton revenged himself by shooting her uncle. Mr G. Freddy has since brought us an English paper, the North Wilts Herald, which shows that the accused committed another murder when being arrested. Four police officers came op him together and a struggle took place, ip the' course of y/hdeh Gijrcl, alias Hamilton, shot Hergeant Mbulden (a highly respected officer, aged 80, and an old schoolmate of Mr Freddy’s) dead. At the police court, Superintendent Perrett deposed that with Sergeant Moulden, and Constables Langley, apd Davies, he proceeded along Gorsley Road ip sdßjrch gf the prisoner on Tuesday, the 12ph April. When they came xip with the prisoner he seized him by the arm, hut not before he had fired one shot which missed. They both fell to the ground, hut Gnrd fired again, the shot striking Moulden, who expired shortly afterwards in a cottage where they carried him. Five cartridges were found on the prisoner, and three barrels of the revolver had not beep discharged. The accused was committed for trial on both epaj.-ges. He has expressed contrition and begged Miss Adams’ forgiveness. A curious circxxmstanee iu conuectiou with this affair Is that the banns between himself and Miss Adams were to have been published on Sunday mornixxg, after the murder of Sergeant Moulden, for the third and last time, but during the week instructions were received to strike them oixt, and this was done. On the previous Sunday, however, after Richards had been shot, the bauns were “cried” for the second time, because no authority bad been given to annul thorn.

Business Change. —The business lately owned and carried on by Mr M. Connolly, saddler and harness maker, Geraldine, has been taken over by Mr George Bethune, who advertises that he will carry it on in the same style and put in the same good workmanship for which Mr Connolly is noted. Mr Connolly will also remain with Mr Bethune for a time before leaving. The Maori Ball. A very successful gathering took place in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Saturday night, to celebrate the marraige of Mr Hape Uru to Miss Martha Barrett. There were about SO couples dancing, including • several Europeans, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Messrs Colville and Heap supplied the music, and the programme of 20 dances was got through by 11.00 sharp. Some capital songs were given during the evening by members of the company. The refreshments were capital, being superintended by Messrs Rehu (2) and others. Bolt and Narrow Escape. —A bolt occurred at Arowhenua yesterday morning, fortunately unattended with serious results. Mrs F. Prattley had driven into the township in a spring trap, accompanied by one of her children, a boy of about three years, and had occasion to call at Mr W. Fletcher’s house. She left the child in the trap while she did so, and something startled the horse, which bolted along the Park Road. From there it struck off and made for thecentreof thetownship, when it was seen by Mr G. Lynch, who quickly perceived the danger the child was in. He cleverly managed to intercept the horse near Mr Robinson’s house before any harm being done. The child did not even appear to be frightened. Mr Lynch’s prompt action possibly averted a serious accident, and is deserving of praise. Geraldine Rifles. —The following are the handicaps for the second shooting for Lieut. McKenzie’s Cup, which will come off on Thursday afternoon next; Corp. Bethune, scratch; Private R. Irivine, 2; Col.-Sergt. Btonehouse and Sergt. Fleming, 1; Sergt. Fiefield, and Corpl. Coles, 6: Corpl. Stonehouse, 8; Sergt. Brown, Privates Fleming and Stringer, 10; Bandsman Kraus, 11; Privates Erskine, Gaiger, Fronting, H. H. Scott, and Ward, 12 ; Bandsman Logan, Privates Bryant, Mines, Sherratt, C. H. Scott, and Turner, If; Bandsman Sherratt, Privates W. Rae, E. Smith, and Thomas, 15 ; Private W. Wood, 16; Bugler Burridge, Bandsman Winefield, Privates Colbert, and E. Heatley, 17; Privates Ferguson, L. M. Heatley, and Pizzey, 18 ; Privates J. Irvine, H. McLeod, Post, R. Rae, and Taylor, 20; Privates Beckley, Cornish, Evans, and Howes, 22; Private Lawlor, 23 ; Bandsman O’Brien, Privates M. McLeod, A. Scott, and McKenzie, 25.

Temperance Matters in Timaru.— During the recent debate on the actions of the Timaru Licensing Bench between the Rev. W. Gillies and Mr E. G. Kerr, the former accused the bench of winking at what he considered an infringement of the Licensing Act by permitting the hotels to have more than one bar while the publicans only paid a fee for one—while in some of the hotels there was only one bar opening on to the street, there were other bars opening on to passages in the building. Mr Kerr retorted that if Mr Gillies thought the Act was being evaded he could institute

a prosecution. To this Mr Gillies replied that he he did not think that such a responsibility should be thrown on the shoulders of a private individual. After the meeting the rev. gentleman wrote to Col. Hume, the Chief Commissioner of Police, pointing out his contention. He has now received a reply stating that Colonel Hume has given instructions to have a test case brought before the Resident Magistrate. The result will be watched with interest. Vitriol Rifles. — There is nothing like a peculiarly deadly weapon (says the St. James’ Gazette) to help on the great cause of civilisation. “It is calculated,” we read in a telegram from Paris on Wednesday, “ that the vitriol rifle would very materially assisst the efforts of the pioneers of civilisation to reach Labe Tchad.” The “ vitriol riffle,” the invention of a distinguished French officers projects at a distance of 70 metres a powerful spray of sulphuric acid, which, the inventor thinks would have a decisive effect upon savages making a rush at European troops. No doubt it would ; but what about the Gepeva Convention 1 To be splashed with viti’ipi is a far more terrible thing than to become a billet for a bullet. It is thoughtfully remarked that this kind of warfare would never be used against European troops. But we trust the gun, should it come to anything, will not be cheap, otherwise t-he temptation to jealous wives to take a shot at their rivals might be too strong. Novel Wedding.— -A district not one hundred miles from Temuka has had the distinction of holding unique wedding festivities. Everything was arranged, and the local schoolroom was engaged for the evening’s festivities, but one important personage failed to put ip an appearance, namely, the bridegroom. He had been expected to arrive by train, but failed to do so, and so that part of the programme which could not be carried out without him was postponed. The drinkables and eatables, however, were all ready, the guests were assembled, apd there was nothing for it but to make the best of it. Accordingly they assembled in the local schoolroom, and ate and drank and sang to their hearts’ content, and the absence of the intended bridegroom did not appear to exercise any depressing influence on the expectant bride, who freely participated in the rejoicings. There is, we are told, going to be another wedding when the bridegroom can make it convenient to attend.

The; Shame of It ?—England’s factories are the scource of 1 her greatness today, and the following paragraph shows how some of that greatness begins: —The Labour Commission sitting now in England has brought out some very harrowing details. Not the least among them are those relating to the condition of the women who work ait nail and bolt making —earning thereby from Is to 5s a week. Take, for example, the following “Women worked very scantily clothed, and in summer time the upper part, of the body was almost nude. Married women brought their children to the factories and placed them in a box on the hearth, covering them sometimes to prevent accidents by° burning- I)ven with this precaution children received serious injury while their mothers were at work. In other cases swings were suspended from the roof and children were left swinging while their mothers were doing work more like that of a blacksmith than anything else. Women in domestic work had to carry their bundles of 561 b weight from the warehouse on their heads and shoulders for n distance of half a mile, and it was no uncommon thing to see a v oman thus burdened suckling a child at the same time.” Such details should be iueredibj-e with regard to the brute creation rather than related with tenth as touching human beings, Special Offer of “ Star ” Cycles.— No. 7 Star with one-inch solid tyros, £l6 10s ; No. 8 Star solid tyres, £lslos. Send for catalogue. Star Cycles on Hire Purchase from 5s por week. Adams, Curties, & Go., 70 Manchester Street, Christchurch.—A dvt.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. E. M. Goodwill —Tussock land to let. Geraldine Football Club—Annual social. J. W. Hunter—Great Sale of drapery and clothing. P. A. Barker, Okapi—Bair draught horses for rale. Geraldine Road Board—Tenders invited for works. J. Mundell & Co —Special entry Geraldine Stock Sale. M. Connolly—Thaukg numerous customers for past favors, etc. Presbyterian Church, Temuka—Meeting to-morrow evening re erection of new church. George Bethune —Notifies having taken over the business lately owned by M, Connolly, saddler, Geraldine,