LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2419, 1 November 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Fatal Aooidknt. A tbree-year-oU child named Dawson was killed at Petone, Wellington, by having its head crushed by the wheel of a fish cart. SALKS. —The Farmers’ Co-operative Association advertise a sale of furniture at Tcmuka to-day, and one of drapery, clothing, etc., at Geraldine on Thursday. Board Meetings. —The monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board will be held /:o°day, that of the Geraldine Town Board this evening, and that of the Temuka Town Board to-morrow evening. This Premier at Wanganui. The Premier arrived in Wanganui on Friday afternoon, and was met by a large number of his constituents. He was presented with an address welcoming him back, and expressing regret at his illness and pleasure at his partial recovery. The Premier, in a short address in reply, said that words failed him to express his feelings He thanked them heartily for their kind wishes and the reference to Mrs Ballance. He said that the sympathy he had received from all parts of the colony was very gratifying to him. He was advised to try the most potent medicine, perfect rest, and bad com© to Wanganui.

Social at Geraldine.— We would remind our readers that a grand social under the auspices of the Geraldine Eire Brigade takes place on Thursday evening in the Volunteer Hall. The committee are doing all they can to secure the enjoyment of those who are present, and all that is wanted is a large attendance. National Insurance Company. The National Insurance Company’s balancesheet shows an available balance, including £6653 brought forward, of £23,461, out of which the directors recommend a dividend of 10 per cent for the half-year, and a bonus of 2i per cent for the year, and to carryforward £363.

Burning oe a Threshing Mill.—A combine and elevator belonging to Messrs F. and H. Slee, of Waimate, was destroyed by fire on Friday last. Mr F. Slee lit a'fire in the engine between five and six o’clock and then returned to camp, half a mile distant, for breakfast. The combine and elevator were almost completely destroyed before the fire was discovered. Ashburton A. and P. Show. —The Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s fifteenth annual show was attended by 6000 people. There were over 800 entries of exhibits. The entries of sheep were the largest and best since the establishment of the show. The horses were equal to former years, and the cattle a great improvement, though still numerically unsatisfactory.

Labor Day. —At Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, on Friday last the Government offices were closed. Labor sports were held at Wellington and Dunedin. Mr Seddon delivered a short address at Wellington. He expressed his pleasure at being present, which he considered but a duty, seeing that he was one of a Ministry of the people, working for the people, and hoping to do good for the people. Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka. —At this church last evening a complimentary coffee supper was tendered to Mrs J. L. Wright, who has just concluded a very successful special mission in the church. The building was crowded. Abundance of refreshments were provided by lady members of the congregation, and during the evening addresses were delivered by Mrs Wright, the Rev. W. Woollass, Mr Smith, and Mr Fletcher, and Mrs Warburton contributed several solos. The choir also rendered good service, and altogether a very enjoyable time was spent by those present. A Narrow Escape.— A spent bullet, supposed to be from a volunteer carbine, entered the window of a house in Timaru on Friday afternuoon and struck Miss Ela Eliza Wood on the thigh. Miss Wood was sitting at the time with a baby on her knee. The bullet passed through the baby’s clothes and struck Miss Wood. Two other women and a number of children were close by at the time. It seems that the Timaru Navals were class firing at the rifle range, three-quarters of a mile away, and that one of the members fired at a passing seagull in the direction of where the young lady was sitting. The bullet was found on the chair she was sitting on.

Fate of Kings and Emperors . A curious list has recently been made of the kings and emperors of Europe who have been overtaken by misfortune. It appears that 364 have been ousted from their thrones, 10S have been condemned to death and executed, 21 have committed suicide, 34 are on record as having been placed under restraint in consequence of having become insane, 123 have been killed in warfare, 25 have been tortured to death, and 251 have been officially declared to have been assassinated. The number of monarchs who are suspected of having been assassinated is infinitely greater. It will bo seen from this that the possession of a throne is not without its extremely objectionable and disagreeable features. Found Dead. —Whilst climbing about on the rocky brink of a deep stream on Tuesday two young ladies, members of one of the numerous parties who went out on excursions from Dunedin, discovered the remains of a mnn lying face downwards on a ledge about 8 feet above the river. He had evidently met his death by fallingdown the cliff, as the rock above had been stripped of grass. The body had evidently been in its place for some months, as the hawks and rats had completely denuded the head, back, legs, and arms of fl esh. The body is supposed to be that of Cummock, an engineer, who left the quartz reef in the locality some months ago and had not since been heard of. At the inquest the son and brother of Cummock failed to identify the body, but the jury returned a unanimous verdict that it was that of Cummock. The Napier Divorce. Mrs Joshua’s evidence was continued on Friday. Briefly she gave a categorical denial to every “7 . '■ ’•elating to the visits of Kennedy, statement,-. 6 Ability of alleged and asserted the * . j improprieties between him aau . ' 1 and evidence was called which controverted the evidence of Annie Tuft as regards the three times that she alleged she witnessed the improprieties. Mrs Joshua declared that the reason she consented to live out of New Zealand under the deed of separation was that Joshua threatened to lower her proud head to the dust, and to tell their adopted daughter and the ladies of Napier that she lived with him as his mistress before marriage, unless she gave way on that point. When she heard from friends in Napier that he was threatening her she returned to the colony to vindicate her character. Her evidence was totally unshaken in cross-examination. On Saturday, the taking of evidence was concluded. Several witnesses deposed to the movements of Kennedy to prove that he was not at Farndon on the occassion when Tuft alleged that she witnessed his misconduct.

Dunedin Scandal.— The Tueri Advocate’s Dunedin correspondent writes Yet another painful disclosure of the frailty of women has been made, and those who are now acquainted with the facts of the latest scandal are anxiously waiting for further developments. The wife of a gentleman, in business in Dunedin, lately proceeded to Melbourne for the purpose of recuperating herself after an illness, leaving her faithful spouse in this city. The wife’s sister, a rather attractive looking girl, naturally endeavoured to make the husband as comfortable as possible during his wife's absence, with the result that when the wife returned the unpleasant cliscoverv was made that her sister had, supplanted ha; in her husband’s affections. Wliat took place there no one but the trio knows, but now kind friends have taken the young girl in hand. What makes the matter still more unpleasant i* that she was engaged to a young man, who has, of course, broken oft the engagement on account of the scandal

Athletic Sports. —The animal meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club commenced at Christchurch on Friday. The One-Milo Walk was won by C. Louisson : 100 Yards Flat by L W, Harley: Half-Mile Maiden by IV. Bcadel, with F. W. Ttolleston second ; 1“0 Yards Hurdles by W. J. Moir ; Quarter-Mile Flat by J. F. Patrick ; PuttingStone by W. C. H. Wigley ; One-Mile Championship by C. G Bees ; Three-Mile Bicycle Handicap by W. J. S. Hayward from scratch, who lowered the record to Smin 37 3/ilth see; 120 yards Maiden Hurdles by S. F. Harley; and Half-Mile Flat by A. J. Leggott. On Saturday the results were as followsTwo-Mile Walking Handicap, A. 11. Andrews ; One - Mile Bicycle Handicap, C. H. Jones; QuarterMile Flat, W. J. LeCren ; 120 Yards Maiden Flat. A. E. Lingard; Pole Jump, W. West; One-Mile Flat. C. Rides; 120 Yards Flat, E. A. Robinson: 120 Yards Hurdles, S. T. J. Grigs:; Quarter-Mile Bicycle Handicap, H. 11. Denby (-10 yards handicap,' time 38 1/sth spo., Rollinshaw who started from scratch and came in third, put up a Hew Zealand record for the distance, viz., 37 1 /sth sec ; Half-Mile Flat, L. B. Crosbie ; Quarter-Mile Hurdles, W. Beaded: 250 Yards Flat (for schools), A. E. Lingard ; Officials Race, J. A. Turton ; 120 Yards Hurdles (for schools), E. T. J. Grigg; 75 Yards Flat, A, Thomson. W. J. S. Hayward reduced the Hew Zealand bicycle record of the mile distance to 2min 35 2/sth sec, and the half »lie to Imin U i/Oth sec.

Ministerial. The Hon. J, McKenzie left Wellington for the south yesterday afternoon.

Tbmuka Stock Sale. —The fortnightly sale of stock at Temuka takes place to-day. Found Dead. —A man named Durant, a maltster, was found dead at 'JDovedale, Nelson.

A Long Holiday. Mr Rotheram, locomotive superintendent on the Government railways, has obtained 12 months’ leave of absence, and will probably visit the Chicago Exhibition.

Mosgiel Woollen Company. The Mosgiel Woollen Company’s report, after writing off £2OOO for depreciation, shows a balance of £3303, out of which £2040 goes in dividends, making 8 per cent for the year, leaving to carry forward £303.

The ’Frisco Mail. —The Alameda with the English mails of October Ist, left ’Frisco on October 25th, a day late. The Mariposa with the Colonial mails of October Btb arrived at ’Frisco on October 27th, con tract date. The outward mail closes tomorrow.

Concert and Dance, —A concert and dance, in aid of the prize fund, takes place in the Upper Waitohi Flat School on Thursday next. The assistance of a number of favorite performers has been promised for the concert and a first rate evening’s enjoyment is anticipated.

A Sydney Sacred Concert. —At a recent Sydney Sunday “sacred and classical” concert the programme included six comic and two serio-comic songs. As a footnote were the words : “ The audience are requested to refrain from whistling or stamping whilst the performance is proceeding.”

R.M. Court, Temuka. —At the above court last Saturday, George Ramsay, who pleaded guilty to a charge of having been drunk, was remanded for a week to Timaru gaol for medical treatment. Yesterday John Smith was similary charged, and pleaded guilty. He was fined 5s or the usual alternative. Mr Twomey presided at the court in both cases. Good Work. —The directors of the Mutual Agency Company, Dunedin, recommend the payment of a dividend of eight per cent per annum; a bonus of Ss per share to the original shareholders in reduction of the goodwill; and, after writing 10 per cent off the plant, &c., and one-third off the preliminary expenses, to carry forward the balance, £836.

The Flannagan Infanticide Case.— Mrs Anna Flannagan, who was convicted of infanticide in February, 1891, and was imprisoned in the Lyttelton Gaol, was brought before Mr R. Beetham at the gaol on Thursday, and, on the certificates of Drs Guthrie and Pairman, committed to Sunnyside Asylum as a helpless lunatic. The punishment was more than she could bear.

Appeal Court. —At Wellington yesterday the Appeal Court was engaged on the case of the National Mortgage and Agency Company v. Scott, an appeal from Mr Justice Williams’s decision on the grounds that there was no such agreement with Scott as was found in the court below, and if there was it was illegal and cannot be enforced. The case is expected to last two days. Mr Bell and Mr Tripp appear for the Company, Sir Robert Stout and F, R. Chapman for Scott. Saturday Half Holiday. The Saturday half-holiday was very generally observed at Christchurch on Saturday, most of the shops in town and many in the suburbs being closed. A large crowd assembled in the streets in the evening, and one or two shops which remained open .were groaned at. A few small stones were thrown, and a pane of glass broken in the shop of Bursht, a tailor.

Statistical. —The total revenue of the post office for the third quarter of 1892 was £45,719, and the telegraph revenue £21,35-1. The former is a slight, the latter a considerable, decrease on the same quarter of 1891. For the September quarter 50,720 postal money orders, for a total of £178,195 were issued, and 40,321 for £154,499 paid. £455,007 was paid into the post office savings bank and £426,485 withdrawn, the excess of deposits over withdrawals being £29,122.

Presbyterian Synod. —At Dunedin on Friday the Theological College Committee reported that nine students had been in regular attendance, two of these being intended for the Baptist Church. The sustentation fund dividend for the year was reported to be £205 9s lOd. The Sabbath School report showed that there are 202 schools, with 13,603 on the roll, and .11,161 average attendance. There are 592 male and 1292 female teachers ; there are 102 bible classes with 2884 students, and 130 libraries with 28,395 volumes. Exploit of an Eel. —A foolish eel took into its head yesterday to wrestle with the turbine wheel of the Temuka Flour Mills.

wheel, and consequently the It broug..„ ta a sudden whole machinery or _ - p “ standstill, but it got the worst of it by U 8 it was killed. The eel was 3 feet 9 inches long and weighed 144 lb, and it was on show last evening in Mr Whitehead’s butcher’s shop, Temuka. An eel down near Christchurch performed a similar feat the other day, and there was a good deal about it in the papers. It is something for Temuka to feel that it can rear eels capable of performing these wonderful feats. The eel, which stopped the mill, however, is not near the size of eels which we saw in the possession of a couple of Maori women last year. Poverty in London. —Mr Edward Reeves, a writer from New Zealand, has contributed to the Westminster Review an interesting article on “Poverty in London.” He is struck with the kindness of the poor in the east end of the metropolis to each other, and attributes their chronic poverty to three causes. “ Freetrade in land, by which I mean power to a few individuals to monopolise it, entail it, shut it off from cultivation for the support of all the inhabitants —the purpose for which it was originally intended by nature —in short, to do what they like with it; Freetrade in labor, by which the native worker can be brought down to the level of an imported alien race ; and Freetrade in intoxicating liquors, causes the trouble. New Zealand is making an honest effort for a higher code of morals and new laws on these points.”

Cool Behaviour. —The fourth case of highway robbery within, the last two or three months occurred at Hew Plymouth on Saturday night. At about nine o’clock a man named Carthew was leading 1 a horse in the suburl s about ten mieutes. from the centre of the town, when a man on horseback, dressed in officer’s uniform, with sword and revolver, rode tin to him and demar.de 1 his money and jewellery. lie gave him his watch and three threepenny pieces, all the money he bad on him,and the highwayman rode on to tovyn. A few minutes afterwards the highwayman bailed up another man named Ribbys, who said he was a poor man and had no money. The highwayman “Pass on. I don’t want to rob api or man.” Growing bol ler the highwayman rode right into town and stuck another man up in front of a grocer’s shop, with twenty or thirty people aroundThis man also said he had no money and was not molested. The highwayman remained for about a minute coolly looking at the people, and then rode off. He was pursued by a man on horseback, but escaped. The ! police also wept in pursuit some time after, hut no trace oithe highwayman could be found. The police are puzzled over the affair. Formerly they treated the matter as a hoax, but now it is beyond dispute that a highwayman makes periodical raids in order to gain booty. On a former occasion he stuck up a tollgate-keeper, and got several pounds in silver. All sorts of sensational rumours were about, to the effect that the man had hailed up numbers of others, but there was no truth in them. It is thought the mau is a mauiae, who has been reading penny dreadfuls, and is doing the Disk Turpin business.

Sudden Death.—A young' man named Wilson John Wylie, 21, of Oamaru, died suddenly in Timaru on Sunday. He was suffering consumption and was staying with a friend in Timaru. While out walking he felt suddenly faint and ill, and was taken into a house near at hand, and there all that was possible was done_ for him, but he died before a doctor arrived. The body was taken to Oamaru yesterday.

Salvation Army, Geraldine.— Captain and Mrs Condon, the officers in charge of the local branch of the Salvation Army at Geraldine, met with ready and generous response to their appeal on behalf of the self-denial fund, donations amounting to nearly £3l having been received. Considering the very large sum that was raised for the new barracks only a few weeks ago, this certainly speaks volumes for the liberality of the local soldiers and sympathisers.

Short oe Food and Water. The barque Jessie, of Auckland, from Long r Island, Queensland, to the Bluff, guano laden, arrived off Hokitika on Friday short of water and provisions. She was tendered by the Waipara, and replenished her wants when she continued her voyage. The crew were in desperate straits, having been obliged to use sea water and to subsist on reduced rations. Had the crew been another couple of days without necessaries some of the men would have gone mad. Fortunately the weather was fine and the Waipara available. Political. — Mr Saunders, M.H.R. for Selwyn, addressed a well attended meeting of his constituents at Kirwee on Friday night. He detailed some events of the session, explained why he had given general support to the Government, andenumerated some of the points on which he differed from them. He supported their financial proposals, opposed the appointments to the Legislative Council as wrong in principle, and condemned the increase in the payments to members and increase of the number of Ministers to seven. He said that as the Council amendments regarding woman’s franchise were not important the Government could have passed the Bill if desirous of doing so. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed, also an amendment of thanks only. On a show of hands the chairman could not decide, and the meeting broke up. Presentation.— On Saturday last the quarterly meeting of the Timaru branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was held in Timaru, and after the ordinary business the president of the society, Mr Hall-Jones. M.H.R., was presented with an address and souvenir. The address eulogised the good qualities of the president, and expressed the wish that he might long remain connected with the railway employees of the Timaru district. The presentation took the form of a very handsome black marble timepiece. Under the dial is placed a silver plate with the following inscription : —“ Presented to W. Hall-Jones, M.H.R., from the railway employees, Timaru district, Oct. 27th, 1892.” Mr Jones, in replying, after feelingly thanking the society for the gift, gave a row me of the business done by the House of Representatives, especially that relating to labour. S.C. Saleyards Company. —The annual meeting of the S.C. Saleyards Company (Washdyke) was held on Saturnay. The report showed that there had been a great fulling off in the fees received for stock sold, viz., £63 16s 7d against £93 Is Id the previous year, and in the number of entries, as the following will show : Sheep : 1890- 1891-92,8281; decrease, 10,319. Cattle: 1890-91, 270; 1891-92, 195; decrease, 75. Pigs: 1890-91, 92; 1891- nil; decrease, 92. Horses: 1890-91, 237; 1891-92, 198; decrease, 39. The balance-sheet, certified by Mr Cargill as auditor, showed the paid-up capital to be £2333 10s on 1199 shares. The value of the property was set down at £llß9 7s 8d; deposit and cash accounts, £325 11s Id. The income of the company was £ll6 3s lid from yarding and dipping fees, and £lO Is lOd from interest on deposit, and a balance of £6 11s 8d remained from the previous year. The working expenses were £lll 2s Id; £22 5s 9d was written off for depreciation, and £2 11s 3d for bad debts, leaving a net profit for the year of £l7 9s Bd. No dividend was recommended, and the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr Elworthy thought fees should be charged on stock not sold, and proposed a motion to that effect, but only himself and Mr Inman voted for it, others contending that to do such a thing would result in closing the yards. Messrs Priest and Bowker were re-elected directors, and Mr M. Gray was elected auditor. The Sumner Enquiry. —On Thursday the Commission of Enquiry into the management of the Sumner Institute for deaf mutes paid a visit of inspection to the institution, where the taking of evidence was resumed. Mr Yan Asoh, director of the institution, gave evidence, denying the charges of over-working and not properly feeding' the children. He produced accounts, showing 1 that at the time when he was accused of feeding the children largely on salt mutton, he had bought considerable quantities of fresh meat, and about 25001 b of fresh fruit. He had five pupils as parlour boarders, who paid extra, but in two cases he had the direct sanction of the Government to the arrangement, and took this sanction as a precedent in other cases. Mr John Charles Allan, head assistant teacher, corroborated Mr Van Asoh’s evidence. Mr J, E, Stevens, assistant teacher, stated that at present the food was very good, and the children not overworked. Early in 1891 very little meat exceptsalt mutton was for eight or nine weeks served. It impaired the children's health, causing skin eruptions. There was also an insufficiency of vegetables except potatoes. The childreu were then somewhat overworked in tasks outside their school duties. On Friday it was decided to subpoena Mr Crofts, who laid the charges. John Jones, father of a girl formerly a pupil in the institute, deposed that his daughter had not made satisfactory progress ; that she ha 1 been beaten aud sent to bed without tea for trivial faults, and had come home on oue occasion covered with eruptions. Richard Belchor, William Johnson, R. K. Simpson, and Wm. Payne, parents of present or former pupils, deposed that they were satisfied with the progress of their children, aud had no complaints as to food or treatment. John George Wsstall, a deaf mute and a former pupil, now helping his father as a blacksmith, deposed that he had been well treated and educated in the institution. On Saturday Dr Prins, medical attendant to the institute, deposed that the doctor and Mrs Van Asch were very careful of the healththat there were no grounds for complaint, and that the skin disease which had prevailed to a certain extent among the children was not due to their food. Miss Buckingham, assistant in the institution, stated that the food was good, and the children were not overworked. Mr W. W. Tanner, M.H.R , said that, without reflecting on the management of the institution, he thought something ought to be done in the direction of teaching the pupils the rudiments of trades,

so as to help to lit them for earning their ora livelihood. He suggested that the boys should visit workshops under pic charge of a tutor, and during the lass two or three years should be placed singly or in twos or three under competent instructors, Mr G. Yan Asch. director, recalled, stated particulars as to all pupils were kept in the Department at Wellington. The enquiry . was adjourned till Wednesday. Now is the Time to get a cycle repaired and made equal to new. Separate department for repairing at New Zealand Cycle Works, 70, Manchester street, Christchurch. — f Advt,] An English lady, accompanied by two guides, made a successful ascent of the Matterhorn. While near the summit on the return a thundercloud enveloped the mountain, the Jightning playing round their ice-axes. The climb and descent occupied i 7 hoiu’s|

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Guinness & LeCren—Entries for Temuka took sale. Mrs Cutten, Temuka—Wants good plain cook. James Wright, Rangitira Valley—Wants ploughman immediately. Upper Waitohi Flat School—Concert and dance on Thursday evening. D. West Architect—lnvites tenders for erecting room in Temuka cemetery. C.F.C. Association—Hold first wool sale of season on 6th December; cash advances made of commission; wool packs, twine, etc., at lowest rates.