LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2421, 5 November 1892, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The Ruapehu.—The R.M.S. Ruapehu, from London to Wellington, passed Farewell Spit at 10.40 a.m. yesterday. Leave op Absence.—Mr Smith, Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, was granted six month’s leave of absence owing to an affection of the eyesight. Mr Davy, Registrar-General of Lands, will take up his duties. Wesleyan Church.—On Sunday (tomorrow) evening the Rev. J. Dellow commences a series of addresses on the “ Scripture Evidences.” Mr ’ Dellow would like to see young men present who are not attendants at any other place of worship. Native Meeting.—Mr Cadman leaves Wellington for Dunedin in about four weeks to attend a meeting of natives which will be held at Otago Heads with respect to their land claims in the South Island. Rem mission op Duty.—The Government have decided to recommend the remmission of duty on cyanide of potasium when imported for use in the process of gold extraction. The duty upon the drug is at the rate of 15 per cent. Sudden Death. John Goodman, of Scotia Place, Auckland, died suddenly on Thursday morning. His wife caUed him for breakfast, and in the middle of a laughing reply he feU back dead. An inquest will be held. Work.—Orders have been given to take 150 men to the Otago Central and road making in various parts of Otago. The Rotorua railway is to be pushed on, which, with road making in the North Island, will provide a large amount of employment.

Entertainment at Geraldine. A Service of Song, entitled “ Reclaimed,” and miscellaneous entertainment will be given by the Juvenile Lodge of Good Templars in the Oddfellows’ Hall next Monday evening. The entertainment is expected to draw a large audience. The Ell Case.—Arrangements are being made by the Government to set up a commission of enquiry into G. W. EU’s case. It is proposed to ask Judge Ward and Mr Thompson, M.H.R., to act as commissioners and that the enquiry be held in Christchurch.

Personal. —We are glad to learn that the Rev. W. B. Gillam, who has been ill for the past two weeks, has sufficiently recovered to be able to resume his duties. Mr Gillum will preach at Temuka and Winchester to-morrow. Particulars of the services will be found in our advertising columns. Conflicting Statements. The Wellington Times states there are not sufficient men at Hunterville and Marton to do the work required, while the chairman of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees states there are 200 able-bodied men out of employment in the Wellington district. Charitable Aid.—At a meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Institution the chairman said that they would have to exercise more care in distributing charitable aid, as people had not an idea how pauperism was increasing. He said that £2OOO more was required this year than last year. The Hon. Mr Seddon. —Mr Seddon leaves for Melbourne and Sydney at the beginning of the year on private business. He will only be absent about three weeks. He has invited the Naval Artillery corps in the four cities to go into camp and man the forts between now and New Year, each man receiving Is Gd per day. Obituary.—On Thursday morning Mrs John Ollivier died at her residence at the junction of the Ferry and Ollivier’s roads, Christchurch, at the advanced age of SO. She had won for herself the esteem of a large circle of friends through her amiable disposition and her spirit of benevolence. She arrived in Canterbury in the year 1853 in the ship John Taylor, which brought many other prominent settlers. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Ollivier and the members of his family in the loss of one so much endeared to them. The Wellington Library. The Athenaeum, Library at Wellington is in difficulties and the committee want to wind it up as a free library will shortly be opened. Some of the subscribers, however, think an effort should be made to carry on, and although the committee strongly urged the immediate stoppage, a resolution was carried adjourning the meeting to Monday. Meanwhile more ardent spirits are holding a meeting to devise ways and means to carry on, despite the committee showing £SOO liabilities. Destruction oe Insulators,—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, a number of small boys were fined, some ss, and others 2s each, for breaking insulators and stone-throwing. In the course of the hearing of the case it was stated that in the Timaru district no less than 1000 insulators were broken every year, and the authorities were determined to put a stop to the practice, which might lead to a serious accident, and put the department to great expense. The Resident Magistrate said future offenders would be more severely dealt with.

The Midland Railway. The Midland Railway Company has made another offer to the Government to exchange its land . grant for debentures for £618,000. payment to be made according to the progress of the work on two conditions: first, the colony to guarantee 3 per cent on half-a-mißion ; second, the company to be released from its obligation to make the line from Reefton to Foxhill, but to build the line from Foxton to Motueka Valley, so as to put Nelson in communication with that district. The Cabinet have postponed consideration of the offer until a full meeting of Ministers is available.

The Irene. —lt will be remembered that the ship Irene broke from her moorings in Timaru Harbor in February last, and grounded just after she had completed taking in a cargo of wool for Home. A diver examined her bottom, and he reported that practically she had sustained no damage, and as she was making no water the vessel sailed for Home without further examination. The Christchurch Press says when the cargo was discharged it was found to be considerably damaged, and the vessel was then docked for examination, with the result that it was found that repairs to the amount of £SOOO were necessary. The damage is not credited in Timaru, as it is believed the diver must have seen it when he made his examination, and it is also held that it would have been made known long before this. If the vessel was injured so severely it must have been at some other place than Timaru.

Cheating Her Captors.— A few days ago (says the Nelson Mail) a more or less “young person,” who had gained some notoriety, was the defendant in a charge preferred by the police. After a fair and impartial hearing she was sentenced to a term of imprisonent in the Nelson gaol; but seeing that the gaol is at present occupied by some twenty-five stalwart prisoners of the male persuasion it was decided to send the fair offender to Wellington, and she was despatched, ’ ... charge of a male warder, by the s.s. „ i .y l 'the modest warder soon found SjSSUr* be It -» - delicate one. His charge was aZsmus to retire to rest) the wjxrdcr, g'lticixj yielded up his authority to the stewardess of the steamer. The information has been supplied on authority that appears to be beyond question. Having eluded the vigilance of the officer, it is said that the prisoner whose lonely and unfriended condition had secured the sympathy of one of the men belonging to the crew of the ship, found a friend indeed. Nothing is known with certainty as to what next transpired, but when the steamer arrived in Wellington it is said that one of the first persons to leave the ship was clad in firemen’s dress, and though this individual wore rather loug hair that circumstance was not looked upon as suspicious. The remarkable feature as reported to us was that when the prisoner was looked, for was not be found.

A Special Session Wanted.—A letter has been addressed to the Premier by Mr W. L. Rees, M.H.R.. urging that as so large a subject as native land legislation cannot be dealt with in the ordinary session of Parliament, a special session should be held in February or March next to consider the question. He points out the important interests depending upon the settlement of the native lands. Arbitration Wanted.—The Auckland Tailoresses’ Union, having exhausted every means of conciliation with the manufacturers, have passed a resolution appealing to the Government and the legislature to pass the Conciliation Bill next session, providing for compulsory arbitration, in order to relieve them of disabilities such as those under which the Auckland tailoresses now labor.

Timaru Hospital. Fifteen patients, 9 male and C female, were admitted into the Timaru Hospital during October, making (with 13 male and 8 female patients in the wards at the beginning of the month) a total of 36 treated. Twenty were discharged during the month, 13 cured, 4 relieved, 1 as incurable, and 2 (Charles Healey and Michael Cronin) by death, leaving 16 (11. males and 5 females) under treatment at the end of the month. The number of out-patients treated during the month was 12, Peculiar Accident. A lad named Dawson, a recent arrival from Christchurch, was the victim of a peculiar gun accident at Invercargill on Wednesday. He went out rabbit shooting with other youths, and after potting a few all lay down for a rest on the side of a tussocky hillock, placing the rabbits on the rise. Another shooting party emerged from the bush, and, seeing the rabbits, which they took to be alive, fired, Dawson receiving most of the shot in his back and arms. Fortunately, the distance at which the shot was fired was forty yards and the charge was well spent, so that the shot did not penetrate deeply, and no serious results are apprehended.

The Presbyterian Synod. The Presbyterian Synod, at 3 Dunedin, on Wednesday, was engaged for two hours, in private, dealing with attack on Mr A. 0. Begg by the Rev. Gibson Smith, in the monthly published in connection with the North Dunedin Church. A motion was carried, declaring continued confidence in Mr Begg as an elder, and regret at the article published; but as the Rev,' Mr Smith expressed his willingness to withdraw the article and imputations, his explanation was accepted. The revenue of the aged and infirm ministers’ and widows’ and orphans’ fund exceeded the expenditure by £379, which was added to the reserve, which, with the capital, now stahds at £0720. Fatal Fire. —A three-months-old child of Archibold Blue, storeman, was burned to death at Dunedin on Wednesday night. The mother is in gaol undergoing a sentence for larceny, the two children being cared for by a hired girl, named Emily Cotter, 12 years old. Before leaving at 9.30 she placed the child in a cradle a few feet from the fire, and an hour later she saw smoke issuing from it, and gave an alarm, but Blue, who had been drinking, refused to allow the neighbors to enter the house. Eventually Victor Robertshaw did so, and rescued the child, but it was so much burnt that it died at midnight. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. They commended the conduct of Robertshaw, who had forced his way into the house and rescued the child.

The Sumner Enquiry, —The inquiry into the management of the Institute for deaf mutes was resumed at Christchurch on Wednesday. Mr H. E. Crofts, formerly senior assistant in the institution, stated that he considered that the children had been over-worked in domestic duties, and that the work was badly arranged and organised. After the first year articulation was neglected in favor of general knowledge. Sufficient attention was not given to gymnastics and drill. He stated that the Commission would not be able to get out the whole truth unless he were allowed to call evidence and cross-examine the witnesses. The Commissioners considered that this was not allowable. Mr Van Asch and Mr Allan, the present head assistant, gave evidence contradicting Mr Croft’s statements. The Royal Commission completed its works of taking evidence yesterday. The Commission will as early as possible forward its report to His Excellency the Governor.

Fire in a Coalmine.— Shortly after 4 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon clouds of black smoke were seen ascending from the shaft (which is also an air shaft), of the Coal Pit Heath Mine, Brunnerton. At first the men could scarcely realise that such was the case, but it was soon evident that the matter was serious, and the men were called out. The mine engineer and mine manager went below, and did all they could to confine the fire. The fans were stopped, and everything possible done to exclude air from the bottom of the shaft. There being no engine at Brunnerton, the Greymouth one was sent for, and arrived with a full staff of men before 7 o’clock. At 5.30 p.m. the woodwork on the top of the shaft took fire, and to save the poppetheads and the buildings surrounding them, men with buckets were lined down the face of the steep rock to the river. They passed up the full buckets. The great bulk of the residents gathered at the pit’s mouth, and relief was felt when it was ascertained that all the men were safely out of the mine. The brigade engine was lowered down the precipitous bank to the river aide, and worked magnificently, throwing one stream down the shaft, and another through the tunnel on to the fiery mass, and after a while the united efforts were successful, • and the fire was extinguished. Had it not been for the Greymouth engine, the fire would still have been burning and the mine practically lost. The fire will throw about ninety men out of work for a time. All the coal from this mine has for some time been brought to the surface through the Brunner mine. Working is still going on in the Brunner mine. The amount of damage is not yet known.

The Governor at Christchurch. The official reception of His Excellency the Governor, on the occasion of his first visit to Christchurch, took place on Thursday morning’. Strings of flags were flying over the municipal thoroughfares, and a platform was erected under the Godley Statue in Cathedral Square, where the official address was presented. The imposing nature of the receptions which have heretofore been given Her Majesty’s representatives was absent on this occasion, as His Excellency having arrived unofficially the previous day there was no procession from the station. It was a quiet, homely welcome which the Governor enjoyed. As the time drew near large crowds of people congregated in the Square, and the children of the public scnools were placed on the platform, which was prettily decorated. Punctual to the hour the carriages containing His Excellency. Lady Glasgow, and suite, the Minister of Justice, and the mayor, arrived, As the party stepped from the carriage the children sang the National Anthem. The party ascended the platform on which were the raayof and councillors, the clergy, and other gentlemen. The mayor then made a speech welcoming the Earl and Countess to Christchurch. An address was read by the town clerk, which was replied to by the Governor. Three cheers were given for the Governor and Lady Glasgow, and they proceeded to the luncheon given by the council in the City Council Chambers. The Mayor of Christchurch presided, and was supported by the Governor and the Hon. W. P. Reeves. The mayor proposed the health of the Queen and the Governor. Lord Glasgow in responding said that what struck him most in New Zealand was that the people were Britons. They had not developed a distinct type, as the people of some of the other colonies had,

Drunkenneb, —A first offender was fined 20s, with costs, at Timaru. yesterday, for being drunk while in charge of a horse. Woodbury Sports.—ln our advertising columns will be found the entries and handicaps for the annual Birthday sports at Woodbury. The entries are numerous, and the events should all be well contested. If the weather is fine the sports should be more than usually successful.

The Baron and His Milliards,—ln the course of an interview which M. Huret, of the Figaro, had with Baron de Rothschild, the following conversation took place:—M. Huret: “ People regard you, M. le Baron, as the happiest man on earth, with all your milliards.” The Baron: “My milliards ? I saw in a paper the other day that I possessed three milliards of francs. This is sheer insanity. Real happiness at bottom means work.” M, Huret: “ How about the unearned increment ? Do you not think there is some justice in the atta.cks on the law of inheritance, by which a man is put in possession of wealth he has not earned ?” Baron de Rothschild; “ Are you married ?" M. Huret: “ Not yet.” Baron de Rothschild: “ When you are a husband and a father you will never allow the law of inheritance to be attacked.” The Late Judge Broad’s Estate.— The first meeting of creditors in the estate of the late Lowther Broad, District Court Judge, was held at Nelson on Thursday. The assignee read the statements, showing secured creditors to the amount of £2235, and value of securities £2850. The unsecured creditors were stated at £2Bll, but the assignee said that all claims would aggregate close on £4OOO. The net assets he valued at £B4O, and he calculated that the estate would pay 3s 6d in the £. He said that some creditors held life insurance policies as liens, but certain of the assignments were not legally binding. The total value of the eight policies on the life of the deceased was £3400, and of this £ISOO belonged to the famillp while another £BOO which would go to them as assignments, were invalid. The Government were giving a compassiouate allowance of £9OO, so that there would be about £3OOO for the family.

Suicide on a Child. —An Avoca (Victoria) telegram to the Hobart Mercury of October 26 says:—“ Another of those sad affairs for which this place of late years has become notorious took place last Sunday. Mr Benjamin Densley, an old and much-esteemed resident, had occasion to reprimand his eldest daughter, a bright and, as events have proved, highly sensitive child nine years old, for an act of disobedince, which so preyed on the poor girl’s mind that she left her father’s residence, and for three days, in spite of every effort to find her, not a trace could be discovered. To-day, however, the mystery was solved by the finding of her remains in the river Esk, There can be no doubt that the act was one of selfdestruction, as, previous to the sad event, the child had expressed her determination to destroy herself should ever her father chastise her.”

Honoring a Composer.— The Viennese quite lost their heads over Mascagni the composer. The “ rage ” reached a climax on the 18th September. The Daily News correspondent says :*• When the composer left the Exhibition Theatre he went with his friends to hear some of the popular singers in that part of the exhibition called ‘ Old Vienna, ’ He was followed, however, and before he had reached the place he was going to some 2000 men and women packed themselves densely around him. All his efforts to get away were in vain, and his friends cries of ‘You are killing him I ’ were of no avail. His hands were seized and pressed. He was kissed and embraced a dozen times, and a cigar he was smoking was taken out of his mouth and fought for. At last the police interfered. Twelve constables surrounded him and made way for him to one of the gates. Here he got into his carriage under their protection, and the wrought-iron gates were closed upon hia pursuers, who were pressing him, and would no doubt have tried to race with the horses of his fiacre. Fresh scenes of the kind are thought not unlikely.” Geraldine Fire Brigade Social,— The anniversary of the Geraldine Fire Brigade was recognised by a social at the Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening. Before the social a torchlight procession, headed by the Geraldine Band, was made to the post office and back to the Hall, colored lights being burned on the way. At the hall extensive decorations had been made with flags, ferns, and green shrubs, which gave it a very gay appearance. Mr Richardson acted as M. 0., and the music, which was all that could be desired, was supplied by Messrs Levens and McCarthy. The catering was in the hands of Messrs Williams & Son, and gave every satisfaction. Mesdames Boughton and Winefield attended at the tables. During the evening two very good farces were given entitled “ Judgedfora day,” and “ Slocum’s Dog.” The parts were taken by Messrs Kraus, Baughen, W. Sherratt, Mcllroy, N, Morrison, and Winefield. The farces were greatly appreciated by those present, and were a great help to the evening’s enjoyment . Apologies for non-attendance were read by Captain Walton from the secretaries of the Temuka and Timaru Brigades. The thanks of the brigade are due to the public for their liberal patronage. The V.R.C, Meeting. The V.R.C. Meeting was continued at Melbourne on Thursday. The weather was beautiful, and the attendance large, especially of ladies. Results: Flying Stakes, 7 furlongs, Bungebah 1, Paris 2, time Imin 27 ; [sec; Oaks, miles, Eahweenie 1, Trieste 2, time, 2min 43isec; Second Hurdle Race, about 2 miles, Pingara (10st 111 b) 1, Cumberoona (10st 31b) 2, time 3min 54-Jsec. Spring Handicap, 1* miles, Titan (Bst 11b) 1. Swordbearer (7st 91b) 2, time 2min lOseo (the last six furlongs were run fin Imin KJisec); Royal Park Stakes, li miles, Donation 1. Paris (71b penalty) 2, time 3 min lOsec (the last six furlongs were run in Imin Ls£sec) ; Veteran Stakes, 1J miles, Litigant (7st 101 b) 1, Goodreef (7st 131 b) 2, time 2min 37sec. Tirailleur, it turns out, fractured his shoulder when he stumbled in the Cup race, but Allen enterrains hopes of bringing him round. Portsea’s injury was confined to a straining of muscles, whilst Pilot Boy got off with nothing worse than a severe shaking. “ Caught On.”— The Humber “ Star” Safety manufactured by Adams, Curties & Co., at 70, Manchester Street, has “ come to stay.” Cycles on easy payments. Send for list.— [Advt.]

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS, E. Proutiug—Funeral notice re late Mr E. Every. Guinness & LeCren —Entries for Geraldine sale. Primitive Methodist Church—Services to-morrow. C.E.C. Association—lmportant notice to shareholders. Mrs Turton, Waihi Bush—Wants good general servant. H. Lee, Temuka—Offers reward for return of lost dog. H. B. Webster & Co. Entries Geraldine live stock sale. Woodbury Athletic Club—Handicaps for sports on November 9th. Farmer’s Co-operative Association— Entries Geraldine live stock sale. Church of England—Services for tomorrow at Temuka and Winchester. Richard Purchase —Notice re application for transfer of license of Temuka Hotel to J, H. Taylor. Pearson’s Fancy Warehouse, Timaru— Quotations for packets and other lines of Christmas cards. J. Brown, Temuka —Announces arrival of new dress and other goods for 1892 ; special value in lace curtains, carpeting etc ; stock in trade of Temuka Carriage Factory Company will be sold by auction on November 15; all the accounts due to the factory must be paid by the 10th,

CRICKET. A scratch match was played at Geraldine on Thursday last between sides chosen by Messrs R. H. Pearpoiut and B. R. Macdonald. The following are the scores:— H. W. Moore, b Morrison 1 W. Macdonald,b B. R. Macdonald ... 11 E. Robson 8 F. Fish, not out 21 F, W. Smith,run out 1 R. H. Pearpoint, run out 5 Ward, c Smith, b Morrison 4 Colbert, b B. R. Macdonald 0 Byes ... ••• ••• ••• 5 Wides 3 Total 50 Hill, b W. Macdonald 23 Radcliffe, b Moore 26 B. R. Macdonald 17 R. Morrison, bH. W. Moore ... 5 M. Moore, b Fish ... 5 Smith, b Robson 1 Leversedge, b Robson ... ... 2 Erskine,b H. W. Moore 1 Total 80 After the match a team as under was chosen to play against Temuka on Saturday next: —F.. Fish, Hill, B. R. Macdonald, W. Macdonald, H. W. Moore, W. Moore, R. Morrison, R. H. Pearpoint, Radcliffe, F. W. Smith, Ward,