LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2458, 31 January 1893, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Parliament. —lt is understood that Parliament will not meet till the middle of June. , _ Geraldine Stock. Sale,—The fortnightly sale of stock at Geraldine takes place to-morrow. Sale of Farm Properties. —Attention is directed to the sale of farm properties advertised by Messrs H. B. Webster & Co. to take place at Geraldine to-morrow. Unregistered Dogs. —ln our advertising columns it is notified that owners of unregistered dogs in the Geraldine County are now liable to be sued at any time. ’Frisco Mail. — The ’Frisco mail is expected to reach Wellington at midnight today, and the Takapuna leaves at three on Wednesday afternoon for Lyttelton with the southern portion. Geraldine Literary Institute.— Members of this Institute are reminded of their annual meeting, which was adjourned till to-night. As business is of utmost importance to the Institute, members are particularly requested to attend. Distinguished Visitors.— Lord Hopetoun and the Countess arrived at the Bluff yesterday morning, and were met by the Mayor of Invercargill and the Garrison Baud, and came on to Invercargill by a special train at 11 a.m. The streets were decorated with flags, but there was no other public display. Committed for Trial.— The woman, Annie Byrne, who jumped from the wharf into the water with her infant-child at Invercargil on the llth inst., has been committed for trial by Mr Rawson, R.M., at Invercargil, for the murder of her child, Lilian Byrne. Cricket.— The following members of the Temuka C.C. are requested to practice for the match against Geraldine on Saturday next:—H. W. Anderson. J. Anderso a Brown, Cutten, Cox, Cayley, Dignan, Dann, Fergusson, Gillespie, Hayhurst, Low, Early, Goldstone, Findlay, McLean. Gold. —At a meeting of the Deep Lead Prospecting Association, at Kumara, the manager reported having obtained fifteen grains of light gold from a shaft which had bottomed on a blue reef. Considerable importance attaches to the find as it establishes the fact of the existence of gold below the false bottom. Attempted Suicide, —An elderly man James O’Brien, a chimney sweep, shot himself in the head at Christchurch yesterday morning, using an old pistol loaded with shot. He is at present progressing favourably, but it is not yet known whether the wound w ill prove fatal. He had been drinking for a week past. Parish Festival. The Geraldine Anglican Church hold their annual parish festival and Sunday school treat in the public domain on Thursday afternoon next, These gatherings have always been very successful, and there will we feel sure be a large attendance this year. The affair commences at 2 p.m. Land Settlement.— There has been a great impetus in land settlement during the last fortnight, in the Kumara district 71 miners of Dillmanstown, with growing families, have formed a Special Settlement Association to procure land in Taranaki. In Kumara even more activity is shown. An association was formed at an enthusiastic meeting, and Mr H. Burgess was desptached yesterday morning to Wellington to make final arrangements and finally inspect the land. The meeting complained of the lack of information supplied by the . Department in connection with land settlement, and it was suggested that in every post office placards should be posted supplying full particulars. Timaru Harbor Board. —We hear that Mr It. Thew will, at the next election, oppose Mr Talbot for his seat on the Timaru Harbor Board, and as a consequence there is likely soon to be some speaking from the hustings in the Mount Peel district. Mr Talbot invites the ratepayers to meet him in the Peel Forest schoolroom on Saturday evening, at half-past seven o’clock, to discuss the present harbor question. Ratepayers in the Temuka and Mount Peel districts should bear in mind that candidates must be nominated with the respective returning officers at or before noon on Thursday next, February 2nd. We understand that Mr George Stumbles has been nominated by Messrs A. M. Clark and Jas. Guild as a candidate for re-election to the above board for the Temuka district. Mr Stumbles’ practical experience and sterling common-sense should make him a popular candidate. “ An Unhappy Institution.” The Sydney Bulletin of Jan. 21 has the following : —” The ‘ New Zealand and River Plate Investment Company,’ a year or two ago, gathered up its spare coin and retired from Maoriland to Buenos Ayres, under an impression, so it is alleged, that the former country, during the Ballance regime, wasn’t a fit place for the investment of British capital. This unhappy institution has just been heard of once more, after a long silence, as having paid an emaciated dividend of 2 per cent, per annum in Argentine. It used to pay an obese 15 per cent, in the old days when its coin was lent out to Canterbury farmers. When the Company wound up its M.L. business all the Tory papers whooped about capital being ‘ driven out of the country.’ That capital will never drive back to the same country any more, but it hopes to walk back on crutches some day when it has got rested after its Argentine experiences.” Te Aroha Hot Springs. —Two striking cures effected by the Te Aroha mineral springs are thus described by a correspondent of the Auckland Herald : —“ If the medicinal waters of this wonderful place could be reproduced in Europe, what an immense fortune someone would make. Here we have in our midst a region of such health-giving and life-producing power, that the wonder is it is not more qnjve;rsally patronised. I will cite two recent cases of ladies who are well known ‘" Auckland. Ml’S Scott-of Ejlerslie, was - «ulferer from rheumatism in the a terribm f ee fc W ere so out of feet and legs, x* ..... • - - ■‘•i-i-rucd round, shape that her toes fainy - ' at her nails being underneath. She staye... I Te Aroha four month?, went through the regime, with the result that she is quite cured. The other case is yet more wonder* ful Mrs F. Davis, whose body was completely out of joint, went to Te Aroha. Her knuckles were the size of ankles, and her ankles appeared like knees. Acute rheumatism affected every muscle in her body. After bathing in the Te Aroha waters for 10 months, constantly rubbing with neatsfoot oil and drinking the famous mineral waters, one cannot realise she was such a sufferer, for her cure seems miraculous. Let those who suffer from rheumatism never despair, as long as there is a place like Aroha to which they can go.” Hard Cases. One of the conditions imposed upon inmates of the new Benevolent Home at Ohiro is that they shall be cleansed immediately upon entering, for which purpose baths are provided for their reception. On Thursday evening some of the former inmates of the boarding-out establishment patronised by the Benevolent Trustees were sent up to the new Home, and among them was one elderly gentleman who at once created a difficulty. In fact, lie objected to the bathing regulation ; for close on a quarter of a century he had done without it, and at his advanced age he protested, such a course of action would be nothing short of downright cruelty. He was not going to be washed, and he thereupon commenced a vigorous struggle with the enemies who surrounded him. But it was no use ; washed he must be, and washed he was, and he was taking an airing in the afternoon while the ceremony of opening the Home was in progress. He was ao cornpanied by another elderly individual I , who had not been completely washed ; previously for 1(5 years, but whose objections were also overcome in a similarly 1 vigorous manner.— N.Z. Times, '

Sailors’ Rest. Lord Glasgow is interesting himself in the matter of a sailors’ rest at the Bluff, and if steps are taken to provide one he will subscribe £5. R.M. Court, Temuka. —At the above court, yesterday, before Mr J. M. Twomey, J.P., Peter Stevenson was brought up charged with having been drunk in a public place on the previous Saturday night, and fined 10s, or 48 hours’ imprisonment with hard labor.

Crops at Ashburton. —A heavy storm at Ashburton did much injury to the crops. The weather cleared on Friday, and cutting was resumed. The corn in stock in exposed situations will take some time to dry, the sheaves being soaked. Some sprouting is already noticed in the standing wheat. N.Z. Athletic Championship. A Christchurch telegram says the New Zealand athletic championship entries are coming in freely and promise to be quite up to the standard of previous years. No Australians will compete. R. N, Thomas, the walking champion of 1888, and New Zealand record holder, will be a competitor, and is showing grand form at present. , Dunedin Wool Sales. —The third of a series of wool sales was held at Dunedin on Friday, when there was again a good attendance. There was good competition, though perhaps not so animated as at previous sales. This may have been caused by the quality on the average being hardly so good as a fortnight ago. There was but little change in prices, unless it was in halfbreds and finest crossbreds, for which the demand was exceptionally keen, and prices slightly firmer. Coarser sorts were unchanged, but hardly so firm, while merino, unless very light, sound, and clean, were easier.

Extraordinary D ecision .—Lieutenant Colonel Roberts, Resident Magistrate at Mastorton, has given a decision which has caused some excitement among temperance advocates. The licensee of the Star Hotel was charged with having kept his house open on Sunday for the sale of liquor. Mr Pownall, counsel for the defence, urged amongst other grounds for the dismissal of the case, that there was nothing in the license, which was framed according to the Act, to show that liquor should not be sold on Sundays. The penal clauses were, therefore, ultra vires. The Resident Magistrate upheld the contention and dismissed the information.

An Intellectual Amusement.—An intellectual amusement, recently devised, consists of writing a capital D on a sheet of paper while standing at a table, and trying to make the right foot swing in the opposite direction from that which the pencil is following on the paper. No one seems to be able to perform the feat. You get your foot swinging nicely in the opposite direction from that in which you know you are going to make big loop of the D. and firmly resolve that you will keep it going the same way while you are writing; but as soon as you get started on the letter, will you nill you, jour foot turns and goes the other way. Sports at Obaki Gorge Garden Party.—The following are the results of the sports which took place at the garden party held at Mr Tripp’s, Orari Gorge, on Thursday last, in aid of the Geraldine Anglican Church : —IOO Yards : W. Johnstone, 4yds, 1; S. W. Woods, 6yds, 2. 120 Yards Hurdles : G. Davie, 9yds, 1; J. Heney, 4yds, 2. 100 Yards Three-legged Race: W. Johnstone and J. Lorgelly 1; J. Evans and B. T. Evans, 2, 220 Yards : R. Orton, scr., 1; A. Scott, scr., 2. High Jump: J. Heney, scr. (4ft 9in), 1; J. Lorgelly, lin (4ft Tin), 2. 440 Yards: J. Scott, 7yds, 1; A. Scott, scr., 2. 100 Yards Consolation: H. McLeod, 2yds, 1; C Soott, 2yds, 2. Mr B. Tripp acted as judge_ Opbn-Aib Performance.—The experiment of giving an open air performance of the Messiah ” was tried at Dunedin on Saturday on the Caledonian ground, and proved successful. The weather was dull but fine, and not a breath of wind was stirring. The chorus and orchestra, numbering about 300, were in the grand stand, and most of the audience, numbering over 3000, and including the Governor and Lady Glasgow and suite, were on the ground below. Only the choruses were given. At the conclusion Signor Squarise, who conducted, was presented to and congratulated by His Excellency. The performance was in aid of Miss Keating, who has lost both her eyes by being accidentally shot just before Christmas. Rangitata South School Committee. —A meeting of the commissioners of the Rangitata South School was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. Present —Messrs D. Taylor (chairman), T. Cadwallader, and C. Looker. The master reported that the roll number for the last quarter was—boys, 18 : girls, 15 ; total, 33; and that the average attendance was 29. The chairman reported that since last meeting he had had the pump put in working order, and a fence put round it to protect it, and that he had obtained pipes from the Temuka Road Board for the purpose of making a crossing at the front gate, for which tenders were to be invited. It was resolved to close the school for the harvest holidays on Friday, January 27th, and to reopen on Monday, February 20th. After transacting a little routine business the meeting terminated.

Accidents, &o. —Mr Blair, who has just completed the erection of extensive milkpreserving works at Wallacetown, Southland, the only factory of the kind in the colony, died suddenly on Friday.—A miner named Patrick Kelly was drowned in the Taipo river, on the West Coast, early in the month, while on his way from his hut at the Seven-mile Creek to prospect Hunt’s Creek. Owing to floods his body was not found for a week. Kelly was a single man, a native of county Kilkenny, and it is believed he had no relatives in New Zealand. —A boy named Stewart Kelly fell into the dam near the Patent Slip, Wellington, on Friday, and was drowned. His brother

went in after him and gpt him to the bank, but was unable to hold him up till assistance came. Mr Edmund Paul, a settler, and partner of Mr J. Paul, the well-known racehorse owner, died at Blenheim on Friday morning from a paralytic stroke.—A fatalaccjident occurred on road leading from Mornington to Kaikorai Valley, Dunedin, shortly after U O’clock on Sunday morning. A drag containing fifteen young people, ten of whom were girls, were being driven by Mr W- Casey. At the top of the hill the brake failed to act, and the drag pressing on the horses,

caused them to bolt down the hill for oyer half a mile at a great pace. The vehicle swayed from side to side of the road, and in its course all but three of the oocupants were throwu or jumped out. Mary Connelly fell on her head, causing fracture of the skull, dislocation of the spine, and almost instantaneous death’ Mary Walsh

sustained a severe scalp wound and shock ; Margaret Walsh, a sprain to her spine; 51/;,ry Williams, fracture of the ribs, and Mr Casey, thh dyiver, a badly sprained knee. The other p f the trap were shaken and bruised'badly, but jfoji otherwise injured. Mr W. Mearns, pf St. John Ambulance Association, was the first to render sni'-dcal assistance, and was complimented upon his efficiency by Dr A. J.

Ferguson, who subsequently attended to the injured. A boy named greenwood, six years old, wss killed, near Pahiajbanui, Wellington, on Saturday evening. He was crossing a bridge when a stringer broke and overthrew the truck on which he and others were riding. The boy was pinned beneath it; his chest being crushed and his neck broken. The others were unhurt.—

Donald Mclfcn;;ie t aged 22, was drowned in the estuary, Invercargill, pn Sunday afternoon. He was sailing down the river in a boat with four others,'and thpweather

being warm, with scarcely any wind, he jumped pver for a swim, and sank a few yards from the boat in about ten feet of water. The body was recovered at (i o’clock yesterday morning. Ip is said all of them had beeh drinking 1 . ' I

Geraldine Flower Show.—The attendance on Friday evening at the Geraldine Flower Show was a decided improvement on that of the afternoon, and the takings, considering everything, were fairly up to the mark. We omitted to mention in our report that Mr W. Walton was judge of the hams and bacon. The lady judges altered their decision with respect to the entries for the best sofa cushion made in 1892-93 (prize a pair of boots presented by Mr S, Anderson, Timaru). There were three entries for this, and at first they were each highly commended, but no award was granted. The judges, however, afterwards saw fit to alter their decision, and awarded the prize to Miss Dunlop. A Plucky Dog.—The Auckland Herald reports that a desperate encounter between a dog and a shark took place in the harbor, off the Hobson street wharf. The dog, which was swimming about catching a stick which its master threw into the water, was attacked by a small shark. The fish turned to bite, when the dog gave a sudden bound and gripped the shark immediately behind the head. Suddenly they both disappeared, but in a few seconds the dog came to the surface with a large piece of the shark in its mouth. This infuriated the fish to such a degree that, lashing the water furiously, it again attacked the dog, but the latter caught it by the upper part of the head and tore the skin away bit by bit until the shark became completely exhausted, and was captured by those on shore.

Export op Frozen Poultry. The Hawera Star understands that the idea of exporting frozen dressed poultry to the London market will receive a fair trial at once. It will be remembered that a few were sent Home in August by the Indramayo for the purpose of finding out how they would carry. The conditions were not the most favorable, because the steamer was knocking about the coast several weeks before she finally left for England; but nevertheless the consignment reached the market in perfect condition, and we understand realised a fair price, though they arrived at the wrong time of the year for commercial success. The trial of the commercial aspect of the venturers now about to be made. About 1600 young fowls and ducklings will be frozen at Waitara and will be spent Home, probably by the Coptic, consigned to Messrs Lovell & Christmas, for whom Mr James Kowin is well known as agent. Mr Kowin himself will be leaving in the same vessel if the poultry go by the Coptic, and he is very confident that the results will be satisfactory and probably lead to a considerable trade in the immediate future.

Prohibition at Milduba. The attempt to prohibit the sale of liquor at Mildura appears to have been more expensive than successful. In the Legislative Assembly Mr T. Smith drew attention to a quotation made in the Argus of January 5 from a private letter, which stated that there were now thirty full-blown hotels in the place, that on New Year’s Eve whiskey could have been bought in any of them, and that four hundred cases of whiskey had come up in the previous week for one publican. Mr Smith asked what steps were being taken to stop this illegal traffic. The Commissioner of Customs replied that twenty-eight cases had been brought before the Court for the illegal sale of liquor last year, in respect of which fines bad been imposed amounting to £305 and costs amounting to £52. In addition to the police, there are two officers of excise permanently stationed at Mildura, and an extra cost of £2OO was incurred last year in the endeavor to suppress the traffic, but the facilities for bringing liquor over the river Murray are so great that it is extremely difficult to stop the importation of spirits.

The Green-Eyed Monster. The result of the “ green-eyed monster ” when it gets in its deadly work on a fireman’s uniform (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald) was exemplified at a recent meeting of the Napier Fire Brigade. What had once been the gorgeous array of a fireman, brass helmet included, was displayed in a condition so ’• tasselated ” as to cause roars of laughter. The tunic was in ribbons. The things that have no genteel name, but that a Highlandman does without, were in a state of looped and windowed raggedness wonderful to behold, and the helmet had been danced upon. It transpired that the fireman, to whom these things had been lent to wear, was acquainted with a young and charming thing who doted on him, from the crown of his heroic head to the soles of his number eleven feet. She took it into her head that he was neglecting her for another, and to have revenge she went to the house where he was bachelorising, entered it, and made general wreck of the uniform. The fireman himself has since cleared out, probably terrified at being in the same town as the warlike charmer, and, as the brigade collectively have not the courage to interview her, it is probable that, beyond keeping the uniform on exhibition, nothing else will be done. The Currency Question,—The worldwide interest that is at present felt in currency questions lends significance to the fact that some small comfort is felt in financial circles in London that now that the colonies can no longer borrow they must pay their huge debt of interest in gold .instead of out of loans. Calculations made France from official sources show that the annual production of gold and silver throughout the world is 206 tons of gold and 1477 tons of silver, representing a value of £26,320,000 of gold and of £37,360,000 for silver - The countries which produced the most gold last year were the United States, £6,880,000; Australia, £5,080,000; Russia, £4,680,000; the South African Republic, £2,760,000; the British possessions in Africa and Asia, £1,920,000; China, £1,080,000; New Zealand, £760,000. The average annual production of French Guiana, Germany, Hungary, Chili, Mexico, Venezuela, British Guiana, and Canada oscillates between £200,000 and £280,000 ; while the countries which produce most silver are the United States, £15.600,000; Mexico, £10,840,000; Bolivia, £3,200,000 ; Germany, £2,7(50,000; Chili, £600,000; Spain and Prance, £440,000 each; Central America andßritish Guiana, £4oo,oooeach; and China, £360,000.

Legislative Council Reform. The Auckland section of the National Association has issued a report upon Legislative Council reform, which, after reviewing the effect of the recent nominations upon the independence of the Chamber, says; leading "HJagUsh, Australian, and New Zealand papers is that the Legislative Council can no longer remain a nominee Chamber, and in this city (Auckland) the press of both political parties had admitted the necessity for such a change in the constitution of the Upper House as will render it an effective member of the body politic, and not a mere recording Chamber. An hereditary Upper Chamber would be an absurdity in the colonies, and, as the nominated system has been rendered abortive, the Council had to look beyond these methods when the subject was under consideration. After passing in review the constitution of Upper Chambers throughout the world, fihey have no hesitation fg recommending the elective system. Thg following are the resolutions as carried' by the council; Council should be elective ; (2) that candidates should be 40 years of age and upwards, have been resident in the colqny at’ least five and not been guilty of any felony ( (a) that tins term of office should be nine years, onethird of the members of the Chamber retiring every three years; (4) that the number should be as nearly as possible onehalf that of the Lower House ; (5) that the electoral districts should be extended accordingly, sq that each district return one memh'ei; everyth}.' 6o 5T a f‘ 8 J tfijj that evp*v payer or direct taxes or local rates' should be entitled to vote for a candidate" for thii Legislative Council; (7) that the Legislative Council should have power to propose or concur in amendments of. but npt to originate, money bills.—o.D, tithes^

The Harvest.-- The weather since Thursday last has been all that a farmer could desire for the gathering in of his harvest, and most crops in this district being now dead ripe every moment of fine weather is being taken advantage of. On Sunday at Geraldine, from dawn to dark the well known sound of the reaper and binder was heard. In one paddock three machines were at work all day long, with the exception of a few minutes’ rest for a “ snack,” and before the day closed a good margin of the crop was down. Crops in the district, especially the wheat crops, are looking well, and should show a good yield when threshed out. In the Temuka district many reapers were also busy, and stacking in some cases was gone on with. A Minister and His Work. —The Wellington Post of Thursday has the following The Hon. Mr Seddon, with Mr T. Hamer, his private secretary, arrived by the Rotorua between five and six this morning. Mr Seddon’s_ subsequent proceedings would prove of interest to those of his supporters who advocate " eight hours work and eight hours play,” &c. He went direct from the steamer to his office, and worked there at matters requiring his attention till shortly before 11 a.m., when, after a cup of tea by way of breakfast, he went into Cabinet. As he has some weeks of correspondence to go through, he will be working night and day for some time. Such is a glimpse at the daily life of a busy Minister. Yet we are told by those who do not know, that Ministers have not much to do! SYNOPSIS OP Ai) VERTISEMENTS Geraldine Anglican Church Parish festival on Thursday next. Guinness & LcCren—Entries for Geraldine stock sale, _ Geraldine County Council Notice re unregistered dogs. J. Talbot Notice to ratepayers m Mount Peel Road District. Glasson & Co. — Sell spring cart and Whitechapel cart at Winchester to-morrow.