LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2465, 16 February 1893, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Anglican Ohukch. Geiialdine. On Sunday next the services will be held in the old church, St Mary's being now in course of repair. Political. The Wellington Times' Masterton correspondent wires that Mr Scobie Mackenzie will be asked to contest the Masterton seat. Embezzlement. —G. S. Hickman, late clerk of the Avon Eoad Board, was committed for trial at Christchurch on Tuesday on two further charges of embezzling small sums of money, the property of the board. Fiiie. —A seven-roomed house at Northcote, Auckland, occupied by Mr Brassey, solicitor, was burned on Monday. It was insured for £2OO in the South British oifice, and the furniture for £235 in the same offl.ce. Physiognomy.—Mr 0. E. Hugo the wellknown lecturer upon physiognomy, will lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall, Geraldine, to-morrow. Mr Hugo has lately been lecturing in the Ashburton district very successfully. The Edwards Case.—The Government have instructed the Crown Solicitor to defend an action brought to test the validity of the sentence passed on Aldrhlge by Mr Edwards, when sitting as a Supreme Court Judge. A THiEt' Convicted.—-At Oamaru on Monday, Leader Morris, a gentleman with a long string of aliases and convictions in the North Island, was committed to Dunedin gaol for six months, for larceny of two overcoats.

Imports and Exports.—The value of the imports for the colony during last year was £6,942,01(5, as compared with £0,503,841) for 1891. The exports were valued at £9,536,9 < .) < .J, as against £'J,0(>(5,397 for the previous year. Challenge.—ln our advertising columns Mr J. Douglas issues a £2O challenge to owners or makers of Clayton & Shuttleworth, or other combines to thresh against his machine, wheat oats, barley or grass seed, subject to certain conditions.

Death of Colonel Eichbaum. —Contrary to expectations, Colonel Eichbaum succumbed to his injuries on Monday last at Pleasant Point. He will be much missed in the district, where he was always prominent in any matters calculated to benefit it. Accidents. A man named William Robinson, a settler, was thrown twice from his horse near Wainku, Auckland, and died next day.—A Maori youth named Mita Te Tuhi was shot while pigeon-shooting at Whiriniki. Auckland, and severely wounded in the head.

Vigilance Committee.—At Lyttelton on Sunday a vigilance committee appointed by the local prohibition league kept a close watch on all the hotels in the township, being relieved at regular intervals. The hotelkeepers observed the law strictly, and even the most thirsty souls had to go without their usual refreshers. Entertainment. The Steen-Stnith American Entertainers are announced to give an entertainment, at Temuka on Friday, 24th February. The company have given some wonderful exhibitions of mind reading, thought transmitting, ventriloquism, etc.. in the chief cities of the colony, to crowded and mystified audiences. Popular prices will be charged.

Charge Against a Solicitor.— Witarihana Rupuha, a native of Otaki, has brought a suit in the Supreme Court, Wellington, against Sir W. Buller for recovery of land. Defendant Buller, though acting as his solicitor, really bought the land himself, while plaintiff thought Stuart and Davie 3 were the purchasers. Wellington Asylum. —Mr McLean, tiead attendant of tbe Wellington Asylum, who was dismissed in connection with the Ah Ching enquiry, has written to the Wellington Post, making serious charges against the management of the institution, which the editor, in declining to publish, says will probably be brought under the notice of the Minister, with a demand for further investigation.

A Pleasant Point Conundrum.— Latterly the Colonial Bank has opened a branch at Pleasant Point, and visitors there are now asked " Why are Morris and McKibbin the richest storekeepers south of the line /" Most people give it up, and are then informed that it is " Because they have the Colonial Bank between them." People don't always see it then until they walk down the road, and midway between the two stores see a diminutive building with a very big sign.

Tahiti and New Zealand. The French authorities in Tahiti have made a new protective tariff, placing prohibitive duties on British goods, so as to remove the disadvantages of New Zealand exporters, who carry on trade in meat and provisions to Tahiti, per steamer Richmond. The new tariff will be enforced in New Caledonia, where the French authorities are making extensive preparations for the repression of smuggling, likely to be tried in consequence of the prohibitive duties. Supreme Court.—The following is the callendar of the Supreme Court Sessions at Christchurch which open on Monday 1 — Thomas Downs and Henry Jensen, burglary; Fred. Cooper, alias Cameron, forgery and uttering; Charles Allen, assault with intent ; Margaret Isles, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm ; M. Corcoran and John Howard, larceny from the person: Elizabeth Whittel, alias Taylor, larceny.—At Invercargill no bill was presented in the Lora Gorge murder case. Lucy Poole, forgery, was ordered to come up forsentence when called upon. Frederick Charles Clarke got three years for forgery ; Michael Sheeny, housebreaking, got four months; Henry Budd, for stealing a watch, was admitted to probation. Gapes's Valley School Committee.— A meeting on the Gapes's Valley school committee was held on Monday, February I :ith. Present—Messrs Amyes (chairman), Lovegrove, and Love. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The report of the inspector was received, and considered highly satisfactory. Percentage of passes, (il»> percentage of failures, nil. Great credit is due to the teacher (Miss Oxby), for briuging the children to -«nU au officiant state as to have an exivituoufc ft failure. The comaniiuatiou "*-««« Moore, White, and mittee voted for .u... ""''i nation, It Howell for election to the u . - -s-

was decided to hold a concert and dance ... aid of the prize fund in March n '.xt. A joounts to the amount of £1 (is Id were passed for payment' and the meeting terminated.

Mutiny and Murder. —The s.s. Richmond, which arrived at Auckland on Tuesday from Tahiti and Raratonga, reports a mutiny aud murder at sea on the American barque Vesper, of San Francisco. The barque put into Tahiti on January 27th, bound from Newcastle (New South Wales) to Honolulu with coals, in charge of Captain S.ideroren. He reported that the crew murdered the second mate ; that he and his wife and the chief officer and steward were in peril of their lives. The crew were arrested and will be sent to San Francisco for trial, per barque Darra. Two of the prisoners turned State's evidence. The crew were under the impression that the captaiu had in his possession a considerable sum of money, and proposed to kill the captain and ollicers, and get possession of the ship and gold. On January 13th the second mate, named Fitzgerald, was decoyed forward and killed with the cook's chopper, and his body thrown overboard. The killing of the captain and mate was put off, the crew saying they had done enough for one night. Meanwhile the captain and mate were alarmed and kept the deck for a fortnight. The crow were all shipped at Newcastle,

Cattle Stealing.—John Barrowman was committed for trial at Dunedin on Tuesday on a charge of stealing five heifers. The Weather.—Yesterday the weather was very variable. In the morning- a sharp frost was experienced, and at first it appeared as if the day would be dull. After a time, the dullness went off and the heat became quite tropical. In the afternoon a strong nor'-wester set in, which gradually vered round to the sou'-west, when it became cold enough. This was followed by a heavy fall of rain, which must check harvest work for some time.

Choir Social.—A return social, given by the choir and Suuday School teachers ol St. John's, Winchester, to the Temuka choir and Sunday School teachers, was held in the Winchester Sunday School on Tuesday evening last, and proved a very enjoyable one indeed. Games were indulged in during the evening, in which the Revs. W. E. Gillam and M. W. Butterfield took a leading part. Songs, solos, choruses, etc., were rendered at intervals. Refreshments, which were provided by the Winchester ladies, were handed round, and, a hearty vote of thanks having been accorded the Winchester people, the gathering dispersed after singing '"Auld Lang Syne." Primitive Methodist Church.—The Anniversary Services of the Temuka Primitive Methodist Sunday School, are to be held next Suuday and Monday. This annual fixture generally is held in November, but on account of the building of the new church, it was put off last November until now. No doubt on Sunday the building will be packed to its utmost to hear Mr Harris, who is well known here as a most eloquent preacher. The children's soiree in the afternoon should also be well attended; the children have prepared special recitation and dialogues, and the singing- will be well sustained. The tuachers are favoured in having the late Pastor, Rev. W. C. Wood (of Wellington) to give an address at the soiree, and no doubt a very good meeting will be held. Large preparations are being made for the soiree, aud the reasonable charge of Is Gd should induce a large number to patronise it.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. J. F. Douglas—Challenge to threshing machine owners. J. Tangney, Temuka—Sale of boots and shoes commences to-day. 0. E. Hugo—Will lecture on physiognomy at Geraldine to-morrow night. Dugald Macfarlane—Result of election of members of Timaru Harbor Board.

Queensland Relief Fund—Public meet' ing at Temuka on Monday next.

Primitive Methodist Church—Notice re anniversary services and soiree. Wm. Storey, Temuka—Quotes reductions in prices oi ! suits, trousers, etc. Steen-Smith, American Entertainers — Will appear at Temuka on February 24th. Anglican Church, Geraldine —Sendees will be held in the old church on Sunday next.

Band of Hope Meeting—ln Presbyterian Church, Temuka, to-night; collection in aid of Queensland sufferers. Guinness & LeCren—Sell valuable farm in the Seadown district (now leased by Mr Balfour) on Saturday, February 25th. C.F.C. Association—Particulars of large and important cleariug sale of live and dead stock on Dinda Farm on February 28th.

T. & J. Thomson, Timaru—Are daily opening novelties for forthcoming autumn season; enumerate new goods in fancy, dress, Manchester, and show departments.