LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2467, 21 February 1893, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Stock Sale.— The fortnightly sale of stock at Temuka takes place tomorrow. Timaru Wool Sales. —The third of this season’s series of wool sales takes place in Timaru to-day. Suicide. —Mrs Margaret Bennet, wife of a fruit-grower at Coal creek, Otago, hanged herself on Saturday mornim*. Ihe Cheviot Estate. The Government are receiving numerous applications for land on the Cheviot estate. Gospel Mission. A gospel mission movement has been started at Wellington by a number of young men in the city, who intend to carry on active undenominational work. Serious Accident. —Sophia Jacobs, five years old, tell off the steps of the wharf at Dunedin on to the stones, .and sustained a compound fracture of the skull. Her recovery is doubtful. A MAD Family.— Some time ago a woman in a fit of madness drowned her infant in a bath at Wellington, and on Iriday her husband was also committed to the asylum as a lunatic. A Help. The colonial revenue has received a windfall in the way of £35,000 in stamp duty just paid in England by the executors of the late Mr A. Tollemaehe, on his Hawke's Bay estates. The Arowiibnua Creek.— lntending contractors are reminded that tenders for cleaning the Taumatakahu creek, through Arowheuua, close at the Arowhouua Town Board office to-morrow evening Fatal Accidents.— Charles* Bowen, a Norwegian, was killed by falling from a tree near Longbush, Wellington, ou Friday. —A man named J. G-. Smith was killed at Port Chalmers on Saturday by a dumped bale of wool falling ou him. Road Board Election. —Ratepayers in the Temuka Road District are reminded that candidates to fill the extraordinary vacancy on the Temuka Road Board must be made with the Returning Officer before noon to-day. Public Trust Office. Properties placed in the Public Trust Office are now relieved of postal and telegraphic charges, aud it is understood that other concessions will be made if it is found to the interest of the office to do so. Fuhniure Sale, Etc.— The C.F.C. Association (Mr J. Mundell, Auctioneeer), holds a sale of furniture, harness, etc., at lemuka to-morrow, ou account of Mrs McCann. V olunteers and Depence. —LieutsnautColouel Fox’s report on the volunteers and defences of the colony was received by the Hon. Mr Seddon on Friday night. It will not be published until it is discussed by the Cabinet. The Cabinet will probably meet this week. Gold Hush. —There is reported to be quite a rush to Blind Bay, at Great Harrier Island, in consequence of the recent discoveries of silver. The tests of the quartz found by Sanderson Bros., the first prospectors, have proved very satisfactory, and a Government officer is surveying the claims. Cruelty to a Child. —ln the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, on Saturday, the hearing of a charge against EJiza Savage of cruelty to her stepson was concluded after four adjournments, and accused was sentenced, to five weeks’ imprisonment with hard labor. Leave to appeal was given and bail allowed. Sheep Stealing. —At the Supreme Court, Invercargill, after a trial extending over two days, Michael Markey was found not guilty of sheep stealing, the jury being of opinion that the accused altered the brands and cut the ears without felonious intent. Another charge will be heard against him. Mining Accident. A man named William Norman, a miner, was terribly injured at Johnston’s United mine, Colliugwood, Nelson, on Thursday uight by an explosion of dynamite, which he thought had missed fire. His right arm was blown off and other injuries were sustained. He was taken to Nelson by special steamer. Timaru G-as Company. —The Timaru Gas Company paid a dividend of 8 per cent, for the year, and carried forward £215 2s to next year’s account. During the year considerable reductions had been made in the price of gas, and the works enlarged and put in splendid order. The chairman thought it possible that a still further reduction in the cost of gas for lighting could be made. Fire. —At about nine o’clock on Saturday morning the large stone homestead at Waihao Downs, the property of Mr John Douglas, caught lire by a spark from the chimney falling on the shingle roof. There were very few people about, all the men being away harvesting, and the whole place was soon a mass of flames. Very little of the furniture was saved, and the building was completely gutted. Presentation. —An interesting ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon at the Wesleyan Church, Waitohi. At the close of the service, the Rev. J. Dellow, on behalf of the congregation at Waitohi, and other friends in the circuit, presented Miss i oung with a very handsome marble clock, as a mark of their esteem and appreciation fl her jser vices as organiste, etc., for years * - Young has cheerfully rendered SkbCTJp to A*.';!* 16 fctjo district; and her friends are pit.. know that, amidst family changes, she wL l be staying in the old home at Waitohi. Ministerial. —Mr McKenzie and Mr Cad man arrived at Blenheim on Sunday night from Havelock, accompanied by Messrs Bucik, Mills and Kerr. . On Saturday they visited Rai Talley, and it is understood will advise saw milling and settlement to go on there. They met several deputations ou local matters, and at a social in the evening the Minister of Lands delivered a short political address. They left yesterday for Picton and the Sounds. On Thursday Mr McKenzie speaks at Blenheim, and Mr Cadman proceeds to Wellington by the first boat. Drunkenness.— At Timaru on Saturday John Pnilpott Curran, a character wellknown to the police, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for resisting the police. Among his doings when arrested was the biting of a piece out of the con!| stable’s coat—Yesterday five sailors, part of the crew of the crew of the Araby, were with one exception, were fined 10a each for drunkenness, and one of them 10s for disorderly conduct. A Timaru resident named John Fergusson who joined one of the partv, was fined lOs and costs. The Governor. The Governor and party arrived at Nelson on Saturday. The Navals formed the guard of honor, and the , H. Battery fired the salute. The party were received by the Mayor and Councillors, and a procession in which the friendly societies and fire brigade joined escorted the vice regal-party to Church HiU, where addresses from the corporation awd friendly societies were presented aud acknowledged by His Excelleuy. The Countess of Glasgow aud Duchess of Buckingham were each presented with bouquets. There were about four thousand present, aud the proceedings were marked by evidences of loyalty. The Governor expressed himself highly pleased with the cordiality of the welcome. Disputed Value. — A considerable amount of correspondence has taken place between the Government and Captain Russell with regard to the Woburn Restate, Hawkes Bay. Captain Russell’s agent sent in a valuation at £1 an acre. The Government valuation was £5 7s fid. Captain Russell appealed to the Board of Reviewers, who reduced the valuation to £4 17s fid, which Captain Russell accepted. The Government then gave notice, under clause 30 of the Act of 1891, to take over the property at the owner's valuation plus 10 per cent, unless the Government valuation of £5 7s fid was assented to. Captain Russell formally accepted phb in .qrdep that ho might appeal to the Board of Reviewers the proviso at the end of the clause. The board again fixed the value at £l 17s fid, and the laud is taxed qu that valuation.

The Mails. —The Mariposa, with the English mails of January 21st, left San Francisco on February 3rd, due date. The Monowai, with the colonial mails of January 28th, arrived at ’Frisco on 17th February, one day late. Sudden Death. — An old gentleman, named George Thomson. 03 years of age, died suddenly at Claremont, near Timaru, on Sunday last. Mr Thomson was a lay-reader of the Presbyterian Church, and was in the act of giving out the text of a sermon he was about to preach, when he was seized with faintness and died. Heart disease was the cause of death. Mr Thomson’s death will be regretttd by a very large circle of freinds. Suicide Club. —They have, it seems a “ Suicide Club” in New York. J. B. Moorehead, a wealthy theatrical manager, shot himself the other day, and a letter which he had addressed to the coroner ran as follows:—“ Dear Sir, —I have committed suicide as per club. Please give verdict to such effect, and oblige.” Nestor Lennon, an actor, who was called at the inquest, gave some particulars of the extraordinary club, of which he said he himself was a member. Moorehead belonged to it, and had been compelled to shoot himself. “ Each member on joining,” said Lennon. “ is compelled to fix a date at which he is to take his own life. Moorehead’s hour had arrived. By a special rule of the club he was offered a 10-year parole, but he refused to accept it, being determined to keep bis agreement.” Japan. —The steamer Catterthun, which has arrived at Sydney from Japan and Hongkong reports that the winter in Japan this year is the most severe ever known. In Kobe, on the 4th of last month, the heaviest fall of snow remembered by the oldest foreign inhabitant took place. From 2iu to 3in of snow fell in a very short time, and north of Kobe the fall was heavier. Telegraphic and railway communication was interrupted. The worst feature of the severe winter in China is that it adds to the sufferings of the famine stricken thousands in Yangchow and in the Chin Kiang perfecture, for whose relief large quantities of food are being contributed. Deputies have been sent to the famine districts to render aid to the people according to their sufferings and needs.

Lecture.— Mr O. E. Hugo, at the Geraldine Oddfellows’ Hall on Friday evening, gave one of his well known lectures on physiognomical character reading. Owing to harvesting taking up the attention of the people at present, it is rather hard to get a decent-sized audience at Geraldine, and this Mr Hugo found out on Friday evening, wheh he had rather a meagre attendance. Be went on with his lecture, however, and gave a very interesting and instructive account of his method of ju Iging character. The lecture was illustrated by a number of sketches, which mainly showed, the leading points of character in man to be similar to those seen in animals. On the whole the lecture was well wortn hearing, and it is a pity there was not a larger attendance. At the conclusion a public exhibition of character reading was given by Mr Hugo.

The Stbbn-Smith Company.— On next Friday evening the cleverest artist, in their line that has ever visited the colony will appear in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. The Steeu-Srnith Company are spoken of as marvellous wherever they have appeared. Mr Smith is a ventriloquist and humourist of world-wide repute, but the leading features of the show are Mr and Mrs Steen. Mr Steen is an exposer of spiritualism. There is nothiug that spiritualists do which he does not expose openly, and in the presence of the audience. Mrs Steen’s performance is the most marvellous of all. She can tell the time by one’s watch while it is in his packet, also the number and any other marks which may be on it. She can add up columns of figures blindfolded ; she can read cards in a person’s hand any distance away. She has been kno.vn to do this at a distance of 14 miles by telegraph, and also by telephone for shorter distances. She is siid to be the greatest artiste in her line, and no doubt she will be well worth seeing.

Presbyterian General Assembly. At the Presbyterian General Assembly at Wellington on Friday, it was resolYed. without discussion, to leave the Auckland Alexander case in the hands of the church property board, simglioater. lu the matter j of the memorial from the Christchurch Presbytery, it was agreed to direct the attention of ministers and others to clause 56 of the Church Property Act, which empowers the treasurer of of the board to grant a legal receipt for all trust moneys. The Assembly endorsed the recommendations of the committee in favour of local option and the promulgation of temperance principles. The report on foreign missions showed great prosperity in the work of proslytism in the New Hebrides; it also expressed the hope that the resumption of Kanaka labour in Queensland would not lead to abuses. On Saturday the Presbyterian General Assembly were invited to the Moderator’s breakfast. Amongthe speakers was Mr Duthie.M.H.R., who urged on members the necessity of more attention to the wants of the large non-church-going population. The Rev. Mr Lewis, for the Ministers’ Association, touching on the Bible-in-Sohools question, assured the meeting that while lamenting the absence of the Bible from the schools, they would be hO catspaw to help the Churches to acquire grants from the public purse for denominational schools. In the Assembly the report on Maori missions called attention to the need for more workers, and specially for the appointment Of a medical missionary, ' The report; stated that natives suffer much from native impostors, who often combine the functions of prophet and doctor, and whose treatment of their patients in many instances prove fatal. The Maoris have also much to learn regarding sanitary laws, by which their dwellings and habits of life are affected. The Chinese mission report stated that there are 2259 Chinese in the colony north of the Waitaki. The report pleaded for the New Testament being put into the hands of each of the Chinese. In the afternoon the Assembly resumed consideration of the report of the committee on the Aged and Infirm Ministers' fund, aud resolved to adopt the report and agree with the recommendation of the committee auent the position of ministers whose congregations may not have contributed their quotas to the fund, and to enjoin on all congregations to consider their own interests in paying a sum annually, and where they decline the treasurer to be authorised to require a statement of reason, and again call the attention of ministers to their duty in connecting themselves with this fund; and that the Assembly assign to the Rev. Mr Gow an annuity of £lO per annum, with such additions as he may be entitled to under the regulations, conditional on a satisfactory medical certificate as to incapacity being received by the committee. The Rev. R Sommerville called attention to the iecacy of .£IOO, left by the late Mr John Mains, of Auckland, to the Aged and Infirm Ministers’ fund, and the Assembly resolved to accept the legacy with thanks. The Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund Committee reported that the year’s revenue had amounted to £575 Os Id, aud the expenditure to £175 8s JOd. The capital now stood at £5955 19s 9d. By the death of the Rev. Mr Adams, of Auckland, his widow and family had become annuitants on the fund. The report was adopted. A petition from the Presbytery of Auckland asking that the Rev. John Gow should recur to the position of minister pmfiritug was granted. The draft of the address to be presented to the Governor was adopted. On Monday the Assembly elected Messrs Aitken and Hannay trustees on the Property Board. The .Sunday School report showed 152 schools, 11,001) children, and 1250 teachers. The opinion was ex-

pressed that steps should be taken to get a law enacted making ip a punishable offence for any newspaper or other publication to print anything on betting or wagering.

Floods at Westport. There was heavy rain at Westport yesterday and the railway line was flooded to a depth of a foot eight miles from town. No damage was reported. State Farm. —Mr Mackay, of the Labor Bureau, reports on the proposed State farm at Otanakapu, 43 miles north of Feilding, that the quility of the soil is good and fertile; about 180 acres are open land fit for the plough, the rest is wooded hills.

The Weather. —The weather is getting eccentric. On Saturday it was cold, and a sharp frost was experienced during the night, the thermometer falling down to 58. On Sunday it rose to 80, and at midnight was 70. Yesterday it was again down to GO. This is a delightful climate.

An Old Charge —A man named Robt. Andrews has been arrested at Wellington on a charge of stealing silver ware from the Criterion Hotel, Blenheim, in 1887, The hotel was burned down that year and goods supposed to be lost in the fire were afterwards found in another hotel, whose landlord said Andrews, who was cook at the Criterion, had sold them to him. Andrews has been living at the Hutt for a year past. A Lucky Pauper.— The Leeds Times says : —A man named Sheridan, who is an inmate of Renfrew Street Workhouse, has become heir to £300,000, According to the papers Sherdian has come into his wealth through the death in 1883 of Mrs Blake, a sister of Sheridan’s father. She died intestate, leaving a personalty of £140,000, and property in the West End valued at £160,000, The lucky man has two sons in America, whom he has not seen for several years. A Libel Case. —In the edition of the Brisbane Worker for the 28th January was published a cartoon entitled “ Queensland and the Vampire.” The Queensland National Bank was represented as the vampire draining the life-blood of Queensland, which was represented as a semi-nude female. In consequence of the grossness of the publication, the Crown law officers have determined to institute criminal proceedings against the publishers of The Worker. An information will be laid under the provisions of the Indecent Advertisement Act, passed last session. Supreme Court. —At the Supreme Court Christchurch, yesterday, Frederick Cooper, an old offender, pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and was sentenced to three years. Helen Taylor was charged with stealing a quantity of jewellery and wearing apparel from the house where she was lodging. The value of property stolen was £llO. Prisoner pleaded guilty and handed in a statement. The Crown prosecutor handed in a list of previous convictions, including two of three years and one of two years. His Honour said prisoner had been in gaol almost continuously since 1879 and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment. Charles Allen charged with indecent assault, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years. An Approved Scheme. A meeting of railway employees was held at Christchurch on Saturday evening to discuss the advisability of again petitioning the Government to accept the draft bill for railway employees’ insurance, embodied in the Commissioners’ annual report. It was decided- by a large majority k to send out petition forms for signature, requesting the Government to introduce the Bill and endeavour to pass it next session. The meeting was very decided that some form of insurance for railway men should made law. A circular is to be sent to all employees on the Canterbury section for the purpose of impressing on them the fact that the amended scheme published by the Commissioners provided for every contingency, and consequently deserved support. Primitive Methodist Church, Temuka. —The Sunday School anniversary in connection with the above Church was held on Sunday last, when the morning service was conducted by the Rev. W. Woollass, who preached an excellent sermon based on St. Mark x., 14—“ Suffer the children,” &c. In the course of his remarks he said that Sunday School agency was the greatest force of the Christianity of the age. No hindrance should be placed in the way of the children coming to Curist. Many hindrances will be found, some in the home examples of parents, who were copied by the children. He dwelt on gambling and intemperance, and the evils resulting therefrom. There were too few workers in the great work of the school, and neglect in childhood was the cause of many social and moral troubles. Tne service in the afternoon was conducted by the Rev. W. Woollass, when a short programme by the scholars was gone through. Some of Sankey’s Hymns were sung, recitations were given very nicely by Masters B. Metson and Eli Prattley, and Miss M. Robinson, and a dialogue, “ Bible Alphabet,” was given by twenty-six scholars very well. Glees were also sung by the scholars under the guidance of the teacher, Miss Goodey. The prizes were distributed by the Rev. W. C. Wood (of Wellington), who made a few suitable remarks. Every child received a book according to attendance and general conduct. The Rev. W. Woollass gave a short address on the duty of parents and teachers to the children. The service at night was conducted by the Rev. W. C. Wood, when the church was fairly filled. He spoke on “ Take heed that ye despise not one of the little ones.”—St. Matthew, xviii., 10. His remarks were based upon despising the little ones, and the foUy of so doing, because they are small. They may be great, noble, and good. The collections at all the services were in aid of the school fund. Last night a tea meeting was held, at which there was a good attendance. Tea was dispensed by Mesdames Burton, Metson, and Wheeler, and Miss Metson, assisted by a few volunteers. After tea a public meeting was held, particulars of which will be given in pur next issue. The best medicine known is Sander and Sons’ Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of aU kinds, be they wounds, burns, scalding, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling —no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of lungs, swelling, &c., diarrhoea, dysentery, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospital andmedical clinics all over the globe; patronised by His Majesty the King' of Italy; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust iu this approved article, and reject all othei>«

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS,

G. H. Mogridge—Notice re accounts,

E, Richardson, Manager Albury Estate— Wants thatchers. Guinness & LeCren —Entries for Temuka Stoclc Sale.

T Bourke, bailiff —S dls Buckeye reaper and binder at Temuka to-morrow. ‘

Warning —Re umbrella ti.kpa from sitting room of Royal Hotel, Temuka. Public Trustee—lmportant notice re accounts owing to and by the late dlugh Campbell, farmer, of Fairfield, Ueraldipp