LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2590, 5 December 1893, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Dual Voting. —lt is probable that three informations will be lain for dual voting in connection with Wellington city elections.

Wool Sale —The first wool sale of the season at Timaru this season takes place to-day. Three thousand bales have been catalogued.

Sudden Death,— An elderly man named Thomas Yates died on the Takapuna on the passage from New Plymouth to Auckland, lie came from England by the Aorangi. Assault. — Joseph Hildred Forsyth was committed for trial at Queenstown on Friday for rape at Kinlock, Lake Wakatipu, He will be tried at the Invercargill sessions. Gekadinb Stock Sale. The fortnightly sale of stock will take place at Geraldine to-morrow. A large number of entries will be found in our advertising columns.

Fibe. The house of Charles Town, Mataura township, was burned with most of its contents on Friday. The insurance was £2OO on the house and furniture.

Fatal Accident. —Edward Monaghan, aged 32, a farmer at Korari, Wellington, died on Saturday morning from injuries received through falling from his horse while returning home on election day. Wounded with a Pea Rifle,—Some uoys were playing with a pea rifle at Nelson on Friday when a nine-year-old lad named Pyke was accidentally shot in the right side. He was removed to the hospital. Reciprocity Conference.—The Government are not likely to accept the invitation of the Hon. Mr Howell to send delegates to the Reciprocity Conference in Canada next year. The matter will be settled in Cabinet this week. Michael Davitt.—Aa a meeting of the Auckland branch of the Irish National Federation League at Auckland a letter from Mr John Hillon was read, stating Chat Mr Michael Davitt would visit the colonies next season.

Beer Duty.—The beer duty for November was £5779. Auckland paid £1297; Dunedin, £1216; Christchurch, £1132 ; Wellington, £620. The total beer duty for eight months of the year is £38,470. or £1529 below the estimate for the period.

A Canard. The Christchurch Press says :—With reference to the cable message published in yesterday’s issue, his Excellency che Governor authorises us to say that there is no foundation for the statement chat he has recommended Mr Seddon for knighthood.

Desirable Immigrants. The Home correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes: —The Aorangi leaves to-day, full of passengers. One family alone paid over £360 in passage money, even on the reduced scale. The whole complement of passengers may be described as a splendid batch of new colonists. Revenue Returns. The Customs revenue for the colony, for November was £128,117, or about £IO,OOO less than the previous month. Auckland contributed £29,324; Dunedin, £27,410; Wellington, £27,316; Lyttelton and Christchurch, £21,541. The total for eight months of the year is £1.099,276, or £19,276 above the estimate for that period. Timaru contributed £1699 7s 2d for the month. An Old Assault Case.—At Auckland in the extradition case Tobias v, Tobias, arrested on a charge of assaulting his wife in 1885 at Melbourne, Mr Northcroft, Resident Magistrate, decided that Tobias did not come under the Fugitive Offenders Act, and admitted him to bail for three months to allow an appeal against the decision. Lord and Lady Onslow.—lt must be said of Lord and Lady Onslow that they have been very nice in England to most 1 people whom they knew in New Zealand.. Lady Onslow and Miss Buller were constantly seen about together, at theatres and elsewhere during the season, and other exresidents of New Zealand have found t’he former Governor and his charming wife very pleasant friends in the mother country.

Manchester a Market. The Manchester Guardian publishes a letter signed “ W. J, M'Kerrow,” giving his experiences of “ Seven Years in New Zealand.” He asks: “ Why should not Lancashire, with her teeming millions, participate on equal terms in the frozen mutton which is coming to London in such large quantities from New Zealand 1 ” He urges the desirableness of a special effort to establish direct steam communication between Manchester and New Zealand when the Ship canal is open.

Timaru Hospital. The following is the return of patients in the Timaru Hospital for the month of November, 1893:—Patients under treatment at date of last return: males 9, females 3; admitted during the month: males l\, females 10; total treated; 36. Discharge Spring the month: cured 7, relieved 1, unrelieved 1, dead 2 (Thomas Pickering and Mary Ann Srpwn): total discharged 11. Remaining under treatment: males 16, females 9. Out-patients treated during the month: males 6, females 6.

Totara Presbyterian Band op Hope. —A fruit social in connection with the Totara Band of Hope was held in the schoolroom on Monday, November 27th, There was a very good attendance, the schoolroom being well filled. The Rev. J. White occupied the chair. Recitations were given by Misses Morley and Yera Beij’QTy and Master R. Dellow, and were weii receded, Solos were rendered by Mrs Dellow afld ,the Ec j, J. Dellow, who also contributed a were much appreciated by the atpJMpe- Speeches were delivered by the chairrttdii, V. Dellow, and Mr S. Buxton. A dialogue by seven of the members, which gave great amusement, completed the programme. At the close of the entertainment fruit W 43 handed round, and very much enjoyed by ali present. A collection was then taken up, amounting to 10s. The choir gave two selections, Miss ®very presiding at the organ. The Lady Mayor.— I The Auckland says, re the election of Mrs Yates to the mayoralty of Onehunga:—“ From her husband, Captain Yates, who was once mayor of Onehunga, she has learned somewhat of the routine ol the mayoral office, as doubtless she has from him a taste for the power which is associated with that office. There is nothing in toe duties of mayor, which may not, as far as we aye aware, be as competently performed by a managing woman ai by a man. There are other duties which arc usually associated with those of the mayoralty. Mrs Yates may be expected to preside on the bench as a Justice of the Peace. Weli, if she has to pass sentence on drunks, and other reprobates, she will, we feel sure, prove m Ornament to the bench. Combining the sfcifijyduoss of the sterner sex with the softness of V??' she will know well how to temper judgment Wit.L mape J. We hesr there is likely to be a strike inyhe opuncil because of Mrs Yates’ advent ; but we 1 Will not believe these rumours of one councillor resigning, and another withdrawing from jt'be for a seat in the council. This must be fajlse,' pr we are much mistaken in <m e.iajer city by |&e

The Public Trustee. During last month the est ites of 21 deceased persons were placed in the hands of the Public Trustee for administration. The largest was that of Mr Robert P. Levien, of Nelson, £20,000.

The Ministry. —Mr Reeves and Mr McKenzie returned to Wellington from the south on Sunday afternoon. Messrs Ward, Cadman, and Carroll are expected during the week, and a full Cabinet will be held about Friday,

Water-Supply Districts Management Committees.—Ratepayers in the Waitohi Flat, Geraldine Flat, Orari-Waihi, and Woodbury Water-Supply Districts will hold meetings on Monday next for the purpose of electing committees of management and advice. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

New Zealand as a Health Resort.— A writer in the Glasgow Herald, referring to “ New Zealand as a health resort,” contends that, although in the early stages of consumption much benefit may be received from a change to New Zealand, in an a ivanced stage this is of little avail. He then describes the local peculiarities of the various parts of the colony from the hygienic view point, and his verdict is generally favorable.

Lecturing on New Zealand.—Lectures on New Zealand (says the Home correspondentof the Press) are becoming quite an everyday entertainment and seem always to be well patronised. Mr J. W. Pennefather has just been delivering a very successful series in various provincial localities. Mr Perceval lectures shortly at Nottingham and Hollesley Bay. Mr Herbert Jones announces his intention of giving one thousand lime-lighted lectures on New Zealand, and three different intending lecturers have applied to the Agent-General during the past week for photos, etc A Short-Tempered Yicar. —In Tilty Church (Essex), one Sunday, the vicar, about five minutes after he had begun his sermon, caught a young farmer, who sat in a pew under the pulpit, in the act of looking at his watch. The vicar suddenly stopped in his discourse, and, leaning over the pulpit, exclaimed, “ What, are you tired already ? ” In surprise the farmer looked up, and encountering the gaze of the preacher, said, “Do you mean me 7” “Yes,” was the reply, whereupon the farmer, who was not a little offended, rose and walked out of the church. Later in the day, says the Essex County Chronicle, the vicar sent a little note to the farmer, tendering an apology. Marriage in China.—When a Chinaman desires to marry, his parents intimate that fact to a professional “ matchmaker,” who thereupon runs through the list of her visiting acquaintances, and selects one whom she considers a fitting bride for a young man, and then she calls upon the young woman’s parents, armed with the bridegroom’s card, on which are inscribed his ancestral name, and the eight symbols which denote the day of his birth. If the answer is an acceptance of his suit, the bride’s card is sent in return, and, should the oracles prophesy good concerning the union, the particulars of the engagement are written on two large cards, tied together with red cord.

Fatal Accident. —A young man named Taylor, brought word to Temuka yesterday morning that a man named David McG-impsey, aged about 24 years, had been killed at the Pakihi Estate by the bolting of some horses with a roller. It appears that McGimpsey was engaged driving a roller, and, knowing the horses were rather fresh, got down from the seat, and attempted to load them through a small declivity. It is presumed they overpowered him, as he was shortly afterwards picked up in an unconscious condition, the roller having evidently passed over him. A messenger was despatched for surgical assistance, but he had barely sta'ted when the unfortunate man expired. An inquest will be hold to-day. Geraldine School Examination.— The inspector has just completed his annual examination of the Geraldine school. There are six per cent, of failures, which is equivalent to 94 per cent, of standard passes, a result which reflects the greatest credit on the work of the staff during the year. There was only one pupil absent from the examination. The school has passed a better examination than it has ever done before, and we understand that the percentage of standard passes is higher than that of any other of the larger schools. We heartily congratulate Mr Farnie and his able staff on this great success in school work. They have worked under many disadvantages in the past through bad weather and sickness amongst pupils, which greatly' their efforts, and this makee 1 their success all the more creditable. Town Improvements. Now that the excitement of the election is over, and we begin to look around us once more, we find that Mr David Taylor, of Temuka, has added considerably to the appearance of the main street by erecting a very handsome verandah in front of his shop. The verandah is of iron pillars with a glass roof, and is really an ornament to the town. As indicative of the fact that it is there fish - iug tackle of all kinds 1 can be obtained, there is hung at each end two golden fisb of immense size, and these add not a little to the general effect. Mr Taylor is a very successful fisherman himself, and consequently is an adept in selecting the baits which take best in the local rivers. His stock is very large and select, and he has recently opened a very large supply of wading stockings of the best material and specially imported from Horne. Fishermen will find it to their advantage to visit him_ ~ Accidents. The youngest son of ’ Mr James Riordan, Geraldine, a lad about .10 years of age, got a nasty fall fronr 'a galloping horse on Saturday last ap Geraldine, opposite P. D. Herdman’s shop. The lad’s face and one shoulder were badly cut, and, falling as he did at the horse’s feet, he was in imminent danger of being trampled to death. Dr Fish attended at once to the sufferer, and he is now on his way to recovery.—An accident happened to Master Horace Herbert, eldest son of Mr Herbert, of the Bank of New South Wales, Temuka, yesterday. The lad, who is seven or eight years of age, was playing with some other boys on the street where some men were asphalting the footpath. The facts are not exactly known, but it appears they were dragging the heavy roller along, that young Herbert fell, and that the roller passed over him. Atany rate, however, it happened his right thigh was broken, and his right arm and left leg very much fie was immediately removed to his fathers house, shortly after lie was attended by V? Hayes ft nd William Blnnden, Who set the leg, and did all they dashed peccessary. By latest accounts he was getting on Land Settlement. The Hon. Mr Mclntyre, Victorian Minister of Lands, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr AviOUP, visited Temuka on Saturday nudfiir epcwt 0* Mr Marsh, of the Canterbury Brow# Department. Tho Arowhenna Village Settlement W*l s inspected, and the Minister expressed pis approval of its general appearance, especially of the homestead block. At Timaru Mr Mclntyre visited the Adair settlement, and also inspected the harbour works. Our reporter had a brief interview with t he Minister at Temuka, and states that he is a most approachable man, and evidently a thoroughly practical colonist. Ip his own colony he appears tp be petthmg people iipon the land, uppn somewhat novel principles. Suitable people from tho Whemployod are allowed to t a k e 3j.p ia#d without fe§ ot any kijii. If at she md of three years th§y satisfy tho s<mrawent thst they are deserving settlers they receive title to their holdings, otherwise forfeit'They are practically on probation. The scheme, it is said, works well, as all that is alibied at ic the relieving of the larger centres r bf f a "starving population. An interesting interview was cilt short by the arrival of the north express, by whioh'Mjr Mclntyre departed, ■" ‘ ' ‘

Boa.rd Meetings.—The monthly meeting of the Tcmuka Road Board wiU be held to-day, that of the G-eraldine Town Board thiH evening, and that of the Temuka Town Board to-morrow evening.

Religions in Canada, —ln Canada there is a religious census, and the results lately published with regard to places of worship are interesting. Nobody who knows anythin.' of the Domioioa will be surprised to find that the Church of England is a small minority. Of a total of rather more than 10.000 places of worship, 32 per cent, belong to the Methodists, 17 per cent, to the Presbyterians, 17 per cent, to the Roman Catholics, 16 per cent to the Church of England, 12 per cent, to the Baptists, and six per cent, to all others. But the Church seems to be rapidly recovering lost ground. During the past ten years the new churches erected have been —Church of England, 415; Presbyterians, 411; Baptist, 324; Methodists, 322 ; and Roman Catholic, 299. C.P.C. Association. —A special general meeting of shareholders in the Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association was held at their offices on Saturday, to confirm resolutions passed at the annual general meeting to effect alterations in the Articles of Association. There was only a small meeting, about twenty-five shareholders attending. Mr J. Talbot, chairman of directors, presided. After routine, the chairman, after a few remarks on the purpose of the meeting, and offering to answer any questions, moved that the resolutions referred to be confirmed, Mr Sealey seconded the motion, and it was declared carried on the show of hands, two or three going up against it. The chairman remarked that the proceedings might seem unnecessary, and even farcical, but S> safeguard was provided against the adoption of resolutions by a small meeting, of which the shareholders generally would not approve. The Weather, —The present season has been one of the most extraordinary as to weather that one can recall for years. Since the early spring there has been on exceptional amount of rain, and the rivers have been in partial flood off and on for weeks. On Saturday night and early on Sunday morning rain fell simply in torrents, and the Temuka and Opihi rivers rose rapidly. The latter wns crossable at the south branch until about 6 p.m., when the approach to the recently-constructed embankment commenced to scour. In a short time the toe of the bank was carried away and wheel traffic suspended. One or two venturesome horsemen got across, but several people with vehicles had to leave their conveyances on either side and walk across the bridge. The rain has certainly done harm for, already many of the crops are laid, and both shearing and grass cutting are delayed. Lucky at Cards.—There is a story circulating in fashionable circles, writes the Yorkshire Post’s London correspondent, which deserves a wider currency than it has yet received. Recently a select party was assembled at a country house, and as the time hung heavily on the hands of the guests, it was proposed that cards be introduced. All present acquiesced with the exception of one lady—the wife of a wellknown American millionaire. On being pressed to give her reason for standing out, this lady said she made it a rule never to play cards, as when she played she uniformly won, and she found it extremely unpleasant in practice to be so invariably lucky. The company declined to accept the plea as sufficient, and, much against her will, the fair American was induced to join the circle at the table. The result, however, perfectly justified her confidence in her luck. Before the evening closed she had completely divested her fellow-players of all their spare cash. There was not the same anxiety to secure the lady’s attendance at the card-table on subsequent evenings.

Lobeng-ula. —Lobengula, according to Mr E. A. Maund, who brought the Matabelo envoys to England four years ago, is by no means so black as he is painted—that is, in character. This traveller differs from those who say that the King is “ deadly cruel,” He has to rule a turbulent people, who do not know the value of life. He is shrewd, possesses a wonderful memory, and has sufficient intuitive knowledge to despise many of the superstitutions of which, as rainmaker, he is the chief exponent. Speaking one day to Mr Maund of killing, he said.- —“ You see, you white men have prisons, and can look a man up safely. I have not. What am Itodo ? When a man would not listen to orders, I used to have h?S ears cut off as being useless; hut whatever their punishment, they frequently Repeated their offence. Now I warn them

—and then a knockberried man never repeats his offence.” Lobengula was very hospitable to white men. He is described as more adapted to a farmer’s life —being very fond of his cattle—than to mling. As a. young man he was a keen sportsman, but became too grossly fat to get on a horse. Though his head kraal has the name Gubulawayo, or the “ place of killing,” the approach to his kraal is not ornamented with human heads. One of his laws is that mothers-in-law may not enter their son-iu-law’s house, and should they meet in the street they must avert their gaze. Woodbury School Committee.— The monthly meeting of the above committee was held on December 2nd. Present— Messrs H. F. Brown (chairman), A, Cormack, L. Gick, and J. Harris. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education, intimating that £5 had been paid into the bank to the committee’s credit for incidental expenses for quarter; also informing committee that £l4 8s 9d had been paid into the bank to the com* credit, £8 3s 9d by way of loan to Vay for clearing away the fallen| trees on the schoolground, which sum the committee is expected to repay when the wood is sold, £6 5s was to pay Mr Dean for repairs to master’s house, etc., and to repair the fence destroyed by the fallen trees; from the same, giving summary of attendance for quarter ending September 30th, 1893; also informing the committee that the inspector would be at the school on December 14th and 15th; also informing them of the vacancy on the Board of Education, Mr George Hampton Rhodes having resigned, and asking nomination of someone to fill the vacancy. Received from the Board of Education a copy of the Electoral Act. The committee agreed to nominate the Rsv. G. Barclay, The head master reported the attendance during the past four weeks had been considerably reduced owing to the prevalence of measles. The numbers arc—boys 36, girls 29, total

65; roll number 103. The attendance on Friday was oqly 46. The only matter requiring immediate attention is fixing the bell rope. Mr Gbk agreed to fix the bell rope. It was agreed to close the school on Friday, 22nd December, for the Christmas holidays, and reopen on January 26th, 1893. Mr Oormack proposed and Mr Gick seconded ■* That Mr Greaves be asked to distribute subscription lists to the children for their annual treat.” It wap deejejod to award prizes and presents to all the children who pass their examination according bo the inspector’s report, an 1 that Mr Greaves be asked to .jhuose the books. It was decided that Messrs Gick, Harris, and Brown look at the fence and see what is required, and immediately after call tenders for the work. On November 11th Messrs Hammond, Squire, and Brown interviewed - Mr Greaves qn the homo lessons question, asking him to reduce the hqrqe work tha'| the children were" rr juired to do, as considered tbe work excessive, and both injuroqs to sight and brain. He said he W°|ild try tq cpmpby wjth their wishes a ll]ttj.e, bub he didn't nee hjfi way to make flwei alteration as fhe syllabus of work tel Pfit fop the

it required wmvk Wm a&d attmfen to present them for theii ahnuaf examination vvita anythin? like a chance of them passing. £1 was receded from the sale of wood during the mqth. The meeting then terminated, \

The New Disc Churn. The Home correspondent of the Press says : —“ One of the new disc churns shown at last week’s Dairy Exhibition has since been tried privately, and produced butter in 3£ minutes. It is the only one that received the silver medal for new inventions.” Lynching in the States. —The form of lawlessness known as lynching’ is on the increase in the Southern States of America, and the Nation observes that the victims are always negroes, that the murderers are never punished, and the simple murder often fails to satisfy the lynching parties, who resort to torture and such forms of mutilation as would be expected only of the most savage Indians. There is less excuse in the Southern States, because in all of them the machinery oc the law is in the hands of white men. and if the accused negroes are guilty, the law furnishes an adequate means for their punishment. There remains, however,? in the South feeling that punishment under due process of law is too dignified for a negro accused of a crime committed against a white man. A Southern correspondent of the "New York Evening Post,” discussing a few weeks ago the reason why the Southern States attract so few immigrants, placed the frequency of lynching at the head of the list of causes. Obabi-Waihi Water-Race Committee. —The monthly meeting of the Orari-Waihi Water-Race Committee was held on Friday evening last. Present—Messrs Thatcher (chairman), Metcalf, and McLean. The ranger’s report for the month was read, and considered satisfactory, and his salary was passed for payment, including 12s the ranger had expended on purchase of cement. The chairman brought before the committee that their term of office had expired, and that the council should have convened a meeting of ratepayers for Monday, December 4th, for the purpose of electing a new committee and other business. It was resolved that the chairman call the attention of the council to clauses 3 and 11 of the conditions of the rules regarding water-race committees. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Metcalf, seconded by Mr McLean, that the council be asked to advertise the meeting in the Geraldine Guardian, the local paper. This being all the business, the committee rose. [The meeting to elect the committee in this and other water-race districts will take place on Monday next, December 11.]

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Mrs Williams—Wanta general servant. J. Freeman, junr.—Two bicycles for sale. J. Lewis, Winchester—s acres and 3roomed cottage to let. Comer & Larcombe —Funeral notice re the. late David John McGimpsey. Geraldine Road Board—Tenders invited for erecting wire suspension bridge. H, B. Webster & Co.—Postponed clearing sale on behalf of Mr J. Robertson, Geraldine. Geraldine County Council notice re election of committees of management for Waitohi Flat, Geraldine Flat, Orari-Waihi, and Woodbury Water Supply Districts.