LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2606, 11 January 1894, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Bad Language. Lauohlan Robinson received the exemplary sentence of three months for using foul language on a ferry steamer at Auckland.

Railway Returns. The railway revenue for the past nine months is up to the estimate, despite the interruption of traffic on the Hawke’s Bay line caused by floods.

Labor. —The Wellington Labor Bureau agents report that work is plentiful in the country, especially in the Hunterville and Wairarapa districts. The Masterton agent says there are no unemployed there, and no one need be idle. The Petition Against Sir R. Stout.— The Returning Officer is of opinion that, so far as he can see, the petition against Sir R. Stout’s election is properly lodged, and the security was provided in time, Tuesday being a holiday. Provision for the Poor.— The Linwood (N.C.) Borough Council, on Monday night, passed a motion urging upon the Government to provide for the poor of the colony by placing them on land suitable for their maintenance. Heath of a Maori Ohieftainbss.— Hariata Honghi, a famous Maori chieftainess, daughter of Hongi, the famous Nophia chief, and widow of the celebrated Hone Heke, the rebel leader in the northern war in 1845-4:6, has died at Kaikohe. Pound Browned. A lad named Reginald Long, who has been missing some days, was found drowned in the Manawatu river near Paiaka. By a discharge of dynamite the body was brought to the surface, but it disappeared again before it could be secured.

Dairy Expert.— The name of the dairy expert appointed by Sir W. Perceval iu London is Mr S. Lowe. He will examine all shipments of New Zealand dairy produce arriving in London. Sir W. Perceval writes that the appointment has given much satisfaction. Drowning Accidents. A boat containing four employees of the Totara mill, near DargavfJ'e, Auckland, was swamped on Saturday night. Three reached land, but William Wilkie, aged 37, was drowned. A boy named Samuel Neiland was drowned in the Clutha river at Kaitangata on Monday. He fell in opposite his parents’ residence.

Gored by aßullock. —Thomas Connolly, a station hand at Crewhon, Hawke’s Bay, whilst out looking for w ;i d honey, was seriously gored by a bullock, the horns of the beast entering the inner side of each thigh. Owing to the bad state of the roads it was 54 hours after the accident happened that the unfortunate man reached the Napier Hospital. Suicide. Charles Henry Dowsett, a remittance man, aged about 30. formerly a resident of Wellington, committed suicide at his lodgings at Napier on Monday. He had been low spirited and complained of pains in the head for some little time back. He was seen alive at 9 o’clock, but at hnlfpast one he was discovered in his bedroom with his throat cut. He had been dead several hours. Important Stock Sale. Attention is directed to the important clearing sale of live and dead farm stock advertised by Messrs Guinness k LeCren (in conjunction with the C.P.O. Association), to take place on the Pakihi estate to*day, on account of the executors of the late Angus Macdonald. The greatet part of the Pakihi estate having been sold within the past few weeks, the stock must also go, so the sale is advertised as au “ absolute oue.”

Mb E. Wakefield,— Says the London correspondent of the Otago Daily limes: — “ I had a pleasant chat at the Salon Conversazione last Tuesday evening with Mr Edward Wakefield, who looked the picture of vigorous health and well-being. He told me he was living with his children and his sister at Pan, in Prance, but that his business interests were in America —prosperous, too, I should gather. He writes occasionally still, and always effectively, as of yore; but I understand he no longer exercises literature as a regular profession.” The Bishopeic of Wellington.— The Rev. Canon W, Danks, who has been offered the Bishopric of Wellington, is about 45 years of age, and is a graduate of Queen’s College, Oxford. He took his degree of B.A. in 180(5, and that of M.A. in the following year. He was appointed deacon in the Church of England in 18G8, and was ordained priest by the Bishop of Lincoln in 18(h). Canon Danks is Rector of Richmond, Yorkshire, and was appointed Canon off Ripon Cftthpdrjd, Yorkshire, in 18110. In 1888 Canon Danks received the appointment of select preacher to the University of Cambridge. The Factories Act. —In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, J. D. Morrison, a tailor, was charged under the Factories Act with permitting his female employees to work after 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. The girls in question gave evidence that they were working on piecework. It was contended for the defence that the Saturday half-holiday applied only to those on daily and weekly wages, and not to piece-workers. Counsel fov the In-, spcctor of Factwau admired that this objection took him by surprise, and the cqsc was adpurned until the Kith for further argument.

Tub South Dunedin Murder. —The inquest in the murder cam was resumed ■ m Monday afternoon. The evidence of Stunhouae, licensee of the Pioneer Hotel, discredited that of Mrs Walker, who called on him for God’s sake to let her in, as two men had been stabbed in front, of their place. She wanted to stay there that night, but his wife would not allow it. The jury found that the wound from which Mudgo died was inilicted by either Richard Dobson or Eborhardt Knl'uer, whom thoy found guilty of wilful murder. Prisoners Were committed for trial. The jury added a rider chat suburban police stations should be connected with the central telephone station. —Ivufner and Dobson were charged at the Dunedin Police Court on Monday with the murder of the cabman Madge, and with wounding Ashton, with intent, but on the application of Mr Hanlon, who defends them! were remanded for a week.

St. Patrick's Spobts Association, Geraldine. —The annual meeting of this association takes place on Monday evening next, at Keane’s Commercial Hotel. Dairy Trade. —Mr Sawers, Government dairy expert, has completed a tour of the colony, and reports that the year has been a prosperous one, and the output exceptionally large, and that the outlook is promising. Burglary. Two or three cases of burglary have occurred at Rangiora during the last few days. On Monday night the premises of Mr G. Jones, watchmaker and jeweller, were broken into. The burglar got nothing, however, though an ineffectual attempt to destroy the lock of a safe containing valuables was made by means of gunpowder. Crown Lands for Settlement.— Mr Meek’s property near Oamaru, recently acquired by the Government, and the Fomahaka estate, are to be offered shortly under the lease in perpetuity system. The Survey Department have issued plans relating to laud shortly to be sold in Auckland, Invercargill, Rakaia, Ashburton, Hinds, Geraldine, Arowhenua (Canterbury), Taranaki, Otara, and Havelock (Hawke’s Say)- _ _

Temuka Floaver Show.— lt must be almost unnecessary to remind our readers that the annual show of the Temuka Floral and Horticultural Society takes place in the Volunteer Drill Shed and Hall to-day. Of late the greatest interest has been evinced in the show, and it promises well to be among the most successful ones yet held by the society. The prizes offered are unusually good. As an additional attraction to visitors Mr Davidson’s band has been engaged, and their music should considerably add to the pleasure of those attending. The show will be open during the afternoon and evening. The entries are the laagest that have ever been made—--843, as agamst 760 (last year. Last show there were a number of complaints of petty pilfering, etc. It is to be hoped that visitors will on this occasion respect exhibits, and refrain from mutilating plants, etc. Exhibitors are asked to be at the drill shed early in the morning. Ballance Memorial. The Ballance Memorial Committee have £450 net in hand, which will be invested in the Post Office Savings Bank till wanted. The committee decided to write to the Auckland and Wanganui committees, asking them to amalgamate. Mr MaskeU wrote on behalf of the University, stating that the Senate would be willing to undertake the trust if it was desired to establish a scholarship, but the money would not be sufficient to allow it to be competed for more than once in three years. It was decided to adhere to the original proposal, and devote only the surplus money to the scholarship. The committee decided to invite designs for a statue or memorial not to cost more than £SOO.

Spouting. —ln the Wellington Magistrate's Court, Mr Martin, R.M., fined R. W. Patterson £25 and costs, or in default four months’ imprisonment, on a charge of keeping a gaming house. The magistrate, despite the fact that defendant had a number of investments on Ro.-efeldt on the totalisator in Auckland on Boxing-day, could not regard his action in allowing his client to take his chance on Eosefeldt after the telegraph office closed as a transaction between principal and agent, but was directly a case of laying totalisator odds. — At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club the report stated that the revenue was £13,712 6s 3d and expenditure £14,032 15s, showing a loss on the year of £320 8s 9d. The revenue shows a falling off of £1233 9s 8d as against the previous year. Musical Sehviob. The Presbyterian Church Choir journeyed to the Rangitira Valley last Tuesday evening, and gave a Musical Service in aid of the choir funds. Owing to the inclemency of the weather there was but a small attendance. The Rev. Mr Dickson occupied the chair, and opened the service with prayer, and also made a few remarks as to the selections that were to be sung that evening. The programme was much the same as that given by the choir recently in Temuka, with the addition of a solo by the Rev. Mr Dellow, “ The Trumpet Shall Sound,” and an anthem by the choir, “ Grant 0 Lord, we beseech Thee.” All the pieces were gone through in a first-class manner, and the applause was frequent and hearty, which showed that the audience fully appreciated “ a good thing.” At the close of the service the chairman made a few remarks, and moved a vote of thanks to Mr J. Talbot for the use of the school. He then pronounced the benediction, and the proceedings terminated.

The Small Birds’ Nuisance.—A Christchurch paper is informed by farmers that the damage caused in Canterbury to the wheat, oat, and b&rley crop this year by the small birds is little short of alarming. In some instances the crops have been stripped to the extent of 75 per cent, of each paddock, and one gentleman informs us that he recently saw a 50-acre wheat paddock so bad that it would not be worth cutting. There seems to be a general opinion that drastic measures will have to be introduced to abate the nuisance. As a proof that the pest can be got rid of we might point to the result of systematic poisoning introduced on the land of Mr John Grigg, at Longbeach. Mr Grigg’s crops are in excellent condition. Against the foregoing Mr Murphy, secretary of the A. anu P. Association, says that the destruction of horses in Canterbury by the dreadeu bot fly is not so great this year as it was last year. This fact he attributes to the large increase of small birds—sparrows—which destroy the larvaj of the flyPoisoning Cases.— A permanent artillery man, named Benzier, was accidentally poisoned at Wellington on Monday afternoon, by tasting some poison, which had been taken over to the forts to clear out the rats, which are a great pest there. He dipped his finger in the powder and placed a little on his tongue. The poison took rapid effect, and strong measures had to be taken to save the man. He was removed to the hospital, and eventually recovered, A telegram to hand on Tuesday says “The poisoning of Benzier not accidental. He took rat poison purposely, in the hope that hfa father Sejeant-Major Benzier, of Wairarapa, a drill instructor, Whq was recently retrenched, might be enabled to draw the amount of the son’s life policy, This was ascertained from letters which he had written in anticipation of death. The young man is now out of danger.”—A case of poisoning occurred in Baker street. Auckland, to a family named Colvine, six in number. They partook of a leg of mutton, and were seized with a severe vomiting in a few hours. They had also eaten jam roll. All are confined to bed. The medical man has procured samples of the food for tho purpose of finding out in what tho poisCm was taken.

THIS AMENDE HQNQUAMLE.— Tho editor of! an American paper makes the amende honorable in the following elaborate style : —“ There is a fly in our office, one particularly aggressive fly, dist’nguished from its brethren by a pertinacity and untiring energy that, if properly directed, are enough to make him president. Otiier flies we can dispose of by whisking a paper at them, or ymtting them out of the window. But this fly we can’t m mage. We don’t like to kill flics. There is something so confiding about them, that it seems like a breach of hospitality to ki*' them. That fly tumbles into our inkstand, crawls out, and drys bis little feet by walking over our paper as we write. And tncu the process is repeated. The compositor has bard work to decipher our manuscript sometimes. And in this connection we would make a slight correction. In the last number of our paper we called the lion. Mr ‘an unprincipled demagogue ’ ; we should have said ‘ a hightoned patriot.’ it was all the fault of that fly. The brother of the Hon Mr >- —came into our oifl.ee with now and substantial-looking 0£ tUq < *

Bad Money.— Spurious half crowns ar® said to be in circulation at Dunedin. Timabu Wool Sales. —Farmers are reminded that the second series of wool sales takes place at Timaru on Tuesday next. They should make. their entries without delay. Tattersall’s— ln our advertising columns the C.F.C. Association advertise entries for the weekly sale at Tattersall’s Timaru on Saturday. Death op Mr B. T. Rhodes. —We deeply regret to learn that Mr £. T. Rhodes, of Hadlow, Timaru, died yesterday afternoon. Mr Rhodes was suffering from quinsey, and, an operation becoming necessary, blood poisoning supervened, to the effects of which he succumbed. Mr Rhodes was one of the most popular men in South Canterbury amongst all classes, and his death has cast a deep gloom over the whole district. The Potato Market, —Advices received at Oamaru from Dunedin on Monday afternoon state that, as anticipated, the rushing of the market with heavy supplies of potatoes for auction has resulted in a glut, and prices have been knocked back to from £3 to £5 ss, the latter price for anything very special only. In fact, good fresh kidneys in many cases brought only £4 5a to £4 10s. Growers should (says the Oamaru Mail) be warned by this to regulate the supply a 'little better, if only for the sake of their own pockets. The Licensing Question. — At a meeting of the Prohibition League at Dunedin, it was resolved to support the submission to the electors of three questions— abolition, reduction, or increase; also that the questions should be decided in smaller licensing districts only. It was resolved that the League should not nominate licensing committees but invite members to take interest; that public feeling be aroused by meetings, and other steps taken. At a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, the following resolution was carried: — “ That in consequence of the extra demands which will be made on the funds of this Council as a result of the Department of Justice having appointed the local body to have authority over the licensing district of Timaru, under section 9 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, the finance committee be requested to draft'a letter and forward it to the Minister of Justice, setting forth the inability of this Council to meet the cost of preparing and printing the new rolls required for the election of licensing committee to take place in March next, and respectfully request the Government to defray the extra expense entailed by the new provision.” The Lady Mayor. —The Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times wiresOnehunga residents crowded the Borough Council office on Monday night out of curiosity to see how the lady mayor would conduct the business entrus'oed to that important public body. Mrs Tates proved herself fully equal to the. task she has taken upon herself, and if she did assume a somewhat dictatorial attitude occasionally, as well as introduce some decidedly original rulings, councilors appear to have behaved as they should to a lady. One of the newly-elected councillors had some qualms of conscience as to the legality of his return, but Mrs Yates disposed of his objections off-hand, and the gentleman swore the customary oath. The town clerk was absent, the books were missing, and also the keys of the office; but Mrs Tates, assisted by couhcillors, hunted them up, and the business proceeded. The minutes of a previous meet- . ing having been read, Mrs Tates flatly refused to sign them as being a correctrecord of the proceedings, “because she> had not been present.” The minutes of » special meeting Mrs Tates also declined to sign, on the ground that two councillors who had resigned had no right to have their names recorded therein. Her Worship, suggested that these names should b,e struck out, but the acting town clvrk struck, and the matter was allowed to stand over. In the election of a town clerk Her Worship refused to put an amendment because it was against her own motion. After a long discussion. Her Worship, on the advice of a friend, consented to follow the usual course, a.ud the amendment was lost.