LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2620, 13 February 1894, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Traction Engines. —Owners of traction engines in the Geraldiue County who have not registered them will be liable to prosecution after the 17th February. Rates foe Threshing. —ln our advertising columns the threshing-machine proprietors announce the rates per bushel for threshing and the amount they will pay the hands.

Unregistered Dogs.— Owners of unregistered dogs in the Geraldine County are again reminded that they are liable to be summoned at any time, when a fine and expenses will be added to the cost of registration. Crown Lands Sale. —• Attention is directed to the sale of Crown lands advertised to take place in the Temuka Courthouse on Thursdaynext, at 12 o’clock. The sale includes town allotments in Orari, Geraldine, and Arowhenua, and rural land near South Rangitata and beoween Orari and Winchester.

Drowning Accidents.—Alice Townsend, 17 years of age (the daughter of Mr J. A. Townsend, farmer, of Waikonati), who left her home alone about 3 p.m. on Friday, was found drowned in a creek on her father’s property about !).15 a.m. on Saturday. The deceased was subject to tits. —An elderly settler at Motueka named W. Sixtus was drowned last week while crossing the Motueka river in a canoe.

Farm Properties.—Two very desirable farms are advertised to come under the auctioneer’s hammer at Geraldine tomorrow. The C.F.C. Association, in conjunction with Messrs H. B. Webster &, Co., will sell Mr Thomas Godwin’s 123-acre farm at Woodbury, and Messrs H, B. Webster & Co. sell Mr John Breuton’s 31acre farm at Belfield. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. The Catholic Times,—A paragraph is ffoin"' t'he founds of the papers to the effect that the Wellington Catholic Times ceased publication last Saturday, If this were true we presume it would have been announced in the last issue of that paper, but there upas nothing to that effect in it. The paragraph apparently yyas published first of all in Truth, and fhaf is enough to throw doubt on itg veracity, The Catholic Times jU becoming a very interesting pspef, and we trust ft not be allowed to die. SunsommOKa WAN'PE/?. A correspondent sends the Otago Daily Tijii.es the following copy of a notice which is posted on Maloney’s accommodation house at Strath-'^aiori: quested f.om waggoners and others for repairs to the main road between Taiuri Lake station and Middlemarch. The road is almost impa-sab.u, several upsets having happened <m. it lately. The coach proprietor.- have engaged a man to repair the dangerous parts, as the Tiileri County Connell have gbsmloned or-l-vlmml 'o effect any repairs. Co’-udlutions to be given io Mr Sutherland or Mr Maloney. A Dishonest Letter Carrier. —Humphrey Pratt, a letter carrier at Hobart, a>ed only 20, but married, an 1 with one child, has been summoned for a breach of the Postal Act, and on his residence being searched m.-arly 100!) undelivered letters, circulars, and papers were found. Mention is made in many .of the letters of remittances enclosed, hut no money has been recovered. Pratt war: readying -f* 1 * (I wi ek. Tim postal autimrit-ies object** Ito his marriage, and advised him to wait lor a better position, but lie disregarded Lnc advice. Pratt was much trusted, and, though the department had received hundreds of complaints about the nm-dclivery q‘i Uttefo; h« was never siisjpactsnJi

Geraldine Stock Sale.— The fortnightly sale of stock takes place at Geraldine to-morrow.

Lincoln College. Lord and Lady Glasgow visited Lincoln Agricultural College on Thursday and expressed themselves as pleased. They said the institution was a credit.

N.Z. Flora.—The question raised by the school inspectors re publishing a work on the New Zealand Flora has been referred to the Minister of Education, to enquire into and submit a recommendation to the Cabinet.

Children’s Flower Show.—At Dunedin a children’s flower show has been held in connection with the Caversham Presbyterian Church Sunday School. The show was much superior to the preceding two years, the competition being keener and the plants better grown.

Death of a Professor. Father Carolan, who has been one of the masters in St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, since it opened in 1885, died on Friday morning of consumption. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon and was very largely attended, the deceased professor having been highly esteemed by all classes.

The Licensing Elections.—No date is fixed for the Licensing Election, the Act apparently leaving it to the Returning Officers to appoint any date they choose in March. It is understood that some of them are thinking of fixing March Ist, in order that the new committee may take the regular quarterly business. It is stated, however, that the Government are averse to this, and the bulk at any rate of the elections will probably be after the 15th. Political Platform.—A meeting of the National Association at Auckland recommend the following political reforms: —That at Parliamentary elections the vote should be required to produce an electoral right, which should be issued only to applicants whose claims had been authenticated before a responsible official. That the removal of names from electoral roils should be better safeguarded than at present. That the Courts should be empowered to include in any sentence passed upon a criminal, deprivation of certain r/ghts for a stated period. That the cities should be divided into electorates, each returning a single member to Parliamens.

British Volunteers. The enrolled strength of the Volunteer force in Gl-reat Britain at the end of 1892 was 225,423.. The latest returns show that arms were distributed as follows : —Light horse 250 ; artillery 41,415; Engineers 11,722 ; submarine miners 1358 ; Rifles 169,245 : Medic d staff corps 1433 ; total 222,423. A total of 6068 officers and 13,270 sergeants are returned as having earned the Government grant of £2 10s ; 1242 officers have passed in tactics or artillery; and 87 officers and 170 non-commissiond officers hold the certificate for signalling. The total expenditure on the force was £786,000. The Liquor Trade. —Taking the equivalent of all intoxicating drinks in proof alcohol, the figures for the various Australasian colonies stand as follow per inhabitant for the year 1892, except in the case of Tasmania, for which colony the figures in gallons are for 1891 : —New South Wales, 2.67 ; Victoria, 3.24 ; Queensland, 2.46 ; South Australia, 2.53 ; Western Australia, 3.68 ; Tasmania, 2.00 ; New Zealand, 1.77. This makes New Zealand the most sober of all the colonies, and yet the figures show that in this colony the consumption of spirits was 0.71 gallons per head, whilst in Tasmania the quantity was only 0.69 per head.

The Weather. —The weather farmers have been treated to this harvest has certainly been the worst they have had for years: not that there has been any great fail of rain at any one time, but because the weather has been so unsettled as to be continually interrupting harvesting operations. After almost a week of fine weather, rain fell for a few hours on Saturday forenoon, and again rather heavily on Sunday morning early. On Sunday night, after fair weather during the day, rain came on again with considerable force, and continued off and on till yesterday. Yesterday was excessively close and muggy, which would no doubt cause much damage among wheat crops through sprouting. Clouds were threatening heavy ram all day, and a few showers fell at times.

The Waitemata Election Petition. —Tne Waitemata election petition case came to an abrupt termination on Friday afternoon. WJien the Court met at 2 o’clock, after an adjournment, counsel, for Mr Monk intimated that he had decided not to proceed with the defence, as he considered it hopeless after the recent evidence. The court said that they would report that the seat be voided, and that Mr Monk be disqualified for one year.—Mr Justice Prendergast and Mr Justice Conoily at the Supreme Court on Saturday morning declined to grant certificates of indemnity from prosecution under the Election Petition Act to Ernest W. Monk, son of Richard Monk, and James Stewart, junr., witnesses in the Waitemata election petition. The ground given for the refusal of the certificates was that these witnesses had not made a full, free, and satisfactory discovery of all the facts of which they were cognisant in connection with the election.

Cricket. —The cricket match between New South Wales and Otago commenced at 2 o’clock on Saturday. The wicket had been covered, and was in good order, but the out-field was very soft, and for what would have been boundary hits often a single was only scored. The visitors lost the toss, and McNeil and Lawton started batting for Otago. At 18 McNeil was caught. Clarke and La .v to a carried the score to If, when the former was caught. Baker stopped till 82. when he wis stumped, and at 101 Lawton ran himself out stupidly, when he had colllared the bowling and was in for a big score. Fisher playing a marry innings caried the score to 157 when he was caught. Boddington, who had been a long time in for 27, was caught at 180. Downes and Harper played out time, the score being 210 for 6 wickets. The bowling was very ”so so," and on livelier ground the score is equal to nearly 300.

The Cyclist's Stoop.—Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson is looked upon as the groat medical apostle of cycling, because ho rides a great deal himself, although, by the way, it is the tricycle and not the bicycle which Sir Benjamin uses. Naturally a good deal of interest attaches to his views on the cyclist’s stoop, and he was questioned on the subject by a newspaper representative the other day. The eminent doctor V f r 2'9 Y p ry emphatic in his condemnation of this vicious habit. " The doubled-up position,” hosajd, ‘i does much more harm than people imagine. Of course, everybody knows that it is ugly. Thl. spina} cjirvus are the most perfect in nature, both fq-.- strength apd beauty, and those are destroyed. The top of the anterior curve is brought forward —and I am not sure that the posterior CUI'VC aS Well in not affected —until the sp'no becomes almost an aiv- The cim t'bORC is then affected by tbo unnatural pressqre placed upon if.. Tim circulation is impaired, and no doubt the lungs arc intoff'ered with too. fn fact, there is hardly any possible evil elf ct which it does not pro luce.” While Ju favor of cycling a healthful form of (■x.Tcu-t. generally, Sir Bjnj i.ain Ward Richardson points one that, as if is often practiced, it may become deed ledfy danrmroqs. Long distance riding, he considers, has done a groat deal of harm. Oortis and Keith Falconer, two maguific.nt riders, bot'n died of heart disease. The special effect of cycling, it appears, is on the circulation. Them Is conscijuenllv a very severe strain both in racing and h) : i climbing. Talon in modi ration, however, and in licinusly. there is no doubt that cycling is as healidil'nl a form of exercise as it is c joyahle. But the “sloop” ought to be abolished. Lady cyclists have set u.s a goo i example in this rcspmt, and uicu oajht to follow Ai

Canadian Conference. —The Government have decided that New Zealand shall be represented at the Canadian Conference. Postal Conference.— The Postal Conference will be held on March sth, and it is expected that a great deal of preliminary business will be settled before hand on the trip in the Hinemona. Larceny Case.— Charles Bloomfield has been committed for trial at Auckland on a charge of the larceny of £7 and a silver watch from the safe, when Meenan’s store at Ohora was burned. Salvation Army. —The Salvation Army started a camp on the American plan at Sumner, Christchurchuroh, on Friday. About 200 have gone into camp, and a big time is expected. Rifle Association Meeting. The ground for the Rifle Association meeting at Hilsborough, N.C., is nearly ready. The trenches are finished and targets made. The new Bisley system of marking is to be adopted. Alleged “ Long ” Firm. —Three Polish Jews, Moss Stein alias Ballen. Neithen Stein alias Jackson, Leon Stein alias Smith, were charged at the Auckland Police Court with fraud and conspiracy, and were committed for trial.

The late Railway Commissioners.— The Christchurch Chamber of Commerce committee passed a resolutiou regretting that the long and valuable experience of Mr Maxwell and Mr Hannay, late Railway Commissioners, will no longer be available to the colony.

Overdose of Chlorodyne. —At the inquest at Wellington on the child Femmel a verdict was returned that death was due to an overdose of chlorodyne administered in mistake by its mother. The medical evidence showed that about twenty drops were administered to the child, whereas the dose should not have exceeded half a dozen drops, and stress was laid on the fact that this drug should only be administered to children under medical advice. The “ Good Samaritan ” in Trouble.— At Wellington a travelling medicine man named Gunn, calling himself “The Good Samaritan,” was fined £25 and costs |for distributing gifts by lottery. He refused to pay and was given the alternative of three months’ hard labour. He said he had been allowed to give asvay presents for thirteen months without interference. The Resident Magistrate told him but for that he would have been fined £IOO. Eventually Gunn paid the fine. The Wrong Defendant. —At Dunedin on Friday, Mr Carew, R.M., gave judgment in the case in which J. Burr claimed £4O damages from the South Dunedin Council for injuries to a trotting stallion. The horse was being ridden through the street when one of its feet sank in the street, and thus the injuries were received. It was shown that at the spot the waterworks contractor had repaired a leak, and in patting the material back had not rammed it down. Mr Carew said the contractor not having done the work carefully he and not the Borough Council was liable, and gave judgment for the defendant with costs. The Natives. —Four native chiefs from the Upper Wanganui district waited upon the Premier and congratulated him on the

assumption of the position of Native Minister, and asked what were the intentions of the Government respecting’ the Native race. The Premier replied that the policy of the Government would place the Natives in such a position that they would reap to the fullest extent the benefits of civilisation instead of being continued in a position of dependence. He intended to visit the Native districts of the North Island shortly and explain legislation affecting the Maoris and their land. A Splendid Steamer.—The White Star liner Gothic (7730 tons, Captain Jennings), which is under charter to the Shaw, Seville Company, arrived at Wellington on Friday from London via the Cape and Hobart, and was berthed alongside the Queen’s wharf shortly after 5 o’clock, She is the largest vessel that has been in New Zealand waters, and her arrival was watched with considerable interest by crowds of people, who lined the wharves, and to whom she was an object of great admiration. The purser reports that the Gothic left Plymouth on December 30. The vessel ran into a thick fog on the New Zealand coast, which delayed her some hours. Tne best day’s run during the vogage was 370 miles. She landed 60 passengers at the Cape, 35 at Hobart, and brings 90 for New Zealand. Her cargo for all ports consists of 4000 tons. She carries a full complement of 136 hands, and has a small job printing office on board, where menus and programmes of concerts, balls, etc., held on board, are printed. Mr W. S. Graves, one of the chief owners of the White Star line, accompanied by his wife, is making a round trip in the vessel for the benefit of hia health. General Sir Mark Walker, Y. 0., K.C.8., and Lady Walker, are among the passengers from the Cape, and Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, came from Hobart. The Rev. W. 0. Brown, of Brisbane, the well-known temperance advocate, is a passenger from Home. In the cool chamber

the vessel brought a shipment of parasites to the order of the New Zealand Government for the destruction of the Hessian fly. The Gothic was thrown open for inspection on Saturday and Sunday, a charge of Is being made, when £lO3 6s was realised, which will be devoted to the furnishing the new wing of the Wellington hospital. With the Government subsidy the amount

for the hospital will be £227. Before her departure from London the Gothic was thrown open to the public on 23rd December, and a charge of Is levied for admission, iu aid of the funds of the Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital. £4OO was realised. The Gothic is magnificently fitted up. A Sham Journalist.— At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, on Friday, William Richards alius William Richardson was charged, on a number of informations, with obtaining by false pretences. Mr Broham conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was undefended, and pleaded “Guilty” without any comment whatever to the following charges, which were dealt with summarily Obtaining from J. E. Anderson by valueless cheque £1 on January 22nd ; £1 2s from J. S. Cooke on January 27th; £5 from Thos. Anderson on January 2!)th, and £5 from Nathan Jowett on February 2nd. Also with obtaining, on January 23th, by a false pretence, one silver chain and one silver matchbox valued at £2 17s Gd, from A. Guudersen. The prisoner was further charged with having obtained £ls by means of u valueless cheque from W. A. McLaren. Evidence was given by Mr McLaren, that prisoner

introduced himself by presenting- bis card on which was printed " AVm. Richards, own correspondent of Yorkshire Post,” and detailing- tho manner in which the prisoner obtained several loans from him. Other

evidence having been given, the prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. The Bench being about to pass sentence on the minor convictions, the prisoner asked permission to say a few words. lie said ho deeply deplored the position in which he found himself. He was daily expecting money from Homo, and when able he would make all tho reparation in his power. He

re.i ly had a position as correspondent as tie had stated ; it had been obtaineO through his father. He was unable to follow his proper business on account of long-ttandiiur disease. Ho was iu a verv poor state of health at present, and hoped Lies Bepch would deal leniently with him. Mr Wosteura said lie found that prisoner iad just served a sentence of six mouths in Dunedin gaol for a similar offence. I'iic Bench could not find any excuse for ii n, and felt it their duty to make their eciiinnces so exemplary as to ho a warning ;o .himself and < thors. Therefore, not-

,v/,'u-dan ling iha;, ho stood committed for ,r:a!, ho would bo sentenced, on each of /‘ic throe charges for frauds under did to v. o months" imprisonment, ami for the. o>.) involving- dd each, six mouths mmulative, or in ail eighteen months' un»rison«i':at, with hard labor,

The Stella. —Tenders for the steamer Stella not having reached the reserve of £2OOO, the Government have decided to retain her.

A Suspicious Fieb. —About midnight on Saturday a servant girl in the employ of Mr D. H. Brown, miller, who resides in Pigeon lane, Addington, roused her employer and informed him that the house was on fire. The girl states that she went to bed about ten o’clock, and about midnight she heard footsteps outside and on looking out of the window she saw the glare of a fire. She threw a bucket of water on the flames, and then called Mr Brown, who was soon able to subdue it. The girl says that she saw no one about when she looked out. The house is the property of Mr Huddenklau. The insurance on the house is not known, but Mr Brown’s furniture is insured for £4OO or £SOO in the Economic Office.— Press.

A Steangb Fatality.— The Christmas festivities have been marred by one shocking, and at present inexplicable fatality. On Christmas afternoon the choir of St Nicholas’s Church, Guildford, went to the Surrey County Hospital to sing carols to the patients. Subsequently the boys were entertained with “ snapdragon.” Just as the flames were expiring the house surgeon tried to revive them by pouring from a bottle what was supposed to be alcohol. An immediate explosion followed, and all who surrounded that table were enveloped in blue vapourons flames. Several of the choir boys were seen writhing on the floor in agony covered with blue flames. One was so severely burned that he died soon afterwards. The clergymen and various nurses and visitors were also severely burned, and it is not yet certain whether some other cases will not result fatally. At present no light has been thrown on the deplorable affair, but it has gravely discredited snapdragon as a safe amusement for the young. There will be no more of it this year, at any rate. It Will be no loss. It is a dangerous and not at all valuable relic of past barbarism.

Crime in Wellington,—The annual offences returns for the police district of Wellington have been compiled. Prom thhese it appears that the total number of offences reported in 1893 amounted to 2528 as compared with 1910 reported in the previous year. In 1893 ninety-seven men and five women were committed for trial, seventy-two of whom were subsequently committed for trial at the Supreme Court. 1622 males and 315 females were summarily convicted, whilst 329 men and 34 women were discharged. The returns give a startling increase for last year of all cases, amounting to 618. Of this increase drunkenness appears to have been the chief offence, as there were 270 more persona arrested for that crime than in the previous year. During the period referred to there were three cases of attempted murder, which were sent for trial. One male and one female were convicted, and one man was discharged. In nearly every instance, especially in oases sent for trial, there is also a large increase over the return in the previous year. In 1893 there was a large increase in the number of cases sent for trial, there being 102 in that year as against 63 in 1892. A Visitor’s Opinion.—A correspondent writes to one of the London dailies as follows :—“ Of the Australasian colonies I like New Zealand best, and should have liked to have stayed another month there. It is a beautiful country and of immense capabilities. The hot lakes are the most wonderful sight imaginable. Hot water and steam come out of the ground in all directions in a dozen districts, over an area of many square miles. I am sure it will bubble over some day and burst. Earthquakes are of everyday occurrence. The immense forests, which they call ‘ bush,’ are composed of all kinds of trees, from the almost tropical fern tree to the northern pine. The colouring is of all shades of green, and looking up a mountain side from below it looks like an. artifically laid out and cultivated pleasure domain of an English gentleman’s estate. At Christchurch, in New Zealand, we went to see a sheep freezing factory. There is room for 30,000 sheep in these freezing vaults, and there they remain until they go on board ship, to be sent to England. There are about 20 such freezing works now in New Zealand, and last year the sheep sent to England in this manner amounted to nearly 1,700,000.”

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. R. Fenton—Reward re lost riding saddle. H. B. Webster & Co.—Additional entries Geraldine sale. Lyon’s Operatic Burlesque Company— Notice re entertainment. Public Trustee—Notice re accounts owing to and by the late William Bourne, of Fairlie. Commissioner Crown Lands Sale of town and rural land at Temuka on Thursday. Geraldine County Council—lmportant notices re registration of dogs, and registration of traction engines.