LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2689, 24 July 1894, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Stock Sale.—The fortnightly sale of stock at Teinuka takes place to-day. A large number of entries are advertised in another c.oluinja. Drowning Accjukk*.—4 1 * pM settler named David Morrison was found uioivncd iu a creek at Martin on Friday nu/hfc. Ho had been attempting to cross and fell in. Oisitltaky— Thcßcv,J. Mcintosh, M.A., fornicrly of Ohristchurch, one of the oldest Presbyterian ministers of the colony, died at Stratford on Friday aifht, after a short illness. CrOUP— It is stated that a young- nmu named G.ardaer ; of Wellington, is one of the proprietors'of the Londonderry mine at Coolgardio, and that he has been ottered ;CJ(),i'olt for his share. Danck.—The monthly "long night "_ in connection with the Temuka Quadrille takes place in the Temuka Volunteer Hall to-morrow nisrbt. A fine floor, good music, and an efficient M.U. will doubtless attract a large attendance.

Poultry and Cat Show.—During last Thursday. Friday, and Saturday, a Poultry and Cat Show was held at Timaru. The show was a very good one, and was largely attended. Among the prizetakers was Miss N. Dunlop, who took the first prize for the finest Persian cat. Rinking Caenival.—The second carnival of the season in connection with the Temuka Skating Rink was held in the Volunteer Hall on Saturday evening. The attendance was very srood, and those present appeared to enjoy themselves, but none of the races arranged for were got off.

Abbor Day Celebration.—This evening at 8 o'clock a public meeting will be held in the Geraldine Town Board office to select sites for planting on Arbor Day. It is to be hoped there will be a good attendance, so that the necessary arrangements can be made for making the celebration go off with a swing. The Milfobd Bab.—On Thursday last a channel was cut through the Milford bar towards the southern end. The bar had closed for some time, and a great volume of water was banked up in the lagoon. The work was done at the expense of the Geraldine County Acclimatison Society under the direction of Messrs W. Holwell and B. Thompson. A Stupid Joke.—Some would-be funny fellow or fellows have been amusing themselves by constructing an effigy of a man and suspending it from one of the gum trees overhanging the road on Mr Swaney's late farm on the Temuka-Pleasant Point road. The effigy, which is calculated to frighten timid people on a dark evening, has been hanging from the tree for Oyer a week. Found Dead. —An old man named James Tucker, aged sixty years, was found dead behind a boardiner-house in Willis Street, Wellington, where he had evidently gone to sleep. He had been out of work for some time. He has a brother residiDg in Dunedin.—A man named James W. Stewart, of Templeton, was found dead in a bath at Messrs Davies & Lamb's, Christchurch, about 10 o'olock on Saturday evening. Heart disease was supposed to be the cause.

Social at "Winchester. On Friday evening last a social was held in the Winchester Public Hall. The evening was bright and fine, and the attendance was very good, a number of visitors comin? from Orari, Hilton, and Temuka. Mr J. Moon acted as M.C. in a very efficient manner, and Messrs Barrett and Fenton supplied good music on the accordian and the piano. Light refreshments were handed round and heartily enjoyed. Mesdames Wm. Philp and H. E. Smith did good service in this department. Missing.—A case of singular disappearance was reported at Wellington on Friday on the arrival of the steamer Botomahana from Lyttelton. Mr McKilligan, manager of the Lyttelton branch of the Bank of New Zealand, joined the ship at Lyttelton, being en route for Auckland. About 2.30 a fellow passenger observed Mr McKilligan leaving his cabin apparently dressed, and later on, finding no trace of him, reported the circumstance to the ship's officers. Active search was made, but it failed to elicit anything satisfactory, and the missing man is still unaccounted for. Mr McKilligan has been in the service of the bank for nearly 16 years. He was about 52 years of age, unmarried, and is not known to have any relations in the colony. Arson. —At the Supreme Court, Nelson, Johan Ernest Christian Bleecber was convicted of attempted arson and sentenced to four years' hard labour.—The inquest touching the fire in the Old Branch Hotel premises at Wellington concluded on Friday. The evidence of the occupier of the room opposite room No. 6, where one fire broke out, was to the effect that he had heard light footsteps about the passage shortly before the alarm was raised. The jury considered the place had been wilfully set on fire, and brought in a verdict of incendiarism against some person or persons unknown. Evidence was given to the effect that the tenant, S. P. Brown, was in arrear with his rent and in his weekly payments for furniture. The building was insured for £750 and the furniture for £SOO.

Narrow Escape.—On Friday evening Albert Gordon, a traveller passing through Napier, went with his sister, Ethel Gordon, to the breakwater. In the daikness Miss Gordon tripped ov?r something and fell into the sea. Two young men standing near saw the accident, and one, named Denby, threw off his upper clothing and dived after the young lady. Owing to the height of the wharf from the sea it was some time before he reappeared, and alarm was beginning to be felt for him when he came to the surface and made for Miss Gordon, whom he caught by the dress just as she*was sinking. He swam with her to the steps and both were hauled on dry land. Albert Gordon could not swim and therefore could could do nothing for his sister. Denby will be recommended to the Humane Society's recognition. Dangerous Wool.—During the stay of the Gothic at Wellington an examination was made of some of her wool, which was reported to be heated. It was a portion of a consignment of 1014 bales shipped at southern ports and stored on the orlop deck. Its dangerous condition was discovered by the merest chance, for it had not been intended to rehandle it, but at the last moment it was decided to remove it into the lower hold to make way for a quantity of other cargo. On the bands being burst open smoke issued from the bales, and the heat inside was so great that the centre wool was actually scorched. Captain Babot went with the Gothic to Napier to make further inspection while the vessel was there. It would have been a question of only a few days before the wool would have burst out into flames.

Fatal Fires.—Ada Lippert, 37 years of age, wife of the licensee of the Scotia Hotel, North Dunedin, was burned to death on Friday night. She went to bed about 8 o'clock, a candle being left burning in the room, which was visited by a servant twice or thrice. On going to the room a little before 10 o'clock the servant found the whole room on fire and gave the alarm. Strenuous efforts were made to rescue the woman, but they were baffled by the flames and smoke. When the fire was got out, after three rooms had been gutted, the body was found charred, beyond recognition. The building was insured in the Norwich Union for £250, and furniture, etc., in the New Zealand. At the inquest touching the death of Ada Lippert, of the Scotia Hotel, a verdict was returned of " death by suffocation, due to fire, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show how the fire originated." The husband in his evidence stated that he had given his wife that day only two glasses of beer and one of brandy.—Ada Malcolm, who was severely burnt on Wednesday night, died in the Wellington hospital on Friday. H essian Fly.—The Hessian fly (says the Waimate Times) is reported to have made its appearance in the Waimate district. Mr Nicholas, Hook, informs U 9 that he has noticed the pest at harvest time for two seasons past, but was not aware that it was tho dreaded fly, uatil only the other day. Ho had previously drawn the attention of several farmers to the insect, but they could not say what it was. The fly was particularly destructive to the wheat crops. Olio crop looked as if it would yield -10 bnsheb«, and it did not produce 2~>. Many of the hoadbi of the grain were noticed to be hanging down on tho stacks and turned yellow. A bearded wheat was hardly touched, and returned a good yield. Oats also suffered to a greater or less extent. The general opinion is that the poor crops of last season in this district were chiefly due to bad weather, but if the pest described by Mr iucliojas is the Hessian fly, there is no saying how largo a share ij; had in the poorness of the crops. Steps should be taken to ascertain definitely whether the insect to which attention has been drawn is the Hessian fly or not. To possess a " Oollard " pianoforte is the aim of all lovers of rctiucd musical tone—(AUVT.)

A Cash of Cowpox.—The alleged case of smallpox at Eltham turns out to be one of cowpox. Financial Statement.—The Colonial Treasurer will deliver his Financial Statement this evening. The 'Fbisco Mail.—a special train from Ashburton on Saturday brought the San Francisco mail. The train ran through to Dunedin.

Guabantee ASSOCIATION. The committee of the New Zealand Friendly Societies Guarantee Association have resolved to open another branch of the association, to enable lodges to join who have not done so. This will start on the same lines as the original one. The Weather. A thunderstorm at Wellington on Friday afternoon, which only lasted for half an hour, was one of the most severe experienced there for many years. The lightning was very vivid, and for tea minutes or so the rain came down in torrents, the streets presenting somewhat the appearance of lakes. By 8 o'clock the worst of it was over.—On Friday night there was a splendid display of lightning to the south east, and between midnight and 1 a.m. on Saturday a beautiful display of Aurora Australis. —The Otago Daily Times of Saturday says: A magnificent display of the Aurora Australis was was witnessed about 1 o'clock this morning. All the southern sky was aglow, and bright shafts of pulsating light shot up from the horizon to the zenith. Later on, a portion of the south-western sky became tinted with rich colors, ranging from a deep red, such as would suggest some great conflagration, to delicate shades of green. The sight was beautiful and awe-inspiring, and lasted for some considerable time. The electrical disturbance was so great that for some three hours no communication could be made with Invercargill. Chinese Wedding Customs.—Among the Lolos of Western China it is customary for the bride on the wedding morning to perch herself on the highest branch of a large tree, while the elder female members of her family cluster on the lower limbs, armed with sticks. When all are duly stationed the bridegroom clambers up on the tree, assailed on all sides by blows, pushes, and pinches by the dowagers, and it is not until he has broken through their fence and captured the bride that he is allowed to carry her off. Similar difficulties assail the bridegroom among the Mongolian Korans, who are in the habit of celebrating their marriage in large tents, divided into numerous compartments. At a given signal, as soon as the guests are assembled, the bride starts off through the compartments, followed by her wooer, while the women of the encampment throw every possible impediment in his way, tripping up his unwary feet, holding down the curtains to prevent his passage, and applying the willow and alder switches unmercifully as he stoops to raise them. As with the maiden on the horse and the virgin on the tree top, the Koran bride is invariably captured, however much the possibilities of escape may be in her favor.

Shopkeepebs' and Assistants' Meeting.—A public meeting was held in the Social Hall on Friday evening to consider the effect of the Shop Hours' Bill on tradespeople of Temuka. A fair number attended.- Mr G.J. Mason was asked to take the chair, and on doing so explained the reason the meeting had been called — that the feelings of those interested might be obtained and forwarded to Mr Flatman, as representative of the district. Mr Buxton said Mr Flatman had asked him to forward the wishes expressed in the meeting—for addition or change in the Bill, as it may deem fit. Mr Dann kindly read over the main portions of the Bill to be dealt with, and, after some discussion, Mr Sim moved, and Mr Jenkins seconded —" That this meeting recommend that the Act be amended to provide for compulsory closing at six o'clock each ordinary week evening, with the exception of one market evening in each week, and the evening of the half holiday. " Carried. Mr Miles proposed, and Mr W. C. Roolston seconded on market evening be 10 o'clock." Mr D. Taylor moved, as an amendment, audit was seconded by Mr Jenkins —" That the time of closing be 9 o'clock." — Carried. Mr Kirk moved, and Mr Sim seconded—" That tobacconists and hairdressers be included in clause 3 in the exemptions."—Carried unanimously. The meeting expressed itself strongly in favor of shorter hours, and uniform closing. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. Pocket touched \ temper gone ! How'a that? Why I've allowed a cheap - and - nasty piano (?) to be palmed off on me at a fancy price; when for less money I could have purchased a splendid " Collard & Collard " piano from Begg & Co., music sellers, next Theatre, Timaru, and their name is a sufficient guarantee of straight dealing and sterling value.—[Advt.] SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Charles Miller —Poison notice. Guinnessfc LeCren—Entries Temuka sale. G. L. Beath & Co.—Extension of sale till July 29. Daniel Stewart—Challenge to draught players. N.Z. Loan & M.A. Co. —Further entries Temuka sale. T. Herlihy Notice re bay mare impounded at Geraldine. T. &J. Thomson—Particulars of extraordinary purchase of goods just opened.