LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2702, 23 August 1894, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Insurance Companies. The Government proposals with respect to Insurance Companies were' discussed at a, meeting attended by the representatives of twentyfonr companies, and a resolution was carried to oppose them. Imported Bkbadstupfs. Representations having been made to the Hon. Mr Ward that large importations of wheat and flour are being made into the colony from Australia, he has indicated that in the interests of New Zealand farmers the duty on those articles will be increased without delay. Medical Congress. —Free railway passes will be granted to delegates attending the Intercolonial Medical Congress, 1896. It was suggested that the Government should print the Transactions of the Conference ami entertain the visitors, and the Premier promised to consult his colleagues in the matter. Personal. —Mr F. R. Flatman, M.H.R., paid a short visit to his district the other day. He arrived at 230 on Sunday morning by a special mail train and left again on Tuesday evening by the north express. Mi Flatman appears in good health and spirits, as if public life does not hang very heavily on him. Bank Interest. —The Union and Australasian Banks on Monday reduced 12 months’ deposits to 4 per cent, and six months’ to 2i per cent. It is understood that the Bank of New South Wales will also do so. The Bank of New Zealand has reduced its rates i per cent all round. For 12 months’ deposits the rate is 4J per cent. Single Tax. —Mr O’Regan, M.H.R., has received a letter from Mr Michael Davitt, who states that a general election is regarded as probable next spring, and if so he intends to visit the colonies immediately after. Mr Davitt is an advocate of the single tax, which he considers New Zealand has applied to some extent in the form of the tax on land values.

Draughts. —A draughts match was commenced at Dunedin on Monday evening between D. Brodie, Dunedin, and J. A. Boreham, Oamani, for £25 a side and the championship. One game was completed. Boreham nominated the opening, and the position pointed to a draw, when Boreham made a slip and Brodie won. The second game was not completed. On Tuesday Boreham won one game and Brodie two. The score now stands —Brodie, 3 wins; ’’ 1 win and 3 draws. Horehaox.’ • vd the. Evening Press . Mr ward a.. -"ntly stated in the The Hon. Mr Ward rou_. -; nq - a jiigh House that an officer occup.,.. _ ~, position in one of the Australian banks a director of the Evening Press. The gentleman referred to has written to Mr Ward stating that he is not a director, but that he took shares in the paper in the interest of temperance, and on the understanding that the paper was to be nonpolitical. He also expressed his concu -rence in the remarks made by the Colonial Treasurer as to the article in question. The Diocesan Synod.— The Diocesan Synod was opened at Christchurch on Tuesday. Bishop Julius gave a long address. At a special service at the Cathedral the Bishop referred to the changes in the Diocese during the past year and to the success of the institution of deaconesses. He advocated the establishment of a superannuation fund for the clergy; expressed the opinion that wo men should be allowed to vote at parish meetings, but did not think it advisable that they should take church offices. He pointed out ways by which the Church might reach the masses. He spoke at length on the Divorce Bill now before Parliament, and admitted that there were cases of hardships under the existing law, but he urged that it would be dangerous to allow divorce for reasons other than those recognised by the Church in the resolution of the Lambeth Cou ference.

You will find between 30 and 40 pianos and organs arranged for inspection and trial at Begg k Co.’s Music Saloon, next Theatre. Timaru. Select your instrument and they will send it homo for you. The rates of payment on tho 3 years’ hire payment system are from Is a day and upwards.— [Advt.]

Pakihi.—A grand social to wind up, the session of the Pakihi Literary Society will be held on the 7th September. Great attractions are promised. A Rbcobd,—A press association telegram states that for three days not a single person has been confined in the Dnuedin lock-up. This has not happened for the past quarter of a century. Obabi Gobqe.—To-morrow evening a social will be held in the Orari Gorge Station Shearers’ Dining Boom, in aid of the funds of the local school. A pleasant evening should be spent by those attending. ' Exteaobdinaey Conduct. —A serious accident happened recently to a young man working in the Hunterville bush. In using an axe the handle broke short off by the head, and in order to extricate the piece out of the head he loaded a gun with a heavy charge, and placing the axehead over the barrel thought to blow the piece out. In some manner he received the whole charge in his right hand, which was shattered to fragments, and Dr Smith, of Hunterville, had to amputate the remaining portion above the wrist.—Feilding Star. Football. —The following will represent the Temuka Boys’ Club in a match with the Winchester boys;—Full back, J. Livingstone; three-quarter backs, A. Hope, G. Taylor. J. Grant, and J. Roddick ; half backs, F. Scanned, and D. Ardell; forwards, D. Grant, 0. Dunford. W. McCaskUl, Scott (2), Henry, A. Leach, and N. Hooper. Emergencies—A. Henry, S, Greaves, and B, Lee. The following will represent the Temuka 2nd against Orari at Temuka today :—Campbell, Grant, Te Wanahu, Low, Sheen, Collins, Connolly, Storey, Rutland, Anderson, Lee, Burke, Barrett, Austin, and Bowman. Emergencies—Waloroft, Will?.

Ploughing Match, The Geraldine Ploughing Match Committee met on Monday evening at the Farmers’ Club Rooms. Present —Messrs M. C. Orbell, G. Ward, H. B. Webster, B. Skinner, A . Metcalf, and N. Dunlop (secretary). The arrangements re prizes were made. The secretary reported in Glass A, single furrow, seven entries had been received to date; in Glass B, double furrow, 4 entries received; Glass G, youths double furrow, no entries to date, but 4 or five are expected on the day of the match;. Glass D, digging ploughs, one entry received, two more expected. The secretary further reported that eleven special prizes would be given. The judges appointed for ploughing were Messrs Wm. Stevenson and R. Irving; for horses, harness, and teams ; Messrs B. Cochrane and J. Mundell. The other officers are: Ground Stewards. Messrs Allen and R. Skinner; and Secretary, Mr N. Dunlop. The match takes place on Mr G. Hew son’s paddock, near Orari Bridge, to-day.

Political Speech.— The Hon. G. F. Richardson addressed a public meeting at Mataura on Monday evening. Over two hundred ladies and gentlemen were present. He spoke about an hour criticising the Government policy regarding land and finance, declaring that the cheap money scheme was impracticable, and contending that settlement was not progressing in proportion to the increase of population. He said that there was now neither a Liberal nor a Conservative party, but only a Seddon party, and that the policy of the Government if carried out in the direction it seemed to be tending would render property, money, and-everything else unsafe except they were of the “ right color.” He did not expect to see the Government continue to have the present enormous majority, and when the sudden fall came they would not be able to recover themselves. A. madness bad come over them, and he hoped they would either speedily gain their senses or very speedily lose their seats. The hon. gentleman was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. 1.0.G.T. The usual weekly meeting of the Good Hope Lodge was held last Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance. Bro. Barr, 0.T., presided. After the usual course of business had been gone through, Bro. Whitehead gave a song, and Bro. Barr a reading, which went very well. Recess was then called, and cakes and coffee were handed round, supplied by Bro. T. C. Radford, and were of first-class quality. Order having been called, Bro. (Houston gave a reading. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Bro. Radford for supplying the refreshments. It was announced that there would be an open' lodge social on the 28th inst., of which due notice will be given, and the lodge was dismissed at the usual hour by the singing of the closing ode.—The weekly meeting of the Welcome Retreat Good Templar Lodge, Geraldine, was largely attended on Monday evening last. In the absence of the 0.T., Bro. Baxter, L.D., took the chair. After five new members bad been initiated, Bro. W. Willoughby, on behalf of Bro. Dalton, D.D., presented Sister Billings with a District Degree Members Badge for having proposed the most members during the quarter. A recess was then declared, when the question box was banded round, and a number of questions both instructive and amusing were answered. The lodge was duly closed by the C.T.

T.W.B. and M.I. Association.— At the usual meeting of the above society held on Monday evening there was a full attendance of members. The president occupied the chair. Two new members were duly elected and two others nominated, making a total membership of 50. The chairman then announced that it was question evening, and that the best arrangements possible had been made. Ist question: What do you think is a suitable age for ladies to marry ? was answered by Mr John Hoi we ll , in a few well-chosen words, which met with the approval of the association ; 2nd question: Which is the greatest evil to society, the spendthrift or the miser ? was answered by Miss Holdgate (of Timaru), and caused a great deal of discussion among the members; 3rd questson.- Is it the opinion of this association that all wives are bad and all husbands good ? was very ably answered by Mrs C. H. Standage, the discussion on which caused a great deal of mirth; 4th question: Is it right to kill for sport 1 by Master B. Cooper, evoked a very large amount of discussion. Arrangements were made for an “ Evening with Longfellow ” on Monday, the 27th inst., when a good programme will be gone through, including songs and readings. Geraldine Alhambra Minstrels—A meeting of the Alhambra Minstrel Troupe was held on the loth. There wasalarg attendance of members, and Mr R. H. Pearpoint was voted to the chair. The laid on the table the accounts of entertainment. The gross proceeds the hu*,-. t 0 £lsi<j 3 3d, and the to date The secretary exexpenses to £7 Ids l da. - . tickets plained that there were some iin/-. to come in, which would increase tne amount to about £l7. He explained that the expenses were high, owing to the troupe having to provide dresses, etc. The chairman stated the Temuka Cricket Club and the Gapes’ Valley School Committee desired the troupe to give an entertainment in aid of their funds, and it was resolved to agree to the request, on condition that the Cricket Club give a donation of £2 2s, and the school committee £1 Is to the troupe, and paying coach expenses. Thursday, the 30th, was settled on for Temuka, and September 13th, for Gapes’ Valley. Mr Pearpoint was appointed treasurer vice Mr Fish ro-igned. The question of producing an opera was fully discussed, and ultimately it was resolved to place “ Pinafore ” OU the stage at nn early date Mr Sugden was appointed manager, and Mr T. Sherratt was to bo asked to take the position of musical conductor. The question of how the funds were to be distributed was theu brought on, and it was resolved that as the amount was small, the sum be equally divided between the Geraldine Cricket Club and the Geraldine School, but ou some future occasion an entertainment will be given in aid of charitable purposes. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mrs and Mr Sugdea for the wo*k douo and the trouble they had taken. It was arranged that a full rehearsal be held ou Wednesday, the 29th. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.

Entertainment. —A treat is in store for the people of Temnka and the surrounding district, as the famed Geraldine Alhambra Minstrels propose giving their entertainment in the Volunteer Hall on Thursday, 30th. This entertainment, which has already drawn crowded houses in Geraldine, is a varied one, and is calculated to please the tastes of the most fastidious in matters —funny and musical. Trial op'a Drain Plough.— ln our advertising columns Messsrs H. B. Webster & Go., the agents, notify that a trial of Brown’s Drain Plough will be held at Mr H. Lee’s farm (known as Woodhead’s) at 1 o’clock to-moriow. In a recent issue we gave a description of the plough, with an account of a trial held at Geraldine, and we advise farmers to make a point of attending the trial to-morrow and seeing for themselves the work done by this very useful implement. A Narrow Escape From Strangulation.—A prisoner, who was suffering from the effects of drink, made an attempt to strangle himself on Tuesday night in the lock-up at the Christchurch Police Station. He hadtorn theband off his drawers and tied it tightly around his neck, but was discovered in time by Constable Sinclair, the watch-house-keeper, and Constable McGill. Precautions were then taken to prevent the,man from making any farther attempts upon his life.—Press. The Unemployed.— Twelve of the unemployed in the Temnka district will leave for the read works at Glentanner on Monday next. The men will be taken to within fourteen miles of the work by a traction engine, the journey occupying about 3| days, the distance being 100 miles. The Temnka men will join the Timarn contingent at the sonth side of the Opihi bridge. The men will make a considerable saving by engaging the traction engine to convey them to their destination. A Pious Fraud. —A Timarn gentleman received a letter by the San Francisco mail from a friend who went Home in the Ruapehu—the steamer in which Best, the “ grain expert,” left the colony. The letter states that Best left the steamer at Rio. He made himself quite a prominent passeager. as it was his habit to wear, rain or shine, a black frock coat, belltopper and kid gloves, and the “ side ” he put on was to those who knew something about him, as disgusting as it was “ immense.” He was very fond of playing and singing sacred songs and hymns to his fellowpassengers, and his favourite secular song was “When the swallows homeward fly.”

Fijian Crime.— The arrival at Auckland of the steamer Ujpolu from Fiji brings tidings that six natives, charged with the murder of two others at Mataeaota, have been found guilty of the capital crime, but they had not been sentenced up to the time of the TJpolu’s departure. Incidents which accompanied the murder of the two men who fell victims at the outset of the outbreak were dwelt upon at the trial as furnishing a probable motive for the killing. It was proved that the bodies were cut open, and partially dismembered. The prosecution endeavoured to show that two of the accused were of the devil priests, and that a devil temple existed in their town. The theory founded on this attempt was that the mutilations took place in accordance with the rites of devil worship, and that the prisoners had committed acts of cannibalism in connection therewith. So far, at least, as the accused were concerned, says the Fiji Times, this fell to the ground, and the idea of the devil priest received a somewhat rude shock when one of those suspected of holding that office proved to be a lad of apparently about fourteen years of age. Why be persuaded to buy a cheap, trashy piano when you can . purchase one of the beautiful Gollabo Sc Collabd’s on such easy terms at Begg Sc Go.’s, Timarn? The oldest and most reliable music sellers in the colony.—[Advt.]