LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2747, 6 December 1894, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Earthquake.—There was a smart shock of earthquake at about 6.30 on Tuesday morning:. No damage is reported. Sugar Beet. A Russian gentleman named Lewenberg cantemplates going in largely for the cultivation of sugar beet in the Waikato district. Personal.—His parishioners and many friends of all classes will be glad to learn that the Rev. Father Fauvel arrived at the Bluff yesterday, and will be at home in a 1 few days. Fir Cones.—An exhibit of fir cones in Mr Dann's window has excited a considerable amount of interest. On one will be seen two bunches of cones, numbering about 80 cones in all. There are also two cones of brobdingnagian dimensions. Baikaia Bridge.—A telegram received in Tetnuka last evening states that the Raikaia bridge has been seriously damaged, and that no train will be able to pass, at any rate, to-day. Mails and passengers will be carried across, but goods traffic has been suspended. ' Geraldine Cycling Club.—There are eleven entries for tha| road race to-morrow nbht. Competitors are kindly requested to roll up punctually at Hood's Hotel at 630 p.m. After the race members will be entertained at a dinner kindly given by Mr R. Hood, one of the vice-presidents of the club. Colonel Fox. The Auckland Star pnblishes a letter from Colonel Fox denying that at the meeting of officers he used the expression that the " defence of New Zealand was looked on by sensible men and the Government as a farce, and that it was tolerated by the Government possibly for political reasons." CRICKET.—Lovers of the came should be present this afternoon in Victoria Park, Temuka, to witness the match between the Geraldine Eleven and Timaru B Fifteen. The ground is in very good order, so no doubt some good cricket and a close finish will eventuate. The following will play for Geraldine : Bethune, Beckett, Morrison, Fish, Hislop, MacDonald (2), Moore, Nalder, Sudden. Found Drowned.—On Tuesday the body of a man was found drowned in a gravel pit at Fernside, North Canterbury. The body was identified as that of a man named John Golding, who some years ago was a resident' in the district, and married the daughter of Mrs Thome. He. had been in the North Island and Australia for some years and returned on Monday. During the day he showed symptoms of insanity, and a doctor was called in. The man, however, ran away, and conld not be found. He returned a few hours later, and the doctor was again called in, but Golding again ran away. Nothing more was see of him until his body was found.-^-Press. Accident.—a. very serious, if not fatal, accident happened last Tuesday evening. Mr T. Rainy, who is in the employ of Mr James Guild, was discovered by Mr T. Connolly, junr.. within a few chains of his father's gale, lying under a horse on the road. It appears that Mr Rainy went to Winchester to get a horse shod, and was returning when the horse stumbled and fell down with its rider under it. The horse must have been stunned, for it had to be kicked to induce it to get up, when, under it, Mr Rainy was found unconscious. He was taken to the Winchester Hotel at about midnight by Mr Connolly, and was visited early yesterday by Dr Hayes, who ordered his removal to Mrs Bowman's, Temuka, where he now lies. He has not yet recovered consciousness, and great fears are entertained that he will not recover. The Cable Guarantee. The Post-master-General has received the following cablfe message from Sydney respecting the threatened withdrawal of Victoria from the cable guarantee:—" The following is a full extract from a Sydney morning paper on Tuesday, referred to in the press messages of this morning.- ' The Victorian Premier expresses surprise at the misunderstanding which prevails re the action of the Victorian Postmaster-General. The ■Premier says that it was merely a general notice, so that the Postal Conference in March might be in a position to deal with the entire question of the cable service. It was not a notice of intention to retire absolutely from a joint guarantee. If a majority of the colonies continue their subscriptions Victoria will remain a party to the present arrangement, but if a majority favors discontinuing, Victoria will join them in standing out. The action of the Victorian Postmaster-General, which he appears to have kept secret, was simply giving three months' notice in terms of the contract.'" Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The President's address at the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was extremely pessimistic, and he declared that the winter just passed was a record for depression fof the whole trading community, wholesale and retail alike. Unprecedented low prices had ruled for products, the first and essential factor, and other important factors were the banking collapse in Australia, our own experiences in that respect, and the legislation alleged to be necessary for the Bank of New Zealand. The most important of all was the want of confidence felt by those in trade and private capitalists consequent on the scare from the last two years' legislation. Ho suggested that a thorough test of the American wool market be made by the Government, either by purchasing a cargo of wool and exporting it to New York, or by an arrangement with growers to guarantee London prices on the day the wool was sold in America. He quoted statistics showing the falling off in imports and exports, etc. The Case of Charlotte Chambers.— The Hospital House Committee at Auckland, after enquiry into the case of the hospital authorities refusing admission to the young woman Charlotte Chambers, carried a resolution —" That the evidence taken be forwarded to the board without tho commitfee making any recommendation." ili/ Garrefct moved as an amendment—'' That the committee regret the action of Dr McGill. arid believe he is to blame, inasmuch as he did not communicate with any of the members of the honorary stair on the matter." Dr Girdler moved another amendment —" That the committee finds t'j?at as ther > was no suitable accommodation jn fhe hospital, Dr McGill chose' the lesser' <}£ pwo' ftsiljj,'* ftoth amendments rejected. At £he Auckland Women's Liberal Reform League 'a re-oltttion was ' passed v condemning in -•■"ere terms the action of the medical """, ■'• : ««i. The reiiolution is to be forautnoriw .^ p g overnme nfc, to Dr warded to ... n unfiral a j McGregor, Inspectors- ■ (> - c Hospital and Charitable Aid A Peculiar Case.—A case 1 of wht»t i appeared to be one of desertion of a child by it 3 mother has ju;-t been reported to the police. On Ojtobtsr Bth an advertisement "ppearc-l in the Star to the following effect.- "Wanted a kind person to take euro of a boy five years of age; L.T., Star Oifice." A Mrs Blake, wife of a labourer, residing at Richmond answered the advertisement and on the 10th instant a young woman called upon Mrs Blake and j made arrangements for her to take in a little boy, Mrs Blake to receive 5s per week. ' Tho woman said she was employed as a -"lid at Riccarton. On ths evening houseii. ' - *--nok the boy to Mrs Blake, of the 11th sue . ' *o take him in, as but the hitter refused . " to her husband refused to give fun v, *'*+- the arrangement. The child was then ii.. by the woman with some boys named Partridge, as she said he was too tired to walk back. Two days Liter Mm received a letter from tho woman, in which the writer said she would call oarly in tho week and see about the child, but the woman has not been seen since by Mrs Partridge, and a search at Riccarton for

her was fruitless. She is a young woman 2;i or 2i years of age. about sft Sin in height, slightly built, dark hair, and was dressed in a dark dresß and light straw hat. The boy iB about 'S\ years old.—Press. If you DON'T want to enjoy life DON'T get one of Begg & Co.'s Exhibition model piauod.

Postponed Sale.—-The sale of Mr A; S. Jenkins' stock of saddlery, etc., at Temuka is postponed until Wednesday next. Temuka Road Board. —The monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board, which was to have been held on Tuesday, lapsed for want of a quorum, there being only two members in attendance. Cheap Money Scheme. —Mr Stafford is to be solijitor at Wellington under the cheap money scheme, and Messrs Loughrey and Lane in Christchuroh. Mr Carswell, Invercargill, is to be one of the South Island valuers. Maori Assistants. —ln Hastings, Hawkes's Bay, several Maori boys may be seen as assistants in tradesmen's shops, etc. The idea started with some of the boys at Te Aute College, who conceived the idea of learning a trade. Missing.—At Invercargill anxiety is felt for the safety of the cutters Anna and Pride of the Ocean, which left for a sealing cruise at the southern islands when the open season was proclaimed. Both are considerably overdue. County Election.—Candidates for the three vacant seats on the Geraldine County Council must be nominated before noon to-morrow. Mr F. Archer will receive the nominations for the Temuka riding, Mr W. Shiers those for the Geraldine riding, and Mr D. MacFarlane those for the Mount Peel riding. Complaining Special Settlers.—The Reform Special Settlement Association at Masterton are indignant because the Lands Department is demanding two half-yearly instalments of rent, and threatening forfeiture of the land if the condition is not complied with by the end of the year. The settlers hold that no rent is yet due, and have drawn up a petition to the Minister of Lands Betting forth their view of the matter. The Scarlet Fever Case.—The Board of Health, Wellington, presided over by the Colonial Secretary, had under consideration the circumstances connected with the case of the steward of. the steamer Gothic, who is alleged to have developed scarlet fever on the voyage to Wellington, the case not having been reported. Captain Kidley will be prosecuted lor a breach of the Public Health Act in neglecting to report to the Health Offieer at Wellington that the man was ill. Wood Pavements. The Government are calling for 100,000 feet each of rimu, red birch, matai, kauri, and silver pine for shipment to England. They will make all arrangements, and Mr Freyburg will take charge of the timber in England and conduct sales there as the object is to ascertain whether a trade can be made profitable. Prices must not be excessive. Westland millers have agreed to find 100,000 feet. In a circular issued by the Government to timber traders, they are given fourteen days for reply. The date on which timber is to be delivered must be stated. It is desired to take immediate advantage of the demand ior paving timber. It is anticipated that there may be some difficulty in the way of obtaining freight space, but it is hoped that this may be overcome. Home Lessons.—At the last meeting of the Timaru School Committee Mr Keith drew pointed attention to the report on the Temuka school, as showing a direct bearing on " home lessons." In Temuka, with the exception of one or two of the higher standards taking secondary work, there were no home lessons, and yet the school passed 92 per cent, the highest in this district. This pass was only 2 per cent lower than the school had passed last year, the slight reduction being attributed to the severe test this year in 'Spelling and arithmetic. With this bright example, with the system of practically no hoftie lessons in a school so fully exemplified as in the Temuka case, he thought that they should get the headmaster to try the same system in Timaru. At Temuka the head master had his reputation and profession at stake, and on his own motion had shown that bis system was a decided success. Mr Keith said that as the mover some months ego when the question of " home lessons " was before them, was his excuse for referring to the success of the Temuka system now.

Levels Counts Council.—The first meeting of the Level 9 County Council was held at Tiraaru ou Tuesday. PresentMessrs Geo. Butler, John Campbell, Jag. King-, Alex Mee, Chas. N. Or bell, Alex Pringle, and M. Quinn. Mr Orbell was elected chairman. The Bank of New Zealand was appointed the council's bank, and Mr White legal adviser. As the council haß no funds as yet, and the road board is not yet defunct, although it cannot undertake any new works, it was resolved to get it to hand over to the council the funds standing to its credit, the council giving an indemnity against any vexatious action. It was decided to get up a petition for the merging of the road board in the council. It was decided to get legal advice as to whether the Levels County Has been cut out of the Timaru harbor district as well as the Timaru hospital district. It was resolved that tenders be called for supply of dog-collars; that G. Crozier be retained as ranger for the Seadown waterrace; that applications be invited for making the valuations in the county, to be in by the 14th instant; that the ordinary meetings be held on the first Wednesday in each month,- that the chairman take the solicitor's advice before paying the Charitable Aid Board's demand. The chairman was authorised to try and arrange lor an overdraft. J. Davis' tender (£66 5s 6d) was accepted for shingling and formation of Milford and Seadown roads. Some discussion took place on the damage done by traction engines, and it was suggested that a license tax should be put on them but nothing was done. Supreme Court,—At Dunedin Thomas Pepperill pleaded guilty to a forgery, and was sentensed to two years. John James Duke, 16 years, pleaded guilty to assault with intent on a girl under 12; and was sentenced to one months' imprisonment and a flogging of ten strokes. James Cooper, f jund guilty of violent assault on a woman in a brothel, was sentenced to hard labor for three years. William Spedding, charged with attempted housebreaking, was acquitted. When William Edward Ilaalon, charged with counterfeiting an Imperial stamp, was called, there was no appearance, and bail £IOO was estreated... It )% understood that Hanlon has got away in the Afawa for Francisco. Mr Justice Williams issued a bench warrant for Hanlon's arrest. In the case of James McDowall, charged with felonious assault on a jountf woman near Mataura, the jury were unable to agree and were locked up fqr the night. Next day they were discharged, and, after a sscond '•■mriny, James McDowall was acquitted. "J*" K -<-, was convicted of breaking and James ihk. ~.'-ri. and sentence was dechurch, on Tuesday, Mr Justice DeUniStoun suspended for six and nine months respectively the discharges of two bankrupts who had carried on business for a considerable time after they had been practically bankrupt. Ho. refused the discharge of a third bankrupt whose father had shortly before the bankruptcy taken possession of a number of sheep and lamb* which his son had obtained from him, partly in satisfaction of a debt eleven years old and partly because they had not been paid for. His Honor remarked that it wan of no use for bankrupt to apply for ' '- discharge until the sheep were where m 0 . ■ LI " ought to bo—At; Auckland, they ■*~Mvof, was charged Samud Pierce, ca- - »»ioUtfht in with manslaughter. The jur> . a verdict of " Guilty," with a strong ru commendation to mercy. The accused was sentenced to one week's imprisonment, and as the sentence took effect from the opening of the session the prisoner was discharged from custody. Thomas Young, aged 10, was charged with indecnt assault upon a child six years of age. It was shown that he had been a lunatic when ho committed tho offence, and he was sentenced to incarceration in the Lunatic Asylum pending tho Colonial Secretary's pleasure,

Explosive Fog Signals.—The Hon. Mr Cadman is being urged by an English firm to adopt an explosive apparatus for fog signals instead of the expensive syren system. It is claimed that loud detonations can be heard at a great distance and are attended with success where adopted. Cotton powder is used for the purpose. Lectube. —We again remind those interested that the Rev. George Barclay lectures at the Volunteer Hall, Oeraldine, to-morrow (Friday) evening on " Are rational beings confined to this world ?" We can recommend this lecture to any who wish to spend a pleasant evening and learn something about other worlds that they probably know nothing of. Cheap Coffee. The Wellington benevolent trustees have received a letter from the private secretary to the Governor, stating that during Lord Glasgow's visit to Baratonga he was presented with a large quantity of coffee, more than he is ever likely to use, and offering the trustees the option of taking one or two sacks (1201 b in each sack) on payment of the duty of 3d per lb. The coffee is at present in bond. Stolen Sheep.—At the Police Court, Temuka, yesterday, before Mr J. M. Twomey, J.P., James Henry Webb Robinson was charged on the information 6f Constable Burke with having stolen 100 merino ewes and. 75 lambs of the value of £43. It appears that the sheep were found in a paddock belonging to the prisoner,who is a small settler in the Rangitata district. On the application of the police the prisoner was remanded for a week, bail being allowed, himself in £IOO, and two sureties of £SO each. The D.I.O.—At the annual meeting of the D.1.C., Dunedin, Mx B. Hallenstein, who presided, said that the balance-sheet, showing a net profit after making allowances for depreciation, etc., of £269 198, was a reflex of the time of depression through which all parts of the world were passing. He regretted that. this year they would not have to pass the dividend and bonus. They might have paid them by not making a reduction from the stock, but this would have been the first step downhill. The throwing on the market of large drapery stocks from Australia and the winding up of two large firms had compelled the company to sell goods without profit. The report was adopted and the retiring directors re-eleeted. Geraldine Quoits Club. —A meeting of those'interested in the formation of a Quoits Club for Geraldine was held in Mr Mcllroy's Rooms on Monday evening last. About twenty young fellows intimated their willingness to join, and it was ultimately resolved to form a club. The following officers were then elected: — Secretary and treasurer, Mr W. E. Bryant; captain, Mr J. Mcllroy; committee, Messrs Boughton, Beckley, and W. Sherratt. The subscription fee was fixed for la per annum. It was decided to adhere to the Temuka Quoits Club rules as far as practicable. The work of preparing the ground at the rear of Mr Mollroy's house will be gone on with at once. We hope to see many more join the club, as it will be good pastime during the long summer evenings. WOODBUBY WATEB-SUPPLY DISTBICT. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Woodbury Water-supply District was held in the Woodbury schoolroom on December 3rd, at 7.30 p.m., to eieot five members to serve on the committee for the ensuing year, the old committee retiring through effluxion of time. Mr Brown was voted to the chair, and briefly explained than the meeting was called by direction of the Geraldine County Council, and then gave an outline of the past year's work. The following members were then duly elected, viz.:—Messrs J. M. Barker, W. P. Turton, A. McDonald, T. Squire, and H. F. Brown. —The first meeting of the new committee was then held, with all the members present, Mr Brown being chosen chairman for the year. Tenders were then opened for the position of ranger. The first having no signature was informal; the next being that of Mr J. Reilly for £2O per annum was accepted on the understanding that he took charge or all races marked down upon the map, which he agreed to do. It was proposed to send in the specifications of ranger's duties to the council and ask them if they sanction the appointment of Mr Reilly as ranger; that they get their olerk to draw out an agreement, duly stamped, for him to sign and return to the committee. The ranger's last month's salary was passed for payment. This being all the business the meeting terminated. N.Z. Shipping Company.—The twentyfirst annual general meeting of the New Zealand shareholders in the New Zealand Shipping Company was held at Christchurch on Tuesday. Mr H. P. Murray-Ayusley, chairman of directors, presided, and about a dozen directors and shareholders were present. The annual report of the London board stated that the audited accounts for the year ended June 30th showed, after providing for depreciation, insurance, London and colonial oharges, a balance of £22,705 9s 4d, out of which it was proposed to pay a dividend of 4 per cent, free of income tax and to carry forward £4324 6s 2d. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, 1 said that the past year has not been a flourishing one in shipping circles. There had been a falling off of over 370,000 bushels in the export of wheat and grass seed, and also a falling off in frozen meat; while there had been an increase in preserved meats. The company now had 21 steamers, and 29 sailing vessels, against 18 vessels and 37 sailing vessels in 1892-93. On the whole, however, the result of the year's work must be considered satisfactory, as was the increase in the number of items, and on only four was there a loss, the heaviest of which was in the carriage of grain, in which the company was not by any means singular. An order had been given to build another boat as large as the Perthshire, but considerably faster. She would be of 6000 tons and would be capable of earrying 80,000 carcases of frozen mutton and 6000 bales of wool. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Now you've a snug little home of your own, select one of Begg k Co/s Exhibition model pianos. It will only cost you about ninepence a day and be the best investment you ever made.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. H. Toinlinson —Wants a boy, C. Jes»ep—lso acres to let. Mr Wm. McLean, Evangelist —< Will preach at Geraldine. C F.C. Association—Postponement of Mr A. S.. Jenkms' sale. G. Beth.un.e-Has taken over Mr A. S. Jenkins' sadderly business at Temnka, and placed it under able management; firstclas3 assortment of saddlery kept.