The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 408, 5 July 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1881. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Koad Board.—The usual monthly meeting of the Board will be held tu-day, Christchurch Cathedral.— lt is now stated that the Cathedral will not be opened till October nest. The Financial Statement.—The Colonial Treasurer will deliver his Financial Statement to the House to-day. American Independence —Yesterday, 4th July, was the anniversary of the proclamation of American Independence. Female Telegraphists,— At the present time 978 female telegraphists are employed by the Government in Edinburgh and Dublin. Meteor. —A magnificent meteor was observed travelling in the sky with great rapidity from north-east to north-west on Saturday night last about 9 o’clock. It burst with great brilliancy shortly after. Resident Magistrate’s Court. —Owing to there being only one case of assault before the Court yesterday, the Resident Magistrate dealt with the same after the arrival of the express train from the North. Served Him Right. —The Chrischurch Telegraph states that a rumor is current that the editor of a certain Society, Journal not a hundred miles from the Triangle, has been pftched bodily into a water-tank, as a penalty for some alleged insult. An Inhuman Being. —A man has been sent to gaol in Queensland for hacking off the head off a jibbing horse with a chisel This he succeeded in effecting after good deal of trouble, and then completed hiarevenge by eating part of it for supper. The N.Z. Cabinet. —In 1874 the New Zealand Cabinet was composed of nine Ministers, neither of whom held more than two portfolios. At the present time it is composed of five, two of whom (who are both Canterbury members) hold no less than nine portfolios between them. The Courthouse. —The contractors for the additions and alterations to the Courthouse are evidently determined not to let the grass grow under their feet. The work is now well in hand, and in all probability the business ot the Resident Magistrate's Court may be transacted therein on Monday next. A Famous Vagrant.— George Brine, King of the Vagrants, has recently died in the workhouse at Sherborne, Dorsetshire. He boasted that lie had been in every gaol and workhouse in England. Though having been incarcerated more than one hundred times, he .was never convicted either for larceny or felony. Everlasting Boots. —A German inventor proposes to make boots that will never wear out. He mixes with a waterproof glue a suitable quantity of cle m quartz sand, which is spread on the thin leather sole employed as a foundation. These quartz solos are said to be flexible and almost indestructible, while they enable the wearer to walk safely over slippery roads. An Interesting Experiment, The Daily News understands that Mr Fawcett (Postmaster-General, England) intends to make an experiment in the General Postoffice which will be watched with great interest and sympathy by the public. He has decided to give employment to a number of deaf and dumb persona in the department devoted to the sorting of newspapers. Winchester Sale Yards. -Mr Swinton in our advertising columns announces that the Winchester Saleyards recently used by Mr Young will be rebuilt with every appliance necessary for drafting and other purposes. The Yards, as at present, during next Sale day will be free of charge. It ia also Mr Swinton’s intention to throw the new yards open to the public free of all charges. We hope that he will receive » full share of patronage at the hands of auctioneers and others.

Explanation. —The French Government have admitted officially that the searching of the British schooner at Tunii was the result of a misunderstanding, and such a thing would not occur again. Magisterial Business. —Pending the alterations and additions to the Courthouse, the business appertaining to the Resident Magistrate’s office has been temporarily transferred to the Terauka Road Board office. Wesleyan Concert. —ln another column will be found the programme for the Wesleyan entertainment to take place in the Volunteer Hall, to-morrow evening. The proceeds will be devoted to the Parsonage Fund. The success of similar entertainmentsgiven in the district is proverbial, and from the programme before us, which has been carefully compiled, we feel sure those who attend this entertainment will have no reason to regret paying a small sum for a few hours' real enjoyment, A State Constitution. —The Arkansas Legislature has just passed a law making it a misdemeanour to sell in that State a dirk, bowie knife, sword-cane, brass knuckles, or pistols of any kind, except such as are used in the army oi navy. The constitution is of a different character now from what it was a few years ago, when a tourist requested a leading lawyer to show him the State constitution. The legal light pulled out one of the drawers of his desk and produced a bowie knife and a revolver.

Dress Regulations for the New Zealand Artillery.— We clip the following from the Volunteer Service Gazette : “ Members of artillery batteries will be interested in knowing that the debated question of color of the cord on the regimental facings has been, after much debating, definitely settled. That of scarlet—-the eauiaas the British Volunteer Artillery—has been chosen over white and yellow, both of which had their advocates. In connection with this it may be stated that the new dress regulations for the regiments Lave now been issued from the Government press. They are neatly printed—fcap. Bvo size, including a voluminous index, extending to forty-two closely set pages."