LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1439, 10 December 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Blub Ribbon Meeting at Winohkstbb, —A Blue Rihbon Meeting takes place in the schoolroom, Winchester, to-night. Proceeding wiil commence at half putt seven.

Geraldine Flobal and Horticultural bit. — A meetme of the Commi tee of the above socir-tv will be held this evening in the Secretary’s office at half past seven.

A Valuable Cargo. —The s.s. Mararoa lett Auckland yesterday foi San Francisco with the Homeward mails. • She tnok £56,000 worth of bullion shipped by ihe Bins of New Zealand, and L 25,000 shipped by the National Bank,

Distribution of Prizes. — This afternoon the annual distribution of prizes at the I'emuka District. High School will lake place, the Hon. W. Rolieston having kindly consented to be the distributor. Parents and friends of the school children are invited to be present. Return of an Old Colonist.— lt is with much pleasure we learn that Mr and Mrs Postlethwaite returned to New Zealand by ihe Ruapehu, which arrived at Dunedin last Monday morning. They came up by the express train on Monday, and reached home the same evening. Entertainment at Temuka.—The annual enlerlainment given by the pupils of the Sisters of St. Joseph School, Teinnka, in aid of the Catholic School, takes place in the Volunteer Hall on Wednesday evening next, the 16th instant. It will consist of songs, duets, dialogues, recitations, a drama, etc., and should prove the best given in Temuka for some time.

The S.O. Caledonian Society’s Scholarship.—Master Chas. Collins, a pupil in ihe Timaru Public School, was the successful competitor for the South Canterbury Caledonian Society’s scholarship. Its value is £l2 and should the winner go to ihe Timaru High School he will receive free tuition for a certain period. Sixteen competed for the scholarship.

Area of New Zealand,— The New Zealand landed estate is thus summed up ; “ The total area of New Zealand is upwards of 66,000,0u0 acres. Of this 18,000,000 have been sold and disposed of in education and other public reserves ; 14,000,000 belong to the aboriginal*, or to Europeans who have purchased from them ; and 34,000,000 acre? of Crown lands still remain for disposal. Of the latter, 15,000,000 are open grars or fern country, 10,000,0 iO forest, and 9,000,000 of barren mountain lops, lakes and worthless country.”.

Small Birds’ Nuisance.— Yesterday afternoon we were shown a paddock of early barley by Mt Wheelband. The paddock contains close on three acres, and as it tipened every grain of it was picked out by small birds. No one who has not seen it could believe they could make such a clean job of it. In the whole paddock there is not to be seen as much as one stalk with one grain ou it, with the exception of a few green patches which are not yet fit for the birds to operate upon. When such is the case we think that very decided steps ought to be taken to'tenninate this pest.

Open Aib Concert. —Residents in Tetnuka will be pleased to hear that this evening the Volunteeer Bras* Bind purpose giving an Oi'en air concert on the vacant piece of ground at the list end of Commercial street, 'the following si-lections will be played: “King Chr stmas,” “Dear Little Heart,” "L» Passirelle,” “ A 1.,” “ Bobbie Burns,” “ Litrle Brunswick*,” “ Sever Slop,” and “ God savQueen.” During the last few months the Vl embers of the band have been deycting themselves to . hard practice, and the effects are most marked. I hei* playing has improved in every respect, and should they progress in the future as they have dune of 1 ite the band will soon be the best in Canterbury. Presbyterian Sunday School Treat. - As w« notified in our last issue, the annual gathering of the Sunday Schools in connection with the Presbyterian Church in the Geraldine district will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16ih, on the grounds of the Geraldine Pint School, near Mr D. Shaw’s. The grounds have been kindly granted for the occasion, and to do away with any inconvenience which might arise to the townspeople and their families by having to go so far from honm the management have made arraagementi for conveyances to run to the grounds free of charge, A cordial invitation is given to friend*, and we hope to see the same suscess attend the.gathering which has characterised it ia former years.

Txmahu High School.—The Hon. W. Roileslon will distribute the prizes at the Timuru High School on Friday next at 2 p.m., and deliver a speech on Education. Auction Sale, —On Saturday next Messrs J. Mundcll and Co., will hold a sale of potatoes, flour, hams and bacon, oats, and a quantity of furniture. The sale will commence at 10 o’clock. Wk-leyan Gift Auction at Temuka. The members of the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, intend holding a gift auction on Saturday next in order to extinguish their circuit debt. Mr K, F. has kindly consented to auction the goods in his yards at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, in the Volunteer Hall at 8 o’clock in the evening. Fiee at Ashburton.—-A few minutes after three o’clock yesterday morning, we learn from the Guardian, the eastern fire bell rang out an alarm, and it was discovered that the house of Mr Stigley, Hamstead, was in flames, 'The Volunteer Fire Brigade was provhptly at the scene of the conflagration, but too late to render any material assistance, the bu Idmg being almost levelled to the ground before the alarm was given. It is supposed that the fire arose from a spark falling on some kerosene, which was spilt, on the floor of one of the rooms by the explosion of a lamp the previous evening. Nothing was saved from the building, and the occupants barely escaped in their night attire. Insurance —£lso, in the London, Liverpool and Globe office.

A Rough Passage.— The ship Westland, Captain McWilliams, 94 days from London, arrived «t Port Chalmers yesterdsy. She brings 22 passengers, 1900 •one cargo, and 900 packages gunpowder. The passengers presented Captain McWilliams with a very flittering testimonial. He reports on September 10th at 8 p.m. the Stilly Islands bore N.W., distant 30 miles, the barometer showing 29.6, and steady rising wind at S.E., and at 8.30 p.m. it chopped into N.N. V., blowing a furious hurricane, and carrying away her upper maintopsail, foretopn ast staysails, lower tnizei. topsail, and splitting the foresail into ribbons She was compelled to heave-ti on the starboard tack under the two lower topsails, and the sea breaking on hoard completely flooded her decks. The gale moderated at 4 a.m. next day.

Crown Lands Sale.— A sale ot town sections and suburban land was by Mr W. Kitson, Assistant Chief Surveyor, ■■t the Comthouse, Geraldine, yesterday. There was but a smnl! attendance of buyers, and only five sections were sold. Mr C. Ramble bought se*ton 106 at the upset p ice of £J6 4s, and section 109 at the upset price of £ls 6s ;M> J. Cunningham bought section 110 at £l4 10s, or£l over the upset price—and secdnn 111 at the upset price of £l4 2s; Mr N. Sims bought section 344 at the upset pride of £l3 10', Twelve other sections were put up at the upset price of £l2 each, but no bids were received for them. There weie | also two sections at £lO 16s and one at £ls 61 put up, but there were no buyers. All these were town sections. The following suburban sections were offered at the following prices, but they were not bought No. 83a 3r, upset price £37 10s; No, 10 5a lr 27p, upset price £54 3s 9d ; No. 11 2a lr 34p, £24 12s 6 1 ; No. 12 5a lr 17p, upset price £53 11a 3d. Land Settlement.— The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says :—“I learn that in addition to the small grazing runs Otago now advertised in the Gazette, the Land Department is about to open up similar runs in several parts of the Wellington, Wanganui, Hawkea Bay, and Auckland districts—about 15,000 acres ia each district. I understand that (he next pastoral run to be thus dealt with in Otago will be known as the Deep Dell run of the New Zealand Land Company, It is also intended to throw open as soon as possible an area of about 1200 acres in Canterbury on the “small area” system. The land to be offered is situated about six miles from Oxford, on Mr Gorton’s run, and it is now being surveyed into 50-acre allotments, to be occupied on the perpetual leasing plan without the rightf o purchase. The hind is said to be very good, and watered by the Eyre Creek water-race, recently constructed by the Oxford Road Board. It is expected that this land will be declared open for selection early in March next.” Timaeu School Committee.—At Monday’s meeting of the Timaru School Committee the report of the aub-Committee appointed to enquire into the advisability of (•aching the boys and girls in the sth and 6th standards together was read,as was also ce from Dr W. J. Anderson, the Inspector of Schools for the Board of Education, Both reports were in favor of the present arrangement—h"lding that better results were likely to be attained at. the expense of less teaching power than would be po*uble were the sexes separated. The reports caused considerable discussion, in the course of which, in reply to questions, the Bead Master said there were only one or. two large schools to his knowledge in which the sexes were divided ; and although the Normal School had the same number of children attending it as this school, it required more teachers as the sexes were divided there. Ultimately it was resolved—" That the Seoretuiy be instructed to write to the Board of Education asking for increased teaching oower in order that the Fifth and Sixth Standards be divided.” A proposal that, the report of the sub-Oommittee should be adopted was negatived.

Thb New Land Act. —The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times states that he has seen the proofs of a book explaining the new Land Act, which isshoit'y to be published by the Govern' menl. He says .*—“ The essential fea'tires of the small grazing rims system are absolute, lease for 21 years, without any right of determination on the pait of the Ooveanmeul full valuation for improvements at the end of lease, right to cultivate the land in addition to the exclusive right of pasturage ; no right of purchase of any part of the l«nd in the Act, but the right to sell the 160 acres around the homestead, through which no road can be taken or other privileges exercised without the payment of compensation to the lessee. The second important point is the provision that small lots not exceeding 50 acres each may be granted on perpetual lease, on application by intending lessee, without ihe necessity of submitting the land to public tender, but no right of purchase to be given. It is pointed out that the “small grazing run” system gives absolute security of tenure, unlike the old ‘ run ’ system, under which a runbolder’e tenure is always somewhat precarious. The Act has also extended very materially the facilities for obtaining agricultural and pastoral lands on settlement conditions, both in respect of increased areas and easier teems of ‘payment."*

lemuka Daibt Faotoet.—D urin the month of November 15,638 gallons of milk were received at the Temuka Dairy Factory, for which £213 8s 4d was paid. The supply averaged nearly 600 gallons per diem. Mistaken Identity.—ln June kst an inquest was held on a swagger who had died from taking a vermin biller. The body was at the time supposed to be that of James. Barr, and was so recognised by a person who claimed to be a friend of Barr. A day or two ago the veritable James Barr, on whom the inquest was supposed to have been held, walked into the hotel where it was held, and was recognised. He has, it appears, been living at the Matanra (Otago), and heard nothing of the inquest till recently. There is no clue as to the identity of the body on which the inquest was made.

The Death of Sib Pktee Sceatohley.— A telegram from Sydney states that the death of Sir Peter Scratohley took the community by surprise. It seems that be made a vi,-it to the inte'ior'of New Guinea, 50 miles to Forbes’ camp, and insisted on walking most of the road, which was precipitous. He was much fatigued, but still insisted on continuing his progress. His health caused the greatest anxiety to the party, and he was then brought back, and it was determined to proceed at once to Cooktown. There General Scratohley had only strength to whisper to his Secretary instructions for telegrams to bo sent South. The weather was terribly hot, and the General visibly sank and soon collapsed altogether, The body, which was carried to Townsville, was placed in a leaden coffin, and will probably be sent Home for interment. Suitable arrangements will be made at Sydney for the reception of the body.

Geealdine Dairy ' Factory.—The usual monthly meeting of the directors of the above company was in the Secretary’s office on Monday. Present—Mr W. M, Moore (Chairman), Dr Fish, and Messrs N. Dunlop, J. Mundell, L. Grant, and R. Skinner, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman submitted to the meeting a scheme for testing the proportion of solids in the milk with the object of fixing the standard for the directors to receive the milk at the factory. It was unanimously remlved to let the matter stand over until a special meeting of directors to be held on Monday next. Several offers were considered for the season’s cheese, which w.re also defeired. It was restive 1 to procure another milk vat so as to incroass the carrying capacity of the factory to 1,200 gallons, the average daily supply of milk now being 900 gallons. The quantity of milk received during the month was 15,491 ga lons for which a sum of £259 12s was paid.

The New Guinea Exploring Party The geographical party arrived at Melbourne on December 2nd, and were formally welcomed by Sir Hid ward Scriokla-id and others. Captain Everill gave a brief resum6 of the operations of the party. After proceeding up the river they turned into a branch pretty well as wide as the other. This was named the Strickland. They saw numbers of natives further up, but they always fled at, their sight. The natives were anything but friendly, and showed an intention of fighting. They sent a shower of arrows at the steamer, the occupants of which were compelled to fire on them, but none appeared to fall or seemed hurt. The ve-sei remained fast on the river at one time fora fortnight. On one occasion there was an alarm that the steamer was going over, and she had to be lightened. Upon landing the party had to cut there way through the jungle. They journeyed up the river in a whaleboat, reaching a position approximate to that which is the boundary of the British possessions. The eatable food was a species of bread fruit. The natives are a fine race, and have very large noses of a pure type.

Hilton School Committee. The usual monthly meeting of the above Committee was held last Monday evening. Present—Messrs O. G. Bradley (Chairman), Rooke, 0. Leary, and Win. Hide, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were read from the Board of Education, stating that the sum of £lO was granted for a concrete tank, and the Committee would be supplied with a bell and clock on application at the offi'e in Tiraaru. The Master’s monthly repoit was read, and considered very satisfactory. It was resolved that the Inspector be asked to name the two best scholars in each Standard for prizes, and that the Chairman and Mr Taylor obtain the requisite books. It was resolved that the annual treat be held on Wednesday, Dec. 23rd, the Chairman and Mr W. Hide to make all necessary arrangements re treat and sports. Tenders for tank were held over till next meeting, and the meeting then terminated.

Supreme Court, Timaru.— The halfyearly session of the Supreme Court announced to open at Titnatu on Tuesday morning was adjourned. The Registrar (Mr Bloxaiu) opened the Court at 11 a.m. and addressing the Grand Jury said lie was sorry to inform them that in consequence of the sudden death of Mrs Johmton early that morning, His Honor Judge Johnston was not able to preside at the Court. He (the Registrar) would, therefore, adjourn the Court till I p.m, when he hoped to have received a communication from Judge Williams. At one o’clock the Court again met, and the Registrar stated that Judge Williams had replied that he would take the sittings of the Court at Timaru on Monday next, commencing at 11 a.m. The attendance of Grand Jurors would be required on that day, but that of the common jurors then present in Court would not. Common jurors would be paid for the day’s attendance.

Waitohi Flat School Committee.—A meeting of the above Committee was held in Ihe schoolroom on Saturday, Dec. sth. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (Chairman), Moore, Scott, Andrews, Fraser, and T. Talbot. The tninuies of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The monthly report of the Head Teacher was read. It stated the number on the roll to be 70, and the average attendance 46 ; the report also drew attention to ihe want of a window-blind in the infant room, and that reels and cords required fitting to the blinds in the large room. It was resolved that Mr Andrews get. those matters attended to ; also to gat a coat of paint put on the fuel shed, and the water tank cleaned out. It was decided that the school be closed for the Christmas holidays, for one week only, and that the usual custom of giving the general holiday during harvest be again adopted ; the school will ebse from Thursday afternoon, Dec. 24th, and reopen on Monday, the 4th of January. .It was decided that the usual Christmas treat and sports for the children be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29th ; that subscriptions in aid be collected immediately, the Committee to meet again on Wednesday, Dec. 16th, to complete the arrangements ; and that the Chairman forward an iarita* i

tion to the Committee of the Upper Waitohi School to allow the children attending their school to be present and join in (he festivities, Accounts amounting to £ll7s were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. Not a Bbvbbaob. "They ere not b beverage but a medicine, with curative properties of the highest degree, containing so poisonous drugs. They do not pull down an already debilitated system, but build it up. One boitlo contains more real hop strength than a barrel of ordinary beer. Phyeiciaij# prescribe them. Rochester, TJ.S A., Evening Ezprees, on American Hop Bitters. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISE MEN IS. Blue Ribbon—Meeting at Winchester tonight. J. S. Waite—Presbyterian Sunday Schools treat at Geraldine Fiat on the 16'h instant. Volunteer Hall, Temuka—Grand Juvenile Concert in aid of Catholic School on the 16ih instant. J. Mundell and Co—Soil dairy and farm produce, groceries, furniture, etc., on Saturday next. Mich, Mitton—Announces that shearing will commence at Mount Peel station on Dec. 16. Price 15s per 100. West and Barber, Timaru—lnvite tenders for erecting school at Rangitira Valley for S. 0. Board of Education. Tenders close on 16th December next. F. Smith, Photographer, Geraldine— Announces that ha is now visiting the outlying districts, affording settlers the opportunity of getting their homesteads photographed in first-class style and at very low pncps.