LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1466, 11 February 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Postponed.— -The public meeting conn net! for to-morrow evening in the Teinuka Volunteer Hall, to consider “ the recent action of the police,” has been postponed. Trial of 3hbep Dogs. — A trial of sheep doge will take place at Uakateramea on the 12th March. There will be two classes, viz., “ Heading dogs ” and “ Huntaw lys.”

Property Assessment. —The state tnenls of rallies of properties under “ The Property Assessment Act 1885,” and “ The Rating Act 1882,” section 3, for the Geraldine Road end Town Districts, Temuka Road and Town District, and Mount Peel Road Board District are now open for public inspection at the offices of the local bodies for the above districts. Persons objecting to the valuations are reminded that the last, day for rending in objection is the 20tb February. Thb Wbathbb. —The spell of very dry weather which has been experienced for the pest few weeks was broken on Tuesday evening by a very refreshing shower, whieh commenced about seven o’clock an i lusted till some time after midnight. I', should have most beneficial effects upon the grass, which was becoming very dry and scant. The wells in Geraldine, with the exception of a few, were fast drying up, but as there is now a good stream in the Wnihi river it will doubtless have the effect of raising the underground current and bring a fresh supply of water into the wells.

Temuia Butter and Cheese Factokv, —The usual monthly mealing of the Directors of the above Factory was held yesterday. Present—Messrs Guild (Chairman), Gray, Grant, Austin, Barker, and Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported that he had received for the past month 21,198 gallons of milt, for which be had paid £3Ol 3s Bd. A letter from the Australian firm who has purchased the season’s make of cheese was read, expresdng entire satisfaction with its quality. Accounts to the amount of £B4 13s 2d were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.

An Opponent op Higher Education.— Daring the debate on religious instruction in schools at the meeting of the Anglican General Synod, Mr A. Boardman, in the course of his remarks, referred to the fact that he noticed in the examination papers of the Auckland Girls’ High School that the girls there were being taught geometry, trigonometry, algebra, etc. If he were a young man he would much prefer a young woman who could wash his clothes and cook his dinner to one who could only tell him what the binomial theory was and not do household duties. This rally wa» received with cheers and laughter. Proposed New Cable. The AgentGeneral has cabled that he has two offers, and expects a third, for making and laying a cable between Australia and New Zealand along the existing route. The lowest tender is under one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. The intelligence has been cabled to the Postmauter-General of New South Wales, with the inquiry if he would be prepared to entertain it. The Cable Company, the AgentGeneral adds, received for the carriage of messages from New Zealand to Australia, on account, of the New Zealand and Australian Cable —irrespective of payments for transmission beyond Australia—during 1885, ten thousand six hundred pounds, and probably an equal amount for the use of the cable from Australia to New Zealand, besides the subsidy of seven thousand fiye hundred pounds. What was it ?—The Star reporters on the search expedition for the derelict, whale, or island, seen by Captain Sarory of the schooner Herald, telegraph that the lighthouse-keeper at Cape Maria was strongly of opinion that an object seen floating forwards and backwards past the lighthouse on three days, wss a large vessel bottom-up, but they could not launch the boat. The search expedition discovered a whale about sixty feet long, floating, partly devoured by sharks and other fish. They a’so found a quantity of wreckage. The object seen by Captain Savory and the lighthouse-keeper was probably a whale, but it is just possible that them was a wreck as well as the whale. There is no sign, however, of any vessel such as was described. Surprise is expressed that Captain Si.vory did not at the time determine this m itter by approaching the object. His theory about a new island is of course shown to be nonsense.

The Anglican Synod.— ln the Synod, at Auckland, on Monday, the Primate, replying to a question by the Dean of Chris'church, sdd the Archbishop of Canterbury stated there was no vestige of truth m the rumar that he lefuses to receive colonially-ordoined clergy 5 that in fact the number of such clergy had largely increased of late. Of 62 applications since July last, 60 bad been grunted. The Select Committee on the Dunedin pro-cathedral, reported in favor of the scheme, subject to the approval ef the Diocesan Synod. The whole question was referred to the Trustees Committee. A proposal to reduce deacons in tome cases was adjourned. On Tuesday the Committee on Cathedral appointments recommended that a Dean be appointed with the concurrence of the Diocesan Synod or Standing Committee, and until a Dean was appointed the Bi ; hop to be Dean ; the Diocesan Synod to nominate first Canons, subsequently Chapter and 8 anding Committees 5 the Bishop to exact status for the regulation of the Cathedral body. There was a long debate on religious education. The speakers urged the modification of the Education Act. Bishop Helwyn advocated concerted action with the heads of the other religious bodies, which was agreed to.

Conversion of Loans.— The following telegram has been received by the Pre?s Association “ Waiytkba, Feb. 9. Terms will bo announced in London to-night of very large conversion operations in New Zealand loans. The following is an outline of the conditions offered with regard to the various loans For the 1876 consolidated loan the onlion is given to holder* le exchange for a five per cent bond haring six years to run, and then converted into four per cent inscribed stock at 107 for cash hundred, or they may take 106 inscribed stock for cash hundred immediately. The conversion is open to March 30th. For the five per cent 1863 loan the option is given to take a firs per cent, debenture having six years to run, convertible then into 110 of inscribed stock, or take at once of inscribed stock. For the five per cent 10-40 loan holders are offered 102 of inscribed stock. For the five percent 1370 loan they are offered 103. For sundry 6 per cent debentures they are offered 109 of inscribed stock. For the 4i five-thirties, 101 is offered as an alternative to being paid in cash. Excepting for this last, and for the consolidated, the options are lo be declared by April 30tb. The varied terms, of course, depend upon the different rates of interest the converted bonds bear, and upon the currency of the debentures in every case. The terms are so fixed that the annual charge will be much loss, including provision being made for extingmsning the premium. Some of the debentures havela sinking fund of f om one to two per cent. The conversions are being made by the Bank of England, instructed by the Loan Agents. The terms have been the übjeot of much careful consideration. Signed) Jtlirs Vogel."

J hk Wool Season.— There were received by rail at Timaru tip to the 6th instant 1*5,593 bales of wool, and by road 4937 bales, making a grand total of 20,530 bales. This shows an increase of 465 bales as compared with the corresponding date last year. Bad Milk.—Mr J. S. Beswiok, R.M., attempted to perpetrate a joke yesterday on the Baneh. It was his first attempt, so far as we rerasmber, and was not over suoceisful. It happened like this: Mr and Mrs Davis swore that the milk given by the cow they had received from Mr Meyer was useless. They fried to make butter, but it whs no good for that; and they sent it to the factory, but it would not be taken there. Mr Beewick said that he supposed when they failed in making any other use of it they tried the factory. The bar, who wished to express appreciation of the Magistrate’s wit, smiled—it was etiquette, perhaps, to do so—but no one else did.

Outwitted. The Wairarapa Daily relates the following as a joke A parly of amateur sporting men came back to Mastutoo on Monday evening from the races, stone broke. They bad fared ill in their tips on the various events in the earlier part of the day, but thought they would retrieve their forttne on the final hack race. Scraps, they were told, would win if not over weighted. Anxiously they watched to see who would ride this celebrated horse, and when they saw a lOst jock climb into the riddle they put in (heir little all against Scraps. Their feelings can be imagined when a minute or two later at the starting post the 10st jock slippe 1 out of Scraps’ saddle and a 6st infant stepped into it. When this party reached Masterton it] had not sufficient coin left to invest in a consolation liquor. JLO.G.T.—The weekly meeting of the Geraldine Welcome Retreat Lodge, No. 44, took place on Monday evening, lha W.C,T. opened the Lodge in the usual manner. Two candidates were elected and one brother was reobligatod. Correspondenee was read From the Peel Forest Lodge re expanses of picnic. The Secretary was instructed to forward the acaouats with a copy of the letter from the Peel Forest Lodge to Bro. W. E. Barker for explanation. Bro. T. Sherratt, reported having received the password for the current term, also quarterly return forms, which were directed to be filled m and forwarded to the Grand Lodge at once. The W.O.T. enquired if the Lodge was prepared to enforce section 3 of by-law re fines. It was proposed and carried —“ That by-law No. 3be suspended for three weeks, and the W.C.T. to read over every Lodge night for that period sections 1 to 17 of the by-laws.’ 1 The valuation of the Lodge’s real property was received from the Town Board, and it wss resolved that an objection bo lodged asking for a reduction of £SO. Accounts to the amount of £7 4j Sd were examined and passed for payment. The W.O.T. appointed the following Committees:— Sick Committee, Sisters E. Fronting, F. Maslin, E. Fleming, and Bros. E. Prouting, W. G. Sherratt, and J. Brown. Finance Committee, Bros. A. Godfrey, J. Rennie, and C, E. Sherratt. Room Committee, Bros. J. Brown, J. Quinn, and W. G. Sherratt, Visiting Committee, Sister E. Flouting, Bros. G. H. Patrick and T. Sherratt, other Committers were appointed to d 0 special work affecting the welfare of the Lodge. It was resolved that a Degree meeting be held on Monday 22nd February, and after a quantity of other business had been transacted, the Lodge was closed by the W.O.T. in due form.

Bowibd Opt, — Cope, the Maori, got “ bowled out ”in Court yesterday. The circumstances which led to his appearing there at all arose as follows: —A young Maori from the South came to this district some time ago, represented himself as a commercial traveller, spent money freely, and issued cheques wholesale. It w.ts found that the cheques were valueless, and the consequence wee that he was on the point of getting into trouble, when Cope took him in hand and got him out of the scrape. Amongst other liabilities in which he involved himself was the hire of a horse and buggy. He hired the buggv from Mr Lukey in Timaru, fame out to Ternuka, went to the Maori Pah, and telegraphed to Mr Lukey to come out for the buggy. Mr Lukey came out, but Salomon had no money to pay, and it was then that Cope became responsible for the £2. Cope gays he only promised to pay it in the erect of Solomon's people paying him, but Mr Lukey produced an 1.0. U., which ho said he saw Copeeign. Oopa denied that he ever signed it, and swore that it was not bis signature—and it looked like a cas i of mistaken identity until Mr losswill asked Cope to sign a paper in Court, is soon as the signature to the 1.0. U. and the signature made in Court by Cope were placed side by side before Mr Beswick he smiled, and said it was evident the same man wrote both. Mr Aspinall, who appeared for Cope, rose to speak, but Mr Beswick told him that nothing he could say cou’d alter his decision. He was quite satisfied that Cope wrote the two signatures, but at the same lime he did not deem it advisable to direct that be should be prosecuted for perjury. Mr Tosswill, on behalf of Mr Lukey, said the plaintiff had no desire that such a step should be taken, and the matter dropped. " Rough oh Ratb."— Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gopher#. Druggist#. Komplhorne, Prosser A (in,, Agents, Ohriitnburoh.