LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1472, 25 February 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Geraldine School Committee 1 . The ordinary monthly meeting of this Committee takes place to-morrow evening at half-past seven.

The Wool Season.—There were received by rail at Timaru up to the 201 It ins*. 16,785 bales of wool, and by road 5052, making a grand total of 21,837 bales.

Tbmuea Rifles. —Members of tins corps are requested to parade at the Volunteer Hall at 11 o’clock this morning, in drill order, for the purpose of proceeding, to 'I imam to take part in the Volunteer Review at that place. Lecture. —The Rev. Goo. Barclay will deliver another of his interesting lectures in the Presbyterian Sabbath Schoolroom, Geraldine, on Sunday evening next. Ihe sublet will be “The New World and the Old; or, What Christianity has been doing for Society.” The lecture will, we are cure, be a very interesting one, and should be well attended.

A Heavy Life. The late General Scralchley, it is slated, suffered from weakness of the heart, and had a presentiment that he would not return alive from New Guinea. His life was insured for £7500 in the Australian Mutual Provident Society. He was considered by the office to be a firstclaps life in every respect, and was allowed (o proceed to New Guinea on paying the usual extra premium for the special risk. Welcome Retreat Lodge, Geraldine. —At the weekly meeting of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, 1.0.G.T., Geraldine, on Mondav^jgb.i r P"'-.V. Wiauiifc!:. .0.T., presided. One candidate was proposed and initiated. Correspondence received was dealt with. Some matters had to stand over in order that the Degree meeting could be held at the appointed time. ;Bro, T. Sherratt, Degree Templar, opened the Lodge and presided whilst certain Brethren received degrees, after which the Lodge was closed in due form.

Tenders. —By an advertisement in another column, the architect, Mr D. McKenzie, invites tenders for the erection, of a dnllshed and Volunteer Hall for the Geraldine Rifle Corps. Tenders close on Wednesday next at 6 p.m. The hall will be built on part of the Pound Reserve, opposite Mr Pearpoint’s store, which has been set aside by the Government for the purpose. In addition to fulfilling the chief purpose for which it is being built, it will also supply the township with a public hall of such dimensions as will suffice for many years to come. Fire Brigade for Geraldine.—ln our advertising columns Mr R. H. Pearpoint, Chairman of the Geraldine Town Board, convenes a public meeting of those interested in the formation of a Fire Brigade. The Town Board have collected all available information on the subject, and it will be laid before the meeting. It is hoped there will be a good representative meeting of the ratepayers so that the matter can be well discussed. The meeting will take place on Saturday evening at eight o’clock. The Depression. —Dion Boucicault, in the account be publishes in the Auckland Star of his voyage from Auckland to San Francisco, givrs the views of an acute American Judge on our depression and our prospects, and they ate worth quoting as reporting a more sanguine view of the question than we are wont to take. Boucicault and the judge were standing looking at the receding shores of Auckland, when the judge says: “ Wall, I guess I’ve looked ’em over,” reducing his eyes to a focus as he swept the horizon, seemingly to regard New Zealand as if it were a parcel of goods he was likely to buy. “ Natur’, sir, has been gen’rous round here ! I make no account of their gold or silver, but here’s nigh on 3000 miles of coast, and there’s not a quarter section in the islands that lies more than 60 miles from a port. There’s mountains of fair coal and useful minerals. There’s as rich a sile as man needs to turn over; plenty of wood and water, and a climate as the white man thrives in. It is goin’ to be the maritime boss of this side of creation —you may bet your sweet life on that! Yes, sir, that’s what’s the matter with New Zealand. Ef I’d ha’seen it before I’d ha’ liked to have a hack at it myself.” I ventured to observe that a general impression prevailed about the Colony having gone 100 fast ahead, and general depression was the consequence of a too rapid development. Naturally, quite so ” replied my fellow traveller. “ Hoopin’ cough, measles, mumps, and other complaints growin’ kids are bound te have. The States had ’em all bad. It is all along of growin’.”

Otago Etjnholdbrs and the Depression —The Hon Mr Ballance was interviewed on Monday at Dunedin by a deputation o£ runholder?, requesting a reduction of the rents on pastoral rune, which they asked for on the ground that since 1882 there had been a fall of about 32 per cent in the price of wool, and stock had also declined. Mr Ballance said the question was a serious one financially, as it meant an addition to the property tax and must be looked on in that light. The amount of money Government were now receiving from the rents of pastoral runs wns about £200,000 a year, and it must be apparent that any considerable reduction might mean a loss of £50,000 or £IOO,OOO, and in the present slate of the finances of the colony that would impose the necessity of further taxation. He questioned whether pastoral tenants had any more right to ask for a modification of their contract than those who had purchased land far cash in 1882, and who had also suffered from the fall in the price of staple products. If the Government made concessions to pastoral tenants, it followed that they must make concessions to other tenants who were suffering from the same causes. He would like to know if the price of wool had gone up instead of down would more rent have been offered? The deputation stated (hat if the price of wool had risen and then fallen they would not have been there, but there had been a continuous fall since the leases were taken up. If the present rents were continued the runs would have to be given up, but runholders did not wish to go to that extent, but to retain their runs if possible. Mr Ballance said the matter must come before Parliament. He would lay it before the Cabinet if possible before rent day, March 14lh. Woodbury School Committee. • A. special meeting of this Committee was held in the schoolroom on Monday, February 22nd. Present—Messrs Dean (Chairman), Platman, Hammond, and McKenzie. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education re election of members to fill the ordinary vacancy on the Board. Resolved—“ That the Committee vote for the Rev, George Barclay, and Messrs G. W. Goldsmith and John Jackson.” For the extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr G. Gray Russell, the Committee were unanimous in voting for the Rey.

Jasper Srnythe. From llie Board oj Education, intimating that the sum of £7 9s 4d had been placed in the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the Committee for incidentals for the quarter ending March Slfct, 1886. From the Head Master, making application for two desks and one black-board for the use of the school, also for cords for mistress’ room windows, also for’some better mode of opening the windows of tho school than the present one. Resolved- That the Chairman write to the Board for the articles required.” From Mr Joseph Reilly and others petitioning the Committee for the use of the Schoolroom for two hours. After some discussion tho Committee decided tc offer the use of the room for five shillings, on condition that there be no disarrangement of the school furniture, and that the room be left clean. After the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting terminated, A Lady’s Wish.- “Oh, how I do wish n y skin was as clear and as soft as yours !” said n lady to a friend. “ You can easily rouks it bo,” answered the friend. “ How ?” inquired the first, lady. "By using Dr S rule’s Hop Bitters, that makes pure rioh blood and blooming health. It did it for me, as you observe ” Read Advt. Holloway's Ointmbnt and Film,—Old sores, Wounds, and Ulcers. —The readiness with which Holloway’s unguent removes all obstructions in tho circulation of the vessels and lymphatics explains their irros stable influence in healing old sores, bad wound* and indolent sores. To insure tho desired effect the skin surrounding the diseased part should bo fomented, dried, and immediately well :übbed with Ointment, This will give purity to the foul blood, and strength to the weakened nerve, the only conditions sjoensary for the euro of a]L tb.GSS ulcerations which renderJifp almost intolerable. No sooner 75 this Ointment’s protective powers exerted than the destruotivj process ceases, and the constructive business begins—new, healthy growth appears to fill Up tho lately painful excavated pits.

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS.

M.Y., Post Office, Geraldine—Wants a strong girl at once. Lecture —By the Rev. Geo. Barclay at Geraldine on Sunday evening next.

Temuka Road Board—lnvite tenders for repairs to the Temuka Bridge. Public Meeting—At Geraldine on Saturday evening re Fire Brigade.

D. McKenzie —Invites tenders for the erection of a drillshed and Volunteer Hall in Geraldine. B. Hammond—Announces that he intends to apply to the Geraldine County Council for a slaughter bouse license for section 3929, Rhubarb Flat.

Higgins and Tomlinson, Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights, Temuka Notify that they have taken taken, over the business so long carried on by Messrs Niohol Bros., and solicit a share of public support. They are prepared to shoe horses at the rate of ss, 6s, and 7>, per set.