LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1516, 8 June 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Member fob the District.—The Hon. W. Rolleston paid Temuka a visit yesterday.

Geraldine Dairy Factory.—On Saturday last the Geraldine Butter and Cheese and Bacon Factory closed for the season. Operations are expected to be resumed in October next. Licensing Committees.—The annual meeting of the Geraldine Licensing Committee takes place to-morrow, the 9th inst., and the annual meeting the Temuka Committee on Thursday. Temuka Rifle*.—The monthly inspection of the above corps took place last evening. There was a very large muster. After the parade they marched through the town, headed by their band playing' appropriate musie.

New Courthouse, Geraldine.—Mr W. Harrell, of the Public Works Department, paid a visit to Geraldine yesterday, and marked out the site for the new Courthouse, a description of which appeared in our issue of the 29th alt. New Buildin«B at Geraldine.—The block of buildings which have recently been erected at the corner of Wilson street and the Main Road, Geraldine, are new completed. When these shops are occupied they will make an agreeable change in the appearance of this portion of the township.. The New Hebrides.—lntelligence was received at Sydney on Sunday from Noumea to the effect that two French men-of-war had left New Caledonia in order to annex the new Hebrides, Great excitement in consequence is stated to prevail among the British residents of New Caledonia. New Justice* of the Peace.—Messrs W. H. Moore, A, H. Brisco, and B, H. Pearpoint were sworn in as Justices of the Peace before H. 0. 8. Baddeley, Esq,, R,M., previous to the sitting of the Court yesterday. The two former gentlemen afterwards took their seals on the Bench for the first time.

R.M. Court, Temuka. The case of Wareing Bros. v. Siegert and Fauvel will be held before J. Ollivier, Esq., R.M., in Temuka, to-morrow. It is expected the c«se will not be over till far into the night, and the Clerk of the Court is making preparations for lighting up the Court.

Rewards. —The Directors of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia, with the consent of Sir G. Whitmore, hare presented Mr Inspector Pender with a cheque for £ls 15s, in recognition of his efforts in connection with the Howard case.—The Ashburton County Coucil, awarded the sum of £2O to the police for discovering a delinquent who had tampered with the sluice boxes at the head works of the water races at Pudding Hill.

Railway Returns,— The following are the railway returns for the four weeks ending May Slat; —North Island : Revenue, £29,1919a 2d ; expenditure, £20,003 6a Bd. Middle Island : Revenue, £72,581 9s 4d ; expenditure, £38,557 6a 9d. For the corresponding period of last year the totals were— Revenue : North Island, £24,159 8a ; Middle Island, £65,900 6s Bd. Expenditure : North Island, £14,753 5s lid ; Middle Island, £35,072 15s 9d.

Apologised. —The case of S. S. Downes (ot the Pier Hotel, Wellington) v. Sir William Fox, claiming £SOOO for alleged libel published in a letter by the latter on March 9th, has been settled by Sir William Fox making an apology. He admits that what ho wrote did not refer to the Pier Hotel, and be states that since bis letter was published he has learnt that Mr Downes’ is one of the beat conducted bouses in the city. Sir William Fox has to pay all costs. Football. —The following team have been chosen to represent the Tetnuka Football Club against theTiraarn Football Club on Thursday next, at Timaru ; Full-back : J. W. Velvin (Captain). Half-bucks : E. S. Smith, R. Smith, and A. Reid. Quarter-backs ; G. Velvin and J. Clinch. Forwards : Harte, Shallard, Ogilvie, Blyth, Stewart, Dyson, Gray, Thomson, and D. Smith. Emergencies : J. McOiiskill and A, Shallard. An express will leave the Royal Hotel at 1.30 p.m. Government Life Insurance Association. —At a well attended meeting of policyholders at Timaru on Saturday evening a resolution was unanimously adopted in favor of Mr Fisher’s proposals for the reconstitution of the Central Board of Directors. Mr Fisher’s proposals are as follow :—" (1) . That the Central Board be reconstituted, and that it consist of 7 members, four to be elected by the policy-holders, and three to be nominated by Government tbe three nominated members not to be officers of tbe Government. (2) That the Board so constituted shall elect its own Chairman. (3) That the honoraria be fixed at £IOO for each member of the Hoard, except the Chairman of Directors, who shall receive £3OO per annum.” The meeting also decided to favor tbe candidature of Mr Shannon for a ■eat on tbe Board.

Sailoes’ Complaints.— The Auckland Bell publishes a statement purporting to be the statement of the four deserters from the American whaling ship Petrel, who complained of the cruelty of the master and mate on the high seas. Their names are Henry Swain, Frederick Oil), Charles Banks, and Henry Kenny, seamen. They allege that the cooper, Wm. Britton, was struck frequently without provocation on the head ann face ; that he was ironed on the hands and legs and tied to the shrouds, and that subsequently he was subjected to various other forms of ill-usage. They allege that Britton was subjected to most disgusting treatment. He got gradually feeble and weak, and died on January 29bh, The following members of the crew are prepared to testify to the illtreatment and assaults upon themselves: —Sam Yeitch, Henry Langham, John Jones, Thomas Cook, Marcus Antonio, Charles Pudinson, Thomas Gtoudon, and Jim, a Fijian. The statement has caused a considerable sensation.

Vegetable Cdeiosity.— The following particulars of that interesting curiosity the awheto, or vegetable caterpillar of the North Island, are given in a northern exchange : —“The phenomenon, when it attains its full size as a caterpillar (two or three inches loag) lies »n a torpid state underground; a fungoid growth then takes root near the head of the insect, ond penetrates the whole length of its body, while the upward end of this growth shoots upward through the soil, and ultimately attains a length of ten or twelve inches, hearing seed like the spores on fern at the extreme end. While the stem is attaining its full size, fed with the substance of the caterpillar’s body, the latter is gradually converted into vegetable fibre of the same nature as the stem, but retaining its form perfectly as a caterpillar. After arriving at maturity this curious link between the animal and vegitable kingdom dies. The substance of the dried specimens in our possession is very much like dried kumera. The awheto is chiefly found in Taupo, we understand.”

Geraldine Road Board.—The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Road Board takes place to-day.

Sale of Skins.—Messrs J. Mundelland Co. hold a sale of skins at their rooms, Geraldine, to-day.

Reward of Bravery.—William Bruc«, a young man who rescued a girl from drowning on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, at Wanganui, has received the Humane Society’s certificate. A Great Oculist and his Patients.— Hundreds of patients suffering from eye disease continue (writes a correspondent of a Homo paper) to come to Meran to seek help from the famous eye physician Prince Carl Theodor of Bavaria. Every day he receives for three or four hours, wlie i anybody may call who suffers from eye disease. He examines and prescribes free of charge for all, and gives the poor besides medicine, eyeglasses, bandages, etc. For patients who require a longer cure the Prince has erected an establishfor clinical treatment, where those who come are cared for and treated free of charge. At n'l great operations, which he performs twice a week, he is assisted by his spouse, bon Princess of Portugal. At a recent operation, for example, she held the patient’s head for (hreo hours, although the blood from the operation saturated her clothing.

The Kekmedecs and Rafa.—The following is the address which is to be moved in the Legislative Council by the Colonial Secretary, and in the House of Representatives by the Premier, respecting the annexation of the Kermedee Iflands “ May it please your Majesty, We, your Majesty’s loyal subjects, the members of the Legislative Council [House of Representatives] of the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, beg to express our great satisfaction on learning that your Majesty has been pleased to order that the British flag shall be hoisted on the Kermedee Group of Islands, and we now respectfully pray that your Majesty will be farther pleased to order that those islands te annexed to this colony.” As to the value of these islands, the Secretary to the Admiralty says : —“ My Lords see no particular objection to the annexation of these islands or isles to New Zealand, if that Government wishes it, but my Lords cannot see any possible use, commercial or military, which they can be to that colony, except, perhaps, for some small and unimportant deposits of guano.” On the other hand, the loss of the chance to secure Rapa is felt to be very unfortunate. It is rumored that His Excellency Sir William Jervois holds strong views on the extreme importance of securing Rapa, the “ Malta of the Pacific.” —Press.

Colonial Loyalty.— >A banquet was given at the , Freemasons’ Tavern, Lon-, don, to Mr R. Murray-Smith, the AgentGeneral of Victoria, on his resignation of office. The gathering was influential and representative. Its character may be inferred from Lord Rosebery’s remark that - u they were met to do honor to a man who in the short space of four years had endeared himself so much to the people of this country that they had given in his honor a banquet such as had been given to few who had spent a lifetime in the public service." The Duke of Cambridge, who was in the chair, proposed the health of Mr Murray-Smith, whose speech in replydosed with the following eloquent passages :—“Our loyalty indeed is of a good antique type, for our thoughts possibly are not so much upon the England ot to-day, with her social troubles and her party strifes, as on the England of story and of song. Our hearts turn to that good old fortress by the river, whose records for good or evil are inextricably interwoven with English history in all times; or to that great city cathedral where the saviours of the silver-coasted isle -Wellington and Nelson—sleep side by side ; or, most of all, to that hallowed Abbey, where rest the bones, or are inscribed the monuments, of those great men, to whose genius, to whose labor and sacrifices we owe so much- of all that makes life worth having. Who is there so dead of soul as not to be moved by these things 1 Who sees them and does not thank God that, Australian, Canadian, South African though he be, be nevertheless is an Englishman t This is the England we love ; we love her for the dangers she has passed. And long may such associations be hallowed in our mind; long may we find in her a just and beneficent parent, and if her evil days should come, which God forbid, may those whose infancy she has protected rise to aid her in their manhood.”

Woodbury School. -The Woodbury School Committee met last Saturday. Present—Messrs Dean (Chairman), Flatman, Middlemiss, Hammond, Heatley, Click, and Scott. The miriutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education, intimating that two desks had been forwarded to the Orari. From the Head Master, Mr Greaves, as follows : “ Sir, —1 wish to mention one or two matters for yonr Committee’s consideration. (1) Our stock of firewood is becoming very low, and will be almost exhausted by the time a new supply can be procured. Considering the advancement of the season, I should think five cords would be sufficient. (2) As the school is now undergoing a thorough overhauling, I would suggest that the desks be planed in order to remove the ink stains and scratches that have accumulated on them in the course of years. lam afraid their present appearance would contrast very unfavorably with the neat look of the interior of the rooms. The desks would require varnishing after removing the surface markings. If this wore done and provision made for banging maps and object cards, the internal arrangements would present a more satisfactory and cheerful aspect than they have previously done. Outside, two things need looking to : these are the pump, and the boy’s urinal, r/ith regard to the latter there is some defect in the ' trough. Two or three pannikins are also required.—l am, etc,, Joseph Greaves.” Proposed by Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Middlemiss— That the Chairman call for tenders for three cords black pine and two cords mixed firewood.” Carried. Proposed by Mr Gick; seconded by Mr Middlemiss —“That the desk question staud over until the Committee aie in funds for that purpose.” Carried. Proposed by Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Scott—“ That the Board of Education be asked for a new pump, and piping ; also, for the sura of 30s, half cost of planing and varnishing desks, etc.”—Carried, Resolved that the pannikins, and some other matters asked for by the Master be seen to, Messrs Heatley and Middlemiss kindly consented to net as Visiting Committee for the ensuing month. One small account was passed and paid viz., £3, and the meeting then terminated.

Couesing.—A meeting of the Timaru Tradesmen’s Coursing Club will taka place at Mr Howell’s Farm, Totara Yalley, on Thursday next. ■ ■ , , , EieotobaX/ Eons,—The Electoral Kolia for the Geraldine, Mount Peel, Temukaj and Levels Ridings are now open for inspection at the respective Road Board offices. All objections must be lodged before the 15th July next. The revision of the Rolls, which was to have taken place at Timaru yesterday, was postponed.

Loed Shaftesbubt’s Suicide.—“ I am no good to anybody, I cannot live any longer. Forgive me.” Such, says the Pall Mall Gazette, was the last recorded utterance of the son of the great Lord‘Shaftesbury, who did good to everybody, and went down to the grave in a ripe old age surrounded by the blessings of millions to whom he had been a blessing. The .pathos of the poor suicide’s confession stands out in startling contrast to the splendour of his father’s services to the world. There are many men, and perhaps even more women, who to-day feel bitterly that they are no good to anybody • but then their sense of uselessness is not deepened by the burden of bearing the name of one of the most useful meri who ever lived.

Waxtohi Flat School Committee.— The monthly meeting of this Committee was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. Present Messrs Fraser (Chairman), Andrews, Scott, Seaton, Johnstone, and Gibbs. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Tlorrespondence was read from Mr Watson, head teacher, re certain repairs that required to be done to bis dwelling-house, and also drawing attention to the irregular attendance of some of the scholars. Also from Mr G. Bolton, Temuka, covering a cheque for £2 for. use of the schoolroom by the Church of England for the twb years ending 31st December last. ' It was resolved that the Chairman 1 and Mr Andrews examine the Master’s house, and take the necessary steps to have the repairs effected ; that the Committee endeavor to induce the offending parents to send their children to school more regularly ; that the school be closed for the midwinter holidays from the 25th June to the sth July ; that Mr Cunningham arrange to have the, pool of water on the play ground drained off, and that Mr Scott procure tvvo cricket bats, a football, and two skipping ropes for the use of the children —these to be charged to the Cricket Club’s funds. It was also resolved that Mrs Watson provide a supply of needles for the use of the girls on sewing days ; the same to be left always in her-charge. This being all the business, the meeting terminated. i

The Pimlico Poisoning Case.—This extraordinary case seems, judging from a paragraph in the Pall Mall Gazette, to have had a curious sequel. Our contemporary says • —“ The seventeen offers of marriage which Mrs Adelaide Bartlett is said to have received during thelast week, including one from a clergyman, merely illustrate and support the argument of Buckle that human actions are as much subject to uniform law as the courses of the stars. Such offers of marriage, always including one from a clergyman, are the invariable" fortune of ladies who are accused of poisoning their husbands or lovers. The ■ number of seventeen has probably been increased tenfold by this time, if we are to judge by the recorded experience of Madeline Smith, the heroine of the great Scotch poisoning case in 1858, That young lady accepted one of her numerous suitors (the clergyman, we. believe), and lives to this day a prosperous gentlewoman in the immediate neighborhood of Bedford square. Let us hope that Mrs Bartlett may be recompensed by a happy union for her past miseries. She has tha matrimonial advantages of some thousands of pounds and a most bewitching pair of eyes. She is also an attentive and experienced sick nurse, whose experiences of the dangers of using chloroform are sufficiently painful io deter her from practising with that drug upon a second husband.

Hilson.— The usually quiet little township of Hilton was on last Saturday morning about 10 o'clock aroused from its lethargy by what at one time threatened to result in a pitched battle. It appears that some time ago Mesa s Siegert and Fauvel bought out the lease and goodwill of the Hilton Store from Messrs Allan and Carter, together with a building erected by the latter firm on the ground. Messrs Siegert and Fauvel decided to give up the Hilton branch business, and as the building referred to was not a fixture, they came to the conclusion 1 of removing it if the owner of the place allowed them no compensation for it. The owner refused to acknowledge their right to it and declined to give a penny for it. In consequence of this, Messrs Siegert and Fauvel despatched Mr H. F. Harte and another of their employees to Hilton with instructions to get assistance to remove the building. On proceeding to carry out his instructions, Mr Harte found himself confronted by a contending force. The owner of the property bad mustered an array to resist the removal of the building, and as Mr Harte, like a good general,' determined on carrying out his instructions, there was for a' time every appearance of a serious conflict. Numerically Mr Harte's army was the weakest, but he thought to make up this disadvantage by strategy. His military genius asserted itself; he spotted the vantage ground, and placed the most doughty of his veterans oh the roof of the building. A warrior from the opposing camp noticing this immediately jumped up also, and so for a time it appeared as if the first blow would have been struck on the roof. The two warriors on the roof glared at each other fiercely, but they went no further, while the battle raged on the ground below, Mr Harte fighting the whole of the contending forces single-handed with his tongue. ■Things went on thus for a time, until a. flag of truce was raised, and soon the two c mmandersin-chief were seen in earnest consultation—evidently frying to settle the diffioijlty by peaceable arbitration. Negotiations wore broken off, however, and a battle again appeared inevitable when Mr, Harte issued an ultimatum ,to the effect that unless his terras of peace ware accepted he would storm the garrison. He was exceedingly peremptory, giving only five minutes io think over the matter, but just as he was putting his watch back in his-pocket, and preparing for the terrible enconnier, the flag of truce was raised once more, and negotiationsforapeaceable settlement were again opened. This resulted in an agreement being arrived at to the effect that the owner of the property should accompany Mr Harte to headquarters, in Temuka. Subsequently the whole matter was settled amicably in Temuka, aod thus the future historian has been spared the trouble of recording “ The battle of Hilton.”

Danob.— The Temiika Dancing open to-night in the Oddfellows’ o’clock, and there will be a dance in Hall every Tuesday evening for thf months.

Supplying Dbink to, Chxid; public-house census undertaken on Saturday evening,in London revealed the fact that 7019 children entered 200 drinking houses in three hours. These'return! (says an exchange) may be regarded as fairly representative of what takes place in the Metropolis, arid point to the appalling con* elusion that more than 250,000 boys end girls in the great city are becoming habituated . to the eights and talks and temptation* the public-houses. A. Saturday night ing census of the City of Bristol, in showed that in four hours,l2,ooo entered 909 drinking-houses., Ceiokbt. —The cricket match — lians v. Gentlemen of =■England—was eonf menced at Lords on Friday. The great . interest being taken in the match was shown by the good attendance, in spite of the weather, which was cold and inclement. The Englishmen went first to the wicket, and only made a short stand, being all disposed of for 99, the highest scorers being 3. W. Scott with 16, and G. F.-Yernon and G. B. Studd 15 each. After a short interval the Australians went in', and' put together 150, of which M. J. Connor contributed 39, H. J. H. Scott 27, J. M. Blaokham 20, and A. H. Jarvis 14. On Saturday the match was concluded. In their second‘innings ths Gentlemen scored 136. With-86 required to win, the Australians commenced their second innings, and : these they secured for the loss of three wickets. During the match one of Spofforth’s fingers were dislocated, sod he had to retire without-batting in either innings. . , ’ :

Depabtueb op an Old Kbs;dibt. —Mr E. J. S. Eckford, Manager, of the Temuka branch of the Bank of New South Wales, will leave for Blenheim on. Thursday next, where he will take charge of the Bank. Mr Eckford has been in' the district nearly-y seven years. He came to Oeraldine in 1879 pf and was last year transferred to Temaka to \ open there a new branch of the ! Bank. He has done so successfully, and in recognition of his services, as well as because of his fitness for the position, his superiors have promoted him to the more responsible post of Manager of the Blenheim branch of the Bank. We are glad to find Mr Eckford’s. : undoubted abilities, energy, and probity so fitly and substantially recognised, but we must say that the pleasure we. feel in bis promotion is somewhat lessened. by the fact that be ie leaving the district. Paring ' his stay in the d strict he has been connected with almost every progressive movement undertaken, and has never hesitated to lend a helping hand to anything calculated to do good. Socially hie courteous manners made him a large circle of friends, who will regret extremely to part with him, and to mark their esteem of his many amiable qualities they have resolved on giving him a banquet in Oeraldine to-morrow evening. We wish Mr Eckford every euocees in his new sphere. Tbuth and Soberness.— What ie the beet family medicine in the world to. regulate the bowels, , purify the bl >od, remove costive* ness and biliousness) add aid digestion, and stimulate the whole system ? Truth and soberness compel ns to ans wer, American Co’s Hop Bitters, being pare, perfect and harmlese. —See Advt. -- ;

Skinny Men.—“Well*’ Health Ben ewer.” restores health, and vigor, cures Dyspepsia Impotence, Debility. At -Druggist*. Eemptoorne, Prosser and Go;, Agents, Christ* church. . ; !■:; 1 s SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Geraldine County Council Notice-^* ’electoral rolls. -y , J. Mundell and Co.—Hold isle of skins *1 Geraldine to-day. Temuka Dancing Claes— Opens this evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Henry Wright, Rmgitata Island— Found two dogs among his sheep-. • Farewell Dinner—To E. J. S. Eckford, Esq., at Geraldine, to-mbrrdw night, at 7.30.