LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1527, 3 July 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

B.M'. Court, Gekaldihic.—A sitting of this Court will be held oa Monday next, July sth. The Customs.—During the month of June the Customs collected at the port of Timaru amounted to £1125 13». Gbbaxdine Town Boabd.—The usual monthly meeting of this Board will be held at the Board's office on Tuesday evoning next at 7.30. Balb of Laud.—Mr W. S. Maslm notifies in another column that he will on July Bth, on behalf of Mr C. Fye, sell a section of land adjoining the Good Templars' Hall, Geraldino. Sale of Dbapery.—Messrs J. Mundell and Co. notify in another column that they will sell at their auction rooms, Geraldine, this day, drapery goods without reserve. Home-ward Bound.—The Mew Zealand Shipping Company's s.s. Kaikoura left Wellington for London on Thursday, a full ship both as regards passengers and cargo. The alter was valued at £30,976.

Cbicket.—The match between the Australian Eleven and a team selected by Lord March, played at Chichester, resulted in a victory for the Australians, who won the match with eight wickets to spare. Spofforth is again in the field.

Sale at Temuxa.— Mr K. F. Gray, under instructions from Messrs Siegort and Fauvel, hold an important aale of live and dead stock on Wednesday next. The sale will commence at 1 o'clock at Mr Gray's sale-yards, and luncheon will will be provided.

Sale of Shorthorn Cattle.—At Geraldine yesterday Messrs J. Mundell and Co., on behalf of Mr F. W. Donkin, who is leaving the district, offered 70 head ,pf purebred shorthorn calt'e, and several hacks and harness horses. There was a good attendance of buyer?, and prices realised were satisfactory. Social Tea.—On Thursday evening next the quarterly sosial tea meeting in connection with the Wesleyau Church, Terouka, will take place. After the tea addresses will be delivered by the Revs. E. D. Cecil, W. Gk Thomas, and others, and as these will be interspersed with songs and recitations, a very pleasant evening may be anticipated. Enfobcing THE Law. —la consequence of the large number of passengers which is unex* peeted to be carried ty the Triumph to Derby for the Kimberley goldfields, Government have decided to put the Emigration Act in force. Thii is believed to be the first time such a thing has been done in Kew Zealand. The Act fixes the amount of space allowed to each passenger ; no intoxicating liquor is to be sold on board under a penalty of a fine of £soj and, fifty days' provisions must be oarried, which, as the voyage willnot last half that time is considered lather oppressive by the agents. Tisi&bu Hospital.—The following is the return of patients in the Timaru Hospital, for, the month of June, 1886:—Patients UDder treatment at date of last return— Males, 16 ; females, 4; total, 20. Admitted during month —Males, 10; females, 3 ; total, 13. Totals treated—Males, 26 ; females, 7 ; total, 33. Discharged during month—Curer 1 : Male?, 6 ; females, 3 ; total, 9. Believed, 3 ; total, 3. Dead : Male (Peter Dahlgreen), 1. Totals discharged—Males, 10 ; females, 3 ; total, 13. Kemaining under treatment — Mules, 16; females, 4; total, 20. Out patients treated during month—Malei, 20; females, 19; total 39. i

Supreme Court, Christchurch.—The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court ut Chußtchurch commence on. Monday next, before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The charge sheet comprises four larceny cases, one of forgery and larceny, two of forgery, one of assault and robbery, one of violent assault, one of indecent assault, one of arson, and one of fraudulent bankruptcy.

The Midland Railway..—Mr Blair, Assistant Enginear in Chief, Iras just presented a very lengthy report to the Government on the projected Midland Railway. It is a much more favorable one than his last on the same Bubject. Ho estimates the length from the East Coast to Brunnerton at 95 miles, and the cost £1,505,000 ; and the Nelson section, 154 miles, and the c05t£1,330,000. Including a branch from Tophouse to Blenheim, 57 miles, the cost of which would be £375,000, he estimates that 10,500 square miles will be served by the line, and that the returns will amount to about £120,000 a year. Under ordinary circumstances this would mean a return of 2£ per cent after paying working expenses, but as it is difficult to estimate wh«t the cost of maintenance will be he declines to estimate the Det profit. Altogether the report is a favorable one, the curves being better and gradients easier than he at first thought would bo possible.

Suicide in Wellington.—Mr W. Bamicoat, a teaober in the Wellington College committed suicide on Tuesday last, by shooting himself through the head. From the evidence given at the inquest it appeared that the deceased had' con.plained of sleeplessness since the proceeding Saturday, and on Monday appeared to be slightly wandering in his mind. On Monday evening a doctor was called in, who administered a sleeping draught, but on the following morning the deceased was found dead in his study, having shot himself with a long Snider rifle. It is surmised the aot was not premeditated, but that on Barnicoat waking up on Tuesday morning and finding himself not equal to his duties, ho put an end to his life. He left the following note, unaddresaed : —" lam going to commit suicide. Short anguish is better than prolonged suffering for my friends. There are no other alternatives. W. T. Burnicoat," Mr Barnicoat was a young man aged 28. He was a son of the Hon. J. W. Barnicoat, M.L.0., of Nelson. He had been master at. the College for five years, and was a great favorite of the pupils pi whom ho took a great interest. At tho inquest the jury found a verdict "That deceased committed suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity induced by overwork." The body was taken to Auckland for interment,

A Hare Story.—A curious story ban just]reached us. A few days ago a hare was killed in this district and forwarded to a gentleman in Christchurch, who was astonished to find it bore the ear mark of the Plumpton Park Coursing Club. The supposition is that the hare must in the first instance' have been snared in this thin district and sent to the Plumpton Coursing Club, where it was turned loose, and that in the course of time it found its way back, " Arid as a hare, whom hounds and j.horns pursue, pants to the spot from whence at first she flew." In support of this supposition there is the fact that for two or three seasons several men have been engaged all over the district snaring bores for the Plumpton Coursing Club, and that hundreds of them havebeou forwarded to the Club, and turned loose ob their grounds. The question, therefore, is whether it is one of these hares that has found its way back to the hnunls of its earlier existence. If this is correct, it appears that a new fact in natural history has been discovered. "No more brains than a hare" is a trito old saying, but if it is found that the bumps of locality and iahabitiveness are so largely developed in them that they can find their way back through 100 miles of country to the scenes of early life, it must be admitted that they are not far behind other animals.

The Wbeck of the Lyttblton.—On Wednesday the enquiry into the wreck of the Lyfcfcelton at Timaru was resumed. Captain Boorman was re-examined, but, beyond the statement that he did not think if ho hnd been in the pilot's place he would have dropped the anchor, his evidence only amounted to a disavowal of all responsibility in connection with the taking of the vessel out. After Messrs White, Haraerslev, and Aspinall had addresed the Court on behalf of their several clients, it was announced that judgment would be reserved. As Captain Boorman wanted to get away, however, Mr Beswick said his certificate would be returned at once. Yesterday morning Mr Beswick delivered the following verdict:—After carefully reviewing the evidence brought before the Court, I attribute the loss of the Lyttelton on the 12th of June to be mainly due to the want of skill exhibited by the master of the Grafton whilst the vessel he was commanding was acting as a tug. On the morning of the wreck when the Lyttelton cnst off her moorings the tide was about half flood, the sea smooth, and no wind. There were no obstacles in the harbor to prevent the vessel being towed out direct to eeß, and yet from the time that he got the tow-rope made fast to the Bteamer to the time the ship's anchor was let go he showed such an absence of resources and incapacity to discharge the duty he had undertaken that he was never able to get either his own vessel or the Lvttelton under proper control, the result being that the ship Lyttelton was taken from half a mile to three-quarters out of ber course, and then cast adrift. The Court is of opinion toat the pilot committed a grave orror in judgment in nothaviDg the etarboiu'd anchor shaokled on the cable before lifting the port anchor and proceeding to son, and also in not ascertaining with some degree of certainty whether the Lyttelton was forging ahead or not at the time he gave orders to let go the port anchor when the steamer had cast his vessel adrift. The Court cannot help expressing an opinion that the harbor authorities should not have permitted the harbor tug and the Harbor Master to bo absent from the port whon a large vessel like the Lyttelton was ready for sea. Whether the Lyttelton sank from striking on her own anchor or on some unknown obstacle under water there is not sufficient evidence before the Court to enable them to form any opinion. Considering the loss of the Lyttelton to be mainly attributable to the wart of skill on the part of the masler of the Grafton whilst acling as tug-mastor, it adjudges him to pay the coatfi of this enquiry. The Court will no!- deal with his certificate, as there is no evidence before it of his inefficiency in discha ging the duties of master of a Btaamer in the ordinary oourse of navigation, but only when acting ns tug-muster, but it expresses a very decided opinion that all the masters of steamers should make themselves acquainted with the depth of water, and sot of the tides of iliu harbor in which thoy enter, a knowledge of which with respect to the harbor of Timaru Captain Hill a'Jmits he had none. The captain and officers of the ship are exonerated from all blurns in the less of the vessel, and their certificates are returned to th«m. '

Volunteer Equipment.—The Defence department having imported 1500 sets brown leather va'isa equipment, pattern 1882, it has been decided that any corps desirous of purchasing the game, consisting of braces, water bottle, case for do, haversack, straps for great ooat/metss tin, and valise can, may do so at 17s 6d each, and the other items of the kit, viz., waistbelt, bayonet frog, two ammunition pouches, and rifle-sling, will be issued free, and remain on charge to the corpd as Government property, the old accoutrements now on issue being returned to store.

Belmeld.— Our Belfield correspondtnt writes:—The gentleman who is travelling about the conntry with a magio lantern «x----hibiting a varied assortment of dissolving views accompanied by appropriate commentary, paid our neighborhood a visit last Monday evening. The exhibition was given in the Belfield mhoolroom to a fair attendance. High and low art were both represented, and tho shouts of appreciation, accompanied by original temarks from time lo timo, clearly indicated in whioh direction the ocsihetic tastes of the major portiou of the audience lay. In the natural history depei'trDenfc ths scholastic members manifested a fairly accurate knowledge of th« subject., being ablo to spot most of the animals si well <w the leopard.—Another event, which was omitted to be chronicled afc its proper time, came off on Thurg-lay, the 17th ulfc. I refer to tho wedding of Mr Jamoa PriddU, of Orari. The bride was the eldest unmarried daughter of Mr T. H. Taylor of this neighborhood. The Kev. Q-. Barclay performed the marriage ceremony. In the evening the Bslfield schoolroom was utilised as n banquet ball, the carpenters at present employed in the erection ot tho new house for the school master having improvised a festive board in a workmanlike manner on which a most sumptuous and varied collection of solids and fluids was laid out for tho denotation of the numerous ladies and gentlemen whom Mr Priddle had invited to celebrate the occasion of his wedding. Music and dancing followed the feast, and was kept up until an indefinite time after the witching hour of night. The opithalannum was represented by musical contributions from several members of the party, and the toust of the evening "Long life, health, and prosperity, to the newly wedded pair, may their marriage torch always burn brightly," was duly honored.

Entbutainmknt at Gebaldinis.- The Geraidine Amateur Dramatio and Christy Minstrel Club gave an entertainment and fancy dress bull in the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening. There was a very fair attendance of the public, the hall being comfoi'tably filled. The first piece on the programme was G. Barnes' farce " A Doctor pro tern," in which Messrs Kruse, Parker, Harding, Fleming, Stonehouse, W. G. Sherratt and Miss Gaiger took part. Owing to one of the members having to resign his part at the last moment one person hod to take a dual part, tho consequence being that the piece did not go off as smoothly as it might otherwise have done. The farce was, however, very creditably performed for amateurs, and the audience signified their approval by frequent and hearty applause. The remainder of tho evening was taken up by the Olub as a Christy Minstrel Troupe. Mr Kruse as " Bones," and Mr Parker as " Pompey," corner men, with G. W. Sherratt centre man, kept tho house in roars of laughter with conundrums, otc, their local hits seeming to take immensely. Songs were also rendered by Messrß Bowketf, Harding and others. At the close of the entertainment the hall was cleared for tho fancy dress ball which was to follow. A considerable number of persons stayed to this, and dancing was kept up with groat spirit till an early hour. There were not many characters represented, the most noticeable being that of a geutleman as a " Spanish Cavalier." The " Navy " was represented by a tar, and the negro element by two gentlemen of color. The music was supplied by Messrs Weston (organ) and Bowkett (concertina). At the close of the entertainment Mr Kruse came before the footlights and thanked the audience for their attendance, stating that the Club would again perform in Geraidine within a short time. Povebty and Sttffebing.—-I was dragged down with debt, poverty, and suffering for years, oaused by a sick family and large bills for doctoring, whioh did them no good. I was oompletoly disoouraged, until one year ago, by the advioe of my paitor, I procured Hop Bitters and commenced their use, and in one month w« wfi-ro all well, and none of us has seen a sick (j:»y pioce; and I want to say to all po;>r men, you oaa ke«p your families well a year with Amerioan Co.'a Hop Bitters for less ihtm one doctor's vi»it will cost. I know it."—A Working Mak. Bead Advt. OF ADVERTISEMENTS. K. Brophy, Pleasant Valley—lnvites tenders for cutting and grubbing gorse. Quarterly Social Tea Meeting—At Wesleyan Church, Temuko, on Thursday next. K. P. Gray—Sells live stock and farming implements at IVmuka on Wednesday next. A. M. Clark, Temuka —Invites tenders for ploughing on Kskbank and Riverslea Estates.

J. Mundell and Co.—Sell balance of drapery goods at their rooms, Geraldine, to-day. W. S. Maslin—Sells 1 acre 20 perches land adjoiningthe Good Templars' Hall, Geraldine, on Thursday nuxt. J. Ballantyno and Co., Viotona House, Timaru—Great sale commences to-day in consequence of reconstruction of partnership.