LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1533, 17 July 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pan Francisco Mail.—This mail closes at the Post-office, Geraldine, to-day at 3 p.m.

Thndbbs. reminded that tenders for clearing drains on (lie Middle Swamp and Toner’s Roads, for l lie Temuka Koad Board, must be in not later tham 4 o’clock tbia afternoon.

Gbbaldinb Footbbidgb. —By a notice which appears in another oolnmn it will be seen that the Geraldine Road Board do not hold themselves responsible for any accident which may occur to persons using the above bridge owing to its being out of repair. Pedestrians should be very careful, more especially at night, when using this bridge.

11. M. CotJET, Temuka. — At the above Court yesterday, before K. P. Gray Esq., J.P., a first offender was dismissed with a caution, ,

St. Saviour's Ohuboh.— The Venerable Archdeacon Harper paid bis annual visitation to Temuka last Thursday, and was met bv the Incumbent and Vestry. He expressed himself highly satisfied with the condition of the parish. Cbowh Hotel, Gbbaldikb.— The reroofing of this hotel, of which so much has been heard lately, was commenced yesterday in good earnest, and judging from the progress made a few days should suffice to see the whole work completed. New Volunteer Drill Bhkd.—ln our advertising columns tenders are invited for the erection ot a drill ehed for the Temuka Rifle Volunteers, a description of which appeared in last Saturday’s issus. Tenders are to be sent to Captain Hay hurst by noon on Saturday next. The Midland Railway.—Mr 0. C. Bowen, Chairman of the West Coast Railway guarantors, has received a cablegram that a contract for a portion of the railway has been let to Ochione and Robinson. Robinson is on his way out, and is expected to reach Invercargill in a week’s time, Cuba? Railway Pares.—On Wednesday next return excursion tickets to Christchurch, available for return up to and including the 26th instant, will be procurable at the Orari, Winchester, and Temuka Railway Stations, the rates being, first class 15s 8d and second class 11s 6d. No doubt many will take advantage of the concession to visit the Grand National Steeplechases. District Coubt, Timabu.— A sitting of the District Court took place at Timaru, yesterday, His Honor Judge Ward presiding. J. A, Brown and Patrick Kearney, bankrupts, were granted orders of discharge, and solicitor’s costs were allowed out of the estate of the latter. The public examination of Prank Connell, a bankrupt, was declared closed, and August 16 was appointed as the date on which he should apply for his discharge. Incendiarism. — A deliberate attempt was made at Woodville (Hawkes Bay), some time after 1 o’clock yesterday morning to burn down the large block of buildings known as Lowry’s Block comprising four shops with dwelling houses, a largo temperance hotel and two shops. The fire was discovered at the back of a butcher’s shop next the Temperance Hotel, and bad a good hold on the building. There was a heap of rags and shavings saturated with kerosene blazing underneath. Mammoth Sale op Trees.— On Tuesday next at Temuka Mr K. P. Gray, in conjunction with Messrs J, Mundell and Co., submit to the hammer 100,000 fruit and forest trees, shrubs, etc., from Mr W. Wheelband’s noted Oxford Nursery. This is the first tree sale of any note that has taken place in South Canterbury this season, and as the trees are all first-rate, and the weather very suitable for planting, a large number of buyers will doubtless attend. —In addition to the tree sale, a largo number of horses, cattle, and pigs will be offered, and, as Mr Wheelband contemplates leasing the nursery, the sale will be without the slightest reserve. A YouMG Thiev, —At the R.M. Court Ashburton, yesterday, Joseph Lamb, a lad* 15 years of age was sentenced to two months’ and two weeks’imprisonment on four charges of larceny. The articles stolen were of a miscellaneous nature, a shirt, saddle and bridle, silver watob, rug, 28 cartridges, and some saddle straps being among them. A charge of horse stealing was alio preferred against him. but as the animal had been recovered, the police withdrew the charge. Lamb had just completed a sentence for forgery and uttering.

Aehital of the Aoeakgi.— The R.M.9. Aorangi arrired at Port Chalmers at 11.5 p.tu. on Thursday, after a fine passage of 39 days, 8 hours, 30 minutes, including all stoppages and detentions. She brings a full cargo, 33 saloon and 156 steerage passengers, and 283 bags of mails. After transhipping her mails and passengers for Canterburj and Dunedin outside the Heads she sailed for Wellington. Left Plymouth on June 6, armed at Madeira on the 10th, left aga in the same day, reaching Capetown on June 25. She left again the same evening. Had remarkably fine weather and ran down her easting in latitude 46 S. From the Cape she averaged 334 miles per day and passed the Snares at 6.30 a.m. on Jaly 13.

Suppbbbbs bi TUB Ebpttiom.— ■'The Public Petitions Committee reported en the petition of Messrs Mcßae, Humphries and Bird, who set down their losses by the eruption at £4OOO, £2OOO, and £7O respectively, that while the Committee do not consider that parties who have suffered losses owing to a volcanic eruption have any claim agaiist the colony for compensation, still, taking into consideration the fact is shown by the evidence that the petitioners would have been able to save a considerable portion of their property on the day immediately af the eruption had they devoted their energies to that object, instead of saving and endeavoring to save life, they recommend that their case receive favorable consideration of the Government when patting a sum on the Estimates to relieve sufferers by the recent calamities. Good Templary at Peel Forest.— An open meeting of the Relief of Peel Forest Lodge was held in the Scotsbnrn Schoolroom on Tuesday evening, 13th inst., Bro. Stanford, W.0.T., occupying the chair. An excellent programme was prepared, which, after a short address by the Chairman, was opened by Miss Pritchett with an overture on the piano, which was loudly applauded, Bro, Stanford next sang “ Ehren on the Rhine” very nicely, Mias Pritchett accompanying oa the piano. Bro. F. Cooling, who came next with a song, “ The Gipsy’s Life," was followed by Sisters Robertson and Low with the duet “The Mermaid’s Song,” which was capitally rendered. A reading by Bro. G, C. Jenkins, “The Bad Boy,” brought the first part «f the evening’s amusement to a close, and an interval was declared, during which refreshments were handed round by (he Sisters of the Lodge. The second part was opened by a pianoforte solo by Miss Roskrugo. Mrs Whitton snng “ Merry Girl” capitally, and was followed by Mr B. H. Pratt with a comic song, “ The Sneezing Song,” which evoked great laughter. Miss Chapman came next with a nice little song, and was followed by Bro. G. fl. Patrick with a recitation, “ Good Night I” Bro, B. Whellon contributed a song, and was encored. Bro. A. Newman’s Chinese song seemed to take immensely. It was followed by Bro. R. H. Pratt with “ Always a Swell,” A pianoforte solo by Miss Roskruge, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. There were several visitors present from the Welcome Retreat Lodge, Geraldine, and both visitors and members seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. The proceeds of the evening were in aid of Bro, Freeman, whose premises were recently destroyed by fire.

A Hbavt Fine. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Tiraaru, on Thursday, Mr Beswiok fined James Cupel, the landlord of the Opawa Hotel, £2O, for supplying a drunken man named Walter Scott with a bottle of whiskey. Young Men’s Club, Geraldine, —ln order to supply a want keenly felt by the young men of Geraldine since the collapse of the Young Men’s Club, the latter has been reorganised, aad now meets at the office of the promoter, Mr A. Fisher, each evening. New Court House, Geraldine. The contractors for this building, who have suffered so many vexatious delays for want of timber, etc., have now got the framing up, and, with fine weather and a steady supply of material, should soon be able to complete the building. Auckland Ammunition. —At a rifle match in Christchurch the other day several of the competitors used Auckland-made ammunition, with which they expressed themselves much dissatisfied. Several misses were attributed te it, and in one instance the nipple of the rifle was blown out. Football. —Practice will take place in the Temuka Park this afternoon. —A match between the Veterans and Colts in Timaru resulted in the overwhelming defeat of the veterans by 27 points to nil. The “old boys ’’ played a very stubborn game, but had no show against their younger and more agile opponents.

Improvements.— The approaches to the Church of England, Geraldine, hare now been asphalted, which is a vast improvement on the hitherto ragged, and in wet| weather muddy, state of the footpath. The strip of asphalt throughout the entire length of the town, and the fact of so many public buildings and private residences having asphalt laid in front of them, has given Geraldine the appearance of a neat and prosperous township, far in advance of any other of the same size in the district.

Coursing.— The South Canterbury Club’s Champion Meeting took place at the Fareora on Wednesday, being most successful. Ihe Champion Stakes (£45), was won by Messrs MoAuley Bros, f b Moonbeam, with Mr J. Kingsley's f b Symphony, runner up (£2O). Mr D. M. Ross’ Poet, and Mr W. H. Porter’s Princess Charlotte won £lO each. The Consolation of £lO was won by Mr M’Gimpsey’s Swift, with Messrs McAuley Bros. Manuka, runner up.

Cricket. —The Australians played a match with a Yorkshire Eleven last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, winning it with six wickets to spare. The scores were: Yorkshire Eleven, first innings, 158 ; second, 249. Australians, first innings, 275; second, for four wickets, 133. The following team will represent England in the cricket match Australians y. All-England, which commences on Monday next at Lords ; —W. G. Grace, W, W. Bead,Steele, Tylecote,Barlow, Barnes, Briggs, Lobmann, Scotton, Shrewsbury, and Dlyelt. The Oldest Postman in England.— The remains of Mr Adam Shaw, who died in his eighty-first year, were interred at Bowdon Parish Church recently. He entered the postal service on the 6th of November, 1843, and continued without a single complaint being brought against him until the 6th January, 1884, when he retired on a pension. At that time he was the oldest postal servant in the kingdom. In the forty-one years it is computed he travelled 212,500 miles, or a distance of over eight times round the earth. Geraldine Rifles.— The usual weekly parade of this corps took place on Tuesday evening, when the men drilled for the first time in the new Volunteer Hall. About twenty-five were on parade, and the hall was found to give ample room for a number of movements which it had been found quite impossible to execute in their previous drillshed, viz., the Oddfellows’ Hall. Lieut. Ward was in command on Wednesday evening, Lieut, Fearpoint and Stuff-Sergeant Major Jones being also present. Lieut, Ward put the men through the sword and bayonet exercise, and Lieut. Fearpoint through the manual exercise, while the drill instructor, Sergeant-Major Jones exercised the corps in companyd rill. The men went through the movements in a creditable manner.

The Mount Etna Eruption. The eruption of Mount Etna, which occurred during May, is declared (says the Home News) to have been the most sudden and terrible ever beheld by the inhabitants of the surrounding country. Eleven craters were active. The central one disgorged only smoke and ashes, but from three others huge stones were thrown up a prodigious height. The lava streams in some parts were 600 ft wide, and were flowing down the mountain side and through the fertile valleys, destroying the crops and setting the woods on fire. The small towns of Nicolosi and Belpasso were threatened with destruction, and many of the inhabitants fled. No lives seemed to have been lost, but numbers of people were homeless, the earthquake shocks having destroyed their houses or the showers of ashes and lapilli having obliged them to seek ■ refuge elsewhere. One chestnut wood bud been surrounded by streams of lava and burned. The eruption was accompanied by constant earthquakes, with terrible subterranean noises like thunder. The sight from Gantania was indescribably grand and tremendous, and vast crowds were constantly gazing at the awful spectacle.

Gbbaidikk Flobai and Hoetioultoeal Society.—As will be seen by referring to another column the annual general meeting of the members of this Society will be held in the Mechanics’ Institute, G-eral-dine on Wednesday, 21st inst,, at 7.30 p.m. The business is to receive report and balancesheet, and to elect officers for the season. All residents in the district taking an interest in the Society are invited. This is the third year of the Society’s existence, and during the two previous years shows have been held which have proved unqualified successes. As, we understand, the Society has a good balance in band, which, it is to be hoped, will be augmented by liberal subscriptions, there should be no difficulty in gel ting up a show this year which should eclipse those of previous years. One great drawback which has hitherto attended the efforts of the Committee has been the want of a hall large enough to accommodate the large number of exhibits in all classes, and, also to admit the public without crowding. These drawbacks will this year be removed, as the new Volunteer Hall will afford ample room for all purposes. What is now really wanted i* that those persons in the district who are in a position to do so, would take a much greater interest in the Society, and encourage competition by offering special prizes in the various classes. There are a good many member* who pay up their subscriptions and support the Society, but their immediate patronage, and the offer of special prizes to be com, peted for would go a long way to ensure greater success. Last year the Committee of Management gave the utmost satisfaction, and should a new one be elected at the forthcoming meeting there is no doubt they will do the same. It is to be hoped that all those in the district who take an interest in floriculture and horticulture will combine to make the exhibition of 1886 a signal success. Don’t Dih in tii Horsu.—-“Sough on Bats ” clears out rats, mioe, beetles, roaches bed bugs, flics, anti, insects, moles, jackrabbits, gopher*. Zempthorne, Prosser and Co., Christchurch. 1 J