LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1545, 26 August 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Our Fourth Page.—Some interesting reading matter will be found on our fourth page. Helping one Another.— The Kniapoi Maoris have subscribed and forwarded £l2, for the native sufferers by the Tarawera erupt'ons. " Geraldine Monthly Sale. The monthly stock sale at Geraldine takes place on September Ist. Messrs J. Muodell and Co. are now receiving entries. Timabu High School. —The Government bare appointed the Rev. Geo. Barclay to the life membership on the Timaru High School Board of Governors, rendered vacant by the resignation of the Eer. W. Gillies. Temuka Monthly Sale.— The monthly sale of stock, etc., at Tetnuka takes place to-morrow. Mr K. F. Gray and Messrs J. MtUidell and Co. announce that they will sell sheep, cattle and pigs. Another Charge.— Yesterday a fifth charge of forgery was laid against Thomas Hall. He is now accused of forging the .name of John Cook, fanner, Pleasant Point, to a promissory note for £45, on the Bth August, The Alleged Poisoning Case. —The Otago Daily. Times suggests that Professor Ogston, who frequently acted as an expert in important Crown cases in Scotland, and is an eminent toxicologist, should assist the Crown Prosecutor at Timaru. Snow.— Early on Wednesday morning theri was a light snow fall in the Tetnuka district, and about 5 o’clock there was a heavy hailstorm. At daylight the ground, roofs of houses, etc.,- were covered with a white mantle, but it soon melted away. Important. The following private telegram from London, dated the 23rd instant, was received in Christchurch on Tuesday “ The wheat market is. advancing every day. Insurance offices are contemplating charging war risks.” The Late Mb McKenzie. —The funeral of the late Mr D. McKenzie took place at Geraldine !on Tuesday last, end was largely attended by frisnds of the deceased. Members of the Committee of the Geraldine Racing Club acted as pall bearers. The burial service was conducted- by the Bev. J, Preston in an impressive manner. Vaile’s Scheme.— The Waikato settlers are satisfied with the Yaile Committee report, and many have expressed readiness to accept the condition of striking a rate to meet any deficiency in revenue, provided that the term of trial he extended over three years so as to allow the settlement of land—which is one of the eesentia’s to the success of the schema—to be systematically undertaken. Geraldine Band.— On last Tuesday evening the half-yearly meeting of the Geraldine Volunteer Band was held, Mr T. Sherratt in the chair. Amongst other business transacted, Mr T. Sherratt was appointed Secretary, Mr Kruse' Treasurer, and Messrs Kruse, Gore, Fleming, Logan and Harding a Committee. After transacting emp o routine busioes the meeting terminated.

Well Clothed. — A. young man named Mathews, aged 19, a train driver in Melbourne, while jumping off a car there recently missed his footing and was dragged under the wheel, He was taken to the hospital, where it was found that ibis leg had to be amputated. It was discovered that the man had three pairs of drawers, and two pairs of trousers on, besides a quantity of underclothing.

The Saltation Army. —During the four years of its active existence in Australia the Salvation Army has established 200 recognised stations, which are in charge of about 400 officers. Bel ween 11,000 and 12,000 soldiers are in regular service, and it is estimated that the aggregate attendance at.all the barracks on Sundays does not fall far short of 100,000. The War Cry, the official organ of the army, has a colonial- circulation of 80,000 copies weekly.

Dinner and Presentation. —On Saturday evening last, Mr Melville Gray, a resident at Burke’s Pass for the last 14 years, being about lo leave the district, was entertuined at a dinner by a number of friends, and presented with a handsome silver drinking cup, suitably inscribed, Very eulogistic speeches were made by the Chairman of the Mackenzie County Counci 1 , Mr J. McGregor, Mr W. S. Helem, and others. Town Board Election. --An election for the return of five Commissioners on the Temuka Town Board -in the,.xoom of Messrs Gray, Quinn, Mason, Bijown, and Blyth (who retire in accordance with the Town Districts Act 1881 and ifc« amendments) takes place on the 15th Spytember next. The retiring commissioners are all eligible for re-election. Candidates most be nominated with Mr W, Wills, the Returning Officer, before noon on Wednesday, the Bth September, at the Temuka Courthouse.

Timaru Steam Shipping Co.—At the fourth annual meeting of the Timaru Steam Colliery Company on Tuesday night, it was decided to wind up the affairs of the Company, and two liquidators were appointed for that purpose, and the action of the Directors in disposing of the steamer Timaru to a syndicate for £SOOO. was approved of. The Chairman stated the steamer has lately undergone considerable repairs and alterations, and is now as good as when she came out from Home.

St. Mart's Church, Timaru.—The ceremony of opening the completed portion of the new Episcopalian Church at Timaru, takes place to-day. The plans cf the Church were prepared by the lute Mr Armson, af Christchurch, and that portion which in now finished has been six years building. It will seat 800 persons. A very fine organ has been procured from London for the Church, at a cost of £SOO. To day the morning service will be conducted by the Bishop of Christchurch, and the evening one by the Bishop of Dunedin. The honor of preaching the first sermon in it has been reserved for the Rev, T. A. Hamilton, of Temuka, who will, at the invitation of the Archdeacon, preach there next Sunday morning. A Disappointment.—A local appeared in this paper on Tuesday morning announcing that an open meeting of the Geraldine Band of Hope would be held that evening and that the usual buns and coffee would be handed round. This probably had the effect of inducing a larger number than usual to attend, as the hall was completely filled within a short time of the opening of it. Many were disappointed when the superintendent announced thar.no refreshments were forthcoming, the Committee having decided to postpone that part of •the entertainment till that night three weeks. The Superintendent rallied the members somewhat on the fact of their attending in such numbers only when there was a prospect of good things to be had.

Ashburton Steeplechases.—The riant Club Steeplechases at Ashburton took place on Tuesday last, and were fairly attended. The following are the results : —Hurdle Race ot 15 sovs, 2 miles : Mr J. Corbett’s Captain I, Mr J. Warner’s Wrangler 2, Mr Griffen’s Mannion 3. Hunt Club Cup of 30 sovs, 3 miles : Mr G; Rhodes’ Ben H. ], Mr J. Corbett’s Captain 2, Mr J. Smith’s Rajah 3. Selling Flat Race of 10 sovs, three-quarters of a mile : Mr Coulter’s Red Robin 1. Maiden Steeplechase Plate of 15 sovs, about 2 miles : Mr J. Merrie’s Pickwick 1, Mr J. C. N. Qrigg’s Clyte 2. Hunter’s Flat Race Handicap of 15 sovs, 2 miles : Mr C. Wilson’s Panic 1, Mr E. W, Bowyor’s Rugby 2. The Consolation of 10 sovs was won by Mr J. C. M. Grigg’s Olylhe. Bayonet Squad. —The Geraldine Rifle corps intend to send a squad of men to Tilßaru to take part in the grand assault at arms to he held there next month, and with this end in view sixteen of the members are in active practice. On Tuesday evening they were put through the sword and bayonet exercise by Lieut, Ward. The performance of the men was fairly good, considering that this is only the second time the squad have practised together. There is, however, a deal pf room for improvement. The garrison corps of Timaru are practising assiduously for title forthcoming event, and the Geraldine team .will have to make the best possible use of the short time at their disposal if they do not Wish to be thrown quite into the shade. TherSare', hftwever, some smart men in the corps, and there is no reason whatever why the Geraldine Rifles should not. send as good a team to. Timaru as can be got there. It is on the cards also that Temuka will send a squad to the contest. ■ Geraldine School. —Mr Geo. B. Turnbull, M.A., who has been permanently appointed head master of the above school, ig a recent arrival in the colony. He brings \'ith him from the principal teachers of some of best known scholastic institutions in Scotland and England testimonials which place bis capabilities as a teacher beyond a question of doubt. All his testimonials speak of him in the highest possible',terms of praise, and, in addition, he has a certificate from the University of Pat is, showing that he possesses perfect acquaintance with the accent and pronunciation of the French language. He is, besides, a man of great literary ability, as testified by the feet that he has bean employed by Messrs W. and B. Chambers tts rdit-T of some of their series of the English classics, and his work has won from many papers extreme’y favorable criticism. Another thing—which in this age is as desirable in a schoolmaster as anything else—Mr Turnbull appears to possess—and that is, religious belief. He has produced a certificate, dated April 20ih, 1886, showing that he was a member (in full communion) of St. Michael’s, Edinburgh. The Geraldine School Committee may be.congratulated on having scoured such a capable teacher for ihsir school, and the district oa having so accomplished a gentleman living in their miilsU

Kimberley. — A letter rre iv t vl from a New Zealander who lefc Lytle! 01 for Kim borlev in the Triumph a few W '<ks ago give ß a very doleful account of the state of thing" at Derby and on the goldfields. He say ß several of the South Canterbury contingent regret that they went. Every report re' caived in New Zealand respecting the amount of gold got at the diggings was- greatly exaggerated, and at the time ha wrote there was no gold in Derby worth speaking of. Hie opinion is that Cambridge Gulf is the best part to make for, us the road from there to the diggings is 60 miles shorter and a good one. Still there is ]a well-beaten road from Derby to Kimberley, and wells have been sunk at distances of 12 miles along the route. Ha concludes by advising no one to leave home until they get fresh news Hub they can confidently rely on.

Sheep In New Zealand.— Out of the 14,545,801-sheop in the colony, the Hon. W. Robinson, Cheviot Hil's, heads the list, with 93,000, Mr G. H. Moore. Glenmark, 82,060, Messrs Mullock aud Lance 74,061. One cannot help remarking (says the Obnetoburch Press) the wonderful preciseness of this last return.'The Canterbury sheep district includes 8,364,570 acres. This not only, it must be borne in mind cover?, the area of the runs, but all the agricultural farms upon which sheep are kept. The total number of sheep on the same is 4,610,594. Upon these farms there are 1281 owners of flocks of a less number than 500 sheep, 356 who own under 1000 sheep, 217 persons owning under 2000 sheep in single flecks, 169 persons claiming to have 5000 sheep each, 72 owning below 10.000 sheep, and 44 who own 20,000 and upwards. This return is exclusive of the Westland subdivision, which embraces 2.702.000 acres, 17 owners, and 2778 sheep, la the sheep district of Poverty Bay, on 3.913.000 acres there are 2,430,734 sheep. ,

N. C. Teachers’ Institute. —The Teachers Institute at Christchurch on Saturday adopted the report by a committee appointed to consider the recent untavourable report made on educational matters by a committee of the Board of Education. It was to the following effect That the head masters of schools did not know what the inspectors reports were when they gave their evidence before the select committee, and were therefore, unable to deny the charges made against them. No surprise should be caused by the discovery that underpaid teachers, both in the town and in the country, are sometimes unskilled orlincapable. The Committee consider that the work of the pupil teachers’ syllabus is too much for four years, and suggest that it should be re-arranged to take five years to pass, «nd that the number of pupil teachers should be gradually reduced until the proportion of pupil teachers is one to one. The Committee also suggest that the work of the present syllabus should be divided into seven standards intoad of sir, and recommend loss hasty inspection; with less paper examination, and more viva voce examination. They express their firm conviction that the stale of education in North Canterbury is nutsnch as to merit the sweeping condemnation it. has received.

Work of Art.—We have been shown a model of the Roman Catholic Church, Temuka, made out of cork by Mr J. B. Binley, and rnurt rank it as a work of art which reflects infinite credit on the artist. The model is nearly 2ft long bj about Ift in height. The tower is close on 2ft in height, and every detail cf the church is strictly adhered to. All the doors are to be seen, with the steps leading Ip to them; the windows are of stained glass, and every bit of the church is represented true to life. Even the seats and the altar inside have not been neglected, neither has the clock nor the fence with i f s three gates in front. All this has been made out of cork, glued together, with the exception of the roof, which is made of paper, worked up so as to resemble corrugated iron, painted with hematit 0 . It is really a very clever piece of workmanship, and one cannot regard it as much less than wonderful when one remembers that Mr Binley is next door to being completely disabled, he being able to use only about two or three fingers on each hand in holding the tools. In addition to this, Mr Binley has made a large number of picture frames, which for excellence of design and workmanship are hard to be beat. A Steel Cutting Saw. —A saw, without teeth, that will out a steel rail in two minutes, is, says a correspondent, in operation at the Central-Hudson shops, in Geenbush, N.Y. The saw is run by a 90-horse power engine, more power than is required to run all the other machinery in the shops, and is 38 inches in diameter, and three-eighths of an inch thick at the edge. The disc is made of Bessemer steel, and runs at a high rate of speed. While in operation a band of fire encircles the saw, and the many sparks flying from the revolving dise resembles a displav of pyrotechnics. To keep the saw 000 l and prevent it from cracking, a tank of water is placed above the machine, from which a small stream runs and drops down on the saw while in motion. By this plan one saw will cut nearly 8,000 rails before it is worn out. A 6*681 rail, after about six years constant use, becomes battered at the ends, and by cutting them off the rails can bo used in branch and switch tracks. Rails are out by this ma. chine for the whole of the line of the Central Hudson Railroad. The saw, while cutting, bears Jdown hard on the rail, the end of which is left as smooth as the bottom of a flat iron. One remarkable thing about the machine is that the chips cut from the rail fly ba k under the saw with such force as to form a solid piece of steel nearly as firm as the rail itself, Timaru Woollen Factory.—A special meeting of the shareholders of the Timaru Woollen Factory took place on Tuesday evening. The Chairman explained that the canvass of the town re shares had not been very successful, only 600 having been taken up, whereas they wanted to dispose of 2000 or raise £IOOO in cash. Owing to want of funds the mill had had to stop working. Their present liabilities were not large, and the stock in hand and uncalled capital would far more than wipe them off. He pointed out that the mill would pay well, and mentioned that Mr E. Jones, the factory’s salesman, had got an offer from x Christchurch firm to buy up all the material the mill could turn out at a certain price. Mr Barker thought present shareholders should take up more shares, while Mr Duval was of opinion (hat the town not had been properly canvassed. He knew several gentlemen, who he was sure, would take up 5, 10, or 20 shores. On Mr Hamersley being asked whether the Company had power to issue 2000 preferential shares, guaranteeing, say, 8 per cent per annum, he ftjiid the Company would have to hold a special meeting and pass a resolution to that effect. Mr Hill then proposed a special meeting should be held for that purpose. Mr Jackson opposed the proposition ; he suggested that 10b per share should be written off, and a call of 5s per share made. The meeting declared in favor of Mr Hill’s proposal. Messrs Jackson and Hill then put their views in writing, and tabled them as notices of motion, which, will come before a special meeting in a fortnight's time, . The Chairman, at the close of the meeting, announced that 1000 preferential shfrsi had been applied for in the toon.

Saceifiobd to Peinoiplb.— A Homo paper states that recently Mr William Green, of Bisbopwood House, the President of the Highgaie Gospel Temperance Halp-one-another Society, assisted by the member* pf the Society, destroyed his cellar of wine, about 2500 bottles, rained at orer £6OO.

A Family op Suicidbs.— Says the Hawera Star :—Some little time ago Mr B. G. Miller, manager of the Bank of Wow South Wales at Arrarat, shot himself, but up to date of latest accounts lie was alive. His finances were all right, but the act.was premeditated owing to harassment by commercial affairs. Mr Miller was a brother of the Louis Miller, formerly teller of the Bank of New South Wales in Westport, who shot himself in Qreymouth some time ago. Another brother some yeare ago murdered his father and mother at Wellington and then cut his own throat.

RbSULX OS InTKMPBHANOB. —A Bid spec bade was witnessed recently at the Melbourne Police Court, when John Gahan formerly a solicitor in extensive practice in that city, was brought up on a charge of vagrancy. For a long time (says the Age) Mr Gahan, by bis dissipated habits, has ceased to have any business, legal or otherwise; and latterly he has wandered about the streets, literally starving, begging his daily food and shelter from the lowest class of persons in the slums around little Bourke street. His appearance in the Court was pitiable in the extreme to those who had known him in his better days of prosperity. The onofl well-dressed popular lawyer now shuffl'd into Court as an old broken-down man, clad in wretched rags, and wearing old dilapitated boots which left his naked feet expessd to view. His long uncombed hair and tangled board, now quite grey, and his dirty raiment denoted the utter neglect of person which he suffered, whilst his hollow cheeks told a painful tale of privation. The arresting constable laid he found the accused begging in the street.' He wandered about without any home to go to, ani only subsisted on the charity of the public. He slept at night in some outhouse or other, and seldom twice in the same place. The bench committed the unfortunate accused to prison for twelve months as a vagrant. You Can sb Happt if you will s’op all jour doctoring yourself and families with expensive doctors or cure-alls that do only harm, and use Nature’s simple remedies for all your ailments—you will be well and happy and save great expense. The greatest remedy for this, the great, wise, and go*d 11 tell you, is American Co.’s Hop Bitters.