LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1553, 7 September 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

R.M. Couet, Geraldine.—A. sitting of ibis Court will bo held on Monday next, Sept. 13th. . , Tenders for Work. The Geraldine Poad Board, in another column, invite tenders for a number of contracts 5 tenders, to be in by Tuesday, 14th Instant. 1 Meetings. —The monthly meeting of the Temuka- Read B.oard tabes place to-day. Meetings of the - Geraldine and Ariiwhenua Town Boards take place this evening. The Customs. —The Customs revenue for the colony for the-month showsj a great falling off, the amount collected bring £106,641, against £131,026 last year. The estimated monthly average is £117,500, Not Libel.— At the SuprotW Court, Wellington, on Friday, the case Vogel, v. Itoyhrouse and Wakefield was heard, and resulted in a verdict for the defendants, with costs on the highest scale. The action arose out of a series of articles appearing in the defendants’ papef.commenting on the District Railways purchase. Clearing Sale. - The attention of farmers and others is directed to the sale by Messrs J. Mnndell and Co. of the live and dead farming stock of the late Mr Thos. Quinn, which takes place at the homestead, on the Geraldine Road, tomorrow. Town Hoards.— Ratepayers are reminded that nominations, of [candidates for seats on the Temuka and Geraldine Town Boards for the ensuing term must be made -with the-respective Returning Officers—Mr W. Wills for Temuka, and Mr C. E. Sherratt for Gerhldme—before noon to-morrow. On the Geraldine Board there are.vacancies for seven Commissioners and on the Temuka Board for five. All the retiring mem’b.ers are eligible for re-election. ;,

Political. —Mr Dick is out for Dunedin Central. Admiral finete aud Mr Callan are also mentioned as probable candidates. Beer Duty.—The beer duty for the oo!o y for the month of August amounted to £3462, against. £3758 last year. It, was estimated that the monthly average would be £4583. Effective. The introduction of the whipping-post into Maryland us a punishment for wife-beating (according to the Alta California) has caused that brutal crime to cease alrmst entirely in that State. A Successful Dairy Company.—The Wyndham (Southland) Dairy Factory Company have declared a dividend of 10 per cent and devoted some of the surplus profits to paying off their indebtedness. Queer Case op Bribery.—The queerest case of bribery on record is that of the contractors for (he convict labor in Albany penitentiary, They offered a Judge 50 doL. for every long-tetm convict he would sentence to that prison. Scratched.—Mr R. S; Cook, the present Secretary of the Geraldine Racing Club, received notice yesterday that Baresford had been scratched for the Q. Handicap and the Geraldine Gup, and Marion for the G.R.C. Handicap and Flying Handicap. Football.—ln the match between New South Wales and Wairarapa, yesterday, Sydney heat Wairarapa by six points to five. Read scored a try and McArthur potted a goal.ryßaumber scored on the other aide and EudV Socked a goal. J. Perry and Webster, local players, both met with accidents and , had tp. retire. Wairarapa played a splendid game bub the Sydney backs were rather the best., Geraldine Floral Society.—ln the report of the meeting of the Committee of this Society, which appeared in ! Saturday’s issue, it w-as stated that it was intended to send one or two collecting book's to Ashburton. T t should have read “rules and circulars.’’ The collecting books are retained in the Geraldine district. Presentation, — On Friday evening last the Rev. W. Gillies, who has been in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Timaru nearly last eleven years, was presented by his parishioners with a purse of sovereigns on Friday evening as a token of their appreciation of his services, and as a mark of sympathy in his; recent domestic bereveraents. Housebreaking. —A lad named Bryant was arrested yesterday morning' on a charge of having on last Saturday morning broken into the Volunteer Halt, Temuka, and stolen therefrom someof the things which remained there after the ball which was held there on the previous evening. He will be brought/up at the R. Court, Temuka, this morning. Suicides in the States.—During the last four years 6283 cases of suicide have been reported in the United States. Of these persons 2053 were married mm and 1315 bn'chelors; 47l were maids, and 598 wives ; 288 were widowers and 128’ were widows. The age at which the largest number of persons destroy themselves is 35, and there are mare deaths of this kind in summer than in winter. Of the total number 2431 were Americans, 1576 were Gormans, 381 were Englishmen. Only one farmer in 38,000 commits suicide, but the proportion is one in 2000 only among journalists, commercial travellers, saloon-keepers, and shoemakers. Prospecting at Big Bay.—The Minister of Mines forwarded the following telegram to the Mayor of Invercargill in reply to a letter asking whether the Hmemoa would take 100 prospectors to Big Bay, in addition to the Southland Prospecting Association party : " The Hinemoa can take up 250 prospectors. They will have to bring their own bedding. If any magnanimous individuals desire to send a few sheep with the party the steamer can take them ; also three or four pack horses. I am sending a qualified siirveryor with the party, who will lay off tracks inland from the coast, si that road-making may proceed concurrently with the prospecting. The one with the other. — W. J. M. LabNACH.” The Hinemoa sails from the Bluff on the 13th instant. Alleged Fobghby.—The hearing of a number of charges of forgery against Thomas Hall commences at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, to-morrow. Yesterday seven new'charges of forgery were laid as follows : —By Ellis Mills, of Timaru, forgery on May 24 of a promissory note for £4O ; by Wm. Moore, of Timaru, for the forgery' of two promissory notes on June sth, one for , £6O and-the'other for £63 4i ; by Hugh Campbell, of Pleasant Yulley, for the forgery of a promissory note on August 4'li, for £SO ; by John Fraser, Mackenzie Country, for the forgery of a promissory note on July 19th for £150; by John Fraser, Mackenzie Count ry, for the forgery, on October 13th, 1885, of a transfer of mortgage on certain land to Hall and Meason; by Austin Kirby, detective, for the forgery of a promissory note purporting to come from Robert Forrest and William Geddes, of Waimate, to Win. Lambie, of Ashburton, and transferred by the latter to Hall and Meason and endorsed by them. We learn that in addition to these Hall is alleged to have forged Mr Peter O dra’s name to a promissory note for £l5O. Other cases are also spoken of as having occurred in this district. The Rabbit Pest.—While stoats and weaseis have been introduced as a cure for the rabbit pest, it seems strange that ino attempt has been made to acclimatise the hidger. This animal is much less destructive than stoats and weasels, and would appear from an extract in a Dumfries paper to be particularly fond of young rabbits. Our contemporary says:—“A full-grown. rabbit can elude the badger, •but it is delighted with the small sucking conies. It is well known that the female rabbit forms her nursery at some distance from the common burrow. At night she attends to the little ones. The badger is then on the ramble, and having found out the nursery he speedily digs .his way down, which his powerful claws enable him to do with ease, and makes a meal of all within. Should the mother rabbit be at home she probably shares the fate of her offspring. In this way the rabbits are literally 1 nipped in the bud.’ Though v ry fond of a nest of partridge eggs, and the old bird too if she be caught, the badger is not near so destructive of game as the fox, and he is far to shy an animal to venture near a hen-roost, Here is a method of thinning the rabbits without the use of traps and keepers, and without nest. The badger will not be in the way, and should his progeny become too numerous they could easily be decimated, and their pelts would pay for the labor. From colonial newspapers we observe that the rabbit is becoming a nuisance in Australia. It might be worth while for those who are suffering from its ravages to introduce a few badgers. If the climate answered the latter, so would an abundance of rabbits." ,

Lecture and Concert.—D will be peep by reference to our cdvf rfiamg columns that it is intended to give an entertainment at Woodbury on the 14'h instart, in aid of the school prize fund. The Rev. Geo. Barclay is advertised to give one.of his popular lectures, which will be supplemented by several duets and solos. The price charge'! for admission is low, and, should the weather prove fine, residents in and around Woodbury may look forward to a pleasant evening’s entertainment. The Tahawkra Eruption Claims.—The Government have sent Mr Hotsdikis*, junr, »nd Mr Way out to enquire' into the claims made after the eruptions. A. large number of claim* have been sent in to the Government ■for assistai.ee rendered in various ways, which it was thought at the time was done for pure sympathy and humanity. Some men usk as much as £ls a day for digging out the buried people at Wairoa. Amongst others, J. Warbrick asks forthe value of a boat which he had to abandon after his relief expedition across the lake. The Government have refused to recognise any of the claims, including W&rbriek’sj on the ground that they are not responsible for voluntary ants of private individuals. Other claims have been made for losses by the- eruption, which Government state they can no more recognise than they could the losses of those in the recent storms. Winchester School Committee.-The monthly meeting of the Winchester School ■ Committee was held on Tuesday, August 31st. Present- Messrs R. Smith (chairman), Eosor, Bishop, Shallard, Qimson and George Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The master’s report was read and considered. The visitor, Mr Gimson, stated that a few loads of shingle were required in front of the master’s house; also,' that the leak in the roof lately repaired by the Board was as bad as ever. Mr Bishop was instructed to get four loads of shingie. On (be motion of Mr Ensor the secretary was instructed to write to the Board drawing attention to the fact that , the repairs to the school executed by Mr Eoden wore quite useless, (ho leak being as bad as ever; also, that some drainage was necessary at the master’s house. The master was instructed to obtain necessary stationery from Mr Gimson. Messrs R. Smith and Ensor were appointed visitors. It was agreed to get up a gift auction in aid of the prize and treat fund. ' Temperance Address.—The Native Minister, supported by the Mayor, presided at Matthew Burnett’s temperance meeting at Wanganui on Friday night. The theatre was crowded to excess in every part, Mr Ballanoo said it was the first time he had occupied such a position, but probably not the lafst. ■ He appreciated to the fullest the great work'done by Mr Burnett, which bod bis heartiest sympathy. Addressing through an official.interpretera large number of natives present, including a dozen or more leading chiefs, who had a place on the* platform, Mr Biillance oemmended Mr Burnett’s work to them. It had been said by Sir Julius Yon Haast, in London, that, the native race would soon be extinct, but he felt that the prophecy need not become true if only the race gave up drink. He appealed to the chiefs and young men to lend their aid to save their race from destruction. Ho had absolutely prohibited the sale of liquor in the whole of the King Country but could not do that here, and must depend upon the natives banding together to help them-elves in the matter. He felt so interested that ho had given orders for the printing of large numbers of temperance cards, in Maori, to assist them, Mr Burnett then delivered one of his stirring addresses. His mission has been a great success. Omitting Friday night, 800 pledges were taken, including 250 Maoris. Three thousand pledges were taken in three weeks on the coast. A Rattlesnake Bite —The quick venom of the rattlesnake has not killed so many people as the more insidious but deadly poi?oos found in the air of foul rooms. The i option of the blood by (he lungs becomes impossible sometimes, and the failing health, growing weakuese, and Joss of appetite are harbingers of approaching death. For such cases Hop Bitters are the potent and allpowerful remedy to drive all feyars out of the"system, purifying the blood, and giving aue v and happy lease of life. Get genuine. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. E. Darlow, Geraldine—Wants a boy. Geraldine Road Board—lnvite tenders for culverts, earthwork, shingling, formation, etc. Lecture and Concert —At Woodbury Schoolroom. on Sept. 14, in aid of prize fund, J. Conrad and Co,, P.O. Box 408, Auckland, N.Z.—N toe re Dr Auguste Kiirsteiner’s Electro Galvanic Teething Necklet. J. D. Slater, Draper and Clothier, Sydenham House, Main North Road, Timaru —lnvites an inspection of his new spring and summer goods, just opened. Mr C. E. Sherratf, General Commission Agent, Geraldine —Is an arbitrator and valuer of great experience, and is prepared to manage es'aies for absentees, collect debts and interest, etc. Consultation free.