LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1584, 19 May 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

’FbXsco Mail.—This mail closes to-morrow (Friday) ait 3.30 p.m. Ball ax Winohestbe.—A ball will take place at Winchester to-morrow evening. Dibteict Cotjkt, Timabu, —Among the oases set down for hearing at this Court to-dav are the appeal cases Mathews v. Cooper and Velvin v. Reid. Tbmuia Town Boabd. The annual balance-sheet and statement of assets and liabilities are now ported on the notice-board at the Town Board Office. Native Ball.— The Temuka Natives and others attending the Native Land. Court at Temusa intend holding » grand ball in the Volunteer Hall next Wedneiday night. Do» Poisoning.— A large black retriever dog belonging to Mr J. Beri, Temuka, was poisoned.last Monday. As far as we_ know no clue has been obtained as to the poisoner. WINTBB SteaWBBBBIBS.— Mr Edgeler, of Belgrovo Cottage, brought to our .office last Tuesday evening a fine wellgrown strawberry. He tells us that he has a great many of them growing in his garden. It is most unusual to see strawberries growing in the middle of winter. Rate.— The Geraldine County Council notifiy that it is their intention to make a general rate of Jd in the £ for the year ending March 31, 1888, which will be payable on the first July next. _ The rate books are now open for inspection. Ode Defences. —A trial of the 6-in disappearing guns has been made fromNgahauranga Battery (Wellington), in the presence of the Governor. Excellent shooting was made at 4500 yards. The guns are capable of throwing projectiles a distance of 10 t OOO yard*. 4

PRESENTATION.—At a recent meeting of the Albury School Committee, Mr Hamilton —who ii leaving the school to take charge of theione at Milford—was presented by the Chairman with a cheque. The Chairman expressed much regret that Mr Hamilton was leaving the dir-1 triot. Thb Tbmdka Distbiot High Schoob.— At a meeting of the Temuka School Committee last Tuesday evening, Mr G. Belton, on behalf of a number of householders, wrote requesting the use ef the school for the purpose of holding a public meeting to discuss the advisability of disrating the school. The request was granted. The Babbit Pest. —Among the papers presented to Parliament on Tuesday was a letter to the Minister of Lands from Mr J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands,' Crnterbury, dated 23rd wit., slating that rabbits had crossed from Otago ■ into Canterbury, and that unless prompt and vigorous measures were adopted, a large area of country would be rendered virtually valueless as already a considerable district was 1 swarming with the pest, and if allowed to j continue extending the colony would sustain j enormous loss in revenue and in wool money.

Footbaliß.—A scratch match will he played in the Temuka Park on Saturday next. Sides will be chosen on the ground, and all members are requested to roll up punctually at 3 p,m. The Vice-President, Mr J, T. M. Hayhnrst, has offered a trophy to. the player of the Second Fifteen who scores the most points during the season,, the .same to play in three matches or more.—A match between the Geraldine and Winchester Footbail Clubs takes place on the ground of the latter at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Th*following will represent Winchester:— James Austin, John Austin, T. Hart, H. Bennett, G, Smith, W. Brinkman, W. Stewart, A. Stawart, D. Stewart, —Simpson, A. Buiett, A. Shallard, J. Clinch, W. Lewis. .Emergeniesß, McLeod and M. McLeod. Two Obopb oi Potato bi. —A telegram reached us from Auckland a short time ago to the effect that a person living in a special settlement somewhere in that ' neighborhood had dug two crops of potatoes there in the same year. We need not go to Auckland to get two crop* of potatoes in one year, as they have been got this' year in Temuka. Mr Spooner, of Aiowhenua, has just dug the second crop this year off the same land, and they are all that could be desired. They have fully ripened and are of, the ordinary siae. There 'is no virtue ‘in the soil on which these two crops have been grown, which is not in good land all over the district, and therefore there is no reeson to doubt but that two crops can be get anywhere about here. This district is oboufc the most fruitful in the world, and yet we are hard up,

Woodbdbv Ceketeev Board.— The first meeting of this Board was held on Saturday evening, 14lh mat. Present—Messrs Platman, Morrison, Middlemiss, Macdonald, and Hammond. On the motion of Mr Platman, seconded: by Mr Macdonald, Mr Middlemiss was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Greaves consented to act temporarily as honorary, Secretary and Treasurer. A conversational discussion followed on various matters, including survey, fencing, road making, etc., but members were of opinion that liltlejcould be done at present lor want of fundi.) It was remarked that now the Board bad got to work they trusted that the residents |of the district would in a short time enable them to complete all needful work m preparing the ground for the purpose intended. Mr Platman was authorised to see Mr [Boyes, of Timaru, and if possible arrange with him for the survey of the ground. This terminated the business, and the meeting adjourned;. ;

Gbbaldihb Dbbatimo Club, A meeting of the Committee appointed to take the necessary steps to form a Debating Club or Mutual Improvement Society in Geraldine was held the Town Board Office, Geraldine, on Monday evening at 7 o'clock. Present— Messrs B. H. Pearpoint, W. S. Maslin, C. E. Shei-ratt, W. Ooltman, E. Mabin, Dr. Foster, and Fergusson. Mr Pearpoint occupied the chair. After some conversation it was decided to hold the first meeting of the Society on Wednesday evening, May 15th, in the Good Templar Hall, for the purpose of inaugurating the Society, when all those present will be invited to come forward and enroll themselves as members. Mr C. E. Shorratt was elected Secretary, and himself, Dr Foster, and Mr Mabin were appointed a sub-Committee to draw up rules to be submitted to the public meeting to be held on Wednesday next. Mr Maslin suggested that failing their being able to obtain the use of the Good Templar Hall, an application be made for the use of a room in the school. It was not considered advisable to adopt that course. The sub-Committee were also instructed to obtain the terms npon which the Oddfellows' Hall could be got. The meeting then closed. 1.0.G.T. The weekly meeting of the Good Templar Lodge, Geraldine, was held on Monday leaving last. There was a large attendance. The W.0.T., Bro. J. W. Pye, presided. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Three candidates were admitted into the order and two brethren were obligated. The W.B. then read his quarterly report which showed that during the past term there had been eight meetings of the ledge with an average attendance of members of 28.5. Eight candidates had been proposed for membership and four initiated. A large amount of routine business was transacted, and the newly-elected officers for the ensuing term were installed. This interesting ceremony was performed by Bro. T. Sherratt, assisted by Bro. J. Brown, who acted as D. At its conclusion votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers, Bro.T. Sherrat (organist), to the Herald for pub* listing the reports of the meetings, and to Bro. A. Fisher, who was entering upon his fifth term of office, for the able manner in which be bad discharged his duties. The Lodge was then closed by tha newly-installed W.G.T., Bro. B. Logan.

. Geraldine Road Board.—A special meeting of this Board was held at the Board’s office yesterday. Present Messrs W. Postlethwaite, W. U, Slack, J. Kelland, and W. Deßenxy. ’ The Clerk (Mr Shiers) took the chair, and stated the business of the meeting to be the election of a Chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Slack proposed Mr Postlefebwtite as Chairman. In doing so he said he thought it would be an advantage to the ratepayers and the district generally to have a Chairman who resided near the office. Mr Kelland seconded the proposition. Mr Postlethwaite said he would prefer that Mr Slack retained the Chairmanship, as he bsd given every satisfaction previously in that capacity. Mr Kelland concurred in what Mr Postlethwaite had said. The only objection he could see was Mr Slack’s residing so far away in case of an emergency occurring. Mr Slack said he valued the honor as much as anyone, but for the reasons given he must decline in favor of Mr Postlethwaite. Mr Postlethwaite wao then elected, and returned thanks for the honor done him. The meeting then terminated.

Tbmuka Voliwtf.br Bazaab. A bazanr to dispone of the goods unsold at the late Volunteer Bazaar (among which are a great nuibber of useful articles, in addition to the usual, fancywork), will take place in the Temuka Volunteer Hall next Tuesday. Special attractions are to be provided. Want or CowriDBKOB Morion. —Tho debate oa the financial proposals of the Government is expected to commence on' Friday, and it is said that a direct “ want of confidence motion ” will then be proposed. Several Wellington correspondents ssy that there is a majority against the proposals of the Government. Tbmuka Emus.—A Government inspection parade of this corps was held last evenin.g. Thirty-four rank and file and three officers were present. Captain Hayhurst was in command, and acted fts inspecting officer. Sergt.-Major Jones was in attendance. The men were put through, the manual exercises by Lieut. White, and company drill by Sergt.-Major Jones. Under command of Captain Efayhurst they were then marched through the town, headed by the Band playing stirring airs, and on returning to ths drillshed Captain Hayhurst informed them that they were to assemble there at 9 .o’clock on Tuesday morning next (the Queen’s Birthday) for the purpose of firing a feu de joie, after which the annual prize firing would take place. A Wedding.— Quite an amount of interest was excited in Geraldine yesterday, the cause being the wedding of (be popular driVer of the mail coach between Geraldine and Orari, Mr Robert Scott, to Miss Edith Johnson, of Geraldine. “ Bob,” «s be is, familiarly known among commercial travellers all over New Zealand and tbs public generally who have CHiise to travel by the coach over which he presides has made himself a general favorite by his uniform good temper and willingness to oblige, and his many friends will no doubt be pleased to hear of ,hia wedding aod sincerely wish him and his bride every hfppineas.

Shocking. Ankia, The details of running down a herd of cattle on the Bluff line last Thursday show that the occurrence was of a shocking character. The train overtook seven head of cattle in daylight ’ near a rockbound cutting, and it is said that the driver did not slacken speed. The consequence was that the entire herd, the property of a widow, were killed or injured in the space of thirteen chains intervening between ; the first and last knocked oyer. When the train stopped, one of the animals was jammed by the lege in the cowcatcher, and it is stated that the driver hacked through its limbs with a email axe above where they were broken. The Society for the Prevention of .Cruelty to Animals has taken the matter in band. There is a slight incline in the. cutting,' but trains frequently stop on it for traffic, purposes. The line is not fenced for miles, although the public, road runs parallel with and close to it. Skinht Men— “ Wejls’Health Benewer,’ restores health, and vigor, cures Dyspepsia Impotence, Sexual Debility. At Ohemieti and Druggists. Kempthorne, Prosier and 0 >., Agents, Christchurch. 2 SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Geraldine, County Council—Notice re rate. Temuka Volunteer Basaar—On Tuesday next. Native Ball—At Temuka next Wednesday evening. Temuka Town Board balance-sheet and statement of assets and liabilities. W. Deßersy, Winchester Ohaffoutting Works—Notifies that he is prepared to out chaff at 3d per bag (owners to fill bags); and crush wheat* oats and barley, eto. .