LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1690, 24 January 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Customs. —The Customs revenue for the yean 1887 was £1,280,585, as against £1,311,308 for 1886. Art Union.—The drawing of the art union now being got up under the auspices of the Geraldine Rifle Volunteers has'been postponed till the 16th February. Poll.:—A ppllupf the ratepayers ia the Woodbury Water-supply District, on the proposal of the Geraldine County Council to borrow £SOO for irrigation purposes m the said district, will take place on Saturday, February 4th. ■ " Dbunkbwnbb*.—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, four men were charged with drunkenness, Bernard .O’Brien aqditkvp first 6ffenders v were severally fined ss,j)»gdiJ<>hn Brien, .a “prohibit,” was sent to gaol.fprMS hours. Death bferA Valuable Hoesb.— young Banker, a holed Clydesdale'sire, ’the property of Mr Donaldson, died at Oamaru last week. Young Banker was imported from Scotland by the Hon. Matthew, Holmes, and.his pro-, geny has fetched wy high prices.

Annual Pabiph Gathering.— The annuel parish gathering and Sunday School treat in connection with St. Mary’s Church, Geraldine, has been arranged to take place on Thursday next. The children are requested to assemble at 2 p.m. It is to be hoped the weather will prove fine for the occasion.

Lboiubb at Tekuka. The Rev. J. Dickson will deliver a lecture on “ Superstitions of the Old Country,’ Past and Present” in the Terauka Volunteer.'Hall to-night. As will be seen from the synopsis of the lecture, which appears in our advertising columns; a great variety. of subjects will be dealt-with, and it cannot fail to prove interesting and entertaining. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Presbyterian. Sabbath School.

Retrenchment. —Tha rumor that one of the Wellington forts was to be dismantled is incorrect* but about 10 or 40 officers in the department of , the Minister of Defence are likely to receive notice that their services are no longer required. The annual subsidy of £SOO to the Otago School of Mines will be discontinued after March next. Government have decided’ to supply Hospital Committees with funds for carrying on the administration of hospitals till 31st March next, the end of the financial year. The coat of supplying newspapers to the Civil Service in New Zealand is about £3OO a year. Government consider the amount too large, and it is probable that it will'be reduced by at least £2OO per annum.

The Rabbit Fence.—The Chairman of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce has received a reply to his communication to the Government re the proposed rabbit fence. The reply states that Government is fully alive to the gravity of the situation, and is most anxious to adopt any means by which this provincial dictrict may be saved from the invasion of the rabbits, and it has only hesitated because it is not certain the fence will answer the purpose intended. The Minister of Lands, in company with Mr Lance, M.H.R., will shortly visit the locality and report, when Government will decide whether the fence shall be erected or not. Wbestbino Championship.—The wrestling match for £SO a side and the championship took place at Dunedin on Saturday evening between George Robertson (the half-caste) and Harry Dunn before a large audience. The men were evenly matched, and though Dunn was adjudged the victor many held Robertson the superior man. There was a bitter contest during the evening for a prize for Qr»co-Roman wrestling between J. Dunn', the champion’s brother, and Hudson. • A good deal of' ill-feeling was shown, each man working -to’ get on a strangling hold with such determination that the referee had to interfere. At the; finish of the big match they rushed at eaeli.other and began fighing in real earnest, but the curtain was promptly lowered and the men separated. Narrow Escape.—Burke, the welliknown pugilist, had a most peculiar experience in the Sydney harbor, on Saturday. While out for rowing exerciss his boat was attacked by a shark of immense , size, ;and he at once pulled hard to get away from it, but the voracious monster kept alongside the frail craft. Burke struggled on till at list his boat opened but, and he was thrown into the water. At this time he was about 150 yards from the ahote, and he at once struck out for land. The shark attacked the boat, and commenced crunching it ' up, but Burke managed to reach the 'shore safely. It is .thought that the boat being of a light color attracted the shark, while Burke, who wore d dark jersey, managed to swim ashore. Several instances have occurred lately where oarsmen have been pursued by sharks. Bad Management.—For some time past (says the Lyttelton Times) the Ellesmere Road Board has been yery short of funds, caused principally by repeated law actions audits inability to strike a rate (ill. next April. The whole of the last rale has been collected and spent j the Board has no assets on which it can realiseiji the banks refuse any overdraft, and the result is the bailiffs are in possession* They were put in by Mr Thomas Nicholson, who obtained judgment in a Compensation Court a few weeks back for £3O for cutting a drain in front of or through his property. The claim of £3O is swelled up to £9O by solicitors’ fees, commissioners’ fees, etc., etc. The Board has no means of settling the claim, and intends letting the office furniture, timber, and working plant be sold by auction by order of the Supreme Court.

Ferrets and Rabbits —The Tapanu Cornier in ikes the following protest: —“in spite of the protests of the settlers in this district, the chief of the Rabbit department in Otago persists in turning out ferrets at a heavy, cost to the country. Hundreds of pounds are being expended by the Rabbit department in breeding and baying ferrets, and when they are turned out they are destroyed right away by the traps, In oue instance that pamo unde)? oprnofipe repenfly, a. ggttlpr set 26 rabbit traps, «nd the following morning 1)0 found gayep ferpals and only ' foar rabbitß caught, Last week specially-made b nx ® 8 ' vero out of f thi , 3 district for ferrets, and Wegfippo.3B a f |esb lot of vermin is now: to be liberated in our midst. Ferrets (Jegtroy the settlers poultry, and consequently eyery owner of birds tius g A'pru a' vendfltii Urn vonnio,’’’

A Freak of Nature.—Mr W. Ashby ' has a mure in his possession which carried a foal 12 rnoitus and 14 days. ) The fori is quite strong and healthy.

Primitive Methodist Oonbebbaok.The Primitive Methodist Conference opened at Invercargill on Friday, but in the absence of several northern members nothing was done. Mr G. Froggart (Invercargill) was elected President, and the Rev. J. Sharp Vice-President. The connexional officers are as follows ;—The Rev. W. Harris, Secretary ; Eey. Layoock, assistant Dumbell and J. Jay, readers; and the Rev, J. Sharp, writer.. The sitting was taken' up with the reception of reports from stations re church properties, all showing progress and healthy condition. Pastor G. Muller, of Bristow, gave an impressive address. Wesleyan Conference. —The Wesleyan Conference opened at Wellington on Friday. Rev. Mr Williams, of Christchurch, Was elected President, and Mr H. Bull, Thames, was appointed Secretary. The Rev. Mr Morley gave notice that there should be an independent conference for New Zealand. The first reading of the station list placed the Rev. W. QvJ'honiaß a* Waimate, Hey. W. Rowse at Terauka, and Rev. W. Marten at Timaru. On Saturday fraternal greetings were received from the Sydney and Adelaide Conferences now in session. The Rev, 8. Griffiths was unanimously admitted as a minister in full connection with the conference. The recommendation of a meeting of the Auckland ministers was agreed to in the ease of the Rev. H. B. Dewsbury, who applied to be made a supernumerary. Presentation. On Thursday last a few of the members of the Geraldine Flat School Committee met in the schoolroom to present their late pupil teacher, Mr W. J. Lewis, with a small token of appreciation for his past services. Tha Chairman,; Mr David Shaw, after a few appropriate and encouraging remarks, wishing him every success in any situation he may occupy, presented him with a handsome gold pencil. The other members of the Committee fully endorsed the remarks made by the Chairman, After a few hearty cheers by the children, Mr W. Lewis thanked the Committee and parents of the children for the uniform kindness he had always received from them, and said he would appreciate the presentation very much as a memento of days gone by. A Traction Engine in Trouble,-— On Saturday evening a traction engine and combine, belonging to Mr M. Scanned, of Arowhenua, attempted to cross the Waihi river at Geraldine, A littlo'to the left of the crossing a deep hole has been scoured out by the late fresh, and the person who was piloting the way not being avvaro of this the engine was driven into it by accident. Immediately opposite the hole is the incline leading from the river, and great difficulty was experience! lu getting the engine out, The soft shingle of the riverbed afforded no crip for the wheel?,- and the engine soon began to bury itself. It was only after two or three hours work, and p'acing firewood, etc., under the wheels, that it could be got •out. The combine was afterwards hauled out with the wire rope attached to the engine and both proceeded on their way.

Good Tempmet, —At Wellington bn Friday the Grand Lodge of the World made presentations to the W.G. Secretary and G.W.0.T., Bro. Jenkins. The report, which was unanimous for the union, was adopted, and conveyed by deputation to the sister lodge. At the Grand Lodge of New Zealand a resolution was unanimously passed expressing regret at the death of the Hon. J. B. Finch, E.W.G.O.T. The report of the Secretary showed an increase of 42 members, with a decrease on Lodges. Seven Lodges were institated during the year, and three organised, while eleven ceased working. At the session of the combined Lodge members of both Grand Lodges met together as one Lodge. Sir William Fox presided. Fiftythree officers and representatives were present. The following officers were elected and installed; —G.0.T., Bro. Glover, of Auckland j G. Counsellor, Bro. B. N. Adams, of Dunedin ; G. Vice-Templar, Sister Clark, of Tauranga ; Secretary, Bro. Cameron, of Dunedin; Treasurer, Bro, Carr, of Dunedin. Resolutions were passed condemning clubs, and also the re-establishment of distilleries in the colony. Coughs, Coins, Bronchitis, Ac,, are quickly cured by using Baxter’s “ Lung Preserver.” This old-established and favorite medicine is pleasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical, legal, and clerical professions. For testimonials see advt, Sold by all patent medicine vendors.

BYNOP3J.B OF AD FERTISI£MENIS,

Geraldine Rifle Volunteers—Art union drawing postponed till February 16. Geraldine County Council- Poll re Woodbury Water Supply loan on Saturday, 4tb February.

Parish Festival and Sunday School Treat — At Geraldine, in connection with St. Mary’* Church, on Thursday next. Harman and Stevens, Christchurch—Have 150 acres of first-class land, near Waihi Bush, to let by tender for 7 years. A. Grant, Torauka—Offers 10s reward for recovery of lost sheep dog ; votifies that all trespassers on his farms will be prosecuted.