LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1698, 14 February 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Roman Catholic Church.— The Rev, Pr Grimes will arrive in Temuka on Friday next by the midday express, and will preach jn fit. Joseph's Ohqroh on the following Sunday. Gfbaldinb Rifles’ Art Union.— lt is requested that all books in connection with tins art union be returned to Captain E. H. Pearpoint on or before Wednesday next (tomorrow). Leap Tear Ball.—A “ Leap Year ” ball will bo held in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Thursday evening next. At a leap year ball the ladies take all the arrangements into their of $ hands, so there can be no doubt as Ip the success pp the gathering on Thursday evening.

BUSINESS Ohanob.— ln opr advertising columns it is notified that Mr John Sira, watchmaker and jeweller, has purchased the business in Temuka hitherto carried op by Mr R. Murray. Mr Sim has had ten years' experience, and as ho intends to keep a large atopk end be moderate in his charges ke should be w,ell supported. R.M. Court, Temuka. 4-k?andet Marjtiij was brouglit up at the Temuka R,M. Court, l?at Saturday, before A,‘ M. Clark, Esq., J.P., charged with haying Blbs of powder in hia possession without being ab : e to account £.>r how he became u v it. He was remanded lo Wednesday tii

CYCLING.—At Christchurch, on Saturday evening, Fred. Wood, cyclist, attempted to lower the World’s half-mile record , (Imin 22aeo), but was unsuccessful, failing by 3 2-si.h sec. The weather was unfavorable. Licensing Committees. —Candidates for election as members of the Temuka or Riukapuka Licensing Committees muel be nominated before noon on Saturday next. Should a poll be necessary in either case it will take place on the 28th inst.

Native Coal. The Railway Department is at present making a thorough test in North Canterbury of the heat producing, steam generating, and economic values of the different kinds of native coal. The result will he published s'nortly.

The Midland Railway.—Government have received a cable message from the AgentGeneral, intimating that the Midland Railway authorities at Home are willing to sign the new contract, but stipulate that the draft shall contain the original contract as recently adopted by Parliament. The Government are quite willing that what the Company desire in this respect shall he done. R.M, Court, Geraldine. At this Court yesterday, before R. H. Pearpoint and A. H. Brisco, Eqs., J.P’s, Thomas Carlen was charged with lighting a fire in an open place within the town. Accused pleaded, guihy and having been incarcerated forty-eight hours since committing the offance was discharged after being cautioned. Geraldine Town District. Ratepayers in this district are reminded that the rate roll is now open for inspection at the Town Board office, and that all objections left at the Courthouse, notjhftter than ,’to-morrovjr. A copy of any such objection must bo left at the Town Board office, not leas than seven days before the sitting of the Assessment Court. Serious Accidents.—At Timaru on Friday evening last a serious accident happened to Miss Brisnahan, who resides in Church Street with her married sister, Mrs Spring. She was standing before a fire, when her dress ignited, and before the flames could be extinguished she was burned severely, though her medical attendant thinks she will recover. Mrs Spring was considerably injured while endeavoring to put out the flunes.

The Australian Millioniabb.—Refering to the late AD Henry Miller, who, as reported by a recent cable message, has just died leaving property lo the value of four millions sterling, the Otago Daily Times says : —“ The deceased was not manager of the Union Bank, but founded the Bank of Victoria and the Victorian Insurance Company, and was Managing Director of both concerns, He was in the Civil Service of Victoria in its pre-gold-fiald days, but amassed his great wealth by successful financing and by the enormous rise of city and suburban lands, of which he was a large holder.”

Well Done. Messrs Booth and Macdonald, of the Carlyle Implement Works, have received the following from their representative with reference to their success at the Sydney Ceßtounial Exhibition “We took first and second prizes for disc harrows, beating all other makers, and the whole world was represented. We took both prizes, and our opponents were not mentioned. We took first prize for windmills with irrigating pumps, &c., over thirty other mills on the ground. We have taken the highest honors that can be awarded and over £ls in money prizes.” The Rabbit Pest. —For some months past (mys a telegram from Sydney, dated the 11th February) Doctors Butcher and E'dis have been conducting experiments in the Darling district, inoculating rabbits with a disease whi. h is found among '‘them in Victoria and Tasmania, Bight hundred rabbits were confined in an enclosure ami inoculated with the disease with success. They wasted away in seventeen days. To test the effect on other animals a number wore inoculated at the same time, but have exhibited no sign of disease, thus proving that it is peculiar to rabbits. It is claimed that the disease can be easily and safely spread. With a view of arriving at the best of the inoculating schemes, Government have decided to appoint a commission composed of exports chosen from the colonies, to whom ail such schemes will be referred. The Agent-General has been directed lo obtain a quantity of microbes and directions from M. Pasteur. Recent Fires in Wellington. Although no mention was made in the Press Association telegram of the fact, it appears from the New Zealand Times that one of the men arrested in conheotion with the outbreak of three fires recently in Wellington made a confession to the police. From this confession by Collins it is supposed that he and Hind (the other man arrested) had entered upon a series of burglaries, and being foiled in their attempt to find anything of value sot fire Xo the various premises they entered. It is believed the pair entered the premises in Custom House street, and, not being satisfied with the amount of plunder they were able to secure, the place was deliberately set on fire. The next visit was to the offices of Messrs Lepper. Not finding anything of value here, a pile of shavings was gathered in a heap and a light applied. Fortunately, however, the fire was discovered in time and extinguished before any damage was done. Next came a fiendish and horrible attempt to draw public attention away from the scenes of the two former affiirs by the setting on fire of Mr John Beck's mill. According to the confession of Collins, Hind was the man who in each of the three oases was the actual firerraiser. Whether this is true or not will, no doubt, be ascertained at the public trial.

Accident, —A rather serious accident occurred yesterday morning to Mr N. 0. Nicholas, Ha was riding one of his horses across the, Teinuka river above the Manse footbridge, and for some unexplained reason the horse became restive and commenced to plunge in the stream. He stuck to his seat until reaching the bank, when the horse suddenly swerved round, and the weight of an eel-basket which he was carrying unseated him, and he was thrown to the ground on his head. Mr C. Olliver, who tvas crossing the footbridge at tho time, ran to his assistance, and found him lying insensible on the ground with a deep wound oq the back of his fyeac}. Hp did ajl he could to restore bim to consciousness, and soon had the assistance of T. Radford (Mr Nicholas’s groom) and some others, until Mr A. Spew’s trap was observed crossing the river, Thjs was opd ifl it Mr Nicholas was brought up to the stable, when be was taken to his home in a buggy. Dr Compbell was sent for, and was in attendance without delay, when he fquijd that Mr Nicholas was suffering from a deep wound in the beac| 7 snd that his neck was very stiff and so're. Dr Campbell drpsspd th,e wound, aud’ attended to his patient’s wants generally, and from latest accounts we learn he was getting on well and beyond danger.

Retrenchment ! —This is the way the Government is retrenching in Taranaki, according to the New Plymouth dews ; —“ We learn that from five to seven paities of surveyors will be engaged in surveying the alternative routes —Waitara and Stratford—to connect with the main trunkline. These parties are now either on the ground or on their way to it. It is probable that their work will occupy over twelve months before it is completed, as detailed surveys of loth routes are to be made.” The Hessian Fey.—Sir Jas. Hector has examined the Hessian fly sent to him from Marton, and has no doubt as to its destructive qualities. Sir James has suggested that the only means of getting rid of the pest is for the ground wherein the egg of the fly is laid to be ploughed with an especially deep furrow plough. There is a suitable one at the Agricultural College at Lincoln, which he has suggested to Government to place at the disposal of the settlers whose land is attacked with the fly. A Further Warning.—A few days ago a paragraph appeared in these columns stating that owing to, the grass in the immediate vicinity of the Anglican Church, Geraldine, being set fire to the Church had narrowly escaped destruction. On Saturday afternoon a swagger boiling his billy oa the river-bed accidentally set fire to the fl»x and tussocks near the corner of the church fence, and the fire spreading rapidly part of the fence, consisting of marcrocarpa trees, was dostioyed. The fire, fanned by a south-easterly breeze, spread with great rapidity in the dry grass and flax Had it not been for the number of men abou who rendered willing assistance the consequences m ght have been serious. The person who set fire to the flax was taken in charge by Constable Wdloughby for lighting a- fire in an place within the town. Still another narrow escape of the building being destroyed by fire took place on Sunday morning. Shortly after the service had commenced t. strong smell of fire pervaded the Church, and the congregation began to get uneasy. The crackling of flames being heard a glance through the windows showed that a large body of flame was m very close proximity to the building. A number of the masculine portion of the congregation went out for the purpose of subduing the flames. This was the signal for a general stampede on ttie part of those present, the church being emptied in a trice, fortunately without accident. The lire was found to have caught the long grass round the church and was burning furiously. A number of volunteers were speedily at work with sacks, water, etc., extinguishing the flames, but a considerable amount of work was necessary before this was accomplished. As it was the buggies left in the chureh yard had a narrow* escape from being burnt. The tether rope of a horse belonging to Dr Fish w«s burnt through and the horse somewhat singed. As mentioned above both the old and the new churches are surrounded with long grass, which just now is extremely dry, and unless some steps are taken to minimise the risk of this being ignited the probability is very strong that a serious conflagration will have to be reported.

Baxter’s Lung Preserver has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy m the treatment ot Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, and othei > chest and throat complaints. Read advt. and try it. Answer This. Did you over know any person to bs ill, without inaction of the of the stomach, liver or kidneys, or did you ever know one who was well when either was obstructed or inactive ? and did you ever know or hear of any case of the kind that Dr. Soule's American Hop Bitters would not cure ? Ask your neighbor this same question.—Time* SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Leap Tear Ball—At Temuka on Thursday evening. Roman Catholic Church —Notice re visit of Rev. Dr Grimes to Temuka. W. R. D. Lawson—Has appointed Mr W. Coltman to collect outstanding accounts. Geraldine Rifles’ Art Union—All books to be returned to Captain Pearpoint on or Refore the 15th inst. F. W. Stubbs, Returning Officer—Notice re election of Licensing Committees for Temuka and Raukapuka districts. J. Brown, Beehive Stores, Temuka —Notifies that be la now allowing a discount of 3s in the £on all cash purchases of drapery, clothing, boots and shoes; special quotations for one month. Robt. Murray, Watchmaker aud Jeweller —Notifies that lie has disposed of his Temuka business to Mr John Sim, and requests that all accounts due be paid at once to him. John Sim, Watchmaker and Jeweller, Temuka—Notifies that he has purchased Mr Murray’s Temuka business, and hopes by diligent attention to business, good workmanship, and moderate charges, to merit public support.