LOCAL & GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2255, 17 September 1891, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Counterfeit Half Sovereigns.—John William Jackson was committed for trial at Christchurch on Tuesday morning for passing counterfeit coins, in the shape of guilded sixpences, for half-sovereigns. He had victimised several tradespeople. Entertainment at Woodbury.—Tomorrow evening the Primitive Methodist Church Choir will give the service of song “ Little Dot ” in the Woodbury schoolroom in aid of the school funds. The service is a very nice one, and should attract a large audience. Lecture Entertainment.—A lecture on “ Duncan Matheson, the Scottish Evangelist,” will bo given by the Rev. W. 0. Wood at the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, this evening, commencing at 8 o’clock. The lecture will be interspersed with songs. Sporting.—At the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting on Tuesday the Shorts Handicap was won by Alexander, Grand Stand Plate by Hero, Spring Maiden by Patrol, Metropolitan Stakes by Yowi, A.J.C. Oaks by Corvette, and the Squatters Handicap by Chatham. Masonic.- —Mr W. R. Mitchell, District Grand Secretary, has been notified that M.H.R. the Prince of Wales, Grand Master of England, has appointed Mr Peter Cunningham, of Christchurch, District Grand Master of the Canterbury District Freemasons under the English Constitution. Human Remains.—Human remains have been found on the ranges of Mr Sibbald’s, Sawdon station. They are supposed to be those of Andrew Thomson, known as “ the doctor,” who was missed from the station about ten years ago. Thomson was a chemist, and was very much addicted to drinking. A Perect Picture.—'Visitors to the Temuka cemetery should visit the caretaker’s garden, and inspect Mr Philips’ magnificent show of hyacinths. He has a lovely bed of these, measuring 22| feet by 4 feet, and closely planted. In all of bulbs were put in, and the show of blossoms now isJa really beautiful one. They are 1 of all shades of colouxj and there are individual blooms of rare magnificence. Many of them have been raised by Mr Philips from seed. Geraldine Races. —The privileges in connection with the Geraldine Spring Meeting were put up for auction yesterday afternoon by Mr Mundell, and knocked down as follows :—Horse stand, £2, B. O’Brien ; refreshment stall, £1 2s 6d; grand stand, booth, and luncheon, £lB ; No 1, outside booth, £l3 ; and No. 2, outside booth, £7 10s ; all to Mr Homes. A Cry from the People.—At a mass meeting held in Christchurch on Saturday night two thouand persons were present. A resolution was enthusiastically adopted that the Premier should at once recommend to His Excellency for appointment to the Legislative Assembly a number of working men, known to be supporters of the late Government, and that upon the appointment Parliament should be convened to pass the labour bills. Piscatorial. —The fishing season is approaching, and preparations are being made for it. There is on view in Mr D. Taylor’s shop, Temuka, a large quantity of fishing tackle, which will no doubt prove interesting to disciples of Isaac Walton. He has rods, reels, and lines which ought to satisfy even the most exacting, while his stock of all kinds of baits is varied and extensive. Every article which fishermen are likely to want can be obtained there. Supposed Infanticide.—The leg and foot of an infant were found on the Te Aro beach Monday. They are believed to be part of a prematurely born child. A telegram from Thames dated Monday, says : In connection with the finding of the body of a still-bom male child in a drain outside the town on Saturday, a young woman named Kate Codlum was arrested this afternoon, and charged with concealment of birth. Social at Temuka —We would remind our readers that a social in connection with the Wesleyan Church takes place in the Social Hail this evening, commencing at 7 o’clock. In our Tuesday’s paper in the advertisement in reference to this social it should have been stated that it is the gift of a lady of the congregation. A very nice programme has been arranged, and those who attend should thoroughly enjoy them-

selves. The Dicks Bankruptcy.—Application was made at Christchurch on Tuesday morning for the annulment of the bankruptcy of Joe Dicks, late proprietor of the Waltham Arms Hotel, who was recently arrested at Oamaru on a charge of evading his creditors. The creditors have been paid in full, and £SOO remains in the hands of the Official Assignee as security for Dicks remaining to answer any further proceedings. The Official Assignee was instructed by the Minister of Justice to lay a criminal information under' the Bankruptcy Act against Dicks, who was arrested on a warrant in the Supreme Court at the conclusion of the bankruptcy proceedings,

Mes Mason. —This lady will give a free lecture to ladies this afternoon in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, and on Saturday she will give a special private talk to ladies, for which a charge of one shilling will be made.

Dangerous Bridge.—ln our advertising columns the Geraldine County Council notifies that the Opihi bridge is unsafe for heavy trafiic, and specially warns owners of traction engines of the great risk they run by crossing it. Fatal Accident. John Burgess, a settler residing on Norfolk road, between Inglewood and Waipuku, was drowned in a river near his house on Sunday. —A boy named King, aged 12 years, was drowned in the Manawatu river, Wellington, on Tuesday afternoon. Deceased with four others was crossing in the Wirokino ferry punt with a horse and cart, when the horse backed the horse over the end of the punt, and King went under with her. Temuka Horticultural Society.— The Committee of this society are at present soliciting special prizes for the annual show, and also wish to induce new members to join, so that the prize schedule may be made out on a liberal scale. The society is deserving the support of every resident in the district. All intending exhibitors should procure a preliminary schedule from the hon. secretary (Mr H. M. Miles), or hon. treasurer (Mr E. C. Dann), so. that they may know what to specially cultivate in their gardens. It is reported that some of our Temuka amateurs intend to compete at the Timaru Show, and judging from the remarks made by experts at the last show, in Ttinuka they should take a fair share of prizes. Parliamentary. —ln the House or Kepresentatives after the telegraph office closed on Wednesday morning, “The Counties Act Amendment Bill” bemg under consideration, clause 18, creation of new Counties by petition, was struck out. On the motion of Mr Oadman a new clause was added to the Bill, enabling county councils contributing to “ separate institutions ” under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, to appoint trustees at any time when those representing them shall resign. Another new clause was inserted giving county councils power to light streets, roads, bridges, and other publie places, and buildings, by means of gas, electricity, or kerosene. The bill was reported as amended and put through its final stages. The House rose at 3.30 a.m.

Drastic Remarks— JudgeConollysum med up the evidence at the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Monday morning in the case of Hugh Shortland, solicitor charged with criminally libelling a young girl. The jury retired for ten minutes and came into the court with a verdict of guilty, and the judge passed a sentence of two years. He said that during the whole session there had not been one case that aroused in his mind such horror as this prisoner’s. Not content with publishing charges a gainst the character of the girl, well knowing them to be utterly false, defendant had after a lapse of time repeated these charges and supported them with perjury. It was surprising that while the law allowed hard labour for other offences, yet in the present instance it was not allowed. He was glad that he .had never yet ordered the lash, but it was strange that for such a case the law did not give power to make some addition. The judge said the. prosecutrix’s fair name was absolutely established. The sentence would give the defendant time for reflection and repentance, though he had little hope that any thug’, that would fall from his lips, or any sentence passed, would touch the heart of one who had shown himself so utterly destitute of every feeling held by a man of honour. The sentence was received with applause.

Local Industry. There has been turned out to the order of Messrs Aspinall & Co., Temuka, by Mr Eobert Kennedy, coachbuilder, a four-horse spring -waggon, which is a credit as a local production. It is the first one of the kind which has been constructed locally, and in point of strength, and apparent durability it makes a striking contrast to the waggon the same firm obtained from elsewhere, it being far stronger and better finished. The waggon is capable of carrying 50 sacks of wheat, and will be used by Messrs Aspinall & Co., in removing flour and wheat to and from their mills. With the exception' of the springs and axles, it has been made entirely on the premises, the iron work being made by Mr David Henry. The waggon is certainly superior to the imported article, and in addition the price is less. It would be wise on the part of people who want any kind of vehicle to try whether it could not be made cheaper and better by local tradesmen than it can be obtained elsewhere. Wff believe local tradesmen work as cheaply as they do anywhere, and as they live in the district they are more likely to give good value than people living at a distance. There are therefore many advantages in getting the work done locally if possible.

Professor Mason. —Those who came late last evening to Professor Mason’s \ entertainment in Temujca were unable to obtain seats. Every part of the Hall was packed. After having dwelt at some length on phrenology, Professor Mason lectured on “ The Eye and the Teeth,” i giving many interesting hints regarding | what to do in certain simple cases. With regard to the magnetic medicated pads, Mr Andrew Gibson stood up in the Hall and said a man told him that evening that he had been suffering from sleeplessness for weeks. On the previous after-, noon he visited Professor Mason and obtained one of the pads, and that night he had a splendid night’s sleep for the first time for several weeks. Mr Gibson is ready to give anyone the man’s name, but declined to make it public then. We may add to this that we have heard of no less than four cases in which the pais have relieved pain of long standing. A class to learn the use of the magnetic machine was formed, and will meet in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, next Tuesday, evening, at 7 o’clock. Last night was set apart for teeth drawing, and a large crowd went on the platform, when the professor extracted the teeth painlessly and with lightning rapidity. Persons of all ages, from the school boy to the grandmother were operated on for about ten minutes, and teeth in large numbers were strewn on the stage after the performance was over, but no one complained of pain. Large numbers came forward too late and were unable to get operated on, but their teeth will be extracted this evening. On Friday evening Professor Mason will lecture on “ Love, Courtship, and Marriage,” and promised to make his discourse spicy! He will also examine unmarried people phrenologically, and tell those who are suited to each other. On Monday he will lecture to men only on plain facts.

Julius Siegert, Draper, etc.—Wants a sober, smart young' man. Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine — Lecture entertainment to-night,

Geraldine County Council —Notifies that the Opihi bridge is unsafe for heavy traffic.

E. C. Dann, Chemist, Temuka —Notice re Dann’s Condition Powder and clover and ryegrass seed, etc. W. Bowman, Bootmaker —Has removed to the premises lately occupied by Mr J. H. Jackson, bootmaker. Messrs J, Ballantyne and Co., Victoria House, Timaru—Draw attention to their large and varied stock of carpets, floorcloths, and house furnishings, etc., and invite visitors to Timaru to walk through their premises and inspect the goods.