Local and General.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 491, 29 March 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

Two Christchurch young ladies, fast companions, and who generally are dressed alike, made a wager as to who could dress the quickest. The winner's time wa& 3h 15m 425.

Thk public opinion of Europe i& decidedly against England in the present Transvaal crisis. Tho Government have already, and in the most solemn manner possible, appealed to our good sense and moral consideration to grant the Boors the liberties they crave. German newspapers, representing in an especial way the thought of that nation, join in the

same petition.

The following is from the Waipawa Mail:— Weunderstand that Mr Chadwick, web-known as a chemist in Canterbury province for many years, and who holds a high reputation in his profession, is about to open buisness in Waipawa (Hawkes' Bay), shortly, should ho be sue cessful in securing suitable premises. There can be no doubt but that should Mr Chadwick decide on settling down here, he will find Waipawa a good field for thoroughly practical man, and such we believe him to be.

For some time past an advertisement j has appeared in our columns. a 8 well as in a considerable number of our contemporaries, giving the price list of a watch manufacturing firm called the "Rodanow Manufacturing- Company, Boston." We may state that the order for the insertion of the advertisement had every appearance of emanating from a large and wealthy wholesale establi-hment. It was accompanied, also, by a copy of a newspaper published in orneai Boston, in which there appeared an article laudatory of .die company and its productions. From inquiries made by an Otago contemporary, however, it appears that the company is simply a swindle. We quote the following from the Otago Daily Times of March 19th :— " On Wednesday last we published some particulars with reference to a bogus watchmaking firm, which lias been extensively advertised throughout the colonies, and is known as the Rodanow Manufacturing Company. We have been able to obtain some Luther information from the Sunday Herald, a Boston papei, to hand by the last mail from San Francisco. Shortly before the mail left the police had arrested a num. who gave his name as Alexander Krodanow, on a charge of using the United Stales mails with intent to defraud, their suspicions having been aroused hy the nature of the advertisements published by the • Rodanow Manufacturing Company.' Investigation soon showed that the company only existed on paper, and the magnificent premises in Portland street, Bos ton. proved equally mythical. head quarters turned out to be a sinol' room partitioned off one corner of a second-hand store. A few cheap watches, which the police said would not bring 10 do'larsat auction, were found in the place. The police had little difficulty in discovering that Alexander Rodanow, who lejoiced in a second name—Dr Ganz— had been concerned in some Socialistic movements in Europe. In the Portland street office was found a list of over 40 newspapers in which the advertisements of the sham company had been inserted, including some printed in Hindoo and Chinese characters. That the business carried on by Rodanow alias Ganz bid fair to become a profitable one, may be gathered from the fact that before he was depthed of his liberty he had given receipts for over 40 registered letters. Sinct his arrest the Sunday Herald says that registered letters for the' Company ' had been received by each foreign mail in increasing numbers. One letter contained a draft for 400 dollars, sent by an officer of the Spanish Navy, as payment for six of the better class of watches advertised by the Rodanow Company. When the mail left the prisoner was waiting trial." j

It has frequently been remarked that public bodies in Canterbury are fond of transacting too much of their business in coiumitteee. The Taranaki Harbor Board, however, can give the Canterbury bodies points at this game and heat them. It appears that that august assembly desires to keep secret, not merely its discussions, but even the resolutions it arrives at. Here is an account of what took place at one of its meetings, as reported in the Herald :— Mr T. Kelly pointed out at the Harbor Board meeting on Tuesday, tlie necessity of resolutions passed in Committee being afterwards confirmed by the Board. The Chairman said that the object of going into Committee was to transact the busness in private, and that object would be frustrated if the Board had to confirm the resolutions passed in Committee as the business would be mad i public. Mr Kelly suggested that the resolutions should be confirmed in general terms without disclosing the purport of tie business, and one to the following effect was passed, "'That the resolutions passed in Committee be confirmed by tho Board." It is an important fact that a considerable amount of important buisness passed in committee has never recieved the necessary continuation of the Board so as to make the business legal and it may be advisable, even at this late period, to confirm what has been done more than twelve months ago, for there is no knowing' what may be the result of buisne •••; transacted illegally. <

Says a Northern contemporary :—A robbery was commited tbe other day by some little boys at the premises recently occupied by Mr Kum Sing, and a considerable number of valuable articles were taken. It appears Mr Kum Sing on vacating his old shop left a small box containing a quantity of jewellery, fans, &c, in one ol the rooms. Some boys effected an entrance into the house and broke open the box, taking away its contents. Mr Kum Sing had not missed the articles when some of them were brought back to him by a person who had received them from one of the boys. Tha greater part of the jewellery has been returned to Mr Kum Sing, and he declines to prosecute, as he considers the boys are of too tender years to be classed as criminals. The Heajthen Chinee sets an example of forgiveness which could be profitably copied by many Christians.

We have known of many attempts, more less successful, to obtain advertisements on the cheap, but the latest dodge of a Government Department puts them all in the shade. The Government Insurance Office has enclosed circulars setting forth tlie advantages offered by the Departmens, to the sub-enumerators of the census. The latter are expected to distribute them with the schedules which they have to leave at every dwelling. If the enumerators do their part, therefore, every householder in New Zealand will have received one of the circulars, and this extensive distribution will have cost the Office nil. Mr Luekie is a smart man, _To donbt his journalistic experence has taught him a thing or two. It is rather too bad though? to make the enumerators perform the duties of billstickers, or at any rate distributors, and to do the additional work free, gratis, and for nothing.

A meeting of the Committee of the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club was held on Saturday last, the 26th inst., at Brooks Hotel, the President in the chair. The Vice President, Mr W. Barnett, and Messrs Checkley, Hunt. Shadbolt, and the Hon. Secretary, Mr Duxbury were also present. Tho confirmation of minutes was postponed until next meeting. Letters were read from W. Montgomery, Esq., M.H.R., W. Baieman, J. H. Monrad, and others. The Vice President explained, that being in Christchurch during the past week he had called upon Mr Coster for the purpose of finding out the amount of assistance the New Zealand Shipping Company would ue likely to grant for the shipment of cheese. Mr Coster had explained that 50 tons would not be sufficient to warrant the expenditure which would be incurred in fitting up a special compartment, and pioviding machinery for reducing the temperature. He thougnt the Association should tiy to get together 100 tons. If this were done, the Height would be less, and there might be no difficulty in 'anding the article in good order. It was resolved to ask members of committee to renew their excriions in striving to get the dairymen to ship their produce home in pre" fereuce to bartering the same with storekeepers at the unprofitable prices at present ruling. All they required was united action, as two large and respectable firms had promised to advance cash, and stores also, at the lowest piices current. A member pointed out that to ask cash for produce from Peninsula storekeepers nowadays was considered highly insulting, it was quite time' they took matters into their own hand. A draft copy of the rules as printed was submitted and approved. Twenty three additional members having joined the Association during the past week, their names were ordered to be added to the printed list, and nine, to tlie list of committee. Letters

were received, wherein promises were made of about 17 tons of cheese for shipment. Some discussion of a conversational character, rel tive to packing, inspection of qualities, etc etc, took place, after which the meeting adjourned until Saturday next, at the same place at 1 p.m.

We clip from the Waipawa Mail tlie following concerning a former resident of Akaroa : — James Annand was charged with having, on the morning of Sunday, 13th mst.. between the hours of 1 and 2 a.m., assaulted Constable Strudwick. Constab c Strudwick, en being sworn, stated that from information received he proceeded to Annand's house, and found the prisoner's wife outside in a very excited state. The prisoner at once rushed to the door, and picking up a brass candlestick, threw it at him. He (the constable) then entered the house, when Annand struck him on the head with a board. The prisoner also soizad a hammer, exclaiming, " I will knock your brains out." Mrs Blank and Mr W- Meredith, who witnessed the assault, gave corroborative evidence. Mrs Annand, who seemed to feel acutely the position in which she was placed, briefly stated that her husband had somewhat ill-treated her on the nignt in question. Iter child was screaming in bed, ar.d on her asking prisoner to give it up, he rtfused to do so. She then sent for the police. The Bench inflicted a fine of il and costs, or in default 48 hours'imprisono ment. The same prisoner wis further charged with ill-using his wife, but tho further hearing of the ease was adjourned until Tuesday, when he was again brought up before Mr A. St. C Inglis, J.P., and bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in &20, and two sureties of £10 each. '

The Messrs Cameron Bros., steamer Than, made an excursion trip from Lyttelton to Little Akaloa on Sunday, of which a large number availed themselves. The weather was delightful, and all on board enjoyed themselves greatly.

We extract the following quotations of tlie price of imported cheese from the Liverpool Weekly Mercury oi dan. 22: — " Extra line, GG* to 70s ; fine, 53s to 63s : ordinary to medium, 40s to 605."

Diuectly after the clock struck twelve on the night of 31st December the whole of the prisoners for debt in Scotland were liberated, in accordance with Dr Cameron's Act. Twenty-five men and two women were set free from Glasgow Prison. As they passed out of the gates, carrying with them their beds and bedding, several hundred persons who were waiting greeted them with cheers.

Two paragraphs got-mixed up in a newspaper—namely, a lecture by a rev. gentleman and a slight railway accident. It read as follows :—Tho Rev. Mr Danty gave an interesting lecture on English Authors yesterday evening. Ho began hy leaving the Boozel station at the rate of twenty miles an hour* He said the tale alluded to was a splendid masterpiece. The buffer was smashed, and the shock to the passengers great. Literature, he said, was one of the faults of the engine-driver, and out of fifty persons only three were injured. A grand array of books blocked tha line two hours. Mr Danty was much applauded during his lecture. The affair is to be inquired into. Another is to take place on Saturday.

A Taranaki exchange thus discourses concerning Mr Johnston, tho new Postmaster General. "We think that Mr Johnston's accession completes the number of the elect; their honesty is admitted, their piety is unquestionable, and their respectability is beyond suspicion. With such a trinity of good qualities, what special necessity is there for any ultra statesmanship or nervous vigor? They would only create difficulties, and make good men uncomfortable by shaking their faith in themselves. Mr Johnston will never do this, and though he may differ on one vital question with Mr Dick, yet no doubt they may heave together on Denominational education."

On Friday, during the absence of Sergeant Willis at the Little River races, a telegram was received by Constable Scott from Mr Brooks, of the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, informing him that three men were in that locality conducting themselves in a most outrageous manner. Tlie constable at once proceeded to the Head of the May, and found that the men in question had demanded liquor from Mr Brooks accompaning the demand with threats. They also proceeded to Mr B. Shadbolt's, when only Mrs Shadbolt was at homo, and there demanded food. Constable Scott arrested the men and brought them into Akaroa. On Saturday morning they were brought before the Resident Magistrate t and remanded till this day. The names of the men are Rasmus Petersen, Henry Andersen, and George Johnson. The two former are Scandinavians, and the latter an Englishman.