Untitled

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2994, 29 January 1881, Page 2

The Rev. D. Sidey, Messrs Dobson, Lee, and Harding, have been nominated for the three vacancies in the Education Board.

In consequence of the delay in the arrival of the Rotorus the mails will not close for Southern ports and Melbourne till 5 p.m. to-day.

Messrs MoDougal and Yuill are the successful tenderers for the erection of Mr Beck's new store at Hastings for the sum of between £500 and £600.

His Excellency the Governor left Tarawera at 9 o'clock this morning, and, as he will not arrive till dusk at night, he has requested that there be no publio or formal reception. The Criterion Hotel will be illuminated as usual in honor of the Governor's arrival.

A shark by some means became stranded in the surf on the beach at the foot of the Coote road yesterday morning, and was captured by some of the men of the hardlabor gang of prisoners who were working near there. It measured six feet five inches. Bathers should be careful, when taking their morning ablutions, not to venture too far out.

A " Daily Passer-by" writes to say that he hopes His Excellency the Governor will not be driven along the new Taradale road

to be shown and smell the rotting carcases of the drowned dogs in the lagoon. The flesh of the fish caught in that neighborhood, our correspondent asserts, tastes strongly of dead dog. It is altogether too bad that, since we have been in the enjoyment of local institutions, there is no one to be held responsible for local grievances.

Duriner his interview with the Hon. Mr Rolleston yesterday, His Worship the Mayor took the opportunity of pointing out the fact that the corporation had been in correspondence with the Goyernment for nearly two years in reference to the opening up of a road between Wellesley-road and Miller-street. The railway had completely blocked up several proposed streets within the borough, and rendered the corporation quite unable to carry a water supply to the inhabitants on the west side of the railway line. Mr Rolleston said that the matter did not belong to his department, but he would take care that the views of the deputation were properly represented to his colleague to whose department it belonged.

The Theatre was crowded last night en the occasion of the representation of the popular opera boufle " H.M.S. Pinafore." This piece has been only once before placed on the stage at Napier, when so much

disappointment was created that the pnblio have been anxious to see it produced in some sort of manner by which they could judge of the cause of its extraordinary Popularity. No very great hopes, however, wt.re entertained respecting the power of the Lydia Howarde Company to give a fin-t-class representation of the opera oil account of the absence of an orchestra, but this deficiency was most creditably atoned for by the remarkably able manner in whioh Mr Hydes rendered the instrumental part of the performance on the piano. Mr Leopold who, we believe, was the first to introduce the "Pinafore" to Australia proved a tower of strength, and, combined with Miss Lydia Howarde's thorough knowledge of stage business, and abilities, both as a vocalist and actress, succeeded in securing a most successful performance The opera was well got up, and was played with admirable spirit throughout. Miss Lydia Howarde made a capital Josephine, and was repeatedly applauded; she was fairly well supported by the members of the company, Mr Leopold's Boatswain being especially good. As an amateur, Mr Gilpin, in the part of Captain Corcoran, dnserves honorable mention, though the oharaoter rather overtaxed his powers. It speaks highly for the performance that on its conclusion the audience heartily cheered, and every one went away well pleased. The Pinafore will bo again produced to-night, when no doubt there will be another crowded house to take farewell of a company that has afforded so much pleasure during their short stay here.

An extraordinary phenomenon was recently witnessed within the borders of the King Country, when snow fell on the Tokanua and Oawau Mountains, and on the hills lyintr between them. In the memory of the middle aged Maoris (reports an Auckland telegram to the Lyttelton Times) such an occurrence never happened before—even at the colder season of tho year.

The Americans are going to send over to England for trial an engine whose easy normal speed is sixty miles an hour, and which on occasions, it is supposed, can beat any engine in England. It was built to run between New York and Philadelphia, but is first to be tried on one of the English lines, in the hope that America may get a lion's share of the locomotive business in thao country.

Says the Wellington Post: —" Two splendid sculling boats arrived here from England in the ship Hurunui a few days ago. They were constructed by the well-known firm, Messrs Swaddell and Winship, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and have been sent to this colony to the order of Messrs Stook and Batkin, members ot the Star Boating Club. Mr Stock's boat measures about 30ft. in length, possesses a SOin. slide and weighs 271bs. It is said to be exactly similar to the boat in which Hanlan recently rowed Triokett."

Camden Place, at Chiselhurst, whioh the Empress Eugenic is about to leave, is a retreat. It is hidden, and it hides. Farnborough Hill, s>*w, **, op *he other hand, set on a hill, and can be seen. It is much larger than Camden Place. When the Empress came from South Africa she was exhausted with the excitement of a voyage whioh generally enlivens and energises. She looked an age older. But she has now recovered a little of her elasticity, and is likely to be that most lovely of all women—a handsome, snowhaired widow.

The London Sporting Gazette says whatever may have been the powers of Triokett in his own country as a sculler, he is a long way behind his countryman, Laycock. In attending to the Hop Bitters contest it says, " clearly every man's hand seemed to be against Laycock, and only by the most determined pluck did the ' Bushranger' get first home to the flag at Mortlake." After referring to the Canadian and Australian oarsmen, it remarks that rowing in England just now is at its lowest ebb, and what its future is to be it is difficult now to discuss, the " jolly young waterman " being a thing of the past. The want of good prizes is ascribed as the reason for so little interest being taken.

Three gentlemen, having lately passed through the Taupo country to Wanganui, report having discovered Beveral caves, contained in whioh are large quantities of alum. Other caves were also explored, in whioh sulphur was abundant. The explorers' attention was also attracted by a lagoon, the surface of whioh was oovered with a greenish substance. The substanoe may be oxide of copper, but owing to the volcanic stratum little or no signs of the, ore could be diseernable on the surface of the ground in the vicinity. Two of the gentlemen, whose principal object is that of prospecting for gold, purpose renewing their researches, as there appear to be traces of the existence of that metal in the country to the south of Taupo.

A married woman named Margaret Leqrou was Buffocated at jAkaroa on Sunday night under mysterious circumstances. At the inquest held on the following day, the husbdnd stated that they retired to bed about 10 o'clock on the evening previous. About an hour afterward* he was awakened by deceased, whom he found lying on her side black in the face and breathing with great difficulty. He sent a neighbor for the doctor, who arrived about half an hour afterwards, but deceased was then dead. Dr. Guthrie deposed that deceased was dead when he arrived. On examing the body he found that death had resulted from suffocation. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had died from suffocation, but that there was no evidence to show how it was caused.

The New Zealand Times of Wednesday last has the following::—" The Hon. Mr Rolleston leaves by train this morning for Masterton, en route for Napier, where he ia to meet, the Governor, and accompany him through the West Coast districts. Owing to his detention at Ohinemutu, to confer with some of the chiefs there, the Governor ia not expected at Napier till Sunuay. In the meantime—after his arrival at Napier, probably on Thursday evening—Mr Rolleston will loott into certain local matters in connection with his portfolio of lands. Possibly, too, there, may be something done m connection with filling up of Ministerial ranks. This is mere surmise on our part, but rumor, if not rife on the subject, has whibpered the names of one or two Hawke's Bay politicians of standing-, to whom the vacant portfolios may possibly be offered. His Excellency and Mr Rolleston may be looked for in Wellington the latter end of next week.

The Manawatu Times of Saturday last has the following:—" We have gathered some details of what appears to have been a deliberate attempt to wreck the Fcxton train, and which we give as furnished to us from a reliable source of information. It would appear that between 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning, some one had lifted the centre-plank at Baven'a crossing, and placed a stone underneath in order to keep it high enough to oatoh the cow-catcher of the engine, the other end being firmly nailed down. The nails that were drawn were placed outside the iron rails. The end that was

lifted was meant to catch the train from Foxton, the late train from Wanganui simply passing over the plank, and pressing it down, the end springing up again after the train had passed. One of Larson's men, passing spot on Sunday morning, saw the position of the plank, and fixed it securely back in its place, thus removing all source of danger. At this portion of the line the train runs at full speed, and had the obstruction been served in time, it is highly improbable tho r train could have been pulled up in time_ to avoid a serious accident. It is simply impossible that the obstruction could have been caused accidentally, the position of the drawn rails being sufficient proof of that. It would appear as if a wilful and diabolical attempt had been made by some person or persons unknown to wreck the train ; that apparently being the only objeot \in view. The|upraißed piece of timber would

probably have been torn up by the cowcatcher, and fallen in front of the engine almost certainly oausing an accidont that would most probably have been attended with fatal results. Every effort should be made to bring the guilty to justice.

The Weekly Merctjey published this morning, will be found a suitable medium for transmitting colonial news to friends at home by the outgoing 'Frisco mail. The Lydia Howarde company play " Pinafore at the Theatre this evening at 8 o'clock.

The salo of plant, &c, by Mr Routledge is fixed for Thursday next at 11 a.m.

The Returning Officer, Mr Cullcn, appoints the days for the nomination and election of three members of tho Harbor Board, in the room of Messrs Lyndon, Robjohns, and Smith, who cease to hold office.

The quarterly meeting of the licensing districts of Napier, Petane, and Ngaruroro, is gazetted for Tuesday, March Ist. Mr Routledge will sell by auction seventeen cases of Wairoa apples at Richardson and Co's store, Spit, on Monday next, at 2 p.m. Mrs Oliver, Puketapu, has room for ono or two pupils a3 boarders.

Mr Lyndon will clear, on the premises, Emerson-street, the whole of Mr Grant's stock of drapery on Wednesday next, at 11 o'clock.

The valuation list for the highway district of Papakura is now open for inspection.