LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 479, 18 November 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Miscellaneous reading will be found on our fourth page.

The local theatre is booked for a Cinematograph Company on December Ist. In the Native Land Court to-day Judge Butler was occupied with confirmation and succession cases. The Court files have not vet arrived.

The Hustings swimming baths are now in full swing for the season. Tlieso baths are a perfect boom to Hastings as there are. no satisfactory bathing places within easy reach of the town. The baths are scvuplously clean and there is a continuous flow of artesian water through them. Mrs Moronev makes special announcement for the accommodation of ladies. The successful career of Mr W. Symonds, eoachbuilder, &c., of Hastings, continues, and to-day the information has been received from Palmerston North that the proprietor has secured first prize in the Victoria carriage and second in the four-wheeled dog cart class. It it refreshing to find the manufacturers of Hawlie's Bay are more than able to hold their own with outside firms.

Inspector Euimerson's house, Brewster street, Napier, was burned to the ground last night at 8 o'clock. The house, which was a seven-roomed one, was owned by Mr John Dinwiddie. The fire is supposed to have originated in Mr P. Emmerson's bed room. Two members of the family and some friends were sitting conversing when they heard a crackling noise and found the'plaee on fire. The house was insured in the Sonth British for i'3oo; the furniture and effects in the North German for £l5O, and Mr Jas. Emmerson had a risk of .£SO on his personal effects. At the S.M. Court this morning before Messrs McLeod and Hughes, J's.P., Chas Connop was brought up charged with attempted suicide on the 9th inst. Constable Smith conducted the prosecution and Mr E. H. Williams appeared for the defence. Mr J. Gibbs, the youths Thomas and Schaeffer, and Constable Smith gave similar evideuce to that published in these columns at the time of the occurrence. H. Connop gave evidence for the defence. Mr "Williams intimated that in case the accused was discharged his father and brothers would look after him, and when they were engaged otherwise they would engage someone for the purpose. Their Worships retired to consider the case, but could not agree to a decision. After hearing legal opinion it was decided to call in a third Justice for consultation, and Mr Ellis assumed a seat on the Bench. The case was proceeding when we went to press.

That tlie police force in New Zealand is sadly in want of reorganisation is once more proved by the bungling of the Blenheim police in the case of a young gentleman named George Hooper. Mr Hooper, who was attending the Blenheim races on the 2ndJ inst. was pounced u;"jn as a speiler who had robbed a man of a totalisabor ticket. The man who lost the ticket and a friend of his said that they thought accused was the culprit, and after wards before the Court they swore positively as to his identity. The police said he was a suspicious character and despite the fact that Mr Hooper produced documents proving him to be an English tourist the Bench sentenced him to a month's hard labour. In the afternoon Mr Hooper's solicitor was in possession of fresh evidence which would establish Hooper's innocence, and he applied for a rehearing, which was opposed by the police and refused. A telegram was at once dispatched retaining the services of Mr J. W. Card, a rising young lawyer of Featherston, and that gentleman went straight away, investigated the case, and overcame all opposition, secured a rehearing and proved 011 unimpeachable evidence a miscarriage of justice. Mr Hooper was at once discharged having served five days of the sentence. It is deplorable, not to say alarming to see police officers who have charge of the public liberty hunting an innocent man into gaol merely for the sake of getting a " case." A great many policemen labor under the impression that the aim and object of their existence is to secure convictions, honestly if possible, and, if not, anyhow, but as Mr Card intends pushing this matter further he may succeed in relieving their minds of a serious delusion.

Tyerman and Co s Weed Destroyer, foe garden paths, carriage drives, <fcc. One gallon of this to 40 of water will destroy weeds and prevent growth for some two years. Price, bottles Is, 5s per gallon; reduction in larger quantities.—Adty, Eccles' Quinine and Iron Tonic con tains Quinine and Iron in a high state of purity, and is the most agreeable. Strengthening, and efficient agent yet discovered. 2s 6d per bottle. To be obtained from A. Eccles, chemist, Napier and Hastings, and at all leading country stores*—ADYT.

Clements, who is in the Dunedin Hospital under arrest for the murder of his wife, with a constable always in charge of him, is rapidly recovering from his selfinflicted wound, and is now considered to be out of danger. A man named Patrick Kussell is missing from Papawai. He has not been seen for several weeks, and although the police have made enquiries they haye been unsuccessful in obtaining any information regarding his whereabouts. At the inquest at Marton on the unfortunate man Robert H. Hirst, the jury returned the following verdict: —" That the deceased met his death accidentally by falling off a ballast train at Kakariki, and that the ganger, Evans, in uncoupling the trucks whilst the train was in motion, committed an error of judgment, but that the deceased also contributed to the cause of his death by sitting on the side of the truck against orders." After a long search the police found Pohlen's gun cunningly concealed under his house. The second barrel was loaded and capped. It is an old battered muzzleloader, mended in broken parts with copper plate. They also found near the scene of the tragedy the wadding of the discharged barrel, which was a bit of an old newspaper containing an account of the suicide of Barney Barnato. With the fowling piece they discovered also a rifle of very old-fashioned pattern. A fatal case of hydrophobia contracted i a unique manner occurred in Paris last month. A Mile. Sant-azerio, daughter of a former chef oi Queen Isabella, died from this dreadful disease, which was communicated by allowing her pet lap dog to lick her lips. The dog was not supposed to be mad at the time, and did not develop symptoms until the day before the death of its mistress. This is said to be the first known case in which rabies has been contracted except by a bite.

Here is a funny story of Melbourne's late coroner, L>r Youl. One day the doctor's sanctum was invaded by a lady with a hard work-a-day phiz, and a brougue as thick as Pentridge hominy. " Ye're inqueshtin' Malone the day'?" said the visitor. " I have one Dennis Malone on my list, ' replied the coroner. " I'm his broken hearted widdy, so I am. Malone swallowed a halfsovereign wanst. If ye come across it fwhin you're inqueshtin' himself, sure I don't mind lettin' ye have haf -a-crown for yer throuble."

The lunatic Isaac Brown, who was tied to a tree morning by settlers at Kaitoke (says the Post), had released himself from his bonds before Constable Bree arrived at the spot, and was again at large in the bush. There is an amusing side to the capture of Brown. It appears that he bad a hallucination that there was a girl somewhere calling for him, and he was anxious to see her. The constable was therefore introduced to Brown as the " big brother " of the girl who wanted to see him, awl the lunatic instantly became docile, coming out of the bush chattering with Brec, and all the way into town his talk was all about " de gurl." Bree kept up the idea until Brown was in safe custody. He was examined by two medical men, and committed on their certificate to the Asylum. In the bicycle relay ride from the Bluff to Chri.-teburch several accidents occurred. All the riders, with one of two exceptions, rode their best, but in the darkness at least three of the riders between Dunedin and Oamaru met with mishaps. While Lawson and Skinner were riding between Evandale and Palmerston they did not notice that there was a bar across the Waikouaiti bridge, which is being repaired. Lawson ran against the bar, and broke three of his fingers. After seeing to his comrade Skinner rode on with his message to Palmerston. Dey and Moore—from Palmerston to Hampden—had to cross the Horse Range owing to the bad state of the Shag Point road. Moore's machine got away with him coming down the range, and he met with a bad fall, by which both he and his machine were badly injured. This also delayed the message, and when Stedman and Capstick took the message at Hampden it was considerably behind the expected time. Between Otepopo and Maheno one of these riders had a fall, and the result of all these misadventures was that the message was delayed 1 hour and 36 minutes in reaching Oamaru. Large stock of spring and summer suitings. Every variety of best material at moderate prices. Cut style and finish guaranteed by Dodds the Tailor, Heretaunga road.—Advt.

Dodds has the very latest patterns in Scotch and English Tweeds, For firstclass cut and fit Dodds is unrivalled. — Advt.

De Pascall's Pills cure Indigestion Heartburn, Costiveness, Headache, Furred Tongue, Wind, and all symptoms arising from a disordered state of the liver, stomach, or kidneys. They cleanse the bowels, and act like a charm in removing all impurities from the blood, toning and refreshing the whole system. Is 6d and 2s 6d per box. Agent—A. Eccles —Advt.