Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 950, 22 February 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1871.

The Nomination of candidates for the District of the Town of Napier will take place to-morrow at noon, at the Resident Magistrate's Court-house, Napier. Our editorial remarks on this subject have had to give place to election announcements received to-day.

The whole of the " Election Notices" for the Provincial Council elections are now issued, in to-day's Times our readers will find the notices from all the Country Returning Officers.

Militia.—The whole of the militia of this Province will be called out tomorrow, "to be trained as a military force." The town companies parade at 6.30 to-morrow morning. The Inquest on the late fire took place in the Council Chamber yesterday before T. Hitchings, Esq., Coroner, and a jury. We are compelled rohold over our report. The following verdict was returned :—" That there is no evidence as to the origin of the fire. We find that the fire originated in a cupboard within the premises lately occupied by Mrs Bell, and we also find that Mrs Bell is blameable for keeping such combustible matter as straw within a wooden dwelling."

Resident Magistrate's Court.— To-day a case of drunkenness came before tie Court. The individual not appearing, foife'ted his recognizances, Ml. The Court was then occupied with two cases Kirkpatrick v. Foeett, assault, and Foeett v. Kirkpatrick, a claim of ,£3 damages. Mr Lee appeared for Foeett; iVir Maddock for Kirkpatrick. The two cases were involved with each other, and we therefore give the circumstances, as related in Court by an impartial witness, Br Russell. In returning from the races, on the 14th inst., Kirkpatrick, who was driving a cab, overtook Foeett, who was driving a four-horse break. In passing Foeett he took the wrong side of the road, and suddenly swerving, one of his wheels passed over the foot of one of Foeett's mares, laming the animal, and throwing the team into confusion. Foeett afterwards demanded an explanation, a quarrel arose, and he struck Kirkpatrick twice with his whip—ln the Court Foeett offered to withdraw his case if Kirkpatrick would do the same, but the offer was refused. In the witness-box Kirkpatiick evaded the questions put to hipa in a very discreditable manner, for which he was severely reprimanded by his Worship, who threatened to commit him for contempt. —Foeett was adjudged 10 pay JE3 for the assault, and was awarded the same amount of damages for the injury to the horse. Foeett, who had called .Dr Russell, to pay his expenses.

The Rifle Match between twelve members of the Napier Rifle Club and twelve of the "Wanganui Eifle Association cook place this morning, and resalted in a victory for Wanganui, the total numbers being—Wanganui, 476 ; Napier, 462. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each. Mr Stubbs, ,of the Rifle Volunteers, stood highest on the Napier side, having scored 48 points. At the 400 yards' range he made the highest possible score of 20, having got a bull's eye each shot. The average shooting on both sides was very good, viz. : Wanganui, 36-4 ; Napier, 35*2.

Accident. —We regret to have to report that a serious accident occurred yesterday to Mr J. LeQuesne. He was engaged in feeding a steam sawingmacbine, at Meanee, when a block of wood was thrown up and struck him a severe blow on the head, rendering him insensible. Dr Hitch ings was soon in attendance, and afforded every assistance. We are glad to add that Mr LeQuesne, recovered consciousness about 3 a.m. to day, and is progressing favorably.

Erratum. —A necessary line was omitted from our Distiict Court report yesterday near the end. For the "-reason why no plea had been applied for " it should read "the reason why no plea had been entered, though time to plead had been applied for," &c.

Will some of our readers, (says the Greymouth Star) who make use of the telegraph wires in Greymouth, allow us to give them a hint. A man, and not unfrequently a female, goes into the hall of the telegraph office to write a message. He or she, as the case may he, does so; but finding they have not expressed themselves quite as they would have wished, they take another blank form to fill up, whilst neglecting to destro; what they had already written; and the consequence is that secrets are left divulged to the next person who may have business at the office. By this we have learned that Miss ■, who has sent a message to a distant part of the Colony, has disclosed the state of her affections, and that Mr has also

communicated something he had very much rather should not have been known. It is all very careless; and although we are in possession of the most profound secrets, they are held solemnly in our breasts, aud nothing on earth shall ever make us divulge them. Still we would caution persons from being too confident that everyone will act with equal prudence and caution.

The whole of the workpeople at the Alfred Graving Dock, Melbourne knocked off work on a recent forenoon, owing to the intense heat of the .weather. The men also struck work on the previous day for the same reason. It is said that the chisels were so hot that it was impossible for the men to handle them.

A widow, named Stevenson, residing in St. Gregory's, Norwich, England, has attained her 101st year. She has a daughter 77 years of age. This daughter is a widow, having lost three husbands ; she is however to, marry again.

The following extract is from an, jj teresting lecture on Life Assuranj

delivered recently in Wellington by W. A. Thompson. Speaking of the vantages of the mutual system, he said •' It is better than the shares of a mi

the responsible parties unknown to and with glowing prospects of a high p e centage. It is better than a Buildit Society, because they do not covert!

risk ; it is better than lending it to friend, for as the poet says—

Neither a borrower nor a lender be: For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. It is, in short, the best investment for married or single man; let him not set

to find another. A tale is told of the tat Charles Dickens once trying to induce i Scotchman to insure his life, when th advocacy of many agents had failed Sandy knew he was in the presence of very clever man, and one that wished hiu to pay some money away, so he buttonej up his pockets. Dickens, however, sooi opened them, and finding Sandy ha hardened his heart against all ordinarj means, proposed to pay into a strong bank the sum of .£SOO to Sandy's credit, payable to his wife and family on thi event of his death. Sandy said, ' Aye, man ; its grand the way you're talking Are ye in airnest ?' Dickens replied, * Yes; but I want you to pay 2| pei per cent, per annum for the accommoda tion.' The Scotchman said, * Twa ani a»half per cent's "no vera much for such a grand thing. I'll pay it, and if yere in earnest, Mr Dicken's gie us your hand, and it's a bargain.' A proposal for assurance was forthwith taken and com. pleted. (Laughter.) This ingenious device of Dickens is one of the most forcible methods of illustrating the economy of life assurance, and the facility of making a provision. In consideration of the premiums which correspond with the interest in this anecdote, the Ans« tralian Mutual Provident Society will hold at the credit of any good life a sum vary, iog from £IOO to £3,000, payable at \m death, increased by bonus additions at a rate sufficient to restore all the premiums received over and over again. A distinguished medical practitioner has thus expressed himself: —' The man, no matter how strong and herculean his frame, following a sedentary occupation, will have poor health, and, with the addition of alcohol, a short life; active life, with r exercise and alcohol, ill-health ; active life and out-door exorcise, without aicohol, good health. Even the invalid, without alcohol, stands a chance of seeing the full, length of his days.' It is then our incumbent duty to guard against being our owu destroyers, and we rely upon the temperate to assist the office in discovering, so that it may reject, the intemperate applicant."

The communications between tlje various powers interested in the treaty of 1856 still continue. There are rumors of certain demands by France to which Prussia übjects, but they requite confirmation. The Levant Herald, speaking of the position of Turkey in the matter, says that in official circles at Constantinople it was believed the conference will fail to preserve peace, and the Porte is, therefore, making vigorous preparations for war. Mr Jackson, the local telegraph master, had a very narrow escape during a thunderstorm recently, says the Oolac (Victoria) Herald. He had just left the instrument when the lightning was conducted by the wires into the operating room, smashing some of them to atoms, and a ball of fire fell to the floor, and exploded with the report of a cannon. The floor was slightly burned, and the paper on the walls scorched.