Untitled

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 90, 21 September 1868, Page 228

Archdeacon and Mrs Williams and family (6) were passengers by tbe Moudewai, which arrived from Poverty Bay yesterday.: Early this morning numerous ■vague reports were current in town, haying reference to a native party said to.be in the neighborhood. We have made inquiries,; and believe them to be founded on the .fact that a letter was received in town last night from Mr Shirley. stating that a band of natives had been seen travelling in the:direction pf; Upper Petane, who refused; to. give any account of their destination or intentions,. ' I

Wild Rabbits/bn Wic/obta;— wild rabbit nuisai>c£r’t£;is to assume serious proportions in /he country west of, Geelong. They have taken possession of many choice spots in that-, district, and the question is,; how to 'dislodge them;- To such an extents hey are-.-eating down the grass on the property of Mr. Wm. Robertson,-near Golac, that he had been obliged to enter on a war of extermination —snd rather costly one it will. .be. Therabbits are m vast numbers in the Waurj* ' Hills,'which are full of old. wombat holes through and under the rocks, and- into ' these the rabbits cannot-be followed. They can, however, be smothered and starved to death by stopping.up the holes and all the outlets, and at this work there are now eighty-five men employed, with the prospect of their having to be so engaged for some months to come. The cost of this one raid against the rabbits is expected to be at least three or four thousand pounds, and the gain will be only temporary, for however carefully the men may do their, work, a few cbuples will assuredly be left alive to multiply again. In part 3of the country with natural shelter for them, it will be simply impossible to exterminate the rabbits now.

Death of Mu Sandeoud Rowe.—We regret to say that Mr. Sandford Rowe, who . preformed in Auckland as a member of theatrical company of Mr. George Fawctt, died suddenly at Hokitika, on 'the, 25th August. ,It appears that the deceased, who resided on the Hauhau Tramway, had been engaged in painting the “ Casino de Venise,” and had complained of pains in the region of the heart. He felt so unwell that Dr. Mourillyan, was sent for, who advised him to go to the Hospital at once. Deceased had hardly got as far as the door before he fell down and expired. Dr. Young held a post mortem examination of the‘body, and gave it as his opinion that deceased died from “ disease ol the heart,” and the coroner’s jury returned a verdict in accordance. Deceased was 28 years of age. The W est Coo st Times, in recording the death, say: —“The deceased is brother of George and Thomas Fawcett, the former of whom is on a starring engagement throughout England. His father is Mr. Rowe, the very eminent lithographic artist. There are very few in New Zealand or Victoria who did not know ‘Sandy Fawcett. ’ Ho was a clever, kindly, ge-nerous-hearted man, and one who did much more good for others, when it lay in his power, than he ever did to himself. Hiswife—formerly Kate Grant—is, we believe, at Charleston under a professional engagement.” Ignorance oe Medical In the General Assembly recently held at Edinburgh, there was an interesting debate upon a proposition for establishing a more satisfactory mode of examining students, by the presbyters of the church. The contemplated improvement was warmly advocated by Hr Douglas M‘Laggan, who^gave from his own experience au amusing example of its necessity. He said —ln the medical faculty, with which he was connected, they required the stu-* dents to pass a preliminary examination in literature and mathematics. A.t a late examination there were fifty-five candidates, and in English twenty-seven passed and twenty-eight were rejected. If the Assembly were to hear, all the details of the examination they would be astonished. One of the questions—not a very profound one -was as to the meaning of the word “ hypothesis.” One of the candidates said it meant “ a machine, for raising water.” (Laughter.) One of the historical questions put was as follows: —“Give some account of Galileo and Copernicus ;** to which, one of the students replied that Galieo was a man that had committed five murders—(laughter)—-another that Galileo and Copernicus were men who had together in some battle—(laughter)—and a third student said that Copernicus was “ a compound of two metals.”—(Laughter) Punch to the Publicans. —A "Word to the Witlers.—Punch recommends his friends the licensed victuallers to give up, for a short time, the pleasure-of holding blutant meeting for, self-protection and talking tall nonsense under the presidency of fifth-rate members of Parliament, and to take notice of evidence which is being given to the House- of Commons on the part of the artisan class. Mr Potter, and other officials of unions, associations, and the like, are. assuring the House that theworkmen desire 'stringently restrictive measures as to the sale of liquor, not qnly on Sundays, but at other-times. That the most skilful drink: the most, and pray to be protected against themselves. That they wis.h beer were a guinea a pot. That the fault of the Sunday Bill that it is not half strong enough, and much more to that effect. Now, it does not in the least matter, for the present purpose, how far these witnesses are authorised, or whether they desire a wise and just thing. Their evidence has great - weight, ' and 'will be listened to. And it will be quoted, if not no w, by the next Chancellor of the Exchewho >is notoriously; inclined to. be as hard as he can upon the . drink trade. But the blessed/bungs-won’t pay attention to all this. It is Bo mucb easier to drink toasts and oheer a rampant secretary describing a publican, as the nearest likeness to an aDgel which this world affordß. Why is not the great body of artisans appealed to and asked whether they want 'tbe sort of legislation desired by Mr Potter ?.. _ , “ Pll neither tell my the census - or the sovereign,” said the cook, most resolutely, to her master, who was preparing for the enumerator. “ Very well/then 5 I’ll justjaut you down gjSty-five, ” was the cool reply; - sir, -1 was only fifty-niue lastMprthday,” screamed .Cook/"'• V