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Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 21, 4 November 1879, Page 2

Aix Saints' Chuuch —The services at the above Church wore on Sunday lust conducted by the Rev. Mr Newth, who paid his usual fortnightly visit to this portion e+ his district. '1'h ■•. rev. goutlem \n started yes terday morning for Wellington, for the purpose of attending the Diocasan Synod. CoOxty Cocxaib.— -The C.nnty Counoil held its usual monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. A report of thj proceedings will be found in another column. A Bio Sat,r. — By advertisement in another column, it will be seen Messrs W. J. & F. Lou 'on intend to hold a monster sale of goods at their shop on November 19. The opportunity tha sali* will present of obtuiuiu<j cheap bargains will no doubt be taken advantage of by a large number of heads of families and others. CathomcChuuch. — As announce ],i meeting of Catholics was held at the Athenaeum on Friday evening, when, owing to thr downpour of rain, there was not a largd attendance. The obief business transacted was the appointment ot a committee to report as to the most suitable kind of building, &c. Their report will be presented to a further meeting, which will bo held at the close of the present week. Swimming, a Lifb Fbrskrveii. — A singu lar feature of colonial experience is the number of soafaring men wbo are drownedthrough inability to swim. One would think that of nil other persons engaged in tbe ship.

ping trade would acquire the art of swimming, for their own safety. Oftentimes, a lurch of a ship, a false step, a sea shipped, or somo other small hccident, precipitates a man into the water, and in nino cases onr, of ten his life hangs on his ability to swim Yet, we find that in at leant 50 per cent, of cases of seamen boing drowned, it is becauso they have not acquired the simple art. folly strikes us as passing strange. Tho man Lodjt, wlio was drowned from the Stormbird last week, was, wo are informed unable to swim ; as also was the man Thompson, drowned off the tfarah Pile. Probably, in each case tho life would hav^ beon save! by a knowledge of swimming. This matter assunes a serious phase, where so many lives are lost. The State has a right to ask whether its subjects should be allowed to place themselves in constant danger, when a simple and easy course of instruction would in the majority of cases save their lives. Every facility should be given in ihe large ports by the Government to enable seamen to learn the art of swimming, and every inducement also. We would even go so far as to advocate a law compelling 9oafariu» men to learn. Such an enactment wight appear to infringe upon the liberties of the subject, but the fact that we must of necessity dovelope into a maritime nation, would be sufficient excuse for insisting upon every precaution being taken to protect tho lives of our sailors.

Music. — We are requested to call attention to an advertisement in another column, staling tint Mr G-. W.King will bo unable to visit Foxton until to morrow

Acuoss the Fkriiy. — On Friday last, the Bclioonei Falcon, which had been discharging ballast near tho Ferry, in endeavouring todro ) down to tho wharf got ushore near the wire, and impeded the working of the ferrj for about 10 hours The mail coach whs unutle to cross until about 1 1 30 pin, The passengers and mails however, were brought over in time to catch the np train.

Judicial. — From the reports of Parliament, we notice that m Friday last Mr Johnston asked the Government whether it was their intention to appoint a Magistrate for the County of Manawatu. Mr Rolleston replied that iho Government would consider the matter. It i* to be hoped consideration will lead to action in the direction indicated by the questioner. The rapid development of Manawatu, the numerous courts held, and the large population settled within its boundaries,necessitato the early appointment of " Resident" Magistrate. Tho gentleman who now holds the ofllce has i*t all times proved himself anxious to afford tho greatest possible con vcnifiice to tho public, but tho distance he has to cover in the course of a month is beyond what can fairly be expected of v public officer, and we have no doubt Mr War i would gladly divide his work. Should bhe division of tie present magisterial district t-ike effect, we auliuip-ito Rangitikei and Manawatu will enter into a friendly competition for Air Ward's services. Whbherer district is presided over byjhim, may consider itself exceedingly fortunate.

The Suiphng Thaee. — Shipping matters were unusually brisk at Foxton on Saturday. Early in tho day 4 the Stormbird hauled off from the wharf and sailed for Welllugton, her berth being taken by the Tui, from the same port. The Hannah Barrett was lying at the north end of the wharf, whilst the Zior, Martha Reid, Falcon, and Osprey, were moored near to the wharf, which appeared wretchedly small, with sa many vessels about it. Later in the duy, the Maggie Patterson crossed the bar and anchored near Hartley's.

The Buoy.— As we predicted, a sad sto*y attaches to the buoy recently found on the beach between Foxton and Otnki, and which was marked Sarnh File. From the accmnt contained in tlio New Zealander, it appears thnt the vessel was on a voyage from Napier to Kaipara, by way of Cook Straits, and shortly after 3 p.m. on the 27th September, tho vessel then being 20 miles off C.ipe Egmont, a seaman named Kven Thompson, while engaged in securing the main sheet, got knocked overboard. A lifebuoy was immediately thrown to him, the vessel put abou% and a boat lowered , but it seems that the man c>u!d not swim, for he disappeared almost immediately, aud the bvit, after cruising about for some time, returned to the vessel, which then resumed its voyage. The buoy was not picked up Thj weather was fine at the time, and the vessel was making between four and five Unolo per ho'ir, w'th all sails pet. Thompson was an ordinary seammi, and abmt 37 years old. Oil arrival »t Kiipara, the captain immediately reported the occurrence to the authorities, and an enquiry was held, whdu sill hands were held blameless. A Si'fiOßSTiox —During an interim iv the business at the County Council yesterday, Mr Klebbell sugzeattd that the Council should citrate the close of its year ou November "-27, by a dinuer. lie referred to the advantages of such a means of promoting good fellowship, and suggested the Cjunoil shoitlil invita fcho representatives of the Press, and the official*. No action was taken in the matt er, j