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Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 24, 14 November 1879, Page 2

Rowing Club. — We are pleased to note the completion of the shed built by the local Rowing Club on the river bank, for housing their two racing boats. A meeting of the Committee of the Club was held at Whyto's Hotel on Wednesday evening, when the whole of the members were present, Mr A. W. Howe, captain, in the chair. It was resolved to request Mr J. W. Liddell to inspect the work, prior to taking it over from tho contractor. Wo understand a I procession of boats in honor of the opening of the season, will take place ou Saturday, starting from the shed at 3.3u p.m., and proceeding down to the point, opposite the Hcv. Mr Duncan's residence, returning past the wharf. We are requested to give a cordial invitation to all persons owning boats to join in the demonstration. Maguffix Again.— The facetious writer in our Palmerston contemporary suggests that in writing of the country between Foxton and Paikakariki we should change the word ( lund" into "sand." Like a great many other persons " Magufh'u " estimates the quality of the country by what lie hns seen in riding along the beach. The absurdity of such a method is apparent. If he were to mount one of the sandhills on tho beach, put bis *' microscope" in his pocker, and use a telescope, he would be hold hundreds of thousands of acres before which the glories of Fitzherbert with its new potatoes would melt away ! We do not often predict, but we will for once, and our prediction is that before another deaade has gone over •' Maguffin's " head, there will be a township within 15 miles of Foxfcoo, between Otaki and Horowhenua, that will show a growth as rapid as that of Palmer ston. Those who know the country best '■ including our worthy County Engineer) spetik of it as simply magnificent, and not to be surpassed in the Colony. N. Z. Insuranck Co. — We notice that the local g ageucy of the above Company has been transferred to Messrs. Thynue, Linlou & Co. By the advertisement, which appears elsewhere, ye notice that the directors are giving persons connected with the agricultur \l int' rest the opportunity of providing against loss by fire on special risks, such as, — standing crops, stacks of wheat, oat.s, hay, threshing machines, barns, granaries, wool.sheds, stables, outhouses, farm houses, and agricultural implements As so many persons havebeen ruined, or perhaps suffered los 3 which it has taken years to regain, by their homesteads, or stacks of grain, &c, being destroyed, we shouid imagine thai this enterprise on the part of the company will be largely availed of by country settlers throughout the colony. Particulars regarding the new rates can be obtaiued from the agents. Mill For Sale.— Jtsy an advertisement, in another column it will be seen the Painka Sawmill is for sale or lease. Choral Society. — A capital practice of the above Society was held, at tho Hall on Wednesday last. Thsre wus a good attendance, and the various glees and choruses were pung through in a most creditable manner, auguring well for tho next co"hcerb Wo understand that the concert will bf given iv about a mouth's time. Theatrical. — The hoardings of the township have been placarded for the last few days with bills announcing th<* intending performance of a company styled " The Fun and Frolic Troupe." According to tho posters the troupe comprises sime sensational acrobat performers, and other artists of various lines, and gives an enter tainment combining sensation, wit and fuu. The performance will take place on Saturday evening next at tha Hall. Native Lands Court. — This Court, which was to have sat at Boston this week owing to the death of Judge Young, has been adjourned pro tern. Otaki Broils. — Brown, the defendant in the threatening language case heard at Otaki on Tuesday last, and which was remandel to Foxton, has laid a similar charge against the native whose life he is charged with threatening. Both 'cases will ba heard at Foxton on Wednesday next. Cook Strait Cable. — Mr Gann away informs us that Cook Strait Cable No. 1 is now repaired, and working satisfactorily. The Weather. — The recent dry weather has been succeeded by a fine, gentle rain, which no doubt will prove very welcome tc the settlers. Picnic — The residents of Otaki celebrate 1 * the Prince of Wales' Birthday by a larg s picnic, which, owing to tho rain, did no' prove so successful as otherwise would have been tho case. However, any enjoyment lost during the day, was amply made up in the evening, when a capital danco was held in tho schoolroom, and was continued with great vigor until tho small hours of the mo-mug. To a Correspondent.— We havo received a letter, signed "Ratepayer," in which a strong personal charge is made against v gentleman holding a public position. Men who take public positions hnvo to put up with a good deal of annoyance and vexation, and their actions are, very properly, liable to be criticised in a searching mauner ; but we think the line should be drawn somewhere, and we can see no good end to be gained by publishing letters suoh as that forwarded by " Katcpayor," which boars on the face of it strong evidence of being prompted by bitter animus. An Ancient Autograph Book. — The register of the ancient hostelry called the Hen and Chickens, at Birmingham, longland, ia an autograph book of hundreds of illustrious names. During a century, scholars, politicians, artists, and litterateurs put up by preference at the comfortable little inn. Maoready, the actor, the Kembles and Mrs Siddons, Daniel O'Connell, the elder and the younger v| at hews, Madame Vestris, Southey, Wordsworth, and Tom Moore ; LabJeche, Albani, Braham; Q-risi, and Mario ; The TSraperor Louis Napoleon, English statesmen by the ton, the Comte de Paris — all the autographs of these and hundreds more adorn the book. Paganini'a scrawling signature is there. It is in the tradition that he practised his

weird music in his bedroom at nil hours of tho night, anil prevented the house from Rleoping by the unearthly strains. Daniel •Liiiiilsjrl's f lt ;. iisV was laid upon the hook leaf, and the stairs have croaked beneath the weight of his 750 lbs of flpsh and blood. Thulberg's autograph is accompanied by a bar or two of music ; Sims Reaves' also, the word "Addio" terminating on an upper H flat. Decline In Tub Value Of Shout horns.— Late sales of shorthomed cattlo (remarks an English paper), have not realised the inordinate prices of a few years ago. A marked shrinkage ia observable in this as in bo many other directions. The benefits conferred upon tho community by those who have devoted so much attention to the raising of cattle which will fatten moro than those of an ordinary breed, we should be tho last to underrate ; but at one time the competition for beasts of the ["fashionable" strain becamj a complete mania. When £3000 were given for a single heifer, people began to ask whether there was not somo trickery in a. trades which ran up prices to such a ridiculous height. There can be litilo doubt that the" extreme anxiety of wealthy breeders to obtain the best blood did produce an undue inflation of prices £and tho full of nearly 50 per cent., which has been seen in the case of two or three recent sales, will tuach caution to the buyers of these works of " high art." The Kangaroo. — Mr Frank Buckland^ thus describes the way in which the kan-'j garoo aot its name : When Captain Cook first discovered Australia, he saw some natives on the shore, one of them holding a dead animal in his hand. Tho captain sent a bo.ti'u crew ashore to purchase tho animal ; and finding, on receiving it, that it was a beast quite new to him, ho sent the boatswain back to ask the native its name. " What do you call this 'ere animal V said the sailor to the naked native. The native shook his head and answered *• Kau-ga-roo," which me:»nß in Australian lingo, " I don' t understand." When the sailor returned to the ship, the captain said, '* Well, and what's tho name of the animal ?'' The sailor replied, " Please, sir, the black party say it's a kangaroo." Tho beast has kept this name ever since. Exoi.t.ii To Tuy Him. — The Bishop of Bangor has directed a com mission of inquiry, under the Clergy Discipline Act, to investigate certain charges advanced ugaiust the Rev. \V. Anwyl -Roberts, MA., rector of Llandyffuaucum - Llanfairmathafarneithaf, Anglesey. We do not know what is the nature of these charges, bub it is to bo hoped that the cotmnusion will "Jonsider how far a man may bo driven into morbid irritability by bavins constantly to address his letters from such a place as Llandy-ffnau-cum Llanfairmathaf.irneithaf.— Home .News. Wkll on the Sroi. — A contemporary tells the following good story of Marshal Canrobert. A new uniform was ordered for one of tho lino regiments stationed at the camp at Chalons. There was something complicated about tho tunic, and the Marshal accordingly rode down to see if the men had put it on properly. Tho first man lie met had, as a matter of course, dressed himself anything but " by tho right/ and Citnrobert insisted on his taking off his coat., and then assisted him to put it on with sartorial propriety. This done, Le remarked sarcastically, " Next time, my good fellow, I shall send you my lady's maid." " Not the slightest necessity, sire," was the prompt answer, " I have the honor of meeting her regularly every Sunday evening. A Model Yacht Owner. — An outspoken elderly man dropped in upon a member of tho Lyttelton Kegatta committee the other afternoon, just to inquire, he said, how they proposed to give theorizes to the model yachts next year. He said he had a model " built according to scale," and as he was a professional yacht builder, he didn't pioposo to run his boat against "a chunk of wood," for instance. If chunks of wood were wanted, he could make one of that sort which would whip all comers. The astonished committeeinan attempted to explain that quite a number of inodeU sailed 1 last year were built like his own, " according to scale," and, like his, were fitted with real blocks, belaying pins, &c, and thnt some of them did not cost less limn £<A 0 or £50. But ho was hushed up, the old gentleman persisting that he must have a proper understanding with all the committee be fore he brought his yacht, built according and true to seal*., to sail against mere sharpened pieces of wood, some of which were oft. long, while his model was only 3ft. long. And he went off down the street, saying he thought the prize should be given to the bout built true to scak-, and he would see the " sookotary " about it. — Pres*. vVhat's in a Name? — Tlib brother of Alfred Tennyson, the liogliah Laureate, accepted a fortune on condition that he changed his name to that of Turner. Dying childless and heirless, the fortune by will would have descended to the Laureate, upon condition of his taking the name of Turner. Alfred, however, believes in Tennyson, and declines, Obscbne Language. — At the Rangiora Court rocently a witness stated that a defendant had used obscene and bad language. The Bench requested him to repeat tije exact words. After somo hesitation and pressing from the Court, witness said the accused had threatened " to make a parable," of himself and his brother. The Maoris and their Hor3B. — Alluding to tho loss of the Maori horse Tawera at the recent Hawko's JJay steeplechases, a Napier contemporary says :— " The grief of thi) Maoris at the death of their horse Tawera was not the lea9t touching feature of this sad accident. The natives surrounded the body and held a genuine tangi over it, for thoy wei'e proud of their horse quite apart from any feeling of the pecuniary loss they had sustained by his death. Taweia was owned by the chief lienuta, who had purchased him from Mr Donnelly for £600." Utopian. — The General Annual Assembly of German Abstainers from Animal Food, or, as they ambitiously style tnein■ielves, •' The Members of the German Association for the Promotion of a 3\lann«r of Life, in Harmony with Nature," met recently it Bfiscnach, in Thniingia. A Frankfort 1 advocate of thn system actually wont so far us to propose the total abolition amongst the members, as an example to tho rest of the world, of the use of nniinal clothing. He contended that furs, leather, and some other materials wore only obtained at the cost of the suffering of the brute creation. Me produced a number of articles of clothins manufactured exclusively from the products of the vegetable and mineral kingdoms. Miss Braddon. — An exchange says : — Miss Braddon is certainly one of the most indefatigable, as well as tho most industrious, of novelists. Her engagements for the next six months include a serial story for the World, which is to bo of the old sensational type ; a new novel for All tho Year Round (for which, by the way, Anthony Troilope is writing, a new one) ; and another to go the round of some four country, and as many colonial papers, simultaneously. How on earth she can go on inventing and writing appears marvellous. It is a curious fact that successful as havo been tho dramatic versions of hhre r

novels, " Lady Audley's Secret," " Only a Clod," " Eleanor's Victory " (nil produce! at St.. Janvs' Theatre), mid "Aurora Floyd," a. atonic pic-no everywhere, Miss Bniddon herself never received a penny in the way of remuneration. Continental Houses— A cavalry officer a*, present stationed in garrison at Leipsic has at the request of the editor of the.SportZuitnng, written in that journal gome interesting papers on the history of certain famous Hanoveritin studs. Tho passage which would probably attract most attention from Englishmen relates to the celebrated Royal breed of white horses at Hi'.rrenhausen. It . is a3 follows : — " Since a breed of white horses is no longer to be found in the Royal stables at Copeuhagan, the Ilerrenhausen stud is now the only one where this special class is regularly produced by breeding. The race originated with the Memsem stud between 1730 and 17-10, under King George 11. of Eugland. For stock were selected a fine white stallion, named ' Augustus, a silver grey English stallion known as Le Barbo Blanc, a light gray brood mare of the riding class, daughter of 'a brown horse, Oresar, of Barbar'y origin, and some other clear gray and pale dun mares. The number was augmented subseducntly by some white marcs of Danish origin. After several years the wished for result was produced — viz, a pure white offspring. If the white Augustus may be regarded as the founder of the race , it cannot be denied that a succession of white Dnnisn stallions contributed to the result, and especially one purchased in 1746 named Le Blanc. It was after his arrival that the young produce become quite white. For many years all these white horses have coil-b'aek cyo.-s. They are in general strongly buiK, but with elegant shapes and over tho middle size ; they have beautiful action, excellent tempers, and great endurance. There are at present thirteen horses in the stud. Neither a horse nor mare is ever sold or given away to strangers. Any animal with the slightest blemish is killed." Color Blindness. — The Southern papers report that a series of experiments having, by the instructions of the Commissioner of Railways, been made amongst the employes in tho Railway Department on the subject of color blindness, have resulted in the discovery that 2\ per cent, are partially color blind or unable to distinguish beyond the. two primary colors black and white. The method adopted by Mr Conycrs was to submit to each man seven eardr-, painted respectively, wlu'te, yellow, light blue, dark blue, light brown, dark green, and dark rod. If each color could bo named without hesitation, the test w:mld be considered satisfactory. The test applied on the Invercargill section was by submitting to the men plaits of Berlin wool of variegated colors, their ability to name each color without hesitation being taken as conclusive. In Chrislchurch 2GG men have been tested, of whom thirteen are partially color blind. In the Oamaru district 23<) men were tried, one of whom only was found to be color blind and he completely so. The method in this instance adopted was by colored cards, after which flags were exhibited at a distance of about ten chains. The downright necessity of these tests bei ,.% applied in the interests of pnbliii nafel.y may be appreciated when it is remembered th.it all the signals used on the railways by clay or night are by color.