Untitled

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 44, 27 January 1880, Page 2

Crowded Out, — Owing to pressure on our space, the full report of the Otaki Rices and a quantity of other mutter is crowded out of this issue. Meeting. — A. meeting of creditors in the ostate of H. Brown will be held at the Fox ton Athenaeum this morning, at 11 o'clock. TnE Accidents at Otaki. — We have to thnnk Dr Hewson for a letter containing moch valuable inforrantion regarding the and accidents at Otaki. In the course of ths note Dr Hewson says : — " The friends of the deceased meet with great sympathy, and the events cast an unwonted gloom over the settlement, and regret that a day of an« usunl festivity should have ended so sadly. All the proposed evening entertainments were crediiably abstained from." Fisticuffs. — Last evening the Constable " ran in " four persons who were fighting in the billiard room at Putter's Hotel. The quartet comprised two Europeans and two .Maoris, and they will be called on to make their bow before the Bench this morning. Rowing Club. — A meeting of this Club will be held at Whyte's Hotel to-morrow evening. Posts. — Mr Jas. M'Call, of Palmerston, advertises totara posts for sale at very oheap prices. Choral Society. — The Choral Society will hold a practice at the Public Hall on Wednesday evening. Metal Wanted. — We would suggest to our representatives in the County Council, the desirability of moving at next meeting for the formation and metalling of the road from Hurr's corner to the Ferry. At present the few chains of roadway in question are nothing but a mass of drifting- sand, and afford a very unfavorable impression to persons arriving per coach of the condition of our streets. We presume the Awahou

Riding » in funds, as £50 was recently granted Very readily as a subsidy to tlio Local Board. The read we refer to is a County road, and ns charity should begin at home, we attggest tho County Council should put its own highways in repair before it subsidises other bodies. The Otaki Races.— the Otaki races passed off very successfully, there being no fighting, and tho "whole of the people enjoying themselves most thoroughly, though the sad occurrences after the sports caused a deep gloom to pervade the township, owing to which the dauce at tho schoolhortse was postpouedi Upon thd course several enter prising individual started the gambling game of " under and over," but Constable Coyle speedily drove them from the course. Supposed Suicide.— The Wanganui Chronicle B\v3thaton Saturday afternoon information was given to tbo police of his disappearance from. his homo and business of Mr T. V. JVice, nnd, from the surrounding circumstances, thei'e is too much cause to believe that the unfortunate man has committed suicide by drowning himself in ihe Virginia Lake. The missing man was until recently proprietor of a hotel at Marton. SnEEP Inspectorship. —Mr "Walter Simpson, as we stated a fow issues ago, hns resigned his appointment as Sheep Inspeo tor, preferring that courso to residing at Wellington. We understand strong efforts were made to induce Mr Simpson to accept the appointment of Inspector at Gisborne, at a higher salary than that he received at Miinawatu, out he declined to accept it, hiiving a very strong objection to break up his home and leave his farm. The Otaki School.— The above building, which is partially erected, Is ngain 9topped for want °^ limber. Bei-oRE The Battle.— This is the manner in which the Wnngaiuii Chronicle re ferred to the crews which competed in the Foxton Regatta last, Thursday, before the race 3 were run : — " The crews have only been in training for some three days, nnd will consequently bo ralher rough, but nevertheless arc likely to prove a match for anything they hove to meet." We have looked over our contemporary's sheet since the Regatta, but have not yet seen Its ac* count of how tho above remark wes home out by facts. Accident. — A painful accident happened to a mmi named Michael Walsh, a settler at Campbelltown, on Thursday last. Whilst riding on tho lond.returning from the sports to Palmerstoti, a. vehicle being driven in the opposite direction rnn into him, the consequence being that one of the shafta struck his right lc:,' half way between the knee and the ankle, [completely fracturing the limb. Tha injured man was conveyed to PalmerstoUj and was brought down to j Foxton by the mid day train on Saturday so as to be under tho skilful care of Dr Barber. The Late Sudden' Death. — At the inquest held on the body of Thomas Perry, who was found dead in bed at Wanganui a few days ago, Thomas Wilson deposed to having kuown deceased for a long time. About six months ago found him* in his room on the sofa with a handkerchief pressed to his mouth. He was insensible, and witness could smell choloroform. Deceased stated that his late wife had appeared to him and he wished to go to her. Witness considered him then of unsound mind, but deceased begged him not to gay anything about it, and ho promised not to if he would not act in a similar manner again. The jury brought in a verdict that deceased died from the effects of a narcotic poison taken wlule labouring under'temporury insanity. The Otaki Constam.e.-— We understand Constable Coyle's orders to proceed to (Ira hamstown have been countermanded, and that he will bo removed to Marton, Constable Campbell, at present stationed at thnt place, exchanging with him. The date of <emovnl is not decided on. The Wasoanti Roweks —The Wanganui men fared v^ry badly at the Wellington Hegatta. On the first dny they retired from the starting pliico for tho Whaleboa*. Race, being frightened of the lumpy state of the water ; and on the second day they were fearfully beaten in both the outrigged and inrigged boat iaces. They made "a show" in the Volunteer Whaleboat Race, which they managed to win by a length, owing to having an advantageous start, the other boats fouling, and the bow oarsman of tho best boat breaking his oar, which necessitated his jumping out and swimming for the shore. Ifowever, the Wanganui boys are plucky fellows, and though this year the fates have been against them, we hope they will have better luck next time. The Bar.— We are pleased to state that with the advancing spring tides, the bar is asaiu resuming its usual depth. Wben the H\iia crossed the bar on Sunday mornsin'.', 8 feet was the lowest cast of tho lead obtained. Before the .steamer entered the river the pilot pulled over the bar in his bont, and sonnded the depth of water. As soon as the Iluia crossed, the Stormbird proceeded to sea, taking- the schooner Elibank Castle in tow. Bathing. — We desire to direct the attention of the authorities to the bathing which is daily taking place in the river at decidedly improper places. On Sunday morning last, as the bells were ringing for church, a party of natives were bathing about two chains .away from the wharf. A number of people, both adults and children, were passing along the river bank at the time. Such exhibitions as the above should be put a stop to with a high hand. The wharf and the river bank are very popular proinen • ades, and it is not right that townspeople should be debarred from walking there owing to the bathing going on. There are plenty of places suitable for bathing at less frequented spots than alongside the wharf. The Osprev. — We notice Messrs Thynne Linlon & Co. will sell by public auction on Saturday, February 7, the steamer Osprey. The little boat is in capital order, a certificate having been lately granted to her, and any seafaring man or general trader who worked her properly would make handsome returns from tho venture. Further particulars will bo fouud in the advertisement. The Regatta. — The Re?atta Committee are requested to meet this evening, at 7.30, for the purpose of settling up matters connected with tho late Regatta. R.M. Court, Otaki. — A sitting of the above Court was held before Dr Hewson, J.l\, on Friday, January 23, when Isaac Lawrie was charged by Constable Coyle with drunkenness, but this being his first offence wis discharged with a caution. On Saturday, before the same Justice of the Peace, William Clarke was charged with being an habitual drunkard, and being convicted was fined 20s orJl4 days' imprisonment. He wa-3 allowed 48 hours iv which to find tho money. Rate Notices. — Regarding the collection of rate 3 there has been each year some doubt as to what was the exnet character of the demand required by the Act. This doubt has been set at rest by " The Rating Act 1876 Amendment," clanse 12, which says : — " It shall be sufficient if any demand required to be made under section 48 of •The Bating Act, 187 C,' be made by the same being sent through any post office,

addressed to the person liable nt his last known place of übode or place of business." The Baingsse Estatjj. — W e notice that the above estate is in the market, and will be sold either iv one block, or in lots of 100 acres or upwards. Upon a previous occasion we gave a description of the estate, farm buildings, &c, and we will therefore simply remark that Bainesse land Is magnificent, the homestead well provided, and the farm buildings complete, whilst the stock includes some of tho iineat animals in the Colony. Coasteus' Race.— Messrs Johnston and Oo's schooner Ellerton was entered for the above nice at the Wellington Regatta. Mr C. Johnston i 3 captain of the Naval Brigade, and the schooner was kindly lent to that corps so that its members could have a chance of showing the assembled Wellingtonians the progress the " boys " had made in the art of seamanship. The schooner, previous to the race, had been taken on the slip, and had her bottom scraped and cleaned. She was also otherwise overhauled, and put in first-class racing trim. Cnptain Bendall consented to take the command of the schooner for the race, and everything that could be clone to ensure success, and show off the Naval crew, was done. However, as Shakspeare says, though it is in mortals to deserve success, 'tis not in their power to command it. And this proved true in regard to the Ellerton. She had a bad place at the start, and before she had gone a mile, in " going about," she hung, and gently drifted down on a sandy beach near tho Tea Gardens in Oriental Bay. The poor disappointed " Navals "(of whom there were about 100 on board), had to be landed in tho ship's diugy, and stroll back to town amidst the gibes and jeers of the people. The Wellington papers say very little akout the mishap, but we gather from them that if «. crew of genuine salts had been aboard, the schooner would not have been far behind tho winner at the termination of the race. Probably tho next timo Captain Bendall is caught out in Wellington liarlJo-, With a stiff N.W. breeze blowing, nnd a "Naval" crew to navigate the vessel, that body of amateur seamen " will know it." REi'oiiTiSfi With a Vengeance. — The Wanganui Herald, in what is styled an ac fount of the Regatta hell at Foxton, thus describes the Fouv-oarod inrigged Race: — " This was, far and away the race of the day. Queen Mub, Waterlily, and Transit took part. After a struggle, the Trandt managed to get a length ahead and rounded the buoy first. But from the buoy home the Lillies seemed to get together, and crawling upon their opponents a slight foul occurred, when the boats racd nose and nose to the winning post, the judge giving it as a dead heat, the Foxtou boat about threo lengths ahead." As a description of the doings of the Wanganui bonts, the above may read very well, but as a report of tho race, it is about the most one-siJed specimon wo have ever seen. We would counsel the amateur scribbler who supplied our contemporary with the above lines the next time he essays to give the pnblic a description of a bout rice to recollect that an indispensable requisite in a report must be its absolute fairness and truthfulness. The statement that the Transit rounded the buoy (by which we suppose is meant the snag opposite Ihu boat, shed) first is utterly false, as, although the Vang.umi boats led fora short distance i\t the start, the local boat easily pulled nwny from the other two, and was never after approached through the race, winning an easy race by about six lengths, not three, as stated by tho Wanganui paper. Petition. — The following petition has been drawn up for presentation to the Colonial Secretary. It is being extensively signed by settlers in the district:— To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. — We vouc- petitioners humbly pray that you will csiusu the Foxton Ward of the Miinawatu High Hays Board to be formed into a separate Highways District, under the name of the Foxton Highways Board, the boundaries of which are shown on the plan attached hereto. Your petitioners being ratepayers in the present Board, make this application owing to the unsatisfactory administration of the Hoard's funds, work being refu3ed though the ward is iv funds to the amount of about £260, because certain Wards have been nllowed to overdraw, thus stopping urgent works, at tho best season of the year in which they could be most economically carried out. Your petitioners likewise believe that a smaller Hoard, with a larger representation, would secure work heing more satisfactorily and economically performed, and for these reasons your petitioners trust that you will accede to their request, and as in duty bound will ever pray. Tiir Hauve9T at Wairatt. — The Marlborough Times of the 20th inst. says : — The fine weather which set in on Saturday lust still continues, and the farmers are taking advantage of it by pushing on harvest operations ns fast aa possible. Much, of the corn in the locality is already cut and stacked, and another week of fine weather will see the remainder gathered in. This year's harvest promises to bo a most bountiful one throughout the country, and especially so in the Wtiirau. There re several standing crops of barley in the neighborhood which reports say will aver,\go 60 bushels to the acre all through. The New Cable. — The new Cook Strait Cable to be laid between Wanganui Heada and Wakapuaka is expected to arrive in the 8.8. Kangaroo about thf middle of February next. Them are 120 knots on board, of which the shore ends #> about 12 tons to the knot. When last heard of the Kangaroo was at the Cape, but she is BUpposed to have left there some weeks ago. At Shell Pkactioe.— The Post of Wednesday last has the following : — H.M.S. Cormorant went outside yesterday for the annual Admiralty prize firing, which has to be done at sea, and while the vessel is steaming at the rate of eight knots an hour round the target. Tho waather was very fine, but there was a good d«al of swell on, causing tho vessel to roll considerably ; this, together with the rate of speed, n.ade it difficult to hit the target, whioh was of pyramidal form, about 10ft on the base, and generally between 1200 and 1400 yards distant. Notwithstanding these disadvantages some of the shot went very close, and nearly all were excellent in line of direction, ('apt. Johnston and Lieut. Bennett, of the Navul Brigade, were among a party of gentlemen who were invited on board to see the firing, nnd they thus had an opportunity of seeing how heavy guns are worked in a seaway. On returning to port an accident happened to the machinery when the vessel was just outside the reef, and the visitors had also a chance of seeiug the discipline and readiness of a man-of-war practically illustrated by the promptitude with which the sails were set, and. the vessel again brought under command. Captain Bruce and his officers spared no pains to ouaure the comfoit of their guests. The Crops in Canterbury.— During the past week I have taken a trip through the Waimate district (writes the correspondent of the Timaru Herald), and am therefore in a position to state that the crops here can compare favorably with any in the colony, and should the fine weather continue till after harvest, the yield of grain will bo unprecedented. I send you two samples, which I consider the champions of the district ; the

one marked "&" was grown on Mr Stud-r holme's property at the Hoo'c, and is as good a sample as need be wished for, bat as you will see, it cannot be computed with the other marked " X," grown on Mr R. Kett'a farm in Pureorn estate. Tliis field of 200 acres averages -sft Oin in height", some parts being 6ft 2in. Those heads I have not pisked> but took them at random as I walked through the centre of the crop. I am told that Mr Turnbull, of Pareora, estimates the yield to be from 70 to 80 bushels to the acre, and I may say that a more regular, clean, or healthy-looking crop it. would bo difficult to find. Mr Studholmo's wheat averages 60 grains to the head aud Mr Kett's G5 grains.