Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 74, 11 May 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.

Eakthquake.— A smart shock of earthquake was felt at Foxtou yesterday, at 7.7 a.m. The Native Minister. — The Hon. Mr Bryoe arrived at Foxton last evening by the down train, en route for Wellington. Ratje. — By reference to the Local Board report, it will be seen that body has. taken the step we suggested, and determined to give legal notice of its intontion to strike a rate of 6d in the £. Meat. — Mr A. S. Easton, butcher, of Main-street, ia determined to meet the times, having lowered the price of meat all round. In another column he publishes his price list, which should gladden the hearts of those who are suffering from the effects of " bad times." The Reclamation Contract. —As a considerable number of persons are rather dubious as to the inten i ions of the Govern* ment regarding the Foxton reclamation contract, we may state that the opinion of persons likely to be well-informed is that the Government intend to carry on the work. "We also le&rn that a tenderer has volunteered the information since the day of closing that his price is well under the estimate of £15,000. Rangitikei Election. —The eleotion for Rangitiicei took place on Saturday, and resulted^in the return of Sir Wm, Fox, the numjtfers being— Fox, 232; Fraser, 133; L\s6, 69. //NoBBtTON. — Messrs Thynne, Linton & Co grepot t that they have disposed of four more sections in Norbiton to Mr A. Gray, making the total number now sold thirteen. Considering that the 16 acres of which Norbiton is comprised were bought about three years/ago at £10 per acre, and are selling freely at £100 per acre in these bad cimes, Fojgcton must certainly be moving steadily a&ead. / Resigned. — From the Local Board re/port it will be seen that Mr Gray on Friday last tendered his resignation us Chairman and Commissioner to the Local Board. The date for the eleotion has been fixed, viz., Monday, 17th May for the nomination, and the following day for the poll (if necessary). Deceased. -We regret to record the decease of Mr Norman Nash, an old and much-respected resident of this district. He suffered from severe cold on the chest for some time, but about ten days ago, became much worse, and was compelled to take to his bed. Violent inflammation set in, which brought about his death in a few days, he having expired on Sunday last, at 6.30 a.m., at bis residence, Foxton. Mr Nash was for some time employed as a roadman by the County Engineer, but has lately been working for the Public Works Department. He was a man of simple and unostentatious piety, and his end was peaceful. He leaves a widow and 6 children to mourn his loss Deceased was 43 years of age. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock. Court. — A sitting of the R.M. Court will be held at Otaki this day, before Justices of the Peace. A Legal Commission-eh. — Whilst the discussion about Mr Gray's disqualification was going on at the Local Board meeting on Friday evening.Mr Easton convulsed the audience by a sally of legal acumen. He said, referring to Conolly and Pitt's legal opinion—" Look here, that's only a lawyor's opinion — My opinion is that the matter is one for the ratepayers, and I am sure ninetenths of them are opposed to Mr Gray being pat out because he let this road for the convenience of the public" Had. the

members of the firm of Oonolly and Pitt been present, they would doubtless have hid their diminished heads in view of the astute Commissioner's summing up of the question. His Rates.— On Wednesday last Mr David Hujjhoy suddenly found himself amongst the Philistines. Having been summoned by the County Collector for ra'es he pleaded non-liability, " On the ground," said he, " that I am a bankrupt !" " How can you prove that?" said his Worship,— an enquiry which evidently nonplussed the defendant. As, however, the plaintiff had asked that the rate cases might not be hcavd until after the arrival of the midday trnin, his Wor-ship adjourned the question until two o'clock. In the meantime, Mr Hughey had obtained two copies of the Manawatn Herald, containing notices of his bankruptcy. These he triumphantly produced, but the stern tax gatherer replied, " I received no # notice of his bankruptcy, nor is this debt included in the schedule he has filed in Court," and referred his Worship to the Bankruptcy Act. Mr Ward there upon explained to Mr Hughey that any discharge ho might receive from the Court would apply only to those debts mentioned in the schedule he had filed, and that as the County rates had not been included therein, judgment must be given for the amount claimed, with costs. We understand that cf all the bankrupts who have lately filed in Manawatu only one gave the County authorities notice of his inability to moot his engagements," so that the whole of the remainder are fair spoil for Mr Mowlam, and will no doubt receive early and practical proof of hi 3 continued interest in their welfare. /'The Avenue Buidoe.— At the Local JBoard meeting on Friday evening, we learned incidentally that n tender hnd been accepted for the Avenue Btidge, the sum being £61, and the successful tenderer Wm< Wells. We have again to point out that this matter has been done most irregularly. The County Council passed a subsidy of £50 to the Local Board for the work in question. Nevertheless, the matter has never once been brought before that body. The late Chairman (Mr Gray), in conjunction with the County Engineer, took upon himself to accept the tender for £02 without in any way consulting the Local Board. It is therefore just possible a squabble may take place over the affair. The County Council certainly cannot acknowledge the contractor in any way, and if the Local Board choose to say, " We know nothing of this matter ; we were never consulted ; nor did we authorise the acceptance of this tender," the contractor will be compelled to look to Mr Gray in his private cipacity for the money. 'I hk Kawaxawa Vacancy. — By reference to our advertising columns, it will be scon that Mr Henry Hammond, Eetu-ning Officer for the i-iding of Kawakawa, has fixed the date for the nomination of candidates for the vacancy in that riding to taki place on Saturday, the 15th May. We have not heard definitely what gentleman are likely to contest the seat. It is rumoured, however, that Mr M'Leutian, of Oroua Downs, is likely to stand, and it is also possible Mr Robert Bruce MKenzie, who contested the scat at lust election against Mr Gower, will cume forward. Either of the gentlemen named would receive sirong suppovt iv different sections of the district, Fbildino Cemetery. — Messrs A. Halcombe, A. Todd, K. Young, W. U-iker, J. C. Thompson, W. G. ilaybittlo, F. M'Leod, and D. H. Macarthur, are gazeitol Trustees of the Feilding Cemetery. Telegraphic. — The revenue received by the Telegaaph Department during the March quarter amounted to £18,300 2s 7d, being a deorease of £3,093 3s lid upon the corresponding quarter of last year. Supreme Coubt. — At the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Thursday last, before the Chief Justice and a special jury, the case of L/oudon v. Edwards was tried, the plaintiff being Mr Francis Loudon.of Foxton, and the defendant Mr W. B. Edwards, a well-known Wellington solicitor. The action was brought t» recover the sun* of £500 damages, and £300 special damages, for loss at a sale of furniture, incurred through the conduct of the defendant while acting iv the capacity of plaintiff 's solicitor. The case was gone into at considerable length, and decided against the plaintiff, a nonsuit being accepted by his solicitor. Referring to the case, the N. Z. Times says: — " When the plaintiff was beiug examined about this witness (Mr It. Port) who happened to be his uucle, he stated that he did not owe him anything in June of last year. Counsel then rather surprised the witness by stating that the estate of Mr Port had a ctaim against him that was put down ft as much as £900 J. '• Well," replied the witness, imperturably, " if that be bo, it is the first I have heard of it." [ Where thr Money Goes. — The Rev J. C. Andrew supplies the following to the Chriatchurch Press : — %{ Statements of large numbers in the abstract and by figures produce a feeble impression on the mind of the average taxpayer, and still less on that of the average tux aud loan voter, especially by representative or deputy. It may deepen attention to the heavy public indebtedness of the country for me to point out that tho interest which the .New Zealand Government has to pay yearly, if paid in produce, would require the whole of the wheat grown in Canterbury this season, reckoned at 4s a bushel, the whole of the oats, reckoned at Iv 'Si, with a good slice of the barley to make it good.