Manamatu Herald. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1880.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 91, 9 July 1880, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1880.

Thk Recent Enquib* —In another •jolumm wo publish in extenso Mis 3 M'Phee' s letter to the Foxton School Committee, in which she explains her action regarding the recent inquiry as to Mr Fonlis' examination of the Foxton School We are desirous that every side should receive justice in the matter and as the letter referred to contains Miss M'Phee 1 8 reasons for the course she took we have thought it only just to give it publicity. Whether the explanation made is satisfactory, our readers can judge for themselves. It may be added that at the School Committee meeting on Monday last, Mr Thynne denied the truth of Mios M'Phee's statements that he insisted on her signing the affidavit, and that he represented himself as acting on behalf of the Committee. Horowhenua Road. — We have received a letter on the above subject, advooating severe measures being resorted to with the natives who are delaying the formation of the road. As the letter is written in a very harsh style we cannot publish it. It will be seen from the report of the Couuty Council that that body has taken the necessary stepd to secure the land for the road. The proceedings will be the same as those relating to the survey of the Foxton and Beach road. The land will be taken by the County Council, under the authority of "The Publio Works Act," and the road will be declared a road, the native owners being paid compensation for the land taken from them. Ax Absent Witness. — During the hearing ot the case Wood v. Barber Bros., on Wednesday last, Mr Staite ordered " Walter Lawry Buller " to be called as a witness. As Dr. Buller did not appear, Mr Staite drew the attention of the Court to the fact that that gentleman had been duly subpoenaed to attend, his expenses having also been tendered. Mr Star c added that as the case had prooeeded, his side found it would not be necessary to call on Dr. Buller. Had his attendance proved necessary, the case would have had to be adjourned, in consequence of his non-attendance, thus causing great expen&e and incouvenieuco — His Worship said he had received a copy of a letter sent by Dr. Duller to Mr Staite, in which the writer staled that being compelled to attend the Court at Foxton would cause him great iaconvenienoe, that he was willing to give his evidence »t Bulls, an.-: that the £3 tendered as his expenses would not be sufficient to pay his expenses to and from Wellington ; in fact, it would not pay the fares. — Mr Staite said Dr. Buller's referenoe to Wellington was not a fair one. He was served with the subpoena at Bulls, and was still there. He thonght £3 was a fur amount to offer f»r expenses for a witness to come from Balls to Foxton. 1 hematter then dropped. Accident at Kumara. -A terrible accident has happened at Kumara. It appear* that just before 6 o'clock on Tuesday even ing five men comprising three brothers n«med Phelan, and two others named respectively Cummins and Brown, had gone down a new shaft of Maher's claim at Larrikins Terrace. The drive gave way and the stuff at once ran back on the drive, and up th" shaft a distance of 60 feet, completely ontting off the escape of those below. A large number of miners soon congregated, and immediately commenced operations for the recovery of the men; but the shaft, whioh iB about 130 feet deep, had to be battened preparatory to taking out the stuff. After incessant labor by miners, James Phelan was released ft noon on Wednesday, slightly injured, also Philip Cummina ia the afternoon, fearfully crushed in the legn and feet. Amputation may probably be necessary. Both of the rescued men are now iv the hospital. Brown effected his escape through debris of timber on Tuesday night uninjured. The two brothers Pheluu are dead, and miners were on Wednesday in the shaft trying to get at the bodies. Whon the Kumara diggings first started, it was the opinion of experienced miners that a large number of fatal acoidents would take place on the field, owing to the heavy boulders whioh were scattered throughout the stuff and the loose nature of the Band, whioh was very liable to "run." The surmise has proved correct, mining accidents at Kumara having- proved more numerous aud fatal than upon any other West Coast gold field. The latest news from Kumsra state* that it will probably b« a week btfore the two bodies are discovered. Elections. — The respective Returning Officers have taken the necessary uteps to fill the vaoancy caused in the Foxcon Local Board and the Manawatu County Council by the bankruptcy of Mr Francis London. The norn .nations of candidates for the Local Board will take plaoe on Saturday, j July 17, and the poll (if necessary) on the following Monday. Nominations for the County Council seat are to be sent in to the Returning Officer (Mr W. G. Robinson) on or before Monday, July 19, and the election will take place on the following Thim day^ Bat little interest appear* at present to b taken in the matter of the election. Ecclesiastical.— ln opening the Diocusan Synod, at Wellington, on Tuesday last, his Lordshin Bishop Hadfield stated that he had appointed Archdeacon Thorpe as Aroh deacon of the diocese north <l the Mana. watn. lie would be able to do much good in the outlying distrieta of hi* archdeaconry. The financial work vu deeplj

necessary, as clearly the presence of a ol? r «ywil£ in .any district was dependent much upon this. Highway*. — The Manawatu Highwnys Board yesterday resolved to give Mr H. J. Hayus, their Engineer, BotiCe that Uiß services would bo dispensed with three month* from date. FonoaiiY. — James F. Thompson, alias Lytteltcm, a young man who was living »t Otaki for some time, and who aoted as sec retxry for Mr. JJalcombe'a Election Committee at that place, has come to grief, having been sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labour at the Wellington Supreme Court for forging and altering a cheque alleged to have been drawn by Mr. Field, of Waikanae. He showed himself clever at cross-examination. ' Mrs. Partingdon. — Our Feilding con* temporary contains frequent "hits" at a local celebrity whom it dubs " Mrs. Partingdon." People who live in glass houses should not be the first to throw stones. Will our contemporary explain whether or not this is a•' Partingdonism" : " Mr London struggled gamely to achieve bis lost fort nn63 but his efforts were unavailing." Mrs. P. would probably hare used the word "retrieve." The o«3ey.— lt would appear her present owners find the "fast and furiou*" steamer Oaprey, a white elephant. A few dayx ago a case was tried in Wangnnai, in which the muster of the boat sued the owners for his wages. During the hoaring, the *gent of the boat stated ih«t during •he last two months the steamer had I'een vorked at a logs £58, without reckoning interest. Chinkse Pirates.— By telegram from Cooktown, dated July 6, we learn that the Eastern Australian Mail steamer Boweu ; arrived from' Hong Kong and Singapore with the Torres Straits mails, and reports that on the upward voyaee to Hong Kong a piratical plot among the Chinese passengers to seize the vessel was discovered by their conversation being overheard. The passengers were mustered, and all hands being armed, 25 Chinese were arrested. Boxes containing loaded revolvers, packets of powder with fuses attached, were discovered. On tho arrival of the vessel at Hong Kong the prisoners were handed over to the authorities.