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Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 12, 12 October 1880, Page 2

Railway Chakoes. — The new soale of charges on the railways of the colony came into force yesterday, October 11. Tblbobams. — Our usual batch of cablegrams and telegrams Jid not come to hand last night. Otaki Coubt.— There will be a sitting or the RaM. Court at Otaki this day, before the looal Justioes of the Peace. Earthquake. — A sharp shock of earth quake was felt at Foxlon on Saturday evening, about ten minutes past seven. It was preceded by a loud rumble, and lasted about 12 second*. The direction appeared to be from east to west. Oor Railway. — During the nine month ß ending 31st March, 1880, 13,580 tons of timber were carried on tho Paten- M ana watu railway, while the timber trade carried on the Auckland, Napier, and Wellington railways during tbe same period amounted in the aggregate to only 13,851 tons, being only 271 tons more than was hauled along the Manawatu Hue. Of oourse in this is not included firewood, though even as regards that Manawatu i* nearly 1000 tons ahead of Wellington. Painting. — We have been shown by Mr Palmar a capital painting in water colours he ha 3 just executed. The view is from the bill at back of the Maori village opposite Foxton, and includes portion of the Manawatu river, a cottage on the river bank, Mr Chits. Sjmons' house, and other prominent features of that part of the district. Mr Palmer has caught the spirit of the scene, and expressed it admirably. The details of the picture show up well, and altogether he is to be congratulated upon tbe success of his latest effort as an artist. Contemporary Opinion.— The Rangitikei Advocate, commenting on the case of Mr Rockstro.v, thinks the Bench were extremely lenient with him, compared with the £s*o fine inflicted on Mr Lyster. It argues that the two cases were on*" nil fours," and hints that the Bench were influenced in defend ant's favour. The Macawatu Times, in a laboured article, tries to prove that as Mr Hockstrow did not use the title " Doctor" in reference to his practice as a medical man, he therefore was not amenable to the law under which he was fined. Oircontempo rary, apparently undecided, calls Mr Rockstrow both " Dr." and " Mr." Under which King, Bezonian ? Slow Progress.— They progress slowly at Taranaki. In the year 1878 9, tho local railway carried 13 tons 12 cwt of wool, and in 1879-80 it carried 13 tons 17 cwt. This does not look as if their railway had increased settlement. On the Foxton line «36 tons were hauled in 1878-9, and 1099 in 1879-80. Thin reads better. Rolun'Q Stock.— From a table attached to the Public Works Statement we learn that on 3 1st March, 1880, there were on the Koxton Wanganui lin« tho following rolling stock : — 16 locomotives, including 8 Fairlie engines, 4 first-class carriages, 4 composite, 4: cross-seaied, 10 second-class, total, 24 carriages ; 0 brakes, 4S timber trucks, 27 cattle truoks, 5 horse-boxes, 30 covered trucks, 102 high-side truoks, 120 low-sides, und 20 tarpaulins. Hooking a Coroner.— A good story reaches us from a northern district. Some time ago a respected but rather bumptious coroner was compelled to make an assignment of his estate for tho benefit of hi« creditors, but omitted to include a debt of 30s owing to a rather astute Scotchman The Scotchman, who htis a liberal heart, did not press him, and wrote •' Bad debt" opposite the account in his ledger. Well, some time afterwards the coroner was hold ing an inquest near, and the Scotchman was summoned as a juror, but by mischance forgot the day, did not attend, and was thereupon duly fined £ », Now cornea the joke. Immediately upon reoeipt of the opjastable'a summons to disgorge the note, the cannj Soot sat down and wrote an order upon Mr Blank Blank, coconer of the district, for £1, being part of the debt of 30s owing for so long ! Doubtless with a quiet grin the constable carried the order to the coroner, though the expression of the latter's face on reading it can be imagined but not described. Coroners should take warning, and be careful that in fining defaulting jurors they are not mulcting themselves. Thk Police Force. — The Wanganui Chronicle of yesterday published the following paragraph, fiom which we are glad to see Mr Sub-Inspector G-oodall is to be retained in the Police Force : — " Sinoe it was. determined to dispense with tbe services of twelve Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors of Police, the Government have given earnest consideration to the oases of such of the officers as have expressed themselves willing to starve in a tower grade in preference to retiring, and it is almost certain that ar rangements will be made to meet their wishes. Amongst those who will be retained is bub-Inspector Goodall, and we feel sure that the Government will have no reason to regret their decision " R. M. Court. — At tha R. M. Court, yesterday, before Messrs Robinson and Thynne, J.P.s, J. W. Thompson was charged on the information of F. Blak« with the larceny of a tent, a camp oven, and other articles of the value of £4. It appears the parties mentioned were work ing together on the Hojowhenua Road,and the real matter in dispute is the ownership of the article* Thompson was charged with stealing. Thompson was arrested and brojgbt to Foxton on Saturday by Constable Mitchell, of Otaki. He was brought before the Court yesterday, when, ai the prosecutor did not appear, he was discharged, and an order made for the informant to pay the costs, amounting to £3 Bs. Perhaps this will prove a warning to him '< not to make groundless and frivolous charges in future. Cattle Sale. — Country settlers would do well to note that on Saturday next Messrs Thynne, Linton & Co. will veil by auction, at Butter's Hotel, Foxton, some very fine milch cows, and a bull. To Bmnll farmers they should prove a capital chance of incrensing their stook. Entertainment. — The Foxton Crioket Club entertainment- takes place tomorrow evening, at the Public Hall, and from the interest being taken in it a capital house may be expected. The programme, which is published in another column, speaks for itself, and it is to be hoped the attendance will be such as to encourage the performers, and largely augment the funds of the

Cricket Club. Tbe members of the Christy Company are requested to meet at the Hall at half-past six sharp this evening for rehearsal. RailwayExpenses.— For the nine months ending March 31,1880, the receipts on the Foxton- Wanganui Hne were £27,104, or at the rate of £370 18s 2d per mile. The train mileage on the line during that period was 128,601, and the receipts per train mile 4s 2id. The expenses were as follow:— Maintenance of way, £6,880 03 lOd ; locomotive power, £7,054 Is 6d ; repftirs of oarriages and wngons, £544 8s sd ; traffic expenses, £3/538 6s 6d ; general charges, £1,156 7s sd; sundries, £31 8s 4d; total £19,304 13s, thus leaving a profit to tht> revenue upon the line of £7,800. The Customs. — Saturday's N. Z. Times says :— " The retrenchment programme of the (government will include the closing of several of the smaller ports of entry in different parts of the colony. The subject is still under consideration, but it is under* stood that seven or eight places are to be deprived of their Custom-houses, and doubfcleß«, therefore, the whole of the lesser ports will await with some interest the result of Ministerial deliberations." Another Rumour. — The latest rumour current connected with the police force is that the Government propose dispensing with the services of a number of the country police, and appointing an individual in each township as a kind of civilian conHtable. who will be supposed to do duty when required ! We confess We don't believe tho rumour. The Reclamation Wobks. — Mr Sanndera is making good progress with the reohnm tion confact. Most of tho pile driving at the south end of the wharf has been finished, and the line of rails is laid as far as tho Racecourse Hill cutting, where the mon are now hard at work. The ballastengine Skunk is employed hauling stuff used for the reclamation, and as the preliminary work is now nearly completed, each month will probably witness a considerable advance in the contract. Some of those who should know think from present appearances Mr Saunders will do very well out of the job. Fjee at Awapuni. — Yesterday morning, about fifteen minutes past eight o'clock, persons on the up train noticed that a fire had broken out at Mr Patrick Maxwell's house, Awapuni, about 2 miles from Palmerston. Only very meagre information has reached ua, but we learn the house and furniture were totally destroyed. Mr Maxwell is a farmer, and it will be remembered that about the end of April last he wan struck by the engine while riding at night along the railway line. On that occasion his horse wa» killed, and he narrowly escaped. This has been an unlucky year for him. Cricket. — Amongst the list of passengers per Jane Douglas on Saturday, is the name of Mr I J. Salmon, of Wellington, who has joined the staff at the Paiaka mill. The name will be familiar to our readers, as tbe three brothers of that name are well known as enthusiastic cricketers at Wei lington, whers their names are household words amongst lovers of the uational game Mr Salmon has expressed his intention of joining the Foxton Club, and as he is a good all-round cricketer, he should be an acquisition to the local men. Liberated. — The liberated Maoris arrived at New Plymouth on Friday, but evince no satisfaction at their release. The correspondent of the Wellington Times thus expre?sed himself :—" The liberated Maoris are the reverse of repentant, and are dogged and determined in their antagonism to the whites and in adherence to Te Whiti. They will obey his behest* let the consequences be what they may. They say the Government may pat them on the roads, hang them, or whip them, but they don't care. In reply to remarks on board, they said, ' The Government is selling our land,' pointing at the same time in tbe direction of the Wairaate Plains. Their extreme attitude surprised ua all." The Fijian Mubderrr— The Rsv, W. Fletcher, 8.A., late a Wesl»yan missionary in Fiji, accompanied by the ttev. W. Wallia, puid a visit on Thursday morning to the Fijian murderer Jje, who now lies under j sentence of death. Tht>y found the criminal | in a complete state of ignorance in regard to spiritual concerns, and quite regardless of future consequences. A gentleman in Auckland states that he was aquainted with the tribe of the group Joe belongs to, and he says th-it probably more outrages on trader* will take place when the news of bU execution reaches the tribe. WoonviLLß Railway.— A proclamation appearing in 'I hursday's Gazette defines a portion of tho branch line from Bunny thorpe to Woodville, of the Foxton and New Plymonth railway, running along the Manchester Block, Gorge District, and commencing from the Pobangina river. Waste Lands Board — At the last meeting of the Wellington Waste Lands Board, the Chairman submitted plans and schedule of sections in the Eiwitea district, which he would propose should be offered to the public. The schedule provided that twentyfive sections be offered to public auction in November next at the upset price of 21s and 27a 6d per acre, and that eight sections be thrown open at the same time for selection on deferred payment at 30s per acre. The schedule was approved of. The Thcnderbb ox tub Colonies. — A late telegram from London states that the Times, referring to a letter written by Mr Sheridan, of Adelaide, which urges capitalists before advancing loans to the colonies to inquire what proportion it is intended to expend on immigration, says that Australian indebtedness, tried by any statistical test, is a mere bagatelle, and that the colonies, when prosperous, will attract immigrants. Referring to New Zealand, however, the Times says the state of things there was not equally favorable. Its debt really embarasses it, and the colony is now bound to show its ability to pay its way fur some years to come without further borrowing. Serious Accident. — On Saturday evening, as the train was approaching Halcombe Station, a married woman named Mary Conrad attempted to cross the line in front of it. She was not quick enough, and it being dark the engine-driker did not see her in time to stop. The cow-catcher struck the woman and threw her off the rails, and when she wae picked up and carried into one of the station offioes it was found by Dr. Alexander, who happened to be present, that she had sustained a fracture of the thigh, wbioh was also out and bruised. The train was delayed for nearly an hour whilst Dr. Alexander was attending to his patient, and when a start was effeoted Mrs Conrad was brought into Wanganui, and taken to the hospital, where she was oared for by Dr. Donaldson, who has pronounced tho case to be a critical one — Wanganui Chronicle. Fvrthbr North.— It is said that the rails have b9en laid on the Waverley-Wai-totara section to within two miles of the former place, and that the contractor hopes to get finished about January next — Hawera Star A Courageous Act.— Before the regular business of the distribution of prizes at the Wimbledon meeting was proceeded with,

Captain S. F. Harris, of the Buft% Adjutant 39th Middlesex R.V., who has been acting as Chief Quartermaster and Assistant Adjutant during the Wimbledon Meeting, had the honor of receiving front the hands of the Princess of Wales the Bilver medal awarded to him by the Association known as " The Order of St John of Jerusalem in England," and of -which her Royal HighneßS is a " Dame Chevalior." The extratrdinary gallant act of Captain Harris, for which the medal was granted to_ him, was recorded in the following resolution of the thapter, engrossed on vellum, handed to him by the Princess, at the same time with the medal : — ll Resolved— that the Silver Medal of the Order be awarded to 1 Captain George Frederick Harris,' 3rd Foot (The Buffs), in recognition of conspicuous gallantry shown by him on the night of September lfth, 1877, in paving, at imminent personal danger, the lives of five persons from a fire ia CharlemontBtreet, Dublin, and in subsequent y removing, alone and unaided, at still further risk, a quantity of paraffin oil from the premises, an 3so preventing the fire spreading to the adjacent house, a Female Orphanage." The Fiftee\-Gem Puzzle.— The following letter was recently addressed to the New Zealand Times by a correspondent :— Sir,— The fifteen gem puzzle, as it is termed, which has recently been imported into the colonies, is claimed, I believe, to be the invention of a clever American. Now, it is admitted by the whole world that Rrother Jonathan is clever, but when he claims to he the inventor of the fifteen gem puzzle, he ia simply playing the game of an impostor. Christopher Columbus discoverec America October 1 1 , 1492. Now it so happens that the fifteen gem puzzle was known to the world before the discovery of America. This interesting little game, which amuses both young aud old, ia faithfully delineated in a celebrated picture " Melancholy," painted by that great artist Albert Durer. Now, Albert Durer, the most cele brated German painter of the sixteenth century, wai born at Nurnberg in 1471 He died at Nurnbcrg in 1628. The above facts may be interesting to those who puzzle their brains with the game. A woodcut copy of the celebrated picture "Melancholy " will be found in the Works of Eminent Masters, volume l,page 41, published by Casaell in 1854.