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Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 15, 22 October 1880, Page 2

The Steam Service. — For a long time past, febeie has been considerable dissatisfaction throughout the district at the very irregular manner in which the Btenmers have traded betwoeu Wellington and Foxton. At one time, the Jane Douglas was a regular trader, making two trips per week, whilst the Tui ran in the Foxton, Kaikount, and Lytteitou trade. Lncer, the Jane Douglas was placei upon (he same line.und ever since then (ho shipping service between Foxton and Wellington Tins been most iirotrulir, the result being the manifest detriment of this port, as many persons in the upper portion of tho district" have preferred importing their stuff ?;/« Wanganui, owing to the greater certainty of their speedy arrival. This state of affms is certain to work its care, for during the past month or two the desirability of it boat owned in the district, and rumiin"- regularly, has been fively canvassed at Foxton. Tho people of Palmerston are equally alive to the same matter. Wo have soc-n a letter received by Mr A. J. Wiiyte from Mr Jenssen, of the firm of Eifhter, Nannestad & Co , in which th-it trentleisianstrongiy urges that a suitable boat should bo purchased by residents of the County, with a view to developing an increased trade. It is true Mr Jensson looks at the question more particularly from the point of view of a saw mi Her, but "that is natural, considering bis firm have very large order* awaiting shipment to the South Island. Still, we mention this as showing that, if suitable boats were employed iv tho trude, it would very soon expand. Mr Jenssen thinks if a company were started at Foxton, it would receive very larg« support inland. Of this we have uo doubt,and it i 9 perfectly certain that if the principal importers and exporters in tho upper district were so far interested in the affair as to take up shares, it would be a financial success, as every shareholder would of course import and export by the company's boat. The Patea people have given effect to this idea. They built a boat about eighteen months ago, and having already found it too small a second one is being constructed ; whilst tho Wanganui boats are well known to have done a great deal lo develop the trade of that port. We give publicity to these facts in the hope that some enterprising business man will take the matter up, and test public feeling. Cattle Sale.~Oii Saturday last, Messrs Thynne, Linton & Co. held a sale of cattle at tho Mauawatu Hotel, by order of Mr Futter. Milking cows realised from £3 10s to £9, and cows in calf brought from £•5 to £5 03. There was a good attendance, and tho prices realised were considered very satisfactory. Moving FouwAKn.— At last a real step tow.) ids the settlement of the West Coast c.untry betweeu Foxton and Wellington has been taken. Yesterday's N. Z. Times stotcs : — '• The public of tho city and district will be gratified to learn that the efforis of Mr Alexander M'Donald to complete tho purchase of native laad3 along tht West Coast — the route of the projected West Cojst Itailway — aro being rewarded with success, and that a first instalment of 58,000 acres between Waikanae and Horowhenua will be gnzotted clear of native titlo today. The land will then vest in the Wellington Waste Land rtoard, and in due course be thrown open for settlement." One part of the above is scarcely correct. Mr M'Donald has informed us that to Mr Jns. Booth, and not himself, is due the credit of haying completed the purchases mentioned, that gentleman having done tho whole of the real work in connection with their. Tho country included in the 68,000 acres mentioned is mostly bush land, a large portion being level, and w^ll suited for the purposes of settlement. Tho importance of the opening up of this land can scarcely be estimated, though we cannot but deplore the loss of the iiO per cent, of land revenue, by means of which the County Council could have done good work in making the in land road through the Horowhenua riding. A Goon Suggestion. — At Wednesday's sitting of the R.M. Court, Mr Ward made a suggestion which must commend itself to the judgment of every one who baa noticed !

the number of instances in which men Who have been working together asmatea indulge in the luxuiy of litigation. Two parties who have boon workiug together as partners in a contract for bush clearing, or something of that sort, had v dispute, and one of thorn went to law, but directly the case came before him Mr Ward saw that tho men were " mates," nnd that therefore neither party had any remoly against the other, each man being responsible for tho acts of his co-parinera. Mr Ward said the case was out of his jurisdiction, but he thought it was a great pity Magistrates had uot the power to adjudicate upon and settle disputes between working men who were partners. We heartily second Mr Ward s practical suggestion. In numerous cases men go to work as partners in small contracts, but no deed of partnership is drawn up, and frequently dishonest or grasping individuals derive the benefit of the labours of others, who cannot recover the amount due them. We do not of course mean that such was the cwa in the instance brought before the Court on Wednesday, but what we mention hxs been done over and over again in tbene districts. The Foxton Custom House. — Since our sub-leader on the Port of Entry question was in type, we have received yesterday's New Zealand Times, whioh atates 4 that " It hits been found that it would be inadvisable, through exceptional circumstances, to close Foxton as a port of entry, and Government have decided, upon reconsideration, not to do so, but to endeavor to effect economy at that place in aaother direction. Akaroa, however, is to be added to the lisfc of ports to be immediately closed." A rumour to the same effect reached us some days ago, J but before giving publicity to it, we determined to wait for confirmation. This is amply contained tba foregoing quotation I from our Wellington contemporary. ! A Black Lijt. — There are now in the colony two men lyiug under sentence of death for murder, — Joe, tho Fijian, at Auckland, and Ah Lee, the Chinaman, at Dunedin, for the murder of an elderly woman named Young. In addition to the above a man named David Hutcheson is awaiting trial at Hokitika for the murder of his wife and child, and Francis Uumeey is under arrest, and confiued in Wanganui Gaol, on a charge of attempting to murder a native girl at Otaki. A not vory satisfactory addition to make to the above list, is that a telegram from Dunedin states that the Governoi of the Gaol there hns received quite a flosd of applications for the post of hangman of All Lee. It would be in teresting, from a social point of view, know the motives that have prompted so many persons to apply for the opportunity [of performing so revolting a task. Whc- | ther the motive be poverty, hatred of the Chinese race, or a desire for reveugd upon tho murderer, such a number of applications for the post shows an unsatisfuotoiy state of affair. 0 . Masonic. — The Masonic Hall at Palmerston will be dedicated with the impressive ceremonies of the Order this day, beginning at 2 o'clock. The ceremonies will bo conducted by Mr Butts, of Wellington, Mr Haydn Flood, of Napier, officiating as organist.. Visiting brethren will be in attendance from Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Otaki, and intervening districts, and tho affair is expected to bo a brilliant success A grand ball takes place iv the Town Hall at night, iv honor of the dedication and opening of the Hall. Railwax — Special trains are announced for October 28 aii'l 29. Joixkii the Majority — Mr Lewis Parsons, of the Kelvin Grave sawmill, Terrace End, Palmerston, has filed bis schedule. Mr Parsons urrived in this district from Canterbury a few months ago. The Waimate Plains. — Sections of lani on the Waimate plains fur sale oa deferred payment will be open for selection on and after Monday uext. The land for sale on immediate puyment will ba submitted to public auction on October 29, at llawera, •ho upset price being £4 per acre. The deferred payment sections are to be sold at £5 per acre. Quito possibly To Whiii may make a new movo when lie sues the purchasers entering into possession of the land. His great i-fToifc has been to delny setiloment, and to accomplish this ho has been most fertile in invention. What ho will do when he sees tho land actually jroing out of his hands, and into possession of Kuropean settlers, remains to ha seen. By the way, tho latest news from Purihaka is th.-U a dog has bitten Te Whiti, and ho is very ill owing to the wound. PniCE List. — Messrs. Thynne Lititon & Co. have had priuted at the Maxawatu Hehald office a price list of goods in hand, and supplied by them in connection with their trade and family wholesale business. The catalogue comprises sixteen pages, and includes nearly three hundred separate articles in different packets n:id sizes. To country settlers ar.d general storekeepers the catalogue will prove of great value, as by a single glance at it they will be able to tell whether they can obtain from Messrs. Thynne, Linton & Co. any article of which they may stand in need. The Dog Collaes.— The Coanfcy Fingineer requests us to call the attention of intending tenderers to the fact that certain small alterations have been made in the specifications for the dog collais. Mr Rockstkow's Case. — The time allowed by law for Mr Roekatrow to send in the appeal of which he gave notice against the fine inflicted upon him at the It. M. Court, Foxton, expired on Wednesday Jast, but so far as we have been able to learn uo appeal was lodged by him. We heard yesterday that a memorial was in circulation, asking tbo Government to remit the fine. The Avenue Road. — The County Engineer yesterday visited Foxton for the pur po.se of passing Rosen thal't contract for formation on the Avenue, whijh has been j satisfactorily performed. Poiice Reduction*. — Inspector Mallard has determined to leave the Police Force sooner than accapt a reduced rank lie wna promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1875, and in losing him the country loses a smart and effective officer. TujjpEjts for Fkßhies. — Tho Fenios Committee of the County Council met at Feilding on Tuesday ]a*t, all the members being present except Mr Linton, who has been in ill health for some time. The Com mittee spent a considerable amount of time in preparing conditions for future leases of the lorries, olid the ' ngineer in vow engaged preparing tho specifications, which will be submitted to the Council for its approval at next meeting. Tendeks. — The Secretary of the Crioket Club invites tenders for tuifing am] levelling. A Tax on Titles. — " In Italy (remarks a contributor to a Melbourne paper) a charming device has been adopted by the Legislature for raising the wind. They have decided to tax titles, or rather the wearers of them, juut as in England we tax thoao who use the armorial bearings, even if they but wear a crest on a signet rintr. A prinoe has to pay 30,000 lire, a a duke 25,000, and so on, and they will have to produce a reoeipt in order to establish their claim to nobility. This will probably not much increase the revenue, because Italian noblemen have very little money,

but it will decrease the nobility — a reflection whioh, as Mi' Pecksniff says, 'is very soothing.' Will any member of our present Radical Government have the temerity — but there, I daren't write it." Aectio ExpßDiTiox.-The Shwatka Arctic Expedition that sailed from New York on June Ist, 1878, in search of data regarding Sir John Franklin, has returned to New Bedford. They obtained many relics of the lust navigator and his party, «nd also the remains of Lieut. Irving. Geographically the expedition has been quite a success. Important rivers and coast lines have been discovered, and serious errors on former charts corrected. The longest sledge ride on record was made in the face of phenom ically cold weather, and deprivation of customary food. The result of the expedition has shown that it is feasible for white men to adapt themselves to the life and climate of the Esquimaux in prosecuti g journeys in Polar regions, and they are not particularly restricted to any season of the year for that purpose, but can travel at any time, and in the same which the natives travel. The Unemployed. — At the last meeting of the Wellington Benevoleut Society, the Corporation Relieving Officer stated there were in that town 23 married nvn with families unemployed. Of these 16 were laborers and the rest mechanics. In the remarks appended to the names by the relieving officer, the majority were classed as " willing to work," several were " able but unwilling," one was " very unwilling," one "did not object to light work," one was " inclined tj be lazy," and others were " not in good health." It wa3 resolved to ask the Corporation to allow some of these men to temporarily tako tuc place of several of the Council's single men employe?, and so relieve the strain on the association's funds. Waiuarapa Ixemij. — A correspondent of the N.Z. Times, writing- from Wairnrapa, says : — The necessaries of life are gradually becoming cheaper in this district, with the exception of bread, which at llasterton is stijl rather high, thouah an enterprising Cattertnn baker has reduced tho price in that locality. The selling price of butter is now 6d j beef, 4-* d to sd ; mutton, 2d to 2£d ; milk, 3d per quart. It is stated that an Alf rtdton settler has discovered a means of combining profit with pleasure, by tak ing a contract with a jeweller, to supply boars' tusks at a shilling per pair. If the bad times arc not forcing us to develop our resources, they are certainly helping to lessen tho wild anlnr.il* This contract menus a large increase in the mortality of busli porkers ; tind at tho same time rabbitkilling bus become almost a profession, thanks partly to the energetic action of the Rabbit District Trustees in forcing settlers te destroy these peats. | Medical Diplomas. — In tho South Australian Assembly, the Attorney General has moved tho second reading of the Hill to enable gentlemen holding foreign medical diplomas to praatice in the colony. Diocesan Synod. — Tho Diocesan Synod of Wellington was opened at Sfc Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday last. Amongst the clergy present were tho Yen. Archdeacon Thorpe, the Rev. Mr Towgood (Marfcon), the Rev. Mr Jones (Feilding), and n nnmber of othora. The ilev. J. M 1 William was absent through ill health. During his opening address, Bishop Hadfield made the following remarks:— The real enemy of the Church was, he ventured to say, rather infidelity than intemperance. He lamented tho death of Mr Hunter, who had so long acted as a trustee. Tho Key. T. A Newlh had resigned ; Key. Mr Pajje was ocoupying the vacant cure of Masterlon. It would be necessary, ho thought, to have a new centre north of Patea. He thoughi it uocessary to urge upon the Synod tfie necessity of Sujday school work, and tho need of keeping the older children well together before confirmation. The Church members of tho diocese had hardly yet re.ilised the fact that tho Church was without endowment. The reoult of the General Church Fund was not yet ascertained, as it had so recently come into existence. The Maori Church had hardly progressed since last year, although some I*o7o had been raised by them us an endowment. The Moa Again.— That South Island moa has once mere come to the front. An Inveroargill telegram dated October 19 saya thnt information has been given to one of the local papers by Mr John Hay, Government Hurveyor, at present camped near tho Waiau, that on several occasions at night what is supposed to be the call "of tho moa haa been heard. It is described as something like the whistle of the American engine, with a little of the crosscut saw sharpening melody thrown in at the finish. When once heard it lasted for at least Id minutes. Tracks of a bird's claws, 3ft 2in long, have been found by tho cook of the party when out searching for stray sheep, and it is owing to this information and the noises heard at night, that search putties have started to explore. Pbisok Lauol'a. —At the Wanganui Borough Council meeting on Tuesday last, a loiter was read from the Keeper of the local gaol, enclosing copy of circular from the Minister of Justice re prison labour stating that in future it must be paid for at a rate to bo decided by the Gaoler, being as nearly 75 per cent of the current price for free labour of the Btino class as possibleAccounts to be settled monthly. All bodies, departments, and persons requiring piison labour, are required to send applications to the Gaoler, stating the lepgth of time they will be required for, and the work they will be expected to do. — Cr Carson thought the letter required no answer. The Government had the power to withdraw them if they choose. — Cr Willis said he would tnke this opportunity of protesting against this action on the part of the Government. No sane person would pay these prisoners 4s 6d per day for the work they did, and the idoa the Government had that thoy were capable of doing the kind of work that ordinary labourers were required to do was a mistake. They would probably bo taken from the small towns, and be put on public works at the larger centres, to tho injury of the colony at large.— Cr Car. son said the only thing they had to do was not to employ the prisoners at all, and after a few months, if the prisoners were kept in gaol doing no work that was beneficial to tho district, the Council could raemoriali c the Government on the subject.— The letter was ordered to be laid on the table. The Melbourne Exhibition. — In a forcible article, th« Wanganui Herald urges wool growers in that district to forward exhibits to the Melbourno Exhibition. As our contemporary's remarks apply -with equal force to Manawatu, wo quo'e the following paragraph :— '• The following are come of the direct inducements to exhibitors for whom emulation, public spirit,or prospective fame are not sufficiently strong advantages. Melbourne is the best market on this side of the world, and so far better than London for many men who may have their capital locked up in a choice flock, that they can get returns of Bales and a remittance in half the time or about six weeks. The price ia sometimes better in Melbourne than it is in London, and in a ahort time the steamers will probably take wool to Melbourne for a nominal freight. An exhibitor send* his wool free of charge of any kind, and oau make a tale of m*

exhibit on the best terms, besides making the quality of his flock known to the largest buyers. One well known Wanganui exhibitor at Sydney, it may be mentioned, realised a considerable profit by his exhibits. All that anyone desirous of exhibiting has to do, i* to wribo to Mr Brooking:, the Heo retary of the 1 >cal Committee, at the offices of the Borough Council, St. Hill street, and he will be supplied at onoo with the necessary forms and full particulars, and may then send away his exhibits by rail, addressed to that gentleman, Wanganui, free of charge, without any further trouble. Packing ciwes will be provided by the Exhibition authorities free of charga, so thac his specimens will reach their destina tinn in the best condition, and the only stipulation is that anyone intending to exhibit should write to the Secretary of the local Committee before the 7th of next month, to enable him to forward the name in time for the printed catalogue, .though the wool need nofc be in Melbonrne till the 23rd December. There are surely inducements enough, freed from any troublesome or expensive restraints, to urge Wanganui £<>ck owners not to decline exhibiting, under the supposition thac they may incur trouble or expense ia so doing, or that there is no direct benefit to themselves. The benefit,, both personal aitd to the community, of success in any competion like this, is very considerable, and the expense and trouble are nil." Petroleum Springs. — News has been received that the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company hive at 70ft depth struck a vein of oil. These veins are like leaders in a quartz mine. The manager expects to strike the main reservoir in about a fortnight, and dam 9 have been erected to catch the oil, should the well overflow. There is considerable excitetneut about the shares, which are changing hands at 3s, only Cd being paid up. If the Gi3borne well turns up trumps, companies will probably be formed to -sink wells in the southern portions of the province, as indications of petroleum beds exist within a few miles of Napier. The Poverty B.iy people havo shown great earnestness in the effort to develop the petroleum industry. Some years ago they imported a manager from America, but he was unsuccessful in his efforts to strike oil. It would be a grand thing for the country if the efforts made are successful, but we fear that the Poverty Bay petroleum wells and the Uangitoto silver mines are succtsses for the distant future to reveal.