TUB-DAT, NOVHMBEK 23, 1880. ——i«"^———__, THE EXPANSES OP WITNKSSES.

Manawatu Herald, Issue 24, 23 November 1880, Page 2

TUB-DAT, NOVHMBEK 23, 1880. — — i«"^ — — — _ _, THE EXPANSES OP WITNKSSES.

The trial of Rumsey, for poisoning, which ia reported in another column, shows a weak point in the mode of issuing summonses to witnesses. At the last moment a constable was des- . patched to Otaki, with subpoenas for six witnesses. One of these subpoenas is before us. It gives no indication on which side the witness is summoned — whether for the prosecution or defence, — and closes with theso words : " Herein fail not under the penalty of one hundred pounds upon each of you." Upon the strength of this the witnesses went to Wanganui, only to leai*n, to their bitter disappointment, that they had been subpoenaed by Rumsey, that they need not have gone to "VVanga-

am without their expenses being tgftrterjdi anjh^liat they would have to provide themselves as best as they could with the menus of returning home. Several instances havo been brought under our notice of very great personal hardship caused in this case. Persons who were almost destitute of means wero taken over a hundred miles from their homes on a wild goose chase, because of a meaningless and unexplain-d threat placed at the foot of the subpoenas served upon them. Judge Eichmond fully agreed with the witnesses, who one and all complained of the hardship inflicted upon fchem, and said—" It was no doubt a most unsatisfactory state of things that a man could be subpoenaed under a penalty of „100, when at the same time he had a perfect right to refuse to come until his expenses were forthcoming. ... Ifc was high time some alteration was made in the law in cases of this kind." It is a pity the Judge did not suggest in what direction he thought the alteration should t=ike plaec. Perhaps the fairest plan would be for fche Crown to allow subpoenaed witnesses for the defence the same expenses as those allowed to witnesses for the Crown. The object of the Crown should be to secure justice. At present, tlie object is to secure a conviction in the case of every person committed for trial. If the plan suggested be not adopted, ifc should be stated on the face of tlie subpoena that unless the expenses of the witness are tendered, ho is nofc bound to attend the Court.

Government Office*. — We understand the Governn.ent contemplate appointing the Foxton stationmaster and wharfinger Collector of Customs, in place of Mr Htirgess. Of all the mnd pranks tho R>_l Go vemmeni have enacted, this will be the climax. The wharfinger and stationmaster is at present the hardest- wo'ked official in the district, snd ifc is the height of absurdity t» expect a man to understand in the course of a few weeks the intricacies of a Collector's duties. If this scheme is carried emfc there will be chronic discontent, as the offices of "sIHIIOIIUIUSIf-', Wliurlinger, and" Collector OtCustoms certainly will not run well togctlTer. J.'oxtox Bacf-Coviisf.. — The Racecourse Trustees have received a very satisfactory letter from tin Government. They will lose several acres of their reserve through the deviation of the railway, which will alao cut across the oval. The matter has been brought under notice of the Government, who havo offered to clear and lay out a new course, and fence the side of the reserve adjoining the railway, if the Trustees would guarantee not to demand further compe_isv tion for the loss of thoir ground. This offer the Trustees have determined to accept, and directly a notification to that effect reaches the Government men will bo employed laying jut nnd (detring iho new course. Foxton If._Us_._vr. Boart. — We under, stand Hifyf.l)° : '" T ' t " -..-.-i.-.. __, r t r . Tn . "Hoard has received a letter from the Go vernment, expressing its willingness to erect an ABC telegraph or a telephone between Foxton nnd the Pilot Station for the sum of £200. This amount seetus fco bo a very large one, and we rather fear Dr. Lemon hopes to "bleed" the Haibour Board. Somo less expensive mean* of commun'en tiuu will have to be devised for tho present, as the sum ftsked is quite beyond the power of the Hoard. Court.— The B.M. Court will sit at Foxton tomorrow, nt the usual hon.*, for tlie purpose of hearing the Addams assault cases. Licensed House.— Wo understand Mr Allan Carniont, of Ot.nki, intends to apply at next, sitting of the Lioensime Court there for a license for the Club Ilotel. Ho intends, if his application is granted, tospcud a sum of money in making additions to the buildincr wiih tho view of providing increased accommodation. It is slated the police will nofc oppose fche application. Mr Carmont has been in the public trade a number of yeare, and has a good reputation ns a hotel proprietor. Bulls Show. — The Bulls Horticultural Show takes place on Thursday next. Ckicket.— lt has been definitely arranged that the cricket match Palmerston v. Foxton shall take place next Tuesday— St. Andrew's Day,— and members of the Foxton Club are accordingly urged to attend practice tomorrow, when the Committee will have an opportunity of selecting the team. The Foxtojt Wiuuf.— Mr Thynne con. tributes a temperatefy-wri ten article in this issue on the management of tbe Foxton wharf, but bristling with a series of ficts which show what we have frequently said to be true, that Mr Rotheram sacrifices everything at this end to economy. Much good may his grand reputation do him. Ho can flatter himself with having the cheapest but worst managed line in the country under him. Wo only speak of this end. The position of tho wharfinger is that of the Itraelitish slaves, who were told to make bricks without straw. We should like Mr -Rothtram to take his place for a quarter. Suicide. — - Edward Fearon, the young man who overworked himself studying at Wanganui for the bar, died on Friday night in the Nelson Asylum from selfinflicted injuries. Thb Police Force— Mr Mallard, exInspector of Police at Dunedin, has received an appointment aa local agent, at Dunedin of the Union Insurance Company. School Phizes.-— The Committee of the Moutoa School have purchased a number of handsome prizes for presentation to the children who distinguished themselves at tbe late examination. The prizes will be presented at an early date. A Nbw Departure.— Some few months ago a gentleman with the very appropriate name of Walker stayed at Whyte's Hotel, and on leaving there was a pronounced bal ance on the wrong side of Host Whyte's Ledger opposite Mr Walker's name. After waiting in vain for a remittance, Mr Whyte on Friday last received a communication from his former boarder. It oame, not in the form of either a cheque or post office order, b«ifc as a port card, duly announcing that Mr Walker was unable to meet his engagements with his creditor?, and inviting Mr Whyte to visit U .wera for the purpose of attending a meeting of the unfortunates ! It is needless to say the invitation wns declined with thinks. This is tho first in stance that hi s onmo under our notice of* postcards being used for the purpose of notifying a bankruptcy. But we are becoming an economis people. Moutoa School. — A meeting of the Committee was held on Friday last. Present — Messrs B. Ed wards ((Chairman), Carter, Brown, and Saunders. Miis Grace

sent in Imp resignation ut» fr-achcr of tlitr I school. Upon th. ro.-tioti of Mr Carter, ] seconded by Mr Sa >mit-TS, it was ..ccjpted i Tho Chairman was initructed to order i the tiaifici* necessary, and invite tenders i for lining of tlie school and pointing lht> 1 gate and porch Then, being no other i bcuhe-u. tlie nieutt-.g u.j uirnod. SOrvey op inn Rrvßß. — The application of t.iie Poxon Harbour Board to the different local bodies for gran's towards the cost of surv ( yi_g the Man :w.itu river ; in meeting with" a liberal response. The mittor oimo bf<ore the .Manchester Highways Board a few days asro. and the ro quest being su- ported by Messrs Macarthur ; (ohairman) and Bailey, the Hum of £10 was voted as that body* contribution. Pkesbyterian Ciice™.— The services afc the Foxton Presbyterian Church on Sunday last were conducted by tho Rev. Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin. The residents of the township turned out in large numbers on both occasions, nnd enjoyed a rich intellectual treat.the sermons preached being characterised by great vigour of thought and expression, and calculated to make a deep impression upon the minds of the hearers. Dr. Stuart has a happy art of throwing off the conventionalities which too often rob the discourses of the clergy of their full power, and brings illustrations from near and far, for the purpose of enforcing the lessons of tho passages ho undertakes to expound. His sermons are therefore eminently calculated to reach both tho hearts and minds of the congregation listening,. The people of this district would bo extremely glad to welcome him on any future occasion. C.icMcir.. — Tho County Council holds its annual meetincj >»t no_>n tomorrow, afc Foxton, to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year. Feuding Borough. — Tlio people of Feilding have declared almost unanimously in favour of that town being madoa Uorough. Tho probabla consequence of this will be, to disturb the balance of tho representation ia the County Council. Should Feilding be made a Borough, ono of tho Manchester members would probably be taken away, and a second member piven to Kuwakawa, which is now fully entitled to da il representation. Customs Rkvexue. — Although tho imports into the colony during the September quarter of this year were nearly a million less in value than during the same period of last year, the amount of duly paid this year was several thousand pounds greater than last. Tho explanation probably is that the depression has worked its way up to tho wholesale merchants, who have found ifc necessary to decreaso their stocks in bond. ''. __Pi.orEi.Til_.. — In another column will be fourld a list of valuable properties for sale, wit.j. full particulars attached. Intending buyers are requosted to communicate by let! -r. Particulars in advertisement. l; azktted. — The new Foxton, Sandon, an'l Manawatu Highways districts are at last gazetted. IS . Z. iMrouTS — The imports into Now Zea and for the quarter endi _g September 30 are valued afc -J ,04.5,279. For the satno qua iter of last year thoy were valued at „2,414,033 f which shows n tremendous fallin;,' off this year of £.)29,:35f.. The only povtslat which there was an inciease were lUisst-11, Poverty Bity, New Plymouth, Fox ton./Wuirau, Pieton, and Hokitika. At tho /seven ports mentioned tho increas. ""Tmiour ted to only £0,810- Ifc will therefore be seen that ut the remaining nitnteen ports there was a fulling off of impoifc.s to the value of _919,<')1i iv tho quarter. B'-'OKr.ixo on- His Akmoi-r. — The RangitiUci Advocate has heard that Mr Henry Anderson lia* received v permanent engagement on the N"e.v Zealand Times. Tkadewith Foreign- Couxtktes — Some interesting facts may occasionally bo gleaned from the quarterly returns of imports and exports. Outing the September quart, r Wellington imported £2-jlO worth of goods from France, £9 » worth from Portugal, .62(59 worth from Germany, and JC IS3 woi*h fro.:- Holland, The other ports except Duucdiu did not import anything from tVose countries. Dunedin imported £(._ ; worth from France, but nothing from nny j other country iv E'\rope txcent the United j Kingdom. j AueKii.vvn'rt Imv-01-T Ti.al.-_. — Aiio_.l..nd docs ;i considerable trade with Polynesia. During the quarter ended Sept. 30 the imports to Auckland from Norfold Isl.Mid were valued at £124, >'ew Caledonia £240, Cook Islands £3,7<'G, Friendly islands, £i,755, Fijis £0,003, Navigators £1,057, Rotumah £2,447, Savage Island £825. Tho whole of the rest of the ports in ihe colony im- J ported only £271 worth from thoso Hands i during the same period. It i« evideut j Auckland finds the Polynesian trade a good J one, and intends to keep it. I TENi>Enß.— The Government invite ten- j deis for the erection of a stationmaster's house at Hawera. Plans and specifications are lying at the Public Works Office, Foxton. FtAX. — During the quarter ended Sep temb^r 30, 252 - tons of phormium tenax ] (flax) were exported from New Zerlnnd, the estimated valuo being £1687. The flax exported during the corresponding quarter ! of last yea" was valued at £2,218. We publish below tho ports from which the (lax was shipped: — Auckland, 02 tons, value £2057 ; Wellington, 94 >} tons, £1596 ; Nelson, 15 tons, £248; Lyttelton, 5' £ tons. £7_i ; cotal, 252* tons, valued at £4657. Timbeb — During the September quarter 1,293,481 feet of sawn timber were exported from tho colony, tho estimated value being £6.57:1 ; there wore also exported 1006 logs, of the value of £4018. Auckland, Uokranga, Whangaroa, nnd Kai para exported nearly the whole of the quantity mentioned, the presumption of conrso being that tho New Zealand timber most in demaud in foreign countries is kauri, as those ports are accessible to the kauri saw mills. The only other ports from which shipments of timber wem made for foreign countries were Bluff Harbor nnd Dunedin. Our Export Thadb — Tho total value of the exports from New Zealand during the September quarter was £939,610. of which sum £892,822 worth was New Zealand produce. Phis shows a most gratifying in. .ease of nearly £ 2:30,000 on the corresponding quarter of 1879. A Wakm Opin'io.v. — Afc a certain dinner party not man y evenings ago, the mother of a youthful lordling who has been asserting himself of late somewhat noisily in tho Huu -t of Common?, found herself in the neighborhood of a prominent member of Ihe Ministry, not wholly unconnected, aa Mr Mhawber might say, with the poverument of Ireland. The lady, with all a mother's pride, aHked the gentleman what, putting all party feelings and prejudices for the nonce aside, might behis plain unvarnished opinion of her boy's capabilities. "Since you i ak me," wns the answer, " for i plain unvarnished opinion, I will give it you in plain unvarnished words. I think your son 13 the mo.t impudent young gentleman that ever sat in tho House of Commons " If this story be trup, it is nood ; if not true it ought to be. — London World. Lord Randolph Churchill is the herojof this story. Old Notes. — Once a week, says th e "Tatlur," the content., of about ninefc

boxos — tho no.es paid by the Danko' En;,'- . land in th* corresponding week five y°ars f a.'O - aro emptied into a huge lain. Fire is < applied, and as s>on aa it. is ao>_ thnt the . mass is well alight, the eloors are closed. By t the next morning tho paper whicli r^pro ] scnted m uy hundreds of thousands o pound- is a mass of ash and dust, ready fof 1 the dusmin to cart awiy. Now and th<m. i however, a curiosity is savol from' the ( flimes. One such is shown in the shape of 1 a note, dated Ju'y, 17.''6\ and presented on < the oth March, 1817 — "lean and in good i preservation Had tho owner of this note ' " put. his money to the exchanger" instead o p into a secret pocket, hi* _■ _rs would have " received it with usury " to the ex tent of a little over _GOCO. An even more curious case happened at the bank on Christmas Eve lasfc. A bank post bill for £25, and a note for £20, dated December, 1752, wero presented on that day. Had these documents been invested at compound interest, the value of the former would have been £11,132 14b lHd, an! of tho second £820 CSa 11 _d.