THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1881, Page 2

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT QUESTION.

Their local government and local finance proposals threateu to cause the downfall ot the present Ministry. Mr Sheehan on Tuesday afternoon withdrew his .notion for the repeal of the Abolition of Provinces Act, and the same evening Mr Ormond moved an amendment to the motion for fche second reading of the Native and Crown Lands Rating Bill to the effect that the proposals of the Government as regards local finance aud local government are unsatisfactory. This is tantamount to a direct vote of want of confidence, and as such the Government are treating it. Both sides are confident of success. Supposing the Government are beaten they will probably resign, and Mr Ormond will then be "sent for." It is almost certain he will not be able to form a Ministry that could command a working majority. There would then in all probability be a dissolution aud a general election under the existing electorates, readjustment of the representation being left in abeyance. Tlie new Parliament would probably deal with the Redistribution of Seats Bill, aud a second general election would follow shortly afterwards. What the final outcome will be ii is impossible to predict, but at present matters political are in a most complicated state.

Vaccination. — We have been requested by Dr Maclachlau to intimate that he will attend at the Foxton Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, and at the same hour on the first Saturday of each succeeding month, in his capacity as public vaccinator. New Settlers. — We understand Mr A. J. Whyte has disposed of the 195 acres of land near Foxton owned by him to Mr Wm. J»nes, Clerk of the Hutt County Council. The land has been leased for a term of ears to Mr J.mes, with purchasing clause. Mr Jones, we believe, intends at once to erect a substantial house, and to stock the laud, upon which his two sons will reside. He also states his full intention is to purchase the property. The terms of t„e disposal of the property are said to be highly satisfactory to both parties. Land. — Land in different parts of the township continues to change. hands freely. Mr Andrew Jonson has just ibid an eighth of an acre on the Avenue road, with small cottage, for the sum of £150, the purchaser being Mr Bourn<-. Mr Jonson reckons the value of the land at £50, which is an increase of nearly 70 per cent, upon what he paid for it about 2£ years ago. Clearing Sale — Mr Honore, of the Manawatu Cash Store, requests us to c ill attention to the fact that he has extended the time of closing his clearing sale until tomorrow week, Saturday, July 30. To Fencers. — Mr Thos. Cameron invites tenders for fencing a five-acre paddock. Tenders close on Saturday, July 30. ■ Reward. — Messrs Loudon, Haybifctle _ Co. offer a reward of £10 for information leading to the conviction of the person who stole a box of tobacco from their premises. Boycotting. —lb is not generally known that the modern practice of Boycotting was almost put into execution in this district recently, A well-known Wellington merchant owns a store in Foxtou, also an extensive tract of hitherto unimproved land in the neighborhood of the township. There haa been a good deal of talk lately of draining the land in the locality, and as it was rumoured that the merchant in question was not disposed to bear a share of the cost a well-known son of Erin waited on the Manager of the store and informed him that nnless' his master came " up to the scratch " the store would be " boycotted " by a large section of the settlers. We give the story as it was told us, and a letter published in last issue assures the persons interested that the merchant in question is willing to bear a fair share of the cost of drainage. The Tablet. —The New Zealand Tablet, the Catholic organ in this colony, has recently beeh enlarged and is now a weekly periodical of 28 pages, being an increase of four pages. It is as a journal most creditable to the Church whose views it represents, no other religious body in New Zealand issuing a paper that con be compared with it. The writing in it is of a powerful character, especially that under the heading of " Current Topics," which contain excellent criticisms upon passing events, and though of course these are written from a Oatholio standpoint the ability displayed cannot fail to excite the reader's admiration, though he may at times differ from the conclusions drawn. We also get in the Tablet from time to- time the Irish view of Irish affairs, and are thns enabled to form a better opinion of .the realjtate- of things at home than through the English papers, which as a rule give only one side. In the last Tablet to hand, we notioe one of John Bright's speeol_.es on the Irish.Land Bill is ropriattdt

R. M. Court.— A sitting of the above Court was hold on Wednesday laat, before H. Ward, Esq, 11. M. There was no criminal businesM. Six civil cases were down for hearing, but of those four were settled out of Court. The remaining two cases were as follows : — ll, G. Palmer, collector to the Foxton Local Board, v. Joseph lngley,, of Wellington t claim 8s 7d, for rates. Judgment c.c, parte lor amount and costs, Sis.— Jaincs Dando v. John Carter: Claim £41 4s. Mr Hankius appeared for defendant, who had paid into Court the sum of £30 j.3s. It apr}ear«.d from tho evidence that plaintiff went to work for Mr Carter about twelve months ago as hired man, and the point in disputo was whether he was to be paid at the rate of 15s or 20s per week, in addition to board and lodging. The plaintiff positively asserted that he agreed to work for a pound -per Week, while Mr Carter was equally positive thafc the sum agreed upon per week was fifteen shillings. Mr Carter also deposed that during the time plaintiff worked for him he had other men employed and paid thorn at the same rate, IXi per week, ife produced a memorandum book showing thafc an entry was made at fche timo of engagement thafc plaintiff was fco bo paid l.n per week. In cross-ex-amination, however, Mr Carter admitted i hat when ho engaged plaiutiff, the specific wages wero not agreed upon, but he told plaintiff current wages were " from 1"h to £1" per week, that he was giving 1;h, aud as plaintiff admitted he had been a clerk lie considered he wa9 worth only the smaller sum, and understood plaintiff to acquiesce in tliat. His Worship said he believed there had been a misapprehension, and the onus of proving the case must lie with plantiiT. The evidence was evenly balanced, but as Mr Carter had proved the current rate of wages was los per week, he would give judgment for defendant, with costs £2 Hi. Plaintiff 1 Under the judgment would receive £28 lis. A judg* ment summons — J). Poole v. H. Haggie — I which came informally before the Court a fortnight before, was heard -pro- ■forma, and a judgment given for the amount claimed, £;". 1 Is, to be paid by the end of August, in default 24 days' imprisonment in Wanganui Gaol. Directors.— The West Coast Eailway Committee recommended in their report t.at Messrs W. H. Levin, W. Turnbull, C. _ linston, J. Plimmer, J. S. M. Thompson, J .mes Wallace, J. Bull, James Linton, and J. E. Nathan be elected the first colonial directors uuder the Article 61. County Rolls.— Mr Ward, Pi. M., held a Court for the revision of the County electoral rolls on Wednesday. Tlie only o'>joction properly before the Court wa3 that of George Mudgway, who asked thafc his name might be placed on the roll instead of his wife's. The application was granted. This concluded the business. Wasted, a Cabinetmaker. — Our representative a few days ago made an inventory of the furniture of the Foxton Courthouse, and as the publication of the lrsfc may have a good effect, we print it for general information: — 3 circular-back chairs for *' the Bench," one with a cushion for the fi.M. ; 1 dodo for Clerk of Court ; 3 square-back chairs at Clerk's table for Bar and Press ; 1 fixed wooden bench on north side. The following is a list of seats for the public : — 1 empty Devoe's kerosine case ; 1 stuffed square chair, covering worn off and flax visible through canvas ; 1 empty soapbox ; 2 square wooden chairs ; 1 sound movable bench, 18 inches high; 1 very broken and springy do, baily wormeaten, same height ; 1 do, do, do, much worse than previous one, 14 inches high ; 1 sound do, 16 inches high. The above is a collection of seats worthy of ranking, for variety and ugliness, with any other array of seats iv any Courthouse in the colony. Let us hope that a cabinetmaker's services will be ! brought into requisition, and a new supply of furniture obtained. Lecture.— The Rev. Mr Dutton gave his lecture on "The Sun," at the College,, Otaki, on Tuesday evening, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather about 30 persons attended. The Rev. J. M* William, on the motion of Mr W. H. Simcox, was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer. The lecturer was listened to with great attention throughout, and at the conclusion of his remarks a vote of thanks was moved by the Chairman, who spoke ia eulogistic terms of the lecture. The Rev. Mr H irsley moved a vote of thanks to the C liair man, and in doing so referred to the trouble Mr M'William had taken in getting the building ready for the lecture. We are glad to learn that the rev. gentleman's lectures in this district will result in a substantial increase of the funds of the Primitive Methodiit Church. Bridge.— The County Clerk notifies that the bridge over the Mokowai stream, between Bulls and Sanson, is again open for traffic. Sale. — Messrs Bethune and Co., of Wellington, instructed by the mortgagee will sell by public auction on Wednesday, July 27, L angley's Accommodation House, at Otaki, togetker with the land upon which ifc is erected. The property referred to is an eligible one, and in many respects worthy of the attention of investors. ' The Hydrabad — The hull, &&, of the ship Hydrabad will be sold by publio auction at Wellington on Wednesday, August 3, by Messrs J. H. Bethune k Co. A Heavy Bet. — " Sinbad," the sporting contributor to the Canterbury Press, referring to the next Spring Race Meeting in Victoria, says —"The really gigantic wager of £20,000 to £100 was made last week by the leviathan fielder, Mr Joe Thomson, on the double of D-rby and Cup, the taker selecting the favorite Monmouth for the first; event. It is very doubtful to me if so lar^e a bet, and at such extremely long odds, was ever surpassed, or even equalled, by any bookmaker in the old country." Mexican Ladies. — The Mexican ladies, writes a correspondent, are the most lovable, charming, amiable women in the world, and domestic life in this country is worthy the admiration of our people, and might) be imitated by Americans. As there are no summer or winter resorts, families are not separated three or four months of each year. The mother does not urge her daughter to excel in the art of dress for the purpose of attracting attention ,or catching male butterflies. The fashionable hotel or boarding.house — the pest, that ourse of our land— is, happily, unknown here. Each young couple when they marry settle down in their own little house, however humble it may be, and their children are brought up in the pure sunlight of home. There are more marriages "for love " here than in France and Spain combined. In the, higher olass the ladies' are generally accomplished, are good lingnists and excellent musicians, but the great middle classes seem to have no higher ambition for their daughters than to have them taught to read, write and sew. •' ? The Potato Cro? in Victoria.— _?here has been a failure of the potato crop in Vie' toria. The price of ipotatoes at Warrnambool the noted potato district of Victoria, is seventy shillings per ton. buyers rinding bags ; and the crop at Lanoefield, the distriot of second importance, is not likely to yield more than two tons to the aore, aud in eoaMO.W-.ct prioti wo likely to rale high,

Elopement. — The Maoris in the neighbourhood of Parihaka have stood in need of some new excitement since their oracle's prophecies'took the dull commonplace tone, which has characterised them for sbme time, and this want has been supplied by a gay, Lothario-like young surveyor, who has been engaged in that locality until recently. He became acquainted with a sweet yoUng Maori girl just budding into wahine-hobd, and speedily attracted her attention and engaged her affections. Some few days ago- the gallant knight of the chain and theodolite ctru<.k damp aud mado tracks for Wanganui in company with the dusky maiden, who had become so enamoured of him that, though she had never before left the.shade.,pf her .natiyn Jojcesjbs,, slie unhesitatingly followed him to the busy hadnta of the pakeha. When her relations discovered the heartless manner in ! which this volatile young creature had de,- . serted them, they waxed exceeding wroth: and vowed vengeance of the most dreadful description upon the head of the ruthless abductor. They communicated with their friends at Manutahi and instructed them j to stop tho guilty pair, and return the maiden to the abode of her hapu. The friends endeavoured to do so, but the "fair one " would not leave her lover, and came on to town with him in spite of., all their attempts to dissuade her. — - Wanganui. Chronicle. Odo Cause of Suicide.— Miss Gladdis iToman committed suicide at Mapeleton, 111., because she couM not lie abed in the mornings as long as she wished. She was visiting her brother's house, and seldom made her appearance until after breakfast had been eaten by the rest of the family. Her brother remonstrated, and informed her that she must get up before the breakfast hour. She got exceedingly wroth about the order, and after pouting all day returned to her father's house. That night when she retired she ordered her sister out of the room, saying she would show them how long she could lie in bed. She locked the door, took the poison, and was found lit the morning in the last struggles oorf r death. A Clever Trick.— The Press tells the following story : — A gentleman of the Upper House, who, I believe, is called the Hou. Thorn, is a greak jokist. He was travelling once on the railway with two companions, and found he had forgoton his pass. His friends chaffed him very considerably.and told him it would be awful fun to see him part. " I'll betyou a crown apiece I don't part," said the Honorable. "It- a wager," they both cried in one breath. To the trio in due Course' of time entered the guard. When he came to the Honourable, the M.L.C. whispered somethiug in his ear, and the guard bowing low passed on with a covert glance at the two friends, who looked on with much astonishment. As he passed on, his , way back through the carriage, the guard "again surveyed' the two ' friends with great interest. When they got out, they paid the Honourable the two crowns, and requested some information as to his course of action, " Well, " said the Honourable, "I whispered to the guard that I was a detective, and watching you two who were two well-known thieves." TiiE Deepest Pit. —Ifc is interesting to j record a triumph of engineering skill and perseverance. . Oa Saturday,. March sth, at the Ashton Moss Colliery, in Lancashire, the main seam of coal was cut at the depth of 2691 feet. This is the deepest pit in the United Kingdom, Rose Bridge Collier, which was the deepest previous to this sinking, being only 2460 feefc. ' The temper ature in the Ashton Moss Colliery at 86 yards was 78 deg. Fahr. Wheat for France. — The first cargo of wheat ever shipped to France from New Zealand was embarked for Dunkirk, in the Andes from Timaru last week, by Messrs Royse, Stead, and Co. If the quality of our wheat satisfy French fastidiousness, another market will have been found for our surplus produce. —Telegraph. The Garden op New Zealand. — The Taranaki Herald says there is not a place on the face of the earth thafc can excel for its climate the district of Taranaki. , The following is given as a proof : — "Mr Hulke's garden is a pretty sight ; and he has four camelia trees which he says he will defy anyone to beat for size. One is Dffc Gins high by 34ft in circumference ; another 12ft high by 40ft in circumference ; a third 14ft high by 45ft in circumference, and a fourth 18ft high by 50ffc iv circumference, besides over a dozen others from 6ft to 10ft in height, the circumference being in pro-, portion. Mr Hulke has just finished gathering his first crop of guaves ; and the second crop from the same tree will be ripe in about a month's tir_e. His first crop of citrons is now ready for gathering, and it is quite a curiosity to see the large swollen green fruit and the bloom of a second crop on the same tree. A lemon tree is now covered- with bloom, the ripe frhit having been just plucked." ; The gentleman above mentioned; is' a brother of our local Dominie. * Mort_ ages. —Of the mortgages completed during the financial year, covering advances amounting in the aggregate to £6,727,898, the various districts share in the following proportions : —Otago, £1,987,---31 0; Southland, £1,778,851 ; Cahterbury, £1606.770; Auckland, £565,438; We llington, £454.010 ; Hawke's 8ay,£158,886 ; Taranaki, £52.909 ; Marlborough, £52,154; Nelson, £49,747 ; Westland, £22,819. The aggregate number of acres (country, town, and suburban) covered by these mortgages is 1,071.125, thus the incumbrance on the land held as security exceeds £5 per acre. The inference to be drawn from this array of figures, plainly is that not only is landed property in the colony increaaing in favor as a security for iuvestrn_fttf but that the owners are anxious to discount _te future to obtain present means te bring such lands into profitable occupation and bearing. — N. Z. Times. .Body Ashore. — The Wairarapa Standard of July- 19 says :—" We stated in our last issue that the body of a man, supposed to be a sailor, had been found on the beach at Palliser Bay on the 14th inst, and we now have, it on the. most reliable authority that when the 'constable arrived on' the scene, that tho. body had disappeared, by having either been buried in the sand; or washed out to sea. This is a most extraordinary thing to happen, that the body should be left in such a position that it could again be washed away. Some people are under the impression, and it seems very hard to impress them to the contrary, that when a human body is found that it must nob be touched except by the direction, of tthe coroner. This is a great mistake, ana often, as at present, leads to undesirable results. Ifc would surely have been an easy mitter to have placed the body in a position in wjiich' the water .would not have touched it. We believe that ft is not the first time that the same thing has happened iu-tjhe same place,". . It is possible the body referred to was from the schooner _Hdo, whioh recently left Lyttelton for Waitapu, and never reached her destination. A part of the vessel wa4 fbnad.aear Castlepoint a week or two ago. ** CoßßEOTjnN.rr?non/,^oleon the legal profession a mistake owuma. We said each lawyer is allowed 'to employ only two articled clerks. That was the law origin* , ally, bat now there is no limit to the num. bor tw- tan-totr or wlioi tor may employ,