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Manawatu Herald, 9 December 1899, Page 2

Mr A. R. Atkinson in returning thanks for his election is reported to have said about Mr G. Fisher, that "it was partly beer, and partly chanty" which was responsible for that candidate's return. Mr R. g. Knight, who at one time resided at Paiaka, essayed to enter parliament through the Wellington Suburbs electorate, as an Independent Liberal. He was singularly unsuccessful in vote catching, having only succeeded in putting together eight to his credit at the finish. A candidate in Auckland polled only 341, and as the lowest score of a successful candidate was 4,734 he will forfeit his deposit of £10 from not having polled a tenth of that number. A candidate at Waiapu, at Wanganui, at Wairarapa, at Kaiapoi, at Timn.ru, and at Wellington Suburbs are in a similar position. Because, so it would appear, there being no other reason for it, the artistic Borough authorities have sown flower seeds in the triangle, some burgher has thought fit to deposit some loads of highly-scented onions on the public road by the Victoria Park. As the scent, to put it mildly, reaches to town, we should recommend the deositor to proceed this night and cover rhem over, or the many penalties described in the Acts of Parliament ma> be enforced against him and recovered. On Thursday next the State school breaks up, and the scholars will hold a -ports meeting, in which many prizes »vill be given. The Queen's gift of Chocolate to the troops in South Africa, according to the Australian papers, was 100,000 tins, not 1000 tins, as cabled to the New Zealand papers. Mr E. J. T. Price, of Pahiatua, signed the contract for the erection of the Otaki bridge on Monday last, at the price of .£4500. The large number of army bakers despatched to South Africa has rendered it necessary to close the army bakeries at Woolwich and the other large garrison towns, and to contract for the supply of the troops with the local bakers. The steamer Spithead sailed from Lyttelton /on Thursday for Capetown with a cargo of 60,084 sacks of oats. In another column Mr John Stevens i hanks the electors for his return to parliament. The coach building premises of George Stratford at Bulls were burned down on Thursday morning. All the itock and several vehicles were burned, .cry little being saved. His dwelling °'1 joining was saved by the splend 1 ' 1 efforts of the townspeople. The building was insured for £50, and the stock for £250 in the Standard Office. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Stratford, who loses heavily. We direct particular attention to the programme of the School concert. We understand some seventy children take part, and parents will be pleased at the action songs that will be presented. The second part will be a debate upon a very important subject, discussed by the worldly wisdomof 15 boys. The last portion is a comedietta, which promises to be a very good item. For the first time since the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson's famous signal was on 21st October hoisted upon the Vie tory in Portsmouth Harbour, the words " England expects every man to do his duty " being formed by numeral flags. Laurel wreaths were also suspended between each of the Victory's masts, and another wreath on the spot where Nelson fell. An extraordinary outrage occurred at Masterton early on Wednesday morning, when burglars entered the residence of Mr Jas. Coradine in Perry itreet, and chloroforming the whole of the inmates (five in number) robbed he house of all the money they could and, not touching watches, jewellery >r other articles. Altogether ab^u £20 was secured. When the inmates were aroused investigation showed that a linen rag saturated with chloroform had been placed on or near each leeper. Mrs Coradine, who is a light sleeper, woke when touched and saw the forms of two men, but was rendered unconscious at once. The other inmates of the house were Joseph and William Whittaker, Mrs Coradine's brothers, and Ruth Burton. The police have no clue. An English pnper of 22nd October has the following :--Are you quite sure that the Transvaal is all we have upon our hands just now ? I confess I .find some little difficulty in explaining the sudden orders to the Channel Squadron in the light of South Africa alone. That cruisers should be detached for the protection of the transports bearing the troops is only what one would expect, whether there is any truth or not in the story of Mr Kruger having issued letters of marque to certain French privateers or not. But you don't want a squadron of fourteen ships, with aggregate crews of 8,684, t° attend to privateers, whom the Diadem or the Niobe could and would wipe out of existence in ten minutes. There is a curious story going about that the Government have had information of a contemplated move of Russia towards the Persian GmIF, now that our hands are supposed to be full, and that our preparations are intended quite as much a hint to the bystanders as for the benefit of Mr Kruger,

To give an idea of the trade in arms and ammunition that has passed between the Transvaal and Germany, it is stated on unimpeachable authority (wir^te the Berlin correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph on lith. October) that 80,000 rifles and 17,000, 000:6$ cartridges have been consigned foetal Germany to Pretoria within the fast two months alone. German politicians have always laid stress on the activity of the war party in the Trans^ ' vaal as a dangerous feature in the situation. Next week Mr Barham will commence running a daily coach to Levin. It will leave in.the early morning and return at midday.