Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1900.

Manawatu Herald, 19 July 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1900.

It is an open secret that the new Municipal Corporation Bill has beerr dratted by Mr Martin, so it was said of a past ponderous measure which never passed the House.

To-morrow night the Foxton Racing Club hold their annual meeting. It is hoped there will be a good attendance of members.

The torpedo-boat destroyer Viper, the engines of which are constructed on the turbine principle, has steamed forty-three miles an hour at a trial trip.

President McKinley, in his candidature for re-election to the Presidency, is boldly advocating insistence upon the gold standard as the basis of the coinage, in opposition to Mr Bryan's support of the bi-mettllic basil.

Something serious to think about, especially with nearly 1000 of our single men in South Africa. A return laid before Parliament shows that last year there were 373,744 names on the electoral rolls, and the total population at the last census was 703,119. Thus the adult population is the greater half, which, for the good of the colony, is not as it should be.

Some of the representatives at the Municipal Conference sitting in Wellington have guaged the value of Municipal cheesparing, one is reported to have said, " If a municipality cannot carry on without trying to save the few pounds required for the printing of rolls, it should go out of existence."

The average age of 15,000 policyholders of the Australian Mutual Provideut Society is 38*9 years. In 1888 the average was 39*4 years, and in 1878 it was 39" 1 years.

The accounts given by Sir Frederick Hodgson's party, now at Cape Coast Castle, of their march from Kumassi, show that the column had a marvellous escape from destruction, what with the danger from the attacking natives and the privations by the way. The carriers attached to the force were so weakened by hunger that they abandoned their burdens, and lived on plantains. On one occasion the force had to wade for two hours in water shoulder high.

Our hopes should rise. The Post-master-General told the House that by degrees he hoped to give such reforms in both the Postal and Railway Departments as would satisfy — and even stagger — the honourable members, and that, perhaps, before very long.

At the last meeting of the Education Board Alice Voysey, cadet at the Campbell-street school was appointed pupil teacher to Foxton.

Amongst the names of teachers who had received promotion we notice those of J. R. Nairn, Dz; Miss L. O'Brien, Ei, in the sth class; W. F. Stansell, D3> in the 6th class ; Miss E. Burr, E3, in the 7th class; and H. Lyall, E4, in the Bth class.

Something like ioo millions :of Spurgeon's sermons have been sold at one penny each.

Those beautiful medals, some years ago presented to the school children by the Wanganui Education Board, were paid for by whom ? It was an idea of Mr H. Sanson, perhaps he had the pleasure ? At anyrate the Board jibs on any more medals, and in reply to the Government who wanted to trade some fresh ones on to them, declined, as the Audit Department disallowed the previous expenditure !

A case of horrible cruelty to a horse was before the Magistrate's Court at Akaroa the other day. A constable reported that he had found a horse tied to a tree, where it had been 6 days without food, with chains hanging on its neck. The chains had eaten right to the bone. On the constable remonstrating with the owner, he was told that the horse was a bad brute, and was being punished, concluding by asking the constable to come and pray with him. A fine of £io, and costs, was inflicted on this fiend in human shape.

The Conservative party on this coast appear to have only one man who is willing, or they think capable, of representing them, and at every election they run him, paying his bare expenses, but hitherto with no success. As there is to be a vacancy in the Patea electorate the party are trying to pursuade him to try once more, upon the principle that the third time will prove the lucky number.

Mr Sf ddon informed the Wellington correspondent of the H.B. Herald that he is getting better in health every day, and he is determined to adhere to early sittings as much as possible. He considers the recommendation of the Standing Orders Committee to take the supper adjournment of balf-an-hour at 10 instead of 10.30 will have an excellent effect as far as keeping better hours is concerned. It will also have the effect of clearing the galleries half-an-hour earlier, as comparatively few people remain after the supper adjournment. There is no doubt it will tend to shorten debate, as a certain number of members dearly like to "talk -to the galleries." But if the " galleries " have gone home there will be no inducement to do so.

Major Steward is anxious to know who supplied the butter for the use of the men sent by the s.s. Waimate ? He told the House that it was absolutely unfit for human consumption, lie had seen a letter— a very goodhumoured one — from a member of one of the contingents on board the mate," describing the state of things with regard to the butter that had been served out on that vessel. The trooper made some fun out of the matter, stating that the butter was so bad that it had to be thrown overboard day after day ; that when it was served out the troopers drew themselves up in rank and saluted it ; and, further, that it was tied in packages to the legs of the tables as though it might run away —a hint that it was decidedly strong.

Mr J. Holmes, merchant, of Wellington, is petitioning the House for a sum of money as compensation tor the heavy losses sustained by him when acting as Flax Commissioner for the colony.

Mr E. M. Smith, ot Taranaki, suggested that the Government has" neglected many points, but if they would only take him into their confidence, and (wise man for having an eye to business) hand him over one of those portfolios, he would show them the right policy to pursue !

We understand that Mr Robert Fraser intends to have his two river steamers very spick and span to convey the vice-regal party to the Wirokino bridge.

Yesterday being Arbor Day it was natural that the banks should be closed to permit ot the clerks attending to the ornamentation of the backyards of those establishments. Otherwise the inconvenience caused to business people cannot in any other way bo ac« counted for. ,