Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1905. “VENI, VIDI,—.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3491, 2 March 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1905. “VENI, VIDI,—.”

— In appearing before our readers to-day we are keenly oppressed with a feeling of diffidence regarding the reception that may await us. Unlike Cssar of old, we have as yet only come into and very superficially seen Foxton and its people, and, so to speak, thrown down the gage to Fortune; for after all commercial progress is what all are aiming at as the one great consideration. In later years we trust we may be able to look back and acid the third word of the quotation relerred to in the heading of this article—thereby signifying that our efforts for the advancement of the Interests of the district and its people have met with approval and that Dame Fortune has not disregarded us. While, as we have thus indicated, a newspaper iS not and cannot be conducted purely as a philanthropic medium, yet there are many ways in which it can servo the people, and it shall be the aim of the ManaWatu Herald to work always tor the advancement of its district’s interests. It will not be too much to add, perhaps, that it may, on occasion, influence public opinion on matters of wider concern. Of those things calling, locally, lor special treatment in these columns, it is premature for us vet to aS the difficulty of acquiring the necessary knowledge of local affairs has to be overcome. We could, of course, launch out into condemnation of Foxton’s waterless condition, which might in some evil moment contribute to the reduction of the town to a heap of ashes ; hilt we understand that this vitally important matter is now under consideration by a responsible body of men, and when their conclusions and recommendations are available we shall be able to discuss them. Many other matters of more or less importance have fallen Under ollr notice, and to these we shall revert as we become better acquainted with the circumstances surrounding them. For the present we have to endeavour to avoid having the olddime proverb relative to the operation of a new broom applied to us in a derisive spirit. Whatever subject is taken up by the Herald will, we trust, be upheld or opposed, as the case may be* until success attends our efforts. There remains now but one other matter to touch upon—and that is the wider one of politics. In this again we trust that it shall never be said that personal inclinations have been allowed to overshadow our view ot that which is for the greatest good. We may be guilty of mistakes, but we trust for an indulgent public’s forgiveness therefor. While recognising the many benefits that have accrued to this colony during the regime of the present Administration, we are yet fain to think that many Ministerial claims are just a little far-fetched. The prosperity which this colony has enjoyed for a tong period has been the result of natural evolution, aided, but not caused, by beneficial legislation. Some of the “ advanced ” legislation of this f'olony, time is proving, requires modification, and this is notably the case in regard to labour. As for the “ Ins ” and “ Outs ” of the political world it seems to us of little moment what particular party possesses the reins of government so long as the people—that mighty Demos of whose perspicuity we shall within a few months hear so much—will send the right men to their national councils when the oportnnity is at hand. With these remarks we make our initial bow to our readers, trusting to merit their co-operation and goodwill as the shadow of time traces its course across the dial of Life.

The cargo brought by the Queen of the South, which arrived early this morning from Wellington, consisted of about 80 tons of general merchandise and a quantity of iron pipes for the Feilding Borough Council. There was a large and successful gathering at the second annual meeting of the Manawatn Athletic Association at Palmerston yesterday. Amongst the successful competitors were two Foxton boys—A. Laing (first in Boys Race, 9 to to) and W. Currie (second in Boys Hurdles, 100 yards, under 15).

Play in the tennis tournament was interrupted yesterday by rain, and an adjournment had to be made. The drawing for the combined doubles has resulted as follows:—Mrs Rodie and Robinson, Miss Austin and Rev. Wilson, Miss L. Austin and Fraser, Miss Wanklvn and Marshall, Miss Collins and Edwards, Miss P. Fraser and Betty, Miss O. Fraser and Stiles, Miss Mackay and Furrie, Miss Walden and Clemett.

Thomas Morrin, for whose arrest a warrant has been issued in Auckland in connection with alleged irregularities in the Wellington Park Stnd Company’s affairs, is missing. He was seen driving down Queenstreet in a cab at 3.14 on Monday afternoon. His name appears in the list of passengers by the Zealandia, which left for Sydney that night, but it is stated the vessel was searched, and he was not on board. It is known Morrin did not go home, and his whereabouts are a complete mystery. Subsequent inquiries pretty well proved that Morrin boarded the steamer outside Rangitoto. At an inquest at Dunedin on the body of Harry Jamieson, railway guard, who was killed bv falling from a train in the Deborah Bay tunnel, a verdict was returned of accidental death. In. dications pointed to deceased having fallen from a platform while leaning out,. The wheels of the guard’s van had evidently passed over the deceased’s neck, nearly severing the head from the body.

Two months of dry weather have rendered (he town and district very parched, and the heavy downpour yesterday afternoon was welcomed on all hands.

The Town Clerk, Mr Alf. Fraser, notifies that the borough valuation list is now available for public inspection, and objections must be lodged at the S. M. Court on or before the 15th inst. Charles Carter was fined £3 and costs at Christchurch for assaulting H. W. Candv, It appears that Candy Was hitting a fractious horse when Carter rushed up and attacked Candy, saying he was illtreating the animal. the Onehnnga boot factory, owned by Albert Hughes, was partly destroyed by fire on Monday night. Much damage was done to the machinery and manufacturing appliances, and from 25 to 30 men have been thrown out of worki

Telephonic Communication between Melbourne and Sydney (576 miles by rail) has been carried out successfully. The work is still in an experimental fiiage, j-u.it is bop 3 d that the service will shortly he available to the public.

While the Stratford Borough Council was discussing the Cemetery Reserve question the other evening, the Salvation Army Band cheered on proceedings by playing outside the Council Chambers the tune “John Brown’s Body Lies a-Mouldering in the Grave.”

An incipient outbreak of fire was discovered at Jnpp’s flaxmill on the river bank on Tuesday evening; It Appeared that a spark from the engine had ignited some rubbish on the scutcher house. A few bucketfuls of Water Were effective in suppressing (he dairies!; On Monday the Minister for Mines visited the Sedlonville State Mine, and received a deputation from the Miners’ Union, who approached him on the question of the agreement between the Union and the management, which expires next Saturday, He advised the Union to hold a conference with the officials in charge.

The librarian reported last night that some sneak thief had been ?t work in the Public Reading Room, the lastbopy of the “ Weekly Press " having been removed during the evening. It should be noted by the culprit that au elaborate strategic scheme is being evolved with the object of securing his detection, and after that !

In the Magistrate's Court at Wanganui all old man named Hurley pleaded guilty to making false statements about the value of property held by him when applying for an old age pension. Tee Magistrate said he was unwilling to send an old man to gaol and convicted and discharged him, pointing out that the defendant had rendered himself liable to six months’ imprisonment.

A driver of a vehicle on the road near Pahiatua recently found his progress blocked by a =lip, and as he was unable to turn back, he was in a rather awkward predicament. He soon surmounted the difficulty, however. Taking the horse out of the trap, he carried the goods over the slip and got to work with a spanner. He unscrewed the vehicle, carried it over in sections with the help of a passer-by, and was thus able to resume his journey without mishap. The Lady Roberta, one of the Government’s steamers used in connec tion with the submarine mining corps, has long been more or less useless owing to her draught being excessive. It is now stated she has been sold to a Hokianga sawmiller for £SOOO and a small wooden steamer. Cao f ain Moorhmise and Engineer Nelson have been given three months leave on full pay, and it is staled they will not be wanted when their leave is up.

Captain Patterson and (wo apprentices—Darling and Drummond—had a most exciting experience when the barque Kinclnne was driven ashore at Kaipara. They had turned in for the night when the barque capsized, and they had great difficulty in escaping from their cabins. They were obliged to hold on to the side of the vessel for six hours before from the beach. The vessel’s deck was facing seaward, which left the men without shelter, except a piece of canvas improvided by themselves. They were scantily clothed, and suffered greatly from exposure. Acting under the provisions of sec tion 4of the Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1904, Mr Brabant, sitting as a Judge of the Native Land Court, opened an inquiry at Woodville to af certain who are the natives entitled to a sum of money voted by Parliament in 1901 to ensure the discontinuance of the much discussed action of Tamaki versus Baker. This case occupied the atten tion of both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, eventually reach ing (he Privy Council, where Tamaki was successful against the Crown, Baker being the nominal defendant, aCommissioner of Crown Lands, It is anticipated the present proceedings will he the termination of many years’ litigation.

One of the five lads who were arrested at Masterton piloted a 1 police constable to the “ camp ” a second time on Friday afternoon, and revealed a second plant of money, bringing the total up to over £6B, nearly all in sovereigns. Considering the extent of their purchases, the lads must have become possessed of considerably more money than was at first thought. One of the adventurers told the police that he had stolen the money from a drawer at his mother’s house, and that it was insurance money received on the death of his father. He also stated that he had contented himself with taking all the sovereigns that were in the drawer, and had left a large roll of notes untouched. This story has not yet been corroborated. The suspicions of the police in regard to the boys were first aroused when they were informed that one of then had purchased a stick of tobacco at a shop in Queen street, and when tendering nayment had drawn a handful of sovereigns from his pocket, sorting a shilling from among them.

The 1906 band contest will be held at Hawera in January. Messrs Mounsey and Co. notify particulars of a sale of horses, etc., in Foxton on Tuesday next. William Pepper, who drank caustic soda a month ago in mistake for herb beer, died on Monday at Hastings. The Rongotca Dairy Company continues to receive satisfactory reports from the Government grader in Wellington. the points scored being 93. The company paid suppliers gd per pound for butter fat last month.

The new railway time-table for the Wellington-New Plymouth mail service came into operation yesterday, and the earlier arrival of the morning mail from Wellington in Foxton met with a good deal of favourable comment. The Hi&itangi, which arrived at Wanganui yesterday from Nelson, reported that she had towed the barquentine Alexa off Cape Farewell during the night. The vessel struck the edge of the Spit, but was none the worst for the grounding. A special meeting of the Borough Council is convened for Monday evening next at 7.30, to receive and consider a report from the committee appointed by the recent public meeting with reference to a proposed water supply for the borough.

Messrs Dalgety and Company, Wei iington, have received the following cablegram from their London Office dated 27th February, 1905 “ The list of arrivals is closed and all your wools have arrrived in time. The new arrivals have amounted to 362,500 bales, of which 191,500 bales have been forwarded direct to manufacturers at home and abroad, leaving 176,000 bales available for sale.”

The, Supreme Court opened before His Honour the Chief Justice at Pal merston yesterday. True bills were found against John Henry Towers, breach of the Bankruptcy Act; Mary Jane Lee, theft and false pretences, two counts; F. Middleton, tneft, three counts; S. Gannon, forgery; W, Baker arid J. Normari, arson ; Geo. Coley, obscene language. Subßgquently Towers was found not guilty, and discharged; Lee was was found not guilty of false pretences, and remanded on the Charge of theft. Marl: Twain onCe threw a strong light on the hold which the desire to bet might obtain on a man, a? shown in his story of the celebrated Jumping Frog. Possibly were the genial Mark to visit New Zealand now, judging by frequent church references to the gambling evil, he would find matter for another story, Comedy or tragedy furnish equal chances for a wager, and it is related that a sport ” resident within a thousand miles of Foxton laid several “ little bits ” at “ five to one ” on the chance that a certain man would make a confession before Tuesday morning last. The man did not oblige the sport, and the latter has accordingly had the extreme satisfaction of paying out to the tune of something like “ half a hundred.” There is a good deal of popular opprobrium displayed toward the hangman and his work, and, we presume, to his earnings also. How much more, then, should those so lost to a sense of common decency and humanity be abjured who who can allow their desire to make a bet descend to such a-ghastly level.