Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1619, 27 January 1886, Page 4

The water .famine m Wanganui is so serious' that' a steam engine and Caiifornian pump have to be employed m order to maintain the pressure. • - The Marton paper has been informed that a dastardly attempt to upset the Sanson-Carnarvoh tram was made by some person one evening last week by placing a sleeper across the rails' near' Mickey town. The sleeper, happilyj was partially rotten, and broke m three pieces beneth the engine's weight, otherwise a .serious casualty must have inevitably occurred. A determined case of shooting occurred at Beaufort (Victoria) ; on January* 6, when a lad of thirteen years of age, named Robert Ballanytvne, shot his stepfather, Mr Stewa'rt. Bailuhtyne borrowed a gun from a' neighbor named Phillips, saying his steDtather wanted it. He asked Phillips to load the gun, which was done. The lad then went to his stepfather's residence, and found him employed m the garden. * He then deliberately, placed the muzzle of the gun on a gate arid fired. Eighty shots took effect m Mr Stewart's back and left arm. Young Ballantyne then ran away and returned the gun to Phillips, saying that his stepfather was thanful for the loan. Mr Stewart got up. and, with assistance walked to Dr Johnston's residence.' The doctor found that the shot had not penetrated deeply,' and ho serious results are .expected.. Constable Burke arrested Ballantyne, who denied all knowledge of the affair at first, but afterward admitted his guilt, although he would give no reason for , his action. He appears to have been an incorrigible youth and beyond the control of his parents. The Government has issued a handy little time-table for 1886 of the various mail services between this Colony and Europe. It is of convenient size, being small enough for the waistcoat pocket; It contains a handy calendar, rates of postage. to the United Kingdom, particulars of direct steamer services by N. Z. Shipping Company's steamers, same via San Francisco, same via Cey-lon-Brindisi, also Orient service, and Torres Strait and Brindisi.' There is a large amount of useful information contained m.small compass and m handy form.