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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 27, 20 January 1877, Page 2

The Napier takes excursionists for the Regatta to-day, leaving Norton on arrival of the noon train. Mr Abernethy's accounts have been' audited by Mr Commissioner Fitzgerald, and found satisfactory. We remind our readers that the valuation lists of the Highways and Local Boards of the County are now open for inspection at the places specified m our advertising columns. We have been requested to say that the s.s. " Napier" will make excursion trips at reduced rates for the cricket match and the races at Wellington. Particulars will appear m an advertisement. A nasty accident happened on Monday last to Mr Schultze, one of the contractors for the supply of timber to the PalmerstonFitzherberton bridge. A branch broken off a fallen tree struck him m the eye, inflicting a severe wound which, it is feared, will occasion the loss of the sight. Mr Waite writes from Melbourne to say that he is not forgetting the interests of the school here. He finds that it will be a saving to purchase the prizes m Melbourne, and his visit to that city gives him an opportunity of studying the working of the state schools there. We would draw the attention of the Cemetery Trustees to the expediency of taking some steps towards fencing and clearing it. The bush portions of it will soon be fit for burning, and we hope this necessary preliminary to setting the cemetery m order will not be postponed for another year. At the R. M. Court at Feildiug yesterday a man named Hellkessel sued Mr Brown, the hotel-keeper, for £20, damages for detention of clothing. Defendant pleaded that he had detained the clothing for rent of a billiard table let by him to complainant. The Court decided that the manner of detention was illegal, and ordered the clothing to be returned to complainant, but allowed no damages, as defendant had offered to return them when legal proceedings were threatened. This, with one or two drunken cases, constituted the business before the Court. Among the papers of Mr J. MiHar, J\S.A., was found, after his death, the following letter addressed to Mr J. Lazar of Hokitika, and dated August" 1, 1876. — "Alas, to-day the change of my symptoms is of such a nature that a fatal termination is not improbable even before I reach Nelson. Should Providence so direct it, I desire, before the assurance of an honest man's dying declaration, Eternity now staring me m the face, I declare before the Great Architect of the Universe that I never m thought, word, act, or deed, defrauded the Government of Nelson of a single shilling. Therefore, I depend upon you and my Masonic brother Stanton to assure the world of the fact. I look to you both to protect my moral rectitude of character when I am gone to that bourne whence there is no return." (Signed) — S. Miii<ar. On Thursday last the cash -box stolen from Mr Snelaou's premises on Sunday, the 7th January, was found inside the fence on the road-side, nearly opposite Mr Smith's house m this township. It had been broken open, and the bank notes together with other paper to a large amount extracted from it. The thief or thieves had been judicious. They were careful not to take any of the cheques or I. O. U.s which were

payable m the district, though this did not prevent the arrest of one of them, named Thomas Hawkins, alias J. Stevens, who attempted to cash a cheque m Wellington, which had been drawn by Mr Akers of this township m favour of Mr Snelson. Hawkins was arrested on Wednesday last, and m his possession were found some of the watches which had been left m charge of Mr Keeling here, by Mr Quinn, and which had been taken from Mr Snelson's safe with the other property. " Half a loaf is better than no bread," and on this principle we congratulate Mr Snelson on the recovery of a portion of his property, and tnafc not an inconsiderable one, inasmuch as the paper remaining m the cash-box is good for about £150. The first innings m the Canterbury v. Otago cricket match were — Canterbury, 143; Otago, 46. The Customs revenue for the colony for the past year, so far as at present is known, is £1,199,327, as against £1,229,138 for the preceding year. The returns for six small ports have not yet been received, but the general result will not bo much affected. According to the " Wanganui Herald," so wretched has been the attendance at the •monthly parades of the Rifle Volunteers of late that at a recent parade, at which there were only about fifteen present, Captain Parkes remarked that he would decline to attend the parados if so little volunteer spirit continued to be manifested. A meeting was to have been held on Thursday last, to consider the question of disbanding the corps. Sir G-eorge drey's island, Kawau, is not included m any county, and therefore he is, as the Wellington " Argus" remarks, " exempt from contributing to the support of the new system of government to which he so much objects." In the following strong terms the Taranaki "Budget" insists on the necessity of harbour improvements there : — " All who are dependent on business or casual labour for a living, are thoroughly hopeless m regard to the future unless harbour works are commenced as, an inducement to moneyed men to occupy the good quality land to be found m this province, and as an encouragement to present occupiers to cultivate. It is thought the place is drifting hopelessly to ruin, and that it will take years to bring back again people who are leaving, and others who are preparing to leave. For casual workers — married men with families— there seems little else than starvation m store." Accordingly the Taranaki people are resolved to have " something more than mere verbal promises from Major Atkinson." The "Wanganui Herald" remarks that " the ' Timaru Herald ' is misleading its readers m telling them that if a County does not bring the whole Act into operation the charge of the main roads will be thrown upon the General Government. It ought to know that not a single penny is likely to be voted next session for roads m any part of the colony. That the General Government should maintain a road m Geraldine implies a very crude notion of local selfgovernment." The " Patea Mail " complains that Major Turner has been very unfairly treated m the matter of his recent dismissal from the Armed Constabulary. It seems that the Major used to discharge the duties' of Resident Magistrate m addition to those of Inspector, and without any increase of salary or other emolument except a house and grounds rent free. Now, however, Major Turner is dismissed the service altogether, and a gentleman named Rawson — formerly clerk of the R.M. Court m Taranaki, the " Mail " believes — is appointed B.M. for the Patea district. The " Mail " says the discharge of Major Turner will be regretted throughout the district. The " Canterbury Times " says that the farmers m the Ashburton are about to provide what has long been a serious want m the district. Mr Jacobsen, of Chri9tchurch, has received instructions to prepare plans for a large grain shed at the Ashburton, and another at the Longbeach crossing. The former, which is to be erected by a Joint Stock Company, will be 150 feet long, with a platform at each end, 50 feet m length, and as soon as the business requires it, the latter will be covered m; thus increasing the length of the shed to 250 feet. The Longbeach shed is to be 80 feet long, and will be erected at the expense of Mr John Grigg. Both sheds are to be completed m five weeks, so that they will be ready for the ensuing grain season. "JEgles" tells the following story :— A firm was lately m financial difficulties. (But for certain objections recently advanced I should say a Jewish firm.) There was a meeting of creditors, some of whom were angry and inclined to take extreme measures, and amongst the angriest was the firm's banker. But at the meeting there was one merciful creditor. He said that he thought that time should be given the firm* to make an offer for the estate. He confessed that the delay m the Court would be very prejudicial to himself, as lie couldn't afford to wait long for a dividend. So impassioned was his eloquence that the creditors relented, and the meeting was adjourned m order that the firm might make an offer. Mark the result ! That evening there was a formal but unobtrusive notice m the evening paper. The next morning the sheriff was m possession, and sold the whole of 4he realisable assets for the benefit of the sympathetic creditor. He got enough to cover his debt m full, but there was no dividend for anyone else ! The Wellington "Post" Bays :— lt is stated that a great walking match is likely to be shortly arranged between Edwards and Andereon. Several gentlemen, it is

said, have offered to subscribe an amount of ! money to be devoted to the purchase of a silver cup, or other trophy, to be competed for by these celebrated " walkists," who, we believe, intend to each stake £25 upon the result of the race. We would suggest that the race be left open to the whole colony, the conditions to be a sweepstake of £25 each, the winner to take the trophy also, and to be declared the Champion of the Colony. Perhaps the Athletic Club might; be induced to follow the example set them by the great Athletic Club m England, and offer a prize to any of the competitors who beat by a stipulated time. Lovers of athletic sports would then be treated to a display of pedestrianism seldom- witnessed m this part of the world. The following story comes from Yass, m N.S.W. :— As the family of Mr Wilkinson, solicitor, were tranquilly seated, around the table enjoying breakfast, a favourite cat made its appearance at the door encumbered by a snake which had- coiled round its body. Screams and consternation followed. One lady jumped on the table, to the imminent danger of upsetting the paraphernalia thereon ; another lady jumped through a window with more precipitation than prudence, as her limbs, if not her neck, were endangered. Others mounted chairs, and the screams brought the domestics to the scene. The maid-sex'Vant, with that peculiar instinct common to her sex, brought a hoe, and at once realised the situation. She lost no time m dissevering puss from her companion, and then, with a well-directed blow, laid the snake lifeless on the carpet. It measured four feet m length. A Tbemendotts Convcxsion takes place m the human interior during a " bilious" attack. The muscles of the stomach are spasmodically contracted, the gall blodder is violently squeezed and empties bile into the stomach, which is again convulsed and casts out its contents into the mouth. The cause of this internal commotion is purely gastric, although the blame is often laid upon the liver. Invigorate the stomach with Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps if you would avoid " bilious" attacks. — Advt. Describing a thunderstorm that occurred recently m Geelong, the " Advertiser " says : — Mrs Bignell, a lady who resides near the Botanical Gardens, was standing m the doorway of her house watching the vivid flashes of lightning, when all of a sudden a ball of fire passed within a foot of where she was standing, went through the house by the back door, which was open at the time, and exploded just over the house with a terrific crash. Mrs Bignell was forced on to a chair, but not hurt, and although she had her senses, she was powerless to speak for nearly an hour and a half. The ball of fire is described when it appeared to burst to be composed of all the colours of the rainbow. The following amusing advertisement has been posted over the entrance to the South Melbourne Bathing Company's baths : — " £100 Reward.— The above reward will be given to any man under 14 stone who will successfully drown himself m the presence of five members of the South Melbourne Club. Hot blankets and other means of resuscitation will be supplied to competitors if necessary."