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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 28, 24 January 1877, Page 2

The s.s. Tui leaves Foxton on Saturday next, the 27th, after the arrival of the evening train, for Wellington, Kaikoura, and Lyttelton. Mr Snelson requests us to say that, m consequence of his unavoidable absence m Wellington, his usual weekly sale will not take place on Saturday next. In our report of the last meeting of the Manawatu Highways Board there was an error m the passage relating to the calling of tenders for the Typo Bush line. Instead of " fencing " it should have been " fasciningj" 35 chains, &c. We understand that the brewery here lately the property of Mr Lingard has been purchased by Mr Normap, who has arrived m Palmerston with the intention of taking charge of the business, m which we wish him all possible success. £4,500 is said to be the amount for which the Ngatikauwhatas have agreed to waive their claim on the Douglas Block. A petition m favour of commutation of Curtin*B sentence has been signed by 600 persons at Auckland. His sister says he expresses deep contrition and weeps m alluding to the deed. A fatal accident occurred at the"Thorndon baths, Wellington, on Saturday last. A lad named Henry Garner, a clerk m the Telegraph Office, dislocated his neck m diving, »hd died on the following day. It is said that a large church is to be built for the Rev Mr Robinson of Napier, who has, at the urgent request of members of the English Church there, consented to remain. The Hawke's Bay Maoris held a tangi over Sir Donald McLean at Napier last week. A telegram says there were upwards of 900 Natives m Napier on that occasion, armed with Government rifles. Visitors to the Gorge can now enjoy themselves there m a double sense, for while there is beautiful scenery to gratify one kind of taste, there is abundance of good cheer and every other physical comfort to bo had at Mr Murphy's new hotel at Woodville, within four miles of the bridge, and m the immediate neighbourhood of a special settlement. Travellers can leave Palmerston by one of Mr Murphy's coaches m the afternoon, and continue their journey to Napier or Wellington at 9 o'clock next morning ; for, with an enterprise that deserves encouragement, Mr Murphy runs a coach twice a week to meet the Napier and Wellington coaches. An inquest was held on Saturday last m Wellington on the body of a child named Frederick Blake, who, according to the medical testimony, had been poisoned by Winslow's soothing syrup. The mother of the child administered the syrup according to the directions on the bottle, thinking she was doing everything for the best. Dr. Bradford deposed that m his opinion the child had died from the effects of morphia which formed an ingredient m the syrup. Giving evidence m ths case Toxward v. Hastwell, Mr Andrew Young related some of his experiences of New Zealand roads. According to Mr Young Otago takes the palm. He mentioned that he had driven over a road m that province on parts of which it became necessary for the passengers to get out and by main strength keep the coach m its perpendicular while he drove. He had been on roads where the gradient was lin 10. Mr Thomson's roads m Otago averaged about 1 m 15. The " N. Z. Times" says :— Mr Hastwell, the defendant m the recent well-known case, informs us that upon hearing the evidence of Mr Andrew Young m the case, he telegraphed to Mr Snelson, of Paknerston, who reported that breeching was not on the horses taking the coach by (he Manawatu Gorge, and that Mr Snelson's name might be given as an authority for the statement. . The " Post " says : — lt is understood that the threatened litigation m reference to Edmondson, Sellar and Co.'s estate, will be averted by an arrangement between the respective creditors m that estate and m the estate of the Wairarapa Carrying Company which, although nominally a distinct matter, is identical with the other.

We regret to hear that the Rev Mr Bevis is about to leave(the district, especially as he has been speaking very hopefully of late of the prospects of the mission under his care, which, by the addition of Sandon and Bulls has now become very nearly selfsupporting. Strong inducements from other dioceses are, we understand, Mr Bevis' motive for changing the sphere of his labours, which he says he has not done without much reluctance, and a conviction that he can be more useful elsewhere. We heartily wish him success m his new sphere of action, the locality of which we have not ascertained. The " Express" says the newrG-overnment Buildings' at Blenheim will be " a credit to the town." They are to be built entirely of concrete and roofed with slate, the work to be finished by the 31st December next under a penalty of £50 per week. A correspondent of the Taranaki ' Budget' who signs himself "Anxious," writes as follows on the subject of harbour improvement : — Two instances showing the great anxiety of the public m this town for harbour works came under my observation this morning. One man, and that a poor man, offers to give £10 and another not much better off said he was willing to give £20 to the same purpose. That feeling is common, and I feel sure a hearty response would be given to any appeal on behalf of harbour works. The " Wairarapa Standard" remarks that though we have heard a great deal about the manners, customs, and religion of the Mormons, no one has yet shewn under what economic laws they have prospered so remarkably under so many difficulties. In material prosperity, as well as m habits of order and subordination, they are superior to the adjoining States ; and the reason of this is, as the " Standard " remarks, " a far more useful enquiry than the truth or falsehood of the Book of Mormon." The Wellington " Argus " says the public have not heard the last of that famous bull calf of Mr Hunter's, as it " is quite possible that Beetham Bros, may commence an action to recover the sum paid for the calf, on account of the alleged flaw m the pedigree." We would suggest that a new Department be added to the Civil Service m the shape of a Heralds' College for cattle and horses. We commend the idea to the Hon. Mr Whitaker, who might then provide for the Provincial civil servants without making schoolmasters of them. Mr A. J. Ketley has been appointed clerk to the Wanganui County Council at a salary of £80 per annum. Mr Ketley's office m Eidgway-street is to be . temporarily the office of the Council, at ~& fSiital of £26 a year. A foreman of works is to be appointed at. a salary of £120 a year. New Zealand has, according to the latest returns, 11,674,863 sheep, and 494,113 horned cattle ; Victoria, 11,749,532 sheep, and 799,461 horned cattle ; South Australia, 6,000,000 sheep; and New South Wales, 24,000,000 sheep, and 3,000,000 horned cattle. The following candidates for seats m the Wanganui Harbour Board were nominated on Saturday : — For the Borough — Henry Nathan, Charles Smith Cross, John Duthie, George Howe, Thomas Farrah, Edward Nolloth Liffiton, Thomas Bamber, John P. Watt, and Andrew Tod. For the County — Messrs John Bryce, John Morgan, and James W. Baker. The election takes place on Friday, the 29th inst. There are to be four members elected for the Borough and two for the County, the three ex offido I members being the Mayor, the Chairman of the County, and the Collecto.r of Customs. The " Post " says : — So much abuse haß been heaped on the Government steamers Hinemoa and Stella that it is only fair to note any points m their favor. This we have done already as regards the Stella, and we now find that the Hinemoa has travelled 2200 miles during the past month, at an average speed of 10 knots, and with a consumption of coal at the rate of only a ton to every 22 miles run. The Luna would have burnt 2\ tons during the same time. In fact she used to burn nearly one-third more coal for the satne distance and speed than the Hinemoa and Stella together. Considerable uneasiness is felt m Waikato at the stoppage of the survey at Poringia. The circumstances are said to be as follows : — The land m dispute was formerly granted by the Kingites as a residence to Morgan, a European married to a Maori woman. Morgan offered to sell the land to the late Sir Donald McLean, who declined to purchase. Subsequently Morgan sold to a Dunedin purchaser, who took a surveyor on to the land. The Kingites do not recognise Morgan's right to sell. It is stated on good authority that McLean never promised the Kingites all the land on the west bank of the Waikato, but offered to give pieces _to any who wished to come m. The Waipa County Council have requested the Government to protect the owner of the land, and if a satisfactory reply be not received, they mean to confer with* the neighbouring Councils of Waikato, Piako, and Raglan, with a view to holding a public meeting on the subject.