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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 33, 10 February 1877, Page 2

We are glad to learn (says the "New Zealand Herald)," that the destruction to the crops at Poverty Bay by the heavy rains about a month ago is not so great as was at first reported. It is true that the rain damaged several acres of cereal crops on the Matawhero Plains, where the lodgement of water was greater than anywhere else m the Bay, but notwithstanding, the bulk of the crops have not sustained any injury, and oats, wheat, barley, and potatoes are more plentiful thoroughout the district of Poverty Bay, from Wairoa to the East Cape, than they have been for several years past. At Ormond the crops are said to be exceeding prolific, especially where the land was flooded m January last. At the English Church m New Plymouth recently, a few minutes before the service commenced, and when most of the congregation were seated, a man m close buttoned up serge coat, light coloured trousers and heavy boots a la digger, entered and walked quickly up the aisle, entered the pulpit, opened the Bible, and apparently satisfying himself that he had got what he wanted, closed the book again and put it under his arm, andj marched away with it, saying there would be no preaching there that night. Many of the congregation were somewhat astonished at the strange proceeding, and Mr H. Hooker, who had been ringing the bell, being informed of the matter, entered the church with a view to an explanation. He met the man m the aisle with the Bible under his arm and was about to stop him and ask for its redelivery, when he cried "look out," and planted his fist just under Mr Hooker's left eye, leaving a nasty bruise. About half a dozen men had by this time stepped out into the aisle> but the man, with the Bible under his arm, broke through the lot, and getting into the street, hurried off m the direction of the Post-office. He was, however, captured by the vacant lot near the Post-office, and being floored the Bible was taken away from him and replaced m the pulpit. The man was recognised by some of the congregation as a patient now under treatment at the Hospital, named P. White. It appears that a few minutes before he had told the Hospital steward that he was going for a short walk, and would be back soon. Mr Hill, being at present so unwell as to be unable to leave the Hospital grounds, and most of the family being at chapel, was unable to accompany the patient, so got two of the children to notice what direction White took.— "Budget." It seems the cab-drivers m Wanganui make a practice of using their vehicles as hearses, and plying for hire with them immediately afterwards. The local papers are calling upon the Borough Council to suppress the practice. During the recent trip of the Albion from Melbourne she called m at Milford Sound, where a stay of three hours was made. Shortly after getting out of the Sound the Albion experienced a tremendous burster from the S.W., which blew with hurricane force, bringing with it a mountainous sea. The engines were eased to dead slow, but so strong was the wind that the steamer went along at the rate of over ten knots an hour without a stitch of canvas set. Captain Clarke and the officers of the Albion state that it was the heaviest gale they have experienced on the New Zealand coast. — " Post," Mr Henry Young, of Wellington, writes to the " West Coast Times" from Rangitoto, under date 25th January, stating that the company's mine is looking splendid, with immense quantities of ore exposed. Mr Hursthoitse, member for Motueka, lately addressed his constituents at Waimea West. He was closely questioned by aMr Arnold, whose remarks are thus reported by the Nelson Mail : — " You speak about a reduction m the estimates, but when Yogel came into the House and gammoned he was going to die, didn't you vote to send him home as Agent-General ? Didn't you now ? [Mr Hursthouse :" I did."] I see they are going to reduce the police pay to 6s a day j why don't they reduce other things ? When the news came of Dr Featherston's death, didn't Yogel come down to the House witli a long face, and Stafford with tears m his eyes, and Grey crying, and didn't you all vote a lot of money for his family ? Ah ! ye're purty fellows for mimbers, the whole lot o ye. Ye're trying to make New Zealand as bad as ould Ireland, putting on it a big national debt, and making the working men miserable. Six shillings a day, indeed ! I'd have every man out of the Government that had anything to do with the Yogel Ministry, and be d d to them. What good did you, or any of our numbers ever do for Nilson ? They do well m Otago, but what do toe get ? I tell you what it is, this is the poorest settlement this side of the line." His burst of eloquence having subsided, Mr Arnold then proceeded to propose a vote of thanks to Mr Hursthouse, which was carried unanimously. Alluding to the water rates the " Wellington Argus " says : — Various methods of evading the Mayor's bath tax have been suggested, but a great deal of uncertainty will hang around the question until his Worship defines where washing leaves off and bathing begins. It is universally agreed that there should be no tax for watering everything above the shoulders, but as it is necessary to draw the line somewhere we believe his Worship will decide that there shall be no washing below the belt. A strange scene occurred lately at a meeting of the Borough Council of Timaru. At a special meeting to consider the conduct of the Mayor m giving orders to the engineer contrary to a resolution of the Council, a scandalous scene occurred. No business could be done, as the Mayor left the chair, but would not leave the room, and as he was not absent the Council could not elect one of their number to fill the chair. The Council sat up till half-past twelve disputing, quarrelling, and chaffing ; then all left the room, leaving the Mayor alone with the town clerk.