The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 29 August 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1877.

It is satisfactory to note that the punt at the Lower Ferry of the Manawatu River is once more in good working order. We are pleased to learn that the wishes of our Sandon and Carnarvon friends in reference to their proposed line of railway are likely soon to receive realization. We understand that Messrs Sanson and Gower, who have just returned from Wellington, have concluded arrangements ensuring the satisfactory and speedy execution of the work. We observe that Mr J. G. Baker, the Travelling Agent for the Govt. Insurance Department, is now in Palmerston, and invites those desirous of being insured to consult him on the matter. The Department has effected a large amount of business during the last few years, acquiring large bonuses for the insured at the first division of profits in 1880. We would strongly advise all who have not already done so to take advantage of Mr Baker's presence in the district to effect an insurance. An accident happened on Wednesday last on the Gorge Road, about a mile from the Bridge. It appears that a spring cart, containing 4 natives, drove over the side of the road ; a woman, child and the driver escaped unhurt, but one man who fell on to the rocks in the river was very badly cut about the head and bruised all over his body. He was taken to the Bridge, where Mr George Ross, the toll collector, did all in his power, to relieve him, by giving him painkiller and vinegar, but after a short time his friends decided to take him on. When they left the Bridge the man, was lying at the bottom of the cart, evidently very much hurt. By advertisement in another column it is announced that the Exhibition at Wanganui will remain open till Thursday, the 30th inst. We understand that the exhibition is in every respect a great success, the public interest in it being shown by the large numbers that are attending it daily. In our present issue appears an advertisement re the election of a councillor for the Awa Hou Riding in the Manawatu County, in place of Mr J. W. Liddell, resigned, wherein a typographical error that appeared in the previous insertion of the advertisement is corrected. The name "Awa Hou" was erroniously made to read " Awa Huri." A meeting of cricketers was held at the Princess Hotel, Terrace End, on Saturday evening last, at which it was determined to refund all monies paid by the subscribers of the old club, and the nucleus of a new club was formed. It was agreed to hold another meeting on Saturday evening next, the 1st of September, when the business to be transacted will be the election of officers,

and passing necessary rules and regulations. We are glad to see some steps are being taken by which this healthful sport may be encouraged, and feel sure that a very good team may be produced from the town, which, after practice, will be able to hold its own with many of the clubs in the surrounding districts. The following letter has been received by Mr W. Deards :— " Public Works Office, (Constructed Railways), Foxton, Aug. 21st, 1877 ; memorandum for W. Deards, Esq.., and others : In reply to your memorial, requesting that a platform be erected at Terrace End, Palmerston North. I am instructed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, to inform you that he is unable to comply with your request.—l have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient serviant, (signed) . Arch. Moinet, General Manager." The investigation re the separation of the Kiwitea and Manchester Ridings from the County of Manawatu, was commenced in the Courthouse, Palmerston, on Monday, the 27th inst. The Court was opened at 10.30 a.m. by Capt. Ruck reading the Governor's Commission to R. Ward, Esq., to investigate and report upon the separation petition. His Honor then took his seat, and suggested that Mr Thynne, of Foxton, should act in support of the allegations contained in the petition, and that Mr Halcombe, of Feilding, should act on behalf of the petitioners. These gentlemen having consented, his Honor then suggested that the County Roll should be adopted as a basis upon which to ground the enquiry. Mr Halcombe desired to purge the roll of certain names contained therein, and his Honor ruled that the proceeding was a fair one, because the roll had not been open for inspection, as required by the Act. The names on the roll were then gone through seriatim by the Clerk, the result being that the number was reduced by nineteen, other names being referred to Feilding for further evidence previous to being finally dealt with. Mr Thynne challenged the petition, and succeeded in reducing the number of names upon it by 21. In order that other witnesses might be examined, and necessary evidence obtained, his Honor adjourned the Court to Feilding, where it will meet at 10 o'clock this (Wednesday) morning. The population of the four principal cities of New Zealand was estimated as follows at the close of last month : — Dunedin, 23,365 ; Wellington, 16,130; Christchurch, 12,815 ; and Auckland, 12,024. On Friday, the 10th instant, informtion was received by the police that a horse, together with a saddle and bridle, had been stolen from a resident in the township of Sandon, Rangitikei district. Suspicion at the time rested upon a sailor name Charles Ellis who had been working on a station in the neighbourhood, and who had left his employment rather suddenly, and the police were accordingly on the look out to discover his whereabouts. Nothing was heard of Ellis, however, until yesterday, when Constable Gillespie stationed at Palmerston North, arrested him in the Seventy-mile Bush with the horse and saddle and bridle in his possession. — " Evening Post "' The barque Robina Dunlop left Wellington last Friday week, bound in ballast for Batavia. On Monday night the weather became very dirty, and the wind increased in force. Every endeavour was made to keep the vessel off the land, but without avail, and during the night she struck the shore. At six o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the crew got ashore by means of ropes, but were unable to save anything, some of the men landing without boots, and but partially clothed. The vessel is now a total wreck near the mouth of the Turakina river. The crew reached the native pah at Tinniwaitara near Turakina, and were hospitably treated by the chief " Reupena Kewetone." The Secretary of Customs in Wanganui was communicated with, and he telegraphed to Mr G. Y. Lethbridge, asking him to see to the wants of the men, pending instructions from Wellington. The " Times " says, with much regret we have to announce the death of Mr W. H. Clayton, Colonial Architect, which occurred at Dunedin at four o'clock yesterday morning. His death is attributable, we understand, to the effects of an accident which happened to him in 1865. Mr Clayton was widely known in the sister colonies as well as in New Zealand, as an architect of great skill and ability. The many fine buildings here, and elsewhere which have been constructed from his designs bear ample testimony to his professional merits. As a private citizen he was highly esteemed, and had hosts of friends, by whom his death will be deeply lamented. The deceased leaves a widow and numerous family. Two of his sons, we believe, are in New Zealand, but Mrs Clayton and two married daughters (Lady Vogel and Mrs Pym) are in England. Mr Clayton was about fifty-four years of age, and but for the effects of the accident above referred to might in all human probability have lived many years longer, as he was a man of a naturally strong constitution. The " News Letter " says : — A farmer residing in the neighborhood of Masterson was rather suprised the other day, while digging in his garden, to strike on a human skull. On digging deeper he found a complete skeleton, it having evidently been buried in a sitting posture. A little further on he found a second one in a similar position. The ground was formerly the site of a pa, and. it is probable that a number of bodies were buried in the neighborhood. The " N.Z. Times " says: — As an instance of the rapidity with which people can be conveyed from the old country in these days, we may mention that there landed yesterday from the Albion some passengers whose passage from England to New Zealand occupied only 45 days. These arrivals came, by the Lusitania, via the Suez Canal, to Melbourne, the time to that port from Plymouth being 40 days 4 hours ; or deducting the period occupied in coaling at St. Vincent 38 1/2 days of actual steaming.

It is said that the Local Optionists in the House of Representatives are not agreed among themselves on the merits of Mr. Fox's Bill. The extremely limited area of the districts proposed is strongly objected to; even Dr. Wallis and Mr. Rowe, although advocates of the optional principle, are unfavourable to this part of the measure, which, unfortunately, is the part to which Mr. Fox attaches most importance. A correspondent at Ormondville informs the " H. B. Herald," that a sad and painful accident occurred on Tuesday, the 7th inst., on the bank of the Manawatu, near Kopua. A party of five settlers had the contract for clearing in the bush there on the line of extension of the railway. Two of them were engaged in felling a tree, in coming down it struck another tree, breaking it short off. The latter in its fall struck one of the men on the head, and killed him instantly. The deceased was a Scandinavian, Laurenz Christiansen by name, about 50 years of age.. He leaves, we regret to learn, a wife and six children totally unprovided for. The settlers are doing all they can for the bereaved. The inquest was to have been held to-day, and the funeral is to take place on Sunday. In certain shop windows in London, before which crowds of people are invariably to be seen, are displayed all sorts of curious countenances, which, nowadays, it seems popular to distinguish as "Yankee notions." One such article comprises within itself an adjustable wrench, hammer, nail claw, gas burner tong, scraper, screw-driver, nutcracker, cork-presser, sixteenth rule, straightedge, box-opener; and carpet-stretcher. A man named Streitman was recently " executed " in Adelaide for the murder of a bailiff. This is the manner in which, according to the S.A. "Register," the "execution" was conducted:—Ellis, the executioner, who appeared to be much excited, placed the noose around the unfortunate man's neck, and with some difficulty drew the cap over his head. He then drew the bolt without strapping the feet. The poor fellow dropped heavily about 3ft, but immediately rebounded, and got his feet on to the platform, from which they had to be removed. He struggled for a few moments, and then became quiet, but it was painfully evident that he was not dead. His chest heaved and fell at long intervals in the attempt to breathe and the breath was drawn in and emitted with the stertorous sounds of a man in apoplexy. It was not until 22 or 23 dragging minutes had passed that all signs of life ceased. The rope did not seem to be properly adjusted from the first. The scene, was dreadful in the extreme, and the feelings of the spectators where greatly excited. At the termination of an hour the body was cut down, and the usual inquest held. The medical men who examined the body state that the neck was broken : and if that is the case the unfortunate man could not have suffered after he fell ; but it is strange that if dislocation occurred, as is alleged, the breathing have continued for such an extraordinarily long time afterwards.