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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 17, 15 December 1877, Page 2

Mr Peter Bartholomew Is gazetted a Warden for the Manchester Highway District. The Rev. Mr McWilliams -will conduct service m the Anglican Church, Palmer,ston, to-morrow..., Mr Or. M. Snelson will hold a sale of stock, &c., at Mr Wood's farm, Motoa, on Monday next. ' A Valuator ia m requisition for the Manchester Highways District. Tenders are to be sent m by to-day. During Dr. Skerman's unavoidable absence at Napier, public will not be performed m the Palmerston Schoolroom. . The consideration of the. bye-laws by the Borough Council takes place to-day, the meeting convened on Monday for the purpose having fallen through m consequence of there not being a sufficient number of Councillors present to form a quorum. A meeting of the ratepayers of the Manchester Highways District will take place m the School-room, Feilding, this evening with a view to bring the district Under the "Regulation of Local Elections Act," and ' to itake the' preliminary steps for changing Feilding into .,a Borough. ' The approach of the Christmas holidays is heralded by^ thejusual stir among the storekeepers and the caterers for' public amusement. Great preparations are: being made for the annual sports both at this place and Feilding, while the Foxton regatta promises' for the 4th January another chapter of ' amusement. There is surely a sufficient rariety of pleasure m prospect to allow everyone- to pass the festive season happily, especially if favored by the beautiful weather that now prevails. We learn on good authority that it is the . intention of Sir George Grey and his ; colleagues to advise his Excellency the Governor to call Parliament to meet again m February, when they will-be prepared with legislation to carry out their policy, so that the -same may be decided on before the close of the financial year, should a dissolution and the meeting of a new parliament be found necessary. - ■*■■;* A short but very severe thunderstorm, says the "Post," 'occurred on Saturday evening; shortly after 6 o'clock.. The lightning was intensely vivid, often overhead and several times m double flashes, wjiile the thunder was exceedingly loud. Heavy rain fell, nearly an inch being registered m less than an hour. The total fall was I\L5 inch: Several culverts were, choked or burst, flooding some of the lbwlying parts of the city, and the rush of water down the steeper streets was something tremendous. The storm cleared off before 8 p.m. and was followed by a fine night. " • According to the "Ballarat Star, the > disposal of children to the Chinese is much more common than many persons suppose. A few days ' ago a woman disposed of a little boy to a Chinese at the Haddon camp. The conditions were drawn up byaSmytb.esdale lawyer. Since, another Chinese at Haddon, m a well-to-do position, Who is married to a European, with a family: of one girl, is very; anxious to secure the boy that has already passed to No. 1 Chinese, and, to induce the mother to ; comply with his request, she has been offered £20 for the child. The mother is now anxious to ascertain if she can annul the first bargain and barter her child for the £20 to No. 2. The French' Government have just adopted a new gun of a very formidable character, known as a cannon revolver. It is said to be capable of throwing .80 shells per minute, of rather more than lib weight, , each of which breaks up into 24 fragments. . It can be brought into action and the range determined with great rapidity, and whenonce sighted it can be worked without the slightest recoil, and .> traversed by pivot action. Its destructive effects can thus be brought to bear on troops either m column or deployed. It commences* to be effective at the tremendous range of over 3,000 yards. The Turks bought several, but were unable to pay for them.