Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 35, 9 February 1878, Page 2

The Wesleyan Sunday School anniversary services will be conducted on Sunday, the 17th inst., m tho Public Hall, by the Rot J. Lawry of Marton. A collection will be made at the end of each service, the proceeds of which will be devoted to purchasing prizes for the school-children and famishing them with a treat. This object is sufficiently praiseworthy to ensure a large amount of public sympathy, which we doubt not will be manifested m a practical way. On Monday evening next the Foresters' Hall will be enlivened by the performance of Professor Jacobs, who3e entertainment promises to be of a very sensational character. Mr Gilbert is advertised to assist. We have received a very fine sample of wheat, taken from a crop growing off the Eangitikei line, on the Bunnythorpe road. The ground is newly reclaimed from the bush and received Jno other preparation for the grain than that afforded by the clearing fire. We remind our readers of the- auction sale of dairy stock &0., that will take place to-day on the premises of Mr C. Jones. The second meeting of the creditors of Henery Fisher will ba held m the Council Office, Palruersfcon, on Monday at 3.30 p.m. . The Manawatu Highways Board advertises m [another column for tenders for [public works at Foxton and Sandon. Tenders to be sent m on or before- the 15th inst. Tenders are now called for the construction of over twenty miles of Riilway (Oarterton Contract). Particular* may be seen on reference to our advertising columns. In another column notices apps-ir of the days appointed for the next sittings of Assessment and Licensing Courts at the various townships m the district. The want of kerbing is very apparent m the newly metalled footpaths around the Square. The ed,ges> where the kerbing should be are continually becoming defaced by the displacement of the ston.63, and there is every probability of .the road-men being frequently employed m repaying Until the paths are properly protected. " We, notice that Mr Johnson of Foxton is now engaged m the erection of a large building, to be used by him as a furniture warehouse. The site is alongside of the Methqdist Church .and, opposite WhyteV hotel, . !; ,

We learn that Mr Gibson, who met with rather a severe accident a few days ago at Foxton, is m a fair way towards recovery. He is under the care of Drßoc!fStrow. The tea meeting at Feilding on Thursday evening was a great success, the room being densely crowded. A purse containing £34 was presented to Mr McGregor by his congregation. ' • •■■ As we are desirous of giving a lengthy report of the valedictbry tea-meeting given on Thursday to the Boy. Mr McGregor, of Feilding, we ai'e compelled, through pressure upon our space, to hold it over till next issue. Messrs Barber, butchers, of Wellington, have just succeeded m completing the lease (from the natives) of the Hemitangi Block, containing about 8,000 acres. This block joins with the run of Mr W. Simpson on one side and the property of Mr Hughey on the other, and extends to the Manawatu River. This acquisition of property will be found of vast importance to the Messrs Barber, who deal so largely m stock along the West Coast district. We are pleased to be able to inform the public that the improvements m connection witli the Lower Ferry punt and approaches are now completed, and that everything is m good working order. Only one thing now remains to be done to make the whole affair a success, and that is the metalling of the approaches to the Ferry previous to the winter. If this be not attended to, a large portion of the work now done will be rendered useless, owing to the sandy nature of the soil. At Foxton a few days ago, a Maori was assisting Mi* Johnston to erect the frame of a lofty building. When partially raised it unfortunately slipped and came with great force upon the body of the Maori. The poor fellow, having little faith m allopathy, requested that he might be taken to the edge of the river and left m the water for a time, with a view to ease the pain. He was accordingly placed m the water alongside the wharf, but, strange to relate, his friends, having made for the hotel, forgot all about him. One of the Railway engineers, who was at work near the Wharf, heard, repeated screams proceeding from an unseen source. He went towards the Wharf and found the sufferer m a fair way of being drowned, owing to the rising of- the tide. It was found that he had received seriou9 injury to the back which prevented him from using the exertions necessary to extricate himself from his perilous position. Ho was forwarded m a cart to his home, where he now lies m a very helpless state. Dr Skerman will vaccinate gratuitously at the Palmerston school-room, to-day. The Rev. H. Me Williams will hold Divine service (D.V.) m the Anglican Church tomorrow. A land broker named D— -. -, practising m the North Island, has been righteously " struck off the roll* of land brokers by the Government far f radulent misconduct towards a client, a widow named Hacker. An action having been brought by her to recover- the amount received by the broker on the sale of certain land which she had employed him to sell, the facts came out, and as the House was sitting at the time, the matter was taken up at once. The broker had taken advantage of his client by inducing her- to sell the land to him at a very low price, and immediately selling it again on his own account at a higher price. If it had not so happened that the House was sitting at the time this affair occurred, nothing more would have been heard of it ; and although tho matter was brought before the House, no attempt was made to point a moral. Recollecting all the restrictions which ha/c bee-n thought necess^ry for the purpose of keeping solicitors m check m such matters, it is a ludicrous fact that no restrictions whatever are thought necessary m the case of land brokers. As long as the broker does not commit actual fraud, he may help himself to any good bar-> gain that may come m his way ; but if a solicitor should attempt to do it, however honestly, the law is down upon him — his bargain is knocked on the head — and his name- is made unpleasantly faraou3. But it is not easy to complain of land brokers when we find, solicitors assisting them by acting as their town agents. In a letter addressed to us by a solicitor who had recently commenced practice m a country district, the writer says :---" I have groat opposition here m conveyancing work, there being C ,an auctioneer, and M , a licensed land broker, who both hare a strong hold upon the peaple here. The auctioneer sends all his work to , a solicitor m Dunedin, who allows him half his fees. I don't know who the land broker employs m town." We refrain from publishing the name of the solicitor m- question, but if he were called upon by the Law Society to explain his interpretation of the- 31th section of the- Lnv Practitioners' Act 1881, we should be glad to hear it. This matter reminds us that as the Law Society's Act Amendment Act drafted by the Canterbury Council has become law, a Law Society may now be eitablished m each district.—" New Zealand Jurist." During the last three or four days (says the " Southland Times ") tho diver, Mr Sherwell, has made three- or four examinations of the Mid-channel ai>d Black-buoy Rocks, the only two obstructions m BluffHarbor, on one of which occasions he waa 40 minutes under water. He is now, under the direction of Captain Thomson, sinking a shaft m the debris of the Mid-channel Rock, so that it may be completely shattered by Mr Gorman's next blast. There is now nearly a level surface on this rock, and. 3ft. additional depth of water has been gained. The Black-buoy rock is found to extend over a considerable space, apparently of some acres, and is alm,osb Hat, except at two places, where pinnacles of rocks rise. By blasting these the depth of water on the rock would b r e increased over the whole area from 13ft. to 15 ft., -but Captain Thomson isdoubtfulwhetherit would be worth while to expend much money m explosion here, as | the intercolonial steamers draw about lGft. at low water spring tides. If it were possible to deepen a little more here, steamers could take a direct course up to the wharf, instead af traversing two sides of a triangle. People nowadays, says an Auckland paper seem less bound to the custom of calling their children after relatives than formerly, and pretty often show originality or romanfcio feeling m the choice of Christian names. Sometime.3, indeed, tho recipients are to be compassioned for what, they have to bear all through life. On Christmas Day last, Mrs W. W. Day of Tauhoa presented her

husband with a" fine son, and m due time the happy parents began revolving m thei^ minds the varion3 names which they con-' sidered suitable for the child. At length the father, possibly having Eobinson Crusoe's example m his mind, decided that his son should receive the name " Christmas," and receive it accordingly he did. " Christmas Day " is a seventh child, so that Mrs Day has now presented her husband with a " week of days." The " Geelong Advertiser " says :— -«A rather singular occurrence took place during Divine service at the Church of England, Birregurra, on Sunday last. When the Litany was read the congregrtion repeated the responses m a very devout manner for a length of time, but when the prayer was offered up for the Governor, there was no response — the worshippers were dumb. The clergyman, after waiting for considerable time, made the response himself. " Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper," Oct. 27, contains a striking picture of the capture of a monster devil fish, stranded on the beach at Catalina, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. It appears that on September 22, there was a heavy gale of wind, and that this fish was driven ashore. The tail getting fast on the rock as it was swimming backwards. The two fishermen who had the good fortune to find it dead (it would have been impossible to approach it when it was lashing; the water with two of its 30ft tentacles) loaded their little craft with it and made a golden harvest by exhibiting it at St. John's. The body is ton feet m length, and nearly seven feet m circumference. Posterior to the head were ft pair of huge staring eyes, the sockets being eight inches m diameter. Thi3 fish is now m the New York Aquarium, and is without doubt the largest ever seen. It is to be exhibited m a glass tank 35ft long sffc wide and 3£ft deep.