NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 5 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Stoney Crekk School. — We have been informed that the new teacher arrived yesterday and will commence her duties on Monday morning. Erratum:. — We beg to correct a mistake which appeared m our report of the inquest upon the Palmerston Mill. • Mr. Jenssen, m his evidence, is made to say that he left, the mill on the evening of the fire, shortly before nine o'clock. This should have been " five," o'clock, tho error m the hour being a somewhat grave mistake. The blunder was tho reporter's, and strange to say, not the unfortunate printer's. Tub Palmbkstos' District Cotjet. — The newly-appointed Judge for this District, Mr. E. Shaw, late of the West Coast, sailed for Reef ton on Tuesday, from whence he [will proceed to New Plymouth, holding his first Court m Palmerston two months from this time. We notice that " Bradshaws Guide" for April includes Judge Shaw amongst the District Judges, and notifies Mr-. A. Poster as clork of the Court. Tkr Towxship of Cajipbelltox. — It would appear that a rumor has been sent abroad that Messrs. Stevens and Gorton will only offer half of the township of Ciimpbeliton to-day. This is a gross misstatement which wo have authority to contradict ; and what is more we are authorised to state, that the whole of the sections will be sold without reserve. In order to suit tlie convenience of inventors from the northern townships, the wile will not take pl.i^e until after tlie aririv.il of tho ordinary train. C.ixoKiu' rx aid op St. Patrick's Catholic CurKCH, Paxmekston.— We are given to understand that a number of Indies :uul gentleman have kindly promise! to give their assistance at a concert to be given to clear off tho debt on the Catholic Uiiurch. Messr?. Pirani and Seat'on have generously udertuken the management and preliminaries, and consequently it may be relied that a capital programme will be submitted. The exact date han not been definitely fixed as yet, but we believe the entertainment will bs held some where about tho last of the month. A Runaway and a Sir ash. — On Saturday morning a horse attached to a light waggon, belonging to Mi*. Podevin, of the

Rangitikei road, while waiting at the Csv.wn Brewery, took it into its ho.icl to have !l race on its owq. a'jooiint, and accordingly started while the driver was. engaged. As might have been expected, however, the folly of the proceeding was soon proved, as hefore ifc had proceeded far it came tq grief. Tho anicqal itself was not npich the w0r.30 of the occurrence, but the waggon, ivhich was almost a new one, suffered very considerably, the shafts being smashed, the splinter bar and swingle-trees broken, and ' tho whole trap very materially shaken. The Effects of Registration. — We have been informed by Mr. Keeling;, Town Olerk that he has put no less than 64 new names on the electoral roil ; while Mr" Hoe, the secretary tp the Manawatu Highways Board has put on, 85. This is hi round numbers is 149, but that by no means will represent the amount from the Taonui Riding, as Mr. Snelson forwarded over one hundred to Mr. Ross. We. also understand the Manchester Riding has been equally energetic ; bo that we may expect to see the list for Manawatu considerably swollen. A Change of Officers. — The numerous friends of Mr. George Oottam, will hear I with regret that th,ere is every probability of his being removed from Paliqer»ton. During the time he has occupied the position of station-master m this town ; — now close upon three years — he has won the respect and good will of every resident m the district by his gentlemanly conduct and obliging manners. We have not heard as to his future destination — nor m fact ho,s he himself the slightest idea, further than it is m the direction of the north, but as no doubt the change is one of a beneficial character, — to which he is fully entitled — we must congratulate him upon his promotion m prospective. The Borough Reserves. — The rapidity with which the work of settlement proceeds m the Manawatu is something surprising. The traveller passes along a road one week and there ia nothing but bush alongside it, yet on his return tlie following one it would be nothing uncommon to see several clearings, and houses erected, with half a dozen children to each gambolling over the fallen, logs, as if they were m their uative element. It seems but yesterday since the Borough Reserve leaded by Mr. Brightwell was a dense bush ; to-day it has been burned, while out of the ashes, phoenix like, a four-roomed cottage has sprung into existence. Were the census returns to be compiled yearly, the progress of this county would, we imagine, prove somewhat of a surprise to persons at a distance. "Fob Better or Wor3E." — Mr. John Davey mado a telling appeal to the Rasident Magistrate on Thursday, against payment of a sum of £1 17s: for which he had been summoned. The defence was that the meat sued for had been obtained by his Missus during the life time of his predecessor, and he asked his Worship if it was "at all square that one chap should be asked to pay far what another fellow may have eaten." The Bench m reply remarked that the defendant had evidently paid' no attention to the advice of Mr. Weller with re- !• gard to " Vidders," and m marrying the other chap's relict, he took her with all her accomplishments and imperfections, liabilities and responsibilities. The defendant next took exception, to the quantity j devoured by his predecessor, and handing up the bill, he. asked Mr. Ward to say, whether he thought it possible one man could uso the quantity of meat charged for m the time set down ? The. Magistrate, however informed him that he was not there to judge qf quantities, but rather to see if the quantities had been paid for. The Ministerial Visitors. — TheMinisters of Finance and Public Works arrived at Foxton yesterday afternoon, "where of course they were deputationised. They will arrive here this morning by special train, when they will be interviewed by Messre. Halcombe, Macarthur, Snelson, Linton, Dalryinple and the other gentleman appointed at the Railway Meeting. Ifc is also intended that the members of the Borough Council will wait upon the visitors to bring the several necessary wants of the town prominently under their notice. We understand their journey will extend as far as the Waimate Plahi3, but as ten days have only boon allotted for the trip, tho. deputations on the way if numerous, will certainly require to be short. Trains m Motion. — Notwithstanding that persons have been frequently fined for jumping on to the trains whilst m ijiotion, there are still to bo found people who will wait ou the platform till the last moment, nd then jump on after the tram has started. As the by-law bearing on the subject has been made for the passengers' own safety, it is a matter of surprise that some individuals will still deliberately set. it at defiance, and thereby endanger their own safety and run the risk of Police Court proceedings at the same time. However unpopular it may be. and however disagreeable, we trust that both station-masters and guards will do their duty m this matter. Railway travellers must be made to obey the Railway By-laws, made for their own safety, if they will not do so of their own accord. At tho same time, it might be ! well to have a placard, drawing 1 spaejal attention to the penalty incurred by an infringement of this very important bylaw, posted hi a conspicuous place at all stations throughout the line. Drunk m a Railway Carriage.— A man mimed Robert Carson was ehai'ged by Constable Gillespie, before Dr. Rockstroww J. P., on Wednesday afternoon, with having bacn drunk m a railway carriage, and behaving m an indecent manner to the passengers, ou Tuesday last. Carson was also charged with having travelled without paying a proper faro during the journey. When asked by the presiding magistrate, he made the admission so often heard m the Police Courts : lie was s j drunk, he could not account for himself. The guard, Mr. Malcolm, gave evidence to the effect that his attention was drawn to the accused when the train was between Fo 1 ling and Bunnythorpe, au.t he found him .;oii.iu.'t ng himself iv an indecent manner. His iVor.-Uup said that, as it was tbe prisoner's fir t offence so far as it could be ascertained, he would be dealt leniently with. He had seen the prisoner taken to the lock-up, and he was m a de-

plorable condition. He would be fined 2Qs. for the first offence, or twenty-four hours' imprisonment ; and for tils' second offence, he would be let off by paying the fare from Makino Road station to Palmerston, as he was so helplessly, df talk ts£fc--he did not, m all probability, hear the guard when the train stopped at 'the former place. The prisoner got a severe caution not to allow himself to appear /in Court again, and he appeared co appreciate the advice, as he informed the Bench that he considered he, had been dealt with very leniently. As the accused had not enough money to pay the fine, he had to go to prison for the time specified. Nor PROVED. — After the jury, .hi the case of the late fire at Stony Creek, had announced their verdict through the Foreman, they were severally called upon to attach their signatures to the verdict' m the usual manner. When Mr. Joseph Beale was asked to sign the document, he said he did not agree with the verdict, as he found it very hard to reconcile the evidence given by Larsen with that of the others. The Coroner informed Mr. Beale that he should have, apprised him of the fact when the Foreman announced the verdict, and then he could have told him to stand aside. Mr. Beale said he did not think it; necessary, as there were twelve othera on the jury besides himself. The Coroner then formally asked if the remainder were agreed upon the verdict, and he was answered m the affirmative. The short time taken by the jury m their deliberations appeared to take those who were outside waiting for the announcement by surprise : they were evidently not prepared to hear it so soorj, A Hitch on the Inland Route. — It may be recollected that Mr. Hayns, the| Engineer, to the County Council, ' was authorised by that body to make arrangements with the Natives at Otaki for the performence of certain work on the Otaki Inland Route, for the reason that the Maoris, to whom a portion of the land- belonged would not give the desired 'permission for the road unless they had the, contract. Mr. Hayns conferred with them and they agreed for a certain sum, but now it appears they have changed their minds and refuse either to do the work, or let it be done tinless they get their own terms. The following is the. letter received by Mr. Hayns, from Mr. Bevan on the subject :— " I have taken your agreement to all the Natives, but they refuse to sign it, and want almost double as much. I told them that they had agreed to do the work for a specific sum and ought to adhere to ifc, but - they say the whole of the Natives were "hot present when the agreement was made and "consequently refuse." 'Mr. Hayns .intends visiting the Natives, the moment he can spare time from his office duties.