NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 58, 19 July 1879, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

. Palmerston Cricket Club.— A meeting of the Committee of the ahpve .Club, was held on Thursday evening." 'It appeared we were somewhat m error with regard to the donation of a piece of land, the offer being to make a good " pitch " when a ground bad been procured. A sub-committee was appointed to take some steps to prpcure the necoaiaOT' Jand. *-. Charoe ob- Alleoed Cruekty. — The charge of cruelty to a boras, preferred against- John Cartwright, was heard on Thursday before the Resident ' Magistrate. Mr. Warburton appeared ip and after considerable lengthy evidence had ' been taken, the, Bench, .decided that the testimony was not sufficiently strong to warrant a conviction, and dismissed the charge. . , A Quintette. — There were'no less than five members of the legal fraternity m attendance at lihe Police Court c a Thursi day : Messrs Maclean, of Bulls ; Madden, of Marton; Pryor, of Sandon ; together with qur local men< Messrs Wdrburton and Staite 1 ; and stra*nge~to*say everything passed pgin an unusual!^ placid manner, pun* and

peasantries taking tho place of bickering and biting, until, at the close of the last case, when a most heated altercation took place between Mr. Staite and the R.M. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, our reporter had just left the Court, and so we are spared chronicliug what we believe was a most unpleasant scene. A la Fbanoais. — We are pleased to see that the Misses Metard have determined to open a class for instruction m French. This was a want much felt m Palmerston, and as the young ladies m question are natives of the French capital, those desirous of acquiring the language with a pure ancl correct pronouneiatitn, will now have an admirable opportunity. The Land Sale at Halcombe.— lf evidence were wanted of • the pressure of the times it would be found m the fact that such a grand property and eligible investment as offered by Messrs. Thynne, Linton , and Co., on Wednesday, was unable to find a buyer. Woodlawn has been long known, not only for the richness. of its land, but for the grand scenery of which it can boast, and tho failure of the auctioneers to dispose of it at the reserve, is a strong commentary upon the times. Railway Accident.— The down train to Foxton on Wednesday night was delayed for about two hours by a collision with- a vagrant bullock. The accident occurred when opposite Munro's, between Karei-e and Oroua, and the shock was sufficient to cause the train to leave the line. Happily the most serious results to the passengers arose from the delay and inconvenience experienced, although George Stephenson's verdict was endorsed with regard to the innocent cause of the obstruction, as on this oc- . casion it certainly was " bad for the coo." t A Runaway, — A horse attached to a dray, employed m cavting stuff to the .milway works, took fright at the engine on Wednesday and bolted round the square. It kept to the path until opposite the Temperance Hotel, but striving to turn the co-ncr too quickly, it "cannoned" againsta post, aud horse, cart and ha.n«ss we :e all mixed m the guttei*. As is usual on such occasions there Were plenty of voluntcrs to assist, and the animal was Boon adrijt, tamer if not wiser, for hi- impromptu trip. " A Special." — A Special engine with a carriage attached, passed through on Wednesday, having the General-Manager on board. We are compelled to bear witness to the indefatigable zeal and energy displayed, by Mr. Rotheram to the state of the line, the efficiency of which is looked after m a manner beyond all praise. We make 1 these remarks with the greater* pleasure for thereasoa that', hitherto we have found fault with some of the manager's actions, and consequently our commendation will have the merit of sincerity. The Slander upon Mb, Snelson. — It willbe noticed that although Mr. 'Ward from the Bench on -Thursday made reference to Mr. Snelson's case, he siudiously avoided either admitting or contradicting the falsehood with which he had been accredited by the Marton paper. Considering that the statement was m direct opposition to our report of the matter, we feel dissatisfied on personal grounds at his reticence, but as we learn Mr. Snelson has referred the matter to tbe Minister of Justice, we will make no further comment beyond say'ng that Mr. Ward's culpable Bilence has astonished us not a little. An Undesirable Stranger. — Michael B.uike, a recent visitor to tho town, was brought up yesterday by Constable Gillespie, charged with vagrancy. The" police gave tho prisoner a thorough bad character, intimating that ho had been several times convicted of larceny. The acoused appealed to Mr. McNeil, who occupied the Bench, as to his antecedents, but the step was not judicious, as the magistrate expressed his opinion that be was simply incorrigible, and sentenced him -to three months' with hard labor m Wanganui Gaol. As the poor wretch, however, had evidently been drinking very hard, and was m pitiable plight, the kind- hearted Justice. gave the Constablo a few shillings m order to give the prisoner a good meal before commencing the prison fare 'The Otangaki Hotel. — A most influential ' and numerously-3igned petition has been presented to the Chairman of the Licensing Bench, asking him to reconsider the decision with regard to closing the above hotel. It may be recollected that a renewal of the license was refused at the last sitting on the ground that the application had not beep sent m at the proper time. Not only had there been no complaints against it, but it was looked upon as a great public convenience, situated as it was midway between Palmerston and Woodville, and it was upon that account that the present action has been taken. Mr' Ward, m receiving the petition freely acknowledged the necessity that existed for a licensed house :"n the locality referred to, and promised that, if the power to -grant the prayer of tho petition did not lie with himself, to recommend it most favorably to the Government. School Committee. — A meeting of the Palmerston School Committee was hold at the sohool-house on Thursday evening, at which were present Messrs, Snelson (chair) Amesbury, Goodisson, Mackie, and Mr, Lockie, the clerk. The minutes haying been read and confirmed, the secretary road the correspondence, which was of a purely routine character. He also, reported that notwithstanding the recent inclement weather, and the prevalence of sickness amongst the children, the average attendance at the school bad slightly increased, being now 142 as against 140 last quarter ; that a supply of first-class maps and other school requisites had be«n received from the Education Board, and that Messrs. Daniels, Sutton and Co. had completed their contract for alterations ancl additions. The Committee then proceeded to, inspect the work, and expressed their satisfaction at the manner m which the contractors had fulfilled the contract, with the exception of a few miripy. details, whioh wera ordered to be carried out, when the architect (Mr. Amesbury) will grant the. necessary certificate, and the ouilding will be taken N ov-er m 'due coiiKie. The committee then adjourned until the 14th r of August. Cool; nay Reebeshingi-y Cool. — For a specimen-: of cool" impudence, pure and unalloyed, commend us to the notice of motion given by Mr. Ma'candrew with regard to the future distribution of Government advertising-:.--. Since the Grey^ Ministry become possessed- of the public purse, it has m the most shameless, unprincipled, and corrupt manner repaid -: the adulation of its journalistic supporters out of tbp ebfferß of the State. Remonstrances were unheeded ; appeals fell upon, ears that were deaf ; and holding the reins of power, justice and equity wera viewed _as nought. Bpt a change' has come over the spirit of the dream, tba^seat upon the Treasury Benches is by no means secure, apd the master appears now m ati altogether different light.. After two years despotic action m the. matter, Mr. Macandr'ew now asks for a select committee to- inquire into the system to be adopted m the distribution-, of Government . advertisements.- If •" coming events 'cast> their shadows ibefore," this forethought for his satellites, presage' a time when the Ministerial orgaris'wiil not be m clover. -'- ( Mb. Ward and Mr. —Before the business commenced at- the Court on Thursday, the Resident Magistrate said he

wished to maka a few remarks, which were to this effect. ; — " I bar* heard with sincere pleasure that the Government either have entered, er are about to enter a nolle prosequi m the case of Mr. Snelson, committed for trial at a recent sitting of this Court for a breach of the A-ms Act. The action of the Gove*nmont does not m the least take me by su .-prise, as the case was one to wliich the 59th Clause would apply m an •special manner. The pleasia-e I feel'at the step taken is not because Mr. Snelson happens to be a friend of iniaej nor that he ii tiie Mayor of the town, nor a Magistrate ; but became I know him to be an honorable, honest, straightforward man, and that m the eror he was led into he had not tiie slightest intention of offending against the law. At thc'closo of the hearing of the case I made the remark that the Arms Act was perhans the most stringent upon the Statute Book, and after my return to Marton I made myseli thoroughly acquainted with the various measures passed upon the matter. I then found that although the Act of 1866 had reduced the offence to a. misdemeanor, by the later Act of 1869 it had again been created a felony, which upon conviction made the transgressor liable, to fourteen years, penal servitude. I merely ; mention these matters by way of a precaution, as persons might be unknowingly led into such a danger, as I believe was the case with Mr. Snelson. I heard with pleasu.e of the public meeting of sympathy held at Palmerston, and I regretted, I was not able to attend, as I very much wished ; but I may say that I heartily endorsed tbe sentiments contained m the resolutions.'"