NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 79, 1 October 1879, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

To-utg-ttt's "Entertain-west. — We WOUM draw especial Attention to the entertainment which is to take plane this evening m the Foresters' Hall, which is well worthy of patronage for two reasons — first the programme to be submitted is an excellent one, and secondly, the proceeds will, m a most liberal spirit, be handed over by the Club to the Cemetery Committee. We think we need say no more to ensure a bumper honse. Chawged Hamds.— We notice* that our Marton contemporary has been purchased by Mr. J. North over, a gentleman who has been a member of the mechanical staff for some considerable time. As the venture had been entered a few days ago for the Supreme Cou^t Stakes, we presume the new proprietor has purchasd -the property witb all its " engagements." We welcoma Mr. Northover into the Circle of the Elect, and trust that his expertenoe may b» happier then those of his predecessor. Thb "Hail Mabk" ov Respectability. — They must certainly have queer notions of respectability m New Plymouth. A recent telegram informed the public that a respectable mon, weU known in.the town, left his home, got beastly drunk, ancl on his return oommenced popping at his wife with a loaded ■revolver. If this be the occupation of the respectable inhabitants of that eccent.fc town, just as a matter of curiosity we would wish to know how the disreputable portion manage to while away the monotony of their> tedium. The Palmbrston Nobth Publio Li* BRAiwr.— At a recent meeting of the committed of the Public Library it was decided to issue subsci'ibe.'s? quarterly tickets; so as to permit of persons joining before the close of the year, without paying the large amount of -01 Is. We have been asked to intimate ! -that a fresh "quarter commences to-day, so that those who are desirous of partaking of the benefits of the lending library may afc once take steps for doing so. From this date, also, a book will be furnished m which it is requested each person -who enters the reading room will enter their name. ' The TwELvfe-THbTTSATTD-Aoaß Bloci.. — The party > under the com mnttd of Mr. Frank: Knowles is. making rapid headway with the survey of the Fitzherberton Block, nevertheless we understand that at the very least from fifteen to eighteen months must elapse before it is final! v completed. This will simply mean deliberate suicide to the interests of that portion of tho district. Were a second party to be despatched t 0 work m concert with Mi*. Knowles the benefit to the progress of the Upper Manawatu "would be incalculable, and we trust that such a consummation will not be lost sight of by "'the Powers that be." Anxious IwQuinißa— "During the past week Palmerston has been remarkable for the number of strangei'3 — evidently of the agricultural persuasion — which have been seen wandering about. From what we could learn most of them were men of capital, who having heard so much of the famed land of Manawatu, were on a prospecting tour before investing ; while not a few,, were making anxious inquiries as to when the celebrated Taonni Block would be put up for auction. With the twelve thousand acres on the other side of the river, and the Kairan^i Settlement of eight thousand on this, Palmerston has a g.*and future before it. A Most Dbset.v£Ntg- Case. —We have received a cheque for £3 3/-, as a donation to Mrs. Vette, whose husband was killed last week at Bunnvthorpe. The case of the unfortunate widow is a most trying one, as she has been left totally unprovided for, with five children to look to her for subsistence. We believe the deceased had bought a small piece of land, but the whole of his savings had been expended upon the erection of a house, so that only the interest had been paid on the ground, and now that the bread-winner has been suddenly snatched away, the case of the bereaved ones is indeed sad. We shall be only too happy to receive any donations whioh may be remitted to us for. so laudable an object. A Cloud ik the Haxßr^op*. — A middle-aged man, named William Wright, alias Henry Halford, was arrested on^ Friday night at Awapurii, by Constable GiUea-" pie, on warrant, charged with having made a false declaration at Wanganui m order to get married. The bride, who was only between sixteen and saventeen, the moment she saw the Constable divined his errand, and threatened if her husband were taken away, to throw- herself into the Manawatu. Halford was not at ihe farm at the time of Constable Griliespie*s visit, but on, the road back to town the latter*, met a man and as it was moonlight he compared the features of the stranger with a photograph with wliich he had been supplied, the result being that he returned to town with a prisoner. Next day the accused was brought before Mr, M'Neil, and . formally remanded to. Wanganui. The poor fellow, who was evidently a stranger- to the wajjs^of Courts, pleaded hard to be allowed " pa,role, M assuring the Benchsbat 7 upon his honor," he would turn upj^t Wanga.um all right, a request which it ■__/ heedless to. say was not granted and he- was removed m custody later, on m the evening. Aspirate Exasperate.— The, mis- j takes which are frequently made by the use qf absence of the letter "h " are most am us- j ing, but w? to„9u"Qf nqn.e which »•*■» pro-

vocative of more merriment than the following, which took place a few days since not a hundred miles from Palmerston. An insolvent, whose principal asset was a valueable stock of poultry, was under examination, and an offer was being made to secure the creditors by a P.N. at six months. One of the gentlemen-^whose first breith was drawn within sound of "Bow Bells — had not distinctly caught the offer, and m order to satisfy himself he asked—" What about the P.N. ?" Now there was nothing of an insulting character either m the language or tone of the query, but unfortunately the peculiar pronunciation of the quorist made two last worrls sound P. Hen. This the 'nsolvent took as a slur upon his integrity, as he tartly retorted, " Tf you wish to satisfy yourself about the pea ben you will have to get the inrentorv of pmilt.vv from the trustee." Tlie reply was immediately greeted with a roar of laughter from the creditors, who did not know which to enjoy moat — thp indignation of the insolvent, or tho look of surprise on the face of the innocent cause of it.