NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 82, 11 October 1879, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

A Caution' to— Doos. — In another column the Registrar for the C^uintv gives fair warning that nil uneolhred anil un. badged canines found roaming it large, will be " collared " and summarily disposed of. If a nod he as as good as a wink to a Mind horse, we imagine the ntnvp very broad hint should save miich canine life. Monster Auction Saxe. — We have been asked to draVv especial attention to the monstor'auction sale of all kinds of drapery, haberdashery, blankpts, &c, which will he held both to-day and Monday, by Mr. Snelson, on the premises known as Mrs. .Levin's Old Store. ' As the goods are to be slaughtered without reserve, bargains may he looked for, and the public supply their wants at their own prices. The District Court. — We learn that the first sitting of the Palmerston North District Court has been postponed until tbe 18th of December ; and further that instead of -having but three sittings per year, as wai originally arranged, there will bo one each quarter. As we intend to make some editorial remarks upon the functions of such Courts m our ne^t, we will refrain from going further into the malter at present. The Benefit pie the Cemetery Fund. —The Hon. Secretary of the Workingmen's Club has handed us the following summarised statement of receipts and expenditure of the late entertainment : — Receipts, £20 3s. ; expanses, £9 15s. 6d. ; bnlance, £10 7s. 6d. The Club is certainly entitled to the thanks of the public for its efforts and donation. Not Reax Murder — only the Cot,or OP IT. — Mr. Hurst, one of the members for Auckland has a logical way of accounting for matters. Speaking of the shooting at the Bay of Islands, he said that the Government should not be held responsible, as the man shot was of so dark a complexion that he was mistaken by "the shooters for one of their owti race. While this ex- j hibits a playful intimacy amongst the dark- ] skins, "we should rather imagine life policies UJ>on surveyors of a hrnnejbte cast of complexion, would he difficult to obtain m the m the Bay of Islands. Summer has Comb.— lndependently of the magnificent weather which we have been enjoying for some time pass, one has i only to look into the. window of Mr. Lon,don^s Drapery Store m the Square to assure { themselves of the above fact. Ii it not often that a person can see a bona fide drapery store — with window dressed m such artistic manner as to strike the eye of the passer by — m an up-country town, but that such is the case a visit to the Square will prove. In our front page Mr. Loudon notifies that he is now opening up a largo stock of summer goods and invites inspection. A Lad on A .Ladder. — During the progress of the famous cattle case heard on Thursday, one of the witnesses deposed that it was his custom each morning to mount a ladder which had been erected as a. kind of watch-tower, and from thence, take. a "birds-eve "of the surroundings. This tickled Mr. Ha\vkin's fancy so much that having m croßß-examjj,nntion inveigled him up the ascension on a particular day. he then so badgered him while m his perilous position, that Mr Staite. anxious for the safety of his client, and .Mr. Ward for the time of the, Court, bpth begged the cross-examining counsel to allow the' witness to descend— Anglice, to sit down — which he did, with audible sigh of relief. D.Uoes V- Cows. — The Palmerston, Police Court; is fast- becoming the birthplace of celebrated cases. 'Last sitting the Bench w^# regularly nonplussed ov«r the slaugh-

ter of two ducks, about the justification of whose unHmely end Coke and Cucker were both silent. On Thursday the be^t part of the day was wasted m the hearing of a trespass case of cattle. From begm r ingto end the case was brimful of excitement, fun uppermost at one time, and fight the next, the opposing counsel contesting the ca«e foot by foot, several times an interchange of compliments taking place which were of such a sultry nature that had they bepti uttered m Old Ireland one or other should have been left -"quirering on a daisy." The County Council. — In order to publish the Engineer's report, we hare been compelled to summarise the proceedings, merely giving the principal resolutions passed. Slaughtering licenses were granted to Colin Mc.Kenzie and Edward' Giehard, and the tender of Joseph Nathan, £230, accented for the forming of the Kiwite* Line. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, that a special meeting will be held on Monday the 3rd of November, m order to confirm the resolution passed at last special meeting. The Palmeeston North Public Library. — We are pleased to learn that the action of the committee of the above institution m giving the public an opportunity of joining the lending library for the last quarter of the last year, seems to have been thoroughly appreciated, as a great number of subscribers have taken out tickets, which possibly otherwise -might not. Prom inspecting the visiting book, we have observed with pleasure that the reading room is now being largely patronised. Otamakabua Case. — The judgment m ! the Otamakapua case was delivered at Omabu by Judges Heale and Young on Wednesday. The title m the block is declared to be m the six hapus claiming from Hauiti, whose case was conducted by Dr. Buller. The Ngatiapa, represent by Mr. Duncan, and the Rangiwhaiao are entirely excluded, the chief, Aperahama Tipua, alone being admitted" on independent grounds. The purchase money (says tbe Press Agency) amounting to over fifty thousand pounds, will be paid over next week. Woe to Bunny. — Some squatters' friend has arisen m the South, and by the use of some preparation has already played sad havoc with Master Bunny. From a telegram received by the Press Agency on Tuesday we learn that consequent upon the remarkable success attending the use of the rhodium receipt, the rabbit pest is considered at an end m Southland. Two stations have already been cleared of tke vermin, and the receipt is being applied for far and wide. We do not know sufficiently ■.bout the composition of the remedy to state whether its qualities are of a preventitive or curative nature, but however, m any case, — as this District has lately been proclaimed under the Rabbit Nuisance Act — we should advise an investment, a course which should satisfy believers and unbelievers. Caught Naming. — We notice that our Foxton friends have got to windward of us over the West Coast Railway, and have prepared a petition to the Government to commence the line from that township. While giving our southern neighbors credit for their zeal m protecting what they deem to be their interests, the very act of doing so conveys a reproach and vote of censure upon our own lethargy. The race is not always ! to the swift, nor the battle 'to the strong, and our readers should remember the fable o£ the hare and the frog, for althoi^gh we may rest consented upon our superior claims, if we hide our light under a bushel, we may find ourselves on a lee shore. We certainly think some of our leading men should move m the matter. An Axai^sis of the Division List. — It may be interesting to note the consequence of the division list m those constituencies which return two or more members. If contrariety of voting upon the part of representatives be tantamount to disfranchisement then Wellington City has been m that condition, for while Mr. Hutchison supported the Government, Mr. Levin opposed it. Wairarapa is m the same condition — Mr. Beetham voting against, and Mr. Bunny with the Government. Christchurch s^ave one vote for, whita Mr. Andrews ranged himself on the side of Sir George Grey, Mr. Stevens was m Opposition. Wanganui's members also ranged themselves on opposite sides — Mi*. Bryce on one side and Mr. Ballance the other. Dunedin went " bald-headed " against the Ministry, its three members Apposing it, while Waitaki, reversed the position, and plumped for the Government. " The Dissolving Views." — If variety be charming, i hen the various changes of entertainment which are held m the Foresters' Hall, must be very attractive indeedOne night it is a grand concert, the next a low comedy, then a talking pig, and now a moving panorama. . On Wednesday and Thursday nights it was occupied for the exhibition of a number of kalaideseope movements, comic pictures, and dissolving views of the City of London. The juveniles mustered m good force, and as each patron was prssented with a prize, the harmonium used as an accompaniment during the firet portion was not needed m the second, the building resounding with discordant sounds of whistles, aeeordeons, and other such like instruments m the hands and mouths of the diminutive but delighted winners. Drune versus Sober.— A well known country settler, who, however, shall be nameless, was " talking" home the other evening under the influence of the ro-<y god. It was not the length but the breadth of the road that was troubling him, and as lie made a dive froni loft to right a boy who had been riding behind m the dusk, put on steam so as to forge ahead, before tins pedestrian would be agayi on the return tack. Whether the speed of the wayfarer was also increased, or the tack hnd not been do its usual extent, posterity will never know, but the fact rejpnins tfyn.t, horse and ivaveller collided, t'&e latter of course . being sent sprawling m, the dust- '-C'. ie rider pulled up and the, fcrflveller M ?ctnrnbled up, when the following dialogue toot place : — Boy (m innocent ponder)., " WLy-hoTv-hoTj;

did you get there? Why I thought you were on the other side !" Traveller : — " Hic-hic ye thought, ye had n\e— did ye? Buz-ye see I slid off tother side," and he took himself off, chuckling over how ho had " had " the horseman. Verily, there is an especial Providence, which looks after drunken men and sailors. Mangaoki Block.— Mr. J. Gt. Holds-' worth, Crown Lands Commissioner for the Wellington Provincial District, has issued the following report for the year ending 30th June last : — " The small revenue from the sale of Crown Land m this land district during the past financial year is owing, m part, to the delay m the expenditure of the votes of last session on the Palmerston, Mangaoni, and other blocks by opening up roads and cutting of drains. The whole of the Crown land m this district may be classed as forest land, and is not likely to be purchased m large blocks for speculative purposes, but by intending Bettlers of moderate means, and provided provision is made for an expenditure on roads it will greatly aid m promoting settlement. The minimum price for which pastoral land can now bo soli— namely, 30s per acre— pre- I vents any sales being effected. The rabbit i pest, so far as is known, has not hindered the sale of Crown lands. The- number of Crown grants yet to issue has been but very slightly reduced during the past yoar owing to Survey office arrangements, and temporary • removal of Mr. Telford, m March last, to the Provincial Auditor's department." An Erratic Rat. — One occasionally hears j remarkable stories about the effects of music upon snakes and such reptiles, but it is not often that rodents endanger their lives and liberty through the same cause. j On Wednesday night as Constable Gillespie, J a Publican, a sinner, and a saint were having a conversation at the door of one of the principal stores m town, an aged rat appeared upon the scene, and took up his quarters m the very centre of the group. The matter was carried out m such a defiant manner that hands, feet, and tongues of all were paralysed save the saint, who had then possession of the floor, and continued his narrative, his ratship all the while.cocking his ear and paying most respectful attention. When he had concluded, attention was drawn to the stray auditor, and one of the company made unmistfikeable preparations to pedally eject the intruder, a breach of courtesy and hospitality which the visitor resented by taking his departure m just as leisurely a manner as he had made his en - try. The sinner next held forth, but scarcely had he commenced when the " lately departed" again made his appearance, taking up his old position with the same daring effrontery. This time conversation ceased, and a concerted attack commenced, biu; although the vermin was several times out on the pathway, and could easily have escaped, he again and again ran the gauntlet of hlucher3 and. waterproofs, until at last the toe of either collided with his eye, and perceiving the Constable m readiness with his handcuffs, it evidently made up his mind to depart and it did, .