NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 103, 31 December 1879, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

The San Franciscan Mail — We have been requested by the postal authorities to intimate that the outward English mail, via San Francisco, will close at Palmerston on Friday evening at a quarter to eight. The Education Board. — Wo notice that nt tho meet ins; of the Wanganui Education Board, held on Monday, Messrs. Snelson, Halcombe, and th Rev. Mr. Ross were ballotted out. The Land Tax. —We regret to be called upon to intimate tho disagre^ble foci to those bloated sqiiiitocrats whose possessions bring them within the pale of Lnnd Tax collection, that to-day is tho last day upon which money .w.iU he / w»enro.rl through the. local collector. Tliose who do not disgorgo beforo nightfall, will be put to both insonveruehce and expanse for their procrastination.* : - SrQaTS at AanirasT. — As will bo seen by ; an intimation m our advertising oolusnni the resident-* of Aahurstaro not to. be without Rheir Hoiiflay Spdrtß, and as there are no evonts coating off elsewhem m the Diitriiit on 3STe\v "Jo.ir'a Day, it 'hae been decided to'Ubld thorn uoon that day, Ash-

uwtis just a plensmit drive from Palmerston, aud therefore there can be little doubt that the gathering will be well pairouiied by the people of this -town who de? sire a pleasant " outing." ■ The VanqxtaM). — We have received from Mesors Khigßros., the local agents for the. National Insurance Componv, the almanaq for 1880, prepared by that institution for gratuitous circulation. In its design care ha 9 been bestowed to mate it useful rather than Ornamental, and the tablet diary w,ill be found a handy companion m the count-ing-house or office. The National has. the. honor of being the first of the phalanx which generally makes appearance at Christmas. GuakdiaiTop the Peace. — In expectation of the Spoits on' Boxing Day, Sub-In-spector Goodall, with most commendable forethought, despatched Constable Tvegon- ! ing to assist Constable Qi]}espie m Palmerston during the holidays. Of course as the i Sports did not come off, his seryice9 were [ not required for the purpose intended, but they were well utilised m other places during his «tay. The Result op the Session. — In our fourth page we publish the various measures | winch have boon placed upon tbo Statute Book during the two Sessions held- m the past year. Considering thnt m honoraria alone oarer £50,000 had been distributed amongst our law-makers, we ye.ry much question if the game has been worth 'the candle. A number of Bills, it may be of interest to the particular districts they affect, nave become law, while meas.ures of tho most vital importance to the colony hare been been systematically shelved. The Palmerston Hotel— We hear with pleasure that during his recent visit to Palmerston, Mr. Joseph Nathan, the owner of the Palmerston Hotel, determined upon enlarging and renovating the building. The want of hotel accommodation for working men and others has induced him to take the step, and we have been informed that the alterations will embrace the erection, of nine additional bedrooms. The hotel has done good service m the past, but the progress and growth of the town has -ralle'd for increased accommodation for travellers and boarders, and we are pleased to hear of an effort being made to meet the necessity m a substantial manner. How is this for High ?—A friend of ours with a love for figures and some spare hours at command has been amusing himself with the following curious calculation. Assuming that the debt of New Zealand is now £22,000,000, if taken in gold sovereigns and laid out on their edges, one before the other, the chain would extend for a distance of 2,992 miles, 2 furlongs, 6 chains, 4 poles, 8 yards, and 2 inches. Or if -taken m sovereigns nnd laid one on top of the other, it would form a circular pyramid of tho height of 209 miles, 5 furlongs, 7 chains, 2 poles, ti yard*, and 4 inches. How ia that .for high ? >'■-' The Fourth Estate.— lt is a somewhat suggestive fact that there has- not beetiaj Ministry m power almost since the introduction of Repponsible Government without a member of the Fourth Estate having a seat m the Cabinet. The present Ministry, so far has managed to exist without "a paper man," but if report speaks truly; one of the vacant portfolios is to be given either to Mr. Wakefield , or. Mr. Bain, of Invercargiil. The betting is in favor of the latter, but why a man who has exhibited no great ability in any capacity, with the very smallest experience as a legislator; and none at all as a Minister, should thus jump into power, is one of those things. that " no fellah can understand." Interesting to Rate Defaulters. — A case was heard before the Resident Magistrate on Wednesday last, which is of interest to rate defaulters. A man named Kennedy was sued by the solicitor to the borough for the sum of fourteen shillings for rates due upon his property in the town. The man is an absentee, of whose whereabouts nothing is known and after a demand had been posted upon his section, the proceedings of Wednesday were taken in compliance with the law, prior to putting the section up for sale to satisfy the judgment recorded against it. We make this information public, so that Mr. Kennedy and a number of others absentees over whom a similar fate impends, may disgorge before it is too late A Nasty Spill. — A Scandinavian, whose name we could not learn, met with a nasty fall from his horse on Boxing Day. He was riding at a furious rate along tho Foxton road, and when rounding the corner leading on to the Square, he turned the horse too sharply, the consequence being a complete roll over of both in the road, the rider coming underneath. He was very much crushed and bruised, and upon attempting to rise, the blood spurted over his face from a wound in the head. It is somewhat astonishing that with so many instances of the fatal consequences, men will foolishly court such danger. In the case under notice it was utterly impossible to escape without accident, as when turning the corner the horse was upon as great an inward incline as if in a circus. When the rider found his tongue, the first use he made of it was to inquire from the bystanders if they considered he was much hurt. "Show me Your Company and I'll Tell you what you are." — In our last issue we retailed some of the drawbacks to which the Palmerston District Court jurors were subjected, but they were as nothing compared to the following stain upon their several escutcheons. Just as the unfortunate twelve were being trotted down the street in the safe keeping of the constable to the empty house hired as a jury room, the Wanganui afternoon train came through the town, when one of its passengers, catching a glimpse of the procession, exclaimed in horrified surprise, "My gracious, what a crowd of prisoners for such a small place as Palmerston,'' Luckily for the feelings of the dozen "good men and true" the observation did not reach the ears of those most interested, or it is possible that it would have had the effect of making them more dissatisfied, to serve their country under such risks.

A RODENT REPRESENTATIVE.— So many stories have been told about the er-rat-tic member for Auckland City West, that had the Session lasted much longer, some speeuJatire publisher would, no doubt, have^pKK. dtit'ed » "Hurstiana." The following' is; the. latest of the thousand aud one stories told of that gentleman, and is from the peu of the special correspondent of the. Wanga-. nui ''Berdld. No doubt our readers are* aware that while Mr; Hurst ii one "of the quartjattetof the^jip^and^udases, there is a Mr. Hirst, the member for Wallace, tl£' similarity of whose names has vexed the rigiffte^ioula" of iW whole f beftfbf me? sengers. Now^gbntlemW the/oiherdajt asked to see Mr. H— t, and was asked by the messenger the stereotyped question,; "Which of them, sir?" The gentleman then proceeded to spell the name, but uadn;t got further than H| when^the messwigSr interrupted him-^ Ob, never inina spoiling it, sir; is it the rat or the manryou want>?" It was the rat. ANOTHER NOTE OF WARNING.-— We have been informed by Mr. Henry Burrell, that he had, on Saturday evening, what he considers to have been a very narrow escape from being crushed to death. While passing along the Rangitikei Line on the evening in question, a large tree came down within a few yards of him, in fact upon the spot over which he hacl passed the moment before. The place was the same to which we referred in a former issue, and we may say Mr. Burrell's statement as to the dangerous condition of the bush has been endorsed by Mr. William M'Dowall, and others who have to travel the road. As it happens to be just within the boundary of the town, it would be well that the Engineer should see that the portion of bush facing the road should be felled for at least a chain on each side, otherwise some fatal accident will be the result. A "BLACK" CUSTOMER. - The following circular has been issued to the creditors of James Black, of Dunedin, and is certainly unique m ifes ch.arac terT — - "The verdict obtained by the trußtees against ;tho' Sheriff and otb|33 hariijig been rey&^d i)ir technipal grounds,^the'costs^ of both plaintiff, and defendants haye + tp. be paid out of thees^ateT After paying £he preferem^al claims, and the dividend "of 10s f in .thepound, there -Remains m hand a sum" of £528---4s. lQd.;"The lay expfei|s'es amSufit^slfcci gether tb^7^os:iia;,leaving a^eTßcj^dy of £I§9 6s. Id.; to meet >hich & call of 2s. 6d. m iihe pound.has •boen-inade".up f an ifhff; sol vent creditors, whp9e claims aqtaptt to £1535 5s Bd. ? tVe have therefore tp^eqyest payment of $Csujp^of S—~, being the 5 ' the offlieof ißastings, Xeary, ..' 'and' ■> Go; ,. Dunodin, within ten: days from this Wte, jat the expiration pf w lnch period our solicitors will bo instructed to take proceedings fe>7fej : c over the calls : . > r" : - ; 'i THE NEW ZEALAND MUSICAL MAGAZINE.— We have to acknowledge the receipt of No. 2 of the above charming little Colonial publication, which has been printed for Mr. George West, the well-known music-seller, of Dunedin. What Mr. Glen of Melbourne, has done for Victoria, Mr. West purposes to do for New -Zealand— that is, to produce reprints of all the choicest musical standard works, at a figure which, will come, witliin the reacii of all. "In the number; pride "of which is one shilling - there are "The Fairy Wedding " ; and the "Blue Danube." waltzes, " The Mountain Belle Schottische," together with.* the music and words of ; the;, followingyoharming melodies :^-" Still thine own;" "^hon green leaves oome again,?? < VB]ume^ied,^/ < miting," > " I The Gjpi^i" Warning," 'tWon'b you- buy my prett^ flowers:?" "Queen of the; Night;'? « £ lhii never deem my . love ■ can; change," .and^ " Littiysnowrwhitebiossonis;" : Thosew'ho are m the . habit of 'purchasing pieces "of ' music will be. W«ll-awiMHs-*hat~thV< collection, enumerated abpye cotildi not be; obtained' jess .than'a jSoiipla' of; shiiiirigs each; so thai' it wiir be~ seen-.^thaj; v Mr. "West.'offeri the . wholetweiye for less than half the cost of one. . In -order to prevent mistake^ we should advise ihteud ing, purchasers to send their nanie3 and addrosseitq TME West to be inserted as subscribers, and then iivs each number is issued ifc. will' be forwarded to them. - vj ■/v'v'.^^.j" ;"■'<. r ;--•;•/;•■■; •- The Boxing Day Srqara.— -Christmas Day having provejl so propitious, '•' 'high .hopes wereindulgsd that the wga^hev on j the following day would be all tha,t. was to. be desired for the Sports. About half-past two, however, Upon the nxotining of Boxing Day, these hopes >Were shattered by ia per.; feet dowhpdui' of >-iain, which - continued with but slight i^fcarmissions until the affcernoqn. At . Nina o'dqclj the Sports"Oon^mittee met together, and.withoiitniuQh.'ihesitaj . tion determined to temporarily-postpone the various events until tbe;f6lilo wing day, with the understanding that': if. it were deeiriqd advisable, the holding should . bq.dpfinitely '. postponed until the 22nd <of January, the anniversary of the foundation of j;be Province. In the evening the' boisteroiysnssa of the weather having, m no way abated, aud a visit to the Course having proved the impracticability of its boh\g : fib^for^uspon Saturday, the Committee unttriimbugly p.qßt£ porjed the Spprts untiLtlie day men.tiope.d above. . - THE WAITS.— The members of the Wesleyan Choir gave a number of the residents of the town a most unexpected treat and agreeable surprise on Christmas morning. At miduight, after serenading beneath the, window of Mr. Linton, they proceeded to town, calling on'Jfcejir way at the houses of Messrs. TP; : M6v?le^j %*?**» .Kichibeira?^-. letj>, Snelson, Dungan;, JLearyj i^itiorA x ,Ji Mowlem, and several others, at each of which they sang two carols. From the capital manner in which they acquitted themselves, they must have had many practices previovisly together, for we have rarely heard concerted singing " rendered with Vqqh j^easinig effep^, ?^he voices blanding m a mqsf :nar^oniou^in»inn«r, which in' the cn3nV^an^ss!iitlthif night hai a deRightful efiecti ".^Xbe Waits "it a corrupt tion of the word t rWaighte>," which iii the «ftr\y- pentu^ei weria^ k^ica^watefi^uf

|Atfooi ding t j Cbamb«r< until recently* ' *he W^it« were" officially recognised m I»pn- '. -torn and \v^tminiter. Cjfti London tb* I ,poßt of leader of the 'Waitswas purchased (j- --- Westminster the apppintnient wa» ; : inTtUJfigift of th^igh^iwtaW6 and th» ( ■' ; ; ©>urt 6j^^ Burgesses^ In l82(^ Mr, Mjujra/ -„ obtained the. ppsfc of official leadw of th» ; | f"aits for Westminstop,. with the exclusive, ; right to aerenade the inhabUan^, and mafclr application for, Christmas boxes:" His prewere invaded by oth«r. musicians^ L and he prosecnted. several peissons^brough * the police courts. At the present time, in i > rl jEh| metropolis,^ Wait^ l^n^sicwn." daringAih©>nigWbrearlF m th» T mOTning\fp^nwo or turtle 1 weeks "before ChiUtmasi arid 'afterwards o»ti -forMth* Christmas boxes. We ne^ nofr aaj-that > th|pnly reward of the PalmeMon^Wttft^ was the knowledge that .they had given; a '," I treit which, ras warmly appreciatea/V; : ■ BURNT DOWN. --We regret to hear that the house of a roadman employed upon the railway, was burned to the ground yesterday at noon. The premises, which are situated between Henderson's Mill and Bunnythorpe, were occupied by a lineman named McDonald, and yesterday his wife left at noon to bring his dinner, as he was working some distance away. When she had got about a mile, she noticed the house on fire, and her horror may be imagined when she recollected that she had left a sick child at home in bed. To her great joy, however, on reaching the scene she discovered that the little thing had made its escape and was quite safe. We did not hear much of the particulars, as it was evening wben Mrs. McDonald reached town with news. We do know however, that the cottage was not insured, and that the poor people are left completely bare and homeless. MASONIC INSTALLATION. -- According to ancient custom, the brethren of the Marawatu Lodge, No. 1721, E.C., assembled at the Lodge Room, on^e ? 27tU f instant, at six p. m „.t 0 , install the %l . eloct; for^tHe,< m siuhg.twelve;months ; i; The^ >'* choic^ of the brethren onthis-^iiotf tad ' ? faUett tipon^Brother a bet|»r:ch^cri^uia]npt > made-Brother King i a yi ng been one^f v : of ;the.Lodge,vand-liavih^ held subordinate . offices irotn tfii oPmV '< mencenient. Th c inatallatto'n cereui^ r $ • was oquduote^^by B^fchera; E^- Jaiclea£ $ vS^ain|>n,, Keeling a^d Batfc. j The \ princi' /■ pal^officers f6v the ""' jested^t^r Brother jßV^CraVford:3TVy-': and Bro^her^ T^r^W; r ;immediate^r^ afterwards the bretbern sati adwn ; w ? a mPty™ by Brother^" J- O. Batchelar, the' oiil^ drawback heint*^ phenumber of^b 3 epfc brajhren^wliicti can" ' v^ be accounted for by:theJnei e^entßtat9 of '" th^weather. However, thi»4d e fection did •'■ npt^damp^tho Bp iri^ 0^ thj^ipainfler, a«d .--..«t hour jx^o was.yery^e^antl^sperit. ;- ■m usual Masonieitpasesj^ere di«nk^it^ •? et f lt ? Bl ? sm > w hile7«jngs anidjstpriesaddedvr^ m|t materiaUr. ta; the; jjpnyiviality of th«- ; I, great =H - •torj,"' and BrPther^Batchelar ; kindlygivih^ mbst acceptable demonstrations^>f his vocal % abilities. BEAUTIFUL SNOW. -- It will be remembored that both an Australia and elsewhere ! a^reut dieal of controyersy has tekeii place J c on bf; tl}S iuthorSHip^^oinftS v pathetic poem. Miss Dargon, the eminent actress, has favored the Argus with an exvtract'fpoin.tt letter addressed to her by Mr ?-^ W^iarri Wintarj one;6|^tHe' forDmos/jourl' ijahsts m New -Yprk wbo savr: " The- real " : authpr is undoubtedly^ Watson, who was formertv>conriected with ** Frank Leslie's publication. His poems have been collected and published, and « Beautrfijl^no^ » J§ tHe; first poem inth^ ; :i : ,book. _He has several times :in my Bearing Rpem.und rfof pp.e doubt that he. wrote it. This isVthe acceoteo ' iin New ' York;' Where "the' •übject ha^. beep pretty well discussed. >M 2. -CaptAj^ , Mftoxirrsu^ Conjjr^-i-A cable- - gram from Sydney contains ttie following — > Daring. ,jhg- hearing,, ;Mppi»iite- condupted^: the case.,:|or the .defence, utmostcoftjposure and audacity. During theV>? examinaHon the. mentioi of^lf esbit'B death' always affected Mobnlite' either to' emotion:'■«or fury. ' He had^qneni altercations w&£ -.' tlis Magistratq/^He spoke appreciatingly»t^the pluc-k of several p ; f the police who tostM^--Bed, but charged ' Constable Hedley -with; *^ running away at the first encounter. Hedley i«' reported tbat" Mobnlite was frightened and % crying wjien' he surrendered, 'ffogan' ~ :* loaded revolver was "prddnced m coßft, and viVfoohlite asKe.'i— "Are : you B urp tbatV loaded." "Will joii let iii.c examine it ?'»- SniiermfcendeSit ■Singletoil ibwt ily replied—' ' u Noj thank you ; 7bi( aj^e too good ft _ r shot^; ,A rep^y thn^ cVitiaed tiuion laughtejC * It is stated that Mopnlite, aft er.bis capturp, 5 '■' '; wbpt bifterly. oyer the- body «of Nesbit; ah3C feissc^his face. N HefrGquen|^r^rs;to m terinsqf efcrong affaefcion and admiriitkm^ 5 : for hJs'*ourage arid fid>litr. I The i wholellne" !T^ .of; defence is directed to clenr his thates^ahd ; :* jbhrp'w the blame bg ; hihlself afid Nesbit.- Afc "*•" the inquest on Constnblia i B^wen's V-'^ Moorilite'a mariner, was quite He *^ was quite s übdUed. He said He * Kriewt wfia "'1 shot Bpwen, but was no informer.". ffe*i? v ; sqems'as if he. «ow re.Hlise.d hiif pPsitioi^, and li ■ •w.ishes to clear himself; - ' ".' v '•: ■ ''■'■ 'H