NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 71, 15 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The English Mail.— The outward English mail, via Colombo-Brinclisi, will close at Palmer»l;on on Friday eveming next at ft quarter to eight o'clock. Off on the Wing.— Mr. Henry M'Neil takes his departure from Palmei'ston to-clay for 11 visit to the Melbourne Exhibition. »<ni tU?« W.fiths' tQW» tJkvo.HgU the

Australian Cojjuies. The trip is * pleasant one, and as M'Noil is an old Victorian lie .will b» aUe to noto th« «tvi4« of pro- • gi-tsi made tj fch« Premier colony during - the dozen yea^a whioJi have elapsed since hi» last visit. In conjunction with hU many friends w« hoartily wish him bon voyage, aud pleasant holidayt. Sultaas of the Stud.— lt «rillj b«'' seen a by adrerfcissmerits on our fourth page that Mr. P. Sheerin intends to travel through Mnnawatu and Rangitikei with the magnificent »tud horses A.nnaniasand Pride of Canterbuiy. All particulars as to dates of visits and terms can ba learned upon.ap-, plication to tie proprietor. It is also notified by Mr. Eavid Knight that hi» magnificent (racing si'e " Blair Athol " will travel through the game district, and visit ths ■am* places ai last year. Facilities for Registration.— Those persons who are entitled, and wish to onjoy the privilege of the franchise, can hare no eartl:ly excuse for not having their name 3 placad upon the rolls m future. Mr. Ro«, the Eltctoral Kegisirar for Manawatu and Eangitilai, has made arrangements with the vwious postmasters throughout this county to devote a portion of two days m the week to the registration of voters. The dtys are Tuesdayt and Fridays, from 10 to 2, and coniequently all eligible persons who have not already registered should avail themselves of this opportunity. Legitimate Population. — Within the twelve months ending Auguit 31, 1880, there have been no lass than 158 births registered by Mr. Keeling, at the Town Hall, fully four-fifths of which have been by parents residing within the Borongh bounch'ies. Those numbers will give some ide.i of the substantial progress both m populatson and prosperity which the town h"? been steadily making. Contrasted with *■ c above, it is worthy of note that nine years ago there wa9 but one child m Psilmerston, l ! not m the whole of the Upper Manavvatn. The Land m Fitzherbert.— We ' are pleased to sco from a statement made i by the Chairman afc the last meeting of the W"a<*to Lands Board, that between ssven and eight thousand acres of land m Filzherbert will soon be placed m the market for sale. With that, quantity placed within the reach of bona fide settlers upon advantageous terms on one side of the Manawatu River, and the throwing open of the K&iranga Block upon the other, it is to b« hoped, and certainly thore appears every prospect of * bright future for Palmci'ston. Ai every one knows, the Kairanga Block borders upon the tonrmhip, and when, as is contemplated, thoroughly formed roads go right through it, it offers facilities for settlement, which no doubt will be eagerly taken advantage of. A Want Supplied.— Many of our readers will be please :l to hear that Mrs. Dykes contemplates opening a school for small children, whose parents may not care for sem'ng them to the Public School Mi's. Dykes has had considerable experience m teaching, having had a very large -juvenile school m Wellington before removing to Manawatu. As most of our readers are aware her husband has now been over three months an inmate of the Wellington Hospital, and a» there wjuld appear but very little hope of his ultimata recovery, she feelt it incumbent upon her to make some effort toward forming a permanent maintenance for herself and her children. Those, therefore, who will bestow their palroimge by 1 sending their children will, beside benefitling the children, be performing a praiseworthy action. j An Annoying Mistake.— Some few j weeks ago we chronicled the vagaries of a drunken man, named William Moore, who I w:is given m charge for trespassing upon [ Mr. Watson's premises. A few persons at j a distance have been under the impression that the delinquent was Mr. William Moore lior.'ebreaker, of this town, and that gentleman very naturally was annoyed at being supposed to he concerned m a transaction, of which he wa- wholly guiltless. As we [ personally know Mi 1 . Moore, and were pretent when tbo real cn'.prit was sentenced, we can bear testimony to their being two distinct parsons. We make this explanation not for those l-esiding m the town — as for" them such a step would be unnecessary — but for the benefit of those at n distance who might be led into a mistake by the similarity of the nam«s. Charge of Chairs.— We regret to learn that Mr. Alexander M'Minn, who has so ably filled the editorial chair of our Eeilding contemporary for the paifc aix months severs his connection with that journal at the close of the present week. During the time Mr. M'Minn has been at the bean of the Grtiardirn 't has been a first class county pape 1 , the nevs being judiciously collected and the leaders exhibiting ability and doep research. We understand the altsration hits bien in*de purely from business mo' ives, Mr. Capper intending once more to fill tho editorial chair hitnpslf. We have not heard Mr. M' Minn's future intentions, but he is not tl c kind of man to allow the ink to corrode on his pei, and consequently we hope to he.u 1 of him being again m harness m that sphere m which he has made for himself no moan reputation. Town Progress.— The number of new houses which are erory day ipringing up ii nothing shevt of wonderful, and certainly gire3 aflat contradiction to the reI ported dulnoss of the timer In Alain Strest alone there are fully half-a-dozsn m course of erection, but it is m the bnck stieots that the real work of progress it going on, a fact whi <;h would not be appar- | ent without a slroll w»ro taken m tho«e localitiej. Places where but a few montts ago unfenced bush held undisputed sway, now boast of comfortable-lookiiig cott-ges and patches of cultivation. In the course of an hour's walk on Sunday we counted forty-six buildings which had no existence four months ago, and we feel convinced that evei that large number by no means represents the total additions to the town which 1 :.vb taken place m that time. Considering the wail of distress which hai been re echoed from town to town, Palmeraton hss reason to be proud of its progression m the midst of such general depression. The District Court.— There i» not likely to be much business at the District Court, which opens on next Monday, as two out. of the three cases sat down will not rome on for heaving. In the case ;iguin»t Mr. Perr?au, a we\\ known settler at Foxton who was committed for larceny, the Crown Prosecutor does not think there is the slightest evitle ice to mstsin ouch a charge, and he hai ordered a nolle proseqni to be. entered. Then, again, tho charge of appvopriat ing a cheqiw, preferred against the man Wnlter W:'))iami, must, recording to Mr. Eitaherbert'e ruliug be heard at the Supreme Court, W«n»«nui, and consequently the cases will be heard there. Were it not for the assault, committed by Pearc€ upon Osbcrne, and for which he now stands commilted, His Honor Judge Hardcastle would bs entitled to a pair of white gl»v*e on account of the clem 1 calender. It is rather a strange tbing that the only case for the Wanganui District Court is a most, paltry one of theft of a wheelbarrow. Evidently culprits, liftve de t«r»iued to bo careful.

The Meeting To-night.-'Wt trus to see the meifcing this evening whiolj. I»is Worship the Mayoy has convened at th«, request of the burgesses Isrgel/ attended,-; and that interest and sympathy exhibited*' with itig object which its importance demandt. We understand the proposed action of the G-overnmant m returning to a tri-weekly mail bus caused a very itrong feeliqg both m the banking and mercantile 'community m. Wellington, and they av«j determined not. only to protest but to fight strongly against the scheme being carried out. The knowledge of the existence of such a spirit, *nd the hope of such determined and able assistance should be a strong -incentive t» the people not only of Palmerston, but the entire West Coast to exhibit a bold front and unite to firmly request what certainly they are entitled even to demand. We trust, then, that every settler both, m town and country will make a special efforfc ; to be present- this evening, and if not .talcing' an active part m the proceedings, by their presence give their moral support to a movement .of ■ i such: importance to the general community. .:.,'■ . ■ . ' The Accident on the Rinmtaka.—Since the ceMiery accident at Kai(an£ata, no Calamity has occurred in^this colony t?, equal the catastrophe which, topic place 6n the East Coast StUway on Saturday. Had the reiiilt bWeri 'the effect of accident or carelessness, or ar.ien-from any cause which could be guarded againit m the future, the prospect would not be bo alarming ; .but it has been the outcome of what no cave or watchfulness, m the future can guard against. When we consider the appalling nature of the accident, it' appears almost miraculous that i* could bava taken p] see with such a small aaerile© of precious life. In the face of such harrowing domestic /suffering and saddened firesides, it may seem out of place to refer. to the engineering blunders m connection with what cci- ainly m this case has been a visitation of God ; still there are circumstances when men become criminally culpable if works are constructed wb iolj are a direct tempting of Providence, and the East Coast Kail way is certainly one of them. In another column we give a_ full account m connection [ with fcba molaneb'bly affair, ' Bank '. Changes. — Considerable changes have taken place amongst the emplovei of the Bank of New Zealand of late, Mr. Hannah has been removed from. Bulls, Mr. Witchell from Marton, Mr. Flowers . lately received intimation that he would j soon be leaving for the South, and a few days ago Mr. Mitfovd was informed that he was to hold himself m readiness for a 1 change, and consequent thereon his sue- | ces9or, Mr. Caverill, arrived m Palmeraton on Saturday evening. It is now nearly three years since Mr. Mitford took charge of the Palmerston branch, since which time he has secured a host of friends and won the esteem of every person m the district, not only for his courtesy as a bank official, but by his sterling qualities and worth as a member of the community. His purse was »v#r open and his willing aid always at eorqmand whenever either were required, and his loss to the distri6t will be seriously felt. We believe he ij not quite certain as to his ultimate destination, but wherever he may go, he will' carry with him the very hest wishes of the people of Palmerston, to whom the mention of his name will always call up ! associations of a pleasant nature. Rifle Match.-*- A Eifle Match between the Manchester 'and Palmerston Rifles took place on Saturday afternoon, at the Butts of the former corps. At any. time .the ranje is not a good one, but during the co vest the wind was gusty and squally, nnd consequently very materially interfered with the obtaining of large scores. The distances were '200, 4< *, and 500 yards, fifteen men aside, the firing taking place m five cquads, three on each side forming a snuad. At the shortest range of 200 yards, the Palmerston men took the lead, and when tha five squads had competed, they were 28 points ahe.-d. They, however, did not enjoy their advantage long, as m the 400 yards the Feilding men caught up to them, and it might be almost said that ' both : corps started the loDgeit, or 500 . yards, | upon l«rel footiug. Fort ■ ne, however; decided against the visitors, for although the contest was a keen and an exciting one, and up to a late stage it would be a hard thing . to spot the winner, the Feilding men won at the post, and scored a victor* by sev»n j points, the numbers standing— Feilding, 353 ; Palmerston, 351. Luncheon was provided on the ground during the day, a J m the evening a substantial supper was ■ prepared at Host Roe's to which fully forty ; Volunteers sat down. Speeches were made by Captain (Sherwill and Lieutenants Marsh and Pirani, the visitors afterwards being ; escorted to the train and greeted at departure with " three times three." We understand arrangements are being made for holding the return match, when we trust to see the looal men proving champions on their own ground. "Putting to the Horn."-They do these things better m Scotland. In the olden times m JSTorbh Britain,, bankruptcy was not the easy mode of sliding out of all . pecuniary obligations which it is at the present, and more especially m this colony, where a mere filing of a declaration of inability {Anffl-i.ee, unwillingness) to pay is considered sufficient to entitle a debtor to a eloan receipt. In the olden times m itforth Britain when a defaulter became bankrupt, ho had to undergo the very, unpleasant ordeal of being " put to the horn." That ceremony was carried out m the -following. . manner •: — The mi>ssenger-at-arms came out of the County buildings, dressnd m a black gown and three-cornered hat, and accompanied by a constable and a witness proceeded to the Market Square, and there declared that the debtor having failed to fulfil his obligations, he was denounced as a rebel to His Majesty and had to be " put to the horn." The official then read a list of the rebel's debts, blew a horn three times and that concluded the ceremony. In this 1 Sanctuary for legal swindlers, where bankrupts -treat their creditors with biass,- or rather brazen effrontery, we are afraid were the horn to announce the collapse of each " unfortunate," neither the instrument nor the blower would have much rest, and the music would be more annoying to the general public than to the person whose shame it was supposed to blazon forth. From what we know of those who have received the G-overnment white-wash brush, we imagine that nine out of every ten might be " put on the. roads" reserving the tenth for the horn process, without the. slightest chance of an injustice being done,