Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 322, 30 September 1874, Page 2

The Phcebe arrived from the South this morning. The Hon. Mr Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs, and Mr Seed are on board, being on their way to Auckland to make arrangements for establishing a naval training school. Among tbe passengers are twenty-one of the Armed Constabulary, who ars on their way to Taranaki. We would advise sheep farmers in the suburbs to look well after their flocks, as io formation bas reached us from Stoke that on Monday moruing laßt two destructive dogs, one black and the otber black and white, were seen worrying Mr Jenkins' sheep. Forty-one fine ewes with lambs by their sides have been found dead, bitten through the throat, and several others badly mutilated. The full extent of the mischief is not yet ascertained. St Peter's Church. — The new church which has jußt been completed at Clifton, Suburban North, will be consecrated by the Bishop of Nelaon to-morrow afternoon, the service commencing at half-past three o'clock. Resident Magistrate's Court. — Everett Bros. v. Montalk. Claim for £18 16s 7d. Judgment for plaintiffs for amount claimed and costs. Patterson v. Brace. Claim for £2 7s Bd. Judgment for £l lis 5d and costs £1 12s. Winifred Robinson was charged with using obscene language in Collingwood-street. Fined £10 and costs, or three months' imprisonment. Acton Adams charged with allowing a horse to stray was fined 5s and costs. The Weather. — In a minor decree we appear to be experiencing the bad weather that prevails throughout New Zealand just now. We have, however, this advantage, that we are free from the gales tbat are blowing elsewhere, while the rain has not heen sufficiently heavy to cause any very serious floods. Beyond a few breaches in the sea wall, occasioned by the unusually high tides of the last day or two, we have not heard of any damage beiog done. Captain Edwin's prediction with regard to a north *west gale having proved correct, there now appears to beevery probability that the second part relating to a gale from the southward will be verified, the wind having already veered round to the south-east, and, if we may judge from appearances, it is not wanting in force in tbe Straits. Tbe Charles Edward, whose report will be found elsewhere, had to run back for provisions yesterday. Mr Cother, the purser, informs us that tbe two Blanches lay at anchor at Tonga until Sunday eveniog, when they made another start, and appeared io be shaping their course for Port Hardy. It seems that a Mr Stevens, of Auckland, bas invented a new form of paddle-wheel, and ihe Star states th«t Captain Rasper, of the steamer Lady Bowen, and the cbief engineer, Mr D. M'Affer, report favorably on tbe result of the attachment of Mr Stevens' new patent paddle-wheels to that vessel. Their opinion is that they are calculated , to increase the speed of any boat that ' tries them, especially in rough weather, as the patent floats take such a deep hold of the water. The theory of the screw-propeller is applied to the paddle-wheel, by setting the floats at an angle of 45 degrees, and they thus, it is alleged, perform the same offices as the screw; but with greater effect, being equal to two screws. The patent floats being attached to the paddlewheels, are said to have the eflect of Dearly doubling the effective ppwer of the Bteam engines, and of increasing tbe speed to such an extent, that if two boats of equal tonnage and power competed at eea, especially in rough weather, the, one fitted with the patent paddles would speedily distance the other fitted with the common paddles, i-

There is likely again to be trouble in connection with the Waitemata election. It is stated that the Whau polling place was closed for an hour while the messenger went to town for more ballot papers, which became exhausted shortly, after noon. To make amends for this loss of an hour, the sapient deputyreturning officer kept the booth open an hour later, not closing till 5 o'clock, when really it should have been closed at four o'clock; upon this, it appears, there is to be another petition against Mr Von der Heyde 's return. Regarding it, the Southern Cross says: — "There is no doubt that every vote that was given after the hour of four o'clock is a bad vote. But unless it can be proved that at least upwards of fifty voted at that polling place in favor of Mr Von der Heyde after four o'clock —or that an equal number were prevented from voting for Mr Macfarlane at tbis particular place, in consequence of the booth being illegally closed ior an hour — we du not think it at all likely that Mr Von der Heyde would be unseated on petition on the ground of irregularity."