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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4429, 31 May 1875, Page 2

Mr. Dransfield disclaims any intention to stand for election to the Provincial Council, in the room of the late Mr. Borlase. The rumor that he intended to contest the election is probably an invention of the enemy. Nevertheless, there will not be a walk over, if all that is said be true, for Mr 1 . Gillon may be opposed by Mr. Toomath, who takes his stand on the education question. A contest would be a very desirable thing, for it is as well that the electors should have an opportunity of expressing their opinions on both sides of any subject. A man named John Ball was unfortunately drowned in the Pakuratahi stream on Friday last, and though every search has been made since, no trace has been found of the body. The recent heavy rains have swollen the stream and discolored the water, so that the difficulties of recovery are increased. No particulars as to how the occurrence took place are yet to hand, Constable Byster having despatched a message which merely states that up to twelve o’clock on Saturday the search was unavailing, but that Ball’s hat and comforter had been found. Additional particulars will no doubt be received to-day.

The new three-ton crane was tested on Saturday, and found to be quite equal to the weight it was guaranteed to lift. As a matter of fact, it lifted three tons and a-half, which may be regarded as a perfectly satisfactory performance. The five-ton crane was 3 not tested, but opinions as to its capabilities have somewhat modified, after the proceedings in regard to the three-ton article. But even if it lift the allotted five tons, there is one objectionable feature about it from which it can never be freed. In its aggregate parts it weighs ten tons, and cannot be moved without the aid of about forty men, who are not likely to be always at hand when the crane is to be moved. And who is to pay for the removal of the crane ? Ship captains won’t, neither will the wharfinger. Perhaps the Corporation will ! If not, the five-tonner is likely to lie by in graceful ease. The difficulties of railway making in the Upper Hutt district have not been lessened by the wet weather of the past week. The navvies in the cuttings, who are said to be accustomed to much “ heavy wet,” have had a damper thrown upon them in literal earnest. Navvying in this weather is labor of a very unpleasant sort, and so the men have found it, though they gallantly struggle on despite of all difficulties. The most serious drawback of the week is the complete “ cave in” of one of the tunnels in the Pakuratahi contract, a portion of which is sub-let to Mr. Barker. The damage, though not serious in extent, the tunnel being small, is to be regretted, as the work in this locality presents enough of difficulty under the moat favorable circumstances. An escaped lunatic, named Greaves, who was missed from the Mount View Asylum on Friday last, was captured at the Upper Hutt, near AValdiu’s, on Saturday. The escapee, with proverbial cunningness, made away from the asylum despite a vigilant watch, and struck a bee line for Masterton. The authorities well knew the compass point for which Greaves would steer, so that little apprehension was felt about him. As stated above, he was overtaken at Waldiu’s and brought back to town.

The excavations necessary for the erection of the new St. John’s Church in Willis-street, in lieu of the one recently removed, are at length sufficiently advanced to allow of the , commencement of the proposed building, which will be of a very much larger and imposing character than the former.

The City Council should visit Hill-street in a body, and if the members of that sagacious conclave do not feel convinced that the Corporation is possessed of a veritable slough of despond, stubborn fact is become bereft of all its force. From Molesworth-street to the crown of the hill the road is worse than a morass for horses to travel through, and that a main thoroughfare which is principally used as a means of communication between the city and Tinakori-road, should be allowed to get into such a condition, is anything but creditable to the civic authorities.

The choir at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral were aided at morning service yesterday by Mr. Rainford, who, during the offertory, sang “ Lord God of Abraham,” (Elijah,) with his accustomed vigor. It is needless to observe that there was a very perceptible difference in the choral effects throughout the service.

Under the heading “Naval Engagement,” the Wanganui Chronicle relates the following ; —“ Yesterday afternoon the Commercial wharf was the scene of a pugilistic encounter between two mariners, in the issue of which the sympathies of the crews of the coasters Thames and Kate, being the crafts which were represented in the affray, were actively enlisted. The Thames, however, was invincible, Kate succumbing, and retiring somewhat discomfited. The causa belli was a disputed claim to a berth at the wharf, and muscular Christianity was resorted to in order to decide the point, with the results as above. In one feature, the engagement was equal to a drawn battle, as neither vessel has as yet taken up the disputed berth.”

A Wanganui contemporary has the following complaint respecting the working of the Manawatu tramway : “ Our predictions have been almost literally verified concerning the anticipated system of management inaugurated under the regime of Mr. Passmore, as affecting the means of communication of which passengers per coach from Wellington are compelled to avail themselves. We learn that again on Priday morning most annoying delays were experienced and complained of by the coach passengers from Poxton to Palmerston, and so en route to Wanganui and Napier, owing to no definite ai'raugements having been completed by the superintending engineer, as regards the supply of the necessary horse power for this means of locomotion. Eventually things were arranged and a start was effected. We hope for the sake of the convenience and comfort of the travelling community that the responsible official will organise some more satisfactory arrangement by which these tedious and quite unnecessary delays can be avoided.” The experience of Mr. Harris, landlord of Waldin’s Hotel, Upper Hutt, will probably be a caution to country publicans. During the hearing of the supposed “ sticking up case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, on Priday last, it was adduced in evidence that Harris supplied Spriggs, the prosecutor, "with a bottle of brandy after eleven o’clock at night, contrary to the conditions of Iris license, which stipulate that his house shall be closed at ten. Spriggs being the worse for liquor at the time, the consequence was that ho got “ confoundedly foggy,” received a good “milling” from some unknown foe, had his valuables taken from his person, and then had two men named Sheehan and Gallagher arrested on a charge of felony. The charge was dismissed, and Harris will now be proceeded against, first, for selling liquor after hours, and second, for selling liquor to a person already the worse for drink.

Tile extension of settlement having necessitated the presence of a constable at Carterton, a change has been made in the position of two members of the force. Constable Connor having maintained law and order in the Lower Hutt district with so much credit to himself, has been promoted to the charge of the new district, being succeeded at the Lower Hutt by Constable Stewart of the town force.

The s.s. Otago, from Melbourne, via The Bluff, arrived in harbor yesterday at 10 a.m. She will sail for Melbourne, via Nelson and West Coast, at noon to-day. There vyas a blank charge-sheet at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday.

There were 140 messages sent from and to the colonies by cable during the week ending Friday, May 7- Of these there were nine sent from New Zealand.

The Hoskins-Colville dramatic company opens to-night with the good old standard play “The Hunchback.” We notice that no time will be lost in producing a novelty, “Temptation,” or “Led Astray,” being announced for Wednesday night. The look-up at Carterton being complete and ready for occupation, police administration in the district is now in full swing. Constable Connor, for some time past district constable at the Lower Hutt, has been placed in charge of the new lock-up, which is said to be a commodious structure, and one that will serve all the requirements of the district for many years to come.

On the arrival at Napier on the 27th of the Manawatu, after a very stormy passage from this port, the passengers presented Captain Evans with a valuable gold ring, in recognition of the skill with which he had managed his vessel, and the attention he had bestowed upon them.

On Saturday afternoon a horse, attached to a delivery cart, the property of Mr. James, furniture dealer, suddenly took fright while being driven along Lambton-quay, and before the driver could recover control, rushed on to the right-hand pathway, where it tripped up and fell, dashing its head through one of the windows of Mr. Dixon’s refreshment rooms. The window was damaged to the extent of a few pounds, and the horse received several serious cuts about the head.

A dramatic version of Dickens’s novel, “ Oliver Twist,” was presented to a good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, the occasion of Miss May Howard’s farewell appearance. The drama brings out few of the points of the novel, and can be designated as little else than a series of scenes alternating between broad farce and exaggerated melodrama, strung together without connection or purpose, and terminating in mystery and confusion.