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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 90, 19 February 1876, Page 2

AYe have to crave tin-indulgence of our .subscribers for the wretched quality of tlie paper we have b *cn compelled to use for l:be bod few issues. On liie arrival of the no;! steam v, \sv (ms: to receive fresh se.pi Pies. A robbery of a very mysieriomc not to say doubt fnl diameter, was ivp,>;•:•■;! i o is, not to tic.- police, yesterday m Tin :g, and we give (in- facts, as given lo us. for wiiat they arc worth.', A Air S. Adams, a watchmaker at. Wairoa, called ai lid-- elide and stated that on the previous day (Thursday) he was baidd up by Aland;-, in (be- Kakammc'i. Hotel, ami rnbbr-il of ,i"27 and a .signet ring, it was suggested to him that, the police rather than a newspaper office was the prop'-r place lo give information at, with a view to (be arrest of the guilty parties, and such redress as the law aiTords. To this the plundered persu; replied that bv informing the police be would damage bis business prospects, bn; dial, he bad a loiter for Alajor Turner. Wduii.T the contents of tin’s epistle bar anything to do with the matter or not Me cannot say, but on enquiry into yesterday afternoon at the police, station we ascertained that Air Adams bad made no (barge, mid it really appears to ns that theallegcd robbery was in mibihim and bad no foundation in fact. AVhy Air Adams slioiiU make ns his confidents, in lien of: the polhe, werctlicre any truth in his statement, wi are af a loss to discover. At die same line, in justice to the police, and the bouse at which the alleged robbery is said to have taken place, we make bis statement public, believing that there is not a par.lele of truth in the information, with whin Air Adams was kind enough to favoir ns. Our readers can draw their own cmclusions.

In addition to the live dock, merchandise, &c., previously advertised fo r sale this clay by Mr AV. Dale,he will Jscll in one lot 3 town sections, adjoining eacli other and fronting Leicester aid Cornwall •streets, Carlyle. The following gentlemen vero drawn on AVedncsday last, to serve is jurors at the next District Court, to bo held in Carlyle, on Tuesday, the Ist rf March, at 10 a.m. —Alessrs James Tenpleton, John Doole, G. T. Potto, John Inrlcy, James Sonthby, P. Kelly, G. Inkstc, J. Bayley, AV. Lnxford, AV. Thompson,d. Heywood, Ik Hook, E. Collins, D. Smith,J. Campbell, J. Burrows, J. ■ Korisk, C. Lssmanu, D. Hurley, A. F. Illston, J. S. Locker, AV. Odgers, AV. Robertson, J. dlicyue, AVSutton, J. Patterson (Patea), A McCarthy, Ik Cornwall, G. Barnford, J. Lett, H. Collins, John Ross, A. Toumr, J. Aiken, A. Aiken, S. Caldwell. AVe arc pleased to learn thaVhe Government have declined to entc’.ain Alajor Brown’s recommendation to had over the AVhenuakura ferry reserve tolie natives for cemetery purposes. AVhilt refusing the application, the Govemnvit will take care not to interfere with lit portion—known as the mound—in wliib the .Maoris bury their deceased. j

At t-lic Resident Magistrate's Court yoyfenlay, before Major Turner. IVriek Keenan, of Wniroa, was charged by bis wife with violently assaulting ber on the morriing of the 18tli inst. The prosecutrix, whose face bore marks of a treacherous assault, deposed that, her husband, who was generally a cpiiet man when sober, returned home on the previous evening in a state of intoxication-, and during the night repeatedly assaulted her by striking ber with his clenched list and dragged her along (be. ground. Early in th; morning' she sent I'or hj -r brother, wlm on arrival, went for a constable ami gave her husband in custody. Defendant denied the charge but stated that bis wife had cruelly struck him across the head with a heavy slick, 1 lie blow inflicting a serious gash, and causing {be. .blood to Ihnv profusely, and pointed to t.lii.'. sanguineous appearanec of bis garments in- corroboration of bis statement. Tim Ik-ndi, in miiigalioii of the ollVnee. (Hmd defendant Tl,-with costs,and to be bound over in tie; sum of TU* to keep the peace for twelve months, whereupon defendant expressed bis inteniion to go to gaol rattier than pay (be tine. At this juncture, (he wife m ule a most sympathetic appeal (o the Bench on behalf of her husband, remarkingtbat she desired bis liberty, but only required an assurance that be would abstain from ill-using her. During the morning, the injured wife paid the fine, ami tin' matrimonial quarrel was healed, and bulb left town with the avowed intention I<> iijver again seek the arbitration of the Court to settle Llmir little quarrels. Messrs Dale and C.-ampl)?!!, the two gentlemen appointed by the llawera Town Hoard, to as'sess (Ik* value ol (he town property, completed their duties yesterday, and we understand that the total assess-

muni amounts to Tli,3 VT \Vc learn licit tl;e tradesmen of Carlyle have formed a quadrille dull, an ! imend holding fortnighl!y parties ihiring the winter mouths. The diihireii attending the AVairoa Sunday s.Tm Js. were entertained at a pic. me on Thursday hist. The teachers were in attendance, and amused their young guests with tie- usual attractions provided on such occasions. The I’atea Hast (or Hoad Hoard ap u*ais to Sind very little scope for (he cx Tcise of iis functions. as we are informed that the Hoard has hold hid two me 'lings since its election. At its last meeting, a clerk was appointed, whoso services are to he reward 'd hy the. payment of ! per sluing. Judging from (he mimher of sidings that have taken place up- to th” p:esen!, the scribe will not have a \ cry heavy salary to receive at do* cud id’ the linaneiid year. An accident occurred at AVairoa, a few days ago. which, for ins results, may he denned one of the most, extraordinary that, lias iah'lv been chronicled in the colony or else whet e. it seems that Air ami Mrs Edwards, of (ho Wairoti Hotel, had heeii out for a drive in a dog-cart, hut on (hoir return, waited a minute or two in (.he vehicle before digli!iug. During this | interval, (heir little hoy, -aged about, 2 years, thought lit to fall out of the trap, and the horse at the .same moment moved on about twenty feet. The child's ho,'id fell in the direct track of the wheel, and before any rescue could come, (ho vehicle,, with (ho father and mother in if, jolled over it. the horse being pulled np beyond. As a matter of course, Inc horror-stricken Kpcetatnrs never expected to see the poor child rise again, but, singular to say beyond a clear deep mark abrading the skin, and causing a large How of blood, and one ear Vicing cut through, no injury was sustained. There was not even any insensibility or unconsciousness, for the moment the infant was released it got up without assistance, ran towards (he hole! door, and was then cared for. The wheel passed, ns far as we can learn, along the lino of the base of the skull, commencing at the occipital hone, and shaving off at the damaged oar. Singular to say the little sulTeree was but little the worse, and is now perfectly restored. A more extraordinary escape from instant death, we never heard of, and Dr Croft, who was recently a visitor at the house, states that during a very prolonged medical experience, he never hoard of such a case. When the very tender age of the victim is taken into consideration', wc are sure our readers will agree with ns in deeming it a marvellous one. AVe omitted to add that in the track of the wheel, whore the child's head lay, there was agap of exactly eight inches, that being evidently the space occupied by the infantile skull, during the wheel’s progression. The condition of the main road between the Patca bridge and the Australasian hotel is falling into a disgraceful state of desropair,and carriers and others arc suffering great annoyance and inconvenience from the deep ruts which obstruct the line of traffic. The introduction of a few loads of gravel would verify the old proverb “of a stitch in time saves nine.”

Wo bog to correct a slight error made in onr last issue respecting the position that Mr Sam Dixon, of Kakaramea, held in Wellington. Wo stated that lie acted as organist to the Church of England, Wellington, whereas wc shouhl have stated that ho’acted as organist in Sr. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

4 steam thrashing company is now in course i)!’ formation in tho district. During the la it 1 wo' or threa days several of the fanners have put lli/dr heads together and determined upon purchasing the thrasher and elevator imported from England by Mr E. Wilson, and obtaining' an 8-horse portable engine to work tin? same. There will still be lime for the machine to do a great, ileal of work before the season ends. The capital is £7OO, divided into 28 shares, of ,£25 each. If a satiable engine can bo got in Wellington, (lie company will he in full working order next week. A number of the Constabulary stationed in this district left town yesterday for Wanganui, to act in the capacity as markers for the Colonial prize tirers. r l. lvy will ha allowed 5s per day extra tor performing' the duties.

We have learnt, further particulars concerning the mishap which betel the racing mare Locomotive. It appears that, about (Vo'ciock on the morning of the 151.1 i, Mr Cuiniivan was giving iis colt Brigham Voimg and Locomotive a gallop on the 'Valid Eaeo-course. when the mare overreached herself, nird caught her lore leg a very hard hit vith her hind foot, the. collision having the effect, of breaking the fomi'T member in two. The mare, was one of the most promising horses ever broken in by MrQuiuli van, who entertained high hopes of a prosperous career for herShe was tie- properly of Mr .lauu-s Currie, of 1: ai iwi, by Tradneer, 4 years old, and stood 15 hands inches. Locomotive was eiimred I'orboih the Wanganui rind Taranaki Ifandieaps. A curious civil case (remarks the 7V.-/) came before the Wellington Resident Magistrate on Tuesday, si midwife sued a man for £4) 18s. for nursing bis wile timing her confinement. The man disputed the claim on the ground that as the, woman pad given a wrong name when they were married, she was not: his wife at all, and eons qm ntly he was not liable for any expenses of (he sort. It appears that when the defendant remonstrated with Ido supposed wife of ths folly of her act, she gave him another fictitious name, and subsequenll v another sLll. She bad told him she was a perfectly virtuous woman when she married him, bn! he had ascertained that, she had had two children previously, and both of them alive. They did not live happily together, and consequently parted, she, however, threatening' to make him support the two children, Elm said she loved the fathers of the, (wo children nmeh better than she did bun and had married him under a lietilions name because she was d.-terinined imt to live, with him. Ills Worship held that under (lie circumstances defendant was not responsible for any expen :es incurred by Ids wife in the wav of nurses, and euiiseqiienfiy gave judgment in favor of the defendant.

Here is a!.ion' as mad a ]>i; ■<-i* of fl;■<* hrigadeship as ever was recorded, ami ii is told !:y “ AlSirais ’’ in the Melbourne Lunin' :—•“ Tlia (leclong - firemen tried an rxperiment this week. for which, happily, nmti: of them are now in gaol on a charge of manslaughter. They erected a twostorov wondi'ii building in Johnston Park, put two boys ami ami an infant four inonlbs old into it. sot it on lira, ami tlion broko into llm house, rescued tlie childien, and handl'd tlnau over to the mother, amidst the most deafening cheers. Though ii was ann on need several days h'Torelunnl that this house-burning spectacle would would ho given to the public, and the lives of three chi'dren risked, the police let the performance go on. What would the firemen, police, and applauding public have said if some slight hitch in the proceedings had prevented them from getting the children out in time. At the next (ledum;- sham light I’d suggest :ho use of lay figures,” We learn by telegraph that Mr Douglas McLean, son of Sii Donald McLean, Ims accomplished the feat of travelling from Wellington to Napier on a bicycle in six days. The route taken was by the West Coast, and through the Forly-Mile-Biish. The roads were cut up by drays after the recent rains, and travelling was consequently slow, nihil within forty or fitly miles of Napier, which Mr McLean ran in one day, with a strong head wind against him. With the roads in good order and bridges completed, so that fording can he avoided, it is believed that the journey can easily be performed in three or four days.

The German Agriculturist says tiiat a groat portion of the fine flavor of fresh butter is destroyed by the usual mode of washing, and it recommends a thorough kneading for the removal of the buttermilk, and subsequent pressing in a fine linen cloth. Butter thus prepared is pre-eminent for its sweetness of taste and flavor —qualities which arc retained for along time. To improve manufactured butter, we arc advised by the same authority to work it thoroughly with fresd, cold milk, and then wash it in clear water ; and, it is said, that even old and rancid butter may be rendered palatable by washing it in water to which a solution of chloride of lime has been added. The Hoods in Waikato district arc now estimated to have destroyed crops To the value of £50,000, and one settler lost 40 tons of hay by the overflowing of a tributary stream. The loss in public works is estimated by the Government Engineer to amount to £120,000.

While taking soundings in Gunk’s Strait a novel experiment in li filing was tried. The chief oliieer of the Lem fastened a hatted hapuk-i hook upon the deep-sea load, and at the -15 fathoms east an enormous liapnka was honked. As the line was hauled in by a donkev engine,(here was no such thing as “play ” your lish and the unfortunate liapnka was dragged from its ocean home at such a rate that noon reaching the surface it was quite (lead, and its great eyes were startingout of its head. Another monster, eousiderah'y over IdOlh weight, was in the same way honked at 120 fathom deep. Eathor d<*ep ladling one would say. The Clvtlut Load r says I hat. a severe trosdoccurred in Tokomairiro. outlie night of the 14th January. Ji dam aged the polatoe tops which got the first sun on the following' morning, and is reported to have frosted titty acres of wheat, besides doing other mischief on the plain. The Tauranga Times says ; —. \y e have been shown a specimen of brown paper manufactured from flax, at Messrs, Fraser and Tinne’s flax mills, at Kaihn, on the Kaipasa river, about a bun .’red miles north ot Auckland. The paper although som - what coarser than paper of the same description from home, seems notwithstanding, to be good enough for wranping purposes, A case of sunstroke occurred at Mamma on Monday. 'I ho Jhvtroir. llanth! ivnnrts that a lad named Gusev, while engaged wttii his brother at Mmima during the afternoon, .suddenly fell oil; the cart in a senseless condition. Ti.-ing assisted, in? recovered partial consciousness, but gave way to tlie most eccentric behaviour, showing his brain to lie affected. Among other singular hallucinations he exerted his strength to upset tie* cart, hut. was restrained and brought into Eehuca, where he was treated by I>r Guimuow, who proscribed the usual remedies with good effect, the patient, partially .recovering upon their application, and continuing to progress favourably. The Auckland correspondent of the Ihucke'-.i 75.??/ Tlerah! writes as follows of -Mr Rees, the Mr Et-cs whom it will he remembered the Auckland tytar recommended to the electors on the ground that he would be found ready and willing; to do all the dirty work that Sir George Grey was too much of a gentleman toperform : —“ Eeos was elected for City East by a very small majority, considering that the Grey faction, and the Good Templars strained every nerve in his favor, Rees, in the General Assembly, should be at least equivalent to hall; a dozen voles' for any Ministry to whom he may he opposed. He was an utter and ignominious failure, even in the petty arena of the Provincial Council. Only those who have heard Eel's’ beg winded wishy-washy orations can form an adequate idea of the dismal infliction any one of his public addresses is.” The Colonial Treasurer has staled that he proposes to place on the London Loan; Market dining this financial year an additional loan, already authorised, hut not. raised, of i early two millions, hut the eir-

cumstances, fresh in monetary minds (here, of the recent Pour Million Loan, (he diirii-nlly of raising it; the squabble between Sir Julius Vogel and his coagents ; hia implied assurance to Messrs Rothschild that another negociation for a New Zealand Loan would not take place for at least two years ; all render such a finnnci.al transaction extremely pn carious,, and tin* present constitutional and financial condition of the Colony will aggravate the difficulty avid increase the costs. The Gtpps Land Times (Victoria), relates the following peculiar snake story : —“A son of Mr Clarke, of Mafi'ra, was out shooting and fired at a rriinah bird a short distance from home. The bird fell, and the hoy’s surprise may he imagined when lie saw a carpet snake that was lying along a lower limb suddenly stretch out and; catch (lie bird with the dexterity of a eiicketer. The reptile, in his eagerness to obtain the feathered morsel, overhahmecd and fell to the ground, and immediately made for his hole at the foot of the tree,- *

but a man in the employ of Mr Clarke came up at the time, ami with an axe ho had in his band cut bis snakoship in two, severing- Hie bird inside thesnake's stomach at the same time. The snake was of the carpel species, and measured a little over five feet in length,” A telegram from Brisbane mihe Herald says : —Six hands left Cbareville on NewYear’s Day for the N ; vc Downs Station, all under the influence of liquor, and taking more with them. The heat was in • tense, and they finished (be grog early oir their journey ; subsequently they suffered much from thirst, and during the night the party separated to search for water ;■ the dogs they had with them all died except one, which was killed for its blood. A man named Larkins found water on the•2nd, two others, Nolan and Schmidt, reached water on the 4th, half mad. The search party found another of the men, named Green, dead ; and a fifth man, named Wilson, was discovered alive, hut ■overed with ants and Hies, but lie died soon afterwards. Dr Day, of Geelong, reports forty-five cases of scarlet fever, which ho cored by rubbing the surface of the body, three l inie-i a day, with ozonic e her and lari one part to eight.

At a meeting of the Guardian newspaper company, held at Dunedin, it was detetmined lu soli the paper and plant by lender. Several probable buyers are mentioned. The loss for the hist six mouths was £3,000, mainly owing to decrease in advertising. It is stated that in all probability the Hon. W. Reynolds and Captain Baldwin will be. the purchasers. iSix account-hooks anil two ledgers were recently seized in the town of Coventry, in England, for the vicar's rate. A Melbourne telegram, dated February 3, says :—‘‘The si one wail tactics of the Opposition are being vigorously adhered to. Thursday night, the Assembly sat throughout (he whole night, and until a fjiiarter to eleven rj<■ x! morning, without intermission. Many disgraceful scenes have taken place in the Assembly, and the speaker is id most powerless to control turbulent members.” ,-\ visitor from jifr-lliourna to Kclnicn found himself in an awkward and unpleasant situation. Tempted by the heat, he sought a secluded spot mi the Murray, some distance from Eehitea, and stripping, jumped into the water and swam across the river, the effort exhausting his energies. A new aiijX.,serious diliienUy now presented itself. ,TlieNtream was broad, swift, and deep; bis clothes were posted on the opposite bank. lie was unequal to the effort of re-cross; ng the river : ids best strength was gone. The wetting sun 'waned, and (lie shades of evening foil upon a figure like Adam at Ids La; th, couched m despair, and hiding behind the covering of a guild roo trunk. That night, as tin; moon rose, a swagsninii crossing in the joint war: startled to terror by the spectacle of a white spec! re-lika form Hitting from tree to tree. Fetrilied with fear and astonishment, he stood motionless, speechless with horror, and nliable to move. 'The figure becoued him to approach. Fascinated with awe by its appearance, lie obeyed tbe signal ; and on approaching Hie fearful object be found it to be tbe rash youth whes ■ natatory tastes had reduced him to a state of nudity. Matters were soon explained, and tbe countryman, r.-lievcd of his groundless alarm, was induced to take the promise of a hand.some bribe to obtain the nceossary vestures, ami a I'l.cr a 'apse of time which seemed an ago to the cool promenador in a s(ate of nature through the sylvan womls, he regained his clothes, and it is hoped returned homo a better and wiser man. The above, for accuracy of which the Tiiverhtr Herald Vouches, contains a moral to bathers to eschew the foo hardy ventureof swimming a river id' which tiny know nothing.

Dr Lemon, the Ceneral Manaevr nf (he New Zealand Telegraphs, lias presented to Captain Johnston and Mr Koch tun very handsome silver cups, as a personal acknowledgment of the .skill shewn by thorn in determinin.y the position of the broken cahh', ami (heir valuable sen ices in recovering if. A suitable inscription will be engraved on the dips.