COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 21 August 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Weekly Supplement of 14 columns is given with this issue of the Mail.

The Hakhionic Society’s Bali- at Patea is announced for Tuesday next.

At Lyttelton Harbor, a new breastwork and jetty are commenced. American harvest prospects are reported to be favorable.

The N.Z. Hardware Company at Dunedin are paying 8 per cent, dividend.

At Marton, the assistant clerk to the Court is charged with embezzlement. Butler, the Dunedin convict, has attempted to destroy himself in gaol. At the Parihaka meeting, several hundreds of natives were present from other parts of the North Island, especial!} 7 from Gisborne district. It is estimated that about three thousand persons were in the Parihaka stronghold. The number from this coast could not have exceeded 2,500, counting every child.

Another Impounding Case came before the R.M. Court at Patea yesterday. Mr J. Bassett was fined 3s and 7s costs for allowing a horse to wander. His case was hard, for having lent the horse to a friend, that friend did not fasten it securely and it got impounded. Captain Wray proceeded on the lino previously laid down, that as the horse had wandered, the owner must bo fined whether he was guilty of negligence or not. The Taranaki Ordinance provides that Magistrates may use discretion. Captain Wray ordains that there shall be no discretion in his judgments upon impounding charges. Would it not have met this case to dismiss the information upon the impounding fee being paid ?

A Moa skeleton has been discovered near Christchurch, 15 feet below the surface. A fall of earth laid the bones bare, and the hugs bird appears to bo complete. Another skeleton at a depth of 30 feet was found near the same place a few years since.

An Accident happened to the Clyde steamer going out of Patea harbor yesterday morning. A heavy sea was beating on the bar, and the steamer tossed among the surf like a cork, straining the machinery. The engine primed (water getting into the cylinder), and captain Bonner decided to go back to harbor, the sea being too heavy. While backing the steamer out of the breakers, it being unsafe to turn, a blade of the propeller snapped. The steamer was got back safe to the wharf ; and. the slight damage being repaired, she will sail for Wanganui this morning, weather permitting.

Mu Plimsoll, the “sailor’s friend,” states that over 9,000 lives have been lost at sea in five years, being nearly 2,000 a year. Many of the losses were caused by loading grain in bulk, so that a lurch in rough weather alters the trim of the ship, and as she cannot be righted in a storm, she gets swamped. It is not known to many people that Mr Plimsoll had one of his eyes removed about 18 months since, having suffered acutely from cataract. He wears a glass eye, and became rcmarkablp cheerful after the change. His spirits revived like those of a man rescued from the grave. He speaks of his glass eye as “ this fellow,” and compares it with the “other follow.” The present writer has had many a joke with him about that glass eye.

At Candaiiar, the Afghan pretender, Ayoub Khan, commenced bombarding the citadel, held by about 3,000 British troops ; the stronghold being invested on three sides. The relief force of 10,000 British had not reached at latest advices. Cabul, the principal capital, is now evacuated, and no disaster has overtaken the retiring force.

Suicide dy Poison lias been attempted by a runaway couple at Wellington. Matthew Henderson had been remanded on a charge of larceny as a bailee while at Christchurch. A detective went to see him at the Empire Hotel on Wednesday. The bedroom door was locked, and on being burst open, Henderson and a young woman were found lying on the bed unconscious. They had taken poison, and the strichninc had almost done its deadly work* Emetics were applied, but Henderson died in a few minutes. The girl is recovering. She is Miss Bligln aged 19, respectably connected in Christchurch. Most of the newspapers describe Miss Bligh as “ a lady,”, and “ the lady.” Here is a strumpet cohabiting with a criminal, and the papers, with sickening indelicacy, can find no name for her but “ lady.” This colonial slang, the vulgar gentility of the servants’ hall, ought to be kept out of decent journals.

The French grain crop will be an average. ■ ' The Indian budget being unfavorable, taxes are to be increased, to the extent of eighteen million rupees. “The seditious speech of Mr Dillon, new member for Kildare, has been referred to in the House of Commons, but the Government do not intend to prosecute him for sedition. They merely denounce the speech as wicked and cowardly. Alarmist rumors are rife in Ireland; but nothing serious is reported. George Longhurst has had a second severe flogging in Wellington prison, as part of his sentence for indecent assault. The number of British troops killed in the rout near Candahar was 2,000, most of them being the native contingent. The English portion of the force kept close together, and retreated in fair order, carrying several guns. It is to be hoped this is the last of our many disasters in Afghanistan during 40 years. Haweiia Stock Sale. —Our correspondent telegraphed last night :—Mr Freeman R. Jackson reports that 361 head of stock were yarded at to-day’s sale, and prices in favour of vendors, every head being sold. Cows fetched £3 17s 6d to £5 2s Gd ; heifers, £3 10s ; steers, 2 year olds, £4 ; 3 year olds, £6 10s ; yearlings, £2 5s to £2 15s.