NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1016, 2 April 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The question of running the new steamer, the Waverley, will be finally settled at a meeting of shareholders in the Shipping Company on the 11th. From what wo can hear there is no doubt she will bo placed in the Patea trade. Only one tender for her purchase was received, and that was considered too low. The annual meeting of the Company will bo held on the 26th instant. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr W. Dixon will be held to-morrow, to consider an offer by the debtor to purchase the estate. Five tenders for the Manawapou metalling contract, were received at the County Council office and forwarded to the Government. The result will probably be made known at' the meeting of the Council on Wednesday. We were shown a very creditable specimen of local industry, in the shape of a drawing-room suite, at Mr Arthur’s furniture this afternoon. The suite, which is for a gentleman at Kakaramea, comprises couch, two easy chairs, and six ordinary chairs. The frames are of red pine, suitably carved, and the upholstering has been done in claret coloured embossed Utrecht velvet. The whole presents a handsome appearance and reflects credit upon Mr Arthur’s establishment. The San Francisco Mail, which arrived at New Plymouth at 6 o’clock this morning, came clown by the afternoon coach. The contract for supplying the Borough with drain pipes, was signed by Mr Sherwood to-day. Cr Gibson has resigned his seat in the Borough Council. Wc hear that several members are about to follow his example. A meeting of the Borough - Council will be held this evening at the usual hour, when the tenders for various works advertised, will be opened. The Hawke’s. Bay Herald states that Tawhiao was evidently much impressed by Captain Bussell’s anecdote of Canute and his courtiers, for he came to town and resolved to out-do Canute. Standing on the beach, near the breakers, he ordered the waves not to wet his royal feet. The waves obligingly obeyed, and Tawhiao, growing more bold, took several steps forward. Then a big roller came, upset Tawhiao and his dignity, and gave royalty a good wetting, j

Mr James Lett, informs us that the “ Cash ” experiment at the Bee Hive Store is turning out a great success. He is compiling an additional price list which he says will startle the Patea people. The Wakatipu which left Wellington for Sydney on Tuesday took away 70 horses. The usual parade of the Patea Rifles will take place to-morrow evening, at the usual hour.

One of the most amusing of Sergeant Ballantyne’s experiences is thus told : “ One night, late—ft might be early morning—l was in Piccadilly, and, attracted by a gathering of people, I came upon a policeman struggling with a drunken, powerful woman. She had either fallen or been thrown‘down, and he had fallen upon her. There were expressions of indignation being uttered by the persons around, and a row seemed imminent. I touched the officer lightly upon the shoulder, saying, ‘ Why do you not spring your rattle ? you will hurt the woman.’ He iumped up, and, seizing me by the collar, said, ‘I take yon into custody for obstructing me in the execution of my duty. I remained perfectly passive, and in the meantime another constable had come up and had seized the woman, whom he was handling very roughly. At this moment Sir Alexander Cockburn, then Attorney - General, who urns returning from the House of Commons, appeared upon the scene, and seeing a woman, as he thought, -ill-used, remonstrated in indignant language with the officer, upon which the constable who had hold of me stretched out his other arm and said ( ‘ I arrest you also.’ ‘ Arrest me !’ exclaimed the astonished Attornej T -General ; ‘ what for ?’ ‘ Oh,’ said my captor, * for many things. You are well known to the police.’ ” A Sydney telegram in the Melbourne Argus says :—“ The six days pedestrian contest at the Bxhibiiion Buildings for £2OO a-side, between O’Leary, the champion walker of America, and Edwards, the champion long-distance walker of Australia, was brought to a termination in the presence of several thousand people, Edwards winning easily by 23 miles. The distance travelled were —Edwards, 373 miles ; O’Leary, 350 miles. O’Leary was, on the first day of the contest, attacked by illness, which he could not shako off during the match. He struggled gamely, but had to retire from the track so often that Edwards had ample time to take things easily and reserve all his strength. Another match between the two will probably be arranged.” Many stories are going the rounds about the recently deceased judge, Mr Baron Martin, one of which is worth transcribing says the Home News. It may amuse some colonial bar mess. A witness who was giving evidence in the north country interspersed his remarks with so many “ Says I” and “ Says he,” that it was difh cult to understand him. Accordingly the judge himself took the witness in hand, and asked him to state exactly what had passed. “ 1 said I would not have the pig,” repeated the witness, “ Well,”said the judge, “ and what was the answer?” He said he had been keeping the pig for me, and that he ” “No, no,” interposed the judge, “ he could not have said that; he spoke in the first person.” “ No, my lord, I was the first person that spoke,” insisted the witness. “ I mean this ; don’t bring in a third person.” “ There was no third person, my lord, only him and me.” The judge was growing irritated. “ Look here, my good fellow,” he remarked ; “ he did not say he had been keeping the pig. He said, “ I have been keeping it,” “I assure you, my lord, there was no mention of your lordship’s name. We’re on two different stories, my lord. There was no third person, and if there had been any-' thing said about your lordship, I should have heard it.” The judge could make nothing out of the witness, and the court was convulsed with laughter, in which ho presently was obliged to join. John Largan, the English sculler, returns from Sydney to England shortly. His trip.has been a most unsuccessful one. He has been very unfortunate with his boats, having destroyed no less than three by accident sincehis arrival here. Although he is a sculler of no mean ability, lie had been incapacitated by illness and the influence of the change of climate. The result has been that he has lost every race he has competed in. In the recent Oxford and Cambridge boat race there was a colonial oarsman in each crew, Mr G Q Roberts, of Tasmania, in the Oxford, and Mr S Fairbairn, of Victoria, in the Cambridge crow. Oxford has now won the race for the last four years running.

The Rev Charles Clark, whose name is well known in New Zealand, is giving a series of lectures at the new Lyric Hall, at Ealing, near London. An advertisement, published by authority of the secretary of the Otago Caledonian Society, declares George Robertson (Teoti Rapitana) to bo champion wrestler of Australasia, Joseph Strong having failed to accept his challenge to do battle for the title. The Nelson papers record that a fatal accident occurred at Motupiko Valley on Sunday, March 25, to lad named Langdon Lane, aged 13 years, who, with a younger brother, was going out shooting. The supposition is that the butt of the gun struck the ground as the bearer was jumping over a log that was lying in his road, and that the concussion caused the trigger to fall and exploded the charge, the whole of which lodged in the unfortunate lad’s head, entering just below the right ear. Death must have been instantaneous. The Irish Farmer's Gazette, in its review of the agriculture of that country for the year lately closed, says :—Tliere have been a few better years and a great many worse for the Irish farmer than 1882- It has been characterised by changeable weather ; good, bulky l - groin crops, much damaged in harvesting in later districts ; a full average crop of liny, with rather more than the usual amount of loss in saving ; an excellent grazing season ; varying, but generally deficient crop of mangels and turnips ;' a very unsatisfactory crop of potatoes ; high prices for dead meat and live stock ; low prices for grain. The aristocracy still pushes into the Stock Exchange. The latest arrival in that interesting gambling house of all nations is the Hon. Frederick Ponsonby, the third son of Baron do Manley, an Eton boy and a D.C.L. of Oxford, who, not only by descent but by marriage is connected with the peerage. The Stock Exchange, wo hear, does not care for its aristocratic adherents, and, at all events, refuses to give them their titles. When the Rothschilds sent over the other day for Lord Walter Campbell, the porter heard the request for him by his title as almost an insult to the democracy of the place. “ Lord Walter Campbell!” said he. << We’ve got no lords hero and then he shouted, “Walter Campbell’s wanted.” The Wanganui Herald says that the highest price realised for wheat on the coast this season was obtained by a gentleman at Rangitikei, who has accepted an offer of 4s 6d,

Under the head of “ A Prolific Crop,” the Timaru Herald has the following : Eight acres of a paddock of wheat belonging to M>‘ Studholme near Willow Bridge were threshed for the purpose of procuring straw for thatching slacks. The product of the eight acres was 821 bushels, equal to 87$ bushels of first-class wheat and 13 bushels of seconds and a small quantity of inferior wheat unfit for milling, per acre. The total quantity of grain per acre was 102$ bushels. From the appearance of the crop there is reason to believe this is no more than the average yield of the whole paddock of 380 acres. According to an English live-stock journal, Mr Proctor (of Durham), who devotes his time to the rearing of valuable fowls, has a number of the Cochin China breed which he values at £IOOO each ! Ho recently indignant!} 7 refused one-tenth of that amount for some of them, yet £IOO seems a big price for a fowl. It is a somewhat remarkable fact and should attract the attention of the colonial press that whereas the all-powerful Times constantly publishes ecstatic leaders about the desirability of farmers, etc, emigraiing to Canada, and the far west of the United States, it never happens that the advantages of Australia or New Zealand are indicated. If Antipodean topics are touched on at all the tone taken up seems carping. In fact, the Times seldom honours that part of the world in its leading columns at all, save to discount the advantages of a new loan or query the resources of the colonies. Major-General Robert Carey, C.8., who died the other day at his residence in Belgrave Road, London, in the 62nd year of his ago, will be remembered by old New Zealand colonists as having taken a prominent part in the Maori wars which took place between 1860 and 1866. As deputy adjutant-general he served with the force employed under General Pratt during the Maori War of 1860-61, for which he was nominated a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was also employed _as deputy-adjutant throughout the campaign of 1863 in the Waikato district, being present at Rangiriri, on which occasion he was promoted to a colonelcy ; he also took part in the campaigns of 1864, 1865, and 1866 m the Waikato, Tauranga, and Wanganui districts, and was present at Paterangi, Orakau, Nukumaru, and other engagements. Until recently the Gisborne “ City Fathers” used to smoke at their meetings. This came to be considered a scandal, so the Mayor has issued an edict that there shall be no smoking— -until ten o'cloclc. One of the passengers of the British King, who was arrested in Wellington for using obscene language, excused himself by saying he “did not think we were so particular in-this country.” The Magistrate quickly undeceived him with a fine of 40s. 'At the annual banquet of the South Australian Farmers’ Association the Commissioner of Grown Lands, in responding to the toast of the Ministry, said that during the last two years he had remitted the payment of interest to thousands of farmers, many of whom had had previous remissions. In fact, all they had paid for their land during the last six or seven years was the first deposit of 10 per cent. The agricultural distress had simply been caused by bad seasons. As regarded water conservation, the Government had constructed 12 large reservoirs, holding an aggregate of 11,500,000 gallons, besides wells and dams. The residents on the flat at Dunedin must have had a fright last week, for the sea broke through the sandhills and poured a volume of water into the low land behind. The Times says During Friday and Saturday a very heavy sea rolled in on the Ocean Beach, and on Saturday morning particularly, after the heavy gale of the previous night, the sight was a grand one. For a time the surf broke completely over White Island, which is a mile or two from shore, entirely hiding it from view ; whilst at Lawyer’s Head the spray was throwm up almost level with the Bluff. At the present equinoctial period the spring tides were expected to be somewhat higher than usual, but with the force of the wind the waves were driven farther up than has been known previously. During Friday night a breach was made in the portion of the sandhills opposite the saddling paddock at Forbmy Park, and on Saturday night the water in considerable volume came right through the sandhills, causing some damage to the Ocean Beach railway line, tliQ road, and the garden attached to a cottage adjoining. Fortunately the gale was from the southwest ; had it been more southerly the waves would have been driven more directly on to the beach, and probably a somewhat alarming quantity of water carried on to the racecourse and adjacent land.

A most extraordinary accident happened on Thursday evening last to a horse owned by (he Rev. Mr Davidson, of Akaroa. Mr Davidson was up at the Side School Picnic, and his horse was tethered to a log of wood in the school paddock. By some means or other , the rope by which the horse was fastened got loose, and, being a long one, the animal got down the side of the hill, the extreme end of the rope remaining fast to the log. When Mr Jones went to unloose the horse, for the purpose of putting him in the buggy, ho found (he animal down and undergoing a course of strangulation. Ho at once took out his knife and cut the rope, when, to his astonishment, the horse, instead of getting up, started to roll down the hill. As he proceeded he gained velocity, and vanished through a thick gorse fence, then through a post and .rail fence, down an embankment, when he came in contact with another fence. He knocked the bottom rail out of this fence, and went underneath the top rail, continuing his downward course over tree trunks and boulders, finally bailing up against a huge broadleaf tree, when he lay stunned for the moment. On going to his assistance, he was found to be uninjured, save a few slight scratches. The animal recovered consciousness almost directly, got up, and moved away as if nothing had happened. The distance the horse travelled is upwards of three chains. How he escaped injury is simply a marvel. —Aharoa Mail,

Waipawa people are blamed for inconsistency. It is only two weeks since they burnt Mr Bryce in effigy for pardoning and shaking hands with Te Kooti. The other day they .entertained Tawhiao at a banquet and drunk the health of the man who harbored To Kooti, was a friend of Te Kooti’s, and prevented Te Kooti from being brought to justice. The Ashburton Mail , referring to the visit made the other day to the newly erected Ashburton Woollen Factory, says : “ Several Gentlemen who had inspected the Kaiapoi and Mosgiel factories, assured us that no comparison could be drawn between the two institutions and the one at Ashburton, now rapidly approaching completion—it is more substantial, and better designed. The machinery was “also inspected, the unanimous opinion being expressed that the Company have secured a great bargain •n the plant they lately purchased^”

There was a full attendance at the Harmonic Hall on Friday evening, when Mr Maccabe gave one of his interesting performances. To say that everybody was amused is to faintly describe the feelings of the audience. At times they were convulsed with laughter at the witticisims of the performer, who, for*a couple of hours succeeded in keeping their undivided attention. The part of the entertainment was, of course, exceedingly clever, and much appreciated by those present.

We hear that a split has occurred in musical circles at New Plymouth, and there will be some difficulty in connection with the proposed concert by the Taranaki Philharmonic Society, It appears (says the Herald) Mr Forrest engaged the services of a tenor, who resides at Wellington, tojtake the principal solos in “ Montana, n and our local tenors have takenumbrage at this, and decline to take other parts at the concert. A southern contemporary reports that “ a lively correspondence is in progress between Major Atkinson and Sir George Whitmore on the subject of the former’s misrepresentation of the colot,y under his predecessors. The correspondence, when complete, is to he published,” We (Hawke’s Bay Herald) may add that this is perfectly true, and those in the secret look for some startling disclosures, as it is said that, inter alia, some curious documents will be published for the first time.

A drunkard who was arrested at Auckland on Friday, was found to have £692 in cash and securities in his pockets. One of the good signs of the times is that working men are very generally acquiring little freehold properties of their own, says the Auckland Herald. Some of the agents tell us that the present demands considerably exceed the supply; and if we add to this the fact that immense sums are being accumulated in the Savings Bank, we cannot help commending the good sense of tho working classes. Evidently many of them are making hay while the sun shines. A curious libel action has been commenced in the Melbourne Supremo Court. The late minister of the Melbourne Hebrew congregation, Dr Jacobsen, D.D., sued Julius Matthews, a member of the church, for £SOOO damages, for an alleged libel contained in a letter, which plaintiff alleges he lost his ap - pointment as rabbi. The letter stated that plaintiff wrongfully promised to make a proselyte Jew of, and marry, according to Jewish ritual, one Mr Georgee, a son-in-law of Mr Joseph Jones, for a monetary consideration of £SO ; that he had not kept his word by solemnising tho marriage, and (hat he had falsely alleged that he only received £2 instead of £25. It transpired that the origin of the case was the secret marriage before a registrar of the daughter of Mr Joseph Jones, who, on healing of the union, was most anxious that the husband, Georgee, should bo received into the Judaic faith. The plaintiff denied all the defendant’s allegations, except that he had. asked to be paid, and had received £25 (in addition to a previous gift of £2) upon the occasion when the alleged act of proselytism was performed. The case was proceeding when the mail left.