NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1071, 10 August 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

An advertisement appears elsewhere calling a public meeting at the Harmonic Hall to-morrow night at 7.30 to devise means for celebrating the opening of the Railway. A youth named .T, Canute met with a nasty accident last evening, by which he incurred a fracture of his leg near the ankle. While working in Erskinc’s stables a young colt kicked him, causing the injuries referred to. The sufferer was conveyed into the Albion hotel, where he was attended to by Dr Croft. Mr Cowern reports the sale to a local purchaser of 60 acres at Wood-villa, the property of Mr G A Marchnnt, at a satisfactory price. Property in that directon should he looking up as (he fact of Manutahi being the terminus for the next twelve months will naturally bring an increase of population and business. There was no business at the lI.M. Court this morning. Mr Sherwood has now a kiln of pipes in process of burning. Mr Ensor, the manager, is confident that the3 r will be of a very superior quality, and there seems to be no reason to doubt his opinion. Difficulties at the works have disappeared one by one, and a successful “ burn ” is all that is needed to firmly establish an important industry, A few days will set the matter at rest. Mr Deere, C.E., who will be leaving in the course of ten days, announces that during the rest of his staj' ho will be prepared to undertake surveys, &c., at greatly reduced rates. Anybody requiring the services of a professional man should take advantage of the opportunity, as after Mr Becre’s departure there may bo difficulty in getting one, if wanted. Sometimes the Mother Country has to come to the colonies for information. A letter has just been received by the Public Works Department, Dunedin, from Lord Derby, wbo, for the Board of Trade, requests that information should be furnished regarding the working of cable tramways in that city.

His Worship the Majmr asks the Burgesses to observe Thursday, the 23rd inst., as a public holiday in honour of the opening of the railway. A public meeting of those interested in moat freezing is called for to-morrow afternoon at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association rooms, when the prospectus of the “ West Coast Meat Freezing Company” will be brought forward for consideration. The fitst meeting of the Patoa Parliament was held on Thursday evening in Egmont Chambers. After the returns had been duly received, the House proceeded to elect its Speaker, Mr G. F. Sherwood being elected. After the Governor’s speech had been delivered, and the Address in Reply carried, the Government replied to questions, most of which were humourous. The orders of the day comprised a Bill to abolish the Upper House, introduced by the Government; an amendment was moved substituting an elective Chamber for the nominative. The debate, after some interesting speeches on both sides, was adjourned til! next meeting. A want-of-confidence motion lapsed for want of a seconder. The Parliament sat till 10 o’clock. We remind Wavorlcy settlors of the public meeting to-morrow evening, re the railway siding at the Racecourse. Attention is directed to the advertise" ment giving particulars of the stock-in-trade of Mr W. Dixon, which will be auctioned by Mr Cowcrn to-morrow at 2 p.m. Those who are in want of wall papers or any of the numerous articles enumerated in the advertisement, will not again have such a favourable opportunity of supplying their needs. Mr R. Pettit has been over in Napier giving the people a “ sample ” of bis skill in horse training. Of bis efforts the Herald of the Slat ult says “ Probably about the best exhibition of the kind wo have witnessed was that at Mr Montcitb’s Horse Bazaar yesterday morning by Mr Pettit. He began by tackling an unbroken spirited filly which, after a short course of treatment, was completely subdued and submitted quietly to being mounted and ridden round the yard with two largo kerosene tins attached to her tail, and this, too, without showing the least sign of fear. Mr Pettit also treated a horse noled for the annoying habit of bridle breaking. The animal was thoroughly cured in a few minutes and submitted to anything rather than attempt to run back again. Mr Pettit then showed an easy and effective method of teaching a horse to lie down on either side and several other ‘dodges’ well worth knowing to those having to do with horses.” We notice that Mr Pettit is about to inaugurate a class here, and from the experience of the method that he has now had we have every confidence in recommending him for patronage. “ Ada Mantua ” one of the most reliable of “ Consulting Mediums ” has an important announcement in this issue, What with the public meeting to-morrow afternoon in connection with the Meat Freezing, Mr Gowern’s large sale of paperhangings, etc,, and another public meeting in the evening, Patea should be quite lively tomoiTOw.

Mr C. F. Barker’s store presents a busy scene just now. There may be seen at work the American scutcher imported by the Oil and Fibre Company, and excellent work it is turning out. This machine, a Philadelphia breaker and scutcher, is one of the best ot its kind, and certainly the sample of fibre shown us by Mr Barker would be hard to beat. The capacity of the machine is nearly twelve hundred weight of straw per clay, the yield from which would be about SOOlbs of roughly dressed fibre. Some five tons have been put through, and Mr Barker has yet on hand over twenty tons. The question of where the fibre can be disposed of to the best advantage is an open one yet, but Mr Barker is making every effort to ascertain the values of different markets. Outside interest is attached to the result of his enquiries and no doubt he will give the public the benefit of his experience though our columns in due time. We recommend farmers and others interested to call in at Mr Barker’s and see the machine at work. It is rumoured that tho Hon. W. Whitaker contemplates resigning the Premiership. Vast improvements continue to be made in regard to the speed of ocean-going steamers. Two new Atlantic steamers, the City of Rome and the Aurania, have just been tested almost simultaneously, and both have attained precisely the same maximum speed— vis., 18* knots, or 211miles an hour. The City of Rome measures 8400 tons gross, and her engines indicate 12,000-horse power. The Aurania is 7500 tons, and hor engines indicate 10,000-horso power. The latter vessel is the broadest ship in the Atlantic trade, having no less than 57ft beam to a length of 470 ft and a depth of 38ft Gin. These ships, together with the Arizona, the Alaska, and Oregon, all employed in the same trade, and the steam tea-dipper Stirling Castle, have inaugurated a new era in ocean steaming. A German paper reports a case of popular superstition which would bo almost incredible were it not confirmed by a judicial investigation. In tho village of Schonbcck, in the province of West Prussia, tho little daughter of a cabinet-maker has been bedridden for three years. The father became pursnaded that his daughter was bewitched by a woman who had given her occasionally apples and pears. He was advised that tho patient would be cured if she drank some of the blood of the supposed witch. The poor woman was entrapped into visiting a place where some of the chief men of the commune wore assembled to receive hor. She was seized, and one of iier fingers pricked with a needle, and tho blood given to the sick child. The superstitious or malignant participators in this outrage were summoned before a police magistrate, who contented himself with sentencing them to imprisonment for three days. Tho following novel announcement appears in a Northern journal : —“At Whangarci, on the 19th instant, for the third and last time, the wife of Mr John Low, of a daughter.” The Report of the Volunteer Forco has just been issued, and from it wo learn that its strength was on the 31st March last 4242 men of all arms, not including 1491 cadets. Speaking of tho various corps, Colonel Reader says of Wellington that he can with confidence assert that the Volunteers were never in a belter condition than they arc now. An annual inspection of all corps by a thoroughly competent officer is recommended. The number of Snider rifles on issue is 5317, and in store, G129, and of Enflelds, in store, 10,402, and on issue, 1091, Railway changes, consequent upon the opening of the line will bo as follow : Patea : Mr Roache, trar.sfci red from Marton. Manutahi: Mr Duffy, transferred from Turakina. Marton :Mr Burr, transferred from Foxton. Turakina : Mr Bowles, transferred from Fordcll. Foxton : Cadet Cooke, transferred from Waitotara. Forded I : Mr Tail-, recently acting as telegraphist and officer in charge of tho Rangitikei Bridge,

The s.s. British King, from London, arrived at Dunedin yesterday morning. She brings 150 passengers and 2030 tons cargo. The members of the Legislature visit the Terawhiti-goldfield on Saturday next. Mr Bryce introduced his Native Land Bill into the House yesterday evening, and it was debated up till 12.45, at which hour an adjournment was made. There is but little doubt of the measure becoming law. Advance Lodge 1.0. G.T., English Order, met last Wednesday evening. After hearing the different Officers’ Reports for the past quarter which showed a decrease in members owing to some having left the District, and others having withdrawn from the Order, the installation was proceeded with, and the following brothers and sisters wero conducted to their offices, viz., W.C.T., Bro. E. F. Miller ; V.T., Sis. Carmichael ; W.S., Bro. W. Arthur; W.C, Bro. Skillon ; W.F.S., Bro. A. Patterson ; W,T., Sis. E. James ; W.M., Bro. J. Handley , W.G.. Bro, E. Holtham, junr., W.S., Bro. Carmichael ; W.D.M., Sis, Rhodes. The Order to which this Lodge belongs is open to all colors and creeds. The case of the prisoner Ryan, who it will bo remembered escaped from the steamer at Wellington just as he was about to be discharged, has been brought up in the House. Instead of having to undergo an additional twelve months’ imprisonment, as was at first stated, we now learn that he will bo set at liberty after fourteen days’ detention, as a warning to others. The first meeting of Malcom’s Ostrich Farming Company in South Australia has been held. The report presented showed that the industry was progressing satisfactorily. At Gawler alone the company possesses considerably more than 100 ostriches. The experiment of hatching ostrich eggs in an incubator proved eminently successful Large profits are anticipated. The u Invincibles ” have been placed on board FI.M.S. Nelson to await the completion of arrangments for their departure. A cable upon the subject appears elsewhere.

The latest rumour from Capetown is that the much-killed Zulu king, Cetewayo, is not dead after all. The telegram states that the rumours are distrusted. Previous telegrams told us about tho king’s death, anil the slaughter of his wives, and if they had only said something about the funeral, (he thing would have been complete. However, the poor king was looked upon as a “ gone coon,” and his obituary was duly printed by the leading papers, and now Router cautiously opens the subject by saying it is reported that His Majesty was not killed at Ulundi, “as previously stated.” Really there is no reliance to be placed upon the Cable news, as supplied to the Colonial press. The Premier has been experimenting with Hare’s system of voting, presumably with a view to is introduction into the election of the Legislative Council. A circular has been sent by the Premier to each offical in Government Buildings enclosing a list of English authors, and asking the receipient to write down bis favorite authors in the order in which he prefers them. These will be subsequently examined in accordance with Hare’s rules. Government has been interviewed by a deputation of members of the House, who urged the advisableness of placing the railways under a Board of Management. Local experience of the working of railways has yet to come, but it is not too much to say that in other parts of the colony the management has not always given satisfaction. The dissatisfaction existing among the employees in some of the large centres is notorious, and it is thought that a Board would offer the best medium for the settlement of disputes between the higher officials and those under them. The Premier personally is in favour of the establishment of a Board, and promised that during the recess Government would reconsider the matter. The principal objection seems to be that the action of the Board might seriously affect the finances of the colony, if exercised against the advice of the Ministry, who were responsible for the credit of the colony and the taxation of the people ; but probably this difficulty might be obviated by giving the Minister, in certain matters, a controlling power, and when he exercised it against the opinion of the Board the subject should be submitted to Parliament for their decision. The manufacture of starch has been attempted once or twice in the Colony without any great measure of success, and as a stimulant Government propose to offer a bonus for the first fifty tons made in New Zeal?nd. Captain Gifford, a well-known mariner, of Dunedin, who was injured while stepping off a Wellington tram car on Sunday, died from the injuries, at tne the hospital, on Wednesday afternoon. An inquest will be held. The steamer Hoihow took away from Dunedin the remains of 282 Chinese, to he re-interred in Flowery Land. It is understood that £7 per body was paid for their conveyance to Hong Kong. The permanent light for the Waipapa Point light-house has arrived in Wellington by the Timaru, and will soon be placed in the tower prepared for its reception. In answer to a question in tho House on Thursday, Government said that the erection of a temporary light on the point would only increase the danger. There may be, reasons for this statement with which wo are not acquainted, but it appears to us rather absurd. Considering the length of time that has elapsed since the Tararua disaster, Government must be blamed for not having the light in operation long ago. The accident to the Rotomahana now shows them the urgency of the case, although such an unpleasant reminder should n®t have been necessary after the Tararua, and would never have happened had they done their duty promptly.