NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1086, 14 September 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Provisional Directors of the West Coast Meat and Produce Export Company meet at 2,30 p.m. to-morrow, Mr Cowern will sell Mr C. F. Barker’s furniture to-morrow at 1.30 p.m.

The usual weekly session of “ .Star of Patea Lodge, 1.0. G.T.” was held on Wednesday evening, and every one having the cause at heart, will read with interest, of the progression that is being made by this Lodge* During the past month, thirteen new members have been admitted, and although the resignation of Bro. E. Ensor from the position of W.C T. was accepted with much regret, his retiring being caused from unforseen circumstances, the office has been ably filled by the election of Sis. B. Parnell, the W.Y.T.’s chair being allotted to Bro T. North. After a few months absence, Bro F. Ewers, on re-taking his seat, received quite an ovation, and some excellent songs, readings, &c.. terminated a most pleasant session.

The work in connection with the Leicester street drain is now proceeding rapidly. The trench has been cut from the river a considerable distance up the street, and pipes laid the greater part of the way. The tenders for the next portion of the drainage scheme will probably be invited shortly. A case of illegally rescuing goods,which had been seized by virtue of a distress warrant, preferred against three natives, was heard at the R.M. Court this morning but was dismissed without the'case for the defence being gone into. From remarks which counsel for the defence lot fall during the examination of the witnesses, it is probable that a cross-action will shortly bo heard.

The Court was crowded this morning, many people being drawn thither through the expectation of the charge of illegally rescuing cattle from the pound being gone nto.

Several amusing incidents occurred at the late fire at To Kopnru. One individual in his great anxiety to save a bundle of papers from the office, rushed madly and threw them into the river for safety. Another man threw several bags of flour and some tins.of kerosino also, into the water. This was called “ presence of mind," but “absence of body ” would have been preferable in their case. A good story is told of an enthusiastic Blue Ribbonite who, when nearly exhausted with his hard efforts at saving timber, was offered a pannikin of whisky and water, which ho drained to the dregs, at the same time remarking ( in vino Veritas') “ that’s just what I wanted.” —Auckland Star.

A sort of religions census given by the local Government Board shows us how many churches and chapels there are in England. Of Anglioan churches where marriages .are performed there are 14,573. For all other denominations, including the Irvingitcs, the Mormons, and the Jews, there are 21,343 places of worship. The Independents have 2603 chapels, the Baptists 2243, the Original Connection of Wesleyans 6469, the Primitives 3825, the Methodist Free Church 1230. There are 127 Unitarian chapels, 34 Moravian, 60 Jewish, 47 Mormon, 47 Irvingite, 271 Presbyterian, 39 Sweden-borgian, and 34 Countess of Huntingdon’s Connection. Nominations for the vacancy in the Borough Council close to-morrow at noon. Mr J. W. Bright is the only gentleman we have heard mentioned as likely to be nominated.

“ Fidelity Company ” the original consultationists in New Zealand, have in this issue an announcement, interesting to sportsmen. Under the management of this company over fifty consultations have been held, and there is not one single instance in which the taint of suspicion has been raised at the manner in which the company’s operations were conducted. Investors can send along their money in perfect safety. A peculiar phenomenon has occurred at the Warrnambool public baths. After the last rain it was noticed that a very large number of frogs (about a hundred} were to be seen in the large swimming basin. This basin is filled with sea water, and is rendered water-tight by means of cement. The frogs, of course, all died in the salt water, and the only way of explaining their presence in the baths is that they came down in the rain. Such phenomena have occurred, but they are seldom chronicled. It is rumoured, says the Post, that the Premier will probably represent this colony at the Pacific Annexation Conference which is to be held at Sydney next month. There is no doubt whatever that Mr Whitaker ought to be New Zealand’s representative. He is in all respects the fittest man, and would be so were it only on the score of his position, while his long experience in public life further qualifies him specially for this duty. We understand, however, that the matter is not yet definitely settled in Cabinet.

The Warrncmbool Standard tolls of a wonderful large brown retriever dog named Maori, on board tho Frank Guy schooner, now in Warrnambool harbour. Ho steers admirably, grasping tho spokes jn orthodox sailor style ; and alternately putting tho helm to port or starboard. Occasionally he glances at tho binnacle, and looks aloft to see that the ship is full and by. Once, on entering Port Chalmers, N.Z., tho Frank Guy had to pass between two ships at anchor, ono of them a largo immigrant ship. Captain Ballc, knowing tho schooner would steer herself for a few minutes in the light breeze, sent the men below and esconced himself in his cabin, keeping an eye on Maori, who was at tho wheel, erect and attentive. The sight of the solitary dog steering a 200-ton schooner between tho two vessels had an almost electrical effect on the crews and passengers, who crowded the bulwarks to wonder at tho novel sight The Ballarat Star gives the following account of a novel “ conversion” :—lt is reported that a young man of usually sober habits got a drop too much the other eveningAs he was proceeding homewards, he fancied that a young female, who was walking behind, said several times, ‘ Walk right, walk right.’ Becoming ashamed of himself, especially at the fact of a lady noticing his slightly staggering gait, the young man went next day and signed the pledge. The penitent, when speaking of the advice given to him by the girl, was informed that the fair one was a newspaper vendor for the Salvation Army, and that, instead of saying walk right,’ she was crying out ‘ War Cry War Cry,’ the name of the Salvationist newspaper. It will thus be seen that the War Cry has done some good.” The intensity of the struggle for a livelihood in England is illustrated by the statement of a magazine writer, that there are 300,000 families in London who are in the habit of pawning small articles, and that more that 6,000.000 unclaimed pledges are sold every year in that city, while oyer 270,000,000 articles are taken in pledge in the course of a year throughout the country