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Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 16 October 1878, Page 2

Our Hampden correspondent’s letter is unavoidably held over till next issue. Cattle Sale.—We desire to {call attention to Mr Coward’s sale of cattle, which commences at his yards this day at eleven o’clock. Musical.—The fortunate possessors of pianos will be interested to learn that Mr A. 11. Symons, music tuner, who is now in Waipukurau, intends visiting Waipawa on Friday next. The Outward Mail.—A telegram received from the Press Agency last night, dated from Auckland, states that the Zealandia, with the outward English mails on board, went ashore off St. George’s Buy on going out for San Francisco. The tide was rising, but she was still fast when the telegram left. Canine.—Mr PI. Baker, of Waipawa, devotes considerable time and expense to the raising of dogs of a superior breed, and we were pleased to see that the judges at the recent show awarded him two prizes. The three Gordon setters exhibited by him excited the admiration of dog fanciers, as it is seldom such line dogs of this class are seen in these parts. This Afghan War.—A special telegram appeared in our Napier evening contemporary on Saturday, stating that war had broken out between England and Afghanistan, and that a battle had already been fought. If the intelligence is true, it is passing strange that Reuter has not deemed it of sufficient importance to forward to New Zealand.

The Late Agricultural Show.—ln our report of the exhibits at the Agricultural Show at Hastings, we omitted to mention that Mr 0. F. Corrigan, of the Mount Vernon Fellmongery, obtained the first prize for scoured wools. The judges spoke in high terms of the excellent appearance of the wool. There is no doubt that a recommendation from such a competent source will increase the amount of Mr Corrigan’s business. Star Burlesque Company.—The above company announce that they will appear at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Waipawa, on Thursday nnd Friday next. The various members of the company are artists of standing in their profession, and we notice have been highly spoken of by the Press in other parts. The company will appoar in the burlesque of “ Ixion,” apiece which has rarely failed to draw large houses. When it was first played in Melbourne, it ran longer than any burlesque which had ever been put upon the colonial stage. Bad Roads.—A meeting of Porangahau settlers was held last Saturday evening for the purpose of bringing under the notice of the County Council the wretched state of the road between Wallingford and Porangahau, which at all seasons of the year is almost impassable. There was an ananimity of opinion that the wants of the settlers had not been properly attended to. There is nothing like a people making their grievance known, and we trust that good will result from the meeting on Saturday night. Concert in the Oddfellows’ Hall. The concert given last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall in aid of the St. Patrick’s Church was largely attended, the front seats especially being well filled. Making fair allowance for the shortcomings of amateurs, the entertainment must be pronounced a decided success. The choruses were well rendered, especially the “ Anvil Chorus,” which elicited the plaudits of the audience. The duett of “ Home to our Mountains,” “ The Shipboy’s Letter,” “There is a flower that bloometh,” and “ The Good-bye at the Door,” were all excellently sung. The two latter receiving encores. “ The A oung Ladies’ No” was given in a natural and tasteful manner. The comic song “ Big Sun Flower” in character) was rendered in capital style, and the same may be said of another comic song, “ Doctor Quack,” also sung in costume. The last was uproarously encored. A couple of readings, well rendered, and a violin and pianoforte duet added variety to the entertainment.

Vagrancy.—Henry Harris, on a charge of vagrancy, was brought up at the Magistrate’s Court, Waipawa, on Saturday. Messrs Rathbone and Inglis were on the bench. Harris, who had been drinking heavily, was arrested at Ivaikora on Saturday morning. He was in a state of delirium tremens and almost naked. When brought into Court he was dressed in a costume peculiar to Maoris, namely, a blanket. The prisoner was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, in Napier gaol.

Our Fish Supply.—lt is many a day since there was such an ample supply of fish in Waipawa as on yesterday. The regular fishmonger brought us more than the customary quantity when the wind and tide at the sea coast admits of a supply. However, he had not the field to himself, two extra hawkers having put in an appearance. One brought half-a-ton, consisting mostly of large fish, whilst the other enabled the to regale themselves on half-a-ton of crayfish. County Council Elections. —At a special meeting of the Waipawa County Council on Saturday last, the undersigned were appointed Returning Officers for the

The elections will be held on Wednesday, the 13th November. Opening of Oddfellows’ Lodge at Porangahau.—Saturday last was a redletter day at Porangahau, it being the day fixed for the opening of an Oddfellows’ Lodge in that district. The district officers, accompanied by several members of the Loyal Abbotsford Lodge, arrived at Porangahau at five o’clock, and were heartily welcomed. It was then decided to open the Lodge at the schoolhouse at eight p.m. At that hour Provincial Grand Master Grigg took the chair, Deputy Grand Master Robb the N.G.’s chair, and N.G. Peebles, of the Loyal Abbotsford Lodge, the V.G.’s chair. Secretary Brown, of the same lodge, kindly undertook to fulfil the duties of Provincial Corresponding Secretary. The Grand Master then initiated 18 members of the new lodge, and christened it the Loyal Victoria Lodge. He then called in the members to elect their officers. Bro. Bodaan was elected N.G., Bro. Ralmer V.G., and Bro. Spencer Secretary, Bro. John White Treasurer, Bros. John White, T. White, and J. 11. Herbert were elected I rustees. After the business of the Lodge was concluded, Grand Master Grigg, assisted by P.D.G.M. Robb, gave the first lecture. Several of the members- then adjourned to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, where a convivial meeting was held. Dr. Tenmant, who was elected as medical officer of the Lodge, took the chair. Toasts and songs followed in quick succession., and the company separated at a late hour.

The Main Trunk Line.—By a Press Agency telegram we learn that the railway from ellington to Featherston, Wairarapa, was opened on Saturday last! The Governor and members, and about 280 invited guests, left the Wellington station at nine o’clock in the morning, but on arrival at Kaitoke, about 30 milgs hence, found that the late rains had brought down slips, which blocked the line, and which would take three days to remove. The party returned to town. The above railway is a portion of the main trunk line which is to connect Napier with Wellington. The part between Kaitoke and Wellington is the most difficult country yet traversed by a railway in New Zealand, and has taxed the powers of engineers. It is generally felt that a mistake was made in taking the main line over the Rimutaka ranges. A better route would have been along the coast of the Wellington province to Palmerston and thence to Woodville. Dearth of Labor. The Wanganui Chronicle says : —“ Whatever may be said with regard to other departments of labor —and generally speaking the demand is greater than the supply—we have most undeniable evidence that carpenters and builders have got their hands full.” It then mentions that the Education Board have received no tenders for certain work, and will have to try again. It will be seen that the Kohi school committee are in a similar fix—the chairman is again calling for tenders. A number of new buildings aie required at Carlyle, but carpenters are too busy at present for it to be safe to venture on taking up more contracts.

Dangerous Goods.—The business on the order paper was got through so rapidly in the House yesterday (says the Wellington Chronicle of the 11th inst.) that Dr Hodgkinson was frequently left far behind, and was obliged to inquire, “ Where am I? ” At one stage he lagged behind at the Public Reserves Sale Bill, while the committee was galloping along through the Dangerous Goods Amendment Bill. The hon. member for Riverton was making a speech applicable to the former, in which he dwelt on the baneful effects of the measure in respect to schools in Dunedin, when the Hon. Mr Stout informed him that the Committee had got to the Dangerous Goods Act Amendment Bill. Dr Hodgkinson, “ Well Sir, that other Bill is a Dangerous Goods Bill to.”

Prophecy.—A writer in London Truth says :—I beg to draw attention to Zachariah viii., 23, in which, methinks, I see a prophecy of the Berlin Congress. The words of the text are these :—“ In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take, hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you.” Opening Licensed Houses. A new method of opening publichouses, says an exchange, has been introduced by native talent. You do it with a crowbar. As to license, you take as much of it, along with any loose brandies and whiskies as you can. Seventeen Melbourne hotels were thus made to do sinful business in one Sunday. The cellar flaps were uplifted, quietly and peacefully, in a manner befitting the day, and portions of the stock tranquilly transferred elsewhere. Burning a Policeman in Effigy.—The Sergeant of Police at Waimate (Canterbury) was burnt in effigy in that township on Wednesday last. The local paper says : —When the streets had been duly paraded, a quantity of kerosene was poured over the unfortunate lay figure, and then set fire to, and as the flames rose from the dummy, the enthusiasm of the “ larrikins ” and some small boys was tremendous. The Libel Season.—The libel season is now approaching (says the New Zealander). It comes regularly as other times and seasons. We have a vicarious case in Wellington, while that unfortunate man at Palmerston North who edits the Manawatu Times has one on hand, and two waiting him when the first is over. The Wananga is in the same predicament, and the Waka Maori may yet put forth libellous leaves. There is a case pending in Dunedin and many overdue in Auckland. The Sun and Age have a Hebrew moneylender waiting for his pound of flesh, and the Rangiora Standard has notice of demand of payment of £SO to soothe some suffering sensibilities. In view of this amount of litigation it cannot but be felt what a boon the member for Chevoit would bestow on the newspaper world if he would introduce a Bill to amend and consolidate the law of libel. An editorial judge and jury of compositors seems not a bad idea for this kind of offence, as for special cases special juries, are frequently empanelled, and a composing jury would be special enough. Common Sense.—The practical member for Newton last night (says the Chronicle of a recent date) made some capital hits in reference to the so-called class legislation embodied in the exemption clause of the Land Tax Bill. “ Why,” said Mr Swanson, “ the country is full of class legislation. We are ourselves a class who take particularly good care of ourselves. We exempt-ourselves from many things. For instance, from attendance on juries, even wheli the House is not in session. There is class legislation to protect the brewer from his brother tradesman in England,—and so on with other callings.” Mr Wakefield had said it would be wrong to tax the land now that we were offering it for sale. The tax should be deferred till all the land had been sold. This seemed to Mr Swanson monstrous morality. It was obtaining money under false pretences. To sell a man land, and as soon as the bargain had been clenched, to reduce the value of his purchase by imposing a tax upon it, did not appear to him to be honest.

Victoria in the Money Market.— That the Government of Victoria should offer 4£ per cent, for borrowed money lately obtained at 4 per cent, is a clear admission of lowered credit abroad. On a five million loan the difference of interest means £25,000 per annum additional, or half a million in 20 years, to be provided by the colony. It is true that a better price will be given for a 4£ as against a 4 per cent. loan. But it is (says the Australasian) a humiliating admission that we should have to follow the example of deeply-indebted New Zealand, and revert to a higher rate of interest after obtaining loans at 4. . Evidently Mr Berry means borrowing, and the price of the accommodation is quite a secondary consideration.

Only the Parson, —In the middle of a fast thing with one of the Surrey pack, reports a contemporary, one of the field, who was well up in the first flight, went a tremendous cropper into a brook. The master heard the noise, looked round, saw that a disaster had happened to somebody, and, turning to the first whip who was close beside him, said, “ Who’s that Will ? ” Hadn’t we better help him out?” —“ Oh,” returned Will, coolly, “ it’s only the parson, sir, and we shan’t want him till Sunday ! ” American Engines. —The new American engines are intended principally for the Christchurch section of the railway, but will be used for the express trains between Christchurch and Dunedin. The “ Lincoln” and “ Washington” (says the Press) are giving great satisfaction to the railway authorities, and are considered infinitely superior to the English locomotives for the light description Qf railways in this country. They are wonderfully equable in their rates of speed, and may be depended upon almost to a second. With the exception of the first return trip from Dunedin, they have not varied a minute from "the time of arrival, and in a journey of nearly 250 miles this is a great deal to say.

Lately in Hokitika, in the bankruptcy case of Mr G. G. Fitzgerald, late the R.M, there, Mr Button gave ventilation to an extraordinary dogma which he said had been promulgated by a certain old official in the early days of the Coast, who it down, as a rule, that any officer, in the receipt of £SOO a year on a permanent appointment, was fully justified in incurring liabilities to the amount of £2OOO.

A Mean Thief. A dastardly trick practised in Hokitika is thus alluded to by the local Times :—“ One of the meanest and most contemptible pieces of knavery that has ever taken place in this or any other part of the colony was perpetrated at an auction sale in this town very recently. Amongst the effects of. a family selling off was a sewing machine, in perfect order. The owners were by no means on the credit of the world’s ledger, and every penny was of material consequence. Notwithstanding this, an individual here inspected the machine prior to the sale, and coolly put the shuttle in his pocket, thus making the machine appear to be useless, and worth little more than old iron. The consequence was that when it was offered for sale it was sold for a few shillings, the purchaser being the person who had previously appropriated the shuttle.

“ZEGLES,”in the Australasian tells the following story “ I have been in the County Donegal, where Sir George Bowen was (I believe) born and the Earl of Leitrim murdered. Shortly after the horrible outrage (which includes also the assassination of two of the Earl’s servants) Doctor 0., of Milford, whose family I knew well, was met by the parish priest* ‘ Baad business,’ said lie, in a rich brogue r as he sadly shook his head, ‘ baad business this, docthor, I’m afeard some poor fellows will be losin’ their loives over it! ’ ”

Some time ago (says tinguished and benevolent medical man wrote more than once to a Church dignitary—north of the Murray—urging tlic administering of some spiritual comfort to a patient in the hospital. There was no compliance until Dr hit upon the crafty device of suggesting that the patient had a little money, which he was desirous of handing over to the church. The amount was not stated. A visit was paid ; but, alas ! the sum handed over by the sick man was only lialf-a-crown !

A Horrible Occupation. A very flagrant case came before the Ballarat Police Court the other day. A Chinaman and a European woman were charged witli keeping a house in which opium smoking and the ruin of mere chiidren formed the means of livelihood of the occupants*. It was proved that the Chinaman was a sort of decoy, and the woman victimised the customers. The Mayor sent the Mongolian to gaol for six months, and the woman for twelve.

The Vested Rights of Lawyers. During a debate in the Victorian Assembly lately, on the amalgamation of the various branches of the legal profession, Mr Duffy said that lie thought the vested right of barristers and solicitors should not be interfered with. Some hon. member desired to know what those vested rights were, and Mr Gaunson interjected, “To fleece the public as much as ever they like.” Mr Duffy continued :“ To fleece the public in a legal and proper manner, or, in otlier words, wo preservo the game to shoot it ourselves, but we won’t let anyone else shoot if we can help it. In making this frank admission Mr Duffy, in his desire to make a witticism, succeeded in controverting his own arguments against the passage of the Bill, and furnished a modern instance of a man being condemned by the words of his own mouth.

A Yankee Journal on England. The rabid and systematic attacks of the New York Herald on the political, financial, and commercial interests of Great Britain in whatever portion of the globe they may be situated—have created a very bitter feeling (says an Australian exchange) in the minds of her Britannic Majesty’s subjects now residing in the United States of America, whose number cannot be far short of one million ; and it has therefore been determined that a newspaper shall be published to counteract the absurd heresies that are profusely promulgated by the Press in the Republic respecting England’s position with regard to the Turko-Russian war, the Indian famine, the Halifax awaz'd, and various Other matters. The new journal is to tie called -the Bz-ittanic, and will be entirely devotedto the interests of her Britannic Majesty’s subjects in the United States and elsewhere. A Mr Augustus Fishejf announces himself as the proprietor and editor.

Taking the Oath.—The following is from a Wellington contemporary : There is a form of an oath which owners of property will be required to take under the 15th clause of the Land Tax Bill. M r Wakefield was on Friday night afflicted with compunctious visitings of conscience about this oath, and wanted it struck out, but Mr Whitaker made the reassuring declaration that he had taken u?he oath twenty or thirty times, and never .it any the worse for it. En passant we have heard that some other hon. members make a practice of “ taking the oath ” —with or without sugar—as often as that every day, the only consequences being perchance a slight headache or a rather longer and more dreary speech than usual.

several ridings :— ; Riding. Returning Officer. W aipawa ... Henry Arrow Waipukurau J. H. Drower Patangata ... Samuel Dozell Tumumu ... Alex. Mackay Eparaima A. H. Price Porangah.au ... C. Hertzell Rtia Taniwha J. N. Newman Norse wood ... J. W. Thompson Woodville J. F. Fountaine