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Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 25 December 1878, Page 2

Auction Sale.—We are requested to call attention to a sale of cattle, which will take place at Tabapau on Saturday next, by order of the Court. Masonic.—By a notification in another column it will be seen that the installation of officers in the Bedford Lodge will take place in the Scinde Lodge Room, Napier, on St. John’s Day (Friday, December 27), instead of at Waipukurau, as previously advertised.

Divine Service.—Divine service will be held in St. Peter’s Church, Waipawa, this morning at eleven o’clock. On Sunday next, 29th inst., the Rev. R. Fraser, M.A., will preach at Waipukurau at 11 a.m. The Rev. J. W. Spence will preach at Kaikora at 3 p.m., and at Waipawa at 7 p.m. Mr W. Finlay Wilson will preach at Ashley-Clinton at 11 a.m., and at Takapau at 3.30 p.m. I Scarcity of Labour.—From an advertisement in another column, it appears that ‘ labouring men are very much wanted on - the railway works between Kopua and t Ormondville. One hundred men are al- - ready advertised for at good wages, but t many more are required, and are requested - to apply to the contractors on the works. The Late Assault Case.—Edward Burt was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday with assaulting Hereki Inia, with intent, at Takapau. Mr Lee appeared for the accused. After considerable evidence and a long crosss examination by Mr Lee, the case was dismissed. Messrs Inglis and R. Harding 1 were the presiding justices. * Charge of Forgery and Perjury.—A man' named William Monk was arrested t at Patangata on Monday by Constable Murphy, on a warrant issued at Pahuerss ton on the 17th instant, on the double charge of forgery and perjury. Mr Inglis, who was the presiding justice, remanded - the prisoner to Palmerston, to which place , he will be escorted in a day or two by Constable Murphy. * Kopua Sports.—The Kopua sports on New Year’s Day bid fair to be a great - success. An excellent programme has I. been provided, and there will doubtless be ~ a large number of visitors from the surr rounding district, and other parts of the province. We learn that the services of 7 the Napier Artillery Band have been t secured by the Sports’ Committee, who .- certainly appear to be doing all in their e power to render the sports as attractive as t m ? | c d ■ r m ' m * ini c ■ ‘ i ’\ | || p|| |l| Ip I ; 9 o M p Kailway to the railway between Fetherston and Mas- ' terton, a writer in the Wanganui Standard t says :—“ X drop you a few lines about the - railway. T was told at Fetherston that - the work is dragging along at a miserably a slow .rate, something like three miles per _ annum. There are not a dozen men-nork-ing between Fetherston and Woodside. At the latter place, where there will be h heavy cuttings, some thirty or forty thousand tons of earth will require removing, 0 which alone would take fifty men a full l month to do. This gross dilatoriness on :j the part of the contractor should be pro- , tested against strongly. The Government , should see that the works are pushed on tu. r n i • :i • j *ii a t

terton, a writer in the Wanganui Standard says :—“ I drop you a few lines about the railway. T was told at Fetherston that the work is dragging along at a miserably slow .rate, something like three miles per annum. There are not a dozen men -working between Fetherston and Woodside. At the latter place, where there will be heavy cuttings, some thirty or forty thousand tons of earth will require removing, which alone would take fifty men a full mouth to do. This gross dilatoriness on the part of the contractor should be protested against strongly. The Government should 6ee that the works are pushed on. The Tauherinikau Bridge will take a considerable time in construction.”

Unsafe Roofs.—Referring to the death of Mrs Drew and child, who were killed during the recent gale at Timaru by the roof of her house blowing off, the Herald says : —“ We cannot help animadverting on the fact that the roof was merely placed on the concrete walls, without being pinned down or connected therewith in the slightest degree, and we trust this accident will be a warning to all architects, builders, and others, in the future to have roofs properly secured. There is no doubt, had this been the case in the present melancholy instance, we should not have had to take up our peu to record what has taken place to-day.”

A Victorian “Liberal.”—The N.Z. Times states : —“ A Mr Jeremiah Dwyer, of Melbourne, a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, is applying to be admitted to practice in New Zealand. This gentlemen, we believe, is the same Mr Dwyer who is a prominent member of the lawless “ Liberal” party in Victoria, and who has for some time been anxiously awaiting an Attorney-Generalship, which has not vet.**rived.

Fire at the Imperial Hotel;—About a quarter past twelve on Sunday a fire broke out in the storehouse which was situated at the rear of the Imperial Hotel, Waipawa. The flames breaking out through the roof gave the first intimation of the fire, which had then got such a hold that it was useless to attempt to save the outbuildings. Mr Kelly was just iu time to save a feW cases of spirits. About £3OO worth of wines and spirits was totally destroyed. From the first there

was not the slightest danger of the hotel igniting, as the wind fortunately was in a southerly direction, and the main building being situated at a considerable distance from the place where the fire originated. A great number of people quickly con gregated, and worked energetically with the object of preventing the fire extending. In close proximity to the burning building there stood a large stack of firewood and

about ten tons of coal, and it was feared if they ignited there would be some trouble

in extinguishing the flames, and the efforts of the workers were directed to prevent the wood and coal catching, and with the aid of the pump and tanks of water they were successful. Within a few minutes after the breaking out of the fire all danger to neighboring pronerty had ceased. The origin of the fire cannot be definitelv ascertained. The landlord of the hotel is of opinion that it originated from a spark falling upon the roof, but as there was n fire in the washhouse (which was attached to the storeroom) it is possible that an ember falling on the floor may have been the cause of the accident. The main building, stock therein, and furniture were insured, but no such precaution asrainst loss was taken in regard to the outbuildings.

Rapid Stream of Mormonism. —An American paper says that the Mormons have planted colonies in Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, and New Mexico, and now hold the balance of power in the two former territories ; being able to dictate the policy of their delegates to a greater or less extent. Within the past two years, at least 1000 Mormons have been colonised in Maricopa county, where a movement is now on foot for the removal of the Capital from Prescott. Apostle Snow and John W. Young ure in the Arizona settlements for the purpose of completing this scheme. With Utah already in their possession, an 1 three other territories virtually so, it can easily be seen that a dangerous power is growing up right in the heart of the Republic. Australian.? sometimes fancy that the old country is free from venemous snakes. This is not the case, as the following extract from the Daily News conclusively proves, unless, indeed, an Australasian paragruphist has been added to the staff of that paper for the dull season, when even a 6nake story would be welcome. Whatever amount of credibility attaches to this story, there is no doubt that venomous vipers and adders are not uncommon in the South of England :—“A Guildford correspondent states that three young men, named Mortimer, Forbes, and Gordon, were crossing the Downs to Amberlev when they stopped in a coppice for lun cheon. As they were sitting on a bank Mortimer was bitten in the hand by a black viper. The reptile was killed, and no further notice was taken of the matter. Before Amberley was reached, however, Mortimer was seized with serious symptoms,' and expired in great agony at a village publichouse. All three were engaged as clerks in a bank in the city.” A NEW material for binding purposes, to he used in reaping and binding machines, has been invented in America, consisting of bands of flax paper. The Dunedin Age describes the band as of the ordinary thickness of grocer’s brown wrappers, about an inch wide, but of great strength. Drunkenness and Infant Mortality. I —Dr. Bianchi, the medical officer of the I Southwark District Board of Works, in I his annual report on the health of the I locality, refers to the heavy mortality I amongst infants under one year of age. lln this class in Christchurch 76 deaths I were registered, and in St. Saviour’s 129 I during the year. He >s of decided opinion I that a great number of these infants’ lives I would have been saved if proper care and I nourishment had been afforded them. In ■ consequence of the drinking habits of I both fatheraand mothers the poor children I were neglected, insufficiently clothed, and I badly nourished with improper and often I insufficient food, and hence the great I infantile mortality which occurs year after I year.—Sanitary Record. I A Royal Marriage.—A London conI temporary says : —So far as I can learn, I the truth about the proposed marriage of I young Louis Napoleon to the Princess I Thyra is that papa does not like it. Louis Lfell in love with King Christian’s daughter and King Christian’s daughter fell in love with Louis ; but King Christian having married one daughter to a future king, another to a future czar, and a third to a king does not relish the idea of having a pretender for a son-in-law. The Empress Eugenie, however, notwithstanding the religious objection, is said to have her heart set upon a match which would connect the Napoleonic line with four reigning families; and if it be true that Princess Thyra declares she will marry Louis or nobody, she may, having refused several other suitors, carry her point with her father. The question is whether the Pops will grant a dispensation for the eldest son of the Eldest Son of the Church to marry a Lutheran.

The Late Speaker of the Legislative Council.—The following incident iii the career of Major Richardson is mentioned in the Otago Daily Times:—“ln 18j30, Major Richardson, then an Indian officer, was on a visit to the Cape of Good Hope. At this time there was great excitement in Capetown in consequence of the introduction of convicts to the Cape. Public feeling ran so high that a large number of respectable citizens mobbed a merchant for supplying the troops with provisions. Major Richardson witnessed the assault, and at once saw that to attempt by force to rescue the man would

only excite the mob to a greater degree of violence. At the same time, he could not remain passive, and lie expressed his sympathy in a manner thoroughly characteristic. Making his way to the side of the man who was being pelted, lie caught hold of liis arm, and turning to the crowd said, ‘ Well, if you pelt him, you shall have two to pelt.’ Conduct so free from bluster and bounce and displaying such dignified bravery was not without good effect, and Major Richardson was permitted to lead the assailed man away without assault or insult.”

An Immoral Colony.—New South Wales stands very low in morals in comparison with the other Australian Colonies. During the year 1877 an addition was made to the prison population of 9,210 males, and 4,178 females.

A very bad case of highway robbery, tried before the late Chief Baron Greene on the last day of the Ennis assizes, resulted in an acquittal. The Chief Baron was resolved to give the Clare jury a rub for their verdict. Addressing the sheriff, he said, “ Mr Sheriff, is there any otherindictraent against this innocent man?” “ No, my lord,” was the reply. “ Then you’ll greatly oblige rue if you don’t let him out until I have half an hour’s start of him on my way to Limerick,” said the Chief Baron. A Female Robber Chief.—The Russian papers have lately contained reports about a band of robbers, which have appeared in the district of Paulovsk, in Southern Russia and has spread terror through all the neighbouring regions. It is said to be over 200 strong. The captain is reported to be a peasant woman of singular beauty 7, who was previously connected with a gang of forgers of rouble notes. The Russian Government is so desirous of procuring the arrest of this female chief, that itha9 set a price of 15,000 roubles (£2250) upon her head.

The Fourteenth Regiment.—An American paper says :—“ The Second Battalion of the Fourteenth Regiment, which did some hard fighting in New Zealand recently, where it lost its Colonel and many officers, has been ordered from the camp at Curragli to India. Other battalions at home stations will doubtless be drafted for active service. War will be popular in the English army just now. Promotion by purchase being abolished, a sharp Indian campaign would open the higher grades of the service to young and capable men, which was not done by etther the Abyssinian or Ashautee wars. The Indian army 7 is reported to be enthusiastic.” Extraordinary Concealment of Sex. —Some commotion lias been caused in the quiet colliery village of Etherley, and Toft Hill, England, by’ a disclosure by the death of a woman who has for the past fifty 7 years resided as a man, and married two wives. It is said she came from Scotland fifty years ago, and obtained work at one of the collieries where she worked for some time, and paid her addresses to and ultimately 7 married a servant girl living at the village inn. After being married she relinquished work at the pit and. commenced to make besoms, which she and her partner vended in the surrounding villages. After living together twenty-three y r ears the wife died. She (the “ husband ”) professed to lament her loss very much. Ultimately 7 she married a second woman, with whom she lived for a number of years, but at length, by mutual consent, they 7 separated. For

some time she has lain on a bed of sickness, and been dependent upon neighbors, who, however, strongly resisted coming too near her. The other day she died, and the discovery was made. She gave the name of Josiah Charles Stephenson, and had often been heard to sp uik of being heir to some properly about Berwick, but had no money 7 to go and claim it.