LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 277, 16 January 1862, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Resident Magistrate’s Court. The following cases have been before the court. Jan. 9. Wm, Laird v. //. B. Rohe.tts, 10/ damages for detaining a cow which the plaintiff claimed as his, but, which was proved to be defendant’s, for whom judgment was therefore given. If m. Wilson v. Jas. «S;>oor, debt 1/, judgment for plaintiff. M raea, a Maori girl, was brought up on a charge of haring stolen from Mrs. McGhee a garment valued at 2s ;• prisoner confessed having done so, and was fined Bs. Jan. 14. J. M. /fichurds v. W. 11. Laird, damages for trespass of cattle, 71 3s 6d. Plaintiff said that he had pounded 11 head of Laird’s cattle on Jhe 9th Jan., which had broken the fence and destroyed about three acres of grass and clover, which he wished to save for seed, Z/alf an acre bad been cut and produced 3 cwt. of seed, valued at 4d per lb. The fence was repaired at a cost of 20s. John Morgan, farmer, IFanganui, had seen the field, and considered that about 15 lbs. of seed per acre bad been lost. The cattle bad been on about six acres. It was not a heaA’y crop, which 6 cwt. to the acre is. //as had as much as 150 lb. to the acre on his land. G. Walker, farmer. /Fangamii, hail been on the ground, and considered 20s the amount of damage done to the grass seed, /’lie fence seemed to iiaA r e been broken down on plaintiff's side. Judgment was given for 1/ LGs and costs.

Thomas Miley, a private in the 57tli, was brought up on a charge of attempting to break into the home of Mr. Geo. Howe with intent to steal, and of assaulting' the said G. Howe. Wm. Borne Avas charged with aiding and abetting. Geo. //owe, licensed victualler, said, that between one and two on Saturday morning lastHhe prisoners tried to get into his house, first at the front door, and then broke open the gate into his yard, and knocked at the back door and tried to force it open. He looked out and asked them what they wanted. They said, a bottle of brandy. He said he could not give it as it was after hours, when Thos. Miley said, if he did not get it he would burst open the door and take it. His servant, Clias. Legaston yrent out with a stick, and than himself. They said they wanted grog and would have it.; and Thos. Miley struck him in the mouth with his fist/ Went inside, and heard them threatening the life of his servant.; 2’here wqs another soldier ..with, prisoners, but could not identify him. Chas. Legaston, servant to Mr. Howe, partly confirmed his account, and also said that Miley had struck him on the eye with his fist and drew blood! Thos. Miley was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour, and Wm. Bourc to one month.

Anniversary Meetings of Christ-. Church CongregA^ioNi-— The eighteenth anniversary of the opening of Christchurch, Wanganui, was commenced on Thursday last. Divine service was celebrated at 3 p.m., and a very edifying sermon preached by the Rev. R. Taylor. In the evening upwards of one hundred persons assembled in Mr. Curtis’ store, which was kindly lent for the occasion, and'-partook of a tea; which thanks to the exertions of the ladies who presided at the several tables, and of the stewards who assisted them, was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Tea having been discussed the liev. C. 11. Nicholls, rose and said, “ He was very glad to see so many assembled on such an occasion. The object of the meeting was threefold, commemorate the opening of the Parish Chnrch-r—to give their Bishop a public welcome—and to affurd the members of the Church an opportunity of talking over in a social way what might be wanted to advance the interests of the Church in this place, and generally of encouraging each other in love and good works.” The Bishop of Wellington, who was. very warmly received said, “ This was the first occasion on which he had been welcomed in such a manner; and lie felt highly gratified at seeing so many assembled. He bad not been expected to ‘have been called on to address them ; but as it bad been announced in the advertisements that he would do so, lie would take the opportunity of urging on them the necessity of immediate exertion in erecting a New Church. Churches in tills country were perishable things requiring frequent re-lmilding, and this could not be done without all assisting in the work. In England, thanks to tile piety of our ancestors, Churches were gene-, rally to be found ready built for the use of the existing generation ; and where new ones were required it mostly happened that some one or two wealthy and liberal-minded persons would be found to come forward and.give their thousands ot pounds to erect temples to God’s glory. Such things, however could only happen in an old and weathy land. Here each one must contribute his share towards erecting a New 6’iiinch—each must give according to his means; ami practise self-denial'in order that he might have a building wherein he and his family and neighbours might worship Him from whom they received all their temporal and spiritual blessings. Although not himself an admirer of the architectural beauty of the lit tie church now hastening to decay; yet he feit he ought.on this occasion to express his sense of the great credit due to his and their respected friend the Liev. R. Taylor, and to those early Church-, men of Wanganui who, at the very"outset of the settlement, when all must have been struggling, in a degree, for which there was happily no longer occasion, to maintain themselves and families, bad nevertheless spared so large a sum from their small meaus as that church must have cost, for their exertions in its erection. He trusted that he might very soon be called on to consecrate a new church which would do credit to the place and accommodate a much larger number than the present building. Tney must remember that when a number of persons united in any great work there woulc be differences of opinion in matters of detail; but they must as Christians bear with each other, and give way to each others’ feelings for the sake of the common good. United action will smooth over the little roughnesses of our nature ; and by cordially joining in such a work g»od feeling would be promoted.’’ The Rev. R. Taylor said, “ This meeting reminded him of the one held nearly nineteen years ago to discuss the budding of the present church. At that time the whole adult population of the settlement could have met in the room were they then were ; and it was only through the members of other religious denominatsons sinking minor differences and joining with the Churchmen, that these last were enabled to accomplish the erection of the Church which was the first in the Cook’s Straits Settle meats, prior even to either of those in the Metropolitan City of Wellington. It was not generally known that that Church lm.d been the means of saving Wanganui as a settlement. Governor Fitzroy was at one time very anxious to have it abandoned, ami offered the settlers land elsewhere if they would leave. He also sent down a Commissioner who without examining any more of the district than the sandhills, reported that the harbour was worthless and that there was no land to support a settlement. When Sir George Grey, therefore, first visited Wanganui, it was with the full intention of abandoning it; but the sight of the Church induced him, to alter his mind, and to determine if possible to. preserve a settlement whose inhabitants bad shown themselves so mindful of their religious duties. The present church was connected in his mind (and doubtless in those of other early settlers) with so many pleasing associations that lie, and probably they too, would he sorry to miss it. It was however so decayed that any attempt at repair or enlargement was useless ; and it was become far too small for the increasing congregation, so that as far back as 1859 some steps had been taken to erect another in its room. He hoped the building which would replace it would be no discredit to the town, but must leave them to be informed by some one more competent than himstll as to the details of size, expense,'&c. He hoped they would steadily bear in mind that religion was a thing of the heart and spirit, and that buildii gv and ceremonials were hut its accessories.” Mr. Field “ was not accustomed to ad* 'dress'tea'or’other meetings and had not expected to be called 6n to sptak at any rate on this subject. A s an office-bearer- of the Church Tor the last 7 years, and consequently knowing more than most of ‘ them pf its position and circumstances he had however been requested to say a few words, // remark of the Bishop’s had refunded him that.the glorious old parish phurches of England—unrivalled in the

world-—were the work of people circumstanced much like themselves. They were not the work of an old, densely-peopled, and wealthy community ; but were erected by a scanty scattered population, in days when money was of enormous value. If their forefathers could do so much for God’s glory, surelj they their, descendants though at the oilier end of the world could do a little. Though they conid not hope to raise equally beautiful and durable structures, must substiture wood for stone, still they might make the most of the materials at their command. They had in this place a striking instance of what could be done in the way of church-building by those who went to work in earnest. Their Romanist neighbours were far fewer in numbers, and as a body far poorer then themselves, and he thought the Churchmen of Wanganui ought not to be satisfied unless they could accomplish at least as much as the others had done. The present church could not possibly stand much longer and no time ought therefore to be lost in erecting a new one. He connsidered they should erect a building which could contain 300 or 400 persons ; and be an ornament to the town and a credit to themselves. Swell a building would cost from .£BOO to £IOOO, and there ought to he no. difficulty in raising that amount. The professing - Churchmen of Wanganui numbered more than 200 persons who were either heads of families or bachelors in an independent position* who might one day become so, and might therefore fairly be counted on as contributors. This did not include military men of any grade,, though these would doubtless assist in such a work;- and he felt sure that members of other religious denominations would also contribute; just as many, he believed most, of them had contributed to the erection, of other places of worship. Respecting what had already been done, about £7O hud, been collected anil subscriptions to. t.lie atnoujit of about £l5O more ‘promised ; a design, for the building had also been approved, He would suggest the formation of two conynjt.tees-r=th« one of gentlemen to see to,the erection of the building—the other of ladies to collect funds, and hoped that befor,e the meeting separated they might he able'to feel that the New Ciim-ek was fairly under,-way.”

A conversational discussion followed, after whieli ■The Rev. C. H. S. Nicholls in proposing a vote of thanks (which Mr. Porter seconded) to the ladies who had presided said, “ Churches ought always to be the handsomest ami most commodious buildings in a. place—the houses dedicated to the service, of the greatest : .being in the universe ought to excel in every respect those of his crea-. lures.” The Rev. B. Taylor proposed and Mn field sccmded'a vote-of thanks to theStewards. Major Logan of H.M. 57th. Regt. said* “ He was a soldier, and liked to go a head* ami strike the iron while hot-. He would gladly contribute ami felt sure his brotherofficers would do the same, as well as unite their influence with his: in furthering thegood work. He would suggest the immpdiate commencement of a subscription, among those present and the list could then be handed over to the ladies to go on with.” 1 Zieut. Colonel Murray, of //. M, 65th Regt., “ .Was on the point of leaving the place and would gladly give his mite atonce.” Mr. Thos Powell “ begged to second Major Zogan’s proposal. A new church was wanted, if only to accommodate the increasing congregation, and as a late Churchwarden he could state that ther.e were applications for far more sittings than, the present church could contain. He was. not quite so sanguine as Mv. Field, but was sure we could easily raise £SOO or £600; and had understood from thefiishop that there was a prospect of a grant of money from home in aid of Church building, and that in the event of its being wanted we might hope for assistance from it, to the extent probably of one-fourth of our own contributions. -He called on all to give liberally, not what they could afford but something more, in order that they might have the satisfaction of exercising self-denial in promoting the good work.” The Bishop confirmed Mr. Powell’s statement respecting the grant ami promised that if the 'congregation could raise £475, he would give £25 —if they raised £950, he would make it £IOOO. A Subscription List was then started and nearly £IOOO subscribed. .

The River Encroachment. A beginning was made on Saturday in the construction of the breakwater immediately below Nixon’s creek, and the first pile has nowbeen driven. The . timber needed for the work has all been delivered, and if no floods stop its progress, there will soon be evidence of how far the Committee have acted judiciously in beginning on the plan and at the place they have chosen. Auction Sales. Two of these sales have been held this past week, chiefly of the household effects of some of the officers of the 65th, Both at Messrs. Gudgeon-& Go’s and Messrs. Powell Co’s sales the bidding was spirited, and the articles, as is usual in such cases, fetched very good prices in some instances higher than when new. The 65th. The remainder of this regiment stationed here left on Tuesday morning by the Wonga Wonga for New Plymouth. The high winds prevailing during the last week prevented their earlier departure. A large number of people, were down at'the wharf to see them embark ; and as the vessel moved off at 9 o’clock, they were followed by loud cheers. The fineness of of the weather during the day would make the passage quite a pleasure trip—a great contrast to the miserable passage the grenadier comf any had. This 1 terminates the connection of the 65th. with Wanganui, and after the very cordial manner iu which the good will of the-inhabitants was shewn to them recently, no further'testimony is needed to their good behaviour during the long period they have been here. We uu-

dersfaml that the expences attending the flintier given to them the other flay amount efl to i-112, most of which was raised in a 'few hour?.

Tiie Wangamhu Bridge. We are glad to learn that the cartage of the piles for the rebuilding of this bridge has at length been begun, Some of the timber intended fur the Wanganui bridge is being taken for this purpose to save the time that would be lost in cutting it.

.The Harvfsx Reaping .has now begun in the district. The crops are complained of as light, especially by those who have used for seed, wheat, grown in this neighbourhood last year, when probably a good deal of the grain used this year, for seed was dried up by the January gale before being ripe.