Wanganui Chronicle and TURAKINA & RANGITIKEI MESSENGER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1027, 15 May 1869, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle and TURAKINA & RANGITIKEI MESSENGER.

SATURDAY, 15th MAY, 1869

Visitors to St Pauls, in search of Sir Christopher Wren’s monument, are requested to look around them. The whole ediis the architect’s monument. Dr Featherston, in soliciting the suffrages of the electors,points them to his past administration. Is it a proof of statesmanship ? We cannot see it. Everywhere public works are at a halt—and that very much, both literally and figuratively, such a halt as the Frenchman described as being in the mud. Native disturbance has much to do with our present difficulties ; we make every allowance in this respect, but native disturbances have nothing to do with the muddle about a Patent Slip, the materials of which are rusting for the last two years at Evans’ Bay, and over which a costly law-suit is now in progress ; native disturbances cannot account for the Wanganui Bridge being in much the same position as the Patent Slip, with two law-suits, instead of one, hanging over it. The Manawatu sale (in which nothing is sold save the province) is not a proof of either wise or prudent negotiation ; and the ..lot might be swelled indefinite!. But there is no need.

Auckland Cattle Market.— The cattle by the last trip of the s s. Wanganui, are reported to have sold at from £ll to £l3 7s. 6d each.

St John’s Bush Hoad. —In the course of a week the timber for the culverts will be on the ground, and prison labour immediately applied to put this road in a state of passable repair. West Coast. —The Westport Times, of the Bth inst, says, the meat market there is at present very" indifferently supplied, owing to the non-arrival of vessels expected from Wanganui. Aromoho . -It will be seen that Mr Walker intends celebrating the Queen’s Birthday in a truly Saxon manner. The national pastimes of foot ball and steeple chasing are to be freely indulged in, besides a promised pigeon match, which altogether give promise of a capital day’s spot.

Sale of Merchandise. — There has been no important sale of merchandise in Wanganui for some time. Store-keepers will therefore be glad to avail themselves of the opportunity of adding to their stocks at the large sale to take place at Mr Lewis’ rooms to-day. There is a large amount of valuable goods to be disposed of.

Accident. —An unfortunate accident occurred at the Upper Ferry yesterday afternoon. As a punt full of cattle, believed to to have contained about twenty, was leaving the opposite side, the animals rushed tumultuously to one side and capsized the punt, which tilted right over and smothered the whole number. it was with difficulty that the men, employed in attending the punt, escaped. The cattle belonged to Captain R. W. Smith, and were under the charge of Mr Southcombe.

Astronomy. —The Rev. Mr Elmslie lectured on the above subject to a crowded audience in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on Thursday evening. A. Williamson, Esq., occupied the chair. The lecturer traced the various attempts of ancient philosophers to construct an astronomical system, beginning with Ptolemy, followed by Copernicus, and culminating in that of Tycho Brahe, with whom the olden ideas went to rest. Sir Isaac Newton, largely aided by the discoveries of Kepler and Galilieo, took up the wondrous tale, and began to mould it into the shape which, through the researches of successive astronomers, it has now assumed. The lecture was illustrated by a number of views, successfully manipulated by Mr Davis.

The General Cemetery. —The Trustees are once more busily engaged in planting trees and shrubs around the cemetery, under the superintendence of Mr Alexander Williamson. Many of those already planted have drooped and died; still a number are thriving. The ground is very unpromising, but it is being gradually improved, and we doubt not the improvement will go on. Private individuals have done much to beautify various burial sites, and this is a work which the public can cooperate with the Trristees, so as to render externally pleasant a place associated with tender and hallowed associations. Natural History. —Mr Field has—in a natural sense —been fortunate in finding.a very rare and beautiful species of lizard in this neighbourhood. Mr Buller, who is an accomplished naturalist, recognised it as the Ncmltinus Pcicificuo of Dr. Grey ; an animal seldom met with at all, but less rare in the north of the island than the south. It is about four or five inches over all ; the body is covered with a variety of variagated scales, but the tip of the tail asumes a sleek and dark appearance. The native names sufficiently indicate its more noticeable characteristics : in the north it is called the moko-papa, or “ the lizard with the tatooed side”; and in the south the piri-rewa, literally “ clinging to the pole,” or an animal that clings to trees and such like. And the latter definition is very apparent by the manner in which the animal adapts itself to the inequalities of any surface and by some power of suction firmly retains its position —vertical or lateral.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, WANGANUI. Thursday, May 13. [Before W. L. Buller, Esq., R.M.] ASSAULT. Mete Kingi charged William King with having assaulted his wife at the Red Lion Hotel, on the 7th inst. The plaintiff, who appeared in naval uniform (cast clothing of the commodore) deposed to having witnessedthe assault which consisted in defendant giving bis wife a push while she was stooping to light her pipe at the fire. The plaintiff s first impulse, he said, was to strike the defendant, but he summoned his dignity to his aid by remembering he was a member of the House, and so rather chose to abide by the laws of which he was a framer. —A couple of other natives gave corroboratory evidence. The defendant’s statement was then heard : he said that the push had been accidental, and caused by another native having first of all pushed him. J. Hamilton supported this view of the case in evidence.

The Bench dismissed the charge as vexatious, explaining in a careful manner to the natives the grounds on which the decision was based. trespass . James Bertram summoned a number of Wangaehu natives for having forcibly entered upon his lands and recovered five horses, their property, that he had impounded. The natives had committed the trespass after having been warned of the consequences. , The Bench inflicted a fine of £1 10s, and 5s a head for each animal removed along with costs.

Friday, May 14. [Before W. L. Buller, Esq., R.M.] CIVIL CASE. Edward Churton, Official Trustee in the estate of Levy Bros., « Walter Taylor.— Claim £l3 10s 6d. £1 8s 6d was tendered in court by the defendant as settlement ot til G cl elrl m. Mr Roberts, who appeared for the plaintiff, stated that the plaintiffs claim m thi3 case would be admitted, in so far as the value was concerned, and although no setoff had been put in, he had no objection to not being allowed. The Bench ruled that no set-off could be admitted unless the provisions of the Act were complied with. The Act had not been complied with and the Court could not therefore recognise any set-off. Mr Roberts proceeded to state the circumstances under which the debt had been incurred, and in support of his case cited several sections of the Bankruptcy Act. The following witness was then called : Louis Lyons Levy, who deposed In June 1867 I was carrying on business in partnership with my brother Henry Levy. At that time defendant contracted a debt ot £l3 10s 6d. My brother left Wanganui on the 27th of June. Shortly after, defendant came to our place of business and ordered goods to the amount claimed. He sard he had an account (he did not produce it) and demanded payment for it, saying he would take goods or anything else. He said lie was not going to be swindled out. of his money. I told him it would be unjust to supply him with goods to the prejudice of the other creditors. Defendant abused me very much. Ultimately I did let him have the goods on the Ist of July. I hied & petition of insolvency on the 4th, and the firm was gazetted on the 9th. On the 7th of August the adjudication was made. Cross-examined by defendant I did not receive the order for the goods a week before they were delivered. I refused to give the goods, and you summoned me. At last I gave the goods, because I thought it the best course under the cireumstances.. Re-examined—l have no hesitation m stating that the defendant knew the firm was bankrupt when he got the goods. Walter Taylor deposed—l am defendant About the 20tli of June I went and selected goods to the value of £l3 10s 6d and ordered them to be sent. They were not sent, and after waiting a few days I wont again and told them to send them. They were not sent, and I took out a summons for £ll Is, which with 10s and the amount paid into court will make the sum claimed. Mr L. Levy, after my taking out the summons, came to my office and offered to send the goods if proceedings were stayed. 1 did so and the goods were sent. Under date of July 2 the transaction is recorded as a cash one in my books. The Bench gave judgment for defendant with costs. LARCENY. Moore Hunter v George Friend. —Claim £7 12s for the use and livery of a horse for several days. The facts of the case appeared to be these : The defendant had found a horse belonging to plaintiff running behind Pakuraka and had sent it into town to be claimed, and by so doing incurred an eccount of £1 10s for livery,, which sum plaintiff had to pay before getting his own property. The Court gave judgment for £1 10s and costs, holding that in the absence of any agreement no charges for use (unless damage was sustained) could be made.