LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 3399, 16 June 1877, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Journalistic— Mr Ives,. of the Patea Mail and Akaroa Mail newspapers, is about establishing a journal at Ashburton, to be called the Ashburton Mail. To the founding of newspapers here and there in the colony Mr Press' has devoted his sole attention, and hitherto with encouraging success. The Champion Boat Race. — The Sydney Morning Herald of the 7th iust. says : — Trickett and Rush continue in active training on the Parrainatta River, and both are rowing well. The former only practises once a day, but his opponent adheres to his old rule o£ going out morning and evening. Rush was in town yesterday for a short time, and appeared the picture of health. Footpads. — We referred some time ago to the existence of this element in our community, and constrained people who were obliged to be out late at night to be on their guard. We have since beard that a veritable ease of sticking-up occurred in Wilson Street on Wednesday last, though fortunately the intended victim managed to effect his escape. It appears that a young man attached to one of the survey staffs was returning from seeing a friend home, when he was suddenly waylaid by a member of the garroter brigade, who seized him, evidently with a view to relieve him of any money or valuables he had about him. A struggle succeeded, in which the party assailed found' himself on the ground, but just when the other was in the act of rifling his pockets, he received a couple of well directed blows on the face, delivered in quick succession and with such effectual force that a retreat was considered advisable. Some slight damage to his clothing comprised about all the injury received by the person attacked, who went on his way without loss of time, no doubt pleased with the final issue oE the affair. The police should be ou the alert agaiust impudent assailants of the class referred to. Committed for Trial. — The case of larceny against Joseph Clarke, the hearing of which was remanded from Monday till Tuesday, has resulted in the accused being committed for . trial at the next session of the District Court. The following is the evidence adduced on Tuesday, a report o£ which was crowded out of our followiug issues : — Constable Mclvor deposed — On Sunday last, the 10th inst, I arrested the prisoner iii a house in Wilson Street, about 12.30 p.m. ; on entering the house I found the prisoner there ; there were also a wouiau and two children there ; the informaut accompaiod me ; I said to the informant, in the presence and hearing of the prisoner, " Do you see any of your property here"; he replied, " Yes, this is all my property you see rouud about you-; prisoner said, " I never took it, his wife took it — I took nothing but what was my own" ; I asked the prisoner to show me his ow.n property; be pointed to a box beside where he was sitting, saying, " Tliis is my box" ; I then arrested the prisoner; at his request, I read to him the warrant for his arrest; I then took him to the lock-up ; I took charge oE the goods found in" the house, and they arc iv my custody. Mary Elizabeth Barker deposed — My husband is the informant in this case ; I kuow the prisoner ; I came with him from Feilding to Wanganui ; when we arrived in Wanganui, prisoner took a house ; Mr Thompson was the landlord ; I think the prisoner was to pay 4s 6cl for the house ; when the prisoner and I came from Feilding, we brought some goods with us ; they were taken to the house on a dray hired by myself ; they remained in lhe house till the policeman came and took them away : the goods consisted of my bedding and the children's, and a few cooking utensils ; they were my own ; I paid for them ; some were bought after my husband and I were married, and some were not. The prisoner was duly committed for trial at the next sitting of tho District Court iv Wauganui, bail being allowed, himself in £100, aud two sureties of £50 each. Perils of the Road.-— As the mail coach to Wellington was proceeding on its way on Thursday, it overtook a buggy on the Kaitoke Hill, aud [a collision occurred, in which, as was the cas£> between the brazen and the earthen pot iv the fable, the buggy came oft" second best. We hear that both conveyances were being driven rapidly jusfc before the collision, as lhe i-.oach having had aome little delay at the start was making up lost time. The occupants of tlio baggy consider Miey had a narrow escape.

ScAiiOELY Credible. — A Mr Mathieson informs a Taranaki paper that he made twelve pairs of horse shoes in forty-two minutes. Libel. — The case of Anderson v. the proprietors of the Argus comes on in July. The casus belli we believe has some connection with certain remarks concerning Anderson's canvassing trip for the Wellington Independent. Obituary. — By request, we reproduce, the following death notice from the Napier Telegraph: — At Lucknow, India, on the 3rd March, 1877, James Nesbitt, of tho Band of H.M.s 65th regiment, aged 37 years. — A " .Royal Tiger," from the cradle to the grave, his loss has been deeply and deservedly regretted. A Former R.M. —Major Edwards is at Waikanae, having been on a tour to Kaikoura, Foxton, and Otaki. We heat that the gallant Major still enjoys the buoyant flow of spirits which distinguished him in days gone by. We hear he will probably pay a flying trip to Wanganui, on a visit to old friends. The Decorative Art. — Messrs Mclntyre and Logan have had theii show-room windows tastefully painted, a representation of their manufactures appearing in attractive colours on each, together with the name of the firm. Tht decoration is of an appropriate design, and has been generally admired. Tarred with the Brush. — The Post has a correspondent in Wanganui who if an adept at drawing the long bow. Almosl every issue of the paper contains one oi more fibs emanating from that source, The hint given, the bellows blower piles on the agony with a vengeance. The state of the police force is the latesl manifestation. A Substitute. — When the corkscrew has been left with the mustard, and bottles have to be opened at a picnic, il may be useful to know that a substitute for a corkscrew may be thus made : — S tich two forks vertically into the cork or: opposite sides, not too near the edge Run the blade of a knife through the twoj and give it a twist. The Hospital. — During the week, one male patient was admitted, a Fiji native, suffering from an attack of rheumatic fever. None were discharged during thai period. There are still receiving attendance, six male and two female patients. Telegraphic. — Communication was re* stored at 20 minutes to 1 yesterday, tht break having taken place, as we surmised away near Ohau. Tho linemen had < most trying time of it, the weather beinc terribly inclement. The extra delay was caused by the repeated breaks after repair through the unparalleled violence of tht wind, and through the lineman having had to return to Foxton for assistance being unable to attend to the duty unas sis ted. Capture of a Shark at Sea. — On tht passage of the three-masted schooner For mosa, from Singapore to Melbourne saythe Argus, Captain Quayle reports havini captured a large shark, some 13 feet ir length, about ten days ago, before crossing the longitude of Cape Leu win. Tin shark appeared to be unusually large ii: iii girth, and from curiosity it was opened and amongst other contents of thestomacl was found a large portion of the humai body, that of a young woman. Evident!;, it had not long been swallowed, tht pro3ess of assimilation not having com menced. -A. Cultivation ok the Muses. — In th( next issue of the Weekly Ghronioh there will appear an original poem written by a lady contributor who hai lately arrived in the coiony. The subject is a pathetic one, and tlie versification is very pretty. The authoress has some works of a similar description in tht press, and we are pleased to be able tr state that further periodical contributions of the same talented order are promised, It is so difficult and rare to get contribu tions of original poetry— -not rhyme— with anything beyond the jingle of t street ballad, that we prize such communications, as we doubt not our readerwill also. There is a freshness in tht style of these poems, without exercisin-j the hypercritical faculty, which adds mud to the pleasure of perusal, and .which wt feel convinced will be enhanced in subsequent productions from the same gifted pen. "Urgent" Telegrams. — The Napier Telegraph is much of our way of thinking with regard to this latest innovation. The following are its sentiments on the subject: — The Government have made a concession to the woalthy classes, that we cannot but think is totally uncalled for, A telegraphic message marked " urgent," is now to take priority of all others, provided the sender pays double rates. Poor people, accepting employment by telegram, may lose situations through messages being delayed by a wealthy man sendin g his "urgent" telegrams to his agent to buy or sell^m a certain market, by which to add to his riches. A poor woman dependent for her living on her husband, working miles away, may be prevented from hearing of au accident to him until too late to proceed to his death bed. Medical assistance, in simitar cases, may also be delayed till it is no longer wanted. If the despatch of a message canuot bt secured .without extra payment, the sooner private enterprise, steps in to compete with the Government monopolies the better. Came Laws. — We extract the appended from the H. B. Herald :— " The Wanganui Chronicle replying to a correspondent on the subject of the game laws, lays down the law. as follows: — 'No, license is required to kill native game before the season for shooting imported game commences ; but after that season commences a license is required, beoause clause 27 ol the Protection of Animals Act says that, -' any person found trespassing with gun, or dog and gun, shall ps-ima facie bt deemed to be in pursuit of game, . and subject to the provisions of this Act. A person shooting native game before oi after the time fixed by the Superintendent or person acting in his placo, is liable lo a penalty.' Our contemporary, we think, is somewhat in error. The provision in the Protection of Animals Act to which he refers applies to persons committing a trespass " by euteriug or being upon any land in the search or pursuit of game oi native game, but it is proyided in the clause that the person charged with the trespass shall be at liberty to prove by way of defence any matter which would have been a defence to an action at law for such trespass." No license to shoot native game is required, and it i& clear thafc a person bonafide in pursuit of native game, cannot be made liable to a penally for not haviug a license." This is just where the complicationexists,

Telegkaphic. — A station is now opened at Manutahi, County of Patea. Value op land near Cahlyle. — It is reported says the Mail, that a couple of ] acres of what is known as the swamp land, on the South side of the Patea .River, owned by Captain Wray, as just been sold 1 to a Carlyle settler, at the rate of £100 per acre. It may be taken as an evidence ; of confidence as to the brilliant future now opening out to this district. Harbour • works will, no doubt, wonderfully increase the valuo of land near the river, as well as i in the township.