LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9187, 11 August 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lecture. — The next of the series of lectures in aid of the Building Fund of St John’s Sunday School, will be delivered by Mr Carson on Friday evening, in the lecture-room of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church. The Zealandia Panorama. — There was rather a poor house at the Princess Theatre last night, but the performance passed off remarkably well, and Mr Colville was quite as successful as he was on Monday. R.M. Court. — The only business before this Court yesterday was two civil cases — Poole v T. Peake, adjourned to 17th instant ; and Cummins v J. L. Calder, judgment by default for £14 15s 6d, with costs 19s. Rinking Tournament. — A grand rinking tournament is advertised to take place in the Drill Hall on Friday evening next, a pair of roller skates being given as a prize to the fastest skater. Judging by the success of the last rinking tournament, the Drill Hall will probably be crowded on the occasion. We notice that the band of the Wanganui Rifle Volunteers will perform during the evening. Arrest. — A lad named William Bason, aged 13 years, was arrested yesterday by Detective Sullivan, on a charge of stealing a sheep, the property of William George Nicholson. The sheep is said to have been stolen on Sunday last, from a paddock near the railway station. The lad’s father, Reuben Bason, has also been arrested on a change of receiving the sheep, knowing it to have been stolen. The cases will be heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. Children’s Prize Essay. — The competition for the three prizes offered to pupils in the Fourth Standard by Mr Willis for the best essay on “Coal,” took place in the Girls’ High School on Saturday last, Mr Inspector Foulis acting as supervisor. There were 21 competitors, of whom six were girls. No time-limit was fixed for the completion of the papers, and some of the pupils worked from 9 a.m. till late in the afternoon. Mr Godwin had accepted the post of judge, and the essays were accordingly handed to him on Monday, since when he has reduced the number to 7, from which the prizetakers will be selected. We understand there is no doubt with regard to the taker of the first prize, which will be awarded to the writer using the motto “Smoke.” The second and third best essays have not yet been determined on. The whole of the work was well done, and some pf the papers are pronounced to be excellent, considering the youth of the writers.

What Next ? — A boot belonging to one of the Kelly gang has been on exhibition in Geelong. Too Costly. — The Minister of Education is of opinion that the establishment of schools on the Kindergarten system would involve an expenditure at the rate of £10 per pupil. Feilding Volunteer Ball. — A large number of persons from all parts of the district were present at this ball, which passed off most successfully. The music was furnished by the Marton town band, under the leadership of Mr H. Harbott. Cook’s Gardens. — We notice that the improvements in Cook’s Gardens are going on rapidly. A wire fence is being erected, and a line of trees planted, along St. Hill-street. The hill is being brought to a nice slope, and the hard-labour gang have cut a path from Maria Place to the top of the hill and down the other side. Yesterday they were engaged in claying and gravelling it. Marton Horticultural Society. — At the annual general meeting of this Society, held on Saturday last, it was determined, after a good deal of discussion, to hold two shows — Spring and Autumn — as usual. The first proposition was, “That an Autumn Show be held about the usual time in March, 1881,” thus shelving the Spring Show, which would, we think, have been a great mistake. Wanganui Athletic Club. — At a Committee meeting held last night at the Steam Packet Hotel, it was unanimously decided to hold the Steeplechase Meeting on Saturday, 28th August. The programme was arranged as follows :— 150 yards Handicap Flat Race ; Long Jump Handicap ; Steeplechase (about 1¾ miles) ; Consolation, 100 yards. Mr G. E. Anson notified to the Committee that he would present a Challenge Cup for the purpose of encouraging mile running, on the following terms, viz., That the Cup be held for the year by the competitor scoring the greatest number of points in mile flat handicaps (not less than two of such races to take place during the season). Points to score as follows : 1st, 8 ; 2nd, 5 ; 3rd, 3 ; the Challenge Cup to be always considered the property of the Club, and the name of each winner to be engraved on the cup at the Club’s expense. The Committee at any time may, by an unanimous vote, alter the general terms of the mile competition as may appear suitable. In the event of a tie, the competitor obtaining the greatest number of places to be the winner. The Club have decided to present the winner of this Challenge Cup with a trophy, to be retained as his absolute property. The first competition for this prize is to take place at the third meeting. That Clock. — It is to be hoped that when the new clock is placed in the tower over the Post-office it will behave better than the fraud which is now doing duty at the Telegraph-office. Dr Watts says — Liars we can never trust, Though they, perhaps, may speak the truth ; and exactly the same remark applies to this miserable official deceiver, the vagaries of which are so great and frequent as to have attracted the attention of upcountry journalists. Ten minutes are neither here nor there in its performances, and it is absurd to speak of a day of twenty-four hours in connection with an instrument which appears to have as little idea of time as men have of eternity. Perhaps oiling, or even boiling, might prove a successful mode of treatment, and induce this clock to keep faith with the public, and reflect a little more credit on its maker. We have excellent authority for saying that there is a time for everything, but the difficulty in Wanganui is to find out when any particular time has arrived, for each of the three or four clocks which present their faces to the general gaze tells a different tale, and cannot therefore be depended on. A gentleman of our acquaintance tried for a few days to regulate his watch by these clocks, but he found that the cost of keys and injury to his time piece made the attempt far too expensive. He now works by solar observation. Parihaka. — Says the Hawera Star : — The Natives are still going in large numbers to Parihaka. Napoleon, Hone Pihama’s son-in-law, went up on Tuesday, and others are going daily, who were considered to be outside of the Prophet’s influence, which appears to be gaining ground, more especially amongst the young men. Luke, a great friend of Manaia’s, is amongst those lately arrested, as well as Ekau, and others well known on the Plains. We have heard a rumour, to the effect that some change was about to take place in reference to the fencing, but as yet we cannot state anything definitely. A correspondent at the camp informs us that Colonel Roberts will probably vary the proceedings somewhat, but he does not state in what direction. One thing appears certain, and that is, that had the road been taken nearer to Parihaka, and thus avoided the clearings, affairs would very probably be in a more satisfactory state than they are at present. At the same time, we believe that the Road Engineer acted for the best, in keeping the line as far as possible from the seat of the Maori Republic. Te Whiti’s object appears to be to tire out the Government, and if the young and the old continue to flock to Parihaka, he appears to have a good chance of succeeding in his tactics. Our correspondent also states that he has heard a rumour to the effect that the Government intends releasing some of the more peacably-disposed of those who were first arrested ; but he has grave doubts — and we are inclined to agree with him — as to the wisdom of such a course, in the present unsettled and uncertain state of things. Terrible Scene in a Menagerie. — An extraordinary unrehearsed spectacle was recently witnessed by the visitors of Salva’s Menagerie in Aberdeen. The beast-tamer was exhibiting his feats at Nancy, and had just concluded his tricks with the panthers, when a lion in the neighbouring cage broke down the iron bars which divided him from the panthers, and burst into the midst of the latter. The panthers immediately attacked the intruder, and a panther ripped open the belly of the lion, who howled fearfully with the pain. Salva never lost his presence of mind in the midst of this terrible scene. He drove the panthers into another cage, keeping back the one which had wounded the lion, allowing him, rightly or wrongly, to complete his work, which he did by breaking the ribs of the lion, and ultimately killing him. Ever since this episode the wild beasts have been in an extraordinary excitement, rendering them quite incapable of their ordinary performances. Post-office of the Future — It has been lately estimated by a German writer that should the European postal traffic increase in the future at the same rate as during the five years 1873-78, it would at the end of the century exceed 20 milliards of articles sent by post (letters, post-cards, papers, samples, &c) In 1873 the number of these is calculated to have been 3,957,850,639, and in 1878, 5,602,633,527, the increase being thus 4.15 per cent. This rate would give, for 1898 22,460,141,607 articles, and for, 1900 26,053,764,337.