LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9190, 14 August 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Late Mr G. Hunter. — A very large concourse of people attended the funeral of the late Mr G. Hunter, including many members of both branches of the Legislature, and other public men of the colony. Erratum. — In a local in our issue of yesterday relating to the A. and P. Association, Mr Gower was reported to have offered a special prize through. Mr Larkworthy. It should have been Mr Larkworthy through Mr Gower. Good Templar Anniversary. — The second anniversary of the Southern Star Lodge, No 190, was celebrated at the Institute last night. There was a large attendance, and the various speeches, songs, readings and recitations were loudly applauded. Owing to pressure on our space, we are prevented from noticing these at length, but will do so in Monday’s issue. Music for the Million. — We notice that Messrs H. Collier and Co. are expecting some first-class additions to their already large stock of pianos. One of these, by Ascherberg, is a specially fine instrument, iron-framed, and what is known as double-oblique overstrung. Another by Bord is remarkable in having the strings in the base silverplated, which is said to impart a dulcetone to the notes. Then there are others by Chappel, Ward, Erard, &c., all good of their kind, and made specially to resist climatic and atmospheric influences. Messrs Collier and Co are also importers of violins — many of the instruments being specially valuable. Their stock of music, and all the requisites of their business, is large and well selected. School Examinations.— The Scholarship Examinations for the Board Schools will take place in the Girls High School, Wanganui, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 17th 18th, and 19th instant. The timetable is arranged as follows :— Classes A and B — Tuesday, 10 to 11.30, English Grammar ; 11.45 to 1.15, Arithmetic ; 2 to 3.30, Mental Arithmetic and Reading ; 7 to 8.30, Elementary Science. Wednesday — 10 to 11.30, Geography ; 11.45 to 1.15, History; 2 to 2.30, Dictation and Writing ; 7 to 8.30, French. Thursday — 10 to 11.30, Algebra ; 11.45 to 1.15, Latin ; 2 to 3.30, Euclid. Class C — Tuesday — 10 to 11, English Grammar 11 to 12, Reading ; 12 to 1.15, Arithmetic ; 2 to 3, Geography ; 7 to 8, Elementary Science. Wednesday — 10 to 11, Dictation and Writing ; 11 to 12, History ; 12 to 1.15, Mental Arithmetic. New Publication. — We have received the first number of the Health Gazette, a monthly journal, published for the proprietors at the office of our local contemporary. This periodical is intended to be “a monthly record of improvements in sanitary science, and hygiene, new medicines, newer or better methods of removing disease, advancements made in social science, domestic economy, new inventions, statistics, and improvements for the farm, garden, orchard, and household.” The present number contains one or two original articles, and a great many extracts from various sources ; and the matter under both divisions is interesting and instructive. Whether the proprietors are not too ambitious in their aims remains to be seen, but at all events, with so many competitors in the same line, or rather lines — for their programme includes a number of subjects — they, have an exceedingly arduous task before them. To make the work a success it will have to be largely original, and, in a place like Wanganui, that is just where the difficulty will arise. However, the present number is a very creditable production, and as the proprietors state that they are prepared to put up with a pecuniary loss at starting, there is hope that the new periodical may maintain its ground, and eventually obtain a colonial circulation. There can be no question about the utility of the production, provided the promises made in this issue are carried out. The Governor’s Salary. — We extract the following from the Evening Post, of the 11th instant :— We are glad to see that notice has been given in Parliament of a question whether the Government will introduce this session, a bill reducing the salaries to be paid to future Governors of this colony ? We hope the answer will be in the affirmative, and that no time will be lost in introducing such a measure, which would be entirely consistent with the general retrenchment now being carried out. There is no valid reason why the salary should not be reduced by one-half, or at least by one-third, and in the present straitened circumstances of the colony we can no longer afford to pay £7500 a year for services which in other Australian colonies are deemed adequacy remunerated by £3500 to £5000 per annum. The present interregnum affords a very convenient opportunity for effecting this reform, and we notice by our telegrams to-day that Mr Berry has already set the example in Victoria. While we are by no means admirers of Berryism generally, we cordially approve the Victorian Premier’s action in this respect. We hope to see a substantial reduction in this direction made during the present session. The Unemployed. — Up to the 18th March last, Government has spent on labour and materials for the unemployed in the South Island, £81,350. The expenditure is accounted for thus :— Paroa, £1500 ; Weka Pass, £15,000 ; Albury Downs, £8000 ; Hindon, £35,350 ; Windsor, £21,500. The School Committee. — Mrs Nixon’s salary was reduced to 20s, instead of 25s as stated in our report of the late meeting.

The Rinking Tournament. — The Drill Hall was crowded last night, on the occasion of the Rinking Tournament. The course was ten times round the hall. Mr J. Bates kindly consented to act as handicapper, and Mr Kohn as timekeeper. The following is the result :— W. Moore (scratch), 2min 7secs ; Lundon (40yds), 2min 12secs ; Turner (10yds), 2min 15secs ; Hackett (45yds), 2min 15secs ; T. Pawson, (scratch), 2min 15secs ; T. Bell (25yds), 2min 18secs ; T. Davis (30yds), 2min 18secs ; C. V. Powell (25yds), 2min 20secs ; Peachy (40yds), 2min 20secs. Mr Moore, therefore, was declared the winner, and awarded the prize, namely, a pair of roller skates. A very pleasant evening was spent, to the enjoyment of which the excellent playing of the City Rifle Band, under Bandmaster McGovern, greatly contributed. Zealandia Entertainment. — There was a much better house last night at the Princess Theatre, and the audience by their frequent applause showed clearly that they thoroughly enjoyed the bill of fair provided for them. We feel sure the theatre would have been crowded had there not been counterattractions in the rinking tournament and the anniversary meeting of the Good Templars. A special feature in last night’s performance was the introduction by Mr Sidney Colville of an hour of his Album of Oddities. We cannot stay to particularise the various items, but must content ourselves with saying that every one of them was excellent, and proved Mr Colville to be a thorough master of his business. Mr Wolf, R.A.M., the pianist of the Company, is a player of great merit, and, in spite of the miserable state of the piano, achieved wonders. His rendering of “Auld Lang Syne,” with variations, was exceptionally good. Before the last scene of the panorama, the lecturer read out the various conundrums which had been sent in to compete for the gold watch offered as a prize for the best on “The Zealandia Exhibition.” There were nearly thirty, and the choice was left to the audience, who selected the following, sent in under the nom de plume of “Cosmos:” — Who first alluded to the Zealandia Exhibition in the Pacific ? Answer — The little midshipman, who said to Captain Cook, “I ‘Zee land ’ere’ (Zealandia).” The Okarito Bush. — Mr Martin O’Hara, the proprietor of the Temperance Hotel in Ridgway-street, and for years a well-known and respected resident in Westland, has just received the following telegram with reference to the new rush at Mapouriki, from a gentleman in business at Hokitika :— “Would not advise to come. N o definite news to hand. When good news arrives will wire.” We may add that the sender of this telegram is a person who, from his position, would be certain to be in possession of the latest intelligence, and that he is thoroughly trustworthy. We have been also shown a letter, written only a few days ago by another business man, who is at present in Hokitika. He says — “I do not see any change for the better here, and it is hard to say how the people are getting a living. There is some talk of a rush to Okarito. There are a few claims on gold, but it is not very rich, nor is it known yet how far it will extend ; but the people are coming from the other side [Canterbury the writer means] already, and I believe there are a good many on the Christchurch road, tramping overland.” We notice that the subject of shipping the unemployed off to Okarito in the Stella, has been suggested at a meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Committee, and its consideration postponed for a week. If anything of the kind is done, it will be a shameful act, both as regards the men sent, and the inhabitants of the place where they are being sent to. Let Wellington have the courage and decency to support its own share of paupers, and not send them about the colony to be a charge on other people. Candahar. — The following description of Candahar will be read with great interest at the present moment. Candahar (or Kandahar), the capital of Central or Southern Afghanistan, is situated about 200 miles to the southwest of Cabul, in lat. 32 deg 37 min N., and long. 66 deg 30 min E., and at an elevation of 3484 feet above the level of the sea. It is in the form of an oblong square, while all the streets run straight and cut one another at right angles. At the point of intersection there is a large dome (charsu) fifty yards in diameter. The population is variously estimated at from 25,000 to 100,000. It is a place of great commerce, trading with Bombay, Herat, Bokhara, Samarcand, &c. Amongst its permanent residents there is a large proportion of Afghans, chiefly of the Dooraanee tribe, than any other city of Afghanistan. About two miles to the northward rises a precipitous rock, crowned by a fortress impregnable to everything but heavy artillery. Here, amid all the disasters of the Afghan war, the British maintained their ground. Ned Kelly. — Kelly’s demeanour in the train going to Beechworth was more extraordinary than at first reported. His hatred for Sergeant Steele was very marked. On the way up he sprang on him, and had to be thrown down on the seat by two constables. At Euroa he looked out of the train and pointed to a fence, saying, “That’s where Steve Hart hung up his horse when he saw the d——d policeman coming. The fool passed him, and Steve Hart said good day to him, but he did not drop to him.” At Glenrowan Kelly told Sergeant Steele he would like to have him in the bush, he would shoot him, and also that whilst in the bush he made his own powder. With regard to the proceedings at Jones’ hotel, he said he and Bryne started firing from the verandah, as Hart and Dan Kelly were too slow in coming. After the police had fired, they fired again from the chimney, and it was then that he was wounded. He then went into the house, and searched under the beds for Bracken to shoot him, but could not find him. Having done so, he walked out through the back door, and told Bryne he would break through the police line at daylight. When he commenced firing he expected the gang to come out and join him. Subsequently he said he was sorry that he and the others had not rushed the station when the train came in, for if they had done so he was certain they would have killed the whole party. Tracheotomy. — A rather unusual surgical operation — tracheotomy — was recently performed by Dr Philson upon a child in Dunedin. It appears that in some manner, which has not transpired, the child, which is only 14 months old, got a peanut into the windpipe. Dr Stockwell was at once called in, and used every possible means to get the little sufferer to cough, up the obstruction. As these efforts failed, and suffocation appeared inevitable, Dr Philson was sent for, who lost no time in operating, by cutting into the windpipe below the obstruction, and inserting a silver tube whereby the necessary supply of air is conveyed into the lungs. Dr Stockwell assisted and gave chloroform. The patient in by no means out of danger, and the success of the operation has yet to be seen.

Unregistered Dogs. — A brute which has lately made itself conspicuous by running after horses, and generally causing annoyance to the public, was yesterday executed without the intervention of judge and jury. The police gave him plenty of strychnine, and threaten to serve all his unregistered tribe in the same manner. We hope they will! The Native Commission. — The Evening Chronicle says :— “It is gratifying to learn that the recommendations contained in the third report of the West Coast Native Commissioners meets with the cordial approval of Sir George Grey and the large party who usually act under his leadership. It is understood that the bill which is to give effect to the proposals is based entirely upon the recommendations of the third report, and has been prepared by the Commission, those gentlemen being considered best able to embody their own ideas in a statutory form. All real friends of the Natives are anxious that the recommendations of the Commissioners shall be carried out as a whole, not by piecemeal.” Picton Coal. — The Evening Post of the 10th instant has the following :— “In reference to the recent discovery of coal at Picton, some further particulars are furnished to us by Captain Fiske. It appears that the discovery was not due to a landslip, as at first stated, but was the result of careful prospecting on the part of Mr Fell at Blenheim, who had been working in the locality for about 18 months. The seam of coal is said to be 14 feet thick, and crops out on the side of a hill close to deep water. It should therefore be very easy to work. Should the discovery prove all that is anticipated there is no doubt that it will be of great value to Wellington as well as Picton. It in estimated that the coal could be brought across for 7s 6d a ton freight, and assuming that it could be sold at the pit’s mouth for 12s, which would be a fair average price, it could be delivered on the Wellington wharf at £1 per ton. Captain Fiske brought over a small sample this morning, which can be seen by those interested in the matter at Messrs Turnbull’s office. It is intended to send over a cargo of about 50 tons to Wellington as an experimental shipment.