LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9198, 19 August 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wellington Normal School. — This school will be opened on the 1st September. West Coast Railway. — It is rumoured that attempts are about to be made to form a company to construct the West Coast Railway under the District Railways Act. The Wakaia Seat. — It is said that Mr W. L. Rees will be a candidate for the Waikaia seat in the Grey interest. If the electors in those parts require a wind bag surely they can find one nearer home. Messrs Kohn and Co’s Cup. — This fine Cup, given by Messrs Kohn and Co., of Wellington, to be fired for by the Naval Brigade of that city, was won on Saturday last by Seaman Ingle, with a total of 48 points at the 200, 400, and 500 yards ranges. The Missing Seaman. — Nothing has been heard concerning the man who was missed from the Wallabi on Thursday last, and who is supposed to have fallen overboard. We trust that the search in the river, ordinarily made in such cases, has not been neglected. Municipal Election. — An election will be held on Thursday, the 9th September, for one Councillor to fill the extraordinary vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr H. Hurley. Nominations are to be left at Mr Villiers’ cigar divan, Ridgway-street, by noon on Monday, the 30th of August. Mail Notice. — Mails for the Australian Colonies and Tasmania, per Te Anau, close at 11.30 a.m. to-morrow at the Bluff. Ordinary telegrams will be received for transmission till 9.30 a.m. on the 20th, at the Telegraph Office, Wanganui. Urgent telegrams will be received till 10.30 a.m. on the same day. New Periodical. — We have to acknowledge the receipt of the first number of a monthly publication entitled The New Zealand Pastoral and Agricultural News. Messrs Moss, Raine & Co., Grey-street, Wellington, are the proprietors. It is a very creditable production, and will be specially useful to intending settlers. Sunday School Union. — We beg to remind our readers that Mr Tucker will deliver his promised lecture on Sunday School Work, in the Wesleyan Schoolroom this evening. It is expected his Worship the Mayor will take the chair. After the lecture a meeting will be held to take the preliminary steps for forming a branch of the Sunday School Union in Wanganui. Seamen's Union. — Mr George Songster, a delegate from the Victorian Seamen's Union, has arrived in Wellington. He intends calling a meeting shortly for the purpose of forming a branch, and afterwards proceeds to Auckland for the same purpose. A branch has been established at Port Chalmers numbering 200 members. Wellington Unemployed. — The good people of Wellington are still harping on the expedient of getting rid of their unemployed by shipping them off to Okarito in the Stella. They are fully determined not to have the poor always with them — if they can help it. If the Stella be employed at this work, she ought to take with her a a couple of months’ provisions for the men, and should wait and bring back those who are unsuccessful. A. and P. Association. — We are glad to learn that the Association have determined to make strenuous exertions to get rid of the debt — about £200 — with which they are burdened. It is intended to ask for special subscriptions to be applied to the above purpose, and Mr Peat has promised that when £180 have been collected he will give his cheque for £20. We feel sure that so meritorious and influential a body as the A. and P. Association will find no difficulty in inducing both town and country to come to their assistance. We may mention that Mr Hislop, who has taken one of the lists, has so far been very successful. H.M.S. Wolverine on a Reef. — The s.s. Southern Cross, from Levuka, has arrived at Auckland, bringing dates to the 8th. She brings a cargo of island produce and a number of passengers. H.M.S. Wolverine arrived in Levuka on the 5th from Taviuni. She struck on a reef at the north-east of Goro. She is said to be considerably damaged, and had six feet of water in her hold, and and was reported to be making three feet per hour.

Submarine Earthquakes. — The captain of the barque Rodell Bay, which arrived in Wellington on the 14th inst., from Glasgow, reports that while about one hundred and fifty miles from land, on the 1st and 5th instant, everyone on board experienced shocks of earthquake. Invercargill High School. — The report read at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the High School, showed that the cost of the Girls’ High School during the half year was £772, and the fees amounted to £387. The average attendance was 43, the cost of each pupil being nearly £36 yearly. The Board unanimously resolved on reductions in the staff. Rowing. — Hanlan (says the Evening Telegram) will not enter a rowing shell for two months. He is picking up in flesh, and his strained sinews are relaxing. He said he could have beaten Ross, at Providence, in the recent regatta if he had persevered, but the agony was so great that he was afraid of permanently disabling himself. He says that should a pain seize him in the race with Trickett, in November, he would row the race out if he were to know he would be a cripple for life. Killed on the Railway. — At the inquest on Duncan Livingstone, who died from the effects of an accident at the railway, station, Papakura, a verdict of accidental death was returned, and a rider added that no blame was attachable to the railway officials. The evidence showed that deceased had been drinking, and being prevented on that account by the station-master from getting on to the up-country train for his home at Pukekohe, had, after dark, lain down between the station platform and rail to sleep. Awakened by the passing down of a goods train, which did not stop at the station, he had instinctively put out his legs on the rails, and the last carriage had gone over them. A Strange Sickness. — The Evening Chronicle of Monday last has the following :— A strange and sudden sickness has seized the crew, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, and seven of the poor fellows are down in their bunks suffering very acute pain. Neither the exact nature of the malady nor its cause appears to be known as yet ; but it is supposed that they have eaten some meat that has become poisoned in some way or other. Whatever has been the cause there is no doubt as to the sufferings of the men, and five new hands had to be shipped in the meantime, and Captain Fairchild is on the lookout for a couple more men to take the place of those laid up. It is to be hoped due inquiry will be made to ascertain the cause of so extraordinary an occurrence. The Bridegroom’s Return. — Some little excitement was caused in our generally quiet township (says the Wairarapa Standard) on Thursday evening on the arrival of Mr F. H. Wood and his bride from Wanganui. On arriving at his house they were met by numberless small fry, who had assembled evidently with the intention of indulging in the harmless pastime known as tin-kettling. From the time of the arrival of the happy couple people began to assemble round about the premises up to about half-past 8, when the volunteer band, under Mr Linn, took up a position in front of the house, and discoursed two lively and refreshing airs, which had the desired effect of bringing out the bride and bridegroom, when the latter in pathetic terms heartily thanked the assemblage for the honor they had conferred upon himself and Mrs Wood. He then invited all present to the auction rooms, where abundance of refreshments had been provided. The band played in excellent style several tunes, after which Mr Wood again thanked the public of Greytown for the great and unexpected pleasure, assuring them that no endeavour on his part would be found wanting to retain the good feeling now expressed. The band then played “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” and the crowd dispersed.