LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 26 October 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wbatiieu Telechum. — Captain Edwin wirca as follows : — lndications of a further fall of the glass. Pboop ob a Will — Yesterday morning, before his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, m Chambers, Mr Hutchison applied for a probate of the will of Miss Margaret Drysdalo Nicoll, of Taylorville. Probate was granted, the estate being sworn under £100. A New Thustee. — In Chambers yesterday, before Mr Justice Richmond, Mr Barnicoat applied for an order appointing Mr T. D. Cummins trustee for the Fire Brigade property, in the room of Mr T. Powell, deceased. The application was granted. Theexistingtrustecsare now Messrs W. H. Watt, Joseph. Robinson, and T. D. Cummins. SiAuauTEKiKo MAicn. — A return killing' match will take place this afternoon at halfpast 3 o'clock, between the recent combatants Ealey and Formal. The sheep and oxen will be duly executed and dressed at Mr Perrett's slaughter yards, Aramoho, and the match is for £10 per side. Wo understand that betting at present is about 3 to 1 upon Pereival. Fihe Brigade Station. — We are glad to see that Mr Spurdle, the contractor for erecting the new Fire Brigade station in St. Hill-street, is going vigorously to work. Tho framowork is already up, the necessary timber on the ground, and a very fair idea of tliis ornamental addition to the town may be gathered by the general public from the progress already made. Ay Obxamestal G-ardejt. — It is quite delightful in these stern and prosaic days to find a Borough Council combining the uscfid with the ornamental. Yet this happy combination will be found by anyone who pays a visit to tho Council offices in St. Hill-street, in front of which is a well-kept garden, in which the roses and azaleas are fast bursting into bloom. Small Bills of Sale. — The Graphic of September 4th mates the following remarks : — Bills of sale as security for small amounts will very soon be numbered with the past. By the Act which comes into effect on November Ist all such bills for sums under £30 will be absolutely void, nor will any bill of sale henceforth givo the holdor a prior claim against other creditors, or against the levier oi rates and taxes. A Judicial Opinion. — In the course of the discussion yesterday upon the best means of recovering a just debt from a Maori who happened to be one of the grantees of a block of land, Mr Justice Richmond said that in the course of his extensive experience he had found that a creditor coidd nover obtain his claim unless he attended the distribution of the money amongst the tribe. And, even then, his Honor remarked (with unerring accuracy), if tho funds fell into the hands of a prominent woman of the hapu, the odds were strongly against any one of the male sex obtaining a share. Queer Amusement. — Tho Rangitikei Advocate of Monday last appears in a new character as a humourist. Mr Betts, whilst acting as clerk of the scales, met with a painful accident at the Trotting Meeting, an accident which the Advocate feelingly and accurately describes, although it is good enough to state that the incident was " amusing," and that " things were not so bad as they might have been." Mr Bett? is one of the beat tempered men in the world j but our complacent contemporary can hardly expect a man who faces society with two black eyes and a court-plastered nose to look upon the recent Trotting Meeting as a source of amusement. Cjiicket.— The Wanganui Cricket Club has arranged a fif tccn-a-side match amongst their own members for Saturday afternoon next, play to commence at 2 o'clock precisely. The j teams have been selected by Messrs l r ry and Kennedy, practice captains of the club, and sue as follows : — Mr .Fry's team — S. Powell, J. Lockett, W. Bruce, E. Sunley, J. Notmnn, C. Aamodt, W. Rodwell, W. H. Chatfield, 11. Mussen, J. Cresswell, R. Craig, J. Marshall, H. A. B. Hurley, K. Sim, W. H. Fry j emergency, J. H. Keesing. Mr Kennedy's team— H. P, White, A. Kennedy, E. Loeketl, L. Chaldicott, H. M. B. Marshall, A. Gray, W. Mooro, 0. Langley, T. W. Ferry, J. Young, D. Kitchen, jun., W. P. Palmer, J. Edwards, W. Johnson, W. Foster; emergency, D. Don. The3o teams have been selected with a view to devi-'lope the talent of tho dub and disclose the full strength of the members. A punctual attendance of the players is therefore very desirable. We understand that the return match between thu Wanganui Club and the St. John's eleven, arranged for Saturday, tho 4th November, has beea postponed to a later date.

ITibe Bkicudb.— The firet competition of all the companies of this brigade for the t officers' medals will talce place at- 8 o'clock i this evening, upon Taupo Quay. Every c company is entitled to compete, with five 1 men in the squad. As the annual com- 1 petition is so rapidly approaching, the re- < suit of this contest should form an index to I some of tho ultimate results. i Natal Brigade.— The seamen and ofll- ' cers of this popular Volunteer company held a boat drill last night in their fine pinnace, tho Raumai. About 35 rank and file of tho brigado and some 12 of tho band were in attendance, under command of Lieutenant Cross. The company went down the river in consort with the Huia as far as the Landguard Bluff, and returned to Cochran's wharf. The band, under tho direction of Mr Mark Neill, played a selection of very suitable tunes, and hailed tho departure of the Huia with " Auld Lang Syne." Lieutenant Cross and tho other officers of tho Naval Brigade are to bo congratulated on the activity just now developed in their Volunteer enterprise. G-batepuh Pubhoan s. — The beer-tax has disappeared from tho list of Victorian imports, the G-overnment having carried out thd promise of their predecessors and secured its abolition. The Melbourne correspondent of the Launceston Examiner writes : — Tho temperance members made a vigorous but unsuccessful opposition to the remission, but the division placed them in a decided minority. I should not bo surprised to find tho tax re-imposed next session. Meanwhile the publicans are jubilant, and one of their number has proposed that they should each devota the amount that they would have had to contribute to the revenue for one month's duty towards a fund in aid of the Melbourne charities. Hon. Ivo Bitoe's Team.— The European Mail gives the following list of the above cricketing team, now en route for Australia : — Hon. I. Bligh (Kent), captain ; Mr Q-. B. Studd (Middlesex and Cambridge University) ; Mr C. T. Studd (Middlesex and Cam. bridge University) ; Mr A. Q-. Steel (Lancashire and Cambridge University, late) ; Mr 0. F. H. Leslie (Middlesex and Oxford University) ; Mr W. W. Bead (Lancashire) ; Mr Gh F. Vernon (Middlesex) ; Mr M. P. Lucas (Sussex) ; Mr E. F. S. Tylecoto (Kent) ; with W. Bates (Yorkshire) ; A. G-. Barlow (Lancashire) ; W. Barns (Notts) ; and F. Morley (Notts). In batting the team is undeniably strong, the captain (presuming he is well enough to take part in the various contests), the brothers Studd, Steel, I Lucas, Head, Leslie, Vernon, and, indeed, | tho whole of the team, with the exception, perhaps, of Morley, being in the first-class I rank of English batsmen. Imprisoned in Default.— Mr Ward's rule as to sending persons to prison who fail to appear to answer judgment summonses bore decided fruit yesterday. A native named Matanganui (a prominent man of the Ngararu hapu) was arrested and convoyed to gaol for 27 days, that being the total amount of imprisonment he was sentenced to, upon three summonses, in Ilia absence. The summoning creditors were Messrs Kells and Knyvett, of Waitotara, and so little did the defendant know of the charge against him that he could not have been arrested had he not been in town with other natives of his tribe upon another legal matter. Matanganui, who is a chief of his hapu, will have time, whilst in the Wanganui Gaol, to reflect upon the vanity of human greatness, and tho unerring accuracy of the law. The DEitAND foe Land in Canada. — A correspondent writes t» aHomo paper that a i largo hotel, The Canadian Pacific, 340 feet frontage, on two streets, and five storeys high, is being erected in Winnipeg. Telegraphic construction is being pushed on rapidly along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, west of Hat Creek. The Federal Bank opened a branch in Winnipeg on the Ist Juiio. Brandon, which was surveyed as a town last year, now contains over 4000 inhabitants. The Canadian Pacific Bailway Company, itt order to meet the demand for land by tho groat influx of actual settlers, have withdrawn from sale for tho present largo tracts to colonisation companies and other corporations. Emigrants are being sent forward from Winnipeg without delay to their destination on the western prairie section. A large force of land examiners has been sent out by tho Canadian Pacific Bailway Land Commissioner to inspect and. report upon the lands allotted to the company. A Remaekabie Request. — As Mr Justic • Richmond not very obscurely hinted, the London philanthropists must boeithor dupes or humbugs in their relations to tho Muori race. The bishops and deans who put their names to a benevolent appeal on behalf of the poor Maori should have witnessed an incident which took place in the Chamber sittings of the Supreme Court this morning. A defendant named Moetapnpa, having been sentenced to pay a trilling sum of .-6400 odd by monthly instalments, applied to the Court, through the medium of Colonel McDonnell, the interpreter; for a contribution in aid ! Imagination can no doubt conceive the appearance of the interpreter, who seemed thus to bo committed to a sugar and blanket policy; but, fortunately for the native, his singular request was not conveyed to the Judge. Mr Justice Richmond is a good-humoured man, but, for all that, the consequences to that impertinent native might have been too terrible to contemplate. Obito-aht. — Another very old settler, says the Evening Post, has passed away at the ripe age of 87 years. Mr. Alexander Divlgcty arrived at Wellington in the ship Arab from Bristol, England, in October, 1841, under the auspices of the Ken- Zealand Company. He has lived in or near the Wniwetu, Hutt, for the la3t 41 years, where he occupied his time in farming pursuits. Ho was very much respected by all who knew him. He, in common with ..the early settlers of the Hutt, had to enduro tho hardships of the native war, together with the depression that resulted therefrom. Being a man of a retiring disposition, he never mixed up with any public or political matters. By his own request, ho will be interred at the Scotch Church burial-ground, of which he was one of the original purchasers, and about 33 years ago he assisted in clearing off the bush in order to make it suitable for the purpose it U now used for. He leaves a widow and three children and several grandchildren to lament his dca f h. G-beat Robbery ob Bonds. — A robbery of a large amount of money in the form of .bonds has taken place in London, accompanied by violence on tho part o£ the thief, the whole circumstances of the case being of an atrocious character. It appears that Mr Saritch, a native of Odessa, recently became entitled, upon the death of his brother, to Russian and Italian bonds to the value of £15,180. The securities were deposited in the Bank of England. A few days ago Mr Savitch arrived in England for the purpose of claiming his property. Not being acquainted with the English language, his first step was to secure the services of an interpreter, and, apparently without any inquiry as to the man's trustworthiness, he engaged a Russian named John Novitsky in this capaciiy. Accompanied by Novitsky and a solicitor, Mr Savitch went to the Bank of England, and was put in possession of tho bonds. He then left his solicitor with the expressed intention of taking the documents to tho offices of the National Safe Deposit Company for better security. Itseems, however, that presumably over-ruled by his interpreter, Mr Saviteh abandoned this intention, and was induced by Novitsky to accompany him to his lodgings in Blandford-street, Dorset Square. Arrived there the two Russians had supper, and then sat down to a game of chess. At the conclusion of tho game Mr Savitch rose to return to his lodgingß, when Novitsky sprang upon him, seizing him by tho throat. After having nearly strangled his employer, the interpreter seized the bag containing the bonds, and made off with his booty. As soon as Mr Savitch recovered his presence of mind ho went to the nearest police station, and steps were immediately taken to stop the payment of the bonds. It would seem, however, that they arc payable to bearer. A reward of £100 has been offered for the apprehension of the absconder.

A G-eand Saie. — At very grea'tlengfch in f another column will be found an announce- • ment of an extensive auction of stock of all descriptions at longbench, in the Canterbury The salesmen are Messrs H. Matson and Co., and a mere glance at their published announcement will show how various aro their operations, and how Btrongly they appeal to the business in- | stincts of settlers in this district. Mn3 Hajipson's Mission. — To those who contend that the influence of religion is null and void, it should be a significant roplthat no less than 120 ladies met Mrs Hanr' son in Christian conversation and discusH i as to the best means of promoting mie ■ . .1 work in public meeting aud the homo. Their meeting was held in the Academy of Music yesterday afternoon. In refereneo to the exertions of the ladies on behalf of such a good cause, we may s.ay that at Taranaki (where it is generally believed there was a very fertile field for labour), the average attendance of ladies at the meetings was 1 about sixty. In this district great intorest has been taken in Mrs Hampson's mission, and the inquiries made as to her work and purpose aro endless. In Wanganui she has an ample field, and a thoroughly sympathetic community. Attack by Lions.— A deplorable accident has occurred at Cannes to a member of Sanger's circus troupe. A negro, who had replaced the regular lion-tamer, who was wounded at Preyjus, was entering tho lion's cage, when his foot slipped, and he fell on his face. The lions, with their natural instinct, rushed upon the prostrate man, and repeatedly tore his flesh, a young one especially holding him with persistence, and tearing his thigh. An assis- j tant rushed to his rescue and repelled four of tho lions with a pitchfork, but the fifth refused to let go till a red-hot bar had been thrust down his mouth, when the unfortunate negro, still conscious, dragged himself out of the cage,'and was carried off bleeding profusely. The spectators meanwhile were almost paralysed with horror, which was soon changed into panic when it was perceived that tho door was open for at least thirty seconds while the negro was being carried off. Tho lions might have sprung upon the assembly. A rush was made to the entrances, and the alarm which spread outside was only ended, by the opportune action of an assistant who slammed the door of the cage. The poor negro having reached the hospital, though accompanied by a doctor, was refused admission because lio was -without an order. He was taken bock to the circus, and again to tho hospital, where he was finally admitted. This gross mismanagement cost him his life, for ho died from the loss of blood entailed during the double journey. This is tho third accident which has occurred in this troupe. Defective Fire-i,ai>dbbs. — The Christchurch Press gives the following particulars fo the tests applied to new fire-ladders recently imported from America, one of which ladders, breaking during previous practice, caused injuries to one of tho firemen : — ln tho first test the ends of tho ladders wero laid on trestle, and three or four fairly weighty men stood on them and walked between the two ends. The ladders, the sides of which are made of American spruce, with hickory rounds, whilst bending considerably in the centre, stood the test admirably. The next test was rearing two lengths of ladder against the wall of a building. Three men ascended the ladder, which, whilst showing a little deflection, gavo no signs of tho breakage which afterwards occurred. A wheelbarrow containing iron to the woight of 5361 b, or equal about to three men of 12st each, was next attached by means of a pulley and block to one of tho rungs about 2ft above the joint of the two ladders. This, also, the ladder stood well, tlioughbent into nearly tho quarter of a circle. Tho weight was then removed and three men ascended. One was on the lower ladder, one about two or threo feet above the joint of the second with the first, and the third nearly at the top. They were perfectly still, when, without the least warning, the side of the second ladder split from one of the rungs on ono side and also on the other, tin-owing the men heavily to the ground. The uppermost one, strange to say, lighted safely on his feet, and the lower one, who had not a great wny to fall, also escaped unhurt. Tho ono in the middle fared worst, as he fell with his side on the barrow containing the iron, weights, and was bruised samewhat, though not severely. On examination of the fracture, it was found to have started at a knot close by the rung, tho rungs evidently being too thick for the side supports. This was manifested by the fact that a little way higher up there was a crack right through the wood proceeding from tho rung. The fracture was a clean split off. Tho ladders hare all been condemned.