LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 27 October 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Selling Out.— The [ Railway Hotel is again in. the market, the present lessee, MrMcHhone, -wishing to take his departure. The establishment is well stocked and furnished, and a purchaser no doubt will easily be fcnvnd. Eesident Magistrate s Cotjbt. —Mr Ward presided, at this tribunal yesterday, but had simply to fine an inebriate named George Butler the usual penalty of So, with the customary alternative of 24 hours' im: . prißomnent. J ■'...'. \ A Cbtteli Judge. — A Manchester paper warns members of the .'fourth .estate that it is a highly criminal offence to read a newsi paper in Court. A reporter at the Liverspool Assizes was breaking the monotony of ' existence by ; glancing through the latest ( news, and Mr Justice North ordered him out of Court in consequence. This is a matter which should be added to " things not generally known." Shootin&Matoh. — Theinteresting niatcfr between the Wanganui City Bines and the Wellington City Rifles is, after all, not to fall tlirough. Mr Astbury, the energetic secretary of our local" men, received a telegram yesterday to say that the champions of the Empire City will fire to-day, referees on Wanganui's behalf to be agreed npon. As a matter of fact, our City Bines' team have already put together a score which the Wellington men must find a decided stumbling block. Mbs Hajipson's Engagements. — This evening, at 7.30, in the Trinity Wcsleyan schoolroom, Mrs Hampson will hold a 1 workers' meeting. To this aro invited the members of the voluntary choir, the stewards, i and in fact every one else who is interested i in this important, missionary work, On , Sunday evening next, at the Princess Theatre, at 7.30 o'clock, this devoted and talented lady will deliver her first publio address, to which all comers are earnestly i invited.

I New Knights or tub Hammer. — We learn that Mr J. J. Crawford, of tliis town, is about to join Mr J. R. Lomax in partnership as auctioneers, and stock and atation agents. Tho new firm will, we believe, operate in tlio Rangitikei and Manawatu districts. Salvage Corps. — Wo aro requested by Mv Drew, the captain of tho Wanganui Fire Police and falvage Corps, to ask all tho members to appear, in full uniform, at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon next, at tho corner of the Avenue and Taupo Quay. The captain wishes every man to do his utmost to] promote the success of tho Sire Brigade anniversary. Burial Certificates. — Mr Justice Richmond incidentally alluded yesterday to the grave doubts existing as to the validity of burial certificates of Maoris. His Honor was referring to the case of mortality in tho Putiki pa, where, as he remarked, a native may pass out of the hands of the dulyappointed Levite, without the proper unction being obtainable at the moment. Regatta Committee. — A general meeting of the Begatta Committee, and boating supportors generally, is to ho held this evening at Ferry's Occidental Hotel for the purpose of receiving the report and balancesheet. A largo attendance is much to be desired. We understand that a satisfactory balance in hand will be shown, nnd that most valuable and important suggestions will be made to aquatic men for their future operations. Our Water Supply. — Those antiquated individuals to whom the Supremo Court is a matter to be viewed with reverent aspect and bated breath, must have deeply sympathised with Mr Justice Richmond when, on Monday last, lie sat in judgment upon a decanter of Wanganui water. His Honor evidently did not like the green deposit at the bottom of the decanter, which had not been properly cleaned out for at least a month, and it is to be feared that not even the soothing explanation of Mr Woon will relieve the Judge of a horrible suspicion about the Wanganui water supply. Fire Brigade. — Competitions between the various companies took place last night to decide the possessorship of the officers' medals. The hose and reel conditions were duly carried out on Taupo Quay, and with the following result : — No. 1 Company — Ist water, 39 2-sth sec i 2nd water, 54sec. No. 2 Company, Foreman Bush — Ist water, 40sec ; 2nd water, 63sec. No. 3 Company, Foreman Thurlow — lat water, 35sec ; 2nd water, 57sec, No. 4 Company, Foreman Clarke — No run. No. 5 Company, Foreman Woods — Ist water, 34 2-sth sec. At the conclusion of the proceedings Captain Cummins adjudged the No. 5 Company to be the winners, and three hearty cheers were given for the successful competitors. Baptist Church. — A very pleasant and successful gathering of tho members and friends of the Baptist Church was hold bn Wednesday evening last at the Academy of Music. About 70 persons including some young people attended the gathering, and after a social tea a very pleasant meeting was . held. Mr Gilbert Carson presided, and a statement of the progress of tho infant church was read by Mr Gaze, the church secretary. Addresses were delivered by Messrs Harper, Tucker, David Bell, and Caldors, and several hymns were sung during the evening. Mr Leonard presided at tho harmonium, and to him, and to the ladies who had been so instrumental in promoting the success of tthe gathering, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded. Special Jurymen. — The lucrative pay of ten shillings per case for special jurymen does not seem to have attractions for everybody. In fact, claims for exemption yesterday morning were tolerably numerous. Mr S. H. Drew pleaded tho Act which allows a •fireman to escape ; and Mesrrs Edward Churton and W. J. Smith were let off in consequence of their having passed the critical period of three-score years. Two special jurymen had not been served with their stimmonses, and did not put in an appearance, and another gentleman pitcously complained that he was Drought to the Court both as a witness and a juryman. His Honor deeply sympathised with tho last named individual, and graciously allowed him to give his testimony instead of siiting in judgment upon it. Old Friends.— Judges, like other well : "known- people, have undoubtedly long memories, and therefore it was not singular that Mr Justice Richmond, when a long and very confused legal document was being read yesterday morning, should have recognised the names of certain long established Maori litigants. His Honor (who evidently dearly loves his little joke) gravely informed the Bar that lawyers could not be better occupied than in settling such Maori disputes out of Court. No doubt, continued his Honor, it was not so pleasant for Counsel to do so, as their nainea did not appear in Court. That these judical remarks will take due effect there is every hope, inasmuch as Mr Duncan, (who was addressing the Court when the Judge made his remarks) , expressed an entire agreement with the Judge and wished that things were as his Honor desired them to bo. Dismissed. — A curious court-martial has just been; held at Toulon, and M. de la Bandiniere,* a lieutenant in the Marine Artillery, has been condemed to six months' imprisonment and to be dismissed from the service for being absent without leave. The curiouspart of it is that the lioutenant was not present (at the trial, for ho has been dead for more* than two months, having been drowned while ; on a boating excursion. He fell overboard and was carried out to 39a, but the of Marine having no absolute proof .of M. de la Bandiniere's death, was compelled to order a court-martial, since, the body not having been found, the officers pay still went on, and his name remained on the list of promotions. It appears that a sentence of courtmartial, dismissing the lieutenant from the service, is the only means which can prevent his heira and executors from claiming the pay due to him from the date of his disappearance to the day of the recovery of his body. South Island Trunk Railway. — Tho Evening Post says : — The Commissioners are to commence their investigations at once, but we understasd that no definite period has been named for tho completion of their labours. The selection of Commissioners appears on the whole to be a fair one. The Commissioners are men who should be able to take a broad and impartial view of tho important question submitted to them. Still we should have greatly preferred seeing the matter relegated to two or three Commissioners from one of tho neighbouring colonies, who would have been certain to approach the subject from all local or political bias. However, the choice has been made and the Commission appointed. It now behoves all thbso who do not desire to see the interests, and indeed the unity) of the colony sacrificed at the shrine of a selfish little clique in Christchurch to take care that the full merits of the case and aH the available evidence are fairly brought under the attention of the Royal Commission. : .'' . ' . Tasmanian Justice.— Some one has sent " iEgles" a series of newspaper' cuttings, illustrating tho lawless administration of law in Tasmania. Amongst them is one story which has an amusing aspect. The District Constable at a township on the Huon lost 0 gander. His wife imagined Bhe recognised in tho poultry yard of a publican, and the D. C. proceeded to make a seizure. Warned by the landlord that he was making a mistake, he is reported to have said that he could swear to his- gander" among five hundred," andcarriedofithebird. Thehvndlord threatened proceedings- for felonious abstraction of his property. • Tho sagacious constable was, however, . beforehand, with him, and in a very short time the landlord was lodged in gaol on a charge of felony The case was remanded for three days baij being refused. Now the wisdom of the anserine family is proverbial since tho days of ancient Rome, and this modern membei of it in the simplest way possible cleared up tho difficulty. About a quarter of an hour after the publican was remanded— the clearly identified gander laid aa. egg ! Bj the inferential testimony of this remarkable performance tho landlord was released or bail, and the charge against him/ -nfeg ultt inately Jield to be " not sustained." '