LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 7 November 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bank Holiday. — Thursday next being the Prince of Wales' Birthday will be observed in Wanganui as a bank holiday. Postal Hours. — On Thursday next, being the Prince of Wales' Birthday, the Post Office will be open merely from 9 to 10 in the morning and 7 to 8 in the evening. Orangemen's Soiree. — The brethren and friends of the L.O. Institution will loyally celebrate the Prince of Wales' Birthday by a soiree in the evening at the Academy of Music. City Rifles. — This company held a captain's parade and march out last night, and there was a fairly good attendance. It is officially notified that, unless the members all end all Government and captain's parades for the rest of the present year, they will be struck off the roll.

Tenders. — Contractors should not forget that tenders for the supply of gravel to the Corporation close to-day at noon. Wanganui Regatta. — The adjourned meeting of the Regatta Committee will be held at Ferry's Occidental Hotel on Friday evening next. A large attendance is desirable upon such an important subject. A. and P. Association. — The committee of this association will meet to-morrow afternoon at half-past 2 o'clock, at the offices of Mr Crawford, the secretary, to wind up the affairs of the recent show. Wanganui Rifles' Sports. — The council of the Wanganui Rifles held a meeting last night, and arranged to hold the eighth annual sports on Boxing Day, upon the racecourse, for the benefit of the band funds. Railway Time Table. — Attention is directed to the special excursion train to run to and from Waverley on Thursday next. Full particulars will be found in another column. The train will take passengers right up to the Grand Stand on the Waverley racecourse. Hyperion Troupe. — Mr Harry Power with Miss De Glorian, together with the dissolving views which have been of late going the round of the Manawatu and Rangitikei, will make their first appearance at Waverley on the race night, Thursday next ; Patea, Friday and Saturday ; Hawera, Monday and Tuesday next. Government Liberality. — Mrs Allen, the widow of the engine-driver who died suddenly on the Huia, has been invited by her late husband's brother to remove herself and her three fatherless children to his home at Nelson. She has accepted the invitation, and we understand that the Railway Department will pay the fares of herself and her children. A Slight Mistake. — The printer is responsible for our being made yesterday morning to say that the Wanganui Highway Board has issued a number of summonses for unpaid rates. It is really the Wangaehu Board which has taken that course, though there is of course no telling what its sister body may yet be reluctantly compelled to do. A Kindly Concession. — In consequence of the Drill Hall being required to-morrow night for the Tea Meeting in connection with Mrs Hampson's mission, the Naval Brigade (who had a parade fixed for that night) gave up its use, and instead of meeting there have arranged a boat drill for the same evening, the members to meet at 7.30 p.m. at Cochran's wharf. A Nasty Spill. — On Sunday afternoon last an accident happened to Mr McCannanan, late schoolmaster at Okoia, as he was riding between Patea and Waverley. His horse stumbled and threw him on to his left arm, which was severely injured, the first joint of the thumb of the left hand being nearly wrenched off. Mr McCannanan suffered great pain, but is progressing favourably towards recovery. Resident Magistrate's Court. — At this Court yesterday morning, before Col. McDonnell, J.P., Thomas Ewart was, on the information of Detective Benjamin, charged with unlawfully deserting his wife, Isabella, and his three children, under the age of fourteen years, at Waipawa, on or about the 30th January, 1882. Ewart was remanded until the following day, so that his case may be dealt with by the Resident Magistrate. Acclimatising Opposums. — Mr Fletcher Harrison, of Warrengate, has imported from Melbourne three young Victorian opposums, which he intends to turn out in an attempt to acclimatise them. The interesting strangers arrived on Sunday by the Stormbird, and were sent up yesterday afternoon by train to Mr Harrison, whose experiment will be watched with some interest. As the opposum is generally associated with a gum tree, the animals have evidently come to a neighbourhood where they should feel quite at home. Physiognomy. — The proper study of mankind is man, and accordingly Professor Hugo intends to give a lecture on physiognomy on Saturday night next, though he has not yet fixed where to deliver it. The professor has been lecturing with great success at Nelson, Wellington, and the West Coast, and we understand that his interesting subject is illustrated by valuable diagrams. Saturday night's lecture will be the first of a series to be given in Wanganui, and, from the reputation which Professor Hugo brings with him, it will be singular if the public do not warmly support him. Mrs Hampson's Arrangements. — The arrangements at present made for future services in connection with Mrs Hampson's mission are as follows :— The noon meeting will be continued all this week, and to-morrow at the theatre, and the other days at the Academy of Music. A young women's meeting will be held this evening at half-past seven in the theatre for the purpose of forming a prayer union, and to-morrow afternoon there will be the usual ladies' meeting, to be followed by the farewell tea in the Drill Hall. Due notice of other arrangements will be given. Alterations to Premises. — In consequence of the completion of the new store on Taupo Quay, Mr Freeman R. Jackson has no further use for the old one in the centre of his premises between the Avenue and St. Hill-street. The upper story of the store is being taken off, with a view to making the whole of the central premises one large covered space of equal height the whole length, and in all about 150 feet long. This will give Mr Jackson more space for his business, and for the convenience of the public attending his sales. The work is being carried out by Mr F. M. Spurdle, under the direction of Mr Wright, the architect. A Timely Caution. — In the course of her meeting last night, Mrs Hampson referred to certain statements which had most unwarrantably been made in her name, to the effect that it was not desirable for converts to join any of the existing churches. So far from that being her opinion, she hoped (if her influence counted as anything) that the week would not pass without all of those who had been saved by means of the present mission, joining one or other of the churches in Wanganui. In support of this opinion she instanced the case of certain converts elsewhere who, after the mission was ended, slipped away from the faith, and who in every case had failed to join a church in their town. "A Fancye Fayre." — To the aesthetic craze appears to have succeeded a medieval mania. Sunflowers and lilies have given place to Elizabethan shops and maypoles, and for the jargon of Oscar Wilde is substituted the venerable but eccentric spelling of three hundred years ago. The new movement finds its chief development in "fancye fayres," in which the shops, wares, people, and dresses of ye olden time are reproduced, and generally with marvellous accuracy. It was not to be expected that Wanganui should escape this sort of thing, inasmuch as Napier recently had a very vigorous attack of it. Accordingly on Boxing night, in the Drill Hall, a "fayre" will open, under the management of Mr Gibbs, the proceeds to be for the benefit of the Fire Brigade. Of course the novel scene will attract throngs in the holiday time. Only a Difference in Sex. — An amusing incident varied the monotony of the Hyperion Combination Company's existence at Bulls a few days ago. It is the custom of this company to photograph every town they visit, and add the slide to the collection shown by their dissolving views. Accordingly while Mr Harry Power was lecturing, a view was displayed which according to the programme before him ought to have been Cowes in the Isle of Wight. The lecturer, proceeded of course to describe the beauties of this fashionable watering place in glowing terms ; but the astonishment of the good people of Bulls may be imagined when they saw before their eyes a counterfeit presentment of Munro's store and Dalziell's hotel, in their own township ! Mr Power soon found out that the local slide had been interpolated, and with admirable sang-froid remarked to the audience that it couldn't much matter whether it was Bulls or Cowes — it was only a difference of sex. So he got out of the difficulty with flying colours.

Brief Mention. — In our notice of last week of the alterations to Messrs Wakefield and Hogg's premises, we should have added that Mr J. R. Wright was the architect. Kerbing. — We observe that the Corporation workmen are carrying out a very necessary work in replacing the rotten kerbing of Wilson-street (from Ridgwaystreet upwards) with good sound timber. Mr R. Watt. — We are glad to find on inquiry that Mr R. Watt is in a fair way towards recovery, though still far from convalescent. It will doubtless be long before he ceases to feel the effects of his unlucky fall on the racecourse. Serious Illness. — We regret to hear of the alarming illness of Major Morse, who lies at his residence in a precarious condition, having been given up by the doctors. Although it is probably hoping against hope, the major's many friends in Wanganui will anxiously look for his recovery. Passed his Examinations.- — Mr Gifford Marshall, who served his articles to Mr S. T. Fitzherbert, of this town, has passed his final examinations as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. We congratulate Mr Marshall upon his success, wish him every good fortune in his profession. The Book Sale. — The sale of books conducted by Mr A. Barns on Saturday afternoon last was a great success in every respect. The collection was not a large one, but many of the books realised exceptionally high prices, and brought out keen competition. The total proceeds were just upon £100. Shipping Horses. — The Wallabi, which left for Nelson yesterday, took away with her the mare Bonny Doon (the property of Mr F. N. Jones, Wellington), an animal which ran third in the Wanganui Derby last year ; and a hunter named "Bob" (by Traducer), belonging to Mr T. H. Lightband. Bonny Doon is to be put in races for the March races at Nelson. A Familiar Face. — One of the most familiar faces on the Wanganui cab-stand has taken its departure, and will be much missed. Mr Fielder Russell, who for some years past was a favourite driver for Mr Gordon, left for Greymouth yesterday morning, in order to pilot her Majesty's liege subjects about the streets of that West Coast metropolis. Russell's civility and obliging disposition to all who came into contact with him were pleasing traits in his character, and by no one will he be more missed than by his brother Jehus. A Generous Collection. — Mrs Hampson last night, before entering upon her address, stated that in order that every one present might contribute towards the fund for the relief of the widow and orphans of the poor man who died so suddenly on board the Huia, she had instituted collections at both services that day. The mid-day collection amounted to £8 9s 5d and the evening to a considerable sum, the exact amount of which we have not heard. During Mrs Hampson'a meetings this day and Wednesday, the collecting bowl will remain at the theatre, and she will be glad if liberal contributions for so desirable an object are placed in it. Mosstown. — According to the piteous statements of a deputation who interviewed the Wanganui-Waitotara Board yesterday, living just now in Mosstown is not all beer and skittles. The streets are full of bogs and holes, and no one walks about at night without carrying a lantern. Tradesmen's carts so often get stuck in the mire that, as one of the deputation remarked, the inhabitants would soon have no bread or meat, and be reduced to the consumption of spuds — a species of food which, we presume, flourishes in Mosstown. After a shower of rain the township is dotted over with picturesque pools of all shapes and sizes, and it must therefore be some consolation to the parents to know that, although their children cannot get along the road to school, they have ample facilities to study physical geography in all its branches close at home. A Local Artist. — Mr R. Clark, who since he has resided in Wanganui has reproduced on the canvas many interesting bits of scenery around the town, has on exhibition in Mr Drew's window three oil paintings well worthy of attention. The bridge, as viewed from Cochrane's boat shed, makes an effective picture ; and so also does a view painted from Nixon's Creek, Ruapehu showing up well in the background. The third, and last completed, is a painting of Colonel McDonnell's new house, with the lawn tennis ground in the foreground, the foliage of the trees being very faithfully done. This picture was executed to the colonel's order. We understand that Mr Clark has just returned from a most enjoyable trip to Murimotu, and that he has taken a series of sketches of the country along Field's track. We presume he will give the public the benefit of them.