LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10234, 25 June 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hospital Returns. — The following are tliD returns for the past week : — Discharged, 1 femalo ; admitted, 3 males. In the Hospital on Saturday, 21 males and 3 females. Total, 24 patients. Thoughtful Kindness. — The~steward of the Hospital desires to acknowledge the receipt from Mr John Pawson of a quantity of sausages and pork pies for the use of the patients. Tub Banoitikbi Bkidob.— The Feilding Star says that the new railway bridge ovor the Haugitikei Hirer at Eakariki was so far complete that locomotives were sent over it on Friday for the first time. To-day the ordinary traffic will be resumed. Benevolent Society. — A meeting of the committee of this Society will be held at Rutland Chambers at 4 o'clock this afternoon, when tenders for supplying rations will be opened, and other important business transacted. District Court. — The sittings of the District Court, for criminal and civil business, open this morning at 10 o'clock, before his Honor Judge Hardcasie. The only criminal case is that of L. L. Levy, who will be charged with fraudulent bankruptcy. There arc no civil cases for trial ; but the bankruptcy applications aro numerous and interesting, and ■will not probably be taken until to-morrow. Useful Instbuction. — Sergeant-Major Henry, in his capner y ns Drill Instructor, will deliver to-night, id the Drill Hall, at half-pnst 7 o'clock, a lecture on the principles of theoretical musketery. The meinb3rs of nil the infantry and cavalry oompauies in the district of all ranki are invited to attend, and we have little doubt that those who listen to Sergeant-Major Henry's carefully prepared instruction will greatly benefit by it. Useful Wobk.— The Gospel Temperance Society (or Blue Ribbon Army) at Wellington Ims commenced active operations in a public capacity. At the recent meeting of the Cook Licensing Committee for the purpose of reconsidering its resolution to close all hotels at 10 o'clock p.m., Mr H. D. Bell, of the firm of Izard and Bell, was instructed by the Society to appear and oppose any extension of hours. Our telegraphic advices inform us that, at any rate until the next quarterly licensing day, the opposition was successful. LocATi Benefaotobs. — B. Hannah and Co. commenced a, monster clearing sale on Saturday, to continue for three weeks, and we would call special attention to their price list which will be found in another column. Boots and shoes seem to be going at singularly low rates just now, and in Messrs Hannah's case it is well known that the quality of their goods^js thoroughly superior. A clearing sale this kind offers advantages which a thrifty householder in depressed times should hail with acclamation. Madame Sumjiebhayes. — This talented pianiste, who is now in Nelson, will give a concert in Wanganui in about a foitnight's time, with the assistance of her daughter, Miss Anderson, and of several local amateurs who will be asked to give their services in the vocal department, Madame herself officiating as accoinpanyist. Madame Cecilia Summerhayes, who brings to New Zealand the highest testimonials from Sir Julius Benedict, Thalberg, . Sainton, and other great musicians, performs both classical and' popular selections; and enjoys such a reputation that she will gladly be heard in Wanganui. CHANGHj.hi-' Command — The favourite steamer, tßc'Tlluia, came into port on Saturday last with a neiv commander. Captain Berriman has been suspended from his office by the owners, in consequence of seiious complaints made to them by passengers on the last trip of the steamer, when, it will be remembered.sheputouttoTerawhitiandhad to go back to Wellington again. The Huia is now commanded by Captain Alexander Chambers, who is well *md favourably known throughout Now.ZaMa'nd in various coasting vessels. He recently commanded the three-masted schooner Ellerton, but was compelled to leave her through having one of his legs seriously injured while on his way from the West Coast to Auckland. Mrs Hampson.— Many of our readers will bo interested to hear-of Mrs Hampson's whereabouts, and concerned to hear of her illnesß. At the beginning of this month she was holding a most successful mission in the Town Hall, Melbourne, when her healtl siidlenly gave way, she lost her voice, and it was necessary to send her away for rest. Her meetings had been densely crowded, and it was therefore determined that sho should resumo the Melbourne mi-ssion when she recovered sufficiently to do so. Sho was und-3i' engagement to hold gatherings in Adelaide about the present time, but her breakdown would of course interfere with her fulfilling that engagement at the time specified. Professor Sample.— This famous horse tamer held another class on Saturday afternoon in the St. Hill-street sale yards, and had a goodly array of scholars, who watched Ins operations on several horses, brought specially for t-xperimental purposes, with great interest. The importance of the professor s system is beginning to be practically appreciated here, and there is a general impression amongst the settlers around Wanganui that the opportunity to secure a sound, easy, and rapid plan of managing, training, and quieting horses, ought not to be missed, especially when the charge for ; acquiring the " great secret " is so reasonable. Professor Sample will, therefore, give a free lectiiro this morning at Mr F R. Jackßon's yards, at 11 o'clock, and will subsequently hold a class. We hope to see a large attendance. Wobthy of Attention.— One of the defendants, who were fined on Saturday ft* being the owners of wandering animals, cemplained strongly to the Magistrate about the exemption from prosecution enjoyed by certain well-known residents of Poverty Flat, whose horses and goats are seldom out of the public highway, though they never catch the eye of a passing policeman. Mr Wai d intimated that the matter was not before the Court, and ho could only recommend the applicant to bring the particulars to tho notice of Sorgeant Bissett. Mr Ward added, and the public will certainly endorse his opinion, that all offenders against the Borough by-law should be treated alike. It is undeniable that great laxity in this respect prevails at the St. John's end of the town, as well as in the district already alluded to, and even in the Avenue itself complaints on the subieet are rife. J Waugan-ui Chess Clot.— A combined meeting of tho committee of this newlyformed club, and a deputation from the Lib - rary d rectorate, took place on Saturday afternoon, whon amusements were made to partition oil a portion of the public readingroom for tlio use of the Chess Club. The alterations are to bo commenced at once, and the end of the present week will most probably see some spirited contests in both Chess and Draughts. Tho room will be properly furnished and well lighted, and will he open every week day and night, The arrangement is no doubt a convenient one to the Chess Club, nt any rato for the present, and the library directors in taking tho step have shown that they are wise in tlioir generation. Any person wishing to join the Choss Club must first become a subscriber to the library. Half-a-guinca for tho half-year clears them of this, and a further 2s Gd for the same term entitles eacli member to the advantages of tho Chess Clulj. The lull or subscriptions will be put to a separate fund, which will be managed by :i committee, and lite promoters of the Club are to meet to night, at Mr -Dudley Eyre's oflicto, at 8 o'clock, to arrange nil preliminaries. All persons inleresled in the Club are requested to attend at the same time and pluce. The Club luis our liesirUi'at widirs for ils success, sis il. will mcL't an as-knowli-dged want amongst llio ni-noviil public of Wiuij'iunii, mill we hope soon t<> see a lively tournament between the Wansjanui Club and the Eire JJ:'i!-,:ido Chi!.). 11 is mitii-iputcd thai Utr '5.i1! .ni-c will open bo!li bodies with a k\:'. ■■!■.: iiji.':i ";i> :;■:■■<■!! (if <i:fo!l ■:■: i:>>l

The Insueancb Tabipb. — As was predicted by the kndwing ones of Wangaoui the prohibition insurances tariff has broken down by one of the companies -withdrawing from tho Association, if indeed that company could ever hare been said to have given more than a qualified and temporary adhesion to it. Mr A. A. Browne, the agent for the Royal Insurance Company, received instructions on Saturday last from headquarters to take risks at reasonable rates, | which will no doubt mean pretty much the same as were in existence before the Wel--1 lington underwriters came up hero and invented the tariff. As a natural consequeuco, either the Royal will get all the the business as the renewals fall in (and there would bo a great many at this time of the year), or the other of&ces will have to come to reason oho. We understand that the agents will hold a meeting to-day to consider their positiom. A Plague Spot.— ln every town there is a social plague spot, and one that generally puzzles the authorities how best to deal with it. In Wanganui, the disreputable shanties at the back of Williams and Garner's brewery appear to harbour prostitutes, thieves, and loafers, to an extent which is becoming serious. Hardly a week passes without some denizen of this unsavoury nest of buildings being hauled up to tho Court on a charge of using 'obscene language, or some other charge naturally arising from the class of people harboured' in the locality. The owner of the buildings, who himself resides in one of them, has pio'erred lately two charges, one of assault and the other of abusive language, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, and for some reason or the other has been permitted to withdraw them, the complainant no doubt preferring a monetary settlement out of Court to a few minutes interview wil,h the Bench. In the interests of the community it is most desirable that the owners of houses of this kind should come within the meshes of the law, for resorts of ill-fame will nover bo suppressed if prosecutions are directed only at the unfortunate ereature3 who tenant them. Abt — A well-known art connoisseur supplies us with the following notes on a very fine picture from the brush of Mr George Sheriff, of this town, whose talents as an artist nre of no mean order. Our critic says : " I have had the pleasure of a private view of a painting by Mi G-eorge Sheriff, which struck me as a work of uncommon merit. The scene is Lake Wakatipu, time, sunset. Mr Sheriff has been Tory successful in transferring to his canvas the scene as it would appear on a cloudy autumnal evening, when the fading Bunbeams throw a long gleam of pale amber light across the placid transparent waters of the lake, over which a few sea-gulls are slowly flying and keeping a sharp look out for prey. I'he immediate foreground is a rock-strewn beach, which has been reproduced with great fidelity of dntail and freedom from conventionalism. The middle distance shows a spur running into the lake, behind which reposes tho picturesque township of Lawrence. In ' the distance are the violet tinted mountaim towering grandly over the scene, and giving it all the charms of the most admired Swiss scenery. In lub management of the whole subject, Mr Sheriff has shown himself a true artist, and has succseded in placing upon the canvas now under notice a picture which, if shown in an art gallery, would be sure to attract favourable attention from any true lover of art untrammelled "by meretricious surrounding and treatment." We hope Mr Sheriff will not send the picture away without giving the public an opportunity of seeing so highly valued a specimen of hig skill.