The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1886. THE TIMARU POISONING CASE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2431, 21 October 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1886. THE TIMARU POISONING CASE

For some time past the Timarti poisoning caso has been regarded as a sort of " sensation novel" by the people of New Zealand. Tlin appetite of tl.e public for this kinil of litoratnro is insatiable and many will regret that the release of Miss Houston and the imprisonment of Mr Hall for the term of hia natural lifo closes the story, for reporters can no longer follow tho heroine into tbo privacy which she has regained, or the wretohed criminal into his cell, Our Wellington contemporary, tho New Zealand Times complains that tho conduct of tho case has boen characterised by an undtio ebullition of levity on tho part of tho counsel and witnessos engaged upon it, but these occasional jests must have boon absolutely necessary to relievo the tedium of an eight day trial, of the issue of which there was but little room for doubt. Is there any moral gain at all to bo drawn from this celebrated case 1 Of coarse the innocent has been acquitted, and tho guilty adequately punished, but all this has been a matter of course. It also may be some subject of congratulation that the president of the Court was patient, | that the Attorney-General was impartial, and Hiat the prisoner was defended ably and lmd fair play in every sense of the term, but beyond these considerations there is one point that deserves more than a passing notice, and that is the facilities which InsurancoCompaniesappear to give to wouldbe criminals. Tho practice of a husband insuring his wife's life for large sums for his own benefit may or may not be a common one, but it is a most

undesirable expedient. For a husband to insure his own liio for the benefit of his wife is a neural and laudable act, but to insure Ha wife's existence for his own benefit'is on the face of it a selfish and suspicious, deed, If Insurance Companies encourage this class of insurance, we feel sure that they offer an incentive to crime.. Even Hall, "the vilest of his sex," as Judge Johnston called hint, could npt steep himself in his terrible guilt without soma strong motives,iindthc insurances upon his wife's life appear to have supplied the main one, If the Into trial bo not remembered by the public after the next few days, we trust it will at- least be recalled by Insurance offices, and thai the agents of these excellent institutions will bo extremely chary for the future in taking proposals from the wives of emharasiied husbands.

Wb understand that a petition is at once to be circulated at the instance of Mr A. W, Ikmall with a view to divide the Borough into wards, We aro quite in favor of tho division of tho Borough, but we hear that tho petition affirms, the desirability of creating four wards instead of three, the number approved by the Borough Council as being the fairest division from all parts of the town. We hope burgesses will not allow themsolves to be persuaded into signing a petition for live wards as such an arrangement practically means that the country settlers within the Borough limits are to have an unduly large representation, and that thoso who pay the bulk of the rates are to lie controlled liy a minority who contribute only a minor portion of them.

Tho genial Tom Bracken has been olectcd for Duncdin Central by a largo majority over his opponents, tho veteran politician Mr Win Hutchison, and tho youthful aspirant, MrC. Revans Chapman. Mr Bracken is deficient in many of tho more solid qualities which mako a successful politician, but ho is honest, bright and innocuous, When on a former occasion he hold a scat in tho Assembly, he figured somewhat as the mciryandrow of the Houso, but possibly he may in his second term nf power restrain his undoubted talent fur drollery,

Shearing commonces at lea on the 2nd November.

The programme of the Lower Valley Jockey Club appears in another column, and should prove attractive to owners oi' race horses. 1

The usual monthly meeting of tlio Mastorton School Committee will bo held this evening,

Anothor of St. Matthew's winter entertainments ivill be hold in tho schoolroom thi3 evening, The subject of holding a poultry show in connection with tho ilowor show in Deuombur is boint; considered by tlio Committee of the Groytawu Horticultural Society.

Intending oxhibitors at tho forthcoming show of tlio Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society, to bo held at Carterton on 3rd Novomber, are reminded that ontries cloao on Saturday uuxt 23rd inst,

Robert Buine, a printer, aged 20, has boon lined 10s for walking about South Melbourne dressed aB a female, with a Bofa pillow for an improver. Tho sofa pillow may be more substantial, but it is scarcely ail improvement on tho improver,

Messrs Freoman 11. Jackson & Co. held a eiilo of stock at Johnstonville yesterday, and report the following prices: —Cattle at last sales values. Fat bullocks, £7 to £8 5b ; cows, £5 to £5 12s Gil. Sheep, at lower value, best wethers, 10s Od to 10s 9d ; inferior quality, 7s Od to Bs. Slicqi sold at full vato. iiacoitPigß, 3s to 35b ; porkers, 17s to 20s. At a meeting of sevoral hundred unemployed workm en in Auckland yesterday, itwas resolved to call upon the Government to provide further relief works. The Government last week withdrew permits to mou to travel by train to the works oil the ground that sufficient time had been given. It is alleged that most of the men now idlo are married, and cannot go into the country at the wages offorod. The following lots of Pahiatua town sections woro sold on Wednesday by Mr C. B, HoadloyLot 1 was bought by E, W, Knowlos tor LBS : he also bought lot 2 and 4 for LSO and Irrespectively, Mr C. 0. Kennedy bought lot 3 for L 37 10a. Lota 5 and 83 woro sold to P. Dinwiddie for L4l and LU4 respectively, and Mr Fenwick paid L 25 for lot (!, and the samo amount of money for lot 85, This was all tho land sold. Tho auctioneer said it would be ari injustice to the vendor to let the land go at these prices, and ho consequently would not sell any more,— .Examiner.

Tho following team will play against Opaki on Saturday next. Play to coinmonco at'2 o'clock p.m. sharpHowoll, Harrison, Kibblowhitn, Littlojohn, Moore, (captain), MeKonzio, Porry, ftobißon, Stokes, Williams, Wickons, Emergencies; Jackson, D'Avcy. Tho matting pitch will bo used for this game. As Hio Maaterton Club is likely to receive a challenge from Greytown'at an early dato, members are requested to practice regularly. Tho following toain will represent tho Opaki:—'W. E, Welch (captain), D. McLachlan, R. Welch, F. Hare, J. Welch, G. Harvey, A. Welch, W, Day, I l '. Welch, A. Boulcott, H. Wolcli.

At a mooting of fclio Stock' Conference at Sydney, Mr Lanco assessed tho cost of tho rabbit plague to Neiv Zealand at half a million a year, while Mr McKenzie added that where tho rabbits wero numerous the carrying capacity of the land was reduced by onctlurd, the weight of tho fleoce docreased by lib tolilb, the lambing docreased 30 or 40 per cent and tho deathrate increased from 3 and C per cent, up to 10 and 13 por cent. Mr Tarbart said that in Tasmania for tho last six years tho numbor of sheep had docreased by 250,000 and tho lambing por ccntajo had fallon from 70,75, and 80 por cont. to 50 and (iO per cent. In South .Australia Mr Bagot estimated that the rabbits had invaded 40,000 square miloa of territory. Mr Lance moved, and Mr Poter seconded a resolution to the effect that a bonus should bo offered by tho collective Australian colonics for an effective plan for tho doetruction of rabbits. Tho motion was agreed to.

Tho usual monthly meeting of tlio Taueru School Committee was hold last evening. Present—Messrs Donald (chairman), Anderson, and Manning. The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. In the absence of the Treasurer tho .Chairman stated that tho sum of £l2 had been advanced on the contract for tho shed, Correspondence was read from the Secretary of-Education Board, stating that the Board had refused all applications for the mastorship of the bcliool, and was also authorised to. call fresh ones. An account tor advertising was presented, also an account for stationery, but had to stand, over, owing just at present to the shortness of funds, Tho meeting then adjourned. - j

The largest and best consignment of Auckland rock oysters and. a case of kippered mackerel have just been received at the Theatre Royal oyster salpon, J. Camerotys' trophy, a telescope, is now on view in Mr j. Williams' shop window in Queen Street. It hns been- won by Volunteer Blane,. after a keen competition.

The ttoodvillo Examiner saya:—So highly pleased are Mr Smith's numerous supporters with the way in which he has represented the district in Parliament, that next election they have determined to return him freo of cost to himself, and every penny of his expenses will bo subscribed by the electors themselves. Tins is taking tlio mattor up in a proper spirit, and Mr Smith deserves it all.

A mooting of tlio oHieoi'B commanding the Volunteers of the Wairarapa was held at Carterton yestorday, Major Bunny presiding, Captains Bonnet and Cameron, and Lieutenant A. Thompson, andSergt. Itaiv, being also prwit. Tlio object of tlio meeting was to discuss the new Volunteer regulations, and after consideration it was decided to recommond that members joining in July should rocoive half capitation, and also members prevented by sickness from attending the required number of parades, to recflivo the same consideration.

The following is the programme of the entertainment to be held in St. Matthew's schoolroom this evening Overture, String Rand; glee, "See our oars;" piano, the Misses Boddington; duet, 1 'O'or the hill, and o'erthodale," Mesdames Clifton and Lawson;. song, Mr Sellar; sony, " Oil! Oil! Hear tlio wild winds ,blow!" Mrs Maylie; cornet solo, H, Reese; song, "Tho Gipsy's revelry," Mr Gayfer; song, "Love's lleply," Mrs Clifton; piano, Miss Ada Frcetli;. trio, " Glorious Apollosong, 1 Darby and Joan," Mrs Lawson; trio, " Dame Dusden piano, Mr Cullimore; song, "The Haven aloft," Mr Coleman ; glee, ''The maiden of tho Flour do Lyssong, Mr Gant; God save the Queen,

Robson's magnificent panorama of General Gordon is announced to appear in the Theatre Royal on Friday cud Saturday evenings next. Tho show is an excellent one, and is thus spokon of by tho North Otago TimesMr Robson's Transparent Panorama of tlio life of General Gordon was exhibited at the Public Hall last night The views presented by Mv Robson to the audience worthily illustrated many of the incidents in the private and public caroer of that unique and memorablo man. That could be done only by means of a panorama of unusual excellence, but Mr Robson's panorama is that. Such, at loast, is our opinion, and judging by tho frequency yet discrimination of the applause last night it was evidently the opinion of last night's audience too. Viows of Belgian,' Swiss, Italian, English, Irish, American, and Scottish scenery, and cities of great beauty and historic intorest were also exhibited. Mr Robson's panorama is indeed a very fine one, a nd its exhibition for tho last time in Oauiaru tlii b evening will doubtless draw a good audience to the Public Hall,

Messrs Lowes and lorns report a large attendance at their Mnstorton stock salo yostoiday. Prices still remain in favor of buyers especially in cattle, as compared with prices last spring. The continued cold weather experienced until within a few days ago, keeping back tho feed which usually in the month of October is so plentiful, is no doubt one of the chief causes of shyness on tho part of graziers, but with tho warm rains we aro now yetting, and tho consequent growth ot food, we hope to soo moro activity and better prices. We had about 200 cattle and 700 iheop yarded, all of which sold under tho hannncr, ' Messrs Kennedy (for Mr Buchanan), Kimbcrley, Harding, T. Chamberlain, Burrow, Ilecklor, W. Perry, Sclby, Allen, and Eagle being amongst the largest buyers. The following prices were obtained:—Lavgebullocks, plain beef. La 10s to L(i ss: 3-year old steers, L4lßs; 2-year-old steers, 703 to 7us; 18 months steers, 50s; calves and yearlings from Ids to 295; cows and calves, (iOs to 70s; dry cows, 40s to 50s j dairy cows, GOs to LG 7s (id ; quiet wellbred, 2-year old heifers, 50s to 87s; good long-wool ewes. 8s lOd to 8s lid; crossbred ewes, bs to 7s 3d; hoggets, ss; hacks from L3to LG ss; pigs, Bs,

'V euetian liliiul and Revolving Shutter monu actory, All Blinds guaranteed of tho very best description. Prico list on application to K. W. Ileim (late Henn and Hansen.) Ponoke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Factory, "\Vel Lincton.—Al rt"r