THE STATE OF IRELAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 276, 9 December 1887, Page 2

THE STATE OF IRELAND.

London, December 7. The reports current that a Fenian plot to murder the Marquis of Hurtington has been discovered are believed to be without foundation. The Marquis is under police protection.

Mr O'Donnell has been entreated to withdraw tie libel action preferred by him against The Times, as members of the National League dread the disclosures which may take place tit the trial,

CHEATING THE GALLOWS. «. A singular story of a mock execu- j tion, and of• the manner in which the j baiter was cheated, is published by the New York Times ffhich rightly observes that but for the honorable and upright character of the person who tells the story, tho natural impulse of most readers would be to put it down as the wildest fiction, Twelve years ago, it appears, a certain William Langley was sentenced to death in Texas, and it was the contiction of everyone, until now, that he had been really hanged. His father, however, who has just returned to his native town after years of roaming, says that his son, who was publicly hanged twelve yeKrs ago, in the presence of several thousand people, was not hurt at all, but was allowed to escape, and since his supposed execution has been living in Nicaragua, where he is a leading citizen and one of the largest landholders and cattlekolders in Central America, The narrator of this strange story says that to save his son, a rich uncle of California came to the.rescue with,five thousand dollars, with which he worked so on the sympathy of the Sheriff, who did the duty of hangman, that the latter allowedthmgs to be so arranged that when the drop fell, the weight of, the body lighted upon an iron hoop, supported by an appropriate . body harness in such a manner that the convict escaped physically unhurt. When he had drawn his legs up and down two or three times the attending doc tors pronounced him dead, and he was turned over to his frieds for interment —the coffin, which was buried, containing stones instead of a corpse. The narrator of this strange story says that he vould never have revealed the truth, bad it not been that the Sheriff, who accepted the bribe, is now dead.

LAND BOARD. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Land Board was held at the Crown Land Office yesterday (Thursday) morning Present—Messrs J. W, A. Marchant (chairman), H. Bunny, 6. Beetlmm ERR,, W. A, Fitzherbert, and A Reese. The schedule showed that the land disposed of since last meeting to be 1311 a Or 26p, at an upset price of £415. of which £23 3s 4d was paid, Applications to transfer were granted as follows: —Deferred payment section 9, block XV, Mangahao, from P, J. Quirk to T. Quirk j deferred payment section 55, block XIII, Pohangina, from C. T. Simpson to H. Hall. The application of selector of section 9, block X. Mangaone, to capitalise his unpaid instalments was gianted. Messrs Sherrin Bros, the selectors of 1556 block IX, Kiarangi, applied to pay up the amount outstanding on the section, and obtein a title to the same, which was approved ot by tho Board. A report was received from the Crown Lands Ranger regarding the statements made by the selector of 46, Hunterville, as to the reason of his inability to pay the overdue instalments. It was resolved to extend tho time to the 31st inst, Permission was granted to Mr H. Nitz to resido on freehold land adjoining bis small rim, section 5 and 9, block IV, Kaiwhata. Regarding the statement from the selector of perpetual jease sections 2 block IV" Kaiwhata, that ho had sufficiently improved his land, the Board resolved that ho must cultivate 30| acres as required by the Act. With reference to the sale of sections 45 and 49 Hastwell Village settlement, the Under Secretary wrote stating that it is proposed to offer sections 45 46 aiid 49, for ,sale when Mr ColUte cun acquire section 49 for cash. The Board considered the question of offering the land at Pohatigiiia applied for by Mr J. li Anderson on the small run system, and it was resolved to offer the same at auction at an early date, the price to be £1 per aero The Crown Lands Raige.r reported on the quality e'c, of the land comprised in and a'ljoiuing Mr H. Axup's small run, Pnhangina, and it was resolved on Mr Bunny's motion, seconded by Mr Fitzherbert, that this Board recommend that Mr Axup receive in lieu, of the land contained in his presant lease the area lying betwe.-n the Pohangina river and Coal Creek. A letter was read from Mr F. J. Hameiton with reference to continuation of Pahiatna rock road so as the give access to sections 7, 8, etc, Block XVI, Mangahao, it was resolved to urge the Government to authorise the expenditure of the balance of the vote for this purpose. Mr M. Jolmnsen wrote stating that he had no road access to section 33, Block VII, Mangaone, as the Road Board had diverted the original road. It was resolved to inform Mm that road access has not yet been taken from him, A report was read from the surveyor on Mr E. Harris application for 200 acres in Block IV, Mikimiki, and it was resolved to leave the size of the section to tbe discretion of the Chief Surveyor. With reference to the disposal of the money paid for the improvements effected on section 6, Block XII, Mangahao, the Commissioner repotted that the original selector could not be found, Hud it was resolved to ask Messrs Travers and Company if they have any olaim on tbe estate. Regarding the offering of sections 844, and 850, Castlepoint, for sale, tho Commissioner produced replies received from adjacent owners as to how they wished the land disposed of, and it was resolved to offer sections 844 as a small run, and 859 on deferred payment as soon as possible. A letter was received from Mr H- McDonald stating that Mr J. R. A. Anderson was felling bush on reserve 78, block IX, Pohangina, and it was resolved to inform the person referred to that the section had been set aside for road and river protection and tho settlers should form themselves into a Board to deal with it. Permission was given to Mr F. E. Fathers to reside on freehold land with in 2 miles of his small run. A scheme »nd report on the Crown lands in the .South Mangaone Block was submitted by the Commissioner, and approved of. and it was resolved to ask the Government for money to.open the lands up by. the necessary roads. Mr Beetham brought np the question of paying for the survey of the .road through part of section 865 Haugapokelja,. district,:

and it was resolved to recommend the >; payment of £lO towards the cost of : ; : the lame, The Board then adjourned. :; : Press.