TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3438, 18 February 1890, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

'Jb'nsco MailsWellington, Tuesday, The Mariposa with the English mails of the 25th January, left 'Frisco for Auckland, on tlio Bth inst, extract date. The Zealaudia with the Colonial mails of the 27th January arrived at 'Frisco from Auckland on the 16th inst, one day late,

Ash Wednesday Observance-

Auckland, February 17, Yesterday at All Saint's Anglican Church, the liev W. Calder, before commencing a discourse, spoke of the fact that Mr Charles Santley and the Auckland Choral Society intend to produce the oratorio " Elijah" on Wednesday. He said that had that day been an. ordinary day he would have said nothing, but Ash Wednesday was a day which all ware agreed should be kept sacred, Even the great oratons of" Elijah" should not have the effect of drawing churchmen- from the church services on that day, but if it did all he could say was that churchism had fallen to a low ebb in Auckland, In selecting the day in question it was one of the most thoughtless acts that came under his notice during his sojourn in Auokland, and he' trusted that only those who were compelled to attend would do so, and in saying that be meant the man. who opened the door and the man wholitjhe gas. As several of the members of the choir and congregation are also members of the Choral Society, the rev gentleman's utterances oausod a mild sensation,

Carrier Albatrosses. Dunedin, February 17. Captain Sogers, of tho barque Jaspar, states that wheu about 150 miles westward of the Snares several large albatrosses followed the vessel, one of which behaved so peculiarly that those an hoard came to (he conclusion that it desired to be caught, A hook was baited, and the bird taken on board, when a slip of paper was found in a quill as follows : " February 9, '9O. Lot". 48 S., long. 164,30 E, All well; posted by an albatross. -Ship Janet Court, Glasgow." Captain Rogers- sent a similar message, by the bird, and released it. The Janet Court is bound for this port, via Wellington, and is 109 days out.

Trout Poisoning Dunedin, September 17. Jn reference to tho recent trout poisoning in Leith, the water has been analysed, It was very impure and offensive, and there was a large amount of free ammonia but no trace of deleterious substances, such as might be expected from manufacturing processes. As the water was very low and the day hot the probability is that the sewage caused the death' of the fish.

Conditional Order of DischargeDunedin, February-17. At the sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, Mr Justice Williams made the first conditional order of discharge under the Act. The case was that of George Pearson Stewart, which had been going on for years. He bad been a cabinetmaker, starting with a capital of Lll and finishing np with a deficiency of L 628. Since then his wife died and left some property with bankrupt's brother in trust for him, His Honor said the application for discharge was evidently made to enable him to enjoy the bequest. He thought the creditors should share in this' Tho order was bb follows: " Order of discharge made conditionally on the prior payment of one half ot all moneys due to the bankrupt through or under the will of hie late wife, or through or under or by reasbn of the death ofh's late wife."

STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, ; : '

Dunedin, February 17, The report of the Directors of the Standard Insurance Company states that the income for the year 1 was £86,958 78 Bdarid the expenditure, £73,70218s 2d, leaving a balanoo of 1 £13,255 14s6d. After making provision for paying an interim dividend they recommend paying a dividend of 7$ percent per annum, adding£2ooo to tho reserve fund and carrying forward £368,0 14s6d,'

Meeting qf Cabinet' Wellington, Tuesday. >' Messrs Wbitalterand Stdvens haVe beep auinmonotl to Wellington to take part in a full Cabinet meeting next week.- At present there is no intention on tl}e part of Government of convening Parliament j.eaflier . than usiiaL Sometime in May will be the probable <Jafe, •

Jubilee Committee Meeting. . An adjourned; meeting of the NVairarapa Jubilee Committee was . held in the Oddfellows' Hall, -Mastertoni last night. Mr L, ,1. Hooper presided, over twenty members being present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and, with a slight amendment (the seoretnry having entered " a vote of £lo' instead of" a testimonial"), confirmed.

The balance-sheet, duly audited, was submitted by the treasurer, Mr Dalrymple, who stated that at the last meeting of the Committee he had been unjustly' and unfairly blamed for not preparing it. - On that occasion Mr Hornblow waited on him at a quarter past five o'clock and asked him to meet him at half-past seven to prepare a balance-sheet for the meeting to bo held at eight o'clock. He told Mr Hornbbw it was simply impossible to prepare a balance-sheet and have it audited in half an hour. The wholo fault of

the delay that had occurred was due to the Secretary not providing him with thenecessary data. As treasurer, he had received and disbursed monies, and the preparation of the balancesheet was the duty of the Secretary.' His character had been assailed in a very serious way. He felt that lie had been badly compromised through what had appeared in the press, and it was his intention to tako proceed-

ings . against the Secretary, to vindicate himself unless he published an apology in the four papers of the district. He then read the financial statement, which showed receipts, gate money £77 le, subscriptions £GS 7s, and other items making the total £16812s 6d. The expenditure lon provisions was £SB 7s Bd, on

prizes £2l 14s 3d, printing and music £S2 5b 3cl, and other sundries niakingatotalof£l4slosid. This left a balance in hand of £lB 2s 2d. There were assets amounting to £7 15s 6d, and liabilities £7 4s, leaving a nett balance if everything was realised of £lßlßs Bd. Mr Hornblow replied to Mr Dalrymple. He denied that he had failed to perform his duties as Secretary, and appealed to Mr Bone to bear him out that a balance sheet was presented to a meeting of the Committee on Monday, January 27, and its adoption left over till a proper one should be drawn out by the Treasurer, He found MrDalrymple'B oice closed each tiino he called there, and the Treasurer had failed

to attend meeting after'meeting, and it was in consequence of this that the accounts could not be closed. He

had devoted a great deal of time to the business of the Committee, and he denied that he was to blame in any way. So far a3 making an apology was concerned he would not say what he thought, but he would leave it to the Committee to exonerate him. Mr Dahyinplo briefly replied reiterating that as Treasurer, he had' no right to be expected to prepare the balance-sheet. - Mr Marsh: You took it upon yourself to do so I Mr Dalrymple: Assuming 1 did, I only got the data this morning. Aftor Bonie further disoussion Mr T, Macliay moved that the balancesheet, as read, be adopted. This was seconded by Mr Baumber and carried.

MrMackay then moved, That if at last meeting any remarks had been made to the detriment of the

Treasurer they be now withdrawn. This was seconded by the.Chairman, and on being put to the vote was carried. Mr Marsh moved, according to notice, that a handsome testimonial be presented to the secrotary. A groat deal of discussion ensued, MrMackay and several others contending that the allocation of the surplus funds should be left to a meeting of subscribers. Mr Bone and others maintained that the money was handed over to the committee and could be-disposed of by them as thoir property. Tho subscriptions were really gifts. ■ ■ Mr Mackay moved as an amendment, That a meeting of subscribers jbe called to allocate the surplus money.

Only three hands were held up in favor of the amendmeut, and the resolution was carried.

Mr. W. Carey moved that tho testimonial be five guineas, This was seconded by Mr T. Collier. Mr J. Sillars moved, Mr D. Pickering seconded, as an amendment,'that the amount be LlO, which was carried. Mr Hornblow returned thanks, and said his intention was to have taken less than LlO, but in consequence of a letter which had.appeared in a local

paper he had changed his mind. Ho donied that he had infringed his master's time. All his work had been done at night, time, and he had frequently sat up till four o'clock in the morning over it.' Mr Mackay moved that tho surplus funds bo handed over to the Mastorton Hospital Trustees. This was seconded by Mr'Dalrymplo. Mr Marsh moved and Mr'Jago seconded, That Mr Bone be paid one guinea for olorical work. Tho chairman said that this was not an amendment, but a separate resolution, After a lot of irregular discussion the gratuity to Mr Bone was carried and the balance of moneys voted to the hospital. . Mr Cbisholm moved • that Mr Bradbury be paid the sum of three guineas for his services. Mr Phillips seconded the motion, but after.a short discussion Mr Bradbury stated that he had given his services gratuitously and he must decline any reward whatover, It was deoided that the accounts be finally dosed on Ist March, and if the £5 applied for is remitted by the Park Trustees that it bo handed over to the hospital. Votes of thanks were aojorded tho chairman, Mr L.J. Hooper, Messrs H. Phillips,. T. Mackay, T. S. Donnelly, A. M. Bradbury, Chisholm, Dalrymple, Jago, D Pickering and other office bearers, and to the ladios' committee, for their assistance, and a compliment was also passed to Miss Corbett and the may : pole'dancers, ■ The meeting then adjourned to the Occidental Hotel, where the proceedings were wound up. in a truly festive manner. . I

Masterton Borough CouncilA meeting of the Works and Financo 'Committees of the above Council to lield ia,tlie Chpi)orß last evening, there being present, Crs MoEwen, 1. Chamberlain, Hessey and Gapper. Or' Gapper was voted totheohair. Works Committee. ; ■ ■

The following report of the Overseer was read! I beg'to ! report thatthe following works have been carried out,—l. Kuripuni Qulvert.aiid floodgate, taking away old timbor-and filling in; cost of labor and cartage £Bl2s. ,i Br-Eaking Btontß off Upper

Plain road. ■ B—About sixty yards of : : asphalt has been mixed ready for use. 4—Cleaning out water tables ; Bhort-street, cutting to prevent the ■ ' water running over the road. 6- ; ; Streets and water tables' in; the- ■ principal parts, have been attended - to. O-The levels in Goorge-stvoet •':■ have been seon to, and tue pegs put ; in, 7—About 18yds in length of asphalting.has been,.laid.down by<;--; 'l'ownsend and Cowper's shop. I beg to recommend, 8-That: the; holes 'in Akura road be filled up; ; there is plenty of dirt-there to do it' '■■ ;„ by ploughing it up. It Would take about three days. The greater-part ..;•' of the traffic is on the formation, and if the holes were filled up it would save the middle of the road. There is a bad hole at the junction of the road to the slaughter housoontho formation. It is not sale nor healthy. 9—Several holes in the Upper Plain road want filling in, and loose stones - taken away. 10-Tho new road in Donald Donald's ostate frol*the • junction of West Bush road to the -. end requires repairing. It ia a good tiino to do it now. Last winter it was very had, and this it will boworse, j thore being nothing' to rake in, ™ To dean out the pit and strip the metal, and repair the road will take two carts about twelve to fifteen days. 11-Tho wire on the mill dam bridge is .broken, and I recommend it be boarded up. •' It will take about 150 ft of timber and : a day's work with one man. I have not tarred any of the gutters been i getting asphalt when the weather .' [permitted. " \J, \Be Clause 8, the Town Clerk was instructed to writo to Mr Hofiiens ' for permission to take gravel lrom the Akura pit. Clauses 9,10, and , 11 were agreed to. The application of Mr.-F. Chap- : man, made at the last meeting of the Council, to erect a weighbridge in Hall-street, was cousidered. It was reported that Mr Chapman desired to mot the weighbridge on a soction of Mr Cookburu'a at the corner' of Hall and Chapel strents, and the Committee recommended- that per- , , mission be given, provided crossings be put in at the entrance in Hallstreet and the exit in Chapel-street,

The Overseer was instructed to commence the asphalting round the Poslj and Telegraph Offices, An application : was mado by MrvflL Holloway for the ; asphalting of; • footpath in front of the premises of ■'•-■•■ Wong You, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write to owners of adjoining property, requesting that. they would pay their share: of tho : .- : cost of continuing the asphalting. ,<4" I Finance Committee. • *

The following accounts were examined and passed for payment: —General, £75 18s 9d; Gasworks, £B9 lis Gd ; Library, £4l2s; Gas toan,£92l6s9d.

A Remarkable Will Case.

A will case of some interest is at present occupying the attention of the Chief Justice and a jury of twelve in the Supremo-Court of Victoria., In August of, last: year, MrVHonry-f . Moss, of Port Melbourne (the owner" of a lucrative lightering businoss and a considerable amount of real and personal property), .'died, and'by bis. -j will and two codicils left the bulk of bis possessions, valued at' between L 30.000 and L 40.000, toMrsGraoo Somnor, a woman who had been aoting as nurso to him. He was a man of eighty years of age, .and-his children and grandchildren received'*,, paltry legacies, which only came into ' *. ; ■ effect after all other claims had omjj satisfied, According to the oponiii,* statement of counsel Mr Somner appeared to have literally taken possession of the old man, who was very feeble in health, on the death of his wife, and to have .. systematically .worked „' : to .obtain complete ascendancy over him during foul'years, A grand-daughter of Mr Moss was staying with her at a hotel conducted by her at .Beaconsfield at the time of Mrs Moss's death; and when sho received a telegram informing her of the event Mrs Somner . went to Port Melbourne with lieiy , representing that she was a great friend of the testator, and that she intended to take charge of the household. Mrs Somner was as good as her word, for on arriving at Bosoobel,. , the testator's residence at Port Mel- • bourne, she entirely took possession. At the funeral she placed herself in the ..first mourning carriage, to the exclusion of the sons, and only consented to go into tho second after some expostulation on their part. ■ Eeturning from the grave she Barrjv' 1 Coinin' thro' tho ryo' to oheer up tho old man, as she said.. Sho at once undertook the position of nurse to the tostator, and so ovorcame all of dolicacy as to occupy hla room all night. Mrs Somner soon got the old man estranged .from his granddaughter, who had previously nursed "•'•'.'■ i him, and persuaded him to havo a lawyer's letter sent to his sons forbidding thorn the houso. It is promised that the evidehcoof undue influenco- ; having been used on tho tostator will be so .strong that the will must bo upset,

■ A deplorable instance'of the.debreaied value of land in England has juut been tnude public. In the Peterborough Bankrupt Court, the other day, the RovJ.H. Loyd, vicar of ForjtheriDghay, surrendered for his public examination.Hisßtatenentof accounts showed liabilties£3ll, and a deficiency of £249 12s Gtf. Debtor statijdthat he was ordained 'at Lichficldjn j 1872, and afterwards joiued the EW C.A. Johns in partnership in a prep-

aratory school at Winchester, On the death of Mr Johns in 1875 he became curate of Maldon, Beds, and in 1881 he was presented to tko vicarage of Fortbcringhay. Ho had been aware ofliis insolvency for two or three years, and attributed it to bad seasons and agricultural depression having,, caused connideraljlej.Jcprease inthe .'*: • value of the benefice. The living was

wortli £lB5 a year when he took it,

and it was now only worth about £loo.' There were, 90: acres of glebe land. He admitted that he had been living beyond his.means, He tried to improve his income by backing a horse er two, but instead of tbatrhe lost his money. The official Receiver.. Since you filed your petition I under-

stand you have resigned your living, Debtor: Yea. Why? Because I knew I should bo asked these questions: about betting, and that it was a bad thing for the parish. I siand hero practically a ruined man, The Oflaial Receiver; Ik's a deplorable thing, "r'

At last (writes "Anglo-Australian" in the-European Mail) the faintheartedaudfthalfdoubting Antipodean wheat exportor h»s entored the home market here for the season as a com-

petitive seller at about 35s Gd, and I understand that good business is being done. I have already expressed the decided opinion, based on expert testimony here, that Australia and iW Zealand have both great oppiir. , tuniliea : boforo them, if only they wilj

make a special stdj of tho real reqmrtwients of the English mirket for both grain and flour. Tlieio is, I happen to know, much agitation in the trades both of bakers and millers. The former nie rapidly rising, through various technically educating agencies and as a result they find that the millora' interests are not exactly harmonious with wlmt they deem theirown, The great domand of the baker hore who is at all "advanced" is for what is called single millod wheat flour; that is, flour made from

one kind of wheat only. Now this | is oxactly the flour that tlio P Australian and New Zealand millers do supply, and hence Antipodean flours are quite as popular, as far as they go, as American importations. If Australian millers would only tnltc the hint, they might much improve on this demand, Thoy should not only send largo consignments of flour, but they should, in conjunction with Australian agriculturist, have different wrilics of wheat raised, and mill . these snpaiately, and then consign to the bakers of the United Kingdom a A ' regular assortment of lino flours, Jft which the baker could "blend" as lie W deemed most desirable.

Tho ordiniry fortnightly rucctitij; <>l tho Mastertou Borough Council takes place thia evoning. Botanists are oxpecting to hear of many ne<v subjeiis ihmu»li thr dtanleyoxplorations, The Vhm\kh\ remarks:—How the accounts jus; received will make tho mouths of botanists watevl What possibilities in the wayofetrange aroids, noyomho-, fc orchids, cycads, palms, ferns from tho 'fS forests! What interest in investigating the flora of these snowy subeqaatorial Alpsl What are tho plant* that clothe them like? How did they get there? Whero did they come from? Of what use nro' they likely to b"? Forests of bamboo, and above them heaths twenty feet in height. Violeu and bilberries are mentioned. * * * Am our gardens likely to be enriched wiih any startling novelty? Thcs" and a thousand similar questions suggest themselves in reading tho statement of tho intrepid explorer. EminPasha has collectwl a number of specimens for his friend Dr Schweinfurth, which are likely to lie forthcoming whatever may happen.