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Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1062, 28 January 1879, Page 5

Mr John Farquharson has just imported a new engine and threshing mill, with tbe latest improvements in the way of cleaning gear set for use in the Tokomairiro district. The engine is seven horse-power, and was made by Marshall and Co., tbe celebrated English manufacturers.

The Rev. Mr Connor, Presbyterian minister, who has recently resigned his charge at Popotunoa, preached ia Milton on Sunday last. The Eev. Mr Chisholm preached in Mr Connor's church, vacant, on the same day, and announced tbat gentleman's resignation.

The annual meeting of the Bruce Rifles was to have taken place on Friday eveeing last, but was postponed until next Friday, owing to so few of the company beingp resent.

In the competition for Mr Gray's prize on Saturday morning last by the Bruce Rifles, Private Calder was was top scorer with 53 points, including 5 points handicap ; Captain Pettit second with 59. The morning was foggy, and the light variable.

Oue of Wood's reapers, and binders purohased by Mrs Robinson ani Sons, Southbridge, w»9 worked for the first time to-day. As a public trial of these machines will soon be held under the auspices of tbe Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, we defer any comments at present ; bufc may say that yesterday's trial, which attracted s largo number of people, was satisfactory in every respect, whilst the work done was considered woudetful for quantity and quality. Mrs Robinson intends to let the machine ont for use in the district.

As has been announced for some days, the Rev. Mr Byng will lecture in St George's Hall thig evening, on a most interesting subject, "Matrimony." We were about to write "attractive subjecfc^'j bufc as there are differences of opinioßpn thi^ respect, we have used the word interesting, feeliag sure that such will meet the views, not only of all readers, but even of tbe lecturer himself. We have experienced so much difficulty by not endeavoring to please everybody by our political views that "» a small matter like this we feel authorised in not enunciating our own convictions. The ' Taranaki News ' says :— Matters are not so peaceful at Waimate as we could wish them to be. Some of the worst pf the Maoris thereabout are growing insolent, and a feeling js gaining ground among European observers that although the survey of the district may not be interfered with, a stand will be made against European settlement. We do not wish to be alarmists, and we sincerely hope that these anticipations may not be realised; bat we cannot close our ears to all that is said on the subject.

Thb survey of the branch railway line to Catlin's River will be commenced to-day at luvertiol. Mollison aud party are carrying out the survey.

Tv another column will be found a report of tbe first meeting of the Balolntha Mutual Improvement Society. Their next meecing is ou Saturday night next. A full report of their discussion will appear in our columns.

A meeting of ratepayers was held last night in Inch Clutha for tbe purpose t f contidering the new School Board election ; and also to decide the deviation of the Main Road question. Our report of the meeting is held over.

The Molyneux is at present a good deal lower than it haß been for some time back. The lona is unable to lay up at her usual berth, and is compelled to load and discharge a considerable distance further down the river.

A jetty and stores are shortly to erected at the Owake landing, and tenders will soon be called for the much needed works' in the district. .

Harvesting has commenced early. Mr Drinnan, of the Tokomairiro plain, commenced on a crop of winter sown oats on Friday last,, with most satisfactory results ; and harvesting is now becoming general.

The contra versay between Messrs Green (Evangelist) and Mr Bright (Freethinker), held in the Queen's Theatre, Duuedin, during the past week, has come to a close ; and the opinion seems generally to be that Mr Bright got a good deal the worst of it. -However, the Benevolent Asylum has profited in a very tidy sum taken for admission to the discussion.

The Friendly Society's picnic, which takes place on Thursday, at Balclutha, promises to prove an unqualified success. A large number of visitors are expected trom adjoining districts, and His Worship tbe Mayor has recommended the inhabitants of tbe township to observe a general half holiday upon the day in question. We trnsfc our friends will thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Th*'RK was no excessively violent demonstration on the part of our townspeople on tbe occatijn of the special tr-iiu passing through Balclutha on Tuesday last. Certainly a number of people assembled on the platform, aud we must not omit to menti -n three cheers of a rather tame and sickly character that were indulged in by the assembled populace, but otherwise the usual tranquility reigned supreme. The Mayor, several Councillors, and a number of influential citz;n3 were taken on board at this station.

An English minister, in a very excelent sermon upon practical Christianity, remarked in speaking of dancing that people did more damage with their tongues (ban their toes. The ' West Coast Times ' says tbat a young salmon, measuring 7in, lot g was caught at the Kanieri last week. Ifc waa immediately returned to the water, the hook whioh caaght it gently being easily removed. Tbe young fish lecently deposited iv the Hokitika river are evidently thriving, as this is the second or third < coasion on which a good-sized trout or salmon has been seen.

The 'Timaru Herald,' in an article on plural voting-, has the following pointed allusion to the Premier : -"We do not suppose that Sir George Grey understands all this, or knows anything really about local elections. Although a very wealthy man himself, and one of the hautiest of proprietors, heis,nevertbeless,almosfc the only European in New Zealand who pays no local taxes. Kawau is not in auy county or road district, and, though an exceedingly valuable property, ia not rated at all. Sir George is certainly tbe only nun in this country to whom h s violent tirades against autocratic owners of estates would properly apply."

A heardess case of cruelty -to animals was brought to light a few days since. Ifc appears tnat two dogs, which bad previously been allowed to exist on dry bones and air, were, after being reduced to skin and bone, locked up in a room without either food or water. They were at the time so weak that they could not make an effort to gefc out although a dash through a window could easily bave been made. The stiffened bodies of the poor brutes were, after the animalß had beeu locked up for over a week without anyone haviug been to see them, observed by an individual who was gazing in through one of the windows, such cruelty is deserving of severe punishment, bufc doubtless the arm of the law cannot reach the inhuman owner of tbe dogs.

The * Daily Telegraph ' says : — The valuation papers— if they can be called by tbat name — wbich, under the Land Tax Act, have been lavishly distributed to owners and occupiers of dwellings are wondeiful puzzles. There are very few, indeed, who can form any idea of the proper method of filling up these papers, and ana we fail to discover anything in the Act to compel tbem to go to the trout le of finding out. The value of these papers may be estimated from tlie fact of the valuators being instructed to be in no way guided by the information contained in them. After making every allowance for the difficulties iv the way of initiating the imposition of a new tax, we cannot but think tint more than ordiuary bungling has characterised tbe initiation ofthe land tax

A tragedy was nearly being enacted at Talbot, (Victoria) on Christmas Eve, states the ' Maryborough Standard.' " A family named Burns have not been on good terms with each other, owing to tbe familiarity of a daughter named Sarab, aged 18, with some women of not the best repnte. Tbe father, it is said, has been htard to threaten the yeung woman that he would do for her jf she dii not drop her acquaintances. Un Tuesday be went out poaehiug hares, returning in the evening with his gun loaded, Mrs Burns bad got tome spirits in the bouse, to give a flavor to the pudding on the morrow, and Barns partook freely, wbich had an exciting effect. He lay down for awhile, but hearing his daughter singing while coming home, he got up, exclaiming, ' 1 11 settle you and your tinging.' He went outside and presented the gun at the girl, who dropped down in a fit as he fired, and. thus escaped injury. Neighbours came, and Burns was lodged in the lock-up. The fit was caused by fright and tbe young woman did not receive any hurt whatever."

ThhT Lyttleton • Times ' gives the following description of a new straw elevator :— "Messrs Luxton Bros., of Bangiora,bave had an addition made to their straw elevator, wbich as straw is very scarce, and the necessity of carefully stacking it is greater this year than usual, will render it a useful adjunct to the thrashing machine. The elevator is built on wheels, and is so constructed tbat when not at work it can be folded up and drawn along. the road by one horse wibbont having the cumbrance appearance that an ordinary elevator haf*. When taken to the place at which it is required to be set, tbe elavators are drawn up by means pf ropes and a pulley, guided by a horizontal bar, and by means of a cross pulley it i-j then unfolded aad raised to any height required up to 24 feet, which is the limit to which it will extend. The advantage of it reaching to this height is at once apparent, ai the machine is comparatively inexpensive and dees not occupy much space when not at work, it will be seen tbat it has many advantages. Messrs Boyd and Keir constructed the elavator under instructions from the above mentioned firm.

The education test toa Victorian claimaint for the Electoral is sometimes a poser. One George Jones found it so in the St. Frances division of : East Melbourne. The applicant broke down over the christian name, which he spelled "gorge," and under the oirourstances tbe registrar felt obliged to withhold the right, much to Mr Jones's disgust.

As an instance of the unnecessary expenditure of County Councils, Mr Wakefield at a recent meeting at Geraldine mentioned that wben in Dunedin on one occasion he was walking through Messrs Guthrie aad Larnach's large factory witb Mr Larnach, wben they came across the most magnificent suite of furniture he bad pseu in New Zealand. Mr Larnach said, "What a magnificent suite of furniture, and asked one of his men who it was for, and the reply was, "Oh sir, this is for the Lake County Council." The oost of tbat furniture wa3 80 guineas.

The following paragraph from the 'Poverty Bay Standard ' induces one to ask the question which is tbe greater evil of the two, too much or too little rain. Our contemporary says: — Another week has passed over, and still rain. The districts are described as being much parched, and the grass in many places rapidly drying up. The dairymen threaten butter at two shillings a. pound and milk with a rise of fifty per cent. Even the fowls refuse to lay eggs. under, two shillings a dozen, and these . very small for the money. Things are assuming a threatening aspect. There have been indicacations during the last few days of a rain fall. But tbe rain has not failen, nd the town residents are without water for drinking aud cooking, if we except the small quantity of bad and fetid water obtained from tho all but exhausted wells. The drought will not, we suppose, continue much longer.

At Bangiora (Canterbury) there haa been great excitement in reference to the case of a man named Bassingthwaite. A short time ago he filed his schedule in bankruptcy, showing liabilities ab and* assets which would only pay a few shillings in the pound. Subsequently at a meeting of creditors be offered a small payment in the pound, wbich was refused. He informed bis creditors tbat £2000 had been stolen from him in or on his. way toDuoedin, which he had iv a pocket-book for the purchase of horses. He had dealt largely in cattle. Detective Beijimin and a female seacher have recovered £400 in gold in a box in his house, and a number of notes sewn in the quilting of Mrs Bassingtjiwaite's petticoat ; iv all £812 is recovered. Basnngthwaifce bas been arrested on the information of Mr Kerr, the creditors' trustee, charged with wilf ally witholding a true return of his real and personal estate. A large and excited crowd followed th 6 accused to the lock up. On Tuesday Bassingthwaite was brought before the Court, and remanded. The oney, available, will benefit the creditors to the extent of 7s 6d in the £.

Thk following are tbe results of the several matches played in Victoria by the Canterbury Eleven :— -Ballarat— -Plaj ed December 27th and 28th ; Canterbury won by eight wickets, the scores being, Ballarat, 42 and 136 ; Canterbury, 131 and 47 for the loss of two whkets. The match with Melbourne was played on January 4fcl>, 6^b, and 7ih, and resulted in tbe defeat <f Canterbury by 169 ruDS. The scores were, Melbourne, 143 and 236 ; Canterbcry, 87 and 123. In the match agaiost South Melbourne, played on January 10i.h and llth, Canterbury was again defeated, tbis time by an innings and 93 runs. The scores were, Sonfch Melbourne, 317 ; Canterbury, 90 and 134. The East Melbourne match was played on January 13th and 14th, and was won by Canterbury with ten wickets. The East Melbourne scored 188 and 180 ; the Canterbury men making 270, aud, in their second innings, 99 without the loss of a wicket. The match against the Bohemian Club was played on the 15th and 16th, and was won by the latter by eight wickets. The scores were — Canterbury 197 and 105 ; Bohemians, 236 and 67 for two wickets. The match against tbe Richmond Club, played on Friday and Saturday, resulted in another victory for Canterbury by eight wickets, the scores being — Richmond, 195 and 63 ; Canterbury, 223 and 37 for tbe loss of two wickets. Ifc will thus be seen thafc of the six matches played the Canterbury cricketers have been victorious in three, and in three h^ve been defeated.