Untitled

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2179, 1 July 1890, Page 3

■ = The ivroce auction in connection with tbe V v Ma an Library realised over .£l4. Mr Jas. M'MiirLA.N advertises elsewhere an extensive sale of drapery, olotbin^, &c, &0., at enormous reductions from ordinary prices. In the Sspreme C>urt insßiukruptcy yes terday, Mr Justice Williams gave judgment ordering the release of tha Assignee in Mr James M 'Donald's estate. There is a good deal of sickness prevalent amoag the children in the district The Catholic School had to be closed last week on that account.

Mr Jotce, M.ELK. for Lyttelton, Biys thas the prince of New Zealand's abseutees draws £85 000 a year from tne colony. Mr Joyce's iuventive genius mast be amaxiog.

Last night we received No. 9 of the Railway Time-table. Especial attention is directed to the fact that on and afcer to-d*y return tickets will ba issued daily on all the Government railways.

The First Offenders Probation Act ought to be regarded as one of the best on the Statute B >ok, for it ia estimated that its operation last year saved the oolooy £2373, and the cost of administration was absolutely nothing. During the year ended 30 bh April last 82 souls, equal to 65 statute adults, were brought into the colony under the nominated system. It should be borne in mind that assisted immigration is now restricted to uniting separated families. The estimated Chinpse population in Australia in 18S0 was 46 433 as against 43 706 in 1881. Of these 11 290 are in Victoria, 15 581 in New South Wales, 7691 in Queensland, 6660 ia South Australia, 626 ia Weatern Australia, 1000 in Tasmania, and 4585 in New Zealand. Mr Joseph Bremner while advertising his cabiuetmaking and general furnishing business in another column, calls especial attention to the washing machines which he has been manufacturing for so many years. They are in very extensive use throughout the district, »nd are wonderfully popular. The Exhibition buildings have almost distppeared. The 'Times' says that the reclaimed laud, which a few months ago held the masß of buildings that were such a blaze of light in the evenings, is reauain^ that unlovtly aspect it presented when the exhibition scheme was merely a dre*m. The Western District A. & P. Society held a gram show at Rivei ton last week — the first for seven years. There were five entries of

graiD, four of grasses, and three of other

kinds of seeds. Routs, which oaa hardly be ojisaei^ as grain, attracted 33 exhibitors. The w other portion of the show embraced items which usually fiud a plaoa at the ordinary summer ezhibitious.

Mb. W. Casserly, who has taken the farm at Adams* b^rp recently occupied by Mr J .O. Aitken was treated to a day's ploughing last Thursday. Fourteen doublefurrow ploughs tamed «ver about 30 acres. Many other of Mr Casserly 'a neighbors were unable to. be present, bat we uudeiMtaud that some day this week about a dozen of them wi<l pat in a day's work.

HiJTRY Jambs, aged about 69 years, and lately boota at Gray's Hotel, Kaitangata, was found dead on Friday evening in a surfaceman's hut near Benhar. He was last seen near tbe hut on Tuesday. Mr Fleming (coroner) held an inquest on S itur' day. The medical evidence showed that death was the result of the fa lure of the action of the heart, accelerated by exposure to cold and want of food. A verdict was returned accordingly.

A RETURN of the business done by the Public Trust office since 1872 was ltid on the table of the House last week. It fills four pages of foolscap, and the cost of compilation was £359. One would think that if the accounts of the office were properly kept such a statement might have been got np by tbe ordinary staff in a few hour?, and at no extra cost whatever. So far as we can see, this is one of the most glaring instances of waste of public money which has ooourred for many years.

A JEW weeks ago a paragraph appeared in our Kaitangata news referring to the three coal mines existing in that locality, and premising a great future for that " Second Newcastle." That this waa justified, the following paragraph taken from the ' Colliery Guardian ' of 9ch May last will amply show : —"Castle Hill Coal Company, Limited. — This Company was registered on the 30 th alt., with a capital of £25.000 in £10 shares, to carry od, in New Zealand and elsewhere, tbe business of Goal and Iron Masters, Coke Manufacturers, Smelters, Steel ConVerters," ftc.

ATtbeMilfcoH Wealeyan Church on Sunday, the Rev. J. Blight conducted services in connection with the Jubilee of the church in this colony. There was an excellent at* tendance at each service, and liberal collections were gathered. Tbe morning sermon was founded on the word "Ebenezer," and in the evening Mr Blight gave a brief and concise sketch of the history of tbe Wesley an

Cburoh from its origin tv the present time,

Ocher services in connection with thu event WMy»«. held later on, when the Rev. W. IW^jf^P^ will be preseat as a deputation from Wjs suggested tbe other diy that the local ploughing match might be nude more interesting and popular by adding thereto an * «xh.'bition of graiu and oiber produce. We <ha»e eJnce ascertained that this uaed to be '■the caste ol *° tne early d>ya. In 1856, 'when tb« #etJoiid ploughing match was held, iprizss were gi»en for grain, potatoes, and ■other produce. There was also a display of wool, but no priz* were awarded. Tbe igiaini of TojwuwirifJ w«r.e very thinly

p pul.itfd tuen, but almost all the settlers brought something, and succeeded in making a very creditable show.

Mr Bketham, the member for Masterton, wants totalisators taxed to raisu reveuue for charitable aid purposes. It is to be hoped that a majority of our legislators will be found sufficiently well-principled to declare that the holy oause of charity shall not be diagraoed in any such way. Surely the p .or, whom, to gu te the highest authority, " we have always with us," oau be assisted without gambling. And if it be a virtue to aaiiac them, and tbe aime hi^h authority assures us it iB, there ought to be no necessity to utilise the results of onu of the most obnoxious and ruinous vices known in order to develop that virtue.

The road from Sprioufi Id up to th« junction with the district roa.l leading Dti Mr G Jones' brick kilna is iv a worse condition than we ever knew it. Long before th« winter ends it will be imp ssvble. No eff rt was made by the Road Bjard when it existed, or is nude now by the County Couucil to itn .rove this road. The amount of traffij on it is evidenced by its bad sta*e. Mr J,.nea is not the ouiy ratepayer there by a loug way, and if he were, sein^ that he pays rates, and tba' the whole district is benefitted by the industry he carries on, he would be entitled to some consideration. But his claims are persistently neglected, and were it not that he often does a lot of repairing on his own account, and at his own expense, it would be scarcely possible to reach bis place except on s'.ilts, and even they might stick in the mud.

The shooting season closing yesterday, one of Milton's great sportsmen determined that in company with his son he would have a grand field day on Saturday to finish up with. A farmer on the Tokomairiro Plain having informed him that there were any quantity of hares and rabbits on his property, and that he should be thankful to have them shot eff, the sport and his son proceeded thither. Elaborate arrangements were made for the contemplated slaughter ; any amount of ammunition was provided, the pocket pistol and sandwich case were not forgotten, aud several dogs of good canine reputation were taken. And tbe party trudged on mile after mile until they had made the round of the firm over and over again. The farmer accompanied them, and was very much distressed by their want of luck. At last, when daylight bei»an to fade, the dogs became excited. They gave chaße to something, the sportsmen following hard after them. After a while the game was captured. It was a wee mouse !

The dead body of a mm named William May was foind on the Town B'.h, Dunedtn, on Sunday afternoon, by some boys. On the arrival of a constable, it waa found thnt the unfortunate man, who waa lying on his side, bell in his ritjht hand, which was extended across his chenr» a six-chambered revolver, the trigger having the second finger of the right hand round it. Upon an elimination of the revo'ver, it was se^n that two chambers were empty and bore siyns of having been recently discharged, while there waa a ball in each of the remaining chambers. Oa the deceased's right temple there wrs the nurk of the entrance of a bul lit— 'that, no doubt, which proved fatal. He was last seen alive on Wednesday evenirg, aud on the following day was rep >rted to the police as missing. P>r seven or eight years May carried on the business of hairdresser and tobacc >nist at Bilclntha, bit left that plac» some months ago, since which he was uaable to obtain suitable employment.