Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3901, 9 May 1877, Page 2

A special meeting of the Municipal Council Avas held last evening. The members present Avere Councillors Vautier, SAyan, AVilliams, Lyndon, <md Neal. Cr Vautier Avas voted to the chair. The minutes of tlie previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman explained that the object of the meeting Avas to pass the statement of accounts and balance-sheet to the 31st March.- The accounts of the municipality had been audited and passed up to the Kith of November last, but the Act of lS7'i required that the balance-sheet and statements should be made up to the 31st of March, and therefore they had iioav before them the balancesheet and accounts for about four months. The ToAA-n Clerk then read the 103 rd section of the Municipal ' Corporations Act, requiring a special meeting to be held on the second Tuesday in May to pass the balance-sheet and statements. These were then, on tlie motion of Cr. SAyan, seconded by Cr. Williams, passed and signed by the Chairman. The balancesheet of tho borough fund showed that the receipts for the four months amounted to £1713 3s 3d. Avliilc the expenditure aams £1094 ls 7cl. There Avas a debtor balance brought forward from last statement of £1110 10s Sd, and the balance now due to the bank Avas £100-1 los. The Town Clerk stated that Avith respect to the overdraft at the bank of £109-1 los he expected that it Avould be cleared off by July next. The Avatenvorks account shoAved that the receipts, including interest, amounted to £727S 13s 4cl, Avhilo the expenditure Avas £594S 12s Od. The swamp reclamation account shoAved that £1000 had been received for debentures sold, and that the expenditure had been £1038 3s 7d. All the accounts had been audited by Messrs C. B. Hoadley and AA 7 . lv. M'Lean, and Avere signed by them. Cr. Swan enquired Avhether there Avas any report from the auditors. The Town Cleric said there Avas none ; the auditors had nothing to say, and so they had made no report beyond that the accounts Avere 1 ' found correct. " The Council then adjourned. The toAvn clock promised to be presented by the late Sir D. M'Lean, Avas shipped by the Otago for Port Chalmers in January last, ancl may be expected shortly. It has an illuminated dial, ancl is so designed as to be suitable for its position on the front of the Post Office. At the commencement of the business of the R.M. Court, yesterday, the magistrates on the Bench Avere J. A. Smith, A. Kennedy and E. Tuke, Esqs. Henry AA lncisor, charged Avith drunkenness, Avas fined os Avith the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. On the case of Hugh Connor against Constable Irvin being called, Mr Lascelles applied for the adjournment of that and the _avo eases against Connor at the instance of Irvin (one for assault, and the other for obstructing the constable in the execution of his duty). The cases aa -ere adjourned to Thursday (to-morroAv). — -Kinross ay Jones Avas a claim for £1 8s 6d. Defendant did not appear. Judgment Avent by default for tlie amount claimed with 9s costs. — On the case Napier Gas Company v. Jones being called Mr Smith and Mr Kennedy left the Bench, and a hunt ensued for a magistrate having no connection Avith or interest in the Gas Company. There seemed tobe some difficulty in finding one so circumstanced, but ultiniately Mr A. Inglis supplied tlie Avant, ancl having taken his seat on the Bench Avith Mr Tuke, the case aams called, Mr Kennedy proved the claim, ancl judgment ay.is given against Jones for £4 10s lOd Avith 9s costs. "There Avas no other business before the Court. Mr Lascelles Avrites, acknoAA.edging with thanks, tlie receipt of tlie folloAving sums in behalf of Mrs Snowsell ami family:— A. NeAvman, £1 ; Captain H. Russell, £1 ; Lloyd, £1 • J. DroAver. -t'l : A. Lascelles. £1 : K. Hill, £1 ; J. Bray £1; Offertory St. Mark's Church.*] Is id : Miss Harding. 12s : Mrs Merrit, 10s : Mrs Wilkin, 5s ; Mr Elliott, lis fid : J. Tye, os ; R. Harding, 10s , J. Close, sen. , os ; F. Tuxford, 2s Gd ; 'W. Orr, 2s Gd ; J. Parsons, os ; Messrs Langley Ar Newman, a parcel of clothes ; Mrs Sims, a parcel of clothes ; Miss Banks, parcel of clothes ; collected by Mr S. Hardy, £3 7s Gel. Total, £14 17s 4cl. AYe direct the attention of poundkeepers to a notice in another column from the clerk of the HaAvke's Bay County Council, to the effect that they are required to furnish monthly returns, in accordance Avith tlie Impounding Acts in force. The returns should specify particulars of all fees, &c, realised on account of their respective pounds. Most amusing scenes are reported to haA'e taken place in the Government Buildings, AVellington, in consequence of the neAV regulations not allowing the usual half hour for luncheon. Somo of tlie clerks bring clown coram pvpuJo fryingpans, saucepans, ancl toasting forks, together with all A-aricties of eatables and drinkables, and one large department, the head of Avhich Avill persist in smoking, has been solemnly reported to the Government by the head messenger, for ' ' cooking red herrings, onions,'' ancl beefsteaks on the fire-tongs !" The harbor outside the buildings is further said to be covered Avith empty bottles. In a speech at the luncheon given to his Excellency the Governor at Invereargill, Commodore Hoskins, replying to tho toast of " The Army and N.-tAy," thus referred to the possibility of the colony's being exposed to an attack by a foreign poAA'er : — " As regards the clanger to this colony from a hostile attack, he considered ifc small. The Avork at the outbreak of a Avar betAA'cen tAvo great nations Avas so concentrated that no large detachments could be spared to attack the colonies. The clanger Avas rather from a small expeditionary force, or from privateers. In case of Avar being declared, our commerce could bo carried almost entirely in fast steamers. As for fighting on land, tlie clanger aams a remote ono, though he agreed that the young men of tlie colony should be prepared for that. A little military training aams an admirable thing for them, as it taught them something of discipline, and also lioav to carry themselves well." In consequence of the late arrival of the KiAvi, Messrs Margoliouth and Banner's sale of fruit has been postponed until to-da3", at 11 o'clock. AYe obsei'A _ from our exchanges th.at the Hokitika Harbor Board is going to borrow £10,000 on debentures.

At the Kensington Park (Melbourne) race meeting, on April 2, an attempt Avas made to disqualify Salem, the favorite in the Selling Race, by removing the leads from the saddle cloth prior to the race. The attempt Avas discovered by the jockey and promptly reported ; the horse Avas roAvcighccl, and won easily. Referring to this attempt, tlie Australasian says : — "In our previous remarks on this ease avc haA*e not done full justice to tlie jockey avlio rode Salem, and was the means of exposing the intended fraud, and preventing its being- carried out. Tlie jockey is an apprentice of Mr W. Filgatc's, and his name is George Williams. Had he not beon so prompt in reporting the abstraction of the leads from the saddle-cloth, it might haA'e been extremely diflicult to proA'e tlie ease. Fortunately Mr Filgate, jun. , Avas able to take the horse back to the Aveighing yard before the guilty parties could replace the leads, md this fact Avas entirely oAving to the jockey's resolute manner and promptness. So many colonial jockeys lie under a suspicion of being more or less amenable to betting influences and unti'UstAvorthy, that it is a pleasure to have to record a case in Avhich attempted dishonest}- has been prevented and punished mainly through the smartness and integrity of the jockey engaged to ride. Of course Aye are Avell aAvaro that the jockey did no more than his duty to his employer, but at tbe same time he has set an example Avhich may bring forth good fruit, and Aye are glad to hear that the lad's good conduct Avill bo recognised in a move substantial form than mere commendation. If all jockeys Avere re-soh-ed to act as Williams has done, the turf Avouhl bear a fairer reputation and character than it does, and be oa'cii better patronised that it ucVav is. - ' We observe that the a .shy of the Episcopalian Church of St. Matthew's, Dunedin. lias decided to give the new incumbent, the Rev. Mr. Bj'ng, a stipend of £500, Avith .100 house alloAvanee. This is in the right direction. — JAvaiHielist. Tlie manner in which the defaulting secretary uf the Canterbury Investment Association defrauded that society. Avhich has been referred to in recent telegrams from Christchurch, is thus described by the Timaru Herald: — " There is in this province an Investment Society, the directory of Avhich comprises soa -oral of tlio smartest men of business in the colony. The auditors, too, Avere selected on account of their keenness and scrutiny, and great capacity for checking accounts. Yet Avhat is the melancholy fact \ That Investment Society has been systematically robbed by its secretary for several years, tlie whole sum missing amounting, aa _ understand, to £7000. The man not only took all this money Avithout being even suspected, but he compounded his appointment by a handsome bonus to be given to his Avife, and he got aAvay safely before anything Avas found out. It is asked, by what complicated trickery did he manage to elude the A-igilance of the directors and auditors I AYe reply that he adopted no more cunning plan than that of stealing tlie money before their Aery eyes. They did nothing to prevent his doing so. Tliey actually handed the money over to him themselves. For example, one day a gentleman avlio had lent the company £500 came in to draAv his quarter's interest. Tlie secretary tilled in a cheque for both principal and interest. and took it to tha directors to sign. They signed it, he cashed it, and, giving tlie investor the amount due for interest, put the £500 in his pocket. Time slipped aAvay, and presently the same gentleman came again for another quarter's interest. The secretary tilled in another cheque for both capital and interest, and took it to the directors to sign. They signed it, he cashed it, and, giving the investor the amount due to him for interest, put the £500 in his pocket. This is how tlie society managed its borrowing ; now let us see how it managed its lending. A person Avishing to raise £750 made the necessary arrangements Avitli the society, and i _ ceiA .il a cheque, through the secretary, for £500 to start Avith, the remainder to be paid Avhen certain buildings Avere completed. In due course the borrower came for the balance. The secretary filled in a cheque for £750, and took it to tlie directors to sign. They signed it, he cashed it. and, giving the borrower the amount clue to him, put the £500 in his pocket. Nothing could be simpler. In each of these three cases the sum Avhich the directors gaA . him Avas £500, but the secretary ay.is a careless, good-natured felloAv, avlio Avas not particular to a pound or tAvo. On one occasion he receiA'eil £1000 all at once under circumstances very similar to those already described, and never troubled tlio directors to give him change." Messrs Mavgoliouth and Banner Avill sell, to-day, at 12 noon, at their rooms, a large quantity of glass shades, clocks, ornaments, «_.., purchased in Paris by Mr John DiiiAvidclie ; also, at 2 p.m., the balance of the unsold stock of drapery, clothing, i.e., of Messrs M'Doaa.H and Co. , also, furniture, shop fittings, Arc. The Poverty Bay H< raid says:— "Messrs Nasmith and Co. havo embarked in a hcav branch of their business, which is aa .11 Avorthy of notice, namely, that of electro-] dating. They liave fitted up a small battery constructed on the most approved principles, Daniel's patent electro battery is the name, avc believe, and the manner in winch they are enabled to turn out the work affords the most satisfactory proof of its efficiency. lt may be Avell to state that there is nothing of the magic " plate restoring fluid 5s a""l_.tle" element in this. Messrs Nasmith and Co. guarantee that they AviHeoA-er any articles manufactured of the baser metals, teapots, cruet-stands, forks, and spoons, Avatches. chains, in fact, anything and everything, Avith a solid coating of gold or silver of any thickness according to order. Articles may be plated so thickly as to stand wear and tear, cleaning, i.e., for many years in precisely the same manner as if they consisted of solid gold or sih-er. Asa matter of course, the cost of the ojieratiun varies according to the heaviness of the plating, required, but Aye are informed that in any case the process is effected at a Aery moderate figure. it should be mentioned too, that owing to the absence of alloy, the plated article presents a far brighter, and more sterling appearance than similar ones made of solid metal. Several silver plated chains and other articles of brass and copper Avere shoAvn us by Mr Nasmith, Avhich in point of brilliancy and general finish throAv similar articles manufactured of the solid metal completely into the shade." Tlie Daily Times says : — " Mr George Coombe's horse Right .BoAver, Avhich, it will be remembered, got injured in the race for the Dimedin Cup, died at his owners stables on Wednesday niuhi. On examining the bod}-, it was found that the shoulder blade Avas very badly smashed, ami the only Avonder i.s that the poor animal had lived so long."' The "fixings" of the Cook County Council Chamber appeal- somewhat scant, if avo may judge by the folloAving from " Snyder's " description of it in tlie Poverty Bay Standard .- — " The furniture in the county office on Saturday evening consisted of one table, nVe chairs, and a spittoon, tlie latter article being the personal property of a former clerk, who had kindly alloAved it to remain for the service of the members of the road board. Tlie deficiency of chairs Avas made up by two or three being borrowed from an adjoining hotel. Our reporter had formation to take his own chair Avith him. lie Avas accommodated Avith a form. Sitting too near the end, it tilted. One end of the form struck the ceiling ; the other end did nothing in particular. The reporter Avent on the floor, lost Lis presence of mind, and got up on tho Avrong side, by Avhich his leg came in violent contact Avith the leg of the form. The only sympathy he received Avas from a councillor, aa'lio regretted to see a member of the Press so completely floored."

The heaAy seas of last aa .ek, Aye regret to hear, have altogether destroyed the Tongoio Beach road. The Auckland Gas Company publish in the Star a table shoAving that 1000 cubic feet of gas yields a light equal in intensity to 3£ gallons of kerosene, or to GO Mbs of talloAV candles ; or to 78.} lbs of ordinary stearine or sperm candles ; or to 01.} lbs (jf pure sperm or A\ax candles. The comparative cost being — Gas, 10s ; kerosene, 13s Od ; talloAV candles, 30s 2d ; stearine candles, 78s 3d ; pure sperm or aamx candles, lS3s 9cl. Quito an original cletinition of Avhat constitutes inebriety (says the Guardian) aams given by Mr Brosnan, toll-keeper, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday. Oi ..snail appeared as aaa .tness for the defence in an action to recover damages through the smashing of a buggy. A material point aams Avhether the occupiers of the buggy Avere sober or othenviso. Brosnan being asked the question, replied that they looked as if they had had a glass of beer. Counsel : AA "hat led you to think so ' AVitncss .- Because thoy hesitated to pay their toll. (Roars of laughter.) Mr Stout : That's the richest cletinition I've heard yet. AA _iat did they do 1 AA r itness : One aams going to pay, and the other Avanted to pay, and they kept humbugging. (RencAved laughter. ) A numerously-signed petition, backed up by Southland, has been forAvariled from QueenstoAvn to the Native and Defence Minister, asking for the next colonial prize firing to be held at that place. The London Globe (March 3), observes that the death of the Prime Minister of Nepaul may prove of considerable moment, both to the fortunes of that State and to the interests of England in tho East. It is not so much that avo have to fear intestine commotions in Nepaul. Even if disturbances occur through the l'iAMlry of ambitious chiefs to till the place occupied for so many years by Sir Jung Bahadoor, the Indian Government may content itself Avith a position of Avatchful observation. The real clanger is that the death of this able administrator will incite China to attempt the conquest of Nepaul. The latter State aams formerly a tributary of the Celestial Empire, and even Avithin quite recent years there has been A\-arfare betAveen the tAvo countries. No nation in tlie Avorld is more tenacious than the Chinese. Ea-cu Avhen oompelled to boAv teniporarily to the logic of events by surrendering a portion of territory, the Court of Pekin iiiA-ariably reserves to itself the right of reconquest at the first opportunity. This happened in Yunnan, AA-hero the Mahonnuedan rebels tvere eventually exterminated, after holding the Goa 'eminent for somo years. In the same Avay the Imperial legions have been sloavlv rolling oiiAvards towards Ivashgar for a long time past, Avith a A'ioAV to tlie recovery of tliat distant province. It Avould. therefore, seem quite possible thafc ihe Chinese Avill see in the death of Sir Jung Bahadoor a providential dispensation opening the AA-ay to the reconquest of Nepaul. The Printer's Register says that amongst the recipients of the Companionship of the Order of the Star of India Avhen the Queen's ugav title of Empress aams proclaimed Avas Mr Echvin Arnold, a AATiter on the DaUy Telegrajjit. The same authority says a rumor is current that Lord Beaconsliehl Avill shortly mark his appreciation of the services rendered to the Government ly the Tclatrapli by creating its chief proprietor a baronet. The Of ego Times says:— "'The AVellingtoiiians are a 'cute and enterprising folk. They have ahvays got some great scheme in hand. Their latest project seems to be a Parliamentary Opposition all to themselves, of Avhich Sir William Fitzherbert Avouhl be tho chieftain, ancl Mr TraA-ers first lieutenant. The project is not a bad one, ancl ought to Avork aa .11 for AVellington. Sir George Grey. Mr Rolleston, and the other personages avlio have, hitherto led the Opposition, Avould, avo presume, retire on half-pay. The secrets of the programme of the iioav Opposition haA'e not yet been re\.aled.'' In a recent Avork on Transcaucasia, the scene of the recent military operations between Russia 'and Turkey, the Avriter (says the Spccftt/or) confirms the tolerably general impression that Russia at the present moment oavos a great deal more to the non-Slavonian than to the Slavonian races aa.io inhabit it. Unless, indeed, the Russian .wakes from the charmed sleep of centuries of ignorance, ancl becomes something more than a machine in the hands of autocracy — in AA'hich case, Avoe to autocracy — the destinies of his countiy Avill be placed definitely, if they are not so placed already, at tlie mercy of four non-Russian races, — the Jcavs, the Greeks, the Germans, and — particularly in Transcaucasia — the Armenians. The Jews and the Greeks, Mr Telfer points out, really govern Odessa, AA-hich may be destined, in spite of the overpoAvering American competition that recently all but ruined it, to be the chief port in Russia. Of the Jcavs alone there are 05,000 in Odessa, ancl they haA'e it all their oavh AAMJ-. The poor Russian laborer has three feast-days to one of the Jcav ; drinks his earnings at the vodka (spirit) counters, AA'hich are chiefly kept by JeAVS, abstemious, devoted to their sabbaths and fifteen holy-days ; and if he does not sink into an early grave, relapses into drink, and that debt which folloAVs in the wake of drink, cursing, not altogether reasonably, the Jcav avlio supplies him Avith the means of droAvning his sorrows. The Greek is almost as übiquitous, and possesses almost as much behind-the-scenes inliuence in Russia as he has in Turkey. The hostility of the Russian peasant to the Avell-etlucated German of the almost literally German provinces, avlio becomes a successful farmer, and even a small landoAvner, while lie is starving aud almost in rags. aams shoAvn some time ago in connection Avith the proposal to loAver education in these proA-inces to the Slav instead of raising it to the German leA.l, and Mr Telfer confirms AA'hat was previously said. As for the Armenians, persecution has rendered them at once as '• pa-.vku'' jiml as observant of religious services as Jews or Scotch Presbyterians — in fact, there is a proverb that it takes two Greeks to outwit a Jcav, and three .leAVS to outwit an Armenian — and as there are two millions ancl a half under Russian domination, they may be destined to have a great influence o\ -or - both empires. SomehoAV London seems tired of dancing. When the Shah aams here, no remark he made Avas more relished than his question to tho Prince of AVales Avhile the dance aams going on, '' Why do you not employ servants to do this for you.'" The perspiring Prince could hardly explain, but sobriety generally seems inclined to relegate dancing to the et>rps de ballet. This has been especially the case this season, Avhen the new fashionable skirts have gone to an extreme from the liberation of the ballet. A lady aams -recently heard to say Avitha sigh, " What Avith being tied around above ancl tied around behnv, I haven't had a good square sit cloaa-ji for three months. - ' AVhen a large ball is giA'on there is an apology for danotnc, a few mincing steps are taken, but presently the company falls to admiring each other's dresses, and it all ends in music and talk. Dancing bids fair to become a v survival,'* as the antiquarians say. Ea-cu apart from any other entertainment, the great evolutions Avhich liua. taken place in dress make the English dra wing-room far more attractive than it formerly Avas. The room itself has become more beautiful and less flaring. Unobtrusive, quiet aamlls and stuffs rich, but of subdued tints, supply good back-grounds for the superb and artistic raiment in AA-hich the ladies are now habited, i feel quite sure that the English ladies are not only Aviping out tlie stigma upon their taste of dress, but will ere long be noted as the best dressed people in Europe.— London Letter to Cincinnati Commercial,

The anniversary of the inauguration of the eight hours system among the Melbourne trades Avas celebrated lately by a magnificent procession neA'cr before equalled in Melbourne, and having a strong political significance at this juncture, on the eve of the goneral election. The procession extended a good mile, four abreast, enlivened by the massive banners in front of nearly eveiy trade, ancl eight bands interspersed, six AA'ith brass instruments and tAvo drum ancl fife. — Press. The effects of the fire at Blenheim are still being felt hy the postmaster and other people. As the case is stated by a local paper, "avliou a money order is issued one portion is given to the applicant to be forAvarcled to the receiver, Avhilst another portion is sent to the office aa 'here payable. It appears that seA-eral orders on places in England Avere issued just before the chatc of the five, and despatched by the outgoing mail. AA "hen these Avere presented for payment it aams refused, as the corresponding halves had not been received, haA'ing in fact been burnt, antl tlie postmaster has no means of supplying the names of the senders. These persons are iioav requested to call at the postoffice and give the required information before the next outgoing mail, in order that their friends may receive the money."