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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3904, 12 May 1877, Page 2

A meeting of the creditors of Mr J. M'Leod, coach builder, was held yesterday in the Court-house. It was decided that the estate should be assigned to trustees for the benefit of the creditors. It is expected that the estate will realise 20s in the pound. The amended rules of the Victoria Special Settlement Association, we are happy to learn, came to hand by the s.s. Rangatira yesterday, and, we believe, those of the other associations which have been waiting for them, came also. We cannot, however, speak with certainty. Messrs Margoliouth and Banner report a very good attendance at their sale at Taradale yesterday, about 40 head of cattle and 20 horses, and several small lots of pigs, fowls, &-c., being entered. They quote as follows .—2-year old steers from £4 2s Od to £5 2s 6d ; heifers from £4 15s to £5 5s ; dairy cows from £5 5s to £10 10s. There was a considerable demand for fat bullocks, but the supply was very limited, about £8 8s to £10 10s being the prices ruling; the supply of horse stock rather exceeded the demand ; good useful hacks from £3 10s to £17 ; draught horses no enquiries ; pigs (weaners), about 15s each ; fowls from Is Od to 2s each. A lot of young apple trees realised from Is to Is 0d each. We are requested to state that in consequence of the continued indisposition of the Rev. J. C. Eccles, there will bo no service in St. Peter's Church, Waipawa, on Sunday next, 13th inst. Our Woodville correspondent writes : — " The planking of the Mangatua Bridge is breaking up, it being in a very rotten condition. The road will become almost, if not quite, impassable for vehicles if something is not done to it at once. The whole of the bridges between the Gorge and Matahiwi have their planking in a state of rottenness; half a plank has been out of the Mangatua Bridge for a week past, leaving it in a very ugly and dangerous state. The second portion has given way to-day, and unless the whole of the bridges are seen to at once, some accident must inevitably occur. There are no roadmen kept on this portion of the road now, which makes matters worse. Since writing the foregoing, the late roadman informs me that he will repair the bridge in time for the coach to pass safely. Just as the s.s. Wanaka had hauled away from the Wellington wharf on Wednesday on her way to Napier, a lady passenger arrived at the end of the wharf. The look of blank dismay on her face when she saw the steamer away from the pier was a picture for an artist. Captain M'Gillivray noticing the fact courteously put back and took the lady on board. — Argus. We hear that the gallery along one side of Trinity Church, Clive Square, has been completed, and will be open to-morrow. This will add considerably to the accommodation of the church, and when both sides are completed, it will no doubt greatly improve the internal appearance of the building. The opening football match of the season takes place to-day on the space of ground adjoining the Hawke's Bay Brewery. It is hoped that all wlio take an interest in the game will put in an appearance, so as to give a good start to tlxe club. We are requested to state that the announced sale by Messrs Routledge, Kennedy and Co., of Californian quail has been withdrawn in consequence of the non-arrival of the q\iail; as soon as they reach Napier, the sale Avill again be advertised. Judging by the reports of the ActingAdjutant in Otago, the volunteer spirit is somewhat declining amongst the older and younger corps in the city of Dunedin. Of the once celebrated and efficient No. 1 Company of City Guards he says : —' 'This corps is not in the same prosperous state as when I had the honor of inspecting it last year, and the remarks I then made do not apply on this occasion. On the contrary, there is a general falling-oil' in the attendance at parade, and there seems to be but little interest taken by the members in the prosperity of the company. It is to be regretted that these unhealthy signs should manifest themselves in a corps which formed the nucleus of the volunteer movement in the city, as well as the province, and a corps that undoubtedly was the main-stay of the volunteers here since 18G4." Of the City Guards Cadets he also says : —" The arms and accoutrements I found to be but carelessly taken care of, and it was urged as an excuse that the arms issued to the company were now old, and consequently the cadets took but little interest in keeping them clean. I replied that they would be trusted with good and serviceable riiies when they took butter care of the old ones. The conduct of the company generally reflects but little credit on its officers. The London correspondent of the Christchurch Press says : —" Her Majesty the Queen seems at last inclined to re-enter society, and, apparently, by way of getting herself up to the mark, paid a long visit to the Zoological Gardens the day before yesterday. A new fashion has recently sprung up at balls, and seems to have taken a fast hold on society. What arc called " singing quadrilles" are got up at nearly all balls given now. The dancers, who have previously rehearsed their parts together, sing nursery rhymes while they go through the mazy figures of the dance. Now it is an admitted fact that an Englishman docs not excel as a quadrille dancer. Everyone recollects the remark of that well-known wit who said that English people when they danced always looked as if they were hired to do it, and they were doubtful of being paid. I should like to hear what he would say could he witness a "singing quadrille." I know of no spectacle more idiotic than that of a middle-aged gentleman going stolidly through a quadrille singing " Ba-a, Ba-a, Black Shoe])," and yet this is the sort of thing that is to bo seen and heard in neai-ly every ball-room in London now. To a right-minded man it is as depressing as some of our comic papers." The Southland Times concludes its article welcoming the Governor with this observation : —'' Perhaps his Excellency may console himself under his slight from the Otago City of the past (Dunedin) by his reception at the rising Otago City of the future " —lnvercargill, of gourse.

Commenting upon the fact that the Awahuri natives have been paid £4500 in satisfaction of their claim on the Douglas block, the Advocate says : — " The event was commemorated by a large piebald feast at Awahuri, to which whites as well as darks were freely invited. The feast was on a most extensive scale, and continued for three days. Good order was maintained throughout, and no cases of excessive drinking fell under our observation. The money was left intact, and lodged by Mr Monald in one of the banks at Palmerston." The European Mail says, in reference to the extraordinary run of " Our Boys" at the Vaudeville Theatre, London : — " Now that ' Our Boys' has been running for over two years, all comparisons are at an end, and there really seems no reason why (as some prophetic persons ventured to predict) it should not go on throughout 1877. The piece seems to go better than ever, the crowded audience roaring with laughter over the many merry conceits crowded into the dialogue. Even with the figures of the marvellous run before us, we can simply acknowledge it as a stupendous fact, and join in the general assertion that it is a highly amusing comedy. Mr Thorne, as at the first, represents the weak but good-hearted Talbot with a quiet ease that is very enjoyable; Mr David James's Perkyn Middle- ' wick is nightly the source of the greatest interest and amusement, and the butterman's son, Charley, has a good representative in Mr Garthorne. In the continued success of ' Our Boys' we have the satisfaction of knowing that it is a thoroughly English comedy by a truly national author, and the only possible regret is that while it runs it keeps us from the enjoyment of another new play by Mr Byron." A batch of 50,000 Martini-Henry rifles for the use of the Turkish army wore safety landed in Constantinople in January. These arms were ordered at Birmingham nearly ten months ago, but when they were ready the would-be purchasers had not the money to pay for them. Hearing of this, an English merchant, acting as agent for Russia, tried very hard to get hold of them. But the manufacturer would not part with the rifles until he got his money ; neither would he sell them to the enemy of a power that had very often been an excellent customer. So the arms were kept, and have at last been paid for and duly delivered. Nine ships have this season been laden with wool at Wellington. Their cargoes contain 39,261 bales and packages, weighing 12,437,7151b5, valued at £647,554. Last season eight ships were despatched, carrying 31,464 bales and packages, weighing 10,057,692 lbs, valued at £580,063. Mr Fitzgerald, of the Dunedin Normal School, speaking at a meeting of the Otago Institute recently, stated that Professor Shand was at the present time considering a scheme which, if adopted, would do very much to raise the standard of education, and to improve the condition of schools and schoolmasters. Mr Fitzgerald remarked that he was not at liberty to ent '• into the details of tho scheme them. Two little girls at Foxton were nearly poisoned last week by eating tutu and nightshade berries. They were saved by prompt medical aid. It is again currently reported (says the Argun) that Dr Knight is about to retire from the position of one of the Commissioners of Audit, and that ho will be succeeded by Mr G. S. Cooper, the present Under-Secretary for the colony. A similar rumor was current prior to last session, and tho arrangement would have been carried out had not certain difficulties arisen in regard to the pension Dr Knight was entitled to. These, it is said, have now been removed. A greenstone hatchet, says the Inangahua Time*, has been found byMrM'Connocliie, while prospecting in the ranges (on the West Coast of the Middle Island.) The discovery is remarkable, having regard to the locality, and tho fact that so few Maoris are supposed to have inhabited this portion of New Zealand. In a letter addressed to the Kaiapoi churchwardens (says the Christchurch Press) the Bishop intimates his intention to give his decision in respect to the articles in use and practices complained of at a late vestry meeting, so soon as he receives the determination of the Bench of Bishops on the notorious " Kaiapoi case," which is still under their consideration. Hobart Pasha, in a letter to the Times, under date March 2, remarks as follows : — " Sir, this country, although passing through a fearful crisis, and while the passions and aspirations of five or six different religious communities and nationalities are roused, is perfectly quiet. Life and property are as safe as in Europe. There is no panic anywhere. The Christians follow their vocations in safety. Already steps are being taken to organise a gendarmerie under European oflicors, and a well-known English officer has been commissioned to draw up a report on this subject. If the ruinous drag of impending war M'cre removed I believe that Turkey would soon be able to lift her head again. The Turks honestly admit the truth of the accusation of bail administration, and are must desirous to make radical changes ; but a bad system from beginning to end iv a vast Empire, full of conflicting elements, cannot be changed in a day. They ask for time, help from without (in the way of administration), and a little kindly, generous feeling from Europe." The Times, of March 14, to hand yesterday, remarks : — " As the hour approaches at which hostilities, if not prevented, must begin, an agitation has been excited in Europe which might ;tffect the resolves of any Government. With or without ground, the idea prevails that the outbreak of war in the East will be followed by events of the greatest magnitude, in which Austria may possibly be involved. Few can give any reason for this belief other than a vague apprehension, but it prevails sufliciently to alarm the public, and consequently to occupy the Governments. "As a boy named Samuel Price, about 15 years of age, -was pulling weeds iv the garden of Mr Brumby, Hanvick, at Longford," reports the Cornwall Chronicle, " a good-sized carpet snake fastened on his fore linger. Feeling the fangs of the reptile, the lad flung him off, and without hesitation lifted an axe close by and chopped off the first joint of his finger. He was quickly conveyed to Dr Mason's ' surgery, who used ammonia, cauterants, and other suitable treatment, detaining the boy until all danger was over when he drove him home. Dr. Mason attributed the boy's escape to his pluckj' severance of the wounded part, the end of the finger having turned quite black." The Ma.ftrr/0,/ JYivcv Loiter states that the natives in the neighborhood appear to have grown considerable quantities of grain. For some time past they have been pretty busy bringing produce to the township, where they find ready buj r ers. A curious feature in connection with this subject is the fact that nearly all the old women who come in to sec the result get more or less rowdy in the afternoon. The French, says a correspondent, were really pained at Austria's refusal to otlicially take part in tho Exhibition of 187-S, the necessary funds having been voted ; the abstention of the other Kaiser creates neither surprise nor regret. The works are progressing as satisfactorily as could be desired, and not even tho shadow of a shade of complaint has been heard, respecting the gigantic organisation. This happy result is due to the exclusion of all private influences, and hence, of obstacles and wrongs. At present the visitor cannot only take in an idea of the vastness of the undertaking, but also of what its many beauties must be. The result will prove that all lias not been done in the matter of World's fairs.

The Copenhagen correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette writes on tho 10th of March : — " Information received from Sweden states that on Monday afternoon last, the sth instant, a rather severe earthquake was felt in the districts of Hallsback, Lerback, Bodarne, and Skollersha, in the county of Nerike, a distance of about ten English miles. The shocks were strong enough to shake the houses and make china and even heavier objects tumble down. The earthquake was also felt in the province of Ostergotland." It is stated also that Midi has been visited by an earthquake, which, although it lasted only a minute, caused much commotion in the island." The Wangarci Comet will appear on June 6 in a new, improved, and enlarged form, under the title of the Northern Advocate. We {Star) observe that it has issued a circular to the Maoris of the North in the native language. The notice states that a portion of the paper will be devoted to news affecting natives, and to the publication of their opinions, in the same manner as Te Waka Maori. The Resident Magistrate of Dunedin has non-suited a man who, having gone into a sweep at the raceco\irse and drawn a winner, sought by legal process to recover the stakes from the stakeholder. The Wellington Argus remarks that the licensed victuallers of Auckland are agitating for an insurance company, and says : — " It will bo a disgrace to this city if a new insurance company is floated' in New Zealand, with its head-quarters elsewhere than in Wellington." Miss Ann Maxwell Graham, of Williamswood, near Glasgow, has left £500 to the National Lifeboat Institution for Scotland, and other legacies to local j charities, amounting in all to £4500, Avith residue amounting to OA'er £20,000, to form a charitable society for the relief of Protestant persons bearing the names of Maxwell or Hutchinson, and for the higher education and starting in business of their children. The New Zealand Times states it has been proposed by a number of Press men in Wellington that the fourth Caxton centenary shall be celebrated by a dinner, and the idea meets with a good deal of favor. Many promises of support had been received, and no doubt the proposition will be carried out with spirit. Divine services Avill be held on Sunday next, as follows :— Church of England at Hastings at 11 a.m., at Havelock at 3 p.m., and at Clive at 7 p.m., by the Rev. A. Shepherd, at East Clivc at 3 p.m., and at West Cli\-e at 7 p.m. ; by the ReA r . J. M. Fraser, at Waipukurau in the morning, Tamumu at 3 p.m. , and Waipawa (in the Oddfellows' Hall), at 7 p.m. ; by the Rev. J. Berry, at Hastings, at 3.30 p. in.