NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume V, Issue 767, 7 April 1884, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES-

«. Out of a population of 10,333,276 in Spain, 11,778,108 can neither read nor write. The rainfall for March on twelve days was 2*75 inches, as compared with 345 in March, 1882, and 3 - 53 inches in March 1883. The Taranaki County Council has just finished pointing and coping with cement stone culverts on the South road between Stony river and Opunake. General Gordon, it is said, is about to appear in, for him, a novel character. The manuscript of a work of a theological nature has been placed in the hands of his old friend, Prebendary Barnes, and may be expected to see the light of day shortly. At last meeting of the Taranaki County Council, a letter was read from the Ngaire Koad Board complaining of the contractor, Mr. Mulree, hauling gravel over portions of the Stratford-Opunake road. On the motion of Col. Trimble, seconded by Mr. Honeyfield, it waß resolved " That the council having been informed that Mr J. P. Mulree is carting gravel upon that part of the Opunake-Stratford road which is withing the township of Stratford, and seriously injuring it, the solicitor of the council be requested to write to Mulree drawing his attention to clause 92 of the Public Works Act 1882, and tell him that the council will hold him liable to make good any damage done to the road through the cartage." " One day tast week," says a Southland paper, "as the train was passing through a cuttiug in the neighborhood of Gore, the occupants of a compartment were startled by the crashing of a large pane of plate glass in the door of the carnage. On looking about, the three passengers within perceived a heavy porter bottle lying in one of the corner seats. It was ascertained that the bottle had been flung from a carriage in front, and, glancing off the clay bank at nearly the speed of the train, had entered the carriage and lodged in the only empty corner of the compartment." The Southand trunk line is becoming rather famous for singularities. It was on this route that a baby fell out of a carriage window the other daj', and was picked up uninjured. The gravelling on Mountain road is getting on slowly, and the day is evidently yet distant when there will be a good road through from Hawera to New Plymouth. On Boylan road, no gravel has yet been laid, but from the north end of it, where it joins the Mountain road again, a short length of gravelling has been done winch covers one of the worst parts of the road. From Mr. England's farm to Mangawhero, no gravel has been laid, but from the latter place nearly up to Hawke's, fresh stuff has been laid. Part of it is, however, extremely rough, as it has the appearance ! of having been obtained from the bed of a river, whilst all the boulders, and they are many, have been carefully piled on the top of the gravel, effectually preventing any traffic. From Hawke's to the Ngaire station the road is in capital order, but from there to Stratford nothing fresh has yet been done, although it is understood that a contract is in baud. Taken as a whole, there is a great improvement in the course of the last two years, but much yet remains to be done. There was an exciting scene during the trial of two political prisoners at Lust, in the Kussiau province of Volhynia. Two Poles, named Wierzbicki and Wilczinski, who were banished to Siberia after the events of 1803, effected their escape some months ago, but were lately arrested in the province of Volhynia, and^brought up for trial. "Wierzbicki is 50 years of age, and his companion 43. The jury found both prisoners guilty of the charge brought against them, and the toruier was consequently condemned to ninety strokes of the rod and banishment for life to the Siberian mines ; while the latter was sentenced to teu years' hard labor in the Siberian mines and banishment for life. Hardly had the two unfortunate men heard their fate when Wierzbicki sprang to his feet, and exclaimed, "Be accursed, ye soul-murderers ! " saying which he plunged a large knife into his neck. Great confusion ensued, and when the Judge called upon the guard and prison warder to remove the wounded man those officials were nowhere to be found. It was afterwards discovered that Wilczinski had escaped ; but he was re-captured in the town. Wierzbicki lies in a precarious state, little hope being entertained of his recovery. The public prosecutor has ordeied the arrest of all the" officials whose absence from Court permitted Wilczinski to get away.

Mr. Newton King sells stock at Stratford to-morrow. Captain Edwin reports : — " Wellington, 12.47 p.m. Indications show glass will further rise, and frost to-night." In the last two years the Irish population of the United States was recruited by 140,000 Irishmen. Hon. Major Atkinson will address his constituents this evening, at the Town Hall at 7.30. We have been requested to state that should any ladies desire to be present, they will find that the gallery \ias been specially set apavt £or their accommodation. Messrs. Leyden and Michali finished the Taugahoe bridge (Whereroa Reserve) on Tuesday. The bridge is 90ft. long, and there are three spans — centre one being 56ft. long, and one on each side of this 17ft. The distance from water level to the floor of the bridge is 23ft. Gin. The work has been done by Messrs. Leyden and Co. to the entire satisfaction of the engineer, and will be a great convenience to the public. There is need ior 7ft. oi filling on the other side and sft. of cutting on this side, which, no doubt, the board will attend to. The return tennis match between Opunake and Hawera was played at Opunake ou Friday, and resulted in a severe defeat , for the Hawera team. The score books have been mislaid, but as nearly as can be calculated the scores were as follows : — There were 129 games played, of which Opuuake won 87 and Hawera 42, the former thus winning the match by 45 games. The ground was perfection, and the all-round play of the Opunake team was far superior to that of their opponents. The Hawera players still have much to learn in the game, and if they wish to excel will do well to take a lesson from their late opponents and give more attention to net play. With reference to the Ssn Francisco mail service, the New Zealand Trade Review says : — " There is a growing feeling against the continuance of the subsidy now paid by the rolony to this mail line. Tbc New South Wales Government has declared its determination to cease contributing to the service when the present brief contract expires, unless the United States Government contributes a fair proportion of the subsidy, and as New Zealand has now a very good direct steam service available, well worthy of every encouragement at the hands of the colony, there seems less reason wby New Zealand should make any great effort to retain the San Francisco service. The expense has hitherto been entirely borne by New South Wales and New Zealand, while America has largely benefitted by the service without bearing any share of the cost." The Home Correspondent of the Wellington Post relates that in a billiard tournament lately in progress at Birmingham, J. Roberts performed on Ist February a feat which is said to bo unique in the records of billiard-playing. His opponent, Shorter, started with a miss in baulk, Roberts then giving the usual miss below the middle pocket, under the righthand cushion. Shorter, essaying a hazard from this, failed to score, and never had another opportunity of doing so in the game, as the champion ran right out with the extraordinary break of 602 unfinished, made in exactly 27Amin. Starting with a canon, he made 13 by all-round play, and got into posilion for the spot-stroke, and there he stayed till he bad compiled this remarkable break, pocketing the red ball no less than 196 times. When he had made 426 his ball ran a little above the spot, and he then played all round the table for position, which he obtained with wonderful accuracy. Quite a little history attaches to a few head of cattle sold at auction by Nolan, Tonks and Co. on Saturday. A resident at Stratford had failed to satisfy an order of the R.M. Court to pay some costs, and the police consequently seized these cattle in execution. A man named Tocker, however, claimed them as his property, and left Stratford by train fully equipped with saddle and all complete to ride home the horse and drive the cattle before him. He apparently convinced the police ol the genuineness of his claim, for they gave the cattle up to him, and Mr. Tocker started on his way rejoicing. But not for long ; for Tocker had " taken the benefit of the Act" a short time ago, and word having been sent to the trustees, the bailiff was soon in hot pursuit. He came up with the cattle when only a few miles from home and safety, seized them on behalf of the estate, and re-conveyed them to Hawera. The original cause of all this had to pay the costs awarded against him in hard cash, and now people up Stratford way are all chuckling, and dropping dark hints about somebody being " too clever by half." The Victoria Music Books contain all the newest sonirs and dances. Price, Is. 6d. each. FItED. JONES is selling oil bis Sheet Music at the rate of one pound's worth for five shillings. Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, and Family Header, cliv. 51, iust received.— Aclvt. We notice that C. C. Fleming is going to give the public a treat in the way of Cheap Boots and Shoes. This stock was slightly damaged by removal at the Lite fire, hut many lineo are only blijjhtly soiled ; and the public will have the benefit of Cheap Boots, as C. C. Fleming is determined to sell out the whole of the stock. We would advise the public to make au early call and secure some of the Great Bargains. C. C. Fleming's ii next door to Max. I). King's Cash Palace.— Advt. Painless Dentistry.— Dr. Sinclair, the eminent Dentist will arrive in Hawera on the 22nd of May, and may be consulted at an office he will tike in the principal street on arrival, till the 23rd of May, two days ouly. See Advertisement.