NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1720, 5 September 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Dunedin amateurs played " lolantbe " last week, and in three nights tooK £270. As they have covered their expenses the amateurs are going to give the charities a benefit.

For tbe last four montbs the Resident Magistrate ot Wellington (says the Post) has been obliged to take all his notes of evidence upon loose sheets of paper, owing to the impossibility of procuring a proper book from the Government stores. Retrenching with a vengeance.

A party of seven young men who proceeded from Wellington to Kimberly last year took with them a couple of drays, one hoise, harness, and about three tons of provisions. At Derby the Government offered them .£4OO for tbe whole turn-out ; but they refused to sell, and proceeded to the field. It being impossible to get their property back to Derby, and as they intended to leave the field, they offered tbe drays, etc., for sale, and tbe same realised 255 ! The money was equally divided. One of the party (who formerly resided in Hawera) left Wellington witlt over £100, and returned to Auckland with only 3d in his pocket. This is a iaot.

Mr. W. C. Smith is (says the Napier Telegraph) rapidly developing a personal industry that, probably, requires, no encouragement at the hands of Protection. This industry is known as ' 'hair-splitting," and in its manufactured state is much used by politicians ot the lower class. Being asked the other day why he voted for an increase of Customs duties, he replied thai he did not vote for anything oi the kind. On being pressed for a straightforward answer, he said, " I tell you I did not vote for an increase of Customs duties, but I voted in the interest of my party." Now his party proposed au increase of Customs duties, and it was on the second reaing of tbe Customs Duties Bill that the Government were defeated. It will be acknowledged after this that Mr. Smith has brought hair- splitting to a groat state of perfection.

The Technical Education Board of South Australia recommend that elementary drawing be taught in all classes as a compulsory subject, along with writing; that instruction in science should take the form of systematical object lessons, regard being given in the choice of subjects to the industrial requirements of the district ; that encouragement be given to the Education department to form a museum in the schools. They approve of a manual of instruction in the primaiy classes, and recommend that classes for manual instruction be gradually introduced into primary schools. Where practicable, cookery classes for girls are to be established. In order to make room for the curriculum of the subjects recommended the board suggests the omission of analysis, and the conversion of history and geo«rapbv into class subjects. The board promised to report upon the best means of providing technical education for those beyond the reach of the primary schools.

There was a large attendance on Sunday evening at the mission service at the Presbyterian Churce, conducted by Rev. Mr. Mountain and Mrs. Mountain. The service was bright and hearty, the singing being very effective. The Rev. Mr. Mountain's discourse was founded on Rev. xxii., v., 17: "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," a passage which the rev. gentleman referred to as the great grand summation ot the whole Bible. The message of God to 2ns people, he pointed out, closed with this glorious invitation to take the waters of salvation "freely" — i.e., as a free gift — and tliis aspect of the text was elaborated upon in a very powerful address. Mrs. Mountain, in her address, which was a forcibly direct personal appeal to each present, emphasised the duty of acceptance of the gift, and the responsibility of failure or refusal to " take." The responsibility resting upon each one who had crossed the threshold of the chuich that night was greater tliau it had ever been previously, anil each must either accept or reject. It was for each person to weigh the responsibitity that rested upon him or her. Subsequently Mr. Mountain gave an account of his conversion. To-night will sea the mission brought to a close, and there will, no doubt, be a large attendance.

At last meeting of the Taranaki Educa tion Reserves Board the following lea6et were accepted : — S. W. Ealfe, sec. 57, block 1, N»aire, at Is Gd per acre per annum ; Clara England, sec. 29, block 14, Ngaire, at 2s 6d per acre ; Mary Phipps Coleman, sec. 14, block 13, Ngaire, nt 2s. Mr. Cowern, agent at Patea, forwarded a letter from John Lind, a tenant at Kakaranica, who wanted the Board to allow him one year free of rent, or reduce it to the upset, price of 10s per acre, or should the Board couaider it more to it-* advantage to release him from his condition, to allow him 75 ppr cent, towards the value of improvements, or such other assistance as would meet this case. — Mr. Cowern wrote stating that the tenant w.is lessee of section 475, Kakaramea Town Belt, and that the statements contained in Lind's letter were mostly correct, aud that he was a good class of tenant. — It was decided that the Board regretted it could not accede to Mr. Liod's request. E. Slattery, holder of sections 19 and 20, Manaia Road, at 5s 8d per acre, informed the Board that the rent was too hijjh, and he could not pay it. — Correspondence was read from Mr. Cowem on the matter. — The Board decided to write to Mr. Cowern anent R. Slattery's ;ipp!ication, pointing out that 18 months rent is owing, and not «ix months, as stated by him, and asking also for an explanation.

A special train, composed of thirteen trucks, containing 418 sheep aucl 42 head of cattle, arrived in New Plymouth lrom Nortnanhy at midnight on Friduy (says the Taranaki Herald of Saturday) in charge of Mr. Stone, of Okniawa, to whom tbe animals also beloug. The stock is oow p.ulilocked at Mr. HoneyfieM's place at Moturoa, awaiting shipment by the s.s. Oreii to-morrow for the Auckland market. Mr. Sione is now looked on as a regular shipper from this port, as a fortnight a«o to-day he sent 360 sheep to Auckland from the breakwater. He also sent a small lot of stock by the last northern trip of tbe s.s. Wanaka. This shipment now in paddock will, howevpr, be the largest ever made from the breakwater, and wiil mean a full cargo for the Oreti. The reason why Mr. Scone brought the animals on Friday night was because the ordinary trains today could not have had room in them for such a large number, and hence, Mr. Stone had to engage a special train. He is very pleased with the shipping facilities at t!:e port, not that they are better than those at Waitarn, but on account of there being more certitude of getting a shipment away in tint". He complained of the bad facilities afforded atNormanby for trucking stock, and stated that last night lie had great difficulty with three bullocks on account of there being a space, down which the animals legs went, between the trucks with sliding doors, and the end of the race. There is no bother with the trucks whose door is let down, but the other trucks are exceedingly inferior for stock purposes. It is said tbat another stock owner who was shipping animals at Normanby on Friday afternoon, for "Waitara, also had difficulty through the eanie fault in the station arrangements.

Wells' Hair Balsam. — If grey, restores to original color. An elegant' dressing, softens and beautifies. No oil nor grease. A Tonic Restorative. Stops hair coming out; strengthens, cleanses, heals scalp— 2

The Native Land Court has resumed its sittings hero, and will likely be occupied a fortnight.

Captain Edwin wired to-day as follows : — Heavy gale between west and south nnd south-east. Glass will rise last and much colder weather.

The Waverley has not yet arrived from Westport. She will probably arrive at Patea to-morrow morning, leaving for Wellington on Wednesday, at noon.

At Inglewood, during the 24 hours ending at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, the rainfall was over 6ix inches ; about as much as we have had in Hawera for any one month during the winter.

Mr. Goldwin Smith in an article in the Contemporary, says that the political connection of Canada with the mother country, he looks upon as altogether precarious, and he seems to think that the Dominion will ultimately unite itselt to the United States.

Patrick Hurley, the defaulting publican, of Patea. who was arrested in Wellington the other day, when about to leave the colony, was brought before the District Court at Patea on Saturday, and was remanded to the Hawera sitting of tbe court, on Tuesday, in next week, but was admitted to bail.

A fair scratch game of football was played on the recreatiou ground on Saturday between sides chosen by Messrs. Major and Kivell. Only five of the team chosen to play Wan»anui turned up. After about 40 minutes' play the ball burst ; as no other was available, this coiitre-tempt ended tbe game.

The Defence Department cannot be congratulated on its taste in the matter of the fence it is erecting around the police paddock Hawera. For a property in the centre of the town and abutting on two main streets, there might have been expected a better surrounding than a very plaiu wire fence. However, perhaps the townspeople must be thankful that the wires are not barbed.

In the R.M. Court at Auckland on Friday, judgment waa obtained for £o0 18s Gil against John Lundon, one of the Parliamentary candidates for the Bay of Islands, at the instance of Samuel Jackson, solicitor, in default one month in gaol. Plaintiff urged for immediate execution, on the ground that if Lundon was elected he would be privileged.

In connection with the correspondence which has appeared as to the Tarnnaki mails being missed by the last mail steamer passing New Plymouth, we are informed that there is a misapprehensoa as to the facts. It was the direct mail (not the San Francisco) that was going out. The bulk of this was sent to Wellington by tram on Thursday, 23rd, and, as there was a doubt of the steamer communicating on Wednesday, it was taken back from the breakwater and sent on by train, arriving in Wellington next day in ample time for the mail boat on Thursday. It is due that this explanation should be given, so that the action of the postal officials shall not be misunderstood.

The annual meeting ot the Hawera Cricket Club was held at tbe Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr. Thos. Mason, vice-president, was m the chair. The balance-sheet was read by the secretary and treasurer. Mr. White, which showed a small balance to credit. In discussion it was thought that the season had not been a very satisfactory one, few matches having been played and little interest displayed as compared with that of the previous year. No averages were presented, owing to the score sheets in one match having gone astray; but it was beyond dispute that the president's bat to tbe highest scorer had been taken by Mr. G. T. Bayly, and Mr. Caplen's bat, to the next highest, by Mr. Wanklyn. Officers were re-elected us follows :—President, Mr. G. V. Batb ; vice-president, Mr. T. Mason ; secretary nnd treasurer, Mr. W. G. White. Mr. Riddiford, having decided to withdraw from the captaincy, Mr. G. T. Bayly and Mr. J. Goodson were proposed, aud tbe former on a ballot was elected. As a committee, Messrs. Wanklyn, Welch, Good6on, Campbell, and Ton Us were elected ; and the captain and Messrs. Biddiford and White were elected a match committee. Mr. Caplen presented a bat for the highest scorer during the coming season ; and it was resolved that only half subscriptions be collected this year. The season will be opened early in October.

The jubilee of a Neapolitan brigand has just been celebrated in a quiet aud unostentatious way. At tbe age of 85 be has been let out of prison, where he has passed exactly 50 years of his existence. Scarcely anybody of his age can have seen less of life. Moreover, be has caused a good many other people to see less of it than they would have seen. He was first sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for murder, but while in confinement —and this fact is wll worth the attention of the gentlemen who advocate the abolition of capital punishment — he murdered four other men. If he had been sentenced to imprisonment for life, be would doubtless have murdered 40, since nothing more couid have been done to him than what was? already done. He is described as " hale and hearty, and very cheerful."

Justice is represented as i blind goddess, and an incident which occurred at a no very remote period in a Courthouse less than a hundred miles from Wellington (says the Post) illustrates that if she is not so, it is sometimes considered desirable to make her administrators sightless, or at least to keep certain occurrences from their notice. The parties to a suit which had already been partly heard were prepared to come to an amicable understanding if only the little question of costs could be settled. So the defendant proposed to decide the problem as to who should pay them by tbe method popularly known as " tossing-up," to which tbe other side agreed. Oue of the litigants found nn excuse for leaning over tbe rail of the Bench, and engaging the Magistrate in earnest conversation, shutting out from him (he view of what was taking place in the Courtroom. The contending solicitors "skied" a coin, winch decided the issue instanter, and one of them blandly announced to the Court that tbe whole case was settled, and several hours' legal disputation were probably avoided, while both sides were equally satisfied.

Mrs. Copeland notifies that she has commenced business in Hawera as a milliner. It will be seen that Castoff is one of the sires standing- for this season. After the successes of Ruapehu and Tongariro he should be sought for by sportsmen.