NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7383, 8 February 1902, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The District Court sittings will be resumed on Thursday next, before Judge Kettle. The Aorere arrived on Thursday, at Fatea, sailed next day for Wellington, is expected back on Sunday, and sails on Monday. Mr L. Sarten has given the following notice-of-motion for the next meeting of the Harbour Board:— That dredging and all other works be stopped, excepting works actually necessary in the interests of the port. We have received a handsome calendar — an embossed picture, in colours, after the celebrated picture by Thos. Gainsborough — from the American Tobacco Company, the makers of the well-known Navy cut "A.T.C." tobacco. The Bey. J. Dukes will give addresses on the " Dairying Industry " at Hawera, Matapu, and Okaiawa, as advertised in another column. MrO. Manson, Eaitawa, is the winner of the extra Id per lb given by Messrs W. Dimook and Co., Wellington, for the best quality pigs delivered at their factory for the week ending 6th February, 1902, having secured 38 points. The Nelson Jubilee celebrations concluded last night, when the city was very effectively illuminated, and a long procession took place. There was a good deal of legal sparring in the District Court during the hearing of the libel case Thomaß v. Judd, to the evident enjoyment of the audience. In the Supreme Court, Wellington— Counsel : Your Honour argues . His I Honour : I am] not arguing. lam stating. Counsel : I beg your Honour's pardon. Of course your Honour cannot argue; your Honour can only state. Constable Hickman telegraphed on Friday to the Coroner :— " A man named Jack O'Brien, of Opunake, fell or threw himself over the cliffs at Opunake, and was found dead at 2 p.m. on 7th inst. The body has been removed for inquest. He was last eeen alive at 9* a.m. on Wednesday, sth." The inquest will be hold by a local Justice of the Peace. In a case in an Australian Court which went against the defendant, who rose up and gave his opinion of the judgment and was fined 40s for. contempt of Court, a £5-note was handed over to the clerk. " I have no change," said the clerk, tendering it to the offender. " Never mind about tha change," was the retort. "Keep it; I'll take it out in contempt. Counsel in the libel action Thomas v. Judd mentioned a peculiar anatomical phenomenon on Friday, while addressing the jury. " Was this punishment inflicted many secret way?" he queried, and then answered himself. " No, gentlemen, it was given in the presence of fifty or sixty little pairs of eyes, with tongues to them 1" And the jury looked puzzled for the moment. Mr Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, the youngest son of Charles Dickens, the novelist, and formerly the member for Wilcannia in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, died at Moree on December 24th. The deceased gentleman was for the last two years a conditional purchase inspector in the Moree land district, and was much liked.

People in Hawera, as well as in the surrounding districts, are being annoyed by fruit stealers. Unfortunately, it is a matter in respect of which the public morally does not set a very high standard. By a good many persons to whom the theft of a shilling would be abhorrent the raiding of a garden is looked at very leniently, though the garden owner would generally prefer to lose double a money equivalent rather than have his trees knocked about and be despoiled of fruit he had for weeks been tending with care. An orchard in Wilson Btreet was shamefully robbed on Friday night, and the owner, Mr F. S. Cooper, if the thieves had had the consideration to give him the option, would have greatly preferred being robbed in some other way.

An interesting native meeting concluded at Rata on Thursday night. There were about 300 natives present, representing nearly all the tribes on the Weßt Coast. Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, attended on Wednesday, and spoke hopefully of the native race. Under the recent legislation of the Government, their Maori Councils were in full swing, and reports of their work showed a general awakening to the needs for improved social and moral life. A number of important resolutions were passed, aiming at widening the powers of the Councils so as to embrace impounding, limited judicial power in the matter of small debts and minor offences, and limited rating powers. -Resolutions were passed (1) combatting Mr Pirani'a attaok on the J Maori Land Act, and (2) condemning the attacks of the foreign press on England, and expressing willingness to stand by the British flag at all hazards.

Mr J. J. Connell, of the Hawera Hotel, announces that he has taken over the Manaia Hotel, and will be pleased to see old friends there. Mr O'Neill, who now has the Hawera Hotel, intends erecting an up-to-date building.

Spectacles, Eyeglasses, Smoked Spectacles, Eye Preservers, and doggies. Light tested. R. W. Sargent, Jeweller, Hawera. —Advt.

The schools in Wanganui district reopen on Monday.

The question whether a mother is an expert witness in regard to the punishment of children was discussed at some length in the District Court, but the Judge held that they were not, so far as the case Thomas v. Judd was concerned. Medical and teaohers' evidence only was admitted, and the many matrons whom the defence had Bubpcenaed were not allowed to give their opinions. There was unanimity of opinion by teacheis that the offence of disobedience on the cart of a pupil was one of gravity. Mr Harre said he would consider from five to ten strokes of the cane proper punishment for such an offence. Mr Law did not think the infliotion of six strokes would be excessive, and Mr Clapham, who stated that he gave strokes on the hands only, did not think six " cuts " for disobedience would be out of the way, for the offence was one that should be put down with firmness, otherwise discipline would quickly be at an end.

How seeds are distributed. Darwin found in the earth adhering to the feet of a plover three different kinds of seeds. In the mud stioking to the feet of English ducks and geese he detected the seeds and plants peculiar to the Victoria Nyanza in Central Africa. In the soil clinging to the feet of a Texas steer the seeds of five different kinds of weeds and grasses common in Texas were discovered at the other extremity of the American continent by the aid of a microscope.

A. plucky French sailor named Denis stands the chance of making a windfall. He was on board a barque which received so severe a buffeting in the Mediterranean that the captain and crew decided to abandon her, and boarded a passing vessel. Denis refused to go, and remained on board, doomed, as his companions thought, to a watery grave. However, the vessel remained afloat, and some time after was picked up and towed into Algiers with the lonely sailor aboard. Denis intends to claim salvage.

The death of Billington, the executioner of many notorious English criminals, recalls a curious conviction of which he often spoke. One murderer that he executed was a Dr Neill Cream, whom he believed to his dying day to be " Jack the Kipper." Dr Cream did all he could to delay the execution, and Billington, becoming impatient, suddenly pulled the fatal bolt. As he did so he distinctly heard Cream say, " I am Jack ," and believed that in another second he would have confessed he was "Jack the Bipper." Certainly, as Billington put it, we never heard of tho "Ripper" afterwards.

Every home should have a piano stool. Messrs Dixon and Bates call attention to a fresh shipment just to hand, and, seeing the supply is limited, those that have been waiting should call early. They have also a very large selection of accordions, violins, and strings. Pony strayed. Patea Cooperative Poultry Company will buy poultry and eggs in any quantity. Mr E. W. Sargent, watchmaker and jeweller, draws attention to his large stock of gold and silver watches.

The Kaponga School Committee will have an unfurling the flag ceremony at 2.30 on Monday next. All are invited.

While drawing attention to The Castle Tea Company's advertisement on 4th page, we beg to remind the public of the district that these are the same teas as previously sold round to the houses by the firm's own canvassers (then Colegrove Bros., of Auokland), and in that manner thoroughly introduced. Castle and Moa teas are now sold by their local agent, Mr John Smith (same sizes and at same prices exactly), through whom The Castle Company respectfully solicit a continuance of consumers' patronage.

GOOD OPINION.

Merit tells. Wilton's Bovo-Ferrum must stand or fall on' its merits. This marvellous preparation instills into the blood the most potent blood-forming and nerve-invigorating elements whioh have ever been found in nature. Here is a tribute to its merits. Miss G. Compton, McKenzie Terrace, Wellington, writes :— " I have been taking Wilton's Bovo-Eexrum for poverty oi blood, and I am delighted at the effect of it. I had previously persevered for Borne time with doctor's medicines without getting any benefit, but the Bovo-Ferrum did me good from the first bottle, and now I am a different woman altogether."

Wade's Teething Powders for babies are soothing, reduce fever, and prevent blotches. Prioe Is. — Advt.