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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 19 May 1877, Page 2

Our agent's report of the proceedings of the Foxton R.M.s Court came to hand too late for insertion m the present issue, but shall receive a place m our next. Mr Gr. M. Snelson announces an extensive sale for to-day, to commence at 2 o'clock. Grass seed, flour, and timber form prominent features^ m the list of merchandise to be offered. The time for receiving tenders for the survey of 8,600 acres of bush land near Palmerston has been extended to Monday, the 28th of May. Modified specifications can be seen at the Provincial District Survey Office, Wellington. Concerts and entertainmemts seem to be the order of the day at present both m Palraerston and jFoxton. We are pleased to notice that the Foxton Choral Society will give an extra concert m the Public Hall, Foxton, on Wednesday, the 23rd instant. The public concert m the Foresters' Hall, Palmerston, will be held on Tuesday next, the 22nd insfc. Through the courtesy of Mr Keeling we are placed m possession of a letter received by that gentleman from W. Johnston, Esq., member for the district, relative to the petition for a municipality sent from this township a short time since. The letter reads as follows : — The petition of residents of Palraerston has been presented to the Governor, and I understand will be given effect to as a matter of course, unless a sufficient counter petition is presented within the time prescribed by the Act. " Radish " has written to us from Feilding to say that the monster we gave Mr Phillips the credit of having grown m his garden was m reality an importation from Feilding, and that the aforsaid monster is a native of China, instead of Spain, and is named JRaphanus Sativits. We are thankful to '" Radish " for this information, but may just state that the variety is what is commonly called the Spanish radish, and we understand that it is largely grown m Spain and France although it may have originally come from China. W T e were under the impression that Mr. Phillips told us the radish was grown m his garden, but on making enquiry of that gentleman he states that he did not. Mr Phillips certainly grows very line radishes of the same variety. The Art Union of water color paintings done by Mr Palmer, of Foxlon, is to take place at Whyte's Hotel, on Wednesday, the 30th May. These paintings which are now on view at the shop lately m the occupation of Mr Foster, are really very creditable productions, considering the artist is completely a self-taught one. The first prize, that of Mount Cook m Canterbury, is taken from the sea, and is an afternoon view ; this is decidedly the best painting of the six prizes. The second prize is" a view of the Motoa Swamp, and is taken from the back of Mr Thynne's house. The third prize is a scene on theßuller' River near the junction of the Rotoroa and Rotoiti Rivers and Mount Murchison. The fourth prize, Otira Gorge, is a sketch on the overland route' between Hokitika and Christchurch.

The fifth prize is Lake Rotoiti. In this picture the artist has been most fortunate m the scene he has chosen, you look on to the lake from one of the numerous openings which nre wooded to the water's edge. This lake is considered one of the most picturesque m New Zealand. The sixth prize, Milford Sound, although the last is most certainly not to be despised. The site from which it is taken is near the head of the Sound, showing the Mitre Peak with its almost perpendicular sides rising from the Sound for upwards of six thousand feet, the summit covered with snow with the afternoon sun full upon it. The "Post" of the 12th inst, says:— The phenomena — rare m these latitudes — of parhelia, or mock suns, appeared at noon to-day. A solar halo had been visible all the morning, and just before noon it expanded, and was intersected by fragments or arcs of other haloes. At each point of intersection a parhelion or mock sun appeared ; that on the eastern side of the sun's disc was tolerably bright, but that on the western side.wsis very faint. A faint, hazy, rayed cloud was passing over the sun's face at the time. This appearance is supposed to be due to minute crystals of ice or snow suspended m the atmosphere. A rather amusing case, says the " Argus," involving the value to be set upon a kiss, was recently heard m the Melbourne County Court, before Judge Cope, when John Miller and his wife sued S. F. Croxton for £49 damages for an assault on the female plaintiff. It appeared that the parties, who were both cabmen residing at Sandridge, had been drinking together on the 13th March last m Melbourne. About midnight they both went to Miller's house, and had some more drink, and while there the defendant tried to kiss Mrs Miller. Miller objected to any such proceeding, and gave Croxton such a beating that he was taken to the Melbourne Hospital. His Honor considered that the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict, but not to the amount claimed. He found, therefore, for the plaintiffs, with 20s damages, each party to pay their own costs. An interesting discovery has (says the "News Letter)" been made at Woodlands, the station of Mr John McKenzie, situated about seven miles from Masterton. On the banks of a creek there is a spring, the water of which is highjy impregnated with sulphur, and probably other minerals. The surface gets covered with sulphur m a very short time, but as the water is sometimes used for drinking it is not allowed to accummulate. At intervals the water bubbles up as if it were boiling, but there is no steam ; m fact, the water i 3 icy cold. On the opposite side, also close to the bank, there is another spring of the same description, but the water is undisturbed by gas. The existence of these springs is, we believe, the more remarkable on account of the formation m the neighborhood being limestone. Four gentlemen, representing the legal and commercial talent of this city, were standing m front of the Star Hotel, a day or two ago, discussing the question whether or not England would go to war against Russia, when suddenly one of them conceived the idea that they might as well " wet " the question. They accordingly turned, as they thought into the private door of the hotel, but when they asked for their drinks they found that they had got into the office of a temperance journal. They did not ask for drinks when they discovered their mistake, but obtained" four copies of the Reformer and went their various ways. — " Post." The Bishop of Liucoln has written to Sir Antonio Brady, objecting to the use of bags for the offertory as at variance (1) with the spirit and letter of the law of the Church, which prescribes " a decent basin ; " (2) with the usage of the ancient Church of God ; (3) as leading to great evils, being the receptacles of scurrilous scraps from newspapers, and other things which had better not be mentioned ; and (4) as against a true interpretation of St Matthew iv. 5 and 6, which is not directed against public almsgiving; and (5) because by means of the secrecy of bags some rich men, who ought to cast much into the treasury of G-cd, do m fact put into it the widow's two mites, without the widow's faith and love. His Lordship adds that the use of bags has been discontinued m several large churches m the diocese witli good effect. — " Argus."