Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 230, 5 October 1898, Page 2

An unfortunate accident befell Mr P. Merritt, ol Spring Grove, aa he was walking down lower. Hardest, shortly before four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Ho gave his foot a twist, with the result that he fell and broke his right knee-cap. Mr Merritt, who haa met with a similar injury on two or three occasions, was removed to the Hospital. The monthly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard will held this evening. An ex'raordinary special meeting of the members of the Maitai Lodge of Druids will be held iv the Rechabito Hall tomorrow evening. As the business U very important, every member ii requested to attend. The monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council will ha held to-morrow. A largo placard, which bud been propared by a local bill poster, was damaged last night by some mischievous boys. They handled tho poster rather roughly, and ended by throwing it over a fenco Imiuiires arc being made into the matter. Tito or three nights ago the gas supply at the residence of Jfr It. Kingdon, in the Wood, suddenly failed. An investigation was made, with the result that a portion of the pipe under the floor was found to have been gnawed through by a rat. The aperture made was about two inches long by about a tnelfthof an inch in width, and the vorncous rodent had also commenced operations in another part of the pipe. A trap was set, and the rat was caught and speedily placed beyond the power of further mischief. Previous cases of this kind have been known, but in the present instance tho rat-has put up a record in regard to the quantity of metal removed from the pipe, which is now exhibited in Mr Hobbs' window in Hardy-street. Dr Hudson, writing to a friend in Nelson, states that he had attended the Edinburgh Medical Congress, and the fourth International Congress of Zoology a. Cambridge, being a dolecr.it o at the latter from the Kelson Philosophical Society. Dr Iludson is having a c ipitul trip with fine wratber. Ho will spend tome lime in London, and he expects 10 ltave England for New Zealand about 10th December. A ludicrous instance of delay in the delivery of a telegram is roportcd by the "Marlborough Express." A resident of Richmond (Nelson), sent a friend at Tua Marina a tclesjram announcing he was paying him a visit, and actually arrived thera before the telegram ! The delay was occasioned by the wire being wronßly addressed to Spring Creek, and on delivery there it was sent into Blenheim aj;ain, making a delay of tlnee days in its transmission from Spriug Creek to Tua Mariua. According to Professor Chieuo, the president of the Edinburgh Royal Coll-go of Surgeons, the cap used in the gradua' ion ceremonials at the University of Edinburgh is made out of the sea', of an old pair of trousers which belonged to Cieorge Buchanan, the celebrated tutor of James VI. of Scotland and I. of England ; while the e.ip at St . Andrew's University ia made cnt' of a pair of John Knox's trousers. A solicitor announced in the "Wellington Magistrate's Conr f , says the " Post," that in a cape under tho Destitute Persons Act, lie had been retained by the defendant, and also, through his clerk, by the complajnant, and, in short, «'he didn't know where he was." The parties were oallod, but, there boing no appeirance, counsel said he thought ho should object to the case being struck out on behalf of complainant and consent for the defendantTho position was somewhat unique, and the Magistra'o said tint as counsel " didn't know where he was," the best course was to strike the ense out, the parties evidently having " made it up." A North Island Constable has a daughter who ride 3 a bicycle. The other day she took the machine on tho footpa'h, and came to Court to acknowledge the offence, in order to save her father the trouble of summoning her. The Bench treated her lightly. An interesting race tor homine pigeons' between Mitchell und Brisbane, (Q.), a a distance of 320 miles air line, was corns pleteed recently. The winning bird occu* pled 14 hours 26 minutea 44 secondß, allowing 11 boon rest through the night

A .charge, of sheep-stealing has beeu aid by tho police against a resident of VVairoa Gorgvf. ho sheep alleged to have been stolen was tho property of a settlor in that distiict. The case will bo heard at the Neisoa Magistrates Court tomorrow. The security in tho matter of the appeal to the Buprome Court.in tho onion seed case has been fixed at £40 by Judge Robinson. The latter has not yet, however, definitely agreed to state tne caso for appeal. Wellington disciples of Isaac Wulton intend asking the Minister of Railways for some concessions in railway fares for anglers. It is urged t had were reductions made it would meaD n considerable increase in the number of anglers, and therefore in the revenue. A committee, consisting of Messrs VV. 11. Tisdall, N. J. Tone, E. Smi-h, and J. F. Andrews has been appointed to deal with the ques ion, with power to act. The committee has also been requested to ascertain if any coach proprietors would mabo any concessions in tho matter of coach hire to ivnglers. it has been resolved ao form a tlntt County Anglers' Association, to meet twico a year, but angling competitions are to be Qi-conraged. Under tlis pithy heading of "Exciting,"' the "Manawatu Daily Standard ' of FrN day gives the following story of a sensational escape from death :— When yesterday's expresss from Wellington rounded the curve fiotn the las; cutting prior to entering the station, on the cro-sin" ahead the driver no.iced a man lyiDg across the track. Alongside the track three other men were tumbling about in a maudlin fashion, plainly indicative of drunkcnnesi. There was at this tim •; about twenty yards separa'ing tha group irom the ciigine.ap.d tha feelings of the driver can be better imagined tbuu described. Before them seemed the prospect of certain death to the man across the metals. The combined efforts of his drunken pals succeeded in clearing the line, but the distance by which the engine grazed the unfortunate man is not worth speaking about. Infoimation has been given to ihe Railway Department officials by those in charge of tho train, and more may bs expected to be heard of the affair. I', is certainly one of the narrowest escapes from a seusational accident that this neighbourhood has had. The writer of " Anglo-Colonial notes " • saj r a :— At Eastbourne ,1 youn^ man named Charles Edward Weir, alias J. 11. Hamlin, aged sixteen years, a nativo of Mew Zealand, was charged with havin<' botsveon the lyth and 15th August incurrodadebt of the amount of .£l6 18s 9d witn Goorge Ellis, by means o! false pretences. k Ellis aaid the accused went to his hotel on thy Saturday night and asked for the best room ia the house ; he said that his friend and himself were lieutenants in tho Navy ; his friend would folio w him p.-esently with the lugo";- This luggage did not come until tho Sunday. The young fellow stayed at tho hotel from that Saturday till the Monday night, and was provided with board and lodging. The price stipulated was £10 a week, but that did not include wines. On oue occasion the young fellow dined with some mdies, who said "Ho wua such a nice boy." His modus operanai was alleged to be to ask for change lor a sovereign, a half sovereign, or a £3 note, aud whon the change had been obtained ho would say that he had left the C3in or nolo usptairs. Evontnaily ho took his departure by jumping out of the Coffee-room window, climbin"- tho palings and runniDg away. This was the hotelkeeper's story. At tho desire of the police the accused was remanded, A new use for maize is reported to have excited hopes of a considerable increase in the demand for that grain in tho )\ estern States of America. By extraoting the oil and vulcanising it with an equal quantity of crude indiarubber.it is stated, a substance is obtained which, for certain purposes, is equal to the best gum rubber, and much cheaper. As maize oil does not oxidise readily the rubber manufactured from it is said to remain pliab o and not to crack as that which ia made from other substitutes for indiarubber UOC3. Cargo carrying steamers from Now 1 ork continuu to roach Australia a(. short intorv.ila and iiiil seriously interfere with if not cripplo tha sailing 'ship tnulo between tho continents. Already aailers are feeling tho pinch, Advice has reached .Now Zealand that the pioneer steamer of the Tyser Company, tho Queen Margaret, secured a full cargo at New York, but the vessel a actual sailing date is uot stated. The next vessel to leave undor the same auspices is the s.s. Tolosa, 3209 tons, to sail from Now York about 20th instant. It was originally intended to put on tho silar of England im the pioneer vessel of tho now lino, but the project was abandoned. It is a j^ood hign that: a firm is giving satisfactto.i, when wo sou thu large amount of support tbn- is still accorded ihe oldest established nud reliable watchmakers. Uuntek's, liiidgc-st., is the recognised shop io have your wntches, clocks, and jewellery practically repaired as moderate charges with guaranteed workmanship. New watches by beg makers. Wedding and other lings made too der. Spectacles to suit all sights.— Advt.