COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 23

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAL M ERSTO N IT ORTH. *0 - - (from our own Correspondent.) October 5. At the Police Court, before Messrs S, Abrahams aud G. M. Snelson, J.P. a, John Lunn and Thomas Shanahan, were to-day charged with trespassing an the Government Railway, at this place, navirior been found by Constable Manning about I.3fi» this morning in a first-class railway carriage. Constable Manning did not press fora severe penalty, and the accused were each fined ss, with 2s costs, or in default' 24 hours imprisonment. The fines were paid. An awkward accident occurred this morning to Mr Pegden, of the firm of Simiiionds and Pegden, of this town, upholsterers and cabinetmakers. It appears that Mr Pegden was engaged with a circular saw, and caught the forefinger of his left hand, nearly’ taking it off. It was at first thought that amputation wcrnld be necessary, but it is now found that the finger may be saved. An accident of asiniilfsr nature occurred to a youth named Hall, who, while amusing himself by cutting a piece of leather with a shearing-machine, in the workshop of Messrs Poad and Ralf, blacksmiths, managed to cut off two joints of one of his fingers. ■A man named Warren, a carter, with Mr Tricklebank, brickmaker, was this afternoon arrested on a warrant charging him with the larceny of some fowls at Turakina in J une last. Accused will be brought before the Court to-morrow, when he will probably be remanded to Marton.

Great numbers of sheep are passing through this plaoe by rail to Wellington just now, no fewer than 22 trucks being attached to this afternoon’s train from Marton and other places between here and Wanganui. October 6. At the Police Court this day, before Messrs J. E. Foster, Pratt, and D. Buiok, J.P’s., Charles Warien pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny of two hens and one rooster, the property of Ann Stubbs, at Turakina, and was remanded to Marton. Ludwig Perschbacher was charged with forging and uttering at Palmerston North, on Saturday, 22nd ult., a cheque for £l2, -purporting to be signed by Bernards Goyle. Mr James McDowell, draper, gave evidence to • the effect that prisoner on the clay named purchased a suit of clothes of the value of L 3, in payment for which ho tendered a cheque for Ll2, purporting to bo signed byßer'nhardt Goyle, of Marton, and drawn in favour of E. Burn. Mr McDowell gave prisoner his own cheque and two two others with some cash, amounting in all to L 9, as change. Tho cheque given by prisoner was paid to Mr McDowell’s account at the Bank of Australasia, and was returned with- the intimation that it was a forgery. He identified the cheques produced, and recognised tho prisoner as the man who paid it to him. Mr Wm. Cowper Robioson, clerk at the Bank of Australasia, Palmerston North, deposed to having received the cheque produced from Mr McDowell, also to having forwarded same to Marton arid to having it returned from them. Mr John Moore Johnson, agent for Bank of New Zealand at Marton, identified the cliequo produced as having been received from the Bank of Australasia at Marton, and to having discovered it to be a forgery. Knew the handwriting of Bernhardt Goyle, who has an account: at his bank. Recognised the writing as that of Perschbacher, who was formerly a baker at Marton, and kept an account at the Bank of New Zealand, the cheque pro. duced foeiugone taken from a cheque-book issued to prisoner. The word “twelve” in the cheque produced was spelt “ twelf,” which w&3 the prisoners mode of spelling that word. Bernhardt Goyle, farmer, Marton, knew prisoner, who is his brother-in-law. Ihe signature to cheque produced was not in his writing, nor had ho authorised anyone to si«n it. Ho declared it to be a forgery. " Had resided 27 or 28 years in Marton, and knew no one else bearing same name as himself iu the district. Constable Manning deposed to receiving the cheque from Mr McDowell, and to taking steps for prisoner’s arrest which was effected on board the s a. Tarawera at the Bluff, prisoner having taken passage for Melbourne under the name of Smith, and disguised himself by shaving off his whiskers. Witness further deposed that prisoner had admitted thp forgery to him, and expressed sorrow for having committed the offence. The prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at next sitting of the Supreme Court to be held in Wanganui. At the last moment tho football match, which was to have come off to-day between Wanganui and Manawatu team 3 in Palmerston to day, has fallen through, the Wanganui men being unable to get away. The weather would in any case have precluded the possibility of playing, but the fine mild rain which is falling will be of immense benefit to the country. October 9.

For the third time the Returning Officer for the borough invited nominations for the vacant seat in No. 3 Ward, and I

trust the electors- will bestir themselves, and put in a good representative man. It is devoutly to be hoped that no mishap may befall the mains and other materiak for the gas works, the order for which, in consequence of the non-arrival of the Trevelyau, has had to be duplicated. There is truly great need for the gas. Ihe Borough Council, a few month® ago, on the ground of economy, abolished what little street lighting there was, since which time, save on moonlight nights—and of these we have not had many—it has been dangerous to be abroad after sunset. I hear of many people who have had awkward falls, and, although there may be no Act of Parliament compelling the Council to light the streets, it is a question whether, in case of accident, they, by neglecting to use such appliances as are at their disposal, are not rendering themselves liable for damages. At certain times in the day traffic on the Square is completely blocked by the trains stopping at the Railway Station, which extend not only the whole length of the platform but right across the roadway. It is now quite usual for people, whether driving, riding, or on foot, either to have to wait several minutes at Walkley’s Hotel corner or to cross to the otbgr side of the Square, perhaps only to fincLanother block of & similar kind. I take it tjrat this inconvenience cotild be very easily prevented by simply disconnecting the engine and first three or four trucks, and moving them forward, so as to leave a passage; this would involve neither co3t, time nor labour, aud would save a lot of trouble and annoyance to the public. A match of a somewhat unusual character came off to-day, Kenneth Bayne, blacksmith, of Danevirke, hacking himself to beat Messrs Jone 3 and Hunter’s coach in a race from Palmerston to Woodville. At midday," after the. arrival of the train from Wellington, quite a crowd assembled in the Square to witness the start. Bayne, who is a powerfully-builfe man, of rather over medium height, appeared in running costume, and seemed to be in excellent form. The journey was commenced at a good pace, a hearty cheer speeding the contestants on tlleir way. The distance to Woodville is 17 miles, and generally occupies a little over two hours, including time for changing horses at Ashurst. After last night’s heavy rain the roads will tell against both man and horses. The match is said to be for LlO a side. I learn this afternoon that Bayne accomplished the first 10 miles in 71 minutes, but unfortunately struck his foot ngainst a stone in the Gorge, severely injuring two of his toes ; he therefore had to ride the last three miles into Woodville..-, Mr Jones tells me that but for the accident Bayne would certainly have won the match. An inquest was held this morning at Awahuri, before Mr G. M. Snelson, coroiier, and a jury of six, on the body of Lewis Richard Stuart, of Awahuri From the evidence of Mr Towers and Mr Coffee it was shown that deceased left his home on Sunday morning to inspect some sheep, and on returning the accident happened by which he met with his death. Deceased was in company with Mr Towers and riding toward Awahuri when his horse, whmh is usually a very steady one, became startled and bolted, throwing Stuart, who fell heavily, _ -and was picked up unconscious. This occurred about 10 o’clock in the fore- - noon, and deceased, who was attended by Dr Johnson, of Fielding, never [regained consciousness, but died about 6 p. m. Deceased was about 63 years of age, and lias been about 40 years iu the Colony. He married Margaret Robertson, of Otago, who was also a very early settler, by whom he had a family of 14 children, of whom there are 5 sons and,3 daughters living, all of them grown up and settled in life. ° The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased was accidentally killed by a fall from liis horse.