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Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 11 December 1894, Page 2

Mr W. W. Middleton has resigned the chairmanship of the Opunake Town Board. Mrs Bellamy, who was a candidate for tho Tapanni Mayoralty, received only ten votes. Mr J. Belhiugcr has been re-elected chairman of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The wife of Jarnes Moore, aged 28, was drowned while bathing in a creek at Miranda, Thames. She leaves three children. Messrs Geary aud Holmes notify that they will deliver bast building timber in Opunake during December at reduced prices. We direct the attention of our readers to their ndverttsujucul.

The complimentary banquet to Mr W. W. Middleton takes place to-morrow evening. A girl named E. Biddick, two years old, was found drowned on the Kohimarama beach, near Auckland.

Hawthorne, magazine keeper at Mount Eden, Auckland, was found shot with a bullet through his head. It is supposed to be a case of suicide, but the cause is unknown. The balance of stock belonging to Messrs Brightwell and Son will be sold by auction about the 22nd December, when every line will be absolutely cleared irrespective of cost. —Advt.

The farmers on this coast who had entered into contracts with Messrs Nelson Bros, for supply of sheep for freezing here accepted a reduction of Jd per lb, and also to cease sending anything but prime sheep of suitable weights. Thus Colonel Fox in Auckland:—He noticed in the press that one of the corps was referred to as being the oldest and best corps in the colony. Speaking as one knowing every corps in the colony, and as an expert, he would say that, " If that corps' were the best, God help the worst." Bobert J. S. Todd, accountant in the Government Insurance Department, committed suicide on Thursday morning. He was to leave for Syduey that day, on six months' leave of absence. A brother of deceased's committed suicide some few months ago in the South Island.

The Courts have upheld the Insurance Company in its refusal to pay to the father of Lieutenant Hamborough (alleged to have been murdered at Ardlamont while shooting) a sum of £35,000 on the latter's life on the ground of a false statement at the time he insured.

Schoolmasters are often blamed if their pupils do not turn out well in the world, but in China such a case is penal. When a Chinaman was recently executed for killing his father, his schoolmaster shared the same fate, because he had not taught the criminal better ways.

Not for twenty years has there been such an increase in the balances of the Irish savings banks. The joint-stock banks show an increase in the year of deposits and cash balances to the tune of three-quarters of a million. The Post Office savings banks deposits have increased by £2,622,000, quite beating the record.

The bazaar and sale of work in aid of the Wesleyan Parsonage Furniture Fund will open on Thursday next in the Town Hall. The ladies have a splendid collection of goods prepared for the occasion which should meet with ready purchasers. Various amusements have been arranged foremost amongst which is the may pole dance. A lunatic who was found hiding in a swamp near Masterton declared that he was hiding from Mrs Besant, who wanted to make a Mahatma of him. He also declared that Madame Blavatsky was constantly requiring him to be shot, but warning him that if he was not shot exactly in the centre of the forehead he was a lost man,

The express train from Napier to Wellington got stuck up in the Manawatu Gorge last week on the Woodville side of the tunnels. It is reported that the tender left the rails in crossing one of the iron viaducts, and that fifteen sleepers.over the viaduct are smashed to pieces. The tender having been kept up by the girder prevented a more serious accident.

The Government are calling for 100,000 feet each of rimu, red birch, matai, kauri and silver pine for shipment to England. They will make all arrangements. Mr Freyburg will take charge in England aud conduct sales there. As the object is to ascertain whether trade can be made profitable the price must not be excessive. The Westland millers have agreed to find 100,000 feet. An extraordinary torpedo accident occurred a short time since near Plymouth. An uncharged torpedo had been discharged, bat suddenly its steering apparatus became deranged, and it charged full tilt against some rocks near the village of Cawsand, when its air chamber blew up with a terrific explosion, scattering the fragments of the torpedo far and wide, and nearly making " cold meat" out of a host of fishermen and school children.

Thus the Sydney Bulletin: —" I went into a country hotel in Canterbury lately," says a Maoriland pressman, " ordered two sixpenny drinks and put down a florin. The landlord seemed astonished at the sight of the coin, and, after searching all the premises for change, he produced three threepenny pieces, a penny stamp, a halfpenny stamp, and a lemon. I believe in was all the loose change in the township. So far as coin is concerned Maoriland is stone broke."

Speaking at Adelaide about the result of her tour through the colonies, Mrs Besant said she thought New Zealanders were less receptive than Australians. The former seem so well satisfied and comfortable in this life that they do not appear to care for intellectual movements. They are active-minded enough politically, and, in fact, are purely practical. Referring to colonial knowledge of theosophy generally, she found blank ignorance, considering how much tha subject has been discussed. The visit of General Feilding to the Manchester Block has caused the question to be raised as to whether any of the roads under the care of the several local bodies are public roads. From the statements which, it is reported, have been made by the resident agent of the Corporation, the impression has been put about that the Corporation still claim them as private property. Preposterous as such a claim may seem, it will be necessary for the local bodies interested to ascertain their standing in the matter, and this the Manchester Board intend to do without delay.—Advocate. One of the most carious methods of gambling on record is described by the Christian Leader, which states that it has become popular in Ostend. It is this:—A basket of the freshest oysters possible is brought in, and an oyster is carefully laid on the cup side before each player, who must not touch it, but sit at some distance in front of the bivalve, with the stakes at the other side of the plate. The oyster that first yawns sweeps the stakes. If the oysters are in good case, the players may yawn before them. A game played at Ostend by a dozen gamblers lasted three hours, The excitement of the lookers on was intense. They gathered behind the players, and fixed their eyes on the plate. Betting grew fast and ftirious, though there was really no cause why money should be staked on one oyater more than another. At last a poor thirsty creature opened wide its shells. The money on the table when it did so came to £7OOO.

In an amusing article on printer;/ aud jouinaliiits' blunders, the P.M. Magazine recalls that ou one occasion Sir William Harcourt having quoted from the Actu tho wellknown saying, " Great is Diana of tho Ephesians," was trauslixed to find himself reported us observing, " Great Diana ! what a farce this is." Mr T. D. Sullivan relates that a line in one of the most perfect of his poems commencing " Behold, this sheet of fire " was ruined by an inteligent comp who would have it " Behold, this shirt's afire," and the late Lord Carnarvon fared nearly as badly. "In these days," said his lordship, " every clergyman is expected to have the. intellect and wisdom of a Jeremy Taylor." The pres&man, unfortunately, had never heard of that divine, and always swore the nobleman said a 3 he reported, " the intellect and wisdom of a journeyman tailor." Wrong stops are also occasionally An American lady reporter wishing to hint a famous dresser was not as smart as usual at a certain ball, said, " Mrs Brown wore nothing iu the shape of a dress that was remarkable." To her own and Mrs Brown's horror, the comp put ft, " Mrs Brown wore nothing in tbe shape of a dres,a. That was remarkable." A northern journal similarly dealt with I v ord Salisbury at the Queen's ju T bilec, "After him," proceeded the report, " came Lord Salisbury on his head, a white hat on his forehead, a dark cloud in Ins hand, tho inevitable walking-BtioU in his oyc*>, a ealtu nietUtullvo luoki"

The weights for the Opunake Hack Racemeeting appear elsewhere. Nominations arejcalled for the vacant seat on the Town Board.

Fresh > applications are invited for the position of poundkeeper and ranger for the Town Board.

A general meeting of the Opunake United Cricket Club will be held at Mr Enowles' Hotel on Saturday. Mr W. D. Scott notifies entries for his Opunake sale, which takes place on Thursday, 20th December.

We give a reminder of the lime-light exhibition, which takes place this evening in tbe Foresters' Hall, under the auspices and management of the Salvation Army. The privileges for the Opunake Hack Race meeting on New Year's Day will be offered by Mr Scott on Thursday, December 20th. Full entries of the clearing out sale which will be held by Mr W. D. Scott on behalf of Mr B. H. Seccombe, appear in this issue. Captain Edwin wired to-day as follows: — Indications strong north ;east to north and west winds after 12 hours from now, glass fall and considerable sea. Mr W. D. Scott has received instructions from Mr W. W. Middleton to sell on Thurs-, 20th December, several buggies and a numof well bred horses.

Mr Pettigrew has secured a splendid Jersey bull for his herd at Pihama. Don was bred by Mr Hulke, of New Plymouth, and is three years old, by Pride of Auckland out of a purebred Jersey cow, also bred by Mr Hulke. Mr Pettigrew finds that the best milkers and most profitable cows on his farm are those with Jersey strains, and he intends improving the breed as far as possible. In Victoria they have a number of women in charge of railway stations. The Yea Chronicle reports that a Mrs Carson has been placed in charge of the Molesworth station, and in reply to a large and influential petition the Premier stated there were a number of stations in charge of women which were doing three times the business of Molesworth. We have lady voters in New Zealand, but wo do not know of any lady, stationmasters, so that Victoria can give us a start yet in the enfranchisement question. Mr W. Pettigrew has procured a Baboock tester, and is prepared to test samples for dairymen at a charge of threepence for each test. Every dairyfarmer would do well to get each individual cow tested, as by that means he would soon ascertain which cows paid to keep milking for factory purposes. A good number have so far availed themselves of the opportunity, and are quite satisfied with the results, which, in some cases, have rather surprised owners. Those seeking information would do well to give him a call. The s.s. Aorere arrived from Wellington on Friday, December 7th. Imports: Newman Bros, 360pkgs; Newcomb and Massey, lpkg; Wagstaff Bros, 132pkgs; Harvey (Rahotu), 15pkgs ; Stitt, 30pkgs ; Stirling (Awatuna), 16pkgs; Ritson, 2pkgs; Kennedy, 40pkgs; Knowies, 31pkgs ; D. McGregor, 24pkgs ; Christie and Co, Gpkgsf Mrs Ballard, 2pkgs; Macßeynolds, 96pkgs; Rutherford and Son, 2pkgs; Blennerhassett, 40pkgs; Pettigrew, ISpkgs ; Ogden, Bpkgs ; Maxwell, 3pkgs; McLeod, 4pkgs. Exports: S. A. Breaoh, 6 bales wool; Maxwell, 10 bales wool; McKeown, 3 bales wool; J. W. Rogers, 11 bales wool; Newman Bros, 1 bale fungus, 20 kegs butter, 1 crate; Middleton, 8 pkgs ; Rutherford and Son, 54 bales flax; G. W. Rogers, 1 case ; Kennedy, lpkg. She sailed for Wellington on Saturday evening.