LOCAL AND GENERAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 615, 1 February 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Our telegraphic columns, this evening contain, however briefly given, some startling narratives. The number of deaths in Wellington, from diarrhse, is absolutely alarming, and demands immediate remedial measures. There has been one fatal cure of English cholera. The members of the medical professional attribute the cause of so many deaths to impure water and long-continued hot weather. In Sydney 14 deaths within a few days, have been caused through intense heat. On one day the thermometer, in the interior, stood at 125 de. in the shade. Such intense solar heat, as far as known, has never been registered in the hottest of equatorial countries. A boat coming from Roseland last night accidentally grounded on a mud bank. The water was, of course, very Bhallow. The boat contained two gentlemen, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Wedderburn, and a lady. The latter became alarmed, and insisted on being put on shore. One of the gentlemen jumped from the boat for the purpose of assisting, when, to his alarm and astonishment, he found himself sinking through the silt. He was down knee deep in almost a second of time, and continued sinking deeper and still deeper before the other genelemau, Mr. Wedderburn, could give him any assistance. By a prolonged effort the boat was slewed round to enable Mr. Davidson to hold on to a thwart, but it was upwards of twenty minutes before he was freed from his difficulty. By a double effort the boat was floated, and reached the wharf last night at ten o'clock, after a two hours' detention. We have this day been shown a very handsome diamond ring, intended for presention by the residents of Gisborne to Sergeant White, of the A.C. force, in recognation of his uniform urbane and gentlemany conduct, while in the execution of his often, ardous public duties. The ring is a plain gold hoop, very massive, suitably inscribed, and containing a single magnificent diamond. We may state it is the work of our fellow townsman Mr. Nasmith, and does him infinite credit, the design displaying artistic skill and excellence of workmanship. We have no doubt the ring will be highly vclued and long retained by the recipient as a souvenir of his connnection with this district. The Poverty Bay people will surely congratulate Mr. S. 0. Caulton on his success at the Papakura Races yesterday. Such good fortune is not to be found In any racing calendar of the colony. Of six evehts Mr. Caulton's horses won/ue ; and this when placed against really good blood. We congratulate Mr. Caulton on his success, as do all his friends down this way. But still the money he won might have allowed him to pay for the wires instead of making them "collect." The advertised races were brought to a close yesterday with the Consolation Handicap, which was won by Queen of Hearts. Her rider had to do all he knew to land her first at the judge's post. Another busy evening at the Masonic, one which will be attended with very much of mixed-up feeling. It is the race settling night. Losers to pay np ; winners to receive. We believe there will be no defaulting, and that the settling will be satisfactory. The enterprising proprietor of the " monstrosity" exhibition, at Townley's Hall, will, this evening, exceed anything he has done in the way of distributing prizes. To-night, a lady's gold watch will be among the gifts ; also, four valuable silver watches, together with other prizes far in excess of what has hitherto been given away, liberal as these hcive been. We, of course, do not known how it is done, but it is done ; and it is beyond a fact that in almost all instances when a shilling ticket has been purchased, the purchaser has got for his money by a long way more than his money's worth, Perhaps the proprietor will let us into the secret before he leaves ns,— or its quite probable he will do nothing of the kind. It is unreasonable to suppose the proprietor is doing it for a wager, as an eccentric individual once sold real sovereigns on London Bridge for a penny a-piece ? Who knows ? Subscribers can obtain their books, "History of the Sea," at Mr. Bromley's offices to-night. The Rev. Mr. McAra will conduct divine services in the Presbyterian Church to-morrow. The reverend gentleman is an eloqueut preacher, and what is of more value, he is an earnest Christian, giving his whole time to advancing the spiritual welfare of his flock. We have no doubt but what there will be a full congregation. We have to congratulate town residents and visitors from country parts that no one of them has, as yet, received a puncture in the head or body from a stray bullet fired at the al fresco rifle butts adjoining Mr. Bromley's offices. We believe a bullet or two has struck Mr. Page's private cottage, but nothing demanding a coroner's inquiry. Of course, a man under the uncontrollable influence of drink may take a' fancy for an all-round shot, but then What need for any to complain until a woman or a child at the least is killed. We witnessed some quite original firing this afternoon, when the shooter had altogether mistaken the locality of the bullseye, and was giving fits to a packing-case alongside. We think that it is quite time such dangerous play was dispensed with.

We notice the leading butchers have announced their intention of raising the price of beef. The long-continued drought, the scarcity of feed, together with the quantity ordered for shipment in higherpriced markets, have compelled them to adopt the present course. The talented Hart Company play this evening in Gisborne for the last time. There should be a crowded house. A casual lodger in a hotel at Dunedin found £165 in the bed shown him. The owner returned shortly afterwards, and claimed and received the money, and generously rewarded the finder with ten shillings. The science of photography has made very rapid strides within the past few years (remarks the Melbourne Daily Telegraph), but it is certainly not exhausted yet. We were shown a photograph, coloured and rendered lifelike by a new chemical process, discovered by Mrs J. H. Hume, of this city. By this means we are assured that pictures may not only be taken from nature with wonderful fidelity, but that exact copies of valuable oil paintings may be produced at a trifling cost. If the invention turns out as successfully as it promises, the whole art of photography will be revolutionised ; and instead of the cold, uncoloured linos with which we are so familiar, the tint of life and the hue of nature will be imparted to every picture. A singular decision was come to at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, a few days back. It appears that one James Miller, a grocer, was indicted for fraudulently obtaining goods. The Crown Prosecutor prosecuted ; Mr. Adams defended the prisoner, who pleaded Not Guilty. The indictment set forth that on March 20 last the accused filed a declaration of insolvency in the Supreme Court. Later on in the same day the sugar, which had been previously ordered, was sent to the accused's store. Before the case for the Crown had closed, His Honour pointed out that the contract was purely executory, the goods were obtained by the bankrupt after he had made a declaration of insolvency, while the Act provided for the goods being obtained four months before the declaration. There was no property obtained by Miller till after he became bankrupt.- He might have committed a fraud, but he (the learned Judge) did not see how accused could be convicted on the indictment under which the present charge was laid. The prisoner was discharged, instead of meeting with that punishment he so richly deserved. Sir George Grey's speech at the Thames having been telegraphed during the hours of Sunday, was charged at quadruple rates, and the telegraph office sent in a bill to the New Zealander for over £80. This, howevever, was subsequently reduced to £23, being the price at ordinary evening rates. According to an Auckland paper, Messrs. Hayes and Benhamo, who were lately performing in Gisborne, "have no cause to regret visiting Auckland, as they have put in one of the most successful seasons any circus troupe has experienced, having played hero a whole month to good business. We believe that their receipts here amount to little short of £2,000. A professional man, who was recently committed for trial at Wellington for uttering valueless cheques, is said to have"been engaged to maray a respectable young lady possessed of a considerable sum of maney, which he induced her to lend him, and got rid of in a very short time. The marriage was to take place about the time he was arrested. The poor girl has lost both husband and money. It is rumored on good authority that Sir William Fitzherbert has seceded to thp ranks of the Opposition, and Mr. Bunny is reported to have done likewise. Messrs Saunders, Wakefied, and Barton and all their enemies, as is also the new member for the Waitaki. The position of the Government is viewed as rather precarious. • Could they appeal to the country they would obtain a large majority. It is rumoured that the sale of reclaimed land at Wellington is not to take place till the money market gets easier. The two race days were fortunately freer from accidents than in previous years. On the race course there wete none, but yesterday evening a serious casualty befel a female near to Read's gate. The woman, by some sudden turn of the horse, was thrown from the saddle. Most unfortunately the person who assisted her to mount had fastened the skirt of her ridinghabit to the stirrup, so that when she fell the skirt held, and the poor woman was dragged a considerable distance, by which she sustained some very serious contusions. The professional aid of Dr. Pollen was promptly obtained, who rendered all assistance in his power. Although it is hoped the sufferer will recover she still lies in a very precarious state. Later on in the evening a man was thrown from his horse in the Gladstone-road, near to Mr. Stubbs's chemist's shop. On being taken up and his injuries examined, it was found that he had broken his right arm just below the elbow. He was taken into Mr. Stubbs's shop, where the fractured limb was set. In Marlborough there is a J.P. who was fined £5 for a scandalous assault. This J. P. is described as making a pandemonium of the Court. It is related that on a recent occasion, when presiding at the Court, he was found so untameable by his co- Justices that the latter had almost to leave the Court, police, officials, and what not, to do as best they thought proper. " He is a perfect terror, sir" — said one of the by-standers to a stranger who was looking on admiringly at the Bedlamite proceedings — " when in that state" !