LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1898, 8 April 1875, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

I Bbtobts.—Mr. J. C. Moutray s now engaged in ' castingthree iron retorts for the gasworks. Two of them are , already finished and the other will be ready for use in a day or two. The retorts are each 9ft 6in long, and weigh 23cwt. , Watebwobes Assessment.—Appeals against the Waterworks assessment will be heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning. I Fabbweli Stopbb.—The Good Templars of Nelson are reminded that the farewell supper to Bro. Jefford, takes place at the Port lodge-room, this evening, at seven o'clock. "New ZEiiAJfD Times."—Yesterday we heard from Wellington "that sudden and sweeping changes are being made in the " New Zealand Times" office. Several members of the staff have received notice to quit, and several new hands are being introduced. A complete reirganisation is to be effected in all the departments of the office. The Editor is retained. Mr. M'Carthy, of the Press Telegraph Agency, was offered a billet, but declined. Mr. Scales, of the Government Printing Office, has now got charge." Abtizans' Entertainment.—On Tuesday evening the Nelson Artizans gave a dramatic entertainment in the Oddfellows' Hall. . The house was crowded in every part by a very demonstrative snd appreciative audience. The entertainment consisted, of the nautical drama " My Poll and my Partner Joe," and a sailor's hornpipe, which was danced in true sailor fashion by Mr T. Chibtandea. The manager had cast the characters in the drama very judiciously, and the consequence was that eauh performer played his or her part much better than is usually the case. By far the best delineated character was that of Slack Brandon, which was undertaken by Mr Glover, who proved himself to be very much above the ordinary run of amateurs. He has a good voice, is a fair elocutionist, and thoroughly understands the business. It may eafelv be eaid that no fault could be found with him. We are sorry that we cannot say as muoh for the other performers, but if they paid as much attention to their work, and gave their minds to it as Mr Glover evidently does, they would improve very much.1 Owing, however, as we have already said, to the judgment which had been displayed in distributing the characters, the play ran very smoothly. Sam Snatchem by Mr Bates, and Watchful Waxend by Mr Brooker ranked next in point of merit. Harry Hallyard (Mr Rose), Mary Maylud (Mrs Bear) and Abigail Eoldforth (Miss Glover) were good delineations, and examples of | good and careful study. Miss Glover is quite a young lady, little more than a child in fact, and will doubtless become one of our leading lady amateuro. Zamba, a negress, was faithfully performed, and Sam Sculler by Mir Truetnan was a very fair representation. The Artizans are a well conducted Company, and if they would give their miods to their work they would give even more satisfaction than they do. But we must admit that we hear very few complaints respecting them, their efforts being fully appreciated by their audiences. We hope, for their own sakes, they will devote a little more time to the study of their various parts, for unless a part be thoroughly learned and understood it can never be played really well. While saying this, we do not mean to affirm that the performance on Tuesday night was not a good qne. It was good, and, although there might have been some little improvements, it was fully equal to many performances of a much more pretentious character. The same drama will be repeated on Tuesday evening next, for the benefit of Mrs Bear. Ckioket Match.—The annual match between the Motueka and Wakefield Clubs was played on Tuesday last, on the new ground of the latter Club at Wakefield, when a good many spectators were present, including the Wakefield Band. It will be seen by the subjoined scores, that the Wakefield team won in one innings with 35 runs to spare. The Motueka team lacked a change of bowlers, and tbeir fielding was not as good as their opponents'. The scores were :

MOTUEKA. First Innings. Second Innings. Parker, bS. F0w1er...... 4 Ibw, bT. Eden... 5 T. Pattie, bT. Eden ... 3 bT. Eden 8 Boyes.runout 5 o Powell, bT Eden 6 Lioyd, bS. Fowler 5 Ibw 0 Delaney.c Eden ......... Q bT. Eden 3 Jennings, bT. Eden ... 1 bS. Fowlar 5 Parkes, c Powell, b Eden Q cC. Enapp 0 Grooby.hit wicket ...... 0 bS. Fowler 0 M'Farlane, c Tunnicliff 1 b £napp '. 3 W Pattie, b S. Fowler 2 not out 7 Wright, not out Q run out 11 Byes .................. I Byes jl Leg byes „ 4 Leg bye 2 Wide ball 1 Wide ba11..,.,, 1 Total ~ 27 Total 62 W-4KEECELD, Powell, b and c Delaney 12 T. Eden, cW. Pattie, b Parker... 25 W. Eden, b Delaney 3 K. Koapp, b Delanoy 1 S. Fowler, b T. Pattie 3 C. Knapp, b Delaney 7 T. Tunnicliff, run out 2 Joseph Tunnicliff, o Boyes 6 Ricketts, b Delaney 0 W. Fowler, not out 34 Bird, b and cT. Pattie... 12 Byes IV61 V 6 Leg byes ~'..'.'..'.'... 3

Total 124 Impoetant to Hop Growers.—The Melbourne Argus of March 31st reports: —Purchasers of hops are now coming forward more readily, and large sales are being effected. Of Shoobridge's Tasmanian 1875, we hear of 200 bales having been taken up in one line, on private terms, and 100 bales additional have, been moved off in smaller parcels. The price of 2a 6d. is maintained for br&nd, We likewise learn of the disposal SO hales of Jeffrey's hops, on the spot ar^d to arrive, at Is ll^d ; the sample is stated to be of very fine quality. Manslaughteb.—At Waimate, Canterbury, a man named Thomas Ayratt H»rdy has been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. The Coroner's jury considered that his wife (Sarah Hardy) died from consumption, acoelerated by a blow or blows inflicted by him. The Second Law Offices,—Mr Clament Govett, a young man of excellent pfya.r.apter and pleasing manners, who has just completed his legal studies and returned frjbifr England, has been appointed Second L^w efficer. The Government have committed a mistake in making suoh an appointment, and Mr Govett it appears to us has made a greater mistake in accepting it. If we we are to suppose that this office requires any practical knowledge of law, it is quite clear that Mr Govott cannot possess the requisite qualification, and in the circumstances is never likely to possess it. We say this with^t in the least disparaging Mr Govett'^ talents, wh,ich may be of a high order, b^t as expressing a simple fpct. The useful knowledge of law can only be acquired by daUy practice and, in contact with other professional , men. If, on the. other hand, the office does not require any praotical knowledge, then appointis a sinecure.—and either way it \g indefensible, — Tribuine. A statement qf (h^ earning and expenditure of the Capierbflry rajlwajs for the twelve months ending March 3 jst, this year, shows the earnings to have been £123,058, and the expenditure £102,744, Meat at Westpob^.—Cattle iotd at Westport last week at 3,75. 6,d, to 4Qs, per IQQlbs, At Wellington two new arrivals, named Robert Harper and James Taylor, have been committed for trial on a pharge of burglary, and stealing 2501b5. of tobacco from David Anderson's premises. Ten hundred and twenty-three immigrants arrived in this Colony during last month. Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington received them. Pabtbidges are most common in the Tuapeka district, Otago (states the " Timed.") ,The Customs revenue collected at Wellington during the first quarter of this year amounted to, £36,930. The General Government have over from the contractor the Wangaehu. section of the Wanganui and. Wellington railway1; Junior says' that the CtoTernment^Ulloii over £3,000 on the line.' :

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Orphans.—By the recent deaths of four ladies in Balolutha neighborhood (Otago), say* the Bruce SercM, no fewer than twenty-seven rerj young children hare been left motherless. 1 Railway Receipts.—The traffiorioeipti for the Auckland and Onehunga railway were—in January, £811; and in February, £593. Sib John Riohabdsost has sold his present residence and estate at Willowmead, Puerua, Otago, we learn from the Times; at about £7 per'acre. Sir John goes to reside at Invercargill. •.".■■■■. '■.■■'■■■ , Hawkb's Bay Items.—Our {Tribune) Napier correspondent telegraphs to-day as follows :—-The total deaths registered in the Napier district for the past quarter were 94, against 106 births./ Of the deaths only 22 were adults. Total Customs revenue for the past quarter, £11,814 14s 9d, being ttn increase of £764 on the corresponding quarter of 1874. The cost of a lifeboat just landed for this port is close on £600; eight packages containing gear are missing; there is no boat-house nororewj. Sickness still continues. A benevolent fund is being' raised to help distressed persons. < !. ; ; Land at the Chatham Islands.—-Mr. Thomas Bayly, a Patea settler, has just returned from the Chatham Islands, whero he has purchased 48,000 acres Cof land. He desoribps it as being of a different character ■to that of New Zealand lahd^ being chiefly swamp and bog, although there are large portions of dry land. Supping Away.—The sales of land in the Pro. vince of Wellington for the year will amount to £91,000. The estimate was £75,000. So much for killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.— Tribune. South British Insubanob Company.—The South British Company, at its approaching meeting, will increase the paid up capital, from profits, to £50,000, and pay a 10 per cent dividend on that amount. An Attack by Insects.—Mr T. D. S. Heron, the distriotpolioe Magistrate of Oastlemaine (Victoria)] recently experienced an insect attack that for the present confines him to his house. He was walking in the garden when a perfect swarm ofsandflies settled on his face, hands, and clothes, stinging him to such an extent that he was compelled tooall ia the services of a doctor. A Curiosity in Bulbs.—A large bulb is now in full bloom in the Eangiora tea gardens, Canterbury ; t has a third stem, about fifteen inches high, at the top of which it throws out forty-foiir spikelets about twelve inches long, with a red flower at the extremity of each, and altogether has a very handsome appearance. This is the fourth time of flowering in sixteen years. The bulb would weigh about five pounds.— Times, April 1, Two estates, one Summer Hill, and the other on the Porewa river, both in the Rangitikei distriot, Wellington, have been sold at the rate of £6 per acre, which the Tribune thinks is an indication of the rising value of property in that district. A man named Phil Smith, has been drowned in the Waitangi river (reports a Canterbury paper), whibt trying to cross it on horseback,—A man named Edward Fitton has drowned himself in a pond near the fish-house in the Acclimatisation Grounds at Christchurch. He was suffering from delirium ariaing from typhoid fever, and had escaped from the hospital.—John Rutu, a Kanaka, has been drowned whilst crossing the Waiau river, Amnri. The crop of oats in the Waikouaiti distriot.'Otago, this year has been a very good one, the yields ranging from 50 to 105 bushels to the acre. A Caution to Bad Tempebed People.—A few days since a woman named Venturra, died suddenly at Sydney, and the medical men ascribed her death to synoope, caused by bad temper. Her husband had to sleep in the shop to avoid her temper. Rail v. Road.—The Victorian railways, must be curiously managed. A Ballarat man purchased some blasting powder in Geelong, hajf of whioh he sent to Ballarat by railway, aqd. the remainder by a waggoner. That portion sent by road reached its destination three days before that sent by rail, and the charges by the latter were treble those by the road. The new opera house at Paris is a magnificent one. It occupies more than twelve thousand square yards in surface; conl ains seats for two thousand three hundred and fifty-six persona; and has fifteen hundred and twenty indiarubber pipes and five hundred and seventy-three water-plugs, in case of fire. Its cost has heen more than two million pounds sterling. A Blaze.'—A. contemporary informs us that over one hundred pamphlets, declarations and rejoinders, have been published in London^ and aa many in Paris and Berlin, bearing upon, Mr, Gladstone's manifesto on the Yatioan decrees, Not a single serous railway aocident oocurred in France during last, year. This speaks volume* for the carefulness and management of the French. Valuable Giszabds,—Diamonds are frequently found in the gizsa.i'dß of fowls killed at the Cape of Good Hope. Reoently, three diamonds were found in gizaard, one of them being worth from £120 to £150. A Bio Swindle.—The New York Herald of Jan. 24tb, notices that among the cases on the calendar is an action against William M. Tweed to recover eleven million dollars, alleged to have been stolen by him or others with him, from the treasury, of New York.