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Colonist, Volume XXII, Issue 2513, 20 February 1879, Page 3

'1 he Weatheb.—Captain Edwin telegraphed last night, as follows: —" Watch barometer, bad weather approaching any direction between north and west and south-west, with a further fall of glass." HaeV£ST Thanksgiving.—Christ Church was very largely attended last eight on the occasion of a specsiul thanksgiving aeryice for the late bountiful harvest. The Church itself presented a most imposing aspect decorated as it was with, oorn, flowers, hops, &c, whilst the communion table was covered with magnificent fruit. '**"—"•* : „ __

I OWING to the large number of lots to be disposed I of at Messrs Lacgford and Sons store, Brightwater, we notice that all has not been disposed of within the time advertised, but the remainder will be sold to-morrow, Friday, at eleven o'olook, by Mr Mabin. Sol-pa Singing Class.—lt. will Da Been .on reference to our advertisements that a public meeting ii to be held at the Hardy street' Wesleyan schoolroom this evening for the purpose of enlarging the present sol fa class, and really commencing anew its operations. The Rev R. Bavin, who conducted a large public class in Wanganui, is to givoian address on the nature and advantages of the sol fa method of inging,' at the close of-which the class will be reconstituted —rules considered and adopted—and any who wish to join may do so. Mr Bavin has consented, at the pressing rnquest of the members of the former class, to take charge, and it is expected that many more will join as the clbbs will be open to all. The meeting will commence at 730. A VERY successful meeting was held at the Richmond Wesleyan Church on Monday evening to consider the question of holding a hirvest thanksgiving service in which all the Wesleyan congregations of the Nelson circuit might unite. The R<ev R. Bavin presided, and representatives were in attendance from Nelson, Richmond, Spring Grove, &o. It was resolved that in the public services to be held in all the Wesleyan Churches in the district~bn Sunday, March 2nd, special thanksgivings should he offered for the late bountiful harvest. It was further agreed that a mass meeting, in which all the congregations of I he circuit could unite, should be held on Wednesday, March stb, on the grounds of Mr Charles Say well, of Richmond, either in the open air or under a marquee—from 3 p.m to 8 p.m. j It was estimated •that from 400 to 600 persons would be present, for whom lea is to be provided, and arrangements are to be made for two special trains to convey people home. A committee was appointed to carry out the foregoing plan. Agricultural Show.—A meeting of the Committee of the Agricultural Association was held at the Institute, Richmond, on Monday evening last, when Mr Kelling occupied the chair. It was decided to hold the autumn show of live stock, farming im-. plements, produce, &c, at the Richmond cattle fair grounds early in April. Wesletan Sunday School.—Tne anniversary tea meeting in connection with this school, took place yesterday, when there was a moderate attendance. After tea, a public meeting was held in the Church, presided over by Mr J. Campbell. The report and balanoe-sheet were read, and showed the Bchool to be in a very prosperous condition. Suitable addresses were delivered by the Revs Parkins, Beckenham, and Bftvin.and Messrs T. Scott, Hadfield, and Boundy. The children enlivened the proceedings by singing some hymns very creditably. The total proceeds of the anniversnry amounted to about £20. The most pleasing feature of the evening, was the presentation by the Rev. R. Bavin, on behalf of the teachers and a number of the scholars of the school, of five handsomely bound books to Mr. F. H. Thrippleton, who has held for some time the offices of secretary and treasurer to School Com nittee, Sunday School secretary, and musical conductor, and who is leaving Nelson. In making the presentation, the rev. gentleman spoke of the goo i feeling that had always existed between Mr Thrippleton and all connected with the school, and the great regret felt at his departure. The Trout.—Mr H. Witnsett, in passing over the Nile street bridge early yesterday morning, disturbed a shag ,which had just taken a fine trout from the Maitai river. The shag, however, in endeavoring to fly off with its prey dropped it, and the height from which it fell killed the fish. The bird attempted to regain its prize, but was prevented by Mr Wimselt's dog, and on being picked up the trout was found to measure seventeen inches in length. We are informed by a gentleman who resides close by tbo river that a few weeks ago fish measuring over a foot in length were continually to be seen in the stream, but since the dry weather has caused the water to fall to a very low level a fish is rarely, visible. No doubt the shags have been taking advantage of the shallow water, the more easily to mark their prey. The Rechabites will be pleased to learn lhafc the following officers have been elected at the annual meeting now being held at Wellington : —D.C.R. — Bro W. Hislop; D.D.R.—Bro iU. Sidey jD. Secretary —Bro Eraser (re-elected); Auditors—Bros Brown and Bennet. The Rev. W. Inglis, the noted Presbyterian minister and lecturer, oonveyed to the meeting the fraternal greetings of the Victorian brethren. Christchurch is to be the place for next year's meeting. Tents with ten or more female members are requested to form them into a separate branoh. No steps are to be taken to make laws for Tents with a mixed male and-female membership. Magistrate's Court. —We are sompelled to hold over our report of the proceedings of the Magistrate's Court yesterday. We shall give a shoit summary of the cases dealt with in our next. Fire. —Our Motueka correspondent, under date of 18th instant, writes :—" Last Thursday the house and buildings belonging to Mr David Beatson, of Ngatimoti, had a very narrow escape of being burned to (he ground. It appears that IVTr Beatson had been falling about thirty aores .of heavy bush for the purpose of burning and clearing, and on Thursday last set fire to it, the wind at the time being favorable. Shortly after, however, it veered round, and blew very briskly towards the house and buildings. Everything feeing very dry, and there being a great quantity of dry grass about, the tire spread rapidly, and soon reached a quick fence, destroying about eighteen chains of it. Fortunately, Mr A. White and some near neighbors, who saw the danger, rushed to the spot, and with great exertions and at great personal risk, they succeeded in getting blankets on the dwellinghouee, and, keeping them wet, they saved the house, but could not save a storehouse containing a lot of tools, some harness, and about thirty bushels of grass seed. The fire has now burnt itßelf out." Poob, Jealous Otago.—The Otago Daily Times of February 13th, says regarding the result of the Civil Service examination: —It will be seen that in December, £1878, Nelson succeeded in passing 19, while Dunedin is represented by three, and Chriatchurch by one. To what shall we attribute this ? We cannot at present say positively how many candidates presented themselves at Nelson; nor do wo know where the successful ones were educated. The awful thought strikes us, can they, or can the majority of them, have obtained their knowledge at that Nelson College whose examination and examiner we tosk the liberty of criticising in our local columns a few weeks ago? If this indeed be so, what a palinode shall we have to sing J Probably some information will be forthcomi' g shortly, and we promise to give Nelson College its full meed of praise if it prove fairly to have earned it, In the meantime we may console "unsuccessful candidates by remarking that they had a game of chance to play. In the history paper only five questions were set—none of a very general character ; and this must have made the affair very much one of luck. An examiner who wishes to differentiate a large number of candidates all imperfectly acquainted with their subject, ought, we should imagine, to sot more questions, and let at any rate a fair proportion be of a general character. There is another point which we expect to hear of when the Commission, which is now sitting to investigate our educational system publishes its report. What instructions are to be given to the supervisors, and —this is the rub—are they obeyed ? In the last Civil Service Examination, the first question in the geography paper related to New Zealand, and necessitated the construction of a map of the two islands. Now we happen to know that one supervisor allowed a large map of New Zealand to remain in the room while the paper was being done; that the candidates freely used, and this riot only for the first question alluded to above, but also for the fourth question, which required a knowledge of the longitude of Wellington. Can it be possible that the euccesß of Nelson is attributable to lenient supervision ? We shall bo curious to learn bow many candidates presented themselves at Christchuroh. It is certainly singular that one only should have passed. Late London telegrams state that Dr. Lightfoot has been appointed Bishop of Durham.—The news of a disturbance between the-Russians and Chinese on the frontier is confirmed. A Russian officer was shot. - '."'''■■. Uape papers give news, relative to the disasters to the British at Rorke's drift. The troops consistedof. five companies of the 24 h. regiment, two guns of artillery, and native troops Details are wanting.

i At a meeting of creditors on Monday last, at Wellington,; in the, estate of John Henderaon, 0.E., the assets wereput down at £56,658 and the liabilities at £18 486:' The assets include^ £25,000 due by J. Brogd^n and Sons, contingent on payment by the New Zealand Government of contract moneys for the construction of railways ; £15,000 are said to he due by the Oamaru Corporation ; £2000 by Baron and Mana, bankers, of Brazil; £5240 by J. B. Davies, re Napier protective works, to be paid out of the verdict recently obtained against the Napier Harbor Board ;l £looo,ilife insurance ; £500, furniture ; £500, land in New Brunswick, and several other smaller items. The meeting adjourned for ten days.— New Zealand Times. • Mad.—A private letter received in Wellington within the last day or two stateß that Miss Eva Carmiohael, the heroine of the Loch Ard disaster, has become mad. It,will be remembered that about eight or nine months ago the Loch Ard, an English passenger ship, was wrecked near Port Phillip Heads/ and all on board 'perished, except Miss Carmidhael and a midshipman named Tom Poarce. . Miss Carmichael lost all her relatives, father, mother, sisters, and brothers by the wreck, and returned home to reside with a family connection, but it seems the shock and excitement sinoe has been too much for her. Trie Looh Ard story is one of the saddest of the many disasters by sea on record. —New Zealand Times. Awkward fob the Bullock. —Under the heading " Railway Accident," the Wahganui Chronicle relates the following : —While the morning tram to WaDganui was wearing Kakareke, a bullock was seeri on the line, and Bpeed was slackened with the hope that the animal would move off, but instead it kepv straight on in front of the engine, and, stumbling; was instantly out in pieces, the shock, however, lifting the engine completely off the rails. No other damage was done, and when the up and down trains from Fox ton and Wanganui arrived paaiengers and luggage were transferred, and no very great inconvenience was thereby suffered. The Snob 3 Snubbed.—The Melbourne correspondent of the Ararat Advertiser says:—"The snobbery of the upper orust of Melbourne has been well demonstrated and snubbed in the case of the English cricketers. Several invitations have been received by Lord and Lady Harris to be present at balls and parties, but economy or something else prompted the writers of the invitations to leave out the other gentlemen cricketers. Lord Harris has, however, made it a practice to decline all invitations in whioh the whole of the eleven were not included, to the mortification of Dives, Wool, and Soft Goods. Only two ladies accompany the team, Lady Harris and Mrs Hornby, and all the gentlemen are quite young. They are quite a family party, and are remarkable for their friendship, so rruch so, that although Lord and La^y Harris "*ere invited to take up their quarters at Government House they dec ined, preferring to vemain with their party." Chiniquy as a Pbkacheb.—The Melbourne Argus of 3rd February says:—"Pastor Chiniquy, the expriest who oreated some excitement in Sydney by his lectures, preaobed for the first time in Melbourne yesterday afternoon. The meeting was to have taken place at the Assembly Hall, but such a great crowd hud collected in anticipation of hearing some startling disclosures of Mr. Chiniquy's alleged ill-treatment at the hands of the Canadian Roman Catholics that the accommodation was altogether inadequate. The Rev. Charles Strong was therefore appealed to permit the use of the Scots' Church for the meeting, and this he agreed to do on condition of it being promised that the gathering should be an orderly one. There was a great disappointment in store for those who attended in the expectation of hearing sensational revelations, as the preacher's sermon was a purely religious one, and had no reference to sectarianism, Mr Chiniquy is an old man who speaks English fluently, but with a strong Dutqb accent, and apart from the attacks he makes on the Roman Catholics, his preaching would not attract muoL attention." Against Betting.—Lord Harris threatened at the recent cricket matoh in Sydney to have Joseph Thompson turned out of the pavilion at the cricket ground for betting. The bookmaker said " I'll lay your Lordship a oentury on Sydney;" to which Lord Harris replied, "If you bet here, Thompson, I'll have you removed. Another Eleven.—Already it is proposed to get together another cricket team for England, The Australasian is of opinion that it should consist of thirteen, to be chosen from Evans, D. Gregory, A. Bannerman, C. Bannerman, Massie, N. Thompson, Spofforth, Sheridan, Murdoch, Garrett and Tindall, New South Wales; D. Camobell, Blackham, Tennent, Alexander, J. Slight, F. Baker, Allan, Boyla and Horan, Victoria; Jarvis, South Australia; and G. H. Bailey Tasmania. > Jerildeeie, where the latest outrage of the Kelly gang has been oommitfce i, is a small township in New South Wales, 428 miles south-west of Sydney, in the district of Deniliquin. It has five hotels, a public school, a Court house, lock-up, police barracks, and a few stores, and a populatiou of about 200 persons. It is on one of the main roads of the Colony, that leading from the crossing of the Murray River at Moama to Wagga Wagga. From Euroa, the scene of the last exploit, to Moama is about seventy miles, and from Moamato Jerilderie, about ninety miles, so that the outlaws must have travelled about 160 miles at least. The Marquis of Bath has abated from 10 to 15 per cent, from the rent of tenants on his estates in consequence of the " hardness of the times." Sing a Sono- of Sixpence.—The magnificent reward of sixpence is offered by an advertiser in the Star for information as to who stole his applee.— Saturday Advertiser. A Suabt Fellow.—" A smart thing was done the other day by the County Court bailiff," writes the Qeelong Advertiser. "He wanted to serva a fraud summons on a disciple of Egculapiua not 100 miles away. To show himself would be of no avail, and his presence was objectionable, and always caused the gentleman wanted to make himself scarce, and ' not at home.' The bailiff's messenger tried to get at the debtor, but failed, and a stratagem had to be resorted .to. The messenger bandaged a white cloth stained with, blood around his face and head, and sought advice of the doctor, The medico, anxious to relievo suffeiing humanity, admitted the messenger to his surgery, where he was duly served with the summons and conveyance fee. The doctor, although'a little bit put out at first, admitted that he had been ' had this time.' " A Man in Petticoats.—A singular development transpired at Fort Lincoln on Nov. 28. Mrs Sergeant JSoonan, who died the night before, turns out to be a man. Mrs Noonan was a laundress at the post, and a most popular midwife. She had been married three months, and was one of the widows of the a Custar massacre. Her husband was a member of the Seventh cavalry, no TV in the field. There is no explanation of the unnatural union, except that the supposed woman was worth 10,000 dol., and was able to buy her husband's silence. She has been with the Seventh cavalry for years. The following fact ia a oriterion of the distress among the middle classes at Home:—A large quantity of poultry arrived from Canada, in London, for the Christmas markets, including over 50,000 turkeys, geese, and ducks, but owing to the prevailing distress iho demand for Christmas luxuries was lessened to such a degree that tens of thousands of turkeys and game were left on the handt of the large dealers, much of which was sold at less than 6d per pound. A EtrilOß is current to the effect that the boy Roas, who some years ago was mysteriously stolen from his parents in Pennsylvania,U.S, is at present in Victoria. It is further said that Mr T. W. Lloyd, the proprietor of a private inquiry office at Melbourne, has bad the matter in hand for some considerable time past and has discovered a clue which he believes will lead to the discovery of the lad, and his restoration to his parents. Enormous rewards have from time to time been offered for information respecting the missing one, and Mr Lloyd, no doubt, will be a fortunate man in the event of his search proving successful. Fobty-eight Childben Dbowned. —A terrible accident has just taken plaoe in the Frenoh Commune of Chapalle Moohe, in the Orne. A crowd of children numbering 52, were sliding on a deep pond near thn village, when suddenly the ice broke, and 48 were precipitated to the bottom of the pool, from which their bodies were taken out lifeless. The catastrophe has cast a deep gloom over the district. A Dumber ,of other fatal accidents are also repotted.

f The Melbourne Argtts says that 1878;has,been the' worst year for business since 1854 and 1855. People have been living from hand to mouth. , i A Jew directs the public affairs of Protestant England; the most important departments of the Government of Catholic France are administered by Protestants, and the Sultan's Minister of Foreign Affairs is • Christian. K . ■ \ A Curiosity.—A woven book has been manufaotured at Lyons, the whole of the letter press being exeouted in, silken thread. Portraits, verses, and brief addresses have often been reproduced! by: the loom, but an entire volume from the weavers hands is a novelty. ;j , r ■ A Castaway.—The Plymouth correspondent of a London paper writes : —"While the steamer Warrior was off an island in the West Indies, but out of sight of land, a human cry was heard, and the carpenter said be had seen a man strugglingJn ; the water. The ermines were at once stopped, and a boat put off. After a long pull in the direotion noted, the cry was again heard, and half an hoiir later the man was discovered and picked up. He pr>ved to be a native of Jamacia, named Alexander Hughes, and said ha had been three days in the water clinging to a clothes chest. He was one of the crew of the schooner Little Minnie, which capsized at sea and sank while on her passage to Colon. The accident occurred sixty miles from where the man was picked up. He was the only survivor." Jack's . Yabw. —It was a rather weather-beaten sailor vie overheard in a Clay street restaurant, the other day, kindly giving a few reminiscence? of travel to gome lady friends he was treating to corned beef and cabbage. " Talking about lions,'' he went on to say, " they are the iutelligenteat animal what; is. A cur'us thing happened once when we were on the East Coast last cruise. One of our officers went out nunting deer, and the next morning his body was found bit clean in two, but with his watch missing: Nobody understood it. Next day the quartermaster's body was found in the same condition, with his watch gone. Seemed as though a lion and pickpooket were kinder going snacks, as it were; only the lion didn't eat nothing. Next day two middies disappeared— same result. None of the sailors were hurt—had no watches, you see. Of course the whole, crew turned out for a grand hunt, and at last we killed a lion 16ft long. In his stomach we found all the watches, still running. Cold faot, I assure'you. The ship's surgeon, who cut the beast open, said he wasn't in'good health —had a torpid liver. So we seed at once that the animal had killed all the officers just to swallow their watohes —sorter like pills, you know. The lion must a' thought the wheels and things would kinder tickle him up inside. When we shot him he was lying with his eyes shut and mouth open, listening to the works going inside of him. Sounded like a whole ■ jewellery store. Fact, ma'am. Take some more cabbage?" , < ; r ;