Untitled

Colonist, Volume XXII, Issue 2514, 22 February 1879, Page 3

The Athletic Spobts.—With floe weather, it may be expected that a large number of persons will visit the Botanical Gardens this afternoon to witness th,e running matches which have been arranged to tak.e place by Mr Goodfellow, the Australian champion, and Mr M'Donald, the Canadian quarter mile champion. There are numerous entries for eaoh of the events, and as several of our leading amateurs will try conolusions with the ohatnpiom, a good deal of interest is centered in the results. In the event of either the Messrs Goodfellow and M'Donald winning the races for whioh they have entered the prizes will be given to the second man, and the sports will conclude by an exhibition raoe between the two short distance champions, when they expect to make better time than hai yet been done in New Zealand. Tonic Soi?fa.—The Rer R, Bavin gave an interesting address at tho Wesleyan school-room on Thursday evening, upon the tonio 101-fa system as a" means of teaching musio, and having related its origin, he went on to show the advantages it possessed over Hullah'a system in that respect. The rev. gentlemen invited those desifoua of joining the olasa, whioh he is reorganising, to give in their names, and some fifty at once complied. A code of rules was then agreed to, and Mr F. House re-eleotedseoretary, and the meeting separated after singing the National Anthem. Those desirous of joining thi* singing class may do bo on payment of a small fee to cover the necessary expenses. The u*ual monthly meeting of the members of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in their Roobq3 last night, when there was a fair attendance, and great interest was manifested. It was resolved that the open air serricei,,at f the pedestal should be discontinued, but the' Theatre Royal should be engaged for next Sunday evening. Mr Field, of Westport, and Mr Marlow, of the Young Men's Chriitian Association, Dunedin, who were preßent by invitation, gave short and suitable addresses. Hop Measube. —A correspondent writes from Riwaka asking whether there are eight or ten gallons to a bushel of hops. He says that for several years they always measured with an eight gallon measure in that locality, but during the last two years gome have used a a ten gallon one, and be very naturally says that he does nqt think it fair that pickers should have to pick two gulloui more than is right, or that growers should pay for two gallons less than their due. In answer to cur correspondent, we may say that both measures have been used in Nelson, but that we believe the eight gallon one is now the lvcognised measure. Tovrar Land. —We understand that a Bale has been effected by Messrs Sharp and Pickering of the whole of the unsold portion of the estate of the late John Poynter, Esq, comprising a large iut of land on the Port Hills, and sections on the Haven road, Washington Valley, and Stanley Crescent. The price p'tid is not reported. Inspeciob KieliT.—This gentleman left io the tteainer Kennedy yesterday for Hokitika, and a large number of citizens assembled on the wharf* to witness his departure. Amongst those present to bid him adieu were his Worship the Mayor, Mr A. J. Richmond, M.H.R., Cm Crewdson, Cross, and Traßk, Captain Lightfoot and several members of the Fire Brigade, and a number of mercantile and bther gentlemen. Those present, were unanimous in ' their expressions of regret at Inspector Kiely's removal, and equally so in praise of his cpnduot.aa head of his department here. It had been felt that it would be somewhat agaihst'the spirit of the civil service regulations to otter Mr Kiely any .testimonial, but, these notwithstaridin'gy,from what wa i' laid yesterday we tliink r i(i probable that a priieriUtion' will fo. made him,"''""

Kiixe Match.—The match between the Wellington Artillery and the Nelson Navs>l Brigade took place at Wellington yesterday, with the following remit, &b telegraphed last night:— WBIXINGTON. Bannister : 63 Webb ... 62 Total ...480 NEISOX. Fathers 66 Hunter ... ... ... ... 65 Edwards 60 Jones , 67 -.■s»Sf Rowling ' 67 N Leech ... ... 56 ■-■■■**' Dayman"'"''... ~ ... ... ... 54 Bennett 41 Total - ... ... .'..',456' } -Majority for Wellington, 24 points. The match with theXity Rifles will be fired to-day.' -'' '" *" Obioket Match. —A match will be played at Wakafield to-day between the Star and Wakefield Cricket Glubs, wickets to be pitched at half past ten. TLe names of the Star team are—Messrs Halliday (captain), R. Hood, 0. Poynter, 0. Bolton, D. Bolton, S. Bolton, J. Wigzell, T. Wigzell', Hale, B'ttrns, arid '[Oplsii';, >: ". : (?: : '-I "":■*, \??s/ IV^f CcNrRT.^-lTesterday morniifg-"liowtniSr Broad, Esq., presided at this court, when, although fire notices of objection had been lodged, it transpired that three of these had bsen compromised out of courtT' The remaining appellants against their valuations, Mr T. Q. Freeman and Mrs Armstrong, were then called, but neither being in attendance his Honor said that the onus of proof was upon the objector, where the only ground of objection was ex* cessive valuation. Prima.J'acie the public* body ' (having proceeded" according, to lawfin^jaluatiolnjV must be presumed to hare inachTa fair valuation, and it was for the objector to prove the contrary, and he must come prepared with such evidenoe as he thought necessary. On rising, his Honors complimented Mr Bout, 'the Valuator, for the evidently satisfactory manner to all in which he had prepared his valuation, inasmuch as.but five persons had made any objection'," and of these, three had since been satisfied. "'* Dovedalh.—The annual tea meeting of the Dov«dale Sunday School took place in the Schoolroom on Wednesday, when, despite the damp from the rain which had already fallen and the dark and threatening clouds which still hung overhead, people came from far and near in vehicles and on horseback, until the entire population of the settlement seemed to have assembled together to do honor to the occasion; and the beaming faces of the young, and the cheery greetings of adults, showed how much greater is the freedom and enjoyment of such gatherings in the country than in towns, where they take plaoe so frequently. At 3 p.m. the children partook of their festive repast, while the parents and friends were arriving. At 5 o'clock the tea for adults was spread and presided over by the blooming youag ladyteachers and others; and so great was the number oontinually coming and partaking of the good.things provided, that night was setting in when the last company rose. The meeting then adjonrned to the Wesleyan Church, and commenced the proceedings of the evening. The Rev. W. Rowse ocoupied the chair, and, after devotional exercises, called upon the Seoretary and Superintendent of the School, Messrs Smith and Win, to read the report and balance-sheet. Reoitations by some of the obildren Bnd the giving out of rewards ocoupied a small portion of the evening. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Mr Moon, Rev. Mr Hoskiog, and the Chairman ; : -and also byMr Humphries, who was introduced by the' Chairman as an octogenarian: This formed a very touohing episode in the proceedings ; the venerable speaker, surrounded by his children and their offspring to the third generation, gave, interesting information respecting the progress of eduoation and Sabbath School instruction from the foundation of the settlement, and concluded by singing a hymn by Philip Phillips. Throughout the evening hymns were sung by the children and teachers, Miss Bowden presiding at the harmonium. Votes of thanks were passed, and a very happy meeting came to its close at a little before 10 o'clock. ■ •.-■-'' • Electric Pen.—Mr Tucker, the officer in oharge of the Nelson Telegraph Department, has, in aeoordance with his customary oourtesy, afforded us an opportunity of witnessing the capabilities of the newly patented electric pen, he having just completed the Betting up of one of these instruments, just imported, ex Tongoy, by Mr W. M. Stanton, and a specimen of its work may be seen at this office. The pen consists of a tube about four inohes long, on the top of which is affixed a small electro magnet and wheel. By passing a ourrent of electricity through the electro magnet by means of what is technically known as a make and break connection, the wheel is made to revolve with immense velocity, estimated at from six to ten thousand revolutions per minute. On the axis of the wheel is fixed a fine vertical shaft, workings inside the tube and ending in a needlepoint.' The tube has muoh the appearance of an ordinary drawing pencil pointed for use and in passing it over the paper to be written upon the'needle is projected sharply through the point b( the tube at the rate of from six to ten thousand times per minute. A very finely perforated paper is thus produced, making in fact a paper ,-toncil, from whiuh soare thousands of facsimile 3opie» can be made at the rate of 200 to, 30Q per hour. The writing closely resembles the ordinary handwriting of the operator, whilst drawings of great fineness and aoouraoy may be made by a draughtsman aftet a little praotice.' Having obtained the stencil, copies are produced by passing an ordinary inked roller over it. The management 1 of the pen seems easily mastered, and with moderate care the apparatus cannot get seriously out of order. The pen is worked by a two cell Bichromate battery, which is supplied with it, and which with ordinary care will last six months by occasionally adding a little sulphric acid to the solution, - The Hobart Town Mercvwy states that the body of Tauganini, the last of the Tasmanian aboriginals, T/hiph was buried in the graveyard attached to the Cascades factory has been exhumed, the bones denuded of the flesh, and the skeleton handed, over to the Royal Society for scientific purposes. "' L"i A new Maori newspaper will shortly be published at Rotorua, iv the North. It will be called JAtawa. and will be printed in half English and half Maori, Ashburton. —This season's harvest in the County of Ashburton has averaged only from 8$ to 14 bushels ol' wheat per aore, in the ridgy parts .of the district, while in parts more fovored in the matter'of a moist soil the yield will not be less than 40 bushels to the acre. On the whole the harvest is turning out muoh better than it was expected to do.—Mail. Thb recent large fires at Christchureh renult in the loo&| Fire Brigade receiving £20 from Mr Wm. Saundere,, £25 from Messrs Sargood and Ewen, and £10 from Messrs Twenty man and Cousins.; ThW £55 goes to the Brigade's Library and Accidental Funds. The inquiist on the fire which resulted in the destruction of Mr Saunders's warehouse, ended in a verdict being returned that there was not sufficient evidenoe to show how the fire originated. An Auckland telegram reports :—A siogular aooident occurred at Freeman's Bay. An flioavation for a culvert had undermined a lamp-post. When' Che lamplighter ran up the ladder the post gave way, preoipitating the man and ladder, and a large quantity of earth, into a cutting of the depth of 6ft. The man was partly buried in the earth, and severely injured in the baok and legs. < r .; , Thx Duuedin Herald states:—A pig' without ears' and. '• deaf as a post," is. a curiosity of ,nature .whioh is attraotiing some attention in the Lower K'aikorai district. It is a.sow, and appears to mjtke up for its want of hearing by a quickness in its other senses rather unusual,for apigo/Jthis jo* has had a litter ofjpigs, all of whiob, strange tQ ><*y, had very long ears, and all of them died. Sheja<in good condition. There ate'neither "ears nor- openings of any sort where ears should be 5 but as piggy id often to paly a penalty for her deafness, her watchfulness is eijceedingly amusing.-' <<■■;.. li kl^. ..'..;. 'A htjmoe is current (say* a iLocdon telegram) that the Duk« of Edinburgh is to be appoiuted Yioiioy of ladia k bat it requires confirmation.