The Waipawa Mail SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 23, 30 November 1878, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

In order to make room for advertisements, we are compelled to hold over our usual leading article. St. Andrew’s Day.—The 30th of November being St. Andrew’s Day, the banks will be closed to-day. Masonic.—A meeting of the Bedford Lodge, 1.C., will be held in the Town Hall, 'YVaipukurau, on Wednesday evening next. Divine Service.—The Rev. J. Parkin will conduct service on Sunday next, at Hampden at 11 a.m., and at Waipawa at 7 p.m. Deed of Composition.—A Wellington paper states that at a meeting of the creditors of Mr J. J. Tye, of Waipawa, held on Monday last, it was resolved that a deed of composition should be prepared. Tiie Waikonini Estate.—Owing to the delay in getting the surveys completed, the auctioneer, Mr Mr R. Miller, announces that the sale of the Waikonini estate has been postponed till Thursday, the 13th March next. Mr Rees and the Daily Telegraph.— A telegram, forwarded to us by the Press Agency last night, states that Mr Rees has issued a writ in a libel action against the Napier Telegraph for alleged continued defamation of him. The damages have been laid at £3,000. The Thoroughbred “ Sator.”—The settlers of this district are evidently determined to improve the breed of their horses. We are informed that the throughbred “ Sator,” of the famous Gladiateur stock, has already served fifty-five mares during the present season, and there are thirteen more booked. Total Loss of the s.s. Taranaki.—A Press Agency Telegram received last night from Tauranga, states that the Union Company’s s.s. Taranaki has been wrecked on the Karewa. The passengers are safe on the island, and a steamer has gone to fetch them. No cargo will be saved. Colonists will remember some years ago the Taranaki ran on a rock while enteriug Picton from Cook’s Straits. She was then submerged for eighteen months, and was ultimately raised by a company formed in Wellington called the Taranaki Recovery Company. She was afterwards purchased by the New Zealand Steam Shipping Com pany, and about a twelvemonth ago was transferred to the Union Company. From the brief telegram to hand, we are afraid that there is little prospect of the favorite old steamer seeing any more service on the New Zealand coast.

An Impounding Case..—A correspondent, signing himself “ Quentin Durward,” writes detailing a peculiar case of hardship which occurred recently in this district. He states in his letter a large holder of land, named “ Gridiron,” let a quantity of ploughing by contract to one “ Turnover.” That owing to the drought, the ploughman informed Mr “ Gridiron” that the operations would have to be suspended, which they were accordingly. As it took Mr “ Turnover” some time to get his plant together, he allowed his horses to continue on the pasture where they had been for some time back. On the second morning, however, they were found enclosed in Mr “ Gridiron’s” yards, preparatory to their being sent to the pound. The owner of the horses offered to pay all damages at once, but notwithstanding this offer, the horses were driven to the pound, though such a course might have entailed the loss of three valuable mares, one having a foal at foot, and two expected to foal in a day or two. Our correspondent “ Quentin Durward” deals in some strong language regarding the conduct of Mr “ Gridiron,” which is of too personal a nature for the columns of a public journal.

An Inebriate.—James McCauley was brought up at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of drunkenness. Mr Inglis was the presiding Justice. McCauley was discharged with a caution, and advised to clear out of Waipawa, Constable Murphy having stated that he had seen defendant in a state of drunkenness several times during the past few days. Rain at Kopua.—The settlers of Kopua and neighborhood were gladdened by several hours’ heavy rain on Thursday last. Not a drop fell in Waipawa, though the weather has been cloudy for some time past. “ Overcast” and “ threatening” are synonymous terms in most places, but clouds here do not always portend rain. Slight showers set in here last evening.

Horse Race at Kopua.—A match was arranged some time ago for £4O between Mr Barron’s horse Kopua and Mr James Johnson’s mare Fairy. The race came off at Kopua yesterday, and was won easily by Fairy. Kopua was ridden by a professional jockey, whilst John Brinson, jun., a Waipawa “ amateur,” piloted the winning pony Fairy. A large amount of money changed hands over the race. Complimentary.—We clip the following from a Wairarapa contemporary : “Mr F. T. Cowper, who has for many years assisted the Postmaster at Greytown is to be transferred to the head office, Wellington. His uniform courtesy and attention to his duties have made for him many friends, who while they regret his removal, hope he will find it in welldeserved promotion.” Mr Cowper is a native of this district, and a son of Mr T. Cowper, of Waipawa. County Council Meeting.—A meeting of the Waipawa County Council was held on Wednesday. The sole business of the meeting was the election of a chairman. The following members were present : Lieut.-Colonel Herrick, Mr Rathbone, Mr Dillon, Mr White, Mr Levy, Mr Sowry, and Mr Johnston. Mr Levy proposed, and Mr Rathbone seconded, that Mr Johnston be Chairman. The motion was agreed to unanimously, and the meeting separated. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday next.

The Feathered Tribe.—Much has been accomplished by the various acclimatisation societies in introducing English birds into New Zealand. Whether the sparrow has been a gain or a loss is an open question. The linnet, owing to its singing qualities, is a more desirable visitor, though we have heard it said that it is equally destructive in the garden. The latter has made its home this season, probably for the first time, in Waipawa. A brood of young linnets has just been fledged here, and a correspondent who takes an interest in ornithology furnishes us with the following particulars : —“ The nest was built in one of the pinus maritima trees in Mr Rathbone’s garden. The parent birds commenced building about the end of September. The first egg was laid on the 12th of October, and one every day up to the 18th, when incubation began, and the young birds were hatched on the 30th. A few sparrows have also put in an appearance lately. Yes, the “ real London sparrow,” as he is generally termed in the great metropolis, probably on account of his boldness. There was no mistaking them on their arrrival a few weeks ago ; for the fact is they made themselves heard before they were seen, the peculiar chirrup of the eockbird attracting attention at once. Now, it may be interesting to watch the progress of these birds during tiie next quarter of a century or so, and to see what progress they make in that time. Perhaps, settlers will then be taking up the pen to write articles, suggestive of the best way to abate the “ sparrow and linnet nuisance,” at it is well known that when these birds get numerous in a place they are apt to overbalance the good they do through their insectivorous habits, by picking holes in the fruit which otherwise would ornament the table as dessert. However, fruit must be grown first, for here we are in the middle of the cherry and strawberry season, but where are the cherries and strawberries? After all the birds may not breed so rapidly here, as there are no miles of hedgerows for them to build in, and the native form of arborescent vegetation is fast disappearing.” Narcotic Poisoning.—The Thames Advertiser says :—“ A case of narcotic poisoning, which nearly resulted fatally, has been brought to our notice, which we think should be made public. A number of the residents on the Moanataiari Creek have cultivated tobacco plants, and one of them, in trimming the plants, threw some of the seed brances over into the road running past the garden, which were picked up and eaten by a child of about four years of age. The little fellow immediately became so sick that the parents were alarmed, and sent for Dr Payne, who soon arrived and pronounced the child to be suffering from narcotic or tobacco poisoning. Antidotes were applied, and the child soon rallied.”

The Betting Mania.—A correspondent of a Southern contemporary writes :—I believe, sir, that more money changes hands during the year in betting in this colony than is turned over by either the Post-office, Telegraph-offices, or Stampoffices of the colony. Nearly every second man you meet is ready to bet. I do not say he is a “ betting man ” in the common acceptation of the term, but he is ready to bet on any matter in which he feels the courage of his convictions. No matter what the subject, you will find men in this colony 7 ready to bet on it, and this I take as a proof of the gambling spirit which I affirm exists—for betting on horses is just as much gambling as dice throwing or any other form in which the gambler may choose to gratify his passion. Now, a man given to betting is not at all a person to be trusted—that is to be trusted to deal in his business transactions without a spice of the same passion finding its way into his mode of business, and I cannot separate from my mind an idea, that when the betting spirit or passion gets hold of a man’s mind, it does not stop till it has also got hold of his character and habits ; and if it becomes a ruling passion with him—and with many it is so av’io do not publicly show it—it will go with him to his workshop, to his store, to his countinghouse. Are respectable men, who desire to do their business in a straightforward, honest way, according to the old style and system of a penny’s worth for a penny, doing their duty by either themselves or their country in lending their aid and countenance to meetings where money changes hands as the winning of a horse directs ? The question is one worthy the consideration of social reformers.

Under the heading of “ Saved by the Cross,” the Tapanui Courier relates that a workman named Austin, while engaged painting the upper part of All Saints’ Church there, had a very narrow escape. A sudden gust of wind caught the ladder on which he was standing (some 30ft from the ground) causing it to slip down. He, however, “ clung to the cross ” until assistance was rendered.

An exchange says : —The longest Act passed in the recent session was to consolidate and amend the law relating to the public health in Ireland. There are 294 clauses in the statute and several schedules, extending to thirty-four sheets. The Act is divided into several parts, and treats on sanitary matters and infectious diseases. Among the penalties is one of £lO for any person having a “wake” over a person dying* of an infectious disorder. Thames - Waikato Railway. The Waikato Times says that it is satisfactory to learn that the Thames-Waikato railway will be at once proceeded with, and that the sale of land in the immediate vicinity will, it is expected, recoup the colony the cost of its construction. We have no doubt that the Government has not over estimated the returns when it calculates to repay the whole cost of the line from the sale of allotments in the proposed township of Omaliu, and in the sale of small farms, the largest of which, we are informed, will be 320 acres on the Te Aroha block. Painful Accident.—A distressing accident occurred in Auckland last week. A little boy was stealing fruit, when a baker passed and called out “ Policeman !” hearing which the boy became flurried, and loosing hold of the bough, dropped down on to a fence. The little fellow’s stomach was simply ripped open. A most delicate and difficult operation had to be performed, which none but a highlyskilled surgeon could hope to accomplish. Dr. Goldsbro, however, succeeded, without the aid of chloroform, in replacing the disturbed parts, and sewing up the wound. Tiie Star says the boy’s father occupies a responsible position on the railway.