LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 2744, 8 May 1875, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Sanitary: —The perfumes on the beach yesterday were fragrant; varied, and most 1 powerful and penetrating. If pedestrians complained, what a- treat the residents must have found. But. seriously, the causes inducing suoh- exhalations must be very injurious to the health of the community. National Inst/ranck Comeany. — Our telegrams of yesterday announced the death' at Auckland of Mr Millar, Manager of the abore company. "We are informed that the deceased gentleman, who was well known and respected in Wanganui, held the office of Inspector, and, not that of Manager as stated..

j Ms Powell, Sen. — We regret to lieai th?it this gentleman still sutlers from the effects of the trap accident which happened a few months ago, on the road to Aramoho. : and through which he was severely shaken. ■ The injuries have proved to be much mor^ serious than were at first anticipated, and i Mr Powell haa been an invalid almost evei since. Telegraphic Shipping.— No arrivals or departures have been entered on the sheet outsiue the telegraph station, since lat May. Perhaps there have been none. Relief.— We hear that the authorities, acting upon the suggestion contained in a late issue, have decided to take steps foi the immediate removal of the afflicted unfortunates alluded to therein. Enquiry into their mental condition will probably be at once instituted, the necessary means will also be adopted to ensure proper care being taken of them, and provision for their immediate wants will be made. We trust this course will be at once adopted. Machinery. — The district of Whenuakura is sjoing in extensively for improved machinery. Near the Commercial Wharf may be seen a large and powerful steam threshing machine, and a lofty elevator. Other machinery has yet to be discharged, consisting of engine and flour mill. They are consigned, we are informed, to Mr Wilson, one of the most enterprising inhabitants of that progressive district. Such indications of progress are significant Harrison Street Drain. — Nocturnal peregrinations in the vicinity of this ditch are attended with danger to a greater or lesser extent. On Thursday night, two gentlemen unexpectedly found themselves struggling at the bottom of its slimy depths, much in the same predicament as Jack and Jill, except that the pail of water was not the end and object of ihuir research. In other respects, the history as told in the old familiar ballad, repeated itself. Pedestrians should exercise due care when promenading thereabouts, especially at night. Lecture to Young Men. — To-morrow evening we understand the Rev. Mr Elmslie intends delivering a lecture to soung men. The subject as announced is " From Seventeen to Thirty, or a Chapter in Hebrew History, a Study for Young Men," and the lecture, we are informed, is intended as an introduction to the work of the coming winter in the Bible Class, the Literary Class, and a brief course of public lectures. The Rev Mr Stewart, of Marton, is expected to deliver the first of this course, and the Lfterary Class, which has been for a number of years a source of interest and a means of profit to many, will, we hope, be attended with like success during the ensuing session. Corporal Punishment. — One of the three individuals who were convicted at the last Circuit Sessions of the Supreme Court of indecent assaults upon children, received a portion of his punishment yesterday in the Rutland Stockade. Seven o'clock in the morning was the hour fixed, precisely at which time the criminal was led out and secured after the orthodox style. There were present the surgeon of the gaol, the Inspector of police, Sergt. Reid, and the representatives of the Press. The manipulator of the " cat," who was evidently no unpractised hand, was so completely disguised with, a mask as to be beyond recognition, and did not, we are informed, belong to the prison gang. He went, about his work in a moat scientific manner, and inflicted severe punishment, which, however, had apparently bul little effect on the criminal, as not a groan or exclamation of any kind escaped him, though the pain must have been very severe. When the twenty-live lashes had been administered he was released, and his first remark was " Now then, Doctor, quick with the salt and water ; if you have n't the water apply the salt by itself." Although apparently indifferent to the punishment during its application, his sufferings for several days to come will be sufficiently painful. While deprecating the necessity which exists for the infliction of such a degrading punishment, we are convinced that, in this case especially, the nature of the- crimes previously committed, even before his actual detection and conviction, were of such a vile character as to merit even a heavier sentence than he received, which, under the circumstances, was very light. It is to be hoped, for the sake of our credit as a community, that such severe measures will exercise a deterrent influence with this c'aas of criminals, and I hat we will hear no more of such disgusting offences in future. Bridge. — Our oft repeated predictions concerning this structure have almost been literally verified. Yesterday afternoon, an ugly gap of several yards in length was caused by the collapse of a stringer in the centre, the planking succumbing in consequence to such an extent that the passage of vehicles was compulsorily discontinued, inducing very serious inconvenience thereby. The timbers appear to be thoroughly rotten, ami teamsters!, coach drivers, and cattle drovers have for some time past crossed with considerable misgivings. But yesterday, the climax was reached. When the mail coach from Wellington reached that portion of the road, the discovery was made that the bridge could not be crossed until certain absolutely necessary repairs had been effected As before stated, one of the centre stringers had succumbed to the combined effects of decay and age, and a load of more than usual weight (which team we have been unable to ascertain) having passed over, plank after plank successively gave way. leaving an opening in the centre, which temporarily barrel further progress. A number of waggors were thus bailed up on both sides of the bridge, none of the drivers being willing t<> run the most apparent risk of crossing the shaky and treacherous fabric. The Local Board acted with praiseworthy promptitude in the emergency, and forthwith set men to work to repair the broken planking, and render it temporarily passable. The passengers per coach having all alighted, Ihe conveyance itself, from which the two leaders had been detached, managed, with grertfc care on the part of the driver, to get safely over, a number of loose planka having been laid down m order to permit this feat beinu accomplished. For heavily loaded vehicles, positive danger will exist until substantial and sufficient repairsshall have been executed, which works should be commenced without further delay. The heavy engine, to which we referred before as hiving been placed on one of Messrs Bull's waggons for transportation, is still en route, and has not yet reached so far. It would be manifestly unsafe for so much dead weight to be permitted to cross Buch a dangerously inadequate means of support. But without referring to further individual instances, we would again urge the Government to bestir themselves in this mutter, before a serious accident reminds them of their responsibility.

r I Auction Sale. — Tn addition to the usual i ] weekl>isale at the New Market Yards, this I I day, Mr Chadwick will also offer a buggy, , ' a spring cart, and a number of superior . horses, saddlery, and harness. * ; Fireworks.— Pyrotechnical displays may L be perfectly legitimate amusements in proper : ' places and under proper control, on the | occasion of festive celebrations, or of anni • ' versariea which the loyally disposed and b patriotic usually obser"e ; but the limit is . reached whun crackers and rockets are fired : off promiscuously in the public streets, and especially after dark, as we saw done on I Friday night. Common sense, decorum, , and respect for the sensibilities of others, would suggest a different titno and place for T indulgence in such sport. A Corporation , bye-law bears upon the question, and ita 3 requirements should be remembered. > i The Late Libel Casts. — The telegraphic \ reports of this suit must have excited con- \ : sidernble interest. The ' Patea Mail ' has the following concerning it : — " Wanganui, May 4. — In the Supreme Court to-day, I before a special jary, a verdict for £50 and . ! costs was returned in libel case Duigan v. ' i Biiilance. The Judge commented very 1 j strongly on the case, and the jury in a few ! minutes returned the verdict as above. I Much interest was taken iv the case by the public, and j^reat, amusement was caused by j the ' lierald' employees stating that they did '; not know who the proprietor was. The presumed sub-editor refused to say what he was on the staff, as it might criminate him. ■ \ 'In that case, it must be inferred you have j charge of the libelling department, 'remarked | His Honor."