LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 3100, 29 June 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Acclimatisation. — On Tuesday, Mr J Walker sent out a number of magpies to be liberated in. the Eangitikei district, where they will doubtless be welcomed on account of their insectivorous proclivities. The Ktxkttta Cbeek. — Mr Cullenaine called at our office on Tuesday, and gave a woeful account of the hardships and inconveniences to which he has perforce to submit, by reason of the alleged procrastination of the Board in the construction of roads and culverts. Making every allowance for very natural irritation, Mr Cullenaine apappears really to have good cause for coniplrint. Wellington Representatives. — Mr Barber, the Wellington cattle dealer and butcher, is again in Wanganui, with a view to pick up a few of those prime beeves for which the district has already acquired such a creditable reputation. Mr Barber speaks of the probability of his settling down permanently in some of our rich pastoral districts. We trust he will decide to cast in his lot in some progressive settlement, as his energy and enterprise would materially assist to develop the natural resources possessed by any locality. New Zealand Life Insurance.— Mr Olapcott reached town on Tuesday night, by coach, after a flying trip to New Plymouth. He will start forthwith en route for Wellington, calling at the intervening townships in the interests of the Government. He has again been substantially successful in his negotiations, and a number of preliminary applications have now been finally completed. It is not improbable but that some of the rejected applications in Wanganui will be reconsidered by the Government, and adjusted satisfactorily. Eetuen. — We understand that Mr Kobl. Bruce, of Glencairn, who _ has returned, after several years absence in America and elsewhere, is to lecture in the Turakina Church on the evening of Friday first. The subject of the lecture is to be America. We have little doubt that the subject and the mode in which it will be treated will be interesting, and that there will be a good muster of the inhabitants of the place, who, with former acquaintances of the gentleman in question, will be glad to hear an account of his travels in distant lands and over strange seas. Legal. — An addition to the professional fraternity contemplates casting in his lot with a practitioner in Wanganui. Blood Stock. —We hear with regret that Mr J. Walker contemplates disposing of Sweetmeat and others of lier progeny. Wanqanoi Hospital.— There have been neither admissions nor discharges during the past week ; consequently, the numerical condition remains just the same as in our previous report — six male and two female patients. Sporting. — A match between Butcher Boy and Whitefoot is spoken of, and will probably come off when the preliminaries have been satisfactorily arranged. The struggle should induce the display of considerable interest. Visiting Justice. — A notice in the Gazette intimates that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Joseph Giles Esq., R.M. to be Visiting Justice of the prison at Wanganui, vice J. T. Edwards, resigned. Accident.- A man named Andrew Lankester, employed in the reconstruction of Bett's wharf, had the misfortune to fall into the river yesterday, and was rescued with considerable difficulty after he had been in the water for some time. He was taken to his residence at the Provincial Hotel, where, under careful treatment, it is ) expected he will be none the worse to-day of his misadventure, which mi^ht easily have had a fatal termination. Art Union.— Mr Ashforth's art union, it is positively announced, will take place to-morrow. We need not refer to the prizes, as their merits are sufficiently well known, but we may mention incidentally that there are only J9 tickets left and that those left unsold by the night of the drawing will be apportioned by art union also to those who may choose to subscribe. Service op Song. —On Friday night there will be a service at Trinity Church, which will consist of readings by the Rev. Mr Bavin, from Bunyan's Holy War, with appropriate vocal and musical selections in the intervals. This ia the first service of the kind which has been held in Wanganni, and many are looking forward thereto with pleasurable anticipation. Kangitawa Contract.— Messrs Nathan and Wilkie, the successful tenderers for the construction of this, — the only unlet section from Wanganui to Foxtou — signed the contract yesterday, the price being £9,953 6a Bd. The portion alluded to is from the end of the Feilding contract to the Rsnt»itikei river, and in distance measuring about 5 miles. The contractors will start with their teams for the new undertaking to-day.

Return. — Mr Percy, of Kaiwhiki, ia expected back in Wanganui, after a trip home, in the course of a few days. He is now in Melbourne en route for Wanganui. Insolvency. — Michael Meehan s adjourned meeting of creditors takes place to-day, when it is to be hoped the result will be I satisfactory. Change of Proprietary, — We hear that Mr Bilers, cabinet maker, will assume the proprietary of the Railway Hotel, on the lsfe of August. Temporary Alteration. — During the progress of repairs to the Post Office buildings, the Money Order and Savings' Bank department business will be attended to at the Registry window, under the verandah, instead of the old office, which is undergoing an extensive reorganization. Reported Casualty. — Our correspondent at Bulls telegraphs to us as follows : — "Mr Gower has reported to constable McAnulty that J. M. Johnston, a farmer on the Manchester Block, shot himself yesterday morning." The above meagre details are all that are to hand. Hibernicon. — Our notice of this entertainmeut must necessarily be short, as our space is very limited. The company played to a good house again last night, and the programme was as well received as it has been on each previous occasion. To-night, an entire change of programme is announced. Relapse. — We regret to hear that Captain Smith is still confined to his bed, and is suffering very acutely. The invalid gentleman has wasted away considerably, and his long confinement has told severely upon his once robust physical constitution. Naturally he i 3 very low in spirits, having been confined to his bed for nearly twelve months. Query. —A writer .in the ' Patea Mail ' asks whether the deduction that has been made from the salary of each member of the Civil Service, to cover the defalcation of a Postmaster, is the reason why members of the service have to take to keeping tradesmen's books, which is at present being done in Oarlyle. R.M. Court.— The R,M., after an exhaustive review of the evidence adduced in the case Lifh'ton v. Bennie on the occasion of the first hearing of the case, gave judgment yesterday for the plaintiff, with costs 19s. A charge of drunkenness against Ebenezer Dickson stands remanded, and the case Lloyd v. Walker, for abusive language, was struck out. Explanation. — A Scotchman once asked an Irishman ' why were half farthings coined in England 1 ' Pat's answer was — 'To give the Scotchmen an opportunity of subscribing to charitable institutions.' On the same principle a groat (fourpence) has been called a ' saxpence.' Responsibilities of the Fourth Estate. — The confidential nature of much that is done in a newspaper office is thus spoken of by the ' Brunswick Telegraph.' It says that a properly conducted printing office is as much a secret society as is a Masonic Lodge. The printers are not under an oath of secrecy, but always feel themselves as truly in honor bound to keep secrets as though they had been put through triple oaths. Any employee in a printing office who willingly disregards this rule in regard to printing office secrets would not only be scorned by the brethren of the craft, but would lose his position in the office at ! once. We make this statement because it ! sometimes happens that a communication appears under an assumed signature which excites comment, and various parties try to find out who is the author. Ltt all be saved the trouble of questioning the employees or attaches of the printing office. They are "knownothings " on such points as these. On such matters they " have eyes and ears, but no mouth," ami if they fail to observe this rule, let them be put down as dishonorable members of the craft.