LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9140, 17 June 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

County Council.— A- Bpccial meeting of the County Council wris held yesterday, but the only business transacted was extending the time for opening tenders for the Upokongaro l ? erry till the 24th instant. Arethusa Company. — This powerful Company will make their appearance again before a Wanganui audience 'on the 28th instant. The opening piece will, we believe, be " Uncle lorn's Cabin." The Late Me J. A. Sommerville.— The funeral of the late Mr J. A. Sommerville has been postponed until tomorrow, in consequence of the nonarrival of the steamer in which the remains of the deceased are being brought to Wanganui. Sandon. — Energetic action is being taken by the Sandon settlers with a view to separation from the Manawatu Highway Board. The necessary memoi lial is in course of signature. Poxton Station, — Mr Sannders, the contractor for the railway station at Foxton, and works connected ' therewith, has commenced pushing them on with commendable activity. ■ The Australian and New Zealand Panoeajia. — We see by the country papers that this panorama is doing a very good business, and is spoken of by those who have seen it It is said to be the largest piece of painting that has ever visited tbe colony, and embraces various views of Australia and New Zealand, amongst the latter a ' painting' of Wanganui Bridge, so that a Wanganui audience will be able to judge for themselves as to the accuracy of that portion of the panorama. It will be presented at the Princess Theatre on race night. Samoa Tbading Company. — We take the following from the Evening Chronicle of the 15th instant : —" A meeting 'of the promoters of the Wellington and Samoa TradiDg Company was held last evening at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel (Captain Yull in the chair). Jit was decided that a company should be formed, and a prospectus got out and placed before the public, when, if the shares should not be taken up, the pro« moters (six in number) decided to form a lesser company, and take up the shares themselves. This, we think, is a move in the right direction." Public Wokks Statement. — The Evening Post says — It is rumoured that Mr Oliver will make his Public Works Statement within the next fortnight. As we pointed out before, the purport of that statement must necessarily depend in a considerable degree on the report of the Railway Commission, otherwise the latter would be a mere farce, and a very expensive one. It is said, however, that this report will not be ready for another month, which would be too long to delay the delivery of the Public Works Statement. It is conjectured, therefore, that an ad interim report may possibly be furnished, sufficient to enable the Minister to frame his plans without acting in opposition to their recommendations. No regular Native Statement is to be made this session, Mr Bryce preferring to deal with Native affairs in moving the second readings of the various measures which he has introduced relative to such questions. Peeseeving Butteb. — The Taranaki Herald has the following :— " A new process of preserving fresh butter was tried to-day by Mr A. Hood, in the presence of a number of gentlemen. Mr Hood produced a tin in which 21bs of fresh butter had been packed exactly three months ago, and, on opening the tin, the butter was found to be in a very satisfactory state, Mr Hood explained that his process consisted in having two tins, one being made to fit into the other. In the inner tin the butter was placed and sealed up, and between the outer and inner tins were placed certain chemicals, not of a very costly nature. The tins were fitted by Mr Abbott, and were found to answer the purpose admirably. The process can be fairly stated to have been a success, and Mr Hood will be enabled, through the result of the test, to bring his process to a greater state of perfection." Clydesdale Stallions foe New Zealand.— The North British Agriculturist says :— Mr David Itiddell, of Blackball, Paisley, has sold two of his celebrated stallions, viz, Luuk's-all and Chancellor, at a very high Dgure to Thomas Wilkin, Tinwidd Downs, Dumfries, for exportation to his brother, Mr ltobert Wilkin, of Christchurch. Canterbury, New Zealand, Lu.ek's-all, wo understand, has won nearly $600 in premiums, being the champion horse at the Highland Society's Show at Perth last season. Hois by that well-known horse Priuco of Wales. The Chancellor has also been a very fortunate horse. Whpn f;hree years old he was engaged at the Glasgow Show to serve mares belonging to the Duke of Bedford's tenantry at Woburn.'at £400 for the season, and lust yi»ar he was S(;b j ctt;d at Glasgow liy the Dumfries ! f -vsc Association for their dis'riut, with J2IOO premium. He is by the noted horse Time o' Day.

Land Tax.— A correspondent of the Advocate writes : — '' Farmers complain that their land is assessed for land-tax purposes in many instances as nigh as £9 per acre, whdst recent sales, and particularly that of Mr Joseph Meads' fino property, prove the present property value of the very best land in the district to be considerably below that figure." ' Public Officers. — The Evening Chronicle says that a communication has been received by . the Resident Magistrate at .Wellington from the Department of. Justice, .the effect of which will be to subvert a practice which has hitherto prevailed in connection with informations laid by officers in the service of the Municipal Corporation, dp to the present time officers of local bodies have been regarded by the Clerk of the Court as "public officers" within the moaning' of the 142ud section of " Tho Justices of the Peace Act, I860." TMb view the Minister of Justice has ruled to be unwarrantable, and instructions have bepn issued to .the effect that in future the benefit of this section is not to bo extended to such officers, so that all summonses applied for by officers of the Corporation must now be paid for before being issued. The Mayor has had an interview with the Minister of Justice on the subject, and intends, we understand, to take action in Parliament, with a view of getting the Act amended so as to allow of the former practice being continued! , ■A Rehearsal. — About two months ago Mr Willis imported from England a magnificent lime-light apparatus, and a large number of beautifully executed photographs, with the intention of supplying what appeared to him to be a local want. We may state that it is not his wish to make anything out of the venture, and that he will be content, after deducting interest on the money laid out, that any balance derived from the exhibition of the views shall dp expended in the purchase of a further supply, so that an interesting and novel entertainment may never be wanting in Wunfjanui. I'he light used : is that known as the oxy- hydrogen mixed jet lime-light, and the slides, are of a high order of merit. , It is his intention in a short time tp give a public exhibition of the views, in the Princess Theatre, and last night we were invited to attend a private rehearsal. There was some little delay in starting, and in managing the apparatus, but wb remained long enough to satisfy ourselves of the great merit of the entertainment, which includes ap interesting lecture by a well-known resident. The lime-light was placed upstairs, and tho views were foeuased on to a screen 20ft square. • They consisted of American scenery, including many' of the most celebrated landscapes on the great Continent. We are sure that when a little, practice in tho use of the apparatus has given proficiency to the operator, 'the entertainment will prove both a surprise nnd a success. Besides 'these American views, Mr Willis has a variety of others equally good, which can bo used as occasion requires.