LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 5 December 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

AtmniN Meeting; — The nominations f or the Wanganui Ciip, Flying. Handicap, Stakes, and District Race ' close this evening af9 o'clock, at the Pier Hotel.

. Teotting Curs. — The annual general meeting of the Trotting Club is .fixed to he held at the Rutland Hotel, on Tuesday evening, 12th instant, at half -past 7 o'clock.

Sam at Feiedihg.— Messrs Halcombe and Shcrwill held a large Bale of stock tomorrow in tho Warwick-street salo yards. The auction will start at 1 o'clock, and we observe that tho entries are numerous and important. '

Back ekoh the Hot Spbings. —Mr Q-eorge Hutchison, who has been away for some weeks on a brief trip to the Hot Springs, returned by yesterday morning's train, en route from Napier. He seemed much the better for his change.

Fbebitason ßY.-r-The installation of officers of the St. Andrew Kilwinning Lodge will take place to-morrow > night, rand will be followed by a banquet at Bro. Ormsbee's Prince of Walo3 Hotel. These festivities stood over for a week in consequence of the death of Mr Hodge, Bey oral times a' fast Master. '

Wanganui Rowing- Club.— Tho following are the crows that will row for tho cups presented by Mr S. .H. Drew, on the 16fch instant : — : Cummins, stroke, Booth, 3, Stevenson, 2, Harwood, bow j Blyth, stroke, Kiemensclineider, 3, Jones, 2, Harper, bow j Curtis, stroke^ Thomson, 3, Matthiaon, 2, Nixon, bow- Aiken, stroke, Greenwood, 3, Clifford, 3, Lightband, bow.

Shbep-sheabikg. — To shear 154 sheep in nine hours is a notable feat, and one' which to very many persons will seem quite incredible. Yet we arc informed that this was done on Friday last at Messrs Moore and Curries Bushey Park run by Mr (Jeorge Brough of this town, who is well known as one of the quickest and neatest wielders of the shears in the Wanganui district.

APietiioba of. Business. — Tho public bodies of Wanganui will have their hands tolerably full to-day. The Resident Magistrate and his Court staff will have enough to do to get through the preliminary investigation into the perjury cases,; the County Council and Harbour Boavd hold their usual monthly meetings during the day ; and in the evening tho Borough Councillors sit in their fortnightly solemn conclave.

A Bia Hit. — It is possible for a cricketer who does not at all bear the "^reputation of being .'a " slogger " to occasionally make an immense hit. Not many days ago Mv Cross, ■who is no doubt tho best all-round player we have on this coast, hit tho ball with such force that it landed out of the St. John's cricket ground, dropped over a hedge, and. has never since been found. The distance 8 from' tho hedge to tho wicket was measured, and found to be no les3 than 156 yards, so that Mr Cross's hit is one of tho greatest on record.

Licensing Committee. — The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee for the St. John's Ward took place at noon yesterday. Present — Messrs J. Notinan (chairman), IS. Howe, and C. H. Ashforth. The only business before the meeting was an application by E. O. H. Suisted, licensee of the Masonic Hotel, for an extension of hours from 10 to 12 o'clock. The applicant did not appear. Inspector James opposed the extension on the ground that it was not needed by tho requirements of tho neighbourhood. After a few minutes' deliberation the committee refused the application.

" Begone Dull Caeb." — Mr Fred Maccabe, known for the last quarter of a century (and especially to Londoners) as one o£ tho cleverest of popular entertainers, is now making a tour of Now Zealand. He has been highly successful in Invereargill and Dunedin, and intends, in all probability, to give the Wanganui peoplo a taste of his quality at. the 'Jheatre in February next. His entertainment (with its wonderful variety impersonations), known as " Begone Dull Care," is an ably porformed and most mirth-provoking exhibition, and one ivhich, by the way, many other entertainers in the colonies have copied wholesale.

COMISQ- EIFLB CONTKSTS. — The following is the team chosen to represent tho City Rifles against tho Marlon Royal Rifles on Saturday next, each corps to' shoot at its own . range : — Lient. Purnell, Sub-Lieut. Jlyger, Sergt. Mooseman, Corpls. Parkos, Poake, Lancc-Corpls. McGonagle, Jensen, Astbury, Vols. LoTe, Cathro, and Bandsmen Mooseinen and Cos. Telegrams of results will be exchanged at 4.30 on Saturday afternoon, and 3Mr J. J. Harris (late captain of the Royal Rifles) is to be asked to act as referee for the City Rifles' team. The second class of the City Rifles will lire for Captain Hutchison's trophy on Wednesday, the 13th. The following are the handicaps : ' — Bandsmen Cox and Vol. Lore, scratch ; Sorgt. Spurdle, X'ance-Corpl. Astbury, Vol. G. Cathro, 3; Corpl. Birchall, 4; DrumMajor Ferrjr, Vols. Haggen, Chisholm, Bandsmen Crichton and Richardson, 5 ; Vol. Brough, 6. Kakakamba. — This school was inspectcdon Friday. The number of pupils on tho roll, is 23 boys and 21 girls. There were present on tho. day of examination 17 boys and 19 girls. In Standard 1., 8 presented and 5 passed ; Standard 11., 1 presented and 5 passed j Standard 111., 9 presented and 7 passed ; Standard IV., 3 presented and 2 passed j and in Standard V., one candidate was presented and successfully passed. Fanny Ada Stanford prorcd a pupil of good promise, but owing to irregulariiy of attendance was unable to attain the high position she would otherwise have reached. In Standard 111., Walter Powdrell was highest, and Miss Annie Williamson passed in all' departments in which she was examined. Mr R. T. Brown ia master of this school, and though, from .tho nearness of a new school at Woodville (numbering 22 scholars) the Kakarainea school has not greatly increased in numbers, tho late examination showed great progress in efficiency of teaching, while the conduct of tlio scholars, and tidyness oE the school and surroundings -wove favourably referred to by -tho inspector.

Cur Rn-LBS. — This popular Volunteer company held the last (government inspection and parade of tho present year in the Drill Hall last night. About 00 rank and file were on .llio ground, and, after having been put through company drill and other military movements, wevo duly inspected, with their arms tad nccautroments, by Captain Neill, the officer commanding the district. The Band, under acting Bandmaster O'Hara, played a selection of lively music, including a capital musical olla podrida, entitled "All round tho World." After parade a general meeting of tho corps was held, Captain Hutchison in tho chair, for the purpose of considering tho now Volunteer regulations. After long discussion it was resolved, on the motion oC LaucoCorporal Astbury, and seconded by ColourSergeant Boyle, That tho corps bo kept in existence, and that a show of hands bo taken to ascertain how many of the members prosent would be willing to sign the declarations under tho now regulations. Thirty present held up their hands accordingly, the Band refraining from doing so pending tho result of inquiries regarding the prospect of a garrison band being formed. It was also resolved, on the motion of Vol. Haggen, seconded by Vol. Briggs, That practical effect be given to the above motion by all members signing the declarations, &c, at a parade to bo held on the 18th instant. Tho meeting then broko up.

Mrs Hampson. — Photographs of this lady are now for salo at Mr Martin's studio in the Avenue, and at Mr Gaze's (Montague and Co,'s) fancy goods establishment.

Peayeb Union. —The Young Women's Prayer Union will meet at 7.30 this evening, in Trinity Church schoolroom. The women' s meeting will be hold to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock, in St. Paul's Presbyterian schoolroom.

. . itouTjriGiiTLY Stock Auction. — There is perhaps little necessity to remind our readers, and buyers and sellers of stock in particular, that Messrs Bams and Higgie's fortnightly salo takes place to-morrow in the Carapbelltown yards. The entries comprise cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs of all kinds, and no intending purchaser is likely to go away from the sale unsuited as to price or quality. - ' A Timely Wamting.' — Owing to a. printers' error the rate notice in yesterday's issue read "Wangaehu Waitotara" Highway' Board. It should have' been " Wanganui Waitotara." We understand that a large amount of rates is outstanding, and* the ; board's secretary has requested us to draw special attention to the notice, so that by .paying their rates at once ratepayers may avoid a pressing invitation to spend a day in the company of the Resident Magistrate.

A New BkAnch. — It speaks worlds for tho rising prosperity of the township of Woodvillo that the Bank of Now Zealand should have decided to open an agency there. It needs only good times and somo activity in trade to send Woodvillo rapidly ahead. Its position at the junction of the Napier, Palmerston, and Wairarapa roads, and the fertility of the soil when cleared of bush, mako it an unrivalled site for a township which should be the capital of the Seventy Mile Bush. The opening of a bank must materially aid the development ofWoodville. • .

New Zealand Lbateee Company. — Mr Whitworth Russell hasibeen appointed local broker to the New Zealand Leather Manufacturing Company, Limited, a registered company recently formed at Wellington to acquire and work, on an extended scale, Messrs W. and J. Staples's boot and shoe manufactory, and the business of Messrs Locke and Mowbray, tho tanners' and curriers. The capital is £50,000, in'£s shares, and it is not anticipated that more than £2 10s will have to be called up. The terms aro 23 6d per sharo on application, 2s' 6d on allotment) and tho balance in three monthly 2s 6d calls. There is a strong Wellington directorate, Mr G. J. Johnston, M.H.E., being chairman. Tho acting secrearies are Messrs Williamson & Coy, of Welington and Christchurch, and we notice that Mr Williamson himself is just now paying Wanganui a visit. Early application for shares should be made to Mr Whitworth Russell, who will give all information about he company.

The Peiwotht Cases. — The hearing of tho informations against Mr Francis Williamson and Hatn, Rio commenced in the Eesident Magistrate's Couitryestorday morning at 10 o'clock, and Tvhen the Court adjourned for the day, part only of the witnesses for tho prosecution against the first named defendant had given their evidence. Tho principal witnesses being natives, the process of taking their testimony through an interpreter, writing it down in Maori and English, and afterwards reading it through in the former language, preparatory to the witnesses signing the depositions, was a long and tedious process, although (as it happened) the counsel for the defence, tho interpreter, the Magistrate, and clerk of the Court wore all au fait in tho native language. As a rulo, the Maori witnesses gave their evidence in a straightforward manner calculated to set many Europeans! a good example j but occasionally tho | " wily savage" fonced with, a question, especially when the answer involved an expression more of opinion than of foot. The pi'eliminary investigation of these perjury cases will probably last the whole of to-day, and we will not of course venture to anticipate the result, or whether tho defendants will have to go before a Supreme OSurt'^'uryr*''