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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10198, 1 May 1883, Page 2

Itojmmt cfhwmidit AKD PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. " ITDIiIiA DIES SINE MNBA." • wr , TUESDAY, MAT 1, 1883.

GovEBNMENT Auditors. — The train on' Saturday night brought in from Wellington Mr McAlister, the Provincial • District Auditor, and Mr Carley, his deputy. Both gentlemen como to Wanganui to audit the accounts of the Harbour Board, Education Board, and other local bodies. ' JDefatoters List. — The following is a comparison of the defaulters iv the three ■nrards for this and last year : — Cook's Ward — 1882," 32; 1883, 15. Queen's Ward— lßß2, 36 ; 1883, IS. St. John's Ward— lßß2, 99; 1883, 68. This slwvs 166 defaulters last year, and only 98 this, a total falling oft of 68 ; upon which the borough is much to be congratulated. TnE Bmd&e Lamp. — The gas having been laid on under the bridge to the lamp on tho lower side, it was lighted last night for the first time, and it is one of the most successful illuminating experiments Wanganui Bos ever indulged in. The lamp not only easts its beams over the bridge — in itself a very desirable thing — but tbe lower end of tho Avenue and Taupo Quay also receives unquestionable benefit. Bobough Council, — A meeting of tho Borough CouMcil was held yesterday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, to hear objections against the Burgess List, as prepared by the officers of the Council. Present — Tho Mayor, and Crs Spurdle, Bell, Crawford, Nathan, and Hichards. Only one objection was received, from Mr Joseph Ohadwiek, asking that his name be inserted in the list in place of that of Mr E. Howe, in respect of premises near the bridgo, on Taupo Quay. The Burgess List having been altered accordingly, was then signed by the Mayor and Councillors. The Basohtikei Assault Cash.— The Chief Justice having on Saturday night discharged the jury without ordering a new trial, Jenkins goes scot-free in [the assault case, though it is hoped that the sensible remarks of the Ohief Justice will be so. far attended to that the ancient and gray -headed antagonists will not come to blows again. The jury on Saturday were pretty equally divided, live being for a conviction, and seven for an acquittal, but had they been locked up till now it is not probable they would have come to an agreement. An American Opikion. — The New York Tribune in an article on the Irish assassinations, describes the change in the Irish character leading to this phase, declaring it time for Irishmen", in America to look at assassination methods in their true light. " These murderous organisations are abhorrent to the character and life of our people. No man has a right to contribute money, under tho name of an American, to anylrisji fiuid, unless he knows precisely what -will be done with it, and that it will not be used in purchasing the commission of bloodshed. Coming- TheatbicAi.3. — Mr Gibbs -lias been busily enaaecd in providing some amusement for the patrons of the Princess Theatre, and we are glad to say his arrangements have now assumed definite shape. The Wilmot' Combination Company leaves •Wellington by the Manawatu on Friday, and opens here on Saturday night in " Lost in London " and a burlesque. The company has been scoring honors and swelling their finances in Nelson lately, and the artistes, male and female, are undeniably clever, and embrace some old friends. The Juno Company hare settled to open here in comedy and the emotional drama, on the 4th June, and intend to play a long season. A Timely Kepeooe. — The Chief Justice drew very pointed attention yesterday to the lamentable difficulty of hearing properly for which the Wanganui Supreme Courthouse is remarkable. His Honor has, throughout tho present sittings, constantly complained of this acoustic defect, but yesterday morning his stock of judicial patience evidently was exhausted, arid he opened the vials o£ Iris wralli, 3for seven or eight years, said the Chief Justice, had he complained, when he went on circuit, of the great injury done to the administration of justice in Wanganui by the almost total impossibility to hear properly, but no notice had been taken of what ho said. It was true, Jib continued, that some alterations had been made lately, but they seemed to him to be utterly useless. Despuiring of getting any good thing out of tho witness bos, His Honor placed several of tho -witnesses yesterday on tho beach at his left hand, and, whether from the effect of the ' , amipy above or the majesty of the law so ' close by, they cortainly gave their evidence ( not only audibly but clearly. t

Amatetib PnoToanAPßTir— Mr ColHg, of New Plymouth, is the guide, philosopher, and friend of amateur .dabblers in sunpictures. He advertises all the necessary apparatus at remarkably low rates,, and gives away t any 'amount of- insti'uctidh with thorn. Since Mr Collis introduced his system of plates, photography has become a rery fashionable amusement with ladies as well as gentlemen, because the- new style, unlike the old, does not- soil. or stain the hands' and is very easily worked. Hence the amusement is popular, useful, and instructive, rt The New Jury. — The second of the common jury panels summoned for the ! Supreme Court sittings was called yesterday 1 morning, and with very few exceptions answered to their names. Hugh Melntyre was exempted on the ground of deafness ; John /Valker because he was over 60 years of age j E. C. Brider because he produced a medical certificate from I)r Earle j and H. Woods, John Jones, W. Hogg, Sand H. G-. Bedell because they were Fireman. Daniel Harding failed to answer when .called, and the Chief Justice fined him 40s. Later in the day Mr Harding made his appearance, apologised for his absence, and had the satisfaction of|hearing His Honor say that, if Mr Harding would attend "next morning at 10 o'clock, the Court would say nothing more about the forty shillings. Mbbtings of Cbbditobs. — The first meeting o£ the creditors of William Lewis, storekeeper, was called yesterday afternoon. The sworn statement of assets and. liabilities is a3 follows :— Liabilities, £96 16s lOd, the principal creditors being ]?. J. Jones, '£2l Os 3d ; and J. Heappy, firewood dealer, Halcombe, £17 ; the remainder being under £10 each. The assets are, stock, £10 ; book debts, £7 ; furniture, £10 ; total £27. The first meeting of the creditors of Charles Bonner was also called for yesterday afternoon. The sworn statements of assets and liabilities is as follows : — Assets, furniture, ! about £25 ; liabilities, £84 14, tho principal I creditors being John McLaren, £22 ; John G. Sharpe, £14 ; and McMosters and Co., (Patea), £10 ; the remainder being under £10 each. Both meetings lapsed for want of a quorum. The Lidbarv Giuot.— Wo understand that the Directors of the Wanganui Library have recently blamed Mr Cross, the late Hon. Secretary, for not having taken steps to secure for the institution its proportion of the grant for public libraries voted last session. As a fact Air Cross wrote to the Secretary of the Education Department on the subject on the 9th of January, and re : ceived an answer on February the 10th stating that the amount due to Wanganui was £117, and that it would, be placed to the credit of the institution in a few days. As tho present Directors appeared to know .nothing of the matter, Mr Cross telegraphed on Saturday to the Secretary of the Education Department, and received the following reply: "Wellington, April 30th .^-Library grant lodged with Bank of Australasia, in accordance with your request, on ,24th of February." The Panama. Caxaii. — General Foote, Minister. to Corca, lias recently returned from his""mioSion to Panama. Before leaving tho Isthmus he inspected the work on the canal. A great amount of work, he says, is iin progress. The surface of the ground has been removed over the line of ,the canal from ocean to, ocean. The company has 'a large number, of Belgian, French, and Ajnerican digging machines at work, whi^h are cutting away the earth rapidly. The American machines give the most satisfaction* Four dredging machines are at work at Aspinwall, dredging out the basin where the^outh of the canal will be. The material taken out is thrown upon either side for the^urtiose of making higher and dryer banks. Upon, tjue tops of the embankments already made the workshops of the Company and the shanties of the negroes are erected. The workiften are mostly Jamaica negroes. There has been a good deal of disease and mortality among them. There is a feeling of satisfaction among the residents of the country^n their belief that the canal will be successfully completed and operated. Painiess Extinction. — An interesting' project for a simpler and more humane' method of despatching animals, or even' criminals, by electricity, is suggested by the Zoophilist. An ordinary stall has an ironplate fastened upon its floor largo enoug&i for a horse or bullock to stand upon. With this plate is connected the negative pole of an electric condenser, formed of alternate layers of tinfoil and tisßuc paper soaked in paraflln. This condenser is charged from an ordinary coil to its f ullese capacity, and is to be discharged at an electro motive force, which produces a one-inch spark. The animal to be despatched has the top of its head find also its feet and legs welted with salt water. It is then led into the stall with its hoofs resting on the iron plate. The brass knob which makes the positive pole, and has an insulating handle, is then applied to the forehead of the animal, which falls down stone dead the moment the contact is effected. This plan, or one very similar to it, has already been adopted in an abattoir at Home, and there can be little doubt that the speed and ease with which the operation is effected, to say nothing of the Humanity, will ensure tho speedy adoption of tho electric system on a general scale. We havo not heard that anyone has yet succeeded in : inducing the authorities to experiment with, criminals. „, Accident to a Tbap.— About half-pas 5 o'clock last evening an accident, fortunately not very serious in the end, happened in the Avenue near the St. John's crossing. Mr Kincaid, of Bell-street, was driving home from Tayforth in a one-horse trap, and whea turning London-street into the Avenue, the horse took fright at the sound of the horn with which Dr Connolly was controlling the Hunt Club hounds, which had been out for an afternoon's spin. The horse bolted, and, in the attempt to pull her up the back band of the harness gave way, and Mr E\ncaid lost all control over the animal, which darted down the Avenue at a furious rate. Just before reaching the St. John's Hotel, the trap came into collision with the fence and turned completely over, -with Mr Kincaid under ifc. The horse continued rushing en towards the town and was brought to a standstill near Guyton-street. Dr Connolly was fortunately on the spot, and attended to Mr Kincaid, who, besides other injuries, had received a dislocation of the shoulder. Mr Brathwaite, who was driving «'with him in the trap, was thrown out just before the trap turned over, but happily escaped with a few bruises. Tho shafts were broken, and one of them was driven into the footpath to a depth of two feet, remaining ia an upright position. Under the circumstances it is singularly fortunate that there was so little damage to life or limb.