LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 11397, 2 May 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

— ♦ — I The jury in the case against Albert E. Nelson for perjury at New Plymouth have l-oturned a verdict of not guilty. The recent emancipation of all slaves in Brazil has depreciated the national prosperity for a time. The Czar of Russia wears a ring in ■ which is ombedded what purports to be a piece of the truo Cross. • Electric hand-lamps, to be used in searching a battle field, have been experimented with in England. A sort of epidemic of .husband-poison-ing has again broken out in the province of Slavonia, Austria. At a meeting of the Execntive at Wellington yesterday, the execution of the Wnipiro murderer was fixed for Monday week, May 13th. The first meeting of the new School Committee will be held on Friday evening, at half-past seven, in the Borough Council Chambers. According to a London telegram, Spofforth will play for Derby this season, and Bonner is expected to cast in his lot with Middlesex. The jockey Jackson, who was injured by a fall from a horse at tho New Brighton (Christchurch) races on Tuesday, died in the hospital yesterday evening. Messrs Hogg Bros, and Brechin notify the arrival of their first consignment of autumn and winter goods. Their new advertisement will appear to-morrow. According to information received in a private letter, ex-gaoler McNish arrived safely in .due course at San Francisco, and was accompanied by afemale partner. The latest news of Dudley Eyre is that he has gone to Salt Lake City, where he will, perhaps, in time bloom into a Morman Elder. W. Smith, tho pugilist, has mado up his mind not to return to Sydnoy, as he is unable to got itp a match thore, but will start for San Frincisco at an early date. Harry Laing, the boxer, intonds going to Sydney at as early a date as possiblo, and means to try conclusions with Slavin, when [he feels cortain of being able to give a" good account of himself. The Patea Harmonic Society, assisted by Miss Sparks and Mr W. G. Foster, intends to give a performance of " Les Cloches de Corneville " at Waverloy at an early date. The Auckland Presbytery have decided to co-operate in inviting to New Zealand Principal Rainy and other delegates who intend to visit tho colonies in connection with the Presbyterian jubilee celebration. Owing to the monopoly of the coal mines of the colony by the Union Company, the coal supply for our local Gas Company will cost them ,£4OO more this than it did last year. Count Herbert Bismarck is presiding over the Samoan Conference, and Dr Kranel is acting as Secretary. The usual rule of xising tho French language is being departed from, and the Conference will be conducted in the English tongue. A London ■ telegram says the appoint" ment of a Governor for the Cape has proved a difficult matter. Fifteen men have refused to accept tho post, and the colonists are beginning to tin-eaten to claim the right to select for themselves. The Zeitung tho granting of autonomy to Samoa, the Consuls to supervise, and a permanent neutral umpire to be appointed in case of dispute. The London Daily news is doubtful whether such a scheme would work. Earl and Countess Onslow arrived at Napier on Tuesday night, and were presented with an address yesterday morning in the presence of a large crowd. The party, left for Wellington via Masterton by special train at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The Selwyn (Christchurch) County Council estimates that last season the small birds destroyed grain in that county to the value of J215,000. It is proposed to levy a rate for raising funds to check 'the pest. Thore were 100,000 acres in grain in the county. Another collision occurred in the English Channel on Monday, when tho British India Company's steamer Manora, of 4707 tons, bound to Calcutta, came into collision with a French steamer. The Manora had to return to Gravesend to repair her injuries. The bouquet presented by Mr Justice Gillies to the Countess of Qnslow at tho reception of the Governor in Auckland, was composed of maidenhair fern and of a new and beautiful yellow orchid, the flower now so fashionable in England, and for which such immenso sums aro paid. The Marquis of Londonderry, in the course of a speech at Dublin on Monday, spoke of Mr Balfour's action in terms of high praise. He considered the condition of Ireland had enormously improved. The Viceroy announced his intention of retiring in July if the country continued tranquil. ■ A Press Association telegram states that a fatal accident occurred at the Rangitikei River, seven miles from Marton, on Monday. A Maori woman was driving 'a pair of horses in a waggon, when the horses jibbed and backed over a cliff. The woman sustained injuries from which she died in an hour. A child who was in the waggon escaped unhiirt. Tho Wanganui Chess and Draughts Club held their usual meeting last night in the Victoria Hotel, when the following entries for the chess and draughts tournaments were received by the Secretary : — Chess : Messrs Cottle, Connoll, Campbell, Ward, Williamson, Kelly, Couchman, Cathro, Ingles, Sim (2), and Annstj-ong. Draughts: Messrs Anderson, Laird, Blair, Bell, Connell, Campbell, Armstrong, Sharpe, Crichton, Murray, OUiver, Chavani^es, and Watt. We have to hand the March number of " Night and Day," which is published in connection with Dr Barnardo's " Homes for Destitute Children." It is nicely illustrated, and full of incidents and facts illustrating that philanthropist's work among the "waifs and strays." The number of orphan and destitute children who have been admitted, irrespective of sex, of ago, or of physical infirmity, now amounts to 3000. A report (which was cabled to the colonies) to tjio effect that Mr Froude had declared himself in favor of Home Rule for Ireland, having been brought to, his notice, ho writes as follows : — " The opinion of a person like njyself on a groat political question is not of sufficient conr sequence for the notice of tho newspapers. Since, however, random stories have been circulated, and you think it worth your while to ask me what that opinion is, I can only answer that it remains what it has always been — Homo Rulo will bo tho first and probably irrevocable step towards tho separation of tho islands; it will increase the wretchedness of Ireland, and will bo followed at no distant period by the break up of tho British Empire." T?hu psnfi.ped prisoner, Jackson, who broke away from, giujl <}n Tuesday afternoon, was brouglit up before tyL'cssM Bainbor and James, Justicos, yesterday morning. Evidence was given by the gaol warder to sh,o\y that- a gang of men were at work within the gaQl prpcints, but a number of paces apart, and while ho was attending to thi; prisoners at ouo end of the lino, Jackson maimgod to get out of view and cleared tho fence. His disappearance was almost instantly observed, itud officers were despatched in pursuit. Gons.tablu Macklo deposed to sighting prisoner at Putiki,and ScHgcnnt Kolly to following him up and rerarrest: ing him while hiding in a hole. Prisoner complained to the magistrates that he had been unfairly dealt with tiy the ( Uiiof Justice, having boon sentenced to tiu'ufe yosirs for an ofienco for which his ! male had only got one year. Tho Justices committed tho prisoner for trial at tho next sitting of the District Coijrfo '

Begging is prohibited in Berlin. Every stranger \ipon arriving in the city must have his name recorded at a police station, and no one is allowed to take up his residence without a dofinito occupation and satisfactory ovidence of ability to follow it. Spain has produced an operatic composer who promises, it is said, to take his place among the great maestri of the day. This is Thomas Breton, whose " Los Amantes de Teruel " has been a triumphant success in Madrid. Twenty years ago he conducted the orchestra of a small circus in the Spanish capital, but was enabled to study his art for three years in Rome, Paris, and Vienna by tho liberality of the Royal family. A medal of honour has been struck by order of the French Government and presented to M. Louis Bizet, who for 65 years has been a compositor in the office of tho Journal dv Havre, which he entered as an apprentice at the age of fourteen. Although in his eightieth year, the hale old man spends his days in the composing room, and his evenings in looking after the affairs of the Printers' Society, of which he is the president. The Journal dv Havre was founded in 1750. A woman named Marie Rougerie, 42 years of age, has been sent to imprisonment, with hard labour for life, for having murdered her illegitimate daughter, who was 11 months old. She acknowledged to having taken the child up by her feet, and struck her head repeatedly against an axe handle until death released the little sufferer from her pains. The murderess had previously been transported to New Caledonia, where she had married a liberated convict named Boyor, by whojn she had had two children. Both these, however, as well as her husband, had mysteriously disappeared. The news that Herrn, one of the Channel Islands, has beon bought by a German banking firm is exciting some comment in Paris. A fow months ago, a statement to this effect was made, but it proved to be premature. Now the apprehension is again expressed that this purchase may turn out to be tho insertion of tho thin end of the wedge, and that the Germans having once, obtained some footing in the Channel Islands, may eventually make considerable capital out of their acquistion. The island lies 2J miles east of Guernsey. It is 320 acres in extent, and has a population of about a hundred. The othor day a duck was purchased in the shop of a game dealer in Arbroath, Scotland, and sent to the house of a gentleman in London. On being opened the remarkable discovery was made that tho duck's pissara contained four small gold nuggets and some gold dust. Tho gentleman wrote and inquired where the duck came from, as he was of opinion that there must be a gold 'roof in the vicinity. The dealer has ascertained that the duck was brought from the farm of East Kirkton, near Arbroath. There is a small running water at the bottom of the garden of the farm-house. While tho cutter Bravo was at one of the mutton birdislands recently (says tho Southland News), a sensational incident ocevuxed. A munber of birds had been secured, and the crew having returned to the cutter a start was made for home. One of the erew — Fred Arnett, of Riverton—was struck by the boom and knocked overboard. The accident was notnoticed by his mates, and Arnott was not missed till the vessel had gone some distance. When the alarm was given Arnett was scon in the water a good way off. He was apparently about as much at home there as on tho deck of the cutter, diving occasionally to get out of the way of the heavy seas. A boat was promptly lowered and one of the crew- pulled off and rescued Arnett from what most men would consider a dangerous position. He, however, was in no wise concerned about his own safety— his anxiety taking the form of fear lest the boat would bo swamped, or the cutter — only one man having bean loft on board — come to grief. The following is a list of teachers attonding Mr D, Blair's art classes, together with tho names of the schoolsthey come from: — E. W. Tompkins, Goat Valley j Mr Williamson, Patoa ; Isa McDonald and Jemima Choyno, Waverloy; Maria Meads, Upper Tutaenui; Ada Quarrie, Halcombe ; W. J. Andrew, Wanganui (Boys'); S. Blyth and M. Field, Wanganui (Girls') j Ritchings Grant and D. Syme,Hawera; A.Kilgour, Bulls ; J. Honori, Otakeho ; Fred Strombone, Beaconsfield ; J. D. Innes, Mount View; Goo. Espiner, Bunnythorpe ; Lucy O'Brien and Bridget Herley, Palmerston N. : M. A. Lissanan, Kohj ; Darey Hamilton and Mary JBrow^, Eltham ; L, Baliner, Riyerton '; . IWin. McCreody, Alton ; H, Sanson, ' tlpokor ngaro ; John Powell and Ellen Prendergast, Taonnij O. M. Igglosden, Porewa ; A. W. Rule, Stanway j and two other teachers who have not yet signed the roll — Harriet Curtis and Francis Copeland, unconnected with the Board. A short time ago an interesting and important experiment was tried on the London and North- Western Railway, between London and Manchester. The Company have recently built some magnificent dining saloons, for the purpose of accommodating passengers between London, Manchester, Liverpool, .and Carlisle The saloons, which are 34ft in length and connected by a gangway, are most sumptuous in their decoration, while two cooks and four waiters travel by the faajn. Tho special train, crowded with Directors, leffr Eustpn at half-past 10 o'clock, iji oharge of Mr Webb, chief mechanical engineer. Luncheon was served in passing Rujjby, and the train ran to Crewe, which it roachod' at ton minutes to two. After less than two hoxirs stay tho return journey to London was commenced, and as tho train was travelling at about a mile a minute between Crewe and Rugby dinner was served. The Directors pronounced the arrangements admirable, as in face of tho high speed the.ro was not the slightest oscillation or tho smallest inconvenience. The experiment was regarded as conir completely successful, and an order for further saloons of tho same class will be placed in the company's workshops at once. It may surprise thoso who only know of Sir Richard Webster as a Boanerges of the law to road that he is one of the best singers of a baritone love song in Wngland. He often spends an evening singing to tho. working classes, under the auspices of one of those ''people's entertainment societies " which are s.q conmifln in London. The other night (says tho correspondent of the Argus) he was nearly let in for a strange contretemps in thi3 way : Tho eccentric and brilliant Mvs Jpnne has lately taken up as a protege a prize-fighter of predatory antecedents, who has been converted to Christianity and total abstinence by a High Church clergyman at the East End In celebration of tho anniversary of his conversion the prize-fighter was lately minded to call a meeting of his old friends under tho presidency of Mrs Jcunc and his new pastor, and at this it was an-anged by tho body in question that the following entertainment was to be provided : — Miss Fortescue was to recite & ij.-itlujtic pieco, by Sims; Lady Colin Campbell was to sing a religious song ; Sir Richard Webst.er was to, sing 'a, lovo song ; and one of the Parnellite iifCii:bors, whom Sir Richard is daily | accusing uf heinous crimes, was to giroa piece of moral advice. Ty f -q or threo , yenvs ftgo such an odd combination , would havo been quite tho right and usual thing, but latterly politics havo become so serious and embittered that . tho position would have beon evidently ! an iiitfikrnble ono ; and this tho Irish. ■ member himself pejiiiuivgcl, for ho took' occasion iij the commission court to ask Sir Richard Webster if he was' aware in what company ho was to figure, and to suggest that one or other of them should fail to put in an appearance. Sir Richard elected to bo this one. The meeting ended in a sort of riot. '

Egypt will preserve its monuments from a fund accruing from a £1 fee charged all tourists visiting the Nile antiquities. Prince Bismarck is a capital French scholar, but detests every other German who parades the same accomplishment. It is said that after fifteen or twenty more interments ai'e allowed in Westminster Abbey the room will all be occupied. General Booth has issued an appeal to tho friends and supportors of the Salvation Army on behalf of the poor of London. A musical manuscript of Mozart was sold a few days ago in Berlin for 555 marks, and a letter from Lessing for 400 marks. Dr Charcot, of Paris, an axithority on nervous diseases, is soon to be summoned ro St. Petersburg to see the Emperor and Empress of Russia, who aro both in bad health. A great innovation in tho British House of Parliament is the introduction of a boot-black in the cloak-room. He is tho first of his kind. Tho Governor of Oboch, backed by a French man-of-war, has taken measures to suppress tho slavo trade on the Red Sea. Mr Scobio Mackenzie has written to Messrs Ward Butlor and G. Carson intimating that he will gladly undertake tc deliver a lecture during the session in aid of the Wanganui Public Library. Mr J, Wilkinson has also received a letter to the same effect from Mr Bruce, M.H.R. A man named John Murphy was or Tuesday night killed on the railway at Waipawa. He was formerly a member oi the Blenheim police force, and it is supposod to have been a case of suicide, and that deceased laid his head on the rail in front of an approaching train. He had been drinking heavily. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth was concluded yesterday. A. E. Nelson, charged with perjury, was acquitted by the jury without a stain on his character. A e imilai charge against McLaughlan was withdrawn after the verdict returned by the jury in Nelson's case. This was tho outcome of a four days' trial. Judge Gillies ordered the signature on the deed of lease, Petrie to McLaughlan f to bo photographed in the interest of scientific investigation on the subject of forgery. Tho Germans are constructing a huge floating exhibition palace at a cost oi ,£250,000 in which to give ocular demonstration of the superiority of German manufactures to tho scoptical amongst the distant nations of tho earth. The vessel will be called the Kaiser Wilhelm and will bo 564 ft. long, 66ft. wide, and 46ft. deep. She will be, it is said, the most magnificently fitted ship afloat, Tho exhibition will be made to yiold a profit of .£IOO,OOO annually from the in come derived from rented space, and from the sales of goods. It is expected that the ship will sail from Hamburg in the spring of 1890, but her first destination is not known. We have much pleasure in announcing the arrival of Ladies' nice warm Felt Slippers, just the thing for winter ; the prices, too, are very moderate, viz., 1/0, 2,'g, and 3/6. Also, a nice lino of Ladies' Felt Buttoned House Hoots j a splendid line for cold feot, 5/6 and 6/6. The above are the 'Cheapest lines of the kind ever introduced into Wanganui. We would alsc direct special attention to our Ladies' Evening Shoes, which we aro selling at from 3/6 per pair. Also, Ladies' Kid Elastic Sides from 3/6. Ladies' Kid Shoes from 3/6. WehavoalsoLadios'goodstrong Kid Balmorals, real good value, for 7/6, Also, Ladies' Glazo Kid High-log Button Boots for 8/6. Remember, the above arc all good serviceable lines, not a lot oi somebody elso's •' Old Stock," advertised ■as a " Bankrupt Stock," for a draw tc gull the public. We are above that sorl of thing. We have always held the premier place in the Boot and Shoo line in Wanganui for good, sound, serviceable goods at reasonable prices, and we still intend to maintain our reputation, come who or what may. — R. Hannah & Co.^Advt.