LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11205, 27 February 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It has been decided to form, a Burns' Club in Dunedin. A telegram from Westport states that owing to the heavy rain that fell yesterday, the races there will probably be postponed. From the Denniston mine (Westport) there were, yesterday, some 1536 tons of coal sent down the incline, the largest amount recorded for one day. ' At the Police Court yesterday, • a woman named Margaret Quin was fined ss, or in default sentenced to 24 hours' imprisonment, foi drunkenness. . Ministers, says a Press Association telegram, have had' an invitation to the banquet which is to be given to Mr McGuire by his constituents in celebration ; of his Egraont victory. The Government steamer Hinemoa leaves Wellington to-night on a search expedition for the steamer Kakanui. She will return in a fortnight, making Napier her first port of call, The young man Shepherd, whose spinal cord was injured by a fellow servant jumping on his back at Ashburton on Wednesday, died the same evening. An inquest is to be held on Saturday. We would remind ratepayers of the Waitotara County that to-day (Friday) is the last for recording votes in connection with the proposal to borrow 42000' to meet half the cost of the new bridge over the Waitotara Biver. The Brunswick sports take place to-day> the first event coming off at ten o'clock. For the convenience of those intending to go from the town a coach will leave Mr Boss' sjables' at 8.30 a.m., and, if sufficient inducement offers, Mr Smiley will also run a brake. Mrß E. N. Twopenny has, says aPress wire, accepted the editorship of a monthly journal, which is being started' under the auspices of the Australian Pastoralists' Union. He takes a share in the venture, and as it starts at once,, will not be able to return to the colony at present. A Press telegram from Christchurch, last night, states that a petition for the recommendation of the sentence of doath passed on the women Flanagan, is being prepared. There was a rumour yestorday afternoon that Sarah Flanagan had confessed, but ifc turned out' to be untrue. Messrs Horsley and Blythe announce that they have jußt received a consignment of coal from Motupipi (Golden Bay), which they are prepared to offer at a very low price per ton. Thi3 coal is of good quality as well as cheap, and should find a steady sale here. Messrs Horsley and Blythe have arranged for a regular supply £o as to meet the demands of their numerouß customers. We- understand that Mr F. Wilson, of Waverley, intends starting on a visit to the Old Country next month. _ The committee of the local Acclimatisation Society have asked Mr Wilson whether he would be willing to act for them in purchasing and bringing out some English game, to be liberated in this district. To thiß end a meeting of the Acclimatisation Committee will be held on Tuesday evening, at whioh Mr Wilson will bepre-. sent. Although we endeavoured to provido for a run on our issue of last Monday week, owing to the full and descriptive report of the floods appearing therein, wo were unable to meet the demand, either for the daily issue or the Weekly Chronicle. We have therefore decided to republish our report of the inundations in the Weekly Chronicle to be published next Friday, and shall be glad to receive the names of those wishing for copies. i The Temuka Leader states that fka growth, during the week has been most extraordinary. On a- plot of land in Temuka the grass has during the last few days grown at the rate of one inch per day. Grass was cut down last Thursday afternoon (Feb. 12th), and the young grass has, since then, grown at the rate of one inch per day. In this connection we may remark that a second bloom may be seen in many of the orchards in the Temuka district at the present time, and that they present a good deal of the appearance of the spring season, while at the same time the trees are laden with fruit. Mr H. E. Avos, who has filled the position of reporter and sub-editor on this journal during the last two and a half years, has accepted an appointment on the literary staff of the New Zealand Times, and will leave for Wellington about the middle of next month. Our regret at parting with Mr Aves — who has most admirably performed his duties on the Chbokicle— is tempered by the knowledge that he is improving his position in the world, and advancing his prospects in the profession he has chosen. Mr Aves possesses special aptitude for journalistic work. Nothing escapes him. He sees and hears all that is going_ on— and has discretion enough to know just how much should appear in print. But it is quite unnecessary that we should sound his praißQS. His good qualities have heon discovered by the proprietor of the motropolitan journal— and Mr Aves gets the reward which durinpr the last two or three years he has so well earned. Of our friend's pnblic services and social qualities we need say nothing. Testimony will be given to them, in appropriate form, in due course. Mr Aves' promotion will be our loss— but that will not prevent us from' wishing him most heartily every possible success in his future career. Thus the Auckland Heralds— The Eev. T. MacDonald of Waverley loaves our shores to morrow for Scotland, with the regrets of many friends. Wo hope to see his face and hear his commanding voice again. His services in St. Stephen's Ponsonby, on Sunday were much appreciated. The railway and college chum of the Eev. John McNeil, of London, he has much about him to remind us of the fervour and power of his popular and successful friend-. The samo powerful physique that made the prayor about the weak things of the world, confounding the mighty, almost as mirthful as the loud cry in prayor of a huge fat theologian. " Oh,my leannessl'my leanness !" Lacking somewhat of the genial flosh of humour, and Bcorning the " broad grin " that captives the less cultured Cockneys, he has a pithy, pleasing way of stating truth, familiar to all, that gives a peculiar power and freshness to it. His voice, when it rises above its first sluggish mannerism, is deeper and more commanding than MpNeil's and his dramatic action almost as 'striking.- Both are in the deepeßt truest sense natural jnpn, with genuine piety of heart and purity of aim. Both delight in recalling the rock from which the rough granito boulder was hewn. No can understand their deep brotherly joy in meeting again. We only hope that the less known and popular may return for good gervice in Now Zeaand-

,' Fo^ir miriersjwho were entombedfor 19 days in. a Pennsylvania, .mine have been ■rescued alive. . ■' '■'V The Misses . lockett notify that they wiU'continuo their 'dancing; class at the Institute Hall, on March 10th. The large sum of .£24,000 was passed through the lotalisator at the Dunedin races for the two days. Taking a line from Crackshot's rnnning at Dunedin yesterday, it is not probable that he will be seen at the Wanganui meeting next week. The man Wilson, who murdeied his sweetheart by cutting her throat, at Melbourne has, says a cable, been sentenced to death. ■ ; A meeting of £he committee of the Wanganui Amateur Eegatta Association, will be held this evening in the Anchor Hotel, at 8 o'clock. We regret .to hear of the aerjous illness of Lieut-Colonel Stapp, who is confined to his bed with inflammation. Messrs Albert Barns and Son notify that they will hold a sale of rams at Campbelltown, at their usual sale on Wednesday next, the 4th. The Supreme Court at Hobart has refused to issue a writ of habeas corpus to Daniel Treahy and Patrick Troy, arrested on a charge of gold robbery at Greymouth. Allinghan, another officer of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, has (says a Sydney cablegram) been arrested for embezzlement. The defalcations are about -.£3500, The Secretary of the Wanganui Meat Freezing . Company invites tenders for the purchase of offal from the said works, including sheep runners, bones, blood, horns, heads, sheep and ox tongues, ox tails, kidneys, &c. Each item has to be tendered for separately. The second competition for C. P. O. Dnstin's medals by the Naval Artillery did not come ofi yesterday morning owing to •the enclement weather, and was postponed till Saturday. The damage done by the floods in the ManagwheroEoad Board district amounts to at least vSIOOO. A meeting of ratepayers is called for Saturday night at Dpokongaro, to consider what steps are to be taken to remedy the damage. A full rehearsal of the "Pirates" will be held this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, commencing at 7.30 o'clock Bharp. The members of the Orchestral Club are particularly requested to attend at the time mentioned, so as to be able to go through the overture. , :At Marton on Wednesday, -before Mr Brabant, 8.M., Joseph Gomez, was fined £3 and costs 28s, for having sold intoxicating liquors, oathe Turakina Racecourse, without a license, Sergeant-Major Anderson prosecuted and Mi % Cash appeared for the defendant. Mr Brabant, the E.M. having obtained leave of absence for six weeks, is about .to make a tiip to the Eotorua Hot Springs for the, sake of hjs health. We hope he will benefit by his holiday. During his absence, Major Tuke, E.M. at Opunake, will take Mr Brabant's duties, commencing on Monday next. . A second eleven of the Wanganui C.C. will play a second eleven of the Collegate School Cricket Club, in Victoria Park, on Saturday, the 28th, commencing at 2 o'clock. The following is the Wanganui team: — L. V. Caldwell, K. Cave, Burgess, G. Brown, W. Tompkins, E. Murdoek, James' McNaught, A. A. Poole, J. Thompson, C. Dymook, and E.Hammond. The Senior Cup matches between Hawera and the Wanganui and Collegiate cricket clubs take place on .Wednesday and Thursday respectively . On Wednesday evening, a meeting of the Cricket Association will be held, in order, to consider, among other things, the protests entered by the Halcombe and Press cricket clubs against the Marton Club. It is stated that in all probability the Zingari Club will also enter a protest against Marton. lln opposition to the races on the Forbury, the Christiari Convention, on the lines of- the KeswMc Convention, was held near Port Chalmers on Wednesday. Only between 200 and 300 attended, a number much below what was anticipated. Addresses were delivered by both clergy and laity, the Salvation Army hands assisting with hymns. At' the District Court on Wednesday probate of will of .Samuel Norton, late of ■ Fordell, was granted to Matilda' Norton and,,Julia M. Moult upon the application of Mr Burnett; also in the will of Jessie E. Watts, . granted to George Johnston Small and Francis Henry Watts on the application of Mr Marshall. According to a late Melbourne cable a warrant has been issued for the arrest of MrPonnd, Metallurgist, on a charge of stealing platinum valued at .£6OOO, belonging to the Otway Eanges Platinum . Company. The revelations concerning this Company are the Bensation of the week. It was started about 15 months ago, and consequent on a report by Mr Pound, shares, which were originally worth 16s .rose at a bound to i!35. ' Mr Cosmo Newbery, Government, analyst, subsequently tested the ore, and failed to find a tracB i of Iplatinum, upon which Mr Pound instituted a libel action against him. Late cables announce that it is reported that Earl Dudley severs his commercial connections and marries one of the Prince of Wales' daughters. Admiral Hornby has been seriously injured by beinij thrown out of his dog-cart. A resolution has been submitted to the House of Eepresentatives at Washington, proposing to amend the constitution with a view to permit an impeachment of Speakers, who shall in future be' guilty of arbitary actions similar to those alleged against Mr Eeed, the present Speaker. The following bankruptcy business was heard before Judge Kettle, at the District Court, on Wednesday — James King made an application for discharge, which was refused,- but afterwards adjourned to next sitting of the Court, as the Court was not altogether satisfied as to a certain amount of money. Upon the application of the D.0.A., the estates of C, Jones, W.. H. Clarke, and M. Flynn were declared closed. The judge istimated that in future he would require notices of motion to be filed in every case coming before the Court. This applies more particularly to applications to the Court to appoint a day for the coming up of the debtor for his discharge. A correspondent writes as follows : — " The crowded and bungled state of our principal thoroughfares — especially on Saturday nights*—has frequently been a subject of adverse comment by visitors to our town from the larger centres of the colony. This indiscriminate clashing of pedestrians could easily be obviated if our worthy citizens would adhere to the common 'rulp of the road,' and always keep on the right side of the path. This plan, if adopted, would do away with the strictures of our visitors, and make the inevitable 'Saturday night' of our burgesses a pleasant instead of a painful task." This has often been suggested through our columns, but as long as the elder ones do not set an example it is hopleae to expect a reform in the matter. When the steamer Aorangi left London there were 185 pole cat ferrets, 93 stoats, and .28 weasels on board shipped to the order of the New Zealand Government. When the steamer arrived here there were two pole oat ferrets, 13 stoats, and no weasels. Out of 306 of these animals only 15 survived the voyage. It was the ■ indention of the Government to send the pole cat ferrets to the cold parts of the South Island, as they are a much hardier animal that the species hitherto introduced here. It appears that the man who undertook to look after the animals on the voyage, went ashore at the Cape of Good Hope, and was not seen again ; but as most of tho ferrets had died before this time the man's absence was of little consequence so far as the animals wore concerned;— N.Z. Times. Mr J. Porter, seedsman and nurserygardener, Ashburton, has shown our agent there a sunflower that considerably out-measures the one . grown by Mr A. White, of Temuka, mentioned a few days ago. The flower, which was grown by Mr Porter from seed obtained from the monster exhibited at tho Exhibition, measures nineteen and three-quarter inches in diameter, and, so far, can claim to be the largest grown in the country. Our Timaru correspondent writes : — Mr Jones, of Brown street, Timaru, has one that is sixteen inches across the seed part. The petals have all diopped off, so that it is impossible to state the exact measurement of the flower The stalk is something over six feet high/ and the loaves measure seventeen inches arross.

Captain .Edwin telegraphed at 4.50 p.m: yesterday as follows :— North-east to north and west gale after 12 hours from now with glass falling; indications of rain. \ . About four hundred caseß of this season's apples havo already left Papaniii for England. This is the commencement of a large export, which Mr Peckover is managing, he having purchased fruit in the district which will now fill at least five thousand cases. This new industry will bejwatched with interest, as, in addition to the manufacture of the cases, a good many hands are employed in packing the fruit, every apple having to be wiped dry and clean, and packed in a separate paper bag before being put in the case. The new president of the Koyal Society, Sir William Thompson, is one of the few instances in which mathematical genius has been put to some practical purpose, ior Sir "William was the pioneer in the matter of the laying of submarine telegraphs, and was knighted on the completion of the Atlantic cable in 1866. Born sixty six years ago, the son of a Glasgow professor, he went up, as all Scottish mathematical men then did, to Peterhouse, Cambridge, and graduated as Second Wrangler, losing the Senior bj his slowness of writing, which prevented him finishing his papers in the prescribed three hours. Soon after taking his degree he returned to Glasgow, in 1846, as Professor of Natural Philosophy. ' As Scotch Professors draw incomes from one to two thousand a year for some two hours' work a day, six monthsout.of the twelve, Sir William found time to apply himself to other work than teaching. He took up electric engineering, ' and was, and is, in that subject, the' greatest living British authority. He is as young as ever, a keen Unionist, and can tell a good Scotch story nearly as well as that prince of anecdotists, the late Dean Ramsay. Some of the farmers m the Tuapeka district are complaining of the damage done to their oat [crop's by a small gray grub, evidenty a new insect pest, and seemingly very largely endowed with the bump of destruction. While ploughing last season, one settler, we (Tapanui Courier) understand, was followed through the paddock by large flocks sf starlings, and was rather puzzled by the fact that the birds seemed to concentrate their attention on certain patches, instead of following up in the usual way in the wake of the plough. These spots, it is now noticed, are completely denuded of vegetables, not even a weed or anything green is to be seen, everything being destroyed by the colonies of insects that had somehow gathered together there and had offered such an attraction to the sterlings on the occasion referred to. Our informant calculates the damage which he has suffered from the ravages of the insect at about It is also noticed that the patches of ground where they congregate most are chiefly on the sidelings, where they get the benefit of whatever warmth and sunshine are going. The insects appear to attack the grain just as it is germinating, tunnelling their way through it, and in cutting up and destroying everything before them. The starlings appear to be their only enemies, the sparrows and such small fry, as is their custom, reserving themselves for whatever may survive the attacks of the under-ground pest.