LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11277, 26 May 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Two shocks of earthquake were felt here yesterday morning, the first, a very light one, occurring at about half-past 3, and the second a few minutes after 4 ' o'clock. ] Mr Arthur Griosbach, who recently executed a very creditable , picture of ' Montrose (the winner of the double yester- ! day), has received a commission to paint ' a picture of Somnus, the crack sire of the j colony. , , . I We noticed that several of the Volunteers came late both to the church parade and the parade on Monday morning. This is very bad form, and should be discouraged —those unfortunates who suffer 'from a constitutional inability to keep any appointment at the right time have no business in.,, volunteer companies. We have been asked .to draw attention to the badmannersof some of thefrequen- | ters of the Public Library reading-room who persist in carrying on conversations in a loud tone of voice, to the great annoyance of those who wish to use the room for its legitimate purpose. • ■ A football match took place on Satnrday last between the Parakino native team arid the Turakina Club, resulting in a win for the latter by 10 points to f>. Wi Pere was the scorer for the losers, potting a goal and gaining a try. The play was rough, and Glasgow, tho captain of the Turakina team, sustained a nasty cut on the head.

The Stormbird arrived from Wellington on Sunday, at about 930 a.m. Her trip was a very rough one, and' eh c was obliged to take shelter under Kapiti Island. Nothing 1 was seen by those on board of her of the ill-fated 'fishing boat, which, as will be Been from a paragraph elsewhere, has been found on the Wangaehu beach.

A meeting of all those desirous of forming an amateur athletic club will be held at the Victoria Hotel on Wednesday next. All intending members should try and attend or send in their names, as if they omit to be enrolled' at the first meetiug they will have to abstain from taking part in professional meetings foi two years before they can qualify.

Mr W. Taylor, of Bell.street, met with an accident yesterday evening, resulting in a dislocation and fracture of the ankle. We have been unable to learn any partioulars, but we believp the mishap occurred on .the way back from the races. Dr Tripe was called, in' and. did what he could, but he states that it will probably be- some time before Mr Taylor ia able to get about again. The drawing in the art -union for Sir Walter Boiler's "Book of New Zealand Birds " took place at the Public Library, in the presence of several of the Directors,' on Saturday evening. Mr R. J. Fenh and Mr Rodwell superintended the drawing. The number of tickets put into the box was 160, and the 94th drawn took the; prizes. The winning number is 83, the purchaser of which is Mr Henry Sergeant, of Fordell.

Those who witnessed the DobsonKennedy' Company ■ last night in . the " Shaughraun," would, perhaps, never have imagined that Mr Kennedy, the gay, light-hearted, "Con," was suffering from a severe illness. Such, however, was the case. Dr Tripe being in close attendance all the ■ evening. It was, however, only his pluck, determination, and nerve that carried the genuine comedian through his arduous task, Mr Kennedy being determined n'bt to disappoint the numerous patrons who' assembled to witness his .performance.

- As will be seen by advertisement, Mr Walcot, the inventor of the emery, file 'Sharpening' stone, intends to hold a sale near the fountain to-day. We understand that Mr Walcot was very successful at New Plymouth, selling every stone he had, and even clearing off. a numbar of damaged ones at half price. We have been shown one of the stones, which appears to bea very serviceable article. It fs made rough on one side for use on wood, copper, and other comparatively soft materials, or as a rasp for horses hoofs, &c, while the other side is for ordinary sharpening purposes, and the ends can be used for cutting glass.

A funny story has just been published of Edison. The report was recently circulated that he . invedted a wouderous shirt. It consisted of thin pieces of gelatine, each piece to be taken, off when soiled, and one shirt was guaranteed to last a year. Tho story after circulating in many places, at last found its way to Brazil. "The gullibility of the south American may be appreciated/ said Mr Edison, in a recent interview, " when it is known that soon after the" shirt story met their eyes, the Brazilians began to send me drafts and cheques for. shirts. An idiotic diamond dealer sent me a draft for £100 on the Bank of England. He wrote that he didn't know how much the shirts were, but ha did not think they ought to cost over jeiOO apiece."

On Saturday evening, afc about halfpast eight o'clock, a column of smoke was observed to be rising from the premises occupied by Mr Ferry, tobacconist. The crowd which ivaa collected in Ridgwaystreet at the time at once jumped to the conclusion that the house was on fire, and a "cheap jack" who was vending his wares opposite the Chronicle office fouad himself almost deserted in favour of this new attraction. The Fire Brigade came to the rescue of ;their captain with commendable promptness, but it turned out to be a false alarm, caused seemingly by a smoky chimney; so the brigade re> turned to the station and the crowd to the. cheap jack, who, however, was soon afterwards " dispersed " (not in the Australian, sense) by the police. The Dobson -Kennedy Company played tho " Shaughraun '' last night to a crowded house, standing room not being obtainable in any part of the house long before the curtain rose j and the continuous rounds of applause that greeted the performers showed that the different items were thoroughly appreciated. Mr Kennedy, as " Conn the Shaughraun," the life of every funeral a.d the soul of every wake, was a host in himself, and carried the house with him from the rise of the curtain to where he asked the audience to go bai' for him, which there was no mistaking their willingness to do. The performance of this drama was so fully reported on its last production in Wanganui that it is not necessary for us to go into details on the present occasion ; a few particulars as to " Little Lord Fauntleroy," which will be found elsewhere, will probably be of more interest to our readers.

Owing to Monday being a public holiday, Mr Walcot, the inventor of the Gold Medal Emery File Sharpening Stone, not being able to obtain his goods from the Stormbird, will sell this day (Tuesday) until 4 p.m., near the Fountain.— Advt.

Some three months "ago Mr "'Samuel Garforth sent a ram and ewe -from his Southdown flock to Rio de Janeiro. Sogreatly were the sheep .appreciated that a farther order for 'five sheep was received', and these— three ewes and two, rams — ■■warese'nt by-tbe b.s. , Ruapehu, leaving,, here on Saturday last.— Chrißtchurch . Telegraph.

Writes a London correspondent : -" Mr Rudyard Kipling has been expressing himself with dissatisfaction about America and it has been resented by the press of that country with characteristic in - dignation. 'We- must bo backed up,' said Mr Hamilton Challop; 'wo &vi a model to the earth, .and may just^bo cracked up, or they rises and w^e s?n,arls. We shows our teeth, I tell yoVffletce/ This attempt, it appears, is stil^fein%d by certain journals. A New YorJcTgMM: thus expressed itself as regards Mr 3Sip' ling: — 'He came into this country throaj|bj the back door like a scullion, and wei9t| out u'nbbsorved as if he had wiped his boots upon the hostess's curtains A Rajpootana stripling, who useeT't'bV' Queen's English with a gargle, thinks it necessary to put on the airs of . a London swell- when he comes to measure the impact of a people with a continent.' Yet there are people who assure that Martin Chuzzlewith was a caricature."

The -Geraldine correspondent- of the Christchorch Telegraph writes :-r-An interesting case is likely to arise out of the recent-licensing election for the (geraldine district. It 'is asserted that one, of the scrutineers for the ..moderate, "party, gathering from the first tally of the votes-that-his party. had won;, the election, rushed out of the polling liooth, and communicated the fact to the public waiting outside. Clause 43 of. the Regulation of Local Elections Act,' I^76,. provides that any person, other than Returning Officer, giving or pretending' to :giv&vany' information regarding j.tbe> state t- of the poll before its declaration by the Returning Officer is liable ttf 'a~ maximum penalty of .£SO. The \prohibitlon 1 party, fefling aggrieved by the bearing of the gentleman .referred to, have put the law in motion- with a view- to checking any irregularities at future elections.

St Nicholas' Magazine records that there is in Oregon a most extraordinary horse that rejoices in the possesion of the longest f oretop, mane, and tail in the world. He was born about seven years ago in the state of Oregon, and when 4 years old his thane and tail grew so rapidly — often as mush as 3 inches a- month —that in three years they reached theft present astonishing growth. His tail is now 9ft long, his foretop is 54ffc lone 1 , while his mane measures exactly 7ft 10 inches. Linus as he is called, is perfectly formed, and weighs about 1400 lb.' His " body colour "is a glossy golden chestnut : he has white hind feet and a white face, and his mane, tail, and foretop - are of a soft flaxen colour. His hairj which is done up when he is not receiving visitors, continues to grow, though now very slowly. Aside from his remarkable hair, Linus is certainly a beautiful animal. He is proud, carries his head, high; and enjoys admiration with all the intelligence and pride of his race.

The Melbourne Telegraph of May 2nd has the following :*-Testerday, . after much, tiresome negotiation and much vexatious delay, the reduced rates . for cable messages between Australia and Europe came into., operation. As anticipated, the first day has shown an enormous increase of business. We ate in a position to state that the cables lodged in the Melboune bffice'ahow ..aiuincrease o£ over 100 per cent. ; Tb^cfel^djLj,however, be accepted as a.iriterionSf what the actual increase, will amount to, as it in the knowledgejif the f«legrj»ph officials that many -Bonders have J>eea! holding their messages foV & few days'iif order lo secure theT6<3uce<rrate, and some' little time mustnebofisSrily. elapse beforp',,»ny definite returns .showing the result of the change ofrate'ean "be given. The increase of business transacted at the Sydney office is. even more "marked,,. On 30tL April only about a _db?en messages dispatched, whilst ye^te^day. number amounted to over 2000',,, v

A remarkable incidents-occurred at Oporto on 12th March in connection with the court marhal held, on ' the prisoners charged with being 'implicated in the recent -vevotutiontwy^ittOTeak'. In order to avoid all . risk of; -demonstrations, to whick tho trial, of th«~;rebels in. the actual centre of diaaffeetioipiiiight give rise, the court martial was held on board the corvette Bartholomew, which, with two other warships, has been, stationed in the roadstead. On the date-mentioned- a -itexvy \ gale was blowing/ and the Bartholomeu . Dias dragged her anchors soon af ter;th.e i court had begun ttse-day's proceedings. Her captain found ft-uaeless to endeavour to. make headway 'ag^cst the wind, and judged it more prndedt under the circumstances to sh»fie, his' conree for the open sea, so thatttje^' corvette," with- the military judges^ prisoners, anjjj witnesses on board, was sdonf-.flt&wning but of sight of land. The vosseris believed to have sustained some slight tiaraage in the gale.

From a neatly compiled book of information for paesengets, published by the Sbair, SariJle, and Albion Shipping Company, we glean, the following particulars which may be of interest, to at any rate, those who contemplate taking a trip to the Old Country. The fleet consists of the following . Steamers— the Arawa, Coptic, Doric, lonic, and Tainui, of which the first and last mentioned are 6000 horse.power, whilst the other three are of 3000 each. Tho steamers are fitted throughout with the electric light and electric belts, and afford convenience and comfort, which were impossible under the old system. All the first saloons are fitted with complete libraries, ond on tho day of departure from Plymouth,, a plentiful supply of the latest newspapers, journals, and periodicals, is put on board for the use of the' passengers during the voyage. Those who are fond of music will find ample provision for the enjoyment of this art, as on each of the fleet of tho Company there is a piano in both, tho first and second saloons, and in the case of the steamers. Arawa and Tainui, organs are also provided. In the living on board these floating houses will perhaps be found the greatest change from the state of things existing before the refrigerating process had been employed. Where a few' years ago nothing was put on the table but junkaof salt meat, &c, a passenger by the Shaw, Savill line of steamers has at the present day a bill of fare to choose from that would equal tfcat of any of the best hotels in the world. The vessels on the voyage from Home to the colony all go via. the Cape of Good Hope, which besides being shorter has a great advantage over the Suez Canal route, in that it avoids the scorching heat and many discomforts of the Bed Sea. The total time occupied on the outward voyage is usually from 43 to 44 days from the date of departure from Plymouth. The principal port of call on the homeward route is ltio, where passengers are afforded ample opportunity of seeing the magnificent harbour and tho wonderful botanical gardens-, and obtaining a glimpse of South American life. Tho single passenger fares from New Zealand by the line are as follows: — First class, 70' and 60 guineas; second class, 40 snd'3s guineas j and third class, 20 and 18 guineas ; whilst return tickets available for nine and twelve months respectively from date of departure to date of arrival, are issued at the following rates— .£ 105" and .£lls (adult), first saloon t- JZQS' for second saloon j and third class, .£32, £36, and .£4O, according to berths. These latter are available for twelve months.., The next Shaw, Saville liner leaving New Zealand for London will be the Tainui (Captain B. J. Evan3) which sails on Thursday, the 28th inst.