LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 15000, 19 September 1900, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

v .Tho Revs G. Bond mid 0. H. Garland left by steamer on « visit to the up-river ' settlements' yesterday mmnitig. Me George Randal, who U retiiing from' the groqery business, is advertising some special bargains in grocery parcels. The proposal to place in America eighty million minks in German Treasury bonds, has provoked an outbuut of bitter criticism here. The Harbour Board arc calling for ten-der.-j for carting of timber, the advertisement in connection with which will be fqund elsewhere. A Me bourne cable sa-ys that over a million was tendered for the Board of Works, £350,000 three and a half per cent loan. It averaged a, little over £99 2s. • Owing to short supplies and bad prospects of tho American crop, the majority of tho Lancashire cotton mills are closing for a fortnight in October. An Italian named Gustano Longo suicided at Casa'tu, near Naples, nfter murdering his wife and her two alleged lovers and seven other persons. The Wangahui Rugby Union has granted permission to n team of second class p'*ye\.i to play tho Marton Khaki Juniors at Marton on Saturday, . 22nd Septembir. Mr F. Beavis asks us to mention that a new piece of music for piano w«s left on his counter some days ago, and the owner can have it upon application. ' A boy named Charles Flaherty, 15 years of age, had hia right leg smashed by a l.ne on board the launch Moturon at Wellington. The limb was amputated at the Hospital, •mid tbe.boy*is in a very low state. Wo lipnr that a new 'bus company, with up-to-date cars and pant, is about to start in Wanganui. The syndicate is one with money and it is their intention to make Arumoho their headquarters. At the Wellington Supreme Court, J. H. Scott, 32, pleaded guilty to presenting i\ loaded revolver at a constable while drunk. Prisoner was ordered to find sureties of £25 and to. come up for sentence when called on. • . . Mr Chas. Voss, who is at present in Wellington, informs us by telegram that on behalf of the Wanganui Syndicate, he has engaged the fol owing artists for their next pop concerts: — James Driscoll, Lillie Smith, Sheldon, Kindlery, Rose Grenfell, -late of Fuller's. ... A fire occurred at about five o'clock last evening, on the No. 1 Line, about two miles from town, by which tho 9-roomed dwell-ing-house of Mr Charles .Gibson was burned to tlie ground. The fire, which is supposed to have been caused by it defective chimney, started while the family were engaged milkin". Tho Old Age Pensions Bill brought forward in the New South Wales Parliament this week, will provide pensions of 10s weekly to men over 65 years, 5s to women and 15s to a married couple; In the case of persons having property -und giving a sma 1 weekly income, pensions may also be granted. District- ffoardu and Government officials control the outlay. An old age pensioner named W. J. Johnson, who hasbeen 43 years in the colony, p eaded guilty a* the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday, to stealing two £10 notes from b drunken man who flaunted them in his face, and .was admitted to probation, tho Jiidge expressing regret lit seeing an old colonist, with a previously clean re-cord,-in.,tho ■ (dock. • •■-t ■ ■ -• Mr Sinclair's windows afford a rare floral treat at present, being literally ablaze witli daffodils, narcissi and jonquils in all their most beautiful and varied forms. The fact of each variety being distinctly labelled must make it easy for amateurs to jot down llio list of those they intend planting in autumn, and wo believe considerable advantage has already been taken of this privilege.' These exhibits are well timed, while our town is practically en fete, und are certain to attract the notice of both townspeople and visitors during the week. At Maxwelltown last Friday evening a. most enjoyable social was held in connection with "the Wesleyan Church. The Rev. It. Bond presided in his wonted genial manner. Each item on the varied programme was rendered with distinctive merit, yet we cannot refrain from making special mention of the excellent singing of Miss McAlpine, • of Hdiverii-, both of whose songs were cncor.ed ; and of tho pleasing manner in which tho beautiful little Floral Dialogue was rendered by the youpg ladies—Misses Clinton (2), Nicholas, Gojdbury (2), and Huston; whose dresses were tastefully decorated with the flower* they respectively represented. Tho refreshments received, as usual, every attention, but were fully equal to the occasion. ( An .example- of the almost childish credulity of sailors cropped up before the Wellington Benevolent Trustees on Monday. A-young seaman who had been seriously ill with fever, and wa.lkpd with' crutches (reports tho New Zealand Times) applied for his faro to Auckland, as he felt crippled with the cold .of Wel'liny.ton', to which he was unaccustomed. He was' asked if he had any friends in Auckland, and he replied that ho knew somo men there," and he felt .sure they would take him in und look after him. Sis intention was to take the feiry there, and present himself at a married friend' i; lioacc on the North Shore. He was. perfectly confident his friend Mould take him in and look iftter him till he was "well. His faith was remarkable, and his application was granted. An amusing story is going the rounds of the German Press concerning the Empevor William. His Majesty one morning arrived ■ujie'xpsctedly "k the quarters of ■ the list Royal Dia'goons, outside Berlin. The squadrons were only waiting for tlie colonel who was half an hour late for the pa.iade. When he appeared and suw the Kmperor patiently waiting in the middle of the barrack yard, ho endeavoured to make his excuses! but the former, without a. word, signed to him to take his place at the head of the regiment, and to put tho squadron through their manoeuvres. The Kaiser watched them without a Moid, and returned to Berlin, Jeavin'g the colonel a prey to the most lively fears as to the result of his unpmiutniiiity. Tlie suujio iljiji, », )'d\)e }je%e dinner, n Royal courier arrived at. (he barracks) and handed this officer a small packet. Trejnbling from lieatl to foot, the colonel opened tbe mysterious p.ueel fiorn the Kuiscv, uud. djstfim'j'cd;— RB nJanu, cluck,'

One of the names in the list of foreigners in Pekin is that of the Rev. W. H. Murray, ivlio had a remarkable career. The only son of a Glasgow sawiniller, he lo::t his light arm by an accident in the machinery it the age of nine. He became a postman, pluck ly pursuing the study of. Greek nml Hebrew sis he went his rounds, and ultimately reaching his ambition of be'ng-Frnt as a missionary to China. His pity wr.:' especially stirred by the largo number of helpless blind in all the great cities. For their scke ho invented n system of representing the sounds) of the Chinese language by iriscl dots. It wits found that by t"h s means iv blind Chinaman could learn to read in. less than i..ree months, whereas a Chinum'r who can sec takes years to master the ordinary written liinguage^tfor there nre 4000 charactors in Chinese, though only 480 sounds. A well-known Sydney lady had a remarkable experience tho other day. She was going homo in a George Street tram-car, after an nftoinoon's shopping, carrying liei puiss «n:l purchase!), in true female fruition, on her l.:p. Opposite sat a btylishly-dressed man, bearing en his finger nn exceptionally brilliant diamond ring. This fact attracted thu lady's notice by the flashing ot the gem n;i the light fell on its facets. At one of the stopping-places the car was besieged by passengers, and the lady, transfeiring tho purse from her lap to the pocket of a tailor made jacket she was worn-ing, and gathering up her numerous parcels, made room for the newcomers. In the stir the dia-mond-adorned individual crossed over and sat alongside of her. At the next "stop" he got off the tram-car and disappeared. To tlie liwly's surprise she found, when called upon to pay her fare, that her paise was missing, bub a friendly person in the car came to the rescue and settled with the conductor. Judge of the lady's actonishmenfc when, on reaching home, she put her hand in he? pocket and found lying in a corner the large and lustrous diamond worn by the man in the tram-car. 'Upon being shown to a jeweller, the diamond was valued at. £50. Tho police have not yet ho«n advised by the individual of his loss. Sir Edward Levien Samuel, Bart., who succeeded to the t'.tle on the death of his father, tho late Agent-General, was locked up with eleven other jurors at the Darlinghurst Cqurthouse when the news of Sir Saul's death reached Sydney. Sir Edward was cliosen foreman of a jury at the Quarter Sessions on Wednesday last, in a. garroting case. On Wednesday evening the evidence was unfinished, the Court adjourned, but the jury were locked up for the night. On Thursday afternoon the jury retired to consider their verdict, but being unable to r agree, were locked up for the second night. Yesterday morning, no agreement having bsen arti'ved ut, tliey were discharged, and not. till then did tho foreman, know anything about tho death of his father. It will be admitted' that Sir Edward bus commenced bis titled carper under somewhat unique circumslanccs. Edward Lsvien, second son of the late baronet, is a native of Sydney, ;:nd was bom on 28th April, 1368, raid educated afc the Sydney Grammar School. He fldopt€<l the profession of engineer. In 1891 ho married Miss"Ray Cohen, youngest daughter of Mr Abraham Cohen, of HampI stead, and has a son nnd daughter. | A meeting of the Bell Tower Committee war; held last evening, when there were present Mesdames Williamson and Povnall, Rev T. B. Maclean, Messrs F. M. Spurdle, G. Marshall, A. Burnett, Steilman, D. Murray, C. V. Powell, J. P. Watt, and A. Atkins. The resignation oi Dr Connd ly was accepted. The following letter was read from Miss J. A. Burnett— -St. Hill Street, September 18th, 1800. D. Grejg, Esq., Chairmun Bell Tower Committee. Daar Sir,— After having given the vexed question of the site upon which .to erect thp tower to house the bells, further consideration, although I am still of opinion that 'the liiflestroWick- . steed Streets position is the best site to distribute the sound from. Rather than that there should ba unpleasantness, as to the position, which the tower should occupy, I am willing, to a,ccept a site in Cook's Gardens on the crown of the ridge, opposite Maria Place. The tower to be constructed of stone or brick. The beam to carry the. bells to be not\ less than thirty-five foet from the ground level." If your committee agree to my proposals, and the Borough Council raise no objection, then, so soon as your committee, can assure me that the inhabitants of Wanganui are fal ing in with the movement, and that the tower is assured, I will then order the ' bells. But until such time, as I can feel assured, that 'the bells are going, to find a suitable and safe housing. I am sure yon will agree with me that it weuld bo premature to order them.. It should not take a, great while to prove tilted I think that your committee will ngrce upon consideration that the site I suggest .has advantages over the one selected by themselves. It is more central . as " to. position, the prevailing winds -will cany thouSQund more frequently over the populoui parts. It is more conspicuous, and will be seen by all who may come^ip_»W^!n-.' gariui, cither as visitors, b? = *'wh'o'"niay" be attending the sports in the Gardens. Trusting that my" proposals will meet with the approval of your committee. — I remain, your:i very truly. — J. A. Burnett.' It was 1 resolved that the site on Cook's Gardens suggested by Miss J. A. Burrett bo approved by the committee and that- the Borough Council be advised, and asked to sanction its erection on the spot indicated." It was also resolved that Miss Burnett's letter be acknowledged, and that she be thanked for her conciliator y action.