Local and General

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11744, 22 September 1902, Page 4

Local and General

S rnow fell in the district around Manga weka yesterday_moming.

The Supreme Court sittings commence this morning before his Honor Judge Edwards.

The postponed meeting at the Westmere School in connection with the Bible "in Schools question will be held to-night.

The last meeting for this session of the Christ Church Club Debating Society will be helld in the Schoolroom on Thursday evening next at 8 o'clock. This meeting will be open to the public, admission free.

Mi* Walter Impett will give an organ recital in St. Paul's Church on Thursday evening at. 7.30. The chcir will sing two anthems, and sacred solos will alsoi be rendered.

The North Island Brass Band1 Association is petitioning the House through Mr. Wilford for an annual subsidy towards the expenses of holding brass band cantesta in the various centres.

Consequent on the boisterous weather on Friday last, the Pinafore Dance at the Aramoho Tea Gar-dens was deferred till tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. As these dances at tho Aramoho Tea Gardens have gained great popularity, a big attendance U anticipated.*

The weather for the past two days has been the worst' experienced for some time. The heavy rain has had the effect of creating a big fresh in the river, which is s'evcraf feet above its usual height. The wind has been specially severe in thei out-districts^ but beyond damage to young crops1, nothing' serious is reported.

.juite a sensation was caused at the Railway Hotel yesterday morning. For some days one of the boarders, so 'tis said, has been behaving in a peculiar manner, and yesterday morning he gave unmistakeable signs of mentall derangement, and attacked Mi1 Hartshorn, the proprietor of the hotel. In the scuffle Mr Hartshorn was somewhat severely handled, but eventually he released himselit'. His assailant then went to his room and locked himself in. The police were communicated with, and on arrival demanded admittance to the man's room. He. however, would not open the door, and informed the police that he was "letting hip blood out." Sergeant Norwood and Detective Bishop burst the door open and were met by the man, who was armed with an ink-bottle. He was unsuccessful in hip attempt to "break the policeman's head," and was, after a hard struggle, secured and taken to the lock-ui*. The inaii had made a bonfire in the middle of his room, having used a bundle of paper for the purpose. The unfortunate man, wlio is only aibout 30 yeara of age>, comes from Wellington, where he is well connected.

Samuel Dickey, a contractor, residing at Whangarei, dropped' dead while having his tea on Friday evening.

A magnificent suite of diamond, pearl, and emerald jewels, valued at £10,000, was the other day completed by ft Sydney firm of jewelleiw to the order ot a Sydney lady.

Farmers are complaining (writes the Timami "Post") of the slow growth both of grass and crcjps this springl, which is attributed to the severe late frosts. There is very little grass bo far, and as a consequence lambs are not doing: nearly so well as they otherwise would.

According to the Antwerp correspondent of the London "Express," a Belgian officer just returned from the Cbegio Free State, reports that: in the caverns of the Uelle River there a species of octopus that presents a grave danger to all who navigate the river in small boats. The strange beasjbs are caJted "megwe" by tihe natives, and a-re very numerous in the neighbourhood of the station of the Amad'is owing to the number ai caves and rocks in that region. They attack the native canoes, capsizing them easily with their tentacles and, .according to their state of hunger, seizing one or twa mien. The octopus drags his human ;prey to hia cavern.', and1 there without inflicting the slightest external wound feeds on his victim's brains by inserting- the points of his tentacles in his nostrils. He generally keeps liis prey fifteen hours, then lets the body float out on, the river. "I waa aoi eye witness to a* disaster of this kind," says the Belgian. "A canoe was capsized in the river, and one of the three occupants disappeared. When the survivors swam ashore they told u& that an octopus had turned their boat over and carried off tibeir companion. The next morning 'about nine o'clock the body was found floating, and no trace of any wound could be found, while the only abnormal appearance was the swollen state oi the nostrils. On examination it; was found that tlhe brains had been extracted. The natives of the Uelle all dread the 'megwe,' while those of the ItSmbri knew northing of its existence."

Lovena of historic landmarks throughout the worM have been aroused to vigorous protest against the proposed levelling of the famous "Shakesjptftare's Cliff' at Dover, and will be correispondingly relieved to hear (says a London paper) that, after all, it is not likely to be meddled with. According to the Deputy Mayor of Dover, the Rational Harbour contractors coveted it for -its chalk, to be used for reclamation purposes. The town clerk, Sir William Knoekes, however, stated that it interfered with the range of a baittery of heavy guns, and the War Office, therefore, proposed to dismantle it. A resolution of remonstrance was, therefore, sent to the proper authorities by the Dover Council against any interference' with the ancient cliff, and on Thursday it wasi staed that tihe South-Eastern and Chatham railway, who own the land, declined to Sanction its removal. To take Shakespeare's Cliff from Dover would bej to rob tihe historic ipprt of one of its greatest scenio attractions as well as to destroy a link with the past that enablesi one to personally realise the force of Skakespeane's fine description ml "King Lear." When that was written the cliff was, undoubtedly higher than it is now—namely, 300 feet. It has suffered from various landslips, notably in November, 1819, and January, 1855, which considerably lowered it, while the erosion of weather is always taking place*, ©lindi Gloucester and poor mad Lear are but poetic phantoms, but their figures are for ever associated with the great chalk hill that, with the hoary castle rising beyond, makes on© of the most diking pictures on the British coast.

The Sydney "Commercial News" states that "The Australian" of April 1, 1831, contains the following notice:—The ceremony of launching the historic vessel Sur-' prise took place in the month of March. Samuel Bennett, in the alleged "Heaton's Dictionary of Dates," gives the following entries : —The Surprise was the first steamer ever run in the colony, and was introduced by Mr Henry G. Smith, a director of the 'Commercial' Bank of Sydney in London. She was pljaced on the Parramatta River trade. (After an unsuccessful and short career the Surprise was sent to Hobart Town.) March 31. 1831. ■ "The first steamer arrived froni England, Sophia Jane, 256 tons burden. 50-horse power; was brought out to Sydney by Lieutenant Biddulph, of the Royal Navy, who was part owner. (She plied* between Sydney ,and Newcastle.) May 16, 1831." "The colonial steam t>ocket William IV., launched at the Williams River. She was built by J. H. Gros, Oct. 22, 1831." "The James Watt first steamer in Hobson's Bay from Sydney. July 4, 1837." "The Fairy Queen, 'first steam vessel built in the province of Port Philip (to> the order of, Mr Manton). launched at Melbourne, April 3, 1841. "Steam communication between Brisbane and Sydney esablished, Jan 26, 1842." "H.M. war 'steamer Diver, 4 guns, arrived in Sjydney from Hong Kong, being the first vessel of this character seen in the colonies. Jan. 7, 1846." "The Great Britain, steamship, first anchored in Port Jackson. She was the largest vessel then afloat, her burden being 3500 tons, Nov. 20, 1852." "The Spjtfim the first gunboat built in Sydney, New South. Wales, launched in 1851." "First steamer arrived in Otago. New Zealand, August 21, 1858." "Two Imperial gunboats launched in Sydney for suppression of the island slave tirade. Nov. 29, 1872." The first iron vessel ever built in Melbourne, Victoria, launched from the yards of Foreman and Co. Dec. 5, 1874." (She Mas a steam yacht of 50 tons, 60 horse-power, length 72ft.) All these items appeared under the heading of "Shipping."

A private letter received at Ho-bart from Sydney states that poor people there- are in soie straits. Many families have left off purchasing meat and butter, the prices being prohibitive to small wa^e earners. Potatoes are retailed at 8 lbs. for Is., equal to £10' per ton. Thdsi is more than double current wholesale quotations.

. The Government were asked by Mr. Atkinson in the House on Tuesday last whether it intended to grant special facilities for the sale of liquor by the holders of packet licenses within the prohibited area on the Wanganui River. The Minister for Justice said he had heard of it, and Mr. AtkhtfJon knew that application had "been#madie to him to interfere in it. He had'steadfastly refused to intrefere in any case where the law provided a imeans of dealing with iit. The Government had heard' about the matter, but had come to no decision in regard tor it. Even if the Government injfcended to consider the question, it would be a most unreasonable thing for him to indicate what the decision, should be if a decision was to be arrived ast.

For some time past directors of European museums and owners of private collections have been rejoicing in the acquisition of various curiosities of the Roman and early Christian periodis, wrought in amber. Dissertations have been delivered, and articles-written to show how expert the old workers in this fpirecioue substance have proved themselves in recent "discoveries." Some of the persons who vouched for the expertness will now feel foolish, and there will be an overhauling of many cabinets, for inftyrination comes from Vienna that the majority of the beautiful curiosities are the work of tlha ingenious modern Greek. Tin the Vienna Museum ia small and mudi valued amber statuette, composed of many sections, supposed to be Rfcwnam, has been found to be made of pieces of old cigarholders. There can be no doubt about it, for close scrutiny has disclosed the traces of tobacco, and tihe Romans did not smoke. Other curiosities have been foundl to have a like origin, and tihere is trouble m the ranks of collectors.

According1 to the Vienna correspondent of the Londlon "Express," Count Tolstoi has sent an opera fetter to the Russian Government denouncing in unmeasured terms the cowardice of the Russian authorities in persecuting those who read his books and follow his precqpitis and in leading him in freedom. "Your policy," he says to the Russian Givernmenit, is utterly futile, brutal, unjust, and savagely cruel. If you want to prevent tine spread of ideas which you deem injurious, then imprison or banish me, but cease the persecute those who are, as you consider, misled by me." Tolstoi proceeds to say that he is not darmcr the Government to touch him, becaxtse he knows they ai*e afraid-ta do so, for he fc pexwiaded' that whatever punishment .may be meted to him Russian public opinion will support, him. Tolstoi concludes with an emphatic declaration that he will continue his campaign against the Russian Government! till Ms last breath. The "Arbitter Zeitung ?> learns that the Russian: Minister of th« Interior urged the immediate arrest of Tolstoi for writing the letter, but his colleagues overruled his proposal.

Saying farewell at Sydney on the last night of the season there, Mr. Robert Brough remarked: "On previous occasions I have always been able to announce our return on some future date, but to-night I must deny myself that pleasure, for the curtain has now fallen finally on us as artiste. Some 17 years have.elapsed since we first came before you. . . We

hare never spared ourselves nor our resources, and we can only hope that we have been successful in obtaining a place in your memories. (Cheers.) Of our work I have nothing more to say save to take t/his public cjppootunilty to acknowledge the assistance given me by my dear wife. (Cheers.) Cheerfully arid, unselfishly, afall times, she has dievoted herself to her art and to my interests. Without her I should never have achieved anything. No man ever had; a more loyal helpmate. (Cheers.) The decision to- break with old associations has been a very great wrench) to us, and has not been arrived at without mature dfeliberationi, far it means a severance from much that we love. We have had our s&are of fortune, but through it all, the good and ill, we have toad a friendship, that we shall never forget. To all our friends, private and public, we tender ouir lasting gratitude. The labour, hopes, and ambitions of years are aver, and for us, as far as Australia is: concerned, 'La comedia c findta.' . . . We may meet again our private friends, and we hope that joy is res,'errv«d tfc> us," Mr. Brough (almost broke down here; Mrs. Brough quii£e so. The former added a few more words, commended' his brother theatrical managers' and! their efforts, spoke of the warm affection of Australians, and then bade tihemi all goodi night.

In a private letter to the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr. Wafter Hiislojpi, who is at present in England, emphasises the great importance of public reserves to the city. He says: "Nothing has struck h» during my travels more than the immense benefits the possession of ample breathing spaces are to the inhabitants oi! both larger and smaller cities, . , . It is a sight in the evenings) and on Sundays tv see Iflie hundreds and' thousands of men, women, ;aad children, who leave the hot, sweltering houses and streets and find their way to the many public parks, and there breathe air which is rio* so pure as Dbafc to be had on our owm Towm Belt, but still an immense improvement on that within the city -walls. There, too*, there is the greatest! freedom —no stand-off-the-grass business, and everything has been dona for the comforti of those frequenting these places. . . . We have much to be thankful for to the founders) of our province, and city -esjpjeoiailly, for that grand heritage —'the Town Belt, dad. in many places in its native bush. I do not 'think you can improtve it, but there are many parts that might, with the judicious expenditure of a few pounds, be made real beauty spots, and' I hope the citizens will not allow a yard of it Ifo be taken from them for" amy purpose whatever." Bearing out Mr. Hislop's viewsi, the City Council had before it recently offers from Mr. P. Duncan and Mr. B. Hudson, whose residences adjouybhe Belt, to maintain an acre or so in the vicinity at their own expense provided!-permission was given. This good example, if carried out under conditions safeguarding the interests of the public, might well be emulated by others.