LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12364, 2 December 1904, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr. Paul Kruger's remains have arrived at Capetown.

Twenty-four Chine4§e entered the colony during October.

The Oamaru Harbour Board loan of £10,000 was floated yesterday from par to 5s 6d premium.

Mr. D. E. Hut-ton has been appointed judge of the art classes at the New Plymouth Exhibition.

H. Hawkins, a Hawke's Bay shearer at present engaged 'at- the Brancepeth sheds, Wairarapa, puts through, about 200 sheep a diay

To-day is the 99th anniversary of Aasterlitz, when Napoleon decisively defeated the allied armies of Austria and Russia.

Lord Brassey .will represent the Commonwealth on the Pacific Cable Board 'during Sir Horace Tomer's absence in Australia. '."..-. ■:'

The annual meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union will be held in St. Paul's Classroom on Friday at 3 o'clock. All interested are cordially invited.

Professor Rutherford, of McGill University, Montreal, who was born in Nelson in 1871, andewas recently awarded the Rumford medal for researches in radio activity, is about to visit New Zealand to see his relatives.

Mr. F. H. Haselden, who formerly represented Patea in th© House of Representatives, returned from Capetown on Thursday evening by the steamer Ayrshire. He is accompanied by Mrs. Haselden.

The excavations at the site of th.Gr reservoir in corineotion with the new water scheme for Feilding are now completed, and the contract for concreting it is under way. A start will be m'adeshbrtly with the tunnelling between the intake and the reservoir. *

The Wellington , College Governors were occupied this morning for some •time discussing the question of the admission of primary school free scholars to Wellington College. ' The majority of the Board held they were unable to comply with the Act, 'as the funds would not permit,of-such being done. It was; decided to again allow 'the matter to stand over.

Honoiiary members and patrons of the Liedertafel will be glad ,to 'hear that the society is producing "The Efesert" at-their concert next Wednesday. Both chorus and orchestra- has been practising lassidiously during the last thi'ee months, and an excellent performance of David's symphonic ode should 'result. In view of some complaints as to nondelivery of tickets in the. pa^t, ary members who have riot already received them should communicate with Mr. J. D. W. Mcßeth, the hon. secretary.

A deputation from the "Wellington Harbour Board urged the Minister of Customs yesterday to increase the number of Customs officials on the wharves, so as to oopa with the rapidly increasing volume of goods. A statement laid before the Minister, showed that in the past ten years there had been an increase in the value of imports into Wel-» Jington of 130 per cent., and that during that period the Customs revenue had increased by 93 per .cent v and that the cost of collection had only increased 0.3G per cent. ■ The Minister promised to see what he coiila dp tq r -meet the position.

Major Alexander, \in a letter to a friend in Auckland, says Lord and Lady Ranfurly and the family were fairly well when he wrote, but Lady Rnnfudy had had a veny bad illness some time previously. The Earl tand Lady Eileen had (held an afternoon exhibition of Maori curios, <and it had been noticed in the "Times" as very interesting. Tile Major says that the whole family wished they were back in the colony, and he; himself would not be sorry to be back in Maoriland. The Earl was entertained at a hug© banquet by the people of Ulster on November 4th. Since the Major wrote this letter he has (had tfche order of CM.G. conferred on him.

j...,Abputfehhreethousand tons of coal per axe being supplied from the State •cpalrmines'- for' the New Zealand railways^ T^ excess of what as required for immediate use, but in view of the fact that the holidays are ■approaching,- when the railway traffic becomes heaviest iat a period when the mines 'are closed for a. fortnight, it. .is 'necessary;to store.'a large reserve stocky The railways .are being: •;supplied from the•-.PointiElizabebh v mine, but it is stat^ ed that the- Seddonvilie mine is , now.;: beginning to send out. coal of a less, .friable. character than before^ and in that. ; pa£e it is possible that .Seddonville ooal- may < be used more ifreely than at present on the railways.—'N.Z. Times. * < ■ ■ . " . ...

Referring to the death of Mr. Joseph Gollyer,. an early settler of South Westland, the "Hokitika Guardian" says that he was .a .fine old English gentleman, and a native of London, 'and was ■in his 76th year. He was a Blue Coat School boy in his youth, and was rather proud of his association with the historical institution. He was a very early arrival in West-land, and in his pi-ime took a prominent part in its political welfare, being a member of different bodies, including the Westland County Council, to which body he was returned for the Jackson Bay Riding in 1877. As Government officer, philosopher, and friend, he wjas a vei'y notable figure in South..Westland.■'■ His generosity was limited only by his means, and no one ever 'appealed to him in vain. Mr. Collyer held a Commission of the Peace, an honour ihe well deserved.

About thirty residents of Eketahuna 'have offered to subscribe a (shilling a week each towards securing the services of a night-watchman. In'addition to. their potatoes, Auckland agriculturalists 'have trouble with their bean crops, which are being attacked by a fungoid growth somewhat similar to that causing the potato disease.

Yesterday's sailing race was postponed owing to lack of wind, to Thursday, Dec. loth. The -committee of the Sailing Club •have decided that -all boats nominated for yesterday's race will be eligible to start in the sail-off.

A Weasel visited the poultry yard of Sirs. Simeon, proprietress of the Troca dero,- Gisborne, and played havoc with a largo number of young chickens and ducklings just out of the incubator. Over" sixty were found dead next morning. '

The .answer-work of the recent series of University of New Zealand.examinations for degrees, :honours, scholarships. etc., was forwarded to England by the Tongariro* on Thursday last in fiftyseven parcels, weighing in the aggregate* between four and-five cwt. Tile cabled results may be expected about the 20th February. "

In connection with the Agricultural Association, the cattle stewards met on .Wednesday and drew up a report on the b recent show to be laid before the next * meeting of the General Committee.- The horse stewards also met and adjourned till Saturday, after discussing the report to be prepared. The Ladies' Committee rwill meet on Saturday afternoon. Persons requiring investments for their money •■which, are most promising to give good and immediate profit,, sliould communicate with Messrs. Larsen and Co., land agents, Damievirke. That town iand district, as is well known, is in a very prosperous state, and gives speculators and investors some of the most gratifying returns for their money

—see advertisement

A pleasing little function took place at the Technical School last evening, * when Mass Clelia Burton, who has for the past eighteen months occupied the position of assistant in the Art Department, and who has just resigned, was presented by her pupils with a handsome silver-mounted dressing "case. Mr. Hutton made a pleiasing speech, after which lie called upon Master Banna to make the pnesentation. Mrs. Burton suitably replied.

At a meeting of the Shooting Committee" at the Irish Rifles held last night it was resolved to fire the return match •with, the Wairoa Mounted Rifles on Saturday, the 17th, the following go in to practice, first practice on Saturday, the 3rd:.Capt. Swan, Lieut. Slipper, Sergts. Purnell, Langham, ,Lce.-Sei-gt A. Purmell, Lce.-Gorpl. McCulloch,- Vols. McFloridi, Murray, Provost, McCulloch,. F. MeCul'loch, G. James, Symons, Hon. member, ■Segrt. 'Major Peacock. Matches are also 'being arranged with the following corps •.—'Wellington City Rifles,. Zealandia Rifles, and Garrison Artillery (Wellington), on the 27th at. Wanganui. Ammunition may 'be : prociired from Capt. Swam at the Swan Brewery.

A Tokomairiro farmer, who is on a visit to the Old Country, writes from the Isle of Man, describing the English methods of farming. They still plough with, the swing plough/ he says, with two horses yoked tandem,; one man driving, while .ainother holds the plough. They still cut their crop with the back deliveries. ' Sheep, he Says, 'are selling at 35s to 45s per head,."cows' from £16 to £20, and horses at the same price as in New Zealand. If the farmers in the Old Country were ifoo adopt the same methods as in New Zealand, they would <lo better than their colleagues in the colonies, as oats are never below 2s 3d per bushel, and wheat 4s per bushel.

Stowaways sometimes have very unpleasant experiences There was one on board the .mail steamer Ventura/ which lefti Auckland for San Francisco on. Friday last. His'presence was discovered on board the steamer shortly after she had rounded the North Head, and Capftain 0. 0 .Herriman immediately stopped the- vessel and sent the . stowaway ashore atTßangitoto. The Harbour Board's big'dredger was in the vicinity a,fc the time, but her captain, beyond seeing the inaii steamer stop, noticed nothing unusual. Passing the island again on Saturday .afternoon, however, the master of the dredge stood close in on the off-chance of ascertaining whether there was anything connected with the stopping of the Ventura the day before. A man was then seen waving from the beach, and a boat was sent to his assistance. He .was taken on board the dredger and' conveyed to town. He stated tlhat he was left on the is'iand with nothing to eat; or drink, and that •he tramped about throughout the night, suffering terribly from exposure and the want of food and drink. He searched incessantily, but failed to find water. Throughout Saturday he was perturbed with'the misgiving that he would have iio spend another" night on the island, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, just as he was beginning to despair of attract'ng the attention of passing boats, the dredger's crew found him and bestowed every care and attention on him, eventually landing him on the Auckland wharf. .

The Reviews of Reviews for November 13 y a, good number. An article which will ■be read with much interest is that on "The Trades Hall," which may be looked upon as an official statement of the .aims of the Labour Party in Australia. A good deal of speculation is often indulged in 'as to -what its methods really iare. This article gives a correct statement of the waiy in 'which the Party is ■governed. It is written by Senator Pearce, of Western Australia. Other matters of local interest- that'.-are x dealt with'are the Horn O;: Swinburne's Irrigation Schemes for Victoria, and. the forysnard step taken ■by the Melbourne University ■with : regard to Commercial Education, -a fetep which may lead : to yety far-reaching results in advanced commercial education. The Character Sketch is even more than usually racy <and crisp. It deals with one of the coming men in the British Parliament. Mr. Lloyd' George, M.P., the1 "Welsh Chieftain." ; The Book of the Month is an able review of Marie Corelli's new novel, "God's Good Man." Mr. Stead discusses the reason of the authoress's great popularity, and considers that it is the touch of human nature which is in all her books, despite their "overdone extravagance and unrestrained verbosity." He adds that a combination of fervent devotion with a large quantum of spite, malice, and all uncharitableness •contributes-not a little, to her popularity. A full description is givon of the methods whereby an : American scientist, Dr. Moore, inoculates the soil with nitrogenous bacteria, thereby vastly increasing its • productivity. The usual features are as informing and interesting as ever. Special attention is devoted to book reviews and to tures collected from papers the^ world over.

' It is said there are 15,000 bicycles" in Christchurch.

The latest acldition to the Telephone Exchange is No. 367, Aramoho Hotel (H. P. Littlewood), Aramoho.

The duties collectod by the local Customs -last' month amounted to £5904 19s. 9d., asagaiasb £6104 3s. 9d. for the corresponding month, last year. . .

It is ■ expected that the protective work at ShakespoarQ Cliff will be. commenced within the next three or four weeks'. The Mataongaonga Road Board's loan debentures are,1 wo understand, being oagarly taken up.

Shareholders are reminded that the annual meeting of the Wangaiiui Peoples' Building Society,.takes place at 8 o'clock to-night in Willis's Hall. After the close of ordinary business three appropriations of £150 each will be drawn.

The local, paper at Collingwood &a>ys that in the recent fire not one of over a dozen "fireproof" safes" resisted the effects of the heat. Documents contained in them in every case were roasted to cinders, and. were rendered absolutely worthless, and in one case some loose gold lying in a recess of one of the safes had actually run into a solid mass.

About six. months ago a seal swam into Puponga-jharbour, in the ' Nelson province, and has remained there ever since. Men engaged in working at the wharf have made a pet of the* animal, and it will submit to ba stroked. Every day at high water it scrambles1 up .on the deck of a stranded scow to sun itseLf.

Mr. E. Tingay evidently has not much hope for some painters when they have shuffled off this mortar coil. During the recent sitting of the Arbitration Court he was giving evidence as to the., difference bet-ween the lability of employees. '' Some men can do any kind of work they are put to," be said, "but if I asked some to tint a gentleman's drawing- room, they could not do it. I might just as well ask them to go to heaven.".

Tha rainfall at Wanganui for the month" of November, 1904, amounted to 2.49 inches, rain falling on 16 days of the month. The. greatest fall in 24 hours-was 0.44 inches on the 13th. The amounts registered on the days on which rain fell were as follow :—November '1, .22in;3rd, .06in; 4th, .07in; sth, .2oin ; 6th, .Olin; Bth, 03iu; 9th; llin; 10th, 04in; 13th, 44in; 14th, .30in; 15th, .llin; 16th 19th, .30in; 20th., .12in; 215t,.32in; 23rd, .Olin; total, 2.49 in.

J. A. J. Meredyth, 'a Hobart cabman, has received official information that his cousin {Captain Sir Edward Henry John Meredyth) having died, he now succeeds to the baronetcy, being the eleventh hi succession. He visited England in 1899 to prove his pedigree, but the succession was not admitted by the baronet now deceased. All doubts, ■ however, have now been removed. The position carries an.income of about £400 yearly, and'a residence -at'"the Royal Foundation, Windsor Castle.

After the jury in a Texas case had listened to the charge of the Court, and gone to their room to .deliberate upon the verdict, one of the twelve went right to the point by saying, "That thar Pike Muldr.ow ortei* to be convicted on gen'ral principles. He's as bad as they make 'em." As the hum of approval went around, a weazened little juror said, "I heard that Pike guv' it out tliat he'd go. gunning' fur us if we sent him up, jes' soon's he got out, an' fur the jedge, too." "We must pertect the. jedge," they 'agreed, and the" verdict was "Not guilty."

At Wellington yesterday the Employers' Federation Conference interviewed the local representative of the Accident Insurance Company, and, as a result, passed a .resolution expressing the opinion that owing to the unsatisfactory .condition of the accident insurance business, a strong protest be made to" the Government, pointing out the utter chaos into which the accident insurance business has been thrown by various amending Acts; and that the executive be instructed to co-operate with the various Accident Insurance Associations, with a view to .having such amendments made in the Compensation for Accidents' Act 'as will safeguard the interests of producers.

A new. appliance ds now .under construction for Hhe London Fire Brigade. It is a long ladder on a turn-table, and will be capable, when fully ■'extended, of reaching to >a greater.height than any appliance at present in use in London. Moreover, fchas ladder will be fixed to •and form part of a. four-wheeled\car r riage. The long ladders hitherto in use are distinct appliances, and have to be conveyed to and from the scene of' operations on a specially-built van. The renewal of a discarded idea is also a feature of the new* machines, inashiuch as it will be fitted with an automatic arrangement for discharging a jet of water into the upper windows of a burning building. From 1892 to. 1896 long ladders' provided with similar contrivances were in use by the'brigade'. The new ladder will cost between £600'-and £700.

"What will be the next vagary of the fashionable dame? Mrs. Henry Lehr, a leading member of New York Society, recently entertained at Newport at a swell dinner the members of local society in honour of the birthday of her Pomeranian pet dog," known as ".The Mighty Atom." The tables were decorated with red dahlias and^candelabra with red shades. Se^en..dp'gs;. were present. Each was placed :on a- high chair, and served -with .'cutlets andsausages by. five butlers, who were assisted by the fair owners of the dogs1, seats being -provided for the ladies behind the animals. The menu also included ■ salads, ice cream, and chocolates. A birthday cake of the regulation type, and illuminated by three candles;*was: provided with the words " Mighty Atom,-: three yeai-s" in-:. eoribed upon';it..'.,/,,,.;..,.. .',■,•.-.• - ... ...,-

Considerable 'disappointment was occasioned by the announcement that Paderews'ki would be unable, owing to indisposition, to give his recital iri the Choral Hall, Auckland, as intended. A number of country residents, who had secured tickets for the recital, had al-r-aady arrived in town, some of them travelling' long distances (as much as 200 miles in some instances)), to hear the great pianist. On- hearing of this, Paderewski requested Mr. Lemmone to •ascertain the whereabouts of as many as possible of these ladies 'and gentlemen. Having discovered some dozen or so of the visitors, they were invited to the Gxiand Hotel, where the celebrated artist performed for their special benefit the " Anpassion-ata- Sonata," three "Songs Without Words"-* (Mendelssohn), ; and come selections -by Chopin, etc. Mr. Lemmone 'also played the ' flute - solo, "The Wind Among the. Trees." : Refreshments 'were served to^ the quests,--who expressed themselves as highly delighted with the consideration' of the' world-famed pianist.

•A very interesting Supplement will be issued with to-morrow morning's "ChronioLe." Considerable trouble has been taken in the choice ©f read Jig matter, with the result tlhat the. budget would be hard to beat. The Supplement has a fine lot of illustrations. -"The Vengeance of Lovo," which ist growing more interesting as the chapters proceed, ie taken on another step. Topical items are deaGb with by "The Mam on the Look-cut," while the ladies are. well looked after by "Marguerite." The usual quantity of short stories, wit and humour, poetry, etc., will be found.

The bowling match between New South Wales v Victoria was. won hi? the latter by 35 points.

Another of. the firemen who were scalded by the recent accident on the P. iand O. liner Orizaba has suecumber to his injuries.

A Dunedin paper says that Gilray, the University three-quarter, has definitely intimated that he cannot make the trip to England with the N.Z. Rugby football team, and it is understood to be doubtful whether Stead ox Cooke can get the 'necessary leave.

Much interest has been excited at Chicago by the confessions of a manufacturer who supplied >a complete outfit, including mediums, for spiritualists. "I sold everything," he said, "for the operations t>f my customers; how to make a hand come floating through the darkness, to disappear agajn in obscurity ; how to materialise a lace or a fullsize figure; how to simulate the voice of one from spirit-land." The manufacturer said he knew of genuine mediums, but he believed that the fraudulent ones made the most money.

Within two weeks .policeman Miller, of New York, arrested forty-one men carrying concealed weapons. The magistrate .complimented the officer, saying ho deserved to be head of the force. Asked how he detected the concealed weapons, Miller said he could not oxpjain, but believed he had an X-ray eye, because amongst fifty men he could always pick out one with a pistol, or dagger. The magistrate said the gift seemed incredible, but the policeman's word admitted no doubt.