HERALD TELEGRAMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1097, 20 February 1871, Page 2

HERALD TELEGRAMS.

S>ER GREVILLE'S TELEGRA.M COMPANf. {Reuters Agents.) NAPIER. Feb. 20, 4.10 p.m. Great fire at 4 p.m. to-d?y. Destroyed groups of fine shops in the Shakespeare Road, opposite Garry's, .the blacksmich's. Inquest will be lield. . ; AUCKLAND VIA THAMES. .; Feb. 18th. Darnell, j9O -Shepherd ... ..„ .115

Captain. Low's Sale of Horses.-^ We direct'the attention of our readers to an advertisement of sale of horses. Th rough a typographical error a cipher was accidentally omitted in our issue of Saturday, reducing the number from 200 to 20. The sale will be the largest of the kind that has ever taken piace in the Wanganui district. The number to be sold is now increased to 300.

Mb Richmond and his Followers. ' —A Wellington contemporay was good ' enough to quote an article of ours on Mr J. 0. Richmond, accidentally ascribing it to the Chronicle, which journal takes the opportunity of saying that it is a matter of sincere regret to it that Mr Richmond was not returned for the Assembly. Our article went to show that no one in Wanganui had the slighest sympathy witQ Mr J. C. Richmond, and we think still we expressed a wellknown fact. The Honorable James Crowe has always run in the same chaise with the Honorable Colonel Haultain, and this is a sufficient illustration of his character in Wanganui. We might say more, but a reference to the conduct of native affairs on this coast under the Richmond-Haultain administration would only awaken that old disgust and rage which once possessed the public mind in consequence of numerous sins of omission and commission.

A War Scene.—Mr H. Kingsley, in the Daily Review, describes the scaling of heights of Spicheren by the Prussians as nearly the most splendid thing of modern times. The hill of Spicheren is about the same height as Salisbury Crags, and its steepness may be well represented by the glacis of matter which lies under the foot of the crag ; there is no actual cliff, but one can understand what it would be to scale the lower part of Salisbury Crags under a murderous fire from chassepots. The escalade occupied four hours, and was in the end perfectly successful. The Prussians made from point to point inexorably, but suffered less loss than might be supposed, until they reached the summit and the hand-to-hand fight began. Here the ground is trampled as bare as the street, and to this day is covered with Prussian helmets and knapsacks ; the slaughter seems to have been equal/ but the victory was decisive. , The' debris of the Prussian army still cumbers the ground, for the simple reason that the debris of the French army has been taken away by visitors and others for trophies, while it is not considered safe to be seen with the effects of the Prussian dead men.

Ngaeuawahia.—A correspondent of the N. Z. Herald, writing on February 10, says : —We were pleased to see Major Heaphy here the other day on his way to Raglan. I believe he is on an official visit in reference to the roads in this district; and I am informed the Waipa roads are soon to be commenced. I would suggest that permanent bridges be put up when they are about it, as it is almost useless to construct the socalled military or rural bridges. We have had too many of this sort already. We must have practical men to carry out these works. Too much public money had already been wasted in theory. Take, for instance, the redoubt of this place, which has cost some two thousand pounds, and when it is completed, will be literally useless. Videetcre.de. Inroad making on the frontier, or any part of the Waikato, great savingjn time and money would be effected by giving out sections by contract to men thoroughly understanding such work, who would employ good men. These men could be armed for their own protection, and, if necessary, a small body of Armed Constabulary could guard them while at work ; and one-half" of the proposed force for the Waikato could be dispensed with; and when the roads are completed, no doubt numbers of the workmen would settle amongst us, which would be the means of adding considerably to our population.

Land on Deferred .Payments.—The people of Wellington are petitioning the Superintendent for land on deferred payments.

The Faiulie System.—Mr. J. It. Fairlie argued at the British Association that a three-feet gauge line would carry and had been proved to carry, two and a half times as many tons of traffic as were now, for instance, carried over the 4ft, s|in. gauge of the North-West-ern Railway, and this without an additional shilling for haulage. Every inch added to the width of a gauge beyond what was absolutely necessary for the traffic would necessarily add to the cost of construction, increase the proportion of dead weight, increase the cost of working, and in consequence • increase the tariffs to the public; thus by just so much reducing the width of the line, railways could be made cheaply, and at the same time thoroughly efficient. There was no country too poor to have railways sufficient for its requirements, and they furnished the cheapest possible mode of transport." Our railway will be probably be on the Fairlie system, with 3ft. Gin. quags.

Wool.—The arrivals for the first series , of New Year's sales are as follows :-^— Sydney and Queensland 16,500 bales Port Philip 10,000 ~ Adelaide 1,200. ~ Van Diemen's Land ... 800 ~ New Zealand ... - ... 10,600 „ Cape 1,100 „

Total 50,000 „ for the first series of 1871, fixed to commence on the 2nd February, in addition to 25124 bales of fresh arrivals..

Cricket.—To-morrow the Wanganui team take their departure for the Empire City, by the s. s. Wanganui. We believe a large number ot excursionists

intend taking advantage of the cheap trip and accompany the cricketers, bo that there will be some one on the ground to shout for Wauganui. The team has been well selected, although we tbink that before an important match like this, there should have been more practice. We wish them a pleasant excursion, and what perhaps is more dearer to them—may they come back victorious.

Advance Wairoa. — Anyone who has visited the Wairoa district within the past few months, could not fail to be struck with the vastly improving aspect of the country. New houses are spring up in all directions, fencing is going a-head, and new settlers are continually arriving. The road is progressing but very slowly, and will not be open before next summer. Confidence has been most thoroughly restored throughout the whole line of country, and we think now that it would be impossible for another reign of terror to come again to lay waste one of the favored spots in this one of the fairest portions of the Colony.

ViMiA Residence.—lt gives us pleasure to notice that Mr J. A. Burnett is now erecting a handsome villa residence on his estate of Oneida, in the Matarawa district. The design is composite, being a combination of the Gothic and Elizabethan styles, which, judging from the plans will have a very fine effect, and will form an entirety new and agree • able feature in the rural architecture of this district. The design has been drawn by Mr U. F. Allen, and although we do not agree with that gentleman's taste in architecture generally, we have pleasure in doing him justice in this instance, in which he has succeeded in producing a design at once chaste, unique, - and suited to the requirements of wooden architecture.

New Entertainment.—We are glad to learn that there is a possibility of Wanganui being favored with a visit from the charming Edith Palmerston (Mrs Alexander). It is now some time since we had a visit from any talented professionals, and we feel sure Mrs Alexander's visit will be properly appreciated. Mr J. W. Robinson is in communication with the lady, respecting the probable date of arrival, which will be notified shortly in our columns.

Extensive Asset.—Not long since, Francis Morris Deighton, flax dresser, formerly carrying on business at Wangaehu, filed his schedule ; the liabilities were estimated at about £1,800, the assets being nil. Mr Edward Churton was appointed trustee, and while he was transacting some business at the Bank of New South Wales to-day, he was asked by the teller if he would not draw out the balance of Mr Deighton's account. He did so, and received the large amount of sixpence. A hat a consolation for the creditors.