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Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1114, 11 March 1871, Page 2

PnovixciAL Council Phoceedings. The discussion on the reply to the address ■was adjourned to enable the country members to be present. Mr Pharazyn on the Bth, in moving for a return of the expenses attending the conduct of the late Manawatu land salo at Marton, urged the propriety of entrusting all such sales to a professional auctioneer, as likely to result in a better price being attained. Mr Brandon, in moving the second reading of the Special Settlement Bill, said that its object was to give the Agent-General power to sell to a company in England a block of land for the purpose of enabling such a company to establish a special settlement of its own, thus bringing capital as well as labor and new blood into the Province. The land was to be in the Manawatu district, and was not to exceed 50,000 acres in extent. It was only to be sold under regulations approved of by the Governor in Council, and at a price not less than the one now in force in regard to land of a similar diameter.

DKAT.H OF AN OLD WnLLIXGTOXTAtf. Another of the oldest settlers, Mr William Bannister, has departured this life. Mr Bannister was an original purchaser of land from the Ne^v Zealand Company, and arrived in the Colony in April, 1840. Beiii£>unable to obtain possession of his land, lie erected the Crown and Anchor Hotel in IS4-1, and continued in business until 1857, when he retired to a small farm on the Porirua Road, where he died, after a short illness, on Wednesday evening, at the advanced ago of 7G years. No settler was more highly or deservedly respected. Wellington paper.

Tjie Prizes at the Horticultural Show. —It was stated in the list of prizes taken at the Horticultural Show that those gained by the Spaniards for vegegetables, were for things grown in Mr Paterson's garden. This was an error. The vegetables for which Messrs Sole and Fort took their well-merite:l prizes were grown in their own garden in Bell Street. The fruit exhibited by them was grown, however, in Mr Paterson's orchard, which has been leased by Messrs Sole and Fort.

New Fimr.—The Government Gazette of March contains a notice of the dissolution of partnership between Messrs Young and Shepard, the coach proprietors, witnessed by Man and Hodge, Solicitors, Wangamii. The same advertisement appeared in our columns as having been witnessed by Matt. Y. Hodge, Solicitor. It is evidently the peculiar signature of that gentleman has not been understood in the Government printing office.

Wa-xgaxui Cricket Club.—The committee of the Cricket Club intend holding a meeting this evening, to discuss what steps should be taken with regard to a certain letter received from the Wellington Club, and also with respect to a letter which appeared in the "Post of the Oth inst. reflecting upon the conduct of the team while in Wellington. The paper containing the letter has been most carefully directed and sent to the captain of the team, and also to this office.

Dn Ebbs.—lt is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr Ebbs from Oamaru, who intends taking up his residence in Wanganui. Blots Book.—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of the Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives for 1870.

Cheap Jams.—A Melbourne merchant, who does a considerable amount of wholesale business in Geelong, explains the mode in which cheap jams are manufactured. He states (observes the Advertiser) that the body of the jam is generally composed of pie melons, pumpkins, or turnips—the latter answer best, because they do not require so much coloring. • The flavor is supplied from the various essences, many of them composed of chemicals anything but wholesome. Acid, sugar, and coloring are easily procured ingredients, but the great difficulty lies in getting seeds to imitate raspberries, strawberries, and other fruits. This Avant is supplied by the seeds from rotten ar,d waste figs. For jam to imitate stone fruit, it is necessary to introduce a small quantity of decayed stone fruit, The retailers have the best profits, as they purchase the jams at 4s Gd per dozen and sell them at Gd per tin, while the manufacturer only nets about Gd per dozen over and above expenses. To Ascertain the Weight of Haystacks. —For oblong stacks of English grass hay the following rate is reliable :— To the height from the ground to the eaves add one half of the height of the top above the eaves for the mean height, then multiply the mean height by the breadth, and multiply their products by the length. Divide the gross product by 27 and the dividend will give the number of cubic yards in the stack; and that number of yards multiplied by the number of stones of hay in a cubic yard will give the weight of the stack in stones imperial, i.e., of 14 lbs each. The hay varies from five stone to nine stone percubic yard, but perhaps six stone (84 lbs) would be a fair average for a new stack of large size, seven stone for a stack six months old, and eight stone for one a year old. Coarse oaten hay put together dry would probably weigh less. Hotels and Churches.—The Marton correspondent of the Independent wrote a very interesting letter on the progress the district was making, but he happened to say that the building committee of the Church of England held a meeting in a hotel. This statement calls forth an illtempered effusion in the columns of the same paper in which, the correspondent's letter appealed, signed "Consistency," in which there is much piety and wit (Paintermingled, condemning so sacrilegious a thin gas the meeting of a church committee in a hotel. The writer fails to show the absolute harm of a number of men meeting to talk over a matter of pounds, shillings and pence in the private room of arespectable hotel. If this is not the same person who sent the electioneering circular advising the electors not to vote for Mr Richmond as he was an infidel, the two ought to have a private room in the neighborhood of Karori. Our local professors of cant preach in hotels, and it is thought no great sin. Poisoning a Rack Horse.—The Argus says:—" During the last week we have had a sensational scandal to enliven the rather dull times, and as usual there is a woman in the case. The story, as it lias gone the rounds of the press, is that a woman has accused her husband of having, when in the employ of Mr Fisher, poisoned his horses, and amongst them the celebrated racehorse Fishhook. The vile deed, if it was really done, is said to have been instigated by a book-maker. * * * * * W c assume no man, however, to be guilty until he is proved so, but we trust, nevertheless, for his own sake, and for the sake of the turf, that the boot-maker, whose character is at stake, will be the first to come forward when an investigation is held, to meet his accusers face to face. For the wretch who would poison a racehorse for the sake of filthy lucre, the gallows would be too merciful a punishment. Cleverly Caught. — «Incendiarism," says the Leader, is becoming- a trade in Melbourne, fostered and encouraged by the comparative ease with which fire insurances are effected. The competition of the companies is so keen that policies are apparently issued to any person applying for them, regardless of character, anil relying upon police organization to protect them should a fire occur at any time under suspicious circumstances. The two men Sanders and Schott, who attempted to fire their premises lately, appear to have gone about their work in a most business-like manner. Ostensibly opening a "Tocery establishment next door to the old detective office in Little Collins-street, they put into the shop a dummy stock. The tea-chests were packed with straw, and the trade parcels that, neatly done up, lined the shelves were filled with sawdust. Thus equipped, they applied for and obtained a

policy of insurance covering this valuable stock for £000. But Sanders and Schott do not appear to have kept their own counsel, Elated with the prospect of mailing money so easily, they seem "to have been generous in their confidences, and to these, without being- aware of ifc, the detectives were admitted. Detectives Walker and Lomax knew, in fact, that they were going to burn the place down, and the clay itwas to be done, if not the very hour. True to the time came the grand coup. At ten minutes to three on Tuesday morning up shot the signal flame from the premises of Sanders and Schott, and down pounced the detectives upon Mr Sanders, as he ran from the scene of his, as he supposed, successful exploit, Sir Schott had been previously taken, on warrant at the German pic-nic. The fire brigade, previously warned of what was to happen, were immediately on the ground, and soon put out the fire, the dummy packages standing uninjured on the shelves as evidence against the enterprising firm. Everything had" been prepared for a great conflagration by the place being strewed with shavings saturated with kerosene, and, but for the vigilance of the detectives, the consequences to. the surrounding neighbourhood might have been very serious. The National will save £500, and it is to be hoped they will bo more careful in ascertaining the antecedents of persons to whom they grant fire policies." Omission.—ln our report of the Conversazione we omitted the Misses Ohovannes' names as presiding at No. G table in conjunction with Mrs Hurley. We regret the omission, which was entirely inadvertent. Naurow Guagb Railways.—Mr D. Ciimea, C. E., who signs himself "representative of Faiiiie system of railways and rolling stock for Australia and liew Zealand," writes as follows to the Argus on Jan. 5 :—-By the last, mail I re ceived a letter informing me of the most important decision that has perhaps ever been given in reference to the guage question. Some time ago a committe of four was appointed by the Indian Government to investigate and test the merits of the Faiiiie system, and determine upon the best guage for railways for that country. They have hot sent in their report. Three out of the four, viz., Colonels Ctratchey and Dickins, and Mr Randall, have recommended a 2ft 9in gunge, and the fourth Mr John Fowler, a 3ft Gin guage. Such a decision as this, after the most searching enquiry and severe tests that ever any new system has been subjected to, and conducted by four of the first scientific and practical men in Europe should convince the most sceptical of the vast superiority the narrow guago possesses. This circumstance, too, ou^ht to cause those who are extending the broad to pause. It is probable the whole of the broad guage lines in India will shortly bo reduced to a 2ffc 9in or 3ft guage, and other countries and colonies will soon follow such a Aviso example. It would therefore seem like something beyond extravagance to put down another mile of broad giiags line, as every yard of such line will be worse than so much money wasted, as it is now an established fact which cannot be gainsaid, that the work ing expense of railways increase in proportion to the width of the guage beyond 3ft. The working expenses of some broad guage lines, if the books were honestly kept, would be found to be considerably over 70 ver cent of the receipts from the traffic ; whereas the working expenses of the narrow guage lines seldom exceed 40 per cent of the receipts from the traffic. I am authorised by Mr Fairlie to say he is prepared to find capital to build narrow guage railways in the colony by having guarantee. I am prepared to state that there is no district in Victoria requiring railway accomodation but may be supplied with good substantial lines, capable of carrrying as heavy a traffic as any line in the colony, at a cost not exceeding £5000 per mile (if over 50 miles in length), and the working expenses of such lines would be at least 15 to 20 per cent less than the present system. In a Government report relating to railway extension, which appeared in the papers a few days ago, it was stated " that economy in the first outlay is of great considcrati on." ] f such be the case, there certaiuly could never be a better opportunity for putting s , ic h p, wise and commendable idea into practice. Supreme Court, Wellington.—On the 7th inst, before Mr Justice Johnston, Francis" Bodies, alias Manilla, was tried for violating the Arms Act, His Honor pointed out that there would be great difficulty in obtaining a conviction under the indictment, as there was some doubt whether there was any legal provision for the offence of unlawfully selling- arms or ammunition to I-v^j-ies, because while the Arms Act of 1860 designated the selling of arms or ammunition to Maories as a felony, the amending Act of 18G8 defined the offence as one

of misdemeanour, and, therefore, it was open to question whether the indictment was not demurrable. The case stood over to allow counsel for the prosecution to consult authorities. Morton Quin charged with embezzling £91 10s, funds of a Fire Brigade, was acquitted. On a second charge of stealing 14s, he was found guilty, and judgment was deferred. Mam-ice Mulcohey was tried on the Gth with firing a gun with intent to kill Ycrnon James Campbell. The jury acquitted the prisoner of the intent. Land on Deferred Payments.—Mr Dransfield has given the following notice of motion in the Council ;:—" That in the opinion of this Council a block of land should be reserved for sale in the Manawatu district, on a system of deferred payments." Proffssor Parker, the champion swordsman, was killed on the ranges near Toongabbio, as he was travelling to Sale. His horse bolted and threw him. His wife's liorse also bolted, and she was dragged along the road, but was not much hurt. Mr FITZTIF.RBERT AS SUPERINTENDENT. —Mi-Fitzhcrbert has consented to allow himself to bo put in nomination for the Superintendcricy, but we are given to understand that if he is elected he only pledges himself to retain offi.ee until the end of the ensuing session of Parliament. What Mr Fitzherbert's " platform" may be, he will, no doubt, announce in a few days, but we scarcely think it will be a determination to walk in the footsteps of his predecessor. The Trial of Rociiez, for Sellivg a Gun to Maoris.—The Trial of Francis Rochez for selling a gun to a Maori was (says the Post) a rather singular one. The prisoner was a native of Manilla, and poke a sort of broken Spanish. Some difficulty was at first experienced as to finding a competent [interpreter for the prisoner, but at last the services of Mr Cooper of the telegraph office, were obtained, and he discharged his duty in a most satisfactory manner. Every quesJ tion put by counsel had to be interpreted to the witnesses by Mr Baker, who rendered their answer into English, and then both question and answer had to be translated into Spanish for the benefit of the prisoner. The most singular part of the case was that the prisoner and the witnesses seemed to have been living together for some time, and to have carried on long conversations and made bargains, although perfectly ignorant of each other's lan_ guage. It was probably the consideration of this fact which led the jury to discredit the Maori version of these conversations, and to return a verdict of not guilty. MiBaker acted as Maori interpreter in his usual satisfactory manner.