Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1877.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2990, 21 July 1877, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1877.

If the Ministerial programme is but faintly sketched out in the empty vice-, regal speech, the known tactics of the Opposition are equally vague. The Post sa y s ;—"; — " There is already some floating gossip as to the contemplated programme of the Opposition, and notably tho Auckland section thereof. This is currently stated to be as follows :— lst. To ' hang up ' the Counties Act till next session ; and, 2nd, to endeavour to make the land fund colonial property. Should the ®pposition succeed in their endeavour to make the land fund colonial property, they will allow the business of the country to be proceeded with as quickly as possible, but if they fail, they will go in for the separation of the two islands, and will fight that question with all the strength they possess. Such are the current rumours, but if the public wait a little they will probably see what they shall see." Should Sir George Grey and his following again attempt separation, the hands of the Ministry will be considerably strengthened, and it would be the means of their obtaining Bupport which would not be forthcoming on other questions.

The Sydney Morning Herald of the 4th inst., says :—' ' Mr W. H, H. Davenport, one of the brothers, whose performances have created so much discussion in England, America, and more recently in the colonies, died of consumption at the Oxford Hotel yesterday morning. The deceased was a native of Buffalo. U.S.A., and first appeared in connection with his brother and Professor Fay twenty-three years ago as exponents of what have been, termed spiritualistic seances. He arrived in Sydney a few days ago from Auckland."

We have received a Government advertisement calling for tenders for the supply and delivery of 20,000 railway posts, to be delivered along the railway line between Oroua river and Fielding township. The advertisement will appear in duo course,

We deeply regret to have to announce the death of Francis Williamson, Esq., of Buenos Ayres Station, who expired yesterday at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr Andrews, Waitotara, in the 68th year of his age, after a lingering illness. Mr Williamson was born in Midlothian, Scotland, and arrived in Wanganui upwards of 30 years ago ; he was consequently one of the earliest settlers. Before leaving for New Zealand Mr Williamson held the important post of Curator of the Sheffield Botanical Gardens, where he acquired a vast amount of knowledge and personal experience. There being no opportunity for the practice of his profession in the infant days of the colony, he went into farming, but as soon as the growth of the settlement presented a prospect of success Mr Williamson established a nursery, in which he soon collected a large variety of botanical specimens, the district deriving the benefit. It was one of the distinguishing featvires of Mr Williamson's character that, entirely regardless of gain, he was always enthusiastic in his profession. He had a fine eye for the beautiful, and the prospect of an artistic landscape was in itself sufficient reward. His keen imaginative grasp, which constituted his great success as a landscape gardener, was even carried into theology, and he found scope in the grand imaginary and profound speculation, of Swedenborg. Mr Williamson j was a warm-hearted friend, sincere and loyal, and prepared to cany his friendship into all the affairs of life. We should not forget to notice that he at one time took an active part in the municipal affairs of Wanganui, occupying the position of Chairman of the I Town Board, when he devoted himself with great assiduity to the improvement and beautifiying of the town. In all political questions he took an active and intelligent part, and his warmth of temperament and energy made his assistance at times of supreme value to more than one aspirant for political favours. For three or four years Mr Williamson has been living retired on his station. The deceased gentleman leaves a wife and family and a large number of relations. The intimation of his death will be deeply regretted by a large circle of friends.

" A speech is a Bpecch, although there's nothing in it." That is what may fittingly be said of the Vice-Regal utterance. We (Post) have heard of many speeches, and can conscientiously say that this last one is the baldest, dullest, dreariest piece of verbiage ever put into the mouth of a Colonial Governor by his Ministers. Vox et practerea nihil.

We (Post) understand that Mr Andrew Young has disposed of that part of his coaching business which includes the line of Cobb's coaches, running between Wellington and Wanganui. Mr Young, during the last nine years, has carried the mails between those places, and conducted the passenger traffic with a degree of enterprise, energy, and good management, which reflect the highest credit upon him as a business man. It is reported that Messrs Hastwell and Macara arc the purchasers.

Mr J. Ballance, M.H.E., will leave for Wellington by the Manawatu this evening. Mr Bryce, M.H.R., proceeds overland by coach on Monday.

There is a candid man at Greertown. He thus advertises in the Bay of Plenty Times : — " A House and Allotment for Sale.— Who will buy a cheap house and one acre of ground next to Mr Earl's ; a quiet family residence at Greertown 1 My reason for selling is — I can grow nothing ; I have several times been beaten and bitten by clogs ; my fowls have been stolen, and myself abused in my own house, and threatened to be killed ; I can get no witnesses. Who will buy a cheap acre I—John1 — John Wadsworth."

The directors of the Wanganui and Eangitikei Brewery Company took formal possession of the premises and plant of Messrs Henderson and Farrah's Wanganui Brewery on Friday. At. a meeting held at the Steam Pocket Hotel on Thursday the allotment of shares took place. Applications for 282 shares were received, but as only 225 shares were open to subscription, the directors deemed it advisable to allot only 197, reserving the balance for expected applications not yet to hand. Active operations of the Company will commence forthwith.

The musical entertainment at Kennedy's on ' Friday night was held, notwithstanding, the unfavorable nature of the weathei", which prevented many from town attending, who would otherwise have had much pleasure in being present. The programme was a capital one, and being exceedingly well rendered, gave complete satisfaction.

Mr T. L. Shepherd, the chief agent for the Government Insurance department in Wellington, has been removed to Christchurch. Mr Shepherd has been very successful in taking lives.

On Tuesday, 31st July, Mr B. J. Duncan, of Wellington, will sell on the system of deferred payments, COO acres of splendid land within one mile of the Bunnythorpe railway station. The land will be divided into blocks of from 25 to 35 acres each.

The Dunedin footballers have had to give up the idea of a tournament at Wellington, as unfavorable answers have been received from all the places which they invited to join in j the undertaking. They have not, however, abandoned the idea of a tour on their own account. A report on the subject was read at a recent meeting of the Dunedin Club, from which it appears that they have about £45 in hand, in addition to which some £100 will be required to take them round the colony. The route decided upon is as follows : — To Christchurch (overland), thence direct to Auckland, and, weather permitting, playing Taranaki, then Nelson and Wellington ; and on return Temuka, Timaru, and Oamaru if time will permit. The following resolutions were also passed :—": — " That the committee write to a. selection of intending players to ascertain their willingness. cc* make the trip North, aiid that members offering their services will place themselves -under the direction of committee." " That the duty of collecting funds be left to the committee of club, with power to, add to their number." The whole proceedings were carried out with much unanimity and enthusiasm, and at the conclusion a siun of £15 was contributed by those present towards expenses. The committee have before them 25 names of those desiring to go North, but there are some who have refrained from giving their views who still would be likely to represent the club.— ■ Times,

The English mail via San Francisco will be despatched from Wanganui on Monday, closing at the post office at one p.m.

One of those ceremonies which are of such absorbing interest to the fairer portion of the community was duly performed at Christchurch this morning, before a very large gathering. We refer to the marriage of Mr Alpin Grant Fowler C.E. to Miss Mien Lomax, step daughter o< Mr Robert' PhaTazyn. The Rev T. L. Tudor officiated. _ The happy pair will proceed to Wellington by the steamer this evening, and on. an early date will_ visit England. Mr Fowler has been a resident in Wanganui only a short time, but sufficiently long to make a wide circle of friends, who will wish both himself and his bride a long life of happiness and prosperity.

The events to be decided at the Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Timaru on August 22nd are :— Handicap of 100 spvf., about four miles ; Maiden Plate, 60 wm, about two miles; Hunt Club Cup, 60 soys., about three miles ; aud Consolation Handicap, 40 soys,, about two miles.

" Alas for the rarity of Christian charity ; we compound for sins we have a mind to, by damning those we're not inclined to." How sorry the poor drunkards must be when they see Temperance Conference members upon tho bench, and instead of the " every-day fine of five shillings," are mulcted in the penalty of three months' hard labor forgetting inebriated. Some gentlemen have a hobby, which is Temperance ; but they ride it rather furiously 'when they sentence a person to twelve weeks' hard labor for the folly of an hour. — Argus.

The following description of Eupatoria, just bombarded by the Turks, will be read with interest :— " Eupatoria (formerly Koslov) a thriving maritime town of Russia, in the government of Taurida, is situated on a bay in the west coast of the Crimea, 15 miles north-west of Old Fort, and 38 miles northwest of Simferopol. The town stands on the border of a monotonous pastoral steppe, and is surrounded by low hills. Seen from the sea, it presents, with its occasional minarets and its houses roofed with red tiles, a somewhat picturesque appearance. The principal building is tbe Tartar mosque, built by Devlet-Ghiri Khan in 1552, and reckoned the finest in the Crimea. Eupatoria exports corn, wool, and salt. Its harbour is shallow and is sheltered only from the north and north-east wiuds. The population is about 9000, mostly Crim-Tartars and Jews, who are engaged chiefly as farmers and shepherds and possess an immense number of oxen and sheep, and a large area of badly-cultivated land."

We arc glad to be able to announce that the Rev. Mr Towgood has expressed his intention of reading a paper at the next or following entertainment, in connection with Christ Church. Mr Towgood is so well known for his liberal opinions that we are sure he will have a large audience to hear him,

The member for Waikatipn, Mr Manders, had his passage to Wellington impeded in a very singular manner. After taking a 1 prominent part at a banquet on Saturday, the hon member was about to sail from Port Chalmers, for the House of Representatives on Tuesday morning, when he was confronted by a very determined looking housekeeper. The lady in question had previous bcon dilligontly accosting Port Chalmers people witlTthe question, " Have you seen Mr Wanders ?" As often as the persons addressed shook their heads, she would produce a photograph and exclaim, " That's Mrs Manders, and I'll like to find her." The hon. member, yielding to a kind of eloquence more rigorous than persuasive, suffered himself to be reluctantly rcconducted ashore. Yesterday the housekeeper was haunting the precincts of the Resident Magistrate's Court, with tho legal document in one hand, and the portrait of a female— the object of her tender regard— in the other. The Wakatipu man was also hovering about the Hall of Justice with a long swallow tail and a look of concern that would admirably have become the chief mourner of a funeral. The pertinacious and indignant female is understood to be his discarded housekeeper, and she is sueing the honorable M.H.E. for £40, for detaining her personal property. Some of the evidence is very amusing. Judgment was given in her favor for £7. •

A romance (says the Argus) somewhat of the Enoch Ardcn type, is now rapidly approaching its denoiiement, but this bids fair to differ somewhat from the Temiysonian model. The story is an interesting one. A young sailor bold, wooed, won, and wedded. After a brief interval of bliss, ho had, in pursuit of his profession to depart, like Lord Bateman " far countries for to see." His bride promised to be faithful, and to remain in domestic service while he was absent. She got a good place, but alas, for fickle woman she soon left it, resumed her maiden name, and removed from her finger the magic circlet which her absent lord had placed there. Soon her charms attracted the notice of an eminent politician, and matters progressed so satisfactorily that last year she departed for a Southern clime to' assume the position of housekeeper there for her political acquaintance. So satisfactorily were those duties performed that her employer at last, placed heart, hand, and fortune at her disposal. Coyly she accepted them, and the Registrar made the twain one. In the meantime, however, the original husband, full of love and hope, returned here. For a time he searched eagerly, but in vain for his wife. At last he found where she was, and quick on the discovery the wires flashed the news of her having contracted fresh matrimonial relations. He is now, calmly as he can, awaiting the arrival of the bridal pair on their honeymoon trip, which it is understood is to be spent in Wellington,, but not in the spirit of poetical resignation, which characterised a certain jilted ministrel boy, who hung his harp on the willow tr£e, prior to his depar- ( ture for the wars. The result will be watched for with interest.

In a letter to the Post on the late Temperance Conferance, the Rev Richard Coffey sa y B ; — « "VvTule we constantly credit the Good Templar for what good he does, and cooperate with him (however hard the task) for practical ends, we must never forget that he is, very generally, a man of one idea, and therefore intellectually and morally lopsided. 4s for the proposed Temperance Society it must prove a failure. It has no definite platform. Its neither fish, nor flesh, nor good •rod herring,"

A gentleman residing in Timaru ydshled. to' make *a present ib a Lyttelton ±riend, : so he killed a nice porker and forwarded it _by rail last week, leaving the recipient to pay the charges, which amounted to £4 9s 7d I The Lyttelton gentleman has written to Timaru, requesting his friend to refrain from sending him any more pork whilst the present tariff is in i orco, as it is too costly an article for human food. — Press.

The Hornet is of opinion that if the Legislature prohibited the sale Of spirits under a year old, it would do more than any Permissive Bill to put down the crime that results how intoxicating drink. ■

At an auction sale held recently in Wellington there was sola, for the sum of seventeen shillings, a wheelbarrow, to which quite a history is attached. It was made twentyseven years ago for Mr P. Laing, who used to wheel it about town daily as he served his customers with bread. At the time he grasped the handles of this bread cart he was laying the foundation of that business which, owing to his honest perseverance, has now made him a wealthy colonist. Tho wheelbarrow was bought by Mr Griffiths, who intends sending it to the forthcoming Wanganui Exhibition. It may be . mentioned that it was made by Mr Walter Jackson, and the length of service it has undergene shows the good value workmen years ago gave for what was paid them. — Times.

About a score of horsemen met this afternoon in the Market SquaTe to take part in the paper hunt. The 'start from Anderson's corner, which took place about half-past two, was numerously attended, the native spectators evincing the liveliest interest, crowding up the Rutland Hill to see the last ,of the horsemen. • - The direction taken was up Bell Street, bat the scent will probably lead the hunt' into the country where last night's rain has rendered the ground so slippery, that a spill or two may be anticipated with a tolerable amount of certainty before the sport is concluded.