THE RESIDENT MAGISTRACY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4524, 21 November 1881, Page 2

THE RESIDENT MAGISTRACY.

The appointment of Mr Hardcastle as Resident Magistrate and District Judge of Wellington has taken from us au excellent magistrate, — painstaking, firm, clear, and decisive in his judgments, whose independence of charactar has never bent for an instant to any inflnppop whitev o> *. W- re/Tret Mr Hardcasties departure, out hope the appointment will Berve to make his services still more highly appreciated. The appointment of Mr Ward to Wanganui, we are to suppose, i& permanent, and is unobjectionable from every point of view but one. Mr

Ward, not being a member of the legal profession, cannot be appointed a District Judge, and so Wanganui will have to receive, we suppose, periodical rays from some luminary centred in New Plymouth. This is tho way the present Government ha 3 treated Wanganui all through the chapter, and we are not surprised at the treatment in this instance. There is one consolation, however, that the present election is likely to seal the doom of the Ministry.

All the returned men of tho Wanganui contingent speak in the highest terms of Mr J. P. Watt as their Captain, and, in fact, as their Acting Major at the front. We only re-echo a generally expressed opinion when we say that it would not only be justice to Mr Watt, but also a graceful compliment to the Volunteers of Wanganui, if so popular an officer were given his Majority.

The telegraphed rumour that a difficulty had arisen between the Government and the Alexandra Cavalry as to the of pay does not appear to have much foundation. With that over-eagerness to secure a goodly share of the Government money which distinguishes New Plymouth, the Taranaki Mounted Volunteers started some h.isty agitation, and it was upon that the usually well informed correspondent of the Press Association based his report. As a matter of fact there is no reason to suppose that the mounted men will not be paid upon the proper cavalry scale, which in tho present case will probably range from 8s to 10s per day, officers drawing of course higher rates.

What fiend in human shape regulated the tunes of the Wanganui Rifle Band on Saturday last ? It was all very well to render "Home, sweet Home," when the train arrived at the Station, but upon what conceivable ground was " We won't go homp till morning" played when Capt. Watt had finished his speech. It is true that the tune came to an absurdly abrupt conclusion at the end of some dozen bars, but the effect was very tellinc.

Mr Powley, an Evangelist who preached last night at the Academy of Music, desires us to correct the statement that he belongs to the Church of Christ. Mr Powley wishes it to be known that he has has a strong objection to denominationalism in every form. Hiß sermon last night was delivered to a very small audience, and the text was taken from the striking story iv St Luke's Gospel of the woman who anointed the Saviour's feet with th« alabaster ointment. Mr Powley 's discourse, however, had little reference to his text, and the subject was the •' Forgiveness of sins. " His doctrine is of the most ascetic description, — all alehouses, dancing, saloons, theatres, and flower shows being lumped together in the same category of sinful places. Mr Powley will preach again on Tuesday night next, and he is well worth listening to.

The following members of the City Rifles, under Sergt Spurdle, passed the second stage of their Class Firing on Saturday morning : — Corpl Parks 53, Vol Penwarden 45, Vol E. Townsend 30 This (Monday) morning Vol W. McGonagle 62, and Vol G. Brough 60, passed the first stage.

The sobriety and good conduct, in all respects, of the W anganui Volunteers on the plains is highly spoken of on all sides. Of course there were occasional and unavoidable mishaps, but as a general rule the discipline was soundly maintained. Of the Rifles there was but one man who distinguished himself as an inebriate, and (with a view no doubt to atone for the good behaviour of his comrades) he was drunk from the time he left Wanganui to the time he returned. Capt. Watt should have so heavily fined that man, that the cheque he receives on his return would be a blank one.

The personal adventures of our local heroes at the front would fill a good sized book. In Titokowaru's whare the Alexandras found a box containing, amongst other treasures, a sum of £300 in cash. It was of course restored to the natives, the actual owner being (it was believed) the old Chief Manaia.

The building mania has fairly set in. On all sides houses and stores are going up in Wanganui, and the heart of the carpenter and joiner is jubilant. Mr Finnimore, however, is striking out the boldest line. He is the fortunate leaseholder of that portion of Taupo Quay which extends from Mr Paul's store to the Pier Hotel, and he intends to clear away the not very ornamental buildings at present on that site. In their place, he proposes to erect six commodious shops a central arch dividiugthem, three on each side. Over the shops, extending the whole area, is to be a Coffee Palace, which is to be designed, fitted up, and worked upon the best London principles. It is gratifying to see that Mr F. W. Evans of the Rutland Hotel has nearly recovered from the effects of a severe injury to the knee-cap which he received a few weeks back. The illness ha 3 been long and painful, but Mr Evans attributes his successful recovery to the skill of Dr Connolly, who was the surgeon attending the case. Mr Evans has so far recovered as to take a quiet walk abroad, though of course in crutches.

The Patea Mail states that Mr James Hamilton, who hits held a farm at Manutahi, is removing from. Wanganui and disposing of his wheel-wright business to settle with his family on the farm. He is well spoken of as a settler.

According to the Manuwatu Times on Saturday one of the largest Maori cavalcades which we remember to have seen passed by our office yesterday afternoon. There were fully one hundred horsemen, and as each had his swag stripped across his saddle they were evidently bent upon a long journey. They came from Awapuni, but they were apparently strangers in this district.

The Manawatu Standard states that the well-known firm of Loudon and Haybittle has dissolved partnership, the former gentleman continuing to carry on the business. Mr Haybittle has not yet decided in what undertaking to embark. The fire has been a most disastrous affair to both gentlemen, who will have general sympathy in their misfortune.

We (Wairoa Guardian) learn from a correspondent that the natives on the north side of Waiapu river are rather troublesome at tho present time. They are under the leadership of a man named Hirini Kahe, and have succeeded in expelling Wiremu Keiha, a small chief and noted character of the locality, and his tribe from their settlements. Kahe and his people have erected four pas ; they threaten to shoot anyone who interferes with them, which is, no doubt, mere Maori bounce. It is said they are incited to their present course of action by a native from the West Coast, a follower of Te Whiti.

A New York farmer, who is also a practical sheep grower, gives the following as a sure cure for grub in sheep : — Turn into each nostril of the animal affected half a teaspoonful kerosene oil.

Another difficulty about deserted children is causing trouble in Patea (says the Mail). Mrs Charles and two young boys were discharged from the Hospital recently, and have been occupying a cottage without the rent being paid. The Hospital Steward paid 11s rent out of his own pocket, the County Chairman being unwilling or unable to interfere. Then the woman " and children were turned adrift on account of rent ; but it should be understood that the woman's improper conduct could hardly induce any charitable feeling. The children returned to the Hospital the other morning, tha mother preferring her own bad way; and the children are there now. The case is well-known. An Act recently passed protects persons who adopt abandoned children.

The Hawera Star of Friday states that Mr L. Milmoe, yesterday, brought to this office another speciman of quartz, which he had discovered near Normanby, at a place not mentioned. The piece exhibited presented a broken face well impregnated with-goid.