SPLITTING STRAWS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9448, 28 May 1898, Page 2

SPLITTING STRAWS.

Oon morning contemporary takes exception to some of our remarks re the late decision of the Appeal Court on the question of the legality of hotelkeepers inviting their friends to partake of a social glass auring prohibited hours, a thing the judges unanimously declared was within the legal rights of the hotelkeepers to do. The Chronicle writer says the case of Cul'en v Batt was not on all fours with that brought against Bylands, which latter was upset on appeal. The only difference we can see between the two cases was that in tha Wanganui case tho S.M. decided to disbelieve the hotelkeopor's evidence to the effect that ho had given a glass of beer to a friend, preferring to accept the contention of the police that an actual sale had taken place, although there was no aotual proof of the ■ latter having occurred. In the Wellington case tho S.M. accepted the hotelkeeper'a word that he had given the liquor to a friend as his guest for the time being, but convicted ana fined him for doing so. Had Mr Keuny followed the course taken b> the Magistrate here, his decision could not have been upset on appeal, without the hotelkeoper could prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he had supplied the liquor to the consumer as his private guest. Next time Mr Kenny will know how to get round the difficulty if he wants to convict, without running the risk of having his decision reversed by the Appeal Court. We do not, for one moment, think he is at all likely to pursue such a course, and merely mention it to show how easy it is to get over even the decision of the Judges of the Supreme Court sitting in their appellate jurisdiction Mr C. N. Baeyertz, the proprietor of the Triad, is at present in Wanganui. Mr Baeyertz is staying at Foster's. The following peculiar notice was displayed in one of the windows at the local Post Office to-day— "Received without address a goia ring." In the bush districts of Hawke's Bay ana Wellington the growth of mushrooms has been unprecedontea. A farmer in Woodville says that in patches in his own fields mnshrooms were so thick that it was possible to mow them down with a scythe. The confidence trick was successfully worked on a local tailor a 3ay or so ago. The customer ordered a suit of clothes, stating that if the garments met with the approbation of his better-half he would pay cash on delivery. The clothes were duly sent home, the messenger being armed with a receipt in full, stamped in due form. The customer expressea himself as thoroughly pleased with the suit, and handed the messenger a sealed envelope, ostensibly containing the value of the order to the extent of, say, £5 ss. When the envelope was opened, it was found to contain half that amount only. Naturally, the tailor Wag enraged, and made straight tracks for the customer's house, only to find, on arrival, that he had departed from Aramoha by the southern train. The document which has been despatchea through the meaium of the law will, no doubt, teach the customer that, after all, " honesty is (he best policy,"

Mr 0. A. Marcus, formerly stationmaster at Wdngandi, and How ocfiupying a Similar p'clsltidri &t Timaru, is at pre-seat ! in town om a holiday Visffi fn the Supreme Court at Wellington yesteiday, application by the Otagd Daily Times Company v. Mr Mills, M.H.R., for a new trial ill the' libel oase was dismissed, with ten guineas cQbU, It iB expected that the South ' Wairarapa Hospital funds will be benefited to the eitdht of over ,£2OO, as the financial result of the Queen's Birthaay sports heia at Gre^tOwri: t The ifanawatu.Tinies is mforafeci tiiat a settler, in th§ jKairanga has recently threshed out 1250 bushels of barley from 18 adres— practically 70 bushels to the acre! At the Napier Magistrate's Court John McGill, charged with unlawfully setting fire to a fence, was remanded for a week, bail being allowed, self in £50, ana two sureties of £50 each. In the course of an aflaress at Papawai on Thursday the Premier said bethought it was the duty of the Government to ask the Governor to increase the representation of tho nativo race in the Legislative Council, .Fifty-six tradesmen in the employ of Messrs A. and Ti Burt, of Dnnedin, have offered tlie'ir services to \jk§ Government aa a volunteer corps, Aider" thfi .d^signanation of "Bun's Trades Volunteer Corps." A youn;? woman, while engaged in domestio duties in her aunt's house near Beaford, suddenly ran to a well and jumped in. Her aunt, who witnessed the rash act, was about to scream when she fell dead. The girl was resoned unhurt. Exactly a year ago a gentleman named Bassett dropped dead on a Sunday morning while on liis way to ohapel at Llanelly. By a remarkable coincidence his widow fell dead in her own house on the anniversary of her husband's doath and at the aatrte houti An original entertainment, entitled " Novelties," will be the attraction at the usual fortnightly meeting of the Wanganui Literary and Musical Society on Monday evening next in the Wesleyan Schoolroom. The meeting promises to be most interesting. i The Premier said at the Papawi meeting there are only 5,000,000 acres of land left for 40,000 nativos, and as many owned large areas and some very little, in his opinion there was not 'too much land left for the race. The report of the Cable Committee only recomnlenacd the construction of an all British lino botween England ana the Cape, excluding tlie proposal for 'ihe continuation of the line from tho Capo to Mauritius, thence to Australia. An aged worfiari wlic* took in a starving dog aud gavo it a nietil vrfcs fined in Liverpool on a charge of keeping a do^ without a license. The animal declined to leave her house after receiving so much kindness, and she was taking it out to lose it when she was pounced upon by the police. It was stated by Mr Carncroas, M.H.R., during his Abbotsford speech, that ho knew of men — married men with families of two to four ohiiaren — who were working in tho country at the magnificent wage of 17s ea per week, and had to pay houserant out of that. At tha fdrSwell meeting to Dr Elmslie held at the old Bt. Paul's Oimrcli, Christchurch.iti was mdritiotied incidentally that during the last 22 years the congregation had raised no Jesi than £33,000, which gave an averago of £1500 a year. Moro than £27,000 of it waß raised prior to 1880. A week or two ago some members of tho Timaru Tourist Bioycle (Hub roturning home by night came to grief over two rows of neatly piled up boulders. Two youths who hod placed thorn there were compelled to pay £11 or £12 for repairs and legal expenses, and also magisterial fines of £1 each and costs. A meoting of tbe united School Committees of Palmevston was held on Thursday evening for the purpose of considering the proposals in connection with the establishment o{ a Technical School at Palrrieiston. It was decided that the offer of the Jjdilcation Board to vote a sum of £200 provided a Ilka snm wa9 raised in Palmerston be accepted. A subscription list was oponea in the room and £20 7s collected. The Government grant pound for pound, so that £800 will be available for the establishment of tho school. Clonourry (Q.) reports :— " No vegetables, no fruit; mails many days late; carriers with beer stuck up on the roads by the rains ; plenty of scandal, no beef, no mutton, but a fair allowance oj nannygoat," Strange how the absence of beer and beef invariably gives rise -to backbiting. That's one reason why far-seeing men dread the spread of total abstinence and vegetarianism. No reputation would be safe in auoh a country. Tho porsons most to be envied are the carriers. They, at all events, aro in possession of meanß to render the days passable and the nights jocund. In spite of its many drawbacks, modern life still contains some Attractions. And if any greater exists than that of a Queensland carrier stuck up with a loaa of boor it has so far escaped notice, A good Btory reaches the V/est Coast Times from Mapourika in reference to the Spanish-American war. Two miners, and luahtntwi and a German, were amicably discussing the situation over a drop of mountain dew. when the Irishman hazarded the opinion that if any E uropeau Power interfered with America Britain would intervene, " And if sho does," replied the 'leuton, " there will be hundreds of thousands oi Irishmen up in|arms, glad to take the advantage of tho opportunity to get in a blow at England." " You are a d liar," responded the Celt, and as if to give emphasis to his expression, he plantea a blow straight from the shoulder, landing his quondam friond on the floor. It is needless to add that this vigorous form of argument suspended friendly intercourse and terminated the discussion. At the Police Commission at Napier yeßterday there was a bit of a breeze between Colonel Hume and Mr Taylor, M.H.E. The latter examined Sergeant Black relative to the supervision of licensed houses in Wellington in 1893, when he was stationed there, The sergeant stated that in company with exConstable Kenny he went to the Commorcial Hotel. He saw Colonel Hume standing in the passage talking with a lady. In answer fo Colonel Hume, Sergeant Black said that when he saw tho Colonel ho said, " Beg your pardon, sir," ana th 3 latter replied," All right, Sergeant, go on with your duty." Witness expressed the opinion, in reply to Mr Taylor, that political influence was usea in the force. Colonel Hume askea if it was not a fact that when constables had grievances, or an imaginary grievance, they had only to writo to Mr Taylor, and the Sergeant replied that there wa3 such a feeling among certain members of the force. Sergeant Black and Constable Smith said that although they had seen signs of liquor on Inspector Emerson they had never scon him intoxicated. Speaking on the 13th of April, at York, Lord Charles Beresfora expressea his regret that the Government aid not take Wei-hai-wei before they did. The BusEians had gone into Manchuria, had a naval base there, and in 10 years' time would have a railway from Bussian dominion into the North of China. The Eussians wouia certainly drill the Manchurians in the northern part in China. The Manchunans were far ana away the besst fighting race in China. If the British Government were going to proteci the trade and commerce m the Yang-tse Valley, tho people must know that it would eventually be a military operation. If we did nothing until events occurred, we were certain to run into a most shocking war in ten or fifteen years' time, and, more than that, were certain to lose the whole of the China trade. He was very nervous about the West Coast of Africa, and, referring to the Cuban crisis. Lord Charles Beresford pointed out that neither Spain nor America was under the Declaration of Paris, and both would have the right of searching mercantile shipping unaer a neutral flag. That would be a very serious state of affairs for this country.

The native gathering at Papawai is likely to last about one month. Tbe new Native* t/aiid Bill is to be exhaustively dealt with, rifld rt ilealsiw vfiil probably bo 1 atrived tit tetweeri tbe 1 NoTtil and South Island iliitirea Respecting the sale of Maori lands.A Palrrierston sportsman 1 stioi »2? pheasants and 12 Californian quail in the S'tratiiord district in two days. He states that game is estreftnely plentiful in Taranaki; but for tb'e wet weMber ( he believes he wouia have had even gVeSt'er Iflo/f; While in Blenheim the otbor day Mr Park, QoYemra'ent YeteYJriar? Surgeon, stated ttM He Had rippKecl the tuberculin; test m over tiOW oases m variWa* parts of the colony,, a'a'd in! Ho single fn'starfee tradf he known it to fail.' There is a Jrpbability of a Napier foot-" ball team visitmg Wangariui in Juiio ana playing a match here on their way to" Turanaki. The Wellington and Manawatu ""repa " are also likely to play here, and the annual Taranaki-Wanganui matdi will eventuate inWanganui. The question of bonuses to school teachers was considered at a special meeting of the Otago Education Board, when it was resolved, on tbe casting vote of the Chairman, to abolish the bonuses. But this resolution doe 3 not come into force until the new scale of salaries has been adopted/ There was a larga attendance at the lisiidl fo*toi#itfy session oi the Minerva AsaeMly last evening, when between 40 and 50 calip^ p'u'tjn fen appea'rarioe at the Druids' Hall. The riMsfc, supplied by Mr A. A, Gower (piano) left nothing to be desired, while the refreshrn'onts provided by Mr D. Bain were really excellent. All present thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it is evident the success of the Minerva Assembly is assured. On the occasion of the next dance a " long night " will be held. The morning service at the Wesleyan Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. F. W. Isitt, and in the evening tbe Roy. G. Bond will deliver an address o'ri " 1/gsddns from the Life of the Great Christian Statesman'— the late Mr Gladstone." At the evening aertloo. Misses Gilberd and Spurdle will sing tho duet "Through Life's Long Wilderness" and Mr D. Davies will contribute the solo 1 " Thou'rt Passing Hence." Quite ii long list of apologies was received by Mr Thomas Mitchell yesterday from gentlemen who were unable to attend the function in connection with the opening of the Aramoho Freezing Works. Amongst the number were telegrams from the Premier and the Ministor for Lands. The former regretted his inability to be present, and expressed his intention of visiting the works on some future oocasion. Ho wished Mr Mitchell every success in his enterprise". Europeans at Pacawai yesterday heard with surprise a statement from the Premier that the island of Kapiti was gradually disappearing into tbe sea. Mr Seddob made it clear in the succeeding sentences that he did not refer to a phenomenon of nature, but to the engulfing act of mortgagees. Ho said that in connection with the Act passed ln»t session claims by Europeans already lodged with the Government amounted to over £21,000.— N.Z. Times. An unfortunate debtor in Wellington at iv reoont meeting of his creditors was about to be placed on his oath when the gentleman who was to administer it commenced to say, in a solemn voice, " For what we are about to receive ," and then recovered from his abaent-mindedness by seeing brood smiles on the faces of those present. It has since transpired, says the Post, that tho creditors have | little to be thankful for in this instance, as there was nothing to receive. At a meeting of the Piesbytery of Hawke's Bay at Napier yesterday, Dr Sidey reported that undor the will of the late Mr James Anderson, elder of St Paul's, Napier, tbe following sams were assigned for ohurch purposes :—£SOO to found a scholarship for students for tbe ministry ; £500 towards a new ohurch tor St Paul's congregation, and £150 for un organ. The reversionary interest in £3000, after the death of three ladies in Scotland, and the residue of the estate are left in equal parts for church extension in Hawke's Bay and the poor connected with St Paul's Presbytery. The railways authorities notify by advertisement in another column that commending on Wednesday next the business of the present Marton station will ba transferrea to the Marton Junction. The present Marton station will be treated as a flag station for passenger traffic only, and the name changed to Pukepapa. The mail trains will not stop at Pukepapn, and other ordinary trains will not be timed at Pukepapa, but will stop there when required for passengers. Railway travellers should note the times arrangements made for leaving tho new station, also the cancelling of the present Hunterville branch train service, and the substitution of another in its place. St. Paul's Hall has been bookea for next Friday evening, when a benefit concert will be given on behalf of Celia Dampier, tbe child violiniste, whose talon t has excited admiration throughout the North Island. The difficulty of earning a sufiioient Bum by her own efforts to prepay three yoars' residence at one of the ohief Continental conservatoires is very great, and can only be accomplished by special efforts. The programme, which will bo announced in our columns, is a most attractive one, including selections for violin by such renowned composers as Wieniawski, JVietixternps, and others. Miss Celia will have as accompanyists Miss Hathorly (harp) and Mrs Greenwood (piano), and will be assisted by leading amateur vocalists. We hope that for so praiseworthy an object, the Hall will not only be well filled, but crowded. In speaking to the toast of, "The Wanganui Meat Freezing Company " at tTSf-opening of the Aramoho Freezing Works yesterday, Mr Davia Peat, in a sensible speech, pointed out the great benefits the distriot baa derived from the establishment of tho works at Castleclifi, Population had increased, and the back oountry haa been opened up and settled. The people of Wangauui haa every reason to be proud of the Wanganui Fceezing Company and the men at the head of it. Ho himself had not given one iota to help them, but confessed he should have aone so. Mr Ewen Campbell (chairman of the Wanganui Freezing Company) pointed oat that an impression had got abroad that they hod tried to injure Ml 1 Mitchell. Such' was far from tbe case, as tho com- j pany he represented haa no feeling whatever against him. He assured those present that nearly everyone connected with the oompany was ten times more a settler than a shareholder ; an 3, therefore, if Mr Mitchell's works benefited the settler, there could not possibly be any reason to complain. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M., Fred Potto was fined 10s, in default four days' hard labour, for drunkenness, and for a similar offence William Collins was fined 20s, in default 48 hours' hard labour. Henry Charles Smith was remanded to Wellington to Ist June on a charge of stealing a cheque for £9 3s 6d, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Wanganui. Accused was admitted to bail, in his own recognisance of £100 and two sureties of £50 each. Patrick Hurley was charged with wilfully damaging a win3ow of the valije of 10s, the property of Ada Ashdown. Evidence was given to the effect that on the evening of the Queen's Birthday a person threw a bottle through tho w«dow, which struck one of the boarders ana knocked over the lamp. Just previous to the bottle being thrown Borne one said " I see you now ; you know me, Agnes. Good night." Four witnesses swore to the voice being that of accused, although the night was too dark to see him, and another witness stated that he met him in the Avenue about ten minutes after tho occurrence. For the defence three witnesses were called, who stated that accused was at home about the time of the disturbance. The Magistrate said he had no doubt accused was guilty, and inflicted a fine of £1, with costs 18s, aamnges 17s 6d, ana oounsel's fee 21s. Mr Hogg appeared for the informant ana Mr Lloya for the defendant.

A boxing con'fcgt has been arranged between Dummy Mace, tfatf Australian light weight champion, aud the Wellington boxer, C. Kichardson. The evenj &W t>ean fixed to take ptece in about hv"tf weeks' time. Tie Salvation Army to-morrow have special services announced. For the eYehi'fig Westing (7 p.m.) there is announced special Jubilee singing, with instrumental accompaniment) including banjo. The officers, Adjutant .and Mrs Rowley, are in charge of the proceedings till (Jay. Bill Se£foto»n. the New ZealAnder, is now a partner 1 With Stave O'Donnell in a aaloon at YonkeTft', $W York, called the I Troy House, t/p do hiSat fl&tm fleffernan idd liot received tbe nfoiiey (S6G dollars) &a& te hjro l asjbhe poser's eha of tbe purse A despatch f rom' StootMVrf stiXeb that Herr J. Stadling, who accompanied Berr Andrea's expedition to Spitzbergen in 18SW, hag been appointed by the Swedish Anthrtfpolcgical and Geographical Society to undertake tt search through Siberia in order to make liTcfnJriea as to the fate of Herr Andree's balio6tt expedition. For this purpose Herr Stadhng has received the Vega stipendium from the socfety/ He will start with a companion from Stockholm early in April, ana the journey wiff last probably until January next. Captain JEdwin' 'wired 12.31 to-day:— Wind strong from between north-west and west and south at all places northward Of East Cape, Taupo, and Wanganui, and also in the South Island, with gal(s froto between south nn3 west on the Eaa't Cba9t between East Cape anil Cast'ep'oifat; barometer rise everywhere; sea heaVy oif all Western Coast and on East Coast bedwatffr Eaikoura and East Cape, moderating elsdtflKJre } tides generally decreasing, but continue gctocf on East Coast between Napier and East Gaps!, The executors in the estate of tits late Mrs Nathan, of Glasgow Street, hava entrusted to Mr J. H. Keesing the sale by auction of the whole of the valuable f uraiture and effects of the household. In another column appears an advertisement of the sale, whioh talies place on Wednesday next, and the catalogue being Jextensive and tbo days short the auctioneer will commence at 11 o'clock in the morning. The phoeton and more should fina ready purchasers, ai the turnout is a most desirable one for family use. There are two pianos ancf three 1 suites of furniture to choose from, besides every item necessary to furnish a complete household. A funny story is current in Fans concerning the expedition of Lieut. Baron Hourst to the Niger River. He took with him a number of colored pictures of JFre* sident Fauro, in whioh he was shown wearing an eyeglass. The dusky Babbaras ladies had never seen an eyeglass before and their enthusiasm for the French President knew no bounds. This lea an unscrupulous Parisian servant of the baron to conceive th» bright idea of wearing an eveyglass himself in order to show the French ruler in life. The result was that many of the native ladie3 forsook their lawful lords and followed him. Then followed a lively aemonstration on the part of the jealous chiefs. The photographs of the deputy Presiaent baa to be suppressed in haste, and the expedition beat a speedy retreat to the sea coast, l its object thus frustrated^by, the means of a monocle. A youthful member of a theatrical company that was oncp hopelessly stranded in a Queensland mining township, tells a strange story of tho means he adopted to raise the necessary cash to get himself .and his fneuds back to Brisbahe. The lyoung man had been playing heroines in tho aramas produced by the co-operative company, their only female star having deserted them two towns back. The show failed miserably at the last pitch, ana when the lanaiora presented his bill there was not a cent to meet it. Recriminations and bad language followed, but iv tho miast of his excitement the lanaiora eoncoivea a brilliaut idea. " See here," he Biiid to our hero, " you made a slap up girl in the sho<v last night : after the rig, and make yourself a blonde, and I'll give you a job as barmaid." Tha actor objeefcea at first but eventually agreed, and worked in the bar for a wags of £4 a 'week. "He offered me five to stay," says the young man, " but I had run out, of oomplexion at the end of a month, and several proposals were pend- j ing, sol was glad to clear." |