LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1168, 1 February 1904, Page 5

LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

A Timaru resident recently imported a motor-car that cost him ,£IOOO. - The Austrian population of New Zealand is now 2000. They are going in largely for vine growing in the north. ~ A case 'of aflcgcA kly-grog srlling is likely to occupy the attention of the S.M. Court' at Patea ai the next sitting. Douglas A. Taylor, of Wavcrley, G18; and Frank McComisky, of Patea, 394, have qualified for National Scholarships. The first- form of the new Patea Convent opened .to-day. • The school is in charge of fhe Sisters of St. Joseph's. . The latest addition to the Telephone Tuxchange is' No. 193, M. Hogan and Co., Taupo Quay. It. is rumoured (says the Feilding Star) that Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., is to bo appointed District Court Judge at AA'angauiii, vice Mr Kettle. While a gang of 70 prisoners was being taken . out to work on the roads ' at Hoeburn, West Australia, 13 of. them suddenly bolted. Mr W. H. Triggs, editor of the Christchurch Press, intends leaving for England and America in March. Before returning he will visit the St. Louis' Exposition. By an explosion of acetylene gas at Cape Juquonas, m the south of France, ten persons were killed and seventeen severely injured. A cable from New York states that it is expected that Congress will iucrf>a»e the Naval Estimates. The order includes six first-class fighting ships. During the last quarter of 1903 J641.982 was qollectedin Customs duties in the colony.' , Auckland was highest with .£172.381, Wellington second with £1i31.8<i5, and Dunedin third with .£100,4.93. For the corresponding quarter of 1902 the amount collected was ,£593,030. A few days ago a boy named Connaughton disappeared from his home at Cowra, N.S.W. Search parties and police were looking and dragging dams for some days, but the boy was found on the Goodalong Road', tramping to Forbes. He had made up his mind to abscond from home rather than -go to, school. It -was mentioned in the N.Z. Times: of Tuesday last that an octopus had been captured in Oriental Bay near the spot where cbidren. are in 'the habit of bathing. Oit Friday night a shark 9ft long was captured a little further round the bay, at a place where night and morning men and children by the score are wont to swim. The Maori Queen dredge was recently sold for .£3OO. A good number of Wangauui people were interested in this dredge, which it was hoped would soon be paying handsome dividends to the shareholders. Like a lot of other such ventures on the West .Coast and other parts, however, the results did not justify these anticipations. Lord Dunraven recommends the establishment of a King's College within Dublin University as Catholic in atmosphere as Trinity College is Protestant. A meeting of Catholic laity, in Dublin endorsed tlie principle of Lord Dunravcn's proposals, and the bishops likewise. Mr Redmond insists that the Government should make practical proposals' this session. From all accounts the hop crop in Ihe Nelson district is likely to prove disappointing this season. The dry weather has had an iujurioxis effect, aud thu red spidc-v is reported so prevalent in some gardens that the owners will hardly trouble to pick. AVith'a view of saving K3 much as possible, some have already commenced to pick their crops, but tlie yiold is not expected to bo one-fourth of that of last year. " ' Some excitement has been caused inßcefton by the discovery of some very rich quartz at a newly-opened mine called the Ulster. Tile 'specimens' are* said to be probably as rich as any ever brought into Beefton from . the Inangahua district. Some years ago such a discovery would have set Reefton half craay, but that time has gone by, though applications for shares in a company which is being floated to work the ground in question are coming in very rapidly.

Tho CM ago Daily Times s>ays thM tho inclusion of 'Mr J. A. Millar in the Ministry would be one of the shrewdest ' steps Mr Seddon could take.

An Auckland wire states that the Milchelson Company's little mill has bern burned down at Aoroa, including valuable machinery and timber. Twenty-five men will probably ho thrown out of work.

As a result, says the N.Z. Times, of invitations issued by the powers that be, quite a nufnber of resignations from the public service of the colony are likely to be gazetted next week. Some officers in the Defence Department will be amongst the number.

At Cobra, New South Wales, some boys took the sprags out of three railway waggons standing at the copper mine biding, and let them run down to the dead end. They came into collision with three loaded waggons, and completely wrecked them. Four men working on the line noticed the waggons just in lime to get away.

In defending a moneylenders' claim in the City of London Court, it was stated thai in ]SB(S a clerk borrowed .€2O. He had paid JSIUO by way of interest, and was now summoned for £V>3. Judge Rcntone made an order for the payment of one. farthing per mouth, bo that the debt could be paid iv 10,00.0 years.

Mr Louis Cohen, hon solicitor of the Commercial Travellers' Club, lias kindly consented to read a paper before members of the Club at an early dale. The date and subject will be announced in due cou-rse. Mr Cohen's offer is highly appreciated by tlie members and an intcrc&hng and instructive evening is anticipated.

Tho barque Concordia has been sold ii: London lor about ,£4OOO. The barque, it will be remembered, was cast ashore at Kaipara about two yearn ago, and being abandoned to the underwriters, was purchased by Messrs J. Stewart aud other parties at Holpusville. Being re-flouted, the vpf.eel carae to Auckland and loaded tor London.

The agout of a Npw York resident in London is about to make an offer for the original manuscript of Wilton's "Paradise Lost,' which is now in the hands of Messrs ijiotteeby, Wilkinson aud Ilydgc- for ssilc on bchalt of the 6-ivnor, v Hertfordshire gentleman. A bid of JJSO.OOU will be made for the literary treasure. Tlie British Musaiun authorities ore active in the matter, in order to .secure the treasure for the mauusscript department.

The late Pope Leo acquired a curious habit towards the end of his life (writes a London correspondent) of storing up sums of money in secret hiding places. Some evidence of this was found when his papers were overhauled after his death, and it is now stated tiiat a further sum of about ,431000 in bank .notes from many different countries has been discovered between the leaves of books taken from his library aild distributed among the colleges in Rome.

Miss Noakc, long aud favourably known iv Wellington as a niu'dic-teachei', has now removed to Feilding, where she has taken up her profession. Miss Noakc is the sistei of Colonel Noakc, who occupied a prominent position and did good service in the last Maori war in the AVanganui district. Her removal is a loss to musical circles in Wellington, but will be a gain to Feilding, and her many friends hero feel assured oi' her success in her new location. — N.Z. Times.

According to the Berlin correspondent of the London Advertiser, an undertaker nainfed Swiejkowski has been arrested in singular circumstances. He was instructed to furnish the coffin for the little Princess Elizabeth of Hesse, and upon -being asked, to present his bill lor the work, requested that he should be permitted the title of "Furnisher to the Court." This was construed as an outrage to Boyal sentiment, and led to his arrest.

Some boys were up before the Wellington S.M. on a charge of robbing fruit trees. Said counsel for the accused: "It is part of a boy's prerogative to steal fruit ; it in trivial." His Worship: "I don't think so." His Worship added that there should ba provision to arrest, after a certain hour, groups of live or six boys seen hanging about together. If he was inclined to let any of them off it would be. not the boy at the gate, but the boy up the tree, who took the more onerous part of the business. His Worship fined the older and principal offenders each 10s. '

A good story is told of an American revivalist who visited Glasgow some months ago. To a vast congregation the preaching evangelist cried: "Now, all you good people who mean to go to heaven with me, stand up!" With "a surge of enthusiasm the audience .sprang to their feet — all but an old Scotchman in the front row, who .sat still. The horrified evangelist wrung his hands, and, addressing him, said, "My good man, my good man, don't you want to go to heaven?" Clear and deliberate came the answer, "Aye, Awm gongin' but \vi'. a pairsonally conducted pairty !"

The deaths of several cows have been reported from various parts of the" district to the Stock Department, tho cause being apparently inexplicable. Investigations by Mr S: Burton, Government Veterinary Surgeon, have shown that the deaths were caused through lead poisoning. It was discovered that farmers were in tlie habit of painting their buildings, etc., and then throwing the scrapings of the paint pots on the ground. The animals, attracted by the sweetness of the linseed oil with which the paint is mixed, picked it up in sufficient quantities to cause death. Slock owners should take this as a warning, and should bury the scrapings of paint pots. — Exchange.

Hero is a true story, showing that Australia, with New Zealand, well deserves the title of Hie working man's paradise. A tramp landed at a station at sundown and asked for "tucker." He was given ib on condition he chopped wood for half an hour. This he did. He was al&o given a bunk in the shearers* hut. In the night the upper bunk fell on him, breaking his arm. Subsequently, ho ■ sued his "employer." claiming £400 daniages for injuries sustained. The Bench ruled that the man was in the employment of the sta1 ion-owner at the time of the accident, and awarded him iJSO damages. A, very outspoken paper, commenting on the ease, nays: "The lucky plaintiff hasn't seen daylight for a week, lie is able to bend the elbow of his useless arm all right." — Exchange.

A great impression, seems to have been made on the Mosoly Kd neat ion Commission during its lour of investigation through the American schools. Mr Mosely himself vxpccls that the joint report of the commissioners will have a marked effect on English educational methods. "It is my firm belief," ho says, "that the public school system of the United States is the most potential factor in the cnnimercinl siipremjn«y of tho country. Tlioro see-ma to bo no limit to tho willingness of tho people to contribute funds tj> enhance the value of their education. I believe that the commission has achieved its purpose and that splendid results will ensue." A correspondent who accompanied the commission was also struck with the alertness of the Americans on the subject of education, and the •"lavish completeness" with which their principal schools arc equipped. "We at home-, he states, "are moving much more slowly, hampered by the traditions of centuries, and by the lamentable indifference to education that still marks all ranks of society in England."

Mr T. Code, conductor of Hie Melbourne •City Band, has been appointed judge for the Palmerslon Contest.

A social is to be held at the Fire Brigade SlVlion this evening at 9 o'clock for the purpose oi' entertaining the delegates to the late Conference at Tc Aroha.

Members of the Wanganui Guards arc notified that they must obtain 1 licit- rifles ai the orderly room this evening between 7.30 and 8.30.

A first offending inebriate uas fined Gs at Cue Police Court this morning, and a prohibition order was issued against him by consent.

The Railway Dei>;utmenl made a start to-day with tlie work connected with fencing oil" their propt-rty in Hatrick Slrci'l, through which the railway line is to be deviated.

The membership of fhc Wanganui Commercial Travellers' Club has been strengthcued by the addition of fourteen C.T's. from outside districts — Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Sydney— -who joined lust week.

At 9 o'clock this morning the temperature readings at the undermentioned places were as follow: — Auckland 69, Gisborne 64-, Napier fiti, New Plymouth G.^, Wangiinni 64, Wellington 65, Nelson 60, Greymouth GO, Chrislchurch 50, Dunedin 63 and Invcrcargill 50.

Tlie residents of Aramoho arc about to make a definite move to form themselves into a borough. We understand the area will hv from the town boundary to the Old Men's 'Home and to a boundary line on the brow of the surrounding hills which indudcH all the sub-divided land. A preliminary meeting of residents is to be held next week at Aramoho to consider the scheme.

A couple of cases were before thcMagis.tratc's Court this morning of some interest to farmers and others. C. F. Millward and F. B. Brown were charged with allowing blackberries to 1 grow on their properties. Mr Marshall appeared for Mr Millward. r Jhc luspector, Mr ' Duncan Munro, stated that he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty iv either case, as the work of clearing the land of the noxious weeds was almost completed now in both cases, and he therefore asked his Worship (Mr H. Eyre-Kenny, S.M.) to inflict the minimum penalty, which was done, the defendants being fined 10s with 7s costs each.

At cighi o'clock this morning Felix Tanner had completed 372 hours out- of the 501he has undertaken to fast, and he reported himself as fcpling very well this morning, though he admits , having had a bad day yesterday. He finds the effects of the fast as severe on him this time- as they were at the later &lage.> of his 40 days' fast iv Melbourne, and concludes from- this that he ha« had his day and has determined in consequence not to extend this foat over tlie 21 days. He also declares that this- will be the last occasion on which he will attempt a fasting feat. He ha« lost altogeiher about lSlbsin weight, but does not anticipatethat his total loss Avill amount, to move than 2llbs by next Saturday at eight o'clock, when lie. will have completed his self-im-posed Insk. He was visited by a large nuniber on .Saturday evening, and interest- in this feat of endurance ia expected to grow day by day this week.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, be/ore Mr 11. Eyre-Kenny, S.M., judgment went by default in the lollowing cases: — Sash aiid Door Company v Win. Rountree, claim <£l 18fs, costs 8s; M. Anslcy (Mr Gordon) v D. Smiley, claim Xi IHr Id, costs Ids; J. Hit-key (Mr Gordon) vT. Glenn, claim 4>:j, co<;£s 10s ; and A. Uatrick and Co. (Mr Holderness) v J. G . Parkcs, claim .£3B 17s 4d, co.sts X 2 J4s. The following judgment summonses were also dealt with: — G. F. Walker (Mr Watt) v Nepie Tauri, claim Ml 12a. JNo appearance or defendant, who wps ordered to pay the amount forthwith, in default imprisonment in Wanganui gaol. R. Baddcloy and Co. (Mr Gordon) vW. Clianninij, claim =21 10s Gd. .The- defendant did not appear, and an order was made for the mnount to bo paid forthwith in default impribomuent. Dv Porritt v AY. Gardiner, claim ofcS lUs <>d. Mr Gordon for plaintifl. Defendant failed to appear, aud was ordered to pay the amount, iorthwith, in default imprisonment.

There is not a little misapprehension amongst citizens with respect to the width oi' Taupo. Quay ana the decision of the Borough Council to permit the Castlecliff Railway Company, under certain conditions, to deviate their line from their present station opposite the Gasworks up to the Government railway station. As our readers are doubtless aware, a portion of the footpath from Wilhon Street to tlie railway crossing at Churlon Street, has been fenced off, and the Mayor and Council have been blamed for parting with borough rights. As a matter of iact, the footpath from the corner of the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company's pr,emihes near the Bridge to the railway crossing in Churlon fatrcct is and always has been Government property, though for a time a. portion of it was leased to the Harbour Board. When the latter body secured a lease of Ihe land between the station and live bridge they obtained permission to set back the footpaih 14ft, and thus widen tho Quay from (36ft to 8011, which width tlie thoroughfare now is from the bridge to Wilson Street. When the Railway authorities enclosed what appeared to bo a portion ol the footpath between Wileoii Street and the crossing they simply look . in a portion of their own land* which they atalc they require for railway purposes.