LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3119, 9 February 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

♦ The General Election. — The official declaration of the poll will take place tomorrow, at noon. Magisterial. — In consequeno of the Maori elections, the Eesidonb Magistrate's Court will be closed on Monday next. The Hon. Mr Fox returned to town the day before ye&terday from the West Coast. The "Evening Post," and other opposition papers, will be delighted to hear that his health is completely restored. The travelling ticket for the Sea of Galilee, "which the " Post" informed its readers he had taken, has, wo | understand, been kindly transferred by him to j the Hon. J. C£ Richmond, whom Mr Travers will accompany as travelling " commissionaire" and valet. The Aetilleey Band. — Our attention has been called to the fact that, in noticing the proceedings on Tuesday laßt in connection with the City election, we incorrectly associated with the turn-out of the Fire Brigade the name of the Garrison Band instead of the Artillery Band. Both bands took part in the rejoicings during the evening, but separately ; and the Artillery Band not only performed outside of the residence of Mr Pearce, but also showed the like honor to his colleague Mr Hunter. Several of the most prominent supporters of the successful condidatea were also serenaded in their houses by the same band that evening. Volunteer Appointments. — In a Gazette published on Tuesday, we notice the follow' ing : — In the Wanganui Veteran Volunteers — Ensign William Kells to be Captain. Date of commission, 29th December, 1870. John Foster Kells to be Ensign. Date of commission, 29th December, 1870. In the WellingI ton Grammar School Riflo Volunteer Cadets — William Hackworth to be Honorary Ensign. Dute of commission, Ist Feb., 1871. £>ifle Shooting.— The return match between the Karori and Makara Volunteers came off at the Karori Butts on the 7th, when the Karorians were again victorious by thirtyeight points. Tho ranges were 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards, five Bhots at eaoh range, no sighting Bkot. Tho highest score made on the Karori side was by H. Allington, 57 ; on tho Makara, by J. Eagle, 45. In the former match the Karorians won by 108 points. Amateur Performance. — We have to correct an error inadvertently made in our Tuesday morning's issue, in announcing the performance as to take placo on Wednosduy. The first performance will be to-morrow (Friday), and tho second on Wednesday in next week, and we have been desired to notify that tickets to admit on both occasions can bo obtained at the reduced ruto of six shillings, which is surely cheap enough. Tho great expense to

which the company has been put in placing the pieces properly on the stage, we are assured, can, at the present low prices, only bo covered by crowded houses on each night, and we hope it may be bo. The Last of the Puppets. — The last farce in the election contest was played out yesterterday, when Mr Gordon's gallery of puppets was knocked down by the auctioneer's hammer. The sale afforded considerable amusement to those who attended, and the interchange of jibe and jest stirred up a lively competition, and the result must have been both profitable and gratifying to the proprietor, though the prices realised by the caricatures evidenced in no way the popularity of the originals at tho poll, as Martin, who figured lasfc on the list on election day, had the satisfaction of seeing the sketch of himself and horso creato tho keenest bidding, being knocked down for 158, more than double the price fetched by any other individual portrait. The trio of the "Ark" stood very low in the competition, being handed over for half-a-crown ; while the political harlequin commanded 3s, though the purchaser of the latter evidently thought he had secured a gem, as he hastily stripped it from the wall, and vanished instanter. The others were knocked down at various pricos, ranging from 2s 3d to 7s. Mr Thomas was the auctioneer. Meteoh and Eaethqtjakb. — An Adelaide paper of the 14th ult. says: — On Thursday evening about 9.25, a splendid meteor or shooting star was observed at Mount Eemarkable passing across thehoavens from the north. When it appeared to drop, a peculiar booming sound was heard, something resembling distant artillery, shaking fcheground, and this continued for Borne seconds. Our Port Augusta correspondent also sends a description corroborating the foregoing from Melrose, but adds that a slight shock of earthquake was felt afc Beautiful Valley. New Zealand Wine is the latest novelty. It may not be generally known that a settler at Mangawai, near Auckland, has for some years past been engaged in making wine from grapes ofownhis growing. Last seaßonthisgentlemau, whose name wo believe is Mr Albert, produced some 400 gallons of wine, which he disposed of to settlers in the Mangawai district ; and this year he expects to make about 800 gallons. The wine is said to be of excellent quality, considering its want of age. — " West Coast Times." Nettealgia op the Jaw-bones. — Dr Gross, of Philadelphia, describes in the " American Journal of the Medical Sciences " for July, 1870, a form of neuralgia of the jaw-bones, which ho believes has not been previously described. Its seat is in tho remnant of the alveolar process of ondentulous persons, or in the alveolarstructure, and in the overlying Rum ; and it is met with chiefly in old subjects. It is more common in the upper than in the lower jaw, and is generally limited to the bone. The gum is always very hard and dense, grating more or less under the knife, and adhering very firmly to the alveolar process. The pain ia generally paroxysmal ; sometimes it is momentary ;' occasionally it lasts for hours ; and in rare cases it continues indefinitely with but little mitigation. It may be sharp and darting, dull, heavy, aching, boring, or gnawing. Pressure generally relieves rather than aggravates it. In many cases, when it is very severe, thero may be some spaems of the facial muscles. Dr Gross believes that the affection depends on compression of the minute nerves in the alveolar process by the encroachment of osseous matter on their canals. The disease comes on gradually, and proceeds from bad to worse. The general health is eventually impaired. The pain is aggravated, and the paroxysms are prolonged, by whatever tends to lower the vital powers. Sometimes the disease appears to be malarious, the paroxysms coming on periodically. Dr Grosß relates five cases of the disorder, in all of which entire relief was obtained by removing the affected portion of the alveolar process by means of cutting pliers. This ho regards as the only effectual treatment. A mild course of chalybeate tonics may be required afterwards, when tho patient is antemic or affected with indigestion. The Peehs op Missionary Touhs theough thb Bush. — The " Wide Bay and Burnett News," of the 18th December, says : — " The Rev. Mr Layers (Wesleyan minister) returned from a bush tour on Friduy of last week. Wo are sorry to learn that the reverend gentlemen met with an adventure of a very unpleasant character on his way home. On the previous Wednesday morning he left Kilkivan station with the intention of reaching Glenbar. Unfortunately the profuse growth of grass since the late rains had obliterated the track, and our traveller, who was riding one horse and leading another, found about noon that he had lost his way. Many attempts were made to regain it, but unavailingly; and he had at night to camp dinnerless and supperloss by the side of a large creek, which he had run down until stopped by an extensive scrub. After passing a sleepless night watching his horses, he attempted to retrace his steps the next morining, but became involved in the numerous creeks which abound in this mountainous country. At length, as the second day was dosing, he endeavored to regain his camp of the previous night, bufc in vain. Finally, ho decided to camp for the night, but after collecting materials for a fire, he became impressed with the conviction that he ought to go further down the creek. So strong was this feeling that, though worn out with hunger and anxiety, he once more got on his horse and travelled a couple of miles further on. Here he hobbled his horses, made a fire, and fearing that he might neeer again regain his path, proceeded to write a note, when thinking he heard a voice, he cooyed, and was at once answered by a oouple of stockmen, who rode up. It appears that he had travelled down the Munna Creek, to within four miles of Miva station. Tho place where he was, was quite out of the usual route of even the stockmen, who happened quite accidentally to bo driving a bull home from Glenbar that way. From the nature of the country, it is quite likely that had not Mr Layers camped just where he did, ho might have wandered about unable to ride any further. He himself considers his determination to leave his first camp and go on to the second as quite providential. As it wus, he was thoroughly knocked up when he reached the hospitable roof of Mr Atherton.