LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3196, 11 May 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Featherston Testimonial Committee met at the office of the City Council yesterday afternoon, when a statement of, the amount subscribed and collected was handed in. In discussing the when and how fcho presentation was to be made and the addreßS given, the committee decided to send a deputation to wait upon fche Hon. Mr Gisborno, in order to ascertain afc what; time the Nevada would be certain to leave here, and also to Bee if a half- holiday oould be proclaimed by the Genoral and Provincial Governments, ao as to enable civil servants to take part in the farowell demonstration to Dr. Featherston. Thero was some talk about getting up a breakfast on the occasion, but the matter will not be decided until an answer is received from Mr Gisborne, who will be waited upon to-day at half- past 12. The City Council meet to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'olock. A Runaway Horse, with a spring cart behind hira, startled the people on the beach nofc a little yesterday afternoon. The horse was left standing for a moment in fche upper part of Willis street., and beooming startled, took his way down the street afc a teriffio pace. On reaching Clay Point, tho cart caught the kerbing and capsisod. This sent the animal off afc a tangent, until the other side of fche street pulled hira up, when he took the verandah for it, and, efcrango to say, tho horse kept hia course under the verandah with the cart dragging behind liim. on its side until reaching Mr Thomas' auction room without damage to tho windows or verandah posts. When tho animal stopped, it was found that the axle and a shaft of the cart were broken. Mb S. Atkinson (lato secretary to His Honor Mr Justice Richmond) has entered into partnership with Mr Bell, of Nelson, as barristers and solicitors. Nelson Land Law. — The Provincial Government of Nelson has introduced a bill for amending tho land laws of fche province, co as to admit of tho sale of laud on deferred payments. Accident. — An awkward accident happened on the Queen's wharf yostordny about midday, which nearly resulted iv the braining of one of tho crew of tho schooner Lady Bird. The men wero taking in ballast with a crank winch, when by a misunderstanding or carelessness, the basket was let go, the iron cranks flew round, ono of them striking tho man nocross his brow, sending the poor fellow on the deck senseless und bleeding. Dr Franco wub soon in attendance, and ordered tho sufferer to be taken to the hospital. Lady Bowen, according to the Auckland .pnpers, was indisposed on tho 6th, and could not receive visitors. Fire Buigade. — Tho usual praotice of tbo Wellington Volunteer Firo Brigade took place last evening, when a full muster of members Wire present. Auction Sat.B3. — We have been requested to call attention to Mr Smith's auction sale, which takes place to day at Mr Hunt's Auction Mart. Tlie sale includes groceries, wines, spirits, saddlery, Adelaide grapes, &o. The Goublay Family played laßt night to a very good house. We need nofc Bay that the performance was very entertaining. The impersonation of Scotch oharaoter by Mr Gourlay dieplays most careful study, Mrs G'urlay's singing of several beautiful Scottish songs w»s greatly applauded. The whole entertainment so naturally illustrated Scottish life and character that the Scottish par*, of the audience seemed spell-bound, and forgot for the time that they were not still living in the land ol cakes. We observe that this talented family will appear again on Saturday evening, when we expect thoy will havo a atili larger audience, " and what fur no ?"

Telegbaph Guide.— One of tbe neatest and most compact cards of directions we have seen for some time has just issued from the Government Printing Office. It is called the "New Zealand Telegraph Guide," and contains all the information likely to be required by any one who may have occasion to telegraph. In addition to the list of stations in New Zealand, and fche rate of charges for ordinary telegrams, there is a variety of general information and hints regarding telegraphing, amongst which we may enumerate — "bow telegrams can be posted," "stamped telegrams," " money order telegrams," " foreign telegrams," " complaints," " hours of business," &c. The guide is four small pages, printed on stout cartridge paper, and has a quadruple fold, so that ifc can be carried in a waisfcooafc pookefc like an ordinary card. To Mr Lemon, Generai Manager of fche Telegraph Department, we believe is duo tho credit of this convenient and useful little compilation. Yesterday's Police. — One deliquent was fined 53 for drunkenness. The womon, Ellen M'Donald, who was committed on Monday for stealing a silver watch and gold chain from a fireman named Thomas Hay, was released on bail in her own recognisance of £50, the prosecutor having subsequent to her committal, said he found fche watch and ohain in the lining of his vest. The civil cases were fow and unimportant. St. Mart's School. — We are glad to notice that another of those exceedingly pleasant entertainments which have previously been given in aid of the funds of the abov*e school, is mow in preparation. From our recollection of the enjoyable nature of the last, and the very general favor with which these entertainments havo beon received by the public, we have no doubt this ono (announced for Tuesday next) will be equally ao ; the more so, aB we recog» nise the same fair patronesses. The evening will be pleasantly spent by the help of singing, dancing, a dish of tea and chat, with fche melodious strains of tho Garrison Baud to add fco the general enjoyment. Wb bave to acknowledge the receipt of the "Mineral Statistics of Victoria for 1870." Thb Western Temperance Herald is the title of a penny temperance serial which has^ reached us from England by fche last mail. The publication is a sixteen page magazine, well printed, and well compiled and written, and in these days of cheap printing must be looked on as a marvel of cheapness. Publications Received, — Amongst the publications lately received by us from Melbourne, we have to acknowledge the receipt of several Land Reform League tracts, and a reprint from fche " Leader" on " Free Trade, and what ifc ought to be in a now country." Tho principle advocated by the Land Reform League, which appears also fco be a promoter of protection, is that the State should be the solo owner of the land. Musical. — The Musical Society in connection with the Congregational Ohuroh gave another of their concerts on Tuosday evening, which, as usual, under the leadership of Mr Flood, proved a great success. The schoolroom was crowded with an attentive and appreciative audience, and the different pieces, both Tocal and instrumental, deservedly received great praise. We are glad to observe that the numbers of this useful society have been considerably augmented since tbe last entertainment, and that on each performance & greater degree of excellence is perceptible. Fur. — Greville's Agency despatch from Levuka says that several letters from respectable settlers have appeared in the local journal lately, remarking on the inability of Mr March to fulfil the duties of Consul in a manner creditable fco the British Government. Afc a publtc meeting held on the 26fch April, ifc was determined fco address fche ".Homo Government for his removal. A Mathematical Tutor has been committed for trial on a charge of inciting a printer in tho employ of Messrs Gilbert and Rivington to steal a copy of one of the examination papers of tho Apothecaries' Company, thafc he might the better " coach" his pupils for the approaching examination. Thefts of examination papers are very rare, the offence being in bad repute, the ri*k great, and tbe profit nofc very sure. Perhaps, however, if a man will perpetrate this highly objectionable crime, he cannot do better than follow the example of thafc undergraduate who, tradition says, made his way into the compositors' room in a pair of spotless white trousers, marked where the block of type lay well inked and ready, aud, gently lifting up his coat tails, sat down with an innocent air, taking thus a neat impression of what he wanted to know. Ho committed no felony, though he did much harm to his clothes. The Irony of History. — It is stated thafc the directors of the Paris [Museum and their friends, and tho sick and wounded for whom beds had beon prepared in tho building, lived through the latter portion of the Beige upon good white bread, made oufc of samples of French wheats stored on the occasion of the great exhibition of 1851, for the benefit of tho 'curious, in the galleries of the Conservatoire des Arts, at Metiers. Direct Rrprksentation op Labor. — The London Labor Representative League on the above subject, which concludes as follows, was unanimously agreed to: — "We may call on you, as a paramount and pressing duty, to return qualified men of your order to Parliament. Give us your hearty cooperation, and we pledge ourselveß that this shall be done. Establish branches of the League throughout tho country, knit your members firmly together, and let us try if, by united, friendly, and vigorous action, wo cannot break down a system of class exclusion from Parliament," Sims Reeves brings an action againet the Edinburgh Choral Union for the recovery of 90 guineas, the amount of his fee for singing at the Choral Union concert in Edinburgh in November lasfc. Tho Choral Union refuse to pay fche full fee, on tho ground that the pursuer failed to complete his engagement, haying left the concert before he had sung all tho parts for which he stipulated. The defenders previously offered 60 guineas, but this sum the pupuer declined to accept. Paris and her Sieges.— A correspondent sends us tho following translation, which he has made from " Vossische Zoitung," which reminds one vory much of Yoltair's reference to the same siege : — " The taking of Paris by starvation is by no means new in history. When King Honry IV. was before Paria in tbe year 1590, so wo read in history by De Thou, 11th capitel, page 175, when the terror of tho people had reached its highest degree ; when the want of nourishment had weakened nofc only the inhabitants but also the soldiers so much that wero unable to defend themselves. At that timo nobody knew what I meat was ; tho soldiers had to live on leavos and roots, which fchey hud to dig from underI neath the paving stones. On publio places (market places) and on tho earners of streets were some boilers, rolls, and oatmeal, the only nourishment available. Sioknesß broke out all over the town. More than 12,000 died from starvation in three months. The streets rung again from the groaning of the dying andhungry Bread there wus none. All tlie dpgs were caught and eat, especially by the German inhabitants who were then in . Paris. Parents eat thoir own children, and at last, on the proposal of the Spanish ambassador, commenced to grind up the bone 6 ond skulls of the dead to make biead of ifc ; which, however, they had soon to abandon again, as those who eat of it suffered a worse death than those that died through starvation." ROCHKI'ORT ON TH_ FRENCH AND GERMAN Armiks. — Henri Rooheforfc contrasts the conduct of tho French and German armies'in the following article published in the " Mot d' Ordro" :— The Germans in Franco have shot the mayors of tbe villages whioh could not pay the war contributions levied on them. The French in Mexico hanged patriots who refused to regard seriously the authority of an individual named Baiaine, who has since distinguished himself under fche ramparts of Metz. The Germans have carried off the furniture ot the Chateau of St. Cloud ; the French went as far ao China to steal tho cnamellings and in- o"- : o^»-.ifl 8 0 f t no Summer Palaoo. The

Germans set fire to the corn ricks to prevent all revictualling ; the French in the cam* paignß of Africa cut off the ears of tbe Arab women, to save themselves the trouble of de^"** t aching the rings which hung from them. Our conquerors are not more oruel towards u» than we have been ferocious towards our van* quhmed, and we shall never inveigh more . against the Prussians of 1871 than those of " 1813 did against ue. So long as we shall smoke Africans and plunder the Chinese, we Bhall only have to bow our heads when the Saxons come and take down from our walls our family ' souvenirs. Political groaners have complained repeatedly thafc the Great Powers should h&ve remained indifferent to our disasters. This indifference is still, in my opinion, more than we could expect. They wero perfeofcly entitled to jump for joy, crying out at each of. our defeats, " If ever we are pillaged it will not be these people !" Native Theories op Earthquakes. — There are various theories of tho cause of earthquakes. By a Surat paper we are in- • formed that the uneducated Hindoos there " believe that when the world becomes sinful, the ' Shes Nag' (a kind of serpent), on which . the world stands, turns its side, and hence such shock* of earthquakes are felt." . A correspondent at Gowhatty, in Assam, mentions another popular notion : — " At about 11 p.m. on Friday tho 27th, we were rudely roused from sleep by a heavy shook of earthquake. Ifc seemed as if a giant had jumped on my bungalow. Hence the belief among the natives in Assam that earthquakes are caused by the periodical leap of mountain gods from one mountain to another." — " Bombay Gazette," February 11. Hospitality.— A story is told in Washing- . . ton of a well-known senator, who is notorious for taking two cocktails in succession before breakfast. One morning, while the senator was practising at the " Metropolitan Bar," a friend put to him the pertinent question, " Senator, why do you take two cocktails as a custom ? Won't ono tone you ?" The sena* tor drew himself up : "I will tell you why I - take two cocktails. When I have taken one ifc makes me feel like another man. Well, you see, I'm bound by common courtesy to treat that man, so I take a second." Ages of Men or thb Tims. — • The "Journal de Bruxelles" gives the following interesting statistics of the ages of present eminent men : — M. Thiers is 74 years of age, and succeeds to an Emperor aged 63. The King of Prussia is the same age as Thiers, Von Moltke is 70, Von Roon 68, and Bismark 57 only. Prince Gortschakoff is 71. Lord Russell is nearly 80 : Mr Disraeli, 66 j Mr Gladstone, 63; Guizot, 80; De Remusat, 74; St. Maro Girardin, 70; Dufaure, 73; V. Hugo, 69 ; Cremieux, 75 ; and Jules Favre, 62. The Due de Nemours is 57 years old; the Prince de Joinville, 53; the Duo d'Amaule, 49 ; and the Comte de Chambord, 51. Gambefcfca is only 32, and the Comte do Paris, 33. Jules Simon is aged 57 ; Lord Granville, 56 ; and Louis Blanc, 58. New York Spiritual Manna.— The " New York Herald" introduces its reports of the principal sermons preached in New York on Sunday, February 15, with the following leading lines in prominent type : — " Religious. Yesterday's spiritual manna. The churches and the congregations, fche services and the sermons. The coming Lent. The duty of fche Christian to himself and hia neighbor. The nearness of death, and the glories of eternal life. Theology of all kinds— pungent, philosophical, poetio, profound, and prophetic."