THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, MAY 9, 1881.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 9 May 1881, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, MAY 9, 1881.

A meeting of the officers of tbe Fire Brigade will be held this evening, at the Club Hotel, for the purpose of considering ways and means for procuring uniforms for the brigade members. Captain Collings staled at the practice on Friday evening that there was every likelihood of tbe insurance companies continuing their subsidies to the brigade. The charge against M'Gahey was concluded on the Magistrate's Court on Friday last. The evidence adduced was the same as that given before the Coroner's inquest. At the close, in answer to the usual question from the Bench, the accused said "All I have got to say is that I am not guilty, and I prefer reserving any defence for my trial." Prisoner was then committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Hokitika, in September next, and will be removed in tbe meantime for safe enstody to the central prison at Hokitika. The whole of the witnesses (some twenty in number) were then bound over to appear at the trial in Hokitika, and the Court adjourned. Tho cup of sorrow would seem to be full to tbe brim for Mrs John Williams of Fern Flat. It is only a few days ago tbat we had to record the sudden death of her husband, and we have now to announce the death also of her second eldest son, Walter Williams — aged, 20 years. It would appear that the boy has been unwell since his father's death, and on Thursday last the case took a more serious turn, when Dr. Thorpe was called in, but the sufferer was beyond relief, and died during Friday night last. The funeral took place yesterday. We have since learnt that Mrs Williams herself is dangerously ill, and much sympathy is expressed- for htr in the sud bereavement she has sustained. The Assessment Court sat yesterday when a largo number pf fresh applications, and ob« jections were dealt with. The proceedings occupied nearly the whole of the day, but were not of special importance. There was a perceptible change in the weather on Saturday last, the glass falling suddenly to almost snow temperature. Yesterday morning the highest peaks of the surrounding hills, showed a luxuriant top dressing. Notwithstanding the whioh was lately made through the Press Association of the reported determination of the Government to introduce a Bill next session to authorise land grants for railway construes tion, we now learn, from a Well informed source, that the report is perfectly correct, and that such a measure will be introduced at the next Patliament by the Government. Tbe denial referred to is true only in the resa pect tbat the Government have made no authorised public declaration of their intention, but a private understanding to tbat effect has been arrived at by the members of the Cabinet. Of course, the questions opens up such wi le possibilities that it is only natural that the Premier should be guarded in committing the Government in the matter of details, and hence it is that the misapprehension has arisen. So far as is yet known the contemplated Bill will be limited in its application to two trunk lines, namely, one in the North, and one in the South Island, there being a strong feeling against the extension broad cast of the principle of land concession, the belief being that it would lead to the flooding of the colony with small railway companies. , J Tho next sitting of the District Cour^ at j Beefton will be held on the 23rd instant. We understand that a sum of £7 was subscribed in Reefton for the woman M'Crahey, and she has sircoleft for Westport. We learn that tbe promoters of the East and West Coast Railway took prompt action with regard to Mr Bnyfeild'e recent applications for a thousand acres of mineral lands in the upper Inangahua. Upon intelligence reaching them of the application, Mr T, S. U eston ard Mr E. Wickes at once communi* eated with the Premier, renewing a suggestion made by them to the Government in January last, that tbe whole of the Crown Lands fringing the railway line between Reefton and Christchurch should be reserved from sale or disposition pending a settlement of the concessions asked for by the company. The Premier forwarded an immediate reply to 3^r Weston, Chairman of the Promoters Committee, stating that the Government would at once communicate wilh the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson on. tbe subject, and this has, we believe, since been done. Tbe two Chinese stores in Reefton seem to be driving a very respectable business, several heavy con-jitpmieuts of goods having lately ■wvri'X'd fov each. There nre aow between

five and six hundred Chinamen in the Inangshua, and the bulk Of the supplies for them will pass through the hands of the two business places referred to, Rice is supplied at 3d per lb, and is packed out to the customers, huts at that figure. The Chinese stores are also largely patronised by Europeans. Concerning the future of the Transvaal a correspondent in a London evening paper wrties as follows : — • Do the Britsh public realise that thehanding back of the Transvaal to Boer rule means the giving over of one and a half million natives to practical slavery? From the duy in 1878 when the British flag was hoisted at Pretoral the natives of the Transvaal have been free — free to go where they liked, work for whom they liked, and ask what wages they liked. Their lives were also safe. AH this wiir be at an end if we hand the country back to the tender mercies of the Boers. I am quite sure that the Boers will never agree to any. terms which guarantee the lives, the liberties^ and the rights of the Natives. Are we prepared to take the responsibility of leaving the Natives of the Transvaal unprotected ? This is a question which must bo considered and 'answered before we talk of giving back the Transvaal to the Boers. lam susprised and rather indignant, thafHhe Aborigines' Protection Society and .tho Anti-Slavery Society have not justified, their existence and their subcription list by coming forward at this crisis and enlightening publio opinion. Aud again, where is Dr Colenso ? where is Lord Shaftesbury ? And where are all the other philanthropists who were always standing np for the Zulus ?' The Marlborough Express with sincere conviction prints the following paragraph : — Predictions concering the near approach of the end of the world are multiplying on our hards. Dr Wild, of Toronto, gave the earth qnite a few years to exist, but a scientist of Washington has knocked spots out of this reverend preacher. He says there is an immense black block moving about somewhere in space which is soon to come in contact with our earth and knock it into smithereens or a cocked hat. Now then is the time for the subscribers of the 'iTrue witness ' (and Marlborough Express) to come along and go into space with our receipts in their pockets. tyr Stevens, one of the members for Christ-.. • church, In his recent? address to Ijis con-; stituents, estimated that there would be a total deficit for the past year of about £130, 000, The Colonial Treasurer at the beginning of the period estimated the amount somewhat higer. .-* iTbe Ashburton Guardian strongly recommends the cultivation of the sun-flower on a large scale, as the seeds iv their natural state are good feed for poultry and pigs, and when roasted are said to be an excellent substitute for coffee j crushed they yield a very valuable oil, and the refuse makes excellent oil, cake for cattle; the stalks furnish a good fibre, and the blossoms a brilliant yellow dye. A man named Francis Bumsey, who, it will be remembered, was tried and acquitted at last session of the Supreme Court on a charge ; of attempting to posion a Maori girl named te Ore Ore, paraded the streets recently wearing a white calico overall, something like a certain article of female underclothing, with the following inscription on the back and front painted in ink : — " Bumsey, the Otaki martyr, and victim of police persecution.' Fourteen charges in niue months. Police paid £3 3s for witnesses to get me fined ss*, Every case brought before the B.M. Court was dismissed." This rather singular method of seeking redress for injuries from tbe ' powers that be ' caused the'self-appointed sandwich man to be surrounded by a large number of persons who greedily and sympathisingly listened to his tale of woe. The match for'the'walking championship of Victoria,, which, resulted in a victory for J. Mi O'Connor,- a recent resident of Christchurch, is thus described by the Melbourne Sportsman of March 16th : — " A good many people assembled at the "Hippodrome on Saturday night to witness the match, O'Connor v. Cann, for tbe Gatehouse Champion Belt. Excitement ran high, as in the event of Cann being successful, he would have bes come the permanent holder, having won the belt twice before. The men went away with the rapid dash for which they are both celebrated j but we are sorry to say Cann's style of walking was not considered fair by the judge and referees, and he was accordingly disqualified Fortunately, however, in the interests of true sport, the men continued walking, and tho victory ultimately fell to O'Connor by less than a yard. Baker, Edwards, and other good authorities present characterise the race as one of the fastest sevensmile contests they ever witnessed, and although we were unable to find any one who had taken the exact time, the general average wa3 between 53min. and slmin. O'Connor, threfore, is at present the holder, 'but has been challenged by Cann for the 21st at the Hippodrome." At a benefit given to an old pedestrian subsequent to this match, O'Connor walked a mile in 7min.ssec, which, as the track was very heavy, is stated to have been wonderfully good time. Swan, a Christchurch man, on tho same occasion, completed 112 miles within 24 hours. With reference to the action for libel by Mr Hurst, M.H.8., against the Free Lance, the following is the evidence given by the prosecutor, at j the Magisterial inquiry: — William John Hurst deposed : I reside at Lake Takapuna. Am a merchant and Justice of the Peace and a member of the House of Representatives. I have seen and read the article which appeared in the Auckland Free Lance of March 19th, 1881. The W. J. Hurst referred to in that article is myself. My name very frequently appeared in other publications of the Free Lance. I know the defendant John Dickson Wickham. I have spoken frequently to him about my name appearing in the^ Free. Lance. I spoke to him because I supposed him to be the writer of theso articles. He never denied being connected with tho Free Lance, but infcrentially admitted it. He applied to me for advertise* mentb for tb.3 Aucklanl Free Lance rep cut-

edly. This was long previous to the 19ih March, 1881. I never gave hitn an advertises mcht. He made many observations in consequence of my not doing so, generally that he would make it exceedingly hot for me if I did not give him advertisements. But on two occasions he used violent language. Once he said, "T will ruin you socially and politically unless you give me advertisements." On tho second occasion it was after some article appeared against me of a somewhat severe character. I remonstrated with him, | and then he said, " I told you what I would do with you unless you gave me tbat ad" (meaning advertisement), and used "similar language to what he hud used before. This was some months ago. He has not yet com.-. pclled me to give him an advertisement. I have never spoken to him about the art : cle of the 19th March, 1881. The article charges me with three distinct acts— incendiary, theft, andiraudulout bankruptcy. With regard to the first, on two occasions the premises: owned or occupied by me were burnt by fire j I was not OB the premises when they were destroyed, nor for hours before, I did not set fire to them or prooure any one else to do so, most certainly not. I never had any knowledge as to who set them ou fire. There was an inquest held at the -time (18 year?. ago). The, verdict wftsl^ANo evidence to show how the fire Wigiiffie^ I have no recollection of being accused in Queen street of incendiary. I was never charged in Court. Some drunken man may have made such a charge, but I have no distinct recollection of it. If it was, it was made at electioneering time. I slept in an hotel one night, and saw a specimen in the proprietor's hands which I would value at £2 or £3. The following morning the proprietor, to whon I was then a stranger, asked me if I had the specimen tbat he remembered he had shown to me the night before. This was while I was in bed. I was the last person he remembered showing it to. I never took the specimen, and know nothing about it. The owner of it was there and was in a state of intoxication when showing the specimen jround. This was about eighteen or nineteen yearaJago.£| I made an arrangement with my creditors in, I think, 1870, owing to the adversity of others. I made an arrangement to pay my then creditors 3s 6d in the £. wh ! ch I paid them. I obtained a re» lease iv full from them, with, I think, two exceptions; 1-hava paid ajl those creditors 20s in the £ j that payment of 3s 6d -Was according to my books all that the creditors' accountant stated I was able to pay. I did not stock an estate with imported pigs and cattle out of money which should have gone to my creditors. I have never reoeived any consideration for my vote in the House of Representatives. I have never heard such a matter mooted. The Westport Times says :•— Some time ago a press telegram informed onr readers of the injury caused by fire to St. Mary's Church, Nelson, It now appears that *he damage is i much greater thau was at first supposed. The Church is completely gutted, and practi- j cally uselej^ and it has been decided, after taking the opinion of three experts, to'abandon any intention of repairing it and to build an entirely new Church. Then all tbe vestments and sacred vessels are totally destroyed ; the only thing saved was the'Ciborium containing tbe Blessed Sacrament, and this, although exposed to the fiercest fury of the flames, was found' after the fire was extinguished, absolutely untouched. Even the heavy brass candlesticks standing on either side of the tabernacle were melted away, even the tabernacle itself and the altar reduced to ashes. The loss is a great blow to Rev. j Father Garin, who saw all the results of years of patient self denial swept away in a few minutes, and there is a strong feeling of sympathy ior the venerable priest on the I part of all classes and creeds, by whom he is ; universally respected. Bishop Moran, we hear, offered at once all the assistance in his power, and Bishop Redwood has specially i authorised the Rev. Father Mahoney to visit the different parts of the diocease to collect ! subscriptions. Tho Bishop was in his young j days a pupil of Father Garin's, and there are many young men on the West Coast who owe their early lessons in virtue to this venerated priest, Father Garin has all his life been jSeCuliarly solicitious for the education of the young, and especially the destitute and orphans. One of his latest acts has been the establishment of an Industrial School at Nelson under the • Negleoted and Criminal Children's Act,' in addition to the excellent Orpbangeß already existing there. These institutions have been so successful as to call for immediate enlargement, but the necessity for at once erecting a new Cburch will, unloss charitable persons come generously forward, put back the school buildings. The Rev. Father Mahoney. who is expected in West" port thia week, is not unknown here, having acted , for some time as priest of St. Canice!s during the absence of Rev, Father Walsh. He is father Garin's able and respected coadjutor in the works of public beneficence for which Salary's, Nelson, is justly celebrated.