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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1079, 26 April 1882, Page 2

The inadequacy of the only measure that can be set in motion by the police to keep the streets from being obstructed, and prevent public danger and incon venienee, the New Munster Ordinance, was shown at the R.M. Court on Monday. Sergeant Neville sued the owner of one of the large eight-horse waggons trading here for obstructing the thoroughfare, by allowing his waggon to stand in Broadway, and his horses to feed around it. He pointed out the obstruction thus ocj easioned, and the danger there was of children being hurt thereby, but Mr Jones, who appeared. , for the defence, took an objection that the information chaTged the defendant with " misbehaviour," and the evidence did not support it. The information was drawn in accordance with the ordinance in question, but the Resident Magistrate held Mr Jones' objection to be fatal, and dismissed the case. However desirable it is to afford every accommodation and assistance to carters and waggoners plying to Reefton, surely there should be some means of preventing them from making the main street their camping ground, and it is by no means improbable that public attention will one day be drawn to the consequences by some serious accident resulting. There are plenty of side streets where no possible harm could ariae, and even if not compelled by law, the good sense of drivers will surely induce them to make use of them. The newly opened coaching line from Nelson to Reefion, as the speediest and best method of reaching the Coast, is rapidly growing in favor, and a large number of persons now travel by this route, . The passenger traffic will be largely increased in summer time, when tho journey will be popular amongst tourists, Mr ReveJ.l on hw late visit

travalle.l in this way. He describes the road a3 very fairly good throughout, but' tho culverts in the Buller County are in a very bad condition, and several are by no means safe. He states that he noticed a very marked difference in this respect on entering the limits of the Inangahua County, where not Only the road is in good repair, but the culverts are all that could be desired. This is a feather in the cap of the County Engineer, Mr Garven, and may he long deserve equal commendation, Mr Alexander M'Kay, an officer in the Geological department, arrived here on Friday last from Wellington. He has come in accordance with a promise made by Mr Rolleston, whilst on his late visit here, for the purpose of critically examining the ores and rocks of the district and reporting upon them. Also to map out the gold and coal bearing formations, and to procure samples o£ minerals of all kinds to constitute the nucleus of a Reefton Museum. Of these he expects to get a very large collection, but doubtlessly the present accommodation in the Survey office is altogether unsuitable and inadequate,. A room at least 16 xl 6is required with proper ahelves, and cases to display the exfiibits- on;' ' If they are stuffed into pigeon holes and not seen, the objects of the Museum, will be altogether defeated. It is suggested that application for a grant should be made through our member, in order that the Museum should really fulfil its intention. He will commence his exploration forthwith, the belt that he proposes to examine extend ing from Boatman's toMerrijigs, but where he will start operations we do not know. Though disguised, as the letter of a correspondent, under a nomde plume, there can be little doubt as to the authorship of the letter of the "The Old Horse appearing in a local contemporary yesterday, in which, first of all, a lot of "rot" in reference to Mr Heslop appears, and in continuation states as gospel truth as pretty a tissue of misrepresentations, to use a mild word, as ever appeared in a newspaper, anent the pains and penalties that the creation of a borough would entail upon various classes. The statements are too ridiculous to call for refutation, and the subject has already been so thoroughly ventilated that further remark is altogether unnecessary. With respect to Mr Heslop however, we fail to see that objecting to hia being paid out of County funds for procuring signatures to a counter petition can be construed, by any other than a person gifted with a highly vivid imagination, into a "cowardly attack". Mr Heslop assures us that he is doing the work out of pure love, and affection, and we are bound to believe him. We must congratulate the County Council on having such a zealous and disinterested officer. With reference to stowing the paragraph in the middle of the local columns instead of jgiving *|J£tfU(&fiG3 above all others, we asflu%ii^^ffl^te^th»t, with all respect fof tne gell||uian .^n^uestion, we hardly think him qTwfcfiK&tne hub of the universe" and the reference to the position of the paragraph is simply "bosh". As the municipality, sooner or later, is sure to be a fact, we are not surprised at these antagonistic to it getting wild, but adhering to the truth is quite as likely to successfully oppose as the opposite course, and at the same time far more creditable whether to victors or vanquished. In conclusion we would suggest to the writer of the letter that he change his cognomen to that of the celebrated quadruped which, according to scriptural history, was formerly the property of a certain Mr Balaam and spoke out its mind to him very freely on an extremely remarkable occasion. The revision of the jury list took place on Monday before Mr Revell, revising officer. There were no objections, and the ceremony lasted only a few minutes. In the Warden's Court on Monday, the following applications were adjourned for survey : — Thames Company, W. Hindi marsh ; Langtry, R. Roulston ; Planet, S. Barr ; Mount Pleasant, J. Barrowman ; Lone Hand, J. Stevenson; Reefton, J. A. Chapman ; Globe, W. Hindmarsh ; Clyde, W. Hindmarsh. Two headraces were granted to the Golden Point Company, one to Ah Coy and party, one to Ah Cum, and one to A. W. Thompson. This was all the business. The want of some place for witnesses to wait till called on at the R.M. and Warden's Courts was keenly felt on Monday last. When the horse case was on there were no less than than the complainant and seven witnesses, in addition to those called for the defence. As is usual on case being entered on all witnesses had to leave the court, though at the time a heavy rain was falling. The examination of all of them occupied a good two hours, and as they came in they presented the appearance of drowned rats. This is altogether too bad. Desirable as it undoubtedly is that witnesses should be excluded from hearing the evidence of those who precede them, it is beyond all reason that they should be turned into the street on a pitilessly inclement day like Monday was. There is no shelter whatever provided, and if some of the unfortunates, who were then exposed, do not have occasion to remember their being called on to give evidence, we » nall be much surprised. Surely the Resident Magistrate or Clerk of the Court could, on days of that kind, give up some room or other, or make such representations to the Government as will induce them to put up some kind of protection. We hope that something will be done and that future witnesses on Court days when bad weather prevails, will not, as an adjunct to giving testimony, have to endure a thorough drenching. Messrs George Wise and W. J. Potts, who were recently appointed to the Commission of the Peace, were duly sworn in before Mr Revell, R.M., on Monday last,

I Tile Exhibition C ommittee, we are glad to say, has telegraphed; 'through its chairman,- to Dr. Hector, head of^the Geologi- ; cal department, asking his permission to j j engage tlie services of jjtr M'Kay nowhere, to aid in procuring minewifl specimens for forwarding to Christchurch in the supplementary collection, of exhibits. There is little doubt that the answer will be favorable, and if so, Mr M 'Kay's assistance will be mostvaluable^and he has very kindly consented, >if leave be granted, to do all that ia possible for the committed. - Owing to the very quick trip that Constable Bamford made to Wellington and back in connection with Green's case, doubt has been expressed" as to whether Green's stomach was ever really taken to Wellington at all. In order to set the matter at rest, wo have obtained the following particulars : — He left by the Westport coach on Saturday morning, the 15th instant, arriving the same afternoon at Westport, and leaving at 8 p.m. by the Lady Bird for Wellington. He arrived in Wellington on Sunday at midnight, and stayed there till Wednesday evening, when he left by the Westport, and arrived iii Westp~oft> at 12 p.m. on Thursday. Ije came Up to Reef ton by the coach on Friday morning, and diet the trip there and back in six days, including nearly three days in Wellington. We would draw the attention of those interested to the fact that a dance will be held in the Oddfellows'JHall, an announcement of which appears in our advertising columns. The County Council will meet this day at 2 o'clock, and has a good deal of business, we understand, to transact. A. letter, as suggested by the Chairman, has been forwarded by the Exhibition Committee, asking for assistance, and there is every prospect of the request being acceded to andi it is to be hoped, in a liberal spirit, j There is iio party in this, it is merely tie union of all to aid in the general good bf the district. The Exhibition Committee will meet this evening, the chief business being to receive the reply of the County Council to their application for a subsidy. All members that can possibly attend are specially requested to do so, as important business will be brought forward^ and promptitude in getting exhibits away is above all things necessary. It has been arranged that the projected concert at Boatman's in aid of the Hospital shall be held on or about the ; 4th of May, and all arrangements have been nearly completed. The Reefton bellringers, and all the available talent here have been secured, and several local singers will also make their appearance on the occasion. A really good entertainment will be provided, and there is every prospect of a crowded house, and a welcome addition to hospital funds. The feud constantly being waged betwaen Messrs Overend and Lynch of Cruehington, bidf fair to rival tho oldnmimosity said to exist between the Montagues ond Capulets of Verona, with which Shakspeare has made us so well acquainted Both parties are small farmers, and for years now have been at variance, taking it in turns apparently, to bring each other to court, at great personal loss of both time and money and to the great enrichment of the R.M. Court's treasury. On Monday the parties occupied the attention of the Resident Magistrate nearly the whole day, Mr Lynch first charging Mr Overend with permitting an entire horse of his to injure his mare, and the latter retaliating by seeking to recover damages done to his cattle by Mr Lynch's bull. The Magistrate assessed Mr Lyncli'a damage at £1, and that of Mr Overend at £2. In Mr Overend's defeat the costs of Court, witnesses, and professional fee — exclusive of his own lawyer— were £7 6s ; the verdict against Mr Lynch involved, also exclusive of his lawyer, £6 12. Thus the pair had the gratification of paying for their vendetta, if each of their own lawyer's guinea fee be included, no less than £16. It is no wonder that Messrs Jones and Lynch "smole smiles" and hoped that their clients would long keep up the game. Whether it be worth so expensive a candle . we doubt. Mr Joseph Cowen, M.P., speaking at Newcastle in February last, adverted to the fact that there were now in Great Britain 400 farms, covering fully 50,000 acres, unoccupied, while an equal number or more were estimated to be let only for rates, repairs, and taxes. In contending for a permanent rent reduction as the only means of coping with foreign competition, Mr Cowen pointed out that agriculture was still the staple trade of the country. There was invested in it a capital of £700,000,000— little short of the amount of our National Debt ; while the capital sunk in mines was only £56,000,000 and in iron works £29,000,000. There were employed in agriculture 3,100,000 persons, while there were occupied in mining of all descriptions — coal as well as metal— l,2oo,ooo, and in our textile manufactures 2,150,000 persons. He maintained that investments in land should be made as negotiable a3 those in the funds. Conclusive testimony to the evils of long hours of labor was- lately borne by Dr Hora, when giving evidence before a commission that has appointed in Victoria to investigate the subject. He stated that he had been a little more than two years in Victoria, and during that time he had many patients who had suffered from long hours. As a club doctor, he had attended 400 or 500 employes in shops. The long hours caused indigestion, and in every way .damaged health. Since the employment of sewing machines ill-health amongst females had tripled. The use of the treadle was very injurious. Some young women worked from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. in restaurants and public-houses. An occurrence took place recently in tlio Auckland Supremo Court which shoul

be a warning to witnesses. AMr Batjcn was bound in recognizances of £100 to appear as a witness. He was called, and did not answer. His Honor ordered that the recognizances be estreated. Later in the day the witness made his appearance, apologising to the Court, and supplicating a reversal of its decision. His Honor (according to the New Zealand Herald replied—l cannot doit. The matter has altogether passed out of my hands. I cannot interfere. Mr Batjen may petition the Government. I have no power in this matter once the recognizances are estreated. Mr Batjen will have to pay £100 unless the Government are merciful. He maybe punished for non-payment. In any case he will be put to great trouble and expense to have the forfeiture reduced."

Mr E. M. Smith, metallurgical engineer, in a letter on the subject of Taranaki iron sand, says: — "If you want steel of the finest quality in the known world, you can make it from the Taranaki iron sand for less than £10 per ton, that would be worth in the English market £60."

A correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald writes thus concerning some gushing descriptive letters published in one of the Auckland papers :— "One lady evidently % blue stocking;' describe* te White Terrace thusly:— 'On beholding the White Terrace amazement expands. I was lost in wonder ! Surely this must be the abode of God S The gates of Heaven !" &c. Perhaps that lady had been reading Revelations in the revised edition of the New Testament. That edition has not reached the wilds of Taupo as yet, but I shall get one as soon as procurable. I have seen Rotomahana and the White Terrace often, and the noises that I heard the steaming vapor, and the stench of sulphur that I smelt, rather put me in mind of the gates of the opposition shop, as described in Revelations, unrevised edition."