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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1184, 25 September 1882, Page 2

We again remind our readers that the adjourned meeting of the Railway Committee will bo held to-night, at the Council Chambers, the hour being fixed for 8 o'clock.

Tho County Council will hold their ordinary meeting on Wednesday. Amongst other business will bo tho reception of the competitive plans for a Roefton water supply, for tho best of which a premium of £50 will be given.

The effect of the late bad weather has been to render some of the footpaths almost impassable, and nearly ankle deep in mud and water. This is especially the case in some poi'tions of upper Broadway, the residents in which locality grumble loudly, and with cause. Surely the County Council will see to tlic matter, for a few loads of gravel in many places would remove all causes of complaint.

A meeting of the lleefton Jockey Club was held on Friday evening last, for the purpose of considering a letter received from the Greymouth Jockey Club, and also for arranging with relation to necessary improvements in the Grand Stand prior to the next meeting. Tho Greymouth Club suggested that the three clubs of lieefton, Greymouth, and Hokitika, should .agree to appoint each a delegate, and that the trio should bo handicappera for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year's meetings. The members present c >rdially concurred in tho proposition, and the Secretary was instructed to notify Gveymouth to that effect. There is no doubt that the proposal will commend itself to every one, and the Club were wise in adopting it. Owners of horses will be far better satisfied than if local handicappursonly were appointed. With respect to the Stand, it was resolved to raise the present seats some feet, and put iron over the booths so as to render them weather" proof. Tho condition of tho course was also mentioned, and steps taken for its improvement. Some other unimportant business was done, and the meeting, which was well attended, then

adjourned

It may not be generally known that t 7 ie line of railway from Ainborley south wards has been completed to Waikari, and surveyed "and "aoT>ut*'to' be built to the Hurunui. It has also been surveyed to tho Ifcd. Post, reference to which is made in another column. These facts may be of service, perhaps, to some of those interested in railway matters.

Very little encouragement is offered to breeders of stock in. this island within a travelling distance. Mr Fowler, of the Amuri, brought a draft of excellent cattle, handy weights too, during last week, and they were offered at auction on Friday. There were 20 brought under the hammer by Mr H. G. Hankin, but of these only three purchased, though a small Wanganui mob of ten head were readily disposed of. Mr Fowler, not to be done, sold a number of the bullocks singly to hotel keepers and othei'3, and at prices which left his customers very well satisfied with their bargains.

The weather of the last few days Iws been most abominable, rain in torrents falling almost continuously in the township, and snow in the ranges. As a matter of course no coaches could possibly get through, and we have been isolated in consequence, neither mails or passengers being able to reach or depart for Westport The lately arrived San'Fmncisco mail has been thus delayed, though despatched with promptitude from Wellington for the Coast, and business generally of all descriptions has been paralysed. Tho Inangahua has been high but not dangerously so, and the protection works have stood the strain on them well. This is the equinox, and settled weather for a short time is not to be expected. The glass on Friday was very low. It went up a little on Saturday, but fell again in the afternoon. On Friday night, the heaviest thunderstorm that, has visited the district* for some time occurred.

Telegrams from Sydney report the entire destruction of the building lately known as the Garden Palace, but formerly the Great Exhibition building, and in it moat unfortunately, ci large number of oftieial records, and o- most valuable collection of mineral specimens in the Museum were all consumed, and the losses occasioned by the conflagration are said to be irreparable. The fire was first seen at 5 a.m. on Friday, but it must have been burning some time before discovery, as the dome of the building foil within a very short time of the alarm being raised. At present' only brief telegraphic particulars are to hand, but it ia probable that the damage is even larger than the present estimate, when fairly computed. : The Sydney people were justly proud of their Garden Palace and its contents, and it is a matter for sincere regret that both have come to such a disastrous an end.

' The Grey Star is responsible for the following :—Among the "queer thin; a " •said in the House during the late session of Parliament is one bright idea uttered by Air Htirsthousc. During a discussion on the Biil relating to the registration of

births, this gentleman complained that it did not moot his r>jina which he stated to bo as follows: — Owiii" to the religious scruples of his parents he had never been baptised, and remained unregistered until that day. Now he wanted to ascertain how ho was going to let tho world know whether he was really born or not." V West; Coast member insinuated that unregistered puppies were generally despatched in a.)' 'summary manner, but thought the member for N'otucka was too old a dog to bo slaughtered in that fashion.

Tho leading editorial article in the Morning Post says :— "The behaviour of the American Admiral and his men n.t Alexandria is beyond all praise. Amid diplomatic protests, European concerts and conferences, and naval demonstrations of imbecility, it is refreshing to find a commander who is able and willing, on his own apcount, to say what he thinks and do what he says. Sixty marines, physically speaking, could not do much, but there is a way of giving support which quadruples its value. The conduct of the Americans during that night of alarm, when it was thought that Arabi Pasha was coining, contrasts remarkably with that ol the French and

Italians."

A sale by auction of mining scrip, was held on Saturday, in tho intestate estate of Peter Isted, Mr Bowman was the auctioneer, but in his necessary absence through illness, Mr H. G. Hankin conducted the sale on his behalf. The following prices were realised :— Hopeful Extended 7s ; Southern Cross Is ; Brutus 2d ; Imperials, 7s Gd ; Alpines, 15s Gd, 17s ; Homeward Bound, 9s.

Tho Westport coach, made an attempt to keep time on Friday last, but on reachin M'Leocls could not cross, and had to return. On Saturday the weather did not improve, and no start was made. To-day however it is probable that the coach will come in, and will be more than usually laden, a large portion of the Frisco, inward mail being part of its cargo.

A rather serious accident occurred to Mr Crabb, the contractor for work in the Caledonian mine, a day or two ago. A piece of steel that became detatched from the pick he was using, through a blow on a stone, struck him in the eye, and became firmly embedded there, at least his medical adviser, Dr. Collins thinks so, such injury, at any rate, has been done that it is highly probable the sight will be

lost utterly, and certainly greatly affected,

Greatly to the surprise of the Keefton people, the Greymouth coach came through on Saturday last, though a trifle after its usual time. The rain had been so incessant and heavy, (hat the rivers were- greatly swollen, and it was with great difficulty that tho coach made its way. The Nelson Creek ford was exceptionally bad, and tho water washed over the back of one of the horses, so it may be guessed how uncertain footing must have been. At tho Little Grey, tho driver, Go.orgo M'-XVilliam, enlisted the services of four of tSj^ horses in Mitchell's waggon team to cross^the coach-with, and these monsters, despi^p the heavy fresh, took the vehicle over in perfect safety, and with tho greatest ease. The road there though heavy, was not dangerous, and the coach came in as stated. The greatest credit is due to the firm, and to M 'William in particular, for the plucky and energetic way in which the trip was

carried out.

Mr G. Welbura, of Woolsthorpe, communicates the following remarkable incident to the Grantham Journal. On Sunday, May 14, a most extraordinary occurrence was observed about one p.m., in a field near the Cliff Wood, V\ oolsthorpe. A terrier dog was seen to approach within about three yards of a hare, and halt, when to the surprise and .astonishment of two witnesses, tho hare made a rush at the dog, who instantly turned tail, and was pursued by the hare. After running thirty or forty yards the dog again stopped, but, on the hare coming up, the dog fled with much celerity. These alternate chases and pauses were repeated five or six times, until, by the proximity of tho dog and hare to those who were watching their manrcuvres, the hare ceased its pursuit of the dog, and took off into the Cliil" Wood— doubtless to tho great relief of the clog. The above is a very rare, or perhaps, altogether un-heard-of example of audacity on the part

of a hare,

The Bishop of Auckland gave an interesting lecture before the Young Men's Christian Association the other day on his experiences of University life at Cambridge thirty years ago. The bishop, it appears, was a great rowing man at that time, and lie mentioned that among those who rowed in the same boat with him wer«J,ho present Postmaster-Gom-ral of Gre^t Britain (Mr Faweett), the late Sir William Palliser, of shot and shell fame, and/fylr Leslie Stephen, the litterateur. ' ,•; The Western Mercury and Somersetshire Herald, of July 1, contains the following items of news, which will be of interest to many Somersetshire settlers in the colony, and also to the many friends of Mr F. D. liich, who is so well known in New' Zealand : — "The tower . f.f Bleadon Church, which has presented for some time a rather dilapidated appearance has just been restored under the supjrintendauco of Robt. Council, of Uphill. The pinnacle has been partly rebuilt, and the vane, after being re-gilt, has been placed in its former position. The woi thy rector and his parishioners have proposed making these improvements for a considerable time, but owing to the want of funds, the work could not be carried out. A few weeks ago, however, there appeared on the scene an old Bleadonian F. D. Ivich by name, who, af-er spending upwards of 40 years in New Zealand, l>aretuniw'd to the home of his youth

Seeing the need of repairs, and having a generous heart, he at once handed to Mr Thomas Durston a sum of money, which ' was more than suflicic-nt to place the old j t«»wer in a stato of repair. The same gentleman has remembered the aged poor of the parish, and has liberally given to such as were in need. All honour to men of the wealthy type ; we want more of them ; men who not only possess the means, but. also the will to help their less fortunate brethren."