The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1186, 29 September 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1882.

Mails for Australian Colonies, and United Kingdom, via Sydney close at Bluff per " Arawata " on Friday 29th.

The next sitting of the Magistrate's and Warden's Courts here will be held on the sth Qctober. s

Both the Grey and Westport mails got away yesterday morning, the rivers north and south being sufficiently low to allow traffic to be resumed.

We understand that Mr H. G. Hankin, Secretary of the Railway League, has received a communication by wire from Mayor of Christchurch, promising on behalf of the citizens of that place, to most heartily co-operate in furtherance of the objects of the League.

Mr J. Trennery informs us that he has been advised by letter from Melbourne that the Rock-boring machinery for the Keep-it-Dark and Boatman's Tunnel companies was to have been ready for shipment by the 23 September, so that its arrival in Greymouth may be looked for in the course of a fortnight.

Advantage has been taken of the late wet weather, to sluice away the slip on the Black's Point track, and by this means the contractor hopes to get rid of the difficulty which has hitherto retarded the work.

Mr W. Thororgood, farmer, elsewhere announces that the thoroughbred hosse Volunteer will be stabled this season at Totara Flat. Volunteer is undoubtedly, one of the best bred horses in New Zealand, and in addition to this, has given some proof of his racing qualities by winning two important races at Dunedin, and running a good second to the famous Mata. We refer horse-owners to the advertisement on the subject, which appear g elsewhere in our columns.

The tender of William Lawry has been accepted by the directors of the Just-in- ' Time and Walhalla Companies for extending western cross-cut 240 feet, the price being LI 8s 9d, with or without timber.

The art union for Mr Pawnall's painting of "The Strand Reefton" will be drawn for, at Mr Cohen's to-night, at 9 c'olock sharp. All subscribers are invited to attend.

At the recent meeting of the Executive of 4 the Reefton Railway League it was decided to communicate with the representative of the district, and the Colonial Secretary to ascertain the names of the gentlemen appointed to the Railway Commission, and in accordance therewith a telegram was despatched to \N ellington. On Monday last Mr Hankin, the secretary of the League, received a reply from C. S. Cooper Esq., Colonial Secretary, stating that the Commission has not yet been appointed. A written, reply is expected from Mr T. S. \» eston, on Satur d;iy evening next, upon which some further action will bo no doubt taken by the

League,

A lady who has recently died at Bath has bequeathed to the London Diocesan Home ission Society a legacy of LlO5, 000 [and the fact tha L 25.000 does not fall in at once is a very trifling draw buck.

According to Sir Edmund Henderson, London expends £10,000 a day for cab hire. Other authorities remarks the Pall Mall Gazette, "maintain that the estimate is too low, and that the daily earnings of the metropolitan cabs reach £10,000 and £15,000. Either of these

sums seems tremendous. If the conjecture of the chief commissioner of police is only slightly exceeded the annual expenditure on cabs in the metropolis is four millions of pounds. A general strike would mean a weekly loss of close on £70,000 a week."

The other day a sailor in Auckland smashed several panes of glass in a shop in Queen-street. He- did not run away, and when arrested and anked the reason for his conduct replied that he wished to be sent to gaol to get clear of his ship.

The Rhode's Estate^Duty"Bill provides that the executors of the late Hon. W. B. r! hodes, may pay the assessed stamp duty of L 18,405 on tho estate bequeathed to Miss Rhodes, and valued at L 272.796 ; also, the Government may recover such duty notwithstanding' the judgement of the Appeal Court, which had been substantially reversed by the Privy Council. What has been termed the Wagonga mystery in New South Wales, may be said to have now been cleared up by the finding, the other day, of the body of Smith, who with David Wilson and another man — whose name is unknown — were missed about two months ago. I-mith's body was eaten by shark's, but the suspicion of foul play is cleared by the fact of his rings, watch, and money being found in his clothes, most of which were still on his body. He is reported as being well off, and an owner of property, including an hotel in Sydney. A curious instance of presentiment of coming harm is relatedin his case. Just before starting in the boat with the two other men he related a dream, in which he thought he was driving a cart when a tram, passed over him, causing hia death, not by mangling but suffocation. Thi3 preyed on his mind, and he refused for some time to go with them, feeling assured of coming injury, especially as his comrades were not sober. Even when in the boat he was heard to express a wish to be ashore ; that was the last seen of him till he Avas picked up in the river in the state mentioned. One man is still missing; his name is not known.

On Saturday last (says the " Taranaki Herald " of September 11) the reporter's room was invaded by Hiroki's wife, who, on seeing the representative of this journal, who was present both at Hiroki's trial and execution, immediately went up to him, and introduced herself as follows : — " Me Mrs Hiroki ; me saw you in Court. What for they hang Hiroki, my husband ?" A rather fierce scowl had gathered over her countenance, and, there being indications of a stormy interview, our reporter replied, "Go to the twelve men who were in the box ; they will tell you why Hiroki was hanged." She laughed outright, and said, "Ah, you good fellah 1 Poor Hiroki gone now ; never mind, give me shilling for a drink !" There can be] no doubt a shilling's worth of drink was sufficient to quench the sorrow she had for her dead husband.

A Showman named Joseph Lumeau has been arrested at Lille, on a charge of causing the death of a dwarf under very curious circumstances. The dwarf, who was 17 years old and barely 25in. in height, had been sold to Lumeau by his father to be exhibited in a booth. His purchaser conceived the idea of establishing a miniature menagerie with the dwarf as tamer. He caused a number of cats to be painted, so as to look like tigers, and giving the dwarf a whip compelled him by kicks and threats to goad the cats into a furious attack upon him. The consequence was that the poor little fellow, who always had a great aversion to cats, was literally torn to pieces by the infuriated animals. This took place at the fair of Beaupre-sur-Saone last month, since when the showman had disappeared.

In the Probate and Divorce Division London, lately, before the Right Hon. the President, the case of re Congreve was heard. This was a motion for an order of presumption of death of the late Sir William Augustus Congreve, and of his brother Mr William Frederick Congreve. Mr Bayford, in making the application, said that both of the brothers had disappeared. The younger brother, William Frederick was formerly in the navy, but left it in 1851. He travelled in Africa and t^e West Indies, and corresponded with his relations. In April, 18G0, he wrote a letter saying that he was going to Halifax, New Brunswick, and that was the last which was heard of him.— His lordship said that a peculiarity in the case was that the two brothers had disappeared in different parts of the world. — Mr Bayford said that there wa3 a further peculiarity in the case, viz., that both of the brothers appeared to have passed by the feigned name of " William Cooke." Both of them were entitled to property under their uncle's will. The usual advertisements appeared in the newspapers in regard to the younger brother. In respect to the elder brother Sir William Augustus Congreve, the matter was more complicated. He left England in 1847 for New Zealand, where he occupied in agriculture. He from time to time corresponded, the last letter buim' received in 18o'0. From one of the atlidatives lie was stated to have also passed as " William Cook." — His lordship, after looking at the affidavits, said that death might reasonably be persumed of the younger brother, but the matter must stand over in respect to Sir vV m. Augustus Congreve.

Sir. C. Gavan Duffy, K. C. M. G., has just published what promises to be a popular and timely little work called " A Birds-eye View of Irish History." It is well-printed, and can be read, according to the design of Sir Charles, in a single evening." All the main facts in Irish history appear to be lucidly and fairly treated.