Untitled

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1180, 9 October 1882, Page 2

The weather appears to have at length taken up, and looks likely to be fair for some time. The fruit trees are nearly all in full blossom and unless some untoward frosts visit us, there seems every prospect «>f a fine fruit crop. The gardens gonerally Jook very well, though not very forward, but the improved weather will s^oon bring them on, and reward their eul tivatnrs for the pains bestowed.

Housekeepers during the last week have been in despair, owing to a regular butter famine having set in. For several days there was not an ounce of butter of any kind, salt or frush, to be obtained in Reef ton for love or money, and it could not be gut from either Wostport or Greytuoiith in <i'.i;uititius required. One storekeeper telegraphed to W eliington for a supply. By waggons which came in on Saturday, several parcels came to hand, and readily fetched 2s Cd per lb., with eager buyers.

best trade in Ahaura, and has long been ; known as a u.iost comfortable and well conducted house. It will no doubt realise a good price, as also the other freehold sections, furniture etc. This district is improving fast, and the Ahaura no doubt when the railway is extended, will be an important station.

Through what cause we do not know, but the butcher boys here, during the last week or so, have taken a very active tit, and instead of riding at a moderate pace when delivering their meat or taking orders they gallop recklessly through the streets, to the imminent danger of any children who may be passing along. On Saturday morning, one of these fast youths as nearly as possiblo rode over a little girl at the corner of Smith street, and if the practice be not put a stop to, some serious accident will certainly result.

A most important auction sale of valuable hotel property, and freehold sections at Ahaura, will be held by Mr Richard Reeves to-morrow, commencing at 12 o'clock. Hamilton's Hotel commands the

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Friday last, there was no police or criminal business of any kind whatever. The following civil cases were disposed of : — Heslop (Rate collector for County Council), v. P.unn, ynrdict l>y default for £1 15s rates due ; Konpp v. O'Malley, to recover £4 10s repairs to watch and brooch. Mr Lynch appeared for defendent who stated that plaintiff had been paid in kind by some old jewellery ; verdict for amount claimed and costs. Hooker v. Kat<>r. Mr Jones appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Lynch for the defence. This was to recover the sum of £38 3s for extra work in painting, graining, and varnishing, the Exchange Hotel. It appears that plaintiff had entered entered into a contract with Long and Co. , the builders, for the painting, and that the defendant had nothing to do with it. The magistrate held the objection good and the plaintiff was nonsuited. Louis v. McQuillan to recover £15 balance alleged to be due to the plaintiff for work done on a sub-con tract in connection with the Black's Point road. Mr Jones appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Lynch for the defendant. A verdict was given for £5 Gs and costs £2, including professiohal fee. This was all the business and the Court then adjournod.

The Warden's Court was held on Friday last, before Mr Warden Revell when I the following applications for leases were recommended :— The Ophir, Snowdrop, (formerly No. 2 Golder. Fleece), Citizen (formerly Murray No. 2), Northumberland, Koyal Standard, Malakoif, Dido, Hustlers, Sebastople, St Andrews, Lady Mary, North Souvenir, Garden GulJy, No. 1 North Inkernian, Balaklava, and Crown Prince companies. A number of unimportant applications were variously dealt with. The business was not concluded on Friday, and was finished on Saturday. Mr T. Watson on behalf of the Wealth of Nations Company, applied for a special claim of 63a, Or. 15p. in order to take in an acre of ground between that company and the Eclipse. Mr Lynch appeared f < r the applicant, Mr Jones for the latter company. It was shown that one acre of the ground in question had originally been applied for by the Eclipse company, but that owing to a surveyor's error it had not been included within their pegs. The Warden refused the application, as made, allowing the Eclipse's right to the acre, but granted the claim with that accepted. Mr Jones, on behalf of Messrs Collins and Savage,, made an application for hearing re their claim to the Gem lease. A gazette, bearing date June 28th, 1870, was put in which the application of the same gentleman for the lease was notified as been refused, and the Warden declined to re-open the matter. This concluded the business and the Court then adjourned.

The Greymouth people seem to be very apathetic on the railway route question, Tun-ing as yet taken no action whatever. The Star is active in endeavouring to excite some enthusiasm on the subject, but so far without success, That journal suggests, that when the House next meets an alliance of Canterbury, Westland, and Auckland members shall be formed, which would constitute an absolute majority. And that in conssderation of the southerners assisting Auckland to get their million trunk line -through, they should aid them in the East and West Coast railway. Without doubt, such a compact would partake very essentially of logrolling, but at the same time, if a great and reproductive national work was attained by its exercise, if ever there was a case where the end justified the means, this would be one.

It is satisfactory to find that there is to be no alteration in the mail communication betweed Reefton, and Greymouth, and that under the new contract, the triweekly service will be mantained. The authority under which the statement that it was to be reduced to bi-weekly was mado by Mr Mitchell, one of the contractors. That gentleman said so in an hotel in town, in the presence of several others, adding, that though the firm would run their coaches as at present, they would only carry two mails per week each way.

Under the very startling heading of "Beef, Chinese, Corpses," in very large ktters, the Greymouth Star draws attention to the certainly very strange fact, that meat from the slaughter yards, Chinamen, and coffins, are all carried on the Brunnerton line in the guard's van, and suggests that some other arrangements should be made. We are not at all Burprised at his protest, for no one would much caro to know that the beef he was eating had that morning rubbed shoulders with half-a-dozen Chinamen,

in a greater or lesser state of cleanliness, neither would his appetite bo improved by the fact that a corpse had been conveyed alongside his mutton when en-routo to Greymouth. Seriously speaking, we have j puldoni heard of anything much more re- ' volting than the custom condemned, and , surely the fact of making it public will cause its immediate cessation. The numerous theories about the deterring effect of capital punishment (observes the yewv ew Zealand Herald) calls to mind a Scotch story : — About the end of last century the postmaster in Dumfries was hanged for opening letters. The execution took place on the market day, and a large meal market of that town was as a consequence, nearly deserted, the buyers and sellers being intent on witnessing the execution. Dui'ing their absence, a wise looking individual drove a cart into the market, and seutentiously remarked, " Hch, how naething 'ill be a warning' tae folk; help me on wi' my meal." The few bystanders very willingly helped so right-thinking a man, but were rather surprised to find afterwards they had been assisting to commit a barefaced robbery, as the true owner of the meal turned upjrtfrhen the spectators came back^frriffS^! execution. The thief was never discovered. If he had been over taken — as the law stood in those days — most likely he would have been executed also.