NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 108, 15 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

An Important Industry,^-Some little'time ago we referred at considerable length to4he industry of rope making from flax, being established at Terrace End br. Mr.. Hartley. From a gentleman lately ar- ! rived from Victoria we learn that the raw material is eagerly sought form Victoria and manufactured into the kind of ropt called " manilla," fetches £40 per ton; He further. states that as much as £2 to £% lOs. is readily given for tho flax m its pure state m Wellington. .-.■•/■ Can it be Really Trueafter All. —From his Worship the Mayor we have learned that he has received official intimation that tenders will be called m a few days for the erection of . the new Court Honse. We trust the news will be true, but. — as we hare already slated— the matter has been delayed so longj and there hare | been so many disappointmente-aboot it, that we certainly shall not be certain qf the fact until we see the timber on the ground. New Business.— lt will be noticed that m order to keep pace with the influx of strangers and others into tlie town, Mr. T. Griggs has determined to* open a boarding house at Terrace End." This » a want that has been felt for some time, and we feel convinced that Mr. Griggs will command a liberal patronage, particularly as he has. determined to.supply a gbod table and accommodation at a moderate figure. Strangers and those requiring accommodation had better make a note of the fact. The Wesleyan Concert. — We have been asked to intimate thatthe concert proposed to be given m aid of the Wesleyan Church on Anniversary night hnsbeen pott' poned. The reason given, and a very excellent one, too, that a number of the gentlemen who are to take part m the proceedings will be engaged at the Races during the day, and consequently will scarcely be able to dojustice to their various parts. We believe tlie concert will be postponed for about a fortnight— until the next full moon— -but due notice of the day will be given. Too Much of a Gobd Thing.— A slight accident, but one which might have been attended with serious results, ocsurred ou Thursday afternoon, at the Crown Brewery. During the absence of Mr. Crabtree, who is making some alterations to the machinery, the person m charge turned. on too much steam connected with one of the large vats, the consequence being that the vessel wac split to pieces, and the contents sent flowing over the building. Sometimes i it is very desirable to " clap on steam," but the great secret is to know how and when to do it. Wholesale Horse Stealers.— Frome the evidence which was elicited during the hearing of the charge of horse steal-, ing, preferred against Laing and Hargreaves m the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, it would appear that by their arrest' a regular organised plan far stealing settlershorses has been frustrated. * When the ; chief culprit Hargreaves was arrested he had three m his possession, and had just disposed of the fourth animal— belonging to Mr. Beal, at Pakipiki. As three cases of stealing were preferred against Hargreaves; and throe against Laing of being an accessory before the fact, the best part of three days was lost m their hearing. a ! Sunday Trading and Education. — We have been given to understaad that the Police throughout the North Island have received instructions to cany out most rigidly the regulations with regard to. Sunday trading. They have also been instructed to place themselves at the Command of the sohool committees who may elect to put the compulsory clause of the Education Act into force, and act as Truant • Inspectors. Parents, (therefore, who haye been keeping their children from school m violation pf the JAct, had better take: warn: ing, for although it was never put into effect, if we are not mistaken the Palmerston School Committee adopted the compulsory clause more than two years ago. The Manawatu County Council. — The usual monthly meeting of the .Manawatu .County Council will take place on Monday, when the questions which will crop up for discussion, ..are the. advertising and the advisability or otherwise of reducing the advertised scale of ferry tolls. Since the last meeting we have had ah opportunity of speaking to several persons from Woodville and elsewhere on the Napier tide, and they were all unanimous^ m strongly condemning any increase irf the proposed: rate of tolls. From the tone of the discus-' sion at the last meeting, our impression is that the alteration will meet with no opposition, the wish of the Council appearing to be to consult the interests of the publio, without doing an injustice to the County, and the reduction will not havea tendency m that way. -- The Burford-Clintoh Dramatic C^nipany.— 'The above "troupe have the honor of saving that they have been the only company which has showed td audiences for a whole week m Manawatu. On .Thursday and Friday night's weejg they appeared at P»l merston ; on Saturday!. Monday, and. Tuesday nights, at Foxton j' Hid Wednesday and Thursday at Feilding. • On the. latter night Mr. Hastie bought the house; and although the figure given was a high one, we are pleased to hear he had oo reason to regret, his enterprise... The company fobk their departure yesterday afternoon for Masterton, by a special, and we-believe they open m that town to-night. • The troupe has been by far the best which -has travelled" this way for some years., A JDistinction Without* a Difference. -^-While Mr. Geprge North has made a clean sweep, of ., the £4000, the manner and method of its proves him to have been i Very dirty sweep indeed. We" remember once hearing of an Irishman who picked up a guinea m the. streets, but upon presenting it. for change learned to his chagrin that it was only value for twenty shillings, on account of being light weight. Some little while afterwards be perceived a second guinea lying on the road, but shaking his finger at it, he apqt» trophised it as follows j— '* No you don't have me a second time. I lost a sfcillingby your brother last week, so there you lie," and he passed on, hugging himself upon hiesmart ness. We happened to have ourselves six tickets m North's Sweep, and now that he has cleared off with the funds, we have been blessing our stars that wei drew "all blanks. Upon consideration, however, we have come to the conclusion that our conduct is somewhat akin to that of the Hibernian, nnd our position and that Qf the unfortunate winners the very definition of " a distinction without a difference."

"The Light on tl&lTottotilir Top."— We would direct tftontioft to an able article whiab. we heya icitvaetsid J*rom : . our oontomrH^ary? the ZPkirwapi Btm*dard, and whhm irfll well fpejhwml. The Standard-^-** ajoteen,:.of Conine^ the,; Wairarapa papw-— hae'fn tbe<paSt acquired' a high reputatiOM^or the ability with which it was conducted, and^re ante pleased' 'to^iie that under the new restate there is no fear ef its prestige being allowed to suffer. generally known that Mr. James Linton, of ■ :TeiiacistEtodyhaihpne i ofJto_li!jgrt if m^ reaUy thelargest telescope m the North Ts-^ land, and on Thursday night he* Jbad the in*' •trnment fixed bn his grounds and 'as the m<k>n *a« : eVher strength, jgaye'tbe Btmds*y School childrena treat.' The night was clear, and' the consequence was 'that the 'view of, the heavens was something grand. r The Turfl—" Ck>niinf evehts ; eMt their 'sVjidows* before." If we -are to judge hy the number of pieoea of horseflesh which are being put through their facings every morning on the spare ground beside Beale'a 'Paddock, the competitors: on this day week will be far from few. Hurdles have been improvised, and each nag treated to couple of hours good training. The grand stand and publican's booth hate now been erected, the poles which are to mark the course fixed, and the running ground mown down. ; The course is half j a mile and five chains around, - and- eonsidering- that it is within the very heart of the town, it would be impossible to find a better .piece of , ground") upon such short notice.- a» will feejseen by the programme, .the committee have' further ' : fSpplemented the events by* two additional j f " "items, and they are determind to take'every-j step to make the meeting a success. Thej servicer of the Marton Brass Band have also been secured, and will be on the ground. ;•' An Eye cl6ser. — " H'appies His j Hout, Hand H*onions His Hin." So said a bucolic Visitor, who happened tp_ see a magnificent specimen bf that favorite bat . strong smelling esculent, forwarded to os ' foi l inspection arid analysis ,by 'Mr. Charles' Hoskings. We admit we ate not a judge of onions, and onr experience is about on a pat' with that of Mark Twain's agricultural editor ; still wa would want to be bereft ef the Senses of sight and smell to r puss over the splendid, .specimen without' notice. As they lay upon our sanctum table— inviting edr-. torial criticismr-rthe onions proper 'peeping | from beneath "ef mass of green attendants,! J appeared like the heads of so many 'dram- ! sticks decorated with Celtic-colored ribbons ; whife"an"arema~pervaded~the-rooai which j ebniured up. visions; of fat beefsteaks orl scalding eyes. We do not know whether' /the .'generous donor intends that we should put their quality to the proof, but if so we would like to pats onr verdict -on his beefsteak at the same time. ... Thep Fitaherbert Reefs.4-During" the oast week the::moit ridiculous reports, have been ineifonlation as to .the results of crushings from stone' obtained from tbe , Fitzherbert Reef s, the yields according to rumor ' ranging from four to forty ounces. ' Severar magnificent specimens have been exhibited about town, 'and if one could only be sure as to where they had" been obtained, the greatest difficulty m (he matter would have been suripoiirited. Whether therereally is'gold to be found m the reefy, m payable quantity, or whether certain parties' have struck genuine patches we will riot undertake to say, bat certainly ' the orthodox* concommitants of the.aart sacra fames, blows and disputes, have not beeri: missing. We understand that news of sash • a character was received, by the Sir Arthur Gordon Compay, from its representative at' thejrtef, that Mr. Jenssen started off at daylight on Thursday morning, end many of'ite shareholders, are most sanguine of the future. On Wednesday J evening wel heard £10 offered and refused for a half . Shaw; m the yentnre,; the buyer -to pay all the proportion of all expenses np to the time of the bid. "Satfeme from my Friends.'* ' -rThe Marton paper is supposed to be an out-and-out supporter of tha Government, and by virtue of that office, always rushes, to the rescue of any of Jta members. However, although its sincerity is beyond question, very often' its discretion, is sadly at fault, and the following is a case m point; In a labored article m its- Thursday's issue, entitled "The Great Middle Partyj" it proceeds to criticize the ability and. actions of Mr: ' Macandww jwhilt presiding over 'the Publio Works Department When attempt^ ing to analyse that. r gentleman's regime, surely the scribe forgot 'the man by-wbom, the Jmember. for Dpn^din, . was succeeded— the Hon. Richard Oliver, the Minister, save the mark X who, to the sorrow of the colony still retains the portfolio. Think of his .Publio Works Statement, a perfect burlesque upon such a document, while his administrative ability should entitle him to the highest honors m " The Gwet Jfii&We Party/ should sush a one be established. Were it not that we know tbe dog-like fidelity with whichthe Marton paper clings to the present Ministry, weshauld. imagine its praise of that Ministerial fraud, the Hon. Mr. Oliver, J the very bittereatjof Satire.. In any case, to compare suoh a man to James JMacandrew is ridjiculqus m the extreme. Messrs. Stevens and Gorton's Sale.— As we anticipated : and predicted*: tbe second sale held by Messrs: Stevens and Gotten, at their Palmerston Yards was even far more successful, than the first ; and succeeded m drawing together not only a. splen-.: did collection of cattle, but buyers from all quarters of this and the neigh boring, county.. By the traias which arrived from North and. South came. the buyers to add to the num-, bers on horseback ;' while from an early h<Mtr. : all sorts of stock, was"' being toward the Sale Yards. Oh Tuesday evening : a* mob of 240 sheep arrived from Foxton, arid were paddocked for the night, but. on account pt tHe bad and long road which they had .ti*"., veiled; their apptarance at the sale was.' not,, good, arid .4/- waa.the highest price offeree! publioly, although we believe they were.at terwards disposed of. As we have. stated, op; another occasion; the townspeople, country .settlers, and the autipneew may allmutually; congratulate themselves oh the present and ! future success ofthe sales— they bring visi- ; tors and custom to the town ; give theoountry settlers ari opportunity of buying and selling at their very doors, and.wejtrus^wl'k prove a* source of profit, to. the. enterprising auctioneers.^ The following i| theireport of - the prioes realised : — About 285 head of ; cattle yarded, ancl 400 sheep. Two-aii^:i> ; hairye»y»teew| «4 7«- 68 V yearlings «a 6a to£2 lo* J; cowi £4 to £4 10s j much eowa : at profit, £4 15s to £5 10s } beef from WAS* to £6 7s «d, and £6 10s i store cheep 4/? to, -6/6. — The*e-wae-«o. eale for honea; wrirfh; [ noting.- Every lot waa »old under the hammer, withjtbe exception of a few cpws//^ ',£ i The Operatioijs for the* floatingiof the *ffyd]»bed are now; are complate, and., it. is ,cpnfid«mtly expwted^she will oome off oh next -spring tidis, about .Tundav first. T The Stormbird,, on her trip up on Wednesd#>st, laid 3 affirm anohor 'about 120' fathoms away from the T vessel, to whioh was attached a ste«l hawser, capable of bearing a tremendous strain. This work, one of no small difficulty was performed m five minutes under the hour. It i« the mii tention ef Mr Kelty, who is wperintand

*tb* work, if tbe veesel nWte, to have her to>ed toKuphi by one of the ebaetbf .•teamen, and thenoe to Wellington by a Jlarge steamer. Workmen are now (Thure* JW) fitting wood onto the rudder, to ranlaoa ■'the lower six feel which was carried away, •oas to enable the vessel to be tteerad. It -is thought tliere is still a large amount of cargo m tha ship, m addition to send, and debris, and if thi* ia not snfltciont to ballast her, some other ballast will be put on board, propabl? water tanks. The pumps are m ■woodworking order,- and unle^-aomething unforeseen happens, the good ship may onoe rifora bein her native element. It is since* wljFoliehSp^thatMr^alty'a-anterprisa andpluek will be rawairded m the mariner it deserves.— Manama** Btrnld.