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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 823, 28 January 1868, Page 2

The Price of Wool. — London wool market, Nov. 23 :— By the mail received yesterday we see that New South Wales wool in the grease is quoted at 7d per lb, fleece 1s 5d, scoured 1s 9d. Victoria wool in grease 9½d, Cape in grease 6d. Painful Accident. — We are sorry to state that Mr Curran, brewer, was badly injured by being thrown from his cart, (his horse having taken fright) while returning home from Wanganui on Saturday night. The injuries were at first supposed to be of a kind to excite serious fear for Mr Curran’s life, but yesterday he was reported as better and good hopes are entertained of his speedy recovery. This was no case of reckless driving, but caused by one of those accidents over which no control can be exercised.

Insurance and Matches. — We observe, by some evidence given before a committee of the House of Commons last session that, the secretary of the Sun Fire Insurance, stated that by the careless use of matches the company lose £10,000 a year. It has been remarked that strict economy in the use of bread in every house would keep down the price of wheat ; and it is clear that if people would be careful with their matches the fire insurance offices might reduce their premiums.

Extension of Sheep Pasturing into the Waikato. — The N.Z. Herald learns by its correspondent’s letter, that Mr H. C. Young has completed his arrangement with the natives, to which we lately alluded — namely, the leasing of an extensive run of some 80,000 acres between Raglan and Port Waikato, for the depasturing of sheep. The rent is we understand, to be about 2½d per acre. Mr Young, we are told, intends at once to put 8000 head of sheep upon the land, and is now making arrangements for the shipment of 2000 head. Other gentlemen, we are glad to learn, are in treaty with the native owners for as many extensive runs. This looks as if the natives desired to live in peace with us. Town Board Accounts. — And so, we hear, there is to be another public meeting about the Town Board accounts. The opposition was bad to begin with ; it is worse now, if it has not reached the worst — the lowest depth. Hot water is sometimes very necessary, but it is not an element favourable to the temper of those who try to live in it. In this case even its qualification for cleansing purposes does not take effect, for these men only get dirtier and less cleanly the longer they keep themselves on the boil. The hot-water meeting takes places tonight ; the principal people who wish to heap the thorns oil the fire, as far as we hear, are Mr William Watt, Mr Hackett, and Mr Toole, — what they will make of it or wish or hope to make of it is more than we can possibly divine.

Wanganui and Rangitikei Land and Building Society. — A point in connection with the rules of this Society has just been settled by his Honor Judge Johnston, to whom it was referred. A rule of the Society was to this effect that money for sale should be put up to auction ; Mr Hart, the revising barrister, declined to certify this rule, on grounds of expediency, which he pointed out at considerable length ; the directors replied, holding that any other mode of disposing of the money was open to abuse and even to unfairness, but Mr Hart refused to concede the point, whereupon it was referred to the Judge, who has given his decision in favour of the view taken by the directors, so that the rule will stand as it was originally drawn and the money will be disposed of by auction. Sleeping in Church. — It is not pleasant, we daresay, for a speaker to find his audience, asleep. It is not pleasant even for the audience, but they cannot well avoid it. Why do people sleep, of all places, in church ? One of the most eloquent of Scottish preachers has been giving an answer to the question. Dr Guthrie himself has no reason to complain that his flock shut their eyes when he opens his mouth ; for his pulpit addresses find as eager listeners as a solo by a popular operatic artiste. But even the Doctor knows that his fellow divines are not so fortunate ; and lately, as we learn, he asked the reason why. His reply is simple; the churches are badly ventilated. We wish we could believe it. Not that we are sinners above others in these parts, but because the theory on general principles is consolatory. If the people at home sleep by the dozen and the score, we might well be excused in this warmer climate, but sleeping in church is the exception and not the rule in this district. It would be well if we could get clear of the exceptions, but we fear it requires ventilation of the brain as well as of the church to get the thing accomplished.