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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 826, 4 February 1868, Page 2

Phrenology. — It is a long while now since we have heard anything of phrenology, a subject which at one time excited no little interest. Our readers will therefore be glad to learn that a gentleman is to lecture upon it in the hall of the Empire Hotel on Thursday evening.

Wanganui and Rangitikei Land and Building Society. — The second monthly subscriptions of this society were taken up yesterday evening, and at the close a sum of £280 was put up for sale by auction (Mr Finnimore officiating) when the following prices were realised :— 4 shares, £80 — 57s per share, 5 shares, £100 — 71s, and 5 shares, £100 — 72s. Certainly a very good beginning.

The Fire at Newtonlees. — Mr Morgan was at the Patea when the fire took place. He returned on Saturday, and we have learned the following further particulars regarding it. The barn was burned to the ground and he has lost considerably, but not nearly so much as has been erroneously stated in some quarters. The building was insured in the Liverpool and London office to a limited extent, but in the barn, besides Mr Morgan’s own effects, were a large fourhorse thrashing machine, the property of the late Dr. Wilson, and the machinery of a flax-dresser, belonging to Mr Henwood of Taranaki. The other contents of the barn were about six tons of hay, put in to be thrashed for grass seed, five bushels of grass seed, a new wool press, wool table, and sundry agricultural implements and tools, all of which were totally consumed. After the insurance is paid, Mr Morgan’s loss will be about £50, not to speak of the inconvenience occasioned by loss of the building and sheep-yards attached. The fire looks exceedingly like the work of an incendiary.

Serious Case. — One of our respected settlers, who was labouring under temporary mental aberration at the time, disappeared on Saturday night, and we deeply regret to say that up to a late hour last night no trace of him had been found.

Stamps. — It is proper to direct public attention to the decision of the District Judge in court yesterday, on the subject of unstamped bills or cheques (even bank cheques). He states the law to be that no such instrument is valid unless stamped before tendering or accepting it as payment. The Weather. — A seasonable fall of rain came on Sunday afternoon to break up the long spell of dry weather, during which harvesting operations should have been vigorously carried on. There is much wisdom in old Tusser’s saying :— If weather be fair and tidy thy grain, Make speedy carriage for fear of a rain ; For tempest and shower deceiveth a many, And lingering lubbers lose many a penny. — In connection with the weather, a noticeable feature of late has been the recurrence of earthquakes, which were not confined to any particular locality but felt over the province and out of it. In addition to an earthquake on Wednesday last, a heavy shake was experienced about eight o’clock on Saturday morning. Attempted Fire Raising. — We had no intention of giving publicity to the attempt at incendiarism in this office, on the evening of Thursday last ; we meant to let the matter rest meanwhile in the hands of the police, but as the affair has been talked of, there is no need for further reticence. It was, as far as can be judged, a most deliberate and nefarious attempt to commit crime, evidently by some person or persons who had made themselves well acquainted with the premises, — a crime the effects of which, if it had been successful, must have been productive of damage not only to the premises where the fire was originated but to valuable property on either side. In fact, there is no predicating where a fire raised in such a locality would have ended. The attempt has come to nothing, but it is indicative of much that is serious. One word more, which is wrung from us in the peculiar circumstances : We may differ politically from a number of our townsmen, but we indulge in no private animosities, and never meddle with private character or other men’s business. We have a sincere desire for the prosperity of the locality and of every man in it. And if any person or number of persons suppose that terrorism is to deter us from saying openly and fearlessly what we believe to be true and right, he or they are entirely mistaken.