LOCAL AND GENEEAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9542, 10 November 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Prince or Wales’ Birthday. — Yesterday was observed as a close holiday in town.

Masonic. — The ordinary meeting of the St. Andrew Kilwinning Lodge will be held at their rooms the Institute this evening at 7.30.

The Coming Election. — Sir William Fox invites the electors of the Rangitikei Electoral District to meet him today at noon at Copeland’s Mill, Stanway Road, and this evening at 7 o’clock at the Halcombe Schoolroom.

Cricket. — A match between the Wanganui Lillywhite Club and the Turakina Cricket Club was played at Turakina yesterday. The game resulted in favour of the Wanganui team, with ten wickets to spare. The scores will appear in our next issue.

Absconding Witness. — A man named Simpson, a resident of Palmerston, who was subpoenaed as a witness in a case of attempted suicide, thought fit to disregard the summons, and being a volunteer, left with his company for the front. He was brought into town by train last night in custody of Constable Hendry, of New Plymouth, and will be sent on to his destination today.

Consultations. — Undismayed by the heavy penalties attaching to breaches of the Gambling and Lotteries Act, certain sporting men in a prominent New Zealand town have issued the following card :— “Dunedin Cup, 1882. Now open. Four performances. Ada Mantua requests that in future all applications be made by letter only with 2 stamps enclosed ; P.O. Orders or Bank Notes preferred — but in no case must letters be registered, they will not be accepted.

A Correction. — In our notice of the opening performance of the Bent and Bachelder’s Minstrel Company we fell into error in stating that Mr Beaumont Read “was well-known to Wanganui play-goers.” This is Mr Read’s first visit to this town, and the public have now an opportunity of listening to a vocalist who is considered one of the best altos that has ever visited the colonies. We have to acknowledge with thanks receipt of a copy of Mr Read’s composition “Pretty Blue Eyes.”

Boys’ High School. — The want of a cricket field handy to this school is felt very much by the pupils, and, mindful of the proverb that “Providence helps those who help themselves,” and knowing that the funds of the Education Board are nearly all allotted, several of the boys have been making an energetic canvass for subscriptions. The object to which the money collected is to he put is a praiseworthy one, and we trust that these energetic youths will meet with a generous sympathy. It is refreshing to find that there are still loft in Wauganui those who take an interest in the noble game, even though they he but school boys.

Steam Crane. — The Harbour Board’s steam crane was moored out in the river yesterday, and another trial was made. One of the new spoil boxes was filled with coals and hooked on to the crane and swung round. It was evident that the punt is too narrow in beam to sustain the enormous leverage of a box containing a ton and a half of coal suspended from the jib. The crane will therefore be unable to throw the spoil over the training-walls to any great distance, as the punt would certainly overturn if the jib was extended to its fullest extent with a ton weight depending from it. It is to be hoped that some means will be devised whereby this risk may be obviated, as the usefulness of the crane will otherwise be very much curtailed.

Remarkable Watch. — A watchmaker in Newcastle, Penn. says a Pittsburg paper, has completed a set of three wonderful gold shirt studs, in one of which is a watch that keeps excellent time, the dial being about three-eights of an inch in diameter. The three studs are connected by a strip of silver inside the shirt bosom, and wound up by turning the stud above, and the hands are set by turning the one below. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Liliputian machine is that it works with a pendulum, like a clock, and the pendulum will act with ease and accuracy in whatever position the timepiece is placed, even if it be turned upside down.