LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 10, 19 July 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are glad to learn that a professor of the Tonsorial art is about to commence the exercise of his business in Feilding. By the Jane Douglas's last trip there arrived at Foxton a pack of ten hounds for Marton. Our sporting residents will welcome them heartily. A meeting of the committee appointed to consider the employment of a Ranger for the Borough, was called for Monday evening, but lapsed for want of a quorum. Mr Heald and his family left by train yesterday en route for Auckland. He is attracted by the high quotations of carpenters'wages in that city. The annual meeting of the members of the Church of England will be held at the Corporation Barracks to-morrow night, at at 8 p.m. The attention of the Feilding Volunteers is called to a meeting to be held on Saturday evening next, at the Town Had, at 6.30 p.m., where business of importance will be laid before them. Tenders for the freight of 140 tons of bridge material, from Wellington to Foxon, are invited. This is for ironwork to be used in the new bridge to be erected over the Rangitikei river at Kakariki. The District Engineer, Mr J. T. Stewart, and the District Manager of the Wanganui- Manawatu section of Railway, Mr Rotheram, paid the bridge at Aorangi a visit of inspection on Monday. We understand that the repairs lately executed are in good condition, and give every satisfaction. The last piles have now been driven for the Rangi ikei Bridge, and passengers can cross on planks arranged for their accommod tion. In a few more days we expect to se trucks of timber pushed over singly, for removal by train to northe n stations When the rails are once connected, traffic will be resumed, and we are certain the authorities will make s renuous effo s to overtake the large amount of wo k now ready for them. Some of the Friendly Societies are objec ing to submit to additional tax tion. proposed to be inflic ed on them by the appointment of Public Auditors, who are o be paid at the rate of 30s per fifty members. We can sympathise with them, out at the same time beg to point out that it is absolutely necessary to burke benefit societies, in order that the proposed system of National Insurance may be made a success, and appoin m nts provided for a few more civil servants!

We regret to learn that Mr Child of Halcombe is so ill that it has been conidered necessary for him to visit Welington. to which city he departed yesterday accompanied by Mrs Child. The Government are erecting a new and commodious cottage on the south bank of the Rangitikei River, for the accommodation of the Inspector of ermanent Ways and Bridges. The Otago Daily Times reports that the N. Z. and A. Land Company have sold all their season's make of cheese, some 12 to 15 tons, at the highly satisfactory price of 8 1/2 d per lb. The quality is said to be splendid. The right to cut timber on a section of land was sold recently. The price paid was in excess of the original cost of the land. Thus the vendor of the forest actually gets his land for nothing, besides a margin of profit in cash. Notwithstanding the comparative slackness of the export timber trade, owing to the stoppage of the railway traffic northwards, we are glad to notice that our local storekeepers continue to do a good business. Work of all kinds is easily obtainable, and wages for all kinds of labor show a tendency to advance. Hares have been seen in some of the gardens on the railway line, and also on some of the rural sections along Makinoroyd. But although puss has turned up in that neighborhood, we have not yet beard th t bunny has followed the example, and it is to be hoped he may postpone his visit for a long time to come.

Considerable improvements to the sta-lion-master's dwelling house are about to be made, by the addition of a building somewhat similar to the present, which n itself is much too small for the accommodation of a family. This would have been done some time ago. but other and more important matters have occupied the attention of the railway authorities. What has become of the Feilding Public Library ? We think that the persons who have the custody of the books should make an effort to set the thing going again. The winter months are rapidly passing away, and the Committee are losing a golden opportunity of promoting such a useful object as that of educating the reading portion of the towns people. An accident which might have been attended with serious results occurred at Ashurst, on Monday, to the second daughter of Mr Warne. She was lifting a portable stove, when her foot slipped, and she fell on the ironwork, cutting her face and receiving some slight burns. Fortunately the injuries are of such a nature that it is not likely any permanent scars will be left to disfigure her. The following is a list of the names of players who proceed to Palmerston on Saturday next to contest with the Palmerston Football Team in a return match: Messrs Sherwill, A. Srmth, Godfrey, Low, Roe, Pybus, Wheeler, Sinclair, Gregory, Haultain, Goodbehere, Halcombe, Dawson, Greenwood, Booth, and Ware. The above is a strong team, and likely to give the Palmerstonians some trouble to beat. Larrikinism, we are sorry to learn, is not yet dead in this district. An early passer along Makino-road on Monday morning found a paddock gate lifted from its position and lying right across the main road. The consequence of such a foolhardy trick as this on a dark night might be very serious, and we would advise those who aspire to public notice by such insane practices to think better (of it, before they get a polite introduction to the Resident Magistrate. The Wanganui Herald states :— We are glad to learn that arrangements eminently satisfactory to the local Shipping Company have been made with the Union Company. The possibility of the powerful Southern Company entering the Wanganui trade and thus actively opposing the local venture could not be overlooked by the well-wishers of the Wanganui boat, and therefore the intelligence that the Union Company are willing to co-operate with the business men of this town will give general satisfaction. A most interesting ceremony took place at Timaru at St John's Lodge, E.C, when medals given by the Lodge were distributed to those engaged in saving life on the occasion of the wrecks on May 14th. Bro A. J. Parsons, W.M., presided, and delivered a very impressive address. Medals were handed to 40 men by Mr Parsons, and three more are to be sent Home to men who have left the Colony. Mr Edward Wakefield responded on behalf of the recipients. The medals cost fully £80. They bore a suitable inscription. The Masonic Hall was crowded to witness the presentation. The Wanganui Herald states that a most disgraceful affair occurred in the train running from Marton to Palmerston, on Wednesday evening. One of the second-class carriages was occupied by a number of youths akin to the notorious larrikin tribe, who kept up a hideous din by singing bawdy-house songs and behaving altogether in a most offensive manner. The passengers, including a lady, complained bitterly of their conduct, but the guard, with provoking coolness, passed on without interference. It is high time railway guards were made special constable ; then there would be little question as to whether they should enforce the power placed in their hands for the protection of the public. [The suggestion is a good one, and would better enable guards to act in similar cases in the future.] Our readers and the general musical public in and about Feilding will be delighted to know that the vocal and instrumental concert to take place in the Feilding Town Hall on Friday, the 28th instant, the programme of which will be found in our advertising columns, promises to be a most decided success. The assistance of several members of the talented McKeozie family has been obtained, together with several leading voca ists from Palmers on. which, with the aid of our local ama eurs, is a guarantee of a musical e t such as Feilding has not yet been favoured with. The indefatigable Secretary, Mr Jus. H. evens, is app ready determined that no exertions on his part will be wanting towards the desired end. A bumper house may safely be predicted.