LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 54, 23 December 1882, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Monday and Tuesday next will be observed as bank holidays. A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Feilding yesterday about noon. A large number of Wellington advertisements will shortly appear in our advertising columns. Sir Julius Vogel will be banquotted in Christchurch on his return from Wellington. Mr J. P. Maxwell the General Manager of Railways is on a visit of inspection to tho Patea Manawatu line. We are glad to learn that Mr Chamberlain is now in a fair way towards complete recovery from his long and troublesome illness. The principal merchants in Wellington closed their offices to-day, in order to extend tho period of the Christmas holidays for their employe's. Mr H. Adsett, of the Manchester Steam Saw Mill, has just loaded, at Foxton, the Awaroa, for Lyttelto n, with 42,000 feet of totara timber. Mr Hudson, the recently appointed travelling Inspector of Railways, is paying an official visit to this section of Railway. Mr W. D. Nicholas was the successful tenderer for the additions to the Feilding stationmaster's house. The price has not yet transpired. The continued dry weather of late has rendered the felled bush very inflammable, and for the past day or two large bush fires have been burning in various parts of the district. Mr W. Maxwell, general manager, and Mr T. F. Roth- ram, district manager, visited the F< ilding railway station yesterday, per special train, at 4 o'clock p.m. A number of ladies and gentlemen met at St John's Church, Feilding, thic afternoon for the purpose of decorating the Church to give it a more cheerful aspect for the ensuing Christmas season. We notice that our remarks on the opening of the Telegraph and Post offices on Boxing day have had the desired effect, the Commissioner, Dr Lemon having with his customary kindness, made the necessary arrangements for allowing the officers on this coast to enjoy tbe holiday with the rest of the. people. At a meeting of the Flower of Feilding Lodge, 1.0.G.T., held on Saturday evening last, a discussion ensued as to the desirableness of obtaining a piece of land in the town on which to erect a Good Templars' Hall. A committee of three was appointed to make enquiries as to the most suitable section, and will report at to-night's meeting. We think that such a hall as is proposed to be erected would be most convenient for kindred societies and would greatly add to the present appearance of our town. We understand a Lodge of tho Ancient Order of Druids is shortly to be established at Palmerston. Mr Walter Bishop, an officer of high standing amongst the Druids, will shortly visit Palmerston for the purpose of inaugurating the new Lodge and installing its several officers. Druidism is rapidly advancing iu favor as a benefit society throughout the Australian colonies, and ■ we have little doubt the new Lodge at Palmerston, when instituted, will be marked with tlxe same career of success i that has characterised similar lodges in I jthcr portions of the colouy. Mr W. " Bishop has just returned to Wellington ' 'rom Auckland, where he recently inau- jj jurated several Druid Lodges. » s

Messrs Stevens and Gorton's first annual wool sale at Bulls yesterday was an unqualified success. Two cottages to be used as private residences for two Native families, have iust been completed, at Awahuri. They are large and commodious, and are evidence of the rapidly increasing wealth of our Maori neighbours. The Sports Committee are sparing neither time nor labor, in putting the racing tracks and sports ground iu first class order for the various events, to come off on Boxing Day. The one thing needed is a good rainfall for a few hours to soften the turf and lay the dust. Yesterday afternoon some men employed by Mr Bray in clearing a portion of Reid's Line, lit a fire which extended to the tram of Mr Adsett's Manchester Mill, and burnt about one-aud-a-half chains of the rails. We hear that the fire is still burning, and making in the direction of Bailey's tram. A petition to have the conviction of Francis Williamson, for poijury, rescinded, and a new trial granted, was taken around for signature yesterday and to-day in Wanganui. It is known that if the petition be granted, evidence will be forthcoming to exculpate him. We understand that a slight infringement of the conditions under which one class of pnviliges to the Sports ground were made in error by the executive officers. The matter will be sati.-fac-torily arranged at the meeting of the Sports Committee to be held this evening. We have it on good authority that an effort is shortly to be made among some of our influential settlers to form a Cooperative Store Company in Feilding. Such a movement shows pluck and enterprise on the part of the intending projectors, and properly organised, could not fail to succeed. A horse bolted with an empty dray in Fergusson-street thii afternoon, and running into the post and rail fence near the Denbigh Hotel, knocked it completely down. The dray was capsized, and dashed to pieces, but the horse, which was a valuable one, escaped unhurt. Thc owner was not known. Mr J. Stevens, postmaster, has supplied us with the following : — The Feilding Post Office will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and will be open on Boxing Day from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m. On the two former days the Wellington mail only will be despatched closing in each instance at 10 p.m. on the previous Saturday. On Boxing Day mails will be despatched as usual. The Manawatu Times reports a fatal accident having happened to Mr C. Wilson of the firm of Wilson and Giles, of Woodville. It appears thc deceased was driving a brake containing goods to Makatoko. The horses swerved at the last bridge before reaching Norsewood and tbe vehicle coming in contact with the rails, threw Mr Wilson into the river bed 30 feet below. He fell upon his head, which was crushed dreadfully. The body was carried by the settlers into Norsewood. Mr J. Marshall, formerly of Palmerston, has recently settled on an elevenacre section fronting the Kimbolton road near Feilding. The house which has been built by Messrs Pope and Pearson is a large and substantial one, and has been painted and finished in first rate style by Mr B. Gosling. Altogether this commodious family residence is an ornament to that part of the road, and does great credit to the above-named local tradesmen. Mr Marshall has also bought 380 acres on tbe Ashupst road, and being apparently an enterprising settler, we welcome bim to the place, and wish him all the success he hopes to realise.