LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 59, 10 January 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A bush-felling contract on Mr Fry's propert}', at Cheltenham, Las just been completed in a most satisfactory manner. Mr R. Mcßeth, of Kiwitea, had a most successful burn of 50 acres of bush on Lis property, at Kiwitea, last week. Five trucks of wool were forwarded from Feilding to Foxton for shipment on Monday last, by Messrs Halcombe and Slierwill. We are glad to learn that Mr Chamberlain is now rapidly improving in health. It is probable that he will be pursuing Lis usual avocations in a few weeks. The trial of Priestly and Mrs Hamilton, for the murder of Hugh Hamilton, husband of the latter, is now proceeding at Auckland, and is causing considerable excitement in the northern city. We are glad to hear that a gentleman recently captured two fine trout in the Kiwitea Stream, on Mr Fry's property. The followers of Isaak Walton will rejoice at this news. We 'understand that on Monday next, the scholars attending the Feilding State School will receive their annual prizes, A picnic will also beheld to celebrate the event, on the Oval, (Feilding Sports Ground). Scholastic duties will be resumed on Tuesday, lGth January. Sir John Hall arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Hawea. We regret to Lear that Lis health is still fur from being re-established. Sir John (says she Post) makes only a very brief stay in Wellington, and contemplates leaving for England next month. Mr Milnor Stephen, whose alleged healing powers have for some years formed a periodical subject of discussion in the Australian colonies, is just now holding gatherings in Wellington, and attracting large audiences. His curing powers, as related by the New Zealand Times, certainly appear to be. marvellous. The recent hot and dry weather has had the efEect of somewhat prematurely ripening the agricultural crops in the district, and harvesting operations commenced in good earnest' on Monday last. TLe wheat and oats, though of course not quite so fine as generally on account of the continued drought, will apparently produce on tLe wliole an average crop. TLe funeral of Miss Hannah Maria VeitcL, who died on Saturday last, took place yesterday at Sanson. The procession left her late residence, the Junction Hotel, at 3 o'clock, and was well attended. The Rev. Mr Worker was the officiating clergyman and his reading of the funeral service was most impressive. Mr Everiss, of Sanson, acted as 'undertaker, and conducted the ceremony in a manner creditable to himself and gratifying to the feelings of the relatives of the deceased. Miss VeitcL was well-known and highly respected by a large circle of friends in Wanganui and Feilding. As some enquiries have been made in reference to the delay in commencing the building of the Johnsonville Church, it may be of interest to explain that when the tenders sent in for carrying out tLe plan prepared by Mr Clere, of Feilding, were opened, it was found that one was for £1000 and the other for £780. As the committee had only about £300, both these tenders were clearly not to be thought of, and Mr Clere has consequently been asked to modify his plans so as to bring the building more within the means available. When this is done, fresh tenders will be invited. — Post. Now that Constable Price has cleared the Borough of one offensive vagrant of the weaker sex, we would draw his attention to a notorious individual who passes his days and nights in wandering about from hotel to hotel, in a generally muddled and half- intoxicated condition. His language at all times is of the foulest, and has frequently given offence lo delicate females who are compelled to pass within "hearing. This offence ho appears to take a brutal satisfaction in committing, knowing, as he does, that modest females will, never bring any charge against him. As he has already been frequently convicted under the Vagrant Act, and as his very appearance is a disgrace to the township, we would suggest that he be warned to take an early departure out of it.

Messrs Halcombe and Sherwill were ! holding a stock sale as we went to press. j A report of the sale will appear in our \ next issue. In answer to an enquiry as to whether | Sir Garnet Wolseley was a total abstainer, ; , Cardinal Manning writes as follows to one of tho secretaries of the Middlesbrough Temperance Society^ — " 1 cau on my own knowledge, derived from Sir G:\rnct Wolseley's lips, affirm that he is a strict total abstainer. His army in Egypt is the first, I believe, who ever carried tea in their bottles to assault an entrenched camp." Mr Drew, of Wanganui, who is at present visiting Feilding to assist at the inauguration of the " Old English Fajre," was out this morning early to endeavor to add to his collection of specimens of the various insect tribes. He was fortunate in his expedition, having obtained 13, consisting of beetles (coleoptera) two native fiies, a peculiar wcevel, and an interesting insect which makes a noise resembling the bark of a small dog. Mr Drew is of opinion that the forests and low-lands in the Manchester Block present a splendid field for the naturalist. " Jacob Terry," the clever American correspondent of the Otago Times, writes as follows concerning a late murder in California.-—'" We have had another case of human sacrifice in presumed obedience to Divine command. A Mormon named Smith, living in Los Angeles County, California, stabbed and killed his son, aged 14 years, his mother assenting, because God had commanded them to do it. The father is in gaol awaiting trial. These people are crazed on the subject of religion, and the doctrine of blood atonement is their stumbling-block. Clearly the story of Abraham and Isaue has much to answer for. '1 here are no rams nowadays caught as substitutes."