LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 60, 13 January 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We learn that Mr W. W. Corpe and his son, of Makino, have become bail for Nixon, in the sum of £400. There will be a captain's parade of the Manchester Rifle Volunteers, on Saturday next, to consider the new regulations. The Maori King will be allowed to pass the Foxton Ferry free, with all his impedimenta. We understand that Mr J. B. Hamilton, the well-known draper and clothier, of Palmerston is about to open a drapery establishment in the premises lately occupied Mr W. G. Hay bit tie. The bush near the Cheltenham Saw Mill was accidentally fired on Saturday last, A fire was made by the carter who was employed in shifting the engine gear to Feilding, for sale by Messrs Halcombe and Sherwill, and left smouldering when he went away. Mr Death is probably a loser to the extent of £200. We congratulate Mr Fowles on his election to the Borough Council, and we believe he will perform the duties of his office in a careful and painstaking manner. In his hands the interests of the ratepayers will be well protected ; at the same time he will form one of the " progress party" that is now forming in our midst. We beg to draw the attention of the County Engineer to the condition of the Awahuri Bridge. The approach from the Palmerston side was washed away during the winter floods, and a quantity of old and fragile boards used to replace the portions displaced. The bridge is consequently unsafe for ordinary traffic, and specially dangerous to a dray or break. Since our report of the accident at Makino which appeared in our last issue, we have ascertained that Gange and Clarke have so far recovered as to be able to walk, but the poor lad Print is still obliged to keep his bed, as both logs are injured and the left one rather severely. He has suffered acuie pain, and it is feared that some bones are fractured, and that it will be some weeks before he is able to get about We hope to hear soon of his speedy progress towards recovery. Writing of this colony, a gentleman in Scotland says : " You are better off than any other people in the world, and you have better people too; much more friendly — hearty -and unaffected souls, who will help another, which no one here will unless well paid for it, each one trying to get on the back of his neighbor for a stepping stone for himself. I am coming back again soon." The writer has had large experience as a sheep-far--mer in New Zealand, and is a perfectly independanf judge. We are informed by the Secretary of our local Cricket Club that in consequence of "Ye Olde English Fayre," and the fact that many of the sawmill hands are quite unable to get pway just at present, it was found quite impossible for a team to proceed to Bulls to-day as arranged, and that the match has had lo be postponed in consequence. While one this subject, we would suggest that our local cricketers indulge in a little more practice for the forthcoming match with Palmerston. An auction sale of furniture belonging to a gentleman who is leaving the colony, was held recently, at Hobson-street. Mr Dick, of Messrs Hammond and Dick auctioneers, of Morton, wielded the hammer in the absence of Mr Sherwill. Mr Dick officiated in his usual energetic manner, but the sale was only a partial success. The articles sold were' of good quality, but, owing to insufficient publicity, the prices realised were far below the value of some of the articles disposed of. The highway between Feilding and Awahuri, although in good condition generally, wants a little attention paid to the roadsides. By the abundant growth of flax, toi toi, grass, &c, the roadway is in many parts narrowed to the actual width of the numerous vehicles that pass along it. Mobs of cattle and sheep are perpetually being driven over it, and the pedestrian or horseman that is going in. an opposite direction is put to some inconvenience to make way. AH that is necessary io be done is to cut down the rank vegetation, which could be then put in heaps and buraed. A considerable saving in maintenance would be effected as the traffic would be spread over a greater surface, and not confined as it js at present to the portion that is metalled. The rape case, Christopher Hall vR. Nixon, was heard at the Court House, Feilding, after we went to press on Wednesday last. The assault was alleged to have been committed on Agjies Hall, a girl of 11 years of age, a daughter of plaintiff, on the 29th December last, at Corpe's Mill. The ease was well well worked up by Constable Price, but, owing to the absence of resident clerk to the bench here, he was unable to obtain a warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner until Wednesday morning, (Court day). The plaintiff is a widower, with seven children, the eldest being about fourteen years of age. Evidence was taken at considerable length. The prisoner, {who reserved his defence), denied Laving committed the assault. ♦ He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Wanganui, but was admitted to bail, himself in £200 and two sureties of £100 each.

Dr a- d Mrs Dowd left Feilding last I night, for the Home Country, via Wellington. We regret to learn that Mrs Dimgan, of Palmerston, is not in the enjoyment of her usual good health, and is confined to her room. We hope she will soon recover from her illness, ■which we are glad to say is not of a serious nature. We have much pleasure in recording the election of Mr F. do J. Clere as an ' Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The election took place at the Institutes' rooms in London on the 6th of Novembes last. The Manawatu Herald says the levels and other details in connection with the plans for the proposed bridge over the Manawatu River, at Long Reach, have been completed by the District Engineer, J. T. Stewart, Esq. We again direct the attention of the police to a man whose drunken conduct is a disgrace to the Borough. He should at once be put under that clause in the Act whereby publicans are prohibited from supplying him with drink. We have much pleasure in awarding to Mr Harry Power our thanks for the pleasant hour we have passed in perusing his interesting and amusing sketches of his theatrical experiences in the Australian Colonies and India. The book is obtainable at the Fancye Fayre, and we strongly recommend our readers to pur« cht.se copies of the work. The appeal case, Smart Bros, v Halcombe and Sherwill, was heard in banco on the 18th of December, in Wellington. As the R.M., Mr Ward, had adopted a mistaken measure of damages, the special case on appeal was ordered to he sent back to him for amendment. The case will be disposed of nest March. A case of theft of a watch from the residence of Major Liddle, on the Awa Huri road, has been reported to the police. As the offender is well-known he will probably be arrested shortly. Another case of watch stealing is also reported as having occurred on Boxing Day. In this case also the culprit is known, and the charge will be sheeted home to him. We notice tkafc some silly person set fire to the flax growing on the Railway Reserve. As the Corporation men have been cutting down the flax in Stafford street, where it now lies awaiting removal, this might have formed a ready means of conducting the flames to Bellve's Hotel, or the adjacent cottages. Fortunately the men were on the spot, and kept it under control, so no damage was done. The Wellington Post, referring lo Bishop Moran's candidature for the Peninsula (Otago) seat, says : — " Bishop Moran deservedly holds a very prominent place in public esteem on the score of his brilliant abililties, profound scholarship, and high personal character. If his political views prove satisfactory to the constituency whose suffrages he is wooing, there is no earthly reason why he should not be returned, and we shall not be at all surprised if he is elected." The energy and skiil displayed by Constable Price in the conduct of the case against the man Nixon, who was committed for trial on Wednesday last, for a criminal assault on a child, at Makino, desires recognition by the public. Mr Price had everything to contend with, from reticence on the part of witnesses, and also from the fact that he could not obtain a warrant to arrest from any of the local J.P.'s, who, naturally enough, declined to run any risk in making out a warrant in the absence of a Clerk t© the Court in such a case, where any trifling omission or irregularity in the document made by them might lead to unpleasant results. As soon as a warrant was obtained from Mr Ward on Wednesday morning, Constable Price, accompanied by the Bailiff of the Court, proceeded at once to Makino and arrested Nixon, who was brought to Feilding, tried, and committed before six o'clock the same day. Messrs Hall and James, the contractors for the formation, levelling, &c, of the racecourse, assisted by Mr Jackman, have nearly completed their work, which, in our opinion they have done in a very satisfactory manner. The culverts, five or six in number, have been put in with good heart of totara timber, and these, together with the other work done, will make the course a great improvement on the one of last year. The contractors being desirous of making a thoroughly good job, have done several little things not specified in the letter of their contract and which we think were highly desirable. We would, however, strongly recommend the committee of the Feilding Jockey Club to have the whole of the course ploughed forthwith, and sowb in grass, 'which, would leave nothing, to be desired, except some good showers of rain to make the Feilding race-course one of the best in this or the neighboring districts.