LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 64, 27 January 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

«. F. M. Deighton, Esq., has been appointed Collector of Agricultural Statistics for the Eangitikei and Manawatu. On Thursday night last a most refreshing shower of rain fell at Taonui, only two miles off, yet not a drop fell in Feilding. This is most tantalising. Mr Henry Adsett has loaded the Awaroa, at Foxton, with 40,000 feet of totara for Lyttelton. She left for that port on Thursday last. The Hon. Mr John Bryce passed north by train last evening. He proceeds to Taranaki, and from thence to Kawhin harbor. After visiting that place he will proceed to Auckland and return to Wellington by steamer.

James Nicholson Frood, Esquire, L.R.C.S., Ireland, has been appointed Public Vaccinator for the Sanson district. The importation of grape vines, or grape vine cuttings, and grapes, into this colony, is prohibited by order of the Government. Major Atkinson passed through Feilding on Thursday evening, en route for Wellington. Mr H. Blundell, of the Treasury, accompanied him. Mr Martin, who was for a long time in charge of the post and telegraph offices at Foxton, has been promoted to tho charge of the Dunedin Telegraph Office. Messrs Hal combe and Slurwill continue to forward large quantities of wool to Wellington via Foxton. Yesterday they forwarded a consignment of three truck loads. The Hamilton murder case in Auckland has concluded, both the prisoners Mrs Hamilton and Priestly — being acquitted. Judge Gillies summed up in favor of the prisoners. The continued prevalence of dry weather is having the effect of reducing the water supply. Most persons who have hitherto depended on their collections of rain water are now in sad straits. The wells in the lower part of the town are still amply supplied. Mr Deards, aerated water and cordial manufacturer, late of Terrace End, Palmerstoi), has removed to the Square, and now occupies the extensive premises formerly erected for Mr Snelson, and known as his general produce store. Both the position and the building will doubtless be found to be much more convenient for Mr Deard's business. C. Wallace writes to say that Mr;Fitzgerald's dwelling in Marlborough-st. was in no danger from fire on Monday last, as reported by us. He also states that Mrs Fitzgerald's neighbors rendered her every necessary assistance in saving her property. Mr Thomas Barker also bears testimony to the fact that Mr Wallace's statement is correct. Mr James Hugh has announced his intention of taking his departure for his home in Switzerland in about a month. The departure of this gentleman will be regretted by many friends. His presence at all musical entertainments will be much missed, and his abilities as a vocalist will not soon be forgotten. In Mr Hugh we will lose a most estimable citizen. Many petsons in and around Feilding are complaining of slight affections of the lungs and eyes from the smoke of burning bush which has fouled the atmosphere for so long. The inconvenience is, however, only trifling, and when a few showers of rain have extinguished the cause, we hope to hear no more of supposed casisof "'hay fever" or ophthalmia. On Thursday morning last the Natives belonging to Kakan-i returned to their kainga by train. They numbered about a hundred, all told. They carried back with them large quantities of fish, flour, potatoes, &c., presents from their Awahuri friends. It is almost needless to remark that the Feildins station was for some hours during and after their departure redolent of perfumes, which did not remind us of " Arabi the blest." The school house at Beacons fied will soon be erected and in occupation. We congratulate the settlers of that rising settlement on the consummation of their wishes in thus having the means of education for their children placed at their disposal. We are at the same time pleased to know that our modest efforts on their behalf met with such ready support from the " powers that be," and that such prompt action was taken by them. Mr Wollerman, of Palmerston, has just imported a stock of cider from Nelson. It is guaranteed to be nothing but the genuine juice of the apple- Having sampled it, we can pronounce it quite equal to the real Devonshire article, so much prized at Home. Mr Wollerman is also preparing, some genuine honey wine, or mead. These natural old-fashioned English beverages, so wholesome and invigorating, will be sure to meet with a ready patronage. The Marton paper is again going in for " gush." In a recent issue the editor states : " A few diys ago we published a cable message from Paris," &c. This sounds very high ; but why cannot the Advocate inform its readers that the telegram was supplied them by Reuter's agent at Wellington? Further on tl c editor grows voracious, and cries aloud for the blood of Prince Jerome Bonaparte, to wit — "It will be a good thing for the peace of the country (France) if he should be sent to the guillotine !" There appears to be a probability of the timber trade with Australia being further developed. We (Nelson Colonist) understand that a company is being floated in New Zealand for the purpose of taking up suitable bush land on the shores of Cook's Strait, and erecting mills thereon. White and red pine are finding great favor for many purposes in Sydney and Melbourne, on account of being so much softer than the Australian timbers. The promoters of the company anticipate that they shall find a ready market for 600,000 feet per month.-

11l the Papakaio murder case, at Dunedin, Beattie was acquitted by the jury after two hours' deliberation. It is anticipated that 40.000 bushels will be the grain yield of the Sandon district for this season. On Thursday morning the train for i Wanganui took on from Feilding eleven trucks of white pine timber for shipment, j We are glad to observe that operations in timber are again becoming active. A man named Fuller committed suicide at Nelson yesterday by shooting himself through the head. It was at first supposed to have been a case of murder, but later telegrams show that it was a case of deliberate suicide. It is stated that in one of the northern districts an individual having been made subject to the prohibition clause of the Licensing Act, which forbids the supply, by publicans and others of liquor to prescribed persons, has taken to brewing beer himself. The members of the Manchester Rifles will meet to-night at the Town Hall at 7 p.m. to be sworn in under the New Regulations. All members of the old corps who do not intend to rejoin are requested to bring in all arms and accoutrements. At last the stables kuown as " Morphy's " are being completed. The next ti.iag will be to have them occupied, and the business of a livery stable properly established. A few good buggies, traps, and saddle horses for hire would be a great convenience, and would also be profitable to the proprietor. In the olden times, when people travelled by diligence in France, one traveller was killed in every 335,000, and one wounded in every 30,000. Now, when i hey travel by rail, one is killed per 5,178.490, and one wounded per 580,450. Railway travelling is thus nearly twenty times as safe as travelling by diligence. We have much pleasure in stating that t'ue friends of Mr West are contributing a few pounds towards purchasing some articles of furniture and clothing for his family. It will be remembered that Mr West's house, with all its contents, was utterly destroyed by fire, communicated from the bush fires which have done s > much mischief at Taonui. The Wellington Post says that tenders will very shortly be called for the Opaki section of the extension of the Welling-ton-Napier Railway from Masterton towa'd Woodville. The Parliamentary vote available for expenditure on this section during the current financial year is £40,000. At a financial meeting of Court Loyal, Feilding, A.0.F., held last Wednesday, the balance-sheets for the quarter and year were read and adopted. The progress during the year has been— a gain of 22 members, and £75 added to the Sick Fund. The Court is now in a most nourishing condition, there being £300 to the credit of the Sick and Funeral Fund, or an average of £6 per member, there being 51 members on the books. As an indication of the popularity of colonial inscribed stock, I may mention (writes the Home correspondent of the Argus), that in connection with the £3,000,000 New Zealand loan there have been no less than 5,000 transfers in the course of the last two half years. The Canadian inscribed 4 per cent, stook is very difficult to obtain, having been almost entirely absorbed by trustees. Henry Ward Beecher has answered the question, " is it wrong for a Christian to dance P" in a sensible and characteristic way. "It is wicked," he says, "when it is wicked, and it is not when it is not wicked. In itself it has no more moral character than walking, wrestling, or rowing. Bad company, untimely hours, evil dances may make the exercise evil ; good company, wholesome hours, and home influence may make it a great benefit." " Through fire and water" is a common expression enough, and although a railway train has been seen to go through the latter, even on the Wanganui- Foxton section, we never before saw it go through the former, which it literally did the other day between Bunnythorpe and Terrace End, the flames from the burning rubbish on both sides of the line extending to the very sleepers, and almost coming into the carriages. The heat was intense, and the clouds of smoke almost suffocating. Some amusement was caused in town yesterday by the singular appearance of a gentleman who had ridden in from Beaconsfield. On making a close observation we discovered the cause of the risbility of the idlers about was that the gentleman in question was wringing wet, he having been caught in a heavy shower of rain a few chains up the Kimbolton road ; the fact of not a drop of Fain having fallen in Feilding made the oocurrenoe appear strange. Modified plans for the Johnsonville church have been prepared by Mr F. de J. Clere, A.R.1.8.A, of Feilding, and ap. proved by the trustees. The new church is to be a neat wooden str^oturo, consisting of a nave 36ft long by 18ft wide, a channel 12ft Gin by 16ft, a vestry attached to the latter, and a porch. The tower originally designed in the first plan is dispensed with, the new structure being ornamented by a simple bell-cote. The church is to seat 125 persons.