Local & Goneral News.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 13, 10 July 1883, Page 2

Local & Goneral News.

We hare to acknowledge receipt of a quantity of Parliamentary papers from the Government pirnter. Constable Stanton, from Wanganui. is doing duty in Feilding during the absence in Wellington of Coustable Price. We would again remind any of our renders who wish to join the Manchester Kifle Volunteers, that July is the oniy time during the year that recruits can join the ranks. At lnverell, a contractor, who is employing about 140 men on out door , work, pays £'6 per month for oatmeal to make drinks for the men at labour, and states that on that they do splendid work, but when pay-day comes, and the , men imbibe stronger liquors, there is for some time a considerable falling-off in their working capacity. We regret to learn that Mr Grice, late of Kiwitca, has succumbed to his illness, having died yesterday morning in the Wanganui Hospital. Deceased had been a great sufferer for some time past from an internal complaint. He was generally respected, and his widow and children will have many sympathisers. We call attention to the paragraph advertisement of Mr Cottrell of Manchester street, by which it will be seen that he has started a new adventure in the shape of making up a parcel of household requisites in the grocery line. From the number and quantity of the articles mentioned, and the low charge quoted, the parcel must be a great bargain. The leaders of the BJue Eibbon Army in Hokitida have discovered that lawn tennis encourages the " drinking customs of society." We always thought that all out-door games were direct encouragements to sobriety, but it appears to be otherwise in Hokitika, or perhaps the people among whom the gentlemen gained their experience did not belong to the " upper ton." The first instalment of new instruments for the Feilding Brass Bund lias- just arrived from Wellington. They have been supplied by Mr G. Reichardt, of Lambton Quay, and are apparently of first-rate quality. There are now about 15 instruments altogether. Another instalment is to be sent shortly, making altogether about 27. The band is under the able tuition of Mr Samuel Daw. The football match — Volunteers t. Civilians — held on the Oval on Saturday last resulted in neither side scoring a wm. The unmilitary "kickists" made one goal and two tries, while our " brave defenders " scored six tries, the match ending in a draw, the game, however, being slightly in favor of the Civilians. The mateh — Palmerston v Feilding — is to be played on the ground of the former on Saturday afternoon next. We were advised by wire that Dr Hector had exhibited to the Wellington Philosophical Society some gold beating quartz, taken from a point between Lowry Bay and Penearrow Lighthouse, which the Doctor said had been tested, and found to contain gold at tho rate of 607 oz to the ton. It has not transpired who the person was that made the discovery, and we should not be at all surprised if the whole affair turns out to be a hoax. There is a peculiarity in the figures that looks very suspicious. It will be a splendid thing for Wellington if a gold bearing reef of a payable nature should be discovered near that city. The sudden influx of pushing and intelligent men of business from other parts of the colonies would have a splendid effect in " crumbling up" the " fossilized remnants" that at present clog the progresi of the Empire City, and paralyze its efforts to progress. That peculiar class of people who call themselves " the oldest inhabitants," " pioneers," &c , but who never appear to do anything, will be relegated to the obscurity of a small " mutual admiration society" for which they are so well fitted. The question as to whether the temperance " blue ribbon " should be worn in the army and navy was decided as follows a short time since. A private soldier on leave at Devonport was arrested by a patrol for being improperly dressed, the " improper " part of his attire being the " blue ribbon" supposed to be worn only as a distinction of certain honors. The man's leave wa# stopped for 14|days. On the matter being brought before the Commander' in Chief the punishment was remitted- as unnecessarily severe, and the opinion was concurred in by the Lords of the Admiralty. The decision being mentioned in the House of Commons, in answer to a question, elicited cries of hear, hear ! One of the leading hotels in Wanganni boasts of a "boots" who is a "regular swell." The other day a gentleman arrived in the town by train, and drove iin a cab to the hostl cry in question, and was met at the door by the said knight of the polishing brush, who was dressed " up to the nines " with "gold" dangling from his upper story, and cigar stuck between his lips. The visitor naturally thought he had found "mine* host," and interrogated, "The proprietor, I presume." "Oh . no, Sir," was the' almost indignant reply, "I'm the 'cad boota. fr " Head boots," exclaimed the astonished visitor, "good heavens ! what must 1 the proprietor bo like ?" ■ - c . . /;

The Eight Hours Bill, and Sir G. I Grey's L-ivr Practitioner's Bill were thrown out in the House last night. A slight shock of earthquake was felt here yesterday at 2.55 p.m. At Aorungi the shock was more severe, but no injury was done. Mr J. D. Lightbourne, of Halcombe, was thrown from a horse last evening, and received some frightful bruises and cuts. He was brought to the residence of his father, Dr Lightbourne, of Feilding, under whose treatment he now remains. The choral company tor the ensuing concert met in the Town Hall last night for practice under the conductorship of MrDowling. Considerable preparations are being made, and a great success is anticipated. An Auckland timber merchant is such a true blue teetotaller that he declines orders for timber which is to be used in the erection of hotels or breweries. He draws the line at undertakers; he doesn't care how they use the wood. Two slight accidents were reported from the sawmills yesterday. At Adsett's ( i aonui) Charles Baker cut himself badly in the leg with an adze, and at Bull's (Aorangi) William Bead got his hand injured by the machinery. Both men are under the care of Dr Lightbourne. We are sorry to hear of the somewhat serious illness of Mrs Browne, Mistress of the State School. She is under medical treatment, and we hope she will speedily recover her usual health. Mrs Dowling is in the meantime taking the place of Mrs Browne in the school. Dr Johnston is attending to the lady. Mr E. W. Otway, C.E., of Auckland has patented a new railway- sleeper, by which he claims that the mode of railway construction will be greatly changed fur flfe better. Instead of causing the rails to be supported by cross sleepers several feet apart, as at present, he proposes to use longitudinal iron sleepers as rests for the rails. By this means he expects to get rid of much of the vibration which is at present felt. This will make travelling by rail far smoother than it is at present, aud ti.e "life" of rails will be prolonged. In Dunedin an inquest was held on the bodies of Mrs and Mr Stephen son, and after about half an hour's retirement the jury brought in a verdict to the effect, that the deceased persons met their death by the explosion of a dynamite cartridge fired by George Timothy Stephenson, but that their was no evidence to show what state of mind he was in when be fired such cartridge. They added a rider that no one should be allowed to purchase or use dynamite without a license. A frightful accident with a gun occurred at Bleuheim on Saturday last. A gun had been brought by a settler for repairs to the tinsmith's shop of Mr John Smith. His son Frank put a cap on to try it, and then thinking he would try another gun brought ia six weeks before, lifted it down and put a cap on it. Just us he had cocked it John ran across from the opposite side of the back shop. As Prank pulled the trigger his brother received the charge it contained full in the face. On examination a bullet wound was found on the left side of the face about an inch and a half below the eve.