Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 19, 21 July 1883, Page 2

Local & General News.

o The General Manager of Railways is attempting to improve the position of statiunmasters. Some enquiry is likely to be made into the working of the Government Lfo Assurance Department. The question of a penny postage for all letters posted within the Colony is likely to be pressed heavily oa the Government. During the Masonic Ball on Thursday evening, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the Hall. Some of the dancers were a little startled. We learn from tho Hawera Star that a letter carrier is to be appointed for that Borough, his duties to commence on the Ist August. There will be two deliveries daily. It is time that our own Bor ugh Council made some attempt to obtain a similar concession for Feiiding. An effort is being made among the shopkeepers' assistants in Feiiding with a view to securing the closing of the various establishments by 7 o'clock each evening. Several tradesmen have already consented to do so providel the others will do the same. We see no reason why the movement should not succeed. Mr Jeffries, of Bunnythorpe, has writ-! ten to us, stating that he is willing to point out to any duly authorised parson where good gravel, ten feet thick, easy of access, with very little stripping, can be obtained. As several persons have bfen unsuccessfully prospecting for grave!, from the Ashurst Road, this information will be valuable. There was very little business before the Borough Council on Thursday evening, and the greater part of its time was occupied by the discussion as to paying' for the lighting of the street lamps, a small matter, which might very well have been left to the finance committee, or a couple of councillors, or even to the Town Clerk, as was ultimately done as a temporary arrangement. There will be a meeting of the Council of the Manchester Rifles at Mr Goodbehere's office on Monday evening next, at' S p.m. One of the subjects that will be discussed is a proposed change in the uniform of the corps. The advocates for a change will show that a cheaper, and at the same time more soldier-like uniform, can be purchased through the Government than the one now worn by the men. We trust that so important a matter will be freely discussed by the Council, and any decision they may arrive at be ratified at a full meeting of the Company, before any decisive steps. are taken. We have been shown by Messes Pym and Pyvis, of Palmerstbn, a working: model of a wool press after the Australian fashion, which they have just constructed, and we would strongly recommend wool growers to make an inspection of the same. The makers are prepared to take orders for the machine as per model, and tho price is within the re.ich of all ordinary farmers, &c. It is, certainly a, great •improvement on the present mode of wool pressing, besides being a great saver, of time and labor. The general business" notice of the firm appears in another column, from which it will be seen that they nyo makers of all kinds of vehicles and. agricultural implements, besides buia^ shoers and general blade mith.s.

Our local Mr Partington says he was on the q.v. all day yesterday. Mr Pillict, M.TT.fI. for Ftnnmore, is likely soon to resign from ill health. In view of the passing of the Bankruptcy Bill now before Parliament, which will prevent a debtor obtaining his discharge unless he pays 10s in the £, various " shaky" people in parts of the j West Ooast are hastening to avail themselves of the present remarkably accommodating Act before it is suspended. Mr J. H. Monrad is publishing a handy pamphlet on the manufacture of cheese and butter- It is being printed by Mr Leary, of Palmerston, and will bo I illustrated by photographic representations, by Mr Shailer, of the various machines and implements described by the author. We predict for the brochure an extensive circulation. On Monday, the 30th instant, the annual general meeting of the parishioners of St. John's Church, will be held at the Immigration Barracks at 8p m. As there will bo a considerable number of questions brought forward deeply interesting to the parish generally, it is expected that all church members will be present to take an active part in the proceedings. Mr D. Lisle Hay, in the paper read by him before the Colonial Institute, when re ! >rring (o Wellington, says: "Government is the main industry of the place." He characterises the other places thus : " There is the commercial tone of Dunedin, the polite tone of Christchurch, the ecclesiastical tone of Auckland, but in Wellington the tone political is supereminent. You have— especially when the House is in session — the sound of politics continually in your ear." In another column will be found the programme, which is a very attractive one, of the concert and dramatical performance to come off in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening next, in aid of the funds of the Feilding Brass Band. The presence of professor Herr and .Miss Norberg, should be sufficient of itself to draw a good audience and their performance, combined with the efforts of the various local amateurs will doubtless make a thoroughly good evenings's amusement.