Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 16, 9 February 1884, Page 2

Local & General News.

Adelaide expects a surplus of 20,000.000 bushels ot wheat this year— equal to £5,000,000. Messrs Levin and Pearce, Directors of the E. and C. Aid Corporation, are at present in Feilding. Mr Levin, M H.R., will not offer himself for re-election at the next general election owing to ill health. A man named Henry Bnckeadahl committed suicide on Wednesday evening last at Foxton, by blowing out his brains. The contract for the Roman Catholic Church has been taken up by a Marton firm, Messrs Carrol and Bosselman. Mr E. H. Wright is the architect. On Thursday last a purse was lost containing a small sum of money. The finder will oblige by returning the same to this office. A very heavy train went from Palmerston to Wanganui this morning. There thirteen trucks containing 50 bullocks and 320 sheep in all. The stock was from Mr Manson for shipment to Wellington. A'Brisbane telegram in the Melbourne papers «ays : — "Mr Jones, who was so severely injured at Rocktown by a circular saw, is still alive. The saw cut through five ribs. The heart and left lune can be seen in full working order. Only one case of a similar nature has ever before been recorded." In our report on Thursday of the meeting of the Oroua County Council we omitted to mention the receipt of a letter from the Mayor of Feilding, asking the Council's assistance in the matter of improving the cemetery. The Chairman, after consulting the Act, said the Council had no power to make a grant, and it was resolved that he write to the Mayor to that effect We are glad to notice that a number of gentlemen from various parts of the Colony are now visiting the district on the look out fov land. The attraction to this block is considerable, as not only is the lnnd th? most fertile in the Colony, but the splendid ioar!s now in existence, or in course of formation, offer f-iciliXs to settlers aot obtainable in any other part, of New Zealand. Several old shops in town which hare stood etiipty for some time are vow beini* jenovated and fitted up for the businesses for which they have bepn en?:iged. Among these we notice particularly Mr Haybittle's old store on the Square, where Messrs Gosling and Son intend opening up in all the branches of thentrade, full particulars of which will be duly notified in our columns. At a creditors' meeting in Dunedin the Official Assignee said that a great deal of trouble had arisen through a misunder- \ standing as to the form of proof of debt required under the new Act. Freah forms were necessary. There were two separate forms ; one for a firm or company, and the ether for an individual creditor. It would save a great deal of trouble if people would supply themselves with the proper form. There isa very unfair spirit being shown by a few ill tempered individuals towards Mr G. W. Russell, of Palmerston, in the matter of the Manawatu seat. Mr Russell has distinctly avowed that he has no intention of standing in opposition to »ny one, and there the matter ought to be allowed to rest. Instead of this, anonymous correspondents continue to carp at this gentleman in a very illiberal spirit. We question the good taste of the journals which publish such emanations. At Awahuri a few days ago a son of Mr M. K. Samuels fell off the stockyard fence and broke his collar hone, and on Thursday Mr Campion, while engaged in reaping at Mr T. Fraser's, had his left hand severely crushed by the horses attached to the reaper and binder suddenly starting, and the hand getting jammed in the machinery. Both individuals had to call in the assistance of a medical man. It is stated that all the officers on the New Zealand Railways ar# to be dressed in uniform. This will be a ereat convenience to the travelling public. It is noi known publicly as to what will be the color and facings of the several uniforms, but is confidently asserted that that of the General Manager for New Zealand Railways will be startling in its magnifi cence and beauty. It is not anticipated that he will wear side arms, but gold spurs will be permitted. An Australian gentleman, who is just now honouring Wanganui with a visit, was quite concerned a few nights ago when he was taken out to see Pon's Comet. Surveying it for a few moments with mingled pity and contempt, our friend remarked— "Call that your blooming New Zealand Comet — you ought to j have seen our Australian Comet 12 J months ago!" Astronomy is not the] gentleman's strong point, or he would not have been led to the conclusion that each colony has its own peculi r set of comets and that New Zealand has to put up with the inferior article. At the stock sale on Thursday a yearling heifer was offered. Mr Sherwill, the auctioneer, caused some amuse- I ment by descnling it an being thoroughly ! > broken in to' both saddlo and harness, , and guaranteed to carry a lady to perfection. The animal, c which was a pet and would allow children to do anything with it, was readily sold at a fair price. This reminds us of another instauce near town of a yearling Which is regularly ridden by a boy in driving cows to and from milking, and of a ram, which also carries 1 a boy, and submits- to be guided in the most docile manner; /•■

" Still they come !" We have to thank Mr Beattie for a copy of the Standard Fire and Marine Insurance Company Almanac and Calendar for 1884. Its style is very good, and as near being aesthetic as was possible for the artist to make it. The enquiry into the loss of the Fusileer was concluded on the 6th instant at Wellington and resulted in the certificates j of the master aad mate being returned to them. No order was made as to costs. The court considered that the stranding resulted from the leewardly qualities of the ship. The dwelling house on Manchester Square, fo merly occupied by Mr Sherwill, has been " fixed up " as the residence and o&ce of Mr W. B. Hawkins, solicitor, who is expected to take, up his abode there in the beginning of next week. A number of Maoris are camped along Kimbolton road employed gathering fungus. A horde of piccauninies may be seen gathering aud eagerly smacking their lips over the ' ugly white grubs found in decayed trees. These with potatoes appear to be the ouly food used in such .expeditions. We are sorry to learn that Mr E. Wood, the well-known assistant of Messrs Stevens and Gorton, and who has been seriously ill for some time, is not considered out of danger. The latest telegram received by his father-in-law, Mr W. Stevens, of Manchester street, was to the effect that he was no better.