Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 28, 8 March 1884, Page 2

Local & General News.

A reward is offered of £800 for the discovery of a payable gold field atTauranga. It will never be claimed. The Wanganui Horticultural Society's Show will be held en Wednesday, the 12th instant, in the Volunteer Drill Hall. On the list of Civil Knights Commanders there is only one name — that of St George Russel Clerk- senior to Sir Geo. Grey. Sir Win. Fox has stated that the cost of elementary education in New Zealand is Jess than the value of half a class of beer per day to every adult of the population. We omitted to mention in our report of the Horticultural Show that the prizes for needlework were presented by Mrs Stewart, of Mar ton. This lady is a regular visitor to, and takes great interest in, our local shows. The Auckland Star informs its readers that "Civil Service reform has been started. Several burglaries are reported in Onristchurch." We sincerely hope that thece items of news have no connection with each other. Some of the civil servants in Wellington are making a feeble effort in the direction of forming a Co-operation Association for the purpose of buying and selling stores. &>c, on the same lines as the cooperative stores at Home. The movement will be bitterly resented by the Wellington shopkeepers, who, thonnh they profess to despise Civil Servants, are not above living on them.

Telegraphic communication with Europe is interrupted. The Wanganui Caledonian Sports will take place on the 25th April. Hydrophobia ia a dog is reported from Hokianga, Auckland. A man named Suiter was arrested in in Hawera last night on a charge of arson. It is probable that an increase will be made in railway tariff. The grain rates will be the first to be raised. A tabernacle for the converts of the Salvation Army at Bulls is about to bo erected. The building will not be a large one. Mr Ruskin says that no girl who is well-bred and modest, is ever offensively plain ; all real deformity means want of heart or of manners. A Juvenile Temple of the 1.0-G.T. will be inauguarted this evening, after which a public tea and meeting will be held, which we doubt not will be well patronised. Our local cricketers left this morning to pay the return match with the Ashurst team. We have every confidence that our men will give a good account of themselves. The journeyman bakers of Dunediu have formed an association for the attainment of their rights, the protection of their interests, and their social elevation — whatever that may mean. At the Appeal Court, held in Christchurch, judgment was gi» en in I lie ease of W. H. Hunt v Sir Auhur Gordon, practically in favor <f the defendant. Hum's conncil obtained leave to appeal to tlie Privy Council. In Dunedin ii is proposed to form an Otago Consiirutional Association, the objects of which will be to watch political affairs affecting the proveoce of Olago particularly and apris the colony generally. We are glad to observe that severa' persons whose names do not appear on the electoral roll for General Assembly elections are now taking the trouble to register. We recommend all others who have omitted to do so to visit the Postmaster at once and give in their names. Objections have been lodged against the validity of the recent Auckland Licensing Elections. There are six clauses in the petition, either one of which, if proved, will be sufficient to necessitate new elections. It has been decided by the Foxton Racing Club to hold a winter meeting on Saturday, the 31st of May, commencing at noon. The events will be — Hack Hurdles, £10 ; District Race, £15 ; Pony Race, £4; Foxton Winter Handicap, £30; Hack Race, £10; Publicans' Purse. £16. It may prove important to volunteers to know that Lieutenant Dransfield, of the Lyttleton Naval Brigade, recovered 50s, the value of a uniform supplied to a member of the brigade, who had failed to attend the regulation number of drills, and so lost the capitation allowance. In justice to ourselves we must explain to our readers that the absence of all reports, in our telegraphic columns, of the Wanganui Races, in our issue of Thursday last was entirely owing to laches on part of the Wanganui agent of the Press Association, whose duty it was to have forwarded the usual particulars. As a proof that a dancing class, under good management, was needed id Feilding we have pleasure in stating that last , night, Mr Turner held the first of his ■ evening dai cinq classes at the Foresters' , Hall, and upwards of 30 couples attended as pupils. Mr Turners system of mii struction is perfect in its kind. Some rumours have been circulated regarding a "burglary" supposed to have been committed on the premises of one of our local tradesmen. We have made diligent enquires into the truth of the said rumours from the police, and are unaMe to get any information reliable enough to lay before our readers. At the last meeting of the Borough Council, Cr Loudon showed that ono-half of the measurement of the road work, as authorised in the schedule of public works attached to the loan proposals, has been undertaken at a cost of less than £2000. As it is not probable that the other portions of the works will cost any more, a clear £20(K) will be available for new woiks, or to keep down the rates. The Volunteer Band has just acquired two new instruments, viz. one E. flat bombardon, and a cornet, the former at a cost of 10 guineas, and the latter 12 guiseas. The cornet has been presented by the Band to the Band masted, Mr J. Ctirreen. It this connection we may mention that Mr Curreen is at present acting under a temporary engagement during the races, as leader of the World's Circus Band now performing in Wanganui. Talking of " Pinafore" reminds us (says a contemporary) of its author, and his name connects itself — as that of Kogers or of Sydney Smith used to do in bygone days — with some of the best puns current in London society. Two of the latest are worth repeating. Mr Gilbert had a pretty place down in Hertfordshire, where one of his visitors, remarking on a small copse in his grounds, exclaimed, " What a pretty wood you hare 1" The answer was, '* Not quite a wood, 1 am afraid. A sort of would if I could." After dinner tbe conversation turned upon bishops, and one gushing spiister observed, " How nice the dear Bishop of Peterborough is 1 What s good man !" Her host immediately rejoined. " There is no Merit in that; bishops ought to be so. They get five thousand s year for. being good, while we are expected to be good for nothing— ♦nH most of vi iM."