Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 12, 8 July 1884, Page 2

Local & General News.

♦ — - The resignation of W. W. Taylor as Justice of Peace, has been gazetted. His Excellency the Governor and Major Cautley left Wellington for Sydney by the Wakatipu on Saturday night. The Equitable Insurance Company have declared ah interim dividend at the rate of five per cent. Mr Herbert Hankins, of Palmerston. , has been appointed agent'of the Publ'c Trustee, in place'of Mr E. W. Perkins, resigned.

Patea has been gazetted as warehouseing port at which, tobacco may be im ported.

We may mention for the information of those interested that Electoral Rolls for the Rangitikei district can be purchased at the post office for a small fee.

The following queer telegram, dated Sunday, was„ received from Auckland. " A young man named Evans was drowned at Northcote wharf, while sleeping on board the barque Thames."

The work at the new school buildings is now rapidly approaching completion. The appearance of the buildings is very good, and the workmanship is a credit to the contractors.

A man named W. Briskee was locked up yesterday afternoon for being drunk when in charge of a horse. He was liberated on bail, and will appear before the Magistrate to-morrow morning.

In consequence of Mr Slipper having been ill with bronchitis, during the last two Sundays, no service has been held at Taonui ; but as he is now better, services will be held as usual at 3 p.m. and Sunday School at 2 p.m.

The New Zealand Referee says that Napier is the Prince of JNew Zealand show towns, which being interpreted means that there is more solid prosperity in Napier than in another place in the colony — bar Feilding of course.

In our very brief notice of the Church Bazaar held in the Town Hall, in aid of funds of the St. John's Church Sunday School Building Fund, we omitted to mention that Mcsdames Diamond, Reid, and Beattie also rendered valuable assistance in presiding at the tables, and in providing the good things which were dispersed therefrom.

It is now known that smnll-pox has broken out in Melbourne. For some time the doctors were sanguine that the disease was only chicken-pox, but it is now known that a student at the hospital, who was taken seriously ill. is undoubtedly suffering from small-pox. Another case of the same disease was also reported on Saturday last.

A white equall caught a party tourists moving across a lake in Scotland, and threatened to capsize the boat. When it seemed that the crisis had come, the largest and physically strongest of the party, in a state of intense fear, said : 'Let us pray.' 'No, no, my man,' shouted the bluff old boatman, ' let that little man pray ; you take an oar.'

A servant girl n mied Bon*iington was arrested on Friday last at Blenheim charged with infanticide. The dead body of a female infant was found in the watercloset, and the girl admitted the parentage to her employer. At the inquest an open verdict of " died from hemorrhage" was returned. The poor girl, who is only 16 years of age, remains in custody in the hospital.

Our Melbourne telegrams inform us that the Government Land Act Amendment Bill has been issued. It provides for reserving 10,000,000 acres, to be leased for 14 years in pastoral blocks of 100 acres, and tor creating agricultural blocks for a similar term, improvements reverting to the Crown. We do not think the Bill will pass in its present form, as the latter clause would prohibit a farmer putting up comfortable buildings, and would also be an inducement for him to " work the land to death" during his lease. The native 1- who were present at Mr Macarthur's meeting at Awahuri on Friday night, were desirous of asking the candidate whether he would be in favor of granting the Maoris permission to purchase more than one pound of powder according to the present regulations. As they were not aware of the proper mode to put the question, not having an interpreter, they allowed the opportunity to slip. They, however, sent in yesterday morning to Mr Macarthur, who replied that he would be in favor of extending the privilege up to their requirements during the game season.

With the view of giving Mr Donald Fraser a fair meeting to-night, special arrangements have been made to keep order. Constable Gillespie will be in attendance to remove nny larrikins who may evince a desire to disturb the proceedings. The supporters of both Mr Macarthur and Mr Fraser are determined that the business which men meet to transact or initiate shall no longer be stopped or interrupted in order that a few blackguard boys may, be amused. Any of those who make themselves too conspicuous will be promptly ejected from the building and afterwards proceeded against in tho Resident Mnjistrates Court where they will be taught a lesson they will remember for all their lives. We have to acknowledge receipt, of the first number of the New Zeuland Methodist, published in Christchurch, edited by the Rev. W. J. William*. I evidently intends to carry out a more lil-eral policy then denominational journals generally adopt. In the leading article it says .- — " The Methodist will not so far belie the traditions of its name as to be at all narrow in its interpretation of what may be an agency for good. We have a most cordial belief in the special fitness of Methodism for the i spread of scriptural holiness throughout the worid ; but we believe just as cordially in the eminent service rendered to the cause of Christ by other evangelical communions. Our greatest joy will be reserved, not for any mere sectional or denominational triumphs, hut for the proofs furnished tbat " the kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of His ' hrist " There is the ring of true metal in this extract.

" Old Grumble's" letter ou Politics, i.-> held over until our next issue. The Auckland Star announces that the letters to that journal, giving an account of the cruise of the Wairarapa in the South Seas, will be published in pamphlet form at a cheap rate. To-day's Chronicle says:— We learn that Mr W. H. Watt received a telegram yesterday from J. P. Maxwell, Esq.. General Manager of the New Zealand Ralways, stating that the Minister of Railways has agreed to a generally reduced rete for the carriage of milk to the Dairy Factory. This is in answer to an application made by Mr Filmer, secretary to the Wanganui Dairy Company. In the whole of the speeches made during his candidature by Mr Macarthur, it is a fact, which speaks volumes in favor of the man, that he has never even hinted at the many and valuable services he has rendered the whole district during his residence on this coast, as reasons why he should be supported during the present contest. Although he has apparently forgotten tli em they are remembered to his honor by a large majority of the electors.