Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 56, 21 October 1884, Page 2

Local & General News.

Tho Manchester Rifle Volunteers will parado for inspection and muster parade on Thursday the 6th of .November. Mr Monrad, of Palmerston, is a candidate for tlie vacant seat on the Wanganui Education Board. Mr Fry's return is now a certainty. The Hon. the Defence Minister has been pleased to approve of ihe appointment of Mr Owen Pleasants as Acting Lieut, of tbe Manchester Rifle Volunteer Corps. We again call the attention of the common jurors who were summoned to sit at tne Palmerston District Court tomorrow to the fact that their presence will not be required. The latest local industry we hear •talked of being started in this district is ostich farming, which rumour says a settler in the neighbourhood of Awahuri is seriously contemplating. The birds, we understand, can be imported for the trifling sum of £200 each ! Local, contractors are reminded that tenders will be received by Mr Hill, the Borough Engineer, up till 4 o'ciock on Thursday afternoon, for the erection of a new bridge over the Makino in Warwick Itreet. Plans, specifications &c, may be seen at the Engineer's office in the Borough Council chambers.

" Old Grumble," on tho Fire Brigade, will be heard next issue. A meeting of the Kiwitea Road Board was held yesterday afternoon. A full report of the proceedings is unavoidably held over till our next issue. In the course of conversation with an Auckland member (says the Star) Sir Julius Yogel admitted that a loop Viae to Taranaki would have to be made. The anniversary ball of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge of Free Masons will be held in the Forester's Hill, Palmerston, on Friday next, dancing to commence at 8.30 p.m. The poll re tho Marton waterworks loan was taken on Saturday, and resulted m the loan being carried. The votes polled were : — For the loan, 133; against, 15. We are pleased to learn (says the [ Advocate) that Mr Collard, tho courteous aud efficient porter at the Marlon railway station, has been promoted to the position of station-master at Aramoho. The Auckland Star's correspondent says : — The general opinion is that there is no probability of work being got thmugh in less than a month from now. The session is likely toeudou November the 7th. Owing to the rough weather which prevailed on Saturday last the opening cricket match of the Manchester Clnb — "' married v. single " — did not come off. Weather permitting, it will bo played on Saturday afternoon next. Mr Christopher Brown, of Manchester House, will leave to-night for Wellington in order to select from tho host houses an entirely new stock of goods in the millinery, drapery, and clothing iines for tho summer season. Mr A. A. Browne has received three nominations for the Education Board vacancy, viz., Messrs J. il. Fry, Makino Road; E. S. Thynne, Foxton; and Viggo Monrad, Karere. The election papers have to be in by the 27th of tho month. For a wager of 100 guineas an English manufacturer lately accomplished the remarkable feat of having by 9 p.m. a coat finished ready for wearing, the material for which was growing on the sheop's back at 5 a.m. of the same day. An elaborate programme has been arranged by the united Friendly Societies of Palmerston for their annual sports on New Year's Day, and nearly £100 is to be given away in prizes. A special event in the programme is a race for Salvation lads and lasses. For tho race for the Caul field Cup on the Victoria Amatuer Turf Club at Melbourne on Saturday last, 23 horses ran. Tho time occupied was 2 minutes 42^ seconds, and Biink Bonny was an easy winner by two lengths, Lord Wilton coming in next, one length in front of Vergy, the third horse. We are sorry to learn that the recent heavy gales have played sad havoc with many of the fruit trees in the district. Some of them, which presented a fair prospect of a good crop, have been entirely denuded of blossom, while many more have been partially stripped, only those in more sheltered places having escaped injury. The repairs done to the railway bridge over the Makino immediately after the damage done to it by the late flood were only of a temporary character. The new timber for the permanent repairs is now being deposited near the site of the bridge and the work will be proceeded with as soon as the water in the stream is low low enough to admit of it. Last night's Standard says : — Till the hour of going to prrss no further particulars have come to hand concerning the fate of the missing settler, Mr Fitzsimmonds, and the lad who was with him, but all the circumstances point to their untimely death by drowning, of which so many have occurred at the treacherous fords ou the Manawatu River. The Woodville Examiner says: — We hear that there is a probability of Mr Ormond being called on to take np the vacant Government portfolio as Minister of Lands. A better man could not be selected for the purpose if he will take office, for he has a thorough general knowledge of the most important lands for settlement purposes. A good number of our town residents left this morning, some by train and others by various vehicles, for Bulls, to attend the opening exhibition of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Poultry and Produce Association, whioh is being held there to-day. A good many local exhibits were also forwarded yesterday and to-day- We are glad that fine weather is favoring the show, which we anticipate will be a great success. A ' new notice from Mr C Henry, saddler and harness maker, of Fergusson street, appears elsewhere. The advertiser is evidently determined to meet the requirements of the district, and with this view has just got in a largo stock of now goods most needed in his line, all of which are of excellent q-iality, and will well bear inspection. The enterprise Mr Henry is displaying will be sure to meet with its due reward. Wedding Bells ! Yesterday afternoon the marriage of Mr Geo. Kirton (part proprietor of this journal) with Miss Maud Washbourne, waß duly solemnized at St. John's Church b}' the Rev. Joshua Jones. The parties to the " mystic tie " being widely and popularly known, thpro was in consequence a large gathering (particularly of the fair sex) at the Church to witness tho interesting ceremony. The happy pair left for Wanganui by the evening tram. We direct special attention to tho new price list, published in this issue, from Mr Lowers, of the People's Store. The list is long and varied, and comprises everything required for the season. The advertiser asks the public to compare the prices and qunlitieH of his goods, confident that they will well benrsuch comparison. The articles are marked in plain figures, and one of tho special advantages to buyers viiuting Mr L^wers's establishment is that they have a large variety to choose from in every department. The Post of Wednesday says : -From some remarks which fell from the Ministerial Benches yesterday, it is evident that there is considerable doubt in the minds of many people, both in and out of the House, as to who is the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition at the present moment. The consensus of opinion, however, points to Mr Bryce as the gentleman upon whose shoulders the much battered mantle of Major Atkinson has fallen, although certain honourable gentlemen will have it that both Messrs Rolleston and Wakefield have achieved the distinction referred to. The names of Messrs Fergus and Hurstkouse have also been mentioned since Major Atkinson's wise retirement, but we believe that the House recognises Mr Bryce as the Opposition's temporary leader.

Captain Edwin telegraphs to-day : — Barometer further rise, and very cold or frosty to-night. The case of J. Blackmore v. the Feilding Borough Council will be heard at the District Court, Palmerston, to-morrow. A sitting of the R.M. Court will be held here to-morrow, when one or two interesting and important cases will bo : heard. Wo notice that Mr Chamberlain, of the Feildini; cooperage, is very busy just now manufacturing casks, chiefly for the butter trade of the district. His work is neat and strong, and gives general satisfaction. For the last six months there has been a steady decline in the attendance of school children throughout the educational district. In the June quarter the fulling off was somewhere about 150, while for the September quarter just past there was a further reduction of some 80 or 90. This number, at £4 a head, means a serious diminution of the board's revenue, without any corresponding reduction in the expenditure. — Chronicle.