Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 74, 2 December 1884, Page 2

Local & General News.

The Auckland Museum is now open to die public on Sunday.

The Dunedm Times says that "poor Tole is a complete failure as a Minister."

Rumour hns it that en hotel is shortly to be erected in Ctimpbclltosvn by a certain ex-holelkeeper well known in this district.

The "Claimant" savsthathe willbrinsj an ac'ion against every newspaper that calls him nn impos'er. He will have his hands full, and will require a powerful syndicate at his back to provide funds.

Mrs Langtry has given up all idea of visiting the Australian Col< nies. She is now assured that her beauty would be eclipsed by many of the girls who have grown up under the magic influences of the Southern Cross.

The newspapers of the colony have been worrying a good deal lately about the Osprey, a vessel which was claimed by the " Claimant" as having had the misfortune to save him from a watery grave for fourteen years of " skilley."

The Chronicle understands that two summonses have been taken out by Mr Timms against Mr Spurdle for amount of penalty alleged to have been incurred by acting as a councillor while bein^ con cerned in certain work done for the council.

The Press Associafon agent at Dunedin appears to think that lue loss of a few dredging buckets from the dredge at work at the Otago Heads, is a national misfortune, judging from the prominence lie gives the various events relating to their recovery.

The proposal Jo have the Manchester Rifles increased to the strength of a Garrison Corps, is a good one. We are of opinion that if Captain Macarthur inli mated that the corps wanted somo recruits the required number would be made up in a few days.

G. W. MHIs. and T. K. Macdonald' both ot Wellington, arc candidates for seats on .the Central Board of Mnn-ige-of the Government Life Assurance Association. It would be interesting to know why these gentlemen aspire to this position.

The barquentine Jasper arrived in Port Chalmers on Saturday last from Mauritius, 38 days out, with a cargo of sugar and aloe fibre. On the 6th inst. during a hurricane the mate, Mr Houuhton, was washed overboard and lost: Every effort was made to save him, but without avail.

The Auckland Star is not well satisfied that the Government should hold the Industrial Exhibition in Wellington. It is hinted that the " whole show" will only be " a draw" tor the benefit of the hotels and lodging houses in the Empire City. This is rather a narrow-minded view to take of the subject, and not a little spiteful.

An invention has recently been brought out to prevent rust both in iron and steel. It is found that the caronbates of potash and soda possesses the power ot protecting iron and steel from the rust. If an iron blade be immersed in a solution of these carbonates, the latter exercises a protective action from a damp atmosphere for two years.

A Wellngton correspondent of the Napier Telegiaph writes:— "ln regard to the Treasury, it is stated that the services of most, if not all. of the unmarried officials will be shortly dispensed with, they receiving the compensation to which they are entitled." The same writer says the Railway Audit Department is to be abolished.

On Saturday night there was a brilliant display of fireworks in Manchester street. We observed a traphorse being driven up the street did nr>t seem to appreciate their be mi ties, for it shied violently and nearly ejected some of the recnpants of the vehicle into tlie street Tlio same fate nearly overtook the driver of a small carriage coming from the church.

As a large number of persons of foreign extraction, who have appeared on the various electoral rolls of the colony, have had their mimes struck off because they had omitie.l to tike out litters of naturalisation ; arrangements are being made whereby thosr can meet at some common centres to fill in the necessary forms ani pay the fees, in order that they may liecorae entitled to all the rights and privileges of British, subjects.

The charge of indecent assault on a boy, William Chadwin, of VTaungnturoto, preferred against Abrnm Ridings, latf Congregational clergyman, Maungaluro!o, c me up on remand at Auckland on Saturday la*t Superintendent Thomson >-aid he had received a telegram from the district mentioned, stating thnt five distinct charges of a similar nature, with ample evidence, had been laid against tho prisoner. He was remanded.

Writing on the thoughts which wonld pass through the mind of Sir John H.-il! on his recent arrival in this colony, a contemporary says that Sir John and Major Atkinson wore once called the saviours of New Zealand. Sir John's keen eye has told him what Sir Julius Vogel's policy is worth, and his k<v>n mind. n°ver inventive, ha« told him what a chance he lost of establishing a valid claim to the title of saviour, which -was thrust upon him by injudicious partisans. Sir John bought four votes and plung«>d th- colony into gloom. Sir Julius has, without buying one, started the colony hopefully on s\ career of prosperity. Both men had iitc s.uue opportuu.iies.

The San Francisco mail will close on Friday next at 7 p.m. Wo obserro that Mr Young has just received a consignment of coeonnuts. Upwards of six million persons over 10 yrnrs of ape in the Uuiled States arc unable to write.

In one of the Christchnrch consultations on the New Zealand Cup first and second prizes went to the one man — a carpenter. Luck}' carpenter!

Mr Cottrell has just received his new stock of goods for the Christmas and New Year's season. His new advertisement with particulars of these lines will appear in our next issue.

The hit thing season has fully commenced. Daw's brakes were heavily laden to and from Kiwitea Bridge on Sunday morning last, and we understand will continue to run during the summer months.

M"r J. Humphreys, secretary of the Northern Shipping Coinpnny, died at Auckland on Saturday from blood poisoning, caused by ratine pork. His predecessor died from a similar cause a few weeks previously.

"We notice that Mr Jensen is so busy with the manufacture of his patent fire bars and boilers that he has had to put on extra hands, and is now occupying not only his new premises — the Vulcan Forge — but also his old shop in Manchester street.

A Wellington storekeeper is doing a large business in tinning fresh and salted butter for India, Fiji, and China. The tins are got up on the American system, and contain from on« to seven pounds each. Ten hands are employed in the buMuess.

A wrifer in the Wanganui Chronicle, alludiug to recent robberies which have taken place in Palmerston, expresses the opinion that another constable is required. He says : — " Palmerston, since the removal of the late constable, Mr Gill«?spie, has been lively with larrikins, and I can safely say, with many more respectable people here, is every day getting worse."

Mr Charles Gordon, who returned from Auckland, where he took a draught of Wanganui horse stock, informs the Herald that although he landed them in fine condition, he had the misfortune to meet a dull market and low prices. He has brought back a couple of handsome carriages, which may be seen at Mitchell and Earlo's stores. Taupo Quay.

Yesterday a man named Kells, employed on survey work by MrDundas on the Otamnkapua Block, cut several of his fingers so severely that it was necessary to bring him to Peilding for surgical attendence. Dr Johnston dressed the wounds, aod Kelis is now progressing favorably towards recovery:

The youngest son of Mr James Allen, of Hope Hill, Taieri Otago, when returning from from rabbit shooting on on. Saturday last attempted to fire off the remaining cartridge, which missed fire twice. He than sat down holding the gun in a perpendicular position in order to extract the cartridge, which sud denly exploded, and the youth received the charge in his left cheek, the bone being broken and the ear carried away.

The following paragraph is from the Nauier Telegraph: — Ministers revel in new furniture. This is a democraticcountry, and though a man have hardly a second coat, directly he becomes a Mm ister, ho finds it necessary to have most luxurious surroundings — at the country's cost. Unemployed may want bread, and small settlers be bogged for want of a rond. but they have the satisfaction of knowing that their rulers are living in purple and fine linen, and that the country pays the bill.

At Greenwich observatory from January first next, the clock face will be changed so that the readings can be ac cording to the astronomical system, the hour hand making one revolution for each revolution ot the earth. It is prob able that the computation of civil time, that is from one to twelve, counted twice over, beginning at midnight for the civil day, will also be changed. New watches and clocks similar to those used in Italy would then come into vogue, which would give a tremendous impetus to the trade of watch and dock making.