Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 96, 29 January 1885, Page 2

Local & General News.

The Jane Douglas will leave Foxton this afternoon at 5 o'clock. We are glad to learn that the health of Sir Julius Yogel is steadily improving. Mr Stoutr^-the nominal Premier — is painfully sensitive of newspaper criticism. Several additions are made to-day to the catalogue of Messrs Halcombe and Sherwill's stock sale on Thursday, February the oth. We have to acknowledge receipt of the New Zealand Industrial Gazette for January. It contains the usual amount of interesting matter. Mass will be celebrated for the first time in the New Catholic Church on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. The consecration of this church has been postponed to Easter. A few days ago a man named Patrick Cronin was sent to prison in the Wanganui goal for a month, for using bad language in the streets. This ought to be a caution. Messrs Stevens and Gorton will hold a sale of stock at Awahuri on Tuesday, February 3rd. Several valuable lots have already been entered. A reaping machine will also be offered. The rain which so copiously fell yesterday was welcomed by a number of householders whose water tanks had become somewhat low during the dry weather of the past week or two. We. understand that there will be a considerable number of objections to the Borough Assessment for the current year, not for excessive valuation, but from the fact that a considerable number of the properties have lately changed owners. We hear that a running scratch match between two " local celebrities" for £5 aside has been definitely arranged. It will probably come off on the Oval on Saturday evening, the 7th prox. The race will not be " a best on record" for time, but it will be run " very plucky." At a meeting of a Milkmen's Committee in the South Island, a proposal was made to have their annual fete on the river. This was, however, negatived, and the dry land was selected in preference. The delicacy of feeling displayed is easy to understand, and is very commendable. It would have been of considerable use to some of the bush settlers if they had accepted the warning of Mr Edwin who has for the past day or two issued notices to the effect that heavy rains were certain to fall within a limited period. Instead of doing so, they fired their fallen bush on Tuesday morning with the result that the heavy showers which came down yesterday, completely extinguished the fires and thus " spoiled the burn."

Amongst all the extra prizes which were awarded to the scholars of our public school for special objects, it was very noticeable that not one was given for needlework. As this was in all probability an oversight, it is hoped some kind friend will think of the matter when the distribution of prizes comes round again. This is one of the most useful and important branches of a girl's education, and it is well that it should be encouraged in every possible way.

A naval artillery corps is likely to be started in New Plymouth. It ought to succeed, if the traditions of the gallantry of the volunteers of Taranaki during tha native troubles, have not been forgotten. At the Wesleyan Conference held in Dunedin on Monday last, we observe the following in the second reading of the circuit appointments. Wanganui, Rev. Tinaley ; Rangitikei, Rev. Worker ; Sanson, Rev. Simmonds; Palmerston North, Revs. Bunu and Chnstopherson.

On Tuesday a lad named Hurdle managed to cut his baud somewhat severely with a tomahawk. The wound was dressed by Dr Johnston, and is in a fair way of recovery. At no moment of difficulty does a husband, knowing his utter helplessness, draw so close to his wife's side fur comfort and assistance as when he wants a button sewed on his shirt collar. Mr Eade, cabinet maker, will shortly have on view a magnificent bedstead made of totara. The veneer is for the most part of mottled totara. Other prominent parts of the work are of totara knot and rewa rewa. The article will be finished in a week or two. Mr D. R. Lewers, with his usual ' promptitude, is again to the front with startling reductions in summer goods. i Mr Lewers is offering ladies' straw hats I at half price, and a job lot of boots at 2s 6d per pair. Such enterprise as this is sure to command success. It is asserted that, within the last ten years, the island of Great Britain has added more to its population than it did in the 600 years which followed the Norman Conquest, and that, should the increase continue at the same rate during the next century, there will be 150 millions of people crowded together in the "tight little island." The settlement of the Patetere Block, says a correspondent of the Industrial Gazette, will be actively proceeded, with and should the scheme of general settlement throughout the district be properly followed up, there can be no doubt that an end will be soon put to the sorry stories occasionally heard regarding commercial depression existing about theie. A peculiar accident happened at Picton last week. Mrs Colclough, of Christchurch, who was on a holiday visit to Picton, broke her right arm and also her right leg in her own room, at four in the morning, by a sudden wrench, without falling. The arm was set at once, but owing to inflammation the leg was not set for some days. We are informed by the Advocate of the 27th instant that the first case in this district under the new Impounding j Act will come on for hearing shortly. Some 228 sheep and nine steers were impounded in the Sandon pnblic pound, and the poundkeeprr's charges amounted to over £10. The owner of the animals considers the charges excessive and unlawful, and intends to take the case into court. At a meeting of the Government Insurance Board at Wellington on Tuesday, the Hon. Mr Tole presiding, the question <of .appointing the Commissioner was deferred until the return of Sir Julius Yogel, and the consideration of the necessity of appointing a local board was postponed for three months, lhe only business of interest to-day was the appointment of finance committees, and arranging details in connection with the working of the association.

In the setting up of our report of the Court case heard here on Monday last the words quoted in the following extract from the Police Offences Act were inadvertently omitted: — Any person who sings any obscene song or ballad, or writes or draws any indecent or obscene "word figure, or representation, or uses any profane, indecent" or obscene language in any public place, or within hearing of any person passing therein, shall be Cable to imprisonment with hard labour for any time not exceeding one year.

One of the most important thmgs for a litigant to observe while in court is perfect consistency in all that he says. Yesterday a person who had been summoned as a joint defendant had succeeded in clearing himself before the court of his own liability, and when judgment had been given against the other defendant the former came forward and asked what time could be given to "them" for payment. The R.M. humorously told him he would get into trouble yet if he wasn't careful, and advised him to keep clear of the affair altogether, and let tne other parties concerned fight their battles for themselves.

A correspondent, writing to an exchange, says : — I have been looking over the Doomsday Book which has been prepared by the Government owing to the persistent demands for such a work made by Sir George Grey in Parliament. Some of tbe facts and figures contained in this work fill my heart with astonishment. Thirty-one persons in this colony are therein shown to own an aggregate of the Public Estate, the value of which iB set down at four millions, five hundred and twenty four thousand, four hundred and one pounds sterling. Surely that is a tremendous amount oi property. — in land alone— to be held by so small a number of people.

Many old Westcoasters who were in Hokitika in the " good old times " will remember Mr J. C. Frew, C.E., who was engineer for the Town Board and Borough Council. Mr Frew was notpnly a skilled man in his profession, but was also a practical engineer, having served his time m one of the largest workshops in Glasgow, of which city he was a native. As a private individual he was most estimable, and he was universally liked and esteemed. It was with much pain we received the following telegram from Hokitika announcing that on Sunday morning last, about 10 o'clock, a frightful and fatal accident occurred to J. C. Frew, a wellknown civil engineer. He called at Glass' farm, Kokotahi, saying there were wild ducks in the creek near there, and borrowed a double-barrelled gun. Shortly afterwards a report was heard, and Frew was found with his face frightfully shattered. He was taken to the Hospital, but died after a few hours.