Local & General News.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 107, 24 February 1885, Page 2

Local & General News.

♦- — Applications for space in the Industrial Exhibition will close at this office on Saturday next, at 2 p.m. . We are informed that in coneoquenco of the Star's representations on the subject excursion tickets will be issued from all stations to Wangamii on the day of the races at that place. It ia probable that the privilege will b j extended to the races here on Easter Mon lay.

We remind members of the Mntfehester Rifle Volunteer Corps th-it captain's parade will be held this evening at the usual hour and place. *

We regret to hear of the death of Mrs Eade, mother of Messrs Eade of Manchester street, which took place at Wellington yesterday.

The programme of the St. Patrick's Day sports at Palmerston is not yet issued but as the Foxtou people have issued one we may safely assume that our Palmerston friends will not let the chance pass.

The Novelty Theatre, London, management announces a new national song, " Pear Mother England." It is stilted to be written by an American, composed by a Hebrew, and sung by a foreigner.

The Advocate hopes that when Mr Ashbury, ex M.P., who has been making an ass of himself in the King Country, visits Mart on, that the young men will meet him at the railway station and roll him in the Tutaenui.

We learn from the Christchurch Press that the prisoner Crubtive who attemptod to escape from the Lyttelton gaol on Tuesday last was fired on and wounded in the groin before ho was captured. His injuries are not expected to prove fatal.

Lord Dufforin has adopted the rule of appointing no married men on his stall in India. He believes in the golden rule that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Lord Dufforin and staff will be the most popular governor and suite that, over shook the " Pagoda tree.

A minister's wife paid to h<T husband — "It seen is unjust that a lawyer should receive l'-0 or more for obtaining a divorce, while you do not get more than l()s for performing a marriage ceremony." •'lt does seem a little unjust," the good man assented mildly, "but still in the case of a lawyer, the value received is a good deal greater."

Mr S. Rowley was to have appeared yesterday morning before a J.P. to answer to a charge of drunkenness, for which he had boon locked up ou Saturday night. A medical certificate was produced, showing that Mr Rowley was unable to attend as ho had a fit on Sunday night. The hearing of the case was adjourned until 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.

"Why do you look so nervous? was asked of a man. " Debts," he replied with a sigh. " Ah, well, I would not let my heart be troubled. After awhile, perhaps you may have money enough to pay your debts." "I've just paid 'em and that's what's bothering me. If I only had my money back I'd be satisfied.

We learn from the Chronicle that the land on which Mr McDonald found a piece of gold-bearing quartz will bo submitted to a thorough practical examination by experienced miners. The funds necessary for the purpose have been readily subscribed by the members of the Wanganui Gold Prospecting Company. We sincerely hope a reef will be "struck."

Wo are glad to learn that Messrs Pollock, Saxon, and Hirst have had excellent burns on their several properties in the Wanganui Harbor Board Block. It is gratifying to observe the confidence in the future prosjjects of this part of our district held by the settlers. They are all perfectly satisfied with their lot, and are convinced that their land is unequalled on the coast for richness of soil.

The Paris "Liberte" says : — "The English Government has made fresh annexations in Australia. We are in nowise jealous. It is with pleasure that we see England and Germany found rich and prosperous colonies, for they will consume our special articles de Pan's, the only products we care to export. There is more profit upon a ton of these, representing 8000fr. in well-paid work, than on 1000 tons of coal, representing only oOOOfr. poor wages."

On Saturday evening the Makino Band played on the Squaro. The programme was a most attractive one, and the excellent rendering of the pieces was commented on very favorably. It is not too much to say that if Mr Curroen continues to pay as much attention to the musical culture of the members of his band in the future as he has done in the past, there will not be a better band between Auckland and Wellington.

Picking at tlie Awahuri hop gardens is now in full swing, and the crops are splendid. Some of tJio poles are really magnificent sights, and the hops themselves are of first rate quality. An export who has recently visited the hop grounds of Nelson says the hops there are not nearly equal to those of Awahuri. Wo are pleased to state that both Messrs Bonosa and Ward intend forwarding samples to the Industrial Exhibition, and have applied through us for the necessary space. There is a cheap clothing dealer on Kearney street, San Francisco, whoso confidence in mankind has received a severe set-tack. The other day an honestlooking countryman walked into his store and said : " You remember that secondhand overcoat I bought here, for Sdol, yesterday !" " Never dakes pack anytings yen vonce solt, my frendt," said the hand-me-downer. " Oh, that's all right. I just wanted to say that I found this 500dol bill sewed in the lining. Perhaps the owner may call for it." "Of gorse he vill — he has called alreadty, my tear frendt," exclaimed the dealer, eagerly capturing the monoy. " You ish von homsh man. Herts, I gif you oOdol ash a revard. Dot vill be all right." When the honest customer got around the corner lie murmured softly — " I guess I'd better take this oOdol and skip up to Portland before that fellow tumbles to the counterfeit. It's getting mighty hard to shove the ' queer' round these parts, and that's a fact." — Post. An amusing cape of attempted proselytism occurred near Feilding a few days ago, but which resulted in a miserable failure. A new-chum was boarding at a place for a day or two, and having neglected to provide himself with blankets, he asked his host to lend him some for the night. This request was not acceded to, but a promise of enough sacks to protect him from the cold was made, conditionally on his attending a religious meeting where a shining light from another part of the district was to hold forth. ' ' Needs must where necessity drrvos," so the offer was accepted, and the disgusted stranger was unwillingly dragged into a religious ceremony not in accordance with that of his forefathers. Whether his expressive countenance showed his disgust or. not " deponent saith not," but the preacher, suddenly fixing his eyes on the stranger, said, "Man! your sin is heavy on you, and the dovil, who is now looking at you, will have you." This was adding insult to injury, so he " rose in his wrath," and said: "Then, Mr Preacher, the devil is yourself, and I'll listen to your blasphemy no longer." So saying he leffc'the apartment Borne of the congregation, 'wore amused and others alarmed, for the stranger was a stalwart member of the most fightable people in. tho world. Whe- I thcr he slopt in the baga that night we •don't know. ,

The Education Board meets in. Wanganui to-day.

A fencing notice to the owner of section No, 181 in the Kiwitea Block appears elsewhere.

The Duke of Manchester is now en route for England. He left Queensland on the 14th instant.

A large party of ladies and gentlemen visited Mr Saxon's hop gardens yesterday. They were driven out by Mr Daw in his brake with four in hand.

We draw attention to several important additions made to Messrs Halcombe and SherwiU's next slock sale, which will be held on March 4lh.

To-day Messrs J. J. & S Williamson, of Waitima, invite tenders for about two hundred chains of >vire fencing, in one or more contracts. Tenders to close on March 7th.

Messrs Stevens and Gorton's stock sale this afternoon was only moderately attended. The bidding for cattle was rather dull, but sheep passed off better. For hacks there was very little demand.

Tli ere are seven criminal cases down for hearing at the E.M. court to be held here f o»morrow. Several of these will be watched with considerable interest, as the decisious {jiven will be of importance to our local public.

The first shipment of hops was made tli is morning by Mr Bouess who sent away sis bales. This grower expect-* to pick one tone per acre. He has eight acres, or thereabouts, under crop, which ought to give a ensh return of nearly £900 or £113 per acre.

In another columu we publish tha proceedings of a meeting of the committee of the Small Farm Association, held last night to receive the report of the exploring party sent out on Tuesday last. It will be seen that the result of their labors was very satisfactory, and the land will be applied for at once.

In future all work on the Railway line, which can be done by local tradesmen, will be tendered for. We learn from the Chronicle that this order lms been given by the Minister of Public ?Vorka in consequence of a large job in painting having been let in Wanganui without tenders having been applied for.

We learn from an exchange that railway officials in Victoria must in future be oft 6in iv height Mr Gillies, the Minister of .Railways, is a good deal under that measure, but he won't resign for all that. If this stupid rule were adopted by the New Zealand Government, the railway service would lose many of its best men.

An article recently appeared in one of the local papers of a sen side town^ in England, intended to advocate its cl;i us as a health-resort on account of its low mortality. The proof-reader had been, however, negligent in his duties, and the article was printed thus :— " Hundreds of visitors are annually attracted to this charming watering place by its lowinoralitv."

Marry in haste and repent at leisure' received another illustration the other day. Some little time ago a bushman, says the JNFapier Telegraph, when drunk, got married, and two months afterwards his wife presented him with a bouncing boy, though he had never seen her till one month previous to marriage. An order in Court was recently obtained against him for her support, and he was ordered to pay 15s a week put of his wages of 25s

Recently a safe containing a large amount of money, was stolen from a public-house at Gunnorsbury, England. The police were informed, but no clue could be obtained ot its whereabouts f >r some weeks after its loss, when it was found at the bottom of the Grand Ju ie tion Canal. The thieves hud worked hard at the safe, as it was battered all oyer, and pieces wore even chopped off. When recovered, Ihe safe, which was one ol Milner's manufacture, was still locked, and the contents secure.

A ferocious bullock got into a paddo:k belonging to Mr Palmer, of Suburb n road, on Sunday, and commenced horning two valuable horses, the property of Mr Roe. One animal was dreadfully gored by the brute, and it is believed that only the blade bones of the farmer prevented the injuries resulting fatally. We under stand the savage beast is s ill on the ground, and its owner is being anxiously looked for, but it is more than likely that no one will take the responsibility of setting up a claim to its proprietorship.

The Woodville Examiner sajs that in its district the peach trees, which a ffw weeks ago, appeared to be either dyinjj or dead, have started into life afresh and are again quite green. We have noticed the same thing in some of the gardens about here since the warm weather set in and several of the formerly bare looking trees, are now covered with foliage, and have made considerable growth. A. Gardner ventures the opinion that the so-called disease which has visited the peach trees this season is no disease at all, but that their apparent decay may be attributed to the keen winds of spring, wli.cli, as we are so near the sea, are inure^nated with saline matter which njur^s the young foliage

Servantgalism humor is about played out, but the following strikes us as being something novel. She was a young Scotch girl, nnd she had applied tor and obtained a holiday from her mistress for a bay excursion. On the previous night she made the singular request that the kitchen meal for the following morning should consist of some more rerherchi bill of fare than usual — bacon and eggs, or a grilled steak, or aorne equally toothsome d.'licacy. " Hech ma'am." she said, ' u'r nae the food that I want for myself, but supposin' I should be ta'en ill, it wad look s.ie mean to let the high tolk oh the 'scursion boats know that I had had naething but porritch for breakfast !"