Local and General News

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 150, 4 June 1885, Page 2

Local and General News

On Monday last Messrs Hoe and Walton were elected auditors for the Borough of Palmerston. There were five candidates. We notice that the collectors of Customs hare been appointed superintendents of quarantine at their several ports. A meeting of insurers will be held to-morrow evening at Mr Bray's office at 8 o'clock. All insurers are invited. We are glad to see Mr Chnstensen returned from his visit to the hot lakes much improved in health. The erection of the new dwelling house in Grey street, for Mr Train, of the Cash Exchange, has been commenced, and is fast progressing. The free use of chloride of lime is a simple means of driving away rats and mice. It also acts as a deodorizer and disinfectant. The Dunedin Star says Colonel Trimble has a gloomy idea of the future ef the colony, but his opinion is not worth much. He told his constituents that the distress of to-day was nothing to what it would be fire years hence. On Thursday next, the 11th inst., Mr D. C. Tennent, auctioneer of Ma'rton, will sell on the premises, section No. 7, Makino road, fronting the railway lino. There is one Jacre of land securely fenced, and a four-roomed house with outbuildings. New business premises for one of the local tradesmen are, we understand, about to be erected at the corner of Manchester and Eyre streets, the site long occupied by a small building belonging to E. & C. A. Corporation. Great excitement was recently caused at the Mark lane station of the Underground Railway, by the arrest of two suspicious characters, one of whom was carrying a suggestive-looking black bag. Despite the protest of the suspects, they were carried off to the nearest police station, and there detained an hour or more, until it was found the zoalous constables had arrested Mr W. H. Quilliam, the solicitor engaged for the defence (if the dyaamitards, Burton and Cunningham, and a Crown witness who was helping the legal gentleman with his luggage. The liquor sold in Nelson must be fearfully bad. A correspondent to the Evening Mail over the signature of " Protest" says it was his lot to witness the departure of the steamer which took away the Wellington footballers from Nelson, and two of the visitors gave a most outrageous exhibition of drunkenness. It took twelve men to get one down the saloon and prevent him jumping overboard. This is a clear case for the police, and the publicans who sold the wretched poison ought to be dealt with by law, and severely punished. Some time ago the Dunedin Caledonian Society wrote to Mr Gladstone, drawing his attention to the provision made in the land bill of last session for the Highland Crofters, and asking his influence in making the scheme a success. By tho last mail the following reply was received from the private secretary : — " I am desired by Mr Gladstone to acknowledge receipt of a resolution of tho directors of the Caledonian Society of Otago, of which I a copy was enclosed in your letter of tho 29th January last, and I am to state for the information of the directors that he will communicate on the subject with those of his colleagues who are specially charged with the duty of dealing with the Highland Crofters question." A very edifying conversation took place a day or two ago between a little knot of Government Life Policy holders. Thoy were discussing the board's proposal to do away with the Industrial business and transfer it to tho Ordinary Brauch. To hear the warm and affectionate epithets made use of, and the strong Bcnptural language quoted, was a " regular caution," or would have been to any representative of an insurance office who might have heard them. The cream of the "caution," however, was contained in the climax to one of the speeches, which ran thus :— " Well, this is the third time I've been swindled by lifo insurance offices, and the Lord help the next agent who asks me to insure." A striking proof of the bravery of our local Volunteers was given at a drill of the Newtown corps last Friday. Sorgeantmajor Bell had been putting the men through manual drill, and had had occasion to remark the inefficiency of one of the rank and file more than once. The gallant full-blown recruit was unable to withstand tke awe-inspiring deameanour of the inspector, and quietly fainted. If the ordinary manual drill has such an effect upon the nerves of the Volunteers, we may expect to hear next of coffins being provided to follow every march-out. The ambulance corps will have to be largely increased, or else strict regulations will have to be issued to prevent weak-minded infants from volunteering to serve their Queen and country. — Evening Press. Mr Douglas McLean, son of the late Sir Donald McLean, has lately sent out to Napier a batch of immigrants from the island of Tiree, Argyleshire. These are all young unmarried men, to whom Mr McLoan predicts a successful future. Prior to their embarkation a large number of Highlanders met them in Glasgow to bid them a hearty farewell, coupled with a wish that they might succeed in the land of their adoption. Tiree was the birthplace of Sir Donald McLean, and several relations of his still reside there. His son pays periodical visits to the island, and has laid out a considerable sum of money in placing tombstones, with suitable inscriptions, over the graves of some of his ancestors. His grandfather, Mr John McLean, of Kilmalnag, Tireo, -Was in his day considered to be the strongest man in the Highlands, He attended the levee of George IV. in Edinburgh, and uheok hands with the inoaarc.h.r^Auck- ■ land Star.

We regret to learn that Mr J. R. Russell, of the Foxton Herald, is lying seriously ill from low fever. Mr Train, of the Cash Exchange, publishes to-day an advertisement which dessrves close attention from all classes of the community. Its perusal will be found to be profitable and advantageous. We are glad to learn that business has lately been very brisk among the drapers. The demand for seasonable goods has i been, and is, better this winter than for I some years past. Messrs Halcombe and Sherwill's stock sale to-day was well attended. A large quantity of stock was yarded, and the sale was proceeding when we went to press. A full report will appear in our next issue. The Manchester Rifles paraded for inspection last night at the Public Hall. Only three men were absent. Sergt. Major Henry drilled the corps for two hours and a half, after which they wero dismissed. A new advertisement will be found elsewhere from Messrs Summers and Mayhew, the enterprising proprietors of the Feilding JErated Water and Cordial Factory, who have made certain additions and improvements to their premises and plant. The interior work to the samplo rooms in the premises formerly occupied by the Stab, has now been completed by the contractors, Messrs Pope and Pearson. Tho rooms have £been fitted up with convenient shelvos with other accessories for the proper display of samples. The front of the building is now being painted. We learn from a private source that the plans and estimates for the construction of the railway through the Msnawatu Gorge, between Woodville and Palmerston, has been completed ; it is ezptcted {says the Waipawa Mail) that tenders will be culled for the work before Parliament meets. Assuming this to be correct the whole of the main line between Napier and Wellington may be laid to be now in courfie of construction, with the exception of about eight miles ; the UtterJ lying between the Gorge and Palmerstoa where the ceuntrj v flat aad open. ______^_______ -