Local and General News

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 141, 8 May 1886, Page 2

Local and General News

Detective Benjamin was in Feilding yesterday.

Halcombo and Sherwill will hold their next market day sale in Feilding. on Thursday the 13th instant. We refer our readers to the catalogue which appears to-day.

A meeting of the ProvmciaraSU3j|!|a& j of the Feilding Building Society wWfce at the office of Mr G. 0. Hill this evening, at 8 o'clock. At the Cash Exchange horse covers are being sold at 19s. See our Wanted column. •.<.*. Mr F. W. Whiblev has been elected f«r 296. tt subdivision in the Manchester Bosd Board. On Saturday next Messrs Halcombe and Sherwill will sell, under instructions from Mr Lewers, at his residence Grey j Street, a handsome cottage piane, clocks, drawing room furniture, cheffonier, tables, &0., ftc., for particulars of which we refer our readers to the catalogue published today. As the list is a long one the sale will commence at noon punctually.

The Press Association wired to us on Thursday that the Government House in Welllington had been renovated and the carpets laid down. We don't particularly object to this having been dene, but we do object to being made to pay for the information.

A special train will leave Feilding at 5.30 on Monday afternoon to convey the performers in "Trial by Jury" to Palmerston.

The increase m the population of Palmerston North during the past five years has been wonderful. When theoensus was taken in 1881 the number of souls in the township was 1365. The census of last month shows that there are now 2592 inhabitants. Were there 1 36 more people in the Borough the population would have exactly doubled during the past five years. The Hawke's Bay Herald says that th« Wellington Evening Post ha* deacpnded for. once to the level of the meanest "Liberal', rag in the colonies, by pub» liihinjt a personal attack upon Mr Fisher a Wellington M.H.R.

We learn that the statement which ha« appeared in several of the New Zealand papers to the effect that Mr G. V. Shanhon has actually resigned hit seat as a nominated member of the Board of Directors of the Government Insurance Assoeiatum is incorrect. Mr Shannon has not yetresigned.or officially intimated his intention of doing so, and he is still drawing the lalary attached to the office.— Post.

The Afe tays :— "Thert are no fewer than fire bank officials under durance fur peculation of the funds in their change — aamley, the manager, of the Commercial Bnnl of South Australia, tht> manager of the branch of the same in* ■titntion at Yankalilla, the manager of the branch Bank of N#w Zealand at Sydney the accountant of thy Portland branch of the Union Bauk, Victoria, and the teller ef the City of Melbourne Bank All these int* occupied goed position* and were in receipt of goed salaries, and yet they are charted with having earned on a series ef systematic robberies, ex* tending in some case* over two yean, and varying in amounts from £16,000t0 £360."

- George Hallott, butcher, of Montacute, us charged at Yeovil recently -with attempting to murder Mr James Staple, a farmer, at East Stoke. The evidence showed that the prisoner went to Mr Staple's house armed with a knife and hammer, hut was forced into a chair by Mrs Staple, who covered him with a gun till assistance arrived. In her evidence this witness said she once attempted to shoot the man, when he made a movement to draw his knife, but there was no cap on the nipple. Prisoner was bound over to keep the peace for six months, but the sureties not being forthcoming, he was removed in custody.

A startling discovery has been reported from Italy, tending to the inference that the planetary system is in direct communication with the earth. An amateur astronomer of Teramo, in the Abruzzi, named Pemignani, has ascertained the presence on the face of the planet Mars of several luminous points of exceeding brilliancy, which shift from place to place with methodical regularity, as if they were controlled by some intelligent action. The observer has therefore concluded that, the sparks are telegraphic signals sent on speculation by the inhabitants of. M ars to their neighbor the earth. Up to the present the meaning of the signals has not been interpreted; but those interested in the discovery do not despair of finding their signification, and are now engaged in attempting to answer the astral messages. The friends of the amateur astronomer are endeavoring to persuade him to don the blue ribbon.

I So far as the results of the census arc known the figures show a very large increane in population in the industrial ! centres of the North Inland as compared with those in the South Island, where the population in found in most cases to be either utationary, or on the decrease. It is said that by a new Representation Bill the North should receive at least eight more member*, while six should be taken from the South, that is, if the present basis of representation in proportion to population should continue, viz; one member to every 5400 of the population. The Auckland Herald's correspondent has made inquiries as to the intention of of the Government, but was informed that the matter had not yet been c»n•iidered, and nothing could be done until the figures were before the Cabinet. The letter to Mr Macarthur, M.H E.f asking him to move in the matter o Q getting the railway imposition at Foxto removed, jesterday was signed by ne les« than forty-three importers im Palmerston We congratulate Mr A. 11. Wylds on th« results of his energy.— Manawatii Daily Times.

We (Wanganui Herald) understand that under the bill to be brought in this session by the Native Minister, for the simplification of Native Land business, VI r Ward R.M. will be appointed a judge of the Court and have control of the district extending from Waitara to Foxton. One of the main objects in fixing districts is to obviate the many delays which now occur in the matter of granting succession orders and appointing trustees.

A London paper reports the following : — At Winchester Assizes, Yivan Arthur Webber, an artist described as a gentleman, who pleaded guiity recently before Mr Justice Stephen to the charge f • uttering a false and malicious libel on some ladies named Easty, at Byde, was called up for sentence. The Judge said he had read the entire history of the case which dated back in August, 1884, in which month gross imputations were made on the lady and her daughter. The prisoner was allowed on this occasion to escape from punishment by a most abject apology; but afterwards the prisoner renewed the libels in a grosser form in a local newspaper. The prisoner was a wilful and malicious liar, and, regretting that he could not inflict hard labor, Mr Justice Stephen sentenced him. to four months' imprisonment with every form of indignity such as thieves and roguessuffered, to pay a fine of £ 150, and to give surities for £300 to keep the peace for five years.