Local and General News

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 98, 16 February 1892, Page 2

Local and General News

A slight earthquake was felt here on Sunday at about 11.10 p.m. The peach crop has been very plentiful this year iv Oollmgwood. Mr A. Dick, of Marton, is about to commence building a new residence on his land on the Middle road, Pembeiton. The Key Mr Cameron, with his family, is now taking possession of his residence on his section at Curl's clearing. We have to acknowledge receipt of the catalogue of the " Star Cycles " from Messrs Adams, Curties and Co, of Christchurch. The invitation to the Hon. the Premier to address the electors at Feilding was forwarded to him on Saturday last with 133 signatures attached. The directors of the Napier News company have decided to continue the publication of the paper for another week, during which time a further effort will be made to complete the guarantee required. The mails for Pemberton leave Feilding on Monday and Wednesday mornings returning from Pemberton on Tuesday and Thursday mornings arriving in Feilding at 3.40 in the afternoon in time for the mail train for Wellington. The Returning Officer, Mr E. Goodbehere, gives notice to-day that Mr Burton has been elected to represent the Ituahine ward on the Kiwitea Eoad Board, Mr Bichards haying withdrawn his nomination. Mr Lockyer, of Kiwitea, informs us that our local on Saturday laßt, which stated he had lost a fine crop of oats by the depredations of the sparrows, was not correct. The crop was a very heayy one, And what the birds took will never be missed. Great complaints are made about the condition of the road to the Feilding Block, and especially of the cuttings leading clown to the riyor. It is absolutely necessary that some action should be taken before the winter comos, or they will be rondered impassable. The Mnnawatu Standard of Saturday says mildly, echoing our sentiments : — " We have received a long and unintelligible telejjram from (he Woodyillc agent of the Press Association about the Farmers' dinner." The Manawatu Standard says : — " The Hon. John Bryce is an unswerving opponent of tlio perpetual lease system, but ho paid £700 for the owners' interest in 735 acres of perpetunl lease property in the Aoiti district the other day." [Our contemporary has been misinformed. -Ed. F.S.I Mr T. R. Chamberlain, of the Feilding Flour Mill, is about to introduce the roller process into his mill. It is expected the new machinery will be in working order by April. With this improved machinery Mr Chamberlain will be able to turn out a better quality of flour and we have ao doubt but his enterprise will be appreciated by his numerous

Tbe R.M.S. Tainm arrived in Wellington from London on Sunday morning. The Aorangi bridge inqniry has been adjourned until the 14th of March. Mr Alexander Young Mcßeth, of Mar* ton, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the colony. The New Zealand Times newspaper has been sold, and will be the " organ" of the Government Party in Wellington. A mob of pheop from the Hawke's Bay side, numbering 7000, were driven through Feilding to-day en route for Wanganui and Hawera. The Greytown Masonic Lodge, lately working under the English Constitution, has decided to join the New Zealand Constitution. Mr Shaw, of Coventry, claims to haye invented a practical flying machine, the pinions of which are 24ft 6in in breadth and 100 ft long. Another collision has taken place at Eastbourne between the police and the Salvation Army. The latter were dispersed and several arrested. To-day Mr W. Bellve, saddler, received a lot of first-class harness furniture of solid silver nickel, hard-plated silver, brass, &c,, all by the best makers in the trade. The annual picnic in connection with the Church of England Sunday School was held in the paddock adjoining the parsonage, on Saturday afternoon last, and proved a great treat to the scholars. A six-tooth Romney Marsh wether bred by Mr McNab, of Sandon, was killed on Saturday by Mr F. W. Edwards and turned the scale of 2161b5, a fact which supplies ample proof of the fattening properties of the feed in the district. Another wrong to New Zealand. Dr Hunter, Mr Mallock, and Mr Rankin, M.P.b, met Mr Chamberlain at Highbury recently, and agreed on the outlines of a Bill for establishing a voluntary system of insurance for old age, based on a state grant, and working in harmony with the friendly societies. When Sir Harry Atkinson promulgated a similar scheme ra this colony a few years ago, it was condemned as absurd. The marriage of Mr C. Miller and Miss E. London, which took place at Feildiag last Wednesday, was the first event of its kind from the Apiti district, aud was celebrated in a becoming manner, tea was partaken of at Mr Miller's after which Mr McXenzio kindly placed his woolshed at the disposal of the party, and dancing was enjoyed by about 20 couples. The happy couple haye the good wishes of all in the district. On Sunday when a lady and gentleman with their little boy, were driving into Sandon, the spokes of one of the wheels left the box, with the result that the yehiole subsided. The occupants were thrown out on the ground, and shaken somewhat severely. The horse bolted. The reins became fouled on the axle and pulled the animal into a gorse fence. Some passers by liberated it, when it cleared for Sandon. Mrs McDermott, of the Feeding Block, met with an unfortunate accident on returning from a wedding party the other day. She was riding on some wool in a dray, and at a dangerous part of the road one wheel went in a rut throwing her on the ground in front of the wheel which passed oyer her leg severely fracturing it. Had she gone oyer on the other side the effects would have been more serious, as she would have been precipitated down a steep bank. The new Wesleyan Church at Birmingham will soon be an accomplished fact, nearly all the timber being now on the ground. The Sunday School is making progress under the supenntendency of Mr Anyon. There are now over forty scholars. On Sunday, the 22nd inst, it has . been arranged to hold a harvest thanksgiving — the first of this kind of services held in Birmingham. Special music is being prepared for the occasion, and Rev Mr Birks will conduct the services. Over leader in to-day's issue will be found the business card of one of the oldest, soundest, and most popular insurance companies doing business in the colony — the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company — whose 55th annual report and balance-sheet are just published, from which we take the following : — Total assets to December 31st, 1890, .£8,060,854 ; total claims paid since establishment of company, .£26,587,914. Mr John Prior, solicitor, is the local agent, and we understand an agent will shortly be appointed at Birmingham. Numerous improvements are being effected at Birmingham. —Mr Guy, butcher, has erected a verandah in front of his shop. — Mr Anyon, baker, has been under the necessity of adding two rooms to his residence. We notice also that Mr Anyon has been , appointed agent for the Phoenix Insurance Company. — It is stated that there is every probability of a saddlery being established there; also, that a Palmerston draper contemplates opening a drapery establishment which will supply a long felt want. 11 Puff," in the Press, says :— " The Russian Government has granted sixty million roubles for the famine — about six million pounds in actual cash t The peasants won't get much of that lotl Merchants, hangers-on, et hoc genus omne will mop up the lion's share ! I don't believe a sixth of it will ever leave the treasury at all!" Apropos of this: In the time of the potato famine in Ireland, 1846-7 or thereabouts, of the poor rates collected what did actually reach the starving| people was about |d in the £. The rest went in salaries to officials. At the General Post Office, Wellington, yesterday, a collection of plate was pre» sented to Mr J. K. Warburton, the Public Trnstee. The Hon J. G. Ward, in making the presentation, spoke at con* siderable length, referring to the services rendered the Post and Telegraph Department during the 28 years Mr Warburton had been connected with the Depnrtment. The whole of the Post and Telegraph service were canvassed for the presenta* tion and not the slightest difficulty had been experienced in raising sufficient for a valuable present. The Hons J. Ballance and P. Buckley al« c o spoke to the worth of Mr Warburton. We are informed by the New Zealand Times that. "No appointments to the Legislative Council have yet been made. A Cabinet meeting was held on Saturday morning, at which all the Ministers were present, when the matter was discussed at some length. The question was also discussed by the Governor and the Premier, but in a merely conversational manner. The successor to His Excellency having been appointed, and that appointment having received the Royal assent, tho question arises as to whether it would be in accordance with Constitutional usage for Lord Onslow to make appointments xmder such circumstances. Until this important question is settled by the authorities, no definite action will be taken." Mr C. Wickhani has now had his cab thoroughly overhauled and newly fitted up. He desires that his friends and patrons should know he will commence running on Monday next. Orders may be left at Mr Svendsen's as usual — Aprr. Settlers and others when coming into Feilding arc reminded of J. B. Hamilton's first great clearing sale. Reductions varying from 20 to 50 per pent off usual selling prices. Undoubtedly the cheapest house m Feilding lor drapery and clothing. The largest and most varied stock on the coast to select from. One visit of inspection will lead to future fifties,— Al>VT.

The Chronicle's China corresponded states that General Tcheng Kaiteng ha: been executed on the ground of com plicity in tbe recent massacres. The Directors of the New Zealand Mortgage and Investment Associatioi (Limited) are seriously thinking of dis solving the Company owing to losses. 1 meeting is called for the 26th instant t< consider the matter. Captain Edwin telegraphs :— Weathe forecast for 24 houre from 9 a.m. to-day— Warnings for eaaterly gales after from li to 20 hours have been sent to all place northward of Napier, Taupo, and Baglan and for northerly gales to all other places Ministers have decided that the absorp tion of the Native Office in other Govern rnent departments, which has been con templated for some time past, shall b gradually carried into effect between nov and the end of the month. The directioi of the Native Lands Courts will be trans ferrfid to tbe Justice Department. Th Hon. Mr Cadman, the present holder o the portfolio, will become Commissione of Stamps (an office now held by the Pre inier) and Minister of Marine (relieyinj the Minister for Lands in this respect and will also take over some of the worl of the Colonial Secretary. — Post. In reference to the recent eruption a Ngaruhoc, the following, sent by a corres pondent of the Waikato Times oi Monday week, is of interest : At Orake Korakn, situated 23 miles north o Taupo, therj is a ngawha, or puia, whicl used to be a geyser, but of late years i hns only just overflown the basin, whicl is forty or fifty feet across. The wate: in this puia was always boiling. It i on the western bank of the Waiko river on the opposite side of the alum caves On Monday, the 25th ultimo, this larg< puia stated throwing up the contents together with boiling mud, like a geyser until the crater emptied itself and thei fire followed and continued for hours and when the fire ceased it again fillec with boiling water. It gave no warninj to the natives who are hying near Directly this happened they all clearec out to the bush, When the water weni up, it went up in one straight column about 300 feet highland then followed the fire. The trees which, were grotvin; near its banks are burnt to a cinder. I is also reported by people coming frorr Takaanu that Ruapehu and Ngaruho( are getting hot around the base, tin ground being quite hot and can be fell for miles around, and Ngaruhoe has beei smoking, more or less, for weeks.