The Feilding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, FEB. 1, 1894. Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 228, 1 February 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, FEB. 1, 1894. Local and General News.

The Feilding Borough Council will meet this evening. The following are the vital statistics for Palmerston for January :— Births, 42 ; deaths, 11 ; marriages, 9. An advertisement^rejating to the farnouh "Redcliffe" iron, appears to-day from Messrs John Duthie and Co, limited, of Wellington^ Mr R. Beckett, auctioneer, will hold a stock sale at the Halcoinbe sale yards on Thursday, February Bth, commencing at one o'clock. We understand that the committee appointed to canvass for subscriptions towards defraying the cost of prospecting | for artesian water are so far very well satisfied with the results of their labors. We are informed by Mr G. J. Scott, the Deputy Official Assignee, that a special sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, Palmerston North, has been fixed by Judge Kettle to be held on Tuesday the 13th instant. Many Wanganui people are afraid that a " right color " man will be appointed to succeed Sergt-Major Anderson in charge of the police. Wanganui people, as a rule, are never scared without a cause. We have received from Mr F. Towler three of the finest peaches that have ever been grown in Feildiug. They are perfect in shape, color, and flavor. One of them measures 9£ inches in circumference, and weighs 7$ ounces. Apropos of the appointment of Mr J. E. Henry, the " Prince of Handicappers" in New Zealand, it is considered by men who are " in the know " that the day is not far distant when Mr Henry will " adjust the weights " for the Melbourne Cup. In revenge for a rough notice in a Maryborough (Q.) paper, Ridge's circus band came in six-horse splendour and serenaded the staff with the " Dead March in Saul." Thus confirming the opinion of the paper that the show was deserving of " a rough notice." The committee appointed tft the public meeting on Monday night last to carry out the temperance demonstration at Easter, met in the Primitive Methodist Church last evening and made preliminary arrangements for the forthcoming event. It was decided to invite a number of outside speakers to attend and invitations will be sent out at once. A programme was submitted to the rneetiug. After transacting other routine business the meeting adjourned. A German and a Frenchman sat opposite each other at a table d'hote in a Swiss Hotel. " You are a Frenchman, I suppose '? " inquired the German at the commencement of the meal. " Yes," was the reply ; " but how did you manage to find that out?" "Because you eat so much bread," said the German. There was a long pause. When the dinner was over, the Frenchman in his turn questioned his vis-a-vis : " You are a German I presume ? " " To be sure ; but tell me pray, how you made that discovery." •' Because you ate so much of everything," was the dry retort. We (Clutha Leader) notice that the leech pest is again making its annual attack on the pear, plum, and cherry trees. This pest feeds on the sap of the leaves, which soon get shrivelled up and die. With a little trouble it can easily be got rid of. A little ashes, guano, lime, fine soil, or dust of any kind, thrown over the trees adheres to the slimy leech, which shortly rolls off or dies. The operation will likely have to be rejieated s^ ffcw times before all the leeches are got at with the dust ; but the cure is a certain one, and in case of a small orchard the trouble is not great. If all were to adopt tlu's simple remedy for a few seasons it is possible the pest might be got rid of altogether. We are authorised to state that at the expiration of the present Mayoral term of the Borough, Mr Horace Bastings will be a candidate for the position. His platform will be a water and drainage scheme to be carried out by raising a loan sufficient for the purpose, and to cover the cost of the erection of suitable municipal buildings. Mr Bastings has had a large experience in public affairs. He represented an Otago constituency in the House of Representatives, was a membar of the Provincial Council, and was for some years a member of the Otago Provincial Government He was also Mayor of the Lawrence Borough for six years. As Mr Bastings is a man of considerable ability, is a good public speaker, and of great determination we feel sure that when once " lie puts his hand to the plough " in local affairs ho will do good earnest work.

Leading article and several letters from correspondents are held over to-day. The following are the vital statistics for the Borough of Feilding for the month of January : — Births, 15 ; deaths, 2 ; marriages, 4. Mr and Mrs Carthew gave a garden party yesterda}' afternoon in aid of the Wesleyan Church Building Fund, which was a great success. Mr Fritz Gagern has purchased the store recently erected by Mr Ryan at ■Cheltenham, and will open shortly with a well selected stock of goods. Mrs Robertson, of Warwick street, reopens her day and night school on February sth. Miss Robertson will also continue her musical instructions on the same date, and has vacancies for a few more pupils. A few days ago while Mr J. D. McGregor was returning home from Rangiwahia he was jolted out of his trap and one of his shoulders was severely hurt. He was unconscious for several hours. Dr Mussen was sent for and did all that was possible and we are pleased to learn that Mr McGregor has now almost re. covered from the effects of the accident. This forenoon about half past ten o'clock the firebell rang an alarm, and with commendable promptitude the members of the Fire Brigade ran to the engine shed. For some time the members of our reporting staff hunted about to locate the fire, and at last discovered that all this ' ' fuss and flutter ' ' was caused by some old packing paper and card board boxes, in the back yard j of an unoccupied shop, next to the Stab | office, having become ignited. The fire was discovered by some of the employes engaged in Mr Darragh's show room, immediately adjoining, and they immediately went to work and extinguished it before any more harm was done than charring half a dozen of the weather boards. It is conjectured that a spark from the smoke stack of our engine may have caused the paper to ignite. We acknowledge that we owe a debt of gratitude to those by whose presence of mind a very serious calamity was averted. The second performance of the American Novelty Company, "which took place j in the Assembly Rooms last evening, was even better patronised than the performance of the previous evening, and the show was evidently much appreciated by the applause bestowed on the efforts of the different performers. The singing was, if anything, better last night, the choruses especially going very well. The "tumbling trio," Messrs Crawford, Mooney, and Moore, were again very amusing, astonished the audience with their clever acts, Mr Crawford especially being very funny. The " Mesmerism " farce and concluding act " Confusion " kept the house in fits of laughter. The company will re-appear in Feilding shortly, and their visit will no doubt be eagerly looked for. The show is a good oue and Feilding people always turn out well for a clever company. We have been requested to state that the little conti'etemps at the close of the performance last night was entirely owing to a portion of the stage machinery getting out of gear. It Was we are aware one of these accidents which will occur on the best regulated stages, and no one could be more sorry than the several performers that the show should have been ho abruptly closed.