Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 329, 2 June 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

• It is officially announced that the bridge over the Orona river at Awahuri is closed for traffic. Mr Joseph Henry, the prince of t.ar.dicippers, was a visiior to Feilding ■-■erdiiv A meetiug of the Feildiug School Committee will be held iv the school house at 7.30 on Monday evening. Mr R. F. llaybittle has taken the contract to cart all freights from and to the Aoraugi bridge, pending the completion of the repairs to the railway bridge. The action brought against the Mauawatu Hittes by Miss Leila Adair was j commenced in the S.M. Court at Palmeiston and adjourned till Wednesday next. An alteration hns been made in the i(lvf-r»i-einpnt in coinection with Mr |' :t .k< •!•'- Plain and Funcv Dress Ball, to >hn iffect that the charge for children Mill be one shilling each. Two pile-driving engines are vow at Aorangi, and it is expected that the repairs to the bridge over the Oroua will be completed in less than two weeks. Sixteen men were ready to start with the work this morning. It is notified by advertisement to day /hat Mr Albert W. Lovejoy has been appointed travelling agent for the New Z**»land Accident Insurance Company, ii nd is now prepared to accept proposals We congratulate Mr Lovejov, and feel assured he will do well for the company The vital atatibtUjs for Fcildiug for May are -Births, 9; marriages, 7; deaths, 0. Either the pleasant recojr lections of au English May or the ivee/.. ing cold of the Colonial one have had a good effect upon the local bachelor world. It is stated that in future a female searcher is to be appointed and constantly employed at the police depots in all the clnof centres of the colony. When not on duty searching female prisoners, she is to be assistant clerk, typewriter, etc.

The Library Committee will meet at 7.30 on Monday next. In addition to reading matter on the fourth page to-day, the annual report and balance-sheet of the Bank of New South Wales is published. Captain Edwin wired at 1.20 p.in today : —North-east to north and west gale with rain after 12 hours from now ; glass fall again soon. Wo learn that Mr J. Rea has disposed of his section in the Sandon Block, comprising 111 acres, to Mr J. Johnston, butcher, of Hunterville, at a satisfactory figure Mr Rea will shortly occupy his section in the Apiti district. A meeting of the Cheltenham Sports Committee will be held this evening at Mr Ryan's Hotel, when the initiatory steps for the erection of a hall at Cheltenham will bo taken. Some time between Thursday night and Friday morning the pound paddock gate, in Marlborough street, was taken off its hinges, and the impounded stock liberated. Whether this was done in jest or earnest, the offender will have to explain the action in the Police Court. The quarterly meeting and public tea, in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church, will be held at Feilding on Monday. Tea will be on the tables at 6 o'clock, and at the public meeting to be held afterwards there will be readings, recitations, short addresses and music. The Trustees of the Wesleyan Church have been unable to carry out their intention to commence conducting the Sunday services in the Temperance Hall, during the erection of the new church, in time for to-morrow's services, and service will bo held in the church as usual to-morrow. It has been suggested that in order to avoid the long detour now made by settlers coming to Feildiug from beyond the Kiwitca stream who have to come round by Colyton to cross the Aoraugi bridge, that the ford at the Cheltenham Cross Road be made passable. No doubt this will be discussed at the meeting of the Manchester Road Board to be held on Monday. According to the Wellington Post, two fishermen on Ward's Island had a trying experience during the recent gale, having been detained in that vicinity from Sun day to Wednesday wthout food, aud with very little shelter. They took throe loaves but as th y wrre working at their boat ou the boach a gc>at ate the bieuil. and left them without any food whatever MrJ. If. Williams, owner of the Duc<\ heard of their detention, nnd the steamer went out to the island and brought them back to town. Mr Low, Chief Railway Engineer, and Mr Beattie, Locomotive Engineer, inspected the broken railway bridge at Aorangi on Thursday. Arrangements were made for the immediate repair of the structure, and yesterday sixteen men were ready to start with the work Two pile-driving engines are on the ground, and it is expected that the repairs will be completed in less than two weeks. In the meantime passengers and goods are being conveyed round the break by means of coache?. The Wanganui Chronicle states that a company is being formoi to purchase o steamer for the Pipiriki trade. It was reported by Captain Marshall that tbo natives had already subscribed .£I.OOO and that several of them bad also taken up shares, which nre .£1 each. The pro posed boat id to be built in London, and will have a mean draught of 14 inches ; she will have side paddles, to work independontly« The capital of tbe company is to be £5.000, and it ia expected that all the upriver settlers will tike up shares The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Manchester Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, when there was a large attendance, including visiting Bros. P. S. Beech, of the Manaia Lodge, and Spence, of the Loyal Grey mouth Lodge. Nominations of officers took place for the ensuing period, when Bro G. H. Saywell was nominated for the N.G. chair, Bro John Watson V.G. chair, and Bros A. Wilson and J. Mingins for elective secretary. One new member was initiated, Bro Parker acting as Lecture Master. The meeting went into harmony, when songs and recitations were indulged in. Bro Beechy sang ' In the Old Log Cabin in the Dell,' Bro Spence • Sailing,' aud Bro Aitken 'Home, Boys, Home. 1 Bro Sherlock recited ' Robert Emmet's Defence — what he had to say why death should not be passed on him.' The body of the Courtroom was densely crowded yesterday afteruoou by the public, who eagerly listened to the details of the action brought by Miss Leila Adair against Mr C. Dunk, Captain of tbe Manawatu Mounted Rifles. During Mr Innes* address for the defence, he remarked that the Mounted Rifles would be willing to hand the money over to the Hospital if judgment went in favor of the defendant. To this Mr Haukins, for the plaintiff, retorted that if a vote were taken on the matter, it would be unanimously iv favor of the money being handed over to Miss Adair. The remark brought fortli loud applause from the body of the Court, which caused His Worship to threaten to have tho Court cleared. — Standard. A couple of youths were standing in front of a bookseller's shop in Manchester street the other day when one suddenly surprised the other with the question, " What is a Banshee, Jack ? " The other in disgust with his pal's ignorance replied, " A Banshee did you say," "Let me see a Banshee," " Oh a Banshee is a bullock." The cry of the Banshee we may state is a weird wail, which ou boing heard in commonly believed by the peasantry inhabiting the southern parts of Ireland, to forbode some coining evil and many are the strange stories told of the consternation caused amongst the occupants of a cabin by hearing the dreaded " cry of the Banshee." The forthcoming production of Mr Knight's new play was evidently in that youth's mind wheu he requested information concerning the Banshee. A couple of very successful rehearsals were held iv the Assembly Rooms yesterday afternoon aud evening, and those engaged in the drama showed an intelligent conception of their respective parts.