Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

The Pahiatua dairy factories are to be closed. Last month 123,6081bs of butter were exported from the New Plymouth breakwater. Tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts opens in j Wellington on September 15th. A publican in New South Wales was fined last week for opening his hotel ten minutes too early. Tbe plans for the new Kiwitea bridge will be completed in about a fortnight, and a special meeting will probably be held to consider them. Owing to insufficient entries coming forward, Mr Chas. Carr has postponed his sale at Birmingham from July 10th to Tuesdaj', August 7th. We (New Zealand Times) regret to learn, from information received by us iast night, that Sir Patrick Buckley is dangerously ill. He is suffering from inflammation of the kidueys. Hugh M'lvor, residing at Barraport (Victoria), was blowing out a kerosene lamp when it exploded. M'Jver was severely burnt, and died from the effects of the burns. A lady who has been celebrating her centenary in Turin, when a bride of 18 accompanied her husband through ail tbe horrors of the Moscow campaign of 1812 "<lie still spends some hours daily at the The Rev. Edward Walker, organising agent of the New Zealand Alliance, will address a public meeting in the Temperance Hall this evening. The chair will be taken at 8 o'clock. The Temperance choir is requested to be in attendance. Tbe following players will represent the Pirate Football Club in the match with Feiiding on the Oval to-morrow afternoon :— Full-back, Luxford ; threequarters, Richards, Robinson, Kockley ; halves, Manning and McKenna ; forwards, Smith, Weston, Rakena, Evans, Perrin, Jackson, Aldridge, Rush and McMillan. The dreaded Icerya Purchasi, an iusecfc blight wbich attacks every growing thing, is reported to have re-ap-peared at Napier, where it was supposed to have been exterminated. The natural enemy of the blight is the little insect known as the ladybird, and the Museum authorities have been asked to try and procure some for forwarding to Napier. Yesterday tbe Manawatu Farmers' Co-operative Association, of Palmerston North, commenced their half-yearly clearing sale, and enormous reductions are being made in order that the stock may be largely reduced, as heavy spring shipments are shortly to arrive. An "inset" referring to the sale will be found in to-night's issue. A Home paper sava : — «- A London firm f merc.hu nta (Messrs Lowther, Latta aod ■>) htivo charted a vessel of 4140 tons gross register to load a full cargo of oats at New Zealand for a direct United Kingdom or Continental port. It is said that this will be the largest cargo of oats ever loaded in one bottom A correspondent calculates that t> ts vessel would contain the entire yield of the ground under oats in Itiishowen in one year, giving a ton to the acre. " A singular occurrence is reported by Mr Donald Boss, of Makirikiri, about 20 miles up the Wanganui river. Thousands of curiously marked flies have suddenly made their appearance, having their original apparently in the soil. Mr Hudson, the well known entomologist, considers it to be an ichneumeu fly named Pimplus, which will probably turn out to be tho natural enemy of the white grass grub, the scourge of agriculturists, in regard to which Government is being asked by Mr Steward to offer a substantial bonus tor the cure or prevention of its ravages.

J During the fire on Wednesday morning a quantity of valuable personal effects, belonging to Miss Crawford, were stolen . A number of people were engaged in removing goods from the Commercial Hotel, and some thief had evidently taken advantage of the confusion which prevailed to appropriate these things.— Standard. The Manchester Rifles paraded last night for Government inspection. There was a good muster of officers and men. The corps was instructed in the new musketry drill by- Sergt. Major Macmillan. Two recruits were sworn in. During the evening Captaiu Kirton announced that a meeting of the company will be held next Thursday to receive nominations for the position of lieutenant made vacant by the resignation of Lieut Burlace; to appoint delegates to attend a meeting at Woodville re holdrifle association matches, and other business. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor said that the overdraft at the bank was then £499 17s lid, and with the additional accounts passed for payment that evening would be increased to £617 lis Bd. The Finance Committee had interviewed the Manager of the Bank of Australasia to see -if he would allow the Council to exceed the limit of its overdraft, and was informed that ou the personal security of the Councillors it could be done. The amount of rates collected up to the present time was £50. The horse-taming exposition given by Professor Lichtwark at the Carbine stables last evening was of a most interesting and instructive character, and those who were present had an opportunity of learning the correct mode to bring young horses under complete control, in a very short space of time, aud in such a manner that more real work can be got out of the animal than if "broken iv " in tbe usual manner. The animal handled last evening was a Puriri colt, about three years old, the property of Mr G. E. Little, of Makino, and although it appeared rather fractious at first, at the end of an hour and a half tlie Professor could do almost anything with it. The Professor exhibited his patent improvement in harness, a simple contrivance, but a valuable one, which can be used while either riding or driving, and with it is impossible for a horse to either buck or bolt. This piece of gear can be obtained at all harnessmakers on asking for " Lichtwark's patent." It would certainly repay those who are in any connected with horses to attend Professor Lichtwark's classes, as what they would learn would prove of invaluable service to them.