Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 50, 24 August 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

There are 98 Masonic lodges now holding under the New Zealand Constitution. There are 76,199 bachelors over twenty years of age and 67,000 spinaters over fifteen in the colony. The Hon. Mr Steward suggests that .£3OOO be placed on the Estimates to supply electric light for the Wellington 7 harbour defences. The Greymouth Star says that it is stated the Westport Coal Company intend putting on two sailing vessels to carry coals to San Francisco. ' The Railway Commissioners have informed Mr Pirani, M.H.R., that the mail trains will stop at Bunnythorpe when an alteration in the timetable is made. Steps are being taken in Campbelltown with a view to starting a library jj and reading room. A strong committee has been appointed to work the mattei up. ' The Clutha and Mataura Agricultural and Pastoral Association disapproved ol the Noxious Weeds Bill, and passed a resolution against the Government's j borrowing proposals. The Dunedin Women's Franchise League held a tea and public meeting on » Wednesday night, to celebrate the anniversary of the political emancipation » of women. Among the speakers was Mrs Yates, Mayor of Onehunga. An important sale of property will be held by Messrs Gorton and Son, at Feilding, to-morrow, when various sections, with buildings erected thereon, situated in Halcombe, Rangiwahia, and 1 Feilding, will be offered for sale. The Oddfellows will meet this evenj ing, when the initiation of several new * members will take place. All members are requested to attend, as arrangements will be made for a social to be held durI ing September. 3 A ball will be held at Halcombe this evening, the funds from which are to go I towards the Halcombe Athletic Sports fund. Refreshments, under the supervision of the ladies, will be provided, and the affair should be a succeess. The members of the Excelsior Good ■ Templars' Lodge held a very successful meeting in their lodge-room, Campbelltown, last evening, when about fifty attended. Three candidates were proposed for initiation at the next meeting. After the usual routine business had been transacted, a discussion took place ■ on the question, " Should the drunkard be pitied or blamed ? " On a vote being , taken it resulted in a majority of one . being in favor of blaming him. In connection with the grant oi .£'lso given by the Government for improving the condition of the Kimbolton road, Mr ' Chas. Bray, junr., Engineer to the Kiwitea County Council, on Thursday last commenced work on that part of the I Kimbolton road between the Spur road and Peep-o'-Day. Eight _ig» were put j ou to clear away the slips, and generally improve the condition of the road. The wants of the lower portion of the road, between Birmingham and the Spur road, will, no doubt, be attended to in due course. The division-list on the second reeuL ing of the Elective Executive Bill was as follows: — Ayes, 21.— 8e11, Buddo, Carroll, Crowther, Earnsbaw, Graham, Hall-Jones, Heke, Lang, Massey, Mc- , Guire, McNab, Meredith, O'Regan, Pirani, Saunders, G. J. Smith, Steward, i Stout, Tanner, Te Ao. Noes, 27. — Allan, Cad man, Carncress, Collins, Duncan, Flatman, Fraser, Guinness, Harris, 1 Houston, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly, 1 Lawry, McGowau, J. McKenzie, R. i McKenzie, McLachlan, Mills, Montgomery, Morrison, Parata, Pere, Reeves, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Wills. The usual weekly meeting of the Feilding Harmonic Society was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, about 50 members being present, and the practice was most satisfactory. Sundry glees were gone through, and the cantata ("Merlin" or The Charmed Oak), which has been procured by the committee was put into practice, and several of the choruses gone through under the xjonductorship of Mr Meadows. The orchestra comprised — Mrs Richmond, pianist, Mr Moore, violin, Mr Woollams, first flute, and Mesws Greenwood and Chirk, second flutes. Judging from the practices held so far the Society shows , a considerable amouut of talent aud should before long produce some .first class music.

All members of the Wesleyan choir are requested to attend a full practice at the Temperance Hall this evening at 7.30 p.m. Messrs Gorfcon and Son held their usual monthly stock sale at Feilding today. The entries of cattlo and sheep were moderate and the attendance fair. A charity sermon preached by Dr Talmage, in Sydney, realised over £100. The proceeds were divided amongst the various organisations for the relief of the poor, without distinction of creed. Notice is given to-day that an adjourned meeting of St. John's vestry will be held on Monday, September 3rd, in order to give those who have not done so a further opportunity to reply to the circulars recently issued soliciting the necessary support to enable the services of an assistant curate to be procured for this parochial district. The terms asked by Madame Mclba for her Australian tour are £340 per concert for 20 concerts. Messrs Williams and Musgrove suggest £350 per concert for 15 concerts, and so the matter stauds. If terms are agreed upon, Madame Melba will be in Australia in June next. Madame Melba's terms for the American tour with Mr Abbey are JE2SO per concert " My client your Honor," eaid a soljctor in the Christchurch Supreme Court the other day, *' hae been engaged in commercial pursuits." Well, said Hib Honor, drily, " I hope that the commercial pursuits you refer to were not of the same character as the only one I have hefore me.' The point of the observation was that the accused was charged with stealing a bicycle in order to defray the expenses of his honeymoon trip. Among the newspapers that have spoken in favor oi the proposal to remove school Inspectors from time to time is the Daily Telegraph, of Napier. The Telegraph has long advocated such a change, so it is not surprising that it favors the resolution of the Taradale Committee, whose circular it publishes in full. The effect will be to bring the matter under cognizance of the public as one of the highest importance concerning the interests of every parent and child in New Zealand. Miss Bessie Doyle's manager arrived in town this morning to make the necessary arrangements for the concert to be given by this popular artist at the Assembly rooms on Tuesday next The company since last here has been very considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Miss Randell, a soprano vocalist of great range and sweetness, and as Mr Mackenzie is still with tho company a great musical treat may be safely predicted.