Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 74, 21 September 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

♦ Messrs H. Collier and Co., of Wanganui, notify that Mr H. C. Cochran is no longer with their firm. Over £2,000,000 is annually given in Great Britain to maintain the Bible societies. Experiments with the North Island sheep diseases are being made at the State farm near Waverley. The Wellington Education Board has notified its teaching staff that no salaries will be increased on any account whatever until further notice. We refer our readers to the advertisement of the purebred Clydesdale stallion " Nil Desperaudum," which appears in another column to-day. The arrivals iv the colony during August were 1456, and the departures 1708. Of the latter 1353 were to New South Wales. The balance sheet in conuectiou with the Elijah and Messiah concerts at Palmerston North shows a credit balance of £28 Is 9d. The receipts were £87 5s 4d, and the expenditure was £59 9s sd. Messrs A. Wilson and Co. announce to-day that they are purchasers of wool, skins and hides in any quantity at their wool stores, Warwick street, Feilding, Tho firm pay highest cash prices. We regret to learn of the death of Mrs R. G. Burn in Wellington. The deceased lady was the wife of Mr Burn, the well-known chemist and druggist, who was for many years in business in Wauganui. Theatre goers will bo glad to hear that there is a probability of Mr George Leitch, undoubtedly tho most popular comedian New Zealand has known for a long period, paying us a flying visit and giving us some of his inimitable performances. All who have seen Mr Leitch \yill be only too happy to meet him again. We hope the proposed visit may soon be assured. The Empire City seems to be the "happy hunting ground" of the pickpockets, and they evidently thrive in their profession, as persons are continually being relieved of their valuables, even in broad daylight. Juat before the Mararoa left the Wellington wharf for Auckland the other day, two ladies, who were leaning over the bulwarks wishing their friends good-bye, had their purses taken from their pockets, one containing over £7 and the other £2. These are favorable opportunities for I tile ttuefi aod travellers should beware.

Capt. Edwin wired at 1.84 p.m. today : — lndications for strong N. to W. and S.W. winds after 20 hours from now; glass fall. In the Municipal Corporations Act power is given to Councils to make bylaws providing for the licensing of dairymen and milk-sellers, and securing the clenliness of dairies and milk -shops. Owing to the unfavorable state of the weather there was only a small attendance at the meeting of the W.C.T.U. called for yesterday afternoon, and it was adjourned without transacting any business. It is stated that the Midland Railway Company have everything in readiness to put six large railway contracts in hand directly the House arrives at a settlement on the Midland railway question. These contracts would at once give employment to 2000 men. Our Awahuri readers will learn with regret that Mr Reid, who was for many years a resident there, well liked and respected, has sustained a severe injury by being thrown from his horse. No further particulars are to hand than those detailed in the telegram from Palmerston. Mr Reid has also many frionds m Feilding. The quarterly meoting of the local Court of Foresters was held on Wednesday last. P.C.R. Bro H. Worsfold was in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members. S.C.R. Bro A. Eade was unanimously elected C.R. P.C.R. Bro T. W. K. Foster was elected delegate to represent the Court at the district meeting to be held in Welling, ton in November next. Iwo new members were admitted, and two candidates proposed for next meeting. Last evening, at about 6.20, some person entered Mr Albert Baker's shop, in Manchester street, while Mr Baker was absent, and extracted from the till all the money it contained, fortunately only about seven shillings. Mr Baker returned to the shop as the person was leaving, but at the time did not know that the till had been robbed, and by the time ho was aware of the fact tho man was out of sight. Over 600 delegates at tended the sixtieth High Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters, at Cambridge, on August 6th. The High Chief Ranger announced that at the end of last year the order had 876,493 members, and funds amounting to £5,266,824. Referring to old age pensions, he expressed himsolf strongly in favor of self-help and against any form of State aid. For the first time women delegates were admitted to the meeting. We regret to have to announce the death of Mr W. Benson, of Waituna, who expired this morning at a quarter to one o'clock, at the early age of 34 years, from the after effects of la grippe. Mr Benson took up land in the Waituna district about fourteen years ago, and has resided there ever since. He was twice married, tho second wife surviving him, and he also leaves three children to mourn the loss of a kind parent. Mr Benson has always taken an active interest in school affairs, and was Chairman of the Beaconsficld School Committee for several terms, while he filled tho position of secretary and treasurer at the time of his death. Mr Benson was much respected by all with whom he came into contact. The funeral will leave his late residence at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning for the Feilding Cemetery, Mr W. G. Shearer, undertaker, conducting it. The weekly meeting of the Feilding Harmonic Society was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, and despite the inclement weather there was a good muster. It was intimated that owing to the scarcity of copies of the cantata "Merlin," which the society has been practising, the committee had decided to procure copies of the operetta, " Tho Merry Men of Sherwood Forest," which are expected to be here in time for next practice. With this work the society have hired the orchestral parts. Mr Meadows, the conductor, is taking great pains with the orchestra, and has allotted a separate night for practice (Monday evenings), which will be held in Miss Goodbeherc's schoolroom. It was also notified that the next practice will be held on Friday in Miss Goodbehere's schoolroom, on account of a confirmation service being held in St. T_i t- rf-11 1 mi j •