Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 85, 4 October 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

Tho Wellington papers speak very highly of the musical festival now being held in tho Empire City. A man tatoocd from head to foot with every dovico and design imaginable indelibly engraved on his body is now exhibiting himself in the South. The name of Mr James Coates, Inspector of the National Bank, is now mentioned in connection with the presidentship of the Bank of New Zealand. Owing to other important business, the Fire Brigade will meet in the engine slied at 7 o'clock sharp this evening. Punctuality is requested, as several members must get away at 7.30. A cabinetmaker at the Petone Railway Workshops is making a table two feet in diameter, which is already inlaid with 35,000 pieces of wood. He has been at it twelve years already, and it is still unfinished. The design is geometrical. The proclamation in reference to the Pohangina County will be gazetted today. The election will bo held on Saturday, the 27th October, and the first nieo*;jn^ of the new Council takes placo on Saturday, jibe 3rd of November. The number of letter posted in New Zealand last year, with wrong addresses, was 589. There were 22 letters found whoso stamps had been previously used. The lotters refused by the pcoplo to .whpin they were addressed numbered no fewef tuan 4098. Eight letters with JjbejUous adctees^es were intercepted. '

The Borough Council will meet this evening. The Chronicle records the de#th of Mr A. Hatrick, sonr., at the age of 63. We have to acknowledge receipt of the Railway Timetable for the current month. A meeting of tho Feilding Jockoy Club was held last evening, the business being of a private nature. There aro a few vacancies in the Manchester Rifles for eligible recruits. They must be able to attend all parades, also the Easter Encampment. Mr W. W. Corpe has presented a cheque to the local Fire Brigade for .£2 2s in acknowledgement of their services in saving his premises at the recent fire. The starlings (55 in number) which were liberated on tho Rev. Wilks 1 farm on Kimbolton road, on Saturday, appear to have taken kindly to their new surroundings. The Mutual Improvement Society will hold a final social to-night, when all are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided, and there will be no charge for admission. Mr Matheson, manager of tho Colonial Bank in Feilding, left to-day for a few weeks' holiday. Mr Wakelin will be in charge during liis absence, assisted by Mr Hutchison, of Palmerston. We hope Mr Matheson will haTe a pleasant timo. We (Chronicle) learn that the Rev. James Treadwell, who went South recently to take the advice of a medical specialist with regard to tho complaint from which he is now suffering, has undergone two examinations, and that, as advised, he will submit to an operation to-day. Tho London County Council recently passed this resolution : — That it bo referred to the General Purposes Committeo to consider and report as to how far it would bo practicable and advisable for the Council to establish in London a system of municipal pawnbroking, upon similar lines to those of the foreign Monte-de-Piete." Thus the Parliamentary correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald : I find on making enquiry that there is not the shadow of foundation for the report circulated a few days ago that Mr Reeves is going Home as Agent-General. Mr Reeves also denies the truth of the statement himself, and says he has not sought the position in any way. The Wairarapa Star, speaking of tho unemployed in that district, says that unless something is done at once to relieve the situation there will during the next few months be men dying on the roads, and tho responsibility for such a lamentable state of things will rest upon those who are in a position to afford relief, but decline to do so. The scarcity of beef in Canterbury is driving Christchurch butchers to the North Islan^l for supplies. Last week (says the Press) thirty- five hoad of fat bullocks from the Wanganui district were brought down to the order of a Christchurch butcher, making over one hundred for this buyer alone. They were grade shorthorns, heavy weights, and prime beef. The following are the results of the examination cf the standards at the Asburst School: — Standard VI., presented 2, passed 1, failed 1. Standard V., presented 9, passed 5, failed 4. Standard IV., presented 22, passed 18, failed 7, absent 2. Standard 111., presented 41, passed 27, failed 14. Standard 11., presented 88, passed 25, failed 10, absent 8. Standard 1., presented 22, passed 14, failed 5. absent 8. Captain Morse, of the R.M.S. Alameda, thus explains the Samoan war : — " There is no war in Samoa. The natives are just living round and doing nothing. These war rumours and attempts at rebellion are only started to keep a man-of-war around the islands so that a little ready money can be secured from the sailors who get shore leave, so that the salaries of the King aad his Ministers can be paid." Following is one of tho '• Queer Queries" with which London Punch is wont to concern himself occasionally :— " The Lady and the Law.— Can it really be true that at a place called Onehunga, New Zealand, they have a lady mayor ? Surely this is altogether ' ultra vires,' as well as ultravirile ! My legal knowledge — which is considerable— convinces me that there is a fatal flaw in the eo» called election of women to the chief post in a municipality even in New Sheland — I mean New Zealand. It's quito aettled law that a femme sole cannot be a corporation ; then how, I should like to know can she preside over a corporation ? Possibly some legal readers will aay if their opinion coincides with mine. — Barrister. A number of members of the Wesleyan Church held a working bee in the Church grounds yesterday, when a con sidcrable amouut of work was done in the way of metalling the paths around the Church, etc., horses and drays being lent for tho occasion. A number of ladies did some useful work inside tho building, and they also provided afternoon tea for thoso who had assisted in tho work. Tho Church will be formally opened on the 14th inst., when the morning service will be taken by tho Rev. W. Keall, and the evening by the Rev. W. H, Judkius. The choir aro now practicing special music for the occasion. A large number of visitors are expected from Carnpbelltown and Sanson. Enquiry is made in Lloyd's Weekly for the following!— John William Passman loft England in 1886 ; was driving a tram engine in Canterbury, New Zeal* and nino jeara ago; parents anxious. Johanua Poole wishes to find her brothers i and sisters ; Janjes was at Burnett's, New j Croso, 20 years ajjo ; Annie went to Wei hngton New Zealand, 22 years ago ; Lucy supposed to have gone to America ; William was in the Queen's Aimy when last heard of 23 yenrs ago. Kate Hogau, of Kiln'nnian, County Limerick, married Edward Calaghao, and sailed either for New Zealand or Australia 35 yearn ago to join an undo thero ; brother Thomas would hke news, George Sergeant Baker joiner, of Halifax went to Auckland, New Zealand about 32 years ago ; Thomas Baker Hay ward asks. David Dolphin sailed for Ota«o, >ew Zealand in 1875 and there worked forMrM'Nab.of Mount Ida ; his brother enquires, What » fair comment? His Honor Sir H. Willjams, in summing up in the great Speight v. Symo case thus doflned it :— Fair comment be said, may be >horily expressed as criticism and commepts on conclusions drawn from the public acts of public men. Mr Speight was a public man. Anyone may make such ontis cisms. The law is sometime* called an ass but in connection with fair comment the law is not an ass, It allows a great deal of latitude in respect to what is called fair comment to guide this ureat right of the public of criticising its public men, so as not to cut it down What is the nntuie of the conclusions that may be drawn of the public acts of a public mau ? They may be exaggerated, barsh. seyere, stinging incorrect, absolutely untrue, and yet permissible