Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

There is some talk of forming a golf club in Feilding. We havo to acknowledge receipt of a very neat Christmas card from the ofiicers of tho Department of Agriculculturo wishing us tho complimcuts of the season. It gives us much pleasure to respond. The offices of the Emigrant and Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation will be closed on the 24th, 2otb, 26th, and 31st instants, and January Ist and 2nd for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. With reference to the proposed trip of a representative team of cricketers, the Secretary of the Union informs us that ho bad arranged to play Woodville and Pahiatua, but found at the last minute that he would not be able to get a strong team away, as tbe best players wero unable or unwilling to go for tho trip. On Saturday evening tho town was very lively with people, who were out shopping in preparation for the holidays now close at hand. The various shops were nicely illuminated and decorated, presenting a gay appearance with tho throngs of people going in and out, the shopkeepers reaping the benefit of a good trade. The Marton Borough Council, at their recent meeting, unanimously passed the following resolution, viz., " That the Clerk write to tbe proprietors of all newspapers who, during the past twelve months, have again forwarded their papers to the Reading Room here free of charge, and tender to them, with ' the compliments of the season,' the cordial thanks of this Council for the great benefit they have thus assisted to confer on this town and neigbourhood." We have received a copy of tho Christmas number of tho Weekly Press, published in Christcburcb. It is really a magnificent production, and contains over forty half-tone engravings, overy one of which was exocutcd from original photographs by members of the staff. Tho reading matter is interesting and and well selected, the greater portion being by local writers of marked ability. It is not too much to say that the publication is a credit to the colony. A quiet wedding took place at fcrt. John's Church on Saturday afternoon, when Mr D. Raine was united iv tho bonds of matrimony to Miss Phillips, daughter of Mr J. Phillips, of Sandon, aud sister of Mrs J. Prior, Feilding. The Rev Innes Jones, performed the marriage ceromony, aud a large number of friends were at church. Afterwards tho bridal party drove to tho residence of Mr John Prior where they were met by a large number of guests who warmly congratulated the newly married couple on the happy event. At about three o'clock they were driven away, amid showers of rice, to Palmerstou North, en route for Wellington where the honeymoon will be passed. The presents were numerous and of considerable intrinsic value. A smash-up occurred on the Rangitikei Line, about three miles from Palmerston, on Saturday evening, when the occupant of a sulky —who had succeeded in thoroughly moistening his clay— camo to grief. Travelling at a very merry pace the driver — who bad slipped off his seat and was sitting iv the body of the vehicle with his back to tho horsemade an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate a bridge. The vehicle collided with one end of the structure, with the result that the top railing was knocked off, the driver propelled some ten yards forward, and the sulky, excepting the wheels, was completely demolished. Some persons who witnessed the accideut were soon on the spot, but if it was not until after a lapso of ten niiuutea, and having received the cotitonts of four buckets of water that the unfortunate was " brought to," apparently not much the worse for his fall. Tbe liorso escaped unhurt.

We again remind our readers that the Star will not be published either on Christmas or Boxing Day. Among the names of new appointments to the Commission of the Peace is that of Mr J. R. Montague, of Palmerston North We have been shown a bean stalk by Mr F. Fowles, which is four feet six inches long, containing twenty largo bean pods. Mr Albert Welch, of Masterton, has produced seventy-pounds of butter from seven 1 cows in one week. This is an excellent ! record, The cows are Shorthorns. The man Laurence Gosling who received concussion of tlio brain in a scuffle at Wellington 11th inst., died yesterday without having recovered consciousness. The meeting of the shareholders of the Longburn Freezing Company which waa called on Saturday for the purpose of electing a director lapsed for want of a quorum. The following is given as a sure proventitive against mosquitoes : -Soak a piece ot rag in spirits of turpentine and hang beside the bed. This has the effect of driving the insects out of the room. Mr and Mrs Charles Bray (senr)., left by this afternoon's train for Plimmerton where they will spend the Christmas holidays. The programme of the Levin Sports, to be held on January 22ud, is to hand. The prizes are on a most liberal scalo, and should attract big fields. The secretary of the Feildiug Polo Club has received a letter from the Rangitikei club inviting the former to send two teams to Bulls on Saturday next to play a match. Railway Guard to bright little girl — " What is your age '? " " Oh, please Mr Guard, I am twelve on the railway, and fifteen at home." Collapse of a fond mother on the same seat. We have been requested to notify that a public picnic (free) will be held at Raugiwahia on New Year's Day, commencing at 10 a.m. All are invited. Further particulars will bo duly advertised. A late special train ran from Wellington to Wanganui last Saturday evening, and was well patronised from Wellington, but very few peoplo up this way knew anything about it. No late train will be run this evening, as last year, and in consequence two residents of Feildiug are going to drivo through to Wanganui after the shops have closed. J. Staddon and J. Mason (alias Foddon) were brought up at Otaki on Saturday last, before a justice, on charges of burglary at Manakau. The accused were committed for trial, on two charges, at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, at Wellington. We understand the accused will be charged at Napier with robbery from Hastings, after this trial takes place. Tbe Manawatu Times says :— Local sportsmen will be pleased to learn that trout are becoming very plentiful in the Manawatu river. Last week lOOlbs weight of fish was caught between the Fitzherbert bridge and the Ashurst railway bridge by several Palmerston and Feilding gentlemen. A trout, weighing I4lbs, was landed near the Fitzherbert bridge. The Woodville Examiner Bays : — Bush whiskey is often talked of. in a jocular way, hut it has become a live reality, and in the Pa^hiatua County it is well-known that a large atili is in full operation. The product of the still is reported to be re tailed both by licensed houses and sly grog shops. The police have had the matter in hand for some time but the distiller is two cute for them The marriage of Mr Walter Towler to Miss Alice Cotterell was celebrated on Wednesday, the 19th instant. The bridegroom had the distinction of being I the first child born in tho settlement twenty-oue years ago, his parents Mr and Mrs F. Towler, being among the earliest settlers in the block. During his last visit here General Feilding and the Hon. Mrs Feilding called on Mrs and Mr Towler and were much pleased to see bow they had got on in the world and brought up well a large family, two of their daughters being married and comfortably settled in life. The General was informed of the then approaching happy event, and substantially recognised the occasion in a manner highly gratifying to the parents and their sou. We add our congratulations to the newly married pair and trust they will enjoy many years of profperity and happiness.