Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 156, 31 December 1894, Page 2

Local and General News.

* To-morrow being New Year's Day, the Feildino Star will not bo published. At 9.45 last night a very slight shower of rain fell. On Saturday last the Oroua Polo Club defeated a team from the Rangitikei Club by four goals to one. We refer our sporting readers to the advertisement in connection with the races at Bulls over the signature of the Secretary. It is stated that the Premier intends delivering a political address at Napier on the 15th January or iv the third week of the same month. Mr McLean, of Peterhead, Scotland, delivered an earnest gospel address to a large audience at the Assembly Rooms last eveuing. The Christmas problem — what shall I buy her on Christmas ? — haviug been solved, now comes the New Year problem—how am I going to pay for it ? Mr R. Robinson's mail coach to Waituna will run daily from to-morrow. The coach will leave the Feilding station oach afternoon at 4.20, returning next morniug. The Wellington cricket team, expected to play at Feildiug to-morrow, is unablo to get away, and consequently there will not be any match here on that day. The jockey George Johnston, who was so seriously injured at the Palmerston races, and subsequently removed to the hospital, has regained consciousness, aud yesterday showed signs of marked improvement in his condition. The Manawatu Herald says sarcastically: — No banks open next Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. This is a free ad. the depression compelling the banks to exercise 'economy' at tbe cost of their clients' convenience. The qualification of a successful liar, according to Mr J. E. Nixon, M.A., of King's College, Cambridge, England, include a lively imagination, a retentive memory, quickness of observation, resource, and discretion. Wo have a few iv training in this district. The largest trout yet taken in a Taranaki stream (says the Hawera Star) was caught in the Waingongoro on Wednes--1 day. It measured 33iu iv length, and 22iu 1 in girth, and weighed 19ilbs, and, as ' may be judged from the size, was in I splendid couditiou. Mr W. L. Bailey took a cargo of white pine to Australia on his recent trip and found no difficulty iv quitting it, although the price was not a profitable one owiug to the duty of eighteeu-peuce a hundred feet in Sydney and the heavy railway freight in this colony. A large bush fire is at present raging on Mr MacMillan's property on the Taikorea road, near Campbelltown. The fire started near the roadside, aud rapidly spread. A large area of cocksfoot grass has been destroyed, and Mr MacMillan's orchard has also been seriously damaged. The house had a very narrow escape. Three Tamworth pigs, tho first of the kind imported to this Colony, were released on Friday from quarantine on Somes' Island after the usual 60 days' detention, and were shipped to Christchurch to the order of the consignees, the Farmers' Co-operative Association. Tliese Tamworth pigs are large animals of a copper colour. Mr J. Wells, of Makino road, has an immense apple tree growing in his orchard. The tree was planted in the early days of Feilding, and has grown to such au extent that, taking the circumference of the tree from the branches, it is over tweuty yards around. The tree bas also a very prolific crop of apples. Punch of November 17th says:— lt is common enough, alas 1 for a man of high aspirations to be " sorely disappointed "; but it is quite a new thing to be " sorley appointed," which is the case with Professor W. R. Sorley, who has recently been placed iv the Moral Philosopher's chair at the University of Aberdeen. [Professor Sorley is a cousin of Dr John Sorlev, of Feilding. 1 Mr Gould will give his annual public garden party at his residence, Denbigh street to-morrow, (New \ear*s Day.) There will also be a sale of work in the afternoon, the proceeds being in aid of the Primitive Methodist Church funds, and as every preparation .is being made to make the party in every way pleasant and successful, no doubt there will be a large gathering as in past years. On Christmas Eve, says the Lyttelton Times, upwards of 100 people assembled in the Road Board office, Sheffield, to bid good-bye to Mr Sauuders Hight, who is leaving for the Feilding district. Mr Hight bas been a resident of Malvern nearly 30 years. For tbo past 10 years he has filled the office of churchwarden at St. Ambrose Church, Sheffield, aud for a long time has been a member of the local school committee. Mr F. de Lisle, choirmaster of St. Patrick's Church, Palmerston North, notifies to-day that he is about to commence teaching music, singing languages, and fine arts, such as drawing, painting and composition in Feilding. Those desirous of advancement in the accomplishments enumerated in the advertisement are requested to communicate with Mr de Lisle, his address being " The Studio, the Square, Palmerstou North." Mr De Lislo has been well spoken of by the press wherever he has been, aud it is safe to assume that he is a capable toacher. Mr E. Tozer, painter and decorator, of Feildiug, has just completed, to the order of Mr T. H. James, architect, the decoratiou, tinting and stencilling of the new reception room and corridor leading to same from tho old to the new portion of tbe Feilding Hotel (upstairs). The stencilling here introduced by him is quite a new departure from work of tbe kind generally done. The effect tried for and obtained is intended to give the observer the impression of stone and terracottaware, and is most pleasing. The general appearance of the work is such that the most critical eye cannot fail to be gratified. Mr T. Manson, of Palmerston, who has just returned from a trip to the Old Country, says : — In regard to New Zealand produce, he did not see such a thing as New Zealand mutton or beef in Scotland. Cheese from tbis colony is very popular in the north, and there is a large quantity used. Our butter is also greatly appreciated and fetches the highest price. Mr Mauson used it all tho time, tho prico beiug ls 3d per lb. The drawback to opening a trade in meat is the absence of cool storage, but it is a wonder such a slight difficulty has not been overcome, especially when our mutton could be profitably sold at half the prioo of the local "product,

Mr A. Laing will run a coach from J Birmingham to Apiti to-morrow morn- 1 ing, starting at 8 o'lock. We are informed by Mr S. Goodbehere that the glass registered 97 degrees in the shade last Saturday. Messrs Loveday and Co. iutend closing their Feilding branch on Thursday next. A slaughter sale will be held till tbat date. It is announced iv our wanted column tbat "Reginaris," the finest mineral water in the world, can be obtained at the Feilding Hotel. We bave received from the local agent of the Phoenix Insurance Company, Mr H. L. Sherwill, copies of that Company's office and pocket calendars for the year 1895. We bave to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Druids plain and fancy dress ball to be held in the Birmingham Town HaU ou Friday, January 18th. The Longburn Freezing Company announce that they have 120 tons of manure for sale in large or small quantities. As room must be made for tbis season's manufacture no reasonable offer will be refused. The General Lending Board, under the Advances to Settlers Act, will sit early iv January for tho purpose of selecting the casual valuers. About 300 applications, all of which aro in regular form, are now in hand, and tbe total sum applied for is, we understand, over £200,000.— Times. There died this moruing, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr J. D. Valentine, Manchester street, Mrs Matilda Mary Browne, relict of the late Mr Louis Browne. The deceased lady arrived in Wellington forty years ago in the ship Surge, from London. Sbe was married twice. Her lirst husband, Mr William Finnis, died in England, whero she married Mr Louis Browne, her second husband, who pre-deceased her in Feilding. Her son by the first marriage was Albert Finnis, of the Harbor Board Block, and by the second there are the following sons and daughters— Mrs J. D. Valentine, Mrs William Baker, of the Harbor Board Block, Louis Browne, of tbe same place, Frederick Browne, of Otaki, and Ralph and Joseph Browne, J.P., of the Pohangina. Mrs Browne was a daughter of the late R. H. Shepherd, who was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, who died in New Zealand, at Ohariu, near Wellington. The deceased lady has resided in this district for the last ten years, where she has earned the respect and esteem of all who had the pleasure pi knowing her. She had been an invalid for about six months antl the end was not unexpected. We deeply sympathise with the family in their loss of one who was not only a good and kind mother, but a sympathetic friend.