Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 177, 26 January 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

♦_ Truth says journalists are — The Great Underpaid. The Buteshire, at present in Wellington, ships 3400 frozen sheep through the Longburn Freezing Works. Mahaki has been scratched for all engagements at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. Bush fires have already been started in the district adjacent to Apiti, and there is every prospect of good burus being obtaiued. A woman was so severely stung by a swarm of bees at Parkville, in the Wairarapa, the other day that her life is despaired of. The Birmingham School Committee have nominated Messrs Fry and Carson as members of the Wanganui Education Board. A boy at a crossing, begging something of a gentleman, the latte-c told him tbat j , he would give him something as he came back. " Your honor," replied the boy, " you would be surprised if you knew how much money I lose by giving credit tbat way. The Chief Inspector of Factories has : advised Sergeant Stagpoole, of Hawera, that blacksmiths come under tbe Factories Act, and that auctioneers may ; give clerks a half-holiday on the shop [ day instead of Saturday. The Marlborough Express believes tbat the passengers who died from an overdose of chlorodyne on the Monowai, is Mr Peake, who has been headmaster of the Tna Marina school, near Blenheim, for years past. The old story. Says the Hawera Star : — Cricket is so dead in Manaia that the secretary complains of not being able to get enough old members together on Saturday night to decently hjiry the ; mortal remains, which amount to about . £9 or £10. ] At a meeting of settlers held in Mr ' Eagar's Hall, at Apiti, last night, it was < decided that tbe Government be re- ] quested to establish telephonic com- < munication betweeu Birmiugham and Apiti, and that Mr F. Pirapi, M^.H.R., be requested tause his influence with the J depatfoneat,. It. was,, also decided to j point' out to the. Government that if J postal notes were issued at Apiti it would. ■ fe 4 ate*** benefit to eefctta. «

Butter sent Home from the Chelten- ( ham Factory touched the top price, 108s, early in December. Captain Edwin wired at 12.15 p.m. to-day:— N.E. to N. and W. gale, with rain ; glass fall. The Hon. Mr Reeves says his ideal * half-holiday i* Saturday. Some trades- ( men would like the Ministry to establish an "ideal fourth "—with no bills to pay ; —but, luckily for them, Ministers are above such trifles. Messrs Barraud and Abraham, the ■ well kuown seed merchants, have just received a shipment of new seeds for autumn sowing. They are of the best quality, and farmers' should make an early inspection. A uew advertisement from the firm will appear in next issue. The uew work ou " The Speech of Man aud Siruian Souuds " is about to be published iv England. It is iutended as a refutation of the theory that human language asceuded from the mere animal sounds, or that it was developed by the evolution of mau from a lower form of life. A case is to be tried in London that is a peculiar one. A lawyer is going to ask a judge and jury to consider his grievance against a newspaper, which consists in not mentioning his name in its columns. It is alleged that this particular paper printed his name only in reporting cases he had lost, omitting it in cases were he bad won. A cricket match is beiug played at Colyton to-day betweeu teams representing Feilding and Colyton Clubs. Although the championship of the Raugitikei-Manawatu Uuion will depend ou the result of this match to some extent ouly a weak team went from Feilding, several substitutes beiug obtained after some difficulty. Messrs Barraud and Abraham advertise to-day that they are cash purchasers of cocksfoot aud other local seeds. The firm aro prepared to allow growers to use then* machinery at the Feilding warehouse for cleaning seeds. This machinery has given the greatest satisfaction in the past aud growers can depend on having their seed properly dressed. The committee of the Apiti Dairy Company met on Wednesday, the 23rd instant, in Mr Guy's hall ; Mr E. Nix, chairman, presiding. The sub-commit-tee handed in their report re the Articles of Association, which was adopted. The prospectus of tho company was issued, aud all the members of the committee were appointed as canvassers to dispose of shares and get the milk guarautee forms signed. There was a large attendance at the fortnightly meeting of the Oddfellows' Lodge, held last eveniug, when ouo new member was initiated. The following were appointed a committee to make arrangements for sports to be held some time iv March :— Messrs Bastings, J. Smith, A. Watson, Parker, Jacksou, Mingins and H. Taylor. The programme will be prepared aud submitted to a meetiug to be held next week. Sir Julius Yogel has been bringing under the notice of people interested in New Zealand flax the process invented by Professor Blayos, the distinguished chief of the French Department of Industrial Chemistry in Paris. This process has been applied with much success to the treatment of African fibres, and Sir Julius thinks it capable of appiicatiou to New Zealand phormium tenax also. The suggestion is now uuder consideration. A meeting ol ratepayers iv the Maogapikopiko riding of the Pohangina County was held in Mr Guy's Hall, Apiti, ou Thursday last, the attendance being good. It was decided that polls be taken for the loans, the date to be fixed by the County Council. The proposal for loan in the Feilding Small Farm Block was adopted as advertised, but the loan for tlie Mangoira Coal Creek Block was reduced by £400. Sir George Grey continues indefatigable in his peregrinations around the bookshops ahd bas made further purchases for the Auckland Library, including a Tasso j of 1531, a comedy by Bernado of 1683 and copy of the very rare first edition of Sydney Parkinson's work on Cook's voyages Parkinson was assistant to Sir Joseph Banks. The book is splendidly illustrated with fine copper plate engravings, and is in a capital state of preservation, in the original binding, with uncut edges. There are perhaps four other copies in existence. Before the Royal Irish Academy on 12th November the Rev. Dr Haughton read a paper on the Artie tides, and made special reference to the Nansen Polar Expedition He expressed the opinion that Nansen and his party are doomed, as their return is impossible. He is of opinion that the expedition will get enclosed in ice and be reduced to all the horrors of cannibalism until the last man dies of starvation. The attempt to reach the Pole he condemned as a mad project founded on want of scientific knowledge, and he lamented that the Government of Norway had not forbidden an expedition which was certain to end in a disastrous failure At the financial committee meeting of the local Court of Foresters, held on Wednesday evening, the yearly balance sheet was read and adopted, showiug the Court to be in a prosperous condition. The gain during the year to the sick and funeral fund was £111 3s 2d, making a total of £960 0s 7d. Tbe average worth per member is £12 3s. £52 3s 4d was paid for sickness during the year. The total worth of all the funds is £982. The following officers were elected for the ensuing term : — C.R., Bro. A. Eade ; S.C R., Bro. J. H. Worsfold ; S.W., Bro. J. S. Milson ; J.W., Bro. M. Belfit ; 5.8., Bro. W. Wenham ; J. 8., Bro H. C. Mansell.