Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 201, 23 February 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

The temperature at Bulls on Tuesday was 97 degs. in the shade, aud 132 in the sun. Now that owners are being " lighter on the reserve " sbeep are moving ofi a little better at the auctions. Including hotels and boarding houses, it takes upwards of 5000 head of poultry a year to supply the Feilding market. The Waipawa Mail reports that sheep stealing on an extensive scale has been going on for some time in the Makaretu district. Subscriptions are being raised in Palmerston for the purpose of prospecting on the ranges between Pohangina and Shannon. We have to acknowledge receipt of complimentary tickets for the wrestling match in the Assembly Rooms this evening. The valuation of the Borough of Wanganui for the year is L 41.820, as against L 37,700 for the previous 12 months. The Carnarvon v. Colyton cricket match is being played on the Feilding ground to-day. Carnarvon batted first, and were all out for 60 runs. The Sandon School Committee met on Thursday night, and in connection with tho elections of the Education Board members, decided to support Messrs Fry, Carson and Mayo. Mr Pauling, of the North Eastern Railway (England) is of opinion that a good trade could be done in New Zealand heavy draught horses at a figure of from 475 to 4100. We have been requested to state, by the auctioneers, Messrs Abraham and Williams, of Palmerston North, that the property of Mr J. Palmer, which was advertised for sale to-day, has been withdrawn. The ratepayers of Ohingaiti resolved at the meeting, re the matter of raising a loan of 4625 for the purpose of building the bridge at Otara, that a poll should be taken to decide in Meehan's Hall on the 28th instant. Persons using private roads through the properties of certain owners on the Mount Stewart and Awahuri roads, should close all gates behind them, otherwise they will be prevented altogether of availing themselves of the convenience. According to a Christchurch correspondent the cider-making industry is a rapidly increasing one in that city and should commend itself to the fertile por tions of tbis Island Under proper management this industry can be made at profitable as dairying or nearly so. The Rev. G. Clement will preach farewell sermons in the Primitive Methodist Church, Feilding, to-morrow week, March 3rd. There will be a farewell tea and meeting on Monday, March 4th. The tea will be held in the Church, and the after meeting in the Salvation Army Barracks. The Gothenburg system of liquor selling may do very well for the Gothenburgers, composed only of one race; but in the EngUsh colonies, where every race under the sun is represented, it would be difficult to apply and carry it out. The New Zealand plan of licensing good hotels only, and closing mere drink shops, is the most suitable for a mixed population. At the local tennis court yesterday a heat for the club championship singles was played off between Messrs Bartoti and Dyer, resulting in a win for the former, the score being 3—6, 6 — 3 and 6 4. This game practically decides the championship for this season, as the abovenamed players are considered the best in the club. The championship foi the past three years has been held by Mr Dyer. A curious discovery bas been made ac ■o a property of the larcb, which is soexensively planted in some parts of New Zealand It is fonnd that if planted in oroximity to wheat, it undoubtedly hae tf effect of inducing rust in the crop It n.a.y be well lor New Zealand wheatgrowi; io take note of this, and to avoid sownj. wh- at in the vicinity of larch plantaions ; also to abstain from planting ! >t i chea near any ground which must .Hceasarlly be used for wheatgrowing. Our readers are reminded of the wrestling match to take place in the Assembly Rooms this evening between the middle-weight champion of New Zealand, J. Sutherland, and J. W. F. Halcombe, of Feilding. The styles of wrestling to decide the match are the Catch -as-catch-can and Grseco-Roman, both of which require the contestants to be very clever. Messrs T. R. Taylor and E. Mills will act as judges, and Mr Burton as referee. The valuation of tbe Borough of Pal luwrsion North has more than doubled it ttelf during the past nine years. Palmers i on waa constituted a Borough in 1887, and the valuation for rating purposes was set down at 4250,156. The following figures will show the progress made since that time, and they will prove that tbe in habitants of Palmerston N. are not behind their neighbours in enterprse :— Valua tion 1888-89, £261,585 ; 1889-90, 4300,---000; 189M-91. 4320.000; 1891-92, 4477,860; 18 2 93, 4499.000; 1888-94, £528,000 ; 1894-95, about 4534,000. These figures show the rateable value after the Crown lands and other rateable properties have been deducted. The figures for 1894-95 are of course subject to alteration by tbe Asses tm ent Court,— Times.