Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 305, 29 June 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a batch of Parliamentary papers. Entries for Messrs Abraham and Wil- ; Hams Palmerston salo are advertised j to-day. To-morrow night the Rev J. Cocker will continue his series of sermons on "Women of the Bible." " Industry " wants a situation as lady help. Applications are to be addressed to the post office, Cheltenham. The Rev lunes Jones will preach in St John's Church to-morrow evening on "Ritualism and the Homeward movement." At Marton J. T. Morris has been fined 40s for cruelty to a child, who had been adopted by him from a Wellington institution. In a single year 14,000,000 rabbits were killed 'in New South Wales, and 8,000,000 acres of pastoral laud were abandoned. The Japanese arc fond of bathing. In the city of Tokioi there } are 800 public bath-houses, in which a person can take a bath, hot or cold, for a sum equal to one half-penny. To-morrow's services in connection j with the Wesley an church are announ- , ced. At the evening service the Rev W. I H. Judkins will continue the subject of his last discourse. The punt, which is being built for the Ferry at the Gorge, will be completed in a couple of weeks. The punt, which is of a substantial nature, will put i travellers iv mind of the ferry days of old. — Standard. A Sydney cablegram received last night announces that Dean, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the attempted murder of his wife, has been released from prison and heartily j cheered by the crowd who assembled to witness his liberation. Dr Walker (Auckland), interviewed by a Herald representative on home lessons said :— " My idea is, in the first instance, they .are not required. They mean too much mental strain upon the children. . . . The children, after leaving school, should be devoid of all care of school work until they enter upon their duties next morning. Mr W. W. Collins, member for Christchurch, intends, it is stated, to move a respectful address to his Excellency the Governor, requesting him to set aside a day of Solemn Fast, Humiliation and Prayer that the national loss occasioned by the emigration of fur seals from the shores of New Zealand's dependencies may be averted, and the seals induced to return to the now deserted sealeries. The Minister of Railways thinks dining cars should be tried on the Government lines. Unfortunately the lease of a large number of refreshment rooms had some time to run, and it could not be tried till these had expired. Tbe cars cost £500 each, and cost a great deal to haul them, but he thought the system should receive a trial on some level line, say the Christ-chnrch-Oauifiru lino. A movement is on foot in Scotland to er«ct a statue of Highland Mary, immortalised by Burns; at Dunoon, near the place of her birth,' on the Firth of Clyde. The statue will be a very artis : tic and striking one, and will occupy a most commanding position. It is proposed to unveil the statue on 21st June, the centenary of Burps' death, on which occasion there will be a great national ' demonstration at Duucpn.

The Feilding State School will open on Monday next. ' The Rev Mr Lee will lecture at Birmingham on Monday. The Government propose to vote £5000 to carry on the Midland railway. The Excelsior Skating Rink will be open again this evening from 7.30 till 10 o'clock. Some valuable town sections have changed hands lately in Feilding on the Kimbolton road. The Pohangina County Council invite tenders for certain road works in Apiti. Plans can be seen at Mr Tompkin's store, Birmingham, and also at Mr Guy's store, at Apiti. The programme of tho Band of Hope meeting on Monday evening, promises to be up to high water mark, and doubtless there will he the usual large attendance. The order at last meeting left nothing to be desired by the most fastidious. Near Blenheim the other day a woman was lined for keeping her children from school, although she stated that the house was often without a crust of bread, and the boys had been kept from school to earn something at picking hop?. The head master of the school paid the fine. The Fcildiug Debating Society will meet in Mr Bray's office on Tuesday j evening at 7.30. The subject for debate will be "Is co-operation more desirable than competition in the distribution of our national produce." Mr F. Y. Lethbriclge will lead in the affirmative and Mr O. Cooper in the negative. The question will deal with Mr J. D. Nath [ an's scheme aud the discussion should be interesting. An " inset " is published with to-day's issue from Mr J. Cobbe, direct importer of drapery and clothing. Mr Cobbo has decided to offer the whole of his extensive stock at greatly reduced prices for cash, in order to make room for his spring goods. A perusal of the " inset " ! -will give but a faint idea of the extent of the stock and country settlers and others could not do better than make a personal inspection of the goods. A special meeting of the Colyton School Committee was held last night to consider ways and means re a proposed children's concert. The following resolution was passed : — That the committee support and a?sist tho master in carrying out the children's concert. The money accruing therefrom to be devoted to the children, «i]so to defray minor expenses in connection with the school, other than the ordinary expenses. Wo (Mercury) are pleased to learn by private letter just received from " the other side," that at the time of writing from Sydney Mr W. F. Downes, the popular manager of the Bank of New South Wales, in AVaugauui, was on his way to Western Australia, and that his health had considerably improved, leading to the hope that he will soon be again full of vigorous life, aud restored to that strength aud activity for which during a long sojourn in New Zealand he has been noted. Some of the settlers in tho FortyMile Bush have had a severe experience since the Easter Hoods. One man, who has his wife and family in Masterton, was able to navigate his way through the slips about a week ago. He had been living chiefly on pigeons, but his ammunition running short he had to make an effort to reach the out-side world. He sbates that there are several settlers in a worse position, and suggests that a relief expedition should be formed. Under the heading" Colouial Gossip " the British Australasian has the following:—lf the Bishop of Salisbury had done a generous thing in giving .£IOO towards a site for Wellington Cathedral, ho has also done a bold thing in asking English Churchmen to follow his example. Returned colonists, however, who are not returned " empties" might certainly send a cheque to enable the " Empire City" to stand on the same level as Christchurch in getting a mother church of its own. Verb. sap. At a meeting of tho Executive Committee of the Wanganui Education Board on Thursday, an application was received for temporary teaching assistance at the Ashurst School, pending the arrival of Mrs Mellish, the newly appointed assistant mistress. It was decided that the present staff must endeavour to carry on without extra help in the meantime. Miss Barbara Mayo, of Campbell-street, Palmerston North, was appointed a pupil teacher at Awahuri, in place of Mr J. R. Nairn. The question of the promotion of first-class pupil teachers to the position of junior assistants was held over for the Board. The Loyal Manchester Lodge 1.0.0. F., meeting last evening was well attended, The election of officers resulted as follows:—N.G., Bro. A. Wilson ; V.G., Bro H. L. Jackson ; E.S-, Bro. C. Aitken. There not being sufficient time to continue the installation owing to the large amount of business transacted, officers will be installed at the next meeting. Two new members were proposed for initiation at next meeting. After the Lodge closed a coffee supper was given by Bro. A. Wilson, the N.G, elect, and the retiring G.M. Bro. G. Saywell. During the evening songs were given by Bros. Durant, Hewitt, Lovejoy, W. Belfit, J. Watson, Boyd, Sa3 r well. Bro. Wilson, Jackson and Aitken returned thanks to the members of the Lodge for their election to the respective officers and the meeting closed with " Auld Lang Syne." A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs and Miss Wilson for their assistance at the supper.