Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 4, 4 July 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

The Borough Council will meet this evening. The Feilding S.M. Court will sit at 2 2 p.m. to-morrow. Mr Colby, who has leased the Empire Hotel from Mrs Oliver, took possession yesterday. The meeting of the Fire Brigade called for last evening lapsed for want of a quorum. The Taonni concert will he held on Tuesday, the 9th inst., instead of Friday, the sth, as previously stated. Captain Edwin wired at 12.32. to-day : North to west and south east gale with rain and glass fall. Mr D. J. Nathan has promised to address the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Association on his frozen meat scheme. There will he mass in St Bridget's Church, at Feilding, on Sunday next at 8 and 11 a.m., and evening service at 3 o'clock. .„ , , n A concert and dance will he held in the Kiwitea Hall on Friday, July sth, in aid of the building fund. Programme by the best local talent. Admission to concert Is, and dance Is. The Ministers for Railways and Education are endeavouring to come to an arrangements by which children of country settlers will be able to travel to the High School nearest to their home on free railway passes. A Post jotting says it is being industriously, though unofficially, circulated in the lobbies, that if members will not pass the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Lottery Bill, they will be called upon to pass another Guarantee Bill. We regret to hear, from the Post, that Mr T. "W. McKeuzie burst a blood-vessel on the brain just after he had finished breakfast yesterday. Drs Mackenzie, France, and Chappie were called in. Mr McKenzie's condition was a little improved by the afternoon. As Donald Dickie did not pay the fine of £150 imposed upon him for having a whiskey still in his possession at Momohaki, he has to take the alternative of nine months' imprisonment, and has accordingly been iodged in Wanganui gaol. The Minister of Kailways on Monday informed the Houso that the Government had been reducing, and would, as far as possible continue to reduce the railway freights on farm and dairy produce. It was impossible, however, just now to reduce the freight on potatoes. The Excelsior Skating Rink was very largely attended yesterday afternoon and evening. As showing the popularity of this favorite pastime several skates have already been booked by rinkists for Saturday evening. To meet the requirements of skaters the proprietor has ordered an additional supply of skates, which he expects to arrive this week. Plane have been prepared for extensive additions to the shunting conveniences at the Palmerston Eailvvay Station, including cattle and sheep loading yards and coal discharging conveniences to the cost of some .£BOO. On representation of the member for the district the local stock auctioneers are to be consulted before the final determination of the site of the cattle yards. We are informed that within the last few days, Mr D. Manson, of * The Pines,' has disposed, at a very satisfactory figure, of his Stratford property, comprising 720 acres, to Messrs G. and J. Jackson, of Grey town, Wairarapa, also to Mr John Small, Shannon, at .£l6 per acre, 142 acres of his Kairanga land, Palmerston North. At a meeting of the Pohangina School Committee held in the schoolroom on Tuesday last. Present — Messrs Bolton (chair), Thompson, Moar and Holmes. It was resolyed (1) That Mr J. Shadbolt fill the vacant seat on the committee caused by the retirement of Mr C. Currie. (2) That Mr S. Moar be appointed Truant Inspector under the provisions of the School Attendance Act, 1894. (3) That the Committee and head teacher arrange for a promenade concert and dance, in aid of the school funds, to be held on Friday 2nd August in the Public Hall. The cost of diphtheria anti-toxin is not so heavy as is generally thought. It costs 2s 6d and 5s 8d a bottle, and one bottle is sufficient for each case of diphtheria. It had been used very successfully in New Zealand, the Premier informed the House on Friday, but at Home its efficacy has been questioned. The Premier said a case recently occurred in Wellington when a medical man charged a guinea for administering a dose of anti-toxin valued at 6d. Such charges by medical men, he thought, showed the necessity for' fixing the fees of the profession by law. Speaking of the late Mr John Wheeler King the Auckland Star says : - Mr King who died at Takapuna, was the oldest living New Zealand colonist, having been born at the Bay of Islands in the days of •* old New Zealand " when the Maoris were all warlike cannibals. His father and mother and the Rev. Samuel Marsden, the first apostle of Christianity amongst the Maoris, were among the passengers of the brig Active, Captain Dillon, which arrived at the Bay of Islands from Sydney on June 10th, 1814, with missionaries for the Maoris. The late Mr King acted as interpreter at the trial of Maketu for murder for which crime that Native was hanged in Auckland in 1841. At the great Lincoln Fair, held in spring, horses are sold from all parts of Great Britain and. Ireland. Buyers from the. principle cities of Europe generally attend this fair. The Live Stock Journal summarises the quotations at this year's market as follows : — Matched pairs of carriage horses, very scarce, 200 guineas to 300 guineas; steppers, suLsable for broughams, 150 guineas to 250 guineas ; carriage horses, with good action, 80 guineas to 120 guineas ; high stepping saddle horses, SO guineas t0 .,,150 guineas; horses for cabs, omnibuses, etc., 18 guineas ; horse 3 for town work, £60 to £80 ; good agricultural horses, £40 to £50. It is evident from these prices that lirst-clas3 horses are still valuable stock in Enelaud.

The Government has had no correspondence on the subject of the disposal of the property of the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company by lottery. Mr G. W. Russell yesterday asked the Government if they would . this session introduce legislation to enable them to open one or more State coal mines. The Blinister for mines said the Government did not see any occasion for this at present. During the next two or three weeks a school reader, composed chiefly of New Zealand subjects, prepared by New Zealanders and printed at the Government Printing Office here, will be circulated amongst school inspectors, and others interested. This work has-been carried out in compliance with a recommendation of the 1891 Parliament.— Times. A large number of local residents joined in the funeral procession of the late Mrs E. Martin, whose mortal remains were interred in the Feilding cemetery this morning, as a testimony of the respect and sympathy felt for the relatives in their sad bereavement. The Rev. W, H.. Judkins conducted the burial service, the first portion being at deceased's late residence prior to the procession being formed. " Kyphosis Bicyblistarum " is a jawbreaking name to a new disease caused by stooping on bicycles when racing. Dr Andrew "Wilson, in Health, says that the result of stooping is to produce deformity of the spine with, of course, " effects of malign character on the heart, lungs, and other organs." Medical men, however, state that shoulder straps, if properly made and worn, give the necessary support to the back, at the same time expanding the chest, thus aiding in guarding the heart and lungs from injury from compression. The Local Authorities Loan Conversion Bill provides that any local authority authorised by special order may convert any outstanding loan it may haye bj' means of conversion debentures issued to the amount of the loau, and any further amount that might be necessary by way of premium or compensation. Debentures so issued are to bear interest at a rate not exceeding 4i per cent, and shall have a currency not exceeding 30 years. No such debenture shall be issued for a smaller sum than i-20. The sinking funds accrued and acruing in respect of any loan shall to the extent of the conversion of such loan be deemed to be set free by such conversion, and shall be disposed of by the Sinking Fund Commissioners, for the benefit of the local authority, as the Governor in Council decides. Pending the operations for converting loans, moneys may be borrowed for the purposes of the conversion from any person to an extent not exceeding the sinking funds to be set free by such Conversion. The rates, revenue, or other securities for £.uy loan converted are to become the securities for the conversion debentures in connection with such loan. In converting two or more loans any local authority may consolidate them into one loan. Holders. of debentures cannot be comj)elled to accept payment before the due date, and a poll of the ratepayers is not necessary to enable a local authority to convert its loans.