Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 66, 14 September 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

It is reported that diphtheria has broken out in the Wairarapa valley. There is more money to be made out of a well regulated pig stye than out of an average gold mine. Last night a number of dogs played sad havoc with tbe surface of the bowling green, which had been prepared for sowing with grass seed. We learn from the local Star that the Government have decided to rebuild the Court House and Post Office at Hawera at once. The building will probably bo of brick. Tl:c Rev W. H. Judkin's subject for to-morrow evening's service in the Wesleyan Church is announced in another column. A garden party will be held ou Wednesday next at Mrs R. Burne's, Fowlers, the proceeds of which will be in aid of the trust funds of the Wesleyan Church there. A meeting of ratepayers in the Manchester road district will be hold at the Theatre Royal, at Ashurst, on Monday evening, the 16th inst, at 8 o'clock, to consider the reconstruction of the Lower Gorge bridge. When it was mooted in the House to abolish barmaids one fair girl said piously " Well, if they take our living from us that wa3 T , we must choose the least of two evils and get married." News from Honolulu states that the Attorney-General of Hawaii, Mr W. O. Smith, will make an official trip to New Zealand in the near future to study the land laws and make a general investigation. Mr Geo. Grant, of Palmerston. will preach in the Presbyterian Church, to morrow morning. Mr Grant will also address the Sabbath school children at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Parents and friends are invited to attend. Mr Carr has been instructed by Mrs E. Parr to sell by public auction on Wednesday the 25th inst-, on the premises Kimbolton road, several vehicles, bellows and blacksmith's tools and carriage bolts and fittings. The sale will be entirely unreserved. Fresh information has been laid against Constable Nestor of Eketabuna, for perjury alleged to have been committed in connection witli the service of a summons. The case is to be heard in Wellington next month. That JateJy beard at Masterton was dismissed on account of tbe absence of a material witness. One Oscar Robert Fair, of Auckland, is asking for an enquiry into " the erratic and extraordinary decisions " of Mr Northcroft, S.M., and dissatisfaction which he claims to exist with Mr Northcroft's methods of conducting his Court, and states that the Magistrate told one witness he " had a mouth like a horse." Those desirous of seeing a good exhibition of roller skating will have an opportunity offered them at the Rink tonight, when Professor Frith, the American backward and trick skater, willlgive an exhibition. He holds nine gold medals for his skating abilities, and those wishing to see some good skating should not miss this chance. The funeral of the late wife of Mr H. J. Carter, which took place this forenoon, was very largely attended by friends from Feilding and Palmerston North. Tlic Rev. lanes Joues officiated at the cemetery, and Mr Alfred Eade was the undertaker. The sympathy with Mr Carter in his sad bereavement is general in the whole district. Cholera is daily claiming its victims in Hongkong, Siugaporeland now in Colombo. A report from Colombo just received in Sydney, and dated the 7th ult. says : — " We regret to say that several cases have proved fatal. The outbreak is more serious than was at first supposed. Scores of deaths have occurred amongst Europeans as well as natives." In Kobe, Japan, on the 6th ult., 24 fresh cases were reported, and there had been many deaths. Judging from the demand for tickets, the football concert to be given iv aid of the funds of the Feilding Football Club, promises to be a great success. The programme which we publish in another column is a good one and will more than reward the audience for their outlay. We would ask our readers to glance at the items and they will at once see that the Football Club's Committee have succeeded in securing the services of the best and most popular performers in the district, and we may add that it affords us no little pleasure te place before our readers such a bill of fare and give a worthy recommendation to one and all to hear the treat that is offered them. The Post, writing of the Licensing Bill, says :— " What a monstrous proposal it is to condemn all participators in the weekly half-holiday to compulsory abstinance on the occasion. The majority of people are not total abstainers, and the enjoyment of the half-holiday will be completely marred to thousands if they are compelled to give up their nsual refreshments upon it. It is said English people generally take their pleasure sadly. The enforcement of compulsory teetotalism on the statutory halfholiday, by the closing of all bars on the afternoon and in the evening, will render pleasure-making in New Zealand especially sad. If the Premier is not wise enough to drop the Bill, we trust the Council, with its usual common sense, will reject the Bill altogether."

A visitor to Parihaka describes the Btate of things amongst the natives there as horrible. The settlement reeks with diseases of most loathsome types, owing to lack of sanitary provision, and as the filth seasoned an epidemic-immure Te Whiti has ukased that all tbe natives who are attended by European medicos are to be heavily fined, the death rate is appalling. However, the ancient " king" is growing very shaky, and his departure will, it is hoped, tend to bring about a more cleanly and healthy state of affairs. Says the Danevirke Advocate : — Four local residents, with two natives as guides, made a trip on Wednesday to the locality in which a piece of gold-bearing puartz was recently found. They brought back with them several specimens of likely looking quartz, but owing to the late start had not time enough to reach the reef from which the specimen had come. The qaartz is to be crushed, and the party intend to make anotner prospecting tour shortly. Sir Robert Stout condemns the vice of tea drinking, and said in the House last night during the debate on the report of the Committee of Ways and Means, that he considered the Treasurer was weakening his finance by reducing the duty on tea which he looked upon as a luxury and not a necessity. He had no patience with the cry " a free breakfast table." A splendid breakfast could be obtained without touching dutiable goods at all. Possibly the gallant knight remembered " The days of his hot youth " when porridge and milk served iv a wooden " cogie," and supped, with a wooden or horn spoon, comprised his humble but nourishing repast.