The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1895.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 146, 19 December 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1895.

Local and General News. — »

A movement is on foot to form a Pole Club at Marton. Eight deaths from jpancer were re corded in the colony diking the montl ot JSov&adb&t. . • In the polo match, Kangitikei v Hawke's Bay, the former won by SgostL to nil after a good game. , J The- last Qajtet^e contains a "notiw changing ,ttae ,nameof;Campb©lltowi . (Manawata) to Bongofe*.

We have to acknowledge receipt of complimentary tickets for the school con* cert to be held in the Assembly Booms to-morrow evening. We are indebted to Mr W, Cartbew, local agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company, for two office calendars for 1896. Both the polls for loans in the Mangapikopiko and Coal Creek ridiugs of the Pohangina County were carried by large majorities. One of the horses belonging to Fitzgerald's circus died at Inglewood on Friday. On being opened a portion of the stomach was found to be completely honeycombed by the grub of the hot fly. At the installation of Mr Geo Fisher as Mayor of Wellington, several Councillors took exception to his electioneering comment on the Council as a weak body, and warned him plainly they would not be driven. It would pay the Foxton people to put down a wooden tramway to the beach and thus create a watering place. The cost would be very trifling considering the advantages which would result to trade and commerce. The many friends of Mr Warne, of Ashurst, who is very well known throughout this district, will regret to learn of the death of bis daughter Mrs Coombs, which took place at Brougham Street, Wellington, yesterday. The Primitive Methodists will give their usual concert on Christmas night and a pleasant evening is promised those who attend. The invitation is come in crowds, and our advice is to be seen and be there. Some idea, of the interest taken in cycling in Melbourne from a betting point of view may be gathered "when it is stated that it was possible to have won a couple of thousand over the Austral Wheel Race in bets alone. The bailiff of the S.M. Court will hold sales on account of whom it may concern at the building known as HaUcy's Boarding House, in Fergusson street, full particulars are given in the advertisement which appear on our third page to-day. Mr B. Wisbaw, of Birmingham, wbb severely injured by an- explosion of gunpowder at Makuri on Tuesday. A bag, containing 61b of powder, suddenly exploded, and Mr Wishaw, who was standing over it, was badly burned about the arms, body and face. We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Apiti school concert to be held to morrow evening in Mr Guy's Hall, and dance in Mr Eagar's Hall, in aid of the prize fund. Miss Prendergast has trained the children almost to perfection, and a good concert is expected. At a meeting of the Pohangina school committee held in the schoolroom on j Monday evening last, it was unanimously j decided to close the school for the rest of the week, owing to the prevalence of whooping cough largely affecting the attendance. The school will therefore be closed till after the holidays. A young man was charged at the Paltnerston South Police Court the other day with furiously riding a bicycle. The facts showed that defendant was furiously riding down a hill at a good bat witb bis feet off the pedals, when he frightened a horse which jumped up in the air and then fell dead. — Standard. The warm weather we are experienc ing tends to remind us that we must wear light clothing, and in order to meet the demand a special line of gents' tennis tweed trousers have just come to hand at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. The prices for these are very reasonable considering the quality of the articles. The children who will take part in the school concert to-morrow evening, in the Assembly Booms, have been rehearsing for some time under their teachers, and this concert should be equal to any ore- • viously given by scholars of the Feilding school. As the entertainment is in aid of the prize fund we hope to see a crowded house. The average height of British men is sft B£in, women sft 3|in. In height the Scotch are first, then the Irish, English, and Welsh. In weight the Scotch are first, then the Welsh, English, and Irish. For every inch of stature a Scotchman weighs 2-4061b5, a Welshman 2-3751b5, an Englishman 2-3011bs, an Irishman 2 270 pounds. A. sad accident occurred at Dunkeld (Victoria), which resulted in the death of a yonng girl named Vivian Allen. Sbe was leading home a calf, and child-like tied the baiter round her waist. Her hat blew off and frightened the calf, which bolted and dragged her along the metal road for nearly a mile. The injuries sustained caused her death in half an hoar. Local cyclists axe very dissatisfied with the handicapping for the Palmerston bicycle sports to be held on New Year's day, which is full of discrepancies, for instance in the maiden race, one mile, Watson and Andrews are on the same mark, and in the mile handicap the former is asked to gird the latter 50 yards. Watson gives Meyrick 20 yards in the maiden and 85 yards in the open mile. Meyrick gives Feck 15 yards in the maiden and positions are changed in the mile open, Feck giving Meyrick 15 yards, why the positions of these < men should Jbe changed in two races over the same distance is beyond comprehension. These are only a few of the very apparent discrepancies and the handicapping cannot be said to be a success. The Woodville cyclists are also I dissatisfied. An insect sent to us by Mr Levett was forwarded to Mr Drew, of Wanganui, who has courteously supplied us with following information:— lt belongs to the Neuroptera, and is of the family Hemirobiidse, and possibly the genus Stenosmylus. In plain English (writes Mr Drew) the insect is the fly of the " ant lion," a creature not at all uncommon on this coast. The specimen sent is of adult! f own — i.c,, tbe perfect insect after it has passed through its stages of metamorphosis. The larva of this insect is more interesting. It excavates a hollow funnel-shaped pit in sandy places marvellously getting the exact batter at which the fine particles of sand will hang on the incline ; takes up a position at the bottom of the funnel, covers itself with loose sand and waits with patience for some insect to come near. No sooner does its prey touch the slippery incline than the ant lion throws back with its head sand which brings the bewildered insect to the bottom of the trap, where the ant lion sacks the juices of the body. Yesterday afternoon at about 4.80 p.m. a four- roomed cottage at the corner of North and Monmouth streets, owned and occupied by Mrs P. Woulfe, was totally destroyed by fire with all its contents excepting a sewing machine and a few small articles, which were snatched from the burning building by Mrs P. Woulfe. It appears Mrs Woulfe, whose husband was, at the time, working away from home, was a chain or two away from the house with her two children looking after a cow when she noticed the fire, which had a strong hold by this time, and consequently little or nothing could be saved, although a nnmber of willing hands were soon on the scene. The Fixe Brigade under Captain Thomson tonmed «<zt with &>$ epgue and tee), but could do nothing when they, arrived owing to tbe advanced stage oj the flee when first noticed aid the distance froaj town. Tbe building and furniture wew> insured ifl the Commercial Union Ffce office for 41 W. ' -, :