Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 154, 31 December 1895, Page 2

Local and General News.

« Entries for Messrs Abraham and Williams Palmerston sale on the 9th prox are advertised to-day. We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Warrengate race meeting to be held on the 9th prox. A complimentary ticket for the inaugural race meeting of the Manawatu Cycling Club, to be held to-morrow, has reached us. Major Moore, of the Kiwitea, offers a reward of ten pounds for such information as will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who stole a number of sheep from his farm. The Minister of Defence is said to have in contemplation numerona retirements and changes in the police departments all over the colony at the commencement of next month. The steamship Minerva, trading on the coast ot South America has been totally destroyed by fire. Mr H. J. Hayns' son was the chief officer of the Minerva, but fortunately he and all the crew were saved with the exception of one seaman. — Standard. The hottest mines in the world are the CoQ29tock. On the lower levels the heat is so great that the men cannot work over ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Every known means of mitigating the heat has been tried in vain. Ice melts before it reaches the bottom of the shaft. With respect to tho Guessing Competition at Mrs Coppen's we are requested to state that at the request of the committee, Messrs Reid, Chamberlain and Johnston, the adult competition will be extended for one month. Tho Prize winner in the children's competition for the doll is Miss Lilly Blanche Towler. A pretty wedding was celebratod at St Mary's Church, Hawera, on Saturday morning, says the Post, when Mr Norman Gurr. well known in amateur athletic circles, was married to Miss Ringwood, of Napier. In tho eyening the happy couple departed by train en route to Wanganui, where a brief honeymoon will be passed. At Condobolin, in New South Wales, one of the local constables dressed for the part of a drunken man and pretended to fall asleep in one of the back streets. Very soon fche suspect /or whom he was waiting came along, and "going through " the apparently drunken man, took his purse. The constable at once rose and arrested the thief, who has been committed for trial. Last evening as Mr and Mrs R. Menzie of Ashurst road, and a daughter, were returning home from Feilding, a bolt connecting the shaft with the body of their buggy gave way and the horse ran away, but only went a few chains when the vehicle was overturned. Mr Menzie received a cut on the forehead besides a severe shaking, and Mrs and Miss Menzie escaped with a shaking. The town of Gore was plunged in darkness the other night by three wild ducks. The birds were flying low and struck the electric light wires, bringing the positive and negative poles in contact with each other. A " short circuit " was the result, and all the lights in the town went out. The two wires fell across each other on to the barb wire fence enclosing the railway garden, and flashes of vivid green light were soon darting in all directions for a few seconds. Repairs were speedily affected. The Chronicle says that two of Wanganui's old settlers have gone to their long homo. John McKane Wallace, who passed away on Sunday, in his 79th year, was a Wanganui settler of half a century's atandiug. He arrived in the colony with the (j&th Re&iuieat, to which he belcugod, aud after his retirement from umK.uh'v service took to farming pursuits on the No 2 Line, where he ' resided continuously for a jjeriod of 40 years. The death of Benjamiu Hood, of Wicksteed Place, is also recorded, he having died on Saturday at the age

We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Rangitikei races to-morrow. It is regrettable to learn that Mr W. F. Downes, of Wanganui, condition is now so serious that no hopes are held out of his recovery. Mr F. R. Thornley, Midland road, Coiy ton, advertises for sale by tender 16 acres of standing crested dogstail, and 8 I acres of standing cocksfoot grass for seed splendid crop. Tenders close on January 10th. Those requiring a really enjoyable outing at a comparatively small expense should go to the picnic to be held in Mr Graced grounds. Sauson.jto-morrow. Two brakes leave the Bank of Australasia corner for Sanson at 10 a.m., and the return fares have been fixed at a very low figure. Abundance of provisions will be obtainable upon the grounds at a low charge. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of tho, Primitive Methodist Almanac for 18%, from the Rev J. Cocker. This almanac contains several photos of churches and Ministers, besides a photo of ministers and laymen attending the 1895 conference, and is well got up, containing useful connexional information ; also a photo of the Feilding parsonage. To-morrow being New Year's day the annual garden party will be held at Mr Gould's, Denbigh street, to commence at 2 p.m. Admission to the ground, including tea. will be one shilling, and the proceeds will go towards the current expenses of the Primitive Methodist Parsonage. As tho object is a good one, the gathering popular, and a probability of the weather being tiue, a good attendance is expected. To-morrow the Manawatu Cycling Club races will be held ou the Sports' Association ground, Palmerston North. There will be ten races and the aggregate of prize money to be contested for amounts to .£'6o. One hundred and thirty five nominations have already been received for eight of the races. The band of the Palmerston North Rifles will play during the day. Visitors are assured of a pleasant day's sport, and every possible arrangement has been made for their convenience. Wo would remind our readers of the annual picnic being held at Mr H. P. Thompson's, Campbelltown, on Now Year's day. This will be the fifteenth picnic held at that place, previously these picnics have gone off splendidly, and this year everything is being douc to make the jiicuic a success, tarpaulins, etc., are being erected to shelter from the sun. The picnic is to be held in a nicely mown paddock, and, given fine weather. >,Ye surmise every ons prcnent -will thoughly enjoy themselves. A contrivauce has been invented by Mr W. 11. Hughes, of the Agricultural Bureau, Adelaide, by which cattle may be allowed to graze in orchards without injuring fruit trees. It consists of a leather thong formed into a halter, with a loop at each side of the nose, the running part jmssing through between the forelegs aud over the wither, and then bjjck]i»o on to its own part again. This allows the animal to feed on the grass aud herbage, but if it attempts to lift its head to secure the branches of trees the halter effectually causes the mouth of the animal to close. A meeting was held in Rangiwahia last Saturday night for the purpose of forming a chess and draughts club, in a room kindly lent by Mr T. Moffatt, who has also offered them the same room for three months free of charge. Mr Fitton was voted to the chair. It was decided to procure tables and forms and to order sets of chessmen and draughts, and the secretary, Mr T. Moffatt, was requested to get them in time for the general meeting which is to be held on Saturday, January 11th. After a vote of thanks to the chairman several games of chess were played and no doubt we shall soon sec a strong contingent both of chess and draught players at Rangiwahia. A general meeting of members of the Feilding Bowling Club was held at Mrs Hastie's Hotel last evening. PresentMessrs W. A. L. Bailey (in the chair), H. W. Davy (secretary), G. W. Fowles, H. L. Sherwili, W. G. Haybittle, J. Scott 11. Worsfold, P. Thomson, J. Campbell, J. McLaren, W. Hodren, W. Dickson. The secretary reported that after all outstanding liabilities were paid they had a credit balance in hand of £6, while £32 of the levy still remained unpaid. Messrs T. H. James and R. Young were elected members of the Club. Resolved, That the bank be informed that Mr Davy is secretary and treasurer, and request that his signature to all cheques bo accepted. After the general meeting, a committee meeting was held and all necessary arrangements made for the reception of visitors on the opening day, Wednesday, January Bth.