Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 24 July 1896, Page 2

Local and General News.

Entries for Messrs Abraham and Williams sale at Palmerston on the 30th instant are advertised today. The Minister of Justice considers circumstances do not -warrant any recompense being made to the police officers connected with the celebrated Dean child murder case. Mr Pirani is asking the PostmasterGeneral to invite tenders for a mail service to the Salisbury Block, Pohangina, aud a daily mail service between Fowlers' and Apiti. Householders who may require blankets should embrace the present opportunity of obtaining these goods considerably under usual prices at John Cobbe's colossal sale. The gift auction in aid of the Rey H. M. Murray presentation fund will be continued in the Assembly Rooms this evening. The proceeding will be enlivened by musical selections. Entries are published to day for Messrs Gorton aud Son's Feilding sale to be held on 31st July. Amongst the entries is a line of 6fty well-bred shorthorn weaners on account of Mr C. Bull aud ten good milkers on account of Mr W. Bramwell. It will be seen from a telegram published elsewhere that Vols George Saywell and Richards, of the Manchester Rifles, have won the marksmen's gold and silvpr medals respectively for the North Island. They are to be congratulated on the event. Ex-solicitor Meagher, of Dean case notority, says the Bulletin, starts on a lecturing tour through the N.S.W. country districts early in August ; but before leaving Sydney he promises to get a sensational speech off his chest to the electors of Philip division. A number of the members of the Manchester Ritles met in the Drill Hall last evening for practice with the Morris tubes Some very good work was done. In order to encourage shooting it has been suggested that a Company Champion medal be procured and it is highly probable the idea will be carried into effect at an early date. The British drink bill for last year shows an increase of expenditure compared with 1894, of no less than L 3.676.984 England, Scotland, and Ireland, share in the responsibility for this heavy outlay. Beer, according to the figures published, still holds supreme sway over the English taste, while Sandy haß become more enamoured then ever of whiskey. Strange to say, the Irish people are beginning to betray a decided partiality for beer. A well known and highly respected resident of Wellington, Mr Charles R. Carter, died at his residence, Pirie st., yesterday morning. Mr Carter arrived in the Colony about 40 years ago, and was one of the leading contractors in the early days. The town of Carterton is called after him. Mr Carter was 74 years of age, a widower, and leaves no family. The cause of death was cancer. The American Congregationalist Pilgrims arrived in London on June 20th in the best of spirits. They attended a garden party at Clapham Park, as the guests of the Halley Stewards, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Dr Guinness Rogers' church. The ladies of the party are bitterly disappointed that they cannot be present at a sitting of the House of Commons. A young lady at Kilrnore, Victoria, is alleged to have been peculating to a pretty big extent. Miss Julia Batten, postmistress at that place, was charged at the local Court last week with embezzling £40 the moneys of the Postal Department. She was remanded. There are also four charges of forgery against the accused. The alleged defalcations at the post office are stated to stand at over i'IOOO. The Hon. Mr Carrol's Public Health Act Amendment Bill seeks to enact that persons suffering from tuberculosis are not to be permitted to embark for New Zealand ; and if any tuberculous passenger lands, he and the master of the ship are both liable to a penalty of LlO each. A tuberculous passenger must not occupy a cabin with another passenger, and tuberculosis and syphilis are made infectious diseases under the provisions of the principal Act. Everybody (says the H.B. Herald's correspondent) is remarking the haggard careworn appearance of the Premier, and there is no doubt at all that unless Mr Seddon gives up some of his numerous portfolios he cannot possibly stand the strain without having a serious illness. The colony has already unfortunately lost two respected Premiers through overwork (Sir Henry Atkinson and Mr Ballance), and Mr Seddon was suddenly prostrated by illness on Saturday morning, which is said to have been mainly due to pressure of work and late hours in the House. Mr Houston, in the American Agriculturalist, estimates that 50 acres of sorghum will keep 1000 sheep throughout the winter. It can be treated as ensilage, though stock will eat it after it has been exposed to heavy frosts. Cattle, sheep and horses are remarkably fond of sorghum, and pigs will devour it voraciously and thrive well, even upon the thick base of the canes. Almost any land —even the poorest soils — will grow the plant, though perhaps a good clay loam is the most suitable. The seed should be sown as soon as all danger of frost is over, at the rate of about 21b per acre. A successful concert was held at Bunnythorpe on Wednesday evening last in aid of the State school funds. The programme was contributdd to by Messrs J. anil T. Slipper, Eggleton, Portens, A. Williams, Nash, Harry Mowlem, Dewsbury, Bell, Grace, Mises Wright, C. Malcolm, L. Dixon, G. Malcolm and M. Masters. The Bunnythorpe Company also contributed some glees. Mr W. Andrew presided and at the conclusion he moved a vote of thanks to all those who had assisted to make the entertainment a sucoess The Palmerston North visitors we're entertained at a supper provided bj' Mesdames Tr erne wan and Andrew. Mr Grace, Secretary to the Palmerston North Industrial Exhibition, has received an application from the Petone Woollen Mills for 100 feet of space. The Wellington and Wanganui Soap and Caudle Factories have also decided to exhibit, and it is calculated that all the available space will be taken up long before the Exhibition opens. Several entries have been received for hand made boots, and Messrs Farragh (Danevirke), Trewin (Feilding), and Cockburn (Sandon), have been appointed judges. Entries bave been received from Marton, Tarakina and Wellington, for the piano, violin and elocutiou contests. Judging by the support already promised, the ■ success of the forthcoming Exhibition is j assured.— Manawatu limes. <

" An elector " writing to "The Critic." I , a Christchurch paper, wants to know if lunatics in our asylums get a half holiday, and if not, why not ? " On Saturday evening last during the . temporary absence of the Librarian, some person removed the chess and draughtsmen from the public room. We have been requested to state that he may have the boards on application at the Municipal Buildings. There is on view in Mr I. Brent's furniture show room a very handsome " occasional " table made to the order of a Colyton resident. The top is veneered with totara knot and the framework of figured rimu, a receptacle being made under the table for holding music. The top is a perfect picture and is worth inspecting. Another treat for boys is advertised today. Boys are invited to tea at the Boys Club at 4 p.m. to-morrow. After tea two or three hoars pleasant pastime will be offered. A magic lantern, microscope (kindly lent by J. Greenwood, Esq.) and a printing box, will all be used to entertain and profit the company. All boys up to 16 years of age are heartily invited. According to a return just furnished by the Registrar-General (Mr Van Dadlezen) there are in the colony 149,922 dwellings, exclusive of tents. The number in 1891 was 133,834. There was 4664 tents, 1 as against 4085 tents in 1891. The average number of persons to the square mile is 6-760 ; average of persons to a dwelling; 498 : average number of inhabited dwellings to the square mile, 1.358. The Feilding Harmonic Society held a very successful practice in the Foresters' Hall last evening, there being about 35 vocalists and 12 instrumentalists present, Next Thursday the Society will meet at 7 p.m. instead of 7.30 p.m. as before, to enable the orchestra to hold a practice at the conclusion of the general practice. All instrumentalists are requested to be present on that night at 9 p.m. sharp. Last evening a lady passenger by the 8.25 p,m. train narrowly escaped meeting with an accident at tbe Feilding station. It appears she was standing on the step of a carriage with the intention of getting off to get a ticket for some other station and as the train was slowing down she, holding only by one hand, swung around against the carriage The statienmaster, Mr Wilson, and another gentleman (whose name we have been unable to ascertain) noticing the lady in her dangerous predicament, quickly rendered assistance and prevented her falling. The output of the Scotch shipbuilders was larger last April than in any April since 1890. In all twenty-five steamers were launched, of an aggregate tonnage of 42,228 tons. The Clyde contributed nineteen vessels, of 39,557 tons ; the Forth two, of 1423 tons ; the Tay two, of 1000 tons ; and the Dee two, of 248 tons. Two of the vessels were over 6000 tons, two between 5000 and 6000, three between 3000 and 4000. Five were twin screw steamers. The aggregate tonnage turned out during the first four months of the year stands at 140,112 tons, as compared with 91,106 tons last year. About 70,000 tons are in the course ot building. The quarterly attendance returns of schools under the Wanganui Education Board, tor tbe quarter ending June 30, show that at the beginning of the quarter the total number on the roll was 9832, and at the end 10,036, viz, 5167 males and 4933 females. The average weekly roll number was 10,145 -5212 males and 4933 females,. Tbe strict average for tbe quarter is shown as 4168 males and 3892 females or a total of 8060, while the working ayerage was 8177, the latter being the highest yet recorded' There were 118 schools open at the end of the quarter, one new school (Raetihi) having been opened. In all 224 teachers are in the employ of the Board, of whom 124 are males and 120 females. A Battersea school teacher writes to ! the London Telegraph : — " Ido wish you would use your influence to settle this South African difficulty once for all. It is quite demoralising the youths in our . school. They have taken to playing Jamiesons and Boers and coutinual fights ensue. I do not mind the imperialism which these combats evoke ; but I think it is time for alarm when they begin to influence grammar. The last time I was examining my class on verbs I asked the present, past, and future of the verb ' to ride,' and a small boy hardly taller than the desk, promptly replied, seemingly in all good faith, ' Ride,' ' raid,' • Rhodes.' Some of the others laughed and some cheered. This Transvaal business has much to answer for."