Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1896, Page 2

Local and General News.

We have to thank the traffic manager for a copy cf the railway time table fir September. . Additions arc made to the entries for Messrs Abraham and Williams' Palnzerston sale. The Rev James Treadwcll, of Wanganui, is still reported to be in a critical condition. The following arc the vital statistics for Palmerston for August :— Births, iiO ; death, I'd ; marriages, f>. The next annual competition of the New Zealand Rifle Association will be held in Auckland early in 1897. j The annual meeting of the Colyton I Cricket Club will be held in the Maugaone Hall on Saturday evening next at 7.80. ; The Birmingham Rifle Club will hold their first competition for gold and silver medals on Saturday next. Shooting will commence at 9 a.m. Inspector Bindon inspected the Palmerston North Catholic School last week \v\th the following results: ■ Presented 48, passed 39. Percentage Sl'2s. During the past financial year 100 cadets, 374 permaneut clerks, 178 temporary clerks, and SI messengers, were employed in the Government Departments at Wellington. Shareholders in the United Farmers Cooperative Association are requested to present coupons received with cash purchases up to :51st August, not later than September 15th. One of her politicans calculates that Victoria has lost 80,000 of her population since 1888. Yet we are told that Protection produces more population and provides better wages for the workers. Hares are so plentiful in some parts of the Kiwitea that they are a positive nuisance. Young trees have been barked and growing crops of peas and beans eaten down. This is not very encouraging to market gardners. The many friends of Mrs Bull, of Rongotea, who is now in the Palmerston N. Hospital, suffering from cancer in the stomach, will be pleased to learn that an operation has been successfully performed by Dr Wilson. — Standard. On Saturday last Mr G. RevingtonJoues, of Taonui, received a bull calf bred by Mr James Stuckey, of the Wairarapa. The following is his pedigree : — By Garibaldi 70. Ist dam Primrose 4th by Peter 5. 2nd dam Primrose 3rd by Son of Mulbery 2nd by Billy Ist ;$. 3rd dam Primrose 2nd by Langstone I. 4th dam Primrose Imported. If one can believe what one reads, the flesh reducing system may be put in a line :' No liquor at meals. 1 This is said to be the only requisite Dr Schweninger, Bismarck's physician, makes of his patients who would decrease their weight, and by it only he claims to be able to make the stoutest person become normal in size. At one period of French history large feet were counted a great distinction among the nobilifcy. If nature did not provide this fashionable requisite the deficiency was supplied by artificial means, and the length of the shoe indicated the rank of the wearer, A prince's shoes were two and a half feet in length, those of a baron six inches less, and those of a knight were sixteen inches from heel to toe. The oyster, at the commencement of its career, is so small that two millions would only occupy a cubic inch. In six months each separate oyster is large enough to cover half a crown, and in 12 months a crown piece. It bears its age upon its back, and it is as easy to tell the age of an oyster by looking at its shell as it is that of horses by looking at their teeth. This must be a great trial to female oysters. Thus the Sydney Bulletin :— " Old Lancashire cottonspinner6 still reverence the memory of a mill owner named Kichurd Seddou. who, during the horrors of the cotton famine, ruined himself by sticking to his hands through thick and thin, aud feeding all whom he could reach — and not on the usual rancid bacon and mildewed bread. A son of his of the same Christian name went toMaoriland. Is Premier Dick the man ? After discussing the Bill drafted by the Premier for the suppression of ju veuile immorality, the Auckland Women's Democratic Union decided to forward the following resolution to Mr Seddon : — " While thanking Mr Seddon for (i is ciTorfc to legislate against the increase i.l "juvenile depravity, we wish to protest agaiust the police taking power to arrest any girl, and would suggest that women be appointed for that purpose, with power to call on the police if necessary." Australian and New Zealand tinned uieais are gaining in favour, writes the London correspondent of an exchange. nofc only from their superior quality but from sentiment. Mr Valentine says that New Zealand is not making the most of her opportunities in tbis trade either in the Home or the intercolonial markets, in both of which the demand is increasing The Home Government i> showing a preference for colonial products for army and navy contracts and efforts should be made to meet this demand. Messrs G- Carson (chairman) and Frod. Firani, members of the Wanganui Education Board, interviewed the Minisster fur Education on Friday evening in reference to educational matters. They particularly directed the attention of the Minister to the insufficiency of the building grant, showing that the liabilities were already L 2400, independent of the cost of ihw Board's carpenters, while tliere were a ]nr#e number of urgent works besides. The necessity of a subsidy towards the technical schools, to eiiabltt the Bourd to establish branches at Pahnerston North and Hawera was also titled and a L ior L subsidy up to LSOO vms asked for. It was also pointed one ihat it the reserves for secondary education in the Taranaki district wasalloc ted ihrtt, p:>ruou within ih« \\ anganui dis rict ifoai PiiM-a nonh wards deserved consideration. — Xue Hon. Mr Walker promised io do what he could to give effect to the wishes of the deputation. '

Owing to counter attractions the Feilding Debating Society will not meet this evening. There will be mass in St Bridget's on Sunday next at eleven o'olock in the forenoon. Entries for Messrs Abraham and Williams' Colyton sale on Tuesday next are published today. Tbe Primitive Methodist quarterly social will bo boli at Awahuri to-mor-row night. Admission one shilling. The Rev Dr Hosking will pive a lee ture on " Dick Hampton " in the Primitive Methodist Church this evening. A wrestling match is to take place in the Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday evening next between J. Fitzgibbons and A. McMurtrie for ilO aside. The Mayor, Mr Walter A. L. Bailey, invites tbo burgesses to meet him iv tbt. I Council Chambers to-morrow afternoon i at 2 B 0 to discuss tbe establishment of I gas works iv the Borough. John Cobbe has received direct from j London per s.s. lonic a nice assortment, of prints at prices ranging from 4sd to 9d. Also a lot of black crepons and fig ured lustres. A shipment of geuts' gloves and new mantles has also arrived by the same steamer.