The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1896. Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1896. Local and General News.

The Pobangina, County Council meet on Saturday next. Mr Charles Carr will hold a sale at his Birmingham stcck yards on Tuesday next. Messrs Gorton and Son will hold a stock sale at their Feilding yards to morrow, The natives up the Wanganui river are cultivating vines on an extensive scale. We are informed that Mr Edward Smith, of Colyton, has resigned bis commission as a Justice of the Peace. A concert will be held in Mr Guy's Hall, Apiti, to-morrow evening in connectiou witb tbe Apiti Football Club. Tbe Rev J. Cocker will reply to Mr Bagnall, on the Prohibition question, in the Assembly Rooms to-morrow evening. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the illustrated catalogue of prize machinery manufactured by Messrs Reid and Gray, of Dunedin. Owing to the small attendance at the general meeting of the Feilding Harmonic Society held last week it was decided to close the season forthwith. Members are requested to return all the music to tbe Secretary as soon as possible. Regarding the petition of H. Von Blaremberg, of Palmerston North, who asked for an enquiry into the reason for his dismissal by the Wanganni Education Board, the Petitions Committee report that tbey have no recommendation to make. Mr A. K. Blundell, Stock Inspector, has received intimation of his promotion from this district, where he has been occupied in connection with the Stock Department for nearly four years, to Wanganui, to nil the position vacated by Mr Hull.

There were about one hundred and fifty speilers on the racecourse at Marton yesterday. In the Gazette of the 3rd instant the Governor acting with the advice and i consent of the Executive Council has declared that the disease known as liver flake, which effects sheep, is a disease ; for the purpose of "The Stock Act, 1893," and shall be subject to the regulations made thereupon, and now in force. The resignation of Mr J. K. Baker as Commissioner of Crown Lands in Wellington, has given rise to considerable speculation as to his successor. The names of Mr T. Humphries of Napier, ! and Mr G. W. Williams of Invercargill (formerly of Napier), are mentioned a3 being both likely men to succeed Mr Baker. The attention of the member for Palmerston was directed by one of his constituents to the high railway charge for onions as compared with that for similar produce. As the result of representations made to the Minister of Railways it has been decided to put onions in Class E where they will only be charged single rate instead of rate and a half as previously. A deputation of farmers of the Rangitikei Line waited on the secretary (Mr Knight) of the Roneotea Dairy Factory, who explained the working so satisfactorily that they have decided to appoint a day for the secretary to come over aud address them in Taonui school, purely in the fanners' interest, when the Bunnythorpo and Kairan^a farmers will be asked to attend —Standard. It is stated that the general election will be hold about the end of November and not in December as was fully expected. There appears to be a general desire for a short electioneering campaign, except in the cases of those members who cannot possibly go through their districts in much less than a couplo of months. As the scssiou is likely to last till nearly the middle of October there therefore will be about six weeks between the prorogation of tho House and the election of the new Parliament. Mr Blundell, Stock Inspector, has on view at his office, Palmerston N.. several fluke worms taken from Hawke's Bay sheep. The insidious way in which the parasite eats its way into the liver of its victim should be an interesting study to those concerned in sheep rearing. Mr Blundell has also secured a specimen of that dreaded insect, the tick, aud in regard to which he will be pleased to show or give any information to farmers on the subject.— Standard. Perhaps the meanest thieves in the world are tbose who steal ilowers or plaiifcs from graves. A ease has been brought under our notice. When tho members of a family went yesterday to the Feilding cemetery to plant some new flowers and to attend to those already placed with loving care on the last resting place of dear onss who had gone before, it was found that a desecrating band had not morely plucked the flow, ers but had carefully dug up the plants and taken them away, without even taking the trouble to close the gate of the railing which surrounds the grave. Writes a country correspondent of the Wairarapa Times : — " That honesty is the best policy was never so forcibly demonstrated than in the case of certain contractors who have taken a road formation iob from the local Road Board. When they could honestly have finished their work in abont a day and a half, they were visited by the Engineer and caught in the act of burying a large quantity of timber in a filling. Result ! They had to set to work, take out every particle of wood, and also open up all their earthworks, for that gentleman's inspection." The Wairarapa Daily Times considers that : -The country has suffered by the weakness of the Opposition party during the last three sessions. This weakness has been purely a numerical one ; because, intellectually, and in debating power, the Opposition is stronger than the Government party : but in numbers, Mr Seddon has an advantage, and this advantage he has used ruthlessly. It does not mean that Mr Seddou is a popular man even with his own party. He is feared, rather than liked ; and when he falls, many of his staunchest supporters will be thankful that a tyrant is down ; but they won't kick him till then. The demand for Australian horses in India is now very large. Four large steamers of the British India Company are on their way to Sydney and Newcastle to load no less than 2100 horses, while two other steamers of the same line are coming via the Leeuwin route, also to load about 1000 more. Messrs Burns, Philp and Co., the agents for the British India line, state that a steamer of this line is now loading horses in New Zealand, and three steamers in addition to the above will be loaded later in the season. Altogether it is computed that the total export this season will reach about 6000 head, the greater portion being from New South Wales. An amusiug incident lately occurred in the Mediterranean on board one of Her Majesty's ships. The commander is a very particular man about the men's dinner-time. Directly eight bells strike ( whatever they are doing, the men have to knock off and go below The command er's wife was on board, and, being rather stout, whenever she went ashore a whip and chair were rigged from the yardarm to get her off and on board. One day she came off about two minutes to twelve (eight bells). The chair was put over the side, the lady hoisted halfway up, when the quartermaster struck eight bells. The Admiral ordered and \h^ boatswain piped ' Belay!' The lady was left one hour in the chair while the men dined ! A large demand which has recently sprung up for furniture made of the New South Wales timbers, red and black bean, led to a peculiar discovery. Ai a meeting of the Furniture Trades Society it was stated that men, after working these timbers for a few days, contracted virulent influenza, accompanied by violent fits of vomiting and bleeding at the nose. If they cut themselves blood poisoning was almost certain to follow. The more seasoned the wood is the more dangerous it is to handle. The attention of the Colonial Secretary was called to the matter, who forwarded samples of the timber to the Board of Health to report upon. They are believed to contain an injurious acid. In one respect, (says a contemporary) farmers comaionly show the worst of their management in fattening hogs. These animals appreciate and enjoy cleanliness, yet their owners make them live in dirt, aud then charge them with a natural fondness for filth. This is oppression and slander combined. Every person familiar with their habits knows that when clean straw beds and other comforts are given them they are scrupulous to keep them clean. When shut up in a narrow pen, where they must eat, sleep, and Live in one apartment they cannot but be uncomfortable ; and such a condition greatly retards their thriving. A " hog pen " has become proverbially a repulsive place : this is the owner's fault, and should never be suffered. There is no reason why it should not be clean and even attractive. We hear farmers who raise grain 6ay that they have more straw than they, can sometimes u*e, while at the same moment their hogs have not enough of it to make a dry and clean bad.

Mr Henry Sornerville is requested to , call at the Feilding Star office, , Members of the Manchester Rifles are rominded of the Government parade this ; evening. There are now forty-five members in '. tho Feilding Cricket Club. Last year there were only thirteen. Mr Jamos Wood calls attention to his advertisement of furniture and general goods. A largo sale is expected. j The Rev G. P. Davys, M.A., will bold j service on Sunday next at St. Agnes', Kiwitea, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and at Birmingham at 7 p.m. A gentleman residing on tbe FeildingAshurst road has promised a set of boxing gloves, and a Feilding gentleman a set of single sticks, for tbe Young Men I and Boys' Club. The Agriculture and Stock Committee has reported adversely on the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill. It rejects all the Glauses, except that dealing with the suppression of phyloxera. Attention is called to a replace advertisement inserted on our fourth page by Messrs Reid and Gray, farm implement manufacturers. A description of the new patent " Eureka " feed corndrills, and other machines turned out the firm, will be fomnd. Mr William Hunter, of Makino, was granted a temporary transfer of liceuse from Mr J. Hathaway, for the Clifton Hotel, of Bulls, at the quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee held iv Marton yesterday. Mr Hunter takes possession to day. Mr F. Hunt, the Marton cyclist, leaves this month for Australia ou a trip, and also with the intention of competing in cycling events. Probably he will be a competitor in the Austral Wheel Race of i.300. We wish him sue cess.— Mercury. The illuminated address to be presented to Mr E. J. Allen, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at New Plymouth, is now on view at tbe establishment of Mr James Scott, jeweller. The illuminating was beautifully done by Mr Alfred Jarman, of Auckland. The frame which is of walnut; and rowa rewa, was made by Mr John Williamson, of Feilding.