Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 85, 7 October 1896, Page 2

Local and General News.

The Feilding S.M. Court will sit on Friday next. Additions are made to the entries fer Messrs Abraham and Williams' Palmerston sale. There will be mass in St Bridget's Church, Feildiug, at 8 a.m. vu Sunday j next.

Mr James Wood wants to boy a good | *un and fishing tackle. The committee of the Feilding Athlebic Club will meet on Friday next >v Mr Sherwill's office. An expert has informed U3 that parsnips make an excellent substitute for the coffee bean. The wife of a miner named William Coffev has died at Captain's Flat, New South Wales, from the effects of eating green fruit. Mrs Kerr, of Blenheim, one of the married daughters of Mr and Mrs Jones, who were murdered at Petone, died at Blenheim a week ago. We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Raugiwahia Football Club's ball to be held on Friday, October 16th. The Colyton Cricket Club will open the season en Saturday next with a scratch match. Tbc captain for the season will be elected alter the match is played. Mr Mills, M.H.R., is getting a petition signed by members, urging the Executive to recommend the Governor iv his last official capacity to issue a free pardon to Chemis. In our " wanted " column Messrs Spence and Spcnce draw attention to their superb selection of black and coloured dress materials, washing fabrics, and millinery for the summer season. Prince Bismarck, who is looked upon by many as niggardly, has been paying three soldiers, who lost their eyesight at Konigratz, 300 marks a year each. The payments have been made for ;50 years. For stealing spring chickens iv Inver cargill two men were lived .£lO. If they had stolen turkeys " their place would know them agaiu no more." They would have been simply " expended " in deep water. The Premier, in laying the foundation stouo of the Royal Mint of Western Australia, said the value of gold exported from the colouy up to the present time was £tt,#oft,OOO, huir the h'eh)s vrerc o»iy in theic mfaucy. So great is the dexterity of the employees ia cigarette manufactories, acqnired by long continued practice, that sonic workers make between 2000 and i/SOOO cigarettes daily, and being paid at so much per 1000, earn 2.1s weekly. To tell mushrooms from toadstools without eating and waiting lor results, peel an onion and put in with the fungi while being conked. If the onion remains white, eat with confidence; if it turns black, cut it not if .you value life. The clerk of the Manchester Boad Board. Mr Charles Bray (senior), gives notice of the intention of the Board to confirm a special order, particulars of which are detailed in the advertisement, at a meeting to be held on November 7th. The oldest man iv the worid is a negro liviug at Rio do Janeiro. His age is ISO years Next to him conies a retired Russian cabman, who is iv his 140 th year. The oldest woman in the world is 180 years old. There are more people in Ireland over 100 vcars of age than in any other country in the world. Some 25 members waited on the Premier last night to ascertain if it could not be arranged to finish the business of the session by Friday night so that members might leave. The Hon. xMr Seddon said that provided members applied them> selves to assisting the Government) in passing six or eight Bills, he saw no reason why their request Bhould not be complied with. In 1780, about the time the steam engine was invented, the consumption of coal ia Great Britain was some 6,500,000 gross tons a year. It had arisen to '27.000,000 tons in 1810 ; to 00,875,000 tons in 1K50; to 112,875,525 tons in 1870 ; to 181.614,288 tons in 1890 ; and to 188.277,525 gross tons (210,870,828 net tons) in 1894. At the Talmerston Magistrate's Court yesterday morning Hay Donald, charged with shooting a duck during; the close season was fined L 5 and costs of court, and witnesses expenses L 2 12s, in default one months' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr Hankins appeared on behalf of the Acclimatisation Society. A further charge of shooting a oheasant was withdrawn by Air Hankins.— Standard. The following is given as a most effective agent for the destruction of sparrows : -A small quantity of crushed wheat mixed with plaster of Paris and a little flour and sugar. Place this out of reach of fowls and other domestic animals. The sparrows partake of it freely, and as the effects are not immediate, the cause of the trouble is not suspected, for though the birds die in hundreds others still partake of the food. A correspondent in the Dunedin Star writes : — ln the present disturbed state of Europe it is of yital importance that our defences should be in order. His Excellency the Naval Commander on the station, in the event of war, will assume command. This being so, would it not be advisable our Government should re-spt-ctfully request His Excellency to report upon our batteries, torpedo corps, etc. This would give confidence to Parliament, our Ministers and ourselves. We venture to differ as regards the Naval Commander assuming command —at U.a^t, not while R.J.S. is about. The Pemberton Eifle Club held their second annual meeting on Saturday evening last. The attendance was small. iMlieurs were elected an follows: — President, Mr W. S. Marshall (re-elected); vice President, MrJ. Mitchell ; Captain, Mr J. ,). Bryce ; Committee, Messrs Isi\ce, Stfveu.s, Craig, Stansell, and ■vty well ; Hun Secretary, Mr F. Saywell. I he balanc --shoot showed a credit balluce ofjX'6 and a quantity of ammunition. I 1 was decided to join the Birmingham Ritiu Club. The shooting begins on 31st instant. More members should be inilured to enrol as the subscription has liteu reduced to ss. The report is again revived that Min- < ix intend to bring down important . .i- niching legislation in the interests I il.e Colouial Bank snareholders, and lie Premier is said to be desperately inxious to get it through before the I Imise prorogues. If a bill with this object comes down a most determined -tnnewall will be set up against any clan c oi this kind being passed, and it AiH certainly prolong the session woll i.iti) next week. The obstruction to the prop 5..l would come from the Governmeuc side of tiie House as strongly, perhaps, as from the Opposition benches, ;ind the bill would probably never reach the committee stages.