Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 91, 14 October 1896, Page 2

Local and General News.

Several letters to the Editor are unavoidably held over. The Foßt Office at Ruahine will be reopened as soon as arrangements are com-* pleted for conveying the mail. It is reported that " Dr Jim " is spending his time in gaol, writing a book giving a detailed history of his famous raid. A Marton telegram states that a meeting will be held thi9 evening to consider the advisability of resuscitating the Mercury. Mr C. Carr has received instructions to sell, on Wednesday, October 21, the household furniture and effects of Mrs Smith, at her residence Grey street. Full particulars in connection with the Wellington Exhibition Musical contest from December 21st to December 26th, may be had on application to Mr Wm. Carthew. The Odd Fellows in England have passed a resolution approving of an Old Age Pension scheme by which to help the thrifty poor, and thuß aid in the work of of the Friendly Societies. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Apiti Co operative Dairy Company will be held in Guy's Hall, Apiti, on Friday the 23rd instant at 8 p.m., to adopt the balance sheet and elect two Directors. Tenders are invited by Mr Atkins, F.R.1.8.A, Architect to the Wanganui Education Board, tor the erection of a school at Taikorea. Plans may be seen at the offices of Messrs Barraud and Abraham, Palmerston North. Attention is directed to notices which appear in our advertising columns from Mr J. Cobbe, who has a large selection of the best makes of boots and shoes, ladies' bicycles, pianos, and general drapery of the latest styles and fashions. The guessing competition at the Napier Agricultural Show resulted as follows : _Weight of bullock, 9361b— Mr S. T. Tong, 941, Ist prize ; Mr J. Campbell 9461 b, 2nd prize; Mrs F. L. Gorton, 9241 b, 3rd prize. Weight of sheep, 358ilb— Mr James Hay, 3531 b. A meeting of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church at Awahuri was held on Monday last, when it was unanimously resolyed to join the Feilding Church. The Hey. Mr Stubbs will therefor«» in future conduct the services at Awahuri, instead of the Rev. Mr Thomson, of Palmerston North. It is alleged that the mate of young Elian, who was so severely injured at Tokomaru several weeks ago and has been lying in the Palmerston Hospital ever Bince, drew the money for the bushfelling contract in which both were engaged on and cleared out. The police are making enquiries as to his whereabouts.—Standard. Our Rangiwahia correspondent writes : A petition is being largely signed by the local residents requesting the Premier to address a public meeting here after the opening of the Apiti bridge. It is likely a deputation will wait on him with the petition.— On Friday evening next the Football Club will bold its annual ba! in the town Hall and judging from the arrangements made, it should turn out very satisfactory. —On Saturday, the 24th instant, the Wesleyans will hold a magic lantern entertainment and social in their Church, when Mr London of Birmingham, has kindly consented to manipulate the machine. The murder of the Shah having been rollowed by a succession of robberies between Bu shire and Ispahan, RuhkcedDowlen, Governor of Shiraz (according to i ! 'prsian correspondent of the Graphic) desiring to strike terror into the hearts of Nomad tribes, marched out of prison five men whom he ordered to be executed by being buried alive in plaster of Paris This form of execution, which has not been practiced for twenty years, is called " patching," and consists of a hollow pil lar being placed prect over a hole two feet deep, so that the whole forms a well intu which th« prisoner is put, sometimes head drwuwards, and at others with hi« head stiefcine out over the top. Plaster of Paris is tbea emptied in, and betweeu each basketful, water is poured down the well. The gatch then swells, and when it hardens it stops the circulation, causing the most excruciating agony. Daveny. a released dynamitard. has he same *tory as all * he rest to tell of the treatment of prisoners ia Knahsh prisons. On being interviewed by a representative of the Glasgow Evening Times, Daveny said :— " Yes. it's a big slice out of a man's life, 13 long jears. After my sentence the thought was always humming through my bead, ' Life, life ; it's awful to knew that you won't be yourself again.' The first prison I was sent to was Wormwood Scrub bs It was the best place I ever was in. The Governor was a thorough. gentleman, the work was easy and hg'»t, and the food, such »b it was, was gond. I could have spent all my days there!' ' How long w«re you th^r.?' " About >ix m<>nbg TJit-n I was sent t« Thalham It was fairheil " " How's that? ' " Hard w.-rk. bad fo<-d and punishmen H--U it was There was one consolaiioni though ; we had a good chapJam/!

The Salvation Army banquet will be ; held this evening in Glasgow House in \ place of the Barracks, to ensue greater convenience. The after meeting will be held, as usual, in the Barracks. We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket in connection with the above. The northerly wind which sprung up yesterday, brought with it this morning a thick mist, which we fear, has made the bowling green unplayable at Palmerston North. About twenty of the Feilding bowlera went down to Palmerston by the forenoon train to assist at the opening It will also probably interfere with the opening of the shooting season of the Manchester Rifles which was to have taken place this afternoon. A novel suggestion has been made by Mr Flatman, who is asking the Government if they will at once take into consideration the advisability of introducing legislation which; will Jenable the Government to issue one million state notes, value £1 each, and to have currency within the Colony, thereby obviating the necessity of going to London to raise the million loan re> cently granted for the purpose of aiding public works ? Mr Flatman is evidently enamoured of the " printing press press and bale of paper" theory. We hope to see the day when the voluns teers will get the support from the Government which their self»sacrifice deserves. They should be uniformly armed with the latest weapons extant, and encouraged to shoot with greater frequency than at present. Their encampments should be pitched iv positions where the principles of guerilla warfare — could be instilled into them, as well as tne open -field move* ments. It ever a foe attempts to take possession of New Zealand it will be in Boer or Maori fashion we shall have to fight him, and in Boer and Maori — and not Aldershot methods of warefare— the New Zealand volunteer should be in* structed. Meanwhile he should be encouraged by the Government.— Napier News. Some high-priced stud sheep purchased from well-known breeders in the United Kingdom were brought out by the Ruahine. The shipment consists of seven Lincoln ewes, seven Lincoln rams, and one Leicester ram. One of the animals originally shipped sickened and died on the passage, but the remainder arrived in excellent condition. They are all for Hawke's Bay— four Lincoln rams consigned to Mr C. Tanner, and the remainder to Mr Douglas M'Lean. They will | be quarantined at Somes' Island for the i usual period prior to being sent to their new owners, on whose behalf Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. are looking after the animals. Yesterday they sent to Mr James Mackay, of Feilding, a polled Angus bull bred from imported stock at their Gladbrook station, Otago. -Post.