Local and General News.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 183, 5 February 1897, Page 2

Local and General News.

A butter factory is to be established at Otaki. Entries for Mr R. E. Beckett's next Halcombe stock sale are advertised today. The Dunedin Star says there is no foundation for the statement that Mr Rolleston is to be nominated for the Speakership. The North Otago Times regrets to learn that Mr Thomas Bracken is so seriously ill in Dunedin that he is not i expected to recover. L. B. Hubbard and J. Hall were fined £1 and costs —t Christchurch on Tuesday for exporting 54 boxes of milled butter not properly branded,

Oddfellows' Lodge meets to night. Additions are made to-day to the entries for Messrs Gorton and Son's Bulls sale. The appointment of Mr H. A. Field, M.H.R., as a member of the Wellington Land Board is gazetted. The Manchester Rifles had a goed muster last night, and much useful work 1 waa done. Class tiring will be continued , this week and will probably be com- , pleted next Wednesday. ( Entries are advertised to-day by Messrs • Gorton and Son for tbe Bam Fair of the , firm to be held on the 16th instant at - Feilding. The rams are from all the ; best known flocks on tbe coast. -j On Tuesday, February 15th, Mr Chas Carr will bold his annual ram fair at Feilding. and in today's issue he publishes the first list of entries, which comprise lots from some of the best ; breeders on the coast. Those who are on the look out for bargains should not fail to notice tbe great clearing sale is still on at Sherborne House. Bargains in all departs ments, Mr Beckley being determined to push out all summer goods regardless of cost. In our wanted column Messrs Spence and Spence draw attention to the unprecedented bargains they are now offering in straw hats, prints, dress materials and blouses. Thrifty house wives and economically disposed young ladies should take note. We are informed by Mr Carthew tbat orders are being rapidly received for Dr Nansen's new book on bis travels around the North Pole, and as the price is only seven shillings the sale is expected to be larger than that of any book in the Nineteenth century. The Wairarapa Star says: — "It is considered probable tbat should Mr Justice Williams go to Europe on leave of absence tbe vacancy wili be filled by District Judge Kettle." Should this bo correct we feel sure the general opinion will be in praise of such a good selection. From a private letter we (Standard) learn that Mr H. W. Haybittle, so well known to local residents, recently severely uut his hand with a slasher. The wound subsequently showed signs of being poisoned and Mr Haybittle bas become an inmate of the Cottage Hospital at Wairoa and in ail probability wiil lose one of his fingers. Mr C Carr will sell by auction on Wednesday next, February 10th, at his auction room, the privileges in connection witb the Cheltenham Sports, to be held on Wednesday, March 3rd. Last year these sports were very successful and, being held earlier in the season it is expected the attendance will be much larger this year. On Lieutenant Dan Godfrey resigning tbe band-mastership of tbe Grenadier Guards, which he had held for forty years, he was presented by tbe officers and sergeants of tbe regiment with a silver table lamp, and Prince Alfred of England, in recognition of his services to musical art, gave him the Coburg Order of Arts and Sciences, which he has the Royal permission to wear. Tbe newly formed West Coaßt Fire Brigades Association have decided to hold a demonstration at tho end of April. The demonstration will be open only to brigades between Palmerston North on the south and New Plymouth on the north ; each brigade will be limited to two teams for the body rescue events, two men in single ladder competition, and one toam in five men events. The ferryman at the Gorge states that it will be impossible to use the punt again until another flood clears ■ away the present obstruction in the shape of a large sand bar. The course of the river was completely changed by the recent flood, shallows and sandbanks now existing where there was previously deep water. The punt is at present hard and fast in the middle of the river. — Standard. In 1840 cancer was held responsible for the death of 177 per million living, and in 1894 of 713 per million living. " Thus the proportionate cancer mortality is now more than four times greater than it was balf a century ago," and in this respect it stands absolutely alone. Moreover, the samo tendency ia observable in all civilised lands, so that, unless checked, cancer may be expected to " become one of the commonest diseases of modern communities," Under tbe contract between tho Gov- J ernment and the Union Steam Ship Company, mails have to be carried from Sau Francisco to Auckland in 480 hours subject to a penalty of £4 an hour for any excess In the instance of the Zealandia, when allowance is mado for delays for which the Company is not responsible, there remains a period of about 54 hours, in respect of which fine* to the extent of £216 will be dne. The Postmaster^General has power to remit any part of a penalty that in his opinion should not be enforced. The Hawera Star says : — Hitherto Mr Furlong's new thawing process has been confined to dealing with beef, it being beyond doubt that if it worked well in respect of that it would be sure to do in regard to mutton. Experience proves this to be so, for a carcase of mutton treated by the process, which was on view at Mr Barraclough's, appears to very great advantage. It was generally epokeu of as a remarkable advance on mutton carcases thawed out by the usual process, ond experienced men seem to have no doubt that if meat could be placed on tbe London market in such a condition as this carcase there should be no difficulty about a ready sale. In Wellington there lives a green parrott of great colloquial powers. Tbe owner of the bird bet he would teach it to say " Trilby," in five minutes. The bird preserved an obstinate silence, and when the time was up, the owner lost his temper as well as his money, so with a blow of his fist he knocked the bird over saying angrily " I'll teach you to say Trilby you beauty I " The bird made no reply. Next day a row was beard in the back yard and it was found to be caused by the parrot who had perched himself on the shoulders of an old and respected rooster whose head he was battering with his wings and at each blow he said in an angry voice " I'll teach you to say Trilby you beauty." Now in the Government Buildings and the haunts of youne men in the Empire City, the bye word is " Won't you say Trilby you beauty." The word beauty is varied according to the taste and fancy of the speaker.