LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 51, 25 June 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Nganvoro river is still rising, and there is every prospect of a big tiood. The ballot for sections in the Elsthorpe Estate takes place in Napier to-morrow. The annual meeting of the local Masonic Lodge will be held this evening. Scores of people braved the elements yesterday to visit Hastings for the races, and tiie up and down trains last evening were crowded. Visitors came from as far as Wellington. The weather was so persistently wet yesterday that before evening Mr Pollard decided to postpone the performance of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." Notwithstanding the heavy rain numbers wended their way to the theatre, returning disappointed. To-night the company will appear without fail, when the greatest moral drama of die age will be produced. The Hawke's Bay Coursing Club have decided to postpone their meeting until next week. A good deal of interest is taken in the meeting, as the following local dogs are performers :—Password, Longlands. Ua, and Madge. From Waipnwa, AYaterbury and Juliet are running. No doubt some of the above-mentioned will give an account of themselves. Although a number of racehorses were worked this morning (some in the blinding rain), the course had attained such proportions of dampness that only h»rses bearing such names as Sea Serpent, Gunboat, or Man-o'-War could have worked (or rather sailed) with any degree of success. The course proper is very soft in the straight and there is one huge waterjump at the back.

The Native Land Court sat this morning but transacted no business. Communication with Napier by road had to be suspended to-day on account of the flood at Clive, both bridges being blocked. This afternoon there is every prospect of a break in the weather. This morning the whole male strength of the Pollard's Opera Company assembled at the Police Court to afford moral support to one of their members, Mr \V. Percy, who had fallen foul of tlia law by riding his bicycle without a light on the night of Saturday the 20th inst. They beguiled the tedium of waiting for their Worships by recounting yarns of some fellows who got five years for riding without lights and others who were let off lightly with 18 months' hard labor, and each and ail of the faithful band hoped the Magistrates would take a lenient view of the case and let their comrade off with something under two years. On the arrival of Messrs Beilby and McLeod, Js.P., Mr Percy was charged with the offence and pleaded guilty, stating that the night in question was bright moonlight, that he was riding slowly and that lie was unacquainted with the bye-laws of the borough. After consultation the Magistrates decided to impose a fine of 10s and fs costs, which being immediately paid, the young gentleman left amidst the general rejoicings of his friends. It was not on account of "Uncle Tom" having to study his defence that Pollard's performance was postponed last evening. A man splitting a butt at Swift's Creek, Vie., the other day, cut into a very handsome little nugget embedded near the root. A two day's search failed to reveal more than a color in the neighborhood, Mr lioratio Eobson, late of Auckland, and now an auctioneer at Freemantle (\V. A.) organised a concert in that town in aid of the lirunner relief fund, which netted .£"25. The amount has been received from Mr llobson, by the Mayor of Auckland. The new Shah of Persia proclaimed that posts and dignities in Persia will henceforward be granted on the ground of merit alone, and the system of sellingtuem to the men who give the largest pecuniary present will be abolished. It is stated that a Featherston resident is proceeding against the Wairarapa Standard for alleged libel, the damages being laid at ,£5Ol. The Wesleyan parsonage at Masterton was entered by a thief on Sunday night during the absence of the liev Mr and Mrs Smallev. Entrance was effected through a scullery window. The sum of £3 was taken from a desk, besides a gold broach, a locket, a pair of gloves and ail overcoat. Two Southern doc-tors —Dr Teevan, of Geraldine, and I)r Hayes, of Temvka—had the other day to cut awa v some bone that had been d"iven into a little boy's brain by a kick from a horse. With the aid of artificial light, the operation was successfully performed, and part of the brain put back into its place. William Nelson, who was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at Seawell Supreme Court on the 3rd instant for horse-stealing and larcencv from a dwelling. had since 1855 incurred sentences aggregating 47 years. It is said of him that iie was able to call the wildest horse to him. and for this reputed power he is known to the police as " The Wimmera Whisperer." The sea serpent is again in evidence. The Post says that a strange marine monster was observed by the officers of the Mahinapua on the passage from Taranaki to Wellington on Saturday afternoon. It was about 80ft long, and was disporting itself off Stephen's Island, about a mile from the steamer. The head was snakelike, and the color a greyish white. Three similar monsters were seen off The Brothers on the 29th of last month by the chief lighthouse-heeper, who reported the occurrence to the Marine Department. In the Magistrate's Court at Greymouth on Monday last, the Grcymouth-l'oint Elizabeth Kaihvay Company were sued for the cost of twenty coffins, required in connection with the recent Brunner disaster. The evidence showed that the agents ordered the coffins. The defence raised was that the company was not liable for the actions of their agents, who had exceeded their authority, and, further, that no written autharity was given in writing. The Magistrate sustained the contention, and entered up a nonsuit. Admiration of Mr Justice Williams's celebrated and universally-read judgment is expressed from all quarters. A semi-public body,the Presbytery of Clutlia, decided to pass a resolution on the subject and this was the form it took:—" That this Presbytery, without imparting any politieal color to its procedure or involving itself in legal questions, desire to express its gratitude to Almighty God for the expression of high-toned morality that pervades the decision of Mr Justice Williams in connection with the Colonial bank liquidation case ; and rejoices in the good result which are likely to follow such a decision in the interests of commercial morality.— Timaru Herald." A correspondent of the Hawera Star records an instance of real practical Christianity at Eltham. Two swaggers who were camped on the east end of the town for a rest were met by one of the townsfolk (noted for his generosity) with the question, "Can't you get any work"?' " No" replied one of the swaggers, "Can't you give us a short job? We are stoney-broke." "Here" replied the townsman, " come with me." And he took them into one of the stores and brought them a sack of potatoes, 501bs of flour, butter, &c., and getting out an old horse, handed them a pound note, with the remark, " Here's a start for you ; now get on and don't forget to send the horse back." It's a fact, says a well-known C'hristchurch divine the other day, to a friend, that Cougli Mixture, called Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, is the very best thing for throat Irritation and Cough I have ever taken ; I notice all the Grocers and Chemists keep it—a never failing remedy. Wholesale Agents, N.Z. Drug Co.—Advt. Stop that Cough by taking Neil's Balm of Gilead, a positive cure for coughs, eolds, chronic bronchitis, influenza, &e. In large bottles at 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Celebrated Liver Tonic, a pure botanic remedy for all affeetions of the liver, biliousness, jaundice, yellowness of the skin, indigestion, &c. In bottles. 2s and 2s Od, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Compound Sarsaparilla. A household medicine for purifying the blood and toning up the system. In large bottles at 2s 6d at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Corn Cure removes either hard or soft Corns. A few applications only necessary. Is per bottle at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers,—Advt