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Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 279, 26 July 1889, Page 2

Monsters of the Manawatu! We have heard of people catching large eels, but one caught by Mr W. Collins on Tuesday night below Robinson's bend will take something to beat it for siae. On measuring, it was found to be nearly twenty inches round the girth, and over four : feet in length. To look at the monster one would think that a common herring line and hook would be of little service in holding it, but Mr Collins assures us that he had to drown the brute ! before he could bring him to shore. The eel weighed nearly 301bs. Mr John Walker, of the Aramoho Stud Company, Wanganui, writes with reference to the proposal to tax stallions, and suggests that in place of putting a prohibitive tax on horses, and so restricting the ownership of breeding horses to a few wealthy .monopolists, that the tax should be one that no one would find burdensome, Bay five guineas per head. The proceeds should be handed ovpr to the local A. and P. Associations in the respective districts in which the money is collected. The funds thus raised, it mu6t be understood, are to be devoted solely to giving prizes to horses at the several A. and P. Shows, The incentive those prizes would give for breeders to breed the best horses they could, and to hold on to them, would prove more beneficial in the matter of doing away with scrubers than any steps that could be taken. Mr Walker's opinion is that the prizes that could be thus offered would induce the breeding of higher clasß stock, and the better care of them. By his plan the tax would come out of the pockets of those chiefly benefited. Two boys hunting mice under the platform of the Williamstown pier, Melbourne, found 4000 soys, believed to be part of the money stolen from the Iberia. The discovery lias caused quite a sensation. At the Greymouth cattle sale on Monday H« head were yarded, all from Wanganui. Prices ranged from £7 15s to as low as £5 10. Some bullocks went as low as 15s per 1001 b for prime beef, « therß went as high as 20s. There was a large supply of fat sheep and a fair demand. The quality was good. Lambs ranged from 12s to 18s per head. Mutton is quoted at 3d to 3.} d per lb. At the meetihgjqf tba Counch'AH the Ao'-i climatisation Society, at Invercargill, it was decided to ask the Government to bring the opossum under the Animals Protection Act, una* to proclaim a close season for them. Three years ago two pair were- liberated "id Longwood Bush, near Bi erton, by tha late Captain Hankinson, and they have increased vapidly. They are now being shot for their skins, and it is feared that if this is continued they will soon be extinct, while if protected, they will bee me a source of eonsHfrablp revenue. A Home expert declares that the local furs are far superior to Ta»inanian or Victorian, and he and Mr A. M'Ponald, of Dunedin, each gave €10 towards their protection. A private meeting of the creditors of A. '{eeve & Co. was held yesterday at the Manawatu Hotel, Mr Williams being in thechaiv. After going through the statement it was deoided to ask the debtors to make an assignment of their estate. ■ Messrs Warmald «fe Co will probably make a start at their new hemp mill todaj. We wish them all success. Tomorrow at the Public hall Mr Bush will deliver a lecture, which he has just given with considerable success throughout Hawkes Bay, entitled "Heads and Faces." We understand that the lecture ia both interesting and amusing, and the cartoons shown are very good. We hope that he may secure a good house. It will be noticed that the Misses, Gray and Harley will open a school at the Temperance Hall on the Ist of August. These young ladies are well known and have so far been very successful in obtaining promises of support. Messrs Stevens & Gorton will hold a sale at Otaki, of the Messrs Powell and Forman's saw mill. The whole property will be offered in one lot first, but if not Bold, everything will be ofttrfct in detail without reserve. This seems a grifcd opportunity for a small capitalist to secure a good business. The train from Sandon arrived about noon today with as heavy a train as has ever been brought over that line, consisting of fourteen trucks and a carriage. Nine of the trucks were filled with hemp, there be* ing also oats and timber on the others. Passengers also numbered up. The Manager of the Beady Money Store announces that he is now a cash purchaser of hemp, in large or small quantities. Those delicious little fish, the enanga, or more commonly known as whitebait, are now making their appearance in the river. We have herd of several 'hauls,' but an we have not had the opportunity of sampling, we cannot vouch for the truth of {he report. In a few' days time no doubt .we shall fee many anxious one's with a piece of scrim on the end of a pole lined along ' the river side filling their buckets with this delicacy. A great deal of hemp waiting for shipment is at present stored in .the Government sheds. As the dry weather approacheß, more storage ftoooraodation : will be sadly neeeed, as almost double the amount of fibre that is sent in now mil require covering towards Christmas. The new engine * Fox,' lately purchased by the Manawatu County Council made her first trip to Sandon last Wednesday. We l»ear that the County authorities are pleased with their bargain. Mr Slater who has been in charge at the local Railway station during Mr Brebner's ' absence, lews for Wtfng*nui tootdltow. '

M* Sly has evidently altered his mind about leaving tito colony as the Manawatu Times says :— Mr ia*S Li.". sen h * 8 *° l & h " property at Stoney Creek to Sr J. c - S1 J ] at £18 per acre. My Sly intends reaidint . there, and -will at one« carry out a large J number of improvementa.