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Manawatu Herald, 13 July 1899, Page 2

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the second number of Hansard, and a number of parliamentary papers* The Filipinos have released fortyseven of the Spaniards whom they have so far persisted in holding as prisoners. There are few towns in the United Kingdom that can claim the distinction which Kingston-on-Thames, commemorated on the 26th April — the 700 th anniversary of a charter conferring oh the inhabitants the right to manage their own affairs. An 11ft seam of splendid black anthracite coal, outcropping on the surface, has been discovered on the Dawson River, Central Queensland. It is believed that there is a large area of coal-bearing country in the neighbourhood. The Story of the Church of England. The Rev. Hugh Leach is putting into circulation in this parish " A popular story of the Church of England" by G. H. F. Nye, and it is one all Church people should possess. The life of the Church is traced trom the earliest days to the Reformation, and from thence to our own days. The admirers of Colonel Picquart's iction in the Dreyfus case resident in Badn Pesth, subscribed for a golden .-.word of honour with the view of presenting it to him. Colonel Picquart, however, has declined to receive the present, remarking that he is conscious that in what he did in connection with the case he no more than fulfilled his simple duty. The Legislature of the GrandDuchy of Hesse has resolved upon the special taxation of bachelors. In voting its new taxation for the year it directed that bachelors shall be assessed at 25 per cent, bayond the taxes imposed upon married men. The Jirect taxes in tho Grand-Duchy are a land (and house) tax, trade tax, rent tax and income tax. Mr Taylor is to move on the first opportunity that, in view of the fact that five-sixths of the passengers on the New Zealand railways travel se cond class, and that the bulk of the total passenger revenue £399,261 is derived from second class passengers, this House is of the opinion that very considerable improvements should be at one& effected in the construction of second class passenger cars. The " Sydney Morning Herald " in a leading article on the New Zealand Registrar-General's reports refers in laudatory terms to the progress of the colony during the last ten years. The article concludes as follows : — " Despite some legislation of a questionable character, the New Zealanders have increased their wealth enormously. If they continue to rely upon themselves, without looking for an undue amount of borrowed capital, their magnificent resources cannot fail to maintain them in a most affluent condition." We would like to urge upon the Committee to whom has been intrusted the planting of the triangle in Main street to do pne small, work in addition to wh'at'ttiey already' propose to do, and that is to raise the ground within the triangle a foot. The expense would not be 1 large and the appearance would be very much improved. We would refer our readers and the Committee, in support of this suggestion, to look at the view in last week's " Press " of the triangle in Christchurch which has been formed in this manner. Now or never is the time as after the shrubs are planted it cannot be done without transplanting them, which would retard their growth. During last session Mr Massey urged that the Agricultural Department should make enquiries as to the desirableness of introducing to New Zealand the bird known as the kohlmeise, or great titmouse, to prey upon insects which infest orchards. The matter was referred to the Government Biologist (Mr T. W. Kirk), who prepared a memorandum in which he recommends that no steps should be taken to bring the bird to the colony until there is convincing evidence as to its value in clearing out orchard pests. It is stated that in Germany the kohlmeise keeps apple trees clear of codlin moth, but on the other hand, Mr Kirk finds that in England, where the bird is widely spread, the codlin moth is on the increase, and he has seen it reported that the bird itself damages fruit. The United State Department of Agriculture is opposing the introduction of the kohlmeise to America, — Post.

The Admiralty are mobilising 118 warships for naval manoeuvres. By the courtesy of the Registrar, Mr McDermott we are enabled jo give the vital statistics for the quarter ending 30th June:— Births, 7; marriages, 5; deaths, 4. Mr Clement Wragge has we regret to learn been seriously ill, but has recovered, and to let us become aware of the fact predicts that very stormy weather with high seas is approaching the North Island of New Zealand. It is reported that the Czar is disappointed at the result of the Peace Conference, and that the position of Count Muravieff, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, who addressed the circular to the Powers proposing the Conference, has beon shaken in consequence. A remarkable specimen of a duck, bred by crossing a pure-bred Muscovy duck with a pure-bred slatey blue Andalusian drake, was exhibited at the meeting of the Philosophical Society at Wellington. It had been killed at the age of four months, and was somewhat larger than a goose. When her Majesty was born eighty years ago, the census showed there was only one recorded occupation for women — domestic service — in England. Now there are 61,000 dressmakers, 4500 printers, 4721 miners, 30,000 G.P.O. clerks and telegraphists, and 130,000 teachers, and no domestics ! Last Saturday the Prince of Wales, who holds the rank of Field-Marshal in the army, held a review on the Horse Guards' parade of Metropolitan Volunteer Corps in the Home (London) Districts. The review, which ended with a march past, was taken part in by 30,000 men. Mr W. M. Purkiss, a solicitor of repute in Greymouth some dozen years ago, has, says the Greymouth Star, been elected a representative in the new Tasmanian Parliament. Mr Purkiss is married to a daughter of Mr Hawkins, solicitor, of Palmerston North. A very mild winter has been experienced at Nelson. In fact so favourable has been the season that spring vegetables are now being used. New potatoes have been in use for some weeks past, and it is stated that within the course of a few days green peas will be sufficiently advanced to be picked. Mr J. G. Wilson, <jf Bulls, has sent Mr Thynne some scions of a most excellent apple, which he would like the orchardists in this district to try. Mr Thynne will be pleased to hear from those who will undertake to place, a graft or two upon their trees. The apple, Mr Wilson says, was brought from America by Sir William Fox and is a grand keeper, besides being a most excellent eating apple. It is reported, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph, that the Anglican Mission is to have the honour of placing the first light on the New Guinea coast for the guidance of mariners. At the request of the Bishop, Captain Almond, harbour-master at Brisbane, has. sent down a 15m lantern, with lens, reflectors, and everything complete, for the purpose. It is proposed to erect the light on a prominent point at Cape Yogel, known as Dog's Hill. The Chairman of the Bulls Town Board, Dr Bennett, has received the following telegram from Mr John Sievens, M.H.R. : — "Several tenders for the Bulls bridge have been received and are now in the hands of the engineer for scrutiny, which will take some days. As soon as his recommendation is received by the department the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. I am urging despatch." Sir George Grey told a tale about the present Marquis of Salisbury which sounds funny, picturing the dignified position he holds today to the perhaps hardly dignified position herein mentioned. Lord Robert Cecil, as he then was, did not care to take long walks ; but once I persuaded him, with another young Englishman, to go and see the beautiful Wairarapa Valley. They walked there and back, and on the last evening, while returning, were caught in a terrific rainstorm. They sought the shelter of some rocks, contrived to make a fire, and over it dried their shirts. Polkas may be danced in various ways. The newest polka is the dance that comes from Germany, a Court dance, and appropriately named the • Berlin Polka.' It consists of four bars in slow tempo, succeeded by four of the usual polka tempo. In the first four bars the couple hold hands just as in the Barn Dance. This fashion for dances in which the couples are so linked is very marked, but much depends on the way in which the linking 1 is done. The hands must be held high, each arm curving gracefully to meet the other as with a gesture of invitation. The galop of to-day, which is the usual wind-up to a county or hunt ball, is. scarcely ever given in London. But in its modern shape it is really a compressed and quickened waltz ; not the flat-footed deux temps of old, or the hopping deux temps that was used as a subterfuge for a proper galop some years ago. — Exchange. In his report dated the 4th of May to the Agent General, Mr C. Cameron, Inspector of New Zealand Produce in London, says : — " The colonial butter season may fairly be considered ended. Prices have ruled about id per lb higher this year than last. New Zealand butter has maintained its reputation; and very few complaints have been heard regarding it. It is only in a few instances that I have heard of ' fishiness. 1 There has been some splendid butter arriving from River Plate this year, and I hear there is to be a strong effort made by some houses interested in the dairy produce trade here to develop the dairy produce industry in that conntry. Cheese has been coming forward more plentifully during the past few weeks, and has been meeting a good market. As the season is advancing, prices, however, seems inclined to drag, and as the American make will soon be forward they may be expected to gradually recede. White cheese has been scarcer than coloured, and reached higher values accordingly."

Drs Devenish Mcars and Mackenzie will hold a consultation this afternoon into the condition of Mrs T. Nye's little daughter, who we regret to hear is in a very low state. A marriage notice appearing to-day will be read with pleasure by all who know the contracting parties, and we beg to include our congratulations amongst the many they are bound to receive. Mr Loveday has secured a line of kid gloves by tender which enables him to sell at startling reductions, which are fully set out in his advertisement on the front page. Other lines are also mentioned as being offered at half prices, so that the ladies had better carefully scan the advertisement. Dr Meares returned to town last night. In our last issue we stated he would not leave the hospital for some weeks, and he ought not to have done so, but the demands of his practice and the inability to secure a licum tenant has obliged him to the step he has taken. The Mayor informs us that he hopes the Brass Band will agree to play a few selections next Wednesday when he and the Councillors will plant the shrubs in the Triangle, and also whilst planting at the Park. The work will commence at two o'clock. At present there is no intention to do more than to invite the public to attend, Arbor Day addresses not being proposed. A London correspondent writes many New Zealand friends of the Rev. W. H. Fitchett, editor of the Australian edition of the Review of Reviews, will be interested and gratified to learn that he is being v lionised " in literary circles on this side of the world. He has been made an honorary member of the Athenzeum Club, the Queen's University of Canada has conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D., Messrs Smith and Elder are giving a Cornhill Magazine dinner in his honour. Mr Fitchett's new book, a history of the Napoleonic War, is to be issued in four volumes, by the end of the current year. Mr Fitchett expects to leave England early in October on his return to Australia. He lunched with the AgentGeneral for New Zealand recently. '