Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 5, 1899.

Manawatu Herald, 5 October 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 5, 1899.

The weather at Adelaide is most unseasonable. Snow has fallen in many parts of the colony, including some localities -where it has not been seen for thirty years* During the past year the following seeds have been imported by the Agricultural Department, and distributed to settlers for trial: — Sail bush, carob-beans, tree lucerne and maize. The armour-plated train fitted up in the Durban railway workshops is ready for use at any moment. The train consists of an engine and six trucks, heavily mailed with steel plates calculated to resist bullets and heavy projectiles. The engine is one of the earlier patterns of Dubbs', and converted trucks have been in ordinary use on the line. The driver, fireman, and guard will be specially selected men. The smallest letter that ever went through the New York Post Office has recently been mentioned in the AmeriPress. The little letter is just half an inch wide by n-i6ths of an inch long. It has four pages, and is neatly written, perfectly legible without a microscope, and contains 134 words. The letter was so small that it looked just like a postage stamp in the letter-box. Produce shipments from Melbourne for the Cape continue on a heavy scale. Arrangements are also being made for a considerable trial shipment of cattle and sheep. The condition of Dr Fraser, who was shot by his wife last week in a street of St. Kilda, shows improve ment. The medical faculty considers the case a very remarkable one, seeing that the injured man still survives with a bullet embedded in his brain. Admiral Dewey has a hobby, tr which, however, in consequence of hi;naval duties, he has not recently beer able to devote much attention. He h an enthusiastic collector of butterflies and his collection, which is said to be the finest in America, is insured for £1,600. Mr Harry Yogel (son of the late Sir Julius Yogel) is engaged to be married to Miss Else Levin, eldest daughter of the late Mr W. H. Levin, of Wellington. One of the offerings at a collection at a bhurch near Cheltenham was a soda-water bottle containing 602 threepenny pieces. The Captains of the Transvaal contingent will be Major Robins (Dunedin), and Captain Davies (Wellingj ton.) MrT. Quinlivan, jun., has sold hi? 1 mare The Shannon (Torpedo— Rivulet) I to Mr E. J. Watt, at the satisfactory figure of £"300, after she had run a really good half mile. ' The discovery has been made that there is a minor planet, which is 32,600,000 miles nearer the earth than Mars, hitherto regarded as our nearest neighbour in space. The new planet will be only about 13,000,000 miles away when nearest us. The Agricultural Department has received a report dated 25th August from Mr H. C. Cameron, Inspector of New Zealand Produce in London, in which it is stated that the prospects of the dairy produce trade are encouraging. Prices are higher now than they have been at this period of the year during any of the previous ten years, and in Mr Cameron's opinion they will continue to be good throughout the season. Saturday's Manawatu Times says, at the Longburn Works yesterday another 17 head of cattle, suffering from tuberculosis, were converted into manure. During the past few days Mr Clayton, Government veterinary surgeon, has been in the district testing dairy cattle. The percentage of diseased cattle up to the present has been remarkably small, and points to the general health of herds in the district. "Starggler" in the Press says, I hear that a Canterbury buyer ha 9 obtained two large lines of sheep in the North Island for delivery off shears, at 9s 6d for two-tooths and 10s 6d for four-tooths. Hardly up to date. The Agricultural Department's Report was laid on the table of the House on Monday night, and we find it contains the following very reliable statement regarding hemp: "A sharp rise in values took place in the earlier part of the year and millers were kept busily employed. The demand however, has somewhat slackened, although prices are still fairly remunerative." The Queen of the South had her bunting nying in honor of the wedding to-day. • Messrs Rutherford and Son, of Pungarehu, want six smart expert catchers for the Cape Flax mills,

Messrs Stiles, G. Langley and E "oley are about starting a flaxmill near Pok >maru. Entries for Maiden Plate, Maiden furdles, Railway Plate, and Ra'ikawa Mate, and acceptances for First D.-iy's indicaps for the Otaki Racing Club's leeting close on Saturday. The following singular proclamation y the Kingites 19 published in focal npers: — "TheCiuncl of King Mauta has passed a resolution that from lis dav any Maori getting drunk in iwnships or settlements of either Paheka or Maori will be brought before the Council, and on conviction will be fined £t. Should the fine not be paid in cash, the person convicted will have to do work on Maori roads to that amount. K» T. Teahu, Secretary to Council. 28th Septeirtber, 1899." Cups are now being made with small thermometers, which tell the degree of temperature of the cocoa or coffee they hold. It is understood that the New Zealand Government has received from the Imperial authorities a large order for oats for the Transvaal. Alderman Alfred James Newton of The Wood. Sydenham Hill, S.E., who renresented the Bassishaw Ward, is the Lord Mayor-elect of London. He was sheriff in 1888, and alderman in ißgdi A man named Michael Hunter had a prohibition order issued against him this morning to apply to Shannon and Levin as well as Foxton.