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Manawatu Herald, 7 November 1899, Page 2

Tenders are invited for the erection of the Rangitikei bridge near Bulls. The bridge will be 1570 feet in length, and will be divided into 16 spans. Drawings and specifications can be seen at the Department of Lands and Surveys, Wellington ; Town Board Office, Bulls: and Borough Council office, Palmerston North. Mr Jupp received word yesterday from Captain Kemp that the s.s. had been detained at Castlepoint through the heavy gale, but now that the weather has become more settled the little steamer should put in an appearance here on Wednesday or Thursday. Amazement is expressed in France at the stoical calmness displayed by the British nation in the face of the recent reverse at Nicholson's Nek. Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford has been appointed to the command of the Mediterranean squadron, in succession to Rear-Admiral Sir _rer_,r_ Noel. The cricket match, Levin v. Foxton, will start on Thursday at n o'clock in Victoria Park. The local team is as follows : — Messrs Stiles (captain), Nye, Martin, Furrie, A. Morgan, J. Morgan, Pratt, Gray, Bowe, Stansell, and Bowden. The report of the Commission which was appointed to inquire into the question of the future government of the Philippine Islands has been published. It states that it is absolutely imperative that the United States shall maintain her claim to the sovereignty of the islands, and compel the submission of the natives prior to conceding them any large measure of autonomy. At the lunch given by the Mayor to Mr Cadman on Saturday, new potatoes r Mr Fraser's own growing .were :■-•: • -d. This is an early crop. : lie Foxton Band excursion on the river will be held on Thursday. Mind and not miss the boat. Given fine weather the day should be an enjoyable ono. During the talk with Mr Cadman, Mr Stevens let drop that he had secured a sum of £200 on the estimates for snagging the river. Mr Stevens is .evidently both a student of the Herald and alert as to the wants of the district The next step to be taken will be to get the work started at once. Shearing was to have been commenced at Totara yesterday. The British steamer Labuan has been seized by the Americans at Manila for attempting to run the blockade. The ships of the British Naval ! Reserve are being placed in commission; Thomas Payne has been committed for trial at New Plymouth on a charge of wilfully setting fire to the Taranaki Herald Office recently. The police have brought a second charge of incendiarism against Payne. A new and very interesting flower has been found on the Isthmus of Tehuantepo. It is a red, white and blue flower, which grows on a tree about the size of a guava. In the morning the flower is white, at noon red, and at night it is blue, but it is only I at noon that it gives forth any perfume. « Mr Jas. Embling, formerly manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, who was appointed to succeed Mr C. G. Tegetmeier as general manager at Wellington, has accepted the position and his appointment was confirmed at the meeting of the board of directors held last week. I The Berlin press affirms that ■ Germany is relinquishing her position in regard to Samoa, and in return for ! so doing will received the Gilbert and j Solomon Group.

A good steady driver to take charge of a team, and two flaxcutters are wanted.

A first offender" was fined five shillings for drunkenness by Mr A. Fraser, J. P., yesterday morning,

Next Sunday will be the Primitive Methodists Sunday School anniversary, when special sern.ons will I.c preached at Foxton at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. by the Rev. J. Olphert, of New Plymouth.

Disaster has overtaken another French expedition in Central Africa. The party in question* which Was under the leadership of M. Bretonnet, has been intercepted in the Bagirmi region, to the south-east of Lake Tchad, and been massacred.

The pugnacity of the sparrow hawk is well known, but few people realise their activity upon the '-' , , Tue.«rf~- " ■ r luK ", , Laßt ay , hor correspondent inform, the Post a survey party, working on the slopes of Ruapehu, were fiercely attacked by a pair of these birds. They suddenly swooped down, striking viciously at the men, and uttering their shrill cries, and for a quarter of an hour gave the party a lively and exciting time. The birds would gracefully sail by and then return straight for the men without a waver and with terrific speed, and, as showing the quickness.of their movements upon the wing, they escaped every blow of the bill-hooks, whilst striking with their claws and talons during the whole of the time. Whilst the fighting was going on Mr Girdlestone, one of the party observed the nest of the birds, and succeeded in robbing it of three eggs before he was discerned and had to retreat. The eggs have been forwarded to Wellington, and are large, brownish handsome trophies.wpich are said to, j be exceedingly rare.