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Manawatu Herald, 23 December 1899, Page 2

The raspberry crop promises a heavy yield this season, both Mr Whibley and Mr R. Gray stating that their canes are bearing heavily. For the Sports on New Year's Day there will be two trains one from Palmerston leaving at 8.45 a.m and one from Fielding leaving at 8.40 a.m. Mr G. Nye is growing some tomatoes under glass this year. They are not yet ripe. There can be no comparison ■made between this fruit grown out of doors or under glass. Mr Nye says that the price obtainable is not sufficient to pay from growing in a house. He must charge a little more. Information has been received from General Otis, who is in command of the American army in the Philippine Islands, that Brigadier-General H. W* Lawton has been killed in action by the insurgents at San Meteo, on the island of Luzon.

A singular capture was made by a youth on the banks of the Waihopi river in the shape of a shellfish of large dimensions. A reference to the standard Natural History leaves no doubt that it is a mud turtle (Cinosternum Pennsylvanianum) very common in the south-east of the United States. Other turtles of large size size have been seen in the locality and efforts are now being made to catch them. How they reached the locality is a mystery. The excursion trains on New Year's Day stop at Victoria Park, and one will leave at 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. •• Hot water will be available on the ground free." Our visitors will soon believe that the inhabitants of this peaceful town ire always in hot water, unless we are carefull to explain we leave the " hot water " for our friends, and keep clear of it ourselves. Mr D. Whibley has a good show of enrrants this year, and having raspberries also, the material for the best fruit pie obtainable can be secured from him. All the cottages at the beach are occupied and engaged for weeks ahead. We are pleased to know this as the proprietors deserve all encouragement in their enterprise. A disastrous drought prevails in the northern and, western districts, of Queensland. Thousands of cattle and sheep are dying. The captain ot the steames Arcadia, which arrived at Albany on Wednesday from Columbia, reports having passed a large steamer sunk on the east side of White Top Rocks. No boats or men were visible. The top of the funnel and one mast only could be discerned. We have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a Christmas and j New Year card from the editor and staff of the Examiner, Woodville, and can but reciprocate their kindly wishes. The card is a very good sample of job printing and is a credit to the office. A special sermon will be preached at the Methodist Church to-morrow night by the Rev. W. Woollass, and Mrs Woollass will sing, by request, the ; appropriate solo " Nazareth." A special collection will be taken up in . aid of the circuit deficiency. The Sunday Times' Canadian corresI ondent says . in a communication to that Journal that " Canada is afire from ocean to ocean with patriotic fervor."

Pressure on our space last issue prevented us from noticing the meeting of the Friendly Societies' Picnic held at Palmerston. It has been decided to add a young ladies' cycling race of half a rriile to the list of races. We are glad to notice that Messrs Perreau Bros have secured the catering. Arrangements have been made with the river steamers to run to the Heads. Given a fine day there should" be a large crowd of visitors here on New Year's Day.

On Thursday afternoon Mr M. Walker had over a dozen cucumbers in his shop which were grown by Mr D. Wbibleyk They are from the same seed as those grown by Mr W. Nye.

They should be pleased. In the report of the trip of the Carnarvon school to Foxton in the Marton paper it is said a word of thanks is due to f H« tradespeople for their reasenable charged For the lease of the dining cars upon the trains running between Christchurch and Palmerston South, Mr Thos. Fairhust, ot Wellington, is to a rental of £ tod 2 pet annum. The lease extends from the 18th inst. to the 31st March, 1901;

Mr Harnisworth of the daily Mail, has contributed £1000, being a portion of the Kipling fund, to be expended at once by the Natal Government for the relief of the wives and children of those colonial forces who have done so much for the Empire in the preaetit war. Mr Harnis worth requests that the money be not allowed to accumulate. The Natal Government has wired : — " Convey our cordial thanks to Mr liamsworth; and inform him that the £idoo will be at Once applied as desired. A new accident insurance scheme has been started in Paris. Riders in cabs can, by placing a sou in the slot of a small machine inside the cab, dbtain a certificate of insurance, which covers them from the risk of accident while the assured is riding in the cab. Of course it applies for the particular journey only. An incident Characterised by great heroism occurred at the battle of Rietfontein. The Lancers, who were on the right flank, had dismounted, and on the order to mount being given, a trooper's horse was missing. The adjutant of the regiment insisted on this man mounting his (the adjutant's) horse, .while he, smoking a pipe, calmly walked across ttie exposed plain, which was thick with rifle shot. Another officer offered his horse to the adjutant ; indeed he pleaded that he should take it, but the adjutant refused, walking across the bnllet swept ground 1 , while he himself ordered the man to mount. It is satisfactory to state that the adjutant reached the opposite hill safely without a scratch. To-night there will be a general shopping and we can but congratulate our storekeepers on the efforts they Have niade to please. The decorations of greenery give a pleasing air df gaiety to the town. Mr Walker has a very nice show of fancy glass and china as well as the regular Xmas goods. Mr Langley's bakery window " takes the cake," both in appearance, as well as cakes iced and decorated. The town will be well worth visiting to-night. Tnis morning early some unknown man relieved some other man of two cheques, of the value of about £12, at one of the hotels, and the person who took them had the audacity to endeavour to change them here, and succeeded, the two unfortunate victims being Mrs Harris and Mr A. Osborne.