LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 79, 26 February 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A few days ago, m Napier, there were no less then Dine commercial travellers on business bound at one and the same time. Each thought busineas was somewhat dull!

The Australasian reports that about Inglewood and Bridgewater the locusts are m myriads, mid have done fearful havoc with gardens and grass, having eaten everything before them. A Wellington paper affirms " that not many days ago a certain quartette of— well, let us say — reputable citizens sat down to play cards m an hotel m Wellington at 11 o'clock Saturday night, and. played straight on till 5 p.m. on Sunday » What a pity •• Charley " White was not there! The Mayor of Wellington should head a movement to discountenance gam* bling. No doubt his late opponent to the Mayoral chair, Mr Andrew Young, would ably assist m the suppression of such a gigantic evil. We think producers are standing m their own light by holding out for exorbit* ant prices for their produce. Buyers will B inaply purchase m the Southern markets, and vendors will have themselves to blame. All apprehensions as to a water famine m Wellington are now removed, since the recent rains. In the Manawatu district it has done an immense deal of good, without causing any damage that we have heard of. Tenders are invited by the Borough Council tor repairs and painting of the Public Hall. A telegram says: — " Mr Bryce has satisfactorily settled the native difficulty at Whangarei." Has he now 1 Have any more murderers or outlaws been pardoned 1 That's what people wish to know now-a-days. Incredible as it may seem, from twenty five to thirty millions worth of British property is yearly swallowed up by the sea, and of the enormous annual sum a v cry large percentage — we believe we are not exaggerating when we say 70 or 80 per cent. — is sacrificed to careless navi« gation or commercial greed. The Gazette contains the following names of gentlemen who have been appointed reviewers for the Wellington District under the Property Aseesment Act : — William Jarvis Willis, Alexander Mine, Viggo Monrad, Henry Sanson. The Golos announces that several per* sons have disappeared from Warsaw, and that no traces can be fo and of them, not* withstanding the strenuous exertions of the police. It i<» officially stated that forty- seven persons have disappeared m this manner. Chinese are now employed as harvesters iv the Lake Wanaka district, and a Mr McDonald, woolclasser at Pembroke, has discharged the Europeans working under him to take on Celestials, who work ten hours a day. If this sort of thing goes on, we shall expect to hear of riots m those Southern parts. A peat swamp m the Waikato district is on fire. The smouldering peat has made several of the roads through the swamp unsafe by burning its way underneath them. Mr. Goorge Ehodes, Ben; who was ac« cidentally drowned whilst bathing at Auck« land, had taken the precaution some months prior to insure with the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company for LSOO, which sum is now payable to his legal representatives. This provident arrangement for accidental contingency should recommend itself to every rightminded man. Statistics show that m New Zealand 31 out of every 100 die from accident, and the greater proportion of this large percentage from drowning. We learn that Mr Ce*sare, the Maltese emigration representative, was satisfied on his tour northwards with certain blocks of land at Northern Wairoa, EEokianga, and Bay of Islands. If favorable terms can be made with the Government, he is willing: to form a special sett'ement of Maltese for the cultivation of vines, olives, &c. It is a pity he was not advised to have a look at the West Coast, where there is an ample and specially favoured field for all •classes of immigrants if persevering and industrious. The recent drynass of the weather has made sad havoc with the crops around the Bay of Plenty, for m many parts there is no prospect of their realising back their seed, many of the potato plantations hay». ing been abandoned. The maize crops were suffering severely, but the late showers have revived them, giving fresh life and vigour to the parched corn crops. The resignation by Sir John Hall of his seat m the House of Representatives is gazetted. Messrs Bailey and Kerr of the American Novelty Company are about opening m Palmorston. Theirs is an attractive show. Tenders are invited for sawing and hewing totara. The advertisement states < where particulars can be obtained. We understand the cause of delay m opening the telegraph station at Ashurst is 'waiting lor the execution of the order to cut the main pole required. We learn that the Feilding correspon* dent of the United Press Association, received a very severe reprimand for his message m connection with the JonesRoots affair. Ilia rumoured that a more trustworthy agent has been appointed. We should think it was high time. An exchange .states that Mr Milner Stephen lost £50 by his visit to New Plys mouth. We have not heard of any cures that he effected. We again remind tenderers for Education Board buildings that plans and specifications can be seen at the Standard Office. Messrs Stevens and Gorton's shipment of grain, fencing wire, and grass-seed is expected to arrive daily. Mr G. J. Bruce is advertising for grazing for about 30 head of cattle for the next five or six months. Mr T. E. T. Gale invites tenders for falling 35 acres of light tawa bush. Specifications can be seen at King Bros. We learn there is a oortain amount of truth m the rumour of the probable early opening of the grand, new hotel m the Square*

Messrs Drumond and Alexander, as Wangunui agents for Messrs Reid and Gray's celebrated agricultural machinery have received a telegram from that firm, whose works at Dunedin take the premier position m the colony, stating that they took the first prize at the Taieri Agriculs tural Society's contest for the best reaper and twine*bina"er, beating several other machines easily. Reid and Gray's binder finished m best time, cut best, tied best, and made much the neatest and firmest sheaf. This is indeed a triumph of local industry. The Committee of the Racing Club are again reminded of the special meeting convenedfor to-morrow evening at 8. p.m • at the Commercial Hotel. The District Court opens tosmorrow. There is no criminal business, and only being civil cases, neither, we understand two special local interest. We remind our volunteers the of special parade called for this evening to take into consideration certain business of special importance. The rain fell steadily the greater part of yesterday, and at 5 p.m, there was a considerable body of water m the Manawatu, though but little timber was coming down. At Messrs T. El. Macdonald & Co.'s sale at Wainui-o-mata, of certain property m the estate of Messrs J. and D. Sinclair, 1 the steel rails (lifted) realised L 5 per ton, and (fixed dowu) L3 los per ton . Various articles round the mill were sold at fair prices. Draught horses brought from Ll9 to L 34 each, saddle horse LlO, and | working bullocks Ll2 10s per pair. i Messrs Freeman and Wyid's schooner was off the Foxton bar to-day. It was expected she would get m during the afternoon. Mr A. E. Lewis next door to Bank of New Zealand, Victoria Avenue, Wani g&nui m advertisement elsewhere notifies that he has m stock a beautiful selection of Parian Statuary, Vases, Nic-nacks, E. P. Ware &c, also glass ball for glass ball shooting m stock. He particularly begs to draw attention to the fact that he has opened up a large Stock of the above lines, and confines his business to the China, Glass, and Earthenware Trade.