LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 95, 30 March 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to the Wanganui Herald the fittings of the carriages m use on the north line of railway require some attention. r lhe window ventilators areprac* tically useless, and the efforts of a passenger m endeavoring to fasten them go for nothing, while whatever inconvenience may be caused by the rays of a hot sun pouring m upon the passengers | has to be put up with submissively. Almost the same may be said of the carriages on the Foxton line. The railway line to Patea will be opened about the end of May. It was orginally intended to open the whole length to Manutahi, but it is probable that the Patea-Manutahi section will not be completed a month later, and the line will not be opened through till July. Still there will be some satisfaction m having it opened as far as Patea s Messrs Stevens, & Gorton's next sale at the Borough yards, Palmerston North, will t&ke place on the 10th of April (next Tuesday week) and settler* having stock to enter should forward particulars with* out delay. Two important Jj County Council an* nouocements will be found m our adver« tiring columns to which special attention is directed. They are m connection with the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. At tho District Court yesterday a discharge m bankruptcy was granted to Mr E. Belve, of Feilding. The glare from Macbie's and Walker's "burns" last evening was so powerful i that the road near Ashurst was brightly illumined about 8 o'clock, at which time the hour by any oidinary watch could be easily ascertained. A steady rainfall set m early this morning, which will do the country generally a vaßt amount of good. To those who had late bush fires it would not be a very Welcome visitation. There are just the same complications at Bawera and Marton at prefent m reference to volunteer and town bands as recently existed m Pnlmerston. The grievance seems to be the New Volunteer regulations and the disinclination of the members of the band to enrol under them. To-morrow (Saturday) is the last day for paying the borough rates, and all arrears may be afterwards sued for witbi o*t Jurther notice.

The Volunteer Band held a practice last night, a portion of the Standard office having been placed at their disposal on practice nights. The members under bandmaster Newcombe are making very fair process. We understand that the Marton paper has been called upon to withdraw its allegation of a charge of larceny m connection with Joseph Jessop. The paragraph was a most stupid concoction, and might have the effect of prejudicing Jeasop's trial. At the Wanganui District Court a Rus* sian named Stephen Anseif was acquitted on a charge of uttering base coin. it will give some idea of the rate at which-land is being laid down m grass m this district, when we mention that the immense stock of grass and clover seeds recently held by Messrs Stevens & Gorton at their Palm erst on warehouse have i been nearly all cleared, and further cxi tensive shipments, we believe, are now on the road. Certainly,the quality was such as has not before been seen m this district. I The fact is a proof of the progress of settlement and colonization m Manawata. According to the Wanganui Chronicle it was rumoured that theofficeof theWan« ganui railway station was broken into on Monday afternoon, and a sum of £30 m cash taken away. The Budden disappearance of two young lads from the city has (says the Dunedin Morning Herild) caused their relatives a deal of anxiety. Since Sunday last the whereabouts of the two youcg fellows, Diamond and Bently, has been a mystery, and fears are entertained that they have been drowned while bathing. The former is a son of Mrs Diamond, of the Globe Hotel, and the later of Mr Bnntly, who is m the employ of Mrs Tomlinson & Co. The Milwaukee fire brought out the energy of American firemen m a novel way. Milwaukee wanted a eteam fire-en* jrine, and telegraphed to Chicago, ninety miles off. It was at work within two hours, the firemen having traversed the ninety miles m eighty minutes — a rate of i going previously unreached on any American railroad, and possibly aB dangerous as the fire.