LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 238, 10 September 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We regret to be obliged to record another accident through bushfelling on Friday afternoon, a man by the nam, '.Tohn Aldv»d}j- (alia* Qinpor- J_ok)-waß brought m from Dr. Lemon's farm, fitzherbert East, with almost crushed loins and probably an injured spine, as the lower extremities are entirely paralyzed. It appears that he was going round the tree, which was being felled, to help his mate with the back-scarf, when it sud» denly fell, making a half«turn on the stump and sliding oft on to the poor fellow. We hear that the doctor strongly advises his removal to Wanganui, vhere he will be brought by to-bight'a train. The pursuit of bushfelling claims many victims every yea; and numerous instances occur of the most miraculous escapes. One worthy of record happened to & German, Otto Gerche, who is bushfelling on Capfc, Walker's farm, adjoining that of Dr. Lemon's. He had hung up a smill rata m a tawa . and started to fell the latter when it suddenly snapped asunder, Gerche could not get away ;he looked up m despair seeing the whole mass coming down to crush him when he perceived the two forks, which made the top of thej mta, most likely would come down one on each side of him. He screwed his body round, bowed his head and— stood •.untouched. All this took place m far less time than it takes to relate it. The eye-witness of this occurrence told us that Gerche looked very pale over it but only remarked very quietly : "Me move von step, me kill." The Rev. Mr Worker, of Sandon, oc« cupied the pulpit of tbe Wesleyan Church last evening, and preached a funeral sermon on' the late Mr Marsh takin? as his text the words " Asleep m Jesus. During his eloquent discourse he memtioned the following incident. The Rev. gentleman said, when oh his journey from Sandon to Palmerston he was deliberating as to what his text should be that evening, and he decided on the words " Asleep m Jesuß." Strange to -ay the same words appeared on the coffin plate, of the late Mr Marsh, to-day when performing the funeral ceremony. We hear that Dr. Lightbourne, assisted by Dri. Curl & Harvey, performed a meat successful operation at Feilding last Saturday. Mr Wilkie the contractor for a section of the Manawatu- Wellington line of rail* way has transferred the most of his materials from Wanganui to Palmerston by train, and will commence work immediately. He has 1? hands engaged and to despite the continued bad weather expects to fulfil^his contract m the time specified. Major Atkinson has stated that the Treasury do not possess a, copy of the' original agreement made when the Bank first, commenced to keep the Government account, but that ho had applied to the Bank to try and procure a copy. This is the agreement which Sir George Grey wants. s • A collection of pottery manufactured by the Milton Pottery Works is now on exhibition at the General Assembly Library, Wellinaton, where it is exciting much admiration among members of the Legislature as an example of what can be done by this branch of colonial industry. Why farming does not pay. An insol 8 vent debtor iv Auckland, m his statement says he leased a farm at £1 a week, and borrowed mone3' at 112 per cent, per annum to work it. The consequence was after three years struggling, £263 of debt and as-ets nil. The state of the roads m Palmerstqn 'are simply a disgrace to Borough 'Councillors and we shall not be surprised if ere long 'we nave to report a serious accident In front of Mr Grasps shop last evening there Was a man-trap between' three and four feet deep into which pedestrians, horses, and vehicles floundered. One gentleman while travelling on horseback towards Terrace End was thrown from his horse, receiving several contusions, .while he was passing this man-trap. Unfortunately if the Borough is mulcted m damages though the existence of such . places the ratepayers have to pay the piper. If damages had to come out of the breeches pockets of Councillors, our street would not be found m their present disgraceful state.