LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 240, 12 September 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We desire to call the attention of stocks breeders to the announcement made by Mr G. M. Snelson to the effect that at his next monthly sale of horses, to be held at Palmerston on the 29th instant, there will be a parade of all entires likely to travel through this and the adjacent counties. These parades are exceedingly popular m other districts m the colony and. should prove an" attraction to horse* breeders on auction day. We understand photos of a wellknown couple who lately resided m Palmerston, and a short time ago sud - denly left the shores of New Zealand for the warmer climate of Fiji, will be procurable ia a few days from a local photographer. A meeting of members of the Acclimatisation Society is convened at Mr Lin« ton's offices at five o'cloik to-morrow afternoon. The business to be transacted is of an important nature, and we hope.:the meeting will be well attended. In another column will be found adver* ' tised the programme of the Manawatu Olub races. The Club from a small be* ginning now occupies the premier position m the whole district, and the anxiety shewn bj the Committee to further extend the popularity of its annual meetings.' is made manifest by the money offered for the eeveral events. We understand. Colonel Gorton arrived m Wanganui on Monday last and was expected home yesterday. Although not quite restored to his former robust health, we believe and are pleased to hear the trip south has done him a wonderful amount of good. Stevens and Gorton report their Pal* merston sale yesterday to have been the most successful held for some time. Bidding was brisk and exceptionally good prices realized showing a decided increase m the value of cattle. Their detailed report will appear to-morrow. The etymology of ; certain popular drinks has been the subjeot of study by an Englishman, and the conclusions he has reached are rather interesting and curious. Grog, he asserts, is but an abbreviation of grogram, a mixed stuff of Angora goat's hair and silk. Admiral Edward Vernon, who died m 1757, had his breeches made of grogram, and so came to be known as " Old Grog" among the sailors. Before his time Jack had his rum neat, but about 1745 Admiral Vernon ordered water mixed with it before it was served out, and the diluted rations were at once nicknamed '* grog." " The cruelty of the Chinese is," says the Foochow Herald^ "beyond conception, and it is galling to observe almost daily instances of barbarity m which it is im» possible to interfere; Early on a recent morning we witnessed with sadness and horror au unfortunate native (who wa« unable to acquit his pecuniary liabilities) dragged to the side of a poid m the sequestered spot behind the Conton Club and brutally kicked to death. .Remonstrance was nseless, appeals of no avail, and our endeavour to rescue the unfortu* nafco victim was met by gestures that a similar fate awaited us if we persisted m interfering. Thus were we, involuntarily, witness to a foul and coldblooded murder and powerless to rescue a human crea» ture." The Auckland footballers were enter* tainedata public, dinner. Tho Mayor presided,

The Post 9aya that considerable interest was excited on the Queen's wharf at Wellington on Sunday by the arrival, from the South, m the s.s. Wakatipu, of the well-known horse Natator, which has been bought for stud purposes by Mr Walker, of Wanganui, from the Hon. W. Robinson. Mr Walker, has arrived from Wanganui to assume charge of the horse, which is to be taken overland to Wanganui. A most singular accident ' took place last month at the corner of tho Boulevard des Italiens and the Rue Taitbout m Paris. A large tree which stood on this spot, and judging from the appearance of its leaves, was flourishing, suddenly fell across the street without a moment's warning. By a very fortunate chance, especially at this point of the boulevard, where there are generally so many people, no one happened to be passing, and the tree caused no damage by ita fall. Immediately a crowd gathered about the ■ place, and all aorta oE opinions -were'glren to explain the causes of the accident. It was observed that the tree had crumbled away entirely at the root, as though a legion of rats had knawed it away, or as if some other corrosive influence had been at work. In Turkish Kurdistan an infant has been born with a beard and moustache, a perfect set of 32 teeth, and no fewer than 40 distinctly formed fingers. Its behaviour from the moment of its birth has been far from satisfactory. It is exces* sivelv noisy and violent, and, Owing to the cruel bites it inflicts on all who come within reach of its mouth, it has been ruuutUi»*«<w>o«.ryyto_ extract all its front teeth. Notwithstanding~~~tWo — a»&Aiir.e« ment, the child's appearance is, if not prepossessing, at least imposing. No one irho has seen it as it lies m. its cradle, stroking its beard and pulling its moustache with its 40 fingers, is ever likely to forget it. King Alfonso of Spain is said to have allowed himself to be subjugated by the charms of a remarkably beautiful young marquise, who, not being possessed of virtue m proportion with her charms, failed to repel the passion with which. she had inspired her royal lover. The Queen discovered them together. The lady fled with the' utmost precipitation, and the King, exasperated by this unceremonious upsetting of his arrangements, so far forget himself as to adminisiter a slap to Her Majesty. On her return to the palace the latter openly announced her determination to leave Madrid, and subsequently left on a visit to Paris and Vienna.