LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 161, 5 June 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A little boy named Harry Malay, aged four and a half years, fell oft the hulk European m Wellington a few days ago, and commenced to swim round the hulk quite nncernedly ; his brother, who is only 18 mouths older, crying out "Go it, Hairy !" A boy paddling about m a side-wheel boat went to his assistance, I but the little fellow refused the offered help, saying that he was only taking a swim. He was, however, taken out of the water and taken back to the hulk, when he told his mother as he only wanted to do as hisfatherdid. His father was the successful competitor m the swimming matches at the last regatta. A proposal has been make m a letter to the Lyttelton Times to open up an export trade m New Zealand mutton with Sydney. The writer, Mr J. C. Boyes is of opinion that 400 could be sold weekly at from 4£d to 5d per Ib. There would be no necessity to freeze the meat. ' i At the opening of a new central school at New Ptymouth lately the Mayor of the town, who presided, held out the following grand inducement to the boys and girls to exert themselves to gain the highest object of human ambition. He said " he was sure there were among the boys m the school those who would rise to be the fature Mayors of New Plymouth, and among the girls would be found the future Mayoresses." The London Times says that one fact emphasised by the returns for the year is that wood has practically, if not absolutely, gone out of existence as a shipbuilding material. Iron is now the general material of which vessels are constructed, though steel is year by year coining to the front. The prizes given by Robin Hood on the Christ church races were won as foltows : — Birthday Handicap — Ist prize, n traveller m Lightband, Allan, & Co.'s Boot Factory, Christchurch ; 2nd prize, an employe at Coker's HoteJ, Christchurch ; 3rd prize, a photographer, Westport. Grand National — Ist prize, a farmer, Waikari ; 2nd, a saddler, Christchurch. . " Sir, you predicted a frost for the night of September 21," said an old American farmer, as he entered the signal-office at Cleveland, " Yes, sir." "and it did'nt come?" "No, sir." " Well, that prediction caught me with 800 bushels of apples on the trees, and I sold the lot for half-price." v Sorry, sir ; but the bureau is sometimes mistrtten." " Well, I want you to help me out of it. The chap whose got my apples has 40 acres of taters. If you will only predict a regular freeze-up for to-morrow night, I ken get them taters for 10 cents a bushel, and come out all solid !" The Doomesday Book which the Ministry are compiling at Sir George's suggestion, and which will contain a description of all tho properties m the colony, their extent, name, and respective owners, is to be issued m two volumes of 700 pages each, compiled from the Property Tax assessments. The Canterbury Press points out that it has been stated over and over again that the information obtained under the Pioperty Assessment Act is strictly confidential, and that every officer is sworn to secrecy, and is liable to severe punishment if he reveals anything. A certain Von Poelnitz, who was well known m Wangauui a few years ago (says the Chronicle) as a member of the Armed Constabulary and a crack shot having once won the carbine champion belt, has lateiy got himself into trouble m Fiji. He has been convicted of forgery, and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. Since his imprisonment his wife has sued for a divorce, which has been granted. At the hearing of the divorce, case the evidence was of a very extraordinary nature, and some very startling disclosures were made as to the pnnciple parties concerned.