LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 259, 29 September 1884, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The number of Bills introduced into the General Assembly during the current session up to the present time amount to ninety-four. Mr Parr, of Kimbolton road, has forwarded to our (Star) office a remarkably large egg, which was laid by one of his half Bramah hens. The length of the egg is exactly three inches, its circumference is ovpr&>sc inches, and its weight three and half ounces. It also contains two yolks.

MrGk F. Richardson will move on Wednesday next, " That it is undesirable for further grants to bo made under the lioads and Bridges Constiuction Act ; but, m lion thereof, that tho property tftx bo still levied to the extend of Jd m the £, and half of the said property tax, not being required for General Government purposes, be handed over to the (Jounty Councils for expenditure on local works, and that the basis of distribution should be pro rata on the rateable value of the said counties. Mr Smith to move, That, m the opinion of this House the time has arrived when the whole of the' secondary a>id high school reservep and endowments throughout the colony should be vested m the Crown, and administered for general, instead of for local, educational purposes ; .and that the Government be re- j quested to bring m a Bill to give effect to this resolution. A very suggestive storyis told by a boniface on the Rangitikei lino. A few days ago a couple of swagsmen called at the hotel, and on stating th«y- were hard up and starving some meat and bread cut into sandwiches was handed to them. The bread not having been properly buttered the " starving men" indignantly^ threw the food away. Comment is needless says the Star. Th« Feilding Lodge of the M.U.1.0v Odd Fellows, says the local paper, have appointed ast ro'tig committee to .make arrangements to celebrate the establishment of the order here. We are informed that either a ball or a banquet will be the mode adopted. . The fifth anniversary ball of the Manchester Rifle Volunteers, held m the the Twn Hall, Feilding, on Friday evening, .was a most brilliant success. A son of Alex. McNab, farmer, of. Sandon, met with a serious accident on Saturday (says the Bulls correspondent of the Star) on the Saudon road, opposite Bulls. While m the, act of jumping out of the cart his foot., struck the tail board, throwing the boy on the rough stones, and smashing his knee cap. The Maryborough Advertiser says that a society is being formed m Carisbrook m opposition to the Good Girl's Society ;• it is to be called "The Good Young Men's Society." Tlie- principal rule is that they are not to be seen walking with a girl after, six o'clock m the evQu"•g- V A remarkable occurrence has taken place m Rhoudda. Valley, acres of mountain sides and tops being carpetted with the carcases of insects rather larger hut resembling caterpillars. The inhabitants are removing thorn by burning. Specimens have been sent to University College, London, for examination. - A twenty years' resident m the Western districts of .Queensland,, writing from Muttaburra to the Brisbane Courier recently, gives a lamentable account of the eou ntiy there at the date. For months past the couctry around there has been a bairen waste. The frequent appearances of rain deceived many, who looked forward to a fail of raiu with each change of the moo», and so held, on until it was too late to travel their stock. In London the tricycle is now fitted up for milkmen arid newsboys. The Southland Coumjy Council rejoices m an overdraft of LB6OO. There are many County Councils m New Zealaud that might inquire into the cause wbick brings about such an unusal result. An amaieur novelist, tells of a vessel which 'left the. coast «>f Africa,. and after a pleasant voyage came m sight of the tall, white cliffs of Kent, and ran into Portsmouth. Seeing the writer is air. ex-schoolmaster, it is singular his geography should be so foggy. From' the commencement of the Nominated. Immigration scheme to the 30th June, 1884,, there had been 70,291 persous.nomiuated, out of which num--27,411 had arrived m the Colouy. Dr Wankel, of Olroiitz, believes he has discovered near Prerau the remains of prehistoric men coeval with the extinct animals of the ice age. The remains, of. the men and animals were found m a diluvial schist, with tools of bonoYivory, and flint, and signsof fire. The interest of the remains fa increased by the discovery of a human lower jaw under a gigantic thigh-bone. # ; It appears,says the London correspondent of the Auckland Herald, that an effort will be made to turn to practical account the visit to England of Tawhiao and his suite. The knowledge of the possession by the natives of fifteen odd million acres of land has excited a philanthropic desire to benefit them, and a project for colonization on a gigantic 1 scalo is m the wind. Big names are those who lend it their approval, the intention being that the scheme should be a judicious blend of philanthropy and L. s. d. . '. Gardening is practically taught m J ra6r6 than primary schools m America. . On the 9th of November the Friendly Societies at Woodville purpose holding a grand fete. Mr Murray has gone^to Waipawa. for the purpose of bringing up a number of first-class dairy cows for disposal amongst the farmers, to aid the Dairy Factory, a Woodville gentleman providing the necessary funds.— Woodvilie Examiner. From the Industrial Gazette we learn ! that the Ashburton Woollen factory is nearlng completion. The balance of the machinery is expected by the Cingalese, and v no time is to be lost after its arrival. • ' i From the Woodville Examiner we learn that Messrs Stevens & Gorton have decided on taking Messrs Carlile & j Saxby's yards m which to hold their stock sales. The yards will be put m first-class;, condition fer selling, stock,; andi|he:^frst vaale will be shortly announced."- "*' ' .;: The Woodvftiii^tipie, following the example "of maiSy.'bther towns, are going m for a mimic Parliament. We have received the September number of the Agricultural and Industrial Gazette published by/Messrs Edwards & Green, of Wellington. ; It contairis some very interesting articles on a variety of subjects, and ia proba bly the best yet published. . Says the Auckland Star's Wellington correspondent : — " The general opinion is that the weight of evidence will be m favour of the Marton route, but that the Stratford route will be recommended on the ground of cheapness. Opinions differ respecting the amount of. .saving. Some say it will be L3Q0,000 or L4OO, 000, while good authorities are positive that the difference will not be more than L.80,000. . k General Barlow says that m his experience a jury generally agrees within at least twenty four hours after a case is submitted to it. If there is a disagreement then, there is hardly any prospect for an understanding; After some members of a jury have stood out grimly m opposition for twenty-four hours, they are apt to fight it through on that line if it takes all summer. It is the first few hours that tell. It is generally considered that the ■ proposed Belgium settlement m New Zealand will bo a good thing for the colony, as tho class of people to be introduced will make good settlers. The reason of this project is that Belgium is unable to find an outlet for its population m auy other way, or having no colonies of its own the next best thing to do is to ask permission to make use of those of another country.

The Agricultural 'societies of Victoiia arojgoing m for fuiloiMtiou, or m other works fixed rules are to/ be adopted for the guidance of all the societies m the Colony. Sir George Bowen is said to be m his old form. In forwardiiity recently copies of the address of condolence of the Queen, adopted by the Legislative 4 Councils of Honkoiig on the death., of the Duke of Albany, Sir GeortC'j teok occasion to deliver himself of the following remarks :-*•" As I write, the batteries on shore, and the English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and American mon-of war at anchor here are firing, each 30 minute-guns m observance of the funeral of the Duke of Albany, which is being celebrated at Windsor on this day. It is a grand spectacle m the magnificent harbour of Hongkong, which recalls the beauties of Corfu and | of Speszia. The mountains of the neighbouring mainland of China are reechoing the roar of the European and ■Atnericau cannon — a grand requiem for. thtt lamented Prince m this extreme outpost of the British Empire m the far | East.— l have &c, G. F. Bowen."