The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1885. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 54, 5 February 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1885. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The follow extract froin i>he account of the proceedings of the Nelson City Council offers a suggestion : — " A letter was receceived from the Auckland Town Clerk calling attention to the fact that the police would probably m future lay informations on account of certain offences under the Police Offences Act instead of as a breach of the by-laws, thus depriving the Boroughs of the fines, and suggesting that combined action be taken by the Municipal Councils m tho matter. — Besolved that a reply be sent to the effect that this council be prepared to join with the Auckland and other Councils m taking concerted action. A Sandhurst magnate tells a good story. On the occasion of his election as mayor he received from a neighbouring township this telegram — "Congratulations 1 We are drinking your health 1 " Upon the best of terms with himself and every body else, he replied, " Many thanks 1 Prink away 1" The reply to this didn't cwne until he presently visited his congratulatory friends, but it was p, substantial one — a bill for refreshments, ij\e tptal of which was expressed by two rather fpymuiable figures. : A companion yohune $ "^Men of the Time "is to be issued boob. It is devoted to women of mark, and comprises over 400 names well known m art, literature, science, music,- and the drama. The volume is the work of Miss Francis jiay.es, and the publishers are Messrs

The following iw from the New York Mercury ; ' In London, when "Pinafore" i>; played, Gilbert, the author, becomes so affected that ho cannot remain m the audience. It is unfortunate, however, that when his later work, the ' Princess,' is played, the audience become so affected m the same way. An Eastern reporter was sent to ascertain the truth of a rumor that a wellkuown citizen had gone insane. The reporter's career ended then and there, when the paper next morning had the following paragraph : — " There was a rei port yosterday that something was the matter with Mr Saunder'a head. It is as sound as it has always been. There is nothing m it." A terrible sensational occurrence took place at the princess Theatre, at Valencia Spain. Miss Leona, Pare the American acrobat was suspended from the roof of the Theatre by her feet, and held m her teeth the ropes of the trapeze bar, on which a male acrobat known as M. George was performing. During the act Miss Dare was seized with a nervous fit and dropped the trapeze. George and the apparatus dropped whirling to the floor. The audience was horror-stricken. Every one rushed for the door's and a panic ensued m which many people were ■crushed and otherwise injured. Miss Dare clung to the roof screaming hysterically. She was rescued with difficulty after the excitement had somewhat subsided, and is now confined to her bed from exhaustion following the shock. M. George is dying. As an instance of the tremendous increase m the value ot Dunedin City sections, may be mentioned the corner sold recently to the Government, known as Wise's corner. The section was bought originally for £16 10s, and sold recently for i-35,000 cash. The property has remained all these years m the hands of the original owners, who have derived m their time some nice rents from the corner alone. Mr Stewart, engineer to the Waimate Road Board, had a narrow escape ironi a serious accident a few days ago. He was examining some specifications whilst sitting on his horse, when xuiexpectedly the horse bolted, and, after running for some distance, fell into a pig hole. Mr Stewart fell heavily upon his head, and was unconscious for a time, but has now quite shaken off the effects. :•- When the last mail left England, Sir William Fox, " ex-prosident of New Zealand," as the Newcastle papers announced, was on a visit to North Shields, and the guest of the Mayor of Tynemouth (Aid. Hedley), West Chirton House. The Food Committee of the Society of Arts recommend the donkey as an article of food. " Everyone," says Mr Chester, " who has eaten roast donkey has pronounced it excellent." In flavour it resembles turkey. Here is a hint for travellers by rail (says the Waipawa Mail). If you miss the train at Waipawa, go home to your paddock, catch your horse and overtake it at Waipukurau ; or if you possibly miss it there, you can make absolutely certain of catching it at Takapau. This statement is not made to cast any slur on the speed of her Ma'esty's trains, but it is only based upon what was actually performed quite lately when a wellknown schoolmaster missed the train at Arawharo, and cantered away to Takapau, arriving there with some seven minutes to spare. Advance New Zealand ! A letter was received from Dr Kemp, • recently of Wellington, by last mail steamer, stating that he intended leaving London on the 18th of the present month His health has been much improved by the change — so much so, that he was able, during the last three mouths of the year, to resume work. He received two valuable appointments as chemical assistant at the great London Eye Hospital at Moorfields, and also at the Skin Hospital, Blackfriars. The practice at both institutions is enormous, and the appointments are much sought after, as they give a good standing to medical men. Dr Kemp is thererore to be congratulated on his improved health and professional successes. His friends and patients will be glad to have him back again. . In a private journal of a lady recently deceased there were found these words : " I expect to pass through this woild but once. Auy good thing therefore that I pan do, or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creatuies, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." The Evening Post suggests that the name of Waring Taylor street should bo changed, and suggests as a substitute the name of Jervois, as a compliment to His Excellency. A correspondent of the Napier Telegraph suggests that it should bo altered to Jellicoe street, the name of the prosecuting solicitor. A gigantic earthworm has recently been sent from Cape Colony, Africa, to the Royal Zoological Society of England. It is 6 feet 5 inches m length, and of a corresponding growth of body. A memorable Highland reel was danced at Beluaont, near Geelong, the other -eveiiing by a party of agtd people hailing from " auld Scotia," The eldest dnncer was a man of 86 years, the youngest a woman aged 76 years, and weighing 14st. Recently m Paris, during the session of the Congress of the Freethinkers, one eminent thinker, striking an attitude, passionately exclaimed : " Gentlemen, I am an Atheist — thank God !" In connection with the will of the late Dr Diver, it is stated that he bequeathed unto his second sou all his cash, personal effects, etc., including his fine private residence m Johnston-street. In conse quence of his eldest son disobeying bis father's wish that he should be educated to the medical profession, the doctor " cut him oft with a shilling." A new eight-paged weekly paper, called Our Citizen, wos published m Dune • din on Saturday. The editor is Mr W. Hutchison, formerly Mayor of Wellington. After being clover-sick for many years the pasture lands all .around New Plymouth are once more perfectly white with the flowers of that nutritious plant, and stock as a natural consequence are m very good condition. Persons who have been so fortunate as to have escaped fires, will do well to remember that when a fire does occur it is necessary to prove loss. Thus if the insurance is for £200 on furniture a statement must be made out proving that furniture to that amount was m the bouse at the time of the fire. Or if effects are insured with the furniture the total loss has to be sworn to, It would not at all be a bad idea if persons were theiefore to keep a sort of inventory of their tilings, which would bo available should necessity arise. Because queries are made it must not be thought a company is prying, but it is necessary that reasonable proof should be forthcoming, showing the loss mentioned m the claim. In the Water Police Court at Sydney last week a cabman was fined £1 for having demanded more than his fare, -innd £3 for having expostulated iv rather too emphatic a manner when his request was ignored. Jehu retired from Court both a poorer and a wiser man. The occupant pi' bis cab was a detective. Several enquiries have Ja£ely been made for business premises m Napier, no doubt due to the success of the poll for the Harbor Loan. ' \

A Balla nt identity, known luc.iliy na Joe tbe Bellman, and m Melbourne " BaUnrat ,}or" was tbe other day arrested on a rliiug'.! of drunkenness, and upon being searched at the lock-up was found to be tlio possessor of bank drafts j representing £000, eighty six sovereigns i and 19s m silver. For many years Joe i has been known as an original grinder 1 m Ballarat and Melbourne. A littlo fellow was climbing an apple i tree, and when on tho topmost limb he slipped and fell to the ground. Ho was ! picked up m an insensible condition. After watching beside his bedside for many weary hours, his mother perceived signs of returning consciousness. Leaning over him she asked him if there was anything she could do for him now that ho began to ieel better ? Should sho bathe his forehead, or change his pillow, or fan him ? Was there anything he wanted? Opening his eyes lanqnidly, and looking at her. the little sufferer said : " Yes, I want a pair of pants with a pocket behind." According to the New York Tribune : — Tho hot-water cure is becoming general, and even the doctors have got to proscribing it. Mr Daniel, oue of the uptown merchants, claims that he has 5000 disciples now drinkiug hot water before breakfast. When first drunk the hot water seems to nauseate a littlo. Iv a few days it becomes agreeable, and after a week is missed m the morning. The advocates of hot watet before breakfast denounce cold water at any time of the day, and are evidently bent on breaking up the ice companies. Tho English who come to' this country arc of the opinion that ice water is a potent cause of B right's disease of the kidneys. The writer of " Local Gossip" m the Auckland Herald says that Sir Julius Yogel is the only smoker m the Ministry worthy of the name. Tn spite of the I gout, Earl Derby, and the Telephone* Company, lie smokes from early morn to dewy eve. Says the- London Globe: — Men eat sheep, therefore large numbers of sheep are kept m New Zealand ; sheep eat grass, but grass is eaten by rabbits ; labbits are eaten by weasels and stoats ; but weasels and stoats feed upon pigeons, therefore 2000 are going out with the weasels mid stoats ; but pigeons eat corn, therefore sixteen quarters of corn are going out too ; men grow corn; therefore men grow corn to eat shoep. — Q.E.D. A short time ago we (Patea Mail) applied to the Postmaster here for the name of the port of departure of, and the date of closing the mail here for, the direct service steamer. The Postmaster informs us that the Chief Postmaster at Wauganui is unable to giva him the information required, as he only gets it by telegram a short time before the closing of each mail, the port of departure may be Wellington, Lyttelton, or Port Chalmers. This sort of intelligence makes the direct route particularly interesting to inland towns ia the North Island, as a short notico that the mail would close at Port Chalmers would benefit them much. Singularly great presence of mind was displayed by the wife of the adjutant of the Thirty-sixth Regiment of Madras Infantry, stationed at Cannanora Awuking m the middle of the night and feeling thirsty, she rose to get a glass of water. Iv putting her foot on the floor she stepped on something cold, and iv a moment she felt the slimy coil of a snake around her ankle. Instantly it flashed across her that, as it had not bitten her she must have stepped upon its neck, and she pressed down her weight upon it, as it writhed and made every effort to get free. Thus she stood till her husband struck a light, " Stand firm, "said he, as soon as he saw her terrible position ; and the strong-nerved lady did so until he had taken a razor, and putting it down to her foot, cut the snake's head off. The Prince of Wales has gone on a visit to Cannes m the South of France.