LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 61, 13 February 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

I'Votn the Taranaki News we learn that at the coming .native meeting of Titokowam's followers to be held m the New Plymouth district on the Ist March next, it is expected that over 3000 natives will pass through New Plymouth. It is stated they will remain two or three hours m Devon-street, and the procession will reach from the White Hart to the Red House Hotel. The native maidens'will be dressed m white, having colored ribbons streaming from their waists. A Bradford newspaper tells a curious story as to the will of the late John Taylor, of Haslingden, who died some years ago, leaving a very valuable estate to be administered by the Court of Chancery up to 1881, with directions that all rents were to be applied to pay off mortgages, after which the property was to pass to the heirs. One of the heirs, m the meantime, died m a workhouse, and most, if not all, of the others are m very humble circumstances. Now, however, it is estimated that about four millions sterling will shortly be divided among them ; and though they are Very numerous, the anticipation is that jthe long-delayed division of the estate yvill secure wealth for them all. From the commercial intelligence to hand by the Aoraugi's mail we learn that New Zealand flour ; was quoted m London at ; 4'B per ton. The same flour m Oamaru is fetching £8 ss, so that it isclear there has been a heavy loss to j some one.. However ruinous such a price must bo both to the grower and speculator, it was regarded as an unspeakable boon to certain classes m England, who must have very nearly reached starvation point. A private letter from Cornwall states that so depressed is the mining business generally that m many places miners are working for the barest pittance, their wages ranging from £2 to £2, 10s per month. To such as theso poor creatures a farthing more or less on the loaf of break must make a very appreciable difference. A reward of £50 is being offered to anyone producing such evidence as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who entered the dwelling house of Mr William M'Kelvey, Makara, on the night of the 29th Nov. 1883, and stole therefrom a box containing over £500 m gold. The Napier Telegraph understands that Mr J. T. Stewart, district engineer for the West Coast district, refuses to take over the Hawke's Bay district as it would be impossible for him to undertake the work for at least six months to come, and that then he would require an assistant. In the meantime, through the bungling of the Public Works Department, the inspection of county works under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, is at a standstill. The Hawera Star has the following : — The two men injured m the Waingongoro gravel-pit are progressing favorably and are expecting to set to work again m the course of a week. Both are Okaiawa residents. A lady who was passing tne gravel pit on horseback at the time of the accident gave valuable assistance, and worked as hard as any laborers present m releasing the buried men, m fetching water, and m going for assistance. It took nearly an hour to extricate the sufferers, and the pluck an endurance shown by this only passer-by has been the talk of the neighborhood ever since. A Yorkshire butcher when married took his wife on a trip to Bolton, and spent a Aveek on his honeymoon tour. As soon as he returned home the first thing he did was to put his wife into the scales and weigh her. Then the butcher took out his account book, and divided the expenses of the marriage and wedding tour by the weight of his wife. " Eh 1 lass !" said he, " thou'st cost me fourteenpence ha'penny a pound Thou'st the dearest piece of meat that iver I bought." Two or three years ago a servant m South Kensington, London, against the advice of her master and mistress, married a carpenter. Last week (says the Pall Mall Gazette of 12th December) on inquiry being made by a gentleman who had employed the man why he did not come and finish a iob, it was ascertained that his wife had been left £'96,000. The Taranaki Herald m commenting on the excuses frequently given by parents for keeping their children away from the Government school — not fife dresses — says : — " Nevertheless, when a school picnic is • on, 1 the dresses generally ' come to the front. 1 " We sincerely hope they do, although .we are quite willing to admit that under present fashions dresses come pretty much to the back. We have not yet had to record any case m which the dress did not " come to the front," we do not, of course, venture to predict what may ultimately be required of fashion votaries. " Hundreds of people are said to be actually starving m the north of England, with many thousands more hungry and destitute. The firm of A. and F. Pears, the wellknown soap-makers, spends yearly, m calling public attention to its wares, from £30,000 to £40,000, and is regarded .as one of the most original advertisers m the world. It does an immense business, and employs over one thousand hands. The verandah being erected at the Bank Chambers building is the first departure from the usual O.Gr. pattern. The first of the latter kind was erected to the building lately occupied by Mr Park. This new style is a shape very much used by builders m Christchurch having a glass roof. Harvesting is now m full swing all over the Eangitikei district. From enquiries we , (Marton paper) have made there can be no doubt that the yield will be far m excess ot last year's ; a result very pleasing to the farmers. We are informed the machines are working admirably, and up to the present there have been but a few repairs required. The string binders are mostly m favour this year. Says a Wellington paper : — People who handle fleeces or wool would do well to be cautious of the insect katipo, which is said to be more venomous and poisonous this season than it has been for years past. A butcher m the employ of the Wellington Refrigerating Meat Company has been bitten by one of these pests within the last few days, and has sustained serious injuries. His arm is swollen to an immense extent, and the inflammation caused by the bite is likely ; to lead to serious consequences. The Feilding Star desires to warn sporting men and others who are m the habit of subscribing to consultations, etc., against one advertised m the New Zealand papers, as " The Sydney Jockey Turf Club, £5000, over the signature of Jauies Wallace, Secretary S.T.J.C. Box 784. G.P.O. Sydney, N.S.W." The whole affair is a swindle. [We may say that the advertisement was sent to us to insert, and a book of tickets for sale. But we refused either to insert the advertisement or appoint an agent for the sale of tickets, as we were satisfied the consultation was a bogus one. We are sorry to see that a number of newspapers have published the advertisement as that of a genuine consultation. Ed. M.S.] The Government insurance Board are favourable to the Marton waterworks loan but have asked for further information. The loan may now be regarded as a dead certainty. The water supply contract is to be preceded with at •nee.

U-a>! r» interested m astronomic*! phiMioiii^ua should note that the plant) df S ifcurii'H ring is visible at pr.-sent. Tlid reason of this is that it is necessary the 1 ami and cartli sliould be elevated on the Siurie side of the planet, which which is the case (hiring the year 1885. or iii otliur words, Saturn is m that ppsi tion m his orbit round the stia which hattains every 29£ years. Miss Finney lias no intention of retir ing from the stage. Her £10,000 secure her an excellent income, but she is iuucl too fond of the profession to think o withdrawing from it. In addition to the defendant bearing "the costs of the case," , it is understood that expenses which would uot vome undor this head will be defrayed by Lord Garmoyle, and that iv point of fact Miss Finney will not have a penny to pay. out of pocket. It is said that Sir John Hall has so far recovered his health that he may return to public life next year. The Anglo-New Zealander is said to be proving an expensive experiment to i Messrs Hortou and Reed, of Aucklaud. Rotorua Maoris have started to make billiard cues from main timber, which they do most successfully. . The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon is expected m Auckland by the 23rd. A grand soiree is to take place the next evening. , Mr Osmond's friends won the day *m the Napier Harbour Board election. W. H. Smith, M.H.R., was defeated for one seat. The pioneer of the Scotch press was James Watson, who m 1699 founded the Edinburgh Gazette. The Dubiin News Letter, found m 1685, was the pioneer journal m Ireland. The following ad rertisetnent is m the Wangunui Herald : — " Wanted known — A gentleman requires a furnished bedroom m house, with paddock." He explains by saying that he would require the use of the latter to run a horse. A patient has been m the Napier Hospital for 177 days, when he ought to have been ; m only a fortnight. Mr Cohen said there was no doubt it was a capital private boarding house where no references were required, and accounts were never rendered. The New Zealand Trade Review and Wellington Prices Current for the past mouth m speaking of the Custom revenue remarks :— lt is noticeable that the two Northern ports, Auckland and Wellington show ou the whole, a steady upward progress, whilst the two Southern ports, Dunedin and Lyttelton, exhibit, unfortunately, a marked tendency to docliue. We have ne doubt that before long our Southern neighbours will have surmounted their troubles, and will again be making pood headway, but we may veuture to predict that within the next few years the North Island will exhibit a further substantial improvement which those unacquainted with its resources little anticipate. Tenders for stumping a portion of the Standard hay paddock close at 2 p.m. to-morrow. Mr Henry Brett, the energetic proprietor of the Auckland Star, has started a monthly journal specially devoted to the interests of agriculture m all its branches The first number i 3 a very creditable production, and judging by its appearance, we should say that Mr Biett's latest veuture is likely to be successful. The well-known race horse Chevalier has been sold by his Rangitikei owner to Mr D. Coyl' 1 , of Auckland, at a very satisfactory price. The R.M.S. Aorangi will leave Wellington for London direct to-morrow taking mails, passengers, &c. We are m receipt of Messrs T. Ken. nedy Macdonald and Co.'s new publication entitled The Wellington Landed Property Guide, which contains a long and well compiled list of valuable city, suburban, country, pastoral and Hotel properties for sale by the firm. It is iutonded to make this publication which has a large circulation the medium for advertising the groat bulk of the properties for sale, and as this is done free of charge to vendors, it m likely to be largely taken advantage of by both purchasers and sellers. The firm having made extensive alterations to their premises are now prepared to give especial attention to the laud business with which they have received such a large measure of support for a number of years, and thus are able to supply their clients with plans and data on land matters which is of especial value to both vendor and purchaser. We recommend ' the publication to the attention of our readers, a copy of which will be forwarded at once by dropping a vote to the publishers, Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., Panama-street, Wellington. The barque Mataura from London to Wellington made a very fast passage of 84 days, being the quickest between those two ports, for the last twelve months. ; The Hon. Mr Ballance left Auckland on Wednesday, for the Thames m the Hinemoa. He leaves again for Tauranga, calling at Waiwera, en route, to confer with Sir Julius Yogel. Sir Julius Yogel is expected m Auckland on Sunday. He will address a meeting m Auckland on Tuesday or Wednesday. A serious bush fire at Mount Macedon near Melbourne, threatened to envelope the residence now occupied by the Governor. The fire approached very near the house. The smoke and heat were frightful. In the fire at Collingwood the insurances on premises and stock amounted to £6000. In the weights for the Napier Handicap Emir Bey, Bst lib, was omitted. The entries for Messrs Beckett, Hammond, & Dick's sale at Marton on the 16th inst. are growing larger every day. Judging by the list of entries published m our advertising columns this evening, we should say that this sale ought to be the most important ever held m Mar-, ton. It is suggestive of the rigour of the discipline m the German army that the standard bearer, an officer of a battalion of infantry of the garrison at Breslau, m returning from the manoeuvres, having got into a wrong train, so that his company waited for him at Breslau, committed suicide to escape from the punishment which awaited him. A deputation waited on the Hon. Mr Ballance m Auckland on Wednesday, respecting the removal of restrictions, from native lands. Mr Bullance said the pqhlcy of the Government was not to lift the restrictions. The question as to how these lands were to be disposed of would have to be decided by comprehensive legislation next session. Hops are likely to be very low m England this year. Hops worth £8 m July last were m December sold for £2. The New Zealand Timber Company's new worfcs at Auckland will soon be under way. Mr George Augustus Sala is expected to reach Auckland by the 7fch March. The Wellington Refrigerating Company are at present working day and night so as to keop pace with their orders. They are now freezing six thousand sheep for transhipment to London per the lonic, which leaves here on Sunday next.

Me3siM 0. L. Adersoh and Jtufj A. Tompkins announce iii our advertising columns that having purchased; .the" Book Debts m the estate of .T. H. Topnin#, have appointed Mr H. Gklrdda td I collect the accounts. Any accoilntd not I paid within fourteen days from date, will be sued for without further notice. The Creraldine Dairy Eactory received I ist month 17,943 gallons of milk from ; I subscribers. The Dunedin Jockey Club gatemen, :;'cket sellers, and others are to wear lumbered badges as at Melbourne. From the Woodville Examiner we learn that Mr W. C. Smith, M.H.R., has communicated with the Minister of Public Works urging the grant m full for the bridge at the Lower Ferry. Says the Hawera Star : — Mr Pinches has now issued his fourth advertising sheet, the last being of Palmer ston North, which certainly, m general finish and appearance, contrasts very favorably with those already got up by him. The photographs were taken by Mr Shailer of Palmerston, who has the reputation of being a first-class landscape photographer, and certainly they are capitally done. ; Mr William Bridgeman, of Glen Tannery, .and ex-mayor of Caversham, Otago, had a narrow escape from the railway line on Saturday forenoon. He was making a short cut to the railway station along the line, when the 11 o'clock m- train came up behind him. The engine driver whistled long and loud, but Mr Bridgeman was absorbed m thought. The train was at his heels before he knew anything about it. He made a spring, but was too late, and the cowcatcher knocked him off the line. Happily the speed was slow, and when the guard picked him up he had only got a slight scalp wound, m addition to a severe fright. While employed .penning sheep m the Wanaka woolshed a lad named McLaren found some dynamite caps somewhere. • and not knowing what they were, he carried a few m his vest pocket, while he had one dangling as an ornament from his watchchain. While jumping a fence an explosion occurred, wounding him m his right thigh and lacerating his ear, which bled profusely. He thought hehad been shot, and no little consternation for a time prevailed. It being breakfast time, a hasty search was made round the shed for the supposed miscreant, who, of course, could not be found, but a dynamite cap was picked up on the woolshed floor, thereby revealing the cause of the explosion. Happily the I lad's wounds are not of a serious nature. This is but another instance of the folly j of leaving dangerous explosives lying about. Captain Percy, one of the officers of Colonial Defence Force, who was wounded on the West Coast, and who went Home for surgical treatment fifteen years ago, has returned to Wellington, accompanied by his wife. Captain Percy j has recovered from his wound, and expresses a desire to be placed on active service should he be required There are several of his old comrades m New Zealand who would be glad to follow him, should occasion require. A lady sends an exchange the following :— " A beautiful thought came from a little boy of eight years this evening. We were watching our lovely sunset, and, afterwards, the stars made their ap* pearance, one by one, until there was a myriad of bright, twinkling orbs. He said : ' Mamma, don't you suppose that God has bored lots of holes m the sky so that we can see how beautiful heaven is on the other side, and don't you guess that it is the angels floating by them that makes them look as though they were winking? We (Napier Telegraqh) learn that within the last few weeks a considerable number of applications have been made . for the lease of bush lands for saw milling purposes. These applications have oorne from all parts of the colony, more especially for the fine totara lands m the immediate vicinity of the Tahoraite railway station. There is every prospect now that the railway has actually " topped " the forest of the 'speedy establishment of a large export timber trade. Jacob Faithful's well-known consultation will close on the 13th March. For some little time past these consultations have been held m Napier, and have always been conducted m an open and straightforward manner. The latest of them resulted m residents m almost every part of the colony holding successful tickets. Judging from the. experience of the past, this consultation is as safe a one as country people can find to participate m. Full particulars are to bo found m another column. The Salvation Army are at work now m Napier. On Tuesday evening (says the Waipawa Mail) they caused no small astonishment m the minds of country visitors, by the very curious procession they made through the town. Four officers — " Captings," we were told, led the way, all singing nnd holding lighted torohes over their heads, whilst one of them walked backwards, so as to face the followers, literally yelling, and beating time with his hands. Immediately behind came the retinue of hallelujah lads and lasses, also singing, and on each side of the devotees a orowd of larrikins, laughing, chaffing and generally " taking off" the whole show. They say that the delight and satisfaction of the officers increases m proportion to the noise and ridicule that is thrown at them. A peculiar and almost fatal accident happened recently to a son of Mr F. W. Gane, of JSorraanby, says the Hawera Star. The lad was pjayiug about at the top pf the well m the garden, when the lid tipped m, and he was precipitated into the water. In falling m, the lid strnck the boy under the ear severely, causing him to faint away. Fortunate* ly, the lid fell under him, and sustained, his head above the water— of which there was about six feet m the well — or probably he would have been drowned. Mr Gane >vas aw&y from home at the time, but Mrs Gane let her little girl (aged about 13 years) down m the bucket to get her brother out* Just before she got-down, however, the rope of the bucket broke, and she was pitched into the water ; but by the aid of an extra rope she managed to get up again and help her brother out. The lad is I now almost better from his accident. The unfortunate man. Bedingfteld, whose recent escapade caqsed so much scandal m the ranks of the Salvation Army, haa come to an ! untimely end. Some months ago He went4o the United States, and his fate, is told m the following paragraph amongst the American intelligence by the San Francisco mail : — " Bedingfield,. a captain m the Salvation Army, while praying m front of an hotel, near San Jose, had his brains knocked out by a pickle-keg, thrown by the proprietor." Mr Adams and party were to resume survey operations on the Central Kailway about three miles beyond Hunter villa to-day. Mr Blackett, who is absent m Wellington, will return and join Mr Adams m a few days. The mayor of Chriatchurch has received a telegram from Sir Julius Yogel to the effect that he will visit Christ* church m about three weeks. Peter Carroll, who, has done a fonrtceu years' a.enionce m Auckland -for rape, was yesterday arrested for an indecent assault upon his granddaughter, Margaret Carroll, aged fi ve .years. Th e mother is m prison, and the child, lived! at his house m Chancery-street,