LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 124, 30 April 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Letters have been receiyed m town from the Thames, stating that the sample of quartz sent up from Napier for a test crushing, yielded no gold, and further that there were no "indications" of gold m the stone, tho "indications" being certain minerals that usually cotnpany gold when found m reefs. — News.

Messrs Bentley Bros, notify over the leader a cable message received by them from the Seat of War, dated the 29th of April, to the effect that Marlborough House is being besieged by crowds of buyers from all parts of the district and merchandise is being carried off m large lots. A paragraph advertisement from the same firm calls attention to the good quality of their stock and the genuineness m the reduction of their prices. At Wednesday's meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Society it was mentioned that a man who had come from the Manawatu, and was suffering from some bodily ailment, had been refused admission to the Hospital. Mr Danks thei'eupon remarked that ever since the Wellington Hospital had been under the control of the Government it was a most difficult matter for any patient to get admission. There was no such difficulty at the Melbourne Hospital, -where any patient who got a ticket from a subscriber was admitted without further trouble. The responsibility was thrown upon the subscriber of the case being a proper one. Mr Wardell said he believed there were many patients m the Hospital who were not fit subjects for such an institution, and ought to be m. an Old Men's Home, if they had one. During a late visit to the Hospital he had seen a doll by the bedside of an old man, who was . m his second childhood. We (Marton paper) have been requested to publish, for the information of the children attending the Bulls State School the " list of offences " and the " code of penalties and punishments " submitted by the master at the meeting, and approved by the school committee. They are as follows .'—Offences — Truant-play-ing, unpunctuality, fighting, calling names, stone-throwing,- bad language, immoral conduct, stealing; injuring school buildings, furniture, or dress ; disorderliness or noise, untidiness ; imperfect lessons, idleness, carelessness, talkativeness, falsehood, copying, talebearing, disrespect to teachers or scholars, disobedience, insubordination. Code of penalties or imnishrnents — Standing on floor or form, standing m corner, imposing lines to write, imposing ' prose to lftarn, impossing sums to work out, loss ot place m class, loss of marks, loss of play, detention after hours, bad conduct marks, rustication from mates, wearing aunce-cap.wearing talking-card, letter of complaint to parents, letter' ot complaint to constable, stroke with strap on hand, " palrnies " with tawse, strokes on back with tawse, expulsion. The punishments were not apportioned to any particular offanca, but left to the discretion of the master,

At a farewell meeting at Christchurch to Mr Booth, the temperance reformer, n. very remarkable incident took place. A gentleman fame to the table where the pledges wore being taken, and looking into Mr Booth's face said " I fought against you m the American war." '* What," said Mr Booth, " were you on the other side ?" " \es," said he " but now I am come to fight on the same aide with you." Then the two took each other by the hand, and m the presence of the audience looked at each other m astonishment, and then, while the countenance of both of them were radiant wiih intense gladness, and one Haid and the other repeated yes, "Then we fought against each other m that cruel civil war, n^w we will fight side by side m the great cause m winch we are engaged." This incident was a cause of great sensation. Some new notices will be found m our " Wanted" column. DrPussell, of Christchurch, is about to commence practice m Woodvillc. O/erheard m 85 per cont of New Zealand newspaper offices : Managing editor " Say, the men are stuck for copy, and I can't scare up any new ads." Local editor, " And I can't make items." Managing editor, " Well, they must have half a column to fill up the paper. Got no excLanges ?" "No I used them all for my leader." Managing editor, " Well, then, wo must turn that reapingmachine yut upside down, smear some blots of ink over it, and call it a war map." Aud yet the public believe m the infallibility of the press. Mr J. Herbert Hankins' name has -been added to the advertisement , from the Public Trustee as that of tho local agent m this district. A correspondent m the Sydney Morning Herald suggests protecting vessels with wool, which he believes to be a better material than iron. The Wairarupa Dailg says that, judging by the views expressed by a iiumberof farmers, it is prubable th.it a considerable area of ground will be put m crop this year. According to a cablegram received by the New Zealand Shipping Company, the R.M.J Kaikoura has not boon chartered by the Admiialty as was stated m the Reutei's telegram. She is to sail from Lytteltou to London on her advertised date, May 10th. Tho Auckland Evening Herald says that there is still living, or rather starv- - ing, an old mau-o'-war'i man named Edward Armour, who has a distinct recpllectiou of the Battle of Waterloo, which happened on his sixteenth birthday, Armour having been born on the 18th June 1799, and who, consequently, is m his 86th year. Captain Fielder has allowed the old sailor 4s a week, and Constable Hutchinsou, advised by residents, is doing his best to get the aged veteran into the Old People's Refuge, and it is to be hoped that he will succeed. On the occasion of the sale of the library of the late Mr Gordon Allan, to be sold at Mr George Thomas' sale rooms, Mr F. W. Hnybittle will act as auctioneer for the first time. We are j glad to hear that Mr Haybittle, who for many years has occupied an important I position m Captain Thomas' office, has entered into partnership with the firm, and will m future conduct the auction sales. — Wellington paper. The Sydney Morning Herald says that the Patriotic Fund is steadily increasing m amount. The total sum banked by the honorary treasurers is £32,208. While m a trance, Mrs Baldwin, down South, a few evenings ago, made the following predictions : — That the present difficulty with Russia would result m a war between England and Russia, commencing m January, 1886; France, Germany and Italy would be drawn into it, but England's navy would be the means of her proving victorious. That an attempt would be made to rob the Colonial Bank m Dunedin on September 26th next, and that the Parliament Buildings m Wellington would be totally destroyed by 'earthquake m December 1887. Some sensation was caused by Mrs Baldwin giving some paticnlars as to the burning of the Duuedin Athenaeum some years ago, and the innocence of the librarian, Cummook.of tho crime of arson, of which he was accused. When ttie writer of the question m reply to which this answer was given was inquired for, Mr W. P. Street, late Mayor of Dunedin, explained that he had never committed the inquiry to writing, but had merely thought of it. Sandon announces a hack race on the 25th May. The programo consists of ten events. Ab»ut £100 is to be given away m stakes. . The Marton paper is trotting out its patron, the Knight of Westoe, as an eligible successor for Mr Shepherd M.HR. for Waiinea, who has been called to the 'Legislative Council. The interest taken m the local option question at Halcsmbe was very small. Only three persons voted. One was for the proposals and two were against an increase m the licenses. We ho;>o the member for the district will move for a return of tho cost of those local option elections with their results. They are a useless waste of public money. — Star. We (Post) retreat to hear that the Asylum donkey is dead. How sad ! The following mysterious advertisement appeared m a recent issue of the Post:-— Wanted known, Post Office Hotel half pint of two ales declined with thanks. The last*half-pint nearly poisoned me. Prefer good liquor at your old house. The first lot of cheese was sent out of the Woodville district from the factory on Tuesday, Mr Edwards taking two loads for customers m Waipukurau, Waipawa, and Napier. The death is announced m the Wei lington papers of Mr William Greenfield, plasterer, who arrived m Wellington m the ship Ana Wilson m 1875, and has lived there ever since. The death is announced of Mr E. Toomath, of Wellington. Additions are made to the catalogue of Messrs Snelson and Co.'s stock sale at Fitzherbert-street Yards, on Saturday next.