LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1495, 31 October 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We learn that the Lower Rangitikei pastures are suffering greatly from drought, there having been next to no rain for several weeks past. What little moisture falls at night occasionally quickly ovaporates during the day,' without benefiting the grass to any appreciable extent. The sheep are suffering considerably, both m wool and fltsh, and some of the farmers aie somewhnt despondent m consequence. The same phenomenon is prevalent m the tree-less portions of Hawkes Bay, while round the bush districts no such complaints are heard. Surely these are convincing arguments m favor of the beneficial climatic effects resulting from the proximity of forests. In fining a driver for refusing to allow another vehiclo pass his on the road to the Island Bay races, tho Wellington Magistrate remarked m the Court that for such an offence a person was liable to a iine twice as much as was a .person who sold unwholesome food. That might seem strange, but so it was.

.. In a mine m Grass Valley, thut ua. for years been flooded, it was found upou rdnuwing operations recently that W pnllliolo m a vein of quartz had | healed up around a small rod of iron, or /'spoon," that had been left m, aud that several clusters of small crystals had ahutOiit m a fractured portion of thp vein? Ijhis is quoted to prove that tnitals jgrow, like wood and other products of the earth. „ From.a,. Wellington paper we learn that at a recent fire, some of Hardens fire hand grenadet were thrown into the flames, the effect produced quite astonishing everybody. The flames were so subdued m a moment that the weak points could easily be discerned, ancL;,*... ». hqseu.,.. kept „. on the,, prqj.--uiisQß was brought to play o;i the places where the tiro had taken the greatest hold. Eight of the grenades \ were missing, but, so far as; could be seeu, only throe of jthem had been broken. They^ere cursing the School Board bitterly as they stood round the bar. Well, J says," remarked a gentlemau m corduroys and a five days' beard, I \mrrah tor t.heJSchool Board." ""What, with a rate of niuepeuue m tho pound ?" " who cares? 1 ain't no scholnrd myself; I can't read or write, I can't* but heddication makes the poor equal to the rich." "flow.". "Now, why look at my. sop Tom-thanks to the, School 'Board — hable to read, and write tike a bally dook,' only fifteen years' of age, and apprenticed to one of the biggest grocers m th. road."' "Not much m that!" '-'Not much m that; j: why; thanks to the School Board and its heddication he has beeu able to forge his guvnor's name- for twenty pun.. Why we have never had so much money m the family afore.*' The natives of Opuneke have (says tho Tarauaki Herald) becomo impressed with the machinery recently erected there lor the Dairy Factory. We learn that as the engineer (Mr Crawford) was performing the last finishing touches m regulating - the machinery an old Maori chief came into llm .building and watched 'the operations witk much interest and concern. He approached M r Cra wf ord . with g reat ; re vereuce; , sayine, i " .taipo-masier ?"-me«ning thuieDy to ascertain whethei Mr Craw, ford could work and control -the machinery. On being answered m the affirmative, and seeing the machinery at full speed, he exclaimed " Kapai tkapan! Pakoha make wcheeße without hands: soon; without A cow." We hardly think the native chief meant to be sarcastic, aa his manner did not appear to convey that impression ; bnt he was so overcome with tho ability; of the naUeha to invent machinery that he really believed what' lie said. : ' ; A sailor belonging to the U.S. corvette Enterprise was lodged m the Wellington look-up fur drunkenness! ' In a* goodhumored wuy he told the constable he won d blow up the town next :' morning. The enquiry into the recent collision between the steamers Jane Douglas and ,Tui will take place next week. The owners of the steamer Hauraki opmpleted their contract for landing railway material at Shanuon on Wednesday! We learn that the contractors have now enough material to complete the laying oflE the line to Oiaki. and that no more stuff will require to be landed at Shannon. This looks like genuine progress. A sensation has been caused m Dunediii through the elopemeut of a umrried lady with a i gentleman well-known iv the town. The parties occupied good social position's m Dunediri. Much sympathy is felt for the husband. ' ~ It is a mistaken idea that the horse must bo kept m fear with the whip. He must be first taken m hand to learn the voice, 4iid .gradually-made to understandj by example the meaning of what is said' to him. Teaching; a horse is just line teaching a child ; when you 'commence the alphabet with him you make him repoai.it, so. as to familiarise y him with the soiuklb and appearance of each letter. 1 So with the horse, if you want him! to goto the left or right,', when yon say ilef t, you lead him by the head m that direatiou until he goes m that direction without your aid. To be sure it takes time to make him understand, but he will get a« used to the words you speak and, their meaning as he does to " wlioa " and . ." iree np."— Scottish Agricultural Gazette. ; ' At the fortnightly meeting of the Land Board held on Thursday there, were present — Messrs Bunny (m the chair), Beetham, Fitzlierbert, Mason, iM ? Card)e, A schedulu. otland sold aiucb lasl f met'ting waßread. Applications for mineral leases of 320 acvea each m the PolianKina district were made v by Messrs J. It. Anderson and J. Cotter. The consideration of the applications was deferred. The steamer Wallace which went Hshore at Greymouth a short time ago, 1 lias- broken m halves. Her owners are now engaged recovering the machinery and anything worth taking out of her. Mr Monteith was charged at the Napier Court with having attempted' to enter a oarriage reserved for ladies. After hearing the evideqee the Bench reserved its decision for half -au h6iir, and then fined. Mr jManteith SJQb and costs. . . -, The Son, Mr Ballarice_ will, if time permits, pay a visit ta Mr Hone ,Mohe f Tawhai, formerly a member of the House t whose settlement is to the North ot Auckland, The. Native Minister will probably return overland to Wellington, coining by Way of Taupo to Napier, and thence through the Seventy-Mile Bush. No definite, time has been fixed for his return. v