LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1578, 10 December 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

For eight weeks' work stona-breaking at the Wanganni Corporation Yards, the sum of Xl l<3.s was earned. We understand that the portion of the late Mr Dungnn's estate m Main street, on which stood the building formerly used as a print m? office, has been purchased by Mr H. McNeil, for the sum of £100. At that price it may, said to be a great bargain. Mr McNeil is the owner of the adjacent property.

.Mrs Fagan informs us that bad as times are m Palmerston she hag done a brisk trade since her sale began. On Saturday several custonu-rd c;>nid not be served, sn many wore wishing to purchase i at the same time. Mr Walker, vetcrenavy surgeon, has left at our office a very strange freak, of nature m the shape of two fore-legs of a foul, which unfortunately did not live after birth. Where the hoof should be m one there is like a double leg, each, having a termination somewhat resembling a pig's foot. On the case o£ the other there m no hoof (■»• horny substance j at all, though the double leg is apparent, J but the cuds of the large and small bone I are simply covered with loosa skin. Tlio i violent and unskilful manner m which j efforts were made to deliver the mare, before Mr Walker's services were obtained, were the meant; of killing the foal, and thus what might have baen a j most extraordinary and interesting 1 curi- j osity m the animal world has been unfortunately destroyed. The Cambridge Cheese Factory ox- ' pects to he m receipt of fully 100 gallons oc milk daily before the end of tha cur rent month. Through the omission of a line m a paragraph m last nigut\s issue, m refer euoe to the date of receiving nominations for handicaps m P.ihnerston Friendly ; Societies' Fete on New Year's Day, an error unfortunately occurred which we hasten to rectify. The nominations close qi\ Saturday next, the l'ith inst.. at 9 p.m., and final acceptances on Saturday fortnight, 2<»th inst , at 9 p.m. The " co.py" of the paragraph sent down was correctly worded, but m the harry of proof-reading the error escaped detection, and was not noticed until nearly the whole issue had been worked off, when of course it was too late to make the necessary alteration. The latest idea is to turn Paris into a sea port. The means suggested for accomplishing this feat is to cut from Boulogne to the capital a canal navigable for vessels of considerable tonnage, and thisc anal is to terminate on the Plain of Pantin m a chain of docks and wharves to which, say.s an enthusiastic advocate of the scheme, " even those of Antwerp itself would be comparable." It seems, however, that merchandise would occupy almost as many days m canal transit from Boulogne to Paris as an express train would occupy hours. — Court Journal. An experienced gardener says that a sure sign to find if plants m pots require wetting is the rap an the side of the pot, near tha middle^ with the finger knuckle ; if it gives forth a hollow ring the plant needs water, but if there is a dull sound thore is still moisture enough lo sustain the plant. A novelty m the way of clocks (says Uiu N&pier Evening News) has recently, been patented, which deserves mention both for originality and beauty of design. The face consiHts of a tambourine, the cover of which ia decorated with a wreath of 12 flowers at tqual distance apirt. Two gaily painted butterflies of different sizes move from flower to flower, and m th."s way mark the time, the larg r insect indicating the minutes, this smaller the hours. Tin: works are concealed behind the skin. Two magnets attached to the army that take the place of hands move close to the cover, and the >}titt< rflies, winch are made of metal, follow itiein around t All thai is visible to indicate tiniu is thi< wreath of twelve flowers and two butterHieS moving from blossom lo blossom. The Prince of Wales it is said offered Fred Archer a retainer to rid« for him next se.ison. "The Tinman," however, declined the honor, on the grounds that it was not his inleution to accept any retainers m future ; but if the colors of his old master, Lord Falmouth, were again seem on the turf, lie should consider his lordship his first and ouly mas ter. Mr Balance is already taking active st<>p.s m regard to th« consultation of forests. Professor Kirk has beon ap-'J pointed Chief Conservator of Forests for the whole colony, and the chairman of counties will be requested to act as local cons&rvators (without remnnera \ tiou). It is thought vory desirable to secure the assistance ot County Councils ! m this most important work. The | rnng-'rs now, employed under the, L«nd Act will as far as their present duties will permit, be required to act as forest rangers withiu their respective comities. — Voat This from the Bruce Herald:— Hr G. A. >a\ix has arrived at Rotorua. Th<! Pohutu geyser spouted up 40 foot high m honor of his visit, and Mr Sal a spouted m reply. Fifty Natives also welcomed the groat journalist. Some id ;a of the magnitude of the interests involved m our Indian Empire may be gathered from the fact that during last year a total sum of no less than £689,495 was nscoivad from the various Native States whose rulers pay tribute to their Suzerain, the Empress of India. By far the largest amount is paid by the Rajah of Mysore, whose tribute amounts annually to £245,000. Next comes Travancore whos- ruler hands over £81,000 and Kathiawar, whose Gaikwa^ surrenders £54,000. Such petty States as Dhar mid Paldno.on the other hiind,only pay £147 and £24 per annum respectiveIn concoction with the re-organisation of the Chinese Army a»»d Navy, it is proposed to form a standing army, with uniforms, arms, Accoutrements, aid discipline, of from 600,000 to 700,000 men, to be increased m war time to double that number. i A boy aged eight years, has met with a shocking death at Sheffield. He was playing at " horses " with some compan- ' ions, and had a nail l^in. lon< m his mouth to represent a bit. While running the nail slipped down his throat, and caused his death, after terrible suffering.