LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1698, 3 May 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The liimutaka left Wellington for London via Auckland on Saturday afternoon. We arc very glad to loam that His Honor Pir James Prendergast,. Chiet Justice, had sufficiently recovered from, his recent illness as to be able to preside m Chambers last week. Mr Wardell, the Wellington R.M., is rapidly improving m health, and hopes soon to be able to resume his magisterial duties. The Evening Press thus refers to an account furnished by a correspondent of the attack made by the Volunteers at Wangar.ui on the Salvation Army :— We cannot sympathise with our correspondent's way of " doing it." Legitimate fun and harmless practical joking were excusable enough under the circumstances, but ruffianism and wanton mischief not only disgraced the individuals concerned but the corps they belonged to. There appears to be a rush on just now who will start the first newspaper m Pahiatua. There is a Mr Elowlett, a resident of that district, who is very enthusiastic m the matter, and is openins up negotations wo understand with a Southern newspaper to send up a plant. There is also aMr Andrew Black, according to the Evening Press, a resident of Palmerston North, who is the promoter of a new venture m the publishing line at Pahiatua. Then there is a a gentleman from Napier, who, it is said had been guaranteed a percentage on liia outlay, and who is to stilt forthwith. Then Ihere is the Woodville Examiner about to start a branch newspaper m Pahiatua. If all make a start Pahiatua should be tolerably lively with four newspapers. We to-day hear that all arrangements are completed for the issue. of ]a daily paper m Woodvillp, to be issued during the present month. The improvements and alterations lately effected m the interior of the Bon Marche give this popular establishment the appearance of being quite double its former size. The large and varied assortmeut of winter goods just opened out are displayed to advantage owing to the increased shop and show-room accommodation secured by recent alterations. The Featheraton correspondent of a Wellington paper writes : — Great excitement prevailed amongst the travellers from Wellington by the train on Thurs day morning on arriving at Fcatherstou. it is reported that the roof of a carriage had been nearly lifjfced off by the wind when crossing the plain before arriving m Featherston. No doubt there was some truth m the rumour, as the stationmaster had the roof of the carriage secured with rope before leaving Featherston on its journey. From the Marton paper we regret to' learn that several fresh cases of diphtheria have broken out m Bulls. Another child has succumbed to the complaint, the daughter of Mr James Ball, and several other children are m a critical state. And yet no one seems inclined to try the homoeopathic treatment, which has been attended with such signal success here and elsewhere. From the Feilding paper we learn that Mr Reginald Skerman, who has been for upwards of three years m the Feildiug branch of the Bank oi Australasia, has been promoted to the Masterton branch. Mr Skerman took his departure on Saturday morning and carries with him the good wishes of every one m the district. His successor is Mr Armstrong of Palmerston. An album et various views m Paris has been sent by an old resident of Manawatu, Mr Gabrael Metard, to W. G. Haybittle of Feilding. With a letter aocompanying the very handsome present, Mr Metard sent very kind wishoa to his old friends m Feilding. He is now married, and the happy father of a son and heir. We are gliid to learn that Mr Mttard's business m Pans is a flourishing »ne, — Star. Writes a Wellington paper, Mr Ballance, who is expected to return to Wellington on Saturday evening will probably make by far the quickest overland journey ever yet accomplished from Wanganui to Wellington. According to present arrangements, he will travel from Wanganui to Palmerston and Longburn Junction, where he will change to a " special " of the Manawatu Company, which will be waiting and will take him with all speed nearly to Otaki. Thence he will drive by road to Paikakariki, where he will rejoin the Manawatu Railway going by the temporary line to Pukerua, and thence to Wellington by a special train on the main line, arriving about 8 p.m. There are three large steamers now on their way from England to New Zeaand. The Tainui. which lerfc on the 27th March ; the Kaikourn, which left on April 10th ; and the Doric, which left on Saturday* The .-.-.first named steamet comes to Auckland, and the other t wflfto Fort Chalmers. All three are dated from Plymouth. A statement has appeared m some papers to the effect that the Government Insurance Association has sent Home an officer of its actuarial staff to assist the London actuaries m their quinquennial investigation. The statement is incorrect. Mr Fox, a member of the staff, has been granted leave to visit England for the purpose of passing an examination entitling him to a degree as an actuary, but he has no official 'mission at all, and has only been allowed three months of his leaye on full pay. — Wellington paper. The Mayor stated at the special Council meeting held on Friday that the point of law m reference to. the Magistrate's decision m the case of Nathan's Assessment would possibly be definitely settled m a few days. They had deferred holding the present meeting until the last day appointed by the Act m order to allow time, but they had. not yet heard from Wellington. On thia account chiefly the meeting was adiourned. A littlt boy whose sprained wrist had been relieved by bathing it m whiskey, snrprised his mother by asking : ' Did papa ever sprain liis throat when he was a boy ?'