LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1711, 18 May 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

' Messrs Nolan Tonks and Co., elsewhere announce their next stock sale at Manaia, which wilt take place onThurs-. day, 26ih iiißt, at I p.m. We remind those interested that 1 • ninations for the handicaps for the Caledonian Society's sports close at .9 . p.in; to-morrow* . ,' -la the Wellington Evening Vress of 24th April there appeared an account of "An adventure with the Freethinkers of Palmerston North." In last Saturday's supplement of the mine caper Mr Thomas Hall, Secretary of the Lyceum, takes up the cudgels on behalf of the Freethinkers vigorously - and with telling effect. ; Had space permitted we sh«uld have reproduced some of hie arguments. Suys the Auckland Eerald of May 5 : — Over five thousand bags of potatoes were received at thiß port yesterday from the Uniou Company's steamships Taupo, JTarawcra, and. Maitai.., They were principally brought from the South [Island, and the Taupo, with 4514 sacks was ihW largest contributor. Potatoes '■ daring the last f aw, V weeks have beou somewhat firm m price, and 1 these shipments should^ m admeasure, ease the; market. ' • • * Messrs Siau and McGrath, auctioneers &c, Woodville, have dissolved partner* ship. A correspondent writes to the Wellington Press :— The facts aLput the new Pahiatua paper are that a Palmerstou man had arranged to open shortly, but his claim has been jumped by Mr Hasten ,of Woodville. Some say the P il-

Two prizes m the recent Druid art union at Melbourne have fallen to members of the Hastings Lodge, but their value is not at present known. Mr Good i son has fitted up the rail at the rear of his cab for the comfort ©£ the juveniles who aro m the habit of riding behind. The barb fence wire looks quite artistic, twined round the rail with the points turned the right way. A small boy named Max had a most narrow ' escape from a fatal accident this morning m Broad Street. . This youngster was running behind a loaded timber dray of Messrs Richter's, and while a baker's cart was coming m the opposite direction, Moore's - cOach drove up behind the timber waggon to let it pass. The youngster not seeing the cart rushed out just as it passed, went under the side step , and fell between the wheels uudertbe body of the vehicle. He was picked up slightly stunned hut otherwise unhurt. It was almost a miracle ho was not killed on the spot. The special committee of the Lyceum met last evening to arrange for celebrating the anniversary of the Society on Sunday, the 30th inst. It was decided that it should take the form of a " Conversazione." There will be well laid tables. The instrumental and _ vocal music is to be under the supervision of an engaged professional. Addresses and--reeitatiena will be delivered, and it is. expected that a talented lecturers will deliver > : lee' fciire. The whole is to be. a ■ s jciargatbering, and no expense will be spared to makVlt a;' success. A Native woman, having a child in~ her :<jhj\r ; ge.vvasin a. very intoxicated state on : .Sajiur.d4y' n'ierht, the infant being at times m considerable danger. The scene was not a pleasing one by any means. 1 - . Messrs Turnbull and Go. have purchased the cheese made by the Long-; burn factory, and have made an offer for all next season's product. The prospects of the factory are very encouraging. Mr Hislop, M.H.R. for Oamaru, has announced himself an opponent to the present Ministry. The Government have received a cable from the Agent-General, announcing that the seal of the new Midland Bailway Company has been affixed to the assignment of contract to the company, and that a: deposit of £5000 nas been paid by the directors to the AgentGenecal. , Mr W. Coombs took bis departure by last night's train tor Wellington, en route for America and the Home country. Ha expects to return m about 6 months' tjrae. We Hope he will have a. pleasant irip. A little bird has whispered to us that oar erstwhile townsman, Mr Hicks, till recently of the; Bank of Australasia, before ret urniqg to Chrißtchurch, where he is now located, will have presented himself at the hymeneal altar. While m Palmer s ton his courtesy and gentlemanly demeanor won for him many friends who have much regretted bis removal. We heartily wish him every happiuess, success and prosperity m life. Mr Stewart, the Chairman of the School Committee, states that it is impossible that the letter sent to him from the Secretary of the Education Board, intimating the day, place and hour of the investigation could have been sent to him by the same mail as Mr Wright's intimation, for as a matter of fact he received Mr Wright's letter referring to Mr A. A. Browne's intimation on the matter, a day jor two before he received the official information from the Secretary of the Education Board This is pretty conclusive proof m support of his assertion. The Rev Mr Wright preached on Sunday forenopn from the text, "Love one another." 'In the' evening he selected, 1 uSo did ; nbt I because of the fear of Gk>o*lVoi'He; said the affirmative was equally applicable, so that virtually the .words were, " So did I because of the fear ;of God." There were very small congfev%atiobr s orr each occasion. In the evening his discourse had manifest reference to the Teceut school election ■ and he appealed to his hearers to organise and re.-, turn/ the right men, when opportunity was afforded them of making a selection. By some it was thought the occasion and place were rather inappropriate for the advocacy of a secular topic like the election of a school committee. * A contract for building a new gaol at Wanganui has junt been let, the price being £1868. Seeing that there is a capital gaol at New Plymouth, made entirely of concrete by prison labor, and that prisoners froth the Wanganui district could easily be sent up to it by rail, we must regard this present outlay as a waste of public money.— Hawera Star. [But where would they be kept meanwhile, or would they be sent by rail daily, to and fro ?] Ed M.D.S. Last night's Wanganui Herald has the following ; —This morning and yesterday, there Were several rumors about town with regard to the Storm bird, ' which left here on Saturday night at 8 o'clock for Wellington. The most common of the rumors was that she wae lying on the beach near furakina. For this, however; ihere Bee.ins to have been no foundation whatever, the story arising m some way with the natives. No word has been received .frota Wellington or elsewhere of the whereabouts of the boat, but as Captain Chambers anticipated this gale before he left on Saturday night, there is no doubt that she is safely lying m shelter at Kapiti, and that we shall, m a few hours, receive notice of her arrival m Wellington. The passengers on beard were :— Miss Hatrick, Dr Harvey, Mr Lawler (late assistant clerk at the R.M. Court), and Mr Mitchell (a farmer from up the coast. J Mr John Grace, a very old settler, and for many years a resident at the Hutt, died on Saturday morning, Mr Grace arrived m New Zealand by the Northfleet m 1853.