Local and General.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 20, 23 February 1906, Page 2

Local and General.

:o: A sewing mistress now visits the Waipukurau school once a week. By-and-bye, no doubt, there will be a pleihora of dressmakers. A great fuss is being made about Pri i.cess Ena joining the Church of Borne to enable her to marry the King of Spain. Hundreds of the common herd do it to meet existing exigencies, and no cables are sent. Owing the prevalence of cholera the Prince of Wales abandoned his proposed tiger-shooting expedition in Nepaul. Out of five applications for the position of third assistant master of Hastings school, Mr Jones, of the Waipukurau school, was first favourite.

There wrs an insufficient attendance at the Bowling Club meeting last evening to warrant the transaction of business, and it was decided to adjourn the meeting for a fortnight, the meeting to be duly advertised. It is understood about thirty members have so far been secured. The first session of the new Imperial Parliament was opened on Tuesday by King Edward. A cable eays that His Majesty looked well, though he walked slowly, leaning on a stick. The opening ceremony was a stately one, though the scene was robbed of colour, owing to the Court being in mourning for the late King of Denmark. Mrs Elizabeth Keetley, wife of Mr W. Keetley, of Waipukurau, died at her home on Tuesday afternoon, leaving three young children, one being only about a week old. The interment took place at Hastings yesterday. Mrs Hughes, of W hakatu, a sister of d ceased, came to Waipukurau on learning of the death.

The Premier is attending a native meeting at Waimarama to-day. Ou February 4 last year Mr W. Brooke, 8.N.8., chief officer Star of Australia, jumped overboard to the rescue of a man who was drowning in the sea at Napier. The circumstancee were such as greatly to imperil Mr Brooke’s own life, and the KoyalHumane Society have now awarded their honorary testimonial inscribed on vellum to Mr Brooke for his gallantry.

“ One who knows ” writes to a I Wellington paper re returns of 1 election expenses :—“ When are these farcical returns of members to be put an end to ? Mr A. returns bis expenses at £34, when £340 doesn’t cover them. Who pax s for his cabs for bringing voters to the poll*?—who pays for committees’ refreshments, and they always adjourn their meetings before 10 p.m., when the hotel closes. Who pays the hundred and one hangers-on, who want just anything from £1 to £5 for the great assistance (heaven save the mark !) they have been to the candidate ? Why, the very return is a premium on hypocrisy and deceit. It is difficult for a candidate to make out a reasonable bill with legitimate expenditure. Let us abolish the return ; it is at best a farce ; it is not in any way genuine or instructive, and it is duplicity without end.”

Extra lines of rails are being laid at Waipawa railway station to facilitate shunting. There is talk of the station being enlarged. A new geyser has broken out near the quiescent crater of the famous Waimangu at Rotorua, and is playing continuously. It is throwing water and sand 800 feet high.

It is understood that a licensing committee for the Oamaru licensing district will be elected, says a local paper. In the past this has not been necessary in districts that have carried no-license, but the Licensing Act of 1904 repealed this, and a committee must now be elected, which has no power to grant licenses or to do anything else—in fact it will be a body without a function. The position is a peculiar one, and is occasioning some interest.

Dalgety and Co. have received the following cablegram from their London office Wool market very firm ; fair private enquiries. Prospects for ensuing sales are very good. There is plenty of money in Waipawa —most of it in the banks, however, for there are now three of those institutions in the town. Though a good deal of grass grows in the street, it isn’t allowed to grow under the bankers’ feet. The residents (like those of Waipuk) are anxiously awaiting the subdivision of more estates to brighten things up. The acquisition of the Abbotsford estate would have a tendency iu that direction, but considerable delay might be caused by the property having to go through the compensation court. These two old immovable towns have been fielding enough, and it’s time they had an innings, with Mr Seddon as bowler and the Surveyor-General as long-stop. Yesterday the Governor laid the foundation-stone of a hospital at Stratford. He ascends Mount Egmont to-day. Scores of cattle in the Kaniva district of Victoria are suffering from some form of eye disease, and many have become permanently blind. The disease is infectious, and spreads rapidly through a herd. At the end of last week there were 35 patients in the hospital. The Black Family did not come to light on Wednesday night, dad and daughter having an engagement at the Napier HieFand concert. The company might pay Waipuk. a tangible visit in June. Meantime theatre-goers retain the admission money, because they did not spend it. During the present selling season about £13,000,000 worth of wool has been sold in the auction rooms of Australia. More than half the amount was realised in the Sydney market.

For averting an accident by applying the emergency brake, a Wellington tram driver received a cheque for £2 10s from a lady. In response to New Zealand’s demand for navvies, numbers of men are applying to the High Commissioner in London. A curious communication reached Dr McArthur, S.M., from a lady in the South on Thursday, She desired him to inform her if there would be any chance of her getting a divorce from her husband, a Wellingtonian, as he had not maintained her for over twelve months. The writer added that her spouse did not intend to make a home for her, and she was not going to live with him either. “And I have a chance of getting married again,” confided the writer. “ I asked him once if he would agree to have a divorce, and he said he was all right like he was, and I would have to be. But it does not suit me to remain like this. Could you let me know as soon as possible the best thing to be done, as I think I ought to be able to get free from him some way, because we are both young yet, and only wasting our time.” The epistle closed with a query whether “ it ” could be done without the lady having to come to Wellington. Another heat wave is affecting New South Wales.

A two-year-old daughter of Mr Niven strayed on to the railway line at Palmerston, and was run over by a train and badly mangled. Owners wanted for sheep dogs found.