LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The borough overdraft at the present time stands at £5285 15a Id. The Borough Council offices are to be closed from December 28 to January 9 next. The Borough. Council decided Bast night to fix the dog registration fee for next year at 10s per dog. All rates owing to the borough, on and after January 20 next are to be sued for and 10 per cent, will be added to overdue accounts. In their report to the Borough Council meeting last night, the Works Committee recommended that the channelling of Arnotfc-street be proceeded with, and that the low parts be filled in. The report was adopted. During tie week the Borough Engineer lias issued a batch of summonses to ratepayers owning property within the sewerage area which have not been connected with the sewerage system. The oases will come before the Magistrate at next Thursday's sitting of the Court. Mr J. Howard^ who for the past eighteen years has been associated with Messrs Hatrick and Co. as river steamer steward, and latterly as manager of Pipiriki House, is shortly to take over the. Metropolitan Hotel. The vacant managership at Pipiriki House will be assumed by Mr E. T. Banwell, chief steward of the river steamers. At the Borough Council meeting last night, the following .motion was proposed 1 by Or. Goodbehere: "TEat, ill consideration of extra services rendered by the r -Town Olerk during the past year, and his successful efforts In finally 'arranging the loans authorised ' by the Council, he be granted the sum of £25 as additional salary." The motion was seconded by Or. Bramwell, and carried unanimously. Mr M^O'BrienT Health Officer, reported to the Borough Council last night that the town was in a healthy condition. Sewerage connections had 1 been made to five premises during the month, and these had been duly inspected. A visit had been made ito~> the fruiterers' shops, to boardinn'-V'ri'v^ and to other #aces where food is prepared, and these were found to be (generally satisfactory. A question was asked at # the Borough Council meeting last night as to what was being done_ in regard to the proposal for . a municipal Town Hall for Feilding. Cr. Ridhmond, convener of the sub-committee set up to deal with tlffe matter, Teported that itwas being kept steadily in view. Inquiries , were being made all over the dominion ! for information regarding suitable I halls, cost, etc., and a report would . be Jaid before tRe Council in due ; course,

In his report for the month of November, the abattoir manager reported to the Borough Council that there had been slaughtered 46 cows, 39 heifers, 44 (bullocks, 11 calves, 318 ewes, 157 wethers, 95 lambs, 34 pigs. Two cows and two ewes iwere condemned. The fees for the month amounted to £83 19s 9d. Some time ago the Borough Council wrote to the Government asking for a subsidy towards the cost of purchasing the *x>uth-atreet reserve. A reply has been .received from the Department of Lands to the effect that the application will be favourably considered when next year's estimates are being prepared. No grant towards the purchase of a recreation ground can he made to any local authority until tho necessary amount 'has been appropriated' by Parliament. A statement was placed before the Borough Council last night slaying that there was owing on tlie Premier's reception account a sum of £19 odd. The Council had authorised the expenditure of £10, and Crs. Atkinson, Tolley and Bartholomew strenuously opposed the payment of any more than that amount. Cr. Atkinson said he would be willing to pay 10s 6d out of his own pocket, but lie believed the Council had no authority to pay more than £10. The amount was passed, for payment, the Councillors mentioned voting against. Cr. Tolley proposed at the Borough Council meeting Jast night that the ranger's duties be suspended during tho hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. He ]M>inted out the desirability of getting the grass in the street* eaten down. In discussing the subject, other Councillors objected to allowing i stock on the streets, and suggested . modification of the motion. Cr. Tol- ! ley altered his motion to read that ! the matter be referred to the Works j Committee, with^Jower to act. EvenI tuallly it was decided to give tho rate- : payers power to cut grass on obtain- : ing permits from the Town Clerk. ■ A reply has been received by the Borough Council to the request made by the Mayor and Town Clerk to the Premier, on his recent visit to Feilding, for a quarry reserve at the Gorge. The reply, which is signed by the Hon. Wm. Hall- Jones, states that the site of the proposed reserve avouUl be a dangerous one for a loop fine and inconvenient in many other ways. The request coufld not, therefore, 'm> acceded to. Cr. Goodbehere spoke in favour of not allowing the matter to chop, and proposed the setting up of a sub-committee to pursue further inquiry. The matter was referred to the Works Committee accordingly. '■■ The maxim that it is better to be born lucky than rich was illustrated by a story told of the rise in wool on Tuesday (says the Napier Telegraph). An influential farmer was approached to deal with his clip privately and consented to do so. He named his price at 8d per lb, but the 'prospective buyer placed his value at 7%d and tho difference of }d blocked the transaction. The projected deal was cried off. Yesterday the farmer nold his wool for lid per 1b and the fact of his sticking to his side of the debatable }d put £600 in his pocket. Any yet they say farmers have no luck ! i "A dog has as much right iv tho load as human beings, and drivers of vehicles must use as much care in seeing that they did not run them down." This dictum was laid down tho other day by Judge Edge Id the , Clerkenwell County Court (London) i in an action for £15 15s as damages ■ for the loss of a bull-terrier dog which : was run over by a milk cart. It ■ was contended for the defence that ! the dog being allowed to run in the road without a lead amounted to contributory negligence, but the Judge held that there had been no contributory negligence, and gave a verdict for £10 10s and costs. Mr W. E. Bethuno, executor to the estate of the late Mrs Jane Emily Brown, has written a letter to the secretary to the Wellington District Hospital Board, stating that he late Mrs Brown, in her will, bequeathed a sum of £200 to be expended in the form of a memorial to her friond, Emily M 'William, wife of the late Rev. James M 1 William, formerly qf.OtaJ^i; such money to be devoted, if possible, to some work in which Mrs M'William was inter- . ested in her lifetime. As the care ' of the sick was always one of the late Mrs M'William's chief objects in life, Mr. Bethune has sent the above amount to the Wellington Hospital Board as a donation to its funds. In all probability the annual breakup of the Hastings District High School will take place on the 15th inst., instead of the 19th, as in past years. On moving in the matter at a meeting of the School Committee, Mr E. Basil-Jones (manager of the Frimloy orchards) pointed out that the work in connection with fiuitpicking by children had' grown to such an extent that it was absolutely essential that the farmers oi the district should be enabled to have the assistance of the children as early as possible. The closing of the school five days earlier than usual would really prove a benefit, as far ' as the school is concerned, as the at- • tendance during the last week was . usually so poor that it told severely against the average attendance. A week before the school closed last I year there were 70 children employed at the Frimley orchards. Donald Bain McKenzie, the per-fectly-built 7ft 2in giant drum-nxajor of the Kilties Band, has sold his eyes for the sum of lOOOdol (£200) to a society of scientific research in New York City, which js • demonstrafcng that the last object seen by a dyng j person may be found fixed as a photo- [ graphic negative upon the retina. ; McKenzie has secured this unusual contract because . jiis eyes are almost a third larger^ than the average ! man's, which vnfb remove from the undertaking many of its scientific difficulties. No matter when or where McKenzie dies, arrangements are completed to have the eyes forwarded to the society. If death should com© by drowning, and the body not be recovered, the society loses, for Mr McKenzie, with a true Scotsman's instinct for a bargain, has already, secured a goodly part of the full amount, and remarks frequently with much glee, "I'm no takin' ony chances o' lessenin' their interest in the money invested, ad have made up ma mid to stan' in the way o' the progress o' science for' many a long year," Mrs D. Wilson, of Marsfield, has just met with an adventure which she is not likely to fo&et <says the Sydney Evening News. While standing just inside the kitchen door reading the newspaper', her attention was attracted by a slight sound outside. On looking round' she was astounded to see a large black snake coiled up in readiness to dart at her. She instantly jumped back and called excitedly to her nepheiv, Mr F. - Curnow, who was working close at hand. The terrified shout brought her three fox-terriers to the scene, and it was well that it was so, for ' the snake was evidently bent on attack, having made an effort to follow her just as the dogs rushed in. This, of course, attracted the snake's attention, and all danger, so far as Mrs Wilson was concerned, was past. Mr Curnow followed and killed the snake, but not before it had fatally bitten one of the dogs. The snake measured nearly 6ft. Notices to abate nuisances were sent to thirty-five residents in the borough during November. Premises where trees are overhanging the road have been called at; and the owners notified that the trees must be removed. In his report to the Borough Council Oast night, the Borough Inspector stated that a number of people were still in the habit of burying nightsoil on, their property, and he <asked for instructions as. to how to deal with these people. "~ Discussing the report, Cr. Goodbehere proposed that a return be prepared showing all the buildings in the sewerage area not connected with the system. The matter was discussed at length, the hope beingexpressed' ithat steps would bo taken to hay© all premises in the area connected promptly. The Inspector was instructed . to tate proceedings against aJI, persons in the eieweriage. area who were bury,*,,-, nighteoil on their premises, s

The Cheltenham Rifle Club will fire its final match for the Cherry Charley trophy to-morrow afternoon. Fishing off the beach from Otaki to toxbon has been decidedly brisk oi late and some record haulls have been made, snapper predominating. There were impounded in the Feilding pound during November 55 animals, including 47 from inside the borough, 5 from outside, and 6 for trespass. We again direct the attention of athletes and cyclists to the attractive prizes offered by the Feilding Athletic OJub for the Boxing Day sports, and remind them that entries for al] handicap events close on Monday' nest. The Rev Dr. Gibb, minister of .St. John's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, returned From his tour abroad, via Sydney, on Wednesday. Dr. Gibb left Mrs Gibb in Melbourne, where she underwent an operation. In another column a meeting of all those who took part in the Technical School concert is called, for the purpose of considering a proposal to repeat the concert at Rongotea. It is also requested that all tickets and money be returned to-night. Mr G. de Sandford Bayliss, who is supervising the root growing experiments conducted by the Feilding A. and P. Association, will be at Hook s Hotel on Monday evening next, wlhen ihe will be glad to make arrangements for sowing, etc., with any who are undertaking the experiments. Invitations have been issued for the marriage of Miss Elinor Davidson to Mr Cyril Ward next Saturday, and for a reception to be held at Awarua House, Wellington, after the ceremony to celebrate the silver wedding of Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. The wedding is to take plac« at the Basilica, Hilll-street. There was a large, attendance at the Technical School Exhibition yesterday afternoon, and about 100 last night: The exhibition will be open from 2 o'clock this afternoon till 5 30, when the season will close. It is free for all, but a charge is made for afternoon tea, the nimble sixponoes so received going to the funds of the school. The Rev. C. E. Beecroft (President of the Methodist Conference) and Mr W. T. Bowater (District Secretary of Church Property.) arc at New Plymouth this week, attending the annual Synod of the Wanganui district, lndiuded' in the business done at the synod was the adoption of a recommendation that Waituna West be transferred from the Kimbolton home station to the Feilding circuit. A local dairyman wrote to the Borough Council Oast night asking for permission to cut the grass on Victoria Park, .he to have the grass us a return for the labour. The letter further stated that in the event of the applicant suffering any injury whilst operating with the scythe, he would not hold the Council responsible! The members of the Council were so seized with the magnanimity of this offer, that they granted tin-sought-lor privilege straight away. The Rongotea Town Board met or Tuesday niglit, Messrs Penny (chairman), Jarvis, Ransom and Honon being pi-esont. Sanitary and oiliej by-laws were passed, and will be c-on-firined at next meeting. The Work? Committee reported having spieac two trucks of metal during the month and recommended that the watot table* complained of by Dr. Stendalii be cleaned out with the others. Th< tenders for dog collars were left with the clerk to arrange. During a discussion on the watoi supply at the Borough Council mooting last night, it was stated that the water coming from the reticuhuioii pipes was still sometimes cloudy ; in spite of the fact that the mechanic;! niters had been installed. On Ix-hi;. asked for an explanation of this, tin Engineer stated that it was duo ti the water cart, pure and simple. Tin constant turning on and off of tlu hydrants disturbed the sediment ii the pipes, which clouded the wa totOn Sundays, when the cart was no in use, the water '.vas perfectly doar. The -bi-monthly meeting oi tin School Commissioners was held v; Wednesday. Mr J. R. Blah' preskl ed, and there were also present Messrs W. H. Field, M.P., .-A. Y> Hogg, SI.P., and F. Y. Leth bridge. . distribution of funds was made as to: lows: Primary education, Wellinstoi Board. £452 13s 4d ; Wanganui Boa in £247 6s Sd. Secondary education Wellington College, £121 2s; GirlHigh School, £63 12s 9d; Wanganu Girls' High School, £58 15s ; Palmer ston North High School, £56 10s 3d in all £1000. ! Mr John Graham, M.P. for Noisui; is at present in Feilding on a brie visit to his relatives here. When jm left Nelson the official declaration o the result of the .recent ejection luu not beou made.-' Since his arrival ii Feilding Mr Graham has received congratulatory messages front his committee on his twice- won fight. A reception is to be .given him on his return to Nelson next week. Mr Graham leaves Feilding this afternoon for Wellington, where he attends Sir Joseph and Lady Ward's silver wedding party to-morrow. The reason for the demand for original cards for the Christmas and New Year seasons is easily under, stood. There is a sentimental satisfaction about sending ? and a corresponding satisfaction m receiving, a personal message from a friend, breathing his or her good wishes, and it is sentiment, and a sentiment worthy of being fostered, that is behind all interchanges of Christmas greetings. The Star office recognises the requirements of the public, and is prepared to supply them. Call and see our range of special cards before it is too late. Several cases of drunkenness were dealt with at the Court, this morning, x/avid Henry Patton was convicted and' fined ss. Charles Atwood, charged 1 wtih being an idle and disorderly person, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on. Thomas Dixon, charged with having insufficient lawful means of support, was convicted l and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, being requested 1 to leave the town by 12 noon to-day. John Sinclair, charged with being disorderly while drunk was convicted and fined £1 and 15s costs. Messrs John Cobbe and W. J. B. Trewtn were the presiding justices. Commenting on the report that President Roosevelt is to become a journalist., the New York correspondent of the London Telegraph reports that the salary Mr Roosevelt will receive as associate-editor of the New York Outlook, ?s to be £6000 annually, dating from the time he issumes his ducies. Mr Roosevelt's hunting trip will cover more than the expenses of his visit to Africa, because he has contracted to* write descriptions for a magazine at the highest rate over paid to-a magazine writer. Neither the President's private secretary nor the editor of the Out-' look (a 5d weekly magazine and review), when questioned would deny or affirm that Mr Roosevelt would become associate-editor. The President is not a rich man, and as the Constitution does not make provision for pensions to ex-Presidents, most people believed that 'he would undertake some remunerative appointment as soon as the opportunity afforded. A rather pretty little story is told m an exchange about the wedding of Lord Viflliers to Lidy Cynthia Needham. The guests were surprised to see two policemen in uniform amongst their number at the church. The explanaiaon of their presence was that about two years ago, La3y Cynthia Needham's horse bolted with Ker one day, and though she was somewhat severely hurt, she was saved from more serious injuries by the jpromptness with which the two policemen , who were on duty close by, came to her assistance. At the time both Lady Cynthia and her mother, Lady Kilmorey, expressed their gratitude in a substantial way, but it did not end there, for the two men were remembered, invited to the wecKling, and received 1 as honoured guests hy both bride and bridegroom. The closing days of SPBNCE AND SPENCE'S Special Cash Sale are drawing near. The Store t has been thronged daily, the special inducements offered to cash purchasers has resulted- in big business being done. Only one week more and this moneysaving opportunity will be gone.

I The Oxoua County Council intends charging 10 per cent, on all overdue i rates after January 7 next. Captain Edwin wired at 12.35 p.m. : Easterly moderate to strong winds. Glass little movement. Sergeant. Trask, of the Manchester Rifles, has received the long service medal for ten years' continuous service as a volunteer. The usual parade of the Manchester Rifles was held last night. Morris tube shooting was afterwards indulged in after the parade. The Oroua County Council decided at to-day's meeting to suspend the county ranger's duties in the Rangitawa ridnig between the hours of S a.m. and 5 p.m. till further notice. A special meeting of the Oroua County Council' will be held on the 18th inst. to pass accounts. The county offices will then be closed for the usual Christmas holidays. There was a good yarding of sheep and cattle at the Feilding sale to-day. Prices for sheep were- better .than at late sades, and a healthier tone was exhibited all round. "The rise in the price of wool is causing an increase in the price of shorn sheep," remarked one sheep farmer who was present at the sale. The following are the results of the recent Standard VI. examination in the Jjytton-street School: Proficiency, Eric Baker, George Beck, ftobei-t Be3l, A'ibort Churcher, James Cornfoof, Ray Goldfinch, William James, Edward! Mason, Hugh Redpath, James Ruff, Ray Bramwall, Barbara Hare, Inez Kirton, Ivy Preston. Competency: Alexander Thompson, Beatrice Slight. ... Napier gave us prompt intimation last Tuesday of the tuirn taken at the wool sales there, and we were able to publish particulars in our first edition, at 1 o'dlock. Up to the time of outgoing to press with our Haloombe edition this afternoon, no word had come from Wellington, where the wool sales were to have begun at 9 o'clock this morning. The news did not reach us until 1.40 o'clock. A telegram which contains interesting news, will l.c found in another portion of this issue. The monthly meeting of the W.C. T.T7. was held yesterday in the Greystreet Hall. A resolution of sympathy with Mrs Relf, of Makino, was passed in connection with her illness. Correspondence, including aai interesting letter from a lady, was read, on temperance work. The President u;avc an interesting and profitable addiress. It was decided to hold a Garden Party on "January 14, in Mrs j. C. Thompson's grounds. Other business was <■'•■'•"?" "Ja^L , " : £h will be