LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 138, 10 December 1906, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On Tuesday last, according to the Ashburton Mail, rain fell in the hillfoot districts, and there was a heavy fall of snow on the hills. As a result of the earthquake on Saturday, Mr Culling, the wellknown Pohangina storekeeper, had one of his chimneys badly damaged. The wife of Colonel R. H. Davies, the officer commanding the Auckland district, died at Bell Block, Taranaki, on Friday. Only a few days before she was apparently in perfect health. At a meeting of the Bishop Hadfield Memorial Committee in Wellington it was reported that the sum of £2196 was in hand, and outstanding promised subscriptions would bring the total to £2346. The contract for clearing the Apiti domain has now been let, and a start will be made with the work immediately. It is the intention that the work of putting the running tracks in order should be completed to enable the domain to be sown down in grass. A few days ago we were informed that a lioness in Wirth's circus had given birth to two cubs on the voySge across from Australia to New ealaud. Unfortunately the satisfaction of the circus proprietors over this accession to their menagerie has been short-lived. The lioness ate her offspring in the train between the Bluff and Invercargill. Miss Lynn Mills, a soprano vocalist well-known in Australia, is at present staying in Wellington. She comes with excellent introduction, and has a career of which she has reason to be proud. Lady Phmkett intends arranging an evening at Government House in order to introduce her to musical people. — N.Z. Times. The Feilding branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union held their annual meeting on Thursday in the Presbyterian Hall. It was decided to inaugurate a Dorcas Society in connection with the union. The election of officers for the ensuing year was held, after which afternoon tea and cakes were handed round and an enjoyable half -hour was spent. The meeting was closed i with prayer.

The Kiwitea County Council will meet on Saturday next. The Hon. Naylor, a railway porter, of New Lynn, Auckland, was crushed between a truck and a gate at the crossing on Thursday morning, and received bad injuries to the chest. Dr. Carolan had him removed to the Auckland Hospital. ! A unique defence was offered at . Eltham the other day in an action for maintenance. The defendant said the mother of the child promised to marry him, but after tne birth she had refused to carry out her promise. J A reminder is given that the entries for the Kimbolton Swimming i Carnival, close with Mr Baynes, secrotary, on the 12th inst. Mr C. D. Campbell, who last year represented New Zealand in Queensland, will be present at the Carnival. He is the holder of several championships, and j his exhibition should prove a great ' attraction. The baths have been put in good order, so that given fine weather the meeting should be a • gieat success. -At the Marton Court on Friday the Mayor (Mr J. F. Sicely) prooeeded against a Councillor,' Mr Samuel Gibbons, for voting on a question in which he was personally interested relating to a pay* inent of money by him, the said S. (Gibbons, for the supply to him by the Corporation in respect of premises belonging to him outside the boundaries of the Borough of water belonging to the Corporation. Mr Riddell, S.M., reserved judgment. The following paragraph appears in the London Express : — Too "mustard" for reproof. — Much has been written about New Zealand methods. They seem to have had a little "fun" recently in an Old Boys' match at Palmerston. One of the Old Boys deliberately broke, the nose of another Old Boy, in addition to blackening his victim's eye. The referee took no notice of the incident. The culprit was probably a little too "keen" to argue with. The Archduke Otto.- who was next in succession to the Austrian throne after his brother, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, died on November 11, aged forty-one. The Archduke was considered the handsomest member of the imperial family, and was very popular. He had been ill for a long time, and since an operation for tracheotomy last spring had a silver tube in his throat. His eldest son, the Archduke Karl Franz Joseph, who is in his nineteenth year, is the heir-presumptive to the throne. A rumour was current at Home when the mail left that the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough had signed a deed of separation. In reference to that the following peculiar authoritative announcement was sent to the Express:— "The Duke of Marlborough and the members of his family, including the Marquis of Blandtqrd and Lord Ivor SpencerChurcnill. are in residence at Blenheim Palace. It is untrue that a deed of separation has yet been signed." A public meeting was held in the Halcombe School on Saturday to consider the formation of technical classes. Owing to the wet evening only about twelve were. present, the Chairman of the School Committee presiding. A committee was formed to enroljpupils, when some of the following classes will be started if sufficient students are forthcoming: — Arithmetic, English, elocution, singing, book-keeping (farm accounts), dressmaking, cooking, carpentry, agricultural science, and veterinary science. In regard to our report of the Feilding Borough Council on Saturday, Cr. Williamson explains that his attitude was rather misunderstood. He first asked Cr. Burne^ who he alludes to 'as "amateur engineers," thinking that the reference was to Councillors, but Cr. Burne replied that he meant Mr Chamberlain. Again, in reference to the Engineer's remark that he had not been trusted by Cr. Williamson of late, Cr. Williamson retorted that the Council had very good reason not to. The respect in which the late Dean Hovell was held in Napier has been further commemorated by the placing in the Napier Cathedral of a marble tablet bearng the followng inscription: — "This tablet was erected by the parishioners in loving memory of the Very Rev. De Berdt Hovellj First Dean of the Diocese of Waiapu, and Vicar of this parish, 1878-1905. Died 4th September, 1905. Aged 55. The erection of this Cathedral was due to his efforts. Si Monumentum requiris circumspice." The tablet has been placed by the Churchwardens, on behalf of the vestry and parishioners, m the south transept, in close proximity to other memorials of the late Dean's family. Mr Lewis, M.H.R., who lives at Halswell, some three or four miles outside Christchurch, was seen on Friday by a press representative in reference to the statement that he had purchased a propery in Hawke's Bay, and said that it was quite true tbta he had purchased an estate and intended to take up his residence there about the Ist of March. When questioned as to his intention in regard to the Courtenay seat ; Mr Lewis said that his departure did not necessarly mean relinquishing it. He would be within 24 hours' steam of Christchurch, or even less, and he knew other members in the House who did not reside in their constituencies. However, he proposed to take the course which commended itself to him, the particulars of which would be forthcoming at the proper time. " I have been well over 20 years in the one place," said Mr Lewis, in conclusion, " and my great interest will ever remain in Canterbury." As showing the exceptional ability of Rev. S. J. Handover, the tenor soloist for "The Messiah," on Wednesday next, it is interesting to note a report in the New Zealand Times of November 14th last, of a rendering of "The Desert,." in the Wellington Town Hall, by the male members of the Musical Union. The report states : — ''The solos are for the tenor voice only, and this part was beautifully sung by the Rev. S. J. Handover. It is by no means an easy role, for the music lies high and its strange modulations are extremely exacting. Mr Handover's singing of the part was quite a revelation. He has two or three pretty solos, which for want of a more fitting term may be spoken of as 'ballads,' and then comes the 'Chant of the Muezzin,' an extraordinary piece of writing. It takes the singer up to the B natural, and descends in almost barbarous chromatic cadence to the tonic. Every note was sung: by Mr Handover clearly, with, perfect intonation, and with such sweetness of quality that the audience sat Almost spell-bound, whilst the queer descending semitonic passages (which are a specime^ of what is technically known as 'jusx intonation") were given smoothly and evenly." j It is not generally known (says the ' Wellington Evening Post) that the ' toitoi grass which is so abundant in many parts of New Zealand is an article of some market value. Its worth as a commodity lies principally in its use in the make up of floral ornaments. So far New Zealand has not entered the market as a compete tor. R. Sargood observed fields of grass similar to our toitoi being grown for export to England and Europe, and it occurred to him that something of a practical nature might be done with our product. On iris return he sent a few samples of the New Zealand toitoi to Mr James Witt, the London fancy goods buyer of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen. A report on the subject has been received from Mr Witt» as follows: — "I have submitted the samples to the most likely buyers hetg^.and gather from them thairat th<& present time it would bring from 40s to 60s per 100 kilo 9, equal to, say, 20s to 30s per cwt. If I had a few cwt here just now, I believe it would fetch 30s. but the estimates of the different dealers vary, as I say, from ,40s to 60s per 100 kilos; Unfortunately, the demand is decreasing, and there ia nothing- like the quantity used that thefe was a few years back. "However, there is a small demand for it,' and, if the price would leave a margin, probably the best way to test the market would be to send Home a small quantity, say, 6owt, for me to dispose of to the 'berrt advantage.^ *•■■' ■•:■ •■-■>• '.■■<; :•

The Feilding Borough water-cart has arrived. At the Bowling Green, on Saturday, some friendly games were played between the local members. Hay crops around this district give promise tnat the yields, will be exceptionally heavy. In Sandon district the grass crops are a perfect picture. Messrs F. Purnell and Fred. Pirani (members of the Education Board) will vist the st© of the proposed school at Makowhai, between Sandon and Carnarvon, on Monday next, at 2.30 p.m. A very hearty welcome was exfended to Mr Cohen upon his appearance at a full meeting of the Winter Show Committee on Saturday, the Chairman, Major Dunk, expressing the pleasure of all at the return of so effective a working member. — Times. By the will of the late Daniel Smith, engineer, the Otago Presbyterian Church has benefited by £100 to each of the following subjects: — Theological college, support of native teachers, New Hebrides and Infirm Ministers' Fund. At the Police Court this morning, before Messrs E. Goodbehere and W. G. Haybittle, Js.P., two youngrlnen were charged with disorderly behaviour in Awahuri road on November 17th, and they were fined £1 and 15s costs each. A young girl was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for stealing a parcel from the Feilding railway station. The Minister for Labor states that there is no truth in the statement concerning the appointment to the presidency of the Arbitration Court. The matter, he states, has never been considered by Cabinet, nor has anyone been approached by him either directly or indirectly in regard to the appointment. A public meeting will be held in the Coronation Hall, Rongotea, this evening at 8 p.m., and in the hull, Bunnythorpe, on Wednesday evening next, at, 8 p.m., to consider the formation of technical classes. All those interested in the establishment of classes are invited to be present. Mr H. Amos, Director of Technical Instruction, Feilding, will be present to supply information. The following nominations have been received for the Feilding Gun Cluo's inanimate pigeon match, to be held in Messrs Gorton and Sons' paddock, on Wednesday next, commencing at one p.m. sharp: — I). Hammond, 11. S. Mercer, J. Morris, J. Balthorp, H. Gage, H. Temite, C. Gibbons, A. Rodgers, R. Burrell, S. Fisher, D. Home, T. W. Nicholson, W. Nesbit, H. Woolven, W. Woolven, A. T. Ayres, R. Harper, J. Simpson, W. Dickson. In response to the telegrams of protest from Mr J. M. Johnston, President of the Chamber of Commerce, the President of the A. and P. Association, and others; the Hon. Mr McNab replied on Saturday to Mr Johnson that no site had been selected for the Dairy School, nor Cabinet yet. The Acting-Mayor has also received a telegram to the same effect. At a meeting of the committee of the Feilding Jockey Club on Saturday, a considerable amount of routine business was transacted, and the accounts in connection with the recent races passed for payment. It was decided to bank the top corner of the course, the same to bo completed in time for the Easter meeting. The course will also be drain ploughed. A committee was appointed to draw up the programme for the Easter Meeting. Mr W. Parker-Smith, for many years a resident of Palmerston, died at his residenceon Saturday. Deceased, who was a commission and nsurance agent, had been a sui ferer from a chest complaint for a considerable time, and during the past few weeks the disease made rapid headway. He was well-known and his death will be greatly regretted by a large number of friends and acquaintances. He leaves a wife and a son and daughter. — Times. At Saturday's meetng of the Pohangina County Council it was resolved that the accrued thirds not being sufficient to meet the interest on loans Nos. 21, 22, and 23, and the Auditor-General insisting on the special rates being collected, a rate of fd in the £ be collected at once for No. 21, Makiekie and Makoura Road loan, a rate of Id in the £ on No. 22, Salisbury Road loan, and a rate of od n the £ on the No. 23 Delaware Road loan. Constable J. Lyons has received an intimation of well-merited promotion to the South Island. During his term of office here he has proved himself a capable officer who, without fear or favour, carried out his duties impartially, and was always expeditious in the detection of crime. In fact, he was a strong backbone of the force during the historical times of fire and crime in Feilding. In going away he will leave many friends who will recognise that he is worthy of the reputation of one -of the most ! valued members of our peace army, whom we can ill affor4 to lose. The Press' Dunedin correspondent telegraphs: "Some of the New Zealand recruits who have made trial of the conditions obtaining in the King's Navy, as exemplified on H.M.S. Pioneer, have been unburdening their woes to friends in Dunedin. They say that if they had known what the service meant, they would never have joiued;and they don't care how soon their time is up. The troubles, of course, is the discipline, and the feeling among nautical men here s not altogether one of sympathy. I Dr Cockayne, the eminent botan-' ' inst read before the . Canterbury | Philosophical Institute a paper on j " The sudden appearance of a new character in an individual of Lepto--1 spermum scoparium." Lepto, etc., jis not so dreadful as it looks. It ' means manuka. Dr Cockayne's paper led him to the mutation of species and the theory of, evolution. It seemed to him that in the species j named, and also in the Leptosiier- : mum chapmani, which has rose-pink . flowers, scientists had to deal with a new character coming into being at one jump, and with, if not a mutant, at any rate an overnsporting variety. The paper was discussed by Dr Hilgendorf, Dr Chilton, and Mr Laing. Two recent arrivals from Home both Of the fair sex, were among the;; parents fined at the Court, Wanganui, for the non-attendance of their children at school. ■ One of these thought it was a pity Wanganui could not afford to keep a school inspector to go round and visit the parents of children who were absent from school, and see the cause of the absence, before issuing summonses. This was done in the Old Country. The other lady considered the colonial idea of bringing offending parents before a > Magistrate's Court a bad system, and considered that they should be summoned before the Truant Inspector as was done at Home.— Herald. Owing to the damage caused by the recent flood near Otaki, the Waitohu sawmill has closed down, and 30 hands have been thrown out of employment. The whole of the tramway has been absolutely ruined, bridges and all having gone. The damage is estimated at over £300. Many other serious losses are reported. One Chinese gardener lost in potatoes and peas alone £150. An European gardner adjoining estimates his loss at over. £100. The damage throughout the district to roads, bridges, railway, etc., must involve many thousands of pounds. The rainfall on Monday and Tuesday totalled 4.180 inches, the fall on the hills being much heavier. — Post. A serious fire occurred at Mangaweka yesterday after naon, resulting in the destruction of several business premises. No details are to hand, but from a telegram received by «ih£ police, we learn that the establishments of D. Munro and Co. (store-, keepers and wine and spirit merchants), Myers and Sinclair (stablekeepers), and Aikman and Oliver (bakers), were completely destroyed. The fire started in mnhro's .establish-' rcent. Munro's loss is estimated at £1500. He had just received a large Christmas stock. Insurances. — Munro, £1000 in the United and National; Stables, £200 in the Alliance; bakery, £150 in the Standard.