LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 237, 11 April 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Manawatu County Council yesterday decided to give the County Clerk power to sue for all outstanding rates. The progressive folk of Halcombe have arranged to have another Flower Show shortly. Schedules will be available in a few days. ,The Manawatu County Council yesterday confirmed the special order declaring pennyroyal a noxious week. On the Feilding bowling green yesterday Mr P. Thomson won the Championship Singles for the year. Mr Thomson also won the Handicap Singles. Since the 16th March five children and one adult have died at the Maori settlement at Onepuhi. Measles is the prevailing disease. Residents of the district are of the opinion that it is time the Health Inspector paid an official visit to the settlement. Another " Pelorus Jack " has been washed ashore at Island Bay, Wellington. The fishermen who secured th-* fish called it a mottlei Californian porpoise, which is a very unusual visitor to theee waters. Messrs Ingle and Short, of Newtown, presented the carcaae to the Petherick Museum, and it is now being prepared for exhibition.

The Wanganui Education Board will meet on Wednesday next. There are 22 vice-Presidents to the Marton Football Club. Noxious weeds — pennyroyal, sweet briar, and gorse — are on the increase in the Manawatu County, and property owners are to be cautioned for neglecting to take steps to keep down the weeds. In addition to the names mentioned yesterday, we are informed that "Cr. Burne and Messrs R. P. Smith and W. T. Bowater will be candidates for the Feeding Borough Council. The members of the Choral Society and others assisting in the providing of afternoon tea on the racecourse on the day of the visit of the Besses o' th' Barn Band will meet at Mrs Barltrop's residence, Beattie street, this evening. The Chairman of the Manawatu County Council, speaking yesterday on Hospital matters, said the death rate of the Hospitals of the colony last year was 9.5 per oeut., while in the Palmerston Hospital it was 8.77 per cent. The death rate in the Palmerston Hospital for this year was only 4 per cent. Some senseless youth has been playing at ghost on the road passing through the Aorangi Settlement. His method is not original. -He covers his face with phosphorus and his body with a white sheet, and appears when there is a chance of scaring a horse or a timid person. The boys of the settlement speak of laying the ghost with a stout stick, and he will, one of these evenings, find himself wishing he had spent his time more profitably and in less dangerous pursuits. Lord Alverstone, the Lord Chief Justice, was once in a cab collision near the Law Courts, and on alighting he gave his cabman his card in case he should possibly be wanted as a witness. The case came on, and the great lawyer, on entering the court, was asked to take a seat near the bench. The verdict was given in his cabman's favour, and when Lord Alverstone went out there stood the cabby waiting for him. "Jump in, sir," he said; "I'll drive yer anywheres. I knowed it 'ud be all right when I saw yer up 'ere squaring the beak." Seven small boys rested their hands on a cold marble tombstone in Wotton Churchyard, near Dorking, on a recent Saturday, says a Home paper, and recited the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's Creed, and the Ten Commandments, in accordance with the desire of an eccentric person named Glanville, who was buried there nearly 200 years ago. For this pious, if peculiar, service, each boy received £2 out of the funds left by Glanville, and had the additional joy of consuming refreshments provided by the lord of the manor, Mr W. J. Evelyn, a descendant or John Evelyn, the diarist, whose tomb is in the same churchyard. Two applications were before the Manawatu County Council yesterday for a share of the printing and advertising of the County — from the Feilding Stab and the Foxton Herald. In discussing the letters, the Chairman said if they advertise in every paper circulating "in the Cotinty, they would have no money left for roads. The practice they followed was to advertise matters affecting the several districts of the County in the papers principalis circulating in those districts respectively. Other Councillors remarked that the Stab had wonderfully improved lately, and was working its way largely into the Sandon district. No decision was come to, but it was announced that probably tenders would be called for a fresh contract for the printing of the Council. Successful Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held in the Halcombe Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday and Monday last. The Church was nicely decorated by the young ladies of the congregation. Special Hymns were sung, and suitable sermons were preached by the Circuit Minister. On Monday evening a lecture on "The Bridal Outfit" was delivered bj__the Rev. J. Clover. Selections from Choral Praise were sung by the choir, and concertina solos were given by Mr Miver, of Feilding, which were keenly appreciated by the young people. A sale of produce^ donated by the congregation, immediately followed. The proceeds netted by the occasion were for the Circuit Fund, which amounted to £9, and which liquidates a small defect and leaves £4 10s for June. A social and dance, to open the Oddfellows' HaU and celebrate the anniversary of tHe Loyal Manchester Lodge, was held in the Oddfellows' Hall last evening. Over 50 couples assembled in the Hall ,and enjoyed themselves by dancing and music supplied by Bros. Baker and Bellve's orchestra. Bro. Thomas kindly lent his graphophone, and the records were much appreciated. The floor was in splendid order, and the Committee are to be congratulated on the excellent manner in which the arrangements were carried out. The various societies — including Bunnythorpe Oddfellows, Feilding Band, Manchester Band, Fire Brigade, Foresters, Druids, Stab — were represented, and Mr Lochhead, on behalf of the Societies, returned thanks to the Oddfellows for kind invitations to a social evening. Dancing was continued till 2 a.m., when all dispersed well pleased with the function. A bellicose bulldog caused a sensation at the Exhibition the other day. He started his manoeuvres in the sports ground, where he tried conclusions with a man's trousers, with disastrous results to the garments. Expelled from there, he forced his way into Wonderland. A big camel stalking placidly along met his eye, and immediately the dog attacked "the ship of the desert." With a leap he caught the unoffending camel by the throat and brought it heavily to the ground. A melee followed, in which the camel got severely mauled, and became very frightened. At last he struggled to his feet, and in his terror galloped away from the now furious bulldog. He ran past the Katzen jammer Castle, with a crowd, headed by a number of officials, following. The dog once more obtained a hold of the terrified animal, and with the delay thus caused, the crowd were able to surround the pair, and with blows foiced the dog to release his hold. The camel was badly frightened, while the others of the same species got very excited. The dog was finally captured and safely locked in a room. Dr. G. H. R. Dabbs writes on the subject of tea, coffee, and cocoa in Fry's Magazine: — Tea, coffee, and cocoa contain practically the same stimulating active principle. The difference between tea and coffee is a difference of aroma. The difference between cocoa and the other two is a difference of nutrition, as cocoa is a positive food, which the others are not. Always, I think, we may conclude that the East Indian teas are rather more "excitant" than the China teas. In all teas the them (active principle) is combined with tannic acid; and our object should be to drink the one (them) without the other( tannin as it is loosely called). Therefore tea should not infuse too long — what is called "stand" — and so the hostess's late tea which has been "standing" for some time should be avoided by the late guest! On the whole, the China teas are the best for use — the Ceylon and East Indian are an occasional luxury. Recollect that very hard water will not make very good tea without preparation. It should be boiled for twenty minutes with a little carbonate of soda, and then it will make good tea. Rain water does not (in my humble opinion) make good tea. Milk and sugar make a food of it. And tea made with boiling milk instead of boiling water and infused for five minutes is the most excellent pick-me-up in conditions of temporary exhaustion. Always consider, as to coffee, that in an English house you generally smell all over the house what ought to be in your coffee-cup. As a nation we are not makers of coffee, and I believe it is very much due to the quality of our water. Always mitigate your tendency to excessive tea or excessive coffee. There is a drunkenness of both, and a very bad kind of drunkenness it is. Its symptoms are dyspepsia, unrest, and visions.

The best piece of road in New Zealand, according to a motorist who has travelled all over the colony, is that between Awahuri and Bulls. Besides securing a very fair catch the other morning, a Milton rabbiter had a varied haul. There were 66 rabbits, six weasels, and three cats in his 80 traps. The annual meeting of members of the Feilding Public Library will be held to-night. Every members should endeavour to be present, to support till institution in its good work. The next mail for the United Kingdom and Europe, via San Francisco ,will close at Feilding on Saturday next, April 13, at 11.45 a.m. ; due London 13th May. Correspondence must be specially addressed. The Fire Brigade uniforms handed over to the Mayor by the members who ' resigned from the Brigade recently, have been taken from the Council Chambers and are now in the possession of the Brigade. Turnip crops in the Waituna district are entirely free from blight and are very prolific. Farmers at the present time are busy ploughing and putting in oat crops. The country around Waituna is looking very well. A distribution of £25 per share has been declared by the Christchurch Wonderland Proprietary, Limited, and another distribution of £50 per share has been authorised for Thursday. A further distribution, it is understood, will be made at an early date. The Dunedin police have located the owner of a watch and chain which were found some weeks ago in the body of an eel captured in the Pleasant river, near Goodwood. The man is employed at Alexandra, and his missing property has now been restored to him. A breach of promise case brought by Mr F. T. Stemson, of Feilding, against Freda Clara Parsons, of Pahiatua, daughter of Mr Thomas Parsons, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union, claiming £250 damages, will be heard at the next sitting of the Court at Palmerston. The proposal of the Feilding Borough Council to make application under the provisions of 'T/he Fire 'Brigades Act, 1906," to declare all the area within the boundaries of the Borough a Fire District, was carried in the poll yesterday by 68 votes to 10. There were no informal votes cast. In a maintenance case at Opotiki, heard recently, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour and the fact that judgment was reserved, a large crowd remained outside the court till its close ( the case had been heard with closed doors), at 1.30 a.m., and as the defendant made a hasty exit, hooted and pelted him with eggs. The hiss does not only mean disgust and reprobation. In Japan, for instance, it means delight. A Japanese, in greeting you, hisses. In West Africa the hiss denotes astonishment. In the New Hebrides they ; hiss before anything beautiful. The Basutos hiss in sign of cordial agreement. Among the Kabyles the hiss denotes satisfaction. The large firm, who recently pur--1 chased a section on Kimbolton road for the purpose of erecting suitable buildings for a motor garage, have purchased the business of H. Stewart and C, and it is understood that the services of Mr Stewart have been secured by the company .and he will shortly visit the Old Country on business connected with the new concern. i i A good start was made last eveni in_s at enrolling students for the Feilding Technical Classes, the total number of enrolments being 44. The , director will be at the school this evening and to-morrow evening, at 7.30. As classes commence on Monday evening next, all intending I pupils aro requested to hand in their ', names at once, so there may be no delay over making any. necessary " alterations. ' Tho members of the St. John's i Girls' Missionary Guild were entertained yesterday afternoon, at the , Vicarage, when arrangements were ' made to carry on the work of tho Guild during' the current year. Sewing bees aro to be held in tho Sun- , day School building weekly. Misses , limes-Jone. and Laura Haybittle were ai>pointed joint secretaries, and . Miss O'Halloran treasurer. The , annual salt, of work will be held in August. The total inadequacy of the building used as a courthouse in Feild- ' ing was never more exemplified than [ it was yesterday,' when no less than nine members of tho legal profession were huddled together round the 1 small table in the centre of the musty old shanty, and the benches at the ' end of the building were well filled with a perspiring crowd of ligitants. The air was simply stifling, and the way the officials have to stumble over one another, in the execution of their duty, makes the Department's action in refusing to remedy this state of affairs a real crime. The Department wants stirring up with a long pole. In the course of a reminiscent aritcle on the Wellington Naval Brigade champion belt winners, the Post thus refers to a Feilding sport : — The next winner was Mr W. J. Williams, until lately licensee of the Central Hotel, Petone. • His name is inscribed on the belt no fewer than ten times. He was tho most successful of all the competitors. As a j seaman, his first win was in December, 1886. Holding the same rank, he won again twelve months later. In June, 1888, another win was placed to his credit, and again in December he was successful. Two years later — December, 1890 — during which time he had been promoted to P. 0., he once more gained possession of the belt, and in the following June another plate had to be affixed to the trophy bearing his name. He won the belt three times in succession from June, 1892, .to June, 1893. The plans for the Opera House, it is proposed to erect in Fergusson street, were before the promoters of the scheme to-day, and it was decided to hold a meeting of those interested next week to make arrangements for floating the company. The plans are very complete, and make provision for every contingency. The auditorium will seat 1100, while the stage, which is 35ft x . 00ft, will be suitable for dancing and similar functions. In the front will be two shops, one fitted up for restaurant or refreshment room, with kitchen, diningroom, etc. There are to be ladies' and gentlemen's cloakrooms, lavatories, manager's room, special facilities for working the scenery in the most approved manner, and every tletail necessary to an up-to-date opera house. The building is to be of brick and, when it is completed, will prove an acceptable addition to the architecture of the town. Ah Wah, trading under the style of Sing Lum Kee, who appeared at the Feilding Court yesterday on a charge of employing an assistant after the prescribed hour, and with having his premises open after -9 p.m. on Saturday evening, was fined £1 with costs on the first charge, and the S.M. said he would take time to conffder the second charge and give his decision later. In the meantime he asked accused's solicitor to see that the premises were not used after nine o'clock, which Mr Carty undertook to see to. From evidence tendered, it appears that the accused Chinaman has a general grocery and fruit business, and with the object of complying with the Shops and Offices Act sells fruit only from a small room attached to the building where his grocery business is carried on after 9 p.m. on Saturday evenings. The present case arose from the police seeing a man coming from the fruit shop one Saturday evening with a parcel containing groceries. The defer/" ' this was that the goods had beeu purchased early in the evening a.w\ Wt in the small fruit shop to be called for later in the evening by the purchaser, who, as previously stated, wis seen leaving the shop with the parcels at about 9.30 on the night in question. The S.M.s decision will probably be given next conrt day. To-morrow, 2.30, 25 "New Rapid " bicycles, Denbigh Sample Rooms, practically without reserve. You are invited to attend this important auction sale.— Advt.

There were thirteen applications , for the secretaryship of the Normanby Dairy Company. Mr B. C. Robbins, of Hawera ? was appointed, and will commence his duties on Ist May. Salaries required ranged from £50 to £200. Mr Walters, master of Kakaramea school, who has been transferred to Sandon, was, on Thursday evening, entertained at a social, and handsome presentations were made to him and to his wife by the Kakaramea people. Fears are entertained that the French ship Biarritz, bound for Hobart, has gone down with all hands. The vessel left Cherbourg on October 10 last, bound for Hobart for orders, and has not since been heard of. The Biarritz is a vessel of 1824 tons, in command of Captain Robinet. Referring to Mr Curnow's suicide, the Taranaki News says: — The deceased was well-known in Taranaki, having been for ten years, and up till the time of his transfer to Whangarei three years ago, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Stratford, where he is understood to hold a good deal of property. The question of running the Sandon tram daily was discussed at the Manawatu County Council yesterday. Cr. McKenzie thought, with the" increase of population in the district, and the growth of traffic, the daily service was necessary. The Council decided to leave the matter as heretofore — three times a week. At Shelly Beach, near Camperdown, Victoria; on Tuesday last, a man named Richter, aged 20 years, was standing on the ledge of a rock which overhung deep water, when ho suddenly supped and fell into the water. He became entangled in the kelp, which is very thick at the spot, and, being unable to free himself, was drowned. "With a man carrying a firearm nowadays, there is no telling where the bullets are going to lodge," said Mr Thomas Fisher, Judge of the Native Land Court, in evidence yesterday. "For my part, if volunteers were using the range. I wouldn't work within four or five chains of the target on either side with any feeling of safety " Rather rough on the volunteers! — Taranaki News. The Standard says : —Probate of the will of the late Patrick Haggarty, of Feilding, has been granted by Judge Chapman, on the motion of Mr S. Fitzherbert, to the executor named therein. A writ, claiming £250 damages for alleged breach of promise, was issued from the Magistrate's Court office this morning. The claimant is a man resident at Feilding, and the defendant belong to the Wairarapa. Mr Louis Cohen (son of Mr Maurice Cohen, of Palmerston North), who has been studying medicine at Guy's Hospital, London, for the past twelve months, and was making excellent progress, returned home by the Moeraki yesterday. His health broke down, and it was necessary to send him back to New Zealand, whose climate it is expected will effectually restore it. Mr M. Cohen went down to Wellington to meet his son, and was gratified to find that the voyage and the rest had already effected improvement. — New Zealand Times. The South Canterbury correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says: — There is some talk of dissensions between a prominent London firm of frozen meat fame and one of the big companies. It is stated that the freezing company will not undertake to freeze the number of sheep sent in by the firm, the company being only willing to freeze a few thousand a month. It is also said that the London firm was buying lambs at 5Jd per lb while the freezing company is paying only sd. A wedding was celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland on Monday (says the Star), when Signor Romeo Bragato, the well-known Government viticulturist, was married, to Miss Laura Condon, of this city. Dr. Clements Murphy acted as groomsman, the bride being given away by her' guardian, the Hon.- T. Thompson, M.L.C The Rev. Father Holbrook afficiated at the ceremony, and Bishop Lenihan administered the Benediction. Signor Bragato and his bride subsequently left by the express for a brief visit to Rotorua. The statement was made at a meeting of tho Dunedin Ratepayers' Association the other night, that within eight or ten years Dunedin should hold tho unique position of being rateless, or nearly so. The gasworks, although selling at ss, wero returning tho ratepayers a good profit. Tho electric tramways and waterworks were beginning to pay, and the endowments were becoming more valuable year by year. All that was wanted to make Dunedin a ratepayers' paradise was the return to the Council of men of sterling character, with ability and time at their disposal. A dastardly outrage was committed at the Kaupokonui cheese factory last Wednesday. Some miscreant, who evidently knew the place, and was suffering under a perverted sense of humour, entered the factory on Tuesday night, filled the starter cans with salt, and after cutting up a large quantity of soap, put it into the boilers through the safety valve, causing the boiler to prime when getting up steam in the morning. Luckily the manager, Mr W. Ogle, was wide awake, and except for the water gauge blowing out no damage was done, although the factory might have been blown sky-high. Salting the starters was a dirty trick, and if it had been put into the vats unnoticed would have ruined the day's output, to the loss of the suppliers. It was after 11 p.m. before the staff finished washing up that night. — Hawera Star. A prominent goat breeder in the Rimutakas is doing a thriving trade at present, by supplying goats to unsuccessful goat hunters. The method was observed the other day. First the owner proceeded to muster the goats into a corner of a grassy paddock i then the goat hunter picked out his goat, the owner caught • it and proceeded to tie it up to a j post while the other went tor hiß j gun, and, taking up his position i within twenty yards of the animal, j made a very successful shot, dropping ! his goat at the first shot, with a', bullet through the brain. Then the ;• carcase was dressed, and the hunter : proudly deposited it in the back of j his trap and proceeded on the jour- ; ney to Wellington, where, I have no ! doubt, he will beguile his friends with ; a thrilling tale of how he shot the ; goat. — Wairarapa News. _