LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 322, 20 July 1907, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr A. H. Sutton left Feilding yesterday for Sydney, where he intends to spend a snort- holiday. The Manawatu Times says that there has been a slump in the value oi properties in Palmerston North. Mr Curran, a Maori misisonary from Lake Waikaremoana, is to give 1 an address in the Gospel Hall on , Sunday, at 7 p.m. "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which has long passed its 500 th performarco i at the New Theatre, London, is to be given in Melbourne by Mr Juiius Knight's company at the conclusion i of the present New Zealand tour. Speaking of the drought in No;th Otago a well-known settler from that district remarked the other day that the rainfall during the last ten months did not amount to more than six inches, and if good rains were not shortly experienced their cattle » would have to be sold for the value of their hides. A number .of supporters of Webb, the Wanganui sculler, passed through fFeilding by the express yesterday, en route to Sydney. In case they should be mistaken- for mere ordinary passengers, each one carried a large Blue badge, on which were printed the words: — "Championship of the World: Towns-Webb Sculling Match." "It ought to be encouraged," said Mr de Lautour at the Gisborne Laud Board the other day in reference to a young lady's application to transfer a section, and the statement being made that she intended to get married. Members took Mr de Lautour's vkw, and the conditions of lease having been complied with, the granting of the transfer was recommended to the Minister for Lands. Two New Zealand boys were amongst the performers at the Royal Academy Students' Chamber Concert at Queen's Hall, on 31st May. They were Master Victor Harris, the clever little violinist, and Master Frank Hutchens, pianist. Master Harris played excellently, and created a good impression. Master Frank Hutchens, who played three Chopin studies, was specially complimented by Prof. Matthay on his performance, "which," he said, "was the performance of an artist, and he played even better" than on any previous occasion." Two men who were travelling on the slow train from Christchurch to Ashburton the other evening, and were behaving in a disorderly fashion, received a salutary surprise on the train's arrival at Rakaia. A quietlooking individual, who boarded the train at Dunsandel, took occasion to remonstrate with the men on their conduct, pointing out to them that their language, which was flavored with many Billingsgate adjectives, was probably not agreeable to the other passengers. Displeased at the objection, the men decided to have some fun with the newcomer, and their conduct became more agravating. The "jacakaroo" ceased further protestation, but as the train neared Rakaia he slipped out a pair of handcuffs and smartly linked the "pals" together. He was a police constable, and next morning he favored the men with an opportunity to explain their conduct to a bench of justices. A distressing gas tragedy took place at Hoxton, England, in May. Two houses were affected, and the victims included the members of two families and several lodgers. A steam roller had been at work a few hours, when the street began to smell badly of gas, but, strangely, no one made formal complaint. At 2 in the morning a Mr Lawrence was awakened by a horrible choking feeling, and found i that his wife and two children were unconscious. The windows were thrown open and the patients conveyed to the hospital. Mr Lawrence did not think of warning the nextdoor neighbours, as they had no gas laid on; bnt a few hours later the head of the family (Mr Butcher) returned from his work; on opening the door he was almost overpowered oy a rush of gas, and' dashing to the bedroom of nic five children found them al unconscious. Several lodgers were also insensible, one woman being dead. It is supposed the main had been cracked by the steam roller, and the escaping gas had found its way to the houses through the basement of No. 1. There were twelve people badly affected, one case being fatal and several others critical.

The Poverty Bay Herald says: — The well - known restaurant, the ] City Buffet, has changed hands, Mr Ferguson having disposed of his business to Mr J. Melrose, of Palmerston North. The diseases that caused the most deaths in the four cities of the colony last month were pneumonia (which accounted for 23), cancer (18), and consumption (15). A Government return shows that there are 411 timbe" mills in New ; Zealand, employing 7139 hands and : having a total annual output of over ' 432,000,000 superficial feet. We have received several letters in reference to a report in the Foxton paper about a disturbance at Sandon. As we have not published anything about the matter, the letters should be sent to the Foxton Herald. The Department of Commerce and Labour at Washington, in giving a decision on what is regarded as a j test case, has ruled that Japanese come under the designation of "Asiatics," and that consequently they are not eligible for naturalisation as Ameiican citizens. After waiting more than half an hour for the bridegroom at a wedding at the Baptist Chapel, Sandown, England, recently, the coachman was despatched to his residence, where he was found fast asleep in bed. He dressed hurriedly, and the marriage ceremony was duly performed. "You seem to have a long list of convictions againstyou," remarked one of the presiding Justices to a delinquent at the Auckland Police Court this morning. "Yes your Worship, "they're very easy got sometimes," replied the candid victim of adverse rate. Messrs Neville and Watson anr.ounce that they have commenced business in Feilding as cycle agents, next to Messrs Bramwell Bros., in Ferguson-street.* Both members of the new firm are well-known in this district and should oomand a fair awount of trade. A very successful gathering of the Cheltenham Assembly was held last night, when there were about 50 couples present. For the waltzing competition in connection with the gathering, 17 couples nominated, the winning couple being Mr Peterkm and Miss Nicholls. There was a very large number of visitors from the country districts in Feilding yesterday. The drapery sales were perhaps responsible for the excess over the usual sale day crowd. Busines was very brisk during the afternoon. I A villager of Cauterets in the Hautes Pyrenees was gathering wood brought down from the mountains by avalanches, when he found a human head encased in a block of ice. It is believed to be the remains of a Parisian who was lost on the Tegur lust summer. The speed at which a horse could walk was discussed at the Christ church Magistrate's Court recently, when, in answer to an inquiry as to wJiother his horse could walk six miles an hour, one cabdriver stoutly maintained that it n;uld. "I've got the horse outside,'' he continued "and I would be most happy to oblige the gentlemen with a trial." An Auckland resident has completed an invention which bids fair to put a serious difficulty in the way of the thieving fraternity. He claims that it securely locks any window either when closed or open, that it cannot b-3 manipulated rrom outside, that there can be no annoyance fron> rattling, and that the of weights and cords may be done away with. The second Catholic social and dance of this season will be held in the' Drill Hall on AVednesday next. A splendid concert jrogramme has been arranged and appears in another column. Many of the performers are entirely new to Feilding audiences. Tickets are selling rapidly, and the social promises to be the most successful jet held in Feilding. "It is not good business buying cows with three teats" said a farmer sitting on a saleyard rail. Enquiry as to this reasoning brought out the following logic, between puffs of tobacco smoke: "One teat is pulled by taxation, another forwent and one for labor, and the fourth, well, if it is< bliud, where are youf — working hard for somebody else." Entries for the Marton Poultry Show are coming in freely, and by the time entries close on Saturday the secretary hopes to exceed lastyear's number. The championship i warded for Plymouth Rocks no doubt will be the chief attraction to "lird fanciers. Letters bearing Satirday's post-mark will be received >n Monday. After that date the catalogue will be placed in the printer's hands. According to recent statistics Greymouth contains more Chinamen in proportion to the white population than any other town for the colony. From all accounts (says the Hokitika Guardian) a great business in illict gaming is done in the Chinese quarters, there being no less than six lottery banks in full swing there, with drawings thrice a week, and emissaries from there are regularly doing the Coast towns seeking patronage. Mr T. King, chairman of the Bulls School Committee, and Mr Gray, headmaster of the Bulls school, waited on the Chairman of the Wanganui Education Board this morning, and explained the position in regard to the application sent in for a District High School at Bulls. Mr Pirani promised to give full weight to the representations made and explain the matter fully to the Board. In reference to the statement thai gitipes are to be admitted inti lite colony at a duty of Id per lb, it should be -explained! that the restriction on the importation of the jruit has first to be specifically removed. Until that has been done, they cannot be admitted, but the imposition of the duty is taken to be a clear proof that the Government intends to allow their importation. , What might have been a serious accident occurred in the Feilding square to-day. It appears that Mr Johnston, accompanied by Miss Kirton, was driving in a gig, and on entering the Square, the horse slued and collided with a passing express, with the result that the vehicle driven by Mr Johnston was overturned, the occupants being thrown out, but, fortunately, beyond a few bruises, neither were seriously hurt.. A dog fight took place yesterday afternoon at the entrance to a local drapery store. It, (was a willing '.'go," and, as there was a. large number of people in the vicinity, a crowd quickly gathered. Baskets of blouse pieces, rolls of dress cloths, etc., were soon scattered round, and the fall in drapery was immense* " An old lady, probably the owner of one of the dogs, tried to act the peacemaker, by separating the canines, but the mere men who witnessed the fight looked on in enjoyment. Presently the proprietor of the establishment appeared, and qualified j for a place in the "All Blacks " by j the tricks he administered to the j animals. Perhaps he was annoyed —any rate, it stopped the sanguin- ! ary tussle. \ . j Mr Andrew Collins, labour or gams- I er, returned from New Plymouth last i Thursday night (says the Post). Ho addressed two largely-attended meetings in that town, and as a result a union of drivers and grooms, a union of navvies and general labourers were formed. Both bodies passed resolutions applying for registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1905. Mr Collins intends to return to the Taranaki district in two or three weeks' time to continue the work of organising. In the springtime Mr Andrew Collins intends to vigorously organise th* farm labour, ers throughout the Wellington, Haw- • Ice's Bay and Taranaki districts. In the meantime, he says, no active steps will be taken to form unions. Some time ago a circular reached the hands of some men in this district, and was reprinted in various newspapers, but the literature was not disseminated from Wellington; it was practically a reprint of the demands made by the Canterbury union. Mr Collinß states that the formation of a union must be the first work, and submits that it would be useless to sefcd out circulars ; relating to the claims of a body of I workers till they had been banded in- J to a union.

There were 9210 charges against ' persons for drunkenness throughout the colony last year. ; Captain Edwin wired at 11.37 today:—Easterly strong winds to gale Glrsi f«H soon. Rain probable. ; iS- j Lucy NieeoHs and Mr J. Petevkin, both of Feilding, won the waltzing competition at the Chelten- j ham Assembly's ball last night. I The result of the intercolonial footbal match will bo posted up at the Stak; office shortly after 7 o'clock this evening. | The engineer to the Oroua County Council, together with Cr. Pearce, has \ inspected the site of the erosion near Mr D. Herlihy'e property at Aor- ; angi and it has been decided to spend about £5 in wiring trees along the bank of the river. j Mr H. Curran, Maori Missionary, of Lake Waikaremoana, will preach r in the Gospel Hall, Feilding, to-mor- , row evening, at 7 o'clock. Mr Cur- , ran has been a Maori Missionary for . some years, and has been laboring, more than a year among the Hauhau people of the Uriwera countryA deputation from Raumai, between Ashhurst and Pohangina, intend to proceed to Wellington to interview the Minister of Education upon the frequently-refused request for the establishment of a sohool in their locality. There is no doubt the residents of Raumai have a just grievance, and it is to be hoped their efforts will be successful. Mr G. F. Marrinor, F.R.M.S., who has been prosecuting a lengthened inquiry into the habits of the kea, and having obtained no conclusive decision whether it killed sheep for their 1-idney fat or not, decided to go to the mountains himself and make perscnal investigations. He visited Lake Coleridge Station, and from there pushed on to the Rakaia Forks. In the bush he sought for traces of the alleged winter food of the kea, but found none. But during the few days which he spent there he found ampla evidence of the kea's depredations, though he did not see one attack a sheep. He found numerous sheep, however, whose loins had been torn vi mistakably by keis. Several were frond dead, but the kidneys were untouched and the animals had evidently died from blood-poisoning Mr Marriner will publish the results of his investigations in the Transactions ot the Philosophical Institute, but. judging by the interim report he has supplied to the press it seems to be established that the kea is merely a carnivorous bird, and rot a specialist in kidney fat.