LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 524, 18 March 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Vranganui Education Board meets tins evening. Mastertou has a Ladies' Swinn ming Club, with a membership of •5 sixty-five. The members of the Feilding Brass Band Jiave decided not to attempt a Band Contest in Feilding this year. The Auckland Harbour Board is considering the question of raising £1,000,000 loan for further harbour improvements. Tho term of office- of fcho present Conciliation Board expires on April 24. Tho election of tho new Board takes place on Ajjrdl 3. All other dietary products having been exhausted, reports tho Masterton Age, some Kuripuni dairy farmers are treating their cows to a menu of willow leaves. At the Awahuri sports yesterday the sum of £25 was taken at tho gate. This, with a large club membership, ensures the financial success of tho gathering. Members of the Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are reminded of the meeting to be held in the Grey street Hall at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Members of the local Court of Foresters are requested to attend at the Hall this evening, at 7.30 o'clock, to receive the members of Court Manawatu, who are paying the Court a fraternal visit. It is stated that at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Timaru a case is to be heard ill which a Geraldine resident will claim £500 damages for an accident caused by a reckless motor-car driver. '11 tho Open Hunters' Competition at the Awahuri sports yesterday the rider of Mr A. Strawbrddge's Carpenter had a lucky escape from a serious accident. As the horse was. about to take the stab fence, it stepped into a hole, and fell rather than jumped through the .hurdle, recovering its foothold in a remarkable manner. A mystery was brought to light in Paris on February 5 during excavations in the Rue Sevres on the site where the Convent I'Abbaye-au-Bois formerly stood* The workmen found a woman's skeleton embedded in a layer of limo '-.several feet below the surface. The, hair was well preserved aaid abundant, and in it was -entangled a , modern comb. '■ 1

According i.o Mr J. M. Johnston, Mr Singleton, Dairy Commissioner, only requires a space 80ft by 100 ft fronting Cuba .street, Palnierston North, to build the dairy school on I A meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce is to be held at 8 o'clock to-night, in the Library Room, to consider the advisability of making representations to the Minister of Railways in regard to tho proposed timetable. As a reason for allowing the public who attended the Palmerston show to use passes at the outer gate, Mr lialsillio said at tho Committee meeting yesterday that ho had been told j tliat one could only get half a feed i for the money in the showground, I while he could obtain a whole feed outside. A match for the Yates Feathers will be played on the Feilding Bowling Green this afternoon, when the Palmerston bowlers will make another attempt — the third this season — to capture the coverted trophy from the tenacious Feilding lovers of the biassed globe. The holders of the Feathers are Messrs Thomson, Crabb, Stewart, and Say well (skip.) As an explanation of a letter from the Taranaki A. and P. Association, read at the Manawatu A. and P. Association yesterday, Mr fe. 11. Lancaster stated that Mr Buchanan had lost a cow in returning his cattle from last show and another was badly injured. Six or eight cows and a bull had been put loose in a truck and pandemonium broke out. It was suggetiul that the best way out of the difficulty would be for the owner to sec his stock was properly trucked. A rather nice point was made concerning the Anglo- Japanese Alliance by Mr Don at the meeting of the School Committees' Association last ni"ht. Ho was at Tokio talking to some students under instructions to apeak nothing but foreign languages during the term. "Yes," said they, "wo speak Spanish, French, Arabic, am l "English, of course," put in Dr. Don. "I beg your pardon," replied one of tho students gravely, "but English is not a foreign language in Japan." Courtesy is a virtue which has by no means' been over-cultivated by employees in the public service, says a message from New York, dated February 4. The Chicago Pullman Car j Company has distributed the sum of I £35,000 " among its conductors and! porters who have been reported on as showing proper courtesy to the com- j pany's customers during the past year. A sum equivalent to a month's pay, has been sent to each | man. When the question of issuing passes at the outside gates was under discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, Mr ' 13alsillie>. pointed out that tlie Feilding, "Woodville and Horowhenua shows were encroaching, and Palmerston would have, to offer inducements to the counter attractions in those places. Mr Jacob laughingly remarkod that he had never heard any objection to tho refusal to issue passes at Palmerston from Feilding folks— it was the Palmerston catererers who made all the bother. The authorities at the Vatican do not conceal tlieir disappointment that the Duke and Duchess of Connaught did not, during their visit to Rome, seek an audience of the Pope. Mgr. Stonor (the English priest who attends the Pope) went pur2>osely to call on the Duke to learn what time would be most agreeable to his Royal Highness, but the Duke expressed his regret that the time at his disposal would forbid him tho pleasure. Yet the Duke and Duchess, on the morning of February 6, privately visited the museums of tho Vatican. It would be difficult to imagine anything more genuine than Mr J. M. Johnston's suprise when he xras called in to the A. and P. meeting at I'-'ilmerston yestej^iwry : to v P£ffiiv*»°si complimentary irrfSolution. He looked aj£3rfv,di r; <!liough, and when he tried "to "give utterance to his thanks, he was utterly lost. His opening sentences were: "I don't know what to say — you luivo taken me off my perch j entirely — I. can't find words to — I really don't know what to say." But tho appreciative laughter at his temporary discomfiture, restored his confidence. <-i Mr Doa kin's invitation to Admiral Evans to visit Australia during his Paciiic cruise naturally affords scopefor w.ido divergence of opinion among critics. Our own conviction is thnt tho Federal Premier acted wisely. So Tar as Now Zealand is concerned, the arguments in favour of an "entente" with America aro at least as strong aa in the case of Australia, and wo can venture to suggest to the Premier that if Mr Deakin's invitation is accepted it would bo a graceful and opportune step for our own Government to propose that Admiral Evans shouid extend his cruise to our shores. — Auckland Star. Arrangements have been made for an Art class to be held in the Church of England Sunday School room at Kimbolton on Monday, 23rd March. Miss Drew will be present at 2.30 p.m. to receive students and to begin the course of instruction. The sewing class, under the management of Miss Gilbert-son, will begin at the same place and time, on Tuesday, 24th March. Enquiries have been made about a cookery class. All who would like to join this are requested to communicate with Mr H. E. Astbury, to see if such a class can be established. The more students there are, the greater likelihood there is of beginning at once. Tho annual report of tho Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company states that the gross earnings of the ■lino for the year ended February 29 last amounted to £160,650, being £15,013 greater than for the previous year. Land was sold during tiie year to tho amount of £18,720. The bal-ance-sheet shows assets as follows: — Railway and rolling stock, £828,376; freehold lands, £89iJo ; balances <lue by land purchasers, £14,190; debentures purchased and accrued interest, £94,---043; sundry debtors, £5065; railway stores, £iv,."27; cash balances, £31,---233; total, £1,086,520. The capital of'tli-o company is nominally £1,000,---000. Of this £800,000 was subscribed in 170,000 shares oi' £5. pach. These shares aro paid up to the extent of £1, and there aro debentures amuuntiug to £680,000. Of the total number of shares 80,525 are on the London register, and 88.475 on tho Wellington register. A quicker or more satisfactory re--1 covery from a period of drought has never been known in South Canterbury than that experienced since the recent rain (writes a Christchurch Press correspondent). Fields on which a green blade could not possibly be found before the welcome showers, immediately showed signs of very active life, nnd in less than a week there wa s over an inch of growth in grass, and root crops benefited proportionately. Tlie result is that doleful forebodings of dreadful tbiugs to happen during the coming winter have all been ca^t aside, and with grass and roots growing every day, farmers are now quite cheerful again. There will be a fine lot of autumn and winter feed, though many held the opinion before the rain that it- had held off too long to permit of any material growth this season. Sheep and cattle nave advanced in price, and the supply of fat stock for the two sets of freezing works is being well maintained. Mr Dinnie, Commissioner of Police, has decided to establish a crime museum. The articles he iias already collect ed are arranged effectively and with explanatory labels in a large case erected over the mantelshelf in his oihee. They consist largely 'of revolvers of various sizes aaid patterns taken from desperate criminals. A mask .and an electric liamp make a very interesting memento of a Christchurch burglary.^. The mask is simple yet effective; ap iece of black rag, with tattered edges and two irregular holes for eyes, a paper covering for the head being attached to keep tho mask in position. A story is connected with/ a revolver, eleotric lamp, chisel iah<3 file, which survive a burglarious adyerjturo in Oh.ristohurch. Tho burglar might havQ been quite safe, but lie left his finger-print upon the chisel, and the tool, falling into the hand?; of the police, effectively betrayed its master. A burglary at Am--berley, povpetrated by more than one man, who met with tiheir due reward, yields for mementoes two very ser-viceable-looking revolvers, one of them accompanied by a bundle of six cart- 3 ridges. d

The journal A. B.C. states that the life of the late King Carlos, of Portugal, was insured for £40,000 with a British company and for £44,000 with a Spanish company. After Fijian cricketers — the Chinese! Recently at Shanghai two teams composed solely of Celestials met in their annual cricket encounter and tied with 40 runs each. Moo Don, a wonderfully fast "bowler, "frightened" five of his opponents out — he clean bowled them all — for 9 runs. Senator Beveridge, speaking in the American Senate, on February 5, iii favor of a Tariff Commission being appointed, said Germany had the best tariff system in the' world. 't was better constructed than any other to meet changing conditions, and Germany, in consequence, was outdistancing the rest of the world in increasing its foreign trade. ' On Saturday morning the snow around the centre hummock of Mount Ruapehu was of very dark hue, and some spectators at Raetihi thought they discerned clouds of smoke rising I from that portion of tho summit in which the crater is located. This phenomena is similar to that which occurred some eight months ago, when it was the general opinion that the mount Avas in slight eruption. Nearly all tho flaxmills in Marlborough are closing down, owing to the depressed market. It was thought at one stage that re-arrangements as to the price paid for green flax would enable millers to keep their plants going, but a further drop in the price of hemp has put even this hope to flight. It is considered that, if all the mills in tho dominion close, fully three thousand hands will bo affected. The roading of tho minutes of^ the Paimerston Winter Show Committee was listened to solemnly enough at yesterday's A. and P. meeting until a motion was reached to include classes for ""fancy pigeons, canaries, peacocks, seagulls, and woodhens," when one ooramittooman gave a disgusted grunt which upset everyone's gravity, and prevented the "tail of the tale" — that the motion was lost — being heard. An interesting addition to the collection of old New Zealand records in the Auckland Public Library has just been made (says a Press wire) in the shape of the first publican's license issued in the dominion. It was granted at Karorareka, now known as Russell (Bay of Islands) to one John Johnston in the year 1840, the fee charged being £30, and authorises him to sell at tlit* sign of "the Duke of Marlborough" various liquids, including "ginger beer and spruce beer." Two dairy farmers, one from the Fernridge and the other from the Taratahi, were discussing the situations in Masterton yesterday, says the Ago. "Well," said the first, with a heavy sigh, "I am £150 behind last year's returns on the same number of cows, and I reckon I started off with better cows this season." Number two replied, with, if possible, a sadder countenance, <: I settled the grass, of course, long ago; then the herd started off on the winter hay, and that all went; I next purchased | £12 worth of straw, and when that went I sho.t 'em and skinned 'em." If anti-Socialism be the policy of both the Government and Opposition parties, why, in the name of commonsense., do not they join forces to fight it? asks the Wairarapa Daily Times. As matters now stand, they" are, by bickering with one another, giving Socialists the chance to return members of Parliament at the coming general election. For our own pert wo are indifferent as to whether Sir Joseph or Mr Massey becomes our political guide, philosopher and friend. We want a National Party, strong enough to hold its own against Socialists and Anarchists. The Tuapeka Times reports a sensational accident. As .'\!.>-.-^atfc^ l »t^"s^ son's waggon, by J. "Perrdw, ' was descending the Beaumont side of the Big Hill about 8 o'clock on Thursday night the brake failed to act, and the waggon', loaded with about five fcons of general merchandise, got way on and forced the horses into a gallop. After going some distance one of the leaders fell and wrought down others of the team, and the heavilyladen waggon was brought to a standstill by running on to them. Two horses were killed outright, and one had its leg broken, and had to be destroyed. As the team consisted of nine horses, the confusion in the darkness can well be imagined. A bomb has exploded amongst the local bodies in the country districts, says the N.Z. Times. Some professional agitator has been round forming the employees of the road boards and county .councils into a union, and a demand has been formulated claiming for roadsmen and other workers £3 0s 4Jd per week, eight hours per day while working in dry places, and six hours per day in wet places, with preference to unionists. The country press is much perturbed at the outlook. Tho Wairarapa Daily Times calls loudly for the abolition of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, and says: "It is intolerable that a district like this should not be allowed to manage its own affairs, but that it should be placed by an absurd and ridiculous Arbitration Act at the mercy of Wellington agitators. Both workers and employers should kick against an outside tyranny of this description." A Kaikoura pastoral prophet thus discusses the commercial outlook in the Star: — "The sensational success which has attended pastoral pursuits during the past decade appears to be on the wane, and the value of properties is "receding in sympathy. Doubtless there has recently been rash and reckless speculation in land, amounting to gambling, altogether imprudent and impolitic on the part of purchasers, bereft of a modicum of foresight. Prices have been offered and refused for leasehold properties, equal, if not beyond their freehold value, and in the event of a reaction sotting in, a slump in value will ensiio. Peace, the American money panic, and the increased supply may, and in all probability will, be felt all over the world for years to come. A sudden reaction in the market of any part of the globe is seldom confined to one particular part, but like a stone dropped into a lake encircles the whole commercial world." Children will need to ,bo careful during their visit to the circus nestSaturday, and not bo tob venturesome. Monday's Hastings .Standard says: Ceoil Sims, the seven-year-old son of ] Mr Alfred Sims, was badly clawed by : a bear at Wirth's circus on Saturday ! afternoon. The little fellow, with a ' number of children, was playing between two cages looking at tho lions when a bear in a cage at the rear clawed him from behind. Tho boys shrieks brought one of tho circus men to the rescue. The boy was at once taken to the chemist. 'Dr. McKibbin ; was summoned, amd soon in attend- j anoe, who found that the injuries necessitated eight stitches being put ; n. The bear appeared to be a very dangerous one, for it was noticed that the circusman who rescued the boy was carrying his arm in a sling, the result of the rough caresses of Mr I Bruin. The boy's mother suffered a ; severe shock when she heard of the . accident. The boy is progressing fay- j ourably tins morning. His injuries consist of '& slight scratch by one •ear, aoid deeper gashes in the arm and back I As there has been some searching in i New Zealand for the Jieir, the following item from New York will be of interest: Sir Genille Cave-Brown-Cave ■ and his wife to-day (Feb. 6) sailed for | England aboard the Celtic. He told , an interviewer that he meant to reburn to America in different circumstances as soon as he had settled his . affairs in England. Ho added that the happiest part of his wanderings bad been while cow-jmnohing in the . West. Sir Genille Cave-Brown-Cave, • ivho is in his thirty-ninth year, Jias had a romantic career. Ho last year , succeeded to the baronetcy, which I lates from 1641, but his whereabouts ( ivas unknown, and private^ detectives , ivere sent to the United States to find ■: < lim. When twelve years of «ge l'« j : joined the Navy. Afterwards he j 1 lerved in a Highland regiment. As ' i cavalryman he accompanied Lord | < iVolseley in tho second Nile espedi- ! i aon. Then he served in India. After < i quarrel with his father he went bag- < name .hunting in Burma and the if ar . j flast for a firm of New York natural- ; t cis, and followed this up by seven I i rears of .wandering, finally settling s .own as a cowboy in the Wild West.

At the monthly meeting of the ! [ Loyal Orange Lodge last night, Bro. It. P. Smith was appointed delegate to the Grand Lodge, to be held in Wellington at Easter. Miss Roberts, who is en route from Auckland Convention, and is a fluent and attractive speaker, will hold two public meetings, in Feilding on Sunday and Monday evenings next. Messrs McElroy and Boddy have erected an up-to-date sawmill and plaining mill on their property on the Feilding-Halcombe road, about six miles from Feilding ,and are prepared to accept orders for totara, matai, rimu, and white pine in any quantity. A horse straying on the railway line was run over by a train this morning, near the South-strete crossing, and frightfully mangled. When the guard got off to investigate— il was at first thought a man had been the victim— the dead body of another horse was found down the embankment, and it is surmised the animal was killed 'last night. At the Raumai sports yesterday the trotting handicap, which drew a field of thirteen competitors, was won by Mr Beadwcll's Ginger, and the hunters' competition by Mr A. E. Curran's Hokowhitu. In the tilding at the ring contest, Corporal Hawes, of Feilding Mounted Rifles, took all six rings in the splendid time of 7sec. and won easily. The selection of Mr S. Standen, of Aorangi, to judge Ayrshire cattle at the Royal Agricultural Show of New South Wales is not only a sensible one, but the appointment will be extremely popular in New South Wales stock circles. Mr Standen was a visitor to the show two years ago, and while there made a host of friends by his unassuming demeanor and knowledge of stock-Breeding and agriculture. New books recently added to the Feilding Library includo "A Modern Madonna" (Caroline Stanley), "Heroine of the Strait" (Mary C. Orowley), "The Wheat Princess" (Jean Webster), "An Outback Marriage". (A. B. Paterson), "Money Magic. (Hamlin Garland), "A Rose of Normandy" (Win. R. A. Wilson), "No Friend lik« a Sister" (Rosa Carey), "Dr. Burton's Success" (A. C. Gunter), "Arethusa" I (F. Marion Crawford), "The Human i Boy" (Eden Phillpots), "Hope Lor- ' ing" (Lilian Bell), "Tho. Unseen Jury"-' i Clary Root), "Hound from Itho North" (Rigwell Cullime). Our Sandon correspondent writes: The funeral of Lawrence Hatherley, eldest son of Mr E. H. Walters, of Sandon, took place yesterday afternoon. The body was taken to the Church, which was filled with friends of deceased^ and then conveyed to the j Sandon Cemetery. The cortege was j a large one, and there were many • beautiful flowers and wreaths which i decorated the coffin. The Rev. Mr i Wilson conducted the burial service, I which was most impressive, and many of Lawrence's fellow schoolmates were ! moved beyond words. Lawrence was ■ a boy most esteemed, and respected by all. He was very fond of ath- '. Ictic sports of all kinds, and his loss ! will be felt, not only by bis father and mother and little brother, but by a large circle of friends of his ' parents, for whom much sympathy is j felt. i William Waugh, charged with hay- '■ ing wounded Constable Connor at ; Palnierston. recently, was brought up for trial yesterday. He was arraigned on two charges — (1) with intent to do grievous bodily harm, (2) with ; assault and causing actual bodily harm. After hearing the evidence, . the, jury returned a verdict of "not guilty" on the first count, and "guiity" on the second, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of age. Sentence will be delivered to-day. Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., . and Mr J. P. Innes appeared fo-'-JiVauel^v^^g^g|gsnie SgSjsjg^, ordered to pay the costsoF the prosecution, in default two years' imprisonment. He was bound over to keep the peace for two years, in a bond conserving himself for £200, and two sureties of £100 each, the prisoner to be detained until the fines are paid, and the sureties found. Mr Justice Cooper stated that he did not send Waugh to prison on account of his extreme old age and good charac- ' ter, as he considered such punishment disproportionate to the ottence as shown in evidence.