LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 612, 1 July 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wellington correspondent of 1 the Auckland .Star forecasts Wednesday, December 2, as tlie day of the general elections. 1 .Messrs Hodder and Tolley received :•. telegram from Chrfctohuroh to-day to tlie effect, that tlio prico of flour had been reduced by 10s per ton, making the Fe.Llding prico £11 10s per, ton. I Witness in tlie New ' Plymouth Supreme Court: "1 saw a lady." "Never mi lid the lady," said the Judge. "Did you see tho calf? That's more important tUiau the lady." It was only tho fierce gla.ro of a constable that kept tilio laughter bottled down; A couple of Feilding sportsmen returned from Ohakuno to-day, having spent some days amongst, the pigeons, with Jog and gun.. Their bag exceeded tho century, notwithstanding tho fact that they struck very wet weather tho whole time. ' Only one case of infectious or contagious disease was reported in the "borough during .the first six months of this year* Tliiis is a/*coiisuinitiation greatly to bo desired, and spealcs very wall for tho sanitary arrangements of the borough, as well as for the general cleanliness of the premises of the- residents and business people. Feilding is certainly the healthiest town along this coast. i The Ohurc'h of England .bazaar ' opens m tiie Drill Hall to-morrow j evening, and will bo continued on i Firiday afternoon and evening. Prizes ; aro being ottered for n-ail-d riving and i weight-guessing competitions, and the j variety entertainment should prove a great attraction. Wo >pains _ hjive ' been spared by Misses Luxmoore and • IMalfroy iv training a number of girls 1 who are to take part in the. costume | j songs and dances, and the perfor--1 mance of these will bo well worth the ' small sum charged for admission. Here is the latest story about the eldest daughter of President Itoosej velt, who is the wife of Senator Long- j ; worth : She was sitting in th© galI lery of the House of Representatives when' she- found a tin-tack. 'Tlie pro- ' ceedings were- intolerably dull-, and ! the daughter ,of tho President relieved the- monotony by placing the tack in the centre of an empty seat in the diplomatic gallery. .Shortly after a diplomat, whose name is not given, arrived, sat heavily on the .tack, and rose again m frantic luaste. The diplomat gazed furiously in the direction, of Alts Longworth, who, however, . was looking the other way. Sho and her husband left a moment later, ■delightfully griiming at tlio success o> the joke. : " In the ladies competition for a golf club, Miss A. Malfroy and Miss H Bruce tied for first place and will have to play off on a day to be arranged between them. The results aro as follows: Miss A. Malfroy (scr.) 3 up, Miss iii. tfruco (9) 3 up. Miss i&. Jackson (5) 4 down, Miss Prior (9) i down, Miss M. Jackson (5) Miss V. Moore TJ) Mits Montgomery (9) 5 down, Miss J. Bruce (9) 6 down, Miss E. Moore (9) Miss. Sandilands (9) y down. A team will journey to Ivimbolton on Saturday^ July 18, and all members who can get away will please leave their names with tlie Captain or assistant secretary. The monthly medal competition for July must be played to- day or on Saturday next. Our Tapuae correspondent's notes on Saturday were slightly mangled by the linotype, and wo reprint two of tho paragraph 'in. consequence: — The big .political campaign is drawing near and of the several aspirants announced for the seat O. 0. Pleasants is considered \by uuuiv of the settlers here as most worthy of taking the seat, and hope that *t an early date he will give Vent to Ins political feelings to the electors in the Tapuafl school .house. — Tho gentlemen of Pailiikilcura, are a ball in Air Short's ' w<»l-siied on the 10th iust. A strong coinmitteo has been formed and as this function is a very, popular one it should meet with the appreciation hitherto accorded to it.t

Another old land mark in Wellington is to disappear next month — the Occidental Hotel, opposite the Theatre Royal. The contractors for the erection of gas works at Foxton expect to have everything in working order in about fivo weeks' timo. Madame Clara Butt and her husband are said to have cleared £51,000 as a result of the 72 concerts they I gave in Australia and New Zealand. It is stated that £50 an acre has been offered and refused for the purchase of the 160 acres in the Ahiakouka estate near Grey town. Mr Rockell, manager for the Levin Dairy Company, has resigned his position, and intends going up to the Auckland district. It is stated (says tho Standard) that Mr E. Short, of Waituna West, contemplates taking over the Rewa dairy factory an:l running it on -his own account. A Masterton butchery firm put no fewer than 720 head of cattle through the municipal abattoir for two years without having a single beast condemned. The ground committee of the A. and P. Association have appointed Messrs J. M. Johnston and Foster-Pratt to *confer with the ",ltugby Union to make arrangements re gatemen for the English football match. ■ The re-building of the Apiti Dairy Co.'s factory is now well in hand, the contract being let to Mr Banks. so company are installing a Topjiss combined churn and worker, both of which were exhibited at the recent show. A South Taranaki farmer states that last year he took in milk cheques alone over £1000 off his farm of 123 acres. The previous season his milk cheques totalled over £1300. With pigs and calves added, his turnover will, it is thought, stand as a record for New Zealand. Tho earnings on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section of railway during the four weeks ending 23rd May amounted to £G0,513 12s 3d, against £54,152 7s Id for the corresponding period in 1907. Passengers a counted for £23,396 19s 3d and goods £30,455 6s Bd. The Rev. J. J. North, of Wellington, has been selected to preach the congress sermon at the Australasian Baptist (Jr>n|ferenee. which wijll be he-Id in Sydney in September. If Air .North chooses gambling for his text, he will give the Australians a lively time. !At noon yesterday, according to articles of agreement, the second deposit of £300 a-side in cash was in the possession of the stake-holder, binding the matcih for the sculling championship of the world between \V. 'Webb (the holder of the "title) and 11. Arnst (challenger). Witli miles of magnificent timber idle, or undergoing destruction, in the Catlins district, it is interesting to reflect on the following sentence culled from the engineer's report to the Taieri County Council : "The delay in the early stages of the contract was due to the difficulty in procuring timber from Australia." A prominent stock dealer informed a Wairarapa Daily Times reporter yesterday that he could see very shortly in this district a good market for wethers. At present there were plenty of inquiries for this class of stock, but very few good linos were offering. Farmers were keeping their good wethers on the turnips and selling off only the tail lots. The A.M. P. Society is advertising the issue of its bonus certificates for the year 1907. There are about 36,000 policies in New Zealand entitled to receive them. The average rate of bonus is rather better than last year, being equal to •%£ per cent of the participating assurance premiums receive'! during the year. The society has now nearly seventy million pounds' worth of assurances in force, secured by an accumulated fund of nearly twenty-three and a half millions sterling. The laudable movement now on foot to establish in the Rotorua district an agricultural institution for Maoris will have unqualified sympathy. The communial system Wj&ked well enough when tho fighting strength of the cause was the first consideration and when nothing interfered with tribal law but to maintain jt. British law, when it does nothing whatever but expose tho industrious cultivator of a kuniara patch to the plunder of that patch by tribal idlers, is rediiculous. The Maori who idles should bo left to learn by the. natural consequence of idleness, and the State should givo every encouragement to training farms like the one proposed, and should make it as easy as possible for tho Maori to become a farmer upon land which is -individually, his.— New Zealand Herald. It is stated on good authority (says an Auckland paper) that a party of prospectors have struck a payable reef at Maungataiitari, near Cambridge, and are still working opening up. They sent two tons to the Wnihi Company, which returned a good assay. The reef, it is 6tated, is situated upon European land, which some time ago was purchased by the Government. It is reported that the Government will shortly proclaim the area as a goldfield. „ In view of the discovery of gold on the eastern portion of Mount Maungatautari, and the probability of a now goldfield being proclaimed there, it is understood that the natives on the western side are now desirous of having the whole area of Maungatautari included therein. "King" Mahuta, acting on behalf of the Native Department, approached the natives with the object of obtaining their consent to the purchase of their land, in order that it might be proclaimed a goldfield. A majority expressed their willingness to sell. As gold has been found on their land at various times and its payable nature has been proved on the other side,' there does not appear any reason to suppose that it will not be found equafi^ payable onVthe native hinds on the Cambridge side of Mount Mauntatautari. An important provision of the regulations in connection with the Government advances to workers' system is that mortgages are prepared and completed "by the Advances to Settlers Office free of charge to mortgagors. No procuration fee, commission, or charge for obtaining a loan should be paid to any person, and no professional assistance is necessary, and no- charge is authorised for the filling-in of the application form. These provisions were made so that the worker should reap all the benefits possible from the system, but Mr Heyes. superintendent of the office, states that many of the workers forego this privilege by making their applications through solicitors. One solicitor is alleged to have charged a man £12 for application costs, though all he- had to do was to post the form to the Government office, where the business was despatched .free of cost to anyone. In view of "this and other cases, the Department has decided v in the case of future application made through solicitors, to notify the mortgagors immediately tha it will not proceed with th^|mort, gage excepting in reply to personal application. Rather an amusing story is going the rounds concerning R-ua, the Maori prophet (says the Whakatane Times). He communicated the solemn fact to his followers that during tihe .night a vision appeared to him, ami he was told that he was to take unto himself another wife, but if th©;' first wife was not agreeable to the proposal he shotlJd be taken up to heaven. seeking the first wife's permission to annex another damsel, she was up in amis at once and stoutly refused* and when . he mentioned wihajt woujd happen* to Mm if she didn't grant him permission <she told him to go to heaven. 'As quipkly as he fould he got bis followers to intercede for him, but the dame was obdurate. Tor four days he locked himself in his room, and on the morning of the fifth day he was seated on the verandah of his. house, wrapped in a sheet and weeping bitterly. jSoon his followers were about him. crying with joy to see Jiiro back, as i they thought, from- heaven. On being questioned, Rua told them that he hiad been given permission to romainif ho wished. Hi a -followers imniediiute.lv subscribed a purse, of sovereigns, to persuade him to renain, which he consented to do.

Education and Fire Board news will be found on page 1. Captain Edwin telegraphed to-day: Easterly strong winds to gale; rain probable after ten hours; glass fall 30041. The next mail for the United Kingdom aaid Europe, via Vancouver, will close at the Feilding Office on Tuesday next, iat 11.45 a.m. The .North Island is not the only part of the dominion where Jand is bringing high prices. A resident of the Forty-mile bush has purchased a property at EJlesraero (Canterbury) at £32 pea- acre. - To-night the Manchester Band's skating carnival is to be held in the Drill Hall. Some quaint costumes have been prepared by enthusiasts, and there is to be keen competition for the prizes offered. Music will, of course, be supplied by the Band, and the floor will be in its usual good order for skating. One of the finest landaus imported to the colony has been recently obtained by Mr Follet, of the Carbine Stables, through Messrs J. Bett and Co. The vehicle is a handsome one and very comfortable, being fitted with rubber tyres, and every convenience, making for the enjoyment of the occupants, including a telephone service between the passengers and the driver. We have no doubt that Mr Follet will be rewarded for his enterprise, and that many a wedding party will taste happiness in the use of the landau for the important day. The versatility of the Teuton may fairly be gauged by tine following advertisement -appearing in an American .journal :— "German (married), age 36, sober .and fair, speaking Russian, Finland, list-land, and Jittlo English, understands • also Laitin, eight months in this country, having fifteen years' foreign general business, office, store, and druggist prescriptions experience, wishes : position as correspondent for German or Russian or an interpreter, travelling man, collector, cashier, nurse in hospital, -valet, waiter, watchman, or of any kind. Address Leonhard Zuergens, 3024 I street. South Omaha, Neb." Mr Angus J. M'Curdy, farmer, Upper Hutt, and clerk of the local Town .board, has been nominated 'or a seat on the Wellington Education Jioard for Manawatu and Hutt Ward in opposition to Captain M'Donald. Mr M'Curdy was formerly organising secretary to the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Tie advocates exte-n---tion of useful technical education, a rugid adherence to the secular system, and the encouragement of country teachers. Mr M'Curdy was trained in England for the scholastic profession, is an associate member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, London, was a printer ami a telegraphist before becoming a farmer. At the New Zealand court in the Exhibition, writes a weekly contemporary, is an excellent show of the flax industry of the dominion. It is not by any means a business to boast about as to prices at present; in fact, a terrible- slump in market value is being experienced. The value of New Zealand hemp may be put down at £24 per ton, and, according to calculations, the cost of production and transport is about £26; sn flax at present prices is evidently a losing proposition, and we hear that scores of nax mills around Auckland are closing. From £10 to £lo a ton has been lost in the value of the article in a twelvemonth. Over production in Manila and a poor demand in America have contributed to this unfortunate state of things. At the Druids meeting last evening five candidates were initiated into the Order and six new proposals received tor membership. Uros. M. Hyland, F. Uroombridge, and F. Gannon were elected a Social Committee, and 13ro. J . Pulling was elected, ArohDrnid Bard. It was decided to make next meeting night a "pound night," when ono of the founders of the Lodige, who is in Feilding, will be enterwined by the members. „ The meeting will commence at 7sjgv p.m., and initiation will be held at B'oclock.Tho card teams will meet representatives of the Oddfellows' "Lodge in their hall next Monday. The new officers. -are very zealous in their endeavours to promote the welfare of the Lodge, and are receiving good support from the members. ArchDruid Bro. Garrett presided last night. Yesterday we published a list of the most valuable estates of deceased persons certified to for stamp duty during iast month : Amongst the other estates dealt with were the following in the Wellington district.-— j John Churchill, £11,280; Edward S. i Maunsell, £10,306'; Mary Alexander £10,155; Catherine Hawley, £7,014 ;j? Alex. Anderson, £4,995; John Flan- j dors £3,007 ; Francis- Brady, £2,454 : Charles Ogle, £&,327; Thomas Awdry, £1,522; 'Daniel' Toohill, £1,478; ! Bridget Egan, £1,470; John J. ; Wnight, £1,190; Michael Conners, I £1,031; Hoani Tamati, £1,012; Elizabeth M'Lean. £921; Jane Peat, £900; John Jveogh. £714; Catherine Duffy. £591; Thos. Graham, £545; Cha.rles .I. Taylor, £532; Henry Ingle, £530: , John 'Duffy, £527; Peter London,! £522. A telegram from Paris stated that I a workman named Courtin had been . buried deep in a well for three days, in the little town of Rambouillet, but was then alive. The accident happened on Monday morning, when the walls of the well which ho was digging collapsed. He was 100 feet deep in a cage, Tn which ho was working. The rescuers, who had communicated with him by means of an impromptu speaking pipe, had to proceed slowly for fear of tiho weight of earth destroying the cage. He had no food with him when the accident happened, so far as was known. One of thie most extraordinary things 1 about the accident was that it ! was the second time that it had hap- ! pencd fro Courtin. Some months ' ago he was buried under precisely J similar circumstances, and was reseu'ed after fifty-three hours. Mr H.-H. Stephens, the Apiti representative of the firm of Messrs •Stephen Bros, Apiti, met with a great surprise on Saturday evening by being here into 'his office, and was there met by the staff belonging to the firm, and presented with a handsome case of smoker's requisites. Mt Roberts made the presentation, and alluded to the many good qualities of Mr Stephens, and upon the harmonious way the affairs of the firtn had been carried on under his management; also that the whole of the staff regretted very much having to part company with their old friend. They hoped he would not forget the many happy and pleasant hours they had all spent together in Apiti. -Other members of the staff also made references to the tact and thoughtful,ness always shown by Mr Stephens towards the employees. They drank the health of Mr and, Mrs Stephens and family. Replying, Mr Stephns thanked his staff most sincerely ; but they had taken him so suddenly that he was at a loss what to say. The handsome present presented to him that evening would remain as a momento of the days he had spent in Apiti when his' associations would be in another country. Mr Gordon Shaw in an article in the Field (London), respecting Pelorous Jack, aays: It is difficult. to offer an explanation for the extraordinary ways of this' fish, and = I 'have never heard any theory ■advanced. But 1 suggest that his uttite colour is itself the treason and explanation for his solitary life and peculiar- ways. Jt Jnay 'Imvs come to him onHy in later years- -tlio result of great age— or he may have been born a. "freak." In either case its strangeifess is .sufficient to ostaiacise him from association with his fellows. They fear him, and lly at his approach. He is a foreign, uncanny creature to them. Probably they chase him and have tried to' kill liim. So he lives alone. Pelorous Jack is a.n outcast-: he has no friends, iio-" fish of his kind to frolic with him over the seas. And the steamers? Broßably he thinks them big fish. They at least do, not slum or hurt him, and they swim uiofcty. So in their goings and comings- ho accompanies them, enjoying their fellowship and friendly spirit so far as he dare to the limit of his haun*. fior beyond that lie kn)ows that creatures of his own Kind may attack him. • * .