LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 760, 22 December 1908, Page 2

LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

The Stab, will not be published on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, nor New Year's Day. Cable news, telegrams, and a Christmas display article will be found on page 1. The Wellington carpenters and joiners are asking for a new award. Maaze is Oeing largely planted in some districts of Taranaki for late summer feed for dairy stock. Mr John Graham, the re-elected M.P. for Nelson, was banqueted on Saturday nigjht by his supporters. At the Court this morning, «, prohibition order was taken out against a : local resident. Messrs W. J. B, ' Trewin and John Cobbe were on the Bench. <

Mr Lathbridge ha» r«oeived word ihat Mr§ Massey, wif« of the Leader }f th« Opposition, who has been very ill it now in much better health. Mr J. T. M. Hornaby has been Lucky in defeat for the Wairarapa seat. Carterton gave him a substantial purse of sovereigns. And on Saturday the people of Cross Creek treated him similarly. The Timaru Herald states that a good many farmers in South Canterbury who breed horses have had :he misfortune this year to lose the foals. The cause of death has noi jeen easy to ascertain, but in some cases it is said to be blood poison. The following is an extract from a letter received by a prominent business man of this city on Saturday : 'This through line (Main Trunk) is a great convenience; but very uncomfortable travelling at present, as die night accommodation and the feeding arrangements during the journey arc very unsatisfactory." A representative of one of the largest milling companies in Australia (says the Otago jJaily Times) is at present visiting the dominion witli the object of opening up business in the flour trade. It is said that flour can Le imported from Australia for about tho same price as that being charged by the Millers' Association, namely, £10 15s a ton. Ho was a grey-bearded old man, and appeared before tlie Court on a charge of insobriety. 'Nothing is known about" the accused for the past 20 years," said the station sergeant. "His wife went away yesterday, and he was celebrating the event." "Was it sorrow or joyi" 5 queried his Worship, and accused smiled a very tired smile, which broadened into a grin when his Worship added "convicted and discharged." The post mortem examination of her body showed that, after being, shot, Mrs Klenner (Dr. Goode's victim at \\ aitai-a) had no chance of living ; in 'fact, it is remarkable that she lived as long as she did. One bullet, after entering the left cheek and going downwards through the neck, Hodged near the vertebrae. The other bullet which entered the throat, and pierced the windpipe, travelled downwards at a smaller angle, and embedded itself in the side of the vertebrae. A pathetic circumstance in connection with the wreck of the scow Kia Ora (says the Auckland Herald) was that, Young, the cook, who was drowned with Captain Piercy and his 80 *' x Wa ? P le^ ded with by his mother not to leave on what subsequently proved to be the vessel's last trip ihe young man, 'however did not heed her plea, saying he wanted to earn some money for Christmas. His mother's presentiment of disaster was fulfilled. Satisfactory progress is reported from Japan in the restoration of the captured Russian ships. The battleships nizen (ex Retvizan) and Iwami (ex Orel), and the cruiser Tsugaru (ex Palladia) are already fitted for sea, while the battleships Saganii (ex Peresviet) and Suo (ex Pobieda), and the cruiser Sutsuya (ex Novik) are expected to be ready for the pennant before the end of the year. The cruiser Saya (ex Variag) will eventually be employed as a training ship for naval engineer students. It is gratifying to learn that some of the New Zealanders still on tho Hand have remained to see the dawn 'of brighter days than have been experienced since the conclusion of the iioer war. An old Christchurch resident, writing to a friend, states that the outlook is very encouraging in the Transvaall. For the month of October there was a record gold output, valued at over £2,500,000, and as several producers are being added to the number of mines opened up each month, it is expected that a three million output will shortly be reached. The following table (says the Eltham Argus) shows tiie amounts paid out by a number of South Taranaki factories lor milk received during the month of November. The amounts paid out are given in round figures. The factories given below, which are all situated in a comparatively small area of country, pay out £5,024:— T. L. Joll Co., £13,055; Koupokonui, £12,---700; Eltham, £10,600; Stratford, £7278; HaWera, £6511; Eiverdale, £4351 ; Kakaramea, £3381 ; Kaponga, £3300; Awatuna., £3264; Ngaire, £2."---/17; Normanby, £2158; Cardiff, £2,---002; Lowgarth, £1651; Mells, £1492Huiakama, £564. The prospect of becoming Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia did not disturb the equilibrium of Labour Leader Fisher. He hailed neither hansom cab nor motorcab when the Governor-General sent for him to form a Cabinet. He boarded a tram, walked from the stopping place to Government- House, and gave his name as an ordinary visitor. When he was supposed to be racking* his brains about the formation of the Cabinet he put in the evening fishing off one of the piers at South Melbourne. An exchange says there were "few who were aware that the quiet unobtrusive man in blue suit was the Prime Ministerelect of the Commonwealth." Three formidable piles of letters from Americans who are anxious to settle in Victoria are having a depressing effect on the officers of three State Departments (says the Melbourne Age). When the Americans were entertained in Melbourne they promised to advertise this State in their own country. One of them has done so with a vengeance. In the syndicate of American newspapers which he represented has appeared a sensational article under the name of Mr H. L. Clotworthy, entitled "Australia Offers Fortunes for American Colonists," and declaring, in a sub-heading, "Victorian Government will give 10,000 dollars land and cash to each settler to make white country." A Standard man had a talk with Arnst yesterday: "And what about your future movements?" questioned the reporter. "I haven't made any definite plans as yet," replied Arnst. "I have received a number of cables asking on what terms I will row Barry, but so far I have done nothing. If he sends a challenge to me I ' will accept it and will endeavour to induce him to come out here." "Would you row on the Wangamii river?" " "I should row wherever the most money offers. It would probably be either at Wanganui or Sydney." . The train was moving off. "Tell them," said Arnst, "that Webb is one of the best sports I ever met. He took his defeat like a man and is just white right through." On his return to Sydney this week Mr Coombes, editor of the Sydney Referee, will lay an offer from the Wellington Boxing Association before Mr Kelly, Tommy Burns' manager, and also confer with Mr W. T. Corbett, the Australian representative of tihe Association. The precise terms offered by the Association will not be divulged at present, but it is understood that they are very attractive. If the offer is accepted, Burns will give two exhibitions in Wellington and an exhibition in Masterton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Napier, and New Plymouth, under the auspices of the Wellington Association. If he comes to the dominion, he will be accompanied '. by Mrs Burns, and probably by O'Keefe and another sparring partner. And yet again folks are not satisfied with the transfer of the Manawatu railway. A correspondent in the Post points out the following retrograde step - taken by the Government in working the Manawatu railway. Paekakanki is a young township, and needs every inducement to develop. The company recognised this by fixing cheap passenger fares, viz., 2s 3d day return every Wednesday and Saturday to or from Wellington. "In consequence of the cheap fares, I with others purchased property and reside Ihere. W« are -now informed that the Government has abolished these cheap fares and charges 4s 8d return, more than double. Surely this- is bad policy, and cannot possibly popularise the line or induce people to get out of the con-, gested city of Wellington. If the company could pay 6 per cent, and country rates (the latter the Government ib of course freed of), reasonable concesisons to passengers by the company should ratber b* injraased by the Government." , >

The next (sitting in Feilding of , the S».M. Court will be held on January 14 At Wellington yesterday, the Public Trustee was granted probate in the estate of the late O. H. Baynes, of Kimbolton . Captain Edwin telegraphed at 12.40 p.m. to-day: Southerly moderate to strong winds; rain probable; glass little movement. Mr T. Collins, the successful tenderer for the borough swimming bath, has signed the contract for the work, and will make a start at once. Captain Barltrop and Volunteers Mayhew and Belk_, of the Mancheser iiifles, will take part in the ltifle Association meeting, to be held at Wanganui on the 26th and 28th inst. The Sunday trains for the holiday season (December 27 and January 3) will leave Feilding at 4.46 p.m. for Wellington not 5.46, as advertised yesterday. Those who have seen the schoolgardens entered for the Feilding A. ■and P. competition consider that Ruafnine is undoubtedly a hard competitor to beat for first place. A meeting of the Committee of the i'eilding Horticultural Society will be held at Messrs Barton and Alyiner's rooms to-morrow afternoon, at 3.30 o'clock, to wind up affairs in connection with the spring show. Dalgety's Review for December has a number of interesting pictures, but they are not so well reproduced as usual. The reading matter is quite up to standard, and the number is particularly strong in commercial news. The express train from Wellington to Auckland did not reach Feilding tilll 6.30 this morning, having been delayed by five trucks of sheep being de-railed at Pukeroa. There was a full train and three passengers were taken on at Feilding, although there would havo been more only for the 'uncertainty as to the train going through. There is evidently one man in the Fatea electorate who is a believer in the proverb of "the early bird catches tne /worm" (reports the Press). Mr G. V. Pea-roe, M.P., speaking at Wednesday night's oanquet, said he had already received an application from ■a gentleman to be made a J.P., but this was a matter he considered outside his province. Pigs, which were scarce for a (little time after buyers dropped the prices, aro said to be coming in very freely again, and in very good condition (says the Eltham Argus). -^c four buyers are stated to bring an average of 400 pigs into Eltham every week just now, and the number is increasing. A London correspondent, writing on November 3, states that Sir Jas. Mills, of Dunedin, the Chairman of the Union Steamship Co., was confined to a nursing home in Wim-pole-street for about twelve days. He entered the home in order to have a slight operation performed by the eminent surgeon, Sir William Watson Cheyne. The operation was very successful, and Sir James made an early recovery. Mr R. J. Sporle, Who has been for some years in charge of the Singer Sewing Machine Co.'s business in the Feilding district, lias been removed to Levin, where he will take charge this week. Mr Sporle, after holding office in the Feidling corps of the Mounted Rifles, was promoted to the staff, and now holds the rank of Staff-Sergeant-Major. He was a useful member of tlio Mounted Rifles, and and was often able to render the men valuable assistance. At the instance of Mr Mitchell, the subjoined new clause was added to the South Australian Electoral Bill : — "The returning officer for the district of the Northern Territory may set apart a compartment in the train travelling on the Port Darwin-Pine Creek railway, in the Northern Territory, as a polling-place for the said district. Electors may vote in such compartment wherever such train may stop, from time to time, and whilst tihe train is so stopping, during the hours set apart for polling for an election." Yet further enterprise on the par* of Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs (Christchurch) is evidenced by the receipt of two large portfolios of seasonable interest. '*M-aori Sketches" contains sixteen reproductions of photographs representing various pha^ of Maori life, and r 'Maori Children Sketches" contains a similar number of studies of child life. These portfolios, Which are published at Is 6d each, are so well done by photographer and engraver that it is matter for regret that the pictures have been backed. Otherwise they would have been in great demand for framing. Cabled intimation has been received that Francis Hutchens, a Hawera boy, who was sent Home to pursue his musical studies after showing marked proficiency, has been awarded the Hine Prize for composition by the Royal Academy of Music. Before going Home young Hutchens won an Education Board scholarship, but, although the Wanganui Board recommended that he should be allowed to hold this scholarship at Home, so that could go on with his ordinary education at the same time as Jus musical studies, the Government refused to allow it . A Halcombe correspondent writes that on Saturday morning an accident happened which might have been attended with even more regrettable results. • Mr Mitchell! 1 , on the way to the creamery, came on the unusual sight of a stack of hay on the road side^ covered up with sacks. This startling obstacle so worked on the nervous system of the horse that it declined to pass. After considerable persuasion the blockade was run; but in doing so the horse took charge, capsizing the trap and deluging Mr Mitchell with about seven cwt of milk. Further, the cans were damaged, and the shafts splintered. Who pays? Messrs O. M. Morris and J. F. Nicholson, of the Oklahoma Experiment Farm, describe a series of experiments on the economy and effectiveness of spraying for codlin moth and other insect pests. The work was done in commercial orchards, some of the trees being sprayed once, others three times, and still others five times. Unsprayed rows were were left as checks. The first two sprayings were done with a hand pump, maintaining a pressure on the nozzle of from 30 to 40 lbs., and tihe remainder with a gasoline engine power pump with a pressure of 1251 b. In a comparison of paris green and arsenate of lead there appeared to be no advantage in favour of either except that the latter remained in .solution longer. Bordeaux mixture was used in each spraying. The percentage of fruit free from worms was 71.6 on trees sprayed once, 79 on trees sprayed three times, and 93.4 per cent, on trees sprayed five times. The corresponding percentages of fruit free from other disease were 25, 93, and 91.7 per cent.