LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 840, 29 March 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

The Manawatu Rugby Union meets to-morrow evening, at Paimerston. Messrs Ongley, Ryan, and F. Pirani are tbe Feilding delegates. Captain Edwin telegraphed at 1 p.m. to-day:— South-easterly strong Glass rise. Weather probably much colder. Amongst the successful applicants at the Carington estate land ballot we notice: Section 8, Block V., 387 a<res, Edwin King, Feilding. Mr. J. W. Tighe, who was for fift teen years principal of the Jubilee Institute for the blind in Auckland, died suddenly from heart failure at Arncliffe, New South Wales, the ' other day,- aged 51 years. '■ The Manchester Rifles will bold competitions for Company's prize money on Wednesday and Saturday I afternoon of this week, and in order ( to create as much interest as pos- 1 sible the corps will be divided into 1 three classes and the shooting car- | ried out under class firing conditions. ' Every member can obtain 20 rounds 1 of ammunition free on application to l the secretary. • • The policy speech of the Prime \ Minister will deal with the financial ] position of the dominion, and explain t tbe important changes which are to i be made in the organisation of cer- 1 tain Government departments, will i probably be delivered in Wellington, j As for the date, nothing can be said i at present, except that it will be as • soon after the close of the financial i year (March 31) as can be convenient- 1 ly arranged. c A popular wedding took place at * S. John's Church, Dannevirke, on ° Wednesday last, the contracting ■ parties being Mr Denzil Ardell, of the Dannevirke post office staff, and Miss Ethel Light. The bride was C given away by Dr. Reid Maekay. The happy couple left by the evening train for Paimerston North, en . route for the South Island, where the honeymoon will be spent. j If is with regret we have to an- c nounce the death of Mr Francis Henry f, Gibbons, who passed away at Taihape i I yesterday. Deceased, who was only jt: 39 years of age, was the eldest son of si the late Mr Samuel Gibbons, of Mar- j t] ton, and had for a number of years ti been licensee of the Gretna Hotel, ! y Taihape. He was much respected by ' o many friends, and he took a lively k and public spirited interest in local a polities. The news of Mr Gibbons' ; n

Mr S. W. Fitzherberf's supporters in the Mayoral election are reminded that a meeting of his Committee will he held in the Foresters' Hall this evening, at 8 o'clock. A man who had found a purse in Wellington containing a cheque for £14 and £3 10s in gold last July, kept the gold and returned the cheque. His conscience pricked him so much, however, that he has returned £3 to the owner. The following team will represent tho Cheltenham Rifle Club in a match against Apiti at Cheltenham on Saturday next: Captain Barrow, R. Barrow, R. Taylor, Richard Taylor, G. Saver, R. Reid, O. Pussell, F. Usmar, E. Fit-ton, and C. Fitton. The Minister for Railways informed Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., the other clay that it would be. unwise to spend a large amount in improving the Manawatu station at Wellington, as it must, within a very short time, be demolished in favour of an up-to-date station to serve the business of both lines. Staff-Captain Orames, of Wellington, conducted a special meeting at the Salvation Army Barracks yesterday. The attendances were good, and the gatherings enthusiastic. A number of'ytems wore given by the singing company. To-night will be the last night in connection with the Harvest Festival. The Paimerston Band will give a variety programme. The meeting will conclude with a sale of gifts. Tomorrow, at 1.30, A. H. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., sell without reserve at the C.T.C. Stores, Manchester-street, a large and varied assortment of painters' and contractors' requisites, and variety of articles of general use. Also, tho balance of Saturday's unsold goods, comprising goods of particular use and value too mimerous to particularise. Every, article will be sold under the hammer to the highest bidder. Tlie body of a man apparently about 35 years of age was found in tho Manawatu river yesterday near Paimerston, In the pocket of tlie coat wore letters addressed to William V. Haviland, and he apparently had been porter at Hastie's Hotel, Feilding, and Hodgin's Hotel, Lower Mutt. The body had evidently boon in the water about three weeks, and tho pockets of the coat wero tilled with stones. In addition to the prizes mentioned in tho report of ihe Taonui picnic on our fourth page, sewing prizes (presented by Miss Scheldt, the foriiier assistant teacher) were won by Winnie Drummond in tlie lower division, and Doris Loveday in the upper division. The award to Winnie Drummoncl, of the Aorangi pa, was very popular, and elicited a round cf applause as the prize was presented. Bankruptcy cases seem to be having, renewed life in the dominion. Ine latest instances come from Napier, where Richards and Co., drapers, filed with debts totalling £2471, ilie principal having left for Australia without remembering to give bis address; and John Couper, land and commissfon agent, with secured debts totalling £2010, and unsecured £3220, the assets being valued at £4100. At a sitting of the S.M. Court, held at Kimbolton on the 26th inst., tiie following ratepayers were prosecuted by the Kiwitea County Council for allowing stock to wander in tlie County wards: Edward L. Northcott, fined 5s and 12s costs; Francis Palmer, os and 12s costs ; Cbas. M. Bauer (three charges), fined los and 2Ls costs; I. H. Wiltshire, fined 5s and 12s costs; L. Northcott, fined 5s and 12s costs; A. Eggers, fined 5s and 12s costs. Tlie Magistrate intimated that in future heavier penalties would be imposed. Some amusement was caused in tho ceremony at the Catholic Convent school yesterday at the attempts of a lady to control the utterances of a young baby she carried with her. He would join in the ceremony at unwelcome times, and at last the mother placed her hand over his mouth with a firmness little less than heroic. Tbo gag was effectual, although the efforts of the youngster to "burst bounds" were worth watching. Finally, when the gag was removed, the lesson was found to be perfect, and peace reigned in that family. Not a bad hint for Parliament. Large crowds wore drawn to Euu City in London lately by tho announcement that Miss Carrie Baker, a Fulham barmaid, would attempt to win a sum of £50 offered to any ! woman who would dance in costume for five, minutes in the den of Brutus, a ferocious Africa lion. Miss Baker, twenty-two yeans of age, was the selected of 457 who had offered them, selves. Tbo performance took place between six and seven o'clock, Miss Baker being a little nervous, but encouraged by the trainer Macao, she danced a Highland fling for five minutes. Brutus took but a languid interest in the dance beyond occasionally pricking up his ears. Our readers will regret to learn that Mr A. G. Carty has been compelled to undergo an operation which, although not in any way serious, will necessitate his taking complete rest for a time. Mr Carty has not been too well of lato, and ' he is wise in taking the advice of his medical attendant to have the cause of the trouble removed before it becomes so serious as to affect bis general health. : We > feel sure we are expressing the feelings of the community whom he has served so well in so many public capacities, when we say that he will ! he welcomed back to his sphere of ; usefulness with genuine feelings of J satisfaction. An incident, as exciting as it was ' probably unique, occurred during the ' last homeward voyage of the R.M.S. I Oroya from Sydney. Shortly at- ! ter the liner had rounded the island i of Perim, in the lied Sea, an unusual ■ commotion forward attracted general <■ attention, the passengers and crew I running to the side of tho ship to see ' what bad hapened Their astonish- j ment can better bo imagined than described when they found that an enormous tiger shark, fully 23ft long, was firmly embedded on the bow oi the- liner. With its tail the shark' conducted a terrific onslaught on the ' starboard side of the steamer, which ' was hurrying forward at a speed of j 15 knots. At length, finding that ) the monster was really impaled, Captain Laws decided to bring the Oroya j to a standstill, the engines then be- ; ing reversed. Directly the liner » commenced to move astern the shark swept clear. In again granting preference to unionists in then new award in tbe grocers' dispute;, the Arbitration Court has made some important stipulations. In relation to the employment book it is declared to be the duty of the union to keep it at the Labour Department. From time to time the names and addresses of all unionists out of employment shall be entered, ".together with a statement of the branch of the trade in which each such member is proficient, and the names and addresses of each employer for whom such member has worked during the . twelve months immediately .preceding the determination of his last employment." To secure preference a inionist must be equally competent l ivith_ non-unionists to perform the work required, and must >c willing and ready to accept the employment offered within twenty- : our hours after the employer has ! liven notice to the Labour Depart- \ nent that he requires such worker.