LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1128, 8 March 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Justice Williams lias just completed his thirty-fifth year of judicial service. Madame Calve, the famous prima donna, sailed on.Friday for her tour to Australia and New Zealand. The Methodist Conference, says a Press telegram, has commended Mr J. G. Cobbe, of Feilding, to the English Conference. Several settlors from the South Island have been recently inspecting the hack country of Stratford, with a view of acquiring property. As a result of the prosperous wTieat season dozens of farmers in South Australia are, it is reported, disposing of their farms, and retiring to live in the city. A Wairarapa paper mentions a rumour that Greytown may be deprived of its train service. Tfie branch line between Greytown and "Woodside is said to be threatened. Mr F. W. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, will pay a short visit 'to Dunedin ,prior to his visit to the West Coast, where ho will deliver a political address at Easter. It- is stated that rust .this season, having affected the- grass to a fairly serious extent in the Wairarapa, is one reason for the difficulty that is being experienced in getting" f a,t stock ready for the market. The Minister in charge of the Tourist Resorts, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, has been informed that the Union Steam Ship Company would not bo able to co-operate with the Department this year in arranging a cheap excursion to the West Coast Sounds at Easter. Mr Edward Travis, who played the piano for 60 hours 20 minutes at Westport, writes that Goldsmidt, the American "endurance pianist," who has played for 60 hours continuously, has accepted his challenge to play him "to a finish," in San Francisco, in May this year. Mr F. M. Foster's barley crop at Sedd'm averaged over 57 bushels per acre. This is probably a record for Marl-borough. It is reported in Blenheim that there has been a good rise in the price of barley. An offer of 5s per bushel at Seddon was made to one Awa-tere settler, which is equal to 6s 3d in Blenheim. The following judges have consented to act at the Feilding Flower Show on Friday next: Decorative classes, Mesdames Woollams and Halliday; Pot Plants and Cut Flowers, Mr J. G. Mayo (Palmerston North); vegetables and fruit, Mr Ou'tram (Palmerston North); cookery, jams, etc., Mesdames Montgomery and P. Thomson. A Te Arolia firm has juut effected the sale of the fine Estate at Wailiou to Mr Cipriano Cardenus, a gentleman recently from Switzerland and formerly a resident of Colombia, South America. Mr Carde- j nus lias decided to establish a stud dair- stock (arm with a herd from Switzerland and Normandy, and he will shortly proceed to Europe for the purpose of selecting the animals. The season for trapping rabbits in Otago Province- opens next Monday, and there is every expectation of it being one of the busiest on record. Blocks of land for trapping are at i premium, and so great has been the rush for areas that it is expected the number of men engaged in catching "bunny"'-this season will exceed 4000. Several thousands of traps have already been forwarded to the country. .

At the Wanganui Courthouse yes- ' terday an inquest was held on the death of George Laurent, Mexican half-cast who set fire to a country hotel the other day and afterwards was found in the river. A meeting of the Manawatu NoLiconse Council and No-license sympathisers is advertised to take ,place m the Presbyterian Church, Bulls, on Friday next at 3 p.m., for the purpose of conferring with the New Zealand Alliance delegates. In our advertising columns to-day tenders are called for the erection, in brick, oi : the Five Brigade Station in Feilding. Plans and specifications may he seen at the office of the secretary of the Fire Board (Mr J. B. Pickering.) Tenders close on WednesThe case of the street preacher who was before the Court at Christchurch on. Saturday", lias created general indignation, says a Press " tclegrsxm. The preacher has paid the costs and so escaped ;i month's imprisonment, but the authorities are being hotly criticised for taking proceedings against a stranger and permitting the Salvation Army and similar local organisations to occupy the Cathedral Square night after night. ; Booking for Europe promise to he heavy this year (says the Post). "The Makura, sailing in April for Vancouver, will be a full ship; the Marama, sailing this month, is nearly a full ship; and a fair number are already offering for the Manuka, which sails in May. The March and April steamers by other routes are also filling. This will probably result in more attention being paid to the alternative service by the Mokoia via Tahiti, thence to San Francisco by the Mariposn—-a route of whose advantages many people are not fully aware. A congregational meeting was held m St. Andrew's Church, Palmerston. last evening, the Rev. G. Buddy interim Moderator, presiding. Steps were taken to fill the vacancy caused b- Mr Jolly's removal. It was agreed to offer a stipend of £350 ami a manse. A strong selection committee was set up, and a recommendation to the committee was passed, asking that one name only bo submitted to the congregation at its next meeting. The committee subsequently met, and decided upon a course of action' that will, in all probability, lead 'to a speedy and highly satisfactory settlement of this important charge. "Kindness makes friends,"' a little embroidered motto, was among the articles produced in the Palmerston Court yesterday morning (says the Standard), when the 'charges of house-stripping were being preferred against PoweJka. It made its appearance when Mr H. Cooper was identifying his missing property. "That doesn't belong to me," lie said amid laughter. It was evidently owned by accused and was rather appropriate, for one who carried a revolver and a little electric lamp in. his pocket, and who is charged with entering people's houses with the aid of an axe! Another rather ironical touch was added by the non-appear-ance of Mr Cooper's dress suit. The inference is that accused sold it in order to settle his solicitor's account. The solicitor happened to 7je Mr Cooper. Mrs McGregor, wife of Mr Alex. McGregor, of Ashmore House, Whareroa, Hunterville, died at her residence at d a.m. yesterday. Mrs McGregor was an eye-witness of the -atal accident which cost the life of her son Mr Peter McGregor, recently, the latter dying in his mother's arms on the way to Hunterville next morning. Some days after Mrs McGregor was prostrated with influenza which developed into bronchitis, and she died, as stated, yesterday The uneral will take place to-morrow (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. Mrs McGrc Kor. was very widely known in Pnraokarotu \ Vanganui, and Rangitikei districts lor her kindness of heart and had won the affection of all who knew her. She was aged G3. >A son, Air James McGregor, and her daughter .survive to share the .loss with their father. Mr Jamo.s McGregor was called from a Palmerston North private hospital, where he has been over since his brother's death,'to attend the death ; bed of his mother. Early last year considerable interest was aroused in South Canterbury by a ease m which a fanner named Selbio obtained £400 damages, with . costs from Arthur James ManchesSUte ai sP te, f ° r the death of his , daughter. The case was the outcome, ol an accident which occurred on . PeopleYs Day of the Timaru Show in ; 1908 .when n trap in wnic • T v-\ c aml lhs cla «2hter were seated collided with a g,"g driven by a . young man named Shaw. The . woman was thrown out of the trai> , »ud run over and killed by a motor , car driven by Mr Manchester. Man- . Chester and Shaw were joined as de- : lendants to the action for damages, and tho hearing of the claim by the Supreme Court in Timaru occupied several days, seven counsel being engaged by the parties. Eventually Mr Tμnn D . enmsto,l gave judgment for :t4(JO against one of the defendants, . leaving tho selection of the defendant . to tho plaintiff, who decided that Mr Manchester should pay the damages. Mr Manchester lias now lodged notice of appeal against the decision of Mr Justice Denniston.