LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1169, 27 April 1910, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Itangitikei farmers are said to bo very disappointed with the yields from their potato crops. Tlie nett proceeds of the fancy lair held by the St. John's Ladies' 'Guild last week totalled £120. Otago freezing works are announcing that they will shortly be .prepared to receive rabbits for freezing. The Forty-Mile Bush is. said to be looking in; excellent condition: Grass is luxuriant and stock are in cood fettle. It is stated that a quarter of a million of money is coining from Australia shortly for the development, of gold-mining in the Hokitika district. At a horse sale at Gore (Otago) the other day, when 91 horses were offered, draught mares made £51, £00. £44, £39, £36, £35 10s (an eight-year-old) and £27 (a three-year-old). The Dannevirke Technical School Committee has resolved that notices be sent to the different factories announcing; the fact that if a sufficient number of students will attend, dairying; classes will be started. After extensive trials of Wo lots of Paparoa coal of 250 and GOO tons respectively in H.M.S. Challenger, the naval authorities have accepted a tender for the supplies of this coal to H.M. ships in New Zealand waters. As evidence of the quick way m which; money can be made out of dairying, a-man who went to the Mataura district ten years ago with i £5 note in his pocket is now able to take a trip Home. He has a 450-acre farm, on which he nuns 100 cows and does a little cropping. He generally makes £13 per. cow per annum, and altogether Jast year his gross receipts amounted to £1950. Besides mailing a competency for himself, he has, during the ten years, given a brother a good start on the land, paying down £1000 for him. It is the hope of the Feikling Fire Brigade that when the new Fire Station is erected; it will be furnished completely; throughout. With the object of assisting to achieve that desire, the Brigade has decided to do something towards raising a fund for furnishing the reading or recreationroom in the new building. The Brigade's plan of campaign includes tho ■holding of a bazaar, and two dances are to be held for funds witli" which to organise the bazaar. The first of the dances is announced for Wednesday next, in tEe Drill Hall- Particulars are advertised.

This year tho rateable value of the property in the city of Auckland is £555,693, an increase over last year's figures of £22,326.

Quail, pheasant and pigeon are very pelntiful in this district this year (says the Waimarino Call), the fact being ho doubt due to the abundance of feed in the bush.

A South Australian recently refused £800 for a mob of 31 heavy horses, and decided to dispose of them b- auction. His cheque amounted to £1004. The highest price was £61.

•Mr Michael Frost, a -well-known farmer at Studholine, while, carting straw near Waimate, fell from a cart to the ground. Re received injuries to his skull, and'died a few hours later.

The timber reserves of the Frasor River lumber mill have been sold to a West Canadian company for £4,----000,OUO. The deal is the largest one of the kind that lias ever taken place in Canada.

The new Sacred Heart Convent at Auckland, to be built on the estate purchased Irom th;> Hon. E. Mitchelson, will bo a handsome three-storey-ed structure of Gothic design, costing somewhere in the vicinity of £20,000.

The muttonbird season lias commenced (says the Southland News), and :i low supplies are expected any day. Several cutters which took parties to the Titi islands have been lying up awaiting the first baskets, and when those are- ready the cutters will make a start for the' Bluff. Some excitement was caused in Invercurgill on Monday evening by a youg man, who was apparently both drunk and mad, rushing- about the streets brandishing a knife", which he secured from a butcher's eliop. After a chase he was captured- and locked up by the police.

Herbert B. T. Sbavman, who was brought back from Auckland charged with wife desertion, theft and obtaining money under false pretences, was brought bi'lore the Grey mouth Court yfitevday. He pleaded guilty to two charges of false pretences, and was remanded till Thursday on the other charges. During last year the mains from the Wangaiuii gas works were extended six miles, over 300 tons of cast iron pipes being used. About 50 tons more are to be laid within the borough. About -10,000 ft of wrought iron pipe were also used for mains and services. Some time ago a botanist of the I first rank discovered or believed that he had discovered, for the question has not- been finally settled, that some plants possess the -"■'• '._.,,.. Sow (says ai; .:;.\ctr,uige>the announco-,r.;,.-nt is made that a naturalist has discovered the ear of tho butterfly. A witness in the Magistrate's Court at Nelson refused to be .sworn on the Bible that was handed to him. The lJible, ho declared, was very dirty, and evidently had been in use for a long time. No other Bible being available for the moment, the Magistrate f;aid that the witness could take the Scotch oath, and this ho did. "Mr Clias. ■ Can- has just returned from a trip to Southland, where he purchased the whole of the rmrebr-ed Hock of Cheviots from Mr Tiarnhill. Mr Carr already lias the best purebred flock of Cheviots in the Feilding district, winning the whole- of tho prises in the Cheviot class at the last Feikling Show. The altered regulations for matriculation examinations were referred to at the householders meeting at Petone. It was considered they would bear very hardly upon poor men's children. Whereas in the past pupils had to go through a two years' course of study, now a four years' course had been decided upon. About fourteen years, ago a girl named Fawcett, a "resident" of Mclntyres, Victoria, had tho misfortune to break a needle in one of her arms. Recently the broken piece, one inch ami a quarter long, after 'travelling up one arm and across the body, came out of the other arm, leaving' no ill— I effects. About 200 sheep, mostly young rams, reached Wellington yesterday by the Mararoa en route for the Argentina. The "consignment is being sent by several well-known farmers and breeders in the South Island with a view to demonstrating the sort of sheep New Zealanders aro prepared to supply in hundreds. On arrival, tho sheep will be offered for sale. An important development was reported yesterday from the deep levels .of the Thames goldmines, namely, the intersection of a vein showing colours of coarse gold. This was at- the thousand-feet level, where work has just commenced. This effectually dieproves the theory advanced bv'some geologists that the thousand-feet level was in ban-en strata.

'At his meeting last night Mr Trowiti made a humorous reference to Cr. i-lavford\s remark that the. Mayoral chair had always been occupied by aristocrats. ''Fancy calling me an aristocrat!'' he exclaimed, holding both arms extended. "I've been two feet higher to-day. (Laughter.) I told Frank Hagg'itt about" it 'this morning-, and he has been two feet high-r, too." (Renewed laughter.)

A Wellington resident who recently visited Kawhia reports that the harbour there is teeming with fish. Flounders and schnapper are especially plentiful, and h<. , suggests that steps should be taken to obtain regular supplies for the Wellington market, which for some time "lias been rather bare of iish. Settlement at Kawhia is progressing., despite the fact that large areas of fertile land, owned by natives, are still locked up. Mr F. R. Benson, who is playing a leading part in the Shakespeare Festival at Stra'tt'ord-on-Avon, is a keen athlete. That was once responsible lor a curious misunderstanding. He was on tour at the time, and he wanted a certain actor in London to play the part of Rugby in The Merry Wives of Windsor. So he wired: '"Can you play Kugby? It' so, come at once." In a few minutes came the reply: "'Arrive at ■!. p.m. Played half-back lor Stratford." It is understood (says the Standard) that the charge of murder, in connection with the death ol' Sergeant Maguiro, will bo hoard in the- Palmorslou S.JM. Court on Alav (i, when Jos. I'owolka will be charged with I ho offence. The following additional charges are to bo preferred against .Jos. Pow-elka : Breaking and entering Mr Perry's store at 1/ongburn ; robbery under arms in respect to the affair at Mr Kendall's, Foxton Line; arson in respect to the High School i lire; arson in respect to Millar and Giorgi's temporary premises: theft I'roni Mrs Farland's, Terrace- End; breaking into the railway station at Ashliurst. These charges will be heard in the S.M. Court', Palmertoii North, on Monday next. There does no seem to be any love lost betwm tho Palmerston football clubs, and the only sign of combination amongst them is when they make common cause against Feilding. At Monday night's meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby Onion, a letter was read from the. Palmerston (Jlub asking that the names of two Old Boys seniors should be added to the Palmerston Club's team. The announcement seemed to give quite a shock to an officea- of the lOd Hoys' Club present, and he said it looked to him as if some hankypanky business was on to -decoy Rome of their best players away. He added that it seemed a pity such tactics should b& indulged in, as it might mean the disbandment of the Old Boys seniors. An informal lecture was given by Mr G. W. Hean yesterday evening to a large, representative, and attentive audience iri the Methodist School Hall, Grey street. The subject dealt with was "The Human Eye." The lecturer handled the subject in a very masterly manner, and conveyed in simple terms the marvellous construction and adaptability of the eye. The lecture was well illustrated with diagrams, object pieces, and a camera, for comparison, the camera being lent for the occasion by Mr Carthew. Mr Richard Cobbe acted as chairman, in a capable manner, introducing the lecturer and his subject very happily Mr Hean's chatty observations and shrewd deductions were followed with the closest attention, and at the close or .the lecture he received a -very hearty vote of thanks, on the motion R W J?® B«ecroft and Mr J

The Cheltenham Rifle Club will fire } for the belt next Saturday.

Mr William Tindall, an old resident of Springlands, Blenheim, died yesterday afternoon, aged 70 years.

At the annual meeting of Port Aliuriri (Napier) householders a motion to permit iiible reading in that school was rejected by a very large majority.

The Masterton A. and P. Association has everything in readiness for removal from the Dixon street grounds to Solway. The sheep and cattle pens have all been demolished ami the work is being pushed on with dispatch.

Merchants in Dunedin are experiencing a busy time in grain just now, and for the past two or three weeks considerable quantities have been arriving from the country. 'As in South Canterbury, difficulties have arisen through shortage of trucks. Mr C. L. Daniel, architect, received the following tenders for Mrs Higgins' residence: Theo. West £580 f. Collins £552, W. Howard £549 lGs, W. Wilkinson £521 lGs, D. Hingston £498 18s, T. A. Lyons £459 12s. The latter was the successful tenderer. The following Committee was elected at the meeting of householders at Coal Creek: .Messrs S. Hall, D. Smith. V. 0. Johanson, C. Stevens, and W! J. Cock (chairman). At Karewarewa the election resulted: Messrs K. J. Temperley, S. Stent, S. Meads, O. Smith, and W. J. Manser (chairman). Sir Joseph Ward explains that the appointment of Mr T. W. Rapley as organiser oi : the Liberal Party in no way affects the position of Mr"E. Galliclian as general secretary. The work of coping with the correspondence and the work in the country were too much for the. capacity of one man. Mr Hewitt, S.M.. at Hokitika yesterday convicted and lined a Greymoutli bookmaker, C. Noel, £20 and costs for betting at the Westland A. and P. Show, holding that the racj ing events held in connection thereI with did not constitute a race meeting within the meaning of the Gaming Act. Owing to an oversight the date of the Taomii concert and dance has been unavoidably omitted from the advertisement. This popular function '. takes place to-morrow evening, the 28th inst. Some of the hest amateur talent of the district have promised their services for the occasion, who will be ably assisted by tho Aorangi and Awahuri natives in the world-re-nowned national dances. Given <v iino night we predict this function must prove a huge success. After picking, at Waiheke, Great Barrier, and Russell for two years (says the Auckland Star), the Government have left the hods with a good supply for spawning purposes. Of late the oysters have increased considerably, both in quantity and area, in some cases extending further along the coast tor miles. The quantity picked from the- Northern beds in "1908 was 11,000 sacks, while last year the output dropped back to about (iOOO sacks, thus evidencing the need for resting the beds. The other day the inmates of Mre Fitzsimmons's Hotel, Wairio, were rudely awakened at two o'clock by two men on horseback (says the Western Star), who drew ii]> in front ol the hotel and proceeded to hurl rocks through the windows, breaking, live windows in all, before mounting their horses and galloping oif. One of the inmates was awakened by the sound of breaking glass, and Avas rising from his bed when a rock came through the window and struck him on the hand, causing his lingers to swell up considerably. The matter is in the hands of the x>olice. Despite the storm of protest from Auckland members, it would appear (i<ays an Auckland telegram) that the Government is determined to proceed with its plan for doing away with the Governor's official residence in Auckland. A few- days ago the whole of Vlio valuable furniture and fittings contained in Government House was removed and sold by auction. The .sale was conducted through a local Varnishing warehouse, and tho Government's name did not appear in tho transaction at all. The gubernatorial premises have now been stripped, and even the telephonic communication lias been cut off. No Government House—another injustice to Auckland!

The death, occurred at Palmerston yesterday afternoon of Mr 11. A". Keeling, aged 72 years. Mr Keeling was an old resident- of Palmerston. where for some years he was Town Clerk. He was secretary of the firel Town Board formed there, and retained iiis position as town clerk till about three years ago, when he resigned. He was then appointed treasurer, and retained that position, and that of registrar of births, deaths, and marriage* till his death, which was due to heart failure. Mr Keeling came to .New Zealand from England some 42 years ago. and after residing for a time at New Plymouth and Marton, went to Palmerston in 1872 ;>s schoolmaster at the first school. He resigned that position three years later to take the tow]) clerkship. He married -Miss H. A. Hoby, of New Plymouth, who pre-deceased him, and leaves a family of nine.