LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 99, 20 August 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Star of Hope Lodge hold an open meeting in the Oddfellow's Hall this evening. In the S.M. Court this morning, before D. McLeocl, Esq., J.P., the charge of assault brought by Henry J. Gorman against the Maori Tangata Hopoku was withdrawn by permission of the Court. It is a relief to notice the harbingers of spring after a long and dreary winter. Amongst other indications Blythc and Co.'s splendid display of spring goods in the windows is both seasonable and refreshing. Yesterday, at the residence of the bride's father Miss E. A. Mcßurney, of East Clive, was united in matrimony to Mr Hugh Dillon, of Petane. Bev. A. S. Morrison, M.A., performed the ceremony, after which a considerable number of the friends of the happy couple were entertained at lunch by the bride's parents. Both bride and bridegroom have the good wishes of a large circle of acquaintances in the district. About twenty members of the Glassball Club met at Stortford Lodge yesterday afternoon, when some really good shooting was put in. Five rounds were fired, with the following result:—Martin and Elliott divided the first; J. Taiaroa won the second; Stewart and Lindsay divided the third ; Lindsay took the fourth ; and Martin and Stewart tied for the fifth round. Mr Lindsay was therefore the most successful shot. The sport is likely to become a fascinating one. At 1.20 this morning tha fjre-beU gave one clang and stopped. In about fifteen minutes after a similar sound startled our citizens in their sleep, and many arose, but seeing no indications of fire went to bed again, onlv to be once more aroused by a spasmodic peal. This was followed at an interval by still another. Some eigth or ten of the more enterprising of the populace hurrying into thek> clothes sallied forth to probe the matter to the bottom, and each as he arrived upon the scene looked with suspicion on the other as being responsible for dragging him from his warm bed into the frosty morning. Mr Joll, the night watchman, was early on the spot, and with the assistance of his lantern pryed into every possible ht<iiog-nlace, including the horse-boxes standing an fa? railway line, in the hope of securing the but without avail, as, notwithstanding a most 4i4gP nt search in the locality, nothing was discovered to trace the practical jokers. A theory nroDonnded that a string was attached "to *tbj» tongne of the bell which was inanipulatad at a distance was exploded by some one climbing to the tcwyer and announcing the tongue to be free. The brave little band, being completely baffled in their efforts to ehjtch the offenders, conversed with one'another mainly in expletives,. ao<l ultimately homewardi.

Poukawa still reigns at the Native J Land Court. * j The Queei»land football team meet Canterbury Co-d"ay at Christchurch. A gold sleeve-link is advertised as lost. Finder please return same to office of this paper. We acknowledge the receipt of the report of the Horowhenua Commission. The document is a very bulky one, and cost £252 to publish. The many friends of Mr C. Doney will regret to leam that he is. lying seriously indisposed at his residence. Sickness is very prevalent in Hastings at the present time. Some strange rumors are afloat as 4o the mysterious ringing of the firebell this morning, and if the culprit can be brought to justice seven days' hard labor might have a salutory effect. Religious instruction will be imparted to the scholars of the State school tomorrow morning, commencing at nine o'clock. At that hour Revs. Hobbs, Morrison, and Dr. Hosking will be in attendance. Advance Hastings ! Mr E. P. Joyce, of Gisborne, has decided to erect two shops, with dwelling house attached, on the vacant section between Bennett and Bone's establishment and Mr J. Casey's shop. The contractors commenced work thereon this morning. There was a large attendance at the Columbia Skating Rink last evening, when two heats for the championship of Hastings and a silver medal were run. There were 12 competitors. The first heat resulted in a win for H. Sollitt with J. Puddle second, and in the second bout P. Butler won with T. Hayes second. The final run between the four mentioned will take place on Saturday night. In the Princess Theatre to-day a transformation scene has taken place, and everything is in readiness for the Athenaeum ball to-night. The comfort and happiness of all has been considered, and a card room and retiring rooms have been nicely fitted up. The supper, which is provided by the ladies of Hastings, is on an extensive scale, and with a good floor and first-class music the affair should prove a most enjoyable one. The children's dance to-morrow night will be under the same management, and promises to be as great a success as to-night s ball. Those attending either or both will confer a favor by writing their names and describing their costumes on the back of their admission cards.

In view of local residents being charged almost every week with breaches of the Borough bye-laws in allowing cattle to stray, the following should prove of interest :—At the S.M. Court at Auckland 011 Tuesday last a man charged under the Police Offences Act with having permitted his cattle to be at large pleaded not guilty, on the ground that as the animals were at large without his knowledge he could not be said to have permitted them to stray. His Worship considered that the word " permit " in the section rendered it essential for the police to prove that the defendant's cattle wandered with his knowledge. It was certainly an offence for cattle to be at large, but under that section knowledge would have to be proved. The case was dismissed. In two other cases, in which the defendants simply pleaded guilty, lines were imposed. A drunken Maori woman who was fished out of a water-table by the Normandy constable, on being brought before the Court was handed over to her spouse with a caution and some sound advice. The spirit of the lecture was lost upon the husband, who patiently waited until the Court rose and then invited the Magistrate to " have a drink." The Melbourne undertakers meet once a year to discuss biz and drink " success to" the trade," and that sort of tiling. Those who have been present at that annual gathering say it is a grimly humorous and ghoulish fixture with a strong flavor of shrouds and the silent tomb about it. At the last meeting (which has just eventuated), amongst the toasts were " success to the trade " and " our friends the doctors," both of which were "honored" with the utmost enthusiasm.

Daniel Sullivan, settler, of Central Bnller, was thrown from his horse tlirough one of the stirrup-leathers breaking. One leg remained fast in the stirrup, and he was dragged along the ground for a considerable distance, receiving severe injuries, which included a severe gash inflicted by broken fragments of a bottle which he carried on his person, Sullivan was at the "Westport Hospital in a_ critical condition when last heard of. Now that ex-Detective Kirby has been convicted it is interesting to know how the reward of £250 which was offered by the Government for his capture will be distributed. Commissioner Hume has recommended that £2OO shall be apportioned among the police at Sydney who effected the capture, and £SO awarded to a neighbor of Bassett's, who gave the information to the police authorities at Wellington concerning the fugitive's movements. Here is a pen picture of Li Hung Chang, the gentleman from China who is the subject of so much attention at the present time :—" Li Hung Chang, now a man of 74, walks with a deep stoop, and he was supported by two men as he entered the palace. His moustache and beard are now snow white. He wears spectacles, and his eyes seem to indicate rare sagacity and energy. He appeared in a magnificent Kobe 6t purple silk with violet collar, and with the far-famed yellow jacket, which attracted general attention."

Neil's Compound Sarsaparilla. A household medicine for purifying the blood and toning up the system. In large bottles at 2s 6d at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers. —Advt. Stop that Cough by taking Neil's Balm of Gilead, a positive cure for coughs, colds, chronic bronchitis, influenza, &c. In large bottles at 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic sary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Celebrated Liver Tonic, a pure botanic remedy for all affections of the liver, biliousness, jaundice, yellowness of the skin, indigestion, &c. In bottles, 5Js and 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Nbil's Corn Cure removes either hard or soft Corns. A few applications only necessary. Is per bottle at Neil's Dispensary',' Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Mr. L., a broad-minded pressman, met Mr. C, a Prohibitionist, the other day. " That's a nasty cough you've got," said J,'. " Come and have a rum hot; it'll do you good." !* No, thanks; Woods' Great Pepperment Cure for me; it beats all your rum hots for coughs and colds, it's sold everywhere."—ADVT. " Drunkenness is not a sin—simply an excess of conviviality,"' says a thirsty philosopher. ■' Nothing like a gpcd skinful of whisky for a bad cold.'' Dpivt you belive it, my friends, take that unfailing remedy, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for one ibiUisg mi sixpence.—Adyt.

Ellison, the well-known Wellington footballer, is now in Menzies, Western Australia, and took part in a match there lately. " Are you a sleeping partner in the business ?" enquired a New Plymouth lawyer, insinuatingly, of a female witness in a Court case the other day. " Perhaps I am," naively retorted the lady, " but I'm pretty wide awake " —which fact was generally conceded. A Southland coroner, summing up the facts of an inquest held last week, said he did not know a greater curse than a man who represented . himself as a qualified practitioner, gained the confidence of a circle of friends, and treated them in an unskilful manner, causing death. A man who did such a thing wanted lynching. Two litigants appeared in the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, on Tuesday (says the Taranaki Herald) to fight out a small claim on which they termed " principle." T. Lovell sued A. Rawson for 2s 6d, the amount for grazing a horse in a paddock. Defendant said that he owed Is 3d to the plaintiff, and was willing to pay that, but no more. Plaintiff would not accept the amount, and finally his Worship adjourned the case in order to enable both sides to call witnesses.

The Wellington Southern Cross Society j passed the following resolution with refer- ] ence to the Bill for the suppression of ] juvenile depravity :—" That this society considers the Bill much too drastic, and puts too much power into the hands of the police ; and that taking girls before a Magistrate is calculated to cast a slur upon their character ; also, that the mode proposed for dealing M'ith the boys is likely to harden them." The society suggested that women should be appointed inspectors for the girls instead of the police. Eabbits are very shy about poison this winter vs. Otago, says the Dunedin Star. The weather being so mild, there is abundance of feed, and bunny prefers this, despising the drugged pollard and grain ; hence the rabbiters, in some places at anyrate, are practically doing no good instead of gathering in what, from the plentifulness of rabbits, promised to be a capital season. These remarks apply specially to the Wanaka and Mount Pisa districts, where they have had no snow and very little frost. At an inquest held at Riverton touching the death of Mrs B. Bailey, who was found dead, on the beach at South Riverton, it was stated that the deceased was of somewhat intemperate habits, and a prohibition order bad been taken out against her, but she had been able to get drink afterwards. The jury returned a verdict that. deceased met her death through cold and exposure, and added a rider censuring those who previously procured drink for deceased. Says the Wairarapa Star :—The effects of overwork are beginning to show themselves upon the robust form of Premier Seddon. The previous bright countenance becoming haggard and weary-looking, the bulky stature more shaky every day, and the frequent occasions on which he is confined to his bed are unmistakeable signs of a physical breakdown. The Premier is possessed of indomitable courage and has a capacity for work seldom found in an individual. But at the same time he is undertaking too much. He has placed upon his shoulders burdens which should be borne by others. In other words he is bringing about his own physical destruction. It is is to be hoped that the Hon. Mr Seddon may take the advice of his best friends and relieve himself of some of his present responsibilities.