LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 101, 22 August 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Correspondence and a short talc appear on our fourth page to-day. The Columbia Skating llink will be open this evening at the Princess Theatre. A silver pencil-case lost at the Skating Itink on Wednesday last is advertised for. Pollard's Opera Campany are reported to be doing big business in New Plymouth this week. A football team from Te Aute College is this afternon playing the Heretaunga School team. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, late of the Evening News, passed through Hastings by the express this morning on his way to Wellington. The jumpers Donald MeKinnon, Chris, and Tiritea have been taken over to Australia, and Mutiny has returned to Sir Douglas's head-quarters at Te Mahanga. It is understood tli.it the licensed victuallers are unanimously in favor of sending a lecturer round the North Island in answer to the Prohibition cry now being raised by Messrs Isitt and Co. Counsel's address on behalf of claimants in Ponkawa concluded this morning, and preliminary judgment will be delivered in a few days! This will decide who are entitled to participate, and the case will then proceed. It is estimated that the Athenaeum finances will be greatly strengthened by the functions of the past two evenings. Last night over £'ll were taken at the door, and as the expenses were not great the sum raised will go a long way in purchasing children's books. For the Catholic social to be held on Thursday next, all the most prominent vocalists of the town have promised their assistance, and a number of ladies and gentlemen will contribute other items, including recitations, step-dancing, &c. Tickets are selling rapidly. The instruments for the Hastings Brass Band were returned from Christclmrch to-day by the Tasmania. The trustees will 'inspect them on Monday evening before handing them over to the members, and it is proposed to hold an inspection every six months.

The limelight apparatus imported by Mr Tyerman, who is always to the front in matters of this kind, will prove a great aid to local entertainments, especially in opera. The effect of the changing colors at the children's ball last evening was perfect. Messrs Tickers and Co. have just imported a line of Dakota lied seed potatoes, which should command a ready sale. This particular kind of seed was tried for the first time in this district last year, and proved so successful a cropper that the demand has exceeded the supply. Last year a sample was sent to the Agricultural College in Sydney, and that institution gave a most flattering report on the product. In this issue Mr W. I- Shanly advertises his .business as gasfitter, plumber, &c. He calls particular attention to his own mixer and sprayer, an ingenious combination of Mr Shanly's own invention, and a contrivance which should be invaluable to gardeners and orchardists. This machine consists of a kauri wood barrel about 2ft. high, fitted on a light wooden barrow, which can be easily manipulated by a lady. In the barrel a.re two fans attached to a rod fixed in the centre, and a clutch worked by the upward motion of the pump handle, acting upon a spiral in this rod, whirls the fans round at an exceedingly rapid rate, thus thoroughly mixing the Paris green or Bordeaux mixture with the water, which the downward motion of the pump handle ejects through the indiarubber hose, and plays havoc with that enemy of all fruit—the codlin moth. It is also very useful for keeping well mixed the heavy winter dressing, which the stout brass pumps and air chambers are capable of throwing into the topmost branches of fruit trees. There are attachments in the shape of a cyclone nozzle, which throws out a fine misty sprav, and a spreading nozzle, which distributes the contents over a large area. This useful implement, which can be pumped with obfi baud and the spraydirected with the other, may be naed far watering gardens, and even as ft nre manual by simply detaching the mixer. Mr Shanly is to be congratulated on his mechanical talent, and we wish him every success with bis invention,

There will be an eclipse of the moon this evening. Nominations for the Marton Jockey Club meeting close this evening. An epidemic of diphtheria has broken out amongst the children of Blenheim. Mr D. Crewe, Mayor of Pahiatua, is spoken of as a candidate for that district. It is reported that the New Zealand Times is to be purchased by a powerful syndicate. The Salvation Army hold special services to-morrow, when at 3 o'clock a service of song entitled " Jack's Redemption will be given. In the evening the subject will be " Found without uniform.'' On Monday evening an Indian- durbar is announced, when one of the attractions will be a free sandwich supper. Under a recent law in New South Wales, shipmasters are required to deliver to the Customs officials any pet dogs in , their possession on arrival in port. The animals are placed in quarantine, and returned to the vessels just before they sail. The restriction is one which shipmasters are anxious should be removed, and a petition praying the Government to abolish it has just been presented. Captains now allege that as their ships are without the protection of dogs the cabins are invaded by sneak thieves. One day last week the cabin of a vessel in Sydney was entered, and articles valued at £4O stolen. The disappointed husband Cornelius Patton, of Ballarat, who commenced an action against his wife, Margaret, for the recovery of £'2oo for breach of contract, appeared in Chambers at Melbourne the other day, when the plaintiff was summoned to furnish further and better answers to defendant's questions. Some very amusing letters were read by plaintiff's counsel. One of the defendant's letters was addressed to him in January, 1894, and contained the following : —" I would very much like to settle down and be married soon. I am not much to look at, so don't expect too much or you may be disapointed. lamof a rather quiet disposition, but still I am very fond of fun, too. I do hope we will get this settled ane way or other—the sooner the better for both of us." (Laughter). In another letter she stated that " when we are married we will soon make up for this." In reply to the question as to what benefit plaintiff lost, he said that he would have had the society, comfort, and assistance of a young; respectable woman as his wife, and he lost his social position among his fellowbeings. Before his marriage he was a free man. His Honor refused to amend the answers, and dismissed the summons. Neil's Celebrated Livkk Tonic, a pure botanic remedy for all affections of the liver, biliousness, jaundice, yellowness of the skin, indigestion, &c. In bottles, 2s and 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispezisary, 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 L. " 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 every where."—Advt.