LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 107, 29 August 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tenders are invited for shifting a boundary fence at Riverslea. A bedroom and parlor, with use of piano, bathroom and kitchen, is advertised to let. The usual fortnightly meeting of the local lodge of the 1.0.0. F. takes place this evening. Among the ladies who materially assisted to make the Catholic social the success it undoubtedly was was Mrs M'Namara, of Frimlev, whose name was accidentally omitted from the report yesterday. Patrons of the skating rink will to-night be treated to a novelty in the shape of a " Blindfold Race," which causes unlimited merriment for the onlookers." As the name implies, the competitors will be obliged to dispense with the use of their eyes during the race, and to say that the complications resulting are excessively amusing is stating the facts very mildly. The management of the rink is untiring in its endeavors to provide novel and healthy amusement for the public. The Wesleyan Church was not as ful last night as it would have been had the weather been any way reasonable, but the steady downpour kept people indoors. In spite "of the rain however, there was a fair audience to greet the Rev. W. Morley and hear his lecture on " America." In the absence of the Rev. Dr # Hosking, Mr Heighway occupied the chair. In the course of his lecture Mr Morley referred to the enormous scale upon which everything was conducted in America. The population of the United States was now 62£ millions, having increased 25 per cent within the last decade. Half this increase was natural, and half was accounted for by immigration. The immigrants to New York alone were estimated at half a million per annum. The lecturer dwelt upon the attractions afforded by the States in natural scenery, and his description of the Niagara Falls and the thousand islands of the St. Lawrence was both graphic and powerful. Amongst places carrying historical interest he alluded to the State House of Pennsylvania, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and where the first House of Congress was held. The _ chief cities were briefly described. Chicago, founded in 1832, possessed a population of one million and a half, Philadelphia over a million, and New York and Brooklyn a million and three-quarters. Chicago offered special inducements in industrial and commercial pursuits. In the meatcuring industry Armour and Co. alone employed 7000 men, and the day the lecturer visited the works 20,000 hogs were slaughtered, which was not considered by any means a great number. The subject of the Negro problem was introduced. There was a population in the States of eight or nine millions of people of African descent, and the efforts of the Negro to educate himself were referred to by Mr Morley in terms of the warmest approval. Fisk "University, Nashville, Fenn., had 500 Negro students. The lecturer once attended a service in an African Church, the music "of which made a pleasurable impression on him. At this service also attended the Hon. Fred Douglas, once a slave but afterwards, to the credit of the great Republic be it proclaimed, U.S. representatives to the Republic of fiayti. He spoke of the difficulties whieh America had to contend with in educating the various aliens which compose her population in the English language and the rights of citizenship. The Press of the States wa6 compared with the colonial Press m favo* of the fonder. He corrected the Dopular impression of tiattfrqtl lawlessness of the American citizen. And in cqdchision he pleaded for the federation of t}ie English speaking races in the interest of the°peace of the world. A collection in aid of the Home Mission Fund was taken up and a good sum rec&aed. * ' /

Tenders for are invited elsewhere. The appointment of Mr James N. Stenhouse as cadet in the Magistrate's Court at Hastings is gazetted. The delay in the arrival of the Te Anau interfered with the football arrangements, and it is doubtful whether the Hawke's Bay-Wellington match will be played. A rare treat is afforded Hasting residents on Friday next, when Mr W. M'Kenzie and Miss Glover give one of their highly spoken of popular entertainments. The news of the painfully sudden death of Mr Robert McClennan of this town was received by everyone this morning with sincere regret and sorrow. Deceased, who was well-known and held in the highest esteem, was a painter in a good way of business, and though he had been complaining for some weeks past no serious symptoms were exhibited.- Yesterday he was attending to his business as usual, and signed a contract for a rather extensive piece of work with Mr Sollitt and at 7 o'clock last evening was seen in town, apparently in good health; but, on returning home, he wa3 seized with an apopleptic fit and died at 1 o'clock this morning. As deceased was medically attended there was no necessity for an inquest. Deceased, who was a young man, leaves a wife and child to mourn their loss. A story in which dire and stern justice overtook and gripped a wheelman who neglected to hoist his lights after dark is to hand, and like other tales possesses a moral or two. The moral to be deduced from this is never to be cock sure of anything. He was a local bicyclist riding without lights, and in the inky blackness he wheeled almost into the arms of one of the local guardians of the borough byelaws, who courteously invited him to dismount in order that his name might be taken with a view to future developments in the Police Caurt. The gentleman on the bike was not "having any" just then, and, cheerfully waiving a " ta-ta" to the man in blue, he put on a spurt and disappeared into the heart of the night a free man. When lo ! even in the midst of hit rejoicings he collided with a horseman, and was emptied into the mud. Nothing daunted, however, our hero flung his leg once more across the saddle, but found a difficulty in starting owing to the backbone of the machine being in the firm grasp of the other policeman, who seemed to have evolved out of the shadows. So after all he will appear before his Worship, although he was worthy of a better fate.

Gisborne is working up a gold prospect ing association.

It is saiil that the Popham-Taylor case cost the Prohibitionists .£"250.

Telegraphic and other news appear on our fourth page to-day. Steps are being taken to form a branch of the National Association at Nelson.

Diphtheria has reached the Eketahuna district, and is said to be very prevalent there.

The Ocean Beach Freezing Works, Invercargill, have been kept busily going during the last six weeks. "Over 20,000 carcases have been put through in that time.

A syndicate of Mataura residents has ordered from Home a horseless carriage, which is expected to be landed in New Zealand in time for use during the coming summer.

" People who go into hotels on Sundays to obtain drink, knowing that they are breaking the law, are not entitled to be classed under the category of respectable people!"—Mr C. C. Kettle in the Wanganui S.M. Court. Some time back Mr Knott, temperance lecturer, lost his magic lantern and slides while crossing the Otaki river. The river recently changed its course, and the articles were found embedded in the sand, says the Manawatu Times. Abraham Gilling, laborer, of Kaikoura, sued a chemist named Benjamin Bowland at the Christchurch Supreme Court for .£4OO damages for unskilful treatment of an injured foot. Mr Justice Denniston awarded him .£lO, with Magistrate's Court costs.

An extraordinary wedding took place in Auckland last week, says au exchange, The bridegroom coald not be less than 56. while the bride, judging by her appearance, was not more than 13. The bride employed the time between the ceremony and the departure of the boat for her upriver home by playing with the other children ou the pavement outside the Queen Street boarding-house where she was staying. Dr. W. Henry M'Lean, medical practititioner at Waikaia, who was found dead in his room ou Sunday, lying with his head resting on the grate, and the left part of the face burnt to a cinder, was one of the earliest -students of the Otago Medical School. He went to Edinburgh, where he took his degree. He was one of the finest athletes in Otago, and was at one time an Otago football representative against Canterbury. Tailors tweeds and trimmings are being given away for less than half-price ; also a good Singer's sewing machine —a sacrifice, owing to P. Campbell leaving the district. See window to-night, nest to Vicker's and Co.'s auction mart. —Advt. Beautiful New Zealand! The land overflowing with the buttermilk and applesauce of prosperity—produces anything and everything, such as petticoat government, unemployed, and coughs and colds veritably; but that's not a drawback, they can be cured in every form by taking Woods' Great Pepperment Cure.—Advt.

Neil's Compound Sarsaparilla. A household medicine for purifying the blood and toning up the system. In large bottles at 2s (3d at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Adyt. 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, 2s and 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Stop that Cqogh 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 Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil'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.