LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 159, 30 October 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Correspondence and an article on the Australian Eleven tour appear on our fourth page.

The Volunteers paraded last night and were put through a number of maiueuvies in the open bv Captain Lewis and Lieut. 15. C. Ware.

Owing to pressure of business the Hon. -J. Carroll was unable to leave Wellington yesterday, but will arrive in Hastings to-night. In another column is announced a

sacred concert, on behalf of the funds of the Napier Hospital, to be given on the Hastings racecourse on Sunday aiternoon. As the object is a good one. and as the concert will include some very tine items, there should be a large attendance. At the Native Land Court this morning judgment was delivered in l'uketi, in favor of claimants, represented by Mr Watt, Mepene Puhora, and Akeneki lomoana, and the party represented by Mr Scannell. The Court will sit on Monday for the purpose of assessing relative interests.

Mr J. Kutti-r of ('live yi'.stfiilav morning received a cable that he 11 ml drawn The Chevalier in Tattersall's bi<,' sweep on the Melbourne Cup. The lucky drawee stands to win .CHO.OOO. Two Wellington residents are said to have drawn Charge ami Sabretache in the same consultation. The following team will represent the Comitv in the match against the I nited Cricket Club at the Heretaunpa School Ground to-morrow :—Andrews, D'Eniden, I>e Lisle. J. A. Eraser, Lewis. McCnithv, Stuart, Taiaroa, Tomoana. White, and E. 11. Williams. Emergencies : Gal way, H. Eraser, l'lay will hegin at 2.15, To-day a mild sensation was caused in Ilcn-taunga Road by the spectacle of a tiny bicyclist peddling along at top. Little Fred Howard, son of Mr Howard of Napier, and nephew of Mr Ihorpe of this town, has attained his third year to-day and rode his bike nearly the whole way from Napier in order to celebrate the event in Hastings. The machine is a Humbcr pneumatic, lHin diameter, of the latest design.

The Weslcyan Church was crowded last night to hear the Rev.-1. Cocker in his lecture on " Tom o' Jack s Lad. Ihe lecture, which was pathetic and at times exceedingly humouros, dealt with the upsaiul downs in the life of the Methodist preacher who was known in Lancashire one hundred vears ago by the name of -Tom o'Jack's Lad," and the condition of the Lancashire laborers in those times. During the evening the Rev. Dr Hosking pang the famous prohibition electioneering song, " Strike out the top line," and another called li The Departed Years," both items being well received. Miss Tressider presided at the organ. Our Omahu correspondent writes as follows :—" Mr Peter Ramsey, of the Fernhill Hotel, is lying in a very critical state, and his medical attendants hold out no hope of his recovery. ' Old Peter, by which name he is so' widely known by both Europeans and Natives, has nowreached the span allotted to most human mortals, but being known to possess such a grand constitution it was expected that he would be spared for a long time yet. If careful nursing and attention can prolong his time it will not be wanting on the"part of those pear and dear to him. A report was spread the other day that the old man had passed away, and the Natives from far and near were gathering to hold a big tangi over the remains of their old friend. As no one but his attendants are allowed to see him the Maoris, according to their customs, feel very much their not being allowed to see their old friend before he starts on the journey from which there is no return." At the annual meeting of the " Star of Hope" Lodge. 1.0. G.T., last night, the election of officers for the quarter, No-vember-January, was proceeded with, and the following were elected; C.T., Bro. Hortop; V.T., Sis. Kingswell; S.J.-L., Bro. T. Kingswell (re-elected); Secretary, Bro. Coles (re-elected) ; F.S., Sister F. Henskie; Treasurer, Bro. J- Gibbs (reelected); M., Bro. -T. Golds; P.C.T., Bro. Kirk; C., Bro. W r . Bishop; A.S., Sis.M. Henskie ; D.M., Sis. S. Holis; 1.G., Bro. J. Walter; S-, Bro. E. Rice. The debate, " Which is the happiest and best life, socially, Married or Single?" was to be continued from October 22nd, but owing to lack of time, was postponed. It was decided to have the "Open Night held nest Thursday week, November 12th, when everyone is cordially invited to attend. It' was also decided to hold a Lodge picnic at Te Aute on the Prince of Walesßirthdav (November 9th), when the members are entitled to invite any friends they chose. Tickets and all information • may be obtained from the Secretary or 1 Bro. KißgeweU.

The Prohibitionists of Gisborne and AVairoa are confident that tliey will be successful at the polls. Several Auckland fishmongers have been fined lately for exposing oysters for sale during the close season.

Mr Buchanan declares that the member for Itiecarton is " the most distinguished political acrobat in New Zealand, and that " he turns his coat as often as he winds his watch."

Constable Treanor has shown the "Waipawa Mail a remarkable specimen of penmanship. The writer lias succeeded in writing the Lord's Prayer seven times on a circle the size of a threepenny piece.

There is great excitement in Melbourne over a false announcement of a marriage engagement forwarded by a lady. Solicitors have the matter in hand with a view to a prosecution for forgery, and the announcement purports to be signed by the wife of a medical man.

The "Wanganui Chronicle records the death of Mr John Henderson, brewer, at the age of 6'2. Deceased started business in "Wanganui in tlie early sixties, and was one of the founders of St. Andrew Kilwinning Lodge. Kecently he was a resident in Palmerston.

A young man named M'Donnell was working in a bush in the Waiuku (Auckland) district last week, when he met with a rather singular accident. An axe was thrown away by a mate in getting out of the way of a falling tree, but before it readied the ground it cut deeply into MT>onnell's thigh, inflicting a terrible wound. The injured man is not yet out of danger. A noxious weed, which gives a pungent disagreeable smell, and taints the milk when eaten by cows, is giving great annoyance in some parts of the Taranaki district. Strong and disagreeable as the smell is, stock eat it greedily. Little appears to be known about the plant, which grows about six inches high, and has a dark-green leaf attached to a wiry stem, and bears tinyseed pods. Savs the Manawatu Daily : —Mr Hausmann who with Mr (low is showing the kinematograph at the 'iheatre lioyal, met with a very painful accident last night. Just prior to the commencement of the performance, a slight explosion occurred in connection with the apparatus, with the result that one of Mr Hausiuann's hands was severely lnirned. Dr MacCarthy attended to tiie injuries sustained by the sufferer, and later in the evening Mr ILiusmann returned to the hall. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a iate resident of Palmerston, on a charge of wife desertion. His wife reported to the police that at the beginning of last week he said he was going to 'Wellington on business, and left her at her father's till he returned. During her absence lie went home, packed up his goods and left by Tuesday evening's train for Wellington, taking passage- by the Talune for Sydney. Ilis shop was recently destroyed by' fire, and it is alleged that he lias taken the insurance money, some .£7O, with him, his wife and two children being unprovided for, —"Wiiirarapa Star. Captain Slocum. the adventurous sailor who is making a voyage round the world in the yawl Spray, 'told a Sydney interviewer that his present trip was undertaken merely to " season 1 his boat prior to commencing a tour of exploration in the Antarctic legions. In connection with this contemplated expedition he msde certain arrangements some years ago with the New ork "World and a French publication named Le Journal des Voyages. Captain Slocum added that he is endeavoring to raise the necessary means for his trip to the South Pole ; and, when he has succeeded in doing so. lie will obtain the assistance of some practical men who will accrmpany him on the Spray. The Captain was presented with a complete suit of sails for his little craft bv some Sydney admirers.

The Advocate reports that the body of Carl Pandropp, who shot himself at Birmingham, presented a shocking sight. The top of the deceased's head had been blown off completely, and the brain matter was scattered about the place. The damage had been done by a charge from a fowling piece. Both barrels had been loaded, but only one had been exploded. The deceased had evidently fired the shot by means of a piece of boot lace, and of course death was instantaneous. The bullet passed through the ceiling and out through the roof. Dr. Mussen attended the deceased last Thursday when he appeared to be very despondent and not in quite a healthy mental condition. The evidence of Mr R. Burne, who was the nearest neighbour to the deceased, and had often shown him kindness, went to show that the dec-eased had been rather eccentric and suspicious in his actions recently, but no one supposed there was any danger of his committing suicide. This was covoborated by Mr H. Burne. The farm of the deceased is about 180 acres, stocked with 400 sheep and with a few cattle and horses ; he had a credit balance of X'6;> at tHe bank, and was insured in the Colonial Mutual Society for .£IOO. Lie had made a will in favor of his half brother in Australia. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased had committed suicide while of unsound mind. It's a fact, says a well-known Christ - ehiircli divine the other day, to a friend* that Cough Mixture, called Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, is the very best, thing for throat Irritation and Cough I have ever taken ; I notice all the Grocers and Chemists keep it—a never failing remedy. "Wholesale Agents, Drug Co. —Ai>yt. Wellington warehouse prices are in every instance charged by the D. I. C. wlien executing orders received by post. Those of our residents who want really nice fashionable goods need not hesitate about communicating with the 1"). I. C., Wellington. Complete furnishing is now a special feature of the I). I. C., and those who anticipate requirements in this direction will be supplied with catalogues and estimates post free. —Ai>vt.