LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 205, 24 December 1896, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

About twenty members of the Highland Society, all clad in the garb of Old Gaul, left Hastings to-day to attend the funeral of Lho. Graham at Napier. The Band will render a number of choice selections in lleretaunga ltoad at 7-iiO this evening, during which a collection will be taken up in aid of its funds. On and after Ist January. 1807, Oruawharo station will be closed for all traffic, and trains cease to stop there. Ilatunia station will also be closed for all traffic excepting goods in truck loads. With Christinas greetings wo acknowledge receipt from Messrs Webster and Stuart, of the Albert Hotel, of enough liquid refreshment to keep our staff merry during the next three days. It was reported in town this morning that the dwelling house of the Hon. J. 1). Ormond at Wallingfonl Station was destroyed by tire last evening, but no particulars have yet come to hand. One of the finest dressed shop windows in town is that of I>. I>. Hyde and Co's. The window, as well as the interior of the saloon, will now surpass anyjeountry hairdressing saloon in the colony. Indeed, in point of artistic dressing, the Hastings branch gives the Napier shop a long start, and will compare favorably with the head establishment in Lambton Quay, Wellington.

In another column will be found some sporting verses from the pen of Mr F. I)'.V. C. ]>i* Lisle, of Hastings. This gentleman has a book of poems now in the press entitled "< >'er Field and Fell, or Tales of the Turf,'' and the portion we print will show our readers what may be expected when the work is out of the primer's hands. Mr De Lisle can be both humorous and pathetic ; lias the liappy gift of conveying his ideas in terse English, and we predict a great success lor his work.

The Wakatipn was unable to accommodate all the passengers between Wellington and Lyttelton yesterday, and the Fengum had to be laid 011 as well. Steps are to be taken to obtain a recount of the votes in the City of Wellington election in the interest of Mr A. 1!. Atkinson, who was *2H votes behind Mr Fisher, provided legal opinion is favoraide. In the singing competition at the Wellington Exhibition last evening, Mr C. Hickson gained the medal for tenors, and Mrs 11. Burfott that for contraltos. There was a large entry of the latter. The pianoforte contest was won by Miss Ritchie. A lady giving evidence in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington, regarding the conduct of her husband, astonished the Court by stating that he tried to break her neck once over a chair-back, but that was nothing —he often did worse things than that. The annual meeting of the Belfast Freezing Works (Canterbury) was held yesterday, and disclosed a satisfactory year's working. A dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum was declared, after writing off £I4OO for depreciation and carrying £59 17s Id to the new account. The'profit and loss account now shows a profit of £2079 2s fid. The stock dealt with during the period was as follows : 166,618 sheep, 147.012 lambs, 6609 pigs, and 107 head of cattle. A young man Ernest Han swell Bennett was sentenced to a month's imprisonment at Auckland yesterday for failing to keep the accounts of his business in a proper manner. The Magistrate remarked that had the accused not pleaded guilty the chances are that he would have been committed for trial and been convicted at the Supreme Court, when he would have been liable to a sentence up to two years' imprisonment. The accused became a bankrupt last June, with liabilities £lllß, and assets £l7O. The Agricultural Department has issued a circular stating that a letter had been received from the Premier of Queensland inviting delegates to attend a Fruitgrowers' Conference at Brisbane commencing on February 4. It is the intention of the Government to send two delegates, and societies in different party of the colonyare inyited to forward nominations by wire for the purpose of selecting two more, whose expenses will be paid bv the Government. It is quite competent for societies to send other delegates, A fruit show is to be held in connection with the conference, the expenses of which will be borne by the Department, and will be taken charge of by the delegates. A steamer leaves Auckland for Sydne\ - on January 18 and from Wellington on the 23rd. It seems that the frequent use of the Ruhtgen rays has a singular effect upon human beings. '"An X-rays operator writes to an English paper that after being engaged for some months in demonstrating the Rontgen apparatus, he has lost most of his fingers-nails and the skin of one hand three times. Besides this, lie has suffered from severe eruption and discomfort, including a painful swelling and discharge from the tips of the fingers. The only remedy lie has found effective is to cover the hands perpetually with lanoline, his theory being that the X-ray wiiich are practically a cencentrated form of actinic light, burn up the natural oil of the skin. The Electrotechnische Rundschau also contains an account of an X-ray operator whose hands have peeled, and who is threatened besides with premature baldness. This physiological effect of the rays, which is now pretty well confirmed, opens up some interesting possibilities as to its future use in cases of cutaneous disorders, for a thing which harms may generally be employed as well to heal. I STOPPED THAT COUGH AND CUReD A very bad cold by a single bottle of Dr Pascall's Cough 'Mixture. Signed, R. McDowall. 4s 6d and 2s 6d. Eccles, chemist, papier and Hastings.—Advt.

The inquiry into the tire of Hirsberg's unoccupied brewery at Grey town resulted in a verdict of arson against some person unknown. It is never too late to vote. Amongst the Maoris who voted at Wanganui on Saturday was a woman whose age was variously estimated at from 100 to 120 years. It is proposed to lay down a cycling track in the New Plymouth Recreation Ground. The scheme mapped out would provide a track which would be second to none in the colony. We regret to liear of the somewhat serious illness of ilr W. C.Buchanan, M.H.It. A report gained currency that he had contracted typhoid fever, but we are pleased to be able to contradict the statement. We wish Mr Buchanan a speedy recovery.— N.Z. Times. A Duuedin lady is reported to have received such a careful instruction from her husband as to the candidates for whom she should vote, that the dutiful woman brought back In her handbag her ballotpaper, which she had carefully preserved to prove to her spouse that she had voted straight. Taking advantage of the two slack months of the year, the New Zealand Kefrigerating Company are ereciing the New Hercules ammonia refrigerator in their works at Oaiuaru. The Mail understands that the machine, running at only 60 revolutions, will freeze easily 1000 sheep of 60ib per day and store 20,000, and that with less than one-fourth of the coal required under the old compressed air system.

A serious n.eci<l«nt has befallen Mr Millais, of the Public Works Department, who lives at Khandallah. He was 011 his way to offer a laborer—who liverl a short way off—a cover to protect his hay from the weather, when he was set upon by a dog, which suddenly sprang upon him from a kennel in the man's backyard, tearing the sinews and muscles of his knee to a shocking extent. It is expected that Mr Millais will carry the marks of the encounter with him through life. As it is, it will be some time before he can resume his duties.

Judgment in a case relating to the Orongorongo block argued before Chief Judge Davy and Judge Butler, at the sitting of the "Native Appellate Court last week, was given on Wednesday. Confirmation of a lease of Enok Taitea's' inicrest| 11 a block to Mr E. J. Riddiford had been refused on the ground that the Native had signed the lease under a misapprehension. This decision was appealed against by Mr Riddiford as being against the weight of evidence. The decision of the Court was that the appeal should be allowed with costs.

Eccxks' Coun Paint quickly removes either hard or soft corns. Only a few applications necessary. In bottles Is 6d, from A. Kcclks, chemist, Napier and Hastings.—Advt. Wellington warehouse prices are in every instance charged by the D. I. C. when executing orders received by post. Those of our residents who want really nice fashionable goods need not hesitate about communicating witli the D. I. Wellington. Complete furnishing is now a special feature of the D. I. C., and those who anticipate requirements in this direction will be supplied with catalogues and estimates post free. —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 fid, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all eading storekeepers. —Advt.