LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 430, 20 September 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The town presented quite a deserted appearance on Saturday night. Cabs were in great requisition, and did a big business running to the pah. It is said that one of the principal hotels in Hastings was privately sold today at a satisfactory figure. The change in the proprietorship will not take place for a month or two however. Major and Mrs Holdaway conducted meetings at the 'Salvation Army yesterday. The attendances were large, and musical efforts of the Major and his wife were much appreciated. A return visit is to be paid to Hastings early next month. To-morrow night the concert in aid of the floral fete fund will be held in the Princess Theatre. A glance at the programme will show that the organisers have left nothing undone to present a bill capable of suiting all tastes. Already the reserved seats have all been taken up, and the management was obliged to add more rows to the plan. Those who wisii to secure seats should book at once. The Catholic social, which is billed for Wednesday evening next, bids fair to equal in every respect the previous reunions which have been conducted by that body, and these have been so thoroughly enjoyable and successful that it is unnecessary to say more on the subject. Tickets are being bought up rapidly, nnd anyone who desires a good evening's amusement should secure one at once. The local registrar of births (says the Oamaru Mail) is greatly concerned at the fact that the registrations show a marked falling off up to date this year as compared with preceding years. The local registrations have averaged about 280 per annum for some years past, and with only three months to go the registrar is about 120 behind ; he is about 50 behind up to date. No reason is advanced for this discrepancy in the birth rate. In consequence of certain statements as to the manner in which the awards at the Queensland Exhibition were issued, the Directors of the National Exhibition Company have decided that no further certificates shall be issued pending a full investigation, which is now proceeding. In connection with the scandal three prominent officials have been taken into custody, at the instance of an exhibitor, who charges them with procuring an award by fraud. An eviction from a gaol is not usually necessary, but a long-sentenced prisoner who received his discharge at Nelson some days ago evinced such a decided disinclination to come out as to necessitate his forcible removal by the warders. The old man—for he is said to be bordering on 70 —had nowhere to go, and lias been temporarily housed by the Charitable Aid Board's officer.

Mr Fletcher has an article against " The Gambling Fever '' in the summer number of the Temple Magazine. In it he says " the cost of maintaining our racecourses, training and breeding establishments, is not less than £8,000,000 a year. This is exclusive of over £300,000 a year which is paid in stakes for winning horses. No estimate can be formed of the vast sum which is unproductively employed in laying and taking betting odds." Of course he is referring only to England. A new chainless bicycle, known as the Love bicycle, has been invented by an Australian firm. The sample machine has gears 64 and 113, and the alteration of the gears is accomplished by means of a small lever, which acts without thes'ii ghtest jar. When coasting down hill the pedals can be thrown out of connection, enabling the rider to rest his feet on the pedals without revolving. The most valuable feature in the machine is its easy running qualities, obtained by a new principle, The cogwheel that actually turns the driving wheel is fixed in the centre of the axle, between the bearings, acting directly on the driving wheel and avoiding all side strain. The London correspondent of the Argus, writing on July 30th, says : —We have this morning a curious story of the tyranny of the Germany Government. 4. builder named Schoen, a wealthy man, %vas erecting a two-story residence opposite the Emperor William's palace at Potsdam. The work was stopped by the Kaiser, who issued a decree forbidding the contractors to finish it. Shortly afterwards Schoen declared in a public cafe that the Emperor's interference was infamous. This remark was repeated to the police, and a charge of lese majeste was made, the punishment for which is five years' imprisonment. Schoen fjed in time to escape arrest, but the police confiscated p. 11 his property and his fortune. Even the contents of his safe and the belongings of his wife aud children w#re taken. He is now in New York. De Pascall's Pills cure Indigestion, Heartburn, Costiveness, Headache, Furred Tongue, Wind, and all symptoms arising from a disordered state of the liver, stomach, or kidneys. They cleanse the bowels, and act like a charm in removing all impurities from the blood, toning and refreshing the whole system. Is 6d and 2s 6d per bos. Agent—A. Eccles. —Ai>vt. Dodds has the very latest patterns in Scotch and English Tweeds. For firstclass cut and fit Dqdds is unrivalled. — Xdvt.

The end of the celebration of the national holiday in Paris was not reached without the dramatic incidents which so often accompany much drinking and merry making. At a ball in the Rue Coquilhere on Thursday night, .July 15, the dancers were horrified to see a man suddenly tear a girl from the arms of her parnter, with whom she was waltzing, and plunge a long-bladed knife into her neck. The woman, who is said to have been singularly attractive, was Eliza Schonck, a Belgian, 24 years old. She died on her way to the hospital. She had come to Paris "a year ago with the man who had killed her. The murderer tried to kill himself at the police station. He said he was mad with jealousy because he believed the girl to be too friendly with her employer, with whom she was dancing when she met her death. While felicitating Sergeant Cullen, presently of Wanganui, on the offer of promotion made to him, we (N.Z. Times) may congratulate the Government on its recognition of the valuable services of a fearless, conscientious and most intelligent officer. Writing with a knowledge of the man and his work extending over a period of years we are able to say that he is one of the smartest police officers in the colony. While in Kapier, his very name was a. terror to evildoers and it was owing to his energy and determination that the spieler class found it impossible to ply their nefarious trade' either on or off the racecourses of that district. Wherever Mr Cullen may be stationed, or whatever his position, lie may be relied on to carry out his duties without fear or favor. Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said : The man who would alleviate The ills which by an evil fate, Poor mortals must expect to share Deserves a crowh of jewels rare ? If, such there should be let all hope that he May a frame-shaking cough just endure Till he has to confess, it was cured by 110 less Than Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.— Advt. Tyerman and Co's Weed Destroyer, for garden paths, carriage drives, &c. One gallon of this to 40 of water will destroy weeds and prevent growth for some two years. Price, bottles Is, 5s per gallon; reduction in larger quantities.—Advt.