LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1299, 17 August 1900, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On our fourth page to-dav will be found cable news, and other reading matter. The llawke's Bay Mounted Itifles will parade (mounted) to-morrow at '2.i!o p.m., opposite the drill shed.

In the Legislative Council yesterday, the Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill was put through its final stages. Eenita Tauihu, an old native, wellknown in this district and commonly known as " Big Jim," died at the Karamu Pa yesterday.

The annual election of three councillors for the Borough .of Hastings takes place on Thursday, tho lJJt.h September. The Burgess List, will be closed on Monday next, and those whose names are not already on the list should apply to the Town Clerk for registration before that date.

Owing to the low prices ruling in London for New Zealand il.is, the mills are likely to be forced to cease working, and with the view of assisting this industry the shipping companies have agreed to reduce the rate of freight to London from 70s to 60s petton during the next three months. A similar reduction was made about four weeks ago.—Manawatu Standard. Thellon. W. C, Walker gave notice in the Council yesterday afternoon that lie would move to recommit the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill in order to make it provide that there should be no imprisonment for debt except in the case of debts which came under section 3 of the Imprisonment tor Debt Abolition Act, and debts incurred bv fi nud.

Replying to Mr Hornsby in the House yesterday, the Hon. Mr Ward said t>>« only privilege enjoyed by t' .Ye.-. • sociation was the copvrigiii in cablegrams. The Government had the m o.ier under consideration, and intended introducing legislation on the subject this session which would net impartially ami do away with a monopoly.

Mr Ward says that in the hurry of making arrangements for the late reduction in railway charges certain anomalies did exist, which would be removed. He was pleased to say that since the late redaction in rates, the increase in the number of tickets issued had been extraordinary, and surprising to him, and showed that the policy had been a success, It is understood (says the Wellington Post) that the German military authorities desire to purchase a large number of horses in the colony for the German forces in China. The Agricultural Department will offer every assistance to the agents of the German Government in the matter if requested to do so. In the course of bis paper read at the Insurance Institute at Wellington on Tuesday evening, Mr C. W. Benbow San) :—" When fires are much above the average, it is an axiom of the underwriting profession that there must bo something about the affairs of the country, or the place if the fires are local, which is noi pi o. perous; for bad times and numerous tires seem to run in harness together. I am not prepared to say that any wave of depression has rolled across the colony, but it looks as if there is ' a rift in the lute 1 somewhere or other, and one is forced to the belief that the condition of things in New Zealand cannot be so gloriously prosperous as our political pastors and masters would have us believe."

We have received a copy of Stone's annual Wellington, Taranaki and Ilawke's Bay Directory, which is as usual replete witli not only the names and addresses of residents in the districts named but also the customary budget of general infor mation. The volume contains over 900 pages, is well bound, and is kept perfectly up to date, not only as a general directory but as an "inquire within" for many matters of interest to everybody in the colony. The production is a compact one, and well worth ths money disbursed for its purchase. Trooper Beddington (Masterton, Fourth Contingent), writing from Marandellas on June 26th, savs: —"There is a disease over here amongst the horses called ' blue tongue,' which killed about iSO of our horses, and the best ones amongst them. The horses died within 24 hours of getting it. There are also a terrible number of horses dying and being destroyed, suffering from the glanders. The Rhodesian Government will pay .£IO,OOO to anyone that can give them a cure for the glauders (there's a chance for some New Zealanderi."

An amusing instance of unbounded impudence occurred in Auckland last week, and one which should servo to warn bicyclists that it id not safe to leave their machines unattended under some circumstances. A gentleman, who hud occasion to make a call at a pawn otlice, left his bicycle at the kerb. When he was inside he saw a stranger bring in a bicycle. The owner, remarking that it was a very good machine, asked what the stranger was going to do with it. Said the stranger : " Yes, it's a good bike, I'm going to pawn it." Fortunately for the would-be thief, the humour of the proceedings so amused the owner that the stranger had time to make a safe retreat..

Mr George Ellis Ims been communicating with Mr Bert Koyla with a view to the Williamson Company paying Hastings a visit during their coming tour. The "Firm" (or what remains of ill intends to exploit Nance O'Neil, who is tilling the new Her Majesty's, Melbourne, nightly, and of whom a wise prophet said that " if she appeared in a barn the 1 bong- tongers ' would rush to see her."' Mr R>iv!a has

•" pencilled in " the dato-i January ,"jih and 7ili for Hastings, so we mny look fotwurd to some theatrical treats during ne\t year, for which we have already Nance O'Neil in .laiiuar?, and Charles Arnold in February. \\ ts congratulate MrF.llison hi-! enterprise in urinj»iii}j first-elass companies here, and we <ut> eoruinced llmt his effort* in this* direction will be fully appreciated by tlio Hastings public, Mr Graham McKio, a luisMonary in China, wriunt; fnuu I\»oting-fu to it friend in London, describes the murder b,v l»o*ers of mitivt* Christ uuis and a fellow missionary, The missionary, he says, was out on a journey when ho was act upon by Boxers, who stripped him, sliced till hi* ears, and then him Uitt option of h'Oinf," naked or wiurint: thin old Chinese garments. lhesii In: pot nil. Then they put a rope through ins none astd led Inm llko a ww from village to viiUi-t*. One d IV, :w (lis oapt.ll-!. sat in a vil'*K« cookshitp, he escaped, lull Tii. i soon overtook him, and hacked hi ill w,t!> swords, but God, who would not see hltu suffer long, speedily delivered him.

New Zealand great m nature's gifts IWse.saes charm,s for eveiy ey«.-, Willi -omuls and m - t-rs lakes and rifts, And mounts on which vadt glaciers fit) At! make tins land a pitrndi«, With iitinon|iht?fsi so fresh ttml pure, \\ f.fl'f c, iii>li- 'tie eured \i« d.t advl-C, l>) Hiking WouJa Uliiat IVpperuillii. C'UTp.

Scarlet fever is prevalent in Napier, '1 lie worst famines of modern times woro the famine in Ireland in lH Jii-17, m which 1,000,000 pi-oplo perished ; the Indian fauune of I still, winch claimed 1,-150,000 victims; the Indian famine of 1877, in which 600,000 people perished; and the great famine in China in 1871, in which 0,500,000 died.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the July number of that popular publication the Windsor Magazine, which contains its usual budget of interesting articles and short stories. Amongst the authors contributing fiction we notice the names of Inn Maclaren, Annie Fellows, Johnston, O. M. Bivines and Ortno Angus, while Max Pemberton supplies an additional throe chapters of his serial Pro Patria." Tho Windsor keeps well up !o the mark, and those who undertake to beat it in the race for popularity will have set themselves no light task

There was a good attendance at the juvenile ball held in the Princess Theatre iast night, under tho auspices of the Hastings Volunteer Fire Brigade, abouy 50 couples being present. Miss N. supplied the music, and Messrs C. find J. Donovan officiated as M.'s.G., and during the evening extras were played by Misses Dennett and A. Caulton. The gathering did not break up till übout I'2 o'clock. A meeting of the ball committee was held after supper, when it was decided to present the remaining food to the Childrens' Home, Napier, and Mr G. F. Roach kindly offered to take charge and deliver it to the Home free cf charge.

We regret to record the death of Mr T. Clarke, which occurred this morning, at his residence in Avenue Itoad at about 9 o'clock. Deceased whs a native of Lancashire, and came t.i the colony üboi.t 16 years ago, firs', settling at Waipawa, where he stayed for about tw) years, lie then came to Hastings, and worked for tho late Mr Lys for four years, subsequently starting in business fur himself in Heretaunga lfo/id as a tailor which business ho has carried on for tho past ten years. Mr Clarke, was besides being a good citizen, an enthusiastic member of tho Bowling Club, and will be missed at the matches nest season. Mrs Clarke died about four years ago, and a family of six, ages ranging from seven to sixteen, are left to mourn his loss. The funeral will take place on JSi:i. i,i.y next at 3 p.m.