LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1425, 16 January 1901, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On our fourth page will be found cable news and other interesting matter. The cherry crop in the Aahburton district was spoiled by cold, rainy weather when the trees were in bloom. Many of the trees are quite bare.

Messrs Williams and Kettle advertise their next Stortford Lodge sale to take place on Tuesday the 22nd inst., and request further entries for the same. Mr Eenall is endeavoring to wake the people of Masterton up to the importance of starting cheese factories, and it is understood he will start a factory at an early date. The Christchurch Spectator says that divorces are now so free and easy in Chrislhurch that marriages need not be looked upon as a failure—oh, no, only a temporary embarrassment. Mr A. Leipsthas just completed sinking a well for Mr W. Stock at the new creamery at Jetvoistown, Taradale, which gives a splendid flow of water, rising twenty-one feet. It is proposed to open the new creamery about February sth.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr McLeod J.P., Frances Middleton charged with drunkenness was remanded for twenty-four hours as she was not in a fit state to appear. An incident that will be classed among cricket's extraordinary happenings took place on the Waverley (Sydney J Oval, and is recorded by the " Eeferee." A ball returned from the outfield struck the bails off at one end. One of the dislodged bails flew on to the top of the wickets at the other end and dislodged the bails there ! A ready wit is a candidate's best stock-in-trade. Mr Bond, a candidate for East Nottingham, was addressing a meeting in a Sunday school room, and had just declared, in an impassioned period, that the Imperial Government had no choice but to annex the two South African Eepublics, when the map of the Holy Land fell from the wall to the ground. " There, gentlemen," remarked the candidate, " even Palestine falls at our feet. Tom Corwin had an enormous mouth. He once said he had been insulted by Deacon Smith. The good brother asked for further explanation. " Well," said Corwin. " when I stood up at the lecture room to relate my experience, and I opened my mouth, Deacon Smith rose up in front, and said: ' Will some brother please close that window, and keep it closed.' "

A remarkable bowling feat is reported from Talbot (Victoria). A match was played between Amherst and the United Aimers of Nuggety Gully. Andrew J. Gearin, of Bung Bung, playing for Amherst, in the first innings took four wickets for do runs. In the second innings the Miners wanted 38 runs to win, but only totalled 7, Gearin taking eight wickets for no runs. Hiß average for the two innings was 40 balls 6 maidens 0 runs 12 wickets. This record is probably unique. What makes the feat more remarkable is the fact that the Miners were the premiers of the district last year. The following letter written by a Free Stater oh September 25th, 1899, is included in a Blue Book just compiled by the Colonial Office :— '■ The only thing we are afraid of now is that Chamberlain, with his admitted fitfulness of temper, will cheat us out of the war, and consequently the opportunity of annexing the Cape Colony and Natal, and forming the Republican United States of South Africa, for in spite of S. J. du Toit we have 46,000 fighting men who have pledged themselves to die shoulder to shoulder in defence of our liberty, and to secure the independence of South Africa." Some misguided idiot made a circular tour of about five miles round London in the early morning, breaking the glass of the street fire-alarms and ringing the bells as he went, with tho result that within two-and-a-half hours sis horse escapes, two ordinary escapes, two manuals, thirteen steamers, forty-two horses, and 102 firemen were turned out, in miserable weather, on futile errands. If this person is caught, the magistrates have the power to inflict a fine of .£2O upon him (says a London paper); but it would be fitting punishment, and a groat relief to their fceliuys, if the enraged firemen were first permitted to play upon him with a hose for a few minutes. Sir Eedvers Buller was interviewed on his arrival at Aldersuot by Miss Constance Barnicoat, correspondent of the Christchurch Press. " No," he said, "I have never had any New Zealand troops under me, none at all, to my very great regret. I should haye been only too glad to have them, if I could have got them. And one thing I should very much like -to say. I have had a great many letters fiom New Zealand, from people whom I did not know, whom probably I sh -S: never know or meet; but they were ■■■■. jst sympathetic letters, exceedingly so, and I should like to take this opportunity of thanking my many unknown New Zealand correspondents for their kindness and sympathy.'' Ct'RE Foe Cholera Infantum —Never Kxo'.vn To Fail. During last May an infant child of our neighbor was suffering from cholera infantum. The doctors had given up all hopes cf recovery. I took a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy to the house, telling them I felt sure it would do good if used according to directions. In two days time the child had fully recovered. The child is now vigorous and healthy. I have recommended this remedy frequently and have never knt>wn it to fail.—Mrs. Cuetl; Baker, Bookwalter, Ohio. For jalu by J. W. BaUe ; Chsuiist. Hastings.

A meeting of the Directors of the Hastings Co-operative Meat Company will be hold to-morrow evening at 7.30 at Caulton's Hotel. A large number of persons have taken advantage of the seaside resort to be found at the Grange during the past month. In fact, at the present time, the name of " Canvas Town" would be very appropriate, as there are such a large number of persons camping there. A rather exciting incident took place at Wirth's Circus (says the Lyttelton Times) on Sunday last. Mr Philip Wirth was showing the animals to a lady friend, a resident of Christchurch, and, when opposite the tiger's cage, jokingly challenged her to enter. She declined the honor, and Mr Wirfh then assured her that there was no danger, and added that he was quite prepared to go in himself. The lady replied that if Mr Wirth would go iu, so would she, and they both went in, remaining with the animals for about five minutes. The lady did not appear to be in the least nervous, and seemed rather to enjoy the great novelty of her position. A dealer in New Orleans sent some patent medicines to an American agent at Santiago, Chili. Amongst the stuff was a supply of toothache drops, which were warranted on the bottle to cure the worst case of toothache in ten minutes. One of the first men to purchase a bottle made an immediate application, and then pulled out his watch. When ton minutes had elapsed and the tooth still continued to ache, be was furious, and had the agent arrested. The luckless medicine vendor was taken before the Magistrate, fined and sentenced to three month's imprisonment. Owing to the efforts of the American Counsul he was "• released from prison. A few days ago Mr Hugo Friedlander wired as follows to the Acting-Premier;— "As there is a very great scaroity of manual labour and as it is of the utmost importance not only to our farmers, but also to the State that every possible assistance is given to enable the former to gather their crops as quickly as eircumstauces will admit, nny I be allowed to suggest that the New Zealand Government stop all such co-operative works as it can conveniently do and thus supply a want greatly felt by one of the mainstays A of this colony." The Hon- Mr Ward replied as follows;—" In reply to your telegram, there are only some seven hundred men employed by the Government in the South Island, and much as the Government is anxious to assist the farmer in every way, the course suggested cannot at present be adopted. There is a universal demand for the prosecution of many of the public works that are in hand, the great majority of which are for the convenience of settlers, and if a stoppage in the direction indicated were made, the attempted cure would, I am afraid, be worse than the disease. I may add that the Government has previously had some experience in the matter, and the course suggested by you, as then tried, did not work as was anticipated, and caused very general dissatisfaction."