NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 331, 28 October 1882, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Victorian Derby was to be run at 3 o'clock this afternoon. A Star special is expected this evening giving the result, and an extra will be printed. We caunot undertake to distribute it, but copies may be had on application at the office, and should any oue be travelling to Normauby or the Plains we should be glad of the opportunity of sending out copies. As this telegram is only one of hundreds which will be despatched from Melbourne this afternoon, there is necessarily some uncertainty about the time of its ariivul. The same arrangement will be made in reference to the result of the Melbourne Cup next week.

We are glad to hear that the storekeepers have agreed to close for a halfholiday on Wednesday afternoons. There is no necessity to take life hardly,- and we hope the arrangement will be permanent. There is no reason why it should not be so, for so long as all keep to it no one will set a undue advantage over 'his fellow. If the cricket club and the tennis club could make special arrangements for the Wednesday, it would give more vitality to the arrangement.

One night the inouotony of theEamleh camp was broken by the stirring news that the enemy were advancing 3000 strong to attack our positions. The army and navy vied with each other in their anxiety to reach. the foe. The armored train was summoned from ' Grabali, and the gravity of the occasiou demanded the presence of, Admiral Dowell and Sir Walter llunt Grnbbe, anxious to increase his still blushing honors. The Inconstant and Invincible landed all the force available for the protection of the town. The Sultan and Achilles were prepared to do the same at a moment's notice. But at the critical moment the enemy made a disgraceful flight,, and passed overhead, in the form of a flock of seagulls. The camp then returned to a sadder and wiser tnmquility. A correspondent, writing some notes on Eeefton for the Nelson Colonist, thus refers to social life m that out of the way locality :—" The spirit' of equality and fraternity, common to all mining society, is realised to such an extent that the bellringer will have a sooial chat and a social glass with the chief aristocrat of the place. Lately, however, there has been an effort to institute a more oldfashioned class division. It took the shape of a select ball, to which none but gentlerueu and real ladies were admitted. I believe the attendance was four couples, who rovelled on the fea6t provided for 40 guests. The most aristocratic feature of the evening was shown after the snpper, when oue of the ' real geutleinen ' drove one of the waiters home in a wheelbarrow, ' dead drunk '—to use a technical phrase. Public feeling was violently outrageous against such ' snobs,' as they werecalled ; and oue of the ' real ladies ' received a aalt herring through the post." ,

The Hawera Rifles paraded for inspection last night, ■when there was a capital attendance. The men were put through manual anil firing exercise by Colorsergeant Meredith and Captam Neill, the inspecting officer, expressed satisfaction at their smartness. At the conclusion of this part of the proceedings, the company was formed up in three sides of a hollow square, and by request, Captain Neill presented Sergeant Hurley with the Hicks Medal. He remarked that he had known Sergeant Hurley a long time, and 6een him under fire in the old days : a better soldier there could not be. Corporal Hicks also produced a prize for the loweat scorer of the match, and Sergeant Purdey was called forward. ' Captain Neill, however, rather mistook the position, and as Sergeant Purdey's score was not first rate, the eulogy on his good shooting caused a little fun. Captain Neill took the opportunity of referring to the new regulations, and hoped the corps would flourish under them. He ad verted to Captain McGuire's resignation, and said he had not yet sent it in, hoping' that Captain McGuire would continue to act till after he left the district. Besides, he hoped that Lieutenant Kempthorne would then be ready to step into the captain's shoes (applause). Captain McGiUre had rendered the corps excellent "'service. After a maifoh out, headed by the band, the company returned to the drill ho.ll, and surprised Captain Neill by thel/effir cient manner in which it' went through the bayonet exercise. At the conclusion of the drill, a meeting was held,' at which the' finance dominittee' and. tliej match committee was authorised to arrange a day's shooting for 'Jth November,, . and 'aiwtlieft^pniffiit'tee'W&'s'app'dinte'd^ to «efc 'up? »W& W' the ;( a*ruT hall in . fae

evening,

The entries for the Patea agricultural and pastoral show (says the Mail) show a great falling off as compared with last year, the total number being 168 as against 249. The present entries are mad up as follow : Horses, 52 ; cattle, 44 ; sheep, 38 ; pigs, 5 ; dogs, 13 ; poultry, 3 ; implements, nil ; carriages and carts, 8 ; extras, 3 ; shearing match, 2. Last year the totals were : Horses, 94 ; cattle, 66 ; sheep, 36 ; pigs, 6 ; dogs, 16 ; poultvy, 7 ; implements, 13 ; carriages and carts, 4 ; extras, 3. Post entries will be received for the produce and hunter's prize, therefore ithey are not included in tbe above.

A peep into the kaleidoscope of fashion is alwaj'S interesting and sometimes very amusing. It is to Paris, of cours, that we turn for," the latest thing out.'! The ladies' of the French capital, We' learn, not contented with imitating the coats, hats, and dual garments of men, have now taken to short socks, and the result, as seen through ptticoat frills of lace, is, to say the least, startling." On the other hand, the meu are beginning to wear bracelets of gold and silver, with mottoes and fantastic devices. All this is amusing ; but there is a painful item to record. " A sweet thing in. hats," we are told, " was simply trimmed with six small birds spitted through the body as though ready for roasting !" The better part of woman has gone out of the wearer of so barbarous a head-dress.

The number of suicides in France, according to official statistics just published, has largely increased within the present generation, and has actually been trebled since 1830. In that year there were five suicides to 100,000 inhabitants ; in 1850 this had risen to 10, in 1860 to 11, in 1870 to 13, and in 1880 to 15. The total number of suicides in the last year was 6,050, 76 per cent, of them being men. Taking the different departments separately, it appears that suicides are the most numerous in the Department of the Seine (which comprises Paris), and fewest in Corsica. A large increase is noted in juvenile suicides. The popular notion that self destruction is most prevalent during bad weather finds no confirmation, the percentage of cases being 39 for the summer, 19 for the spring, 24 for tire autumn, and 18 for the winter.

The wife of a prosperous gentleman who has lately settled in the neighborhood of Melbourne (says the Australasian) sent to Paris for a costume by Worth for the forthcoming Melbourne Cup. The costume,, which was en suite, and complete to boots, gloves, parasol, &c, arrived the other day ; was unpacked, admired, and laid out in the owner's dressingroom. Before, having it placed in her wardrobe, Mrs. Grosgrain went into town for the day, but having forgotten her purse, returned home sooner than .she had intended. Proceeding at once to her apartment she discovered the housemaid arrayed in her new costume to the minutest particular, and jjosing in undisguised admiration of herself iia front of the cheval glass. Naturally incensed, she remonstrated rather sharply with Miss O'Brien for her impertinence, but she was rendered speechless by the audacious retort, " Well I j'ou'll admit I look better in it than ever you will !"

A curious court martial has just been held at Toulon, and M. de la Bandiniere, a lieutenant in the Marine Artillery, has been condemned to six months' imprisonment and to be dismissed from the service for being absent without leave. The curious part of it is that the lieutenant was not present at the trial, for he has been dead this two months, having been drowned while on a boatiug excursion. He fell overboard ami was carried out to sea, but the Minister of Marine having no absolute proof of M. de la Baudinier's death, was compelled to order a court martial, since, the body not having been found, the officers's pay still went on, and his name remained on the list of promotions. It appears that a sentence of couvt martial, dismissing the lieutenant from the service, is the only means which can prevent his heirs and executors from claiming the pay due to him from the ,dase of his diappearance to the day of the recovery of his body.

The evil consequences of maintaining an irrational and unjust law, like that regarding a deceased wife's sister, had a painful illustration the other day. A lady, married twenty years ago to the husband of her deceased sister, died at Plymouth. The marriage took place in Switzerland, where it is perfectly legal. She had desired to be buried especially in the family vault at St. Gluvias, Penrhyn. But as it was found to be full, a brick grave was prepared in the new Cemetry. ,But some official insisted that, as such a marriage was illegal in Euglaud, the lady could only be buried under her maiden name. The unexpected announcement so shocked and distracted the mourning husband that he followed the body on foot to the cemetery, attired in white hat, blue tie, and brown coat. The body was lowered into the grave without any ceremony ; and the gentleman, thus mocked in his sorrow, at once walked away, leaving the mourners behind.

An extraordinary sensation- has been caused in Athlone (according to the Newcastle Chronicle) by the reported occurrence of a supernatural manifestation in the Franciscan Church on Sunday evening recently. Just as the priest had concluded his sermon, a brilliant light is said to have shone down from the roof, immediately above the figure of the Virgin. Showors of stars descended on the 'head of the figure; the eyes opened and rolled from side to side, the hands moved, and the figure assumed the attitude of blessing the congregation, after which it presented its former appearance. A scene of great excitement ensued, and tbe service was suspended, but the church remained crowded till a late hour. On Monday morning the thoroughfares near, the church became impassable. The church has since been crowded, night and day with the deaf, the blind, and the lame. It is averred that a respectable woman, who has been lame for years, and who entered the church on Monday morning in an 'invalid chair, left it able to walk without assistance.

In the South Australian House of Assembly Mr, Kingstou moved the mser* tion in the Newspaper 13ijl of a clause providing that articles commenting upon persons or bodies of persons should be signed by the .writers. The ban. member contended that the public should know the name of the .writer in order that they j might judge whether he was impartial, and whether he had the necessary information, to set himself up as a guide. MY. Kingston was answered by Mr. #ees, who contended that there was no public demand for the change, which would have the effect of keeping out of the raqks of the Press men such ns those who in the 'past had found the newspapers all avenue to greatness. The Attorney-General ppppsed the clause, and argued that, its effect would 'often be to cause articles to be judged by a fallacious test, as they would be judged by the 1 names attached instead, of! by., their intrinsio merit. ' The clause was .negatived, without a division. The. , Attorney-General then, .proppafd a new section, providing that a person who considers himself aggrieved 1 by an letter, article, ' of ' advertisement, may inak'e an application to a judge or special magis- • trate, whomay* if he considers it injurious to the character of the person applying, and if he. thinks, it expedient, make an order iot tb.e giving, UP , the same pf the writer! 'T-he penalty' for' not conhplying witfrthlS'or'de* will be '£500/' TM clause AVae'bgreedW.by'a large r mtrj6rity'.i [ ■' !

The Manaia Town Board meets on Wednesday next, at 7 pita.

The County Council will meet oil ' We- 5 noaday next, instead of Tuesday, ks we\

The meeting called for 2 o'clock this afternoon re Saturday train service to Stratford lapsed, very few persons putting in an appearance, /business peoplebeipft too busy. The irieetinrf wiU-b^jie.iaror Tuesday evening, at 7 o'clock.

Mr. McGuire left for Auckland thismorning to make arrangements for the removal of his family thence early in November. Mr. McGuire, though removing his family earlier tha-n lie-had expected, will afterwards return to Hawera for a few weeks, and will not, get away himself niuch before the end, of: the year.

The Patea Oil and Fibre Company are pushing ahead. A site has been purchased from Captain Wray across the river, an oil mill has been ordered, and plans for a building were ordered. The Mail says that at. the meeting at which these tdatters were arranged, Mr Lowe, a gentleman who has had considerable experience in linseed oil mills^, was present,- and gave the 'directors' miic'li inteYesting and valuable information. Sergeant Cahill'has received orders to report himself at Auckland. He has to attend the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, at New "Plymouth, which open on Monday week, and immediately after the rising of the ' Court will proceed to his new station. While here he has don© liis duly well and faithfully, and he will carry away with him the respect and good wishes of the community.

Materials for constructing one hundred miles of railway was provided aa an accessory to the military operations in Egypt. The heavy 'description of the rails — 701bs. to the yard— renders them better suited to a permanent line than a merely, flying military train-road, and the sleepers, which are mostly of broad iron plates, hollowed beneath, are well adapted for resting upon the sand of the desert. For sounder situations timber sleepers were provided, but' even, they are much broader than thole commonly used on English lines. A railway corps had been specially trained for laying and working the railway, consisting of No. 8 Royal Engineers, amongst whom are platelayers, engine- drivers, and mechanics capable of building a bridgfe pf a pieri This company had been exercised for several weeks previous to leaving for Egypt on a section of railway at Upnor Castle, on the Medway.

It is notified that Opunake valuation roll is open for inspection.

Messrs. G. and F. Homer sell cattle at Patea on Tuesday, 7th Nov.

Impounding notice is given by Hawera poundkeepcr.

Practical gardener wants job work. Messrs. Bennett and Bobbins draw attention to the terms on which tbey do business, and publish a list of goods on hand and to arrive per English ships. Messrs. Walter Wright and Co. announce a sale of remnants, for one week, for cash only.