NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1568, 7 March 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Midhirst is about to be connected with Stratford by telephone.

We have received a copy of the annual report of the Inspector of the Education Board of Wanganui, which we shall take an early opportunity of noticing.

The new "Wesleynn church nt Woodville was opened on Sunday. There was a very large attendance, many persons being present from Hawera, Patea, and other townships to show their sympathy with the people of Woodvilfe m their step in advance. There was service at 2.80 in the afternoon and again in the evening. The Rev. Mr. Salter conducted the services, and preached very impressive sermons. To-morrow evening there will be a social gathering in connection with the matter.

The announcement which came from New Plymouth that the freezing works at Waitara are to be abandoned and the plant moved to Aucklaud, is, we learn, not correct. Some of the tinning plant is to be removed to Auckland, but not the freezing plant ; and it is hoped that within a year farmers' stock will be frozen at Waitara and put on board direct steamer off the mouth of the river. There would be little difficulty about tins if 80,000 sheep a year were guaranteed, and it is expected that when the present guarantee ot 40,000 a year has expired, the district will be able to guarantee the lequired 80,000.

Australia has a lady editor in the person of Agnes McDonald of the Suany Corner Free Press ; but the experiment in jonrnaiism does not appear to be quite successful. At the Batlmist District Court recently the fair editoress was sued for £200 damages for libellous statements published concerning Sarah Ann Holman. Tlie judge, in giving a verdict tor i-100 and costs, said that the libel was a mere string of ungrammatical abuse, and he was glad to hear defendant say she had not written it, for if she had it was a libel on the name of woman. As editoress she had shown negligence in permitting the paragraphs and articles to appear. It was shown in evidence that a quairel had arisen between Agnes and Mary Ann out of some amateur theatricals, in which plaintiff and defendant were rivals. Feminine jealousy will prove the deathbed to the employment of ladies as editors.

At a meeting of the sub-committee of the Normanby Horticultural Society, at which there were present — Messrs. llowe (m the char), Hunger, Epping, and tho hon. secietary, Mr. A. G. Brett, a quantity of routine work was got through iv connection with the forthcoming show. Among other things done, the judges were <ippoia(erf, die comtai'.tse haying been veiy successful m inducing to act a number of gentlemen in whom exhibitors generally will have every confidence. It was announced that for the purpose of pro viding more accommodation the committee had obtained from the Eaciug Club the loan of an awning. The secretary was requested to press lor an early and definite reply from the railway autho rities with reference to special arrangements ou show day. In another column the hon. sec. urges intending competitors to send in the entries at once. "We have no doubt that the notice will have the desired effect. It will be a great convenience to have early notice of what is coming forward and will contribute to the completeness of the arrangements. The secretary also notifies that members' subscriptions are now due, and this is a matter which should receive attention at once. We have been requested to mention that exhibits for Mr. Rowe's special prizes for carrots, mangolds, and onions, will not be eligible to compete for class prizes.