NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1751, 11 October 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

An inspection of the Hawera Rifles is called for this evening, and the Cadets parade to-morrow evening. ~~ Many of our readers will regret to hear that Mr. P. Galvin met with a rather serious coach accident at Blenheim on Saturday. Unfortunately, Mr. Galvin can seldom boast of robust health, so that the accident may be more severe in its efl\ cts than the telegram might lead people to The Queenslander reports that the shearing at Messrs. Wallace and Cnsey's Norman by station is this year being done by Mr. Wols»ley's uiachiues. There are six in use; they are working smoothly, and, though somewhat slow, are doing beautiful work. The well-known and successful thoroughbred horse Puriri, has returned to the district and looks a picture of good healtu and condition. We notice that a four-year-old son of his, r.ained Forester, won the Grand Stand Handicap at Napier carrying 9 Ftone, conceding 181bs to the ! second, and 211bs to the third horse in the race. Ferrets are said to be making great havoc in the poultry yards of Te Whiti, near Masterton. The other evening, Mr. James Mackenzie was crossing a paddock, when his horse was savagely attacked by a number of ferrets, which held on to one oi his hind legs, worrying and bnrking like dogs. They appear to be getting very numerous and savage from hunger. A further find of treasure trove was made by Master Whitcombe and another lad on Sunday last at the long reef. They were searching for relics of the ill-fated Tasmanian Maid, and were rewarded for their perseverance by discovering a one shilling piece, and several coppers. The shilling was turned almost black, and was worn quite thin. At a meeting of the Wellington City Council last week, an interim report was preseuted by the Electric Lighting Committee, recommending the accept nee of tne oftvr of Mr. Walter Prince, of Dunedin, to lend for a month one dynamo and fittings ior experimentally lighting the streets by means of five nrc lamps, of 1200 candle power each, ten ordiuary incandescent lamps of 16 20-candle power, and a few incandescent lamps of 30 and 65 candle power respectively. The terms of the offer were that the council should erect the plant subject to Mr. Prince's approval, as far as technical matters are concerned, and employ a workman selected by him at the rate of £3 per week. At the conclusion of the trial, and in the event of tenders being called for permanent plant, the council to pay i-50 for the use of the plant should. Mr. Prince's tender be declined, but if accepted to pay nothing for the nse of this experimental plant. The oSer was accepted. The Daily News commenting on the new Ministry says : — The question of how long the new Ministry is likely to last is already being canvassed, and the Vogelites confidently predict the downfall of the new Cabinet in about three weeks. That Sir Juhns will do his best to accomplish such a feat we can well believe, but we see no reason — unless Major Atkinson makes some serious blunder in ln - 6 financial proposals — why the new Ministry should not hold office throughout the sesbion. The desire is to get new men into the Cabinet, and that has certainly been attained in this instance. If these new men only prove to be of average ability, we think they will stand a fair chance of retaiuing office for one session at any rate. Major Atkinson has asked for a fortnight in which to draw up his plans, and that is not an unreasonable request in the present circumstances of the case. The adjournment will of course be granted, and then the country will have an inkling of what the retrenchment party are going to do for it. Messrs. Moore and Ashton's Mammoth Minstrels gave a capital variety entertainmeut last night. There was comparatively only a small house, but the programme was gone through carefully and with spirit Miss Amy Blackie sang 11 Save My Mother's Picture " so well that an encore was demanded, and conceded. The silver clog dancing also was heartily appreciated, and the nimble artists, on being recalled, outvied all previous efforts, by dancing without musical accompaniment, except as the measured beat of well-trained toe aud heel supplied. Each performer did a pas-suel on this occasion, and the merits of each were so great that it would be difficult to " pick the winner," as sporting men say. Mr. Fred. Turner's song, "The village hero," showed that the artist is the happy possessor of a fine tenor voice, thoroughly well trained, and of great range and compass. The other items on the programme were well rendered, the choruses, the acrobatic performances, and the comic business being all decidedly above the average. Saturday's New Zealand Times says :—: — A meeting will be held m Hawera to-day of persons interested in the erection of meat-tinning works in the district. A gentleman of long experience in the trade will make certain proposals to the settlers. We are glad to see the Hawera people up and doing, for the concerted action of skill and capital in this and similar works throughout the colony would tend to improve our financial condition and remove the cry of depression that is now heard on every hand. One great fault of the colony's nou -progression is that we are not producers on a scale aufficiently large to make an impression on the world's markets. With the one commodity of tinned meats, the quality of our beet and mutton in the Hawera and similar districts is unsurpassed in any part of the world. The one question the promoters of the scheme will have to bear in mind is the get-up of the article. The quality of the meat is beyond reproach, but, like many other New Zealand products, is almost unmarketable owing to a want of common sense in putting it to the best advantage before the old world buyers. Let the Hawera people take a leaf out of our American cousins' books, and pay close attention to the shape of the tins and the appearance of labels. Some short time ago a large English contract for tinned meat had to be sent to Chicago instead of Australia simply because the colonial tinners would persist in using round tins instead of square ones, as used in Chicago, and which for the contract weie preferable for packing. If the Hawera meat is well packed in the most approved shaped tins, with a label characteristic of the quality of the contents, there is an immense market for such an ] article. The Freemasons meet on Thursday. Freeman R. Jackson and Co. sell stock at Wanganui to-morrow. Mr. T. Ecclesfield agent and produce dealer, requests farmers to look carefully over the wanted known column. Mr. Ellery Gilbert, pianoforte tuner, visits Hawera to-morrow, and will remain in the district about a fortnight. The annual meeting of members of the Hawera Lawn Tennis Club and others interested in tennis is called for to-morrow afternoon. It will take place in Mr. Major's chambers. The thoro'bred stud horse Castoff will be at the service of breeders of horses this season. He is a strong upstanding sire with plenty of bone, and several of his progeny have proved very successful on. the turf.