The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1887. NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1775, 8 November 1887, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1887. NEWS AND NOTES.

To-morrow being the Prince of Wales' Birthday and a general holiday, the Star will not be published. The cattle show at New Plymouth, race meeting at Wanganui, and athletic sports at Waitara and Waverley all offer outside attractions to Hawera holiday-makers.

Mr. P. Cowern has built a new cottage on his section in Mannia. This is about the only building which has been erected during the past three years.

We are requested to state that certificates of merits awarded to exhibittors at the Wanganui Exhibition now await application at Mr. Major's office, Princestreet.

Inspector Bindon finished his examination of the Patea school on Thursday, when the percentage of passes amounted to 80.0. The result is very satisfactory, and is far better than it has been for several years past.

It was remarked at the Palmers ton Show that in the hack classes Puriri's stock were exceptionally successful. Tbe first prize takers in each class except in ladies' hacks being sired by Puriri. In the last named class one of his stock was second.

Mr. John Simpson, when trying to catch a horse that had a rope en it, was dragged once around a five acre paddock by the leg through getting his feet entangled in the rope. The accident fortunately resulted in nothing worse than a good many severe bruises, from the effects of which Mr. Simpson is rapidly recovering.

Tbe Wesleyan Sunday school children at Manaia will have a picnic on Wednesday, tbe Prince of Wales' Birthday, in Hr. Tait's paddock, at the edge of the bush on the Manaia road. On Sunday night the Rev. R. Young gave an invitation to friends of all denominations to be present at the picnic. It is understood that parents are providing the necessaries, and we need hardly say that it will be a notable exception to tbe general rule if there is not abundance of good things for any number who may avail themselves of the invitation.

Wanganui Herald of Saturday says : — Mr. Wanklyn, of Hawera, an enthusiast in musical and operatic matters, has undertaken the duties of stage manager in connection with the performance of " lolanthe." Last night he had command of the stage, and his businesslike manner of getting the work through was a great improvement on the method previously adopted. The characters were all carefully taken in hand and taught how to act the parts allotted them, with the result that even at the conclusion of the first rehearsal great improvement was noticeable. The public will find on the 9th that tbe Society will put on " lolanthe " in a very creditable manner.

The special Parliamentary correspondent of the Auckland Herald has carefully sounded the authorities ns to the prospect of the Stratford Route being adopted, and wires the following to his journal ou the subject : — I have had a conversation with the Minister for Public Works, tbe hon. E. Mitchelson, relative to the central line. He is still of opinion that it is the best for the country in the first instance. The land along the section from Marton to Huoterville is of good quality, and is rapidly being taken up and occupied by a good class of settlers. Beyond Hunterville the land is &Ibo of fair quality for some fifty miles, so that there is in reality from the Marton end some seventy miles of fair agricultural and grazing country along the central line. The Premier and the Minister for Public Works intend to Btand fast by the central route for the North Trunk Railway. They are agreeable to the construction of a metalled road from New Plymouth to Stratford or any other suitable point, connecting with the North Island Trimk line. The cost of such a work would not be more than the amount already expended in snagging the Wanganui River, and on roads in that district.