NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1828, 14 January 1888, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Rev. C. H. S. Nichoils, a very old colonist, died in Wellington on Thursday, aged 74 years. The well-known tourist agents, Cook and Sons, contemplate including New Zealand in their system, and are asking the Government for concessions.

There was a narrow escape from a fire in Hawera last evening. About midnight some crates containing paper or some such inflammable material lying near the street, outside Mr. Jones' stationer's Bhop, were discovered in a blaze. The fire was promptly extinguished, but had the discovery been delayed a little later, more serious consequence would probably have had to have been reported. The fire was no doubt caused by some passing smoker carelessly throwing down an unextinguished match.

It is quite remarkable to see a cheque nowadays drawn in favor of bis late Majesty George 11., but (says tbe Napier Telegraph) we have been shown one whioh was payable to His Majesty. The defendant in the "Yankee grab" case, who was fined £5 on Saturday by the Resident Magistrate, under statute of George 11, for permitting an unlawful game, namely, "Yankee grab," to be played on bis licensed premises, paid into the Court coffers a cheque which was in favor of George 11. The defendant was probably of opinion that haying been fined under a law made in the reign of the king in question, there was no reason why the cheque should not be made payable in favor of the departed sovereign.;!

Matters of considerable importance to settlers were discussed at the County Council meeting on Friday, and our report is fuller than usual, to the exclusion of other matter. Mr. Wai, A. Price, business agent for the Mohawk Minstrels, is in Hawera making arrangements for the appearance of the company here for two evenings. As they have held Auckland for no less a time than three months, their entertainment must be attractive. The handicaps for the Wanganui Caledonian Sports have been published. In the 100 Yards Greenwood is put three yards behind scratch ; Isaac Watts receives two yards; Good, 2yds. In the 220 Yards, Greenwood is scratch man, and Watts and Good receive 9yds. In tbe 440 Yards Greenwood is scratch and Good gets 12yds and Watts, 15yds. We regret to observe the announcement of the death of Mr. W. A. Earle, of Midhirst. Deceased has been known on the coast for many years, having been a resident of Wanganui for a long time, and of Normanby later on, whence he moved to Midhirst. He was a prominent member of the Wealeyan body, and was a local preacher. All who knew him respected him as a kind-hearted man, who took the golden rule as the guide of his life. Beferring to the information we printed the other day, supplied by Mr. Doffill, as to the treatment butter receives in Wellington before shipment, the Taranaki Herald thinks " It is time the producers united together and took action to get a change, so that tbe produce that is sent from here should be more carefully looked after between its arrival in Wellington and its shipment on board the direct steamers. It ;is even a matter the Government might interest itself in through the Custom-house department. We feel sure that if the kegs after they left New Plymouth were kept m a cool place and not exposed to the sun, and were placed on board the steamer in Wellington carefully, that we should cease to hear of the butter reaching Home in a bad condition." We quite agree. In the Egmont Star for this week there will be found a full and interesting budget of mail news, extending over ten columns, including the chatty monthly letter from our special correspondent. Australian news is also a strong feature. Among other interesting articles are " New York : Notes by a New Zealander" ; Discoveries at Pompeii ; The South Pole : Proposed Antarctic Expedition, and what may be expected from it; Mrs Battle's opinions on whist ; Sketch on Dean Swift ; A week with the Brigands of Smyrna ; Hort ticultural clippings, &c. The cable news is a complete record of the week's news of the world, while New Zealand telegrams, correspondence and local news is also full. The novels are continued, and have arrived at very interesting stages. Commercial and general and sporting news, leading articles, *c, complete the paper. An amorous couple, says the Auckland Star, who went on a pleasure trip to the j Island of Kawau during the holiday season, ttayelled inland, and became so engrossed in their own entertaining society that they took no notice ot the flight of time, and awoke to this oversight only to discover that both steamers had left for Auckland. They were much concerned about this unlucky adventure, but there was no help " for it, and they determined to make the best of it. The young man, being a man of resources, tried all available means of getting away from the island, and, having failed, made anxious enquiries if there were a parson about. He explained that he and his betrothed bad intended to be married in a month, and thought they might as well fix it up at once. The parson, however, was not forthcoming, and the hospitality of Kawau's residents was thankfully accepted until the next steamer arrived, when the happy couple proceeded to Auckland, where parsons are plentiful. In an article dealing with the dispensing with Henry Driver's services as District Manager of the Government Insurance Department, Dunedin, tbe Evening Press says : — " Far from the increased profits of business having recouped Mr. Driver's salary many times over, the business has steadily and seriously diminished, Otago showing worse returns in that respect than any other part of tbe colony. Not only has business not been pushed, as it was expected, but the receipts have fallen away, and, in short, the agency has lost ground at all points. Things have turned out exactly as we predicted. Mr. Driver found the position totally unsuited to him, and it is admitted now that it would have been much better for himself aB well as for the department if he had nothing to do with it. The sequel proves what we contended for at first, in face of Sir J. Vogel's strenuous assertions to the contrary, that there never was any occasion for the appointment of a highly-paid agent with large business experience and all the rest of it at Dunedin. It has simply resulted in heavy loss to the Department, and, we fear, a good deal of disappointment and mortification to Mr. Driver himself. It has ended, in fact, in much the same way as all the rest of Sir Julius Vogel's brilliant coups." The Stab Almanack and Wanoanui and West Coast Directory for 1888 is now published. It will be found to contain very full information on all matters of interest in connection with the calendar, such as high water time tables, hours of sunrise and sunset, dates of sittings, and also fees of the general courts, hours and dates of closing of mails, postal and telegraphic rates and regulations, full statistics in connection with matters agricultural, with local bodies, and with New Zealand and Australasian finance, population, &c. The directory has been extended so as to embrace the whole of the coast from the Mokau down to and inclusive of Wanganui. The volume will be published at a shilling as heretofore ; a special edition containing a standard reference map is also issued at Is 6d.