NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume x, Issue 1958, 18 June 1888, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

We regret to hear of the illness of the Rev. Mr. Barley, the Hawera Wesleyan minister, he being laid up with a severe attack of bronchitis.

Mr. E. Fake, pharmaceutical chemist, announces that he has commenced business as a family and dispensing chemist, in High-street, in the premises lately occupied by Messrs. O'Neill and Wilson. He has secured a large stock of pure drugs and medicines, and solicits a share of the public patronage. The new shop is well lighted and is very commodious.

Eecent visitors to the Hawera Cemetery have expressed admiration at the tidy and prim appearance which that place now presents. Mr. Chambers, the caretaker, haa evidently been busy improving the footpaths, keeping down the grass, and trimming the fences. Many of the graves, too, are well looked after by relatives or friends of those whose remains lie beneath, it being evident that a good deal of time and attention have been bestowed. We notice, also, that a footpath has been formed along the east side of tho road from High-street to the cemetery gate, thus making this portion of the walk more level than previously.

The Hawera School Committee meet on Tuesday evening.

Mr. W. H. Skeet, whom it was reported proposed to establish himßelt in business in Auckland, has decided not to shift his quarters so long as his health justifies him in practice on this coast.

The death of Robt. Frost, near Orange, by being thrown from his horse, has been aggravated by anotuer tragic occurrence. His daughter, Bridget, aged 15, called to see the dead body of her father, when she dropped dead from the shock.

Fifty millions of millions of miles is a very pretty little distance. Yet that is the amount of space which separates us from the star 61 Cygm, supposed to be the nearest to us of all the bodies in space outside our own planetary system.

A potato match will be the item of attraction at the skating rink to-night. A fair number of competitors have already entered for this novel match. The Town Band will render a number of selections ; and with such an attractive programme a large attendance is expected.

The sum of £50,000, voted for the formation of the Sydney Centennial Park, has already been expended, and an equal sum will be required to complete the work, irrespective together of the erection of the State House, for which £150,000 has been set apart.

The grievance of Mr. Eobert Macalister, late Provincial District Auditor, has been brought before the House by petition. The petitioner claims tbat his position, which was conferred upon him by statute in 1874, was tenable until death, resignation, or removal by the Governor, so that the Government exceeded their power in retrenching him.

Mr. Joyce, M.H.R., has learned that within the last fortnight two large steamers left the Bluff, bound to Melbourne, laden with about 38,000 sacks oats, upon which a Victorian import duty of nearly £4000 would be imposed ; and he intends to ask the Premier whether he will instruct the Hon. Mr. Oliver, who is en route to Australia on State affairs, to ascertain if the Australian Governments will forthwith consider the question of an intercolonial tariff treaty of natural products of the colonies ?

A return laid before Parliament shows the total cost of government, including the Governor's establishment, the Ministry, the Legislature, aud the departmental establishments, at successive periods, commencing with 1860-61, when the total amount was £108,061. In 1865-66 it rose to £364,745 ; in 1870-71 to £531,995 ; in 1875-76 to £804,794; in 1880-81 to £1,916,807 ; 1885 86 to £2,160,334 ; while in 188G-87 it fell to £2,144,654, and last year to £2,076,035. In 1860-61 and last year the respective costs ot the several branches were as follows : — The Governor, £5510 — £9740 ; Ministers, £2913— £10,494; the Legislature, £8479— £52,499 ; departments, £91,159 — £2,003,302.

Edward Igguldeu, the unfortunate man who was deprived of speech while walking along the road to Pahautanui recently, is still under the care of Dr. Kemp, but we (Post) regrefc to say that medical skill has not yet restored the lost power. The patient does not teel the slightest pain. He is greatly distressed at being unable to follow his usual vocation, that of a salesman, and to make matters worse the calamity overtook him just when he had secured employment after a long spell of enforced idleness. He and his family are in very needy circumstances, and a subscription list for their benefit has been opened at our office. The caße is really a most deserving one, and it is to be hoped that the charitably disposed will do what they can to assit the afflicted man and his wife and little children.

Biwmorß have lately been current to the effect that though Civil servants have heretofore been paid at their usual rates they will be required, after the Estimates are passed, to refund to the Treasury the amounts received by them in excess of the sums fixed by the House. In reply to a question on tbe subject asked by Mr. Seddon, the Premier srid that Ministers had quite lately arrived at their decision with regard to the Estimates, and Civil servants had therefore since the beginning of the financial year been paid according to the old votes. For the present month and henceforward they would receive the amended salaries named in the Estimates, and whether they should be called upon to recoup the overplus of the two months would depend upon the House. The Government would make a proposal upon the subject, and the decision would rest with the House.

English newspapers recognise in Prince William a new factor and doubt whether Russia and France will be allowed to continue menacing armaments and to choose their own time for fighting.

BERLIN, June 16.

The Emperor Frederick before his death deeply thanked Sir Morell McKenzie, and said he was convinced that he had done all science, watchfulness, and skill could effect. Later His Majesty wrote, •' I have tried my best to do my duty to God and to the country." He directed that his funeral should be void of all pomp, and that only his nearest relatives should attend. Crowds are viewing the body as it lies in state ia the Garrison Church.