The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2388, 28 March 1893, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1893.

Bethel's estate property, situated in the Ellesmere district, Canterbury, close to tbe re&way, comprising 1669 acres, was sold at auction on Saturday in lots of 52 to 205 acres. Every lot sold at from i>l6 to £16 10 per aore, averaging nearly £19 per acre. The total proceeds were £31,377.

We are informed tbat a number of Bheep have lately been killed by dogs round abont Hawera. One Bottler lost four sheep in one day, and several other owners have suffered by tbe depredations of these canine butchers. Unless owners of dogs exercise more watchfulness very severe lobs will be inflicted on flock owners, especially during the present moonlight nights. The dogs are said to be most adept at tbe game, killing tbe animals quicker than it could be done by a man.

A meeting of the committee of the Patea Racing Club was held on Saturday even, ing, whea in consequence of the Hurdle Race being a walk over it was decided to ask the Metropolitan Club to allow an extra race to be added to the programme, and in the event of permission being granted the race was fixed as " Final Handicap oi 20 soys ; Becond horse to receive five soys out of the stakes ; one mile ; nominations to be in by one o'clock p.m. jon the day of races; weights to be declared and acceptances made immediately after the Poßt Stakes race."

Sergeant-Major Nixon, of the permanent staff, died in the Nelson Hospital on Wednesday morning, aged 52, from some internal complaint. He came out to New Zealand with the Imperial forces at the time of the Maori war. As sergeant in the 18th Royal Irish, he took part in the struggle between the natives and tbe white men, but as far as we (Wellington Post) know, although he took part in a number of engagements he was never severely wounded. After the war he accompanied bis regiment Home. He obtained his discharge in England, and returned to New Zealand, when he joined the Armed Constabulary Force at Wellington. He lived here for some time, but was subsequently appointed a Drill Instractor at New Plymouth over the Volunteers in that district, under Colonel Stapp. Finally he was selected as Drill Instructor at Nelson, where he has resided for seven or eight years. He leaves a widow and seven children.

The Loyal Union Lodge of Oddfellows held their quarterly summoned meeting last evening, the N.G. (Bro. Barraclougb) presiding. Tbere was a good attendance ot members. A considerable amount of

general business was transacted. It was mentioned that a movement was on foot to try and get all tbe lodges in the town to amalgamate and build a Friendly Societies Hall, and, no doubt, when the matter comes officially before the lodsa it will receive fair consideration. It was

also mentioned that a letter had been

expected from the Entertainment Com* mittee of the Exhibition in aid of the

proposed new hospital re a procession of Friendly Societies and others on the opening day (24fch May). In tbe event of this being done, the lodge decided to take part and do all in their power to bring the procession, to a successful isßoe. A committee, consisting of Bros. Gibbs, Barraclough, and C. Evans, was appointed to communicate with the lodges at Eltham and Manaia, soliciting their support in tbe matter, and to make other

•nquinee, and report at next meeting, The takings for the evening amounted to £20.

NEWS AND NOTES 0 Mr H. W. Stretton bas been gazetted postmaster at Meremere. Members of the Manaia Cricket Club are to meet this evening at Lewis' Hotel. The Taranaki News save that Constable Bedican is under notice of transfer to Hawera. A farewell coffee supper to Major Robinson will be held in the Salvation Army Barracks this evening. The heaviest rainfall last month was at Inglewood, the record being 1694 inches for 12 days of rain ; on the 15th, four inches fell. We regret to hear of the death, at New Plymouth, of Mr M. Guerin, brother to Mr J. Guerin, of the Star staff. Deceased wbb formerly an employ^ on this paper. It is nearly time that tbe meteorological department fouod out that Kaponga is not near Wanganui, where it is always explained to be in the official returns of rainfall. Messrs John McNairn & Co., Glasgow, in their fortnightly cable ol Home markets, dated London, 13th March, report :—: — " Cheese market is easier ; prices now 555. Butter market bas a downward tendency." Mr A. Peters, of Woodville, m a letter to the New Zealand Times, says there is nothing strange or mysterious in tbe deatu of Mr Charles Broad bent, who was fonnd dead on the plains between Karioi and Tokaanu. Without a knowledge of the country, it is very easy to lose oneself. A gale of wind has the effect of covering every ve6tige of a track with a fins sand. Mr Peters says no stranger should traverse that country without a guide. Miss_ K. G. McCollum, proprietress of the Railway Hotel, has an advertisement in this issue. The house has lately been thoroughly renovated, and is now one of the best appointed hotels on tbe coast. Good stabling has been provided ; and the claßs of liquors supplied are of a superior quality. The botel is most conveniently situated for passengers by trains, and visitors will find that their comfort has been carefully studied. Misi " Mac." ia well known on the coast for the excellence of her management ; and the Railway Hotel has become very popular since she has taken it over. The Dunedin Labour Party's platform, wbich is being circulated for suggestion or approval, contains 16 planks, providing for giving a votß to every adult, after one month's residencp, for Parliamentary, municipal and all local board electioqs ; all education free and secular, from primary schools to University, with one set of books ; the State to find employment for all wbo want it on co-operative principles ; a statutory eight hours, and prohibition of foreign labor ; repeal of the conspiracy laws ; compulsory arbitration ; State ownership of land, mines, railways, coast.il and marine steamers ; State Bank ; elective Governor ; abolition of the Upper House, substituting a revising chamber ; the drink traffic to be controlled by tbe people, tbe majority deoiding whether existing licenses 6hall be renewed or not. A deputation from the American Oddfellows waited on the Minister of Education on Saturday, and pointed out that a number of Friendly Societies in the colony adopted a scale of fees which was inadequate to provide the benefits offered, and arguing that the Government should not register any fresh sooieties whose rates were found by an actuary to be insufficient, and that the societies already registered should be notified that where their financial unsoundness has been established by aotuarv investigation, they mast within a certain time place themBelves on a sound financial footing. Mr. Mason, the Registrar of Friendly Societies, said many societies were absolutely bad, but that of the deputation waß perfectly sound. It would strengthen the hands of the Government if they could induce the other leading societies to join them in the movement and establish a standard of solvency. Many of the societies were hopelessly insolvent, and, of course, great opposition would come from them ; but, in some of the societies, intelligent men were moving to secure a more satisfactory state of things. He sympathised with the deputation, but regarded many of the societies as absolutely hopeless — in some cases reform might save them. Mr. Williams said that the most unsound societies were : Tbe Railway Employees' Benefit Society, Protestant's Alliance, Hibernian, and tbe Sons and Daughters of Temperance. The A.O.F. was insolvent to the extent of £6 per member. The Hon. Mr Roeves said the statement was very serious and after a conference he would communicate farther. An express for sale, Trap and harness for sale. The D. 1.C., Wellington, have a new advt. in this issue. Mx. Coker, pianoforte tuner, is now in tue district. Orders may be left at this office. Tenders invited for erection of cottage at Eltham. Manaia sale by Egmont Farmers' Union to-morrow. Mr. Newton King's Stony River sale '. to-morrow. , Attention of those interested is directed j to the fact that the Egmont Farmers' Unions' Stratford Sale will be held on ' Thursday this week, Friday being a 1 holiday. Eotheram's English Levers, .£5 ss, JB6 6s, t m 103, £7 10s, and £22, at H. G. Pitcher's. Serviceable cheap watch, The Egmont, at H. G. Pitcher's. 21d each.— Advt. ' Grand selection of Engagement and Dress J Rings, at H. G. Pitcher's.— Advt. ]