LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8921, 9 September 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

; Spring painting is the OTder of the day in Hawera, induced, no doubt, by the re- > markably fine weather that has prevailed. According to "arrangements made the New Zealand footballers "play their first match on English soil to-day. The match is that against Devon County, and results will- be .awaited with interest. r The Hawke'e Bay Herald understands \tnkt negotiations for the purchase of the I Tomoana Freezing Works from Nelson Brothers have fallen through for the time being.. . _ The following new books have" been received -at die public library:— "A Cumberland Vendetta" (John Fox, jun.) "The Kentuckians" (John Fox, jun.), ' "The Image in the Sand" (Benson), "The Clairin^C^W' " Quee> Lady Judas " (Kita), Linked by Fate" (Gamce)

A dairying authority has informed the Manawatu DaiJy Times that while everybody is talking about butter there is a danger of the very important'cheese-mak-ing industry being overlooked. He pointed out thai statistics over a long series of yeans showed that cheese gave as «ood an average return as butter to the man who produced it.

Sir Robert ~Stont> writes to the secretary of the Hawera Public Library as follows: "The 22nd September may now be set down definitely as the date of my lecture Mi._Hawera, the subject- to be either kmerson or Darwin. I think you will find the lecture on Darwin, more interestine, but will leave iho choice to you." It T s practically" decided that DaTwin will be chosen. . .

, In connection with the Mam Trunk railway a complete survey., for tho Jine between Levin and Foxton has been made J-he distance is. eleven miles and a half [The report- made to the 'department does not mention the cost, but, according to tho Minister for Railways, the country is easy, and £5000 per mile" would probably cover all costs plus, say, £8000 for the bridge "n^ cc ™ c Man awntu river, or a total cost of ±.65,500. Diverting the line from Wellington to Auckland by. way of Foxton would not- save any mileage at all, but would increase the distance, unless the diversion was carried on to Greatford or Marton. If carried on to Marton the saving in distance "would be about fifteen miles.

I The Lyttelton Times thus describes "the i nnisn of the winner of Saturday's road race:— He walked round the track with his machine, sometimes carrying it on his shoulders and sometimes pushing it along. When he neared the -winning post he seemed to be utterly spent. He leaned for-ward-until he stooped, and he- wobbled at each step. No sooner had he passed the post than his machine was wrenched from his hands, and he was raised shoulder high above .the crowd. In response to the hearty cheers ho languidly raised his hand and lifted his cap. . The caked mud on his face cracked as he smiled a tired, muddy smile. He was hurried into the dressing room, but emerged soon after, and was taken quickly away in a motorcar. O'Connor is 22 years of age, is sft lOin in height, and weighs 13 stone.

Included amongst the persons brought up- at the Melbourne General Sessions on August Bth for sentence were several who had been convicted of suburban rbbberieß, and Judge Eagleton, dealt with -them in a very exemplary mariner. His Honor pointed out that this class of offence was so common that -unless ■ suburban residents had reputable servants "whom they could leave in custody of .their houses they dared riot absent themselves from home at all, and as far as he could he would endeavor to stamp out the robberies. Sentences of six and eight years, with temis of solitary confinement, were passed on several men, and in one case two floggings .were ordered to be inflicted on a prisoner who took part in a brutal assault on- a man allured to a house by a woman. • "A white bug which feeds exclusively on grass hasjnade its appearance in the- Wellington district. _ On one property not more than 20 miles from the'eity the insect is stated to have destroyed every particle of grass, and the owner has had to send his sheep away to feed in another ' part of "the district which the bug has not yet invaded. The Agricultural .Department states that the .bug is a pest wellknown'in many paTt6 of the colony. In sojije districts it appears in large numbers onci year, and next 'yea r^it is lnnrdly seen. •It has a particular affection for the roots of' strawberry plants, and ht tha Canterbury distTict especially growers have suffered considerable loss through its^ depredations. The injection of carbon" bi-eul-phide into the ground is said to be an effectual means of exterminating the bug, but on. account of the cost the process can only be profitably applied to small areas.

- With regard to the' practice of blending butter, Mr— D. Bray r who has recently been qn_a. business vi6it Home, told a Wellington Post, reporter that "under the present regulations it seems to be quite the recognised thing that if the retail price of butter at any time exceeds Is, the quantity of blended butter and margarine in tho market at once increases. It seems to be quite -public everywhere that New Zealand butter is being mixed "with. Siberian in Denmark, and afterwards shipped back to England. - Tho blending of New Zealand butter "seems alßcf to be very prevalent in Holland, where as much as 15 per cent, of moisture is said to bo added, and the butter returned to lingland. While I. was in England, I learned that two delegates from Holland were over, making enquiries with regard to this fraudulent practice, and it remains to be seen whether any action will be taken."

A rather exciting' runaway was witnessed iiii New Plymouth on Thursday afternoon. A horse attached to a trap convoying Mt C. ClaTke' (Vw..ue Hart Hotel) and v little boy, took fright flt a. motor car ac Fitzroy, and. bolted into town. Mr Clarke was unable to check the horse and it dashed headlong-into tho ./■car' ranks of the Salvation Army Biorama Band, which was marching through tho town, playing.. Adjutant Dickens, in charge of the New Plymouth corps,- was I dragged along and run over and received severe injuries to his back and spine. Bandmaster Sampson was hurled about unceremoniously, but escaped with a - shock and painful. bruises, and other adulU were similarly treated. Three children, Eliza-" both and Myrtle ButteTworth und Willie Sturmey, were found insensible from tho impjact. All the patient^ are reported to hoboing well._ The- -crowd "did not stop the horse, "which continued it 6 career, and was not- brought to standstill until near the White Hart Hotel. "

Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Colds never fail*, la 6d.

Word has been received by the Chairman of the Patea Harbor Board that the Government, through the Postal Department-, has granted the £5000 loan applied for, for the further extension of the breakwater. In view of the lightness of the money market the Board is to be congratulated upon it 6 6ucees6. Mr J. J. Campbell, of Kaupokonui, has received word that he obtained first prize with the bulls he sent to the Melbourne show. This is very satisfactory news, as the animals competed in a big class. Steuart and Corrigan sell stock at Maoaia on Tuesday. The stallion Agent is to be offered.

H. J. Eaves has just received a consignment of seeds for this season. A general meeting of the "Tradesmen's Association will be held on Monday evening in the Fire Brigade Hall. - On Monday Rev. Rawnsley will- lecture at Te Kiri on "Russia and the Russians," and show a number of lantern slides of Russian towns.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile i Agency Company, Limited, Stratford, have numerous dairy farms for Bale or- lease, and full particulars can be obtained -ou application fc> t-hsir office — Advt.