LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 35, Issue 9388, 9 October 1903, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

♦- *' - - Our meteorological returns for September are held over till next issue. A PUBLIC meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon, in the Town Hall, to arrange for'a presentation to Dr Church before he leavps The Mayor (Mr Cutten), Messrs J. It. Smith and Kirk were appointed a committee to canvass" the town. No decision was c< tre to as to what form the presentation should take. Dk M'Knight has decided.to lake up Dr Church's practice. A heavy shower of rain and hail, accompanied by thunder and lightning, took place around Naseby on Tuesday afternoon. In the evening, about 9.15, a sharp shock of earthquake was felt. The direction of the tremor seemed to be-from' east to west. The rain was only local, and down on the plains .and on the hills towards Kyehurn Diggings there was very lifcile, and in some parts there was none at all. The farmers are anxiously awaiting a shower, as feed is getting scarce and in some localities the ground is too hard for ploughing. Joe Foso, a well-known Chinese storekeeper of Naseby, died on Monday morning, after a brief illness. He was buried on Wednesday afternoon, but it is intended to remove the body to China shortly. The Rev. Mr Smith read a short service at the grave, after which the Chinese'conducted their own ceremony.

Mr James Kirby left yes'erday for a short tour' of the North Island. He goes as far as Gishorne.

As will be seen by the report of the public meeting in connection with the Naseby commonage reserve, the business of the first year of its existence has left the trust £lO in debt to the ranger for his salary. The apathy.of the public now that they have the reserve is rather surprising. At the annual meeting last week the attendance was so small as to be almost an insult' 'to the trustees who have gratuitously carried on the business connected with it for the past twelve months. The present indifference is in nairked contrast to the energy displayed in getting it. I: is surprising that those to whom the reserve has been ot some benefit do not display greater energy to conserve their interests. Surely if the reserve isworth having, it is worth the public's while to attend a meeting once a year. The want of a little care might result" in the loss of it altogether. Apparently some make use of the reserve who object to pay for the privilege, but if it is. to be made to pay its' way this will have to be stopped, and everyone who grazes cattle must lie made to p ! iy his propercontiibti'ion With this object in view, the trustees have fully determined that all cattle not paid for will be impounded without further notice Mr Kempthorne, of the Bank of New South Wales, has been transferred to Invercargill. The change means promotion for Mr Kempthorne. He leaves on Saturday. His place here will be filled by Mr Thompson, of Dunedin Major Cummings, of the Salvation Army, conducted a service in t">e Barracks List night. This evening he gives a lecture on "Java and its People " As the Major his spent a considerable time 111 Java he should •be able to make his lecture interesting. In every place he has given it. it has been well received. As a coffee supper takes place afterwards a small charge will be made for admission.

A correspondent from Ranfurly writes in a jubilant strain informing us that there is more than a probability that the negotiations of the people of the district with the Peninsula Dairy Company for the establishment of a branch creamery in the district are to be crowned with success. Shares have been allotted. The site of the creamery is to be near the bridge at Law's ford. It is to be hoped that the news is the? harbinger of more prosperous times f.>r the "people, within a suitable radius of ihe creamery. No tenders were received by, the' County Council on Wednesday for Contract No 734 :—Supply of two men, swing plough and road scocp, and up to eight strong horses to work the road grader. The tender of Mr W. Johnston, which was accepted at the previous meeting, was therefore approved of. Yesterday, at St. Clement's Chnrch, YVaipiata, Miss Frances Kate L)o>\le was married to Mr Alex Clark, of the Stock Department, Clyde. The Rev Mr Christian performed the ceremony. There was a very large attendance at the church to witness the event.

The Rev F H Spencer, travelling agent of the British and. Foreign Bible Society, is at present touring the district. -He gave a lecture, illustrated by lantern views, on the work of the society, in St. George's Hall, on Wednesday evening. The Rev Mr Smith presided. Miss Will has undertaken to act as local agent for the society, which is inter-denominational. Mr Spencer lectured at Kyeburn on Tuesday and at Ranfurly on Thursday evening.. . . Messrs H. Buekland and D Reid provincial president and treasurer resp-etively of the N.Z. Farmers' Union, addressed a ■large meeting. <>f farmers at Ranfurly yesterday afternoon. They were listened to with great attention, and the audience seemed to be in sympathy with the views advanced.

At the regular mnnth'y meeting of the lodge Mount Ida, held on Wednesday last, I.P M. Bro R Church was presented by the brethren with a beautifully worked Past Master's jewel and appropriate clasp aud ribbon. The jewel was neut'y inscribed as follows: "To Bro Robert Church, P.M , fiom Lodge Mt Ida No 97. ' 7ih October! 1903." In making the presentation the W.M. (Bro Cutten) referred to the good work done by. P M. Bro Church, and on behalf of the lodge wished him every success in life and in his new sphere of practice. The only extenuating, circumstance in Bro Church's departure was the fact that Bro M'Knight was to succeed him as resident surgeon here. P.M. Bro Church, who was completely taken by surprise, in feeling and appropriate terms thanked the'lodgn for'iit.s kindly action He would prize the jewel always, and it would go down as an heirloom in his family.

The M'Cormick knotter embodies in the fullest degree the qualities which are necessary to secure uniform regularity in binding, namely accuracy, simplicity and durability. All wearing parts are made of the'best material and are case-hardened. The M'Coimick knotter has only two moving parts. Each piece is accurately made and every complete knotter thoroughly tested before leaving the works, thereby, insuringperfectknots and well-bound bundles Owing to the simplicity of construction, the M'Cormick knotter is ca<=y to keep properly adjusted; is not liable to need repairs, and co«»t8 practically nothing to maintain it.in good working order as long as the machine is used.