LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 277, 26 October 1883, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Oddfallowa' banquet ia to take place this evening, and it is expected will be a pleasant social gathering. A potent; grave, and reverendi'aigneur was accosted at a recent civil entertain* ment by a young lady, who was anxious to know if it wan naught? to kiss. The expert, after pondering over the intricate case submitted to his opinion, decided that it would be better to regard, it as such, since all naughty things seem to have co much more fun m them than otherwise. Last week experiments were made at Earnscleugb station with the Foraythrabbit exterminator. The local paper says : — ' The result of the various experiments made were deemed highy satisfactory even by the most sceptical, and the machine could. not fail to show its usefulness where ground burrows were being operated upon. For this class of work the exterminator is highly commendable, but m rocky conn trv its effects may not prove 1 quite bo satisfactory, as it would be almost impracticable to prevent the gas escaping from the burrow.' Whil« congratulating our contemporary m his enlarged issue last nignt, we may just be allowed to point out that he is ' sltghtly m error m claiming for himself the position of " the largest daily paper issued between Auckland and Welling, ton. The extra width of the Standard columns giving us still over a column m each issue m excess of that of any daily ?aper published between limits named, "robably our contemporary forgot the difference m width of columns when committing himself to the statement referred to. If he will compare he will find that what we allege is correct, the Standard still being the largest daily paper published on the West Coast. We learn that the lambing per centage ■ on the Te Matai estate and other proper** ties on the Stoney Greek road has been very satisfactory. The eldest son of Lord North brook is mak;ng a tour through New Zealand. .-During the past few days he has been residing at the Poyal Hotel, Palmerston, and left for Wanganui by the train last evening. So pleased ie he with the; scenery and surroundings of Palmerston, that he proposes on bis return to visit : the Gorge and other places of interest m the Manawatu. . The remains of the unfortunate young man Meek, who was drowned at Napier through the upsetting of » boat, or rather through clinging to the boat after it had j upset, m the hope of saving those of his; companions *rho remained with him, he being an excellent swimmer, have been conveyad to Wellington m the steamer Southern Cross. The deceased was a member of the .Wellington Naval Ar» tillery, and is Jo be accorded a military funeral.