LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 227, 22 August 1884, Page 2

LOC AL AND GENERAL.

A consultation by " Jacob Faithful" Napier is elsewhere annoiidced. We believe this is a thoroughly geuuine consultation. Mr Asher, proprietor of the Exhibition of Arts, at present showing iv Gillet's bujjdjngs,, is perhaps the most enthusiastic and successful oaptalq the Wellington Fire Brigade has had m the past. Mr Aaher had the men under his control so perfectly drilled to their work that he always found a pleasure m the practice. We believe if the Palmerston Fire Brigado were to turn out on Saturday Mr Asher would be only too happy to put them through some raeanosuvring and I general drill, and give them as much information as the time at his disposal would permit. The Auckland tramcars are to be worked without conductors or guards as we call them, the passengers being expected to put their fares into a box on entering the car. This box is fitted with an ingenious arrangement, which, when a person puts m only a penny, arrests the coin and gibbets it on a glass dial until the full fare is paid. Two men working on Mr Wattnan's run at Abboteford, near Maaterton, on Tuesday last discovered the skeleton of & human creature on the run. The Mastorton police went to the spot indicated, and found the skeleton m a shallow hole, m a partially sitting position, covered with large stones, weighing from 7 to lOlbs each, mixed with earth. The remains, which were brittle, presented the appearance of having lain where they were discovered for at least ten years. The skeleton was removed to Mastorton, where probably a magisterial inquiry will be held. A Wellington constable surprised a compositor named Frederick Upham m the act of disfiguring the Provincial Buildings with pencil marks, and at once took him m charge. Subsequently the offender was brought before tne Resident Magistrate, and, pleading guilty, was mulcted m the amount of sa, Is being assessed as the amount of damage done.

In view of tho oft-repeated warning against tho results of indiscriminately 1 cutting down forests, and the regulating effects of the latter on the climate of a country, a collection of reports just published from various neighborhoods m Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, is of suggestive importance. These reports prove beyond doubt that forests are a protection against hail storms. The lattor seldom or nev«r occur m the viciuity of piue forests, and instances are given of localities which when well wooded were absolutely free from hail stouns, but now, owing to the forests having been all cut down there, they are subject to such visitations. Sir Henry Loch, the Governor of Victoria, is a tall soldierly-looking man, with iron-grey hair and beard, the latter ' long and flowing. His face at first glance seem? to indicate a stern and serious character ; but m conversation the hard lines relax, and he becomes as pleasant and sociable as could be wished. Lady Loch is the twin sister of Lady^ Lytton, wife of the late Viceroy of India. She has a very tall though graceful figure, and her face always wears a pleasant smile, which gives one the impression that the owner has a kindly heart and a contented mind. The keas have found a rival m the seagulls, who are rapidly " evolving" into mutton eaters. The Lake Wanaka correspondent of the Wakatipu Mail writes : — " The gulls may frequently be seen flying about the mountain tops m flocks of from 12 to 20 strong, driving keas away from the carcases of sheep they (the keas) have killed — sometimes tearing at them before life has left their bodies. Between the three pests, rabbits, keas, and gulls, the sheep are having a trying time of it. A Cear& paper reports the launching m the United States of the Bishop of Park's Steam Church, which is 80 feet long and 23 feet wide. The grand saloon on deck will extend from stem to stern, and contain the altars, pulpit, and organ. 12 priests will live on board, and a primary school and music school will be maintained. There will also be a doctor and a small pharmacy. It is to be hoped that tho Catholic and Protestant missionaries on the Amazon will keep m Christian harmony, and not try to run one another down while steaming on the same river. Prior to commencing the stock sale on Tuesday last at Bulls, the auctioneer (Colonol Gorton) took occasion to remark that the firm were very much annoyed by vendors who gare them stock for sale, which were dully advertised, and brought buyers to tho sale to find that such stock were not m the yards, the vendors having sold the stock from off their farms. The firm intended, so the auctioneer said, to charge such vendors commission m the future, even if they had to take a case to be tested at the EM. Court. Mr Seddon has moved m Parliament for a return of all existing endowments for secondary and University education m the colony ; specifying the locality of each block of land, its acreage, its estimated value, and its present rental after the deduction of public burdens. Also a statement of the sums of money arising from the sale of any of these land endowments disposed of under special Acts of the Legislature, with the particulars of investment, and the interest paid thereon ; together with the name of the governing bodies, and the profits received by each body since the abolition of provinces. Mr W. J, Hurst, has moved for a Return of the cost of all returns (exoopt Government) supplied to the House duriug tho session of 1883, and by whom moved. An unprecedented event. took place at the Auteul races. Just before the great steeplechase, as the horses were being saddled, a sheriff's officer went up to Beasley, who was about to mount Comte Erdody's horse, Eyrefield's Pride, laid his writ on the animal's back, and declared that "the execution was put m." At the same time he stated he should lay a claim to the money value of the prize if the horse should win it. The race then went on. Couqt E.rdady seemed very indifferent to the whole proceeding, and it is said the horse m reality belongs to an Austrian archduke, who runs it under the count's name.