LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7935, 8 January 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Eight fresh claims for the old age pension are to be heard at* he Wairarapa Magistrate's (Jourta next week. The annual picnic of the Wealeyan Sunday School will bo neld in Mr 3. Maoara's paddock, at Akura, on January 22. An Association telegram from Feilding says that haymaking has been impeded iu that district by stormy weather. Several turnip crops are suffering through flies. The Y.M.C.A. have decided to remove the billiard table from their premises for two months to test whether the rowdyism, which is set down chiefly to the presence of the billiard table, will cease. The Masterton Eifle Volunteers will re-commence trophy shooting at the Oppki range on Thursday and Saturday next. The Opaki Rifle Olub will also re-commenoe on Thursday. F W. B. Goodbehere, the crack Wellington college runner, has nominated for the 100 yards (open), 100 yards ohampionship and 440 yards ladies' bracelet handioap at the forthcoming meeting' of the Wairaxapa Amateur Athletic Olub. Three tons of peas are being picked daily by the Frimley Canning Factory's fields. During the ' last five working days at the Frim ley orchards (the Hastings Standard states) 2277 cases of peaches passed through the packing sheds, representing 22% tons weight. The dredging industry in Otago is apparently on the decline. The Otago returns have fallen steadily from 104,000 ounces in 1902 to 76,000 in 1905. Westland returns faavo also fallen from 30,000 to 20,000 ounces in the same time. The Workmen's Friend Building Society, on the Starr-Bowkett principal, whioh has been started in ■Masterton has so far been very favourably received, and a large number of shares have already been placed. The benefits of the Starr-Bowkett, system are already well known in Masterton, where numbers of townspeople are in possession of homes by this means, and on the most advantageous terms as the loans are re-payable without interest, which means that a moderate rental makes a freehold for the owner. It is advisable to be among the original shareholders, as those who join later have to pay up their shares at an inoreased rate consequent upon their not being original shareholders. To-night is the first "pay-night," when Mr W. Donaldson, the secretary, will be in attendance at his office in Perry Street, to meet iutending shareholders. The work of flotation has proceeded very satisfactorily. FACTS ESTABLISHED AT COURT. In an notion, the cause of whioh was flagrant misuse of our firm name and other gross misrepresentation by an imitating company, which was tried before his Honor, Clv'ef Justice J. Madden, K.C.M.G., L.L.D., in the Supreme Court, at Melbourne, the prosecution showed:— 1. That Sander and Sons' Pure Volatile Eucalypti Extraot contains all medical constituents of the eucalypti, in a highly refined and pure form. 2. That it is much more powerfully healing (antiseptic) than ordinary eucalyptus preparations. 3. That it does not depress the heart like ordinary eucalyptus preparations. 4. That it contains no harmful ingredients, and 5. That it is highly commended by many authorities for the last 30 years as a safe, reliable'and effective remedy. Some imitators have tried to deceive the publio by« simulating our get-up; others have relied on the "just as good" game. Therefore take care and oDtain the GENUINE SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. S

During the yoar ended December 31, 1905, there were 118 birtna, 3() deaths and 37 marriages reoorded at the Caiteriou Post Office. In the Masterton district a number of pad Jocks of grain have already beeu cut, but considerable trouble is being experienced on account of tho wet weather in getting the crop stacked. A quantity of hay has yet to be secured from the same cause. The amouut in hand for tho Carterton Town Clock Fund is praotically £l5O. The cost of the clock will be about £SOO, but only another £IOO is wanted, as the Government nave promised a £ for £ subsidy. Owng to his leaving Masterton, Mr N. C. Marshall has resigned the position of secretary of the Y.M.C.A., and the vacancy will be filled at tho next meeting of the Board of Management. In the meantime the secretarial duties are being carried out by Mr A. Reese. Farmers who are late with shearing operations aro particularly unfortunate with the changeable weather, and the receut cold snaps are responsible for a neavy death-rate among newly-shorn sheep. One farmer alone in the Masterton district is reported to have lost sixteen sheep on Saturday last from this cause. Tho Masterton Mounted Kifle Volunteers returned yesterday afternoon, after a week's encampment at Castlapoiut. The encampment was a very useful one, as, with a wide extent of country in which to operate,; all modern field exercisep could be gone through. To enliven the proceedings, during ' the week, various outdoor amusements were promoted with great success. The Masterton Municipal Brass Band gave an excellent programme of music in the Park yesterday afternoon. The Band was in good form, and this proved one of their best performances in the Park. Among the items rendered were "Lurline," "Crispino," "Crown of Merit" (selections); "Le Grande" (trombone solo); "Challenge" (contest march); "Death or Glory," and "Amicizsia." The collection taken up in aid of tho Nelson Contest Fund amounted to £3 2s. A peculiar form of blight has appeared amongst the pumpkin crops in the Carterton district (says the Leader). The leaves curl up, and when straightened by the high winds and the sun are found to be full of holes. The intermittent gales of the past few months have left their mark on all forms of vegetable life. Young cabbages in unsheltered parts show a number of white spots on the outer leaves, but it is not known whether this will have any serious effeot as the vegetable grows. Potato leaves, blackened by the wind, wither away, but ia many cases the tubers recover with settled weather. Reports the Post:-—Mr Moore, of the Missions to Seamen, has received the following letter from Lord Ranfurly, late Governor of New Zealand: —"Dear Mr Moore, —I write to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. I hope your new building wilt have proved as great a success as you expected, and that it is as constantly well filled. On Friday last I was successful in obtaining the necessary balance to stare a niissioner in Auckland in conjunction ■% with your Society, audi hope before long the sailors there will be looked after and find as much recreation and amusement as they now receive in Wellington under your able management. I was only a few days ago looking at the sailors' address to Lady Kanfurly with the many names of sailors of all nationalities. I trust the coming year may be a successful one. Again wishing you a Happy New Year.—l am, etc, Raufurly." The quarterly return of business in the Pahiatua Magistrate's Court showed that the court sat fortnightly for the transaction of civil and criminal business. Number of sittings presided over by the stipendiary magistrate, 13; total number of sittings during the quarter, 17. Number of cases heard by stipendiary magistrate in ordinary jurisdiction, 30; heard by justices, 7—-total, 37. Agregate amount sued for, £671 9s 10d; aggregate amount recovered, £426 4s 4d. Number of applications beard in oouit or chambers, 3; orders made (judgment summonses), 2; number of plaints entered, 54; number of distress warrants issued, 15; number of judgment summonses, 2; number of summonses and other processes served by bailiff and assistants, 70; distress warrants executed by bailiff aud assistants, 7; amount of oivil fees paid, £53 13s; old age pensions; received 4, granted 2, pendicg 1. In criminal business, 43 persons were apprehended; 3 discharged for want of prosecution or want of evidence; 6 persons were dismissed on merit; 21 were sum. marily convicted; and 13 were other wise dealt with. Mr F. P. Welch requires 10 good scrub cutters. x The Castlepoint County Council invite tenders, to close at noon on Saturday next for a metalling contract on the Uriti to Langdale Road. In order to cope with the demands of increasing business, Professor 'Williams, hairdresser and tobacconist, Queen Street, has engaged the services of Mr E. Wilkins, who has a thorough knowledge of the hairdreasiug trade, to assist in the saloon. j The influence of musio in the home ' on tho young form the subject of a new advertisement inserted by the Wellington Piano Company, whose looal agents are Messrs McLeod and Young, of the Academy. Messrs Gilmour and Pattie, land agents, New Plymouth, advertise particulars of a valuable property of 1970 acres situated at Opotiki. The agents recommend this as an exceptional bargain as the laud is of first-olass quality with 1400 aores ploughed and grassed, and in addition there is a block of 300 aores of the famous puriri timber on the property. The buildings and improvements are substantial and on the most improved plans. We are prepared to assist any respectable energetic man or woman in poultry farm-, ing. Best chance ever offered to begin] ners. Particulars fram Model Incubator Agency, Christohuroh.—Advt,

f* "Rain has interfered considerably with harvesting operations in tho Lower Valley. It is anticipated that the returns will be good and above last year's. It is not expected that there will be a surplus of fruit in the Masterton district this season owing to the havoo played amongst orchards by tbe gales of wind. Southerly rain fell heavily in Masterton and the rest of the Wairarapa ou Saturday, causing tho rivers to become flooded. Those farmers who bad made a start to get their 'crops in had to cease work\ Yesterday the rain ceased, but tho sky was overcast. One of the reports as to the -antecedents of Liouel Terry has been knocked on the head by 'hltonosis,' who writes to a London paper:— "In the account of thp murder of a Chinese in Now Zealand, it is stated that the murderer, Lionel Terry, is supposed to be an Eton and Oxford man. 1 have examined the Eton School lists between 1853 and 1899, and find that no >such name as Lionel Terry occurs in them." Au amusing complication has arisen at one j£ tbe Maharahara Schools (says the Examinor). It appears that some two years ago the school oommittee lot a portion of ' the school reserve, but by some 'clerical error the lease appears to have the title to the whole of the school reserve, including tho school and other buildings. Tho lessee has now taken possession of tbe school, and refuses to quit. Further developments are now awaited with interest. _ _ Messrs John Chambers and Son. Ltd., of Wellington, agents for the Moffat-Virtue shearing machines, have donated to the Masterton A. and P. Association prizes to the -value of £5 (first £4, second £1) for an extra sheep-shearing competition to be held on the second day of the ■ Show. The conditions attached are that the Moffat-Virtue machines be used, and that three sheep be shorn. Points will be counted as follow: Clean cutting, absence of seoond •outs in the wool, absence of cutting the sheep, and time occupied in shearing. The aheep king of the world is said to be G. L. Waldron, of Patagonia. Mr Waldrou is the principal owner in a company that his 750,000 sheep, and which has annually a wool output of 4,500,000 pounds. In the sheep ranch,he has two packing houses employing 500 men, and "they prepare 70,000,000 sheep for the market eaoh year. In that far off-land he owns a territory 1200 square miles in extent, with a frontage of 270 miles of sea coast. In addition he owns most of the j island of Tierra dsrl Fuego, and -40,000 acres on tbe Falkland Islands. Apropos of old-age pensions, some interesting information was given by "the New South Wales Premier a few days ago. "The number of pensioners over 65 years of age," he said, "in this State is 22,202, or 485 rjer 1000 of the population who reach the age of 65. The average pension granted is £22 7s lOd. In Victoria the expenditure last year was £203,000; the number of penisoners was 12,000, or 195 per 1000 •of the population who reached the •age of 65. and tbe average pension was £l7 6s 4d. In New Zealand, where the law is still more liberal than in Victoria the expenditure last ,year reaohed £l99,ooo—the lowest in all the States; tbe number of pensioners was 12,481, or an average of 351 per 1000 of those who had reached the age of 05. The average pension was £l6 19s. Now, let us look at the cost of adminstration. The oos"t of administration in New South 'Wales was £22,040, or, roughly speaking, 4 per cent. The cost of administration in Victoria was £1645, or, roughly, % per cent. That is to say, the cost of administrating the law in Victoria is oneeighth of what it is in New South Wales. In New Zealand the cost of administration was £3936, or 2 per cent." A recent cable message from Capetown stated that the economic; conditions in yape Colony showed great improvement, and the number of unemployed was less than it had been for two years. The recovery must have been rapid, for •on September 27 a correspondent wrote from Capetown to the Westminster Uazette as follows: i'Week by week the depression in all branches of trade is steadily increasing, and the unemployed are now holding mass meetings with the object of inducing the Government to inaugurate labour settlements as a means of coping with the unprecedented distress. Unfortunately the Government is in precisely tbe same position as other employers of labour, skilled or otherwise. Hundreds of men have been dismissed from all branches of publio works, and still all departments of the public service remain enormously overstaffed. Want and failure to obtain work have caused a considerable increase in crime, but the Government seema powerless to deal with it, and the police force has been cut down to dangerous limits." New Zealand might take a "wrinkle" from Italy in the matter of the International Exhibition to be held this year at Ohristchurch. In connection with the Milan Exhibition of 1906, his Majesty the King of Italy will offer prizes to the extent of ; £I6OO to exhibitors. This amount will be divided as follows :—(1) A prize of £2OO for automatic safety couplings for railway rolling-stock; (2) a prize of £2OO for the. best method of testing high voltage electric currents without danger to the operator; (3) a prize ■of £4OO for the best aDd most original exhibit of maohinery or manufacturing process; (4) a prize of £209 for the best established imetbod of distributing healthy and pure milk in centres of population; (5) a prize of £4OO for the beat type •of popular dwelling adapted: to the climate of Northern Italy; (6) a prize of £2OO for motor-boats. In addition to (the foregoing, there will be given a national prize to the public institution or private sooiety which during the last ten years has been most successful in the work of reclaiming waste lands in' mountainous districts and in 'improvements of pasturage.