LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8539, 20 September 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Mystery Flat Dredge is 520z 3dwt, for 127 hours' work.

Miss J. Abernethy, M.A., has been appointed assistant teacher at the Wanganui Girls' College.

An Auckland Press Association telegram states that at Pouto a Maori was killed by a dray passing over him.

Mr Allan Donald, of Featherston, has been appointed to judge the dairy cows at the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association's annual show.

According to an expert of the Department of Agriculture, V\ ashington, about fifty per cent, of imported eggs rarely reach the breakfast table uifcil they are four years old.

The Eketahuna School Committee has decided to recommend the Wellington Education Board to purchase the section adjoining the Eketahuna railway station as a site for a school.

A letter received from Germany by a Timaru resident states - that good workmen (earth workmen) average 3£d per hour, and that a man with two horses and a cart is paid Is Id per hour. An alleged case of "ringing the browns" on an unsuspecting receiver of money is reported in the Bruce Herald. The victim gave a receipt for £4 and got what purported to be four £1 notes, two of which were brown paper imitations.

It was stated in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, that there were 197 deaths last year from tubercular disease [in Otago. In view of this fact, the Government was urged to erect a sanatorium for consumptives in that province. There is a rumour, says the Dannevirke Press, that the Motuotaria Estate, near Waipukurau, is to be put on the market at an early date by the owner. A petition is being signed asking the Government to acquire the estate for closer settlement.

In order to bring more prominently before School Committees the advantages to be gained by supporting the Wairarapa School Committees' As sociation, and with the object of forming sub-branches, Messrs Jessen (Mauriceville) and R. G. Vile (Eketahuna), intend to address meetings of committeemen in Eketahuna and Pahiatua.

Inquiries made by the Health Officer at Auckland in reference to a report that five Maoris died of measles, at Kaipara, after a £ootball match at Port Albert, show that the report is incorrect. Measles have, however, been very pi*evalent among the Maoris in Northern Wairca. At Pouto a young man and baby died. It is also stated that a man, woman and two babies died at Batley-

In the House of Representatives, writes our Parliamentary correspondent, Mr Poland asked the ActingMinister for Kaihvays when the Government intend to introduce the amended Railways Classification Act. Sir J. G. Ward replied that the Railways Classification Act is now under consideration, and it is his intention to bring it down during tne present session."

An interesting legal point is raised in connectn n with Dominion Day, says the Otago Daily Times. The 26th of September is to be proclaimed a public holiday to celebrate Dominion Day. The cablegram states that the Order-in-Council ia to take effect from September 26th; the legal construction is that "from a certain date is exclusive of that day"; therefore, the 27th of September is the first day New Zealand will be a Dominion.

A sensation has been caused at Evans Flat, near Lawrence, by the bombardment of the Thistle Hotsl with stones and brick-bats. It is alleged that three men went to the hotel and demanded liquor after closing time on September 7th. On being refused they determined to frighten the publican into supplying them with drinks, and commenced the attack with bricks and stones that were lying handy. The windows, of course, were smashed, and the roof and walls damaged. The attacking party was arrested, and, being brought before the court, was remanded till September 30th, bail being allowed at £SO each, with one security in each case of a like amount. STK\M OX THE FAHM.

Do yon recognise what an advantage it is to have a supply of live steam on the farm? H means a liberal supply of boiling water for wnshing cans or clothes, for s-eahling pi>:s or cooking stock food, aril you can secure these advantages at a \ery email cost Oy purchasing a "New Century" >Steiimer. One good tire provides sieam for about two hours, and can be l'ift with perfect safety. The ''New Cantury" combines the itrong points of the ordinary portable washing c&pper and the high pressuto steam boiier without their disadvantages. MacEwan and Cd., Ltd., Sole Agents, U.S.S. Co.'s Buildings, Wellington.

The Masterton Municipal Brass Bahdwill render«anselect programme of music in the Park Rotunda on Sundaj afternoon,next.

It took the Labour Department at Dunedin over two weeks to get thirty navvies at a wage of 9s a day for a water-race job at Waikawa. Mr Andrew Collins, the wellknown labour organiser, states that he will contest the Palmerston seat at the next general election, says an exchange.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that flour is likely to go up ten shillings per ton this week. This will mean another rise in the price of bread.

The demand for Australian merinos from South Africa continues. Recently one New South Wales breeder shipped 600 two-tooth ewes to the Orange River Colony.

A "hospital contribution" box was opened in Timaru the other day after hanging unopened in the Timaru Courthouse for about 30 years, and yielded the sum of lis 7ijd. The other day a sneak thief broke into the Feilding Presbyterian Sunday School and stole the monej from the collection boxes. A sum of about 30s was taken.

Private information has been received at Stratford to the effect that ( there is little likelihood of the Mount Egmont railway being opened for any kind of traffic for at least twelve months.

Mr T. M. Donovan, touring manager of Messrs John Fuller and Sons' Vaudeville Company, arrived in town yesterday to make arrangements for the Company's appearance here. The Company's season, which will commence on Wednesday next, will be limited to two nights.

A farmer who took some fat ewes to Addington, the other day, got an agreeable surprise. The price he was willing to accept was 17s, and they brought no less than 25s 3d. Far sheep showed a marked rise in price, owing to the smallness of th& yarding.

At a meeting'of townspeople at Pahiatua, on Wednesday night, arrangements were n - ade for fittingly celebrating Dominion Day. The Volunteers are to be requested to co-operate in the public demonstration. The programme includes a procession, the trooping of the colours, and speeches by the Mayor and other public men.

The Napier Borough Council has adopted a proposal to construct salt water swimming baths fronting the Marine Parade. The ratepayers are to be asked to grant a loan to cover the estimated cost, about £2,500, and £he work is to be put in hand as early as possible, with a view to completion in time for the March Carnival.

Farmers from various districts in the Ashburton County state that fine weather is urgently needed for at least a month to enable them to complete the spring sowing of cereals. Owing to the sodden state of the soil, this work has been much impeded, and a? a result there is still a comparatively large area to sow, although tho ploughing is practically well advanced.

A sensational incident occurred at Roto-o-rangi, on, Friday, writes the Cambridge correspondent of the Auckland Herald. A violent thunderstorm passed over the district, and Mr Smith, manager for Mr Mackeretli, was struck on the side of the face by lightning, one ear being slightly scorched. Mr Smith was riding across a paddock at the time, and carrying a knife with which he had been skinning a sheep. Two bullocks, a short distance away, killed outright by the lightning. Should children be taught at school to write with both hands? This question was discussed at the last meeting of the Auckland Liberal and Labour Federation. Mr Collins advocated that the federation should move in the direction of inducing the Minister for Education to have the children taught to write with both hands. Mr Gresham jocularly suggested that as children might lose both hands they should also be taught to write with both feet. Notice of motion was given for next meeting -hands only. During the course of a lecture on "Japan and the Japanese" at Christchurch, it was stated by the lecturer that her postal system was given to Janan by an ex-official who had been I discharged from the American postal service on the ground of incompetency. He was placed at the head of the Japanese postal department, at a salary of £2,000 a year, and by a strange coincidence it fell to his lot to negotiate a postal treaty with the same American officer that had discharged him from the United States service on the ground of incompetency. Messrs M. Caselberg and E. G. Eton, J's.P., held a civil sitting of the Masterton Magistrate's Court, yesterday. Judgment for plaintiff was given by default in each of the following debt cases:—Krahagen and Chapman v. Joseph Harrop, claim £1 8s costs ss; J. L. Murray v. Horace Reynolds, claim £1 4s 6d, costs ss; Hans Peterson v. Harry W. Broome, claim £1 16s 3d, costs ss. In the judgment summons case of J. L. Murray v. John Fuley, a claim for £1 13s Id, defendant was ordered to pay forthwith, in default three days' imprisonment; order to be suspended for one month. At the same sitting of the Court, John P. Curran was fined 10s in default 4S hours' imprisonment for having been drunk and disorderly.

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At Pahiatua, on Wednesday last, Mr Arthur S. Bentley was married! to Miss Annie Sedcole.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that Mr G. W. Binney, the well-known Auckland merchant, died yesterday. Some weeks ago while on a voyage from Sydney to Auckland he fell down the companion-way of the steamer and sustained serious injury.

Up to the present 279,000 trout fry have been despatched from the Masterton fishponds, mostly to the Bush district. There is still about three times that amount to be sent out. The rivers in the Masterton district will be stocked better this year than they were last year, and this, together with the excellent quality of the fish, augurs well for a successful season for anglers this year.

An interim return of the number of sheep in tlia Dominion on April -30 th last shows the total for the North Island to be 10,854,000, and for the South Island 10,129,000. The net increases for the year are: — North Island* 844,287, and South Island 31,014, The decrease in the Ashburton County, South Island, is 104,413. There are also decreases in several other counties in Canterbury and Otago.

The Masterton Borough Council met, in committee, last evening to consider the appointment of an acting-Town Clerk and actingBorough Engineer. The Mayor (IV! r J. M. Coradine) presided and all the members of the Council were present with the exception of Crs Pauling and Morris. After the matter was fully considered no definite decision was arrived at, and further consideiacion of the matter was held over until next Tuesday evening.

The number of sheepowners and the sheep in the different districts in New Zealand, according to the Htp"'; return, are as follow: Auckland,. 2,127 owners and 785,710 sheep; Napier and Gishorne, 2,219 and 5,119,901; Wellington and West Coast, 4,323 and 4,948,407; Marlborough and Nelson, 2.002 and 1 J22,440; Canterbury and Kaikoura, 4.713 and 5,147,340; Otago. 4,553 and 3,859,974; total for the Dominion, 19,977 owners and 20,993.77 L sheep.

A little-known fact in connection with the working of the Canton Villages Mission of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was mentioned at a meeting in Wellington the other night by Dr. Kirk, who stated that no one but a New Zealander had any chance of admission to these villages. This rather peculiar condition of affairs arises out of the fact that pi'actically all the Chinese in New Zealand come from the Canton villages, and when a missionary goes there from New Zealand he meets men he knew is the "Gold-hills," as the Celestial calls ' this country, and invariably takes with him to China letters and money for the relatives of the Chinese of New Zealand.

A meeting of parishioners of S. Matthew's Church was held last night to consider a report presented by a finance committee set up some weeks ago to devise ways and means of building a new church. The report was considered, and adopted, on the motion of Mr W. G. Bqard, seconded by Mr J. F. Maunsell.' The meeting unanimously approved a motion brought forward by Mr W. H. L. Galwey, suggesting to Diocesan Trustees reasons for their co-opera- < tion in the speedy erection of the building. The meeting adjourned on Mr W. H. Jackson's motion, till a reply should be received from the Trustees.

The depredations of sparrows on. early peas are the bane of the cottage gardener, says the North Otago Times. No sooner do the peas appear above the ground than the birds are down on them, and before long they leave nothing but the stumps of the stalks. An Oamaru resident, however, has circumvented them. Out of ordinary pieces of tin he has cut 4 the images of most ferocious looking cats. Each cat has a painted eye more deadly looking than that which ornamented the historic Dick Deadeye, and besides, the back is arched and the tail spread out like a fan. The cat is swung from the branch of a tree or piece of stick stuck ir. the earth, and its toes just touch the ground. With every puff of wind the tin cat prances round in a most natural manner, always appearing 1 as if it were about to launch itself on its prey. It is needles;? to say that no sparrows have visited that garden. The Dunedin correspondent of the Christchurch Press writes —A case of whisky, ex. the steamer Sussex, attracted attention a day or two ago by reason of holes in it. Suspecting pillage, the receivers weighed it, and found it almost right—perhaps a little on the light side. When shaken, however, the bottles rattled, and it was decided, therefore, to open the case. It was then found that rats had eaten the straw and had almost succeeded in eating out the .corks. This reads something like a romance, but the facts were as stated, and an interesting consideration arises. In cases of suspected pillaging of whisky, it is sometimes found that the bottles inside the case are intact, though empty. It may be presumed that a pillager opening a case would remove the bottles and not put them back, so the consideration ends face to face with an amusing question: Do the rats sometimes pillage the whisky?

The Great Eastern Railway Company have established a record for cheap long-distance season tickets, says a London paper, by making it possible to travel luxuriously at thirteen miles a penny. A thirdclass season ticket between London and Cromer costs £7 a quarter. Assuming that six return journeys per week are taken, this works out at Is 9id for the double journey of 278 miles. The Great Western and other railway companies also hold out splendid inducements. A Bristol man, for instance, obtains a quarterly season ticket for £9 4s (third-class). This works out roughly at 14s per week. The ordinary return fare to London is l£s 7d. On the London and North-Western Railway the London man whose business takes him frequently to Manchester can travel there, say, three times a week, a distance of about 1,116 miles, for the sum of £1 2s 2d per week. The ordinary return fare is £1 10s lid.

lour storekeeper or chemist sells Rheumo at 2s 6d and 4s 6d.

It is calculated that over 60,000 people witnessed the "Mother -Goose" pantomime in Auckland. Of 1,370 British immigrants who have arrived in New South Wales, this year, not one, so far as the Intelligence Department is aware, is out of employment. No less than 984 €he number are working as farm stants, or are themselves farm-

A Press Association telegram states that 35 applications from all parts of the colony were received for the position of accountant to the Grey Borough Council. The Council appointed Mr G. Grace, Clerk of the Public Works, Greymouth, to the position.

Farmers in the South report that the number of swaggers on the road has greatly diminished of late years,. This is attributed to the labour absorbed upon co-operative works. A prominent Southern farmer says that it has cost him between £3OO and £4OO a year to provide meals for swaggers.

In the pioneering days of Canterbury. before the frozen meat export trade was inaugurated, sheep were sold at comparatively low rates. Mr . David Thomas, who has just retired from business after an extensive experience in the Ashburton district, states that in those days lambs that now bring 17s a head were only •worth from 4s to 9s, while breeding ewes that now average from 26s to JEBs i head were easily obtainable at from 8s to 10s. The rise in the price of stack, coupled with the law rate of interest, fully accounts, in his opinion, for the prosperity of the colony. In the pioneer days farmers experienced seme difficul y in procuring money at 10 percent., •while they only received half of today's value for their stock.

A small meeting of Palmerston .North citizens, on Wednesday, discussed the Premer's suggestion that the name of Palmerston North should be changed to Manawatu to avoid confusing it with Palmerston South. It was resolved to ask the Borough Council to recommend the Governor-in-Council to sanction the change. In businsss circles there is -""'a strong feeling against any alteration, says a correspondent. Though one or two favour it, much opposition is shown to the proposal, and the Mayor intends to call a public meeting to consider the matter. No official suggastion has yet been made about any change, but the present activity is the result of what passed • in the House between members and **the Premier last week.

An interesting statement on infectious diseases generally, and especially in relation to the outbreak of measles reported in the North, was made by Dr. John Purdy, Health Officer for Auckland, in an interview. Communicable diseases were exceptionally prevalent throughout the ottpny "at the present time, he said, and this might be explained to some extent perhaps by the extraordinary climatic conditions which have prevailed. Dr. Purdy, who has had rather a varied experience, also stated that he had noticed while in South Africa that native born New Zealanders seemed especially liable to contract measles and other infectious diseases.

The present month has so far been otio of the wettest and coldest

Septeaibers experienced for many J years in Canterbury. Shepherds in the back country report that the weather has been the most severe they have felt' for many years. On the farms during the last few days the weather has been hard upon the lambs, and now the growth of grain crops has been retarded. Paddocks have been quite deluged with rain, and farmers in many places are hoping for a week without rain so that the water-logged country may have an opportunity to dry. There is no lack of moisture in the subsoil, and many confidently assert that they can now do without any further rain till nearly Christrtias. In some districts the loss of lambs is put down at as much as 25 per cent.

An interesting letter has just been received by the President of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association (Mr A. Seifert) from Mr C. Fulton, the Government ilax expert, who was recently sent to St. Helena to give a start to the flaxmilling industry

there. Mr Fulton considers that there are about 2,0Q0 of flax gg leaf fit for milling, but says that it is very difficult to give a true estimate of the quantity as practically the whole of it is grown in the form of shelter hedges. The work of starting a mill was about the most difficult he had ever had to tackle, as the only place suitable for its erection was far away from the leaf. He does not think that New Zealand millers need have any fear regarding possible competition in the hemp market from the island.

An advertiser requires a shepherd for Martinborough.

An advertiser seeks dressmaking or plain sewing.

Messrs R. E. Howell and Co., Ltd., give notice of an alteration in the commission charged on auction sales, to take effect from Monday next.

Messrs Hare and Davidson, land agents, Pahiatua, advertise particulars of three good sheep farms, which wil%ive substantial returns on the outlay.

At their mart, on Saturday, at 2 o'clock, Messrs R. E. Howell and Co., Ltd., will sell at auction a large consignment of general drapery, fancy goods, furniture, produce and poultry.

An advertiser wants to sell a property of 8£ acres, including 2* acres in 'rait producing over £IOO a year. The property will make an ideal fruit and poultry farm.

The clearing sale by auction of the whole of the Book Arcade Company's stock will be resumed to-day. when Mr J. R. Nicol will sell a splendid range of goods, including books, stationery, leather ware and farcy goods. The auctioneer has definite instructions to clear every line so those on the look-out for genuine bargains should visit the sale.

Whooping Cough ia very dancerous disease unless properly treated. Sta'islies show that that there are more deaths from it than from scsrbt fever.. All dan-gar re ay be avoided, however, by giving Cbamberberlain'? Cough Remedy. It liquifies the ttugh mucus, making it easier to expectorate, keeps the cough loose ai d makes the attacks of coughing less frequent and severe. For sale by all dealers.