LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9008, 18 December 1907, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In conversation with a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday, a well-known settler of the Forty Mile Bush district predicted that if the present fine weather continued for three or four weeks the biggest bush fires ever known in the Forty Mile Bush district would he experienced. The settlers, he contended, were not taking proper precautions to prevent the spreading of fire. On account of the dry and rotten state of the fallen timber in the district, a fire would spread with great rapidity. Jn a number of instances, the settler states, long dry grass is growing | right up to settlers' houses. This i should, in order to prevent the destruction of the buildings during a bush fire, be chipped for a considerable width round the buildings. Other precautions should taken, such as the clearing and destroying in winter time of dead and useless timber round a homestead. The heat in Masterton, yesterday, was almost unendurably oppressive. The temperature in the shade, according to various thermometers, ranged from 88 degrees to 92 degrees. it is expected that the last patient in the Hope Street Fever Hospital will be discharged about the 20th inst. The institution will then be closed, and all future fever patients will be admitted to the new fever ward in the grounds of the new hospital at; Lansdowne. A l''i:j i:\iioi'" niK FA.MII,Y Is Dr New Diicovery, the weilknown remedy for all chest and lung troubles. Is Od and a bottle. Obtainable at H E. Eton's, chemist.

A special meeting of the Managers of the Technical School was held last evening. Mr W. H. Jackson pre*, sided, and there were also present Messrs J. M. Coradine, J. B. Keith, and E. H. Waddington. Mr Coradine reported the result of his recent interview with the Minister of Education, and stated that the Government would give a building grant of £I,OOO over and above the £ for £ subsidy on voluntary contributions in aid of the proposed Seddon Memorial Technical School. It was decided to proceed forthwith with the removal of the "old workshop to the rear of the section in Dixon Street, and to instruct Messrs Varnham and Rose, architects, to immediately prepare general plans for a new building to cost up to £2,500. The Managers will meet the architects on the site at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday for the purpose of giving instructions regarding the removal and renovating of the old building.

The railway tablet system connecting Masteiton with Wuodville was officially passed on Sunday by n party comprising Messrs Wynne and Fahey, of the electrical engineering staff, which left Masterton by a special train at half-past nine o'clock, and returned from Woodville at 6 p.m. The tablet system is now in operation at every station between Wellington and New Plymouth via the Manawatu Gorge. Preparations being made to extend the system from Woodville to Napier. %

The ice-making plant is now being erected at the Masterton Dairy Factory. The present weather will no doubt make this innovation appreciated by townspeople generally, as a plentiful supply of ice will always be available without having to send to Wellington for the commodity as formerly.

Matters in connection with the Aquatic Carnival to be held under the auspices of the Masterton Amateur Swimming Club and the Borough Park Committee, on Anniver sary Day, are progressing satisfactorily, and the programme that is to be submitted to the general committee on Thursday night, includes many events that will be attractive both to swimmers and the general public. It also includes humorous aquatic items, that will be new to many of the residents. At the meeting to be held in the Council Chambers, on Thursday evening, various matters of importance are to be discussed, and it is hoped that all interested will attend the meeting, and aid tho present committee to bring the work to a successful issue. Support has already been promised by kindred associations in Wellington, Christchurch, Woodville and Napier, and it is anticipated that over one hundred visiting swimmers will attend. A first offender, charged with drunkenness, was convicted and discharged by Mr T. Wagg, J.P., at the Police Court yesterday morning.

To-day the Premier is to visit Martinborough to open a recentlyconstructed bridge there. The journey from Taihape to Featherston will be made by special train. The Premier will return to Wellington this evening.

There are quite a number of English visitors staying at the Konini Hotel for the fishing season, an.] some excellent catches are reported. One sportsman bagged no less than twenty-nine beautiful rainbow trout on Monday last, one of which turbed the scale at nine pounds.

The Masterton Municipal Brass Band will give a sacred concert in the Town Hall on Christmas night. An excellent programme has been prepared, and the entertainment will doubtless prove very enjoyable.

A sad fatal accident occurred at Amberley on Saturday afternoon. William Berry, aged 35, schoolmaster, at Balcairn, took a party of school boys for nature study to a picnic resort, known as Natural Bridge, ten miles from Amberiey. On the return journey the horse in the trap, driven by Berry, became restive. Plunging back after crossing the bridge, it backed into the side of the bridge, and breaking the protection rail, fell into the 50 feet chasm below. Berry's skull was fractured, and lie died in a few minutes. His son William, aged four years, and another bov named George Deal, were kill-eel instantaneously.

A striking illustration of the way in which fires can be" caused by the fusing of electric wires has just been afforded by the fuse box attached to a telegraph post at the terminus of the Karori tramway, in connection with the are light. Some time 'on Sunday night the wire fused, with the result chat the solder of the box was melted through, making a hole that would admit two fingers, and the metal all round the hole was scorched in the shape of an eclipse. Coming on top of the suggestion that the fire at the Parliament Buildings was occasioned by the fusing of an electric wire, the damage has attracted much attention and comment. .It was obvious that if the wire had been in another place, and in proximity to scrim or I other inflammable material, a fire ! would certainly have been caused. The Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act passed last session provides for the framing of regulations as to accommodation necessary in various parts of New Zealand for different classes of farm work. These regulations, the Minister for Labour states, have been drafted and are now before the Crow n Law Officers. Before being finally gazetted they will require to be submitted to Cabinet. It is proposed to have the necessary inspection under the Act, for the piesent at all events, carried out by the dairy inspectors. TWO SOVEREIGN R'SMIiDIIS THE FAMOUS SANDEII AND SONS" PURE VOLATILE EUCALYPTI .EXTRACT was proved by experts at the Sup reme Court of Victoria to possess cmntf<e properties peculiarly its own, and to be absolutely safe, rfl'ectivo and reliable. Therefore <?o not a- gmvafe your complaint by the use cf one of the many enr'e eucalyptus oils which are now palmrd off as ■'Kxtraet?," and from the use of which a death wan reported vecfntlv, but insist ui on theGENUINE SAND&K .V SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, add reject all otbprs. For wrinkles, sunburn, pimples, blue*heads, I'reckles, cracked hinds, dry and inflamed skin, use SANDER SONS' SUPERB A SKIN FOOD. No la-jy should oe without it. Allays irritation, produces a clear and spotless complexion, and a smooth and supple skin. REMEMBER that SANDER & SONS' SUPERBA SKIN FOOD is not an ordinary face cream, and unlike anj of them,produces a permanent beautifyjng effect. All chemists and Btore3,

A Press Association telegram fromi Auckland states that the Parnelli Council has decided to apply to Mr Carnegie for a grant of £3,000 for the purpose of erecting a library in tie borough.

The Hon. J. A. Millar was fortunate enough not to have lost'anything by the Parliamentary fire. All the contents of his office hkd been removed to his recess rooms in the Customs Buildings prior to his departure for the south.

A Sydney cablegram states that Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., is reticent about his impressions of Australia. He told an interviewer that he came to gain information. India was referred to by the interviewer, but Mr Hardie said he was sick of hearing about it.

Messrs Cochrane and Johnston vertise for sale seven acres of hay at. Te Ore Ore.

Entries for tljp handicap events at the Mauriceville Spores on Boxing Day will close with the secretary, Mr Chas. Brooks to-day.

Particulars of tWo handy-sized dairy farms of 63 and 93 acres respectively are advertised by Messrs Hare and Davidson, land agents, Pahiatua.

*B^ The Masterton County Council irvite tenders, to close at 4.30 p.m. < n Tuesday next, December 24th, for several contracts of road metalling.

Messrs Dimock and Co., Ltd., notify that the next receiving days for fat pigs will be at Eketahuna on Monday, January 6th, and at Mauriceville on the following day.

In a new advertisement in this issue, Mr J. L. iVurray, draper and mercer, Exchange Buildings, inserts particulars of a number of lines suitable for Christmas presents.

At the residence, No. 13 Archer Street, this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell, on account of Mrs A. Aronsten, the contents of a sever:roomed house. All the furniture is practically new and of modern design.

As announced elsewhare, the Masterton County will bs closed lor, the Christmas holidays from the afternoon of Tuesday next till 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January Bth. A special meeting of the Council will be held on January 14th, to fix the statutory closing day under the Shops and Offices Act.

The present hot weather is a very keen demand for gas cookers, t and the local Municipal Gas Department have been busily engaged for " some time past fulfilling orders for their numerous clients. Tho.se requiring cookers fitted up are advised to apply to the department in good time. The stock comprises the latest designs and best manufacture, all of" which are quoted at reasonable prices.

"Giving Season'-'is the text of a new advertisement inserted by Messrs Hendry and Buxton, drapers, Queen Street, in this morning's issue. The firm give a few useful suggestions to patrons desirous of procuring lines that are both useful and ornamental. The shop is replete with goods that have been specially selected for the Christmas season, and the windows and interior of the shop convey some idea of the extensive assortment to select from. Beautiful silk ties of the very latest fashion, silk umbrellas, panama hats, and hundreds of other lines, too numerous to mention, but well worthy of inspection, are shown to advantage. The departments are all stocked with dainty novelties, which are quoted at very reasonable Christmas prices.

THE PREMIER SEPARATOR. The new principle covered by the "Baltic" patents is rapidly establishing .this machine as the Premier Cream Separator. The split wing system has been discarded, and a special and very simple arrangement feeds the whole milk to £he separating plains without - disturbing the cream layer. Results achieved in actual practice with ( the A "Baltic" have astonished practical jlpfc factory-men, and the really marvellous- . capacity and clean skimming have exceeded anything hitherto known. Practical proof will be given on application to J. B. MacEwan and Co., Ltd., U.S.S.. Co.'s Buildings, Wellington.