LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9023, 9 January 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government has purchased from Mr Nelson Ming worth, to be placed in the Parliamentary Library, a replica in bronze of the marble bust of Sir John Hall, which the sculptor was commissioned to execute for the family of the late statesman, and for which Sir John Hall gave him sittings till within a few weeks of his death. The replica is said to be a very faithful likeness of the late statesman. Myrtle Grove Cigarettes .'ire obtainable from all Masterton Tobaceonists*.

The results of the milking compe- I titions conducted by the Mastertor A. and P. Association, last month, have been made available. Each 01 the four teen animals entered for the competition was milked twice on its owner's farm in the presence of stewards appointed by the Association. The first three cows and the points scored under the various headings 'were as -follow: —Mr- T. Cresswell's •Topsy, weight of milk, 35Jlbs, tesl 5.7, milk 53.5pt5, butter-fat 57pts, calving 3.2, total 113.7 points, first Mr Win. Abbott's Maud, weight oi milk 54lbs, test 5.6, milk 54 pts, butter-fat 56pts, calving 3.4pts, total 113.4pt5, second; J. Standen's Jessie, weight of milk 471bs, test 4.6, milk 47pts, butter fat 46pts, calving Opts, total 99 points, third, In the judging one point was allowed for every pound of milk, ten points for each percentage of butter-fat, and one point for every ten days ovei the first fourteen and up to 120 days after calving. The monthly meeting of the Trus teas of the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society was held yesterdaj afternoon, there being presentMessrs R. T. Holmes (chairman), J-. Morris, and Mesdames Cairns aad-Kean. The chairman's action ii admitting two old men to the RenallSolway Home was endorsed. Con sideration of a letter from the In spector-General of Hospitals, asking the trustees to appoint a representa five to attend the conference to con' sider the Hospitals' and Charitabh Institutions Act Amendment Bill ii Wellington, in June next, was hel< over for the present. The pay-sheet amounting to £l7 3s 8d on atcoun of ordinary charitable aid, and £U 4s 5d on account of the Renall-Solwa: Home, wa3 passed for payment.

Speaking at Christchurch, on Tuesday, Dr Findlay, Minister of Interior, stated that the Civil Service superannuation scheme came into force on January Ist, and the Beard o? Control will be set up some time this month. "A considerable majority of civil servants have notified their intention of coming in, and I believe eventually the whole service will exercise that option. There is an idea abroad among many civil servants that if they do, not 'come until June they will be liable for back payments as from January. This is erroneous. The Act provides that deductions will be r.iade only from the time that they elect to take advantage of the provisions of the scheme." The revised schedule for the Masterton A. and P. Association's show in February next has been published, and contains peveral new classes in addition to those published in the preliminary schedule. Chief among the new classes are two for two ewes under and over 21 months, for which, in addition to the ordinary cash prize given by the Association, Messrs Thomas and Cook, of London, offer a silver bowl valued at £lO 10s for the most points scored in the,-two classes. The trophy is to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. An additional class for a pen of five lambs is added to the sheep for freezing section. In cattle, two special classes are, added, viz., best fat bullock and best fat heifer. In this class a handsome silver bowl, valued at twenty guineas, is given by the Dixon Investment Company, England, for the first prize. The prize has to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. Two classes are added for the best lady rider In reform dress, and the best girl rider under 12 years of age. In the dog section, three new classes have been added, viz., Gordon setter, Irish setter, and fox terrier, any variety. The Christmas vacation being over, <t\w business at the Masterton Magistrate's Court will be resumed this morning. The principal case ! set down for hearing is a charge of theft from the person of James Cosford against James] Mills, alias Henderson, and Arthur James : Thomas, alias Vear. Both accused were remanded on Friday last. Competitors for the events on the programme of the Aquatic Carnival, to be held on Anniversary Day, are reminded' that entries will close with the secretary (Mr S. R. Edwards), on Wednesday next, the 15th inst. At the meeting of the management ■ committee of the Aquatic Carniva', ! last evening, it was decided to donate &2 2s for the most appropriate tab-, ?eau in the procession that is to precede the evening portion, of the programme.

Mr G. Manning, of Opaki, has purchased, through the agency of Mr Eli Smith, of Masferton, and Messrs f.ucien, Allen and Co., of Hamilton, 820 acres of land in the Waikato. Hugh Kerr was charged before Mr E. McEwen, J.P., at the Masterton Police Court, yesterday morning, with his fifth offence of drunkenness within six months. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and advised to leave the town at once. A first offending inebriate, who had been admitted to bail after arrest on the previous evening, appeared before the Court in an intoxicated state and was remanded until to-day. The annual statutory meeting of the voluntary contributors to the Masterton Hospital will be held in the Borough Council Chambers at 11 a.m. to-day. The meeting will be. called upon to elect two trustees. A progressive euchre party will be given in \he Foresters' Hall this I evening in honour of Miss Holloway,. who is shortly to be married. The euchre will be followed by a dance.. A man named Jioim Ryan, of Ponatahi, was admitted, to the Greytown Hospital, yesterday, suffering from a wound in his throat, alleged, to have been self-inflicted. . At the annual meeting of teachers y of the Carterton Methodist Sunday School, held on Tuesday, the following officers were elected for the ensuing term:—Superintendent, Mr D. T. King; vice-superintendent, Mr T. W. Foster; secretary, Mr U. Butler; assistant secretary, Mr R. Tucker; treasurer, Mr Foster; organist, Miss A. ■Andrews. Farmers and orchardists in the Hawke's Bay district are complaining of the absence of rain. For a month prior to Christmas Day not a drop had fallen. The country is looking very burnt up, while the fruit crop has been materially affected.

i The monthly meeting'of the trustees of the South Wairarapa Hospital : was held at Greytcwn yesterday afternoon. There were present:— i Messrs H. Morison (chairman). R. G. ■ Welch, M. Maxton, R. W. Tate and Jas. Brown. An apology for absence i was received from Mr A. Booth. A letter was read from the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals in reference to ; the holding of a conference of Hospi- | tal to consider the Hon. ; I Mr Fowlds' Hospital and Charitable : Institutions Bill. It was resolved ' that the appointment of a delegate to represent the South Wairarapa Hos- ■ pital be held over till the next meeting. The matron reported that there were at present four patients in.the Hospital. A credit balance at. the bank 0f£203 4s lid was reported. Two i tenders were received for supplies to the Hospital for the ensuing twelve • months, the tender of Mr Loasby ■ being accepted. Mr Jas. Brown was appointed visitor for the month. At Christchurch, on Tuesday, the . Attorney-General, Dr Findlay, was r asked by what authority the New - Zealand Government had sanctioned the opening of a branch New Zealand post office at King Edward VII. Land, i appointed a postmaster (Lieutenant . Shackleton), issued special stampf, . and whether an infringement ojf the . rights of Great Britain was not inl volvid by the action. "Ah," said !. the Attorney-General, warily, "that . is a legal question upon which I am j not prepared to express an opinion i .fust now. I have not considered the I question at all, but it is quite prof bable that the Premier took the t opinion of the Solicitor-General upon ; the- matter. I had no objection to j the step being taken.. The expedition was worthy of our best assise r tance, and the opening of a post - office down there was rather a com- , pliment to Lieutenant Shackleton and ■ I his brave companions. I don't think i J the question of rights will ever be I raised. If it is, I should be prepared • to give my opiuipn.then." i ' ■■•.■■■.. . v "'/.■■.'- The subscriptions received in Syd-, , ney towards the Shackleton expedij tion fund, amounting to nearly £SOO, we're returned on the Federal Government agreeing to supply the whole of [ the £SyOOO needed. • The Education Department has de--3 cided'to issue a new "Infantry Train- ; ing"' for public school cadets, in i order tlVa* tfee drill may be brought - into line, with that decided on by the i Defence Council. This follows the ArmydMiUl book in air respects, except that drilling in single ranks takes the,.place of. drilling in two r ranks, the formation of fours being ' retained.. i '''■'.■>• > The erection of the fish-curing p works on Rangawai Island by the i Salvation Army is stated to have proved ! successful from every point of I view,, and! arrangements are now 3 being made to erect an adiitional i smoke-house, and a large freezing • plant, costing oyer .£6OO. The en- > largements.l according to. ; Brigadier i Albistoni- aw due- to the 'demand in ; Auckland!for-fresto and smoked fish.' i As a result of'the erection of the fish > curing plant on the island a means; of livelihood'has been provided for the Maoris resident there. A comparative statement of the ' business-transacted 1 at the seventeen 1 chief Post Offices for the period of ■ December 17th to 24th of 1906 and ! 1907 shows that the value of " stamps sold .last year was £19,864, ! against JBJtf.JUMI in 1906, and the ' number of mail bags handled 46,707, ' against 31,098. At the seventeen 1 chief Telegraph Offices last Christ--1 mas week 76.995-telegrams were for- 1 - ' warded, and 85,212 received, against ' 68,934 and 76,833, respectively, for the Christmas week of ISO 6. The number of telegrams transmitted (received at one'office for despatch to ! another) was 134,051 in the same period, against 1T0,661 from Decem- . ber 17th to 24th in 1906. ! News reached Dannevrrke yester-. ! day of a shocking accident which oc- ! curred at Waipuftufrau on Monday ' evening in the railway yard. A train was engaged shunting in'the yard when one of the young porters named J. Russell fell under the wheels of a-truck. <The truck passed ! lengthwise l over , the poor feliow's 1 thigh*and the leg was horribly mutilated. He was al so> dragged along the ground, and it, is feared that ; he has suffered internal in- . juries. The poor fellow was conto the hospital and according to latest accounts he was doing as well as could'be expected under the circumstances. An-advertiser- requires a girl for pantry work;. The'MastGrton County Council invite tenders to close at noon on Saturday,. January 18th, for several contracts of road metalling., MrG. G. Monro invites tenders to ciose at noon on Wednesday next, for additions and' alterations to a residence at Upper Plain. At the Masterton Auction Mart, on Saturday, Mr J. R. Nicol will yell a • good 1 range of furniture and effects; also ladies." and gent's bicycles of English- manufacture. Messrs Cochrane and Johnstone advertise particulars of three handysized and well-improved farms which i have been-placed in their hands for isale. ' Messrs-- J. Graham and Co. will 'commencean extensive sale in all departments of their business. The reductions have been inside so as to effect a clearance of all lines. Mr J l . L. Murray anno jnces a sale of drapery to commence on Saturday, January 11th, wlien bargains are promisel to all who patronise this sale. By advertisement in the Wanted Columns, Mr H. A- Whelch, draper, 1 announces that his retiring sale wilt commence at 10 o'clock, to-morrow* Friday morning. The stock has to be reduced to certain limits, and forthis purpose the prices have been reduced to bedrock in every line. The Te Aro House Drapery Company, Wellington, are distributing with this issue an inset announcingtheir Great Summer Sale, which com- ~| mences to-day. Ladies will be especi- ■■ ally interested in this, because a, glance at the circular shows that large reductions have been made in . every department. Te Aro House has been established for over half a century, and has a deserved reputation for its honest trading and its endea* vour to please all purchasers.