LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9052, 30 March 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Settlers in the Eketahuna district report that small birclfc are eating the grass seed recently sown on country over which the bush fires have passed. 1

The strength of the Masterton Rifles Volunteer is now fifty-three men. Last year fifty earned full capitation a very satisfactory number. '

At the meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Debating Society, this evening, Mr R. Brown (president) will give an address on "The Aim and Ambitions of the Debating Society." There is a mild epidemic of typhoid fever at Martinborough, five cases having been reported to the Health Officer this month. Three of the patients are being treated in the Greytown Hospital, and the other two in their own homes.

A general meeting of members of the Masterton branch of the National Defence League of New Zealand will be held in the Drill Hall, on Thursday next, at 8 p.m. The business will include the election of delegates for the forthcoming conference.

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Ten cases of scarlet fever occurred in Wellington last week. Over four, inches of rain have fallen this month at Eketahuna.

>, A scarlet fever patient from Cross Creek was admitted to the Greytown Hospital on Friday. Work is said to be plentiful in the Pongaroa district, and in consequence a large number of labourers are making for that districts \ During the past week 5.83 inches of rain fell in Greytown, as compared with 0.78 inches for the corresponding period last year. ; At the stock sales at Eketahuna, last Friday, several pens of sheep were found to be infestedv with lice. Prosecutions will, no doubt, follow in flue course.

The Masterton Rifles have decided to donate the magazines, periodicals, and other discarded books from their library to the literature collection for the lighthouses of JNew Zealand.

It was anticiDated that seme news

would have been received by local

' Volunteer authorities before this 1 in reference to the Easter EncampI ment, but so far no information is to hand.

The chief electoral officer notifies that the main roll of electors will close on April 15th. Forms for enrolment can be obtained from the local registrar, or at the various post offices in the electorates.

It must be very gratifying to owners of local property to note, in connection with the recent sale of Queen Street frontages, that the Government Valuer, Mr John Fraser, considered the sections submitted so sound an investment, as to purchase two out of the four lots offered.

A record of the yainfall, etc., is kept at the Greytown District High School. At 9 o'clock every morning two boys make Observations concerning, the maximum and minimum thermometer, barometer, direction of the wind, and its force, state of the sky and the rainfall for the previous twenty-four hours. There was a fair attendance at*the Y.M.C.A. meeting yesterday afternoon. The song service was much improved by the introduction of a quartette party, whose item, "Rock of Ages," was much appreciated. The strangers' tea was the means of introducing several young men—-re-cent arrivals.

An effort is being made to form a roller-skating club in Masterton during the coming winter. Mr J. W. H. Martin, who intends to take up his residence in Auckland shortly, has been retained to inaugurate the club. Mr . Martin has had considerable experience in different parts of Australasia in starting and conducting skating rinks. Apropos of Solway, which has been the«subject of a good deal of interest of late, a correspondent writes to draw attention to a land mark on the site which is almost historiel It is solitary old kaikatea tree standing prominently on the rise of the ridge, under whose umbrageous shade'children of an early generation in the district disported themselves. It was here, our correspondent states, that the late Premier spoke at the opening pf the first Liberal Association picnic held in Masterton.

The fireworks demonstration on the Showgrounds on Saturday evening attracted a considerable number of spectators, who were highly pleased with the entertainment provided. A variety of figures and scenes were shown in. fire, and these were skilfully manipulated by the director, Mr F. Carson. The prin»' cipal item was a representation of a night attack on Port Arthur, which was realistically carried out. The Mastertop South Band was in attendance during the evening, and enlivened the proceedings with a number of instrumental selectiqris.

On' Thursday afternoon next Professor Jonassenwill make a balloon ascent in the ohowgrounds. It is his indention tu ascend to a height of 6,000 feet, and descend with a para*chute. A Dunedin paper states with regard to an ascent there:— The balloon went to an unusual altitude before the aeronaut pulled the string to start the parachuting business—the spectacular feature of The parachute worked smoothly, and the captain made a safe and interesting descent, alighting on a convenient in the Oval, while the balloon finished its journey near Waiij's Hotel.; ;

The annual meeting of the Masterton ftifles was held on Friday evening last, Acting-Captain Brightmg presiding. The annual balance-sheit was read arid adopted, the Company having a credit balance at bank. 'A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the auditors, Messrs N. D. Bunting and E». E. Hood, for their gratuitous services. A social committee composed of the following was set up:—Colour-Sergeant Morton, Sergts. Cole and Smith, Corporals Braggins, Prentice, Holmes, Harding, Scales and Hounslow, and Privates Cole, Boyle and Jampain. The Shooting committee elected was as follows :~Sergts. Smith and Perry, Corporals Holmes, Harding, Sayer, and Privates Russell and' Cole. A social was afterwards held, and a most enjoyable evening spent with music, story.

The meeting of members of the Masterton A and P. Association, held in the Foresters' Hall on Saturday, to discuss the Show removal question, was an event which will be long remembered in the annals of the Association. Unusual interest was manifested in the scheme, and the Hall was packed with an interested audience, which listened to the various speakers with rapt attention. There were very able speakers on both sides, ar.d what with witticisms and criticisms, the by-play was equal to that at any political meeting. It was conceded by all that the issues were of great importance, and many went with minds open to conviction who had not given the question very deep consideration. At times the perorations of ppeakers were admirable, and spontaneous applause of a hearty character punctuated the speeches on both sides. It was a remarkably interesting meeting. I

Mr C. F. B. Livcsny, Architect of Wei lington, has moved to more convenient rooms in the National Mutual Chambers, Customhouse Quay, (adjoining the Head Office of the Bank of N.Z.) Address— P.O. Box 771. Telephone 2692.

Mr W, G. Lamb's Tararua vineyard was a busy sjpene on Friday and Saturday last, when over eighty hands were employed on the vintage. The break in the weather on Friday was seized upon by Mr Lamb as an opportune time to gather the purple harvest, which had greatly benefited by the preceding rain. A first offender charged with drunkenness was fined 5s by Mr Eli Smith, J.P., at Masterton Police Court, on Saturday morning. Harry Simpson was fined £2, in default 14 days' hard labour, for a third offence of drunkenness within six months, and was also ordered to pay 6s, damage done by him at the polics cells.

A serious accident occurred in Courtenay Place, on Saturday morniner, when a tramcar and steam lorry collided. The motorman, Frank Barton, was buried beneath the wreckage, and when extricated was found to be seriously injured. As soon as the vehicles were unlocked the lorry bolted as the result of the steam not being shut off, and it ran on to the footpath, knocking down and injuring an onlooker named W. Young.

A member of the Civil Service, who is visiting Gisborne, was waylaid by three men one evening last week. He was stopped and asked the time, ana when replying was. struck in the face by one man. He was successfully combating the attack when another of the trio felled him from behind with a blow on the nape of the neik. The assailants then decamped, fearing, probably, that they had done him serious harm, and the visitor lay unconscious on the roadway for a considerable timr. The police are investigating the matter.

The Borough Council has a solid business programme to tomorrow evening. After general business is transacted the following notices of motion are to be discussed —By Councillor Haughey: "That; in the best interests of the ratepayers of this horou<?h this Council take steps to establish a destructor to deal with and destroy the garbage of this borough. The said destructor buildings, etc., to form part of proposed new gasworks building to be erected near the railway station." By Councillor Prentice: "That it'be a reference to the Works Committee to consider and report upon the sd-* visability or otherwise of (1) lengthening the existing baths at Dixon street to the boundary so as to permit of small children bathing therein, and, (2) the provision of an acidir tional bath for adult ladies adjoining the existing bath, with estimates cf cost in both cases." By Councillor > Yarr: ."That —provided the Solicitor to the f Municipal Association advises the matter is within -the power of the Council—this Council takes steps to establish a Municipal Retail Butchery."

, Mr F. P. Welch has vacancies for a ploughman and cowboy. An advertiser has three partly furnished rooms to let.

A meeting will, be held in the Ex-, change Hall at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening, with the view to forma Horticultural Society.

Prime beef and lamb will be on sale at the Popt Office Auction Mart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. -

Two' first-class farms in the Wanganui district', of >SOO 'acres and — 1,200 acres, are advertised, for sale by \Mr Wm. Bruce, land agQnt, Wanganui. Particulars of the properties will be found elsewhere in this issue. • Mr Jas. Scott, watchmaker and jeweller, has just' received another consignment of new goods. The new lines include articles of the very latest design, and are especially suitable for presentation. They are on view at the shop, and are well worthy of inspection.