LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9059, 7 April 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A branch of (.he New Zealand Political League has been formed at F;:alh :;Vston. Mr P. E. Merlefc has been elected secretary and Mr J. (J. Cox chairman.

At Chicn;/;i> (U.S.) a milking machine was exhibited that milked six cows at oi;o time. A herd of se\enty-five was milked in lhr4smin, two lads opc rating it.

A Pahiatua i))kor informed a Wairarapa Aye v> •••utative yesterday that the cash i-ystcm introduced recently by the bakers there is working satisfactorily.

The Endeavour Lodge of Good Templars wiil hold an open meetr.g and concert in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms at li o'clock on Wednesday evening. The Rev. J. N. Buttle willpreside.

Mr K. R. Martin, organising secretary for the Maw Zealand Political Reform League, will deliver addresses on political matters at the Public Hall, Langdale, on. Thursday,. April 9 th, and at Taueru on 1 Friday,. April 10th. Mr Martin is a fluent and impressive speaker, and conversant with general politics in all branches.

"What is being done by farmers in regard to their harvest produce?" was a query put to a local merchant yesterday. "They are still 'hanging on' awaiting market developments,." was the repiy. "Our firm, has not lass than £2,000 worth stored on behalf of farmers." In response to a question as to what turn the market was likely to eventually take, the reply 7/as that it was still very difficult to say what the tendency would be.

The Fairview Rifle Club intends firing a match against a team to represent the Masterton Mounted Rifles, the competition to take place on Fairview range next Saturday. The following team has been selected to represent Fairview Rifle Club:— R. McGregor, J. T. Dagg, H. Evans, H. Devonport, R. Graham, E. Harford, Captain D. McGregor, S. Evans, T. Evans, Sayers. Emergencies— R. J. Dags 1 , J. Stempa, T. Chamberlain, Liddington, Willoughby.

Pastures on the East Coast are now in a very thriving state. A farmer from the Coast informed a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday., that the recent rains changed of the countryside from late autumn to early spring, and now stock are revelling in the greenest of paddocks. Mushrooms are also (Jotting the face of the landscape in the same districts.' On Sunday and yesterday guod rain fell, the temperature being rather low.

The question of holding sittings of the Supreme Court at Masterton, a matter frequently urged upon the Government in the past —both by the legal profession of Wairaiapa and the Masterton Chamber of Commerce —is likely to become again prominent in connection with the approaching Trust Lands Trust election. A Masterton solicitor, in conversation with an Age reporter, yesterday,- said it was probable that a meeting of solicitors will be again called prior to the Trust election, in connection with the question of the suggested exchange of sites. The matter of housing the various Government offices in Masterton under one roof, in the shape of a Government; building, is a question to whicn the Government some time ago promised the Masterton Chamber of Commerce to give "early consideration." Nothing further has been heard from headquarters on the pubjc-ct, and as it is generally consicered advisable to keep the Government up to ivs promise, more will probably be heard on the subject at the Chamber of Commerce. The rapid filling up of the best business sites in the town renders it expedient that the Government should give "early consideration" to the Chamber's request if the proposed ofiices are to have a convenient situation.

The park lake has been deepened along the whole length of its southern margin, an improvement which will be appreciated by. both swimmers and "boaters." The caretaker of the Park, Mr JD. Jackson, continues to bestow unremitting; attention to the aesthetic improvement of the lake's environs, and next summer will see a decided difference in its appearance. The Park Committee intend prosecuting a vigorous improvement campaign on the whole of the Park extension,, a project which will doubtless have the approbation of the public.. Should the swimming championships be held on the Lake on Anniversary Day nr>xt, the possibilities are that an energetic canvass will be mads by swimmers towards the' erection of a grandstand by the lako-side. James Dalton was charged at the Masterton Police Court* yesterday, with a second offence of drunkenness within six months. Accused - did not appear,, and Sergt. Miller asked that he be remanded until Wednesday, as he was in such a bad state through drink that he had to be removed to the Hospital. Mr Eli Smith, J.P., Who occupied the Bench, granted the remand as asked. Daniel Harman was charged with being found drunk in a public place and pleaded guilty. The police stated that accused was only recently declared to be an habitual drunkard. The Bench decided to give accused one more opportunity to reform, and he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

Mr C. P. B. Lives-ay, Architect of Wellington, has moved to more convenient rooms in the National Mutual Chambers, Customhouse Quay, (adjoining the Head Office of the Bank of N.Z.) Address—l\o, Box 771. Telephone 2092.

The next sitting of the YVairarapa District Court is set down for April llth. There are no cases, either civil or criminal, listed for hearing so far. An action for damages for alleged libel was set down, ' but proceedings are not to be continued. "Hides are apparently a flourishing market," remarked a Mauriceville farmer, ironically, to an Age reporter yesterday. "I sent one down to a Wellington broker last week, and instead of a cash return on the transaction, I received a debit note for la 9d!' The weather in Masterton, yesterday, was rather wintry, showers falling throughout the day, and the temperature being low. Last evening l the weather broke for a few hours, but at midnight it was again raining. Deer are reported to be very plentiful around Brancepth. A visitor to Masterton yesterday, from the Coast saw fifteen deer on the brow of a hill at the back of the station on Sunday, and on Saturday he saw nine in one herd at The Falls, near the Admiral Road. Trophy shooting was not carried out on Saturday afternoon by the Opaki Rifle Club, but if the weather is favourable the competitions will most likely be continued on Thursday. The secretary of the Club, Mr W. Winslade, is still incapacitated with a bad leg. A statement was submitted to the meeting of the Borough Park Committee, last evening, showing that the receipts for the yea? ending March 31st had been £347 JSs (£3OO from the Council and £47 Jss donations), and : the' expenditure had bean £2Bl l'B'6'>sti; leaving 1 a credit balance of £65 16s 7d.

The total exports from Wanganui for over-sea ports- for the year ended March last were valued at an increase of £39,000 over those <f the previous year.. Of this year's total* wool (38,000' tons) contributed £300,000, and frozen meat £64,000. 'i'he imports for the year' totalis \ in value £23 C,OOO, as against £183,0'0 in the previous year. The Custi ran receipts totalled £32;oot>; there being a substantial increase over tie previous year's receipts, notwitl - standing the large' reductions in duties.

Mr G. A. Ross, for some months* pas*; an official in the local'branch of the Stock Department, has resigned his position to take up the management of a Lower Valley station. Mr Ross has been connected with the Department for ten years-past, makingtwo breaks in that period to serve with the New Zealand forces in the Boer War. He was a< particularlycapable departmental official, aftd enjoyed alike the esteem of his fellow officers and the public. Mr Ross leaves the service to-morrow. His successor has not yet been appointed. . The Y.M.C.A. Debating Society met last night, when a very interesting on the subject, "Is the Arbirtation Court a Failuie,"'ensued. Mr Kemp was voted to thechair, and called on Mr Hebenton to open the discussion. Mir Hebenton, in the affirmative, adduced his several arguments to prove the Arbitration Court' in New Zealand was a failure. Mr Erasseli* replied in the negative, and upheld the Court for the good it had'done the community. The meeting decided, by a large majority, in favour of the affirmative. The meeting concluded with a vote of thankschair.

The onco beautiful bush at Mktahiwi, which fell a victim to the übiquitous fire& of the past season, is a to end its days in the orthodox manner—at the hands of the sawmillfer. Mr C E. Daniel! has secured the cuttingrights, and the logs are to be conveyed to Masterton to be put through the breaking-down plant at Mir Daniell's factory in Lincolh Road. Some people may wonder whether the bush could not be usefully spared, but it may be stated that there is positively no hope of its ever being able to recover from the effects of the fire—in fact, it would rapidly die away altogether if left, and the land must therefore in any event come under cultivation.

We are again reminded' 1 of the General Slocum disaster-, in which over a thousand lives were loat, says Mr Smalley, the Mew York correspondent of "The Times" (London). By the decision of the Court, Captain Evanschaek was recently sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. Evanschaek; however, proposes further to contest the matter by appeals to the Supreme Court. Nearly four years have elapsed since the appalling disaster, and the people who then were ready to lynch those responsible for the disaster are now hinting at a pardon for Evanschaek on account of old: age, and by reason of the fact that since his conviction he has married a young wife. The Federal inspectors and the owners of the boat all:escape punishment. The case ia a typical instance of the deplorable barbarity and darkness of the United States. The country is ignorant of the veriest elements of ordered liberty.

The Borough Park and Library Committee met last evening, there being present:—Crs. J. C. Etvington (chairman), J. Elliott, W. Morris, and J. Prentice. After all accounts had been paid in connection therewith, it was reported that there remained a credit balance of £97 from the Aquatic Sports on Anniversary , Day, and it was decided to hand this amount over to the General Account, to be expended on the extension of the Park lake. The question of erecting a boat-house on the Park lake received some consideration, and eventually the Committee decided to meet the owners of the various boats on the lake, with a view to devising a schemt for erecting a house. The question of licensing l boats was also considered, but was held over until a future meeting. It was resolved to call tenders at once for the raising and extending of the stop bank at the rear of the Park, and ta push on the completion of the work as rapidly as possible before the winter sets in. The Committee considered the present time opportune for the invitation of tenders as contractors are comparatively slack at present. The cftairroan and the Gaa Manager were given power to act in the matter of improving the lighting of the Library reading room. MOUNTAIN KING ASTHMA POWDER. 121

*• To-day, if the v/eather permit*, the work of erecting the Seddon Memorial Technical School will In: •commenced by the contractor, Mr A. Haughey. The' contract time expires on the 7th August, four months hence, and given fine weather, the , 'building should be out of hand well within that period. Captain Jonassen, who gave a successful exhibition on the Showgrounds last Thursday, will make balloon ascent from the Showgrounds on Thursday afternoon :<next, and will descend by means of n parachute. In the South Island Captain Jonassen has given a number <n successful exhibitions. A contemporary says With reference to a recent ascent in Dunedin: —"Captain Jonassen ascended to a great height, about 6,000 feet, which is much than on any other previous occasion, and before he severed his with the balloon it had become a mere speck. The captain 'dropped to terra firma in safety by 'means of a parachute. His plucky "performance was warmly applauded by the large number of spectators present." A Press Association telegram from Danedin states that a deputation from the Acclimatisation Society asked the Premier for Government assistance in an endeavour to shoot off malformed heads of deer. It was explained that the Society had spant about £IOO in shooting off malforms, and was prepared to spend a further reasonable sum, but it asked for a Gover iment subsidy to some extent. Sir Joseph Ward said he would inquire with the view of seeing how far they could go in the direction of maintaining the standard. It was very important to the country as a whole that sport of this kind shuld be kept up to its level. A "yellow peril" cry is raised by Mr H.' P. Toogood, who was a candidate for Christchurch East at last gen?ral election, and who is now in Rangoon, in a letter to the editor ■of the New Zealand Times. He says: "I hope New Zealand is not slackening off in the matter of Asiatic restriction, Chinese are our dangerous foe. They are capable and so persistent that they can overcome almost any difficulty or perform any duty honestly and well. One finds"them carrying out responsible duties in Singapore, in the Malay Straits, and in Rangoon, which in our country entitle a man to a highly-respected position. Bank clerks, shipping managers, building contractors, shop assistants,'in fact j all positions except the top one. They are exceedingly polite and polished, without being obsequious, and talk moat excellent English. The mar-Icet-gardener, the small shopkeepsr, o: the coolie can be met by our restrictions, but we must be warned of the British-born Chinese, and Singaporean. He is mcst dangerous, because he is so very capable. Of course, I have the fullest respect for him in this country. He is the salvation of Burma and the Straits Settlements, especially the Straits where he does all the work." The W.F.C.A. have to hand a supply of horse and cow covers. The owners o£ properties on the Manaia and Taratahi insert a notice against trespassing on their lands.

In another column in this issue, Mr H. F. Fraser, hairdresser and tobacconist, ha* a special notice to customers.

Messrs Lyttle Bros, offer social bargains in Licycles. The firm sell Massey Harris, Royal Enfields, and B.S.A. at greatly reduced prices.v In view of ths winter season, Mr J. V. Gordon has secured a special line of hot water bottles of exceptional quality. Inspection is invited. Messrs Boyes and Walsh, land agents, Eketahuna, advertise particulars of a highly-improved 200 acre farm, which has been placed in their hands for sale. Tenders are invited, to close on April 15th, for felling about 800 acres of bush. Particulars can be obtained from Messrs Holmwood and Briggs, Upper Hutt. Me3srs Harcombe and Donald, saddlers, of Perry Street, announce that they are making horse and "ow covers from wet and rot-proof canvas. Farmers are asked to plac3 orders early. Miss A. Davey, specialist from the Wellington Millinery College, is at present on a visit to Masterton, fir the purpose of enrolling pupi!3. As Miss Davey's stay is limited, intending pupils should call at her rooms (Dominion Hall), as early as possible. In an inset circulated with this issue, Messrs Warnock and Adkin, drapers, of Queen Street, give some particulars of the bargains that can be obtained during the continuance of their present sale. The inset will prove interesting reading to the careful housewife in whose interest it is circulated.

The whole of the largo* and well assorted stock in the Master ton premises of Messrs Warnock and Adkin is to be offered to the public 'of this district during the next few weeks at exceptionally low prices. On Friday last, a great sweep-out sale commenced, and will continue for the next three weeks. In an inset circulated with this issue, figures are quoted which will give an idea of the genuine bargains obtainable. Messrs Beale and Parton, Ltd., have on hand a large number of orders for spouting, ridging, tin and Japanned ware, which they manufacture at their Masterton factorv. In order to complete orders as quickly as possible they have installed special machinery and now employ the services of about 15 hands. This enterprising firm has now been entrusted with the manufacture of Griffiths' patent skylights, which have recently been put upon the market. Builders generally speak highly of these skylights. New machinery has also recently been imported for the manufacture of honey and molnsses tins, aa during the past season orders for tins sufficient to hold 90,0001b3 of honey w?re received and execute! Don't neglect your cough. Stop it at once, and drive away all risk of consumption. TUSSICURA, the groat throat and lung healer, will do this. All chemists and stores. 121' '9/8 P UII f)/l Wi"'iaddaj[ „9 P oo M oJpj!) sijilnoj) iu]t(ouojg ao^j

At a violin recital given recently in London by Joska Szigeti, the vocalist was Miss Irene Ainsley, the New Zealand contralto. The "Daily Telegraph" (London) speaks of the young lady as being "the owner of a powerful contralto voice." Rua, says the "Auckland Star's" Whakatane correspondent, appears to have a good deal of influence with many natives. Even at Te Toki he took twenty-four children form the native school some time ago. This Rua is not a chief; he used to work in the mills at Whakatane, but like fjome pakehas, found that by playing on the religious side of the people, he could make an easier living. As one old Whakatane resident puts it, "Rua has not done much harm, excepting to the natives, whom he got to hand over thair property to him." Striking comparisons between the relative mortality of war and of consumption were drawn by Dr Lawson, the medical superintendent at Banf.hovy Sanatorium, in Glasgow recently. In the great wars of the eighteenth century 14,000,000 lives were lost; in the same .period the "white death" slew 30,000,000. Annually, at present 5,000,000 throughout the world — 1,000,000 in Europe alone—die of pulmonary disease. It is however, gratifying to know that du-ing the last ten jeirs a marked fall in the mortality has been manifested.

■ Pedestrians may quite reasonably ' wonder what is the good of Mr Charles Jarrott's latest achievement o.i Brooklyn is (London) motor track. On a racing motor car recently that gentleman attained a speed of 85 an hour for one lap, and an average rate of 83.7 miles an hour for ten laps. Such high speed appears to bo of little practical utility, though driving at that remarkable velocity may indicate the possession of an iron nerve, which has no opportunity of being exercised on the public road. '"hire were some amusing scenes in connection with the ballot for sections in the Te Arai estate, recently acquired by the Government from Mr C. T. Randell Johnston. The "Gisborne Times" states when the applicants were being examined, one raised a laugh by the earnestness with which he presented the evidence of hi 3 bona fides. Finally, as it still appeared to him that the members of the Board were not sufficiently impressed, and to make matters doubly sure, he leaned forward, and, showing a bank note crumbled up in his hand, hoarsely whispered, "Perhaps ths will help it through." It only remains to be recorded that the offer of the bribe caused some mirth, and brought the applicant no luck, for none of the black marbles fell to his share of the drawing. A record has been established in the output of eggs and poultry in tTftrAuckland province for the year , ended March 31st. The figures, as chronicled by the Government poultry expert, slow that the total number of eggs that passed through the grading store in 1907 was 1,128,700, while last year the total- had increased to over 2,250,00 J. In poultry, too, a large increase for last year is shown, the actual figures being 14,491 birds. Good prices have prevailed throughout the year, and producers generally are well satisfied with their turnover. Judging by the latest figures, a steady increase should be exDerienced during the coming year. In March, 1907, the total number of eggs received at the depot was 64,800, while for the month just closed 81,600 eggs were received. In poultry, too, a steady inciease throughout the year, as compared with the corresponding poriod has been shown.

The Dunedin Society for Promoting the Health of Women and Children, has received a telegram from Lady Plunket announcing that Nurse M'Kinnon was to be the first nurse in the Dominion to receive the Plunket Badge. This is a special distinction, an exception to the rule regarding certificated nurses having been made in Nurse M'Kinnon's case on account of her being a pioneer in the movemsnt in regard to the preservation of infant life.