LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9065, 14 April 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sixteen cases of scarlet fever I occurred in Wellington last week.

No fresh caa'es of scarlet fever have been reported to the local authorities for over a week. There are four patieiits.uijder treatment at the local fever hospital. At the last Lodge meeting of Court Loyal Enterprise (Ancient Order of Foresters), held on Friday, four new members were elected, and three names of candidates for initiation handed iiv The secretary of the Masterton Horticultural Society (Mr N. H. James) ia at present busy enrolling new members fur the Society. The first Show will probably be held about November. Work is proceeding steadily on the Seddoii Memorial Technical School. The contractor, Mr A. Haughey, informed an Age reporter yesterday that the bricklayers will be starting work on Tuesday next. The foundations will be completed by Thursday. At the Town Hall, to-night, Mr P. L. Hollings, a candidate for the Mayoralty, will hold a meeting, at which he intends to criticise the policy and conduct of the Mayor and Council for the past year. Ladies are invited. The chair will be taken by Mr Geo. Heron (ex-Mayor) at 8.15. The following resolution has been passed by the Cross Creek branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants:—"That this branch regress the action of the majority of the conference delegates in dispensing with the services of Mr J. T. M. Hornsby a3 editor of the "Railway Review"; and further that the valuable services rendered by Mr Hornsby during his term as editor be placed on record."

A sitting of the Police Court was held at Masterton yesterday morning, Messrs W. P. James, S.M., and W. H. Beetham, J.P., occupying the { Beneh. Win. Spencer was fined £2, ''in default 7 days' hard labour, for using obscene language in a public piace., Archibald Baxter was.charged with drunkenness, and also with resisting Constable Kyle in the execution of his duty. A fine of £2 was imposed on the latter charge, a coni viction only being entered on the I charge of drunkenness.

The members of the Y.M.C.A. met last evening to make final arrangements for the campaign to be commenced in Masterton on Wednesdaynight by Messrs W. Gillanders and H. N. Holmes. The secretaries will arrive on Wednesday afternoon, and they will b": met at the railway station by the president and members of the local Association. A special Board meeting is to be held at 7 o'clock to-night to arrange for the banquet, which takes place at 8 o'clock on Wednesday. Mr P. L. Rollings, President, will occupy the chair. On Thursday night a lantern lectur° will 1)9 given in the Foresters' Hal! at 8 p.m. by Mr Gillanders.

Batwean the hours of 5.30 on Saturday evening and 2.30 on Sunday afternoon, the Academy of Fine Arts in Ballance Street, Wellington, was forcibly entered and the finest picture in the.: ga 1 .ry—Leader's "Surrey Hiils" —stolen. The canvass was not cut but removed entire from the frame, which was carefully left behind. The burglar, or burglars, plugged the keyhole of the main door to prevent surprise, but evidently the thief, or thieves, were alarmed at something, for a "jemmy" and othe- burglar's tools were left behind. There is, so far, no clue to the perpetrator, or perpetrators, of the robbery. The picture was one of the English collection exhibited at the International Exhibition at Christchtirch last year, and was purchased by Mrs W. B. Rhodes, of Wellington, for a little less than £6OO. That lady made a gift of the splendid picture to the Art Gallery.

During tht month of March the quantity of gas manufactured at the Masterton Gasworks was 2,031,500 cubic feet, as against 1,466,000 cubic feet for the corresponding month last year—an increase of 565,500 cubic feet. The gas'sold per meter during the two months mentioned shows an increase in favour of last March of 449,200 cubic feet. The receipts for last month totalled £1,117 10s Bd, being an increase of £355 Is over the revenue for March, 1907. A return for the twelve months ended March 31st shows that during last year the output of gar, was 21,953,500 c ihie feet, as against 16,380,800 cubic l3ut for th 3 previous year, the injreass being 5,572,700 cubic feet Trie revenue for the past twelve months amounted to £10,194 10s 9d, a? as:ainst £7,189 4s 6d for the year 1906-07, the increase beiijg at the rate of 41.80 per cent.

A very interesting publication in connection with Y.M.C.A. work has been handed us by the secretary of the Masterton branch (Mr A. Rees). It is called the "Y.M.C.A. News Sheet," and is issued by the National Committee for Australia and New Zealand. In it is epitomized the work being done in the various countries of the world. The following paragraph in the March issue is interesting to New Zealand readers: —"Wellington.—The new Physical Director, Mr J. H. Greenwood, sails from Vancouver on 27th March. Mr Greenwood was elected in 1903 as Physical Director in the Twenty-sixth Ward Branch of the famous Brooklyn Association. He comes to Wellington with a fine record as a leader in gymnasium work, and should prove a valuable reinforcement in the New Zealand field. —Plans for the Easter camp are promising. One hundred boys are listerl for Otaki. A group goes to Hastings and probably nmther to Levin.—Mr H. W. Kersley, of Wellington, a member of the National Committee, is on his way to England by the Ophir. Mrs Kersley accompanies him." Concerning the new Y.M.C.A. building in Wellington, the "News Sheet" says:— "A strikingly inviting reception hall, tlis largest and one of the finest gymnasiums in the dominion, a dining hall to seat two hundred, a large assembly hall, ample accommodation for the Boys' Department, a roof garden, 43 well-appointed bedrooms these are among the features selected for especial commendation." Mr O. F. H. Livesay, Architect of Wellington, has mo veil to more convenient rooms in the National Mutual Chambers, Customhouse Quay, (adjoining the Head Ollice of the Bunk of X./j.) Address — P.O. J Sox 771. Telephone 2092, Woods' Great Peppermint O'.iro for Coughs an:l Colds nuver fails. 1/(5 an.l 2/G:

On' Easter Monday night the favourite operatta, "The Japanese Girl," is to be produced in the Mastertpn Town Hall, the proceeds from which are to go towards St. Matthew's Organ Extension Fund. The milk vendors of Palmerston North purpose following the example of the bakers and butchers of that town in respect to cash trading, they having decided to adopt the coupon system. The Masterton Mounted Rifles meet at the Drill Hall at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday. They despatch their horses by the 5.30 train for Ngahauranga, and leave themselves by the 10.30 train in the evening for the same destination. These movements are in connection with the Easter military manoeuvres. The Rallance Co-operative Dairy Company will pay out this week £3,5*00 for milk supplied during March. Owing to warm autu-nnal rains and consequent growth of grass the milk supply has showed a remarkable recovery alter the long spell of dry weather. The test averaged 4.15 points for March, which is very satisfactory. The award of the Arbitration Court in the drivers' dispute was filed at Wellington yesterday. All the tertrs had been agreed upon, except those relating to wages, which have been fixed by the Court. The wages of both class of drivers have been increased by 2s per week. This decision was that of Judge Sim alone, as Mr Pryor, the employers' representative, thought that there shuuld be no increase, while Mr McCullough thought thcire should be a larger increase.

The subdivision of Wriglev Estate is being pushed on rapidly. The putting in of the sewers is well on towards comp'etion the workmen being now engaged cutting the trench for the latter between Pine Street and the new street to r:in parallel with it. Before Cole Street can be connected with the new streets in this subdivision the Council will have to acquire a strip of private land intervening. An arrangement has been come to by the owners ofWrighy Estate and adjoining property-owners in regard to land required by the former in connection with the subdivision, and buildings and fences have already been removed on several properties.

The improvement of Masterton streets is proceeding apace, and the various thoroughfares recently completed are adding materially to the progressive appearance of the town. Lincoln road cn the north side ia practically complete and looks remarkably well. A long-deferred footpath is being formed on th° west side of Be.itley Street from Lincoln, Road to the river bend. The grading of Queen Street between the Queen's Hotel and Renall's creek is being pushed rapidly forward. A large quantity of metal will have to be removed from the crown of the road eventually, as the sidewalks are reached from it by a slope almost dangerous to vehicles.

The attenion of members of the Generdl Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association was drawn by Mr T. P. ' Lett on Saturday to the fact that the Association's rules laid it down that members present at a meeting were bound to vote, if required, on questions before the meeting. He mentioned that when the show removal question was before the General Committee several members refrained from voting. One of the latter, in explanation said the reason for so doing was because he had not thoroughly grasped the details of the proposals, but he had voted in favour of removal at the general meeting of members. "Ah," said Mr Lett, smilingly, "we all say that —now!"

A public meeting was held in the Dominion Hall, last evening, in con nection with the proposed public de velopment of the Mauriceville coa measuras. Messrs F. W. H. Kummer and C. HofTeins, on whose properties reefs have been discovered, were in attendance, and matters were briefly discussed as the best method of following on the work of testing done by tnesa gentlemen. Mr Kummer stated that the Government charged a prohibitive tariff for the use of their latest imported diamond drills, and generally offered little encouragement to private coal ventures. Several practical miners, now engaged in other occupations, were present at the meeting, and from the reports of the experts and observations made l>y themselves considered that the development of the measures was a scheme which was very promising. It was decided to adjourn the meeting for three weeks in order to allow of certain necessary information being obtained.

The Borough Gas and Finance Committee met last evening, the members present being Crs Elliott, Ewington, and Yarr. The former was elected chairman. A list of outstanding rates from 1904 to March 1907 was suhmitted, and in supplement of a previous recommendation, the Committee resolved to write off £llß 9s from the list as irrecoverable. The Acting-Town Clerk reported that, subject to the execution of the necessary documents, the Wellington Harbour Board was prepared to lend the Borough Council the sum of £12,000 for purposes of erection of the new carbonising plant in connection with the Gasworks. It was resolved that street lighting and maintenance of same be placed in the hands of the Gas Manager, and all expenditure in connection therewith be lodged to the credit of the Gas Committee out of the district fund. As the Gas Manager reported that the present accommodation at his disposal for storage purposes was inadequate, the Committee decided to request the Council to partition off the Druids' Hall in front to the depth of the present Engineer's offices for storage purposes for the gas department. Accounts amounting to 743 14s 6d were passed for payment. STRONG LAMBS. Healthy Hogjjots, Increased Clip. Socured by using vennocine, the famous internal parasite destroyer and tonicrv Its tonic properties are especially vain- • able, as besides killing and expelling parsites, ; t operates immediately in building up the system, and so prevents fresh attack. Prspared by the A. and P. Food (Jo., Ltd. Obtainable from W.F.C.A., Ltd.

Mr Arthur T<jcfcer„ .©ff ®eatherston, intends paying a viait ito (England shortly. A case of scarlet f&ver ;atll)alefield haa been tfepartted tto ..the authorities. The Feathersfeon Dairy Company intend exhibiting cheese >atithe .winter show of the National ©airy Association at Palmerston North. A return just issued from Registrar-General's Office shows that the total cost of taking the census in 1906 was £25,807 19s 4d. Mr G. Whelch, of the Akaroa Boating ' Cluh, amateur sculling champiorf, who has decided tu enter tha rankte of professional oarsmen, has during his twelve years' membership of the Akaroa Club carried it? colours to victory upwards of.frtty times. The :fo'lowing donations have been made to the tads of the Masterton Collie Club:—Mr H. H. Beethani, £5 ss; Mr K. T. McKenzie, £2 25., Mr W. L. Falconer. £1 Is:; Mr W. Welch, £1 Is. Mr R.. F. Beotham gave £5 5s to be awarded in connection with the new class. Hearty vote 3 of thanks have been accorded to the donors by the general committee of the Club A meeting of the management committee of the Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club was held ilaat night to arrange for the opening of the life-saving classes- It was decided to commence them on the first Monday in next month. Twenty nam"S were reported by the secretary (Dr R. V, Honking) to have been received from intending scholars, and it was resolved to complete the list before the classes open. There has been a considerable fall-ing-off in the butter and cheese shipment 3 for the whole Dominion for the end of March and beginning of April, as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The Rimutaka, for London, carried 2,148 boxes of butter, as against 7,672 boxes of butter for the same period of 1907, the shortage being attributed to butter stored for local requirements.

During the first half of last year butter substitutes totalling 138,564 lbs and valued at £6,142 were imported into New Zealand. The duty collected upon these importations amounted to £6 12s. The butter substitutes are described as follows —Cocoa-butter, nucoa-butter, nucoline, cocos-butter, palm butter, nutbutter, peanut-butter, almond-butter, crystal silver fat, and neutre.

Steps are being taken by the executive of the New Zealand section of the Amalagrnated Society of Carpenters and Joiner 3to establish branches in various parts of the dominion at which the organisation has not hitherto been officially represented. There are already twenty branches in New Zealand. The membership in the dominion is about 2,000—350 being in Wellington. Last yeiY £92.000 was paid out by the Society for benefits in various parts of the Empire.

A remarkable story from the West Coast backblocks has reached the ears ofaTaranaki "Herald" representative through ,the most reliable channels. A married couple settled there in an isolated spot many years ago. Soon after their arrival they quarrelled, and since then they have lived without speaking to each other. They have reared a large family, and the children having never heard human speech till recently have not learned to speak. Their plight is pitiful now when they come in contact with their fellow-beings.

During the Hon. James Carroll's journey from Whakatane to Ruatoki, he ntopped for a few minutes at Wilson's store, on the boundary of the Uruwera Country, and there Mr Wilson informed the Minister, as evidence of the way the natives at Ruatoki are taking up dairying, that ho had cashed cheques for monthly payments from the Ruatoki cheese factory for £4OO for milk supplied by Maoris, and the cheques were shown as evidence of the truth of the statement.

The largest Young Men's Christian Association in Australasia is the one at Melbourne, with an enrolment of 1,350. Brisbane,"with a membership recently augmented to 1,003, takes second place from the Auckland Association, which has, until now, held that high position. Sydney and Wellington ore close competitors for the fourth notnh. with the present records slightly favouring the former Association. Sydney holds the largest number of boys in her membership, Wellington and Auckland following in that order. Mr Massey has been pulling the Government to pieces, lie accuses our present rulers of too much addiction to compromise, says the "Tuapeka Times." That is a fault for which Mr Maesev and his friends take very erood care they will not be arraigned before the bar of public opinion. The Opposition of this country is most consistently and constitutionally uncompromising. Its members believe in interpreting their collective title literally. Their mission is to oppose the Government, and they do oppose it with great effectiveness —marvellous effectiveness, indeed, relatively to their numerical strength. It if» no small feather in the can of Mr Massey and his nble helpers that the present Government has found it convenient to regulate its p?jce in accordance with the wishes of its opponents.

A meeting ot the general committee of th<3 Collie Clnb was held on Saturday. Messrs T. Riddell (in the chair), W. Welch. W. L. F?ili"n"er, A. Mr.Leay. J. McPhee, S. McLean ard S. Willoughbv were present". Ih was decided to add another clasa to the programme, making four classes in all The new class is tn be a teams match, three dogs, the first dog to hunt awav 80 yards, the second dog to bring back to the rin<r, third dog to drive 75 yards and yard sheep. The time allowed was set down at fifteen minute®. The class will only he open to owners of dogs witnin Wairarapa aid Masterton electorates. Points were alloted as follow: —No. 1 dog, for huntaway 4 points, under command 10 points, tioise 4 points; No. 2 dog, heading 4 tioints, under command 10 points, bringing back 4 points; No. 3 dog. driving 4 points, under command 10 points, yarding 8 points. Tho sectary was instructed to write to Mr H. G. Williams, of Lansdowne, regarding grounds.

The number of elafltric.light consumers in Wellingtoa ihos .increased to.over 4,000. The Wellington Piano Co., Ltd., are selling good serviceable pjanos—the sort that will stand the .wear and tear of home use —at .reasonable prices, and on easy tennis .of payment. Those in search of good farm holdings are requested to communicate with Mr Newton King,, of New.Elymouth, who has a big list .for sale, and who renders financial .assistance where required. During February the Public Works Department employed :.2,935 men (248 artizans, and 2,687 iabaurers) on co-operative works in the .Dominion. In the same period «?*O5l .men were employed by the Department .of Roads. It is stated that both motormen and conductors on the Wellington tram 3 are paid much better than in any other centre. That they ai?e\well: paid is evident from the fact ithat there are now 3,000 applications i'or' positions as conductors in the service. Men are actually giving .up their, trades to enter the service, A new danger from mntoa'-ears is reported by the Feilding ''Star." On Friday afternoon a car went whizzing down Manchester Street,.and in passing Mr W. Carthew's station er's shop, threw up a stone, whioh, crashing against the large plate glass window, cracked it from top to bottom. Chess enthusiasts will have good sport provided for them at the coming Easter tournament to be held at Wellington for a week and opening ; ■on Easter Monday. The competitors | include R. J. Barnes (winner of the championship five times), A. W. O. Davies, H. L. James, F. IC. Kelliiu;, Wellington; M. S. Stewart and Rev. A. Fox. Canterbury; £.|Sainsbury, Gisborne; J. Freeman, Auckland; Fritz Kurmner, Masterton; and J. A. Coonell, Wairoa. • To-morrow is "ga3 discount day" at the Masterton Burough Chambers. A married couple require furnished rooms. j A good general servant is required j for the Central Dining Rooms. j Mr Douglas Mcintosh publishes a j notice re outstanding accounts. j The "Lyric" brand of boots and shoes sold by the W.F.C.A., are noted for good wearing qualities. A seven or eight roomed house in a dry locality ia required by an adver- j tiser. | Mr Robert .Pook, cycle and motor J importer, of Masterton, offers thorn proof tyres for sale at prices that j should interest cyclists generally.

A meeting of those interested in the return of Mr P. L. Hollings as Mayor i 3 convened for Wednesday evening in the Kuripuni Hall. "Vigorous values in household drapery" i 3 the subject of Mr J. L. Murray's advertisement appearing on page 2 of this issue. Messrs Ross and McGregor advertise particulars of four good freehold properties which they have for sale. Full particulars will be supplied on application. Keen buyers freely patronised the premises of Mr W. Charman, Queen Street, on Friday and Saturday last, the opening days of the sweep out sals of new season's gods. The price reductions will hold good for another fortnight. Owing to the fact that he has purchased a larger business elsewhere, Mr J. J. East is closing his Masterton premises, and announces that his stock is to be offered at a genuine reduction of 25 per cent. This discount will hold good for a fortnight only. Mr H. Sfcinso-i, who has been engaged by various local butchers in Masterton for many years past, has commenced business on his own behalf, and solicits a share jf public patronage. A delivery cart will wait on customars daily with the priinest of meat and dressed poultry. At the Post Office Auction Mart, to-morrow at 2 p.m., Mr M. O. ' Aronsten will sell, without reserve, the whole of the household furniture of Mrj Jackson, Lansdowne. The goods have been removed to the mart for convenience of sale, and a gaslight display of same will be made this evening. Good land i& still to be had cheap and on easy terms in the Bay of Plenty, where the climate is reputed to be the finest in the world, free from the extremes of heat and cold. Settlement is going ahead rapidly, and an appreciable rise in prices is sure to occur in the near tuture. Those in search of safe and sound investments should get into couch with Mr Colin Norris, land and estate agent, of Tauranga. He will forward to any address a copy of his Land Guide, which contains particulars of a great number of Bay of Plenty properties which he has for disposal.