LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9066, 15 April 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The electors' list for the Borough of Masterton will close at 5 p.m. to-day.

The majority of the settlers in the Nireaha district have completed the work of sowing grass seed on their properties.

The receipts by the Treasurer of the Masterton County Council amounted last month to the large sum of £11,966. plates accounted for over £5,000 ofand remittances from the Treasury towards various works to over'-^fv'OOO.

Mr H. J. O'Leary was waited upon by a deputation of Masterton townsmen, yesterday, and asked to contest the vacant seat on the Borough Council. Mr O'Leary, replied that he had not given the matter any thought, but promised to give a definite reply in a day 0" two. The operetta "The Japanese Girl" will be staged in the Town Hall on Monday next. The cast is said to hj a strong one, and the chorus and I orchestra number about forty. The proceeds will be devoted to St. Matthew's Church organ extension fund. Local Civil Servants who have families, and who are paid monthly, are said to be complaining of the fact that they are charged "booked" prices for their necessaries a difference is made between cash and booked, goods. They contend that, as they have no optiun but to receive their wages monthly, they are not circumstanced conveniently for the strict application of the "booked" price principle. A united protest may be mad . The local secretary of the Y.M.C.A. last night received word of the splendid success of the general financial campaign which is being conducted in the North. At Hamilton the Assocation sought to raise £750, and half of this sum was subscribed in two days, and the balance within a few days thereafter. A similar sum has just been raised in Gisborne, and the Mayor and some leading business men in the town have accepted positions on the local board of management. In addition to this one hundred members have been enrolled. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Fire Brigade was held last evening. Captain Jenkins presiding. Leave of absence for two weeks was granted to Fireman Matthews. The secretary's monthly report showed that the average attendnce oj members for March had been 26 at meetings and 21 at alarms. The secretary was instructed to make a compilation of the services of Firetnan J. Pelling, formerly of the Masterton Brigade, but now of the Adding'on Brigade, Captain Jenkins, on behalf of the Brigade, formally handed over to Hydrantman B. Church the I gold star for 25 years' service. Mr j Church took the opportunity of thank- j ing the officers of the Brigade for the trouble they had taken to secure him the star from the U.F.B.A.

The Central Mangaone Road and the Tawataia Valley Road have been declared county roads in terms of the Public Works Act.

A wood chopping match for £lO aside took place at Alfredton lust Thursday between Messrs C. Cross and J. Cross, junr., and was won by the former by a few seconds. At the next meeting of the Eketahuna County Council a motion by Cr Dawson "that the Council purchase a road roller at a cost not exceeding £6O, "will come up for discussion. The Nireaha dairy factory is at present receiving about 650 gallons of milk daily. The next shipment of cheese will consist of seventy cases. The previous shipment totalled ninety cases. The Tararua Rifle Club held their final competition for Messrs J. Jones and Co.'s trophy on Saturday last. Rifleman J. Petersen was top scorer with 58. The trophy has been won by Rifleman W. Bell with a score of 114. The creamery at Hukanui is dealing with about 500 gallons of milk .daily. On account of the recent bush fires it is estimated by the manager (Mr Billington) that as suppliers will be able to run more cows on their property the creamery will next season receive over 400 gallons additional. The Eketahuna County Council has leased county reserves as fellows: — Reserve 48, block 5, Mangahao, E. Tomlinson; reserve 41, block 7, Tararua, J. Handyman; reserve 99a, block 14, Mangaon?, J. Cavanagh; reserve 6, block 4, Tararua, J. Densen; reserve 130, block 1, Mangaone, W. Twentyman. At the meeting of the Eketahuna County Council on Saturday last, considerable discussion took place in connection with the condition of the Tawataia - Mangaone Valley Road, which is only partly metalled, and which during winter is susceptible to slips. It was eventually decided that Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., be written to, pointing out the unfairness of the Government in asking the Council to take over a thoroughfare in an unfinished state, and in a condition that would render its upkeep a perpetual burden to the ratepayers. The settlers at Putaraand Nireaha have petitioned the Eketahuna County Council in reference to the inconvenience suffered by the settlers living in the Mangatainoka Valley and the public generally by the unmetalled portion of the road known as the Parkville-Mangatainoka deviation. The petitioners state that the Public Works Department has repeatedly promised that the m j .tallinsr of the road should be completed at an early date, but nothing has yet been done, and about sixty chains of the road is impassable in winter. The Council has decided to forward the petition to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., asking him to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister.

Despite the present conditions of the New Zealand hemp market, Mr J. Stewart, the Department's instructor and expert, who is at' present in Auckland, expresses a most optimistic view of the future of the industry. He considers that indications point to a steady increase in market prices, and wnile he dpubtS whether millers will apain secure the "inflated" values of the past, hemp will, in time, reach a good marketable price. Mr Stewart complains that the majority of Auckland millers are iontent with the lower grades, but at the same time he admits this is to be accounted for, to a great extent, as the result of the recent drought. ■ A leading buyer on being questioned whether he thought there was a reasonable prospect of a rise in prices, expressed the ODinion that it would be October or November, at all events, before there was a p3yaole market. '

Regarding the complaints in Auckland regarding the inferior seed farmers are receiving, it was admitted in Dunedin by Mr A. Moritzson that unfortunately there was some truth in the assertion. He was sure, however, that the Auckland complaints couid certainly noc refer to what was shipped from Bank's peninsula, as that seed as a whole was the finest that had been harvested for many years past. If anything in the complaint raised in Auckland, it wai fairly evident that the seed received must have been adulterated. In regard to ate 1 purchased by the Survey Department for distribution on Crown arid waste lands, the samples only were examined by the Department, and it wad accordingly open to the seller to send what he liked, or in other words it is quite possible for him, without fear of detection, to freely adulterate puch seed. Mr Moritzson strongly urges the introduction of a Seed Adulteration Bill. Apar l- from one Australian claimant to the Page estate millions in England, in the person of George Horton ■Morris, formerly of Sydney, it is understood that a South Australian family is having inquiries made into the antecedents of a relative whom a number of circumstances point to having some affinity with Page, who died in 3829, to all appearances without a direct heir. The late Henry Page, who died in South Australia between 30 and 40 years ago, after having lived for a considerable time near Willunga, went to that state in the early days. It was known that he was connected with a good old family in England, but after roughing it in Australia married and settled down. He talked little about himself. A number of old letters and papers which had belonged to him and documentary evidence were inadvertently . destroyed some years ago, and although it is difficult to trace the supposed relationship to a definite conclusion in their absence, the grandchildren are confident that they have good grounds to go upon and do not intend to remain idle in the matter. INDIGESTION. "For twenty years I suffered all the tormoats of chronic indigestion—pains in the be id, heartburn, constipation, full, oppressive painful feelings after each meal I tried medicines agaiu and again, but nothing did me any good whatever, until I was persuaded by a cured dyspeptic to try Dr ENSOK'S TAMER JUICE. From the first dose I began to improve, and I improved so rapidl\ that even my closest friends could hardly believe I was the sa 11 _! person. I avn now sixty years of a-'e, and feel that I owe my life to really wjadjrful TAMER JUICE." 138

Steps are being taken to form a general labourers' union in Auckland. Kindred unions have been formed in the southland steps are being \ taken to form a federation of all unskilled labourers in the Dominion.

Factory owners and shop proprietors, who have • not yet registered—and there are, it is said, still a few —are reminded' that they are liable to a penalty of £5 for every day of their default over the statutory date. The report of the sub-committee appointed by the Wairarapa District Hospital Board, on the Hospßal and Charitable Aid Amendment Bill, was received hy the County Council yesterday. The Council decided unanimously to approve of the recommendations of the Board. Recently two Burnham boys robbed an old lady "f £5. The news reached the school, and the staff and the boys made up for the the act of their erring comrades, and proved (says the "Lyttelton Times") that every one at Burnham is not bad, by subscribing the amount, and the old lady, who is a widow, wa3 recompensed. It is not generally known that if letters are stamped on any part except the right hand corner of the front of the envelope they are treated by|the Department as unstamped. Sometimes as a freak the stamp is put on the back. In any ca=e of misplacement the letter is detained, and the recipient fined. The new award of the Wellington wharf labourers contains a novel clause:—"The union shall do all in its power to prevent strikes by any of the workers affected, and if any shall occur, in which any members of the union is a party, such strike shall be prima facie evidence that the union has committed a oreuch of its duty hereunder."

The present fruit season in Auckland has eclipajd all records. The crop is almost unparalleled. - The only one which failed to reach the standard was the apple crop. This was due to many early varieties being; discarded owing" to tho codlin moth. The production of grapes was phen- - menal, but was equalled by the demand. Daring the debate on old-age petsions in the Federal Parliament, Mr F. Bamford (Queensland), in warmly supporting the pi'inciple of old-age pensions, pointed out that if everyone we/e to draw a pension provided by the State the community would be much in the same position as the in--1 habitants of a certain town who made a living by taking in each other's washing. Cr Jno. Morris stated, at yesterday's meeting of the County Council, that a dangerous practice which the Council should protest against was the leaving ajar of gates aloi g the footway of the northern approacn to the town. Cr W. Harris also said that some dark night a serious acc'dent mig'it be reported through tb S cause, and it was unanimously decided to ask property owners concerned to keep their gates closed. Private board and lodgings is required by an advertiser. A kitchenman is required at the. Central Dining Rooms. An advertiser has for sale a double' seated dogcart. The legal holidays in connection with the Masterton offices are announced in another column. Tenders are invited for the erection of a teachers' residence at Nireaha, • and a new school at Pahiatua. The latest and most fashionable' suitings are shown in Mr Albert. . Webb's tailoring establishment,, Queen Street, Masterton. The Masterton Farmers' Implement; Company's premises will be closed* for the Easter holidays from Thursday, 16th, to Tuesday, 21st inst. Messrs Lyttießros., the well-known, motor and cycle importers and engi - neers, of Queen Street, Masterton,. have announcements on pages 1 and 6 of this issue of more than passing interest to cyclists generally. Messrs Dimock and Co. notify that. Monday, 27th, and Tuesday 28th inst., are the next days ori which pigs will be received at Eketahuna and Mauriceviile, respectively. At the Masterton Auction Mart to-day, at 1.45 p.m., Mr J. R. Nicol will offer for sale By public auction the lease and stock of the Book Arcade. At 2 o'clock this afternoon the firm will hold an unreserved clearing sale of furniture at the residence, No. 21, Albert Street, on account of Mrs Mcßride, and on Thursday the last day's sale on behalf of ?he British Woollen Company will be held at the auction mart. The Scoullar Company, Ltd., of Lambton Quay, Wellington, notify by advertisement in this issue that the special feature of their business is the manufacture of quaint artistic furniture. firm has the largest factory in New Zealand, and skilled workmen are employed, while every article is guaranteed to be of the best material and workmanship. Price list and designs will be sent post free to country settlers on application. Myrtle Grove cigarettes arfe admittedly good, and the sales are annually showing a substantial increase. The wholesale agents have decided to mark their gratitude of public appreciation by offering a substantial sum as prize money (divided into five prizes), under conditions set out in an advertisement on page 6 of this issue. Smokers of Myrtle Grove Cigarettes should carefully peruse the announcement, as to the person sanding in an empty packet marked on the inside with the exact number or nearest to the total votes polled, by the successful candidate for the Wellington Mayoralty will receive the sum of £lO. THE CHARM OF MUSIC Kings of old have been soothed with music; tired nerves have been rslaxed uader its benign influence; and old age has quickened and pulsated like fiery spirits of yonth! There is nothing like music. To be able to produce harmonies delightful sounds that rest and soothe—surely this is a thing to be desired ! Have you a piano in your home? If not think what you are missing. Piano warehouses, nowdays, are almost philanthropic in tho way in which they gave opportunities - l for everyone to have music. For a trifling stun down, and small instalments m >nthly, The Dresda'.i Piano Company Limited, Wellington, will make you the possessor of a superb instrument. You will never miss the payments —they are so microscopic—and in a short tirna. fcha piano will b3 your very own.

The Treasury notified the Masterton County Council, yesterday, of the remittance of the following amounts for the works specified—£2,62s, Masterton-Eaat Coast Road loan; £I,OOO, Blairlogie-Homewood Road grant; £I,OOO, AlfredtonWeber Road loan J £SOO for same road grant; £3OO, Opaki District Road loan; £258, Upper Opaki Road; £250, Patanui bridge grant; £2OO, Robieson's Road loan. The total amounted to £6,133. The following is a statement of the Borough Treasurer's balances down to the 31st March, 1908, as submitted to tha meeting of the Borough Council last evening General District Fund. General account, dr, £6,487 8s 6d; Library, cr., £l4l 10s 2d, Gasworks, cr., £957 5s Id; Waterworks, dr., £371 lis 6d; Deposit, cr., £195 10s ; Abattoir, cr., £B7 3s 3d; Special drainage, cr., £5 13s; Bannister Street, dr.." £lO 163 Id; Loan £25,000, dr., £l4l 16s; overdraft and unpre stinted cheques, £5,624 10s 7d. Leans. —Drainage, cr., £ll3 19s 4d; Improvements (£25,000). —Schedule A, dr., £293 18s sd; Schedule B, cr., £K9S; Schedule C, dr., £ll4 16s lid; Schedule D, cr., £341 ; Schedule E, cr., £lls.