LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9082, 6 May 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Masterton's Mayor-elect, Mr P. L. Hollings, will assume office at a statutory meeting of the Masterton Borough Council to be held to-night.

The Masterton Mounted Rifles will receive the pay idue to them on account of the Easter manoeuvres at a parade to be held this day week. The parade will be a dismounted one, and will be held in the Drill Hall.

On Saturday last the Featherston Golf Club held a handicap match, 'the best cards handed in being as follows: G. Fenwick, gross score 83, scratch, net score 83; A, J. Toogood, gross score 98, handicap 11, nett score 87; J. T. Biduiell, gross score 90, handicap 2, nett score 88. The season of the beautiful and popular chrysanthemum is at hand. The botanical section of the Masterton Park possesses a number/ of varieties of this flower, and looks very attractive just now in consequence. The oval is considerably imprcvd through the addition of the toxlr.ssing, the grass having,soon made head'way in the new soil. Borough Inspector Cairns is keeping a very sharp eye on the sanitary condition of the town jiist now, in view of the recurrence of scarlet fever. The inspector inrormed an Age reporter yesterday that he intends enforcing the sanitary by-laws with the utmost rigour. The public, no doubt, will co-operate with the authorities in endeavouring to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Assisted by the favourable weather the contractor for the Seddon Memorial Technical School (Mr A. Haughey) is making rapid progress with the work. Although only three weeks have elapsed' since the contract was signed the bricklayers are already almost* up tj the first floor, while a large amouflt of carpentry work has also been completed. Mr Haughey anticipates that the roof will be on by the end of the month, providing the present fine weather holds out.

A ( first offending inebriate at Masterton Police Court, yesterday morning, refused to believe that he was intoxicated when arrested, .. and pleaded not guilty. A remand for two hours'was granted to enabje accused to bring evidence, in support of his plea. . He duly turned up but with a different intention to what he anticipated, stating that the only witness he had found had declared him to be "very drunk." Mr J. H. Pauling could not restrain a smile as he imposed the orthodox penalty of ss. l

Xhq statement filed in the bankrupt estate of James William Hallett, painter, of Masterton, shows that there are no assets, while the liablities are set down at £ll6 4s 4d. There are only eight creditors, as follow :—C. E. Daniell, £62 5s lid; W.F.C.A., £26 12s 2d; R. J. Lyttle, £4 15s; Olds and Anderson, £2 10s; VV. Charman, .i' 3; A. Stempa, 9s; Hunter and Sons, £2; Jackson and C 0.., Wellington, £1 12s 3d. jVith the exception of the last-named creditor all the creditors are Masterton residents.

On Friday ths committee previously set up by Masterton Y. M.C.A. assisted by Mr N. Holmes, Wellington, secretary and organiser, will wait upon those residents of Masterton not visited during -the previous day's campaign to request subscriptions towards the raising of the £350 still required by the Association to make up £750 for the salary of an organising secretary for three years. The members are sanguine of the complete fulfilment of their desires, and if so the local Association may be congratulated on a signal achievment which will undoubtedly strengthen its influence in the district.

TUSSICURA (Wild Cherry Balm) never fails to give relief in caso3 of stubborn coughs and colds, catarrh, etc.

There were but two bankruptcies in the Wanganui district during April. A local sportsman avers that wild duck are more plentiful around Masterton this season than ever before.

A meeting of the Stewards of the Masterton Racing Club will be held on Saturday, at 2.30 p.m. A seam of coal is reported to have been discovered on Mr Cooper's property at Rongomai. During the month of April 3.22 inches of rain fell at Eketahuna. The highest fall was 1.U4 inches on the 18th. The annual meeting of the members of the Wairarapa Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association will be held in the Dominion Hall, at 8 p.m., on Monday next.

Factory butter manufactured in Eketahuna is being retailed at a penny per pound cheaper in Wellington than at Eketahuna, says the"Eketahuna Express!"

Mr Howard Booth, of Carterton, has purchased 1,200 acres of bush la id in the Turangarere district, on the Main Trunk Railway line, for sawmilling purposes. The annual rifle meeting of the Hunterville Association takes place on Saturday. It is improbable that any of Opaki Rifle Club will attend the meeting. The first hunt of the season under the auspices of the Wairarapa Hunt Club will take place to-morrow at Clareville. A large attendance is anticipated. The half-yearly meeting of the Wairarapa ,Sawmillers' Association takes place in Masterton this day week. No special business is on the agenda paper. The plans for the addition to the Greytown Hospital, which were prepared by ;Messr3 Varnham and' Rose, of Masterton, have been approved by Dr. Valintine, Chief Inspector of Hospitals. The next civil sittings of- the Masterton Magistrate's Courtwill be held to-morrow week. A, large number of cases are listed, and the aggregate amount claimed will come very near a record for one sitting.

Owing" to the annual meeting of voters of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees falling on the regular night of the meeting of "Vustees, (Friday the 13th instant), the Trustees will meet this day week.

The Masterton Fire Police are entering upon an art union scheme to raise funds for new uniforms. Some very fine pictures have beeu specialty painted for the a-t union, and considering the deserving nature of the' object the public will no doubt invest liberally in tickets.

There is to be a large gathering of Maoris at Papawai on May 27th, to consider, and sign a petition drawn up by the Natives' Association, and to which ten thousand signatures are already appended, praying that Parliament will put the native lai.d laws on a better footing. \ Messrs P. L. Hjllings (President), J. Elliott, A. Hendry, H. T. Wood, C. E. Daniel], J. B. Rue, A. G. Crawford, W. Kemp, and Revs., A. T. Thompson and J. NY Buttle, have, been nominated for the" Board of Management of the Masterton Y.M.C.A. An election will take place at the annual meeting on Monday. For the election of three members of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees to fill the vacancies . caused by the retirement by effluxion of time" of Messrs T. B. Michell, J. Hessey and E. McEwen, the names of Messrs H. C L. Robinson and J. Cullen'are mentioned in addition to the retiring members, as probable candidates for the seats.

The weather conditions continue remarkably spring-like, and one result, is, that* horticultural oddities are noticeable. A resident of Worksop road has spring rosea in full bloom, while a profusion of violets also beautifies his garden. It is doubtful if the hills to the east of Masttrton ever looked so green at this season in previous year?. The ranees have not yet received their winter mantle of snow, although a fair quantity of rain appears to fall almost daily on their slopes.

A young man, named Henry Rooks, was before Messrs J. H. Pauling and E. G. Eton, J.P.'s, at Masterton Police Court, yesterday morning, charged with the theft of about a cwt. of potatoes. Sergeant Miller stated that he Had suspicions as to the manner in which accused got the potatoes by the way he was handling them in Pine street on Monday night, although accused said he had purchased them. Subsequent actions of accused in abandoning the potatoes and running away caused his arrest on suspicion. A remand until tomorrow was granted to enable the police to matte further inquiries. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for Rooks, who had been liberated on £2O bail, which was renewed.

[ Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., was apoken. to yesterday by a Wairarapa Age reporter in reference to the subject of the Te Ore Ore native leases and the proposed acquisition and cutting-up of Bishop's Reserve. Mr Hogg said that it was only on Monday that he wrote to Sir Robert Stout (who with Mr A. Ngata, M.P., is Native Land Commissioner) reminding Dim of his promise that the Commissioners would visit Masterton either this month or next month in connection with the matter, and urging upon Sir Robert the importance of the proposals. Mr Hogg said that in conversation with the Hon. J. Carroll since the letter's visit to Masterton, the Minister said the position was that the Government's hands were tied until the Commissioners prepared n report, and when, this has been supplied immediate action would no doubt be taken.

WITCH'S 'HERBAL OINTMENT. (Registered.) Evory family requires some kind of ointment to be kept in the house to bo used in the treatment of bums, scalds, chilblains, bruises, ulcers, scalp 'sores, inflammatory skin diseasos (particularly of parasitic origin)—ni fact, in any case in. which an emollient antiseptic dressing is required. WITCH'S OINTMENT acts soothingly and curativoly in all cases of haemorrhoids or piles. Price Is Gd and 3s 6d; all chemists and stores. Tussicura Manufacturing Company, proprietors.

There were two deaths, three marriages, and two births in Featherstoji during the month of April. Stock slaughtered at Mastertoiv, Abattoir last month was:— 151. cattle, 984 sheep and lambs, 108. pigs, 15 calves. * At the Carterton Borough Council Chambers, this evening, Mr W. Moore, who was elected unopposed as Mayor, will be duly installed. The Rev. W. J." Elliott, of Carterton, will speak on "No-License in the Clutha district," at the NoLicense Convention to be held at Paimerston North next week. Should the weather prove favourable to-day four rinks from Palmerston North Bowling Club will visit Masterton to play a match with the local Club. By direction of the Methodist Conference, recently held at Auckland, special devotional services, are being held in all t»e New Zealand Methodist Churches during the present month. • New Zealand never made much fuss, about her Independence Day, but it,. is of passing interest tD note that the severance from New South. Wales was formally effeeteJ on the 3rd May, 1841. -

A very enjoyable social was held by the members of St. Matthew's, Young Men's Club, last evening, in. the Sunday Schoolroom. A number o£ ladies were present. Musical items, and parlour games served to make a very enjoyable evening. Mr A. A. Narbey has directed, our attention to the fact that it was.. stcck he advanced to Mr J. Montgomery, when the latter was in< possession of the butchery business, and not money as our report of thee meeting of creditors stated. ' A little boy named Salmon, a son of Mr H. Salmon, Clerk of the; Carterton Magistrate's Court, severely burned nis eyes while playing witn some gunpowder at the: Carterton District High School yesterday, writes our correspondent.

annual social'of the Hibernian Society will be held in the Foresters' Hall on Thursday evening. AIL the arrangements are complete, and the secretaries (Messrs B. Chapman, and S. O'Regar.) are leaving no stone, unturned to ensure a successful function.

; In Knox Church Hall, on Wednesday, 13th instant, the church choir, assisted by leading local ists and a full orchestra will render', , the oratorio "Christ and His Soldiers." The proceeds will oe in aid. of the pipe organ fund. The choir ha 9 been practising the oratorio for some time, and a careful study has been made of the piece. A highlyj successful rendering is assured. A. .full practice will be held to-morrow evening. MrWilliamß, of Wellington, has donated the sum of £2OO towards, the erection of the Congregational- < ists Church in Masterton. A further 1 sum of £2OO has been raised in Wellington, and £IOO in Masterton, making the total £SOO, which is considered a sufficient sum with which to commence the erection of the proposed building. ' The church is to erected on the. section in Chapel; street adjoining the Masterton Club, and will Have a seating capacity of , about 1801 It will be about tw» months before the building* will ba completed. A meeting of the committee of the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club was held' last evening at Mr Chennells' office. 'There was a full attendance of the committee. The. affairs of the club were reviewed,, and its position generally gone into,, and it was resolved ,that an effort be made to clear the liabilities incurred* by the club's recent sports meetings j which did not prove as successful earn desired. With a view to this end iWI was decided that a dance be held in the For<;ster3' Hall on Thursday, May 14th, and strong ladies'' and gentlemen's committees were formed to. carry out the object. A meeting of both dance committees will be held in the Dominion Hall on Friday evening next. The present fare from Auckland to. Wellington oy the Main Trunk route is £2 14s 6d first class and £1 17s 2d second class. This includes the coach journey between Makatote and Ohakune, a distance of nine miles. Per- , sons intending to visit Wellington can. leave Auckland any day, stopping the first night at Taumarunui, the second night at Taihape, and arriving in Wellington on the third. The Auckland lo Wellington journey, via the Central railway and Wanganui ; River, has been reduced to 355. The' reduction has been rendered possible, by the increased accommodation available on the new steamer, which has been put on the Upper Wanganui. This reduced fare is available from North to South only. ' At a meeting of the' Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association Mr R. Salmon said the master butchers were inaugurating on insurance fund for condemned stock. Butchers frequently had beasts con-' ! demned, and the result was a direct loss to the farmer, who had to stand the '•esponsibility. Under the eurance plan it was proposed to levyVsixpence per beast on farmers, and the fund would be drawn upon to compensate the seller whenever a beast was condemned. Mr John Masaey said he thought it would be better to. make the Government pay full compensation. Mr Gray urged that farmers and butchers should exercise better judgment in the sale and purchase of stock. Mr Salmon replied that it frequently happened that the best-|ooking animals were those condemned by Government officials for' tuberculosis. It was agreed to leave the matter in, abeyance until further information as to the proposed insurance fund comes before the committee.

Music in the howie gives the " finishingtouch." Just as an artist places the dainty, fairy finishes to his picture, so ■ does Music make the home a place of beauty. There must, of course, be the solid commonplaces in the home, just as the artist must have, his background; but the joy of music—its boauty and refinement—this makes the picture! It lifts life to'a higher p'ana—it soothes; and delights. Don't let your home be dull; get a piano.. Your ohildren will bless you for it. The taring the Dresden Piano Company, Limited, are so easy that no one need miss this delightful element from the home. A small sum . down, and monthly instalments of from 20s, will make you the possessor of a beautiful instrument. Write to Mr M.. J. Brookes, Wellington, the North Island. Manager.

Henry S.ianley, injured at the ftjuramarua coal mine, died at the ho pital at Auckland on Sunday. The tiecjased was 25 years of age. Palrnerston North milk vendors are contemplating the adoption of a system of weekly payments in preferei.cj to the coupon system. The deer in the Mangatihi district, Hnwke's Bay, are increasing rapidly, an 1 some magnificent animals are .to Jue seen browsing in the valleys. One of the boys at the Weraroa Training Farm absconded on Monday morning between seven and eigh-. o'clock. The police are now after liim. The demand for oysters at Auckland on Saturday exceeded the supply. Sho.-tly after noon the whole of tha ©/stars received by * the Government uepot were sold, and at an early hour in'the evening it was impossible to o itaiu any. Bottles sold retail at t,vo shillings.

It appears that the Royal Life Saving Society has abandoned tha Silvester methoi of resuscitation for the .appuvntly drowned in fivour of a method devised by Professor Chafer, of Edinbuigh. The representative at Home of the Dunedin association writes recommending an alteration, and the Otago centre has consequently agreed to adopt the new method. Auckland is very happily situated in regari to recreation grounds, and lately a Id.-d to its public possassions Eden Park t which contains fifteen acrej. Formerly this area was known as the Kirtgsland Cricket Ground,, and not lohg sinco was a mere stony waste. At is now a beautiful sward, and bein# ready at the latter end of-the cricket seasun no fewer than five cricket matches were played at once during an afternoon. The Mount Egmont National Park is to be closed for the winter months at the end of next week. During the past season it has attracted more visitors than in any previous year, three thousand.persons having paid toll. In the Mountain House itself and the adjacent cottages thpre is accommodation for one hundred and fifteen visitors. Work on a track from the, Mountain House to Lake Divos will be put in hand next season.

Dr. Bakewell, of Auckland, remarks, in connection with the dirty bank notes question, that at the commencement of the grjat smallpox apidetnic in Trinidad, in which there Vere 20,000 cases, ha successfully re/accinated the whole of the staff of the Colonial Bank. The only two who took smallpox were the tellers aid another who handled the notes. All the notes circulated in "the island were burnt after the epidemic. •

A big gathering of the brethren of the Masonic Order will take place this week at Auckland in connection with the annual i conference of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. There are now over 10,000 members of the New Zealand Order belonging to 155 lodges. It is anticipated that, between commissioned delegates and other brethren who are known to be oming, together with the wives,of somo who tho opportunity of a trip to Auckland, there will be fully 500 visitors, the Grand Lodge will., sit, for business at 2 p.m. to-d'iy, and in the evening the ,W.M. Grand Master, Bro. Lord Plunket, will be installed for a third tor.ii in that po3itiori. The Napier Borough Council and tie Wellington Genoral Labourers' Union have come to an agreement in • rjgard to "pay and working houra. The hours of labour are fixed at 57 pic week, except in spocial cases, with a minimum wage of Is ljd par hour for all general labour where not o;herwise specified. The increase in tie payment 3 to be made will represent an additional expeniiture of from £3OO to £7OO per annum. In some i.i3taic'es the men working uudef the council will by thia agreeme.it, recaive more than working under a recommendation of the Conciliation Board. Pfefere ice is to be given to unionists, all other things being e'lual. Whan a motion of sympathy with the victims of the recent railway accident was pasied at the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, Mr D. Stephens, delegate from the Enginedrivers' Association, said that among3t those who should receive especial sympathy was Driver Milburn, of the Bendigo express. Ic was essential that a driver of an engine should co on the footplate free ' from worry, but they found the methods of the department—whether wilfully or not —did tend to worry men t) a great extont. So much ho, that the men were hardly fit for their duties whim they signed on. It was r perfectly evident that had the Ballarat train not been late the accident would not have happened. He wanted to know why all the men who were responsible for the train being, late ' had not been suspended. A driver darad not state that a train was late, because the stations ware undermanned. Mr Stephens also complained that the regulations under which drivers worked were drawn up chiefly and supervised by men who had never had any experience of the footplate. An Auckland firm is in receipt of the following letter from London, dated February 28th, regarding butter shipments, which has a special interest just now: -"A few day 3 ' before the lonic arrived saw the highest point in oir mirket, when the price, as you will have seen, touched a . figura not before exoerienced for njarly 30 years. The reaction has been mora sudden than the ris9, and holders are to-day completely at set, not knowing in the least what t) ask for any graJd of bjtter. One of our customers told us he had quotations from twelve firms, and for the sama grade of butt«r there was a variation of nearly 20s per cwt. Doubtless the market will settle down in the course of the next week, when it may be found that prices were jammed down too low, and .there may be some recovery; but, of courso, it would be futile to express any opinion thereon at the time of writing." 'ALLTHE WORLD KNDWfI THAT Biliousness ia due to the disordered stilt > of the livor, and can only bs cured by rastoring that organ to natural healthy action. This TAMER, JUICE does promptly and thoroughly, bocauso it acts diiectly on the liver, stomach, and bowels. Tamer Jitica always cures not only biliousness, but indigestion and and constipation as well. Why not give ttis herbal medicine a fair trial. 173

The am Hint of rates collected last year in Wellington constituted a record, £138,348 being collected out of an estimated £143,000. Only £5,496 is outstanding, as against £6,190 last year. It is not often that a telegram occupies twelve months reaching its destination in thid State, says the "Sydney Telegraph's" Temora correspondent, lii this respect the distinction belongs to Ariah Park. In May, 1907, Mr Robertson, of "Hillview," Wyalnng, sent a telegram to Mr J. W. Harrington, of Ariah Park; nearly twelve months afterwards the telegram was handed to 'Mr Harrington. Where it had been ,in the meantime no one seems to know. It may be mentioned that tie distance from Wyalnng' to Ariah Park id abouft thirty miles. Mr G. Gray's steam launch is now heated on the Park Lake, having been successfully launched on Mondav. The launch was evidently capally constructed, as it rides on the water with an even keel without the need of any ballast whatever. iYir Gray will be unable to have a trial spin with the boat until about a fortnight, as home deta'l3 in connection with the machinery have yet to be attended to. The boat is not fully completed in other respects, as an awning has yet to be added. The launch will carry with comfort about sixteen pnssengers. Mr Gray has the crelit of having constructed the first craft of this kind ever built in Wairarapa, and he has made a very pretty model.

The death of Sir Henry CampbellBannennan is not without certain melancholy interest of almost personal character to residents of tnig State (writes the ferth correspondent of the "Svdney Morning Heiald"), from the fact that his brother, the late Mr Iphn Campbell, of Tulhchewan, Scotland, is buried in the old ac Fremantle. Mr John Campbell was engaged in business in Calcutta, being a partner of Sir Lyon Playfair, and was stricken with dysentery. *our years ago he was ordered to remove to Hobart as the only chanre of saving his life. He travelled by the mail steamer Australian, but hid to leave the vessel at Fremantle, and died a few hours after being put ashore. Mr Ethelbcrt Watts, a United States Consul-general in Belgium, in the course of a repoi t to headquarters, says:—"The carpet industry has almost completely disappeared from the Brussels district. The English have adopted the designs of the beautiful Brussels tapestry and introduced them to the trade as 'Brussels tapestry carpets.' The socalled Br J93SI-3 carpets aw manufactured in England and supplied to the Belgium market at prices much lowtr than those for which the same carpets can be produced in Belgium, for the rJason that the English use modern machinery and manufacture in largj quantities."

Somo idea of the great expense connected with the production of an opera may bo gathered from the following recently published figures representing the sums spent on the "mise en scene " of various works at the Paris Grand Opera, says the London "Daily Express." The production of Meyerbeer's "Le3 Huguenota" in 1836 cost 100,000 francs. After the fire which took place some years ago thi3 and severs! other "operas had to be recounted, an.l the expenses were as follows: — "Les Huguenots," 173.000 francs--"Faust," 187,000 francs; and "Lc Prophete," ' 224,000 francs. The most expensive opera produced in Paris was Salvayre's "La D-inne di Montsoreau," on which 320,000 francs were spent. This work wa3 produced in 1888, and disappeared after eight performances. The work which cost the least to produce is "Die Walkare," 80,000 francs. Mr F. P. Welch wants fencers to take contract on East Coast. A young man seeks work of any description. A reward is offered for the recovery of a parse lo3t on the VVangaehu road. A well-assorted stock of stationery is t'6 hand at the W.F.C.A. fancy goods department. Mr F. P. Welch advertises for sale at bnrgain price a first-class sixroomed house and quarter-acre in Queen street. A not'ee of the reconstruction of the directorate of Messrs Slack and Co., Ltd., Wellington, will be found elsewhere in this issue. The Wellington Education Board invite tenders to close at noon, on Wednesday, May 13th, for painting and repairs to the Gladstone School. A reward is offered for the recovery of a half draught gelding and mare with foal at foot, lost from Mis'. M. George's paddock, at Alfredton. Messrs P. B. Lomax and Co., land agents, Wanganui, advertise particulars of a first-class well-appointed dairy farm of 203 acres situate in the Taranaki district. Particulars of several good farms ranging from 200 acres to 1,800 acres, situated on the Main Trunk Line, are advertised by Mr Alfred Perry, land agent, Hunterville. A block of 2,859 acres of milling bush, situate in the Manawatu district, is advertised for sale by Mr J. B. Keith, Masterton. Particulars of the block and also of a handy-sized form of 200 acres will be found elsewhere in this issue. On page 8 of this issue Messrs P. B. Lomax and Co., land and estate agents, of Wanganui, advertise particulars of a very desirable dairy farm which has been placed in their hands for disposal. Write for fuller particulars at once. j On Saturday next, at the residence, Albert Street, Mr J. U. Nicol will sell on account of Mr Sydney Earee, who has left Mastarton, his furniture and effects. Particulars of the numerous lines will be advertised to-morrow. At the residence, Pine Street, this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell on account of Mr Douglas Dobson, the whole of his furniture and effects, which comprise all the leading line 3. As Mr Dobson has left Masterton, the goods' will be sold without reserve. For rhouraatism,' baokacho, facoache, earache, neuralgia, and other muscular pains nothing can equal WITCH'S OIL (ragistered).

It is stated that the Sandon district is eminently suited to the growing of rye grass, says a Taranaki paper. It has now been grown successfully for the pa°t four or five years, and is much sought after by merchants and buyers, and commands a much higher price than the seed from the South Island. The yield is excellent, some threshings giving as much as 33 and 341bs to the bushel. "A Cable Worth £3,000" is the title placed over the following paragraph in the "Dairyman"—As the result of the cable sent to England by the secretary of the National Dairy Association, Mr Joseph Harkness, to Mr Chas. Mackie, the association's agent in London, the price of butter jumped up 10s a hundredweight between Saturday and Monday. On receipt of the cable, Mr Mackie communicated the contents to everyone in the trade in London, and the rise was the result.

Speaking on the subject of immigration, a northern contemporary remarks: —Population of all kinds is what the dominion requires. We do not wish to see an influx of pauper population—New Zealand has tried that before—but we wish to see a steady and continuous stream of ablebodied, clean-living, industrious men and women, particularly of the farming type, arriving by every steamer. The nominated system of immirgation id heing encouraged by the Government, but more can be done in the matter, and should be done. We hope the Farmers' Unions throughout the dominion will take up the matter in all earnestness and impress its importance upon tne Government, and we trust the Government will give a willing ear to the representations. That there is more in the potentialities of a screwdriver than is dreamt of in the average person's philosophy is nhown by the statement of an Oamaru carpenter. He has invented an appliance for use in operating screwdrivers, and his allegations to the Registrar of Patents say that the appliance "consists of a collar adaptad to fit and be secured upon the shank of a screw oriver, and formed with ratchet teeth upon its periphery, and a cylindrical casing loosely surrounding the collar, and enveloping the l-atchet teeth, provided with a pivoted spring pawl engaging with such teeth, and with a handle for rotating the casing, substantially as specified."

During the past wesk the London wheat market has advanced 2s per quarter, which works out at, 3d per bushel, says the Dunedin "Star." And the Sydney market in response now shows a like improvement. In consequence values locally have lifted and after an animated week, prices are now steady with a quickened demand at from 4s 6d to 4s 8d per bushel. One line of fifteen hundred sacks of red chaff Tuscan and velvet sold at 4s 7d, and lines of velvet aiv inquired for. In the present state of the market millers may he inclined to give up to 4s 7Jd and 4s Bd, and if the Home cables report anything like a further firming, lines of this description .may advance another penny. The potato market is firm at £4 10a to £4 ] ss. Few lines are coming forward, and these are being readily snapped up. Oats have improved id since the beginning of the week, and a much fir'insr tone prevails. This is attributed to the Australian buyers who are now opsrating in New Z-ia'and.