LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9087, 12 May 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Mayor (Mr I'. L. Hollings) has called a special meeting of the Council f»r Friday next to consider the proposed extension of water and drainage schemes, and to decide what steps ■ shall be taken in the matter.

The Committee of the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club has made special arrangements in connection with its social 011 Thursday evening for the supply of first-class music. The floor of the Drill Hall will be specially prepared, and the supper arrangements will be in the hands of a capable ladies' committee. The tender of Mr VV. D. McCalmont, of Mastarton, has been accepted for the erection of a bridge over the Oroua river, for the Kiwitea County Council (Feilding). The contract price was £1,400. Mr Mc-C-ilmont has a staff uf men at present engaged on the erection of bridges at Pongaroa, and has also secured the contract, for the erection o£ a bridge at Weraiti. At the District Court, which sits in Masterton next week, Emmanuel Anderson, for whom Mr P. L. Hollings is acting, will proceed against an Opaki resident for £SOO for damages f n r alleged personal injuries received. Another case set down for hearitg is Alfred Geange v. F. H. Jones, a claim for ,£IOO damages for alleged slander. Mr C. A. Pownall and Mr P. L. Hollings are appearing respectively for the plaintiff and the defendant.

A man named Charles Leekie was brought before Messrs E. G. Eton and J. Pauling, J.P.'s, at Masterton vesterday morning, charged with the ' theft of a bottle of whiskey, valued at 6s, the property of Robert Barclay. Accused, who was unrepresented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. Ivy Dorrington, barmaid at the Prince of Wales Hot«l, deposed to missing a bottle of whiskey from tha counter which was standing before accused, and disappeared when her back /was turned. Constable Doggett, who w r as called to the Hotel, said accused denied stealing the whiskey, but offered to show where it was hidden. The bench held the charge proved, and imposed a sentence of seven days imprisonment with hard labour.

A civil case, adjourned from Eketahuna, was taken by Mr W. P. James, S.M., at Masterton yesterday. W. J. Saunders, sheepfanner, sued J. McDougall for £75 balance alleged to b3 flue o i a forward delivery contract for the sale of 400 sheep. The evidence shpwed that defendant, who purchased through Dalgetv and Co., had accepted 150 sheep on going out to inspect the flock at plaintiff's place, but refused to take delivery of the balance of the flock on the ground that they were not of the class alleged to have been sold when the contract was made. Plaintiff offered to deliver sheep of the class desired, but at a later date, though within what was contended to be the contract time. Defendant refused to accept this arrangement. Defendant contended further that he purchased direct from Dalgety and Co. and not through them, and the position was further complicated by two sale notes having been signed, which did not coincide in detail. Mr T. Page appeared for plaintiff, and Mr C. A. Pownall for defendant, Mr D. K. Logan watching proceedings for Dalgety ami Co. Judgment j was reserved.

Mr W. P. James, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Masterton Police Court yesterday morning. A man named John Lee, with a long record of previous convictions, was charged with having no lawful visible means of support. He was defended by Mr 0. A. Pownall, and pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by F. S. Cooper, licensee of the Central Hotel, and J. Jones, billiard-marker, to the effect that accused had been loafing'around the hotel playing billiards and not paying for them, and imposing on patrons. A. Rehav, res-taurant-keeper, said accused had refused to pay for a meal there, saying he h;td no money. Counsel asked for leniency, but the Magistrate said accused had negl. c e l ample opportunities offered him, and . imposed a sentence of three months' hard labour. A first offender was finsd os, with the usual alternative, for insobriety. James Dalton, who appeared on remand charged with habitual drunkenness, was defended by Mr Pownall. The Magistrate said the best course to adopt with accused was to commit him to an inebriates' home for a term. said accused had been to a home but did not like it. This statement was denied by the police. Dalton was committed to Pakatoa Homo for two years.

TUSSICUKA euros coughs and colds at once. Stops the ticklo and affords easy expectoration. All stores.

The matron of the Masterton Hospital desires to thank Mrs H C. Robinson for books and Mr E.-Hale for plants and flowers.

The Te Ore Ore Native Football Club will hold their first annual dance at the meeting hous* l , Te Ore Ore, on Wednesday, May 20th. The adjourned meeting of Knox Church congregation, held last week in connection with the building proposal, will probably be called again for Monday w u ek next. Opaki Rifle Ciub meet to-morrow evening, when the Empire Rifle Match for the "Daily Mail" Competition will be further discussed, in addition to general business. The assistant Government Apiarist (Mr R. Gibb) is at present in this district on business connected with his department. Bee-keepers who wish to interview him should leave an intimation to that effect at the Stock Office, in Church street.

A man nam».d Michael ICirby slipped on the polished oilcloth in his home on Saturday and broke one of his legs. He was removed co the Napier Hospital, and collapsed while under chloroform. He leaves a wife and four children.

Two more cases of typhoid fever have occurved at Martinborough. One of the patients has been admitted to the Greytown Hospital, but the other has been refused admission on account of the lack of accommodation. The Featherston Volunteer Fire Brigade is endeavouring to raise funds to equip the members with uniforms. So far, it has gathered in £lB, and the district has not yet been half canvassed. The brigadesmen are very hopeful of their efforts being crowned with success.

In view of the extensive support promised by the ladies, the management of the Chapel street skating rink has decided to reserve Monday night in each week for ladies only. The rirk was largely attended last evening, by upwards of 100 ladies, moft of whom indulged in skating.

The Masterton Operatic Society met last evening, Mr VV. G. Lamb being in the chair. It was unanimously decided to abandon the idea of producing the "Bohemian Girl," and to rehearse instead a lighter opera, preferably a Gilbert and Sullivan composition, which will be selected at a later meeting.

The monthly meeting of the directors of the Workers' Mutual Building Society was held in the secretary's office last evening. Mr R. Krahagen occupied the chair,and there were also present—Meissrs J. Prentice, W. H. Cole. A. Gardner, T. S. Cres«well, J. W. Gordon, J. C. Ewington, H. O. Fowles. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £l5O 12s 9d. The Chairman said that an appropriation of £3OO by sale would take place on May 21st. Two new shares were applied for and allotted. The production of the oratorio, "Christ and His Soldiers," to be given in Knox Hall on Wednesday evening next promises to be a great success. The choir and orchestra hava the music well in hand. To enable the audience to intelligently follow the work sheets containing the words will be supplied. Special arrangements are being made to improve the lighting of the Hall and che choir will be accommodated on an elevated platform. A final rehearsal will be held to-night at 7.15 sharp. About twenty persons attended a meeting held in the Exchange Hall last evening in connection with the proposal to form a Choral Society. The Mayor (Mr P. L. Rollings) occupied the chair. It was agreed that there was ample scope in Masterton for the proposed society, and the following were elected a provisional committee to canvass for members: —Messrs Hollings, H. S. Claughton, R'. C. Nixon, J. W. P. Snelgrove, G. F. Allen, W. A. Fendall and Mrs Keith. It was resolved that when thirty active members were procured the society would meet again and elect officers. It was mentioned that the famous English tenor, Mr Chas. Saunders, had offered to sing with the society on his proposed tour of New Zealand. Mr Saunders sang at the last two triennial Handel Festivals in London.

Concerning the approaching departure of the Rev. and Mrs T. J. Smith, of Featherston, St. John's Anglican vestry has passed the following resolution"That the vestry of St John's wishes to express its sincere regret at the 10.-s of the Rev. T. J. Smith, he having been very energetic; and both he and Mrs Smith have filled a gap we long wished to see filled. Both will be greatly missed. At the same time, we are not unmindful of the fact that Mr Smith has better prospects before him. We wish him and Mrs Smith all the happiness and prosperity that can be given them. We console ourselves by knowing that our loss is Ficton's gain. We thank Mr and Mrs Smith for the great interest they have taken in church matters, and the good they have done for us. When we say this we feel that we voice not only the feelings of church members, but of the public in general."

There is work for the police to do on some of the football grounds in this district. At Waitara yesterday and last week as well, a ( stream of filthy language came from some of the spectators. There were some women close by, too —Maoris, it is true—but that did not make any difference. This conduct must have bean trying- to the players. They }; id to bear this obscenity l'oared at them mingled with evil advice, and yet they had to play a clean game and keep a clean tongue. One player in a moment of excitement let out a comparatively unoffending "cussword," and the referee promptly did his duty by sending him off the field. The language of the louts on the line became a deeper blue then. It was chiefly directed to threatening the referee with grievous bodily harm. One or two prosecutions for obscenity would do the cause of football in Waitara a lot of good. In many other places in New Zealand a policeman is invariably sent to a match at which there is likely to be a crowd? Why not in this district? —"Taranaki Herald'' of May Bth.

Mr C. F. B. Livesay, 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— P.O. Box 771. Telephone 2GD2,

The "Taumaranui Press" reports the finding of two mountain dog» at the Maori , settlement in that district. These animals were supposed to be extinct They are lowset white woolly dogs with jet black eyes.

There has been a change in Salvation Army circles lately, the various districts throughout the dominion being more defined. Dannevirke now extends from Pahiatua to Napier inclusive, with Dannevirke as its centre. Adjutant and Mrs Thurkettle have been appointed to the charge of this district, and were welcomed on Thursday night.

At a representative meeting of the Opposition party, held at Woodville on Thursday, the following letter was read from Mr W. H. Hawkins: "With reference to the statement alleged to have been made by interested parties for political reasons —viz., that I have at any time pledged myself to Mr Bolton not to contest the Pahiatua seat at the forthcoming general election, I give the statement a most emphatic denial. It is my intention to contest the seat against all comers, but I refuse absolutely to plae? my name in a hat before any conference." After a great deal of discussion, the following motion was carried unanimously: "That this meeting can in 110 wise see its way to support either Messrs Bolton or Cooper, and that it pledge itself to support Mr W. H. Hawkins at the forthcoming election."

"The first fall of snow will bring an increase in the price of fish,'* said a fish-dealer to a Dunedin "Star" reporter, and he went on to explain. Tbc barracouta of which there has been a plentiful supply lately, leave our shore on the first appearance of snow. It is only on account of the fino weather that they are not away already. Kingfieh have been very scarce this year. The reason of the increased price when the 'couta leave is that the surplus supply, instead of being smoked for the winter trade, as formerly, has been sent outside the district. As many as four hundred dozen a wei k have been sent to Canterbury. It is a question of quick returns, and the comparatively small reserve stock is sure to make for high prices as the winter draws on.

There is hardly a house in New Zealand at which the appearance of a telegraph messenger creates any excitement, for within our boundaries we have popularised the system nf cheap rates. And the houses in New Zealand, of the hundred thousand whose inhabitants are connected by the closest of ties with the Old Country, are few and far between which have ever received or transmitted a cable message. If Sir Joseph Wnrd would push the cable question home to practical reform, eays the Auckland "Herald," he would make himself a lasting monument, . for when all is said and done it is the being able to communicate at pleasure with one another which most surely binds peoples together and prevents that drifting apart which begins in ignorance and ends in misunderstanding. "When we started this physic business," said a gentleman at the twenty-first annual meeting of the Dunedin United Friendly Societies* Dispensary on Thursday night, "we reckoned that out of every shilling taken for medicine lljd would be profit, and id would pay for the raw material. We soon got an eyeopener." The "eye-opening" education, however, says a Dunedin paper, seems to have been confined to the belief concerning the lljd profit. After the first year, when there was a loss of £125 18s, the profits realised in the business effected by the dispensary steadily increased to remarkable totals. The lowest profits earned were in 1889, when the sum of £3O 18s was gained. The highest profits were obtained in 1904, when £1,089 lis was realised. This year the credit balance of £7,276 12s 2d was carried forward, representing almost six times the subscribed capita'. (£1,351 10s). The credit system is unsatisactory to both sides, says the "Christchurch Press," if a tradesman has to give credit to the customers, it usually means that he must get credit himself and pay for the accommodation. If he received cash he cuuld himself pay cash, and thus get his goods at a cheaper rate. More than this, he would avoid the bad debts which at present form such a harassing feature in traders' worries and cares. With a general adoption of the cash system he could aii'ord to supply his customers with goods at much cheaper rates. With a general adoption of cash payments there would come an all-round reduction of prices. Moreover, the customer would be helped in another way in his or her efforts to observe due economy, since it is well known that, while those who pay cash usually hesitate to buy anything they do not really require, the credit system conduces to reckless expenditure. An advertiser requires ah experienced waitress. A good cook is wanted at the Masterton Hospital. Mr J. Snell is authorised to prosecute trespassers on the Solway estate. An elderly woman or strong young girl is required by an advertiser to do washing and cleaning. Seed and feed outs and wheat are in full supply at Messrs J. D. Cruickshank and Co., Ltd. The firm also stock the best known manures.

Tenders are invited by Mr H. A. Jones, architect, of Masterton, for the erection of a brick shop and dwelling in Queen Street. Tenders close at noon on Saturday.

At Mr A. R. Maltby's old established Cafe special provision will be made this winter for catering for the wants of the town and country patronage. A fine five course shilling dinner can be obtained daily, and clients can rely on receiving the best possible attention.

For rheumatism, backache, facoachc, earache, neuralgia, and other muscular pains nothing can equal "WITCH'S OIL (registered).

Give me a stoup of sparkling wine, Give ine a song, a trusty friend, Give 1110 the wiles of beauty's smiles, And I'll be happy to the end. Hut when the head with fever burns, And higher creeps the temperature, When chest is sore, and rest is o'er, Give me "Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

A loss of £62 was made by the •Hnwke'a Bay Agricultural and Pas•.t„ral Society over its autumn show.

At thfe opening, of the Hastings District High School arid Technical School, the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, quoted the following figures :--In 1902 there were 38 district high schools in the dominion, in 1903, 50; in 1904, 52; in 1905, 59- in 1906, 61; and last year 64 district high schools, in addition to previously established high schools. The scarcity of Justices of the Peace in Napier (says the "Napier Tele fe raph") is becoming a public scandal. One day last week the work of the court was blocked for nearly an hour because two of "the great unpaid" could not be found to hear the cases set down. Mr McCarthy, S.M., has been ill for some weeks, and is still unable to attend to business.

The will of the late Mr G. G. Stead 'has been certified for probate at ..£176,000. The estate is left to the four children in equal parts, but a isum of £1,500 a year has been left ittHrfftrStead, who has tl.o right of 'residence at Strowan, IV.panui Road. "The sum of £SOO has bci.n left to each • deceased gentleman's two residing in South Africa, and to the daughters uf a sister who • died some time ago. The Blackball delegates, who had ;a conference with the. company's 'director in Christchurch, returned to <Greymouth on Saturday evening, and vwill lay certain pioj.osals before their union to-day. Apparently the imatter now in dispute is in the truckers working a ten hours' shift. .As, however, the trucker - themselves •do not object to overtime, this point ijs not likely to be insurmountable. The contributions from coast unionlists have fallen off a great deal lateily, many workers being disgusted at the attitude adopted and persisted in iby the strikers.

New Zealand has been much in the public eye because of its resources ;and its progress; and, doubtless, some have wondered where the development will end (remarks the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"). At a 'dinner given to the New Zealand ibowlers at Warringah, last week, Mr A. 3. Whitehouse, secretary of the New South Wales Bowling Association, threw some light upon iits destiny. He said New Zealand •was a great country, it possesses scenery, great wealth, grea 1 ; sttrasmen, great financiers, great bowlers, great sportsmen, generally, - and one of these days it would have i.a great earthquake that would turn all its greatness into a great . "The conclusion was lost in a roar of laughter, which showed that the dominion's probable great disaster did not arouse great or terious i.'concern. Still another competitor with New : Zealand in the world's meat market , looms on the horizon. While politicians are occupying themselves • with Dinizulu and his troubles, the larmera of Natal are doing what they can tj increase the colony's exports. Quite recently a trial conssignment of lamb from the up-coun-try districts of the "Garden Colony" reached Smithfield Market. It is a curious circumstance that as this lamb was leaving the wharf at Duriban a very much larger consign>ment of New Zealand lamb was being discharged at the port. Efforts aro being made to improve the breed of sheep in Natal, and 'if the present shipment meets with favour it may lead to a considerable • export trade. The distance is shorter than from New Zealand, but, says a -contemporary, although the Natal lamb is of good quality, it is inferior •to the New Zealand article.

An imposter of a somewhat novel reported in the "*ree Press" "doing " the Clutha district at • present. He is of farmer-like ap-, pearance and wears rifling pants, al- • though from all accounts he makes • his peregrinations on foot. His method is to call at a farmhouse and rep- ■ resent himself as the agent of a combination of stock and station agents who are out to buy grain in unlimited quantities and at prices just a '"bit better" than anyone else can offer, "on account of the largeness •of their operations, etc." The prospect of a penny per bushel more 'for his oats usually tickles the fancy of the sturdy producer, and makes him feel very hospitable to- • wards the caller. The latter requires no pressing to stay for dinner and tea or even to accept a bed and breakfast. Little sample bags of the 'orthodox type are produced, and the agent takes the farmers' grain samples, and goes on his way rejoicing. " That is the last the tiller of the soil hears of the matter, for his whilom

friend representing the "big agents," when he gets out of sight of the coolly empties the sample bags and goes on to the next ' place.