LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9150, 24 July 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The lat.st dredging returns to hand are as follow:—Masterton dredge, 430z 6dvvt for 135 hours' work; Mystery Flat dredge, 45uz 4dwt for 153 hours' work. Mr A. Cruickshank, brother of Mr J. D. Cruickshank, of Masterton, has succeeded in forming several branches of the Farmers' Union in districts along the Main Trunk Railway. Mr Cruickshank is chairman of the Mangaweka branch. Ex-constable Charles Cooper, who died recently at Wanganui, was some years back stationed in Masterton. With Constables Collerton and Nestor he was in Queen Street on the morning that Somerville murdered Mr Herbert, in the vicinity of the Club Hotel. Tho following have been elected an Executive Committee of the newly-formed Martinboiough branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union: —Messrs Geo. Pain, M. McLeod, R. Smith, J. McDougall, R. Clephane, S. Broadbent and F. E. Perry (chairman). Mr R. Smith has been elected treasurer.

On Wednesday afternoon the Woodlands Hunt Club hounds wire taken to H unua, ami an enjoyable run was held ovin- the surrounding country. In the evening the Club's annual ball ahviivs a popular function—was held. There was a large attendance, and dancing was kept up till an early hour yesterday morning. Considerable interest is being taken in the Club's annual race meeting, and judging by the performances of the various hunters in training a successful meeting should jesult.

A record list of civil cases for one sitting of the Court was dealt with at Mastertun yesterday, the duty of dealing with the ponderous schedule falling to the bt of Messrs L. J. Hooper and E. G. Eton J.P.'s, Mr W. P. James, S.M., not being able to attend through absence from town. Out of 105 cases set down, over 60 were struck out for want of attendance of either party, :i large number were confessed, several defended cases were adjourned, eventuallyjonly half a dozen going by default for plaintiffs.

A" civil sitting of the Court was held at Masterton yesterday morning, before Messrs L. J. Hooper and E. G. Eton, J.P.'s. Only undefended cases were taken, judgment being given for plaintiffs in t e following claims: —J. L. Hughes v. E. McHugh, claim £2 3s sd, costs 10s; Wellington and Wairarapa Motor Company v. H. H. Cl.iy, claim £2 15s (3d, coats 15s; Masterton Borough Council v. W. Dixon, claim £2 10s lid, costs ss; H. W. Rislnvorth v. E. P. Brogan, claim £1 17s Gd costs ss.

Mrs. J. Monvick, Grey-St., ShrtJanod, Thames, N. /»., says: "Some time ago when my little boy had his bands severely burnt, Hanson ami Co. recommended me to try Chamberlain's Pain Balm. F applied the liniment a-> s<>on as possible »ud after a few applications the pain disappeared and his hands healed without scars. Since then I have used Chamberlain's Pain Balm for headache, toothacho and rheumatism and I find that it always gives relief. I can recommend it to anyone wanting a good family liniment." For sale by all chemists and storekeepers. Woods' Great Peppermint ("uvo for Coughs and Colda nev<a hiils, 1/6 and

Trade is reported to be dull in Carterton.

Larsen's Bridge, at Nireaha, is to be publicly opened next Monday afternoon.

The Borough stall defeated the Fire Biigade in a euchre tournament last evening by 29 frames to 24.

The cheese factories ui the Lower Valley will re-open towards about the beginning of September.

A meeting of the No-License League and Young People's Auxiliary League will be held it; the Y.M.C.A. Rooms this evening, at 7.30 p.m.

The subdivision of the Carrington Estate is now completed. It is not expected that balloting for the sections will take place before next February.

Next month the dairj companies in the Carterton district will distribute the season's balances to the milk suppliers, when it, is estimated that between .-€7,000 and £B,OOO will be paid out. This in 25 per cent, less than was distributed last year. The summer drought and resultant scarcity of feed is showing disastrous effects on stock in the Carterton and Martinborough districts. Reports all round show that the mortality amongst milch cows is above the average. There is very little grass about, and cattle are being dry fed.

Mr C. J. Loggatt .won the prize for the half-mile race at the "Elite" Skating Rink, Chape! Street last night, for which he was awarded a handsome pair of *' Winslow" skates. "Musical Chairs" again provided much amusement and excitement for skaters.' The attendance was large. The St. John Ambulance Brigade held a practice in the Dominion Hall last evening under the supervision of Dr Cowie. Members of the brigade are taking a keen interest in their work, and have now been divided into four teams in connection with the forthcoming demonstration in the Town Hall. Next Thursday evening Dr Cook will deliver a lecture to the Brigade in the Dominion Hall.

Toe Catholic social in the Town and Drill Hall?, last evening, was a splendid success, the Drill Ilall being round far too small to accommodate the large number cf dancers, while a euchre tournament in the Town Hal! atlracted many competitors. The winners of the latter were Mrs O'Neii an si Mr R. Hatch. The supper tor the dance was provided by the ladies' committee, who worked very hard to make the function a success. Mr F. McKenzie's orchestra supplied the music, Messrs Mcintosh, McEwen, Fawcett and Mrs Withers, playing extras. Messrs J. C. McKillop, H. Richards, V. J. Darroch and J. Kelliher, wera iVl.C.'s, Mr F. J. Dupre acting as secretary for the social.

Of what avail the education t?st to keep Chinese out of New Zealand. A Celestial residing at Pel one for wards to the Clerk of the Court at Masterton a month's instalment of maintenance ordered by the Court to be paid to his European wife at the rate of 2s t ; d per week, in the following mellifluous language"Petone. —To the great Fr Justice (?) 0, High Excellency ! I quail before thy 13irible eye! Thy mejs ge of biu? has reached thy servant in regard to his mistress, 'Light of My Eyes,' otherwise (naming his wife). In trembling compliance I enclos; your Excellency'the ten bob demanded, praying humbly, 0 Great Prince, thou will receive it, and may the light of Litan shine upon thee for ever.—Your lowly servant, tf

A defaulting ratepayer named Mary Chapman defended the claim made upon her by the Masterton Borough Council at yesterday'? sitting of the Court for rates due. Inspector Cairns, prosecuting agent for the Council, was asked by defendant in cross-examination why she had not received a notification that her valuation had been raised. The Bench ruled that this omission, if it had occurred, did not alter defendant's liability, and surdry other irrelevant contentions were likewise summarily treated. Defendant concluded by remarking that she supposed she woul i have to pay up, but the Council would have to give her tirr.e to pay the money. Mr L. J. Hooper, who, with Mr E. G. Eton, occupied the Bench, replied consolingly that no doubt the Coin cil would willingly ag-ee to give defendant time to make the necessary payment. The largest trade union in New Zealand is- the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Its membership is over 6,000; it has £3,*86 on fixed deposit, and an additional £1,670 accumulated funds to the credit of the branches. It is stated in the cimeit number of the "Railway Review" that judged by the standard of members, funds, and enthusiasm, the society has never before been in such a flourishing condition. A tour of the branches has just been completed by the president and general secretary,, and at nearly every branch votes of confidence have been adopted. The Thorndon branch (Wellington) has had an increase of membership since May of 44; the Dunedin branch has added 33 new members, making a total of 1,010; Auckland branch has increased by 70 members in a quarter; and many other branches report increased membership.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers* Association, held in Wellington yesterday, the following resolution was passed: —"The members of the Licensjd Victuallers' Association, in annual session assembled, have learned with deep regret that a sta'err.ent has been made to the Trades and Labour ference, now sitting i" Wellington, 'that it was an instruction to the executive of the Licensed Victuallt re' Association, to take an uuanimnis stand against Labour.' Also 'that the Licensed Victuallers' Association is hostile to organised Labour.' This meeting now places 011 record the fact that no instruction, as stated, has ever been sent to the executive of the L.V.A. of New Zealand, nor has any such question evsr been c'is cussed. And, furthe:, this meeting strongly depreciates the suggestion that the L.V.A. of New Zealand is hostile to organised Labour in any fornj." Mr C. F'. E. Livosay, Architect of Wellington, lias moved to more convenient rooms in the National Mutual Cftambers, Customhouse Quay, (adjoining the Head Ofßoe of the Bank of N.Z.) Addreaa— P.O. Box 771. Telephone 2Q93,

In 1887 there were 21,186 children on the rolls of Auckland schools, and in 1908 the number had risen to 34, SI 4.

Pro*n Alexandra (Otago) it. is reported that provisions are running short; butter, sugar, and kerosene have gun out, but, fortunately, coal exists in abundance.

Now that a big thaw inland in Otago has set in, floods are to be feared. The Molyneux, which was reported at 7ft sin on Wednesday morning, and reached 10ft 2in at 4 o'clock and is still rising.

The mails which left Wellington on the 12th June by the Moeraki, and connected at Sydney with the Naples mails per the R.M.S. Orontes, arrived in London on the mornin gof the 20th inst., one day early.

The labour market in Gisborne ia overstocked. Amongst the unemployed are carpenters, plasterers and bricklayers. It is understood that the local railway works will absorb many of the labourers who are at present idle.

From to-day the price of butter will be raised by one penny per pound in Wellington, making it Is sd. It is said that the stocks in cool storage have been depleted by shipments to South Africa, and that a rise in price has been made compulsory in order to minimise consumption.

At Wellington, yesterday, before the Chief Justice, Robert James Roberts, a carter, was sentenced to twelve month*' imprisonment for theft of money from his employer. In the case of James Kay Grieve, guilty of incest at Taihape, a sentence of eight years' imprisonment was imposed.

A driver named Bradley gave a splendid exhibition of fortitude the other day, says a Taihape paper. He was driving a five-horse team through Taihape, when the horses bolted down the hiil towards the Hautapu bridge. There is a bad approach to the bridge, but he safely steered, the team across, and on the other side a stump caught the brake, end the jerk resulting broke his leg. Disregardirg the intense pain, he turned the horses, put them ,over the bridge again, only to have them bolt a second time. He, however, succeeded in turning into Batley's stables, where, after tome trouble, the horses were brought to a standstill. He then remarked casually, "You-might help me down, as my leg is broken."

A correspondent writes to an Auckland paper as follows: —During a special coach journey from Napier to Rotorua two Maori children (a boy' and a girl) were seen to emerge from, a bush-cleared gully, doublebunkii g a weedy-looking horse with tail and mar.e matted with biddy bids, or bun\=, and they accompanied or followed the coach for about ten miles. Questioned by Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie Hills, the boy stated that he and his sister rode eleven miles to school in this way every morning, and returned in the afternoon each day, having a charge of horses. On this particular road four hours a day would thus be taken up, which necessitated starting frcm ho're soon after daylight in winter, and getting home after nightfall. The childien seemed quite hsppy, and bc.ked forward to Saturday and Sunday off for recreation. They are the children of a native shepherd. j

The New South Wales Intelligence Department reports that during the six months ended June 30th, 1,318 assisted immigrants have arrived in New South Wales. Of this numler England contributed 806, Scotland 325, Ireland 141, Wales 34, South Africa 6, and foreign countries 6. Three hundred and ninety-one out of the total were nominated by relatives and friends in New South Wales, and 56 per cent, of the nominees were brought out by persons who were themselves recently-arrived immigrants 3. From the United Kingdom the arrivals numbered 1,306, representing an increase of 200 over the eonesponding period of last year. Besides the 1,318 assisted immigrants, laijd or employment was found by the Department for 450 persons who made their way to the State,- largely as the result of its advertising policy. Of these, 55 were agriculturists from other States, 268 came from the United Kingdom, 96 from British dependencies,. and 33 from foreign countries.

The question of truancy was- fully discussed, at the Hswke's Bay Education Board's,last meeting. It was stated that the trouble was not confined to those childien on the rolls who did not. attend school, but in towns there were numbers on the streets who were under no compulsion to feo to school The Act Laid down that every child, except those who obtained certifteate3 of exemption, must attend a school, and there was power for a truant officer to visit private schools, and unless the pupils had certificates they were deemed to be truants as far as public schools weie concerned. This section of the Act had not been enforced in any part of the Dominion,. and the result was that the school rolls were not as large as they should be. ' Tne board ultimately decided to obtain the co-operation of the police to acfc as truant officers, and in the event of an untavcurable repliy being received from the department, the board to formulate a scheme with a view to appointing a truant officer for each of the three wards.

A remarkable discovery of a tro* • lo'iyte cavern was made early in. June near Torres Novas, a small town about fifty miles north of Lisbon. Some field labourers engaged; in clearing work on the slope of the Arrife irountain ridge, a rocky and arid district, displaced a large stone* disclosing a deep opening leading to a gallery so filled with atalactitea that it was difficult to enter. A party of villagers explored the caves, and found a quantity of skulls and other human bones all broken. There was a profusion of ornaments, including a quaint bracelet., in perfect condition, all made of bone, axes, arrov? points, and knives of polished silex» and much red pottery traced with rough designs. The authorities had the caves closed until experts from the Archaeological Museum could ex-* amine them. The pottery points ta the existence of a "kjoeken moedd® ings" (remains of a kitchen) beloiVg* ing to a period in human history fifty centuries ago.

For Bronoliial Coughs take Wood Peppermint Cure, 1 ,'6 and 8/6»

In the event of Mr Laurenson s Bare Majority Bill coming before Parliament, the Otago and Southland Licensed Victuallers' Association intends proposing a new clause, raising flfche minimum age of persons to whom liquor may be supplied to twenty-one, and providing that -wherever no-license is carried no "liquor should De permitted in the district; that wherever liquor is discovered in no-licensed districts the persons responsible should be punish- , a ble with fine or imprisonment. Mr Newton King, land and com- - mission agent, of New Plymouth, ; advertises particulars of a 500 acre :'farm which he has for sale. Mr J. B. Keith, land and estate inserts particulars of a number of properties for sale in another column. ' The purebred Clydesdale stallion "The Monarch," by Record R e, £"-" Winnie, is advertised for saie by Mr Gaskin, of Maryborough. Messrs Dalgety and Co,. Ltd., are prepared a take risks against death of stock at lowest rates. Particu/"tars are advertised cn page 8 of this issue. The "Winslow" Skating Rink, having been let to a private linking club on Monday evenings, the public are notified that the rink will be closed to the public every Monday

evening. Mr Duncan recently retired from the position of chief p)gt naster at Auckland, has comnunced business as an estate agent in that city. Mr Cumming has a large number of excellent dairy farms and pastoral properties for sale, and in an advertisement on our leader page requests those in search of good investments in the north to send for his catalogue.

At the butcher's premises, Queen Slreet, to-morrow afternoon, the goodwill of lease of the shop, together with the whole of the plant it) the estate of A. A. Narby, will be sold by Mr J. R. Nicol, auctioneer, undwr instructions from the Deputy Official Assignee. The butcheis plant includes three carts and four useful horses. Every line will be sold without reserve. Messrs Hickman Russell and Co., an old established and reliable firm - of estate agents at New Plymouth, ■ insert an advertisement in this issue giving particulars of a particularly good sheep farm which ti e./ have for sale. It consists of 680 acres, and is .. at the preien'. t'me earning 2J sheep to the acre. It is within easy distance of a freezing works, 125 acres .. srs ploughable, and 25 acres are now in turnips. This property should meet with speedy sals at £6 15s per .. acre. Messrs Licien, Allen ani Co., of Hamilton, are well known estate , agents in the Wdikato district, with headquarters at Hamilton. The members of the firm are also experienced in land matters, having a thorough knowledge of values and what land is capaLle of producing. . In another column of this issue they advertise particulais of three propertits which they can thoroughly recommend to those in search of - an investment. They are situated in one ■ of tie most progessive districts in the Dominion, and it will be noted that the prices asked are very reasonable. t