LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9160, 6 August 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

After a fortnight of superlatively humid mid-winter weather a cold southerly set in yescerday, bringing icy rain with it. The roads were drier on Tuesday than for many weeks past, dust beginning to become almost a nuisance. The Masterton Morris Tube Association intend importing, for next season, miniature rifles. This will mean a lessened ammunition expenditure, and consequently make the shooting more popular; Miniature rifles are all the vogue at Home among night shooting clubs and associations. The Carterton Library Committee met on Tuesday evening, Mr J. M. Lightfoot in the chair. A vote of thanks was accorded to Constable McKelvie for securing a conviction against a person for taking literature off the Reading Room table. It was decided to apply to the Carterton Borough Council and County Council for their annual subsidies. The secretary reported that a consignment of books was aboard theTongariro, which was due to arrive on 12th inst. The Librarian reported that two new members had joined since last meeting. Accounts amounting to £2O were passed for payment. The fortnightly meeting of the Carterton Methodist Band of Hope was held in the Schoolroom on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance of members and friends, and the Kev. W. J. Elliott presided. The programme included a humorous dialogue entitled "Doing the Grand," the principal characters being taken by Messrs W. J. Stevens, C. Harhott, and J. Chew. At a meeting of the Committee held afterwards it was decided to invite the members of the Dalefield Society to pay a visit to the Carterton Society in a fortnight's time. Messrs J. Chew and C. Harbott were elected members of the committee.

A man named Alexander Glynn stood charged with being a vagrant, and also with drunkenness, at the Masterton Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs Eli Smith and J. Gross, J.'sP. Accused pleaded not guilty to the former charge, and guilty to having been drunk. The police tvidence was to the effect that accused had been procuring meal orders from the Benevolent Officer at Masterton, and had later got inebriated. Accused pltaded for leniency, stating that he was'on his way to get work when arrested. A fine of 5s was imposed for drunkenness, and on the other charge accused was severely cautioned and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

The following nominations have been received for the various offices of the Masterton Racing Club:— Patron, Mr A. W. Cave; President, Mr C. F. Vallance; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. Macara, C. A. Pownall, A. G. Pilmer, D. McLachlan; Timekeeper, Mr W. D. Watson; Treasurer, Mr C. F. Vallance; Clerk of Course, Mr C. J. Bennett; Stewards, Messrs R. Bnick, D. Caselberg. W. Cooper, Jas. Cress, J. lorns, A. Reside, JW. Piatt, W. D. Watson, C. H. Smith, W. lorns, A. J. Welch, u. Cooper, E. Welch and J. O'Meara; Auditors, Messrs G. G. Cork and G. W. Sellar. A ballot will be necessary only for the election of Stewards. The annual mt eting will be held on the 20th instant at tha Exchange Hall. Michael Power,/a young man, defended by Mr R. K\. Jackson, pleaded not guilty at the Masterton Police Uoutt, yesterdav, to a charge of the chef t ot three blanket?, the property of Margaret O'Neill, licensee of the Qußtn's Hotel. The police stated that accused had been employed at the hotel, and on being discharged three blankets had been missed. Power, on being arrested, admitted hiving taken one of the blankets which was found in his swag. Two. keys belonging to the cellar and storeroom of the hotel had also betn found on accused. Evidence for the prosecution was given by Mrs O'Neill and Constable Doyle. The .defence was that one of the olankets only had been taken, and that by mistake. Accused, on oath, denied that he had admitted to Constable Doyle that he had tak-jn the blankets. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. An application for probation was refused by Messrs Eli Smith and J. Cross, J.'sP., who heard the case, as they considreed that the offence was aggravated by accused having the keys in his possession. The pianowas mventad in Italy soni i 430 years ago and was then a vary crude affair, not at all like—either in tone touch or appearance —the beiiitit'ui in-, struuients with which wo are now famiiiar. It is difficult to say where the bast pianos are made; indeed, there is not much to choose between the productions ol the besr German or English manufacturers. The selection of a piano. is pretty much a (|iiestioii of individual taste and requirement. There are so many makers, so many prices and qualities which a purchaser" must consider, that it is always ad -isabie to consul.-, a reliable linn of spooia'isfcs, preferably a linn with a goud reputation, a thorough knowledge of the business, and a large stock to select from. Purchase your piano from the Dresden Pia'uo Company, Limited. They are to be depended upon in all these respects. Timo payments from 2os. monthly. Local Representative: T. B. Hunter Beware of the dealer, salesman, or traveller who casts reflections upon his competitors. He does so from interested motives—perhaps to back up his own weak positicki. Our Agents are instructed not' to discredit rival firms. They are' to rely solely on the merits of the Company's instruments. For Bronchial Coughs take Woodr '*reat Peppermint Cure 1 ,'6 and 2/6.

A visit was paid to Te Ore OreMaori Pah -by Dr Pomase, Native Health Officer, on Tuesday. The Masterton Police have two bicycles at the Police Station whichrequire owners. A case of scarlet fever is reported"! from Kahautara. The patient has been brought to the Greytown Hospital. A meeting of the members of theMasterton Homing Pigeon Club will. be held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms at 8* p.m. on Friday, August 7th. It is probable that Mr W. P. James, S.M., will shortly do relieving duty in Wellington, Mr Riddle, S.M., of Wellington, being at present relieving on the Napier circuit. A sitting of the Magistrate's. Court will be held at Masterton today before Mr W. P. James, S.M. About fifty ci"il cases have been set. down for hearing. Mr F. B. McCay, draper, of Masterton, has been adjudicated a bankrupt. The first meeting of creditors, will be held at the office of the Official Assignee, Wellington, on Tuesday next. Mails for the Commonwealth of! Australia. Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Settlements; also South* Africa, Continent of Europe and* United Kingdom, per "Warrimoo," will close at Masterton on Friday,, at 6.15 a.m. Action is being taken by the local police against a secjnd-hand dealer at Masterton for purchasing goods after hours. charge has arisenout of a recent case in which a yourfiman was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for theft, he having sold 1 the stolen articles to tha second hand dealer referred to. Sir Robert Stout, Chief Native Land Commissioner, stated that when he sat at Masterton a fortnight ago, that Mr A. T. Ngata, M.P., the other Commissioner, would visit Masterton on Friday last in connection with the Te Qre Ore Native leases, concerning which an agitation in favour of closer settlement occurred a while back. The promised visit was. not paid, but it is understood that Mr Ngua will inspect the properties, concerned at the earliest opportunity..

Sixty electoral rolls have been issued. Those for the four principalcities contain the following number of electors:—Auckland East, 6,365; Auckland Central, 6,000; Auckland West, 6,512; total, 18,877. . Wellington North, 6,861; Wellington! Central, 5,786; Wellington South, " 6,951; total, 19.598. Christchurch North, 7,087; Christchurch South, 6,613; Christshurvjh East, 6,694; total, 20,394. JDunedin South, 7,028 Dunedin Central, 7,100 Dunedin North, 7,139 Dunedin West, 7,784 total, 29,051. Maori superstitions die hard. Recently a Wa pukurau young man (says the local /'Press") had the misfoitune to cut a finger on* some-, glass, and it bled profusely. A. Maori, who witnessed the incident, immeciately marked a oiece of paper, with some hieroglyphics andi circles, and presenting it to the injured one, told him to place it over the cut, and it .would stop the: bleeding, explaining that it was a. charm'which the Maoris used to stop their wounds when injured ini battle. The young man accepted the paper, but later on sought ,the>. aid of a chemist. $ ' It is stated that the Hon. J. D.. Ormond is putting 10,000 acres of his Wallingford property on the market (having bought a big block of Queensland land). Mr George Hunter, Porangahau, will shortly offer--10,000 acres; Mr Spencer Gollan, Mangatarata, 10,000 acres, Mr S. Johnston, Takapau, 7,000, and Mokoia, 3,000 acres; while 10,000 acres of Mount Hubert are still for sale, as well as part of Motuotaraia (14,000 acres), and a number of other smaller properties, making altogether some 100,000 acres of Hawke's Bay land in the market. If all this were well fettled it would set the province booming, but the prices are in many cases above the ideas of buyers. * About a week ago the Dunedin police submitted to Professor Black, Government Analyist, sixteen samples of milk taken from sixteen milk vendors who resiJe within a radius of ten tin las of the city, and who supply city customers. .The persons from whom the samples were taken leside north, south, east and west of the city. The "Otago Daily Times" states that in eleven of f he samphs it was found that the milk was pure, and contained milkfat beyond the requirements of the "Sale of Foods and, Drugs ActH 1907," that is, 3.25 per cent. Three* samples, however, wire found to beH under the required standard, andH prosecutions in these cases will likelwj follow. Two samples, it wasifarUn&SH were on the border line, very slightljj below the requirements fit the AciH and in these cases p%>bably onl\M cutions will be administered. H Mr Newton King, land agent, Ne\M Plymouth, advertises particulars oH several first-class farm propertiesfflH ranging in area from dairy farms t|fl extensive sheep runs. |fl Messrs Krahagen and Chapman now showing their spring and invite their clients to make aBW early selection. flfl At th.2 Masterton Auction Mart, Saturday,. Mr J. R. Nicol will on account of Messrs Benefield arflnj Sons, of Aramoho, a large consigrjMH ment of fruit trees, flowering shrubJH and plants. H