LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3054, 26 November 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Crs W. J. Welch, R. F- Beetham and J. Colquhoun have been elected to represent the Masterton County Council on the Wairarapa District Hospital Board. The liquidation of the Hessey Gold Dredging Company has been com pleted and the final payment to shareholders will be made during the course of the next few days. The Masterton County Council decided yesterday that the whole Council form a works and finance committee for the year, on the lines of past years. It was decided by the Ma3terton County Council yesterday to appoint Cr J. * Miller, Mr R. T. Holmes and Mrs Cairns to represent the Council on the Masterton Benevolent Trustees. About a dozen members of the Mesterton Mounted Rifles attended at the Drill Hall last evening, but no parade was held on account of no officers being present. Haymaking will be general in this district in the course of about a fortnight. Farmers are looking forward to a very good hay crop this year, tetter than for somi seasons past. Harvesting will commence on several places in the course of a week or two, the prospects being most encouraging. The convict Joseph Norman, who is charged with having assaulted Mr A. Armstrong, gaoler at the Terrace Gaol, v/ill not be bought before the Court until Mr Armstrong is able to appear, stages a Press Association telegram.. Mr Armstrong is still in the hands of the doctor, but it is expected that he will be about again eary next week. The trophy games in connection with the Masterton Bowling Club commence in a few dnys, and the Secretary (Mr C. D. King) will be pleased to receive entries, names to be posted on the board at the pavilion. The Club proposes to send a few rinks to Palmerston North on Saturday, the names of intending visitors being requested early by the Secretary. Later matches will be played with Pahiatua and Petone. There has been a larger area put down in rye grass on the Upper Plain this year than ever previously. The reason is that the seed from the Plains is regarded by outside experts as equal to anything produced in New Zealand, and better than the average. In Palmerston North, where a lot of Upper Plain seed is cleaned the firms through whose hands the seed passes speak very highly of the ryegrass seed. In connection with the Lansdowne water supply scheme, Mr G. LaingMeason, engineer for the scheme, wiote to the County Council yesterday asking if the Council desired his presence at their meeting on Bth December next to explain his plans for the work, which would be submitted to them on that date. It was decided to requerft Mr Laing-Meason to be present, Councillors thinking it would be advantageous to them if the Engineer were present. 4 In connection with the appointments of representatives to the respective Hospital Trustees, . the Masterton County Council yesterday decided tto appoint Cr •J. Morris to vote for Cr J. Miller as a representative on the Masterton Hospital Trustees, Cr W. J. Welch to vote at Greytown for Mr W. Udy on the South Wairarapa Trustees, Cr Kebbell to vote at Pahiatua for Mr H. J. Earner on the Pahiatua Trustees. AH these elections will take place on the 7th of December. Cr A. Murray was appointed to vote for Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., at the election held yesterday for representatives to the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, and Cr Miller to vote at Wellington on the 7th December in support of Mr Hogg, and Miss Richmond on the Wellington Benevolent Trustees. The annual statutory meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday, the Clerk, Mr F. G. Moore, occupying the chair. Crs W. J. Welch, D. W. Foreman, J. Morris, C. C. Kebbell and A. Murray were present. "Nominations were invited for the position of Chairman ot the Council for the ensuing year. Cr Kebbell moved, and Cr Murray seconded, that Cr Welch be re-elected Chairman. There were no other nominations and Cr Welch was declared elected, amidst applause. Cr Welch returned thanks for the honour again conferred upon him, and stated that he had found it a pleasure to occupy the position in the post on account of the excellent support accorded to him by the Council as a body, and promised to continue to do his best to merit their confidence in him. ONCE A MAN BOYS A suit from us he is most unwilling to wear any othar make. That's why we're making suits for gentlemen all over the Dominion—gentlemen who have tested the fit, comfort, style, and quality of our clothes, and have found them the best: Why not leave your order with us when next in Wellington. Our cash prices mean money saved to you. Morrison and Penney, Tailors, 73 Willis Street, Wellington.

The annual examination in connection with the Upper Plain School commenced yesterday. The Masterton Municipal Band intend rendering a programme of music in the Park Rotunda on Sunday afternoon next, weather premitting. At a special meeting of the Waira* rapa South County Council, held at Carterton yesterday, Cr Wm. Perry was re-elected Chairman. ' Mr R. N. Barton, of Lower Valley, has presented a handsome silver cup to the Masterton A. and P. Association for competition at next Sho<v in the maiden hack class. Great preparations are being made for the Wai'-arapa Horticultural Society's Show, to be held at Carterton nn Saturday afternoon and evening. Record entries have been received in the several classes, and in the evening St. Mark's Choir will assist in the musical portion of the programme. A unique photographic group to be taken in New Zealand was that in which "Bill" Squires (Australian boxing champion), W. Webb (world's champion oarsman), and R. McKenzie (the giant advance agent of the "Kilties" Band and a first-'ilass athlete), were taken together in Wanganui last Sunday. Mr R. Brown was the presiding justice at the Masterton Police Court yesterday morning, when two inebriates comprised the charge sheet. Duncan McDonald, a second offender, was fined 10s, in default" 48 hours' hard labour, a first offender being fined ss, ard consenting to a prohibition order being issued against him. Inquiries from various local farmers by an Age reporter yesterday, go to show that, so far as the oat crop is concerned—Wairarapa's greatest harvest product—the dry se?so'n has been the cause of practically r.o rust appearing in the crcp. Smut, however, is reported to be bad in some localities, a few aiea? being particularly affected. Woolly aphis is also reported to have affected quite a number of crops. The improvement and preparation of Sblway Showgrounds for the 1910 Show of the Masterton A. and P. Association is giving the officials of the Association some thing to occupy them even as early a-< at present. So far 900 loads of soil have been deposited on the site for the grandbtands, while this week the subdivision of the grounds is to be commenced. Already an area of clover has been put down for feed for tne animals exhibited at the first Solway Show. Prospects are very satisfactory for the coming Show o f the Masterton A. and P. Association in February. The Secretary (Mr G. R. Sykes) has received some very generous promises of support from ouiside breeders in a large way, while locally there is every indication of past records being more than equalled. Already paddocking for stock is being arranged for, ana other similar details attended to. The produce stalls damaged by fire a few months ago are being re-built. Messrs Macmahon and Carroll concluded their Mastertun season last evening in the Town Hall, when an excellent programme of living pictures was presentee 1 . The audience were warm in their applause all through. "Bill" Squire, who was received with rounds of applause, again gave an exhibition of ball punching, etc., and tie films depicting the Burns-Squires boxing match for the championship of the world were followed with interest. The Company will appear at Carterton to-night. The wheel-tyre by-laws of the Masterton County Council were stated by Cr A. Murray, at the annual meeting of the Council yesterday, to operate adversely to the interests of the Council in respect of the Alfredton coach. Cr Murray said that, while a vehicle could carry aa many passengers.as it chos ? with a minimum width tyre, immediately goods were carried the by law operated, and the tyre had to be increased. The carrying of mails had the same effect, and the "mail service thus necessitated a heavier vehicle than was necessary under ttre" ordinary demands made upon the coach service. Cr Murray suggested that the coach might be 'exempted from the by-law in respect of the mails. It was decided to instruct the Clerk to report as to whether the coach could be exempted. "What is the cause of the late potato season this yaer?" was a qurey propounded yesterday to a prominent Masterton farmer who goes in extensively for potato culture. The reply was that the heavy frosts had given the potato cropa severe set back, with the consequence that new potatoes are weeks later on the market this year. 'Are there any indications of Irish blight so far?" was another question asked. "Not among the early crops," was the answer, "they are quite free of blight. We do not have Irish blight as a rule in our early crops, but about March the shaws begin to wither under its influence, when the late crops commence to mature." Last season, when crops in surrounding districts were eaten up with the dreadea scourge, not a single genuine case of Irish blight was reported in or around Masterton. An explanation is forthcoming in a measure as to the dearth of work for shearers in this and neighbouring districts, it having been remarked that the present season is the worst for shearers for many years. Under the agreement in connection with the Shearers' Dispute, which was settled without the necessity for Conciliation or Arbitration Courts, the price fcr shearing lambs was raised from 17s 6d to £1 per 100. Now farmers and stationholders are having practically no lambs shorn at all—in fact, it is estimated that one hundred thousand lambs less are being shorn this season than last If this is the case the shearers* have been responsible for the loss to themselves of just 100,000 time 3 17s 6d, and for a decrease in town trade corresponding to the proportion likely to be expended out of that amount in stores, etc. One reliable authority told an Age reporter yesterday that even at the jSmall extra cost farmers are risking losing a few lambs next year .rather than have them shorn this season.

Six new members have been elected to the Masterton Bowling Club. Particulars of a grey mare impounded on the 18th November are advertised by the poundkeeper. At the Masterton Auction Mart, on Sat-irday, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell furniture, drapery, millinery, and fiO White Leghorn Cowls. The owner of a young black collie dog str«yinsr on Mr Colin Campbell's property, Clareville, can have same on payment of advertising expenses The Masterton Borough Council notify that the sales of stock impounded at the public pound will be held on the first and third Saturdays in every month. Messrs S. Vaile and Sons, land and estate agents, Auckland, advertise a fresh list of properties that have been placed in their hands for sale. MrJ.R. Nicol held a successful clearing sale yesterday on account fo Mr J. Barker. Every line was old under the hammar at satisfactory prices. Mr W. H. Cruickshank, land and estate agent, Masterton, inserts two special land bargains in his advertising space, that have been placed in his hands for disposal. A comfortable four-roomed furnished cottage at York Bay, Wellington, is advertised to let by Mrs Christie, 14 Russell Terrace, Wellington South. In another column it is announced that a Tea Kiosk has been opened in the Masterton Park daily, including Sundays. Afternoon tea, fruit salads, and summer drinks will be a. specialty. Messrs Varnham and Rose, architects elsewhere invite tenders to close on December Bth, at 4 p.m., for the erection of Municipal gas buildings for the Borough of Masterton. Plans and specifications may be seen at the office of tha architects. A special clearing sale of furniture, crockery, glassware, curtains, drapery, pictures, mirrors, without reserve, will be held at the Post Office Auction Mart, on Saturday next, at 2 p.m. A large quantity of gooseberries will also be submitted to auction. "Secure your piano before Christmas" is the text of a new advertisement inserted by the Wellington I Piano Company Ltd., whose local agents are Messrs McLeod and Young, of "The Academy," Queen street.