LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3065, 9 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

When the Borough Council met last, evening, the Mayor, Mr P. L. Hollings, suggested that the Council as a body should accept the invitation sent to them to attend the social to be given that evening to Mr A- W. Hogg, M.P. On the motion of Cr Morris, seconded by Cr Haughev, it was decided to adjourn for that purpose, arid to meet again this evening for the transaction of Council business. Dr Ross reported a case of erisipelas to the Masterton County Council last month, the patent being at Lansdowne. On the motion of Cr D. W. Foreman, the Masterton County Council decided yesterday to proceed with the work of screwing up, painting and repairing the Miki Miki bridge over the Waipoua river. The petition in respect of the Licensing Poll will be commenced at the Magistrate's Court at 10 o'clock on Wednesday next, the 16th December. The presiding Magistrates will be Messrs W. P. James (Masterton), A. McArthur (Wellington), and A. D. Thomson (Palmerston North). A special meeting of the Masterton County Council will be held on the next ordinary meeting day to make a special order to strike a special rate to cover a loan of £250 for the erection of a bridge over the Taueru river on the EketahunaTinui Road. At yesterday's meeting of the Council the special order was confirmed striking a special rate of 11-SOths of a penny in the £ to cover the £I,OOO loan for metalling the Alfredton-Weber Road. The usual meeting of the 1.0. R. was held last evening, Bro. D. Threadwell presiding over a fair attendance of members. The meeting opened in the usual manner, after which Bro. Fielding gave a lengthy report of the combined Friendly S ocienes' meeting held in Wellington, re the medical agreement. Nominations of officers were dealt with, and a large amount of other business was transacted.

The total number on the roll of the Carterton School is 313, with an average attendance of 284. The primary school numbers 277 and the secondary 86. The attendance throughout has been well maintained, and the Truaunt Officer has not found it necessary at any time throughout the past year to proceed against any parent for neglect. The school will close for six weeks summer vacation on Friday, 18th instant. The annual picnic will take place on ths 17th.

The fortnightly meeting of St. Michael's branch of the H A.C.B.S. was held in St. Patrick's Schoolroom last evening, the President (Bro. J. Connor) occupying the chair. Bro. H. J. O'Leary, the Society's delegate at the Friendly Socieiies' Conference, held in Wellington, to discuss the agreement with the doctors, reported on the business transacted at the meeting, which he stated was very satisfactory to the Lodges concerned. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Bro. O'Leary for attending the meeting. One account was passed for payment.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton Fire Brigade was held in the Central Station last evening, Superintendent Jenkins occupied the chair. Christmas greetings were received from the Stratford and Pahiatua Brigades. Life member A. Gordon, who is on a visit to Masterton, received a hearty welcome from his old c omrades. Lieutenant Ewington, Fireman B. Braggins and Branchman E. Warner were presented with extra two year's service honours respectively. Superintendent Jenkins, Lieutenant Ewington and Engineer Braggins were appointed to select the members to take part at the Auckland Demonstration.-

The grand Catholic bazaar and art; union in aid of St. Patrick's Church will be opened in the Mastsrton Town Hall on Monday evening next, and will be continued for a week. All arrangements are now well forward, and everything points to a succesaful entertainment. The attractions during the week will include a splendid dancing display by fifty performers, step and fancy dances, songs and music by pupils of St. Bride's Convent, hat-trimm-ing competitions for men, and naildriving for ladies. Altogether the programme will be a highly attractive one, and will be greatly appreciated by those visiting the bazaar.

It is the intention of the new Federal Government to spend more money than has been done heretofore in advertising Australia with a view to attracting as immigrants suitable white peoples from Europe and America. In answer to questions on the suoject, the Minister for External Affairs said:—"l have asked the secretary of my department to let me have details of the advertising work done by the previous Governments in order that l may learn whether anything further can, with benefit to Australia, be started. Parliament has voted some £IO,OOO or £20,000 for advertising, but as far as I have been able to ascertain only some £3,000 has been spent."

A Gazette was issued last night formally proroguing Parliament to February 11th. About a dozen members from the Opaki Rifle Club will compete at the Wanganui Rifle Association's meeting on Boxing Day. In Palmerston North, milk is supplied nn the coupon system, which provides for seven quarts for Is 6d, or 2|d per quart cash at the cart. A six-roomed house, at Gisborne, owned and occupied by Mrs Brooking, was destroyed by fire on Monday. There was an insurance of £2OO on the house, and £125 on the furniture in the Guardian office. Heavy rain fell all day at Gisborne yesterday (says a late wire last nisht), and the country which had been getting rather dry, is greatly benefited. A fire of an incipient character in a confectionery shop near the District High School, in Queen Street, caused an alarm of fire on the Masterton J bells yo-iterday afternoon. The services of the Brigade were found to be not required. A petition has be?n lodged (says a Press Association message) against the Wellington Suburbs Local Option Poll, It is urged that the boundaries of the district were not properly Gazetted; that no issue for an increase of licenses (the population having increased by 25 per cent.) was included in the ballot paper; and that a number of irregularities took place. It is reported that the cocksfoot harvest this season on Banks' Pennsula will be a very disappointing crop. The paddocks are full of goose grass, and some will be hardly worth cutting. Last yeai's dry season is the cause of the trouble, the paddocks being eaten bare during the autumn and early winter. Rain is now badly wanted, as the hillsides are turning brown. At a meeting of the Public Baths Committee of the Masterton Borough Council last Tuesday a communication was submitted from the Secretary of the Presbyterian Summer School asking that delegates to the Conference at Christmas and New Year might be permitted to have the use of the baths free of charge. The Committee recommended that the privilege asked for be granted subject to the Town Clerk being satisfied that such delegates were provided with means of identification. A curious qf nature was discovered on Saturday by Mr J. H. Noonan,. of Fourth-avenue Kingsland, Auckland. He had noticed that of a setting of duck eggs one very large one remained after the others had released their fluffy little occupants, and he broke this egg, finding the shell enclosed a duckling with four wings, four legs, and two tails, while the neck seemed to be double jointed. The wings and legs of this curious duckling were well developed, and Mr Noonan believes that had the bird been able to get out of the shell normally it would have lived. The freak is to be preserved in spirits and presented to the museum.

The Bluff correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" sates that a haul reminiscent of the old whaling days was made at the end of last week at Mason's Bay, on the west coast of Stewart Island. Bragg, senior, and Swain were off the bay fishing. Suddenly the waters inside became a mr.ss of life and animation. Proceeding to ascertian the cause, they discovered such a shoal of black fish as has not been seen for many a day. Thereupon they set about driving the fish on shore, succeeding in stranding no fewer than 320 of full size. They improvised a "try down," and although at latest advices the work was not complete, they were expec ting to cask from 60 to 70 tons of oil.

At a meeting of the Dixon Street Baths Committee held at the Council Chambers, on Friday, December 4th, at 2 p.m., there were present Councillors Elliott, Ewington, Haughey; also the Rev. Dean McKennn, and Messrs W. H. Jackson and E. Richards. Cr Haughey presided. Apologies were tendered on behalf of Mrs W. J. Blackman and Dr. R. V. Hosking for inability to be present. The Committee on representations made recommend that the regulations in force be varied so as to permit Sunday bathing between the of 6 and 11 in the forenoon. It v*s decided that the hours be— Mates, 6 o'clock to 9; females, 9to 11 o'clock.

Mrs D. Wilson, of Marsfield, has just met. with an adventure which she is not likely to forget (says the Sydney "Evening News"). While standing just inside the kitchen door teading the newspaper, her attention was attracted by a slight sound alongside. On looking round she was astounded to see a large black snake coiled up in readiness Co dart at her. She instantly jumped back and called excitedly to"her nephew, Mr F. Curnow, who was working close at hand. The terrified shout brought her three fox terriers to the scene,fand it was well that it was so, for the snake was evidently bent on attack, having made an effort to follow her just as the dogs rushed in. This, of course, attracted the snake's attention, and all danger, so far as Mrs Wilson was concerned, was past. Mr Curnow followed and Killed the snake, but not before it had fatally bitten one of the dogs. The snake measured nearly 6ft.

A curious phenomenon is reported as having occurred at noon on Thursday last (says the "Hawera Star"). Mr W. Cowern and a party were near the Waingongoro river, and two heavy explosions (or a noise resembling the sharp crash of a thousand hoofs of galloping horses) were heard. The members of the party were separated toy some hundreds of yards, and all heard it. The catttle sprang to their feet and appeared quite alsrmed. When the noise passed, Mr Cowern expected an earthquake shock, but felt none. The incident was forgotten until a few mornings after, when in conversation with an acquaintance, Mr Cowern ascertained that a similar experience took place at Ngmatapouri, thirty miles up the Waitotara river. Somebody at Waitotara "rang up" Ngamatapouri to know wnat blasting operations were in progress. The noise was also heard at Patea.

A necessary and a long-deferred work is about to be considered by the Masterton Borough Council. At the last meeting of the Works Committee (Tuesday of last week)the Committee recommended that it be an instruction to the Borough Engineer to report as to the best method of grading", forming, and metalling Pownail Street, with estimates of cost.

Brief particulars of t'.ie unreserved clearing sale of furniture and effects to be held on Saturday next on account of Mrs R. E. Howell, Cole Street, by Mr J. R. JNicol, are advertised to-day. A catalogue ol the goods will be issued on Thursday. Owing to the large number of lines to be sold, the sale will commence at 1 o'clock sharp, and everything will be sold without reserve.

The Akitio County Council invite applications to close at 10 a.m. on Saturday, 19th instant, for the positions of Road Overseer and County Clerk.

The Masterton County Council invite tenders to close at 5 p.m. on December 23rd, for the construction of headworks and races for the Opakt Water Supply District.

The following tenders were received by the Masterton Borough Council (ast evening for the erection of the new gasworks in the vicinity of the Masterton Railway Station: —Coradine and Whittaker, £3,116, accepted; Taylor and Hodge, £3,185; King and Son, £3,696.

One of the most win-* dows in town to-day is that of Messrs McLeod and Young, who are making; a specialty of new season's leather goods, suitable for Christmas gifts.!

Elsewhere in this issue it is announced that the partnership between Messrs Smith and Eeardon, Motor Engineers, has been dissolved. Mr Reardon will continue to carry on the business as heretofore.

Messrs C. Smith, Ltd., announce that they have to hand a large' stock of novelties for their CMristmas trade. These have been opened up, and inspection invited.

At 12 o'clock noon on Saturday next, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell at the Masterton Auction Mart the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's privileges in connection with the sports to be htild at the Masterton Show Grounds on New Year's Day.

Mr G. 11. Goodall will continue the auction sale of drapery at the Post Office Auction Mart, at 2 o'clock to-day. The goods to be sold embrace seasonable and up-to-date goods as well as boots and shoes. The whole of the assorted stock is to he sold absolutely* without reserve,f;j and everyone attending the sale can rely on a genuine, straight-out sale to the highest bidder, as the goods must be sold.