LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3071, 16 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The "New Zealand Trade Review" says that, though there is no appreciable change in the money market, it can be claimed that there is a direct measure of brightening in the outlook.

The new British Biograph Company will give an entertainment in the Foresters' Hal l this evening. Speaking of a recent performance, an exchange says:—"The pictures comprised every variety, comic, scenic, and instructive, and were greatly appreciated by the. people of Newbury, who asked the management to pay a return visit." The management were unable to obtain the use of the Town- Hall for this evening, but special seating accommodation has been arranged in the Foresters' Hall.

An adjudication in bankruptcy in the estate of a Martin borough resident was made by the Registrar of the Wairarapa District Court (Mr M. Foley) yesterday. A petition was filed by G. H. (irimmer and E. G. Harris, of Martinborough, to have George Nicholas Jensen, builder, of Martinborough, adjudged a bankrupt. The act of bankruptcy alleged by the petitioners was the return of "nulla bona" to a distress warrant. It was stated that the estate was managed by trustees under an agreement signed by some ot the creditors. The others objected to sign, as they considered the Official Assignee the proper person to administer the estate. The Registrar aho took this view of the case and made the order asked for. Mr D.K. Logan appeared for the petitioning creditors, and Mr J. W. Card for the debtor.

Official returns have lately been published in Japan which contain some remarkable statements on the subject of divorce in that country. It seems that during 1906 the number of divorces registered in Japan was 65,000. This is a daily average of nearly 200, and 18J per cent, of the marriages. Arranged according to prefectural divisions the highest percentage of divorces for any prefecture was 26.3, being 1,507 divorces to 5,713 marriages; and the lowest about 11 per cent,, being 607 divorces to 5,044 marriages.- The principal cause of divorce is said to be domestic disagreement, brought about by the conflict between u the old and new ideas. Divorces are more frequent in districts where the generals tandard of education is low, and less frequent where the people are better educated and more enlightened. The figures for some of the principal cities are as follow: Yokohama, marriages 1,538, divorces 301, percentage 19.6; Nagasaki, 714, 135, 18.9; Tokyo, 10,154, 1867, 18.3; Kobe, 2,101, 383, 18.2; Osaka, 5,812, 964, 16.5.

Xuias fair now on at Airs Mathewson's. Special reductions in smart millinery fo.i the holidays. A very special line of useful and pretty hats with scarf and quills at 10s. 6d. Bargains in blouses, readymade muslin and cambric frocks, under skirts, ties, gloves, etc. All lines specially marked for our Xmas trade. Mrs Mathewson, Melbourne House, Lambton Quay (opposite Bank of New Zealand), Wellington.

Mr A. H. VVrightson has donated a guinea towards the funds of St. Matthew's Cricket Club.

A branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League has been fornipd at Palmerston North.

The potato blight has made its appearance in several gardens at Stratford.

It is estimated that there will be a shortage of thirty thousand tons in the Queensland sugar crop, due to frost and vermin.

A man named John Nicholl, wanted since last year, has been arrested at Cisborne on a charge of sly-grog selling at Raurimu. At the Police Court ac Masterton yesterday, Mr J. Cross, J.P., convicted and discharged a first offender for drunkneness.

Yesterday, Arthur Sydney Awdry, picture-framer, of Masterton, was adjudicated bankrupt on his own petition. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Workers' Mutual Benefit Building Society will be held at Mr Hathaway's office at 8 o'clock to-mormw evening. The boarding at Ohakune and Taumarunui are reaping a harvest over the present. Main Trunk Line, states a contemporary.. At Ohakune recently three ladies were charged 2s 6d each for the privilege of sleeping on the floor of an accommodation house.

The location of the four clergymen Bishop Neligan is bringing out from England for duty in the outpost stations of.the Auckland Diocese has not yet been definitely fixed. It is probable, however, that one will be sent to Taranaki and another to Morrinsville or Matamata. The two others will in ' all likelihood be stationed in the Bay of Islands district.

"It is saidjby some critics of secondary school education that far too much attention is given nowadays to athletics, and that in consequence classwork is neglected," said the Rev. P. S. Smallfield, in his speech at the distribution of prizes at St. John's Collegiate School, at Auckland. "This craze for athletics/' he said, "is ruining the chances of our boys asfar as education is concerned."

Representatives of local bodies in Dunedin have decided to recommend chat if any pensioner is convicted of drunkenness or any offence punishable byfimprisonment for not less than a month, the convicting Court shall order everv instalment falling due after conviction to be paid to the local Charitable Aid Board, but it shall be the the duty of the board to apply such instalments for the benefit of thi pensioner and his dependants. There is a probabil : ty that Noa r i Brusso —better known as Tommy Burnß-the world's champion heavyweight pugilist, will pay a visit to New Zealand after he has fought Johnson on Boxing Day. MrCoombes, editor of thef'Sydney Referee," on his return from Wanganui, is to be empowered to carry the wishes of the Wellington Boxing Association to Mr W. F. Corbett, boxing editor of the "Referee," and the Association's Australian representative, with a view to the latter making the necessary enquiries for the present champion as regards terms. Inquiries regarding the conditions for farming in New Zealand, and in the Auckland district in particular, are constantly being received by the officers of the Agricultural Department at Auckland from intending immigrants at Home, Canada, South Africa, and other parts of the world. Quite recently a resident of Glasgow, who is anxious to commence dairy farming in the Auckland district, wrute asking for information as to the amount of capital that would be required. Similar {letters have come from Canada and Cape Colony, thus showing how much the eyes of world, especially JJthose of the Eng-lish-speaking portion of it, are now being turned towards this Dominion.

In 1908 we have the country returning a Parliament which possesses a majority of freeholders, and an electorate refusing to return the Miuister who fathered the land policy of his colleagues, says the "Mataura sign." This being so, it follows that the duty of the Premier under the circumstances is to give attention to the behest of the electors. He has told the world that the policy of his party is now, and always has been, to. find out what the people want and to give t:,em what they ask for. Let him carry that policy into*effect now, and at once consign to the limbo of repealed statutes, the Land Acts of 1907, and replace them with measures giving the"settlers the right to acquire the freehold of their holdings.

A proof of the great fertilising qualities of raw mammalian blood is furnished on the Mosgiel bowling green. A few weeks ago the committee, wishing to encourage a stronger growth of grass on the green poured over it here, and there a few buckets of blood and water., In a few days the grass so treated came away most vigorously, and at the present time there appears on the square of dull, brownish-yellow sward a number of patches of bright and vivid green, giving the bowling green an unusual and striking appearance. Bowlers state that a green and strong, close-growing growth such as blood encourages is, when properly cared for, much keener than the ordinary green, where the grass is half dead; and it is probable that the'remainder of the Mosgiel green will be treated with this fertiliser.

A Dunedin family's remarkable recordjjin school attendance has been brought under the notice of the Minister of Education s (Hop. George Fowlds), says the Dunedin "Star." Minnie Keast .has just completed nine years' school attendance at the primary and high schools without missing a single half-day during that long period. Her brother, Albert, boasts a similar creditable record, extending over eight years, and their younger sister, Jessie, has followed their excellent example for seven years. Appreciation of these remarkable performances has been expressed by the Minister, who, as a tangible mark of his admiration, has forwarded to each child a presentation volume. Otago was within a decimal point of heading the provinces for average attendances in the primary and secondary schools. Perhaps the explanation is that the Keast's example has been powerful.

The amoufli subscribed and promised towards the completion of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Timaru, is £5,584 2s 7d, which, with £152 8s lOd interest, and £36 15s, refund of duty, makes a total of £5,773 6s 5d towards the estimated cost o£ £IO,OOO.

On and after January 7th, through goods traffic will be carried over the whole of the Main Trunk railway. At present there is no service for goods between Ohakune and Erua, but the Public Works Department's trains will take goods over that gap from the date named.

The Opposition gathering at Marton. on December 18th promises to be a most successful function. A number of members of the party from places outside the district will be present, including Mr J. Duthie, of Wellington, and Mr W. C Buchanan, M.P. for Wairarapa.

The Advances to Settlers Office is r it is stated, meeting applications for loans at the rate of £IOO,OOO a month, but is limiting advances to £SOO in each case. The money used for this purpose is, it is announced, being obtained from outside the Dominion.

Messrs Atkins and Bacon, Wellington, architects, are the winners of the competition for designs of extensive additions to the Wellington Hospital. Messrs Penty and Blake and G. Young tied for second place. There were twenty competing architects from various parts of the Dominion.

Henry Roberts, chief, officer of the ocean steamer Maori, was fined £3 and costs, at Lyttelton yesterday, for assaulting a seaman named Bolan. The latter had gone ashore to consult the shipping master, and Roberts was ordered to follow him and get a warrant for his arrest. Roberts seized Bolan and punched him, marking his face very badlyThe defendant said that he was attacked first.

A reward is offered for the recovery of a half-draught bay.mare lost from the Youla Wool Works.

Particulars of a cow and calf, impounded at the Masterton Pound, are advertised elsewhere.

A very large and-varied assortment of toys and goods for Christmas presents are now on view in the Fancy Department of the W.P.C.A.

Special reference and a testimonial as to the value of White's Sheep Dipping Fluid will be found on page 8 of this issue.

Mr J. Lowndes is at present making a special display of toys and Christmas goods in his premises, Exchange Buildings, Masterton.

Monday, December 28th, and Tuesday, December 29th, are the next trucking days for pigs on account of Messrs Dimock and Co. at Eketahuna and Mauriceviile respectively.

\ At 1! o'clock to-day, in the premises, Holloway's Buildings, Queen Street, Mr George Goodall will continue the sale by auction of the stock purchased in the estate of Mrs Cnrrick. There are bargains promised to all who attend the sale.

One of the greatest things Ms Edison has done is to produce in hir Phonograph an entertainer both for cottage and mansion. It is just as. good at rendering the latest popular song or lively waltz as it is in giving grand opera. The price, either cash down or easy terms, brings it withn reach of it. Hear it at The Book Arcade Co. (McLeod and Young), Queen Street.

Visitors to the seaside are notified in another column that first-class accommodation can now be had at Castlepoint, where there are numerous attractions, splendid beach, caves, good fishing, and safe surfbathing. The private boarding-house is right on the beach, and visitors get the full benefit of the ssa. The Post and Telephone Gffke is adjacent, and intending; visitors can ring up for further information.

In another column Mr H. M. Clark announces that he has taken over the well-known Dominion Cafe, opposite the Post Office, lately conducted by Mr H. Johnson. It is the new proprietor's intention to conduct the business on the most up-to-date lines, and the public can rely on receiving the. best attention. First-class meals can be obtained throughout the day, and the supper rooms are open until midnight. A specialty will be made of catering for the requirements of country residents.

The preparations for the festive season made by Mr A. J. Giddings, grower and provision merchant, at his establishment, in Queen Street, are most complete. All the choicest goods and delicacies from noted have been specially 'selected, and cover a very wide range. All the goods are arranged throughout the shop in a manner that is highly attractive and pleasing to the eye. Choice Christmas Morepork , hams, serviceable fruits, and high-class confectionery are heavily stocked, and from which patrons can make an easy and satisfactory selection. The toy department is, as in previous years, stocked with a full range of fascinating novelties of every descrition, and the person would be hard indeed to lease who could not be suited in this department.