LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3073, 18 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The rain of Wednesday was succeeded by a high wind yesterday, which quickly effected a drying up of the roads in the district. The weather continued cold, however, though no snow was noticeable on the Tararuas. The Chinese at Saltwater Creek, near Timaru, have progressed with the rest of the town, having increased the size of their vegetaole gardens from about 25 acres to 100 acres, all of which is under cultivation this year.

Two new member's have oeen added to the Masterton Bowling club, Messrs J. Elder and H. H. Reynolds-

The latest dredging return to hand from the Mystery Flat Dredge is 60oz llawt for 138 hours' work.

About fifty cows have died this season from septic metritis in the Gisbornt district, so Mr Burton, Government veterinary surgeon, who was responsible for the disease being first distinguished from milk fever, and who brought it under the notice of the authorities, informed a reporter. By the prevention treatment recommended by the Department, however, it is hoped that the disease has been stamped out. Forty bowlers assembled on the Mastcton Bowling Green yesterday, some very interesting friendly matches being played. The high wind made play tricky, but the green was in capital condition, and the games were all of an enjoyable character. Two trophy games were decided, as follows: — Chamnionshin Singles Biirikhorne 23 beat Cresswell 13. Handicap Pairs, C. Perry and Wingate (handicap 1) 17, beat Henderson ar.d Rose 10.

It is probable that the hesrir.g set' down for to-day at the Supreme Court, Wellington, of the application for a writ of mandamus applied for by Mr H. W. Pownall, of Masterton, on behalf of the License Par ty. to compel the Returning Officer at Masterton (Mr W. Gillespie) to publish the details of the Magisterial recount in the Masterton Local Option Poll will be postponed until a later date. Mr Gillespie was advised of the fact yesterday by the Chief Electoral Officer.

The Catholic Bazaar last evening attracted one of the largest audiences yet recorded at the function. A programme as follows was given, and heartily appreciated, encores being frequent Coon dance, ten little maidens; comic duet, "Singing Lesson," Misses Bennington and Harris; Irish Jig, twelve Irish colleens; Scotch dance, Miss Clcmmie McKay; vocal solo, "Beloved it is Morn," Miss Harris; Sailors' Hornpipe, ten bluejackets: Bolero, eight Spanish maidens; Hornpipe, Miss Daphne Jones; Irish Step Dance, Miss Ellen Hanley; Highland Reel, eight Scutch lassies; Sailors' Hornpipe, ten bluejackets; cakewalk, Miss Daphne Jones. The winners of the raffles were as follow:-—L, Jacksun, H. Williams, W. Piatt, W. G. Taylor, F. J. D. Finlays')n, J. W. Percy, W. James, S. Green, O. Hooper, J. O'Toole, B. Chapman, H. Sinclair, Cameron, Father Bo we, Mrs Falls, Misses H. Williams, W. Rayner, and M Harris. The takings at the Bazaar last evening amounted to £6O. The Bazaar will be open this afternoon and also to-morrow afternoon from 2 '/' clock till 5 o'clock. There will be i;o charge on either afternoon for admission.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Aquatic Sports heir! lust evening (Mr J. Hunter piesiding) the reports of several subcommittees were received. The Chairman reported that a commencement had been made with the wort? of improving the grounds near the Lake. It ha) been decided to fill up the hollows and make a terrare sloping toward the Sake. This would prove a great benefit to the public,, enabling a large number to have a clear view of the swimming and diving events. It was decided to hold an entertainment in ti:e Park on the evening of Carnival Day, January 22nd, when a special programme will be given, including a torchlight procession, fireworks, illuminated boats, music and other attractive items. A sub-committ°e was formed to allot the prize for all events, and it was decided to publish the full programme in a few days. Judging by letters received from several swimming clubs there i 3 a probability that some of the best swimmers in the Dominion will compete at the carnival. The Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club (which will conduct a large portion of the programme) have already appointed their officials. A number of donations towards the prize fund have already been made, and a canvass for subscriptions will shortly be conducted.

A civil sitting of the Court was held before Mr W. P. Jamas, S.M., at Masterton, yesterday. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of the following cases :C. A. Pownall v. Henry Hermann Browne, £5 ss, costs 18s Gd; Harcombe and Donald v. H.jH. Curtis, claim £5 ss, costs 8s; T. J. Porter v. Walter B. Geisen, claim £5, costs £1 0s 6d; Masterton Hospital Trustees v. Harry Fawcett, claim £5 14s, costs 8s; Mrs E. Heggie v. H. L. Fuller, claim £1 lis 6d, costs ss. In a claim for rent, of lis, made'by Rebecca L. Satchel! against W. Symonds, plaintiff obtained judgment and 6s costs. Seaton and Sladden, surveyors (Mr D. K. Logan), sued R. Juno, for £5 3s in respect of a survey. Judgment was accepted for £2 and £1 12s costs. In an interpleaded case, in which P. Cobb set up title to a horse and,"cart seized under a distress warrant issued against defendant in a previous case Heffernan v. Clarke, judgment was reserved. Mr T. Maunsell acted for Heffernan, and Dr. Trimble for Clarke. The following judgment summons cases were dealt with J. L. Murray v. K. Te Huke, claim £34 14s 7d, defendant ordered to pay forthwith in default 84 days' imprisonment, order suspended fo~ 14 days; A. Donald v. Te Huke, claim £26 18s 6d, defendant ordered to pay forthwith, in default 23 days' imprisonment, order suspended for 14 days; J. Arthur v. Percy Dixon, claim £4 9s, {[defendant ordered to pay 10s per month. THE CHARM OF MUSIC.

Kings of old have been soothed with music; tired nerve have been relaxed under its benign influence, and old age has quickened and pulsated like the fiery spirits of youth. There is nothing like music. To be able to produce harmonies—delightful sounds that rest and soothe—surely this is a thing to bo desired. Have you a piano in yonr home ? It' not, think what you are missing. Piano warehouses, now-a-days, are almost philanthropic in the way in which they give opportunities for everyone to have inusifi. For a trifling sum down, and small instalments monthly, the Dresden Piano Co., Ltd, Wellington, will make yon the possessor of a superb instrument. You will never miss the payments, they are so microscopic, and in a short time the piano will be your very own. North Island manager, Mr M. J,, Brookes, local representative, Mv T. B, Hunter. 2

The prospect of beconlMg Prime Minister for the did not disturb the equilibrium of Labour Leader Fisher. He hailed neither hansom cab or motoi-car when the Governor-General sent for him to form a Cabinet. He boarded a tram, walked from the stopping place to Government House, and gave his name as an ordinary visitor. When he was supposed to be racking his brains about the formation of the Cabinet he put in the evenings fishing oft' one of the piers at South Melbourne. An exchange says there were "few who were aware that the quiet, unobtrusive man in the blue suit was the Prime Ministerelect of the Commonwealth."

In order to afford facilities for the transmission by telegram of Chrisstmas a::d New - Year's greetings special printed forms may be obtained at the telegraph office for use on and between the 18th and 24th, and the 27 th and 31st December. Such telegrams 'will be delivered at the principal telegraph offices on bearing views of New Zealand scenery, et~. At other offices telegrams will be written on ordinary forms. A uniform charge of 6d for each telegram will be made, provided the address s»nd signature ao not contain more than eleven words. If, however, the text as printed is varied in any way, or other words added thereto, the telegram will be treated as an ordinary one, and charged for accordingly.

Some time ago an Auckland syndicate acquired an asbestos area in the Takaka district, near Motueka, and got out and forwarded a three-ton parcel to England, for which they are reported to have received a return of £2O per ton,, with the advice that if the ore had been more carefully prepared it would have realised considerably more. Although thoroughly satisfied with the value, says the "Auckland Herald," the syndicate now state that they have had the opinion of the highest recognised authority in the Dominion, who has examined the deposit, and says that the quality ot the asbestos is first-class, and has recommended that a thoroughly competent man should be secured from Canada, and that the deposit should be opened up in a systematic manner, under bis control and direction. To obtain this information as to the value and proper method of working, it has taken the syndicate over tvvo years, and at considerable expense.

One fragment of the Ottoman electorate is already appreciating the blessings of the franchise, says the "Pall Mall Gazette." The poorer peasants of the district round Jerusalem are selling their votes to the party organisations at 2Jd a-piece. It is not a figure likely to tempt any elector oi' this country to resign his franchise rights, which have a much reduced market value nowadays, a:id naturalise himself as a Jerusalem peasant; and our old-time voters of Grampound and Bridgtwater woul'J have scoffed at 2£d. Hut that sum goes further in the suburbs of Jerusalem than it does in England, and the popular discovery that a vote may be worth even 2£d is a sign that political enlightenment has begun. The Turkish equivalent of "terminological inexactitude" will be discovered in good time, and after that there will be hope of the rushing of. the Ottoman Parliament by some emancipated Turkish Christabel.

By a curious coincidence a succession of witnesses called by the Drivers' Union at the Arbitration Court at Christchurch answered a couple of vital questions put by Mr Darcy, the Union's representative, in precisely similar terms. When the first witness faced tho music he gave his name and occupation, and the examination proceeded. "Married?" "Yes." "Any family?" "Yes —two." Tha second witness happened along. "Married'?' "Yes." "Any family?' "Yes—two." The third deponent came up smiling. "Married?" "Yes." "Any family?" "Yes—two." A fourth and a fifth individual caught the Judge's eye, and still the same refrain. "Married?" "Yes." "Any family?" "Yes—two." Matters were rapidly becoming monotonous. The sixth witness clambered into t!ie box less jauntily than his fellows. "Married?" "Yes." "Any famiiy?" "Yes-only one." The admission was made hesitatingly, the father with the solitary olive branch being evidently reluctant to lower the cradle average of his honourable fining. But it saved the situation iiora tedioiijness.

A reward is offered for'the return of a gold chain lost between the Weileyan Church and Victoria street.

Tenders for various works are required by the Wellington Education Board.

At the Masterton Auction Mart, to-morrow, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell a good range of furniture, twenty geese for Christmas; also, on account of Mr C. C. Aitken, a stock of stationery, books, and fancy goods.

A number of neat pocket books, for the use of the staff, are to hand, with the compliments of Mr Albert Webb, ladies' and gents' tailor, Queen Street, Masterton. The pocket book contains a calendar for 1909.

On Wednesday, 23rd December, Messrs J. A. J. Maclean and Co., will sell at their Perry street mart, on behalf of Mrs Ridgway, 30 sucking pigs, gee.se, turkeys and poultry. Full particulars will be advertised later.

Alex. Donald, ladies' and gents' tailor, Queen Street, has landed an early shipment of new goods from the London market. A few more orders can be axecuted by the Christmas holidays, and intending customers are incited to place their orders immediately. New suitings will be found stylish and up-to-date.

The art of the corsetier finds its best interpretation in the article identified by the label, "The New Health Corselet," for which Messrs C. Adams and Co., of Cuba Street, Wellington, are the agents. This corset supplies beauty of form, ease and indescribable comfort, and is highly recommended and used by leading lady physicians, nurses, and others. It is specially recommended for growing girls who stoop, or have round shoulders or weak backs. Mail orders sent to the firm will receive prompt attention.