LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3078, 24 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wairarapa Age will not be published on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Masterton Choral Society will lose between £7 and £8 in connection with the recent production of "The Messiah."

The following team will represent Grsytown in the Chamnion tours at the Bowling Tournament at Napier: —H. G. Manning, W. H. Day, H. Trotman, S. Haigh (s). Our Tinui correspondent telegraphs that, there has been a heavy rainfall along the Coast district, and late hay crops and heavy grain ciop3 will not be improved by it. The Masterton South Brass Band will (weather permitting) play a programme of music on Mr Murray's balcony on Christmas Eve, commencing at 8 p.m. The Band will also play a programme of music at the Hospital on Sunday, December 27th, at 2.30 p.m. The following tenders were received and opened yesterday by Crs W. J. Welch and W. Foreman, for the Masterton County Council, for the main contract tor the Opaki irrigation scheme:—Martin Kenns, £2,026 16s; Carmody and Cullotty, £2,082 ss; T. Young, £2.245 17s 7d; R. McGaffin, £2,288 3s 6d. The first tender is to be accepted conditionally on no objections being lodged necessitating an amendment of the contract. 1 The ordinary meeting of the Masterton Fird Police and Salvage Corps was held in the Fire Police Station last evening. Lieutenant Budd occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Christmas greetings were received from Fire Brigades and Fire Police Corps in various parts of the Dominion. Other routine business was transacted, at the conclusion of whicn the Chairman extended Christmas and New Year greetings to the members on behalf of the Corps.

A large number of ' Natives from Te Ore Ore and other neighbouring pahs have gone to Gisborne for the Christmas and New Year holidays. They received a cordial invitation from a tribe in the Poverty Bay district to spend the festive season at Gisborne, where sundry proceedings in the way of weddings and similarly interesting ceremonies are to be solemnised in true Maori style Hikapuhi, the well-known chieftain ness, has accompanied the Wairarapa Maoris on their visit. There were no creditors present at the first meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of A. S. Awdry, picture framer, held yesterday. .The D.O.A. (MrW. B. ChennelL-0 conducted an examination of bankrupt. In a written statement bankrupt stated that he commenced business in August, 1906, with £IOO capital lent him by his brother, West Awdry, of Invercargill. Business was not good for a while, and his brother advanced him a further £2OO in three instalments. Removing into Queen Street in January, 1908, business improved, but later fell away again, and bankrupt was eventually compelled to file. To the Assignee, bankrupt stated that heavy rents had been a serious handicap. He had contracted several debts in the hope that his brother would further assist him, but on the latter receiving his last wool returns he found he could do nothing further for bankrupt. The stock in the estate was worth about £IOO to bankrupt himself, and the most that he could do in the way of an offer was to tender £25 for it, as he had a friend who y/ould indorse a bill of his for that amount if it were to purchase the stock. Xmas fair now on at Mrs Mathewson's. Special reductions in smart millinery fax 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 j Quay (opposite Bank of New Zealand), j Wellington.

Two young men, intending to cross the Tararuas from Otaki into Wairarapa last week, found the task a difficult one, and were oblige to return after reaching nearly to the top. Both suffered severely from cold, The experiment is not likely to be repeated.

Yesterday the weather in Masterton was very wet and rather cold, quite a reversal of recent meteorological conditions being experienced. Still, the visitation will be welcome, a,s the coming three iiionths are more or less uncertain as regards rainfall, and if the rain does not continue and mar the pleasure of holiday-makers no one will be displeased with the beneficial downpours of the week.

The swimming season was much later in starting in Masterton this year than last, and periodical winds from southwards have caused the visits of swimmprs to the local baths and the Park Lake to be somewhat intermittent. Last year a numner of enjoyable evening races were decided before the Christmas holidays, but the temperature of the water and the air has precluded such events so far this season.

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Sarah Clarke, of Masterton fruiterer, was held in the Courthouse, yesterday,-before Mr W. B. Chennells, Deputy Official Assignee. The creditors present were —Messrs W. H. Cole, C. Y. Dally, F. Permain (for Hoar and Permam) and L. J. Hooper. Mr P. L. Rollings appeared for bankrupt, who was examined by the Assignee. She stated that when she came to Masterton she owed debts in Wellington to the amount of £2O, which were still due. The rent of the shop was 22s 6d per week, and debtor had to pay £2 per wpek off the goodwill, on account of which she got behind. She started in the name o f . Butcher and Co. Mr J. A. Butcher did not put any money into the business but his wife was employed by debt, or at 10s per week. Bankrupt gave Mr Dally a promissory note for £IOO drawn by J. A. Butcher and Co., and indorsed by J. A. Butcher and herself. There was no arrangement that Mr Butcher should take anything out of the profits, and no money had been paid away other than on account of the business. Bankrupt said she had had no previous experience in the business, and thought shß paid too much for the goodwill. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Hooper, to hand the stock, estimated at £SO, back to Mrs Clarke, and that no action be taken to test the validity of the payments on th2 promissory note to Mr Dally, provided bankrupt settled the claim for rent of £lO 10s within three months.

A notice re the registration of dogs is inserted by the Masterton Bcrough Council.

The Masterton County Council offices will be closed for public business for fourteen days from Friday next. A notice is inserted by the Masterton Borough Council re dates on which permission lias been granted to make a charge for entry into the Masterton Park. A coat of good paint, properly applied, puts pounds on to the selling value of a house. Mr A. J. Minifie can be relied upon to do the work well. Mr F. Dupra makes an effective window display of high-class jewellery, prominent lines being ladies' gold watches, engagement and wedding rings. Messrs Inns and Goddard can supply toys to about a thousand children at prices that parents like to pay. Their premises are directly opposite the Post Office, Masterton. Messrs Graham and Co. carry a full stock of Messrs Peak, Frean and Co.'s celebrated biscuits and Christmas puddings made in the orthodox style/and may be had in any number.. Messrs Finlayson and Son, boot and shoe importers, will allow a discount of ten per cent, off cash purchases made during the Christmas holidays. The stock at this popular business house is very large and well-assorted. < Should the weather prove wet tomorrow, Father Christmas has notified Messrs John Graliam and Co. that he will abandon his march from Kuripuni to their store, but will make his way into their premises tnrough the roof during the evening. Messrs Hallenstein Bros., proprietors of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, are distributing a pretty and useful Christmas souvenir, consisting of Court plaster neatly arranged in the form of a flower, and enclosed in a waterproof, celluloid cover.

At no period during his many years successful trading experience in Masterton has Mr J. L. Murray carried more complete stocks of highclass goods than is to be found at his business houses at present. ■ln his new premises, next to the Club Hotel, he has a stock of mercery and clothing that would bear favourable comparison with any of the best houses in this Dominion, whilst at the Exchange Buildings there is a magnificent stock of seasonable and high-class general drapery. During the holidays special price inducements are to be offered to the public for cash purchases.

Mr W. Cragg, hairdresser and tobacconist, has just opened up a very large stock of tobacconist's goods for the Christmas trade, including a splendid range of gold and silver mounted pipes by the most celebrated makers, gold and silver mounted pouches, gold and silver mounted cigar and cigarette holders, and a good assortment of gold and silver mounted walking sticks. The tobaccos include all leading brands in tins, plug, and rough cut, and the leading makes of Virginian and Eygptian cigarettes of the very best qualities are well represented. Mr Cragg holds the largest stock of cigars in the district, and those who like a fine leaf and wellseasoned cigar of any quality need go no further than "The Corner Shop," the oldest established tobacconist premises in the district. The Hairdressing Saloon is the most up-to-date in the Wairarapa, and the three chairs are in charge of first-class operators.

i There is to hand a parcel of the latest catalogues of Peach's lace curtains and Peach's table damask, together with price-lists of other household requisites. Messrs Samuel Peach and Sons have arranged that copies shall be sent to all applicants enquiring through the office of this newspaper.

Messrs Veitch and Allan, of Wellington, are building up an immense mail order business in the Wairarapa, apart from the substantial orders they fill for Wairarapa residents who visit Wellington every week. The prices quoted in their advertisement on page 3 are the magnets which draw the business from this territory. They should be carefully noted.