LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3080, 29 December 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There were in the Borough, of Masterton on March 31st last 1,999 rateable properties. A Government return, made up to March 31st. sets the unimproved value of rateable property in the Borough at £539,257. Quite a good many Masterton residents spent the Christmas holidays at Castlepoint, and had a thoroughly enjoyable outing. A number of others have decided to spend a fortnight at this popular seaside resort when the holidays are over.

A committee of the Castlepoint County Council consisting of the Gnairman (Mr A. J. Speedy) and Councillors J. S. Langdon, Innes and Ryder, has been appointed to investigate and report to the next meeting of the Council on the advisability of raising a loan to metal the road from Tinui to Annedale.

Owing to the large number of entries received in connection with the Wairarapa Caledonian Sports, to be held on the Masterton Showgrounds on New Year's Day, the Executive haVe decided to start the first event at 10.30 instead of 11 a.m. as hitherto. There are no less than 41 competitors in the handicap events.

According to the latest Government return there were, on March 3lßt last, 1,500 dwellings in Masterton and 1,400 ratepayers, while the population is put down at 5,400. The estimated area is 2,100 acres. The population of Eketahuna is 800, and there were 210 dwellings and 251 ratepayers. The estimated area is 960 acres.

The Castlepoint County Council has decided to form the Tinui Valley road from Mr Bartholomew's house towards the gate on the road as far as the sum voted would carry it. It has also been decided that steps should be taken to get the road, as surveyed by Mr Carroll, dedicated to the Crown.

Mr Geo. Daysh, the popular and courteous driver of the East mail coaches, has been made the recipient of many valuable presents from resid-nts in the Tinui and Castlepoint districts. Mr Daysh has only been driving the mail coach for some twelve months, but the settlers have been quick to recognise his good qualities, and to mark their appreciation in tangible form.

Attention is directed to the time of closing the outward and Australian and English mail this week. The s.s. Ulimaroa will leave Wellington for Sydney about 10 p.m. on Thursday, the 31st December, in place of usual time on Friday, Ist proximo. Australian and English outward mails to connect with Ulimaroa will therefore close at Masterton, at 2.30 p.m., on Thursday, a Ist.

The new regulations of the Railway grain to be placed in a bag, to 2001b net, will come into operation on February Ist, and consequently all grain threshed during the coming season will require to be weighed bo as not to infringe the new rule. The regulation will apply to wheat, oats and barley, and bags containing more than the stipulated weight will be charged four times the ordinary rates.

Wild cattle on Mount Egmont are reported to be doing a good deal of damage. A settler who has a holding of 700 acres close to the Park wrote to the Egmont Park Board at its last meeting stating* that the wild cattle were continually coming down and destroying his fences as well as enticing his own cattle away. He wished to know if he could destroy the wild cattle. The Board resolved that the matter was one which the settler himself coulj decide. He was also referred to the Impounding Act. An attempt to apply that Act. as suggested should furnish an exciting experience in droving. Much speculation has been indulged in regarding the probabilities of the new appointments to the Ministry, but so far nothing of a definite nature can be gleaned. Mr A. T. Ngata, M.P., told a Gisborne "Herald" reporter on his return from Wellington last week that he had been quite unable to obtain an inkling as to who are to be the new members of the Cabinet. The members of the Ministry were absolutely silent on the subject, and other usually well-informed circles were nonplussed. In fact, added Mr Ngata, he thought Sir Joseph Ward had made up his mind, but -was determined not to communicate it even to j his colleagues until the last moment.

The Canadian Parliament has followed the example of the legislatures of New Zealand and Australia, and has passed an Act prohibiting the importation, manufacture and sale of opiums for other than medicinal purposes. There is in Canada a large Chinese and Japanese population, which suffered havoc from the use of the drug, and many while people had also fallen victims to the opium habit. Legislation for the suppression of the traffic will'be introduced into Congress by the United States Government during the present month. The "North China Herald" reports that the Powers have agreed with the Government of China to prohibit the importation into the latter country of I morphia and instruments for its use, the prohibition to take effect from January Ist next. IS SANDER& SONS PURE VOLATILE EUCALYPTI EXTRACI superior to any other Eucalypti Product P Because it is the result of full experience, and of a special and careful process of manufacture. It is always safe, reliable and effective, and the dangers of irresponsible preparations which are now palmed off as Extract are avoided. A death was recently reported from the use of one of these concoctions and in an action at law a witness testified that he suffered the most cruel irritation from the application to an ulcer of another, which was sold as "Just as good as SANDER'S EXTRACT." Therefore, beware of sucb deception. Remember that in medicine a drop that cures is better than a tablespoon that kills, and insist upon the preparation which was proved by experts at the Supreme Court of Victoria, and by numerous authorities during the ast 35 years, to be a preparation of enuine merit, viz:

THE GENUINE SANDER AND SONS PURE VOLATILE EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.

Two first offending inebriates were each fined five shillings at the Masterton Police Court yesterday morning. Mr E. G. Eton, J.P., occupied the Bench.

The Gisborne "Times" warns Poverty Bay pastoralists to be prepared for an invasion of rabbits. The latest reports go to show that the pests are' making their way northward.

Ths Casthpoint County Council has received a letter from the Treasury provisionally approving of the loan of £2,000 for the Whakataki Valley road. The money will not be available until after Mqrch 31st.

With a large number of lambs available this year, says the Christchurch "Press," a very low price is being offered by export buyers for mutton, and in such a good fattening season and plentiful supplies the decline that is steadily taking place in its values of fat sheep is likely to continue for some time longer.

The Rev. Father Power, of Hawera, who recently returned from a trip abroad, says that he found Ireland much more peaceful than formerly, the increasing ownership of the land by the people contributing much to the good order, and pointing to a hopeful future.

The road overseer of the Castlepoint County Council has been authorised to erect groin? in the Mangapakeha river to protect the road' and bridges where required, and to get about 700 cubic yards of gravel screened in the Tinni,riverbed for the purpose of repairing the road from the Cemetery hill to the Tinui bridge.

It is stated that in some of the surrounding districts there has been a considerable falling-off in the milk supply, says a Palmerston North paper. The reason is ascribed to the exceptional season, which has caused the grass to mature earlier than usual, in consequence of which it is said, to contain less nourishment. The statement is borne out by the fact that the weekly output from one factory has fallen from 42 to 88 and Z'd boxes.

Speaking to an Auckland "Star" reporter of the progress that has been made in the King Country and all along the Main Trunk line, Mr Jennings, M.P., said ths change which is being wrought is simply amazing. Everywhere the land is being subdiyided and converted into splendid grazing country. At Ohura the grass lands are wonderfully fine, and one property, formerly owned by Mr W. Williams, is now stated to be carrying 4£ sheep to the acre. This, he says, will come us a surprise to many, but it is indicative of the splendid season which has been experienced. The stock are looking excellent, and everywhere the conditions are at their best. Right through the King Country dairy factories are springing up everywhere. A large cheese factory has been installed at Rangataua, and a big dairy factory at Kawfaia. The roading o± the King Country at last seems to be nearing some satisfactory conclusion, and everywhere uuring his recent comprehensive tour of the huge Taumarunui electorate It: found the settlers in great heart.

A dispute between husband and wife concerning money savings was heard betore Judge Smith at West Bromwich County Court' recently. Mrs Jane Hooper asked for a declaration that she was entitled to a sum deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank in her husband's name. It was stated that they had been married for 34 years, and had had 20 children, of whom 12 were living. Out of the money which she had earned during 19 years, added to by presents made to her by her children, Mrs Hooper had managed to accumulate £95, which she kept in an old muff in a drawer. One morning she found the muff empty. Her husband toH her to come to the pavings bank, where he deposited £4O in her name, and she found he had previously placed £SO to his own credit. He then hand?d her £4 10s, saying that he ha*! spent the remaining 10s. The wife, in her evidence, said that none of the money had been given to her by her bushand, who had never provided sufficient money to maintain the household. Judge Smith declined to make an? ordar as to the £SO, as he considered that the £95 was the joint property, of husband and wife, and that the man had made a fair division.

I Referring to the Mar ton banquet the Cbristchurch "Press" says: "There wr;a a pardonable note of I exultation in the speeches at ths Opi position gathering which was held at Marton on Friday night to celebrate the group of Opposition victories in the Wellington province. During the election campaign the public were informed vehemently and incessantly that the Opposition was really dead, and that the funeral ceremony would i take place on polling day. The Ministerial 'spall-binders' assured the electors that the Opposition was' the author of all the legislative iniquities for a generation back, and, in the same breath, that it never had djne anything, anct never would do anything. It was saddled with alleged political shortcomings of dead-and-girne Governments, it was spoken of collectively in language which would De harsh if applied to one who stole pennies from blind men. And for all this banning the Opposition was nothing the worse. The people, invited to assist its final extinction, declined to do anything so foolish, and the party emerged from the fray 50 per cent, stronger than when it went into it. Surely in this there is justification for some little elation, some reason for the combatants to gather together and fight their battles over and incidentally ask the enemy what it thought of the political situation. THE CHAEM OF MUSIC.

Kings of old have been soothed with music; tired nerve have been relaxed under ite 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 your home ? Tf 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 inusie. For a trifling sum down, and small instalments monthly, the Dresden Piano Co., Ltd, Wellington, will make you the possessor of a superb instrument. You will never miss the payments, they are so microscopic, and in a I short time the piano will be your .very I own. North Island manager, Mr M. J, Brookes, local representative, Mr T. B Hunter. 2 '

Referring to the flax industry, the Grey "Star" states that at the present time not a single mill is working on the West Coast. The conditions ruling at present will, however, have a beneficial influence* ia that flax areas, which, by reasons of the fact that they were being: drawn on every three, and, in some cases, two and a-half years, thus produced over-straining of the plants,, will be all the better for this compulsory rest, and will . be more prolific when the next season takes up. The papei v considers that four years' growth is required to bring the flax, in lhat part of the Dominion to maturity. The prohibited degree of affinityas regards marriage came up twicerecently in Sydney, says the "Telegraph." In the first case a man desired to marry his deceased wife's sister's daughter. The Anglican: Archbishop refused permission on the ground that the Deceased Wife's Sister Act doesn't include the de- ; cease i wife's sister's daughter, and. an uncle and niece (by marriage) are on the Church's list of pioiibited degrees. Ihe Registrar-Genera] refused a civil marriage on the ground, that the D.W.S. Act doesn't alter the law as far as a man and his widow's viiece are concerned. Ibj South Australia this obvious point was thought of, and S.A. is the only/ State that did think of it. Further, a marriage in S.A., if legal there, islegal in N.S.W. So the man, who can't marry his wife's niece in N.S.W. can marry her in S.A., andthen he can return to his old.home in Sydney as a lawful, husband. The second case was a suit of nullity of marriage against a woman who had wedded her deceased's husband's brother. The D_H.B. was the petitioner, and he moved for a rule absolute. In annulling the marriage,. the divorce judge made some severe remarks ahout the D.H.8., but, owing to the state of the law, the remarks were all that he could throw tX. the mean brother. - A shop, with six-roomed dwelling, attached, is advertised to let.^l A churn handle, lost onTthe Te Ore-Ore-Masterton Road,, is advertised, for. Train arrangements for the New--Year holidays are advertised in another column, |A reward is offered for the returnfo 3 gold brooch, lost in Masterton, on Christmas Eve. *».. • ,~.' Mr G. H. Goodall win"hol3~a genuine auction sale of 150 ladies' tailor-made skirts, as well as a big line of general drapery, clothing, boots, etc., to-morrov\ afternoon, in the prremises recently occupied by Mrs Carrick in Queen Street, Masterton. In each and every legitimatebranch of trade, whether importing, or retailing, Masterton can justly lay claim to having representative establishments, which are abundantly, capable uf holding their own in anyequal field with the best houses elsewhere. There is, perhaps, no brands; of mercantile activity of which this is more emphatically true than that of the jewellery line, for. in Mr Frank Dupre's establishment at the present time as stock is to be seen second to none in any inland town in the Dominion. Mr Dupre extendsan invitation to residents of Masterton and district to inspect his. magnificent display, whether contemplating a purchase or nut. It is, a decidedly interesting exhibit.