LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3100, 25 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was every appearance that a number of bush ur grass fire 3 were burning at various points around Masterton yesterday. The Tararua ranges and the Weraiti hills were both indescernible towards evening. The presence of the smoke caused the atmosphere in town to become close and oppressive. A horse in a trap being driven by Messrs P. Corbett, and concaining also Mr G. Hood, played up somewhat furiously in front of the Methodist Church, Lincoln Koad, last evenng, just after the -Salvation Army Band had passed. The result was that one of the shafts of the vehicle was smashed. The mountain climbing season in this district is generally in full swing about February, and several parties from Masterton intend scaling Mt. Holdsworth in the course of a few days. Mr C. Bannister proposes shortly to make an interesting excursion into the heart of the ranges i along the Waingawa river's upper reaches. ' He is to be accompanied by a visitor. The weather on Saturday and yesterday was exceedingly close and unpleasant, particularly on Saturday, when probably the hottest day of the season was experienced. The rain has now held off for a week, and farmers have been going at harvest- i ing with a will, in view of the un- 1 certainty of the atmospherical con- 1 ditions for the past few weeks. The j prolonged break in the weather will j be very greatly appreciated, as ! agriculturists were on the verge of { despair where they had ripe grain to j be garnered. The Masterton Tennis Courts were I very favourably commented on by the i visitors to tne tournament on Satur- : day. Mr A. F. Wilding, the Austral- ' asian champion, said he considered j that the Masterton and Nelson courts j were as good for playing purposes as j any he had ever visited. The eus- j todian of the local courts is Mr F. | Treader, to whom the visitor's com- j ments will no doubt be pleasant in- ' formation.

The young men's meeting and strangers' tea of the Y.M.C.A. last evening were both well attended. Mr R. Burgess, general secretary, presided at the former, and Mr D. Hebenton at the latter. Among the announcements made was that of the Association's annual picnic, which is to be held on Thursday, February 4th, at Messrs Welch Bros, property, Opaki. An elocutionary class is in process of formation, the tutor for which is a highly qualified person, witli Parliamentary experience. The Hon. A. YV. Hogg, in his capacity of Minister of .Roads and Bridges, accompanied by Mr J. G. Scott, Inspector of Roads, took advantage of his visit to Masterton on Saturday to drive over some of the country between Eketahuna and Alfred ton. He inspected some of the new metalling on the Mangaoronga road between Eketahuna and Mangamahoe, and some of the work now in progress between Mangamahoe and Ihuraua Valley. The metalling of the main road between Barton's ; Line and the railway station at j Mangamahoe is nearly completed, ' about a mile and a-quarter of new J metal having been laid down this season.

White Muslin Frocks with dainty trimmed blouses and tucked skirts at 15s 6d, lbs 6d and 21s. White Lawn Dress Skirts, smartly made, at 6s lid, !>s Gd and 12s 6d. White Underskirts, 5s lid to lis 6d. These prices are not an indication of the value of the goods. I am clearing these lines—whilst summer lasts—at prices much below usual. You should come and inspect them for yourself.—Mrs Matliewson, Melbourne House, Lambton Quay, Wellington (opposite Bank of New Zealand).

Mr I. Allen, jnf/.r cf Upper Plain, lost a valuable horse on Friday night through another horse kicking it. The Y.M.C.A. Debating' Club will hold a question box evening to-night in the Association Rooms, to which all interested are cordially invited. A speeial meeting of the Masterton Boruogh Council is to be held tomorrow night to decide what working day in th;* wee>r shall be the statutory closing day fur shops within the Borough for the year commencing March Ist next. Mr G. Heron, J.P., occupied the Bench at the Masterton Police Court on Saturday morning, when two holiday inebriates admitted a lapse into insobriety. They were first offenders, and were convicted, cautioned, ai/d discharged. The Wellington "Dominion," discussing the Labour troubles of the country, says: "We may call attention, by the way, to the figure which poor Mr Hogg has been cutting since Sir Joseph Ward made the rather stupid joke of appointing him Minis-* ter for Labour." The Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club are considering the question of holding a Club Carnival at an early date. While the Wellington swimmers were in Masterton on Anniversary Day they were approached in regard to the matter, and promises of hearty support were received. Wellington swimmers have a great regard for Masterton as an aquatic locality, the hospitality accorded to them by local swimmers being always a subject of very favourable comment with them. At the recenc examinations of tfce primary schools in Hawke's Bay,' the total number of candidates for certificates was 592, of whom 301 secured proficiency certificates, 47 partial proficiency, 153 competency, 59 failed and 32 were absent. In the Catholic schools, out of 5b candidates 30 secured proficiency certificates, three partial proficiency, 16 competency, one failed a:;d five wer.2 ab- - sent. Work at tne moror bridges is proceeding apace (writes the Hanmer | Springs correspondent of the "Lyttel- [ ton Times"). The pile-driving at ! the Hanmer is finished and 13 spaDSof decking out of 25 are completed. The plant has been removed to the site of the Percival bridge, and piledriving work is to commence there this week. Motor bridges are also to be put over Saleyarda creek, near Culverden, and over Twenty-five-mile creek, on the north side o£ the Glen Allan bridge. The gate receipts for the two days at the Masterton Tennis Club's Tournament, on Friday and Saturday, amounted, to £24. The Club will nett a small credit balance ast a result of the tournament, ijocal players consider the visit to the tournament of the champion (Mr A. F Wilding) is a very congratulatory matter, not so much from the pecuniary aspect to the Club, but from the standpoint of the improvement of the quality of local play. The champion's exposition of the game was a great treat to the many spectators who visited the court 3 specially to see him use the racquet. An interesting development in. connection with public vehicles in Melbourne is taking place this month. The taximeter motor-cab has been introduced. Motor vehicles of this description have been running in older countries for years, wictj such successful results that a na nber of persons interested in the motor business in Melbourne have been encouraged to embark on a similir venture. The taxi-cabs will be available for hire on all the principal ranks, such as the Grand, Menzies', Melbourne Club, Tnvvn Hall anJ others. Chauffeurs have been sped ally selected as a precaution against accident in congested traffic.

In connection with the unfortunate drowning accident at Brighton we ("Otago Daily Times") are informed that the residents of the district intend to approach the Domain Board with the object of having a buoy and a rope placed at the spot for the safety of bathers. They also desire to have a notice erected warning bathers of the dangerous spot. It is stated that the recent fatality was the first of its kind in Brighton for forty years. Brighton is said to have a gootf name as a safe bathing place, the only dangerous spot bein* near the rucks, where there is a strung backwash.

The swagger nuisance is sometimes a serious one, but it assumed rather aggravated dimensions in the opinion of a farmer of the southern end of the North Otago district the other day. In the morning, aboul; <i.3o, he saw three men approach his front entrance ar:d camp there. At 8 o'clock one of them went up to the hous-3 and asked for the usual billy of tea and something to eat, supplementing the application with the announcement that there were three of them. The request was granted, not altogether willingly; but the climax was reached when haJf-an-hovir later the three men boarded the same train as the farmer and travelled to Gamaru, consuming a bottle of whisky on the journey.

; It is an interesting fact that the railway freight on goods carried j from Christchurch to Dunedin is ! lower than what it is on goods | carried from Dunedin to Christ- | church. This apparent anomaly is J explained away by the existence of j special fand reduced) rates over cerj tain sections of the line. Between | Dunedin and Oamaru there is a j special rate for goods conveyed both ! ways, and from Christchurch to ! Tivnaru, but not from Timaru to ; Christchurch, there is also a ! special rate. It will, therefore, be | seen that in sendiug goods from Dun- ' edin to Christchurch only one special ! rate is to be availed of, but from Christchurch to Dunedin there are two sections over which a special rate applies. The introduction of these special rates wis brought about a good many years ago. when the Railway Department first found shipping companies entering into competition with it, and, singularly enough, they remain in existence until this present day. Mr C. F. -B. Livesay, Architect of T;Veiling ton, lias moved to more convenient rooms in the National Mutual Chambers. Customhouse Quay, (adjoining the Head Office of the Bank of N.Z.) Address— P.O. Box 771. Telephone 2692.

It is not every day that the spectacle of a llock of sheep trampling xipon a man is witnessed. While -sheep were being drafted into the 'steamer Komata, at Napier, on Friday, says the "Hawke's Bay Herald," one showed a disinclination "to cross the gangway, and a wellknown officer in the Union Company's employ tried to make it move along. While doing so he slipped and measured his length on the whart, and the hurry of the. sheep at that particular moment to board the ship had its amusing side. The officer in question had a rough time for some •few minutes, but was little the worse for his experience. .Residents of Masterton and district who are desirous of buying highclass goods at inferior prices should note that Messrs Hendry and Buxton's great summer sale of drapery and cloth'ng is now proceeding. This firm is noted for doing things thoroughly, and a glance over the stock is sufficient to convince one that prices have been cut down most ruthlessly. The goods are all seasonable ind up-to-date, and residents should make a point of participating in the great bargains that are on ■offer. An advertiser has for sale a nearly mew Blick typewriter. ~ The W.F.C.A announce the best •bargains ever offered to the Masterion public. An assistant steward for the Commercial and Farmers' Club is • advertised for. Three unfurnished rooms and board /are wanted by lady with two children. The New Zealand Railways Department advertise excursion fares in connection with the Pahiatua race meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next. Mr John Coradine, solicitor, announces that he has commenced the practice of his profession in Gray's Buildings, Queen Street, Masterton. Miss E. W. Hood, A.T.C.L., announces that she will resume her musical classes on Tuesday, February 2nd, at 33 Worksop road. Mrs "Win. Hood will also receive pupils for the pianoforte.