LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3119, 19 February 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Mystery Flat dredge is 420z Bdwt for the week.

A second offender named Patrick McDonoghue was fined 10s, in default 48 hours, fur having been drunk, by Mr Eli Smith, J.P., at the Masterton Police Court yesterday morning.

Mr u. H. Lewis, ot the Masterton Fire Police, who dislocated his knee some time ago, while practising in the Park, is still confined to his bed. Mr Lewis will be unable to take part in the Fire Brigade Demonstration at Auckland, and Mr A. Wilton will take his place.

An effort is being made to induce a few WairarafSa breeders of stud stock to exhibit at the forthcoming show of the Waikato A. and P. Society, entries for which will close on the 27th inst. The Society is offering £9OO in prize money. entries will be received by Mr G. R. Sykes, sec retary of the M aster ton A. and P Association.

I From the Bth to the 27th inst, poople in Masterton will have an exceptional opportunity of securing pianos and organs of the highest quality on exceptional Wins. A feature of the Dresden Piano Company, Ltd., is its calculated trustworthiness. It stocks the best pianos and sells them in the best way—the way, that is, that best suits individual clients. The instrumentb offered at this annual sale are instruments specially imported for Masterton, instruments that have not previously been offered for sale in the Dominion. The Company will make exceptional terms of payment, earnestly desiring to meet the convenience of all responsible buyers. Mr T. B. Hunter, the local representative, and Mr M. J. Brookes, the North Island Manager, are both at hand. Their experience and knowledge may be commanded by any person interested. To buy a piano is a task of delicacy. Requirements differ : for some a Lipp, for some a Steinway, for some a Ronisch, and for some a Broadwood. The company will help you to find out just what you want, and will see that you get all the satisfaction yog can possibly expect.

A Press Association telegram from Napier states that Mr W. Shrimpton has given £I,OOO to the Napier Hospital towards the erection of a new children's ward in memory of his son.

The swimming race for the trophy presented to the W.A.S.C. by Mr a. Henderson eventuated over a 66 yards distance in the Park last evening. The results were as follow: First heat: L. D. McL«un, 3sec, 1; F. Ball, 4sec, 2: F. Phillips, scr, 3: time, 48 ,l-ssec. Second heat: T. Byrn. 4sec, 2; J. Winchester, scr, 3; time, 48sec. Final: T. Byrn 1. L. D. McLean 2; tim.3, 49 3-ssec.

During their recent raid in search of liquor at Oatnaru, the police were astounded by the quick wit of the proprietor of the suspected house, says an Oamaru paper. He confronted the policeman, with a bold front, and said: "You'll find no liquor in my house, but before you go in, I'm going to make sure that you carry none in with you." And he insisted on bailing up the constables until they had demonstrated conclusively that they had no liquor with them.

A most astonishing crop of tomatoes is at present to be seen in Olive, which illustrates the richness of the soil in that fertile locality. Some six months ago, two Nelson settlers Messs Woodwark and Brock, took over a dairy farm, locally known as "Corroy's farm," situated on Ferry Road, close to the to wnship. They took with them their own tomato seed from Nelson, and planted about three-quarters of an acre. The yield is now a magnificent one. Picking has been in progress for the last three weeks, and s.ome three tons of tomatoes have already been despatched. In one day alone 65 cases were picked, but the crop at present hardly looks as if it has been touched. The yield affords a splendid illustration of what can be accomplished by careful cultivation.

Aecording to the Bruce Herald there is a lady peregrinating the district at the present time who has eccentricities which arouse considerable interest among thode who have made her acquaintance. She has a peculiar habit of calling on houses — farmhouses generally—at very late hours of the night, and, in a manner bespeaking more of command than request, seeks hosuitality. At present the lady is in the Wairuna locality, and is representing herself as travelling for a certain common line of stMtionery. A few weeks ago she was at Clarendon. She is not a stranger in the district, as she honoured Tokomairiro with a visit about six months ago. Her peculiar habits, however, ate reported to be harmless, though they entail a little inconvenience on those who are aroused.

The army of youths and young men who spend their Sunday evenings in the cny streets indulged in, on Sunday evening, in one of their most popular pastimes, a man-hunt says the "Lyttelton Times"). The object of pursuit was a youth who was foolish enough to chase a couple of girls who had made some remark which gave him displeasure. Two or three hundred young men at once joined in the chase, which circled round the Cathedral, along Colombo 1 street, and easterly along Gloucester street. In Gloucester street the crowd caught ics quarry, who was rapped with a stick and jeered at, ' but, was not further molested. The girls, who had been interested spectators, next received the crowds' attentions, and one of them ' became frightened, and fell fainting on the footpath. Detective Ward and a constable had by this time arrived on the scene, and the girls were taken into a boardinghouse pending the dispersal of the mob. Some cutter men received an unpleasant surprise *»t Stewart Island recently. Rumours bad reached the mainland that tourists had been shooting pigeons, and the ranger, while enjoying a holiday at the island, decided to combine business wkh pleasure. Hearing some shooting one day, he joined the shootist, who was on the beach firing at shags, and who mistook him for a tourist. While the rangdr was complimenting the marksman on his skill, the latter's mate arrived, put down a goodly swag of pigeons from the bush, and stood round as though expecting his share of the compliments. These (says the Southland "Times") took the form of a disclosure of the ranger's official status, a confiscation of the pigeons, and an intimation that the offender would hear some mre of the story. But this was not all the trouble. It is an offence for cutters to carry firearms witnout permission, and the Customs officials, hearing of the affair, searched tne vessel on arrival at Bluff, and took possession of the guns. '

The "Straits Times" publishes an interesting case of a prophet justified. In 1869 a medical officer in the Javanese Government gave out that he had come to the conlusion that the people of Java, though their average duration of lite is shorter than that of the Dutch, would multiply faster than the people of Holland. He laid it down that the population of Java doubled in thirty-five years, while in Holland it takes seventy years to double the population. He forecasted that the population of Java, which stond at fourteen millions in 1865, would exceed twenty-eight millions in 1900. The actual counting shows him to be surprisingly in the right. On December 31st, 1900, the census returns showed the population to be 28,386,121. During the twenty years since 1880 the population of the island had increased 45.3 per cent. Facts having proved the theory, the population of Java in 1935 will stand at about fifty-six millions. Java is hardly one-third larger than Ireland, ana the pressure of population is so great as to cause anxiety. Fair Faces Fa irer.—Ladies troubled with growth of hair on face, neck or arms can permanently remove it by using "Violet Snow Cream." It acts directly on the hair roots, and destroys their life. "Violet Snow Cream" is splendid for Blackheads, Wrinkles, Sunburn, etc., and is a guaranteed cure for superfluous hair. Obtainable from H. T. Wood, Chemist, Masterton, for 4/6, or send postal note direct to Hem«ley Burnet, Hair Specialist, 46 George Street, Dunedin, (All parcels sent in plain wrappers), Hemsley Burnet's Hair Restr rer for Grey Hair, 4/9.

"In the best interests of the country," it was resolved by the New South Wahs Political Labour Conference that the State railways and trams should be free to all members of the public. State maintenance of general hospitals has been affirmed by the same conference, which also considers that the medical examination and treatment t.l adults should be undertaken by tlu Government.

Thirteen years ago Alfred England, a Yass resident, was stabbed in the back by a man who attached* him (says a Sydney paper). The wound healed and England felt no* trouble till a pain behind the shoulder blade recently caused him to seek the advice from a doctor..

The medical man made an examination, and advised England to enter the Yass Hospital for treatment.. An operation was performed, and the blade of the knife, corroded and discoloured, was extracted from the oldwound.

According to a northern paper,,', the first shell snails were introduced, into New Zelaand on some plantsimported by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. Captain Norris,. then agent for the society at Tauranga, begged a few, and carefully nurtured them on lettuce leaves—they reminded him so much of the dear Old Land. He took, such care of them that a few years, later he was paying good coin for' small boys to pick them out of kia Itttuce and out of his orchard, and' for buckets of salt to kill them whecs captured, and ducks and seagulls took quite a new responsibility.

"The New Zealand Public Works Fund," says the writer of a characteristically trenchant article on the "Investors' Review of December sth. "is utilised to manufacture unreal surpluses and to disguise tl e* horrible waste that marks the idministration of the. public revenue. . . . Do the people of New Zealand imagine that the waste, that the demoralising and wholly dishonest mortgaging of their future, that this waste of capital expenditure indicates can go on for ever? If not, why .do they not rouse themselves ar.d? put a stop to it? One of theae days-, old England will have no money 10 lend. What will happen then?" Mr K. C. Bruce, of Hunterville, remarks, in a letter to a northern paper, on the apparent faculty of birds and other animals to forecastthe seasons, which, he says, he has always regarded as the most mysterious of all the great mysteries of Nature. Many years ago some old Maori chiefs, who lived in the interior of the North Island, to!d bia* that before a wet season came on the wild ducks built their nests ■ furtherdown the creeks than usual, in orderto avoid the flooded water s. It is--stated that the American musk rat displays exactly the same prophetic instinct. The Maoris, Mr Bruce adds y , predicted the seasons by observingthe movements of fishes and the flowering of certain plants and shrubs.

A pitiful incident, which has in it something of a tragedy, occurred!! at Foxton races, says the Palmerston North "Times." A tottering; old man, the curse of whose life has been gambling—he was at one time a wealthy man, but is now practically without means—put of a few pounds be possessed on Toa Tuhi. The horse finished second, and paid a sensational price. The old man was naturally elated at his win. Joyfully and with a renewed) spring in his step and light in his-, eye, he ma<le his way to the "tote" and with shaking hands collected his dividend. Placing the notes in tne inner pocket of his old coat, ne wandered away, turning over in his mind all he would do with it, and dreaming dreams of turning in the tide of his . luck. A short while afterwards he felt, for his wad of notes—it was gone, spirit, d away, and with it his all too brief dream. He had been "gone thro.jgh" by a mi-an racecourse thief, who probaoly rejoiced, over the "soft thing" he had struck.

What Mr Andrew Carnegie is actually worth would be interesting to know, says a New York paper. Theamount has been estimated at £90.000,000. He is said to have given away to various educational and charitable institutioi s no less than £d4,000,000 sterling and there is very little doubt that he still has. millions more. His latest gift of £250,000 to create a fund for the recognition of the heroes of peace isperhaps the most remarkable of all. his benefactions in the country. Mr Carnegie's age would entitle him to an old age pension if he possessed the other qualifications, tor he has. just, celebrated his seventy-first birthday. As everybody knows, he is a Scot, but he was unly ten years old when he went to Pittsburg. He has. been a bobbin boy at rive shillings a week, and a tdegraph operator at £6O a year. He began to get rich out of an oil farm, and his ironworks, in Pittsburg brought him many, many millions. He sold his rights for £60,000,000.

The last American mail brought some interesting information regarding the phenomenal success of "The Merry Widow" in New York and other great American centres. In Broadway the Viennese mascotte ran for a year and during that period the Box office receipts amounted to £160,000 which addod to the sale of the music (3 million copies of the waltz alone being erisposed of) brought the returns up to a grand total of £200,000. The attendances were exceptionally large, it being estimated, that 700,000 people paid for admission during the twelve months' run of the piece. The .weekly attendances averaged 13,000, and the takings on an average were £3,200. And while the citizens of, New York, were doing homage to Lehar's opera the people pf Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia were not behind hand in: their appreciation of its merits and no less than three million dollars, were paid into the coffers of the managements of the attraction in these three cities. There are still three companies playing it on the roads and before it is finally put om the shelf, it is reckoned that the American returns will amount to something like £BOO,OOO.

Prompt Delivery. Importers requiring immediate delivery of their goods cannot do better than entrust their Customhouse and Forwarding work to J. J. CURTIS and Co. Ltd., Customhouse Quay, Wellington. Efficient service and* moderate charges assured.

Though the existing telephone sirvice may be inadequate and inefficient in a technical sense, the Central Postal Administration is that subscribers shall not be allowed to express to one another "unbecoming" views over the wires says the "Age"). In a recent "Gazette" it is announced that a penalty of £5 has been fixed as the maximum fine for the breach of a regulation controlling the language which may be used by subscribers. The opening words of the regulation are as follow :—"No telephone messages shall contain unbecoming expressions or language.of an obscene or offensive nature, or of a character calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, nor shall any telephone service be mischievously used for the purpose of irritating any psrson." The department claims that the enforcement of the regulation has become a matter of practical administration ii consequence of the nature of a number of complaints recently received.

The Victorian Railway Department is investigating a sensational discovery, made when an engine was undergoing an overhaul at the Newport woikshops some weeks ago says the Melbourne "Argus"). This particular engine left Newport in apparently proper order' a few days before the Sunshine disaster, "nd subsequently took up the rum. ; ng of the JBendieo train, when the engines damaged in collision had to be quarantined for expert examination. Wh'le on the road the engine ran well, but when docked at Newport last month it was discovered that a piece of hose was jammed in the driver's valve. Between the valve and the train pipe such an obstruction must have interfered with the effectiveness of the brake; in fact, might have prevented it operating altogether, and so ha\e caused another serious disaster. Departmental experts examined the brake, and were puzzled to account for the presence of the piece of hose, as it could only have been placed there with wilful interference with the valves. The Newport staff declares that the brake valve and train pipe were in perfect working order in March last. Detective Burvett, of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Inspector Borsun, of the Railway Department, have recommended that a reward of £250 be offered for information that will lead to the apprehension of the culprits. A really comfortable corset which conforms to the body, gives the necessary support, and adds beauty to the figure and deportment, has really to be specially made for each different wear r. Ready-made corsets are raiely a success, because no woman's figure is exactly similar to another's, and corsets are not adaptable, like many other items of clothing. Most people do not know what real corset comfort is. Those who want to should visit Messrs C. Adams and Co.'s corset specialists, who may be consulted to-day at the Exchange Buildings, where the same film are already making a display of millinery and health corsets. The orders will be completed in Wellington, and ladies can have every confidence in trusting Messrs C. Adams and Co. with their instructions. Satisfaction will be assured.*

Mr F. P. Welch, labour agent, has vacancies for m rried couples, shepherds, and hotel hands.

At the Post Office Auction Mart tomorrow, at 2 o'clock, Mr M. 0. Aronsten will sell by public auction 100e*ses of assorted fruit, including jeiches, plums, nectarines, and tonjaLuis, without reserve.