LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3131, 6 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was no business to transact for the quarterly sitting of the Masterton Licensing Bench, to have been held this week, in consequence of which the members were not called together. It is probable that no more meetings will be necessary, in vi -w of ihp carrying of No-License in the electorate. At the Wellington Supreme Court, yesterday, probates were granted in the estates of the following deceased persons:—James Pnest, late of.Eketahuna; Margaret Robertson, late of Woodville; John Young, late of Maryborough, labourer; Mary An-e Redpath, lata of Woodville, widow; Robert Woodvilh, draper and cabinetmaker. Interest in Association football, which was successfully awakened last season, is not to be allowed to lapse, and the Masterton Club will hold a meeting on Saturday evening, in the Dominion Hall, when arrangements for the coming season will receive consideration. All who take an int°r3<jt in the. gm& as well as the members of the Club, are invited to attend the meeting. The tomato crop in Masterto;: threatens to be—if it already is not so—a total failure. The fruit seems to be unable to ripen at all, and irstsad of a ripening process going on the skins are turning thick and hard, a>d the fruit is then unsaleable. Th c re are some large areas down in tomatoes in Masterton this season, and if the crop fails the Chines" gardener 3 will be, perhap?, the heaviest losers. To-morrow, at Knox Church, divine service will be held at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., when the Rev. A. T. Thompson will beein a series of special addresses at both morning and 'evening services. The mornine series, entitled "The Master's Danger Signal* to His Disciples" will embrace a course of sermons on the words of Jesus, introduced by the expression "Take HeH " At the evening service a series will be given on."The Central Truths of Religious Experience,'' beginning with the "Necessity of Religion." Several minor police charges were dealt with before Mr W. P. James at the Masterton Polic Court yesterdav mornine. Wm. Harcombe was nned Rs, with 7s costs, for riding a cycle without a li?ht between sunset and sunrise. Arthur Woodham was finer] 2s tid with 7s costs for having ; his cab o'.i thp cab stind when there was flr°adv the full number of vehicles thereon. Harry Earnshaw contested n charge of permitting a dangerous doer 1o be at large. Mr Pownall r»cled for defendant, who called wit* esses to prove that the dog was not duMerprous in the ordinnry sense. in evidence said he had now giv v the doer away, and thut the animal had only shown hiirself to be aggressive in reference to a certain bicycle he nul been taught to guard. The dog hal never bitten anyone. The Magistrate adjourned the case sine die, to see how the dog behaved with his- new owner. Several charges airainst ChSs. Gurote in reference to breaches of the thorough by-laws relating to cabs were ad- ;' juurnetl till Monday.

A disquieting number of safe robberies have occurred in Wellington during the past s>x-months, the worst ftature of tha matter being that tune of the perpetrators have been detected. Amongst the crimes reported was a btirgbiry irom the Post Office, the thieves securing, in addition to other booty, a bundle of canceiled bank notes whi n h were in transit between an up-country bank and the head office. These notes had been withdrawn from circulation and had a hole punched in the centre, while the word "cancelled" was stamped across the corner. Despite these defacing marks the notes nave been skilfully "doctored" and are finding their way into circulation. Two were recently accepted in Palmerston Norrh, and they had been so cleverly fixed up that it was not surprising that they should have passed a casual inspection. The hole in the centre was covered with a piece of another note, and the word "cancelled" was partly erased. Only when the note was held up to the light was the patching up that it had I received noticeable.

WHY IS SANDER & bONS PURE VOLATILE EUCALYPTI EXTRACT superior to any other Eucalypti Product ? 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 ab Extract aro 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 irtcer 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.

The Greytown and Carterton Fire Brigade teams left yesterday morning to take part in the Fire Brigades' Demonstration at Auckland.

A meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Bible Class will be held to-night at 7.30 o'clock. Mr C. J. Tocker will take the chair and Mr G. H. Craighead will be the discussion leader. By an Order in Council, gazetted this week, the Dyer Settlement roads, and part of the Wangaehu Valley road. Feather-ston county, are declared to be county roads. The Sydney boat which left Wellington yesterday took several bricklayers for Brisbane, who are going in search of work. Bricklayers are also leaving the Dominion for Brisbane from other parts. The Rev. A. Hodge will conduct the services at the Congregational Church to-morrow. The morning subject is "The Force of Personal Example." Communion will be held at the close of the service. The evening subject is "Marks That Will Please Him." The men's meeting of at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms will be of special interest on Sunday, Rev. A. T. Thompson will give an address at this meeting. The orchestra will assist in the musical programme. The strangers' tea will take place at 5.45 p.m. The Rev. C. H. Laws, a wellkno.vn preacher, will conduct the services to-morro -i at the Masterton Methodist Cnurch. Mr A. J. M".nine will take the service at Wangaehu at 3 o'clock, Mr J. Heyhoe at Taueru at 3.15 p.m., and Mr D. B. Thompson at Kuripuni at 7 o'clock. According to the opinion of a Masterton sheep-farmer, expressed to a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday, there is a possibility of there being a heavy mortality among lambs during the coming winter. This authority states that lambs are not doing too well on the rape at present for some unaccountable reason, and unless matters improve the winter will bring losses to sheep-farmers in this district.

Speaking of Tommy Burns, the ex-champion boxer, the London "Chronicle" says:—"The Canadian puid as much attention to the business s'de of the sport as to the sport itself, and it is estimated that his earnings in the ling do ildt fall short of £50,000. Burns never liked boxing, but he took part in it because, as* he out it, he could make more oioflely in the ring than any other way." It is stated that a new and interesting development has arisen in connection with the famous Westport murder case, which is to be tried id Christchurch at the criminal sittings o: f he Supreme Court in May. It will be remembered that at the conclusion of the hearing of a charge of perjury, Connolly, who was convicted of that offence, made a confession implicating himself in the murder of Burke. Hallinen and Anderson were subsequently released, and Connolly was committed for trial on a charge of murder. It is said that Connolly now repudiates his confession, and that the case will be fought out at the bearing in Christchurch.

Additional statistics have been published in connection with the Methodist , Conference at present sitting in Wellington. The 1908 returns disclose a healthy state of affairs. Church buildings number: European 324 and Maori 12, with a membership roll of 15.472 and 1,579 respectively. There are 345 schools (European and administered by 2,245 teachera, who have under them 22,988 scholars. Big figures are reached under the heading "Attendants on public worship, including Sunday school scholars." They reach the total of over eighty thousand. These aggregates, with other? where an increase is gratifying, all show big improvement on those of last year Administering the services throughout the six districts are 125 European ministers and probationers, 13 supemumaries, and 8 Maori ministers—a total of 145.

Although a year has scarcely elapsed since the Te Arai estate, acquired fnm Mr G. Randall Johnson, was thrown open by the court for settlement, the property to-day presents a scene of transformation (says the "Poverty Bay Herald). There are forty homesteads, each with its herd, sheep, and crops. A twelve month prior to the resumption of the estate the property was carrying 19,600 sheep, and about 2,380 cattle. This season's official figures-, however, show that there were 26,339 sheep depasturing on the estate, together with 2,107 cattle. Whilst the number of cattle has diminished, it should be mentioned that those now on Te Arai are practically all of the dairying claes. This season there are also 545 acres under crops, whilst the settlement; is estimated to be carrying a population of nearly 200.

According to official figures,, the Broken Hill "lockout" fund has, since January 4th, received £11,940, and has paid out £10,532 to the strikers. These sums cover a period of seven weeks, as regards the Proprietary, and five weeks as regards Block 10. Had these two mines b«en kept in full work the wages in Broken Hill and Port Pine would have totalled approximately .£BB,BOO. The mine employees have thus lost about £75, ( 250. Other industries in Broken Hill, Port Pirie, and elsewhere have suffered in consequence of the strike; so that it is estimated that the workers have already lost between £90,000 and £IOO,OOO. The Ironmoulders' Union withdrew from the recent wages conference on constitutional grounds, but the union rate of wages is being paid to members employed in the mines in work, except for a couple of detail point?, and the society does not anticipate any trouble in this respect.

Fair Faces Fairer.—Ladies troubled with growth of hair on face, neck or arms cau 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 Heni'dey Burnefc, Hair Specialist, 46 George Street, Dunedin (AH parcels sent in plain wrappers). Hemsley Burnet's Hair Rent." ror tor Grey Hair 4/9.

It is understood that the Government will erect a monument to the late Mr Hone Heke, M.P., to commemorate his services to the Native race, and to the Dominion generally. Russell, Bay of Islands, is spoken of as a probable site. Asked to write down some of the greatest events in the 20th century, a ten-year-old boy in a. Monmouthshire school wrote:—"The New Zealand football team were beaten by Wales; the Spr/ngboks were beaten by Cardiff." While fishing in Purau Bay, a Lyttelton fisherman received an unpleasant surprise when he found that a large shark was entangled in his net. The shark was killed and: brought across to Lyttelton. It measured about fcffc in length and about 3ft in girth, and is stated to be of the shovel nose species. A grim story—which in a less intelligent age (says the London "Christian World") wouH have been taken as a record of Divine vengeance—comes from the seat of the earthquake. The whole staff of the comic paper "II Telerono" were crushed to death at Messina. In the issue uf the paper on Christmas Eve ribald fun was made of the religious observations of the season, and an atrocious parody of a popular Christmas hymn was printed. Strangely* enough—in the light of consequent events—the hymn concluded with a mocking prayer to the "Bambino"— the Christ-child—to send a mighty • earthquake.

In America thousands of persons are killed annually by electric trams, and the companies have lately offered a big reward for an invention which will reduce the fatalities. They have tried hundreds of devices in life-sav-ing fenders, with indifferent success. Now they have been offered a compressed air invention, which the driver can operate with his foot or hand, and which literally blows a child or man off the track. Experiments made with dummies were encouraginer. The victims may be blown sideways to the pavement or elsewhere, and be considerably injured by the process, but they will usually avoid death by tramcars.

Questioned in regard to financial matters by an"Ashburton Guardian" reporter, the Prftne Minister said he. would m2ke a statement after the end of the financial \ear from the public platform. "In the meantime," he continued, "I am not saying anything to anybody or. the.subjects He also refused to give anything for publication in respect to the Lands and Agricultural Departments, and declined to state whether he would continue to hold those portfolios till the end of this year's session. It was his intention, however, to speak on the land question from the public platform, but he would not do so till after hj" had dealt with finance. There wou'd be no licensing legislation this year. The Wellington" correspondent of the "Auckland Star" says:—"The belief is entertained by more one leading light in the legal profession that the Chief Justice (Sir Kobert Stout) will not resume the duties of his high office on his return from abroad, and that the Hon. Dr. Findlay (Attorney-General) or Mr H. D. Bell (Crown Prosecutor) wilj. be his successor. lam unable to ssy whether any reliance is to be placed ton this rumour, but if the health of Sir Robert Stout is not more satisfactory on his return to New Zealand than it is at the present time, I think it quite likely lip w'H resign from the Bench. Mr Belf, it is well known, has refused a judgesmjj on mora than one occasion." While the Auckland unemployed have been dancing hahas outsice the Star Hotel, the temporary abiding place of Sir Joseph Ward, and heaping anathprna upon the Government, says V e "Clutha Free Press," the farmers of South Otago are complaining that they cannot get men to assist in farm work. High wages are offered for milkers and other hands, but without avail, and generally speaking the position of the man on the land with cows to m>lk and crops to gather is exigent. ~ The Government might well take steps to divert the tide of immigration from the overboomed North Island, where there seems to be a decided slump in business generally, to the solid South.

A correspondent writes to the Auckland "Herald"':—"ls the Government making more extensive preparations this year than usual by way of increasing the annual surplus? It would assuredly seem so. It is no secret that i,i the past the March, and sometimes the February, wages bills-were held over for payment in the following financial year, whi h begins on April Ist. This year it seems to be the intention of the Government to go a month further back, and withhold payment of the January wages—not in every case,, of course, but apparently in districts, from which publicity is not likely to travel. There are workmen, I am informed, engaged in the Rotorua district, who, to the present date- February 24th~have not yet received payment of their wages for January."

Shoplifting and pilfering at auc- | tion sales are ever an annoyance to business peopie and auctioneers, and the losses by some firms per year through this source is. states the Wanganui "Herald," sometimes a very large item in the year's operations. On Saturday last, in Messrs Paul and Co.'s drapery establishment, an elderly woman was detected in the ant of transferring a pearl necklet from the show stand to the basket she carried. Detective Siddells was called in, and further investigation revealed the fact that she had also lifted a pair of gloves. Accused, after annexing the necklet, took a second, a cheaper one, from the box to the counter, and paid for same. At the Police Court, on Monday, she was charged with the offence, and fined £2, m default one week's imprisonment. In imposing the penalty Mr W. Kerr, S.M., said it was deplorable that a woman in accused's circumstances (she being possessed of property, and having a previous good character) should be guilty of such an act. It was evident that shoplifting was a too frequent occurrence that business people in New Zealand had to contend with, and he could not see his way to only convict and discharge defendant.

A sailor charged at Auckland with deserting from a German ship made a vigorous protest against the actions -of the first mate. In answer to the inwigistrate, as to the nature of his '•complaints, the defendant excitedly rejoined in slightly broken English: '""Why, he treated us like dogs. We got hash in the morning, hash in the evening, and when we complained about getting too much hash, the mate said it was good enough for : us." The defendant was ordered to return to his vessel for a further dose l of bash. A Christchurch gentleman, who yhas recently ridden through the Tarainaki, Wanganui and Wellington provinces, suggests that the unemployed problem could be solved, in part, at any rate, by sending out men to grub the noxious weeds that have taken charge of large areas of land, especially at the Hutt and other districts irsear Wellington. He says, indeed, all that has to be done is' to put rinto operation the law dealing with jnoxious weeds. The blackberry, rfrt* briar, and the Californian thistl? grow thick and strong, and an army of men is required to deal with them.

In the Bruce licensing electorate there are 19 licences, which, under 2ths no-license vote carried at the last lo:al option poll, will lapse in June next. The number of licenses in . JBrace before the electoral boundaries were altered was 11, but the inclusion of Lawrence, Blue Spur, Evan's .i-Fiat, etc., added eight to this number. In the Taieri electorate under the eld boundaries there were 12 licenses, .but ine extended boundary This added five to the number, making the total 17, and under the arrange- ■ ment come to between the trade and * the No-license party, it is understood * that two of this number will be re- : i u&ed. This makes a total of 21 'hotels and accommodation licenses 1 "which will go out in June in the -Bruce and Taieri electorates, and if ' the possible reductions of three in * Chalmers, three .in Dunedin South, I -and-10 in Dun.'din, are carried into '•effect, there will be an abolition of -37 licenses in the five electorates "named.

,' "The-only official organisation concerned withJßritish emigration, the Emigrants' -Information Office," 'Dr. Arthur, in the "Sydney Morning Herald," nothing more thar give inlormation about the various countries to which British emigrants go. And it does this an impartiality most irritating cto the believer in 'British Imperialism." Accordingly, he suggests i that^an'lmperial conference on emigration should be called which may, other things, stem the current of British emigrants now flowing "not only to the United States and the Argentine," but to "colonies like Rhodesia and East Africa, which .are manifestly Black Men's Countries." "It is generally recognised," f±e says, "that the future belongs to those*nations that will possess the -largest number of subjects. Mr W. T. Stead points out that the bright<.est;prospects are for the Slav. . . There is a feeling in the Old Country 'that the present policy is suicidal," ;acids Dr. Arth.ir; an! q-iotes the •"Standard," which says:- "That 'the British Isles shoulJ supply men ito farm in the United States while ithe shrewdest of United States farm>er3 are migrating to Western Canada lis preposter-ojs."

iA well-2?rablishec] fruit business j i i a leadi -g inland town is adverti.-ed f r sale. Mr Albert Webb, tailor, Masterton, has an advertisement in another ■column of interest to men who are particular about their dress. A reminder is given of the sal j of ■contractor's plant, poultry, etc., to .beheld at the Post Office Audi n .Mart, this afternoon. "Table furnishings at famous i w pYices" is the subject of a readable advertisement appearing on page 3 of this issue from Messrs Veitch ai d Allen, of Cuba Straet, Wellington. j The first display of autumn and I •winter goods will be made in Mr A. j Gorman's Masterton premises to-day. 'The very latest and most fashionable goods on the Home market have :been secured. Thoroughly well-made horse covers, manufactured from t\ e best canvas, guaranteed rain and rot proof, can be ■obtained from Messrs Harcombe and .Donald, saddlers, Masterton, at prices remarkably low for the class of cover turned 'out. The Elite Skating Rink, in the old 'Gymnasium Hall, Dixon Street, is to be re-opened in about a fortnight's time under the old management. ■Preparations are being made to put ! the building and floor into first-class -condition for the popular pastime.

Te Aro House, Wellington, are now displaying the new autumn and winter dress fabrics. Some of these are exquisite, and include all the newest shades, stripes and checks. A range of patterns will be posted free of charge immediately on receipt of an application. Mr A. J. Minifie, painter and paperhanger, announces in this issue that he is prepared to undertake work in painting, paperhanging and signwritine in any part of the town or district. Judging by the quality of work done in and around Masterton by him, it will be easily seen that he uses the best materials, and that his work is of the highest order. He guarantees satisfaction and moderate prices. Estimates are supplied free. Messrs McLeod and Young have a nice show of new lines in stationery in their Queen street windows. The firm have just landed a splendid range of lines which are considered correct stationery at Home. Amongst them can be found Stonehenge deckled edged hand-made paper, envelopes in dainty shades and sizes, and at reasonable prices. Soma new lines in typewriter paper packed in handy boxes are also exhibited. Music is the proper food of love, and if you have no music in the home, love is apt to languish. A good piano is a wonderful preserver of domestic haimony. All over New Zealand there are hundreds of homes made happy by the Dresden Piano Company. The easypayment terms aro really easy. You i'eel no drag on your resources. _ If you have not a piano, the matter is worthy of consideration. Consult the Dresden Piano Company, Ltd. Mr M. J. Brookes is North Island Manager. Local repre- . sentative, Mr T. B. Hunter.