LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3142, 20 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of members of (the MastertoM Golf Club will be held on Friday next, at 4.30 p.m.

Harvest Festival services will be held in St. Matthew's Church tomorrow. Rev. V. H. Kitcat, of Eketahuna, will be the preacher. The fruit and vegetables will be distributed amongst the sick and poor of the" parish. "It would appear judging by the readiness with which farmers in the Wairarapa are selling their oats and chaff that little confidence in the return of high values in the near future is entertained," said a wellknown farmer to an Age representative yesterday, "and in view of the unusually heavy crops throughout the Dominion,and the stringency of the money market, this lack of confidence is probably warranted."

A first offender, who denied the charge, was convicted of drunkenness at the Masterton Police Court, yesterday morning, Mr J. Pauling, J.P., presiding. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for the accused, and evidence was called with a view to showing that the charge could not be sustained. The accused complained that he was lodged in a dirty cell. The police stated that the cell was perfectly clean, and after hearing the evidence ofyboth sides, Mr Pauling entered a conviction as already stated, and imposed a fine of five shillings with the usual alternative. Another first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged.

The Rev. A. Hodge conducts the services as usual in the Congregational Church tomorrow, the morning subject being "Tribulation," and that of the evening.a continuation of the subject of last Sunday evening, viz., "Friendship," "The Breaking of the Alabaster Box," or "How to Treat Our Friends."

While meteorological conditions in the district have been all that could be desired for pastures they have unfortunately been favourable to the spread of the many of the swede crops. The warm weather frequently experienced this season has been the means of promoting this scourge of the swede and rape crops, with the result that in many places in the district erstwhile promising looking fields are now languishing.

The Rev. J. N. Buttle will conduct both services at the Methodist Church to-morrow. In the morning the subject will be "The Great Commission," and in the evening "Making the Future." Collections in aid of the Foreign Missions of the Church will be taken up. Mr Buttle will also preach at Wangaehu at 3 p.m. Mr Heyhoe will conduct the services at Kruipuni at 7 o'cloik, and Mr J. A. Donald will preach at Taueru at 3.15 o'clock.

The Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club's social and dance, which takes place on Thursday next, in the Foresters' Hall, promises to be a great success. Tickets are selling freely. A strong ladies' committee has been formed to arrange for the supply of refreshments. The back hall has been arranged as a card room, so those who do not care to dance, can pass the time away at a social game. The prizes won during the season will also be presented. The warm and abundant rains of the last few days have imparted a spring-like appearance to the pastures of the district. The present autumn promises to be a record one so far as feed is concerned, for hills and valleys, from a grazier's point of view, never in any previous autumn looked better than they do now. It would be almost superfluous to state that stock are doing well, tnat the dairyman is enjoying a good time, and that the "fattener" seldom ever had a better innings than he is having this season.

Though dairy produce continues to command high values and the market enjoy exemption from ths extreme fluctuations which characterise other products of the farm it would appear from sundry meetings in sundry corners of our district that certain sections of the dairying community are not entirely satisfied with their lot, quite a number of communities intesested 11 in the dairying industry are now seriously considering the question of discarding buttermaking and going in for cheesemaking. They maintain that cheese has been much more profitable than butter. Many of the dairy farmers believe that the future orospects of cheese—based upon the alleged supper iority of the New Zealand product—are higher than those of butter.

The annual meeting of the Kia Kaha Hockey Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. JKooms, last evening, Mr J. B. Rue presiding. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Mr W. H. Jackson;, Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. L. Murray and J. L. Hughes; Captain, J. B. Rue; Vice-Captain, A. C. Wiliams; Secretary, J. J. Lomas; Treasurer, L. S. Nicol: General Committee, Messrs E. J. Clarke, J. Tait, D. M. Mcintosh and officers ex officio; Selection Committee, Messrs Rue, Williams and Lomas; Delegates to Wairarapa Hockey Association, Messrs Williams and Lomas The subscription was fixed at ss, and it was decided that the colours should be black. The following were elected new members: —Met'srs Clarke, Mcintosh, Lomas, Waters, Harding', Hugo, Tait, Tooby and Dunn. It was decided to commence practice at Lansdowne on Thursday next.

The present season's record grain crop has not been an unmixed blessing in the opinion of some farmers, for prices have fallen to a level lower than has been reached for many years. Forty-seven shillings and sixpence per ton for oaten chaff of prime quality, in the face of high land values and dear labour, is not at all encouraging to that portion of our farmers whose crops this season were of moderate quantity a*nd qiruity. While the producer is dissatisfied, it is evident that the consumers is taking advantage of existing low prices by laying in heavy stocks. For weeks past every chaffcutter in the Wairarapa has been working at full speed, fur orders principally for the Wellington market having been coming in quicker than they can be executed. The following are among the sums required by the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board for the ensuing year, and a comparative statement showing the variation from last year:—Masterton County Council, 1908-09 £306 15s Sd, 1909-10 £362 16s; Featherston County Council, 1908-09 £299 19s, 1909-10 £355 18s; Pahiatua County Council, 1908-09 £216 13s 4d, 1909-10 £256 lis; Wairarapa South County Council, 1908-09 £l9O 3s, 1909-10 £225 3s; Akitio County Council, 1908-09 £92 7s, 1909-10 £lO9 9s; Castlepoint County Council, 1908-09 £75 03 4d, 1909-10 £BB 10s;' Eketahuna County Council. 1908-09 £6O 12s 4d, 1909-10 £125; Mauriceville County Council, 1908-09 £52 Is, 1909-10 £6l 15s; Masterton Borough Council, 1908-09 £127 17s, 1909-10 £l6O 14s; Carterton Borough Council, 1908-09 £22 9s, 1909-10 £37 4s; Greytown" Borough Council, v 1903-09 £lB 4s, 1909-10 £2l 10s Borough Council, 1908-09 £25 Bs, 1909-10 £3O 19s; "Eketahuna Borough Council, 1908-09 £lB 2s 4d, 1909-10 £22 7s; Martinborough Town Board, 190S-09 £l2 17s 4d, 1909-10 £l3 10s; Featherston Town Board. 1908-09 £8 Is, 1909-10 £9 17s. Of this amount, some of the votes of expenditure proposed are:—Pahiatua County Council, 190E-09 £l2O, 1909-10 £150; Wairarapa South County Council, 1908-09 £175, 1909-10 £75; Eketahuna County Council, 1908-09 £IOO, 1909-10 £7O; Mauriceville County Council, 1908-09 £IOO, 190'9-10 £130: Carterton Borough Council, 1908-09 £l2O, 1909-10 £225; Pahiatua Borough Council, 1908-09 £7O, 190910 £120; Wairarapa North, 1908-09 £720, 1909-10 £6OO.

The Upaki Rifle Club will complete the season's trophy shooting today, when the competitions will be at the 900 yards and 1,000 yards. *f A contest for the Grady Bowling trophies between Messrs Whyte and Fisher, of Carterton, and Messrs J..

C. Ewington and J. Cochrane, of Masterton, took place at Carterton,,

on Thursday afternoon, and resulted in a win for the former by 21 to 17. The effect upon flocks that the large exportation of fat sheep and

lambbhas'had has compelled flock* owners not only in this district but

all over the Dominion to pay more

attention to the question of increas—irg the number of their breeding

ewes. Consequently while fat sheep are at present commanding scarcely satisfactory prices as the result'of a depressed Home market suitable

breeding ewes have been bringing

high prices. One of the several dairying districts in the Forty-mile Bush now fonsidering the question of establishing a cheese factory in place of a butter factory is Kaitawa. The

settlers, after much private discussion, recently held a meeting in order to give formal expression to their views, and to fully discuss the matter. The services of an authority connected with the Agricultural Depart-

ment were enlisted, but that officer' did not greatly facilitate the movemerit, and would not express an * opinion as to the terms and conditions upon which the HawkeVßay Dairy Company offered to sell the

local creamery or convert it into a cheese factory. He reminded them that there was no guarantee that cheese would always in the future brine higher prices than buttter.

From an evident lack of due consideration of a scheme wherewith** to maet the financial difficulties in the way of establishing a co-oper-ative cheese factory nothing practical resulted from the meeting. In the meantime the dairymen of Kaitawa are undecided whether to start a factory of theirown to accept the oft'er of the Hawke's Bay Company to fit up their creamery with a cheesemaking plant, and to sell the same and the building and lands connected therewith to the Kaitawa settlers for £1,300. All accounts against the Dominion Bazaar must be rendered in detail to the secretary at once. Tenders are invited by Mr Her* bert A. Jones, architect, for the erection of a large residence at Lansdowne. »

Particulars of .some excellent investments in freehold property are advertised by Mr J. R. Nicol, on page 8 of this issue.

The annual meeting of/merabersof the Masterton Football Club will be* held In the Y.M.C.A. Rooms' on Friday evening next.

A reward is ottered for the return of a short riding whip, lost in Masterton. .

a Tenders for the lease of -section 852. Block X., Cashpoint-S.D.; for a term of 14 years, are invited by « the Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Mr Frank Dupre, watchmaker and jeweller, •of Queen street, has on view in his shop window the A. and P. Association's gold and silver medals won at the last Masterton Show.

At the Post Office Auction Mart, this afternoon, Mr M. 0. Aronsten will hold a gei/eral saje of furniture, linoleums, crockery, carpets, arid' general house furnishings.

At the residence of Mr T. G. Mason, Makora Road, on Tuesday next, Mr J. R. Nicol wijl hold an auction sale of the whole of the contents. Particulars are advertised in the auction columns of this issue.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands announces-that 28 sections hi the Carrington Settlement, t Carterton, will be open for selection up to Tuesday, March 23rd. ,

Privileges in connection with the Masterton Race Meeting, English made bicycles, furniture, fruit and poultry, are to be sold at the Masterton Auction Mart, this afternoon, by Mr J. JR. Nicol.

Full particulars of the special clearing sale of the whols of the contents of Devonshire House, to be held ,? on Wednesday next, by Messes J. A. J. Maclean and Co., are.advertised on page 8 of this issue. The Imperial Camera Company, Wellington, will forward to any address in the Dominion a copy of their 50 page catalogue, which contains much valuable information relating to photography. Messrs Veitch and Allen, Wellington's Busiest Store, to-day, insert an attractive advertisement concerning their new winter goods. Exceptional jackets and blousings are offered at surprisingly low prices. The announcement is worthy of careful perusal.,

Residents of Mauriceville are reminded of the sale of furniture to be held there on Monday Dy Mr J. R. Nicol, on account of Mrs J. McKenzie, who is leaving the district. The advertised list includes a number of leading lires, which are all in good order.

It is an easy matter to select a suitable wedding or birthday gift from the splendid stock of jewellery carried by Mr Jas. Scott, in his Queen Street premises. The prices quoted for such quality goods are extremely reasonable.

At their Perry Street rooms, today, at 2 o'clock, Messrs W. B. Chennells and Co. will offer for sale a number of desirable properties in the Borough of Masterton, and at Lansdowne and Manaia. The investments to be offered are thoroughly, sound, and good competition should result.

Mr J. Kitchener, boot and shoemaker and importer, of Masterton, has in stock a large assortment of stylish, serviceable and watertight boots, specially imported for the (

autumn and winter season. The boots are thoroughly well made from the very best material, and are to be sold at prices that must command a ready sale.

"A fairyland of feminine fashion and fancies," aptly describes the splendid display of autumn and winter novelties, in the showroom of the Exchange Buildings,, Queen street, Masterton. The stock is entirely new, and the ladies of Masterton and district are invited to inspect the display on Tuesday opening; date-