LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3145, 24 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Masterton District High School branch of the Navy League has now a membership of about one hundred. Measles are again so prevalent in Timaiu that it has been found necessary to close the Main School there for a week or two. The Featherston Co-operative Dairy Company forwarded 285 cases of cheese to Wellington on Saturday last, for shipment to Londo.u A member of a colonial firm manufacturing boot-polish told a Gisborne "Herald" representative that New : Zealand sent £22,000 abroad last year for imported boot polishes. Messrs Clements, of London, have reported to the Tavvaha Dairy Company that their cheese shipped by the jsteamer Corinthic realised the top price—6ls—at the time of sale in the London market. The Tararua Rifle Club held a competition last Saturday, for a cup presented by Mr H. E. Greathead. The cup is to be held by the winner for one year, and the conditions are seven shots at 200 yards standing, seven shots at 500 yards kneeling, and seven shots at 700 yards prone. The winner was Kifleman J. Petersen, with a score of 72, Kifleman W. Mason (62) being second, and Rifleman R. Thomasen f6l) being third. 1). Reddan, tobacconist, of Smith Street, Fitxroy, (Victoria), recently received a post-card, which was posted to him in January, 1905, and bears the cancellation mark of the G.P.O. "4.0 a.m., 20.1.'05." Reddan's shop is only about a mile from the G.P.O. r and the post-card has taken four years and one month to cover the distance. There is no explanation so far as to the delay. An expedition has been organised in Wellington to endeavour to get salvage from the ship Ben Avon, which was wrecked in Palliser Bay some years ago. The scow Rona has been chartered, and a start will be made ae soon as the weather is favourable. Among the Ben Avon's cargo was £4,000 or £5,000 worth of jewellery and plate, a large quantity of whisky, and also pig irsn and other metal. "Give us water, and barren Central Otago will blossom as the rose," is what the advocates of irrigation have been saying for many years. The Government has taken the necessary preliminary steps to ascertain the ! probable benefit to /be secured by carrying out a scheme in Central Otago. It instructed Mr J. L. Bruce (chief inspector of stock in Central Otago) to locate the areas of agricultural land in Central Otago which could be profitably irrigated, and Mr Bruce has just submitted a lengthy report to the Government, showing that nearly 222,000 acres may be dealt with.

The fullowing team will represent the Maurieeville Rifle Club in a match with the Tararua Rifle Club at Maurieeville to-morrow, writes our Maurieeville correspondent: — Captain R. F. Wiiton, Riflemen F. W. H. Kummcr, C. Blewett, A. Larsen, A. Dagg, A. M. Rose, E. H. Dagg, R. A. Wilton, R. C. F. Dagg, T. Brenchley, W. Payne. Telegrams were sent from Palmerston North yesterday to the Government by the Member for the District and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, protesting against the removal of Detective Quirke to Wellington. A petition is also being circulated by the Member for the District. A meeting o£ the shareholders of the Workmen's Friend Building Society was held last evening, and prel sided over by Mr W. H. Jackson (Chairman o* Directors). An appropriation of £3OO free of interest was disposed ot by ballot, being secured by Mr A. E. Winzenberg. Athletes generally will regret to > learn that the injuries which the Wellington amateur, W. H. Pollock, received recently, when contesting the long jump, are more severe than at first supposed. The cartilage of the injured knee has been badly torn and muscles severely strained, while in addition, the ankle is sprained. Medical attendance has been found necessary, and it will probably be quite a month before Mr Pollock will be able to get about. The mishap will perhaps mean permanent retirement from the athletic arena, which Mr Pollock was anxious to re-enter for the last time next season. The "Pelorus Guardian" states that Mr C. Mills, of the Rai Valley, witnessed a contest in the Tinline river. In a deep pool he noticed a trout that appeared to be about 4ibs in weight, and harrying the fish were nine eels, the largest of which would go about 151bs. After a lot of worrying by the eels, the trout was driven out of the pool into shallower water, and its enemies began a vigorous attack on it. The big eel would deliver a broadside that sent the unfortunate trout scurrying through the shoals, but the smaller eels would head it back with vicious snaps. It fought valiantly for some time, but eventually became completely exhausted, and whilst in that condition the big eel, with a wrenching snap, pulled the poor creature's head off and swallowed it. j A writer in the Dunedin "Star" states that recently in the interior of Otago he met two people who had spent nearly the whole of their lives without ever having seen a city and its wonders. One of these was a woman. Twenty-eight years ago she left the heather hills of Scotland and landed at Port Chalmers. She found her way to a station by the banks of the upper Waitaki, and she has never been in Dunedin since. All this long interval she has spent in the same place as cook on the station and as mother in a shepherd's home, and now, after these long laborious years of humble toil and rearing a family to enrich the State, she is ending the evening of her days in a little cottage far away amonsgt the inland hills, which her thrift has secured for her. She has never seen a tramcar nor ridden in a train, and has no ambition in that Jirection. The Bluff correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" reports the following from Stewart Island:—A mysterious discovery has just been reported from the vicinity of the Murray river and Saddle Point, on the Foveaux side of Stewart Island. An island cutter was round' in the neighbourhood fishing. One of her crew, an Austrian, went on shore in the dinghy. In exploring about he discovered a solitary individual wandering amongst tne rocks. On being communicated with, the stranger was found to be a foreigner, who, seemingly, did not understand a word of English. After a time it was discovered that he was a Frenchman. To all appearance the man was in depth of distress, both as regards food and clothing—indeed it was found he was collecting shellfish for his subsistence. The Austrian was j able to make him understand a few words but not sufficient to explain the circumstances. What he could understand was that the stranger was in no need of assistance and that he was mainly desirous of being left alone; indeed he seemed to resent interference and therefore the cutter people left him as they found him. No one on the island Knows anything about him, neither as to who he is or the circumstances under which he came to be where found. The matter was reported to the police, and no doubt steps will be taken to probe the mystery further. • You cannot near tne great operatic stars, but the great composers of music may be your daily companions. All you, want is a oiano—a piano. Inferior pianos are an irritation. The Dresden Piano Company stocks good pianos, selected with special regard to Jfew Zealand climate and conditions. The Dresden Company is absolutely straight in Its dealings. That is principle. You can buy a piano on such easy terms that you will scarcely feel that you are paying for it. Mr M. J. Brookes is manager for the North island. Local representative, Mr T. B. Huutor.

A leading local labour agent report that applicants for work have unusually numerous during the past fortnight. A fair proportion of the applicants were married men, who expressed themselves willing to accept any class of work where the remuneration would be sufficient to ento maintain themselves and families. A correspondent signing himself "Justitia" writes to a Blenheim paper:—"ln all that has been published about the bravery, consjderateness, and absence of panic marking the conduct of those who were on the ill-fated Penguin when she went down. I thinK that justice has not been done to one man—Mr Loosemore, the third officer, who stood on the bridge burning the coloured lights-, to enable the crew and passengers to get out the boats and rafts. I have been repeatedy told by one of the survivors that the action of xvir Loosemore was courageous and unselfish in the extreme. The night was pitch dark, and but for the continued illumination given by Mr Loosemore, the scene would have been one *• of still worse confusion, with perhaps total loss of life. The lights burned on the bridge enabled those who did get ashore to locate and reach tie rafts and boats "ih< the boiilng sea. Mr Loosemore stuck to his post to the very last, not even delaying to equip himself with a life-belt, and went down with the ship. Was there anything more courageous and unselfish in the whola sad incident?" Regarding the case of Mrs Hannam, a survivor of the wreck of the steamer Penguin, the administrators of the relief fund have been placed in a quandary by a published report that Mrs Haonam, had received, in addition to other direct donations from the public, a present of £SO from Mrs Matthews, of Spring Creek, whose son was saved in the overturned boat which brought Mrs Hannam ashore. Mrs Hannam as--sured the committee that she had received no grant from Mrs Mathews. In order to, clear up the point, the Town Clerk of Wellington, as secretary of the relisf fund, wrote to Mrs-, Matthews. A reply has been received, stating that no grant had been made, and thai there had been a public misapprehension as to the manner in which young Matthews was saved. He has told his mother that he kept hi 3 position in the upturned boat, without assistance from anyone by pressing his feet aeainst the thwarts while holding lightly. to a rope, and that the person whom Mrs Hannam assisted must have been someone else, who failed to. reach the shore. An advertiser requires a girl for light house work. A gold two-bar brooch set with amethysts is advertised for. On page 8 of this issue Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., advertise particulars of a number of farm properties which they have for sale. The new suitings wmeh Mr Alex. Donald, ladies' and gent's tailor, Queen Street, has just received, are an exceptionally fine assortment, in all shades of brown. Mr Donald invites the public to call and inspect: these new goods. Mr J B. Keith, land and estate agent, Masterton, advertises particulars of two handy-sized farms, 100 and 190 acres, respectively. Both properties are well improved and are 1 offered on exceptionally easy terms. The W.F.C.A. notify that the advent of Miss Thompson in charge of their dressmaking department has been much appreciated by their customers. Their numerous lady patrons are invited to select their materials and order their winter costumes at once. In another column Mr F. C. Fullerannounces that he has purchased the milk raund recently conducted by Mr Dawson, and solicits a continuance of public support. Mr Fuller will draw his supplies from one of, the best dairy farms in the district, and thorough cleanliness will be observed. A constant supply of fresh cream will> be available, and all orders will be promptly filled. At Devonshire House, at one o'clock to-day. Messrs J. A. J. Maclean and Co. will hold an important sale of furniture and household' effects. Under instructions from Mrs Tait the whole of this well assorted and first-class furniture willbe sold without reserve. The list includes first-class piano, hall stand,, dining room suite in Buffalo, art tapestry suite, bedsteads, bed and table linen, general furnishings and 50 head of poultry. These goods will be on vhw this morning, and as the list is a particularly large one the sale will start punctually at one o'clock. At the residence, Cornwall Street, on Wednesday next, March 31st, under instructions from Mr H. W. Buttray, Mr J. R. Niccl will sell by auction three sections of land, on one of which there is a six-roomed residence with all conveniences. One sp.ction has frontages to Cornwall and Pownall Streets, and the other is highly improved with large lawn and well planted with fruit and ornamental trees. The whole of Mr Rattray's furniture, of which further particulars will be given, will be sold at the same time. Visitors to Masterton express the opinion, and rightly so, that' no better selected or more comprehensive stock of high-class jewellery is to be found in any town in New Zealand than that stocked by Mr Frank Dupre in his Queen Street premises, Masterton. For many years past Mr Dupre has catered liberally for the jewellery requirements of the residents of the Wairarapa, and his enterprise>has been rewarded by substantial and ever increasing business. His stock is invariably drawn upon for wedding and birthday gifts, for the quality of his goods is admittedly high-class, and his charges decidedly reasonable. A feature of his business is the mail order department. From all parts of the provincial districts orders are received, and as Mr Dupre personally selects the goods and despatches them promptly, country clients have every confidence in trading with him. Ladies visiting Wellington should call upon Mrs Matthewson, millinery specialist, of Melbourne House, Lambton Quay, and. inspect the magnificent display of Easter millinery now being displayed.. All the very latest and most approved styles in hats to select fcom.—-Advt.j