LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3147, 26 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Jt is stated that work in the painting trade in Eketahuna is becoming brisker. Twenty-four Swiss immigrants, mostly farmers, arrived by the Mararna last week, and will settle in Taranaki. The annual meeting of the Red Star Football Club will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Building on Saturday evening, at 8 o'clock. It is understood that the play "Miss Lancashire, Limited,'' will be staged again in Ghristchurch at Easter time. You cannot hour ttie operatic 'stars, but the great composers ot' music mayjbe your daily companions. All you want is a raano—a good piano. Inferior pianos are an irritation. The Dresden Piano Company stocks only good pianos, selected with special regard to New 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. Hunter.

The Masterton South Brass Band will hold a sacred concert in the Town Hall on April 11th, Easter Sunday, when a first-class programme will be rendered.

Dr Purdy, in a recent letter to th« Mayor of Auckland, claims that the population of "Greater Auckland" is now over 100,000. He includes in the "greater" area Ellerslie and Onehunga.

Miss Ola Humphrey will play the leading part in "The Englishman's Home," the great patriotic Jrama, when it has its premiere in Australasia at Easter. The allotment of the other characters has net yet transpired.

A beautiful fountain has been erected on the St. Bride's Convent grounds, by Messrs Taylor and Hodges. The fountain, which is a gift to the Convent, is erected in front of the Centenary Memorial, the statue of "Mary Immaculate," and its beautiful workmanship is greatly admired.

New Zealand's telephone exchange system came into existence in 1881, in which year there were 116 subscribers, and the service yielded over 8 per cent, on its capital cost. Last year there were 23,881 telephone subscribers in the Dominion, and atter paying working expeness, but making no allowance for depreciation, the return on the capital invested was only 1.89 per cent.

A reward of £SO to be offered by Mr J. C. Cox, of Wellington, to at:y aunch-men who will locate the wreck of the Penguin writes the Wellington correspondent of the Cbristchurch "Press." There is a very strong opinion amongst seafaring men that the Penguni did nut strike a rock at all, but that she came to grief through striking the derelict Rio Loge, which is supposed to be still floating about somewhere.

A number of important engagements have been made by Mr J. C. Williamson, pointing to eventual changes in the "Red Mill" Company, which opena at Perth with that opera at Eastpr. These include Mr Herbert Clayton, a well-known Gaiety baritone and concert singer; Miss Dorothy Court, principal soprano at the Gaiety Theatre in the Gilbert and Sullivan recitals; Mr Frank Green, and Mias Lottie Sargent.

Captain England, formerly of the Antarctic vessel Nimrod, believes that if the .Norwegian firm which is negotiating for permission to establish a whaling station on Campbell Island is successful, a great deal of important explorine work will be done in the Antar:tic circle. "The whalers," said Captain England, "will have to go down across the circle, and they will keep a sharp look-out for fresh facts." Captain England says modern Antarctic explorers are indebted to the old «»halers, who did splendid work in the south, and laid the foundations for much that has been done since.

A meeting of the Committee of the Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society was held last evening, Dr Cook presiding. The secretary, Mr N. H. James, read the interim balance sheet, showing receipts £l2B 18s 3d, expenditure, 't;c!uding £56 5s 6d prise money, £lO9 5s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £lB 12s sd. The'balance sheet was adopted and the committee expressed satisfaction at the result of the show. Accounts and prizes were passed for payment. Votes of thanks were passed to the judges at the show, and to Mr E. Haie for'his donation to the Society of bi« prize money, £2 12s 6d. It was resolved that the annual meeting of members be held on Wednesday, April 7th.

The St. Patrick's School girls held their annual swimming competitions yesterday afternoon, at the Borough Baths. There was a very large attendance, and the ideal weather conditions prevailing contributed largely to the great success of the gathering. The arrangements were most complete, and there was not the slightest hitch in the afternoon's programmeSister Raphael performed the duties of judging the various events most efficiently. Following are the results: —Last year's swimmers race, 25 yards, Nelly O'Dowd 1, Mary Olson 2; this year's swimmers race, Mary Di.<-jgins 1, Florence Kussell 2; dicing, Mary Olson 1.

Splendid weather has been experienced recently at Akaroa and the harbour has been as smooth as glass, thus enabling both George Whelch and W. Fogwell to get in some good work. The men are training with regularity, and do a solid steady pull over the full course once a day at least. Arnst having returned from Dunedin immediately got to wo;k pacing Fowgell, who is rowing well in his new Towns boat, with which he is very well pleased. Whelch is rapidly getting into form, and his pacer and trainer, W. Webb, expresses himself as being very well satisfied with his charge. Last Wednesday, both Fosrwell and Whelch,, together with their pacers, took advantage of the calm water to do the full distance. Whelch and Webb covered the course steadily, the former rowing 28 with a short sprint of 30, Webb rowing 28. Fogwell and Arnst later on covered the course at 24 to the minute each.

A n<3W departmental regulation' Hps been put into operation at the Sydney Police Courts, with the object of inducing sobriety amongst the Court's customers. By this regulation . certain persons who appear to answer charges of drunkenness and disorderliness, and are convicted, are fined the maximum amount of £2, in default one month's imprisonment, or £3, in default six week's imprisonment. On promising the Court to abstain, the offender is given three months in which to pay the fine, and no security is asked by the police. At jthe end of the three months, if ; they have not offended again, they are allowed a further three months, and so on until twelve months have elapsed. Then, if there has been no record against the offender, the whole line is remitted; on the other hand, any lapse within the twelve months' period will result in the original penalty being enforced. Ladies visiting Wellington should call upon Mrs Matthewson, millinery specialist, of Melbourne House, Lambton Quay, and inspect tho magnificent display of Easter xyillinery now being displayed. All the very latest and most approved styles in hats to select from.—Advt.

Speaking of the production of "An Englishman's Home" in London, a London newspaper says:—"lt is but just to chronicle the success of a young actor, Mr Arthur Wontner, as the ardeut vojunteer, who, I am assured, learnt his art in Australia. In what part of the Commonwealth X know not; but Australia is large enough to welcome success made by one of her sons, and it matters not whether Melbourne Sydney, or Adelaide or far-distant Ferth, claims him. He is a coming man." Mr Wontner was in Masterton witli Mr Julius Knight, and played the part of Duke in "Monsieur Beaucaire."

A young woman, aged twentyfour, whose name is withheld for obvious reasons, has received formal written permission from the Berlin police to wear man's clothes, says the Berlin correspondent of the London "Daily Express." She has a masculine appearance, bold, resolute features, a moustache and whiskers, short hair,' and a sturdy masculine figure. The result was that when she went about in female clothes phe was repeatedly arrested by the police as a male masquerading in woman's clothes. Each time she had to produce her birth certificate to prove her sex. Finally, after having been arrested some ten times on the charge of being a man raasquprading in woman" clothes, she declared that henceforth the would wear male attire, and that if prevented from so doing she would commit suicide rather than return to female flress. Henceforth she dressed and lived as a man. She obtained a post in a large Berlin house, where her secret was only known to the proprietor. She was known to the svaff as Herr So-and so. They had not the leost inkling of her sex. Soon, however, she became involved in trouble again, owing to her male attire being incompatible with particulars which she had to repoit the police. The police have now granted her permission to appear publicly as a man.

At the annual meeting of the Sydney Clerks and Warehousemen's Association, the president, SHr William M'Millan, in an address, deprecated the foolish practicH of young men getting married before they were earning sufficient to keep a wife and family. Sir William said that he spoke as an employer, for no sooner had a youth taken to himself a wife than he applied f«ir, and expected, a rise. Although his work waSj not worth any more than his current salary, the employee pleaded his marriage as a substantial argument in favour of hi* application, and if he failed to secure it immediately blamed his employer, who was stigmatised as hard-hearted and so on, whereas it was the youth's own impetuosity that was to blame.

A commission case of some interest was heard at tie Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, before Mr W. P. James, S.M. The amount involved was £IOO, which Messrs Cochrane and Butement, land agents, Masterton, claimed from John Pinfold, of Konini, for commission on the exchange of delendant's land at Miki Miki for a property at Awahuri,gowned by C. H. Cox. Evidence was given by F. Butement ant! C. Perry, showing that an exchange had been effected, and the agreed amount of commission was £IOO. Defendant contended that it had been arranged that the commission was not to be payable until October next, and offered a promissory note for £IOO. The case was adjourned to allow a settlement ori this basis. Dr. Trimble appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr H. McSherry, of Pahiatua, for defendants. In the case of H. Cole and Sons v. John Phillips, a claim for £l2 2s 3d, part of which was confessed, judgment was given for plaintiffs for £5 15s 6d and, £1 10s costs. Pi!r P. L. Rollings appeared for plaintiffs and Mr C. A. Powuall for defendant.

| "Sir George Grey, with all his i autocratic manner and his sternness of character, was always very much I under the influence of certain people, and'amongst them his housekeeper at the Kawau," said Mr Edward Wakefield in London recently. Mrs Jones had an extraordinary power over him. They used to have quarrels sometimes, and about once a month Mrs Jones would come down to the wharf at Kawau, with a Maori boy wheeling her trunk. Asked if she were leaving, she would reply, "I ain't gone yet!" As the steamer came round r he point and headed for the wharf Sir George would come down from his house. "Ob, Mrs Jones," he would say, "what I mean to. say is, you have been too hasty! Go back to the house and let us forget all about this unpleasantness." "Very well, Sjr George," the lady would reoly, "I'll go back to the house, and I'll ses to the r-ioms and the dinner. I knowed howit would be! I knowed how it would be!" Eventually Sir George pensioned her off, and set her up in a little shop in Auckland, and for all I know she "ain't gone yet!" Mr F. P. Welch has vacancies for an experienced cook and a waggon driver. Mr J. R. Nicol has for private sale first-class Frimley peaches. A reward is offered for the recovery of a gold bangle lost between the Convent and Swimming Baths. In conection with their stock reduction sale now proceeding the Scoullar Company, Ltd., of Wellington, notify country clients that price lists giving their reduced prices will be posted on application. Mr R. Brown, land and estate agent, Masterton, advertise particulars of a shop and dwelling with good business connection, which he has been authorised to sell. Particulars of a number of town and country ppoptrtittfi will also be found in the advertisement on page 8 of this issue. Notice of a special older to be made by the Masterton Borough Council in respect of a lease of the Water Works Reserve to Mr Edward William Peters will be found on page 1 of this issue. Full particulars of the furniture and effects to be sold to-morrow by Mr J. R. Nicol on acountofMrs Neame, at "Moness House," Chapel street, will be found on page 8 of this issue. Effervescent Saline, purifying, refreshing, invigorating to all who suffer from sickness, headache, sluggish liver, etc. Price, 2/6, H. T. Wood, Chemist aad Pharmacist (fc> ©iam.J, Mastertotij*

It is understood that the permit to sell liquor at the approaching meeting of the Masterton Racing Club has not been granted to the Club. Arrangements are being made by the Masterton Bowling Club for holding a local tournament during the Iffiaster Holidays. Full details in connection with the tournament will be announced at an early date. "The weather yesterday en- ■ "ticed a large number of bowling enthusiasts t® the green in the afternoon, where bowling was indulged »in, and some enjoyable games played. •In the 'Buckle Challenge Match iiater in the afternoon two teams »competed, and at dusk Mr F. Dupre's ■fceam was 'leading against Mr J. -Scott's by three points. The annual social and dine-3 of the Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, and was a most enjoyable function. There was a large attendance and the flour was in excellent ■ order. Excellent music was supplied by Mr F. McKenzie. Extras were playdd by Misses Richards, Haughey and Kisenberg, and Mr R. Mcintosh. -At a suitable interval Mr E Mc- . Ewer, presented the trophies won at the Anniversary Day Carnival and the Club Carnival.

At a civil sitting of the Magistrate's Court, held at Masterton yesterday morning, before Mr W. P. James, S.M., judgment was given —for plaintiffs by default in the following cases:—Masterton Borough Council v. Sarah Crighton, claim £1 '•6s 4d, Co3ts ss; Sinclair and Brown v S. Green, £4 10s, costs ss; *Gawith and Logan v.. Harold Edward Ivey, £7 0s 6d, costs 14s; Alex. Donald v. Moses Paratena, claim £1 10s, costs 7s 6d; George McLennan v. John Leahy, £7, costs 10s; A. J. Giddings, v. James E. Snell, claim £2 18s 4d, costs ss; Beale arid "Parton v. Bernard Diederick, claim £3 4s, costs ss; Jorgen Hoffeins v. -John Lewis Thompson, claim £l3 15s. costs £1 18s 6d; Julia Anrt Cotter v \ A. 1 ymburn, claim £4 6s 6d, costs IDs; James Whittaker v. Patrice Carrig, claim £5 163 od, costs .45-1 3s 6d; Boyd and Cook v. Russell Dixon, claim £4 2s 4d, costs 12s; Wm. Gordon Hand-Newton v John Tir.sley, dairn £2O Ifis, costs ..£1 3s; James Bourke v. George "Wiggins, claim £1"57 9s, costs £7 :10*; James Whittaker v. Harry Earnshaw, claim £2 13s 4d, cost? JOs. Orders on Judgment summonses were made as 'follows: —McLeod and "Young v. W. D. Heggie. debt 16s, 'debtor orcered to pay forthwith in default seven days, order suspended *v. Bert Wilton, debt £2 Ifis, oriiered to pay forthwith in default seven days, order susnended for 14 days. In a C3se John McElligott v. C. H. Smith,- claim £l2 10s for •wages, judgment was given for defendant, who was represented by Mr C. A. Pownall.