LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3149, 29 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. Eketahuna is now connected by telephone with Wellington. A farmer at Willowbridge has just threshed a crop of oats which yielded 100 bushels per acre. Within the past fortnight between 6,000 and 7,000 carcases of mutton were railed from Oamaru to Port Chalmers for shipment to London. The prize given for the erir) securing the most scholars for the Eketahuna Methodist Sunday School, has baen won by Miss Flossie Cody. In giving evidence against a farmer on a charge of failing to clestroy rabbits, a Southern rabbit agent said that 25 rabbits eat as much as a cow. Nelson is arranging a "red-letter day" for the berthing at the wharf of the first ocean-going liner, which is expected to take place in about three weeks' time. Rabbits are extremely plentiful this season,says the "Gore Standard,', and are to be found in large numbers quite close to town. Weasels are also reported to be in evidence.

Two thousand subscribers are now attached to the metallic circuit of the telephone system in Christchurch. Only 600 have to be attached before the work connected with the circuit is complete.

A party of local residents, who visited Mt. Holdsworth for the weekend, were the victims of a despicable act. They left their food supplies in the Mountain House, and during their absence it is alleged, another party, whase names have been ascertained, "appropriated" the food. The matter is to be reported to the Mt. Holdsworth Committee.

It is reported that a good deal of shoplifting is at present going on in Palmerston North, advantage being taken of the numerous sales now in progress. One firm reports having caught a young man in the act of walking off with a number of ties stowed away in the inside of his waistcoat. When taxed with the theft he paid er tke goods and quickly left the premises.

I Otago can boast of a very clever woman, says the Otago Daily Times. At a banquet tendered to the Hon. T. Mackenzie at Kahuika a local resident, Mrs Mclntyre praised the Government very highly and said she could riot understand anyone fighting against them. After this sentiment had been applauded the lady struck right home by asking the Minister's support in the matter of getting a bridge erected over a creek opposite to her house. Mr Mackenzie promised his suppart readily.

At the Police Court on Saturday' morning, before Mr R. Brown. J.P.,. a first offender was convicted and. discharged for having been drunk. During the past four months 4,734 bales of wool were forwarded to Wellington from Eketahuna, 35,125sheep, 229 tons of butter, 1.854 tons of firewood, 241 tons of cheese and. 2,031,900 superficial feet of timber.

A shock of earthquake, lasting nearly half a minute, was felt,afc Waitangi at .me o'clock on Friday afternoon. 'lhere was a slight shock at Taihape at 8.4 C on Saturday night..

Miss Amy Cassells and Company will visit Masterton in September next, under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait. The Besses o' the Barn Band will pay a return visit to Masterton in July, 1910.

The following were the successful tenderers for the Education Board sections:—Section 61, block 1, Makuri, M. AlpassJ section 16,. block 5, Puketoi, C. B. Cox. The tender of E. Morgan for section 17, block 5, Puketoi, was not accepted.

Messrs J. C. Cooper and J. P. Lo~ max, who were elected members of' the committee appointed to arrange preliminary matters in connection with the proposed freezing works for the Wairarapa, intend to deliver addresses on the project in various parts of the Forty-mile Bush district#

At the Band Contest held *n connection with tbe Foresters' Sports,, at Eketahuna, the aggregates were as followHastwell, waltz 85 t march 83, total points 168; Kaipa.oro, march 83, wsltz 77, total points 160; Eketahuna, march 70, waltz.7s, total points 145.

Constables Dunn, McGregor, ana Brown, of the Masterton Police Force, have applied to be transferred elsewhere. It is stated that the officers are dissatisfied with the conditions under which they, work at Masterton, aiiMl the • cause of the applications-

The M&stei'fcorr South': Brass B&nd< played a weli selfeated programme of music in the Park, yesterday afternoon, to a large gathering of the public. During the past twelve months the Band have played in public thirty-six times—a record which reflects the greatest credit on the members.

A party of .Mastertcnians, number* ing six, made tne ascent of Mt.| Holdsworth yesterday. The track be* ing in very good order, the distance between Mr Thompson's house and the top was done in 4hrs smins. the latter half of the journey talcing Ihr 20mins. The weather was fin® and the outing an enjoyable one.

The Rev. A. Hodge delivered a very instructive address at the Y.M.C A. men's meeting, yesterday afternoon, the subject being "Christianity and the Flag." Mr C. J. Tocker occupied the chair. At the strangers' tea which followed there was a fair attendance, the chair being occupied by Mr D. Hebenton.

The weight-guessing competitions in connection with the Eketahuna Foresters' Sports resulted as follows 3 —Sheep (dead), Mr J. Fitzgerald, 53flbs (correct weight 541b3); sheep (live weight), Mrs' Marison, 117Jlbs. and Mr R. Gyde, 1171bs. divide first prize (correct weight 117|lbs); cake (correct weight 51bs 12£ozs), Mr Whitsitt and Mrs Herbert (51bs 12ozs) and Mr G. Carter (slbs 13ozs) divide the prize. Lieutenant Shackleton says "It is always possible to do everything in the world, even tu reach the South Pole. We gained a deal, naturally, from the Discovery's expedition, and the next man will gain much from this expedition. There remains only 97 miles to be done, and one thing is /certai.i: that the food must be increased if the party are to do the distance, because on a plateau such as that, with intense cold, our food was not sufficient."

The usual meeting of the 1.0. G.T. Juvenile Temple was held in the Dominion Hall on Saturday afternoon. C.T. Willie Morris occupied the chair, and was assisted 'by Sis. Mrs Miller. Assistant Superintendent, in the absence of the Superintendent. Eight new meinbera were proposed and duly initiated. During the afternoon interesting addresses were given by Sis. Mrs Miller and Bros. Bedford and Collier. The syllabus for the next meeting i<* a "Spelling Bee." That the Lodge is becoming a popular one is exemplified by the fact that though it has only been opened five weeks the membership now numbers forty.

"Six respectable, wholesome geese in a "freezer" since about Christmas Eve, 1908, orphans and ownerless—and thereby hangs a story—a story which has the merit of fact. By the train from an East Coast town there arrived at Thorndon, a couple of days before Christmas, a man carrying a sack. Hailing an expressman, the new arrival with the sack gave him certain instructions regarding the bag, which was to be entrusted to the carrier for delivery. "Take it to Mr at No. , street, and be exceeding careful that it , reach its destination to-night, because''—here the instructor drew ! closer and breathed more confidentially—"there are six geese in that bag, and—you know—the weather."' Handing over the sacred trust, and the cash requisite to see the trust safe home, the ostensible owner disappeared. Till 10 thatniuht did the expressman seek to locate the address or the person, but without avail. Distracted at the thought of having six healthy geese in his possession over a hot Sunday, the tired carrier sought advice of a police sergeant, who suggested the "freezer" in Lambton Quay, and there the poultry was given shelter. And there it remains uneaten, clothed in frigidity and oblivion. In that East Coast town whence came the man and the geese there has been not a little excitement over some poultry said to have been missing since about the end ol the year. The town is not yet over its emotion, and down on Lambton Quay, in an icy silence, are six undressed geese.

Of the great piano makers, there is always one that can bp most safely trusted to furnish the instrument required in any single ease. Tbe Dresden Piano Company stocks the instruments of all tlie great houses. Before you buy a piano, you will do well to profit by the Company's experience. And if you want to buy on e isy terms, ,the ■ Company wil arrange the matter for you without an embar,assing conditions. In a well orderad house of this century, a piano is as necessary as a sideboard. Local representative,. Mr. T, B. Hunteri

A commencement been made 'with the erection of a fine 10-roomed residence on Mr J. Percy's property at Upper Taueru: The contract for the building is in the hands of Mr C. E. Daniell. ' FA young man, named James Robinson drove on Friday night to an Auckland hotel in a cab and invited a Stranger to drink with him. Upon the hospitality being refused Robinson sa .d he would kill himself. He produced a razor and gashed hi 3 throat. The wound is not serious. Robinson is now in the hospital. "On Saturday last the New Zealand X.oan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., submitted to public auction Mr A. E. Reader's farm, comprising 472 acres situated at the Upper Opaki. There was a good attendance, but the bidding did not Jaanh the reserved price. sThe private sub-division of lea Station has necessitated the formation of some five miles of roading. The work, which is being carried out under the supervision of Messrs Seaton and Sladden, is progressing satisfactorily, some three miles having been completed. Several cases of till-robbing and petty thieving from shops in Masterton by a gang of small boys are reported. One of the boys concerned "was caught red-handed in a confectioner's shop last week, and money alleged to have been stolen found on him. The boy's relatives were communicated with, and further investigations and confessions revealed the fact that a numbar of boys had for some time past carried on a system of till-robbing and petty thieving. Fortunately the amount of money stolen from tills was small, while the other "spoil" consisted of chocolates, boot polish and similar goods of a convenient siza, which could be slipped up a boy's "jumper." Mr E. Richards, «ho has been on a fortnight's holiday tour to the South Island, returned to Masterton on Saturday last. In conversation with a representative of this journal, Mr Richards stated that he had first visited Christchurch, travelling overland by rail and coach to Greymouth. Mr Richards stated that the Canterbury side of the Otira (Jorge, where the railway is being constructed, is a scene of great activity, hundreds 'of men being engaged on the work. During his stay on the West Coast he made a point of visiting a number of the gold dredges operating there. The Worksop dredge was in splendid ■working order, and from enquiries made the future prospects of the Company appeared to be excellent. The Golden Arch, a reef mine, which is owned practically bv Masterton shareholders, was visited with keen intere j t. A ten stamper battery had been erected to deal with the ore after it had been taken from the mine. The crushed ore passes over amalgamating plates, on which most of the coarse gold is caught and the balance is extracted by means of the cyanide process, a complete plant hivinsr been er°cted for the p irposp. tv,o "Hesn-up" at the battery would take place at the end of this month. Mr J. L. Murray, draper, Masterton, requires a smart boy. The New Zealand Railways Department advertise special train arrangements and excursion fares in connection with the Masterton race m a eting on Thursday and Friday next. Mr.W. B. Chemiells, agent for the Public Trustee, invites tenders to close at noon on Wednesday. 7th April next, for the lease for ten years of the well-known farm of Burnside, Opaki, in the estate of the Jate Mr Frank Buick.

Winter will soon be here, and with it the oeed for warmer wraps. Te .Aru House, Wellington, announce elsewhere in this issue a fine display of popular priced furs, the wonderful value of which country clients would do well to inspect. Satisfaction is assured. Read the announcement!

Particulars of the furniture and effects to be sold by public auction on Wednesday next by Mr J, R. Nicol on account of Mr H. W . Buttrey, at the residence, Cornwall Street, are advertised to-day. The auctioneer makes a special note to the effect that the goods are well selected, and being nearly new are in good order.

Messrs Warnock and Adkin, of Queen Street, Master ton, have made many notable exhibits of millinery in this town, but the display to be seen there at present is certainly the best. It includes some forty really pretty and stylish models, each hat being exceptionally well finished. During the next ten days these handsome hats are to be offered at half price, and those who call early can rely on getting genuine bargains.

Faib Faces Faiber. —Ladies troubled >vith 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. . Wood, Chemist, Masterton, fc 4/6, or send postal note direct to Hemeley Burnet, Hair Specialist, 46 George Street, Dunedin (All parcels sent in plain wrappers), Heinsley .Burnet's Hair Restorer <■':> Grey Hair, 4/9.