LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3155, 5 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During the month of March there were,, three births and two marriages in Featherston. There are at present several parties of deer-stalkers in the Martinborough district, and some good sport is being looked'forward to. Poultry stealing is said to be rife in Carterton, and a number of residents have had their fowlhouses raided. The following are the vital statistics for Greytown for the month of March:- Marriages- 1, births J, deaths 3. During the year ended March 31st last th-ere were 49 births, 10 marriages and 27 deaths. Several oat crops that have been threshed recently in the M orison's Bush district have returned good yields. In a number of instances the average has been over sixty bushels to the acre. ' ,' All bulls-eye signalling lamps possessed by the New Zealand Defence Forces are to be fitted with acetylene gas burners, experiments having proved them to be more effective tban the ordinary oil lamps, Tfte changes are to be made in a few weeks' time. At the annual meeting of the Maryborough Golf Club the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr John Martin; vice presidents, Mesdames W. J. Martin, G. Pain, and J. Martin: secretary and treasurer, Dr H. Webb; general committee, Misses EvUis and Martin, Messrs C. McAUum, Vaughan, Henderson, Gawith, Lewis and Clark.

A plea for the preservation of the New Zealand bush has bee.i made by Dr. Tempest Anderson, of York, England, who recently toured New Zealand. He told an Auckland interviewer that he was particularly pleased with thd bush on the northern shore of Lake Rotoiu". He was much grieved, however, at the announcement he had s»en to the effect that this bush-clad area was about to be thrown open to settlers. Dr. Anderson said he would suggest that a band of a,qaurter of a mile in width should be preserved to keep some of the finest scenery in the world from destruction. By destroying the bush, he considered, the island was losing one of its greatestjattractions to tourists. >

The Town Clerk at Maryborough (Mr McAilum) has collected all his rates this year without the issuing of a single summons. S. It is stated that the DaleficldL ladies' hockey club will be able to enter a strong team for the Wairarapa Ladies' Hockey Association's competition this season. Mr J. C. Williamson's Jack and Jill Pantomime Company will appear n the Masterton lown Hall on September 14th next; The Town Hall has been booked for the Julius Knight Company for September 28th. About half-past five o'clock oa Saturday afternoon last a whirl-wind carried away about thirty feet of the roof of the sheds on the Masterton' A. and P. Association's grounds. So strong was the force of the wind that a number of the sheets of iron were ! blown across into Chapel street. The Waingawa river was in high I Tflood on Saturday last. The strong protective works constructed at the Masterton end of the bridge prevented the structure from being damaged. A fair amount of water filtered through the groins and across the road, but no damage of a serious nature occurred. Last evening Eev. J. N. Buttle, who has been appointed to the Durham Street Circuit, Christchurcb, preached his farewell sermon at the-Methodist Church, Masterton. There was a very large attendance, and the preacher delivered a most eloquent and' impressive sermon, 6 During the service special hymns" ' and anthems were sur.".

Over thirty men attended thY.M.C.A. meetings yesterday after noon. Mr O. Pragnell delivered a capital address, after which the popQ T lar strangers' tea was held. There were quite a number of strangers present, some from the Old Land, and others from various parts of the Dominion, and several Maori lads from the Clareville College, all of whom greatly appreciated the cordial welcome extended to them. A Highland Society has been formed in Dannevirke, and the following officers have been elected in connection therewith:— Chief, Mr Donald McKenzie; Chieftains, Mr McCallum, Mr Drummond, and Mr ! W. S. Harvey; Councillors, Messrs W. Johnstone, Sutherland, Young; Harris, A. J. Johnstone, J. Calder, A. Grant, and J.. Blair: Secretary, Mr J. Wilson; Treasurer, Mr J> Young; Auditor, Mr A. C. Black. The usual meeting of the 1.0. G.T. Juvenile Temple was held in the Dominon Hall on Saturday afternoon last, C.T. Wiillie Morris being in the chair, assisted by the superintendent. There was a good a: tendance of members. One new member was proposed and initiated. During the afternoon interesting addresses were ' given by Sisters Flanagan and Miller, and Bros. Tarr and Morris, and a recitation by Stanley Moore. At the next meeting recitations will be given by members. The scarcity of labour is responsible for the large number of "swaggers," who are to be seen in the Wairarapa districts in search of employment. One of the unemployed, questioned by a representative of this journal, stated that he had been ah round the East Coast, but at every station he was greeted with the answer "No work." He spoke very bitterly of the way immigrants were encouraged to come to the Dominiou, at a time when labour conditions were so adverse.

i;. A meeting cr ine executive committee cf St. Patrick's Day Sports Association was held in the Exchange Buildings on Saturday evening last, Mr A. Haughey occupying the chair. It was resolved that the . Association grant J. Dawsuii £1 for expenses. The balance sheet for the social and dance, sh«.wir,g a credit balance of £ls 12s 7d, wbs read and adopted, Accounts amounting to £49 3s,Bd were passed ior payment. It was resolved to call a general meeting of members to discuss the future welfare of the Association. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies' comrfiittee for'tbeir assistance at the recent social'and dance. Three new members were elected. Messrs Eli Smith and T. Wagg, J.'sP., occupied the Bench at the Masterton Police Court on morning. A first offender was fited ss, in default 24 hours hard labour, for drunkenness. John Gray was also fined 5s for insobriety, and on a charge of resisting Sergeant Miller, was fined £l, in default seven days hard labour. Andrew Reed was charged with vagrancy, pleading not guilty. The police stated that accused was found in company with the accused-.in the previous case, and practically asked to be locked up, saying he ; . was hungry. He had beem knocking about the town for several days, and apparently had no means of maintaining himself. Accused said he had money sent out to him from Home. He asked for an opportunity to get away out of the town. Accused said he was an engineer by trade, and admitted that he had spent his money foolishly. The Bench ordered accused to come up for sentence when called upon. An absurd case of official red taper'. occurred to the well-known writer, M. Courteline, 'says the Paris correspondent of the London "Datiy Ex* press." Burglars broke into his" house and, made off witft his forks and spo&hs and other The burglar?. I were caught and the silver Wfig found of them. At the police station M, Courteline asked for his silver. "I regret," said the inspector, "that it is out of my power to return it to you until the thieves have been duly sentenced." M. Courtline laughed. "But they are all my forks and spoons," he said. "I very much reget it," answered the police c<3famissary; "the law is formal. But there is one way out of the difficulty. If the burglars allow you to do so and give their formai consent, you may take away your silver."' M. Courteline presented each burglar'' with/eighteen shilling* for" having been'kind enough to burgle him, and took his forks and spoons home with him.

Mrs Webber, Sharp-st., Qechnf Vic writes : "Chamberlain's Pain Bidm is a wonderful-liniment for. cuts and bruise' or rheumatism. Every member of my family lias used it some -time or other and have always obtained relief after a' few applications. One thing I have always noticed is thatjwhen Chamberlains Pain Balm is U3ed for a cut or bum, there is never any scar left on the flesh. For sale by all chemists and storekeepers.

The return trom Worksop Dredge is 24 ounces 8 dwts for 126 hours' working. The dreagemaster reports that dredging operations are'in full swing, and that the dredge is working up stream. Mrs H. J. Taplay. a well-known soprano .singer, who has recently arrived from London, will give a song recital in the Foresters' Hall on Wednesday afternoon next. The programme for the recital appears elsewhere. A reward is offered for the recovj «ry of a Chinese pug dog lost in Masterton yesterday. The regular weekly meeting of ths local Lodge of Good Templars will be held at 7.30 o'clock to-night. A gold brooch, set with a ruby, and valued as a keepsake, is advertised for. Finder will be rewarded on returning same to Age office. Mr W» Wilkes, baker and confectioner, notifies that his premises will be closed from Friday till Monday, inclusive, for the Easter holidays. The New Zealand Railways Department advertise particulars of the train arrangements for the Easter holidays.

The revised valuation rolls for the Ridings of Te Whiti and Wainuioru, in the County of Masterton, are open ' ior inspection up till Saturday next. •Objections tojjthe valuations must be lodged not later than 24th April. On page 8 of this issue, Messrs Harcourtand, Co., land and estate •agents, Wellington, advertise par- \- ticulars of two handy sized and well improved dairy farms which have been placed in their hands for sale. Mr Peter Tulloch, land agent, Pahiatua, advertises particulars of two sheep farms, 709 and 541 acres, respectively, which are for sale on 'easy terms. Mr Tulloch has also for sale two hotels, one with store and post office attached. Messrs Abraham and Williams, "Ltd.. advertise particulars of Mr William McKenzie's stud Shropshire flock to be offered at their Pahiatua saleyards on Tursday, 13th April, 1909. The flock comprises 200 2, 4 and 6tooth and f.f.m. ewes, 80 stud ewe lambs, and 35 stud ram limbs. At Mauriceville, this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell, under instructions from the Deputy Official Assignee in the estate of J. McKenzie, the whole of the stock of timber, ironmongery, paperhangings, and contractors' sundries. • The sale is worthy of the attention of builders and cabinetmakers, and stock lists may be obtained 8t the office of the auctioneer. Mr A. R. Maltby is makingfspeciai provision for catering for the wants >of patrons during the winter months at his up-to-date cafe in Queen Street. The supper and dining rooms are replete with every modern convenience, and clients can rely on receiving the best possible attention, and satisfaction is guaranteed. A specialty is also made ■'■ of country clients and the traveliingjpublic firally.