LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3156, 6 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ruamahaflga river is in high flood, and has been so for several days past.

At an early date, Dr Prior will deliver an interesting lecture in the Congregational Church on "The Story of Some Medical Discoveries."

The Golden Arch Goldmining Co.'s return from the first crushing is 51 ounces from 110 tons; cyanide is estimated to produce 20 ounces from 80 tons. The manager expects considerable improvement at the next crushing.

The work of erecting the picket fence wind the-grounds attached to the Congregational Church is well ahead, and when completed will add ( considerably to the attractiveness of the church surroundings. The cost o" erecting the fence will be about £33, which has been entirely subscribed Jby members of the church.

At the Police Court, yesterday morning, before Mr' J. Cross, J.P., a second offender, Michael Byrne, was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for insobriety. A first offender was mulcted in the sum of 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for having been drunk and disorderly on Saturday night, and another first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged.

The following entries have been received in the butter and cheese classes at the National Dairy Show at Palmerston .North in June next: —Export butter class, 40 factories; novice class, 14 factories; novice exhibitors, 11; export (bulk class, 27; butter championship, Cambridge, Kairanga, Mangatoki, Moa, Rangitikei, Thames Valley; export cheese, coloured 25, white 23; factory cheese, 20; cheese championship,) Cardiff, Kaponga, Rongokokako, Onimi, Taratahi, Waikouaiti, Whakaronga. The butter and cheese championships will be very open, neither of last year's champion factories having entered. Last year there were lfi9 entries in these classes; this year there will be 189 frcrn 41 butter factories and 31 cheese factories.

The way it was lon£, and road it was dark, And the wayfarer fell in the pond in the park, And it filled him right up to the Plimsoll mark, And not only filled but chilled him! He contrived to get home, a shiver and shake, He'd a terrible cold and had swallowed a lake, But Woods' Peppermint Cure they induced him to take, Or the cold that he caught would have killed him. 5

Lads still continue to make a dash-, for liberty from the Weraroa Training Farm, and two more are reported as being missing, having left slid- • denly on Wednesday morning. 1 In connection with the Civil Servica re-organisation scheme, announced last week by the Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward), District Courts are to be abolished, and District Judges offered a Magistracy. It is reported that farmers are unable to obtain grain sacks in Ashburton and the supply is short throughout New Zealand. Ashburton merchants expect a shipment in tha course of a few days, and until its arrival some people have had to postpone threshing. The latest news to hand from Akaroa shows that both Whelch and Fogwell are training very consistently for their race for £2OO aside, to be rowed on Easter Monday. It is understood that in the event of his defeating Whelch, Fogwell willibe prepared to meet W. Webb, who is rowing in very fine form at present at Akarua.

Another piece of bad luck is re« ported to have befallen Mr Bland Holt. It is stated that he shipped a valuabe horse to Sydney from New Zealand, and on being taken off the steamer the horse was handed over to a stranger, who for a 23 fee agreed to take the animal to Eppstein'a stables, in William street. Neither the stranger nor the horse, it is stated, have been seen since.

It is unusual to-day to find in any home in Australasia possessing 3 pianoforte an instrument which not of German origin. But a change seems to be coming, and it is shown in the New Zealand "Trade Review" in dealing with the importation of foreign pianos. In 1906 the importaJ tion was 1,661 British to i!, 398 foreign instruments. In 1907 the im portation of British pianos was 1,655 and foreigners 2,320. Last year the British instruments rose to ">.,851, while foreign pianos remained at 2,320.

"If you ask me about it," said a traveller to an Auckland "Herald" representative, "I call it sleepless Taumarunui. People there generally go to bed at nine o'clock, but not to sleep, for that is impossible—there are so many people arriving and departing by trains right throughout the night. First, there is the express from Wellington, which arrives at 11.45 p.m , and departs 10 minutes later; then the train from Auckland, arriving at 4.28 a.m., and leaving at 4.33; then the river boat at 6 a.m.,. and then a train for the South at 7.30, and a train for Auckland at. 8.10 a.m. It is a very busy place, indeed."

The reports of officers commanding the various military districts, says Col. Robin, chief of the general staff, show that technical schools are having a bad effect on the recruiting of volunteers. "Wherever: these technical classes have been established," he said, "volunteeringhas fallen oft". A large proportion of' these technical students are receiving: the benefit of free secondary education, and one would imagine that having received so much from the State they would feel that a sacrifice of so'ne sort —one night per week in military training, for example—would ba a slight return for such bj}".efits," The of Commerce Congress, to be held in Sydney, at;, which New Zealand will be represented, will closely follow on the* lines of the congress held in London"? in 1906. Among the subjects to beconsidered will be that of cheaper' cable rates between the United Kingdom and the colonies. The delegates will visit places of interest, and inspect the operation of such industries as sheep raising and shearing,, wine making, slaughtering for shipment, and fruitgrowing and mining-. The majority cf the delegat«s are expected to reach Australia via Canada,, returning by way of Japan and Canada and the Straits, and it is hoped" that New Zealand will be includecL in the itinerary.

There was a much better attendance at the second night's performance of the Royal Welsh^Male Choirin theJTown Hall last evening. The singing wa9 again quite a revelation in choir work, and it is almost impossible to particularise with reference to the numbers given. Of the full choir work the opeiatic chorus "The Bandit" from "Emani" was as masterly rendition, testing the capabilities of all sections and~~wasgreatly appreciated. The "Sotto Voce" numbers were again a feature of the performance. Of the soloists Messrs Robert Jones and Trevor Lewis seemed to hit" the popular taste while Messrs Edwardsand Davies also had their many admirers. If arrangements could 'bemade for a return • season there isno doubt this wonderful combination would receive a hearty welcome, and it is to be hoped that the many lessons to be learnt from their visit will be taken full advantage of by those who are inter--ested in choral work generally, >

Friday last was the 45 ; th anniversary of the battle of Orakau. Captain Ring, of the 18th Royal Irish r who (ed the storming: party on the first day of the attack upon he Maoris position (March 31st, 1846*> t

was mortally wounded, dying on April 2nd. The position proved; too strong to take by assault, and preparations were therefore made to blow it up, and Mr Mair, the interpreter, was told off to explain the matter to the Ngatimaniapoto chief Rewi, and see if the natives would surrender. Rewi replied, "Ake, ake, ake," ("We shall fight for ever and ever, and ever.") Some of the men of the 40th Regiment were withdrawn, and the defenders rushed for a swamp, killing the sentries on the. way. About '7O Maoris were killed; in the swamp. Major Hereford wgp.-, killed at the battle of Orakau. Sujbrsequently the 18th Royal Irish served-' at Wanganui ind New Plymouth,,and? were in New Zealand four or five* years after the Imperial -troops har 1 left. It was in February, 1870> that they were withdrawn, but about 400 of the regiment remained in this country.

Mr L. Brennan, Maekny, Shortland Thames, N.Z , says: "There is no question about it. Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera |and Diarrhoea Remedy is the finest medichis that anyoue can use for Colic, Diarrhoea, or any similar complaint. I have used it and know that it gives every satisfaction. I have recommended it to my friends and- acquaintances, and have nev.r known it to fail/' For sale by all chemists-an.d storekeepers,

The usual meeting of the 1.0. G.T. -was held in the Dominion Hall last evening. Bro. Sanderson, from Marlborough, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Routine business was transacted, One new member was proposed and duly elected. During the evening, fruit and light refreshments were provided by members, and a very enjoyable time was spent. An interesting address was given by Bro. Sanderson, who also conveyed greetings from Queen's Diamond, Jubilee Lodge, Blenheim. Short speeches were also delivered by Bros. Collier, Morris, Gilbert, Andersor, Tarr/ Bedford, and Sister Flanagan. Sister Miss P. Miller was appointed reporter to the Dominion Templar. At the next meeting of the Lodge, the single members will entertain the other members of the Lodge. The finder of a cardboard box, containing ladies' hats, is asked to return the W.F.C.A. Mr H. Long notifies that the Post Office Meat Mart will be open as usual on Saturday next. - Particulars of sheep larms to be sold at low - prices and on easy terms are advertised by Mr J. K. Nicol, of Bannister street. The Masterton County Council invite tenders to close at 5 p.m. on Saturday next for several contracts of metalling repairs. A reward is offered for the recovery of a pair of boots, lost from a trap in the W.F.C.A. yard on Saturday last. The time for inspecting the revised w -valuation rolls of the Te Whiti and Wainuioru Ridings of the Masterton County has been extended till April 16th. Jdr E. R. Wilson notifies that his Dentafchambers will be closed for the Easter Holidays from B p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) till 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 13th instant. Particulars of the latest novelties in ladies' belts and the price list s will be found in a new advertisement inserted by Te Aro House, The solicitors practising in Masterton will close their offices for the Easter Holidays from 4.30 p.m. on Thursday until 9.30 a.m. on Monday, April 19th. The minimum of the gas lighting bill with the maximum of light is obtained by the use of 'the Welsbach burners and mantles. The firm have an advertisement elsewhere in this issue. Messrs Dalgety and Co.,'s Taratahi stock sale has been postponed till April 13th, and the same Company's Greytown sale, which was to have been held on April 12th has been postponed to April 19th. The Masterton firms of stock auc tioneers state that the inclusion of their names in the Tradesmen's holiday advertisement was an error. A special announcement is inserted by themselveslelsewhere._gftga In another column in thib issue the Scoullar Company announce that their sale ia proving an unprecedented success. There ia still more to participate in the bargains offered, and those desirous of copies of the firm's catalogues which gives full particulars of the goods and prices are invited to write for them at once.