LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3165, 16 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest dredging returns to hand are:-Mystery Flat, 47sz 3dwt for the week; Masterton, 30oz 3dwt for the week. The monthly meeting of the Trustees of the Masterton Hospital will beheld on Wednesday, April 29th. Large iiumbers of fat stock have been railed from Eketahuna to Wellington during tin past few days, the number of truck loads being sixty. In a competition held by the Tararua Rifle Club last Saturday for a trophy presented by Mr Tripe the leading scores were as follow: Rifleman A. Petersen (66), Rifleman W. Mason {64>, Rifleman W. Waterus (64), Rifleman J. Petersen (61), Rifleman R. Thomasen (60). The directors of the Rongokokako Dairy Factory have decided to advance lOd per lb for butter fat during March. The amount to be paid out to suppliers is £556. Seven hundred gallons of milk are being received daily at the factory. At the National Dairy Conference to be held in Palmerston North in June next the Company will be represented by Messrs Elliott and F. Wise.

In reference to criticisms of the Chambers of Commerce Conference on the bankruptcy law and its administration, Dr Findlay informed a "Post" reporter that for some weeks past he had been receiving suggestions on the subject from various quarters, and had been in consultation with the Crown Law Office considering which suggestions should be adopted. Already a good deal of material had been completed, in preparation for the draft amendments of the law, to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration. The question of the administration of the Act is also being considered. At the Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, MrC. C. Graham, S.M., presiding, judgment went by default in the following cases: Alex. Donald v. Waata Paraone, claim £ll 17s 6d, coats £1 15s 6d; James Whittaker v. Thomas Carroll, claim £4 5s Bd, costs 12s; Pickering Bros, v. Johann H. Wacker, claim £1 2s, judgment for lis 3d, with costs ss; Masterton Farmers' Implement Company v. Frank Shaw, claim £2O 9s 6d, with costs £2 14s; Alex. Donald v. William Tohe, claim £6 ss, costs £2 10s 6d; A. A. Stempa v. Leanard Wilton, claim £1 15s 2d, costs ss; same v. W. H. King, claim £3 lis Id, costs 10s; Alfred J. Reading v. W. H. King, claim £lO 10s, costs £1 10s 6d. Orders on judgment summonses were made as follow:—Percival R. Cook v. Percy Corbett, debt £7 l J 6s, order made for payment of £4 18s 6d by instalments of 2s 6d per week, first payment to be made on April 19th; same v. Harry Harding, debt £5 3s 6d, debtor ordered to pay forthwith, in default one month's imprisonment, warrant to be over for a fortnight; Dalgety and Co., Ltd., v. J. Tinsley, debt £2O 2s 6d, debtor ordered to pay forthwith, in default 3 months' imprisonment, the warrant to be held i over for a fortnight.

A meeting is to be held at Newman next week for the purpose of establishing a cheese factory there. Mr Ernest Toy, the violinist, has. returned to Sydney. He says New Zealand ia dead, at present, so far as. music is concerned, There were ten bankruptcies in-, Wellington during the firat quarter of the present year against seven inn the corresponding quarter last year. It is said that 400 houses are empty in Wellington at the present time. This is in marked contrast to the state of affairs which existed a few months ago, when an empty house could not be obtained at any pri".e. At the annual meeting of the'Manawstu Golf Club, the following officers were elected:—Presdent, H. Cooper; Vice-President, A. Strang; Captan, P. McHardy; Hon. Secretary, L. A. Abraham; Hon. Trea-. surer, G. W. Harden; Committee, W- Strang, A. Barraud, Dr. Stowe;; Trustee, F. H. Cooke. V. Harman, A. Seifert and H. G. Moore, were the non-retiring members of the oldcommittee who will retain office. At the Chambers of Commerce Conference at Wellington, yesterday,. Mr Tolley moved "that this Conference urges the Government to givespecial attention to the home defence of the Dominion, and considers that the institution of the svstera of compulsory military training is the fairest, most efficient and economical _ m ean s of defence.'' The mover considered that the volunteer system had broken down. The motion was passed unanimously after discussion. At the Chamber of Commerce Conference, at Wellington, yesterday, a resolution asking the Government to* introduce legislation making provision for the inspection of cargo (wool and hemp) before shipment with a view to preventing fires was lost. A. motion was carried asking the Government tc approach the London Dock Trust with the object of providing storage and better provision dealing with colonial wool there. Motions were also passed affirmingthat the time had arrived for a reduction of the cable rates and protesting against the excessive bank holidays. The conference asked that on race days and show days banks should be open till noon, and that All Saints Days should be eliminated as holidays in banks and Government offices.

The origin of destructive fires is often shrouded in mystery, and am incipient fire at Outram the other day, fortunately discovered in time, shows that both the cause and the discovery may be novel and curious. A cyclist riding by the Outram Hotel at five o'clock in the morning was surprised to see the door of that hotel apparently ablaze. Dismounting', he found that the lamp above the entrance had become overheated, and having melted part of the metal work of the lantern, was emptying its ignited contents down > upon the panels of the door. The cyclist gave the alarm and the flames were quenched with a few buckets of water.

The latest move locally in the timber industry (says a Palmerston North paper) is one wbidi will be appreciated by the local public. A meeting of merchants decided, after a long discussion, to substantially reduce the price of 0.8. timber. The average price per 100 fet-t h-is been about 15s, and the reduction decided on is equal to 2s 6d all round. The step has been taken evident!v with a view to creating a better demand for timber. The yards are nearly all overstocked, and the demand has lately been slack. It is thought that the reduction will encourage ownersof property to build new houses, as one of the reasons given for the slackness of the building trade is the high price asked for material. The Victorian Minister for Lands, the Hon. H. McKenzie, who left Auckland for Sydney on Monday, has spent some time in Now Zealand investigating our land laws and oit.er legislation. He was particularly interested in land taxation, closer settlement, and the compulsory taking of land by the State. Mr McKenze, speaking to an Auckland "Herald" representative stated that in Victoria there was no Government valuation roll, asd litigation was encouraged by the present condition of affairs. The effect of Government purchases of land was to send up values all round. The only tax resembling our land tax was that which .taxed the land according to its grazing value. This did not meet the needs ot the State. Mr McKenzie said the need for newland laws was recognised throughout Australia, and his Government had 'pointed out the necessity for reforms on taking office. The Victorian Minister was greatly interested in our State farms.

On a hot and dusty day last March,, two Taratahi farmers, Messrs F. J. Brooks and Colin Campbell, purchased sheep in Masterton. Their destination lay in the same direction, and it occurred to Campbell, who had business to do in town, to suggest toBrooks that the latter might look, after his sheep until he (CainphelMH caught him up on the road catching up" process took a good deallonger than Brooks had anticipated, and Campbell did not put in an appearance until nearly the end of the journey was reached. Brooks thereupon reminded Campbell that if tne latter failed to catch him up. he had promised to charge driving fees No settlement wan arrived at" between the parties, and litigation was resorted to, Brooks suing Campbell in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton for 10s driving fees. The case was heard yesterday morning, before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., learned counsel engaged in the case being Mr D. K. Logan for plaintiff, and Mr H. C. Robinson for the deience. The that there was a contract between the parties, and that the charge was a fair one.. Judgment was accordingly entered for plaintiff, with costs 75." Fair Faces Faiker.—Ladies troubled with growth of hair on face, neck or arias can permanently remove it byusing "Violet Snow Cream." It acts directly on the hair roots, and destroys their life. "Violet Snow Cream" issplendid for Blackheads, Wrinkles, Sunburn, etc., and is a guaranteed cure for superfluous hair. Obtainable from H.. '.'. Wood, Chemist, Masterton, fcr 4/6, or send postal note • direct toHem'sley Burnet, Hair Specialist, 46 George Street, Dunedin (All parcels sent in plain wrappers), Hemsley Burnet's Hair Kest/rov +*j Grey Ham. 1/9,

A first offending inebriate was con--victed and fined ss, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, at the Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning. The insurance on the bouse which was destroyed by fire yesterday morning is £4OO, in the Sun Office. The insurances on the furniture, if any, is not yet available. The township of Johnsonville is going in for an electric light service. The work will be put in hand at once, and is to be completed in twelve months from the Ist inst. The funeral of the late Mr T. D. Thompson took place yebterday afternoon, and there was a large attendsince. The numerous wreaths and floral tributes received testified to the esteem in which the deceased was held by residents in the community. Some thirty acres at Solway have been worked up and are now ready for grading, and a strong working bee will commence the work on the grounds on Tuesday next. Treeplantnig operations will al>o be commenced at an early date, under the supervision of Mr E. Hale. The condition of many of the turnip and swede crops in the district is reported to be anything but satis factory at present. Insect pests have made their appearance, injuring the leaves, and thereby retarding the growth of the roots. In some cases Tot has also set in, with damaging effect. A sad shooting fatality occurred at Hokitika yesterday morning, resulting in the death of Robert McMillan, Borough Inspector. The deceased -went out into the yard to shoot a •at. A few minutes after, he was found in a state of collapse, the pea rifle having gone off accidentally, and the pellet entered his breast. He died half an hour later. He leaves a widow and family of nine. In the Masterton Y.M.C.A. Rooms, last night, before a large attendance of men and boys, Mr Toomath, scoutmaster of the Carterton patrol of Baden-Powell Scouts, gave a very interesting lecture on scouting in general, and scouting for boys in particular. Mr Toomath's remarks were listened to attentively by those present, and should prove very useful in the event of a patrol of scouts being formed here. William Reid, aged eighteen, met his death in a strange manner on Wednesday night. With some friends he went out on the Hauraki Gulf on a fishing excursion. On the return voyage he went ot bed in the cabin, and appeared in the best of j health. When the launch arrived at Thames, Reid was found to be dead. Medical assiatance was summoned, hut life was extinct. The doctor expressed the oijinon that death was caused by the inhalation of be? zme fumes. Another passenger said he felt ill, and believed that his seizure was from the sama cause. The appreciation of land values in Rotorua has been one ot the most striking features of the evolution of that prosperous township. In speaking of this aspect of the wonderful progress of Wonderland, Mr T. E. Donne, General Manager of the Tourist Department (who has just made! his final visit to Rotorua in that capacity), states that sections which i sold for £SO eight years ago, have since changed hands tor over £I,OOO each. The land is all leasehold, but as the leases have been granted for a term ot 99 years, the tenants are in a very fortunate position. A number of the blocks, each with an area of 40 acres, are subject only to a ground rental of £7 a year.

A sad fatality is reported from Paraparaumu. The New Plymouth mail train, which does not stop at Psraparaumu, was passing through Paraparaumu station yesterday morning, when the tablet porter noticed the figure of a man on the north crossing go down before the engine. The tra-n was pulled up, and it was then discovered that a man bad been run over and frightfully injured. He was dead when found. Further enquiries discbsed that the deceased was Mr Joseph Thawley, lat2 of the firm of Thawley Bros., grocers, Cuba Street. H«, had for some time been resident at Paraparaumu. He was 67 years of age, and leaves a widow and five children. He had - been lately suffering from influenza. He had lived in Wellington twenty-five years, and was widely known. A domestic help is required by an advertiser. v .„^»™~» A smart junior for an accountant's office is required by an advertiser. Mr J. S. Dawson, milkman, has a notice to the public in another column. An advertiser requires a willing girl to assist in housework. What is described as the cheapest property in the Wairarapa is advertised for sale by Messrs C. C. Ross and Co., land agents. The suits made by Mr Alex Donpld, of Masterton, are stylish and dependable, and noted for their waring quality. Mr Donald treats his profession seriously, and gives his close personal attention to every detail that goes to make a satisfactory suit. H. A. Whelch, the draper, Masterton, buys for spot cash in the Home markets, and his representative there is quick to secure any special bargains offering. As the result of good buying, Mr Whelch is enabled to sell superior goods at in ferior prices. At present he is offer ing exceptional value in white flan nelette, ladies' and maids' coats, euitall lace, and ladies' hose.