LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3175, 28 April 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A piece of Christchurch property, with frontages to Hereford street and Cathedral Square, has been sold for £IB,OOO, or £4OO per foot double frontage. During the month of March 3,347 people arrived in New Zealand, and 4785 took their departure. In March, 1908, the arrivals totalled 3,382 and the departures 3,998. At the end of the year there were 35,810 scholars on the rolls of the public schools in the Auckland educational district, this being an increase of 2,636 during the year. Evidence of the bountiful harvest this year is afforded by the fact that the Lyttelton Harbour Board's stores at Port are now full of grain awaiting shipment, and space is at a premium, says rhs Oamaru "Mail." At the beginning of the summer a portion of the Taihape community was shocked by the decision of their felolw townsfolk to play cricket on Sundays. Now neighbouring (Taumarunui) footballers have decided to play their matches on Sundays throughout the season.

At the inquest at Napier on Chas. Watt, who shot himself with a gun at Okawa. on Monday last, a verdict of accidental death was returned. Otaki Sanatorium is dealing with a large number of patients, practically all the shelters being fully occupied. Messrs W. J. Nix, D. Yule, G. Yule and G. Mnchon, were the successful team in the final of the link tournament, played on the Featherston Bowling Green,

The aggregate scores in the competition for Mr W. W. Wakeley's trophy, under the auspices of rhe Featherston Rifle Club, make C. Nix, 265, 1; T. Sinclair, 263, 2; and E. Bockett, 262, 3. Only the 7UU yards' range remains to be shot to decide the championship of th 3 Featherston Rifle Club. T. Sinclair is leading with a score of 127, H. Williams and T. Benton being next with one point less than the leader.

• There is reason to hope that before long the Greytown telephone system will be open continuously from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 47 subscribers on the list now, and when another three are added, t*ie exchange will open as above. The Bay of Plenty '"limes" understands that arrangements have been made by the Tauranga Borough Council to erect a monument in the old military cemetery in memory of soldiers killed in encounters with the natives in the vicinity of Tauranga. A party of men from Christchurch, visited Bankside during the Easter holidays to shoot rabbits, taking ferrets with them. For three visits the party averaged eight guns, and the total bag amounted to 1,050 rabbits.

At a meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, on Monday last, it was decided to make strong representations to the Government as to the necessity of amending railway timetables to permit of the through trip to New Plymouth in one day, and also to expedite the service with Wellington. "Though Uunedin is a Scotch community, the present Mayor. is the first 'Mac' to hold that position," said Mr J. B. Thomson, an ex-Mayor of the city, at a recent ceremony at the Town Hall. Continuing, he said, further, that he was also the first bachelor who had held the position, and, lastly, was the first Mayor to be "chained."

The overcrowding of the railway platform at Timaru by scores of people who had no business there reached an acute stage during the Easter holidays, and the Railway Department decided to enforce its regulation providing for a charge of 2d for admission to the platform of anyone who has not a ticket in their possession. The regulation came into force on Monday last. A means of obtaining motive power from the sea has bepn invented by Mr Mark Saunders, of Timaru, who has applied for patent rights. The apparatus consists of pipes so arranged that compressed nir is driven through them by the action of the waves into a compressed air tank, while the back water is utilsed to operate a Pfclton wheel or other motor.

The unfortunate case of a man who had allowed himself to behindhand in his lodge subscriptions was before the Dunedin benevolent trustees on Monday. The applicant had broken his arm, and, being unable to work, and possessing no money, had been driven to apply for relief. It was stated that had he kept up his payments he would have been in receipt of 22s 6d a week from his lodge. Taranaki does not think the State expert is no use. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, Mr H. J. Gilbert complained that Taranaki was being neglected by Government experts. Other districts had lectures on fruitgrowing and other industries connected with the land, but in Taranaki the experts just popped in for a day and left again, without imparting any information to anybody. Mr R. Brown (Returning Officer) has all the ar r angenaents complete for the Municipal elections td-day. The hours of polling are between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and there will be three colling booths, viz., the old Technical School Building, principal, Kuripuni Hall and Fire Police Station. The method of voting differs from that in vogue at the general election. Instead of striking out the name of the candidate for whom the voter does not wish to vote he will place across in the square opposite the name of the candidate whom he desires to vote for. But even if this is not followed strictly the vote will be allowed, so long as it is clear to Returning Officer what the intention, of the voter was.

At the last meeting of tha Masterton Borough Council, a petition was presented by Cr Tarr and signed by 68 persons, praying for a tarred path throughout the length of one side of Bannister Street. Messrs Gledstone, Dixon, and others, attended before the Council in support of the petition. After hearing the deputation, the Mayor stated that the petition would be handed to the Borough Engineer for report, and it would be necessary for the new Council to favourably consider the necessity of completing this street as well as certain other of the principal streets in the Borough, so as to get tnem properly formed, metalled, and constructed, and proper footpaths provided. The deputation, after thanking the Council, retired. A Press Association telegram from Rotorua states that Charles Keen, aged 22, was drowned in the Lobster Bath, at Kuirau reserve, at 11 o'clock, yesterday morning. The deceased went into the bath, accompanied by a companion named Brown, and almost immediately sank. He rose to the surface and sank again, but did not again come to the surface. Brown ran for assistance. Maoris dived and recovered the body, but Keen was dead. The deceased arrived about a week ago on his honeymoon, he being married on the 16th inst. He came from Auckland. The Lobster Bath is not recognised as a public bath; all bathing there do so at their own responsibility. There has been several deaths in the same bath. It is supposed that the bather was overtaken by fumes.

i "I repeat again," said Mr Hollings, at last night's Kuripuni meeting, " Where does the charge of neglect come in." A voice from the back, "You haven't gut your tie on!" "Havn'tl," said Mr Hollings, and his hand unthinkingly went to feel if that artile of attire had really been neglected. The whole audience thereupon burst into roars of laughter, inwhich the speaker joined heartily. An advertiser has a paddock to let. An advertiser wants to purchase a . carpenter's bench. A good cook, male or female, is wanted for the Tinui Hotel. Mr D. H. Speedy inserts a notice against trespassing on his property - at Flag Creek. Tinui. Mrs E. Woods gives notice of an application in connection with the Marine Hotel, Whakataki. \ Mr A. G. Pilmer gives notice that trespassers on his property, Hapua, will be prosecuted. Mr F. P. Welch requires a waitress to assist at the bar, a waitress and governess. ■ Mr Fred, Staples, of Mssterton,. gives notice that at the next sittiigs of the District Court he will apply for his discharge from bankruptcy. A lecture under the auspices of the Masterton branch of the Navy Leaguewill be given to the pupils of the Masterton School to-morrow afternoon, at 2.30 o'clock. Mr P. Hamill will conclude his special sale of calicoes to-day, and i his lady patrons will be interested, to know that he has made an extensive purchase of millinery, mantles and costumes. These will be offered at specially reduced 1 prices.

Mr Frank Dupre has just received at his Masterton business premises a very fine assortment of high-class-jewellery, specially selected for birthday and wedding gifts. The selection includes many novel and inexpensive items quite new to Masterton.