LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3185, 10 May 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Worksop dredge is 27 ounces 15dwts for 118 hours. A literary and debating society has been formed at Eketahuna, with Mr L. F. Wright as secretary. Mr. W Humphries, of Greytown, has purchased Mr T. Ingley's farm at Moroa. The supply of milk to the Nireaha cheese factory is now decreasing, slightly over 1,000 gallons being received daily. The Martinborough high-pressure water service was tested by the Martinborough Fireßrigade on Thursday last, and found to be satisfactory. The new valuation of the Featherstnn town district shows the capital value to be £82,080, and the improved value (upon which the rates will be struck), £30,650. Mr T. Thompson, a recent arrival from Yorkshire, England, has purchased the Belvedere "smithy" from Mr W. J. Beard, writes our Carterton correspondent.

Last week, writes our Carterton correspondent, the Wairarapa Bacon Factory slaughtered 96 pigs, and -of this number the Government inspector only' found six unfit for human consumption. Excellent entries have been received for the swede growing competition (flat and ridged) to be held by the A. and P. Association during the first week in June. Messrs Jo*. Morris and A. J. Percy have been appointed judges for tne competition. The Eketahuna Mounted Rifles held a competition on Thursday last for Messrs Knight Bros', trophy, and the following were the best scoris registered:—-Trouper Marenzi BS. Sergeant Hill 87, Corporal Rashleigh 80, Trooper-W. Olsen 77. The scores made off the rifle also count for the Corps' champion belt. Messrs Adam Armstrong and Coleman Phillips have been nominated for the office of Mayor of Carterton. For the vacancies on the Carterton Borough Council the following nominations have been receievd:—Messrs W. J. Berrill. J. A. Dudson, M. Lavery, W. J. Lindop, W. W. Mansfield, W. T. Masso.-j, T. J. Rathbone, C. J. Smith, E. L. Wakelin and W. H. Whyte. At the Police Court on Saturday morning last, before Messr.-s E. G. Eton and Eli Smith, J's.P., a choree of common assault on a child was preferred against George Parsons. Accused, who was represented by Mr C. A. Pownall, pleaded guilty. The Bench, after deliberation, commented on the seriousness of thfe charge, and imposed a fine of £», with costs amounting to £1 2s 6d. Tha valuations of Wainuiora and Te Whiti Ridings has just neen completed by Mr J. Fraser, Government Land Valuer. It is understood that the values in the two ridings have been increased by about a quarter of a million pounds, and notwithstanding the general depression, only about half a dozen objections have been made. •

Mr Jos. Morris, who judged tbe recent turnip-growing competitions held under the a'uspices of the A. and P. Association, was congratulated at Saurday's meeting of the Association on the excellent manner in which he had carried out thejjsomewhat arduous duties in connection with the judging. On the motion of Mr J. C. McKillop a hearty vote of thank« was accorded to Mr Morris by the Committee. At the annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Cuthbert's Church, Eketahuna, the following office bearers were elected:—Vicar's Warden, Mr A. J. Bray; People's Church Warden, Mr J. S. Tripe; .Vestrymen, Messrs J. ,7. Mead. Jackson, G. Jesson, W. Summers, A. Small, R. G. Vile, N. C. Davidson, P. Atkinson. F. 11. Dunderdale, E. B. Evans. J. Hare, J. F. HecUler, S. Holdsworrh. J. Kay, H. E. Mowbray and F. E. Fleury; Auditor. Mr 0. Hoist.

The annual meeting of the Masterton Methodist Church Choir was hgld in the Church on Thursday evening ..last, when there was a good attendance of the members. The chair was occupied by the Rev. C. E. Porter. The secretary (Miss Juy) submitted a report of the work done by tha choir, during the past year, which was most satisfactory, as was also the financial statement. The reports were unanimously adopted. The election of officer a resulted us follows:—Choirrnastcr, Mr S. H. Ralph; organist. Mr H. Inns; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. J. Morris. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring secretary, Miss Joy.

The Masterton Bowling Club has decided to keep the green open for play as long as the weather will permit. A big sculling carnival will take place on the Parramatta river, Mew South Wales, early in the spring. Arnst, Webb, and Whelch will probably compete. Meetings of householders to elect committees for the Taueru, Te Whiti,. and Te Ore Ore schools, will be held at the. respective schools on Monday, 31st May. A three-year-old boy, the son of'a Gore settler, named Mackay, picked up some pollard used for rabbit poisoning, mistaking it for ©srtcake. He ate some and died. Mr W. Cronin, representing West's Pictures and Orchestral Band, is in Masterton making arrangements for the company's visit to Masterton on Monday, May 17th.

A somewhat unusual scene wasnoted by a representative of this journal, when visiting a local smithy a few days ago, viz., two smiths, whose ages are. respectively, 65 and 72 years, toiling hard at the same anvil, the one striking for the other. The Auckland Flying Ciub's wind-ing-up race for young birds last week from Palmers'-on North to Auckland, a distance of 250 miles as the crow flies, is said to be the longest distance young birds race ever flown in New Zealand. When the public accounts for the financial year suded March 31, are made available, Mr W. F. Massey Leader of the Opposition) will take j an early opportunity to reply to Sir Joseph Ward's Invercargill speech, and put the standoint of the Opposition before the country. A patriot, writing to the Auckland "Herald," suggests that each person who believes in the need for NewZealand setting her defence house in order, spend sixpence for a telegram, cr even one penny for a letter, to the Prime Minister of our Dominion, asking him to take immediate praci tical action to make our defences as J good as possible.

Mr James Christie publisher of the Bruce "Herald," is in receipt of a writ claiming £2OO damages tor publishing a libel on Mr Robert Hewitson, farmer, of Lovell's FlatDuring the county elections in November last a letter was inserted in the Bruce "Herald," signed "Crichton Riding Ratepayer," and part of this will be the subject of the suit. The extermination of small birdsin Canterbury is expensive. Last year the Selwyn County Council paid for the destruction of smali birds or for their eggs £1430 12s lid, the amount raised by rates to the expenditure was £1685 17s 10d.. During the year 775- dozen birds at Is per dozen were purchased, 1,290 dozen at 9d per dozen, 32,728 dozen young birds and eggs at 3d, and 856 dozen at 6d, 604 keas at'6d each.

At the annual meeting of the Methodist Church Choir, it was finally decided that the cantata "David the ShepheH Boy," which has been out off from time to time through unforseen "circumstances, should be rendered at as early a date as possible.. The hope was expressed that the soloists, and tlmse assisting in the choruses, would make a special effort to attend the practices, the first of which will be held this evening, in the» Schoolroom, commencing at 8 o'clock, sharp. The weekly meeting of the Hope of Masterton Juvenile Temple was held in the Dominion Hall on Thursday last. There was a good attendance of members. Two new members were proposed and initiated. The Superintendent installed the for the enßuint? quarter, assisted bySis. Mrs Flanagan. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. During the afternoon the Superintendent, Hro. J. Morris, delivered an instructive address. At the next meeting readirgsjand recitations will be given by members. Mr G. H. Herbert, engineer to the South Wpirarapa County Council, returned on Friday from a tour of the Kaiwhata district, writes our Carterton correspondent. He found the roads in first-class rightout to the Coast, with two exceptions. The ford in tlse Pahoa river, which was badly scoured out duringthe last flood has been repaired, and the damage done at Anderson's creek has been attended to. The floods also scoured out the groyne in> the Kaiwhata river, and did seme little damage, which has now been repaired. The roads, he coigiidered, are at present in a better condition than they have ever been before.

Owing to the exceptionally good season that is being experienced for crops this year the Committee of the A. and P. Association decided on Saturday last to amend the rules in connection with the jwd-ing of the forthcoming swede-growing competition. Mr Jus. Morris o.ie of the judges, said that it had been the custom to award 50 points' per ton as the maximum for quantity of bulbs and tops. It was essential that the tops and bulbs should be weighed, and by increasing the maximum number of points ro 70 the difficulty would be overcome. The speaker stated that under the rules governing the judging of the recent competition only the bulbs could be weighed, on account of the heavy crops entered. The alteration was unanimously agreed to by the Committee.

As a result of rhe researches of the Finger-print Department of the Wellington Detective staff, James Hemingway, charged with the G.P.O. robbery, again appeared in the Magistrate's Court, on Saturday morning. This time he is charged with (1) breaking and entering the premises of the Government Printing Office by night between the 14th and the 15th Dectmher, 1906, and stealing therefrom 595 one pound sheets of one penny postage stamps, 12 eight pound sheets of 2s postage stamps, 11 fifteen pound shifts of 5s postage stamps, oi a total value of £856, the property of the New Zealand Government; (2) breaking and entering the premises of Messrs Whitcoi'.ibe and Tombs between the l ! 3th and the 14th December, 1907 and stealing therefrom a large quantity of fomtain pens and other articles, valued at £l4O. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

The installation of the Worshipful Master and officers of the Masterton Masonic Lodge will take placo on Wednesday evening next. The Rev. W. Raine presided over the men's meeting at the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday. Mr J. Hunter presided over the strangers' tea meeting held subsequently, and there vtas a large attendance, including a number of visitors. Mr F. P. Welch a has vacancy for a married couple on station. The Masterton Choral Society will e've a popular concert in aid of the Society's funds on Wednesday evenjug next. On page 4 of this issue the drapery department of the W.r.C.A. advertise four winter lines, for which special prices are quoted. The Deputy-Official Assignee, Mr W. B. Chennelh. notifies that the public examination of Mr Bernard Douglas, farmer, Opaki, will beheld at the sitting of the District Court on the 27th instant. Mr W. C. Welch, Lansdowne, ha a for sale Padman's famous White Leghorn cockerels. ' They are from the strain that secured the world's record egg-lnying competition at the Catton Competition.

In a change advertisement Mrs Mathewson, Wellington's millinery expert, announces a brilliant display of smart winter hats in all colours and shapes. Masterton ladies visiting Wellington are invited to call and inspect these high-class goods. They will not fail to please. A splendid line of 2,112 wethers was purchased by Mr Robert Reay. on Wednesday last, in Pahiatua, through the agency of Messrs Abraham and Williams. The sheep are I being driven across the range to Palmerston North, where they will be trucked to WaiKato. Mr Chas Mclntyre, of Rangiwahia.. ■"•ho is a candidate for a seat on the Wellington Land Board, publishes an address in another column. Mr Mclntyre has been a. Crown tenant for fourteen years, is a member of the Kiwitea County Council, and a leading member of the Rangiwahia branch of the Farmers' Union. He is a supponer of the optional tenure, and would strenuously support any "movement giving leaseholders the right of purchase. Elsewhere in this issue Mr C. P. .Lnngdill, who is well known as a -writer upon economic problems, advertises that he will give a lecture at the Dominion Hall on Friday next, at 8 p.m., and in the cours3 of ' which he will demonstrate and prove by means of original diagrams the great importance of the discoveries fac claims to have made in the abstruse science of banking. All persons who desire to see a more perfect system of banking established in this Dominion than that which exists at present are invited to attend Mr Longdill's lecture.

* It will be seen from an announeraent in another column that the British and Continental Piano Company has removed from the Exchange Buildings to premises in the Central Garage Buildings, Queen street, Masteiton. Mr Loundes, local representative of the Company, has disposed of his stationery business, and in the future will devote the whole of hia time to the business of the Company. 1 Those who have done business with the Company speak very highly of the instruments as being sweet toned, serviceable, and yet reasonably priced. In the new premises a very large stock of pianos and organs will be carried, and residents generally are invited to pay a visit of inspection. Under the altered conditions, and with an energetic representative such as Mr Loundes, the business of the Company in this district is sure to substantially increase.