LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3195, 21 May 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The nominations of candidates for the vacancies on the Masterton Trust Lands Trust close at noon to-day. Mr W. H. Higgins, formerly proprietor of the Masterton Railway Refreshment Rooms, has purchased the Weraroa Hotel (Levin). An effort is being made to form a shipping company in Palmerston North. The object is to secure a steamer and run between the West Coast, Wellington and Foxton. The latest " dredging returns are from the Masterton dredge, which washed up 43uzs 9dwt for the week, and the Mystery Flat dredge 40ozs Bdwt for 96 hours.

The Rev. A. T. Thompson, 8.A., 8.D., will give a lecture on the "Life and Work of Abraham Lincoln," at the meeting of Knox Church Young People's Association, to be held in Knox Hail, to-night. The following promotions have been made in connection with the Featherston Fire Brigade :—First branchman, 0. Crawley; second branchman, E. Walker; first hydrantman, H. Walker; second hydrantman, W. Hutchins. Mr H. Evans, who is chairman of the Ferpidge School Commitee, and who takes a keen interest in educational matters generally, is a candidate for a seat on the Masterton Trust Lands Trust at the approaching elections. It was announced in the Wellington Supreme Court, yesterday morning, that the claim of tha widow of Samuel Wilson, who was killed by the collapse of the new roof at the Gear Company's works recently, has been settled by the payment of £Boo' by the Company for the widow and her two children. St. Patrick's Church social has been definitely arranged for the first week of next month. A strong ladies committee has been formed to carry out the necessary details. The function will take the farm of a euchre party and dance, both the Town and Drill Halls having been engaged for the occasion. The impossibility of obtaining men to do the work was the general excuse brought before the Court at Dunedin for failing to cut down their Californian thistles at the proper period. One farmer said that at the time men could not be got for even a £1 a day. The following is the Featherston Golf team to- play the Masterton Club in the forthcoming match: — Messrs Fenwick, Speedy, Allen, Bladen, D. Fsnwick, Toogood, Card, Bicknell, Donald, Gray, Everton, and Burt, and Miss Viles, Mesdames Allen, Saunders, Lucas, Toogood and Speedy. According to the Rev. J. W. Burton, the JMew Zealand railways seem like a toy system after seeing the magnificent broad gauge lines in India, where one can travel three miles fir a penny second class, and about six miles for a penny third, th? class hy which the bulk of the ' native population travel. The potato blight is verv bad in South Canterbury this ye*u\ so bad that merchants are afraid to deal in the tuber, and with an absence of competition in sales very low prices are ruling. A disease, said to have been introduced from Australia, is also attacking the onions. "Mr J. Daniel, superintendent of repairs for the Union Company at Wellington, is at Weatport, and has commenced operations for the refloating of the. Union Company's steamer Taviuni, whicn was stranded on the beach twelve months ago on the western side of the breakwater.

Pig-hunting in South Canterbury (says the "Timaru Herald") is still not a thing of the past. MrJ.W. Evans, of Woodbury, killed an immense boar at Waihi last week. The animal measured 7tt 4in from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, had a girth measurement of 57in, and a shield 4in thick. As is usual at this time of the year, the number cf assisted passengers being brought out to New Zealand by the Home steamers is showing a marked decline. Proof of this is found in the fact that the Essex, due to arrive early next month, is only bringing two assisted immigrants to the Dominion. The Railway Department has apparently not yet obtained full command of the traffic on the North Island Main Trunk line. On Monday the Dani'evirke "Advocate" saw an advice note of a truck of coal sent from Taupiri on the 12th inst., which had not then reached Dannevirke.

In an interview at Eketahuna, yesterday, the Hon. A. W. Hogg said regarding the Premier attending the Imperial Conference, that he considered that the Premier should represent the Dominion, Parliament should meet and pass supplies, and then allow Sir Joseph Ward to go. Other matters of importance could be held over by arrangement. The Wellington Industrial Association is seeking to inculcate a national spirit in the school children by means of statistics culled from the "Year Book," These have been arranged in simple form, and with the sanction of the chairman of the Education Board, they are heing distributed among the school children. A comparative table is included, showing Mew Zealand's population, area of cultivated land, the output of wool and meat, the railway receipts, bank deposits and other interesting figures. The'circular also give 3 some particulars of goods New Zealand can manufacture which are imported, and impresses on readers the mportance of supporting local industry.

At a meeting of the Masterton Methodist Church Choir, held last night, it was decided to render the cantata "David the Shepherd Boy" on Thursday evening, June 10th, tha funds to be in aid of the Organ Fund. About 11.30 o'clock, last evening, a fire started again among the ruins: of the premises in Queen street destroyed on Tuesday morning last, but was quickly put out by Superintendent Jenkins and Fireman Jackson with a lead of hose. Empire Day will ba celebrated at the Masterton District High School, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The cadets will parade and go through the ceremony of saluting the flag. and short addresses will be given by the members of the School Committee and others. j The Hon. A. W. Hogg, accompanied by Mr Wright (Departmental Engineer) yesterday inspected tre Dawson suspension bridges in the Eketahuna district, with the object of ascertaining their suitability for general use. Mr Wright will confer with Mr Dawson before expressing an opinion on the matter. A special meeting of the Committee ot the Wairarapa Hunt Club is to be held next week to draw up the programme for the antiuat steeplechase meeting at Taratahf. The steeplechase is invariably a most popular fixture of its kind, and there are indications that this year's meeting will be no exception to the I rule.

For milk supplied during the past month the New Zealand Hairy Union will pay suppliers £4,001 19s lOd for supplies to butter factories and £463 6s lOd for cheese. During the month 5 tons more cheese and 8J tons more butter were made as compared with the corresponding month of last year with exactly the same number of suppliers. For the month of May lOd per lb will be paid f°r butter fat. The case which was to have e6me before the next sitting of the Wairarapa District Court of H. Pithie v. A. H. Herbert, ex-Mayor, of Eketahuna, and the "Express" Company, a claim for £IOO damages for alleged defamatory statements stated to have been made by Mr Her bert in p. Borough Council meeting, and published in the "Express," has been withdrawn.

Mrs Pember Reeves, wife of the ex-High Commissioner for New Zealand, will be a candidate for the Lordon County Council at the next elections. Mrs a prominent Fabian Socialist, and has been a member of the Council of the Fabian Society for some years. She is a practised speaker, and on many platforms in England has advocated the enfranchisement of women and the endowment of motherhood. At a meeting of Crown tenants at Niraeha, on Wednesday night, Mr Ellingham, a candidate, seveiely criticised the method of conducting the Land Board election, regarding the rolls not being available, and the way in which, he stated, the ballot papers were distributed. Some tenants received ballot papers Immediately after nomination forms; other tenants had not yet received ballot papers. The insurance companies interested in the recent fire at Masterton speak in high terms of the work done by the Masterton Fire Police, and the representative of one company expressed the opinion that the ccrps was the best of its kind in the. Dominion. The careful way the goods had been removed, and the vigilance displayed in guarding them were both commendable features of the work done by the corps at the fire.

It is a healthy sign to_see that an interest is being taken in local institutions, and that elections for public positions should not go by default. At the present juncture an election "is penoing in connection with the Mssterton Town Lands Trust, and some interest is likely to be infused into the contest for vacant seats. It is understood that a requisition is in course of circulation, and is being largely signed inviting Mr Eli Smith to allow himself to be nominated for a seat on the 'trust.

A social waj tendered to the Carterton Druids Lodge, last evening, in the Drill Hall, by the Stonehenge Lodge of Druids, a-.d an enjoyable time spent. A card tournament was played, and .esulted in a win for *he Ma3terton Lodge by 24 erames to 22 games. A sumptuous supper was also done full iustice to, aad songs were rendered by Bros. Roydhouse, Reid, Warner, McGourlay, and R. Jenkins, and recitations by Bros. Hooper and McGourlay.' A r.umber .f toasts were proposed and duly honoured. The, Carterton Lodge were highly delighted at the manner in which they had been enterta ned. Mr and Mrs VV. Home insert a notice of thanks. Attention is directed to the Y. M.C.A. advertisement on the first pj«e. A/eward is offered for the return ot a feather boa lost between Periy and Villa streets.

Five well-grown greyhound puppies, suitable for a rabbit pack, are" advertised for sale. The boot department of the W.F.C.A. caters for the requirements of the public in a thorough manner. The stock is practicallyunlimited, the quality of the best, and charges throughout are reasonable. An exhibition of top-dressing by means of Sarjeant's machine, will be given at Mr W. Cameron's paddock, Short street, Manaia, to-mor-row afternoon, at 2.30 o'clock. Messrs J. D. Cruickshank and Co. are local agents for the machine. I The "Orion" range reduces the drudgery of cooking and baking to vanishing point; it saves an immense amount of labour and fuel as compared with other ranges, and gives better results all round. Al! ironmongers stock the "Orion," for popular favour demands they should do co. The large stock of general clothing and drapery, which was more or less damaged during the fire on' Tuesday night has been removed to premises in Holloway's Buildings, where a great salvage sale is to be held. The staff is at present engaged sorting out the goods, and arranging them in some sort of order. Immediately the question of insurance has been adjusted the stock is i-o be sold for practically what it will fetch, and unusual bargains are promised. Later details will be published later*

Tenders for. grazine paddocks in Pownall and Renall streets are invited by Mr R. Brown. At the residence, No. 27, Hessey street, on Saturday next, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell in the estate of the late Mrs Stockley-Jones, the houseJhold furniture, particulars of which are now advertised. The various lines being practically new, and therefore in first-class order, will be so:d with•out the slightest reserve. Mrs W. Home, confectioner, whose premises were badly damaged by iire on Tuesday night, has lost no time in securing temporary premises wherein to re-commence business. She has secured the shop recently occupied by Mr C. C. Aitken (next to Finlayson and Sons), and will open there in the course of a few days. An entirely new stock of confectionery has been ordered, and as soon as the necessary fittings are "arranged the premises will be opened to-day.