LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3205, 3 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Greytown Gun Club's £IOO handicap, fired on Tuesday last, resulted as follows: —J. Simpson, Papanui, 1; T. Skippage, /Peatherston, 2.. The championship was won by D. Fraser, Hororata. A despatch relay race between teams picked frum the patrols of the Y.M.C.A. Boy Scouts will be heir 1 from Carterton to Masterton this afternoon. The despatches will be handed to the boys at Carterton at 3 p.m,. and the boys will arrive at the Masterton Post Office at about 4 p.m., and will be received by the Mayor. The counting of the votes in connection with the election of a member of the Wellington Land Board, Mr J. M. A'Court, of Sanson, having, retired by effluxion of time, will be commenced this morning. Mr A"Court is offering himself for reelecton, and there are eight other candidates, viz., Messrs R. Bould, Jbhnsonville J. Bremrer, Ruanui, Matsroa; H. T. ENingham, Horoeka: L. Houibrooke, Waterfalls; A. J. Joblin. Tuheroa, Hunterville; C. M'lntyre. Kangiwahia; W. M'Lennan, Taihape; T. H. Robinson, Taihape.

Mr C. A. Powriall was to have been a member of the deputation of local solicitors who waited upon the Minister for Justice yesterday in reference to the abolition of the District Court. The well known Court advocate lost the early train by a narrow margin in the train's favour, and at 4 p.m. he received an unsigned collect wire, presumably from one of the members of the deputation, to the following effect: "Discharged jury in your absence. Verdict by Court for Supreme Court. Early bird catches worm, and deputation appointed to various Crown positions." Apparently the late bird lost his case!

Matters were only middling with a trio of well-known Masterton residents who motored from Carterton to Masterton the other night. The owner of the car proffered his two friends a ride home to save them a long wait for the next train. He remarked jocularly beforehand that they might have to assist him over one or other of the numerous water-courses on the main road. His remarks were unexprctedly prophetic, as the car "jibbed" in the middle of the cold, deep and wide race on the Taratahi. Then came the spectacle nf a local administi*ator of justice,'" and two other persons with their boots off np to their knees in the frigidly coil water on a frosty night, pushing a ton and a half car out of its predicament. Even late trains are now a popular means of locomotion with two of the crio. The examinations in connection with the City and Guilds of London Institute are taking place this week in the local Technical School. A start was made on Tuesday evening, when plumbers were examined in the principles of plumbing, ordinary grade. On Wednesday evening the theoretical examination for the honours grade was taken, as was also the theoretical paper, ordinary grade, for painters and decorators work. The next subject is the theoretical examination in plain cookery, which will be held in the District High School on Friday evening next. Chi Saturday afteroon the practical examinations in cookery and plumbers work will be held in the District High School and the Technical workshop respectively. Mrs W. H. Jackson has been appointed by the Education Department to act as local examiner for the cookery examination, whilst Mr R. E. Jones * will act in a similar capacity for the plumbers examination. Messrs N. D. Bunting and H. H. Sutton are superintending all the written examinations.

An Industries Week is to be held at Palmerston North.

The cost of erecting a rabbit-proof fence in the Wairoa (Hawke's Bay) district is estimated at about £6,000. There has been quite an abnormal rush of shipping at the port of Timaru during the past ten days. Its equal has not previously been known at Timaru.

"He is very difficult man to catch," said a creditor at the Lambeth County Court (England;, during the hearing of a recent case, "sol invited him out to lunch and then served the summons."

"I may as well tell you at once." | remarked the Hon. Mr Millar to a Reefton deputation, "in my opinion there will he no Railways Authorisation Bill of any kind whatever this session. Some of the railways already under construction we will take to a certain point and stop there." Plans have been prepared for tne construction at Montreal of the longest bridge in the.world. It is to span the St. Lawrence river at a point below the present Victoria j Bridge, and will be three miles long. The cost is to be £1,400,000, and an American syndicate is financing the undertaking. At a meeting of South Staffordshire Joint Smallpox Hospital Board recently at Wolverhampton (England), it was reported that there were no patients in the hospital. It was erected'four years ago at a cost of £IB,OOO, and its annual expenditure is £1,500, but so far there has not been a single patient. ' To-morrow evening the various branches and supporters of the National Defence League_throughou.t New Zealaudjvil) mSet to"bring forward a resolution favouring military training, to be submitted to the Prime Minister on the following Monday for the opening of the

session. The local committee and supporters of the scheme will meet in the Borough Council Chambers at 8 o'clock. The theory examination in connection with the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and College of Music, London, will take place on Saturday next, in a room in the Masterton District High School, which has been kindly lent for the

occasion by Mr W. H. Jackson (Headmaster). Entries for all practical subjects will close on Friday, July 2nd. Entry forms may be obtained from Mr A. B. Wallace, honorary local representative. Now and again there come from the Northern seas stories of lucky pearlers who stumble upon priceless pearls. These, however, are few and far between, for the majority of these lustrous gems are very small, and rarely exceed a few carats. But there arrived in Sydney the other day a magnificent specimen of a perfect "button" pearl. It weighs 23 carats, or 92 grains, and is one ot the largest pearls ever found in Australian waters. It was found on March 20th in the shell of a small five years' molluse, by the crew ot the Sketty Belle, schooner, one of Captain George Smith's fleet of pearlers. Experts have valued the gem at £5,000.

A recent football match between South Melbourne and Fitzroy at North Fitzroy (Melbourne), was witnessed by 30,000 people. Early in the afternoon a section of the fence fell in and 500 people fell with it. The boys who swarmed over the ground like locusts on a young maize field, clustered under the part of the fence which was still erect, and when some 50 yards of that also collapsed there was a bad accident. A boy named Albert Hobbs, from South Melbourne, had his thigh fractured. Another lad named Charles Lucas, from Fitzroy, was apparently seriously , injured about the back. A third boy had his knee hurt.

In November next Madame Melba will set aside a day on which to hear the various young singers whose vocal sifts have been urged upon her notice (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"). If among these aspirants there should be a soprano, with an exceptional voice, and possessing also intelligence, industry, ambition and health, the great singer will take charge;of her future. Even should the selected student be lacking in this world's goods,, this will be no hindrance to the success of her career, as Madame Melba, who has been long looking for such a voice, will undertake to defray the entire cost of her training and public introduction.

A rather amusing incident happened at Blenheim the other day. A Maori case was being heard, and the evidence of one weighty witness was required. It was a case of Mahomet and the mountain over again, remarks an exchange, only in this case he Magistrate, Clerk of Court, crier, interpreter, counsel, and witness were Mahomet. The too substantial proportions of the witness prevented him from walking into the Courthouse, so the Court adjourned inlo the yard at the rear of the Government Buildings, whither the weighty witness was drawn by his sturdy steed. He satin his trap, was examined, and cross-examined, and went his way, while the officials returned into the Courthouse and proceeded with the case. Quite a crowd assembled to witness the curious performance.

A young woman who was evidently looking forward to being the belle of the recent Taranaki Rifles' Military Ball had her dream roughly shattered when the stern hand of the law gripped her The young woman in question was Daisy Dixon, a hotel employee of 22 years of age, whose people live at the Bay of islands. He preparations for the ball had gone so far as the purchase of a dress, coating £4 19s, and an opera cloak, costing £2 ss, from Mr W. Pellew, draper, New Plymouth. But it appeared that she had stolen the sum of £7 10s out of which she paid for these articles, from a fellow employee named Mette Anderson, a box belonging to whom she had broken into abstracting the money. Before she could even rion the attire she was arrested on a charge of theft of this money. On Thursday last she was brought before Mr H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., and pleaded guilty to the charge in a very tearful and penitent manner, It being her first offence, the magistrate dealt leniently with her. After reprimanding her severely, he convicted and fined her £2, in default 14 days' imprisonment, adding that she was to remain in custody until the fine was paid. The amount was paid out* of the wages due to her.

A signalling class has been formed in connection with* the Peatherstoit volunteers, Mr I. V. Wilson being the instructor.

The Fresh Milk Supply Company of Featherston closed down their works for the season on Monday last.

During the month of May there were five births and one deavh in Greytown.

A case of suspected scarlet fever from Featherston was admitted to the Greytwon Hospital on Tuesdaylast.

As evidence of the productivity of the season, it may be mentioned that Mr E. Mac Gibbon, of East Gore, took 143 bags of potatoes from threequarters of an acre. Seven hundred thousand pounds were spent upon new buildings in Auckland city, and the surrounding boroughs last year, over £200,000 being in the city proper. <

Queensland is trying the experiment of making railwys in advance of settlement, and it is claimed that the system is doing good already. The people follow the railways. Within the last few days a Dunedin citizen placed several hundred pounds on deposit at 4J per cent. because he was unable to obtain & better investment for it. Inquiries at the Christchurch Labour Bureau show that the demand! for employment, so far as the winter has gone, has been satisfactorily met by work available in the district. [ The mails which left Wellington I or. April 23rd by the Moeraki, snd j connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mails by the R.M.S. Marmora, arrived in London on the night of lbs 28th uk, two days early/

The New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union is at present turning out at its Palmerston North factory a ton of butter daily—about half as much again as was produced this time last year after the drought. At the police Court, yesterday morning, before Messrs Eli Smith and John Cross, J.'sP., John Flanagan, alias Grey, was mulcted in the sum 1 of 10s, in default 48 hours* imprisonment, for insobriety. Kauri must be a very rare timber in New Zealand indeed. Mr C. C. Odlin informed the Timber Commission that he had had to go to Auckland to get it, and to charter a vessel for the purpose. Orders executed a month ago had been given nine months previously. At the meeting of the Wairarapa Licensing Committee, held at Carterton, on Tuesday last, the Chairman complimented Mr W. C. Page, licensee of the Tinui Hotel, on the excellent reports from the Police and Health Departments, which had been submitted to the Committee in respect to his hotel. Oat of thirtty-three'candidates who sat in New Zealand for the special Law professional examination for "final',' candidates last month, only eight succeeded in passing. Mr G. Callen, of Masterton. headed the list in New Zealand in two of his three subjects, and was second on. the list in his third subject. Mr W, G. Kiddell, S.M., gave his decision at Wellington, yesterday, in ihe case in whien two constables —W. J. Gardiner and J. E. Watson —were charged with having assaulted Florence Beatrice Rolfe and Wm. John .Rolfe, on May lOlh. Watson was fined the maximum penalty £lO. and Gardiner vias sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment and fined £5. Having survived for fifty two j ears 'with his spine bruken but the spine cord intact, Joseph Alcock, who was Well-known to summer visitors in his donkey- chaise on the Yarmouth Parade, Jitagland, died recently at the age of seventy-two. The gaff of a wherry came down with a run and broke bis back when he wa* twenty. '

The annual Catholic social and. dance in the Dr'll and Tow a Halls, last evening, was a most enjoyable function, and was largeiy attended. Splendid music was suppled and an excellent supper was provided by an energetic ladies'' committee. The joi.it secretaries,, Messrs P.. Jv Dupre and A. J, McEwen, were untiring in their efforts to make the function the success it was., and. are- deserving of a special word of praise. Arrangements are complete for the concert to be held in the Lansdowne School to-morrow evening in aid of the Lansdowne School Funds. An excellent programme has been drawn up. Amongst those vrho willcontribute items are Mesdames Taplay, Edwards, Dupra, Misses Hcod>. McKenzie (2), and Messrs Iggulden, H. Hal!, Drummond, Parker, Hunn v Reihana Boyes, Nevins. and W. Thompson. The College boys will give a Maori haka.. It is well known, says a Greymouth correspondent, than when logs are brought into the sawmill, yards it is necessary to cut them into lengths, so that they can be dealt with, by j the mill saws. To do this work it takes two men, but the old order of things is likely to change, as two young men, employed at Messrs Stewart and Chapman's mill at < Rimu, have just patented a contrivance by which it will only take one man to do the work. The patent is said to facilitate matters very much besides saving a great deal of labour. It is quite likely chat aIL the mills on the Coast will secure this laboursaving device, as it is pronounced hjr experts to be just what is required. The girls at Wanganui College have been as fascinated with the charm of their river as if they were aIL champion scullers, though they seek for their amusement in the waters not on it. The Council of the Swimming Association which met in Lhristchurch last week, must have been "much impressed when, among a number of applications fGr proficiency certificates, it received N . from the principal of the Wanganui, ' Girls' College a<> application for no fewer than 86 ecru neater for girls who had swum distances varying from three miles to 220 yards. It. / was decided to write to the principal of the college, congratulating her on the excellent progress made in swimming by the girls of the institution during the past year. Mr M. 0. Aronsten, of the Post Office Meat Mart, notifies that from to-morrow, June 4th, he will still further reduce the price of meat. He has arranged for a regular supply of the primest meat, and will specialise in small goods and poultry. Orders sent by telephone will be promptly attended to. A smart lad for parcels is required by Messrs Warnockjand Adkin.

Up till May 24th the, Sydney Dreadnought Fund had reached a ■total of £67,438 17s 7d. The eeneral staff of Messrs Anthony Hordern and :Sons contributed £ll4. The purses of sovereigns presented '■to Messrs Jones and Evans, for their services to Canterbury farmers in connection with the farm labourers' dispute, represened,a value of between £6OO and £7OO. During the busy season just concluded, the Gear Meat Company put through its works at Petone no fewer than 600,000 sheep and lambs, which constitutes a record for the company. sThe season extended over five months. Cattle to the- number of 8,500< were slaughtered in the same period. One feature of the operations was the good condition of the lambs. Whilst the season ■was at its height the company was finding employment for over 500 i men. An advertiser requires a general servant. Tenders are invited by Messrs Varnham and Rose for the erection of -additions in brick to the Belvedere • Cheese Factory. An inset dealing with Messrs John • Graham and Co.'s great stock-taking sale will be circulated in Saturday's issue of the Wairarapa Age. The premises that are being altered for Mr Hugh Long, butcher, in Queen Street, Masterton, opposite Graham and Co.'s, will be jready by this evening, and on Fri"fiay morning he will open for busi- . ness with a big display of prime :meat, small goods, etc. Kitchener's boots are dependable for warmth, comfort, and good S3rvice, and'are sold just a little above • -wholesale prices. His stock is large and varied, and embraces storm boots for for men,women and children. The latter iootwear Is not too heavy, but sufficiently so to be water and damp .proof. Mr Kitchener's premises are next to the Empire Hotel, Master'ton. What is described as absolutely the ' cheapest property on the market is advertised for sale in this issue by iMessrs Hipkins and Madill, land agents, Auckland. It consists of §<4 acres freehold and 214 acres leasehold. The property is well watered, subdivided, carries 2,037 •■3heep, 50 head of cattle, and ]3 Ihorses. The price v for the freehold :is only £8 10s per acre, and the terms are very easy. In view of the winter season Mr H. Hadley, has with characteristic enterprise iust received another large consignment of the very best ••of winter footwear. The new lines -comprise ladies', gentlemen's and -.children's boots and shoes from the •moat noted makers. The combination is that of style and durability, and aii articles are guaranteed by Mr Hadley to give the entire satisfaction. In the boot repairing department clients can rely on orders being executed in a thoroughly first-class dtyle, only the best English leather being used, while prices throughout are most moderate.