LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9225, 24 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

J The cost of the British Uovemimi.-t j old-age pension scheme will be about I £7,000,000. The new dock at Port Chalmers will be officially opened on June 30th. The Maheno will be the first vessel o enter the dock. A seaman named Nicholls was sentenced to six months' imprifonment at Dunedin yesterday for broaching cargo. It is understood that Colonel Davies' report on defence will not be made public owing to its serious nature, and will be kept for use of the Cabinet only. The total amount of the Victorian loans outstanding to June 30th, iyoß. is £53,505,000, equal to £54 3s per head. Interest and expenses are tully earned by £47,040,000 of the debt. A meeting of the ratepayers of the Borough of Masterton will be held in the Town Hall, at 8 o'clock, to-mor-row night, to consider the proposal to boa'ow £12,000 for street improvement. A number of small farmers in North Canterbury have sold off their sheep and intend to return to wheat growing. In consequence of this and the fine winter there will be a largely increased area sown in wheat this season. I At the Palmerston North Dairy Show was to be seen the largest churn ever imported into New Zealand, one capable of making I.SOOIo of butter at once. A diminutive affair that makes 9001b at once was shown alongside its big prototype. ome people have very vague ideas as to the demands made upon those who take upon themselves the discharge uf public duties. The Mayor of North-East Valley, Dunedin, threw a little light on the subject the other night when he staled that in one year of office he had attended no fewer than 243 meetings.

i Buckingham Palace lias lost the services of its giant policeman, VV. E. Leggott, an officer about 6ffc 6in tall, and a well-known figure to all frequenters of the Palace. Formerly Police-Constable Leggott was on duty for some years at Marlborough House, and before that at Sandringliam. He has just retired after 26 , years' police ssrvice. Apparently Hawera is just now feeling the effect of the recent tightness in the money marker, judging by the number of bankruptcies that have been recorded. Since the beginning of January nine persons have sought the protection of the Bankruptcy Court, {while it is interesting to note that during the whole of the twelve months for 1909 only twelve bankruptcies were recorded. A peculiar point has cropped up in relation to the money confiscated by the police during the recent boxing exhibitions at Gisborne, in so far as the police authorities have been at a loss to know how to dispose of it. The money, it is understood, legally belongs to those who contributed it in the first instance, but it is considered doubtful if the givers will coma forward to claim their misdirected donations.

Of the 63.453 Chinese admitted into the Transvaal, only 17,000 are still in the country. The number of factories registered this year in the district within tha jurisdiction of the Masterton Inspector of Factories is 140. Lest year the total number was 138.

A Masterton resident just returned from the East Coast states that in the district around Te Wharau and between the Coast and Masterton, is looking a picture for the mid-winter period. Luxuriant grass is to be seen on every holding, and stock an in a most thriving condition. Winter ploughing is proceeding on several stations.

A mammoth yield of mammoth: potatoes is reported from South Australia. Messrs Pope, of Mount Barker, are reportd to have discovered a new variety of the tuber, one of which turned the scale at 41b loz, while seven of them weighed 31b. The whole crop when harvested yielded at the rate of 80 tons to the acre, and the eating quality of the potatoes was said to be equal to the best of other varieties. In view of the fact that there is at scarcity of good potatoes in New Zealand, and of the fact that several Tasmanian consignments have been affected with brown rot, Victorian tubers have been coming into the Dominion very freely. New South Wales has also been making inquiries in regard to the quantities that would meet requirements, and intend shipping large quantities of Redskins and Brownells, which Sydney merchants state can be obtained in clean condition and at a reasonble figure. Northern requirements will be largely drawn from these sources.

The Union Steam Ship Company is said to be considering the advisableness of making a Small charge, 1 say, 6<l, for visitors who may wish to say good-bye to their friends on board passengers steamers. Kerently much inconvenience and delay liaVS been occasioned by people crowding the gangway, saloon enrances and stairways. The nuisance has become a serious matter to those connected with the working of ships, especially on board intercolonial steamers. Any sums derived from such a charge would be devoted to charitable objects, such, for instance, as the Shipwrecked Mariners' Aid Society.

The Hawke's Bay Drovers and Shepherds' Union has filed its demands with the Clerk of Awards (Mr A. Stubbs\ Wellington. About 180 employers have been cited. The principal demands are: -Wages: All drovers and shepherds engaged annually to be paid at the rate of £'6 10s per week. A week's work to consist of 54 hours; over that to be paid at the race of time and a half. Duties: To drive employer's stock only. Rations: All rations and horse feed to be found by employer. Day Wage: Man in charge of"all stock to be paid at the rate of 20s; all under, 17s 6d per d3y. Casual Calls: Fiist hour or portion thereof, 7o 6d; all succeeding hours. ss.

A well-known district flaxmiller assured a Manawatu ''Standard" representative that the industry wa3 at a very much lower ebb than was generally thought He considered, indeed, that unless the silver lining appeared very shortly the end of the industry was easily in s'ght. His own e.xperience during the past year proved this to b-j almost conclusive, and yet he is onp of the fortunate few who do not pay royalty, etc. Had he been subjjeter] to- the same charges as the - rnaj ritv of millers he would have had to face a serious deficit. He focertsrn that there is not a mill in the district paying at the present time, an i unless circumstances sl.t< r greatly for the better they are not likely to.

An interesting p-iint in connection with accident insurance has just heen made clear in Timaru, says the "Herald," namely, that an employee who meets with an accident a yard off the property on which he is erap!oyed,cannot cl-tim the camp nsation supposed to be injured. A man working on certain prerriists in Timaru left his work momentarily to pirfcrm a little service for a person on the road; in doing so he ir,et with en accident, which necessitated ! i.-- rerr.oval to the hospital, where he received notice, three days later, that he would not receive any insurance money, as he was on the read when the accident happened;, and his pciicy only covered him while on the premises where he was.employed.

The various methods of ascertaining the age of sheep were cftbatf d at great length in the Christcburch I Supreme Court on Friday last. One witness said that he was absolutely certain, from observations he had made, that certain sheep whose summers were in dispute were over five years' old in September of last .year. Counsel endeavoured to get the wiitness to admit that he was advancing a3 a fact what he should only state as an opinion, but the expert refused to budge from his position. His remarks took a personal turn. "I know you are over five years old," he said to counsel, though i. have no proof of it." His Honor suggested that a parallel case would be that of a man who could state as a fact that the sun rises, A man would form the opinion that the sun rose after a series of observations, and after he had seen it rise a few times he would be able .to state as a fact that the sun did rise.

An incident with a touch of comic opera about it occurred at "the Wanganui wharf the other night. Several steamers, relates the "Chronicle," were bar-bound for some days, and as a consequence Jack got ashore mora often than was good for the sober conduct of his lite. As the hour of midnight was approaching, one of a party of revellers who had returned to their ship decided, for some reason, return to the town again. Apparently howev..!'. he forgot on which side the whuri was, for he clambered over the rail into the u«ifr. His cries for help aroused one 01. :iis comrades, who gallantly jumptd i"tt) the river after him. Fortunately both could swim, and their united cries brought another sailor to the rescue. The dcut then changd into a trio, arid a harmonious noise awakened a fourth sailor, who promptly made the trio into a quartet. After they had hten in the water some minutes the lar; p trimmer came on the scene, and his rescue operations took a sensible form, for he threw overboard a rope with a "bight,"and by its mears and the assistance of other members of the ship's company, hauled the swimmers up one by one.

Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., has Jaonated a guinea to the funds of the 'Wairarapa Hockey Association. At the fortnightly pay-night; of ' the Workers' Mutual Benefit Building ! Society, last evening, the sum of £SOB JOs was received.

The rain yesterday will be much -appreciated by Lansdowne residents, as a number of tanks there are nearly empty—a very unusual state of affairs for this time of year.

A local labour agent stated yesterday that a demand has set in here for som* wood axemen for bushfelling ° Probably the departure for JRtaitotara of quite a large propor- ' tion of local bushfellers has caused the glutted labour market to ease somewhat. A monster hapuka, weighing 821b, was brought into Masterton yesterday by a local resident, who has just returned from a visit to Fht Point. Th.3 fish was caught in a somewhat unusual way. It got into shallow Tvater, and as the tide receded it was unabls to get back into deep water, and finally gob stranded on Ihd Jbeach. Mr Jumes B'irke, of Opaki, has purchased from Mr Wall, of ftlartins -borough, two splendid Clydesdale l» brood mare, which were reserved by Mr Wall, when hj dispersed his stud some months ago. Mr Burke is also negotiating for the purchase of the Clydesdale stallion wnicn secured th 3 championship at the la*t Royal Agricultural Show ir. Scotland,

Taihrs <! l t!i-3 Wc-IKngtDn district are working on short hours. There are four tradesmen unemployed, but trade is generally slack. The Wellington Butchers' Union has felt the effects of the cutting in prices,

several hands having been dispensed with owing to the curtailment of defcl.very business for over-the-counter Pirade.

It is reported that there is a great dearth of dwellings in Westport for the puroise of renting. The "Westport" Ttaiaa" states that although are more than tw ny residences in course of erection, theie

is not a comfortable vacant house in the town. Anxious tenants "book" 'contemplated houses three months in advance, and some have houses ""looked" even before the piles are put down.

At a meeting of the Y.M.C.A. De-

fcati.ig Society, last evening, it was to send a team to Grey town * to meat the Debating Society there

<on July Btb. The subject for debate is "Has the Labour Legislation of New Zealand Benefited the People generally?" The Masterton team will take the affirmative, and Greytown t!le negative. There will be threa speakers on each side, the jud;e giving marks for matter, "method and delivery. Messrs J. Hunter, J. Cole and D. Hebenton will be the Masterton team.

The junior Morris Tube Club j; held its second practice last •evening, when the following were among the best scores registered: \—Messrs Cook. 32—30. E. Fuller A3l-30, La Roche 30. Hogg 30, ,Spackman!3o. Esson 30—29, Newton 29, Tait 29, Galwey 29—27, < Mace 27. There is a gratifying improvement in both classes, and the Club is now assured of success in as well a3 members. There will be another practice on Friday at 7 p.m., and a meeting at 8 j .m., for the purpose of electing • offers. j The H -n. W. P. Reeves lecturing , at Bou'n-innuth, England, at the end of April, under the auspices of the Workers' Educational Association, »on "Social and Political Life in New f Zealand," in the course of the ad- * - dress, stated that he did no think he was over-estimating matters wh::n he said'thai the total producing value of New IZea'land was 850 millions, and if the Dominion did owe 60 millions to people outside, they would see that there was an ampb margin'and fine security. A meeting of members of the Masterton Sub-Branch of the Navy League was held last evening in the Borough Chambers. Mr H. Williams (President) presided, and there was ago 3d attendance. It was decided to hold a dinner at the end of next month, at which Navy matters . y generally will be discussed. It was also decided that at the next favourabl j opportunity the members of the High School Branch be taken to Welfi igto.i and be shown over a ■■warship. Messra H. Williams and H. were appointed to represent the Masterton Branch at the annual mee'ing of the Wellington Branch on June 29th and July Ist. A satisfactory credit balance was reported. A witness in a. sheep case heard in the Christchurch Supreme Court i last week sprang a new phrase on his Honor. He said that in Ashburton > County there was a particular description of a certain ailment iT sheep, when the teeth were worn «*Hdown by eating herbage in gritty san ly soil. The description was "kyle mouth," adopted from the name of a district in the country. It was entirely a local phrase, and was not used in any other part of the Dominion. His Honor made some humorous remarks regarding the lad who "was born in Kyle," but refused to take judicial notice of the new phrase. He would not mind doing so if it had currency in New Zealand, or ever, in the South Island, but he could not 'take judicial notice of an Ashburton custom. The Masterton County invite tenders for thirteen chains of new >-^ fencing for the Opaki Water Supand for repairing twenty-two chains of old fencing. r jM. Those who are seeking dairy and sheep farms are reminded that they can be procured through the agency of J. R. Nicol, Bannister street, Masterton, both on the leasehold and . freehold tenure. Messsr S.' and W. Mackay report that excellent business has so far been recorded at the sale proceeding at their Masterton premises. The price reductions are certainly substantial, particularly on books and fancy goods.

Dr. Gibb, of Wellington, who has ~ 7 "** just recently returned from an exi ended trip abroad has consented to deliver a lecture in Knox Hall on ' Tuesday evening next, giving his impressions of Egypt and Palestine. Dr. Gibb has obtained many interesting photographs of that Eastern country, which will be shown by means of lantern sides. The proceeds are in aid of Knox Church building •account.

A meeting of the Masterton football Club (Australian rules) will be held in the Exchange Buildings on Saturday evening.

Mr J. O'Meara gives notice that all accounts against him must be rendered by the 30th inst., and accounts owing to him must be paid by that date.

A sale of nursery stock grown by Messrs li. C. Gibbons and Co., of Wellingon, is to be held in the Post Office Auction Mart, on Saturday next. An inset will be circulated with Friday's issue of the Age giving full particulars.

On pag2 8 will be found particulars of a clearing sale of the furniture and effects of the Club Hotel Ekctahuna, which will be conducted by Messrs Abraham and _ Williams, Ltd., in conjunction with Messrs Dalgety and Co. The sale will be held on Tuesday next. Particulars of the furniture to be sold on Saturday at "Moness" House, Chapel street, by Mr J. R. Nicol, en account Of Rev. Walton, who ii leaving for Auckland, are advertised to-day. The goods, which areVell selected and nearly new, will be on view on Friday afternoon. At the Masterton Auction Mart, on Saturday, at 12 o'clock, noon, Mr J. R. Nicol will hold a pale of purebred poultry. Entries have already b*»en made by leaning fanciers, and further tn.i.s are invited. Those requiring purebred hirdi shovkl take the opportunity of securing at this sale.