LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9529, 29 June 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., will address his constituents in the Town Hall, this evening, at 8 o'clock. With the object of relieving the unemployment in the painting trade has decided to paint the Departmental buildings and the Porirua Asylum. There is almost a complete absence of unemployment in the Waimate district. Ploughing and sowing operations are more extensive in the country than they were last year. At Waihou, near Te Aroha, an artesian flow of 14,000 gallons a day has been obtained at a depth of 276 feet at a spot selected by the Rev. H. Mason., the water finder. The cost of boring was £3B. The' largest mushroom known in the Egerton, Victoria, district has been picked up by Mr W. Anderson, at Mount Doran. When measured, it was found to be over 22in in circumference

Fifty additional hands at Addington Workshop are under notice of dismissal.

The Eketahuna Debating Club have accepted the Masterton Y.M.C.A.'s challenge to a debate.

A Zurthor development of the overseas trads of Nelson (says the "Colonist") is indicated by the announcement that a steamer of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co., Ltd., will leave London early in September,and will include Nelson in her ports of call.

The "Bay of Plenty Times" understands that a South Island firm has notified a local farmer thatit is willing to erect and instal machinery for a freezing works at Tauranga, capable of dealing with from 50,000 to 150,000 sheep per annum, at a cost of £IO,OOO.

The weather of the past month at Cheviot has been phenomenal for the time of the year. There has been a complete absence of rain and very little frost. These ideal conditions for grain sowing are being fully taken advantage of, and the wheat that has been, and is being, sown is far in excess of any previous year.

One of theprimest lines of lambs that have been slaughtered at the Fairfield freezing works during the season were killed last week, says a Christchurch paper. The lambs, numbering 1909, were fattened by Mr John Bell,of Ashtun, and their dead weight averaged 54£lb, while the average weight of fat per lamb was 6.901b.

No reply has been received by the New Zealand Boxing Council from the representatives of "Tommy" Burns to its communciations regarding the proposed visit to New Zealand by Burns and his sparring partners. The Council has decided that no further action shall be taken until a reply is received from Burns.

As an illustration of the large number of visitors thronging Dunedin during the Winter Show, it is stated that a visitor from Gore had to be content to share a room with 18 others in a hotel. Many found it impossible to secure lodgings in the city, and so were compelled to stay at hotels in the outlying suburbs, notably, in South Dunedin. While the prison gang has been working on Queen's Park, Wanganui, part of the foundations of the old barracks were unearthed, and a large number of buttons from the uniforms of the various regiments quartered in the barracks were picked up, in addition to other interesting mementos of H.M. Imperial forces quartered in Wanganui forty or fifty years ago.

George M'Nair, whose name loomed largely in connection with the New South Wales land scandals investigations, died in a hospital at Balmain, New South Wales. He was long associated with W. H. Willis. M'Nair was predeceased by W. P. Crick and F. C. Close, who were also prominently identified with these land scandals.

A correspondent, writing to the Auckland "Star," says:— "Since the Auckland Acclimatisation Society ceased paying for the destruction of hawks they have multiplied at an alarming rate in this district. Two years ago therd was only an occasional one to be seen, but to-day they are in swarms, and are so bold that a few days ago one kil ed a fowl within 50 yards of my house." Mr J. H. Pauling. J.P., presided at a short sitting of the Police Cour at Masterton yesterday . morning. Denis Cronin, charged with a fourth offence of drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. His counsel (Mr P. L. Boilings) asked for another chance for accused in view of no-license being so close. Two first offenders were dealt with, one named James Wallace being fined ]os for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cab, and the other (a female) convicted and discharged.

The usual meeting of Endeavour Lodge was held last evening, Bro. McL<?an, C.T., presiding. Routine business was transacted. Three new members were proposed and one member initiated into the Order. Bro. Mander, from New Plymouth, gave a very interesting address, and also conveyed greetings from New Plymouth Lodge, which was heartily reciprocated. The Juvenile Temple is to be invitsd to attend at the next meeting.

A centipede, about 6in long, tumbled out of a box of bananas on to the hand of a fruiterer in Colombo Street, Christchurch, the other night. The bananas had just been received from the Cools Islands. The extraordinary tenacity with which these creatures cling to life is shown by the fact that the centipede's headwascutoffwhen.it was discovered, and the body was still very much alive, and able to move its many feet, when the specimen was brought into the "Lyttelton Times" office, 40 hours later.

The position is not changed in any way regarding the Auckland Labour market. It is estimated that there are quite 600 men out of work, and last week over 200 men applied for employment at the Government Labour Bureau. There is a erood deal of slackness in all the trades, somewhere about 100 carpenters being out of work, while 50 members of the Painters' Union are lookinz fcr some occupation. The Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Associatibn has quite 50 unemployed on its books, and the engineers, boilermakers, bricklayers, and iron moulders all complain of an unusual slackness.

It would seem (says the Farmers' Union "Advocate") as if we were to establish a record this year, for exports of our staple products, as far as quantity is concerned, for considerably more wool, butter and cheese, have been exported during the last nine months than has been the case in any previous twelve monthly period. Whilst this is not the case with frozen meat, the exports of this commodity tor the past nine months nearly equals that of the preceding twelve months, and should the quantity for the current three monthly period approximate to the corresponding period of last year we bid fair to reach three million carcases of lamb, which will constitute a record. It is a great pity that the shipments are reaching the London market while such low prices are ruling, and it seems as if the only way to ensure getting the bast prices would be to regulate the supplies from this end.

Thus a woman writing to the Taranaki Hospital Board with reference to an account for hospital maintenance of her husband, who is now in another hospital :—" You will have to wait I can do nothing till he is dead or better." The timber mills at Dargaville, Auckland, are slackening, although plenty of timber is deposited in the creeks awaiting a fresh. The Kauri Timber Company had more timber in the creeks than at any time for the 'past eight years. At Pekapekarais 4,000,000 ft of iWkauri is piled up. ,

A conference of delegates representing the cycle trade in Christchurch, Dunedin, Tirnaru and Invercargill was held at Dunedin, when ic was decided to form a South Island Cycle Traders' Association. Several matters relating to trade union disputes and tyre guarantees were discussed. The membership of the Association is reported to be 150, It is understood that orders have been given foi the building of another batch of about a dozen locomotives at the Hillside workshops. This additional work, it is reported, can be carried out by the perir&neut staff, and therefore does not mean, the keeping on of any of the casuals at present being paid off every few weeks.

A person was sued in the Bendigc Court last week for a debt of 5s Id. It was announced that, sii:ce the issue of the summons, 5s had been paid, leaving a balance of Id. The solicitor asKed for a verdict for one penny, with 15s 6d costs. Though the Magistrates considered it hardly fair to make a person pay 15s 6d costs for failing to pay one penny, when it was pointed out by another solicitor that solicitors had as much trouble to collect small amounts as if large ones they granted the applica- * tlon. The efficiency of the Australia!

ladybird as a blight exterminator has been strikingly demonstrated in an extensive bluegum plantation at Rakaia. The bluegums were a few years ago suffering very considerably from the pest, their trunks being blackened, and the bark peeling off in long dead strips. Some time ago a few colonies of the ladybirds were liberated in the plantation by Mr T. W. Kirk, and sines that time there has been a marked improvement. The blackness has to a large extent disappeared, and the bluegums have taken on a new lease of healthy life.

We are now in the winter season, when trade naturally shows a measure of shekness apart from the special restriction caused by the prevailing financial stringency. The general tone, however, is (remarks the "Trade Review") far from gloomy, and the turnover is, in most branches, considered fair for the time of year. The soft goods trade is very quiet, the weather having on the whole been comparatively mild. The autumn—winter season is practically over, and the spring—summer season will be opening in August. Engagements are, as a rule,*" fairly well met.

On pasding through the Waiotapu district recently one could not help noticing the comfort and ipparent prosperous conJition of the natives (says the Taupo correspondent of the "Rotorua Times"). They must have between them some 20,000 sheep, besides cattle, and in addition they grow some very good oats, besides other crops. Tin re are several natives who have an income of £3OO to £4OO a year coming in from their sheep, etc. This is vtry gratifying to anyone who is watching the efforts and progress of the race. The conditions are, however, reversed in parts of the East Taupo county, where the words energy and progress are apparently unknown "I must complain bitterly," said the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, "in regard to the large number of incurable patients?ln the hospital. There are now about thirty-two cases, althougn about twelve of them are consumptives. We have appealed to the Charitable Aid Board times out of number to take them off our hands, because it is an extravagant method of keeping these patients with a large staff of;experienced nurses. The Charitable Aii Board * has had a building completed for the purpose since March last, but up till now has not been able to us of the resporsibility of keeping incurables." Mr Payling added'that if his information as correct something must be wrong somewhere.

In the course of an interview at Brisbane last week, Mr Wareham, the Queensland inspector of the Adelaide Steamship Company, who has returned from one of his periodical visits to the north, stated that the position of the North Queensland banana growing industry is a precarious one, and, in the opinion of trany public men, as well as of growers themselves, the indutsry is doomed unless the Federal authorities come°speedily to the rescue. Some Chinese growers in North Queensland recently received information that 500 Chinese coolies had been engaged in China for the Fijian banana plantations, at the low rate of 10s per week. The North Queensland growers have been advised not to put any new areas under cultivation for the present. The local authorities and other public bodies in the north are conjointly signing a petition for presentation to the Federal authorities, praying that the import duty may be increased to 2s per cental, "I suppose you often overhear very confidential conversations between subscribers?" asked Mr Webster, M.P., of a telephone girl before the Postal Commission at Sydney last week. "Yes," she replied, "sometimes on faulty long dibtance lines we have to repeat the conversation from one subscriber to another, and that frequently leads to delicate situation!-, as, for instance, in the case of a domestic quarrel." "You learn a good many secrets, then?" "Oh, when we hear secrets, coming between subscribers, we pull baik our levers, and don't listen," naively replied the witness. "But supposing—by accident, you know —you do overhear secrets?" persisted Mr Webster. "Then we respect the regulations and keep them," said the girl promptly. "So the department has done what no one else in the world has accomplished— made a woman keep a secret? How do you manage it—do you just forget what you've heard?" "Yes, just forget," said the witness with such modesty that the Commission simply had to believe her.

St. Matthew's Harrier Club held a -well attended run over a four-mile ■ course at Upper Plain last night The Masterton South Band will render a programme of music outside -the Town Hall this evening, previous to the address to bo delivered by Mr -A. W. Hogg. Superintendent Jenkins reported to the Masterton Fire Board, ye3terday afternoon, that the Borough high pressure water supply had more satisfactory during the past twelve .months than for several years past. IT* The Masterton season of West's " Pictures was brought to a close last everting, when there was another -large audience. An excellent programme of varied pictures was shown, and much appreciated by those present. .... At the meeting of the Masterton Fire Board yesterday Captain Dixon attended and presented the Board with a framed photograph of the Fire Police and the Salvage Corps, and a photograph of the salvage operations at the recent Qu:en street \£ra. He also formally handed over the" new uniforms which the Fire Police had procured. Captain Dixon 'was heartily thanked for the gifts, and numerous euloeistic references were made by the chairman and other :members of the Board on the excellent work done by the Fire Brigade -and Fire Police. . _____ Superintendent T. Jenkins, in his annual report to the Masterton Fire •Board, yesterday, stated that the membership of the Brigade was now '22, 14 resignations had been received, and seven new members appointed. •'Of the resignations received the Brigade had been unfortunate in losing the services of in most cases men

'who bad put in considerable service, f and had proved eood firemen, the ■ -majority of whom had been forced to -leave the district through lack of em- . ployment. kssi The quarterly summoned meeting ■of the Masterton Oddfellows' Lodge was held la«t evening, Bro. E. McfCord, N.G., in the chair. The election of officers for the ensuing term as follows:—Bro. P. Smith, W.G.; Bro. A. E. Wilton, V.G.; Bro. T. Clark, E.S. The selection of the junior officers was left in the 3iand3 of the newly elected N.G. The District Secretary wrote announcing tthat the Purple Lecture would be ;given in Wellington on July 7th, 'when' the presentation to the retiring CS. would be made. Bro. P. Smith announced his intention of beang present at the function. Bros. •G. Perry. P. Smith and J. R. Camptell were re-elected as delegates to represent the Lodge on the Friendly Societies' Council. . A strong committee were appointed to enlist members for the purpose of forming a Juvenile Lodge. After the business of the Lodge was concluded a social evening was spent by the members and a number of visitors. Along toast list was gone through, interspersed with songs and recitations.

An advertiser seeks board and residence in a private family. The contents of four rooms, comfortably furnished, are advertised for sale. Mr H. A. Jones, architect, invites tenders to close at 4 p.m., to-morrow, for reinstating a residence in Villa atreet. A notice appears on page 1 of this issue in reference to the loan of £12,000 proposed to be raised by the Masterton Borough Council. At the Masterton Auction Mart, to morrow aiternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell on account of Mr J. N. Anderson, florist, Napier, a fine collection of pot plants as enumerated In an advertisement. Mr J. Kitchener, boot and shoenmaker, Masterton, has a fine assortment of warm winter slippers for sale at very reasonable rates. They are of good quality, well finished, and serviceable. ■ A final reminder is given of the lecture in Knox Hall to-night, at eight o'clock, to be given by Dr Gibb, of Wellington. Dr Gibb is specially qualified to speak on the subject of h's lecture, which is entitled "A Dip into Egypt." Mr W. Pauling, tailor, who recently started business in Masterton, is meeting with deserved support. He cuts a stjlish suit, -puts thorough workmanship into its manufacture, ,and charges a reasonable price, hence his success At 2 o'clock on Thursday next, at the residence, Perry Street, Messrs Bertenshaw and Evensen, in conjunction with Mr R. E. Howell, will sell on account of Mrs Har- - old Sinclair, the whole of her superior household furniture and effects. The sale will be absolutely without reserve.

The three things that distinguish suits made by Mr C. S. Ball are fashion, fit and workmanship, and •very garment is tailored by expert workmen. His stock of seasonable fabrics is exceptionally large, and comprehensive, embracing all the most popular shades. Mr Ball's premises are next to Abraham and Williams, Ltd., Queen street, Masterton. In an inset in this issue, Mr J. L. Murray, "The Quality Stores," Mas--terton, announces his great annual winter clearance of seasonable stocks, which commences to-morrow morning. With the scarcity of ready money that at present prevails, this sale offers great advantages to men and women alike, hs it will enable them to purchase high quality goods at extraordinarily low prices. Costumes, coats, and furs, the season's best novelties, are marked at prices to tempt the most thrifty. The bargains in men's wear are also exneptioal, shirts, caps, and various other items be ng offered at less than half price. Those who shop early will, of course, get the best selection and the greatest bargains. Residents of Masterton and district aie requested to specially note that they can send their orders direct to Mr W. Burridge, of the Eagle Brewery, at his depot, Carterton, telephone No. 80. There is no need to trouble the Clerk of Court for permits, just send your orders direct, and they will be delivered promptly. All necessary details will jbe.atended to by Mr Burridge himself. You have only to send in your order for the best of ales and stout. —Advt. .