LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9541, 13 July 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual general meeting of the members oc* the St. Patrick's Day Sports Association will be held in the Exchange Buildings, Masterton, on Saturday, July 17th, at 8 p.m. The experiment of running cheap trams for workmen is to be made in Wanganui. The St. Matthew's Harriers will hold a run this evening at 7.30 o'clock. St. Matthew's Club will hold a meeting to-morrow evening.

Two patents were taken out last month for aeroplanes by New Zealand inventors, one in Christehurch and one in Auckland.

Three seizures of liquor have already been made at railway stations in the Ohinemuri district, two at Waihi and one at Paeroa,

A country fatter Says that the attitude of a section of the unemployed may be summed up in the followng lines:—We don't want to work. But, by Jingo, if w6 must, We'll have the Union wages, Or do without a crust!

Among those who suffer by the retrenchment is Mr E. Seddon, brother of the former Prime Minister. Mr Seddon entered the service as a noxious weeds inspector, and subsequently ws promoted to be an inspector under the Dairy Industry Act. His resignation is now gazetted.

A popular resident of Otaki, Mr Hughes Cockrell, aged 25, is missing. He left Otaki on Friday morning to go mustering cattle on the Tararuas. Search parties on Sunday and Monday failed to find any trace of him, it is feared that he has met with an accident, as the country is extremely rough and dangerous.

Though a considerable amount of unemployment still exists in Auckland and suburbs—-the total number of m<?n estimated •?! w<?rK being 500—the opinion is gaining groUfld that the present difficulty is purely of a temporary character, and ihpt ot de the weather takes up work will be" any rate for those whb are .abie arid willing to "'ork.

Afc the Y.M.C.A. RoOifli; to-night, a welcome BOCi&l will be tendered by th§ members to Mr Alfred Snowball who recently arrived from Melbourne to take over the work oE organigingths Masterfcon Association. On t Thursday night a public welcome will be tendered to Mr and Mrs Snowball in the Town Hall at 8 o'clock. A display of physical work by first term pupils, and other interesting items, form an attractive programme. A conference of Y.M.C.A. workers and the Board of Management, together with Mr H. N. Holmes, General Secretary of the Wellineton Y.M.C.A., will be held in the Rooms on Thursday afternoon, at 2.30 o'clock. A peculiar, as far as I know a unique, feature in the influx to this country of foreign labour is notable in connection , with the laying- of asphalt pavement, writes a London correspondent of an Australian paper. A branch of industry which the forj eigner has to a considerable degree marked for his own is that of the waiter at hotel and restaurants. There is no doubt that Germans are in marked preponderence over true Britons in this department of labour. Still, natives of the three kingdoms are not absolutely barred out in favour of the foreigner. It is different in the case of the laying of asphalt on metropolitan highways or footpaths. The workers are exclusively Italians. They work in gangs with a dexterity, neatness, and despatch that attract a changing but everpresent group of spectators. Presumably an Englishman could under tuition and by practice master the art. As a matter of fact he does not. It is worth the while of contractors to pay the expenses of importation of the alien workman who indisputably holds the field.

Mr A. W. Hogg, in reply to a resolution of sympathy upon his retirement from the Cabinet as Minister of Labour, has forwarded the followiing letter to Mr R. Breen, secretary of the Otago Trades and Labour Council:—"The kind, sympaI thetic and highly spprecintive letter you have sent me on behalf of your council encourages me in the hope that I may be able to do something tangible for those to whom my political life has been devoted—tin; industrial classes. Thanks to courageous and energetic leaders, and especially to the advancement of education in New Zealand, we have much progress in the arena of social | and political reform, but the monumental evils that afflict civilisation remain to be dealt with. To combat' these evils is an undertaking of no ordinary magnitude, but if the workers stand shoulder to shoulder in the way indicated in your letter there is a hope that the sacrifices many are making in company with myself will not be in vain." Mr Hogg has accepted the invitation of the Trades Council to deliver an address in Dunedin, but owing to a number of prior engagements will not be able to fulfil the promise until the beginning of August.

The usual meeting of Endeavour i Lodge was held last evening, Bro. McLean being in the chair. Routine business was transacted. Bro. Maunder, from New Plymouth, gave a ' short address to the members.. ® •' The sum of £793 19s 9d is at pres--1 ent owing to the Stratfoi'd hospital for patients' maintenance fees unpaid, says the "Post." This amount '■ does not include sums previously 2 wirtten off as irrecoverable. 5 The usual meeting of the Juvenile r Temple of Good Templars was held in the Dominion Hall, on Saturday afternoon last, Sister Bedford presiding. Two new members were 1 elected. Instructive addresses were r given by Messrs W. Gillespie, P. Ij Gilbert and Collie. At the next £ meeting there will be an elocution' competition for the juveniles. A contemporary states During ' the course of the Kugby football V match played at Palmerston North - between the Te Aute and Wsnganui y Collegiate School teams, during the , Winter Show, one of the members of ' the former team had to retire owing to an injury received to the back of f his head. The lad has since died from r the effects. It is believed that his spinal cord was injured as the result;" of a kick or through being thrown on to the back of his head. s According to inquiries made by an Auckland reporter as to whether Auckland or Wellington was capturing the Main Trunk trade, there seems to be a divergence of opinionrApparently Auckand's sphere of influence does not extend much below a Ohakune, while the merchants in* y both centres regard Taihape as then central area where trade becomes: i, split up between them. Auckland is; keeping an eye on the Ohura Valley p district, which is regarded as a promq ising field of operations. Speaking at Christehurch the U other night of his recent visit to> q 3ydriey, where he acted as an honor--1 ary inspector for the Society for the 4 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,.. Mr Louch, the inspector of She' J. Christehurch Society, said he first; 6 turned his attention to a case of B cockfighting, but, unfortunately, his . only witness, a reporter, who had - written, a long account of the fight. s would not come forward to give > i evidence, so hfi had to drop the intended prosecution He traced two--3 of the birds, however, and found* ; I that the whole of the breast and ltg" 3 feathers had been plucked off in 0 the contest. The fight had taken place on a Sunday afternoon, and two> 3 of the birds viere killed under circum-.-.stances of great cruelty. e A sermon in the dark was preached^. by the Kev. I. Sarginson, at the Lini. wood Congregational ' Church, rea cently. During the earlier portion of . the service the gas suddenly went out, and did so again, and again after j, having been re-lit. Mr asked that the gas should be turned' off at the meter, and preached inr the darkness, his discourse Jacking" • nothing of its usual force and elo--0 qjence (says a Christehurch ex- • changed. At its conclusion another- " attempt was made to light theggar.s r . • but before the collection had been: completed darkness again fell on the? " congregation, which had 'to grope v its way literally from the inner f darkness to outer light. "The abattoirs in Sidney," der clared Mr W. H. Zouch at the meet- - ing of the Christehurch Society for 1 the Prevention of Cruelty to Anis mals, "are a positive disgrace toanyi 3 community, and the Government in—t spection system is absurd. The abat- - r toirs are dirty, there is a. dreadful ) fl?SeH'.*ltt>> s over the place,, and thecattle are badly treated. Essw-only-one small tub of water, wliioh'-was* ; used for washing the hands of-'the 1 men, dirty cloths, and the meat aide.. 3 I niadfi representations to the health I authorities over there; but they said,? , it was use'ess to try to do anything' I at present, because the new abat—j toirs would provide for everything-; i. being up-to-date. It will be tww , years, however, before those new abattoirs are ready." [ The Pooh Bah of comic ooera is? 3 fairly familiar to all, and his unr ashamedness in acknowledging his - many-sidedness; examples of this , class of character are. however, not - very frequent in real life. At a' recently held meeting ,of a sports l j organisation in Christehurch an ex--3 ample of a real life Pooh Bah wasi 5 disclosed, but as wi|l bs seen by they ?' following extract from his letter,.! j he had some redeeming features. ** He wrote. "Unfortunately for me,. 1 the views of the council'and the* , views of the centre are opposed toeach other, so in - your communications to' me kindly note the fact; that I am secretary of both .bodies j and it shall be my endeavour to> place the views of both bodies before , you without any bias." The secretary of the association to whom this communication was addressed, was ; taking no risks, and communicated' ' with an independent representative of' the sport. In fairness it /should be- ! stated that the independent witness supported the views of the who acted in the two capacities. The ingenuity Of youth when it; comes to a question of cruelty is almost beyond belief. An '• amazing£/~case was instanced by the of the Canterbury Society for the - Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at . the meeting of the committee the other night. It seems that a party oiT tads went out on the hills rabbiting, but scorning the customary methods' of capturing their quarry, adoptedv, one of their own as original as it was cruel. Their contrivance consisted of" a long piece of wire twisted spirally at the end, and this was pushed into > a burrow. When the rabbit was felt, the end of the wire was jabbed into • its body and the. wire revolved to cause the spiral to enter, and the unfortunate animal, kicking and j struggling, was pulled out like a j cork from a bottle. Members of the committee exnressed their horror [ that civilised beings could be guilty ( iof such cruelty, and instructions \ ! were given the inspector to »sex every endeavour to secure evidence sufficient to convict the offenders. Mr J. L. Murray has received direct from Pownes and Co., of London, the famous manufacturers, a very fine assortment of white kid glove 3 and ties for evening wear. The ycods are of exceptional quality, and very stylish. An assortment of fancy cashmere socks aho came to hand, samples of which are displayed in Mr Murray's store next to the Club Hotel.* Mr T. Porter Club Hotel, notifies 1 hat he will purchase poultry in any quantity.

The non-commissioned officers of the Masterton Mounttd Rifles will hold a special parade this evening. r Mr H. A. Whelch is determined to clear out all his winter stock, and Ihe goods are being offered at bargain prices. A number of first-class freehold farm properties are advertised fo sale by Messrs Allen Gifford and Co. land agents. Hamilton. A list of country and suburban properties for sale and exchange ar? advertised by Mr J. R. Nicol, of Bannister Street. The New Zealand Railways Department advertise special train arrangements in connection with the Wellington race meeting, which will commence on Saturday ne^t". At the residence No. 92, Villa street, this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol j will sell household furniture and effects on account of Mrs Perrier, ■who ia leaving Masterton. A leading British Fire Insurance Company require a district agent for Wairarapa. Particulars and address will be found in an advertisement over leader in this issue. Messrs W. B. Chennells and Co. have for sale a well-improved farm of 315 acres, particulars of which will be found on page b of this issue. Messrs Husband and Finch, land agents, Woodville, advertise particulars of a number of farm properties which they have been authorised to Hell. The freehold of the Taueru Hotel •will be offered at auction by Messrs W. B. Chennells and Co , at their rooms, Perry street, at 2 o'clock, on Saturday next. The property is situated nine miles from Masterton. On the premises, Lincoln road, on Friday next, Messrs J. A. J. Maclean and Co. will sell the whole of the household furniture and effects belonging to Mr W. H. Merriott. Full particulars will be advertised later. . In an advertisement appearing on page 3 of tins issue, Mr J. J. Spillane announces that he has opened in business in the Exchange i Buildings, Masterton. as a cycle im- : porter and manufacturer. Mr Spill- I ane has had a lifelong experience at ' the trade, and is fortunate in having secured the sole agency of such noted British made bicycles as the "Gover- ! nor." "English Premier," "Centaur," and "Edlin—Sinclair." He states that these machines will be offered to the public at a slight increase on the cost of production. Repairs to all classes of cycles will be I undertaken at a reasonable charge. I While here in New Zealand we are i experiencing the short day« and chills j of winter, over in England just now ( is holiday time, and thousands are ( forsaking the towns to seek the rest ' and chaoee which the country affords. Who can describe the pleasure they will experience in sauntering down leafy lane*, or cycling or motoring along the hedge-lined roads overhung hy the lordly elm! And then to come to some quair.t village inn, and to sit outside its rose-covered front, or to rest in its old-fashioned room with j a glass of Englisn Stout or English Ale before one, and perhaps some 1 biscuits and cheese to keep the liquor J company! This is the pleasure that * Swinburne loved and Dickens never { tiifedd, and which many an English- '' man in the colony loves to recall. green laues and the thatched 1 inns cannot be transplanted to New x Zealand, but the best of English j ales and stouts-viz., Dog's Head Bass Ale and Dog's Head Guinness Strit—have been brwgfit here," are " evreywhere procurable, and can be t enjoyed just as mtich in our m,ore < c modern towns, and in the midst of « our more robust scenery. The fame of these two liquors is world-Wide; and until one has tasted them one has ' missed the highest excellence in stout s or beer. Care must be taken to insist j on Dog's Head brand in either case, . or inferior kinds not unlikely will be served.