LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9554, 29 July 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sale of work in aid of the Maori Mission Fund will be held this after noon in St. Matthew's Schoolroom.

Writing to a friend in Masterton in reference to Mr A. W. Hogg's meeting in Auckland, a resident of that city says: "iVir Hogg had a wonderful meeting, and created a good impression. Hundreds were unable to gain admittance. There was only cne man who ever got a recep> tion to compare with it, and thit was R. J. Seddon in the zenith of his fame."

There would appear to be gocd wsgej for enterprising typists in the Sandwich Islands. A Wellington gitl who went to Honolulu in May last writes that she has just secured a position as shorthand-typist in the Hawaiian Bank at a salary of £3 15a a week, which is to be increased to £5 per week at t'ne end of six months. Her office hoars are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In anwser to a question asked her recently, ; Madame Heller stated that in the approaching fight for the championship of the world between Ketcliell and Johnson, the black man would win after a long and arducus contest Mr Heller stated that prior to the bi> Sydney fight, Madame Helltr ha J on m re than one occasion correctly forecasted the result.

"Tha way to increase the supply of dome-tic servants." according to Mrs Neligan, wife of Bishop Nelisjan, or' Auckhnd, *'ia to propagate an id-.-a of ihe dignity of domestic work. To cook a dinner really well, or keep a house really clean, is one of the most dignified pieces of work a woman can do. Many of us do it. and know its dignify, but we want to imrress this en the young g ills."

Mr E. H. RUsy, a member of the AJoerta (Canada) Provincial Assembly, recently visaed the Ruakura experimental farm. Mr Riley is a leaing agriculturist of his territory, and as such has taken a keen interest in the work of the experimental farms. He expressed himeslfas v<.ry well pleased with the work beiig done at Kuakura, and surprise at what had been acnomphshed in so short a time.

A middle-aged man named John Marshall entered a hotel at Manaia on Saturday night and asked for n drink As he did not have any money the request was refused, whereupon Marshall stabbed himself in the chest with a packet knife. Constable Carroll was sent for, and took the knife out of the man's che-:t. The wound, which received surgical attention, is not considered to be serious. The man was subsequently arrested, and will probably be charged with attempted suicide.

A notorious character, John Burke O'Brien, well known in Christchurch, is reported to have died last week in Auckland, after an unsuccessful operation. The old man had come down very mt.i;h in the world. It is said he occupied the position of war corresponds.t in the American Civ'il War. He could, according to an exchange, specie four different languages, including Creek. Drink was the cause of his downfall.

During the course of a rprent speech the Hon. T. Macke; Z'. j «icl he had received a letter fro.n a well known sheep-farmer advocating that as a means of relieving the present congestion in the meat market the Government should at once purchase J,000,000 carcases of frozen mutton for distribution by the charitable institutions of Gn.at Britain to the starving poor of the Empire. With the market at Home relieved, the writer contended there would be an immediate advance in values, and with the inflow of additional wealth existing deperssion ! would quickly vanish, and labor and trade regain their norm a i conditions. With the small export duty on next year's clip of wool-and at present I prices no product was better able to ' bear the tax—or any other tax on prodtice which the Government might deem desirable, the outlay on the purchase of 1,000,000 carcases would be regained and the producers would benefit by at least £1.000,000 sterling through the increased price of meat. The writer in conclusion, pointed out that with the present conditions of the Home market, prices of sheep were likely to drop by from 3s to 4s a.head, which at 3a a head would mean a loss to the producer of £1,053,750, and at 4<? a I head £1,405,000.

If a man deserved promotion he got it in the long run, though some might think it a very long run, said Dr. Findlay, in speaking at Wellington recently. He pointed to the big preponderance of self-made men in the high places of the Civil Service. Taking the Supreme Court Bench, it included one who was a once a printer, another who was a lowly bank clerk, the Chief Justice was once a humble schoolmaster, while another bad been a clerk in a mercantile office. Thirty years ago he was left without father or mother, with no monetary advantages, but utilising the educational facilities which existed in New Zealand he was able to rise to the university and to such positions as he now held. It will be welcome news to New Zealanders thnt their potatoes are better than thuse of Australia. The accuracy of the news is vouched for by no less an authority than the Melbourne "Age," which, in a brief paragraph on the subject, says:—

"Complaints have been made by representatives of companies owning ocean-going steamships that it is no longer possible to use Australian or Tasmanian-grown potatoes as ships' j stores. It has been found that the tubers grown this season will not keep and on that account it has become*necessary in some instances to draw supplies from New Zealand, not only at great inconvenience, but also at enhanced cost." We are informed that the first pay day for the bushfellers at Rangitatau will be on Tuesday next, 27th inst. The report that men are leaving the work dissatisfied is again contradicted, our informant stating that, so far as the Maxwelltown end of the blocks is concerned, only two or three have come out, and these left on account of slackness, one of them, in fact, being still suffering from the effects of an attack of appendicitis contracted a few weeks before. On the Waitotara side, Mr G. McGregor, jnr., has the contract for supplying the camps, reaching them by way of the Waitotara River. The camps at the eastern end of the block are supplied through Nukumaru, which is about six miles

off.—Wanganui "Herald." The Greymouth correspondent of the Nelson "Colonist" telegraphed on Thursday:—"Good gold has been struck it the head of Flowery Creek, and it is reported that the prospects have gone as much as one pennyweightto the dish. The ground is situated adjacent to the mouth of the Kelly terrace drainage tunnel, and close to the site of Messrs Rhodda and Peeble's old sawmill. It is said that there is a considerable extent of new country at the back of it. Before six o'clock in the evening seventeen claims had been pegged out, covering an area of over eleven acres. The Kelly terrace drainage tunnel contractors have had a special pegged out for some time in close proximity to the find. Further developments will be anxiously awaited." The Otago "Daily Times'" commercial editor, with the aid of a grain merchant, works out the Dominion's wheat problem as follows: —The season's crop totalled 8,722,000 bushels. Of this six millions are required for food and seed, leaving 2,722,000 for export, of which 1,230. 000 bushels have been sent away. The above allowance of six millions for home consumption is, however, an annual average and he thinks 800,000 more would not be too large to allow for the seeding of the larger area put into wheat this year. Say 730,000, and that reduces the remaining surplu:; for export to half a million bushels. Another merchant

helped him with regard to oats, and workel out a surplus for export of 4J million bushels. Prices i:i London, said the merchant, are good—for London —but farmers hare are not disposed to sell at export rates, and the danger is that they will be holding large supplies when the next crop comes in. A paragraph has been in circulation stating that a witness in the Arbitration Court had learned the art of how to keep a wife and two children on 30s per week. A hotel porter writes to ttie Christchurch "Press":—"l am the witness referred to. I will tell

you the secret. My wages are 30s per week, but I make on an average 10s per week in tips, which brings my weekly earnings up to £2 per week, and also my keep. I live in my own house, which is paid for. thereby having no rent to pay. I also have a banking account, the interest of which keeps myself, wife and family in clothing. I also have a quarter-acre section, which will keep us in vegetables, and I pay cash for all I purchase. I am therefore able to buy at the cheapest markets." The Waikato "Independent" says that "milking on shares would apI pear to be in popular favour in the Cambridge district, judging from the large number of families and others who go in for dairying on this system. A local sittler who recently advertised for a family to milk on shares, received no less than 40 applicants, 11 replies :oming to hand in one day. In this case it might be. explained, the dairy herd is a particularly good one, and that no doubt attracted so many applications. Milking on shares in this district is carried out on the thirds principle, the the persons entering into an agreement with the owner ot the farm for the season, receiving a

third of the milk cheques snd bonus, and also from the sale of pigs, calves and general products of a dairy farm. Wheru milking machines are in use, a litlld less than thirds r»re given.

A Melbourne barber, Mr Dennis, attempted last week to establish an Australian record for shaving with one razor (uiisct) as many men as pDSsibie within one hour. When he had shaved 25 men in 18 minu c?f, there was not a fa?e in the vicinisy of the Temperan.e Hall (the scene cr his cxrloil) that could show the slightest vestige of a beard, and then Mr D;7i is reluctantly closed his razor. Me had established an Australian reord for shaving. He had also put up a record as a taciturn barber lie had no "■ spoken for 18 minutes. The longest operation lasted 62 seconds. The world's record in shaving is claimed by an English barber i:am. d Weekcs, who shaved 70 men in an hour. That record (says a Melbourne correspondent) would probably have been broken by Mr Dennis had he otained sufficient material to work on. Experienced bushfellers are required by Mr F, P. Welch, labor agt-r.t. j

Messrs Sayers, L. Sayers, and R.. E. Graham, of Upper Plain, made an ascent of Mount Holdsworth on Sunday last. They found the track in good order, but experienced bitterly cold weather. Some of the mountain plants were cuming into bloom, and the party brought several very fine specimens back with them. Mr P. E. Nottage, Inspector of Orchards, under the Department of Agriculture, will give a demonstration of spraying and pruning fruit trees at the residence of Mr A. Hathaway, 59 Cole Street. The demonstration is being held under the auspices of the Wairarapa Horticultural Society, and only members, who are privileged to bring a friend, will be admitted.

In forwarding a letter to the President of the Masterton Ladies' Swimming Club, in congratulating them on having overcome the difficulty in reference to the baths, Mr A. Snowball, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., stated that he was prepared to instruct a class in connection with the Ladies' Swimming Club, in addition to the classes at the Y.M.C.A.

Word has been received that Lord Dudley, Governor-General of Australia has been so impressed with Professor Bickerton's theories of cosmic evolution that he has persuaded the Professor to proceed to England, and remain there at his (Loid Dudley's) expense until the eminent scientists of England have opportunities of fully considering the Professor's researches. Professor Bickerton, who is at present visiting Australia, is to deliver a lecture at Government House, Sydney. * Some remarks concerning the pre--valence of hydatids were made by Dr. Talbot when speaking at a meeting in Canterbury College Hall. He said that the disease was becoming very much more prevalent in New Zealand than it was twenty or thirty years ago, and it was more common in Canterbury than otherparts of the Dominion. It really was a serious disease. In some portions of the body it might not be of great seriousness, but when hydatids, affected the internal organs it might cause a long illness, and might hedifficult to cure. The prevalence of the disease showed the necessity of' all dogs being treated for tapeworm*.

Whatever supremacy the pakeha may boast over the Maori, it has been demonstrated more than once that in oratorical matters the Maori—the educated Maori— is second to no pakeha,. and this fact was well illustrated last evening, at the -Navy League dinner at Masterton. There wrre several fluent and telling speeches made by white British citizens, but the speeches of the Acting-Premier (Hon. J. Carroll), Dr Buck, and Dr Pomare were simply beyond comparison with the efforts of . the pakeha speakers, and were the subjects of unrestrained admiration. The speeches of the Native gentlemen referred to were such aa would reflect most creditably upon an accomplished English scholar, and the oratory poured forth from the silvertongued Maori patriot W3S genuine music 'to the listeners, and they elicited spontaneous and hearty cheering.

The W.F.C.A. has a very large ! stock of ladies' shoes,, in all the J newest styles and shapes.. Mr Purcel Webb, professor of , music, notifies that he. will resume ' teaching on Monday next, at the studio over Mr Gordon's pharmacy„ | The premis?s of Messrs Hendry and Buxton, drapers and clothiers, will be closed to-day, in order to allow arrangements to be completed, for the relinquishing, sale, whichopens to morrow. i Tenders are invited;. to> close air. noon on August sth,. fur the purchaseot a section of l&r.di with 5-rooomed'. j cottage in Worksop Koad, and for a< j large motor car cisven by Dr Hue-- | king to thn Ladies" swimming Club. j Particulars of the household furni—- | ture to be sold an the residence, | Lincoln road, on Saturday next, by IMr J. R. Nicol', on account of Mr- ■ W. J. Henry, are advertised to-day. 'The goods are in splendid orderthroughout, and will be on view on I Friday aiternoon. j The ladies of the community arefinally reminded of the lecture onhealth matters to be given in the Exchange Hall this afternoon, at <S o'clock, by the manager of the New Zealand branch of the Australasian! Viavi Company. All ladies should 1 make a point of attending as the subject is of vital interest.