LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9558, 3 August 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is a good deal of sickness at present in Carterton. During July there were four births, one death and one marriage in Greytown. The Featherston Golf Club defeated Greytown on Saturday last by ten games to two. A Press Association telegram states that an earthquake was experienced at Napier at 10 o'clock on Sunday night.

During last month the estates of ! 156 persons were finally certified for stamp duty, the largedt being James Collins, Napier, £61,294. At 1 o'clock yesterday morning a house in M'Phee Street, Dannevirke, occupied by Mr Hibbard, was destroyed by fire. The family escaped in their night attire. The insurances on the buildings and contents total £125. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen. Mr Edward Herbert, of Dunedin, who died in Scotland at the end of May, left £I,OOO to the Church of England at Lawrence, £SOO to All Saints, Dunedin (the income to be used as a scholarship at Selwyn College), £IOO to the Anglican Cathedral, Dunedin, and £2OO to the Anglican Orphanage. Bequests have also been made to public institutions in the Old Country.

Mr Speedy, of Featherston, has secured the services of Mr Jbwsey ' aa trainer for his horses, and is having them trained privately on his own property, where a track has been made. Later on the fast and finishing work will be done at Tauberenikau. At present the only inmates of the stable are, Black Pearl and Gold Reef—Victorine colt. It is probable that several others will be put into work shortly. Despite the boisterous weather prevailing last evening, there were about stety persons present at the special evangelifetical service held in the Methodise Church. Mr H. N. Holmes occupied the pulpit, and delivered a very earnest appeal to those present on the subject. "Other foundation can no man have than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus." He urged his hearers to build on the right foundation—the Rock Jesus Christ. The services will be continued every evening thisweek. * Ihe annual meting of ths Masterton Homing Pigeon Society was held last evening, when there was a large number of members present. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted, the latter showing a credit of over £B. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year i—President, Mr J. Payton, jnr.; Vice-President, Mr F. B. Rosson; Treasurer, Mr H. M. Wilton; Committee, Messrs W. Hoar, H. Clarkson and J. Winchester; Secretary, Mr J. Syverston. It was decided to open the season in September with a race from Wellington.

' An instance of the ferocity of tne weasel when short of food is given in the Cromwell "Argus." A settler's wife was going out to feed her poultry when she noticed one of the hens rush out of the f.iwl house with a weasel in hot pursuit. The lady t immediately picked up a stone and interfered. The weasel- was not in any way daunted, and made at her, jumping on to her dress and-getting on to her shoulders before she managed to knock, it off. The ferocious little animal (We again sprang on to her dress, and it was only on the interference of the settler himself that it commenced to beat a retreat. Then the setter's doa had an innings, and the weasel's career came to a sudden end. are lots of selectors nowadays who won't go into the backblocks. . . .the old pioneering

spirit is'dyingj out." So Mr Gold Smith, commissioner of Crown Lands fur Auckland, is reported "to have said., On enquiries being made by a "'Post" representative it was found that such was not the experience of the Wellington Board. For suitable land there are always any amount of applicants, and these, generally, were the sons or connections of settlers already holding land out* back. New arrivals to the country hesitate, and naturally, about going into the back-blocks, but even among these applicants are not wanting. It was pointed out that very often an applicant, failing to get the particular block that would best suit him, held back from others in the same area. It could hardly be expected that he would compete for other blocks more unsuitable. Ihe experience in the Wellington district was that the rush for land was never keener, people recognising that land for selection is every day becoming more scarce. The lack of applicants under the Auckland Board might, it was advanced, be due to. the fact that travelling facilities were not so as in Wellington, and when the unopened land, very often lay far back, would be selectors found a great difficulty in the matter of expense while they hesitated about taking land without first seeing the nature and position of it. The London "Chronicle" publishes an interesting paragraph about the New Zealand Dreadnought:—"The definite decision of New Zealand to present the navy with a battleship makes the thirteenth gift of the kind that Great Britain, or the British Fleet, has received. First, in Charles II \s reign, the City of London presented a battleship, called the Royal London, to the navy. Then in George ll.'s reign tho American'colonists, loyal subjects of the Empire, then, presented a fine 32-trun frigate to the navy, which was called the America, and fought in the war which won Canada for the Empire. In the War of American Independence the East India Company built and presented to the navy three fine 74-gun battleships, the Ganges, Gar- 1 natic, and Bombay Castle. In the Napoleonic war, the West Indian colonies built, equipped, and presented to the navy six fast corvettes, or small cruisers. In the year before Queen Victoria came to the throne the Imaum of Muscat, on the Persian Gulf, in return for Britishfprotection, presented to the Royal Navy a magnificent 74-gun battleship. Now, as thirteenth 'gift ship,' we have N 'w Zealand's Dreadnought

Another case of scarlet fever is reported in Greytown. A large attendance is anticipated at S. Matthews' Club meeting this evening, when a mock Borough Council meeting will be held. Some important municipal matters will be dealt with during the evening, including street lighting and drainage, the Northern approach, appointment of a Gas Clerk, and the regulation of traffic in Queen Street. The annual presentation of prizes to the scholars of S. Matthew's Sunday School took place last evening. The prizes were presented by Rev. H. Watson, and there was a good attendance of teachers and parents. Addresses were made by the Superintendent of the School (Mr G. Jones), the Vicar, and Rev. RaineDuring the evening Miss Nella Hyde played a pianoforte solo.

The usual meeting of Endeavour Lodge, f.0.G.T., was held last evening, Bro. McLean being in the chair. Despite the inclement weather tnere was a good attendance of members. Koutine business was transacted. One candidate was initiated into the order. Sister N. Bedford was appointed as Dep. Marshal, and Sister F'plding as assistant secretary. i'ne Congregational Church will hold their first anniversary in Masterton in about a month's time. The report to be presented will show the marked progress made during the year, over 60 new members having been received since the church started here t The anniversary is being looked forward to with great interest. Addresses will be delivered by several prominent speakers from Wellington, a

A story illustrating the hardships of pioneering days is recalled by an exchange, apropos of the death, at the age of 80 years, of Mr Baptiste Charier, of Okarito Forks, South Westland. At the time of the last rush to Lake v Mapourika and Okarito Forks, about thirty years ago. the deceased, well-known then as"French Charley," had the misfortune to have one of his legs broken in his claim. As there was no medical officer nearer than Ross, it was decided by the miners on the field that Charley should be carried to Ross on a stretcher for treatment. A sufficient number of volunteers were soon ready for the road, the number totalling' several score. The journey occupied nearly a week, along what" was then only a bridle track from Ross to Okarito. The patient stood the journey very well, and under proper treatment was soon his old self again, and returned to the Southern distric, where he resided up to his admission, into the Xotara Hospital some time ago.

Messrs Varnham and Rose, architects, invite tenders to close at noon on Saturday next for additions in brick to premises in Queen street. On page 6 cf this issue Messrs George and Kersley, of the Economic. Wellington, advertise particulars of numerous lines of stocktaking oddments Which are being offered during the current week. The second term of the wool-class-ing at the Mastertoh Ttchnical School will commence to-day. Particulars can be obtained from Mr N. D. Bunting, Secretary. Messrs Ahrabam and Ltd., report the sale of jot 4, section 151, 2,596 acres, Alfredton, to Mr W. M Kebbell, Alfredton. at Is 8d per acre rental. Messrs Butcher Bros, announce that they have purchased the interest of the buthering business of Mr E. J. W. Elley, and solicit a continuance of the custom bestowed on him.

An unprecedented success is what Messrs C. Smith, Ltd., say of the great winter sale now being heldby them at their Masterton premises This is the la t week of the sale, exceptional bargains are promised, many lines being offered under cost.

Effervescent Saline, purifying, refreshing, invigorating to all who suffer from sickness, headache, sluggish liver, etc Price, 2/6, H. T. Woid, Chemist and PViarms.v.ut 1 1 v e*»'n.), Mastertmi *

For Chronic Chest Complaints. Great Peppermint Cure, 1/6 nr,d 2/tf.