LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9589, 8 September 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A very large area of land in the Masterton district is being 1 turned over by the plough this year—a considerable increase on previous years. The New Zealand Dairy Union's Butter Factory at Eketahuna opened for the season yesterday. The next and final social for this season of the employees of the W.PC.A. will be held in the Exchange Hall on Thursday, 16th instant. The invitations issued for previous socials will hold good for the forthcoming function. The season of the Masterton Tennis Club is expected to be commence early in November next. The courts tre in particularly good order, and are better ac this period of the season than they have been for year 3 past. It is understood that a movement is on foot to form a club for the purpose of fostering motor cycling in Canterbury. It is computed that there are from 150 to 200 motor cyclists in Canterbury who are unassociated with any club or association and it is felt that with the formation of a club much can be done to increase the popularity of the motor cycle. "The. Chinese are going in for the export meat trade," declared Mr J. Amess, at a meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce recently, and he added, I tell you our meat at Home is looked upon as dog's meat It is good meat when we send it out of the country, but when it gets Home it is badly handled. We want someone at the other end to see that it is properly treated."

A recommendation ha& been madi to the Palmerston North Hospita Board that a quantity of radium bi obtained for use in cancer cases. Ii orier jto procure the necessary quan tity, the sum of £SOO will be re quired, and it id proposed to rais< this sum by public subscription Already several donations of £1 each have been promised, Historical records in Christchurcl show that the pioneers had a nar row escape of not settling in the present location of Canterbury al all. Captain Thomas, who had beer sent out by the Association to reporl on a site for the proposed new settlement, report very strongly in favoui ot" its being located in the Wairarapa. Tha fact of the site proposed by him not having a port was one oi the principal reasons why the Canterbury settlement was not located in the Wairarapa. A writer in the "New Zealand Herald," a Maori interpreter now living at the Cook Islands, states that Mr W. P. Reeves' interpretation of "Aotearoa" is "The Long White Cloua" is not correct. He believes [ that a better rendering of the word is "Long Daylight." The latter part of the word means long, and "aotea," he said, is a slight variation of the common Maori word for daylight, "awatea." The natives of the island of Kaiatea, from which several canoes came tu New Zealand by way of Rarotonga, use the word "ao" for daylight.

In replying to the old question* "Does prohibition prohibit?" Mrs Stevenson, the American lecturer, who is now touring New Zealand, tells (tf a sight sometimes seen in Portland, Maine. A man would be seen on a street corner with a rather solid looking walking-stick, and could be heard occasionally tapping the side-walk. When the initiated recognised the signal the owner of the stick would walk off round a corner or two and down a back street, followed by his customer. A sufficiently ionely spot having been reached, he would unscrew the top of his stick, and the thirsty one would slake his thirst out of the receptacle which jast held one drink !

There is a decided improvement in the condition of the local labour market, says the "New Zealand Times." This is shown by the fact that applications to the secretary of the Citizens' Unemployed Committee have fallen off considerably. By Wednesday the work on Mount Victoria Road will be practically completed, and that at Victoria College should be finished by the end of the week. This leaves only the Anderson Park work and treeplanting to give employment. The committee may possibly decide on further work to give a little additional relief to those unable to' obtain employment elsewhere.

Owing to the excellent ulaying condition of the Lansdowne Golf Links it is expected that the season will be continued until the end of next month.

The return debate between the Eketahuna Debating Club and the Masterton Y.M.O A. Debating Club which was to have taken place at Masterton has been abandoned owing to the former being unable to get a team to travel to Masterton. The annual smoke concert of the Masterton Morris Tube Cub takes place to-night (Wednesday), when the presentation of all trophies won during the season will be made. The Club has had a most successful year, and should be able to start next season with flying colours. It will be recollected that a short time ae:o the Dairy Commissioner (Mr Cuddie) advocated the haating of whey, which increased its feeding value by 8 per cent. The Rongokokako Cheese Company have decided to give this system a trial, and the steam necessary are to be laid to the whey tank shortly. A benefit concert is being arranged by the Masterton Fire Police for one of their members, Mr Boyle, whohas had the misfortune to be confined to the hospital with a fracture, and whose wife is in need of some assistance. The concert will be held in the Town Hall, and it is to be hoped that public sympathy will be shown in a large attendance. At the annual meeting of the Kongokokako Cheese Company Messrs Edwards, Morris aid Priest were elected directors. It was decided that £3O be voted as payment to the directors. Mr Elliott was granted a bonus of £lO for his services as Chairman during the past year, and was unanimously re-elected Chairman of Directors. The National Dairy Association has imported several tons of basic slag and other manures on account of farmers in the Taratahi-Carterton district. These are being used as the top-dressing for partially exhausted grass lands. A trial was made fast year of a few tons by dairy farmers, and the result has warranted them in. undertaking the work of restoring pastures on a much more extensive scale this season. The bookings for the Masterton Town Hall up to the end of the year are as follows :~September 12th, Fire Police eacred concert; 20th and 21st, Hayward's Enterprise Co.; 22nd, Taylor-Carrington Co.; 23rd, St. Matthew's concert; 28th, Julius Knight; 30th, Cooper's Biograph; October 4th, Biograph; 6th, Masterton Amateur Theatrical Society; 13th. Englishman's Home; 18th, Allan Hamilton Co.; 25th and 26th, Pollard's Opera Co. (pencilled); 27th, R. Smythe; 29th, Hugh Ward Co.; November 7th and Bth, S. H. JKalph; 16th, Masterton Orchestral Society. At present there are no bookings for December

A wages case was ventilated at the Magistrate's Court, Martinborougb, yesterday, when W. H. King and his wife sued Mrs P. McLaren for £7 14s for wrongful dismissal and damages Mr S. Gawith appeared , for plaintiff and defendant was represented by Mr C. A. Pownall. The defence was that the plaintiffs, who were engaged as a married couple, were discharged lor misconduct, by Mr McDonald, manager forthe defendant. After hearing the evidence the presiding Magistrate, Mr C. C. Graham, held the dismissal to be justified and gave judgment for defendant, with costs. In connection with the Home Mission Department of the Methodist Church, Mr Alffed Snowball, general secretary of the local Y.M.C.A., will deliver a lecture in the church this evening on "The Church and the Working Man," touching the methods of social and other work of famous English Central Missions at London, Birmingham, Wigan, Mancheter, Sheffield, Hull and Leeds, with special mention of the wellknown "Eastbrook Brotherhood," at Bradford., of which Mr Snowball was secretary for 15 months. The lecture will be illustrated by over ninety first-class lantern sildes, and will commence at half-past, seven o'clock. No charge is being made for admission, and an invitation is extended to all to be present. Reports from other places where Mr Snowball has been speak very high- 1 ly of his lecture, and a crowded house is confidently anticipated.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held in Knox Hall yesterday afternoon. There was a large attsndance, and Mrs Green (President) occupied the chair. Correspondence was read in reference to Bible reading in schools, which matter is now under consideration. A letter was received from Mrs Kavaoagh, District Secretary, intimating that the next District Convention will be held in Masterton in September, 1910. An interesting report of the recent District Convention held at Lower Hutt was received from Mrs Kavanagh, who acted as a delegate for Masterton.

and to whom a hearty vote of thanks was passed. A special effort is being put forth by the local branch of the Union to increase the membership,, the matter being well taken up by the members present. One new member was initiated.