LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9618, 11 October 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest returns from the Work sop dredge is 290z 9dwt for the week. Telephone subscribers are reminded that the last day of grace expires to-day, and any one who has not paid his subscription will be disconnected.. Mr A. D. McLeod, Chairman of the Featherston County Council, has been appointed to represent that body as cl-. legate at the County Council's Conference. The demonstration which the Masterton branch of the Navy League intended to hold on Trafalgar Day will not take place, as a sufficient number of volunteers are not obtainable owing to c iunter attractions. The various schools in the Master ton district are taking up enthusiastically the matter of forming branches of the Navy League. A lecture i 9 to be delivered at Lausdowne School to day, and a branch formed. During the week branches are to be formed at the Fernridge, Matahiwi, Opaki and St. Patrick's Schools. On Trafalgar Day special addresses will be delivered to schoolchildren by their headmasters. Un the co-operative works in NewZealand there are now 4,307 men employed, according to the official report in the Labour Journal "Ot these, 4,045 are working on the construction of the various railways in hand. The Stratford-Ongarue (654) and the Cis-borne-Rotorua (553) lines employ the largest numbers in the North Island. On the Springfield section of the Midland railway 418 men are at work, and 42 at the Otira end. Under the auspices of the Congrgational Church and Institute, tonight, at 7.45 o'clock, Mr Webb will give a short address on "The Trend of the limes," to be followed by an address by Mrs Williams of the Conregational Foreign Missionary Society, who will spe9k of the work done by Missionaries, and the possibilities of future activity. Mrs Williams is an instructive and interesting speaker. A collection will be taken up in aid of the Missionary Fund. Ibis a'ternoon, at 3.30, will see the "washing-up" performance of the Wellington Citizens' Unemployed Relief Fund Committee, when the secretary's report of the whole business will be presented. At mid-day to-day, the l ist man employed under the scheme will cease work. During the administration )f the fund a full i £3,000 has been disbursed, 820 applicants have submitted a written statement, and been subjected to the process of interviewing, and altogether over 1,100 men have been dealt with.

The emigrants embarking for Australia oi v New Zealand are much superior in physique and stamina to those proceeding either to the United States of America or Canada, which points to the conclusion that the coming race of New Zealanders and Australians bid fair to be tha pink of the British Empire. So says Dr Spooner, after inspecting the passengers on the Morayshire before she sailed irom Liverpool in October, 1908, on behalf of the Immigration Department. The extract occurs in that department's annual report presented to Parliament on Friday last. A Ciicket Club has been formed at Mount Bruce, and matches will be arranged with Masterton clubs. The following officers have been elected for the ensuing year:— Patron, Mr A. McLeod; President, Mr E. Carl ton Holmes; Vice Presidents, Me-srs E. Welch, E. C. Smythe, E. W. Payton, C. A. Wall; General Committee, Messrs E. Petersen, H. Christensen, E. Johansen, A. Petersen, F. Johansen, J. Pain, A. Reader, R. Field; Selection Committee, Messrs E. Petersen, E. Johansen, A. Reader; Secretary, Mr G. Searl; Treasurer, Mr L. J. Matthews; Practice Captain, Mr A. Header. _

The Eketahuna Method ist Church is now lit by electricity. . The Eketahuna Tennis Club will hold their annual meeting this evening.

During the past month 66 head of cattle and 47 horses have been impounded in the Featherstcn County. The adjourned quarterly meeting of the local branch of the Hibernian Society will be held in the Foresters Hall, at 8 o'clock, to-morrow night

Some very high lambing returns are being obtained in the Fortymile Bush district. A well-known Tare farmer is reported to have docked 1,792 lambs from 1,408 black -faced ewe?. Messrs Anderson Bros., of Mangauronga obtained 131 per cent, from nearly 500 ewes. The "Napier Telegraph" says: As showing the up.v irJ move.nent in wool the Tanso.io Stition clin, consisting of, roughly, about 20,000 sheep, has been sold privately for a shilling a pound all round, and 8d per lb for locks and pieces. Another well • known station owner, with a larger clip, has refused lid.

The Eketahuna Mounted Riflaa opened the season last Thursday with a sweepstake, the distances being 200 yards and 500 yard 3. The following were the best scores Trooper E. Olsen 63. Corporal Rashlc-igh 62. Trooper W. Olsen 62, Bugler Cheshire 60, Trooper Larsen 60, Sergeant Hill 58, Trooper Pearce 58. The list of wrecks on the costs of the Dominion during the year ending March 31st last shows a considerable increase on the number recorded for the previous year—9o, representing 55,239 tons register, against 79, representing 48,436 tons. The total wrecks within the Dominion including the Loch Lomond, the place of the wreck of which is uncertain, were 16 ot 6,537 tons register, as compared with 8, of 3,442 ton 9, in the previous year. The number of lives lost was 119, against 30 last year. Those lost within the Dominion were 117, viz.:—Penguin, 75; Loch Lomond, 19; Rio Loge, 12; Matakana, 4; Kia Ora, H; Moonah, 1;' Eunice, 1; Jane,l ; Ngatiawa, 1. The Masterton Homing Club started its series of North races cn Saurday last, with a race from Marton. The entry was th 3 largest yet received, fifty birds, representing thirteen lofts, beifg entered. The race proved very exciting, as the birds arrived home all together, several members being ur.prepared, as they did not expect them so early. Ths winning bird covered n the air-line distance of 63 miles in 78 minutes The following " are the winning velocities. —Mr' W. Hoar's "Grace Darling,'' 1,403 yards per minute, 1; E. M. Flinagin's " Fli'away," 1,393 yards per minute, 2; J. A. Syverston's "Speedwell," 1,392 yards per minute, 3. . Next Saturday a race will be flown from Blenheim, when an entry of about thirty birds is expected. The total area of Crown land in New Zealand still available for sawmi'ling purposes, but not taken up is 4,042,280 acres. Although this large amount of forest land is available for sawmilling purposes, a great part ot it at the prssent time in clo?e enough proximity to existing means o f transport to render the utilisation of the timber a profitable undertaking for the sawmiller. In m?ny cases, too, the proportion of milling timber of good quality and in sufficient quantity is not large enough to induce milling oprations on a payable basis. For these and other reasons the Timber Commission represent that it is not in the interests of the public that a sawmiller should ba invited to purchase unmarketable timbsr when tendering at Crown sales, and every effort should be made to con : erve the same market until a market is available for it. The following is a rough statement of receipts and expenditure of the Lower Valley Jockey Club's race meeting, 1909, as compared with 1908 The figures in parenthesis are for 1908: —Receipts Nominations, £132 (£77), acceptances, £153 (£105),' entries to Miaiden and Hack Scurry, £3i 10s( (£29 10s); commission on jockeys' fees.

£5 14s 6d (£4 17s); bookmakers, £136 10s (£9O 10s); horse paddock, £2 14s (£3 12s); totalisator, £520 lis (£4OB 15s); race books, £52 5t (£46 ?s)); publican's booth, £37 (£30); luncheon and refreshment, £lO (£7); front gates, £2B 7s (£37 6s); fines, £3 10s (nil). Expenditure—Stakes, £920 (£800); tax on totalisator, £B7 18s 6d (£6B 5s 7d); handicapper, £2l (£21); gatemen, £35 17s (£34 2s 6d); commission on sale of books, £7 9s 6d (£6 10s Id); luncheon, £l9 '£l3 ss); printing 1 , £6O (£SB 17s 3d). The year's operations (ending December, 1908) of the State Fire Insurance Office resulted in a loss of £5,707, mainly due to the bush fires and the Christchurch conflagration in the early part of 1908. The premium income for the year amounted to £26,657, against £23,194 of 1907, being an increase of £3,462. The claims, including those unsettled at the end of the year totalled £18,903, an increase of £6,202. The necessary proportion of premiums reserved as unearned has in the past been fixed at 33 1-3 per cent. The general manager does not consider this to be sufficient; and, in accordance with the best insurance practice, the proportion has been increased to 40 per cent. The reserve for unearned premiums now stands at £10,663. The expenses were £10,146, against £8,3545 for 1907, and include contributions to eighteen Fire Boards, amounting to £5Ol. "I move that a hearty vote of thanks be passed to Mr C. C. McVille and that he be elected a Vice-Presi-dent," suid a delegate at the meeting of the Wairarapa Cricket Association on Saturday night, the said "C. C. | M'ViJle" having, according to the annual report, made a donation of 10s 6d to the Associations funds. Nobody appeared to have had the pleasure of Mr C. C. M'Ville's acquaintance, and who he wap, was as big a mystery as the wtereabouts of the . Waratah. "Anyhow," said one delegate, "It doesn't matter who he is, he gave us half a guinea, and deserves to be a Vice-President,' - and a Vice-President "C. C. M'Ville'' was made. But one delegate having the qualifications of a Sherlock ' Holmes, investigated that report, and eventually solved the mystery. "C. C. M'Ville" stood for "Cricket Club, Mauriceville," the abbreviated form having been used in the books of the Association by the previous secretary, while the 10s 6d was the club's fee due to the Association.

Mr E. J. Wright, of Te Ore Ore* has been appointed a director of the Masterton Co-operative Dairy Company. At the< meeting of the A. and P. Association on Saturday it was decided to grant the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's application for the use of the grounds and buildings ore a January Ist on the same terms as 1 the previous year. „ A requisition is being signed and is to be presented at the meeting of the Borough Council to morrow evening by a number of ladies in Masterton asking that the baths ba erected in Dixon street instead o£ the Park.

xhe following new members elected at the meeting of the General Committee of the A. and i J . Association on Saturday afternoon:—Messrs W. Rice (Opaki) A. McKay (Tanglewood), P. Rose, G. Mason, Taylor and Hodgefs,N. McGovern (Bidetord), S. Rutherford (Wairere) and A. J. Tnogood (Featherston). *. At the meeting of the Committee of the A. and P. Assucialion on Saturday last the Auckland A. and P. Association wrote calling attention to the fact that the champion shields of the New Zealand Romney Marsh Shcepbreeders' Association have - offered this year for the champion | Romney Marsh ram and champion ewe at the Auckland Metropolitan Spring Show, which is to be held in November next. In addition to the shields the Auckland AgriculturalI Association were also offering special prizes of £lO for the champion ewe and £lO for*jthe champion ewe. A match was playea k on the Lansdowne links on Saturday morning last between the Masterton and Tientham Ladies' Club. The results were as follow, the Trentham players being mentioned first in each instance: —Miss V. Bell, beat Mrs Henry 4 up and 3 to play, Miss Simpson lost to Mrs G. Willi i "S 7 up and 6 to play, Miss E. Bell lost to Miss J. Robieson 2 up and 1 to play, Missß. Simpson lost to Mias E. Kobieson 2 up and 1 to play, Miss Kennedy lost to Miss D. Booth , 6 up : and 5 to play, and Miss Fulton lost to Mrs W. H. Booth 5 up and 4 to play. Masterton won by 5 games to 1. -The visitors «*ere eiiter'ained at luncheon in the Golf Housr.

Large congregatiuns attende.i the services held in the Methodist Church, yesterday. The Rev. J. W. Elliott, of Carterton, conducted the morning service, taking for his talk to the children "Boats." For his address to the adults Mr Elliott took ss his subject, "Lessons From the Mount of Transfiguration," basing his remarks on Matthew, 17th chapter; the first six verses. During the service the anthem "Jesu, Lover of My Soul," was rendered by the choir. The evening servicp was conducted by Mr A. J. Minifie, -who took for his subject "The Holy Spirit," basing his address on John 14 and 15 chapter, verssa 16—264 During the offertory the choir rendered the anthem, "Sweet is the Sunshine After Kain," the solo part being taken by Miss Li. Joy. There were also good congregations at the services held at Wangaehu in the afternoon by Mr Heyhoe, qr.d at Kuripuni in the evening by the Rev. C. E. Porter. An advertiser has for sale a motor bicycle in first-class order. Mr F. P. Welch has vacancies for ploughmen and station hands. The butchers of Masterton announce that they will close their premises on Thursday instead of Wednesday (Labour Day). Entries' are coming in freely for all competitions at the Blossom and Butterfly Fair. The Fair is apparently going to develop into quite a big function. A meeting of thD Ladies' and Men's Committee of the Blossom and Butterfly Fair will be helJ in Knox Hall to-night at 7 o'clock. All those interested are requested to attend.

Particulars of the -household furniture to be sold at the residence, No. 161, Chapel street, on Wednesday next, by Mr J. R. Nicol, on accoui t of Mr W. J. Chappell, are advertised to-day. The various lines are in good orde»*, and will be sold without reserve.

Sheep-breeders who dip their flocks with Murton's fluid sheep dip ran rest assured that their sheep will be free from ticks and lice, and that a strong, clean and heavy fleece will result. During last season this famous dip was used on over 6,000,000 sheep, which is sufficient evidence of its efficacy. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., are lcoal agents for Messrs Murton and Co. Mr Frank Dupre announces the arrival ex s.s. Kia Ora of the first shipment of Christmas goods. The consignment consists of five cases of silver and plated goojs direct from the best British manufacturers, and includes the latest novelties in all lines. The indent is one of " the most varied and best assortments of this particular class of goods that has been landed here. Mr Dupre will make, a special display of the new lines, and invites inspection. Those ladies of Masterton wh> contemplate the purchase of a fashionable costume for the coming season should make a point of inspecting the Kaiapoi costumes now being offered at Hendry and Buxton's relinquishing sale. These costumes are silk lined, with long coat, and are madia from the most stylish material. Prices now range from 22s 6d to 355, the original price ranging from 55s to 105s. The premises close definitely on Saturday evening next, so cash will go a long way at this snle.*

The Pier Hotel, Wellington, opposite the Post Office, and facing the Queen's Wharf, is without doabt one |of the best conducted and moat home like hotels in Welilnulon. The bedrooms are large and w:ll ventilated, and very comfortably furnished, the private silling rooms spacious and well appointed, and the general attention all that one could possibly desire. Under the capable management of Mr and Mrs Griffi i the hotel has become one of the most popular in the Empire City, and Wairarapa visitors to the Pier will find ail the comforts of a home there. The tariff is decidedly reasonable for such excellent service. Customs and i? orwarcimg Agents—J. J, CURTIS & CO., CustomliouEe Quay : Wellington, will clear your goods and forward to you, cr ycu may consign goods to tlicm, and they will forward to their ultimate destination. Moderate charges*