LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9621, 14 October 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is understood that a large estate near Masterton has bei n offered to the newly-formed Land League in Masterton for closer settlement purposes. The? (Jreytown Bowling Club will open the season to-day. The Martinborough Caledonian Society has a membership of 63. Trade generally is improving all over New Zealand, according to the reports from the different districts published in the Labour Journal." The Government should be challenged on their iand policy and made to define their position, says the Christchurch "Press." During the past year 803 accidents occurred in factori-.s in New Zealand, of which four were fatal, thirteen serious, 216 moderate, and 570 slight. ' The average was one fatal accident to every 19,71! 1 workers. A silver medal ha 3 been given to by Mr J. Smith to the Blossom and Butterfly Fair, for the best made boy's kite not to exceed three fe?t in length, the kit s to become the property of the Fair. A southern exchange wonders why the Farmers' Union does not take in hand the question of cost of harvesters. Binders of the best American make are sold for £lO less in Great Britain than they are in New Zealand, although it is a case of duty free in both places. A meeting of the Catering and Privilege Committee of th 3 Masterton Racing Club was held yesterday afternoon, to consider tenders for the Temperance Booth and horse yards for the forthcoming sales. Mr J. Dixon's tender for the booth was accepted, and Mr H. Page's offer for the horse yards was also accepted. The secretary of the Masterton Racing Club anticipates having a record meeting, as the applications for accommodation and boxtssforthe horses are coming in very fast - . He has had to apply for spare boxes at places adjacent to the course, as the Club's boxes have been all taken up. •

Iti conversation with several wellknown sheep -farmers,' a representative of the Age learns that though there are some phenomenal percentages of lambs recorded, the generai average in the Wairarapa and East Coast districts will not exceed by very much the increase ot last year. At Flat Point, docking is well forward, and the perceniage of lambs is satisfactory. Since Mr Chas. Cameron to')k possession of this estate a considerable amount of new work has heen accomplished in the direction of fencing and subdivision into small paddocks. In the competition held by the Tararua Rifle Club for the Alberthsen Cup, the principal scores were:— Rifleman A. 0. Petersen 54, Rifleman R. Thomasen 53, Rifleman W. Mason 53, Rifleman 0. A. Olsen 51, Rifleman 0. Petersen 50, Rifleman J. Petersen 45, Rifleman A. Petersen 4Rifleman T. Daysh 45. A meeting of the directors of the Masterton Co-operative Dairy Company was held yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of considering the disposal of the season's output. Several offers were received, and after a short discussion it was derided to adjourn the meeting until Saturday week, for consideration of the matters by a full meeting of directors. Thirty-two hospital districts are constituted in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill, introduced into the House of Representatives on Tuesday, and include the following. The names of the counties in each district are given; also (in the names of the old boards which are superseded: —Wairarapa Hospital District: Pahiatua, Akitio, Castlepoint, Eketahuna. Mauriceville, Masterton, Wairarapa South, Featherston (Wairarapa District Hospital Board). Wellington Hospital District: Horowhenua, Hutt, Makara (Wellington Hospital Board, the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board).

The Eketahuna Tennis Club will open the season to-day.

Inspector Hugo's annual report shows that the yearly fire waste in New Zealand amounts to £556,640, or lis BJd per head During the last five years property to the value of £2,750,000 has vanished in smoke!

A Wellington auctioneer advertises I,UUO pawnbrokers' pledges for sale. He says:—"The keen demand for money causes an exceptionally valuable lot of pledges to come on the market, which otherwise would be redeemed." Dr Leslie Poidevin (Sydney) and Mr H. W, Parker, the New Zealand player, competed recently in an international lawn tennis tournament Hamburg, and succeeded in winning the Stewart Cup, defeating in the final two Austrian players by three sets to two. Perhaps the most curious insurance company in the world is one stated to have been established in New York for insurance against.imprisonment. The policy-holders are all burglars and other criminals. When arrested they are bailed out and defended by the company, and if a iine is inflicted it is paid by the same body. A somewhat peculiar state of affairs at the Caversham School, disclosed at the meeting of the Committe last week, is that 25 per cent, of the scholars in the higher standards have not passed through the infant ronm. This is accounted for by the shifting about of families from one school district to another. The statistics published by the Universal Postal Union show that New Zealand exceeds all other countries in the number of letters and post-cards handled, with 97.1 per head of population; other countries having a high percentage are: —Victoria 92.9, Western Australia 92.6, United States of America 89.2, New South Wales 87.5, Switzerland 84.4, Tasmania 80.1, Great Britain 67.5.

Among the figures given in the "Bl" return relating to the public accounts are those in connection with the disbursements under the Second Ballot Act. Altogether £1,613 was claimed by the 35 candidates who teachei the various second pulls. The smallest sum claimed was £l9, by the Hon. J. Carroll, whilst most of the other candidates' expenses were put under the maximum amount allowed, viz., £SO. Mr Geo. Hutchinson sent in accounts aggregating £49 19s 9a.

The Inspector of Public Health wrote to the meeting of the Eketahuna County Council on Saturday last, complaining that several settlers,had left carcases lying on their lands. "This reprehensible practice," says the Inspector, "is as common as it was last year. I cannot empnasise too strongly the danger to public health of possible contamination of water by this means and I shall take all measures at my command to put a stop to such carelessness.' -

When in England and Germany, Mr L. F. Ayson, Inspector of Fisheries, made considerable inquiry from fish-culturists and other experts, as he travelled about, with regard to the value of the minnow as a

means of increasing the food-supply for trout. Every one with whom he discussed the matter (Mr Ayson states in his annual report) gave a most unfavourable opinion as regards this utility in this respect, the unanimous opinion being that he did a great deal of harm to streams by eating up the food of young trout, and that he did not by any means provide himself a corresponding amount of food for larger trout

In order to increase the usefulness of the Tourist Department, there is now under consideration, a proposal for the issue by the department of tickets over all the principal routes—railway, steamer and coach—throughout the Dominion. "The various offices in the chief centres of population are readily accessible to the public,'' says the, Minister, Hon. T. Mackenzie, in his annual report, "and I am sure that, in issuing tickets, in the manner proposed, the department will take up a duty for which it is particularly well adapted, and which will prove to be of great convenience to the people of New Zealand, as well aa to those who come from oversea, and who are more or less unfamiliar with the conditions of travel in the Dominion." In Ontario, Canada, through the systematic co-operation of the Post-master-General, a new sphere of employment has been found for the deaf. A certain number of deaf persons, trained in oral speech, have been during the last two or three years engaged as sorters or otherwise in the General Po3t Office, and they have given such satisfaction to the authorities that the latter have asked for more persons bo trained. ''Perhaps." suggests the Minister for Education (Hon. G. Fowlds), in his annual re-1 port, "something might be done in this way in New Zealand,- especially for deaf persons not suited for farm life." Of the four centres Auckland leads in the number of persons engaged in shops and offices, and the wages paid, the figures being 4.240 and £253,508. Christchurch comes next with 3,988 and £228,764; Wellington, 3,537 and £225,640 ;and Dunedin 3398 and £192,780. The average wage of a shop assistant has increased from £B2 10s to £B6 lis 6d during the year. It differs in the various centres:—Wellington, £9B 18s sd; Christchurch, £92 3s 4d; Dunedin, £BB lis lid; Auckland, £B3 18s lOd. There are fewer youths and fewer girls at work in Wellington than in the other centes. The average time spent at a New Zealand secondary school by each pupil who enters is about two and a half years. This is greater than the average duration of a pupil's stay at a high school in New York (2.04 years) or in Chicago (2 09 years); but less than the corresponding period in England (about three and a haif years), Scotland (about three years), or Germany (about four and a half years), remarks Mr G. Hogben, Inspector General of Schools, in his annual report. On the other hand the proportion of the pop- 1 ulation receiving secondary educa- ' tion at any one time in New Zealand is considerably larger than in Great Britain, although less than it is in Germany, Switzerland, and some other European countries. Econ- I omic reasons are. no doubt, to some extent at the not of the difference.

Miss Ussher has bean appointei mistress at the JKaitara School.

Mi; J. Meoausland, of the Clareville Poultry Farm, has at present about 700 chickens on his propetry, principally black and white Leghorns.

The in connection with the opening of Court Tamakl, A.O.F , at Hamua, which took place at Eketahuna, on Tuesday evening, was a ereat success. Bro. Carruthers was elected S.C.R., and Bro. F. Sedcole Secretary. The following tenders have been accepted by the Eketahuna County Council for various works in the district: —Hukanui Stream bridge, H. Daldy, £294 9s; Kopikopiko Road Metalling (169 chains,) Cadwallader and Son, £530 19s; Kopikopiko Road metalling, 179 chains, Cadwallader and Son, £550 8s 6d. A certain party has been collecting subscriptions for advertising on the railway time-table to be issued shortly, says the "Greytown Standard." On making enquiries it ia found that nobody has been authorised to do this, and the police are now on the track of the offender, who has victimised a number of Featherston. The Directors of the Wellington Farmers' Co-operative Meat Company met in Masterton yesterday morning. Among other business dealt with was that of the replies from shareholders regarding the selection made by the Directors in favour of Waingawa as thp site for tho works. In all 174 answers were received, 151 being in favour of Waingawa and 23 against. Mr W. Morris, butcher, had the misfortune to lose a fine trap horse yesterday morning The animal dropped dead in Cricket street, and fortunately the driver was not in the trap at the time, otherwise a perious accident might hive uccurrec 1 . The horse was a valuable one, Mr M irris having refused a substantial sum for it the previous day. The following tenders were received yesterday by the Trustees of the North Wairarapa Benev< lent Society for building six rooms and making atlerations to Sol way Home: —Messrs Rose and Mason. £3OO 15s: Prentice and Son, £330; Coradine and Whittaker, £333; R. Rigg, £334 F, Bacon, £340; King and Son, £341; W. Lett, £371. The tender of Messrs Rose and Mason was accepted, -.j. Dr. Frengley, Health Officer, and Mr Reid, Government Veterinarian, arrived in Masterton by the mail train from Wellington, yesterday morning, and in company with the 'directors of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company paid a visit to the Waingawa, for the purpose of inspecting the locality with a view to deciding the exact position for the works. The report of the Government officials will be submitted-to the Directors in the course of a Eew days.

Sometime on Tuesday night or early on Wednesday morning a dastardly act was perpetrated, a horse belonging to Mrß Heggie being so seriously stabbed as to necessitate its being subsequently destroyed. The horse was, it appears, running in a paddock in Bannister street,;and when discovered in the morning was bleeding to death from a large wound in the near-side hind leg ipfiicted, apparently, witji some sharp instrument. The police have the matter in hand.

A special meeting of the Masterton Branch of the Loyal Orange Lodge fwas held yesterday. There was a large attendance, including large number of vipitors from the Wellington district. During the afternoon a picnic was held in the Park, and an enjoyable time was spent In the evening a social gathering was held ip tha Exchange Hall, songs, recitations, and instrumental items being contributed by members. The function was presided over by the Right-Worshipful Grand Master, Mr J. Ashton.

1 The monthly meeting of the Tras- ' tees of the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society was held yesterday afternoon. There were present:— Messrs R. T. Holmes (chairman), W. Morris and Mrs J. Cairns. Three cases of relief were dealt with. One allowance was reduced and one discontinued from the end oi m»n th. It was decided that allowances to 13 applicants be continued until next meeting. It was reported that two members had left the Sol way Home dur>ng the past month. The pay sheets for the month showed general maintenance £45 3s lid, and Solway Home £36.5s 3d. There have been large additions made to the Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society's special prize list since the schedule was issued for the Show at Carterton on October 27th snd 28th, amongst which are the following:—Gold medal vaule £2 2s the pony jump given by Mrs Morrison; gold medal, value 2 guineas, for winner in class for six export cheeses, given by Mr A. McKenzie, manager of Joll's Factory; one guinea for best yearling colt or filly by Saracen is. offered by Mr W. C.' Tull'y r Muss Crawford . offers £2 10s for thoroughbred mare and another £2 10s for thoroughbred yearling filly; W. B. Clarkson aoa Sons, of Christchurch, otter a special of £3 3s for best pen of lambs most suitable for the frozen meat trade. Entries for the Show will close for Carterton to-day, and wiil be received by post up to and including Saturday, October 16th. The Society has received excellent entries up to the present, and there is every prospect of a record Show. A notice of thanks is inserted in another column by Mr Thomas Tankerslev. Gas consumers are reminded that to-morrow is the last day' on which discount will be allowed on current accounts. The dressmaking department of Mr H. A. Whelch's Masterton business is under capable management, and a staff of experienced assistants is engaged, A speciality is made of costumes, coats and skirts, and stylish goods are always turned out at very reasonable prices. A very fine showing of fashionable feather boas and novelty sunshades is made in Messrs George and Kersley's "The Economic," Wellington. Country residents desirous of purchasing may have goods sent on approval, and at the prices set out in an advertisement on page 6 of this business from this district should be forthcoming.

There are 15 patients in tne Greytown Hospital. Applications for vaiious vacancies for positions ov teaching staffs in school* under its . jurisdiction are in - ..vited by the Wellington Education ißoard. The Masterton premises of Messrs Hendry and Buxton will be definitely cloied on Saturday, and there are still a good many lines to b* quitted. The bargains that have bf-en obtain' able for weeks past have bet-n repeatedly referred to in these "column?, .and scores of prudei.t people have availed themselves of *.iie opportunity of securing them. Residents are now invited to call at the firm's store and make an offer for an*; article in stock'. Cash will not be refused —aa tnj euu.li must go.*