LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9650, 15 November 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Worksop dredge is 41oz 2dwt for 170 hourd* work. Gas consumers are reminded that to-day ia the last day on which discount will be allowed on current accounts. Messrs 0. Pragnell, J. C. Ewington and R. Brown have been elected delegates from Masterton, to attend the forthcoming conference of Fire | Boards in Wellington this mouth. j A combined meeting of butchers and bakers will be held in the Drill Hall at eight o'clock this evening, to make arrangements for the forthcoming picnic. A deputation from the Masterton Closer Settlement League, consisting of Messrs J. C. Ewington, R. Brown, and Simpson, have been appointed to interview the Minister with regard to the acquisition, of two estates that have been offered for the purposes of closer settlement. From the Ist December next the charge which has been hitherto made for telephoning telegrams to and from telephone exchange subscribers 'will be abolished, subscribers to the local telephone exchange can have their telegrams telephoned free on making the necessary application. The Y.M.C.A. Debating Society will bring the season to a close with a social to be held at the Associ ation's rooms to-night. A good programme of musical items, songs and recitations, has been arranged. Every member of the Debating Society is invited to be present and bring his friends with him. Mr W. H. Buick announced at the i Committee meeting of the A. and P. Association last Saturday afternoon that Mr W. Strang had decided to give a donation of £lO, to be added to the Association's money in the "Buick'Memorial Challenga Cup" leaping competition for qualified hunters. In addition to this Mr Strang intended to donate the sum of £5 to the prize money in the Champion Jumping Competition. Many eulogis tic remarks were passed on the liberality of the donation, and Mr Strang was accorded a special vote of thanks. Our Carterton correspondent writes as lollowßMr V. L. Fairbrother reports that most lines sold under the hammer at the stock sale on Friday last, the demand for pigs showiiig a falling off. Springing heifers realised £4 10s to £5 10«; later heifers, £3 5s to £4 ss; springing cows, £3 15s to £4; bulls, £3 10s to £3 15s; store cows, £1 19s to £2 14s; woolly ewes and Jatnbs, 14s 6d;: weaner pigs, 10s to lis; slips, 13s 6d to 14s; pair of buggy ponies, jgjg ' dH. -CHiLii—

Things are looking up a little iu the labour markets all over New Zealand, according to the "Labour Journal." Auckland reports a general improvement. At Napier, trade has reached its normal level. All the town of the West Coast and the Wairarapa seem to be enjoying something like an earnest of- future prosperity. Progress is slower towards a recovery in Wellington, and there is still much slackness in the local Labour market, especially in the building trade. Employers are hopeful that with an improvement in the weather as the season advances there will be an improvement in business. Mr R. H. Turton, S.M., delivered his decision on Saturday morning in the case in which John Booth was charged by tne police with delivering liquor to himself in the No-license area of Masterton without having labelled it according to the Act. With regard to the label, his Worship stated that there had apparently been no attempt at evasion, as both Costin and Booth seemed very anxious to see that the label was duly placed on the keg and it was apparently labelled when Booth left Carterton. To convict, and fine under the circumstances would be a hardship. Where there was a gross breach of the Licen- j sing Act especially in a No-License] district, he had no hesitation in imposing a substantial fine, but in the present case the information would be dismissed. He quite understood that having seized the liquor it was the duty of the police to bring the case Lefore the court. _

Mr Juseph Hicks, chief mechanical engineer of the Wellington Harbour Board, died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, it is suposed from heart failure. The deceased was a Past Master of one of the Masonic Lodges in the city. For the 1909 season there were threshed in New Zaland 18,906,788 bushels of oats, and 1,938,452 bushels of barley. The yield for 1908 was 15,0218,61 and 1,163,406 bushels respectively, showing substantial increases in each case.

Live stock in New Zealand are reported to be generally in unusually good condition at the present time. The exhibition of stock at the prin • cipal Shows during the year, says the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, has been decidedly above the average, alike in quality, condition, and numbers. Swiss dried milk, made from separated milk, has for some time past been a serious rival to the progress of the dried milk industry in New Zealand. It is stated now, however, that a Feilding firm is arranging to manufacture dried milk from separated milk and compete against the Swiss article.

In the report of the Department of Agriculture is reproduced a photo' graph or a cherry tree growing at the Oaktends station, Southland, which is something above the ordinary. The tree was planted in 1856. Its height is now 72 feet, and the circumference of the trunk 9 feet - and it is describ' pd as a good and consistent fruitbearer.

There hag been a large increase in the production of grass seeds in New Zealand this year. The requirements for sowing being much below the abnormal quantity of last season, prices are much lower. The area sown in ryegrasss this year was 50,126 acres, and in cocksfoot <52,949 acres, being increases of 10,000 and 4.000 acrus respectively, compared with the year 1908. To-morrow evening the Masterton Orchestral Society will give their final concert this season. That these concerts are appreciated is evidenced by the fact that the attendance increases at each concert. They have a well chosen programme in hand, amongst the items being a selection from the "Pirates of Penzance," a violin solo by Miss P. Cameron,piccolo solo by Mr J. Barrett, and a male quartette. The full programme will be found elsewhere in this issue.

Maoris, ever keen to have a good run with new enthusiasms, have been energetic in the labour ujjiion movement in the Hawke's Bay district. At a recent meeting of unionist shearers at Hastings it was mentioned that most of the shearing in that locality was done by the natives, who therefore asked and received a voice in the management of the union. It was agreed at the meeting to recommend the union to appoint a Maori organiser to canvass the district for members.

Mr S. R. Lancaster, Palmerston North, wrote to the meeting of the A. and P. Association on Saturday last suggesting that the Association inaugurate classes of pens of 5 twotooth ewes in various breeds of sheep in connection with the Show. Ee would be willing to give first prize in this for " the English Leicesters and Southdowns. On the motion of Mr Stone-Wigg it was decided that the matter he held over till next year on account of it being a little too late to carry out the'suggestion in this year's schedule. "Twenty seven sheep per acre" is a pretty, tall order upon which to base the productivity, of the undoubtedly rich flats of Poverty Bay. but in the course of a land sale at Gisborne Mr G. K, Wylle, auctioneer, stated that he knew of a property that had carried 27 sheep per acre for three months —on pumpkins—and the sheep carne off in tiptop condition, too. He had seen them sold at* the Matawhero yards. Farmers present smiled, but the auctioneer assured them of the accuracy of his statement.

| Evidently the female employment | bureaux under the Labour Departf ment in the various centres are supplying a long-felt want., In Wellington during last month 51 engagei ments were made, 29 single and 22 { married women being placed in ernI ployment. In Auckland the total I-number of places filled was 50, in Christchurch 65, and at Dunedin 45 -—a record which shows the use made both by employers and those seeking work of the office. For the whole of New Zealand 634 persons, with 773 dependents, were found employment. Of these 107 were from the Old Country, and 14 from the Commonwealth. At the meeting of' the General Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association, on Saturday last, Canvassing Committeess were appointed as follow—Lower Valley and Featherston: Messrs J. and A. McMaster, P. Smith, H. A. Matthews, A. Tocker, A. J. Toogood, W. E. Bidwill, J. Bidwill, A. and, Q. Donald. Greytown; fl. Morison, T. Ingley. Bush district: District representatives. Masterton: C. F Vallance, D. McGreeor, senr., J. Strang, T. P. Lett, A. J. Percy. R. J. Dagg, J. C. McKillop, H. Morrison. Maryborough: R. Smith, A. Donald, F. E. Perry, T. Cameron. Whareama: H. O. Toogood, A. G. Pilmer, A. J. Speedy, W. and W. Dalzieil.

The House of Representatives was provided with a I t tie mild amusement on Friday during the consideration of the Hospital Bill in committee. It is in accordance with the method of procedure that a member desirine to attract the attention of the chairman while division is in progress shall do so o.' sitting in his seat with his hat upjn h.n head. The member for Au,klan.i West was called upon to act aa a teller for the Ayea, but wanted to call the chairman's attention to the fact that he was not voting with the Ayes, "Fut •on your hat," called members, and Mr Poole, who sits behind Mr Glover, seized a' black "bowler," and placed it on the head of the member for Auckland Central. That gentleman did not understand the rules of committee dn bate, and resented the friendly services of the member for Auckland West, Finally Mr Glover submitted to Mr Poole's endeavours. Unfortunately, however, the hat belonged to someone with a head of a much larger size. The bowler slipped right down over Mr Glover's ears, and the House laughed heartily as he struggled with the headgear, and held it in both hands above his head, while he made his point the chairman.

The Dannevirke A. and P. Association will hold their Show on Friday* February 11th. A shock of earthquake was felt at Carterton, Greytown and Eketahuna on Friday evening, at 9.30 o'clock Wool from Gladstone is already being brought in to the Carterton railway station, and railed to Wellington. Mr J. W. Ellis, who is articled to Mr Jas. Baillie, chemist, received word on Saturday morning, writes our Carterton corresoondent, that he had passed his Section A examination. The supply of milk at the Dalefield Dairy Factory on Saturday morning was 5,800 gallons, being 500 gallons more than on the corresponding day last year. Appointments under the Wellington Education Board have been made as follow: —Head teacher, Dalefield,. Miss Brewer; head teacher, Makomako, Mr E. Larsen; sole teacner, Matarawa, Miss Merit; assistant mistress, Alfredton, Miss Spraggon. For the month of October the number of births in the four cities (and their suburbs) of New Zealand totalled 623, as against 701 theprevious month. The total deaths for last month numbered 203—103 females and 100 females. Of these, 21.18 per cent, were children under the age of five. Three quarry men, employed at Calders' Quarry, North East Valley, Dunedin, were injured by the premature explosion of a shot on Saturday. William Boyes had a leg broken, Richard Malford sustained severe injuries to his eyes, and James Medliu minor abrasions. It was a miracle all were not killed as 50 tons of stuff' was dislodged.

There is some talk of the Greytown Glee Club repeating the entertainment given there recently at Carterton, in aid of the Library funds, writes our - Carterton correspondent. If the intention is carried out there is no doubt that the club would be favoured with a large audience, and the library committee would greatly appreciate the finanical help. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Wellington Branch of the Shearers* Union was Held in Masterton on Saturday night. The chair was occupied by Mr A. McLeod, and there was a targe attendance. It was decided to appoint an additional organiser whose operations would extend over the Forty-mile Bush and Rangitikei districts. There are now three organisers engaged in carrying out the work of the Union. The Biorama Com pany's management have decided to give the juveniles of Masterton a treat to-day, as well as giving them a good afternoon's entertainment. They are ing them a bag of sweets ae a little pleansantry, and the admission is only 3d. It will be ihe children's day. To-night a fine and entirely new set of the latest films will [be shown, and a bumper houEe is sure to greet them. At the A. and P. Association's meeting on 'Saturday af ernoo i last Mr A. G. Pilmei 6aid he wculd like to Bee included in the schedule for the next show a class for ladies and gentlemen's hack, to be ridden; together and judged as a pair. This' class was a very popular one at the Perth Show, and by way of encouragement he would be pleased to do* nate a special prize of £3 3s, towards : it. It was unanimously decided to* adopt the suggestion, and it! was arranged that the first prize be Mr Pilmer's three guineas, and the seconds prize two guineas. The New Zealand Railways Department advertise special fares and train arrangements in connection with the race meeting at Dannevirke. The Akitio County Council Invite tenders to close at 10 a.m. on Wed--nesda.v, 24th instant, for the supplyand delivery of burnt papa and limestone for road metalling. The W.P.C.A. invite inspection of their stock of window curtains, which are to hand from the best British manufacturers. The sale of furniture on account of Mrs W. P. James will be continuedi by Messrs J. A. J. Maclean and Co., at their rooms, Perry street, at 2 o'clock, on Wednesday. The list of" unsold lines will be found elsewhere. Importers are mvitea to Bond their shipping documents to J. J. CUETIS & CO,, shipping agents, Custom-h<\uBe-quay, Wellington. This firm .will do your Customs work correctly and for ward goods promptly