LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9665, 2 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that W. Webb intends to challenge R. Arnst to row another race for the championship of the world.

The Auckland Clerks Union have decided to admit lady clerks to their ranks.

On the principle that small birds do more good than harm, the Waverley branch of the Farmers' Union passed, a resolution expressing disapproval at the introduction of small owls into the North Island. According to a return laid on the table of the House of Representatives there were in the Dominion on March 31st last 240 owners of property of a capital value of £50,000 or over. On March 31at, 1906, the number was 194.

Wellington grocers have increased the price of sugar by Jd per lb for loose sugar and to 9s per bag of 561b. The Colonial Sugar Company recently advanced the price of sugar by 5s per ton.

The erection of Auckland's new

Tswn Hall is going on Within the last month 96,00U uiicks and

5,000 cubic feet of Oamaru stone have been utilise in raising the walls of the new structure. A return laid was on the table of

the House on Tuesday showing as follows the amount paid to each member of the Timber Comrdssion:

-J. P. Arnold, £79 5s 6d; W. H. P. Barber, £lB2 4s lid; S I. Clarke, £2OB 0s sd; T. Y. Duncan, £75 9s 6d; W. E. Field, £G2 5s Gd: J. A. Hanan, £76 0s 6d; w. T. Leyland, £2OB 4s lid; F. .Mander, £BS 545; W. Morris, £220 12s id; J. Stall, worthy, £B2 lis; W. T. Jennings, £B2 17s.

A Ctiristchurch daily journal proudly narrates the following story, which shows how much reason the Cathedral City has to congratulate ! itself on the valour ot its young constables It happened in Cashtl street the other afternoon that two ladies, each with a perambulator, were engaged in earnest conversation on the footpath, quite oblivious of the fact that they were blocking the fairway, a young constable approached, and suggested that the voluble mothers might move on, but they laughed in his face, and, says the record simply, "he retire! blushing frcm the scene."

One effect of the alteration in the timetable is to concentrate mails from every portion of the Dominion from Stewart Island to the North Cape at the Masterton Post Office dkily at noon.

At the annual meeting of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board*, which was held yesterday morning, and at which tnore were present, Messrs E. G. Eton, F. W, Kummer, W. Fisher, J. C. Ewington, J. Marlin, \7. Perry, D. Crewe and D. P. Loas >y, Mr E. G. Eton wa3 j reelected Chairman.^ -I"No 'wonder* retake" 1 'too"" much beer," remarked a seafaring man to Mr V. G. Day, S M., at Christchurch last week, at the Magistrate's Court, "for my wife is always grumbling—■ grumbling—weeks ai:d weeks she grumbles." He explained that he had spent live years on sailing ships, and had experienced irome very hard voyages, "but,"-he added, "that was a heaven ..The iden is a good one simply because its adoption inflicts no financial injury on anyone and seems to need o.ily a lead from either the Government or from a few great firms to become a habit—and a very excellent habit, too, remarks a contemporary. Messrs E. Griffiths, of New Plymouth, have set an example by working their large staff from 8 in the morning until 4 in the_afternoon and not from 9 to 5 as heretofore.

The exccutlvt"'of z . the l /Dominion Rifle Association has, in view of the anticipated large entry of Australian marksmen, to allow the use of match barrels. Members of Uie New Zealand team which competed atKandwick state that it is a fallacy to imagine that the match barrel is any improvement upon the ordinary rack rifle | issued by the Government, but as the Australians generally use match barrels, it would be prejudicial, to them ar.d stop their entries if the rifle, as issued by the Commonwealth Government,£wassinsistedjrpon. s£" A largelyjsigned petitionees been presented to the House by Mr Buchanan, M.f., praying for the remission of the remainder of the sentence on Gilbert Langdon, who, on November 26th, 1908, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for cattlebstealing. The grounds adduced are that the prisoner is only nineteen years of age, that he had been since birth a nervous, excitable temperament, causing him to be easily led astray, that the owners of the cattle are patties to j the petition, that the prisoner's behaviour in gaol has been exceptionally good, and that his parents will be responsible fou his good behaviour. Carrying telegraph poles from the heart of the Australian bush to tha forest clad valley of the Waiau appears to us to be the very apex of absurdity ar.d wastefulness, says the "Orepuki Advocate." Good totara trees are standing in the Waiau bush, the timber of which for durability is second to none; yet, for some inscrutable reason known only to the official mind, the native product is discarded in favour of its foreign rival. The poles for the line recently erected could have been obtained readily in the immediate neighbourhood, and at the minimum of cost, as the Department can deal directly with the hewer 3. At the Magistrate's Court, at Woodville, yesterday, before Mr R. H. Turton, S.M., the Woodville I County Council sued D. Carmichael, contractor, for £lO damages to a bridge by reason of extraordinary traffic, alleged to have been used thereon by the defendant. Mr E. J. Gothard appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr C. A. Pownall, of Masterton, for the defendant. Mr Pownall applied for a nonsuit on two grounds—firstly, that the plaint was not issued in the name of the body corporate; secondly, that the plaint note wa<* not signed by the plaintiff Council or its solicitor. Mr Gothard applied for an adjournment, which was granted, costs £2 133 being allowed to the defendant. His Worship reserved his decision upon the nonsuit points raised by counsel. Backblock roads seem to provide a source of income if they are sufficiently overgrown with grass. But they also provide their little troubles. How the Kiwi tea County Council were "taken in" over a grass seed deal was related by the chairman at the last meeting. The seed on a certain road was sold for £lO, but the supposed purchaser subsequently stated that he had written out the tender for a man who could not write, and had inadvertently signed his own name. He had never had anything to do with the grass seed, nor had the man for whom he had written out the tender, and it would be hard on him if he had to pay the £lO. It was decided by the council not to enforce payment under the circumstances.

I 1 Members of Parliament have been communicated with by the Trades and Labour Councils of their didtricta to ascertain how they are in> clined towards the proposed independent Labour party. In reply, one member, who is a strong sympathiser with the claims of Labour, advises the would be independents that Labour should not promote discord when it has a great hold of the reins of government. The questions put by the Dominion Executive of the Conference are as follow:—(1) Are you in favour of an Independent Labour party in the present House of Representatives? (2) If so, are you willing to make an effort to form the said Labour party? (3) And under what conditions? The platform is embodied in the 1909 Trades and Labour Conference report.

At the annual meeting of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board, yesterday, the treasurer submitted the following statement of receipts and expenditure for the period from April Ist to November 30th, 1909: Ordinary maintenance account — ReIceipts: r.ontributions from local bodies, £1,408 2s Id; subsidy, £1,094 10s Bd. Expenditure: Dr balance Ist April, 1909, £531 14s 7d; maintenance, Masterton Hospital £4lB. South Waijarapa Hospital £l9O ss, Pahiatua Hospital £286 ss; bank fee and stamp, 5s Id; balance, £1,076 3s Id; total, £2,502 12s 9d. Infectious diseases account—Receipts: Cr balance Ist April, . 1909, £709 16s 6d. Expenditure: Maintenance, South Wairarapa Hospital £97 10s 6d, Pahiatua Hospital £132 15s: balance £479 lis; total, £709 16s 6d. Maintenance account, £1,076 3s Id", infectious diseases account, £479 lis; cr balance as per bank pass book £1,555 14s Id.

A Lower Valley farmer informed a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday that some of the crops in his district would be fit to cut in a fortnight. The "Wanganui Herald," hithertu ■a staunch supporter of the Government, is becoming quite critical of the Ministry, and refers to it as the "allegedly Liberal Government," and its "( 9 ) Liberalism.' - The "Herald" suggests that the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. McKenzie) "probably would faint at the idea of being put to work in a coalmine himself," and says his attitude to the Point Elizabeth coal miners "savours of Toryism."

In his ramblings through the Mac ■ kenzio Country, Mr Johannes C. Andersen came across a number of rcoa gizzard stones', which he has presented to the Canterbury Museum. The stones were found on Mount Burnet at an elevation of 5,500 fe:t, and afford proof of the interesting face that the huge birds, in their day, must have lived at great heights above sea level. A Christchurch gunsmith, chatting with a "Press" reporter on the question of the carrying of weapons, said that the practice, so far as Christchurch was concerned, was practicallv unknown. Fresh arrivals from Home, on the other hand, usually brought out an assortment of lethal weapons, ranging from hunting knives to rifles and revolvers. The average new chum, the speaker said, appeared to think that on coming to the Dominion he would probably have to fight for dear life occasionally, with painted savages and wild beasts. He also had an idea that game of all kinds and sizes could be had anywhere for the shooting. 'The following representatives have "been elected to the new Wairarapa Diatrict Hospital Board:—Masterton County: Crs. W. J. Welch, Beetham and Colquhoun. Feathersion County Crs J. Martin, A. McLeod and A. M. Wilkinson. Wairarapa South County: Crs. W. Fisher and W. Perry. Pahiatua County and Borough: Messrs D. Crewe. H. Cornelius and T. Quirke. Eketahuna County and Borough and Mauriceviille County: Messrs T. Moss and F. W. Kummer. Castlepoint and Akitio Counties: Mr A. J. Speedy. "Masterton Borough: Messrs E. G. iEton and J. C. Ewingtbn. Greytown and Carterton Boroughs: Mr D. P. ioasby. Under the new Act these 'members remain in office until iMarch 3'st, 1910, when a new "Board is to be elected by the ratepayers instead of the local bodies as hitherto. Another meeting will be held prior to that date to wind up the business of the old Board. At the Licensing Committee meeting at Woodviile yesterday application was made to cancel a publican's liren'se on a charge of "lambing down," and other grounds. Inspector Dwyer, of Napier, appeared to support the application, and Mr C. A. Pownall, of Masterton, for the defence. The application was dismssed, and the licensee's position sustained. The Cftairman (Mr Turton, S.M.), in delivering the decision, said that the opinion of the Bench was that the police should not bring such charges against a licensee without Ibeing prepared to bring forward satisfactory evidence in support of them.

A novel point arose before the Licensing Committee at Woodville yesterday. A licensee had obtained his certificate and license, and subsequently it was discovered that he had been convicted of two charges of false pretences three years previously. Inspector Dwyer, on this ground, applied to have the license •declared void, and quoted the English case of Rex. v. Vine Mr C. A. Pownall. of Mas'erton, who appeared for the licensee, pointed out the contrast between the English and New Zealand statistics, and contended that under the latter it was clear that the conviction must be recorded while the accused person was a licensee, and that, once having paid the penalty for a previous conviction there was nothing to prevent him afterwards from earning an honest living. The Bench upheld this view unanimously, the Chairman remarking that they did not see why one slip should bar a man for life.

Almost every locality has a custom peculiar to itself, and at Cheviot it is the manner in which toasts are honoured at social functions. Each toast is honoured twice. The proposer, before making his speech, asks that glasses be filled and the toast honoured. This is done. Then comes the proposer's speech, which concludes with a request to drink the health and this is done. On Saturday evening, at the Railway League's banquet, Cheviot went one better on itself. The Hon. T. Mackenzie's speech in response to the toast of 'The Ministry," was no 4 : unduly long, but at its conclusion it was proposed and unanimously agreed "that the Minister's health be again honoured." Perhaps the fact that Mr Mackenzie's speech was at times thoughtlessly interrupted may have led the .warm-hearted Cheviot people to take this means of assuring the Minister of their goodwill.

A letter wa? received at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board yesterday, from Dr. Valintine. in connection with the levy for the South Wairarapa Hospital. The position is, briefly, that last year the Greytown Hospital Trustees applied for £3,000 for a new building, and assured the Board that the old part of the building had been condemned by Dr. Valintine. On the strength of this the Board decided to raise £2,000 of the amount applied for, a»d undertook to approve of the remaining £1,500 on approval of the pla-s of the new structure by the Health Department and upon being satisfied that the old building had been condemned. Dr. Vailntine has written to and he replied to the effect that though the present accommodation at the Greytown Hospital was old and unsatisfactory, and that extia accommodation was required for the nurses and patients, he had not condemned the building. He asked that the matter be held over till be had an opportunity of seeing the Trustees. It was resolved that thd South Wairarapa Hospital Trustees be asked to fix a date for a conference between the two bodies, at which the matter can be discussed.

Importers are mvitoa to sond their shipping documents to J, J. CUKTIS & CO, shipping agents, Cuatom-hcuse quay, Wellington. This firm will do your Customs work correctly and fvrward ygoods promptly.

A branch of the Navy League will be formed at School to-night.

The geysers at Whakarewarewa have been more than usually activa during the past s?ven or eight days.

There were nine births and one death in Carterton last month, no marriages beng celebrated. The Masterton Mounted Rifles will not hold a parade at Taueru next Sunday, but will instead hold a daylight parade probably at Opaki. The next triennial conference of Foresters is to be held in Masterton. This was decided upon yesterday by the Conference at present in session at Picton.

The books for the members of the local school branches of the Navy League have been received by the secretary, Mr E. R. B. Daniel.

Between £7O and .€BU was won by Wairarapa breeders in prize money at the recent Manawatu and East Coast Show.

Parliament will throw a whole cargo of measures overboard on Dec ember 22nd. and refuse to go to work again until the following June, says the "Feilding Star."

The Carterton Presbyterian Young Women's Bible Class has decided to forward its funds to the Presbyterian Orphanage at Wellington, writes our Carterton correspondent. The present session of the class has closed. Mr M. T. West, manager of the Dalefield Dairy Company, secured two prizes and a second at the Hawera Show, and also won the Loveland Christmas ten guinea cup, writes our Cartertun correspondent. The quality or the cheese made by this popular manager has won for him a large col lection of medals and cups.

Mr Cuyler Hastings, who visited Masterton with the "Sherbck Holmes" Company, is in a new play called "The Dollar Mark," ac Wallaces Theatre, New York, and plays the role of a big capitalist, the head of a trust.

The Masterton Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Jenkins, tested the pressure in the new Lansdowne high pressure water supply mains last evening. The average pressure was between 65 and 70, which the Superintendent stated was very satisfactory, considering the smallness of the mains.

Mr William Norman, a Surrey farmer, who recently visited Australia and this country, told a Home interviewer that no one could be too loud in praise of New Zealand as an ideal country for flock masters and dairymen. To a lover of independence and freedom the political atmosphere was bracing.

The "Woodville Examinei" states that the police have discovered a ctue to the perpetrator of the recent burglaries in Woodville A man stayed all Sunday week in a hotel at Ashhurst. paying for all he got in sixpences, and when he departed on the Monday he left behind a pasr of sox, the soles of which are covered with sawdust. Wilfred Morrison, the thirteen year old boy singer of Toronto, is to be paid £IOO a week Dy a New York concert company for a tour of the United States from New York to San Francisco, and thence to Australia and New Zealand, the trip to last one year.

,At a meeting of the Napier Empoyers' Association, the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill was thoroughly discussed and a motion carried protesting strongly aeainst legislation being promoted by the Government which will in any way override or nullify the Arbitration Court award.

The Customs duties in Auckland for November were £44,566, a decrease of £2,247 compared with November last year. Primage duly contributed £4ll 16s Bd, and the surtax £315 8s lOd. In addition, the exports show a general increase. Butter ex • ported was valued at £88,564, as against £65,316, flax £6,058, against £1,883, frozen meat £4,801, against £432, and hides and wool £13,002, against £9,930.

For the third year in succession J. C. Williamson's Pantomime Company have completed an eleven months' tour of Australasia, during which they have covered some 15,000 miles by land and sea. and visited practically every town of importance in the Commonwealth and New Zealand. They are all back in Melbourne now, and the process of reorganisation and augmentation is in full swing.

News from Tonga states that King George was married on November 11th to Princess Ana Seini Takibo, a maiden of sixteen years. The ceremony took place in the royal chapel in the grounds of the palace, and was performed by Rev. J. B. Walkin. Six Tongan maids, all in white, supported tha hride, and the king was attended with a similar number of his nobles as groomsmen. The presents included hundreds of rolls of native cloth, immense stocks of cooked foods, dozens of roasted pigs, and piles of taro.

An extraordinary case of canine ! vitality, illustrating at the same time thoughtless cruelty on the part ot someone, came under the notice of Mr W. H. Zouch, Inspector for the Christchurch Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr Zouch was informed that a dog in a sack had been in the Heathcote river for two days, and was still alive. On making investigations, Mr Zouch found that a fine-looking, well-bred retriever dog was stranded on a mud bank in the vicinity of Cashmere. The unfortunate animal, which was full grown, had been thrust into a sack with a large quantity of sand, and thrown into the river. The dog, however, managed to work his head through a hole in the sack, and by this means kept himself alive. His struggles evidently assisted to work him towards a mud bank, and there the luckless creature lay for two days awaiting release. He greeted Mr Zouch's appearance upon the scene with manifestations of delight and after being fed he attached himself firmly to his preserver and followed him into town as though he had known no other master. Several people already have expressed a desire to take possession of the dog, but it is probable that he will be kept by the S P.C.A. for collecting work. Messrs McLeod and Young require a boy for shop. An owner is required for a rubber lined macintosh, found in Masterton.

Mr W. Kemble Welch, of Masterton, who passed his dental examinations with honors, and subsequently visited England and America, to gain experience, has purchased the prac tice of Mr H. C. dwan, in Mason's Buildings, Masterton. Mr Welch, whilst in England, spent two years in the National Dental Hospital (London), where he gained valuable experience in various branches of the profession. He subsequently underwent special courses of instruction in the University of Pennsylvania.Philadelphia, and returned to New Zealand thoroughly conversant with the dental profession, backed by sound ex■ perience in all its branches. Patients may now consult Mr Welch during the hours set out in his professional notice on page 1 of this issue.

Mr Albert Webb, costumier, has a reputation for garments, distinctive in style, dependable i i quality and reasonable in price. He is now taking orders for the Christmas season.

An eight roomed furnished house in Salamanca Road, Wellington, commanding a fine view of the city and harbour, is advertised to let for eight weeks.

Applications for positions in the luncheon room at the Taubereuikau race meeting must be sent to Mr G R. Robertson, Featherston, not later than the 11th instant.

A sheep farm, comprising 2600 acies is advertised for s-de by Mr J. R. Nicol of Masterton. The property is obtainable at a very low figure and on the very best terms. Mr Nicol having inspected the land, will give full particulars on application. The annual sports in connection with the Gladstone Sports Olub will be held on Anniversary Day, Jan uary 22nd, for which the sum of £55 has been allotted in cash prizes. Programmes may be obtained at the Age office or from the secretary, Mr J. Bannister.

A first-class sheep farm of 614 acres, in the Hawke's Bay district, is advertised for sale by Messrs W. B. Chennells and Co. From particulars appearing on page 8 of this issue, the property is a remarkably cheap one, such as should meet with ready sale. At the residence, No. 6, Miriam Street, on Saturday, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell on account of Mr G. R. Ir vine, the whole of his housahold furniture. Included in ths list is a fine piano, by the Brooklyn Piano Company, aho a magnificent mahogany sideboard, valued at 50 guineas.

Very good buisness was recorded at the opening day of the sale of drapary and clothing now proceeding at Messrs Watson and Co.'s (late Charman's) Masterton. During the day the staff were kept busy attending to the requirements of customers who thronged the store. The sale will be continued to-day and during next week.

Acting under instructions from Mr J N. Lowe, who has sold his property at Maryborough, Messrs Dal gety and Co., Ltd., will sell at his homestead, Dyerville, the whob of his live and dead stock, particulars of which are advertised on page 8 of this issue. Ihe sale will be held on Friday, December 10th, at 12.30 p.m. The live stock is ™ell selected and in forward condition, and keen competition for the various lines should result.

At this period of the year Messrs i C. Smith, Ltd., bring forward at their Masterton store a big assort-1 ment of Christmas novelties, comprising usefuljarticles particularly ' suited for Cnristmaa presents. In an advertisement on page 6 th-y give details of the articles selected for the coming Christmas season. On all purchases to the value of ten shillings and over a discount of 5 per cent, will be allowed. Under instructions from toe Regis trar of the Supreme Court, the New Zealand Loan ard Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., will sell at their Masterton rooms, on Saturday, 11th December, 1909, at 230 p m., the freehold premises formerly owned by Mr Angus Fraser, and lately owned by Mr W. G. Somcrville, situate! in Dixon and Herbert Streets. The property contains about 17a Or 51.3p, together with buildings thereon. Full particulars may be obtained from the «uctioneers. or from Messrs llollings and Pragnell, solicitors, Mfisterto'n.