LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9672, 10 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Masterton Dredge ia 540z 4dwt for the week. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria is considering the question of importing judges from Britain. The General Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association will meet at half-past one p m. on Saturday next. An aeroplane which had been impounded for payment of a bad debt was sold by auction at the Hotel Drouot, Paris, on October 22nd. P. was a biplane, with an Antoinette motor, and fetched only £66. Aeroplanes are cheap to-jay, says a French writer. The Auckland A. and P. Association certainly errs on the side of liberality, for every member—over a thousand —is provided with free luncheon on show day. So many took advantage of the opportunity at the last show that many of the judges and stewards had to content themselves with a good gaze at the tablecloths. A wild boar from Rakovits Forest (Servia) charged a little company that was escorting a prisoner under sentence of death to Belgrade gaol. The man in manacles was deserted, and as he could neither escape nor defend himself, he got some severe tusk wounds. The Home Minister has granted him a reprieve, and he is progressing in the hospital. One of the arrivals by the Athenic last week experienced somewhat unexpectedly "the milk of human kindness" during the latter portion of the trip. He joined the vessel at Bobart—as a stowaway. The saloon passengers paid his passage, while some of the second saloon passengers subscribed sufficient money to enable him to land in the Dominion with more than a couple of pounds in his pocket.

It is said that a resident of Ashburton who has been losing firewood of late, hit upon a plan to discover the culprit. He bought a pound of blasting powder, of which, with the aid of an auger, he inserted small charges in several pieces of wood, which had already been sawn up in lengths and split for use. As a sequel to this, he heard several explosions in one of his neighbour's houses the next evening.

The following nominations have been received for the Wanganui Band Contest, to be held from March 14th to 18th:—Auckland Battalion, Newton (Auckland), Waitara, Mania, Cambridge, Feilding, Wanganui Garrison, Wanganui City, Gisborne, Opunake,, Palmerston North, Tramway (Wellington), Petone, Dunedin, Citizens, Kaikorai (Dunedin), Newtown (Sydney), Nelson Garrison, Blenheim Garrison, Hastings. Of the above bands nine are classified as A grade. The Headmaster (Mr W. H. Jackson) reported to the Masterton School Committee last evening on the pomotion examination as follows: -"I am very busily engaged at the preseut time in completing the annual promotion examination of the school. I am finding the work well up to the usual' high standard. The examination of the sixth standard was completed by Inspector Bakewell on the 24th ult. Of those who passed 80 per cent, obtained proficiency certificates, which entitle the holders to free secondary education Up to the age of 1Y years."

"Drawing the colour line" —a procedure much in favour in some of the United States of America — appears to have reached New Zealand, but in this country the drawing is being done by the coloured man. The occurrence took place near Dannevirke, last month, when a gang of Maori shearers struck work because a white man had been given a stand in the shed. The result was that the W'hite man was dismissed. He sued the runholder for £2O damages for breach of contract, but the Magistrate (Mr McCarthy, S.M.) held chat as plaintiff could have obtained shearing work elsewhere tvro days later, he was entitled only to the £5 which defendant had paid into court. At the Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, Mr R. 11. Tuiron, in his civil jurisdiction, gave judgment for plaintiffs by default in the following cases:—Nicol and Co. v. William Broadbenc, £2 2s 6d, cost? 7s; S. Nicolson v. Sidney Cross, £3 10s, costs ss; J. S. Dawson vl John Yarr, 15s 3d, costs ss; William Morris and Sons v. John Lett, £1 0s sd, costs ss; Alexander Donald v. Waata Paraone, £l6 10s, costs £1,155. The case Embret Johansen v. Walter T. Waterson was defended. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Hirt (Carterton) represented defencinif. After hearing the evidence th j Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff ft £5, with costs amounting to £1 6J. In the claim MeLeul and Young v. Reginald J. K. ti.mkson for £1 12s 6d, plaintiffs were non-suitad on account of the agreement not being in order. A special meeting of the Manavsrs of the Musterton Technical School was held la-r there present:—Messrs E. F.-ist (chairman), W. H. Jackso:, E. H. Waddington and R?v. Dean McKenna. The special object of the meeting was to receive the secretary's report in connection with classes whose third term was completed on or before Saturday, November 27th. Following is a brief summary of the report :—Total number of pupils on roll, 300: total free pupils, 141; average number in attendance, 229; capitation earned, £6l 16s 9d; special captation in respect of holders of free places, £32 10s; clasfi fees, £6l ss; total amount earned by all classes, £155 lis 9d; salaries due, £197 10s Bd. On the motion ot the chairman, seconded by Rev. Dean McKenna, the report was adopted and salaries as scheduled were parsed for payment. A short informal diV enssion on other matters then took place, after which the meeting terminated.

The Masterton District High School will break up for the Christ.-' mas holidays on Friday the 17th inst., and re-open on Monday, January 31st next. The Salvation Army Band and several soloists visited the Solway Home on Wednesday night, and rendered an excellent programme of musical items, which was n.uch appreciated by the inmates. The secretary of the Education Board wrote to the meeting of the Maste tin School Committee in refer ence to the miniature rifle range, stating that he bad been informed by the officer commanding the Public School Defence Force that no further subsidy would be allowed the Committee towards the cost of the erection of the range at Masterton. The second coach from Otira for Broken Kiver on Monday was delayed for half an hour under exceptional circumstances. While tha coach was at the top of Arthur's Pass (3,000' feet above sea level), a passenger gave birth to a male infant. The other passengers did all they could for the mother, and she and her infant were conveyed to the Bealey Hotel, says a message from Christ--church. The Government is experimenting with a goodly number of native grasses wich a view to ascertainingtheir quality and adaptability. The question of re-grassing pastoral country is one of the very first importance; and the Government is about to further experiment by enclosing areas of 25 acres to the purpose of ascertaining the extent to which native grasses will come again by piotection. Where this does not occur tests will be made oi both native and introduced grasses. A reward is offered for the ret irn of a bay pony mare, lo3t from Masterton. A notice in reference to the T ;nul doctor's guarantee fund is published on the first page of thie issue. Mr C. C. Ross has effected the sale of Mr W. Robinson's Makotuku property, consisting of 650 acres, to a northern Buyer. The privileges in connection with the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's Sports on New Year's Day are to be , sold by Mr J R. Nicol, at the Mai- , terton Auction Mart to-morrow after* I noon.

a first-class sheep property in the Alfredton district, comprising 2,315 acres, is advertised for sale by Me«srs Dalgety and Co., Ltd. Particulars in reference to other properties are also advertised. In an advertisement on page four it is pointed out that it is not fashionable to go about without boots. Consequently purchasers like the very best quality and tit at reasonable prices. These may be obtained at the Boot Department of the W.F.C.A. Those in search of exceptional bar gains in haberdashery and toilet requisites should note the prices set out in the advertisement from Messrs George and Kerßley, Ltd., "The Economic," Wellington, which appears on page 6 of this issue. In his - advertisement on the leader page. Mr J. L. Murray, of the Quality Stores, deals With the selection of a suitable Christmas presents for men and women, and what he has to offer. The advertisement should be perused carefully as special prices have been arranged in order to induce purchasers. , On Saturday, 18th instant, at their rooms, Queen street, Masterton, Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., will submit at auction the equity of redemption on the property at Mata—rawa, lately owned by Mr F. J. Dillon, and containing 508 acres 3 roods 32 perches. -' The property is well improved, and is so situated that it can be profitably cut up into good dairy farms. Full particulars will be found on oace 8 of this issue. A sale of drapery and clothing at Watson Bnd Co.'s (late Charman's) has proved very successful during the past week, the public being quick to note the genuine bargains that were offering. For the remaining days of the sale still further price reductions will be made. Th« goods are this season's importatiua. and right up-to-date in every particular.

The rapid expansion of business h«w forced Mr J., Kitchener, boot, and shoemaker, and importer, to secure larger premises, in order to cope with it. He haß therefore secured n lease of the spacious shop recently occupied by Messrs Inns and Goddard, and he opener! there yesterday with a fine display of new season's footwear. Mr Kitchener is an enthusiastic tradesman, who gives close personal attention to his business, and he has decided to place before the public of Masterton and district a comprehensive and superior stock of boots and shoes, such as will command trade. Particulars of the Friendly Societies' Picnic at Pigeon Bush on Boxing Day are adverisad in another column. The committee pre sparing no pains to make the outing a success. Light refreshments will be obtainable on the ground at town prices. The special train has been arranged to leave in gocd time on Boxing Morning, so as to arrive back at Masterton before dark, which will be appreciated by parents with children. A brass band will be in attendance. The Wairarapa Lake will be at the disposal of swimmers, who are requested to provide regulation swimming dress. Fourteen Societies wil be represented at the picnic, and the tug-of-war between the Societies promises to be a very interesting: item. From an indifferent piano you can only expect indifferent mubic. Even the most brilliant musician requires a good instrument, otherwise his eff jrts ara at ixst only soaond ra', i— he laaks delicacy of expression and fails in torn. A good pian", is not necessarily an i xp"iisive one; the Coti piano of today is better than Uu Urand of yesterday. We have pianos which are moderate in price, exquisite in tone, handsome in appoarauce, and of remarkable durability. These cost from thirty-eight to fifty-five guineas, and represent the highest development in piano construction. They are made by skilled workmen, from dependable materials, and ara instruments which cannot fail to give the utmost satisfaction and pleasure. We shall be pleased to show these pianos to intending purchasers. Don't forget our easy time payment system. The Dresden Piaao Company, Wellington. North Island Manager, Mr M. J. BrookesLocal Representatives: and Goddard, next Club Hotel, jTasfcerton. 2