LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9673, 11 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Mystery Flat Dredge is 250z 9dwt for a week's work. Apple and pear cropa are not promising a very big yield in the Feilding district this year. The Masterton Municipal Brass Band will piay a number of selections in Queen Street, oppoaiie the Post Office, this evening. The total of the exports of butter, cheese, bacon and eggs exported from the little kingdom of Denmark amounts to the handsome sum of £25,000,000. The Venerable Archdeacon Fancourt will be in Masterton to-morrow, and will preach at S. Matthew's | Church in the evening, and at S. Alban's, Taueru, in the afternoon. A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council will be held in the Council Cnambers on Tuesday evening next to consider an alleged infringements of the carts and carriages by-laws. At the Police Court, yesterday morning, Matthew Adams was charged with ridine a bicycle without a light within the Borough. Ihe presiding J.P., Mr G. Heron, imposed a fine of 5s and 73 costs.

Farmers in the Waimate (South Canterbury) district are having considerable trouble with disease in their root crops. In some cases mangolds nave had to be sown a second time.

Keen interest is being taken in the race to be swum on the Park Lake on Thursday evening next at half-past six. Numerous entries have been received for the event, which is a 66 yards handicap race. Red oil emulsion, sprayed for the red scale on citrus trees in the Wangaratta (Victoria) district last year, has put the trees in splendid condition, and no trace of the pest is present. -

The wool offered at the second of the Christchurch series of wool sales on Thursday, amounted to 19,248 bales, against 17,501 bales for the corresponding sale of last season, and 21,233 in 1906. 22,957 in 1905 and 16,548 n 1904. The Opaki Rifle Club trophy competitions at the 500, 600 and 700 yards ranges will be concluded this afternoon. The Thursday competitors were favoured with exceptionally good weather for their shooting this week.

The strike at the O.K. mine, North Queensland, is over. The "North Queensland Rigister" says "it was a sad sight to see women and children trom O.K. walking into Mungana, some 50 miles. To give an idea of the way effects were selling, fowls were to be bought for a penny each, whilst goats were simply turned out to shift for themselves."

Mr C. E. Daniell reported at the meeting of the Trust Lands Trust last evening, that he had inspected the grid for holding drop scenes at the stage of the Town Hall, and submitted plans prepared by Mr H. A. Jones, the architect, showing improvements embodying three platforms, at an estimated cost of about £6O. Mr Daniel! thought that the cost was rather great, and was authorised by resolution to expend the sum of about £7 on the erection of one grid. The Programme Committee of the Wairarapa Amateur Swimming L-lub met last evening, when a very complete programme of events for the Anniversary Day Carnival was drawn up, side-shows being particularly well catered for. A meeting /if all members and supporters of the Club will be held on o Monday evening in the Y.M.C.A. rooms to appoint committees for the carnival. During the past two years there have been 3,431 transfers of Crown leaseholds allowed by land boards. The area of land thus transferred is 2,181,016 acres. The number of transfers in the different land, districts has been as follows:—Auckland 883, Hawke's Bay 239. Taranaki 401, Wellington 655, Nelson 76, [Marlborough 106, Westland 159> Canterbury 335, Otago 305, Southland 272.

The co-operative dairy companies in Queensland are moving towards co-operation in the disposal of butter in London. It was recently proposed that there should be no spot sales to speculators, but the trend of opinion was that some of the factories were not yet strong enough to resist direct sales. One suggestion was that each factory should export at least one-half of its output. A committee was appointed to deal with the question of securing concentration by the factories in the sales of produce—not, as the mover remarked, to force prices, but to handle the butter market more to the advantage of the consumers, and the producers. Some time ago the Masterton Trust Land Trust decided to offer the Wellington Education Board the use of the School Museum building and a lease of the site attached. The conditions were that the Board should fence the land with a paling fence similar to that around the reserve to the south of the school, and further that the land be. planted with native and other trees as exhibits for nature studies and so extend the good work being done in the practical agricultural section of the school. The land has a frontage to Chapel Street of 249 feet, and to Kussell Street of 122 feet, the rental suggested being £1 per year. At the meeting of the Trustees last evening the Board wrote informing the meeting that the proposal had been referred to the Inspector. There was a good .-ttteidance yesterday afternoon at t?.e recital eiven by Mr A. B. Wallace on *.he Broadwood "player-piano" in the Dresden Piano Company's looms. Tne recital was arranged by Messrs Inns and Goddard, the newly-appointed local agents for the Company. The "player-piano" is Hie most recent production, and the improvements made in these instruments in rec«nt years has made a wonderful difference in the effects obtainable. This product of recent development onlv needs to be heard to be appreciated. The most noticeable feature of the instrument is the ease with which it can be played and converted from an ordinary piano to a piano-player. All those desirous ot seeing this wonderful piece of mechanism are cordially invited to call at the Dresden Com pany's rooms, Queen street, to-day v when they will be afforded an opportunity ot witnessing and hearing its capabilities.

During the long vacation at the College, Mr Richards will assißtßev. C. E. Porter at Masterton, and will conduct services at Kuripuni at 11 a.m., as well as at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Messrs C. E. Darnell, O. Pragnell and H. C. Robinson, the rate com • mittee appointed by the Trust Lands Trustees to deal with the matter of rates recommended at the meeting last evening, that when Trustees had their acts consolidated as recommended by the Crown Law officer -i ihat the matter of ex.mption be included in the Act. The recommendation was adopted. No more convincing illustration of the exceptional season which has j been experienced than in the fact Jj that early though it is, Mr G. ~ Moore, of Apariama, has already harvested his oat crop. This, in all probability, is the first crop of the season that has been harvested in the district. Other crops, however, are already commencing to ripen, and it should not be long before bar- • vesting operations are in full swing; throughout the Wairaraoa. A sad drowning fatality occurred on Thursday in the Kapuni River. Several employees of the Kaupokonul Dairy Factory were bathing, when one, R. Burn. sank. Two brothers $ named Swale went to Burns' assistance, and both were dragged under by the drowning man. Tom Swale released himself and reached the bank exhausted, but Charlie "* Swale was unable to free himself, and he and Burn were drowned. Mr E. Short, of Waituna, has offered to the Palmerston North A. andP.Association a special prize of £IOO or the best shaped Komney ram, two or three years old, bred in New Zealand, to be judged first unshorn, and then to be shorn and

again judged. The money is to be divided into four prizes, tbe first {j being £SO. Mr Short will not compete, out will show foi competition only. Mr W. Crooks, the British Labour M.P., sent to the "Dunedin Star," the following which explains itself: "Among all the kindnesses we have received during our tour round the world none has touched us more deeply than a note which came to hand on Saturday morning containing £3, with these words: 'To be spent on poor little children in Poplar. —Prom a poor Poplar child, of long ago.' We shall take good care to spend it as the sender's heart would desire." Dairy farmers in Hawke's Bayare apparently having some'difficulty in obtaining milkers this season (says the "Herald"). It may be that the increase in dairying has created a demand for extra hands, or that few are willing to follow this occupation. Mr E. W F. Gohns, of tbe Labour Department, Btates that be has received numerous applications from farmers desiring milkers, and that he could probably place a fair number in situations. The demand | for hands is greater than usual at | this time of the year. ._

A motor-car owner was sued at In- W vercargill lajst week for £5, the value of a sheep-dog killed by defendant's car running over it. A witness who was with plaintiff when the dog was killed declared that within two miles of his place at the junction ten dogs, worth £l5O, had been killed within the past two monchs Defendant said he knew tbe dog was killed, but it was no use going back when the dog was dead. If it bad bean a child it would have been a different matter. The Magistrate 1 said that he was not quite sure of the driver's legal duty to a dumb animal, and decision was reserved. Q "A specially fine programme" is , A what the management promise pati rons at the picture entertainment at thee Foresters' Hall thia evening. The films will include "Oliver i Twist," "Outcast's Sacrifice,**' ! "Aviator's Experience," "Football , Warrior," "Pottery Making," "On and off the stage," "The Sleepers/* and "The Wizard's Walking Stick." The excellence of the programmes presented by Messrs Thompson and Payne has established a reputation for the firm that is well deserved. As a mark of appreciation for the warm \ support-accorded to the entertain- ,« ments given in Masterton, Mr S f Pearson, the popular manager, is arranging special programmes for the holiday season, and these will include new films from America,Eng land and the Continent. A strong boy to work in the cordial factory is required by Mr J. Dixon. In future meeti 'gs of the Wellin ton Land Botrd will be held on th« last Thursday in the mwith. Harry Lauder is insured by William Morris for his present American tour to the extent of £13,000. Over one hundred men are to be put on the Arthur's Pass tunnel works after the end of the present j year. At the Taumarnnui pound last week a mare was bought for 2s 6d, and a mare and foal fetched the same price. At the Sydney Stadium on November 24th Cripps and Smith, the ex-New Zealand jr, boxed a draw. The match lasted 15 rounds, W! Bob Fitzsimmons refereed. The Masterton Dredge is certainly returning to its shareholders handsome dividends. A further dividend of five shillings in the po ind wa3 declared yesterday. ■■*< A Tobacconists' Association basn been formed at Christchurch, and the initial meeting a resolution affirming the desirableness of the tobacconists being licensed was ar-_ rived at. That Christmas is almost at hand is easily seen when one looks into Messrs McLeod and Young's shops in town. They are showing a great range of useful, pretty, and consider ing the quality of the goods, inexpensive lines specially suitable for Christmas gifts In Christmas cards, booklets, calendurs, postcards, and . dainty books the firm have a splen- -Jk. did assortment h Mr H. A. Jones, architect for the' new Trust Lands' Trust buildiug now being constructed in Queen Street, reported to the meeting of the Trustees last evening that good progress was being made with the structure, which would be cumpleted early in the New Year. A sub-com-mittee consisting of Messrs C. E. Daniell (chairman), E. G. Eton and R. Krahagen was appointed to revise the rentals of the new shops and were given authority to lease to 1

At the Masterton Auction Mart, this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell thp Caledonian Society's sports privileges, also a bankrupt stock of bicycles and flowering pot plants. Messrs Harcourt and Co., land and -estate agents, of Wellington, advertise on page 8 of this issue particulars of some first-clasa freehold properties, which are recommended to those in search of safe and sound investments. The properties are situated in good localities and are reasonably priced. "Dainty shoes for the holiday season" is trie subject of an advertisement in another column from Mr J. Carpenter. He has a remarkably fine stock of ladies' styish shoes, which mus>t be seen to be appreciated. Low price 3 will rule at Mr Carpenter's •store during the Christmas season. A golden opportunity for thritty ; buyeTS to obtain bargains in drapery and clothing is offered at the sale mow being held by Mr L. Stein, of "Wellington, in premises recently occupied by Messrs Hendry and Buxton, Masterton. He is in tnis town to scatter a big stock of superior goods jit practically buyers" own prices. Those in search of superior foot■wear at easy prices should peruse the advertisement from Messrs R. Hannah arid Co., Ltd, which appears in another column. This well-known firm has on hand an unusually large •and well-assorted stock, and during the Christmas season are offering special inducements to the public to make purchases. The question of cheap bread is one that should interest every resident in Masterton and district, and the announcement appearing in .another column should therefore be -of more than ordinary importance. ;Hr Bulpitt, of the Post Office, Auction Mart, announces that from j ■ Monday next he will sell the best of r bread at 3d the 21b loaf, for cash. / His supply will be capable of dealing "With the bread requirements of hundreds of families. With this iissue is ciculated an illustrated inset showing samples of many beautiful lines in siher and electoplated ware which Mr Frank >Dipre, thegeweller, Masterton, has brought forward for the Christmas trade Judging from the immense stock of superior goods which Mr / Dupre has (imported for the festive season he has no fear of a quiet Christmastide from a business point •• of view. Twoilines which for Christmas presents are;particularly suitable are match boxes in silver and gold. A varied assortment of these useful but inexpensive articles are in stock, and are sure to meet with ready sale. Choice goods in engagement and wedding rings, ladies' gold chains, toiletware,'leather goods and scores of other lines are placed at the disposal of residents at this popular store. During, the corning ' Christmas, period record business shoud be done. -