LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9675, 14 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Root crops in some parts of the Forty-mile bush district are suffering considerably for want of rain, and if rain does not Soon fail a number of the crops will be ruined. Probably the first crop to be harvested in Masterton is an area of 22 acres of Algerian oats belonging to Mr Robt. Johnston, Homebush. The crop will be cut to-day,' and is -estimated to run about 50 bushels to the acre. Keen interest is being taken in the Booth Cup Competition, the next match for which will be played on the Masterton Bowling Green next Thursday between the local players and Featherston, one team to represent each club. A Forty-mile Bush settler informed a Wairarapa Age representative yesterday that the present season is the driest that has been experienced in the Forty-mile Bush for some time. The grass is al ready assuming a dried tint, and the creeks are lower now than they were at the height of last summer. The monthly meeting of the Directors of the Workers Mutual .Benefit Building Society was held last evenng. Mr R. Krahagen presided, and there were also present,—Messrs J. Prentice, W. H. Cole, J. W. Gordon, J.: Candy, A. K. .Johnston, .J. C, Ewington, A. Gardcier, T. Crisswell. The treasurer reported a credit balance in the Bank of New South Wales of £625 4s 6d. The chairman said that he thought a ballot for £3OO could be called for 27th January in addition to the sale fur £3OO to be held on the 16th of this month. This was decided on. Two fresh shares were applied for and allotted. The valuation committee reported favourably on two properties submitted as security for loans.

The quarerly summoned meeting nf the Masterton Oddfellows Lodge was theld last evening. Bro. P. Smith, N.G , occupied the chair. A clearance was granted to a Brother who had taken up his residence in Blenheim. The election of officers for the ensuing term resulted as ml lows:— N.G., Bro. A. E. Wilton; V.G., Bro. A. Wheeler; ES., Bro. J. L. Hughes. A hearty welcome was extended to Bro. W. S Lett, who had just returned from an extended trip through England, America, and the' Continent. Bro. Lett gave a most interesting address relative to his journeying, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. As next Lodge night falls on Boxing Day, if was- decided to hold a meeting on Monday next, the 20th inst.

The first m°eting of the Masterton Veterans' Fire Brigade Association was held in the Fire Brigade Station last evening. Superintendent Jenkins occupied the chair. The rules of the Association were adopted. The following officers were elected: —President, ex-Captain D. Pickering; Vice-Presidents, ex-Captain J. Prentice, and ex-Fireman J. Symes; Secretary, I). A. Pickering; Committee, Ex-Firemen R. B. Church, A. Gardner, P. Gilbert and officers ex-officio. Thirty members were enrolled. Ic wns derided that the members wear a white badge on the arm at fires so as ti) distinguish the members from civil'n ?. The committee was directed to -ci> • i< ;i report upon the form of a sun a 1> badge for the members in the meai.ti ne. It will be remembered that some time ago Mr W. B. Allen, the wellknown at Clarevills donated a twenty-guinea Ronviey stud ram to bo sold at the nexc Masterton Ram Fair, the proceeds ta be devoted to the Solway Showgrounds scheme The offer on the part of Mr Allen was really the commencement of the proposal to hold the stock fair, in connection with which so much enthusiasm is being displayed. Since the meeting of the General Committee of the Association last Saturday, Mr Allen has supplemented his first gift with a donation of five fat twotooth wethers to be shown at the nexc Show, and afterwards disposed of for the benefit of the Solway Fund. Another prominent settler has signified ; his intention of donating a thorough- ' bred hack and a young purebred Hereford b ill for the Stock Fair.

The miners at the State Mine; resumed work yesterday. "We're going to have a record drought in the Bush district this summer," predicted a Pahiatua farmer to a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday. The Kaituna Cheese Factory, shipped 50 cases of cheese last week,, by the Arhenic. This is the result of two weeks' work, and is the best record the factory has made. It was once thought that tl.e Strat-ford-Jngarue railway line would be opened to Te Wera (24 mil«s up) by the end of the year, but it ia now understood that communication will not be quite complete until some time in February. The opening up of the line: to Te Wera before next winter will doubtless be regarded as a blessing day by Strathrr.ore residents who have had to battle for years with oceans of mud on the main road to Douglas. I There seems to be good hotel busiI ness possibilities for champion New Zealand athletes who may migrate to Great Britain. " i'om" Sullivan' (sculler) is understood to be a boniface somewhere along the River Thames, George Smith (footballer and sprinter) keeps an hotel in Yorksnire or Lancashire, and now it is reported that E. Wrigley (exMasterton footballer) has become an hotelkeener at Huddersfield. There was partial ecnpse of the sun yesterday, out it was not visible in New Zealand. Next year there , will be two eclipses of the sun and., two of the moon. A total eclipse of the sun is due on May 9th. This eclipse will not be visible in the North Island, but in the South Island it|begins at sunset in places south of a line drawn from Timara to Westport. „ A total eclipse of the, moon will happen on May 24th. A" partial eclipse of the sun on November 2nd, and a total eclipse of the moon on November 17th will nut be visible in New Zealand. The usual meeting iof Endeavour Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held last t veiling, Bro. Morris, C.T., in the chair. A short address was given by Bro. Trevelyan from Hope of Anuriri, also a very interesting report from Sis. Miller, who has just returned from Napier. Greetings were received from the Bond of Unity, the Anchor of Hope, and the Hastings Lodges, and were heartily reciprocat- * ed. Parlour games were then indulged ] in, and a very pleasant evening being spent.

Wonderful shooting was recorded by the Woodville High School Cadets in the competition for the "Weekly Press". Challenge Shield on Friday; One bo>, Lieut, riind, made the possibles at' each range, and continued shiotirig at "the 100 yards range, finishing up with 35 successive bulls. Another boy, Bugler Rapley, made the possible at 200 yards, and, continuing, finished up with 20 successive bulls. The ; aggregate of the whole team constitutes a Dominion record for this competition, being 33 ahead of the winning score last year. The Woodville team has had possession of this shield for two successive years. The extreme heat at present being experienced in the Taranaki district is not only affecting the milk supply of the dairy province, but it is marring the snowy beauty of Egmont. Under the sun's fierce rays, Egmont's majestic triangular mantle of white has become a thing of "shreds and patches," more and more abbreviated, as the summer days grow long. Relieved from their icy imprisonment, patches of bush may be seen amongst the snowy land* scapes jight up to the top of tne mountain, and until next winter Egmont's "milky white grandeur" has departed. lnvercargill is now patting herself on the .back. She is the fifth city of the Dominion, as a result of the amalgamation of all the suburbs save South lnvercargill. The population of Greater lnvercargill is now 11,200, as against 7,500 previously, and had South lnvercargill come in it would have bean 13,b00. Compared with other towns who had claimed fifth positfbn previously the order Oast census) now is:—lnvercargill, 11,200; Palmerston North, 10,243; Napier, 0,473; Wanganui, 8,500: and Nelson, 8,164. An effort is being made by the residents of South lnvercargill nearest Greater lnvercargill to endeavour to amalgamate with that borough.

A most enjoyable cricket match way played a Blairlogie on Saturday between a Masterton team and the Carswells Cricket Club. The'visitors were captained by Mr Ben Brodie, Mr G. Curtiss being skipper of the home team. The Carswells Club won by twenty runs after a very interesting game. The Carswells Club is noted for its hospitable treatment of visiting teams, and they fully sustained an enviable reputation in this respect on Saturday. The visitors were eutertaihed at luncheon, and afternoon tea and dinner at the Blairlogie Hotel, a social evening taking place afterwards, attended by both teams. Felicitous speeches were made, toasts honoured and cheers exchanged between the visitors and the local Club, and musical items rendered. Mr and Mrs Greenbank, of the Junction Hotel, were specially thanked for their attention to both teams. A case of special interest to booksellers was heard in the Masterton Magistrate's Court, last week, when McLeod and Young, booksellers, sued R. K. Jackson, solicitor, for the price of certain parts of an English Dictionary, which is beingpublished in quarterly numbers by the Oxford press. The dictionary in question has been running for about fifteen years, and will not be fully published for some tima to come. The defendant admitted that he had received certain numbers of the Dictionary, but it was contended that he w»s not liable to the plaintiffs as they had no signed order in accordance with section 44 of the Mercantile Law Act, 1908. The section in question provides, among other things, that wiian the sale of a book is effected, and the book is not in a completed form at the time of: the sale, the contract is void unless the order form is signed by the purchaser, and unless the form has printed upon it certain words in red ink, and in a size of type not smaller than long primer. The plaintiffs produced no such order, and the presiding Magistrate (Mr Turton, S.M.) said be must, therefore,, non-suit the plaintiffs, each party to Ray his own, costs. referred to is certainly one witii which, booksellers, s.uuld bafamiliar..

To-day Messn. H. Holmes and A. B. Wood will commence the judging in connection with the school gardens competition, held under the auspices of the Masterton A. and P. Association.,. The six schools entered for the best garden competition are the Taueru, Ihuraua, Kopuaranga, Kaiparoro, and Newman schouls. The various plots at the Masterton District High j, School are also to be judged. In all, there are about thirty plots and priz?s will be awardedjo the successful students. The competition for best dairy cuw has ju*t baen hald by the Masterton A. and, P. Association. Below are the analysis and teats so far as thsy are available, but as one sample of milk has yet to come in, ':it is not yet possible to give full reJsults. It will be seen, however, that v Mr L. Donnld must secure at least two of the three awards. Following are the points scored:—Mr l. Donald'j Rose, milk 65.5, per cent of butter fat 40, calving points 3, total points 108.5; Mr L. Donald's, Jennie, 61.6, 39, 5.2, 105.7; Mr L. Donald's Snowball, 58 0, 41, 4.9, 103.9; MrW. Abbott's Nell, 52.5, 38,. 4.8, 95.3; Mr W. Abbott's Strawberry, 60.5. 39, 2.8, 102.3; Mr C. Morgan's Tib, 53.0, 42, 6.3, 101.3; MrT S. Cresswell's Topsy, 50.5, 42. 10.6, 103.1; Mr G. H. A Perry's Prolific, 43.5, 43, 2.5, 89. An advertiser wishes to purchase , a second hand bicycle. "»* Tenders are invited to close at noon on Saturday next, for fencing and asphalting at the Masterton Hospital. Mr F. P. Welch has vacancies for station hands, milkers, married couples, and generals. Gas consumers are reminded that io-morrow (Wedne«day) is the last day on which discount will be allowed on current accounts. Mr M. George, Queen Street, ad- \ vertises a special consignment' of ' Waltham watches, first and second grade, wnich he offers at special quotations: Tenders are invited by Mr H. A. Jones, architect, for the erection of a shop and dwelling at Featherston. Tenders close at 5 p.m., on Tuesday 21st irat.

Tenders are invited, to close on Tuesday next, for about 90 chains of load formation at Longridge, near Te Parae. Plans and specifications are to - be seen at the office of Mr H. H. Wolters, Carterton. MrR; Brown advertises particu- ■! iara of several well-improved farms , which he has, been instructed to sell or lease. ' Particulars of two properties suitable for men with small capital are advertised by Messrs C. C. Ross and Co., land agents, Masterton. Christinas gifts are much in evidence at the present time, and a choice selection will he found at Mr-J. L Murray's drapery warehouse, Ex change Buildings. Particulars and prices of a few lines will be found elsewhere in this issue. Messrs Bulpitt and Yalden, of the Post Office Mi'at and Bread Mart, cold bread yesterday at 3d the 21b £ loaf. They are prepared to continue doing so if public support is sufficiently encouraging. In another column theyisnnounce that after the Christmas holidays a delivery cart will be put on, but in the meantime the continuance or abandonment of the cheap bread scheme rests with the amount of support received.