LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9671, 20 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Worksop Dredge is aOoz Bdwt for the week. Mr James Buckton has been pointed caretaker of the Mnsterton Bowling Green. The hours for bathting at the Pab>« lie Baths, Dixon street, on Christmas Day, will be the same as those observed on Sundays. The membership of the Masterton: Ladies' Swimming Club is now ovelf seventy. Mem hers are now practising assiduously for the various events in connection with the forthcoming" carnival, for which a large number of valuable trophies have already beers donated. The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club held a race on Sunday lasts from Dunedin. Seven birds, representing four lofts, competed, the* pigeons being liberated at 4 a.m. in fine weather. Up till a late hour last evening none of the birds had arrived home: A Masterton farmer who has v just spent several days travelling around the Lower Valley districts states that the country is very badly ic need! of rain. The effect is very noticeable, and in many places he noticed that the water courses, which should be well filled at this time of the year* were rapidly drying up. Gintaßious mammitia is reported to be more prevalent among the Wairarapa dairy herds, this season thanst last, and many dairy farmers are ex J periencing a trying time. Owners of herds noticing any abnormal con' ditiona in the milk or udders of the cows are advised to communicate at once with the Stock Inspector afc Masterton.

An important general meeting of the 'memjbers of the Wairarapa Amateur Swimrnfig Club will be held "in theY.M.C.A. rooms at 8 o*clock!. tonight. AH members are earnestly urged to attend, as the question of fixing the date ot the sports is ones that will require seriouß . considers* tion.

An effort is being made by the Masterton Ladies' Swimming Club to form a life saving class. Mr A. Snowball has kindly offered his services to the club in connection witnt the movement. Ladies areVarriihded that they need not necessarily be members of the club to join the class. The names of those desiring to join are to be handed in to Miss Gilles- f pie, from whom full ..information can be obtained;' Murray's in the Quality Stores Mercery Department are this week offering some extraordinary bargains; in men's tailor Tnade holiday suits. To save disappointment when a tailor turns you back with "too late fop Christmas," and to save money—a deal of money, the attention of readers is directed to Murray's* advertisement, whe*e they announce suits from as low a figure as 455. The offices of the Borough Cjuncil will be closed from 4 p.m oh Thursday next until 10 a.m. on January ] Otli. The Public Heading Boom at the Library will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Days, and the lending Library will be elosed;;on Christ-. mas Day, Boxing Day and on Jilhuaijf Ist and 3rd.

The opinion held by many farmers that there is an unusual scarcity of rain this season in Maoterton is apparently based*" on more than mere supposition. Mr J. C v Boddington informed a representative of the Wairarapa Age on Saturday last that the rainfall for the eleven months ending November showed a falling ■offi.oE 8 inches, and 10 inches at the present time on the average rainfall taken for the last five .years . At the last meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce, it will be remembered that a telegram was received from the Pahiatua Chamber complaining of the train arrangements between Pahiatua and Masterton for Christmas Day. Mr J. C. Boddmgton, secretary of the Masterton Chamber, points out that according to the Department's handbill the only trains that will run on the day in question are the morning trainr. from Masterton to Wellington, the morning train from Wellington to> Masterton, and the afternoon train Masterton to Wellington, and vice versa. Arrangements in connection with the forthcoming bazaar in aid of St.--John Ambulance district nurse fund are well in hand, and there is every indication of the movement being a decided success. The laides "sewing hee" is working assiduously for this worthy object, and they wish to announce that any contributions will be gratefully received bythe Committee. Among other articles some exquisite fancy work has been prepared for the bazaar, which is announced to take place during the next Masterton Show week.

Friendly Societies not only unite for the purpose of making provision against casualties to which all are but also for enjoyment and social intercourse. On Boxiner Day the Wairarapa Friendly Societies will hold a monster picnic on the picturesque grounds of Mr C.' Tringham at Pigeon Bush, adjoining the Wairarapa Lake. The grounds are well sheltered by lovely native bush, and. in every way an ideal spot. The committee intend to make the first annual picnic a record one, and are studying in every possible way the convenience of visitors. Tickets can be procured from the local secretaries and at Mr D. ThreadweP's shop* hall Streel, Masterton. Mr 0. Douch inserts a notice of thanks for kindness received from the staff of the Masterton Hospital. The special train time-table in connection with the Christmas holidays will be found on page one of this issue. Messrs J. A. J. Maclean and Co. will hold a sale of Christmas poultry at their Perry street rooms on Wednesday at 2 o'clock. |Mr W. Pauling, merchant tailor, Queen Street, has a choice stock of summer tweeds and suitings, ail specially selected for holiday suits. Mr Pauling guarantees correct style, fit and finish on all work entrusted to*, him.

~ Auckland city has the oldest established bowling club 1 in the southern hemisphere. It was founded in 1869. \ Mr Wilding solicitor, of Christtihureh, will play with his son, Mr A. F. Wilding (one of the world's champions) in the Doubles in the championship lawn tennis meeting at .Auckland next week. The Wairarapa Racing Club has accepted the following tenders for the privileges of the New Year meeting :—rlnside publican's booths, Mr P. Rogers. Greytown, £67; outside publican's booth, Mr C. F Priest, Jflartinborough, £GO; fruit and fancy •stall. Gee Wai, Featherson, £lO ss-, norue yards, Gibson and Lawrence, .£8 Another unfortunate accident befel Mr D. TidswelJ, of Featherston, who has only recently recovered from a "fractured leg, the suit of a football accident He was driving Messrs E. H. Saunders and Company's .'deli very brake at Kai wai wai on Wednesday, when the horses began plunging at a passing traction engine. A capsize resulted, and Mr Tidswell sustained a sprained ankle and a broken bone Jn the foot His wife and two children who were accompanying him fortunate enough to escape unhurt.

One of the new regulations in 'things postal in the Wellington office is that customers must "lick their •own stamps and place them on the telegrams they wish to despatch." A visitor to the city the other day handed over three messages. The clerk duly counted the words, took 4he prof erred coin, and then handed back the forms and three 2d stamps, saying, "Please put on the stamps." A remark to the effect that business must be getting brisk was met by 'the reply, "A new regulation." Explaining the object of his latest generous gilt to the Manawatu A. and P. Association of 100 guineas for special prizes, Mr Ernest Short says he considers that judges and 'breeders are now paying too much attention to wool and too little attention to those other points that go to nwikeup animal. "Yet," ?3ayß Mr Short,"any man can breed wool. But it ts not every man who -can preeerve afid improve the other qualities of the sheep. If we are not careful the Komney will become merely a framework for wool, and have no qualities In the carcase at all. 1 want to ipduce judges to give more attention to the other characteristics, and thus save the breed from degenerating. Wool, as you know, jtrows at the expense of the sheep's general vigour and constitution, and if wool alone h bred for we may soon lose the Romhey's fine constitution." Several Btation bands are wanted \ by, Mr F. P. Welch. ■■' The dentists practising in Mastertoll will close their premises for the Christmas holidays from sp.ro. on '.December 23rd till 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 4th. Particulars of the furniture to be sold by auction on Wednesday by Mr J. R. Nicol, on account of Mrs J. Hooper, Bannister street, are advertised to-day. The various lineb are nearly new and will be sold without reserve. Mr Jas M. B. Garron, 8.A., LL.B., of Liverpool street Dunedin, conducts correspondence classes for the preparation of students for law examinations. Terras will be supplied on application. J Mr A.J. Stone-'.Wigg, who has disposed of the Te Kangitumau estate, formerly owned by Mr James Stuckey, ha* instructed Me-srs Abraham and Williams,. Ltd., to hold an nunreserved clearing sale of the whole of the stock and implements, including the Stud Southdowns and Hereford cattle. The sale has been fixed for Thursday, 24th February, the week following the Masterton Show. Mr F." Dupre, watchmaker and jeweller, has.receiyed a consignment of sovereign cases and match boxes suitable or Christmas presents.