LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9687, 11 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

ihe next Government parade of the Masterton Mounted Rifles will be held to-morrow evening. ' The mails which left Wellington on the 3rd December, per the s.s. Warrimoo, and connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mails per the R.M.S. Mongolia, arrived in London ou the afternoon of the 7th January, due date. A Raglan farmer, who has recently lost over 200 sheep, emphatically declares they have been stolen, as their complete disappearance would be a physical impossibility otherwise. This serious allegation he is backing up'by an offer of £3O for information which will lead to the conviction of the persons concrened in their removal. Economies totalling £700,00 have been effected in the working expenses of the railways during the first year of office of the present Minister, the Hon. J. A. Millar, who has further expressed his intention of cutting down expenditure. He pruposes to convene a conference of district traffic managers as soon as the financial year closes, to consider a scheme to reduce the goods service to wayside stations. A curious action is pending against Prince Furstenberg, an intimate friend of the Emperor William. One day last summer (the London "Daily Telegraph" states) the Prince's two eldest sons were bathing in Lake Constance, and their French tutor, who was in charge of them, put out in a boat to watch them. Apparently in a larking spirit, the youths caught hold of the side of the boat and began to rock it from side to side. Unfortunately, it was capsized in the process, and the occupant was thrown into the water. He was unable to swim, and before he could be rescued he sank and was drowned. , His relatives are now claiming £5,000 compensation from the Prince. The case will be tried at Cunstance. i

The Minister for Marine (Hon. J. A. Millar) cannot see his way to recommend Cabinet to equip a vessel to continue the survey of the New Zealand coast, at an initial outlay of £40,000. He thinks that the Government might, however, come to an arrangement with the Admiralty to resums the survey work carried out by H.M.S. Penguin at a coat to New Zealand of £24,000.

The ordinary meeting of the Oddfellows' Lodge was held last evening, Bro P. Smith. N.G., being in the chair. One member was duly initiated into the Order, and three others were proposed for admittance. The officers for the ensuing six months were duly installed by P.G. Bro P. Smith as follows:—N.G., Bro. A. E. Wilton; V.G., Bro. A. Wheeler; E.S., Bro. J. L. Hughes. Bro. P. Smith announced his intention of presenting a gold medal to the member who during the current year proposes the most new members, and attends the Lodge meetings. A Hastings cattle drover made a "swap" of an 18-month collie to a Hawera resident and forwarded the dog to its destination about a week ago. On Thursday last, says the Napier "Telegraph," < the animal, footsore an very exhausted, arrived back again at its quarters in Hastings, after finding its way by instinct over country it had never travelled in the open.

Maitre Benezech : one of the foremost women barristers in France, and one of the first women admitted to the Pans Bar, contributes a paper to "The World" on L'Affaire Steinheil, in which she remarks that the "widow's lips are sealed, but not for long. Mdme. Steinheil is inconsequent and frivolous, and when the moment of danger is past she will again become a heedless gossiper. The affaire is not terminated by the verdict of the jury."

'! tie "canteen question" has permeated even the agricultural show waters. At a meeting of the Feilding Show Committee last week a letter wbs received from Mr R. J. Thompson, stating that he had writtei early last year declining to contribute further to the funds of the Association until the sale of strong drinks was discontinued. As he was again asked for a membership fee, he thought the letter could not have reached the secretary. Harvesting in the south has been hurried forward by the heat of .last week, which ripened crops rapidly. In some instauces the oat crops are in stook. The cocksfoot seed on Banks Peninsula is not expected to be so good as was the case last season, and some of the fields show a considerable mixture ot tares and fog. The seed area has been reduced on account of the increase of dairying and a fear of scarcity of labour to gather the seed. • The blight scare which caused Sydney and Melbourne to place an embargo upon the importation of Tasmanian potatoes has had the effect that was predicted at the time, lasmanians have abandoned the homely tuber to a great extent and taken to dairying. The area of land under potatoes, which last year was 38,648 acres, has now dwindled to about 20,000 acres. The point has an interest for New Zealand potato growers, who might have feared lasmanian competition.

| . The St. Petersburg correspondent | of the "Petit Journal" reports that j in the hamlet of Novovozdwischen, i near the town of Sapege, during the festivities at the marriage of a young farmer, a violent fire broke out whilst the guests were engaged-in a Russian round dance. Tee fire spread so rapidly that the dancers found their retreat cjt off by the flames. Eleven of the guests were burned to death, and*although the lives ot the newlywedded couple were saved, they were both so terribly burned that they had to be taken to the hospital at Sapege. "New Zealand is a good country," said Mr Peck, of New York, who was one of the passengers by the illfated Waikare, "and as an instance of their advertising I may mention that there were five Americans and twenty-five Britishers on board who came to the Dominion for this particular Sounds trip." Continuing, he said that he was a frequent traveller, and on his present trip alone had been to Honolulu, Canada, Japan, China, Philippine Islands and Australia. Auckland harbour, he said, was one of the finest things he had seen, and thß trip up Otago Harbour between Port Chalmers and Dunedin was also beautiful. The feeling of indignation over the Knyvett case is growing very hot in Auckland, and some further exciting developments are persistently rumoured. It is freely stated that the "strike" of Captain Knyvett's company is to be followed by similar occurrences amongst the other ■volunteers, and that shoals of telegrams have been despatched to the Prime Minister urging an inquiry into the wjiole affair. Moreover, strong objection is being taken to one of the officers who sat as a .member of the Court of Inquiry, it being alleged that he is a native of Germany, and that, therefore, he should never have been appointed to a court to try a British officer.

A correspondent writes:—On Saturday afternoon a party of 14, coniascing of Mr and Mrs J. W. Compton, Miss Fifield (Woodbury, S.C.), Miss L. Briarly, luiss Harvey, Miss N. Anderson (NapLn, Miss E. Thampson, (Hastings), Messrs L, E. and D. Wilton, J. Mc,"ahee, K. Hatch, O. Harvey and Master E. Briarly, left Clareville for a trip to Mt. Holdsworth and arrived at the mountain house in the evening. A start was made at 3.30 the next morning, and the top was reached a little after five. The party did not get a good view from the top owing to a boisterious wind blowing and heavy mist hanging above the snow line. The track is in good order with the exception of a few boggy places, which require attention, and with very little trouble could easily be repaird. Mr Compton, who has been to the top on numerous occasions, states that the journey up now is nothing to what it used to be in the ear'y days. The mountain hou3e is a great convenience. Several parties from Masterton were also making the journey, no less than 41 people; being counted on the Uack oni the; eighth. At the present time the flowers and mountain shrubs are all out in bloom, ana the trip in fine weather is an excellent one.

Mr J. M. Coradine was swofn in* as a Justice of the Peace by Mr R. H. Turton, S.M., yesterday morning.. A Press Association telegram states that Stephen Hobbard, a farmer, of Southbridge, was found hanging by the neck, dead in his stable yesterday morning. The annual picnic of the Master--ton and Pahiatua Catholic parishes - r is to be held at Newman on February- ) 3rd. Arrangements are well in hand, _: and given favourable weather thegathering sl."uld be a decided success. Yesterday morning Messrs J. C.Cooper (chaim-an of directors of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Com* pany), W. B. Chenoells and W. H; Cruickshank, were engaged in mak--I ing a canvass of the town for the i balance of the £5,000 worth of pre--j ferentiai shares in the new Meat Company Although orly out for a short time, their efforts were attended with most encouraging results. Yesterday morning a three-year-J old son of Mr Robert Russell had a""' narrow escape fiom poisoning. His j father had placed some "Rough-on-I rats" in a paper on a shelf, and the I boy got on a chair and secured pos- . session of the package, some of the contents of which he swallowed Fortunately Mr L. H. Lewis, of the St. John Ambulance Society, happened' to be present and at once aamihis- , tered an emetic, which counteracted, the action of the poison, and the boyv > is out of danger. Arrangements in connection withthe Garden Fete, that is to be held in Mr W. H. Beetham's grounds in Perry Street, on Thursday, ? 20th inst, are practically complete, lea,, coffee and c< Id drinks will be oispen>. sed, while among the attractions will', be a number <\f well-appointed stallsand various competitions of an interesting nature. A Maypole dance is to Ibe included in the programme of | events, and an open-air concert is to jbe held in the evening. Altogether the Fete gives promise of being quitean unqualified success. The monthly meeting of the Directors of the Workers' Mutual Building Society was held at Mr A. Hathaway's office, Hall street, last evening. There were present:—Messrs R. Krahagen (chairman), W. H. Cole A. Gardner, J. W. Gordon and A. K. Johnston. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. Prentice and T. S.„Cresswell. The trea- / surer reported a credit balance in ' the bank of £541. It was resolvedl to } '■ hold a ballot for £3OO free of interest on Thursday, January 27th. A notification was received from a shareholder that he intended to pay off his mortgage as soon as the necessary legal arrangements could be made. Mr Reuall applied to withdraw his subscription money, the request being granted. A reward is offered for the recovery of a gold crescent brooch set with rubies. MrF.P. Welch has vacancies for a married couple, bushfellers, gardeners and generals. Particulars of several farms fo£ sale or lease are advertised by Mr J. B. Keith, land and estate agent, Masterton. A general meeting of members of S. Matthew's Cricket Clulß will be held on the Schoolroum, at 8 o'clock, to-night. In the Wanted Column to-day Messrs Cole and Westermau give some particulars of special lines being offered at their bargain sale. Particulars of a handy farm of 470 acres held unJer lease-in-perpetuity are advertised by Messrs Cochrane and Butement. Particulars of two cows strayingon the property of Mr G. E. Allen, Main road, Taratahi, are advertised, on page 1 of this issue. .v„. Special muslin values are quoted' by Messrs McGruer and Co,, drapers,. Masterton. The firm's advertisement,, which appears elsewhere, will give full particulars. Fish suppers and meals---as required! are supplied by Mr A. Tester, at the Pahiatua Fish and Oyster Saloon, which is situated opposite the Club and Commercial Hotels. Mr Newton King, auctioneer, New Plymouth, advertises for sale a six-horse power engine, threshing mill, chaffcutter and bagger, whare, water cart and extras. Authority is given by the Masterton Borough Council to the Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club Jto charge for admissipn to the Masterton Park on Monday, 24th instant. jfure, wholesome, dainty and delicious is the verdict of all who use K jams, the product of the best Nelson fruits and made with the utmost care by Messrs Kirkpatrick and Co., ' Ltd., Nelson. The Wellington Meat Export C 0.,. Ltd., announce elsewhere that they are prepared to purchase fat sheep,, lambs and cattle, either at per head |or by weight, they will give clients every facility to freeze and « ' ship on their own account. A list of-, the Company's buyers will be in the advertisement. «B

In another column Mr C. T. native and commission agent, whose offices are situate in Queen street,. Masterton, has a business notice. Mr Elers, who is thoroughly conversant with the native language, annouuces that native business will be promptly attended to in any part of New Zealand. Mr Gerald C. Brandon announces 'that the next quarter tor pupils will commence on Monday, January 17th. Mr Branson's studio is No. 4, Exchange Buildings, and those wishing to take lessons in voice production, singing, elocution and diphragmatic breathing may meet *k Mr Branson at the above address. In another column Messrs Krahagen and Chapman, tailors, notify clients and others that they are now booking orders for the Show dates, and invite early application to avoid disappointment. The firm has a large and well selected stock of up tweeds and worsted, which are dis- ■ played to the best advantage, and in such a way that selections are easily made by clients. Messrs Krahßgea [ and Chapman claim that they have now the public's confidence by highclass goods and-superior workmanship, and as their persona] super- : j| vision is given to all orders natisfac- jM tion is guaranteed. *'

MrW. Jfauling, tailor, can be relied upon lo build a suit that will give satisfaction from the wearer from all points. He is prepared to take orders at his Masterton establishment from those requiring suits for the Masterton show. The land agency firms of C. C. Ross and Co. (Masterton) and Hunter, Schultze' and Gibson (Napier) have amalgamated. A combination **©f sucn enterprising firms should re- ; suit in good all round business. A \full exchange of property lists will be made, and prospective buyers passed from the Wairarapa to Hawke's Bay and .vice versa. The sale of drapery and clothing at Messrs Cole and Westerman's has been eminently successful, the public having realised'that great Bargains were obtainable. During the present week special inducements are to be offered the public to make libers! purchases, and the management will not turn cash away. Country residents are particularly requested to pay a visit to the store, note the -—quality of the goods ard compare Drices. To those who cannot attend personally, but who remit cash to the amount of 20s, and over, goods will be forwarded tree of charge. —