LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9690, 14 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In 1909, states a Press Association telegram, »en places were totally or partially dastroyed by fire in Feildmg ani.l suburbs. The approximate value nf the property destroyed was £11,713 and the value of the insurances £7,980.

It will be remembered that recently the Masterton A. and P. Absociation called for competitive designs in connection with the new grandstand and buildings to be constructed at Solway. This was done, and the design submitted by Messrs Crichton and McKay, of Wellington, has been selected, the second competitor being Mr West, of Palmerston North.

A civil case in which D. Wylie sued J. Elder for £l2 16s 6d was ! heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr R. H. Turton, S. M. The claims was for balance alleged to be due on work done and goods supplied. Defendant paid into Court £1 10s and disputed the balance. Mr G. H. Cullen app ared for plaintiff and Mr C. A. Pownall for efendant. Defendant produced an account rendered for a certain amount, and the statement of claim showed this du.ount to have bean paid, though plaintiff set up that this was not for the sum actually sued for. Judgment was given for defendant. . "One of the outstanding features of the 33rd annual Cycle Show at the j Agricultural Hall, Islington, is," says the London .."Daily.' Mail," "a distinct tendency towards more enamel and less nickel-plate. Manufacturers are evidently realising that the cycle has ceased to be a finc-wea-ther plaything, and they aire showing all-black machinfes, to m t et the demand for cycles suitable" for allweather conditions. Special attention has been paid by many manufacturers to the brakework of ma chines. Its reliability has been increased and successful efforts have been made to free tfie working parts from friction and distortion. Brakes are now fixed in such a way as to cause a minimum of unsightliness to the machine.''

An unusual incident was witnessed at Caroline Bay on Saturday, says the "Timaru Post," in the shape of a bather returning from a swim seawards surrounded by several porpoises. The gay sportsmen of the briny deep showed not the slightest fear of the swimmer, but dived under him, over him, ahead of him, and behind bim in an exasperatingly familiar manner. Neeiless to say, the bather di 3 not tarry. Nevertheless, he had his revenge. Curiosity to know more of his queer white brother drew one porpoise close into shore. There was the usual backwash, and ere the fish had time to turn and flee, the water had left him a helpless stranger on a foreign Shore. The hastening of his end was a welcome task to one of the bather's friends.

At the Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, the Borough Council sued J. A. Kenall and Maud Dorset in respect of certain allotments owned by them, part of the Renall Estate. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr D K. Logari~for defendants It. was admitted that a certain small amount of arrears of rates was due by the Trustees of the estate for odd sections of unformed roads, etc. For the defence it was shown that part of the allotments sued upon were included in a larger area upon which rates had been paid (Messrs Abraham and Williams' sale yards, Upper Plan), and the parties now sued had paid rates based on the value of the balance of allotments, outside of the saleyards. The presiding Magistrate, Mr R. p. Turton, upheld this contention, and held that apparently the rates on the allotment sued upon bad already been settled, and gave judgment for defendants with costs £1 3s, in each case.

Major Boyd, in the "Brisbane Courier," describes his tour through Papua, and deals with the wonderful hold that cricket has over the young Papuans. We says: "We had some trouble in getting the carriers, as all the villagers, including the Samoan missionary, were engaged in paying cricket. The craze for cricket seems to have spread trom village to village all over civilised Papua. Where* ver we entered a village we invariably found a cricket match in progress. The singular feature about the play was that young natives who could not speak English had most of the English terms used in the game by heart. Thus one would hear 'Play!' 'Run!' 'Stop!' 'How's dat, umpire?' 'Out!' I must say that many of them handled a bat well and gracefully. The bowling was good, and very awift, and as ior the fielding, it was quite up to the average. The worst of this cricket mania, my guide told me, was that if carriers were wanted and they were playing a match r.o inducement would make them move until the game was over, li was becoming, he saiu, the curse of New Guinea."

There have, it is opposed by the "Christchurch always been people ready to dare, with mournful shaking of the heat', that "Canterbury cricket is not what it used to be." Often the best answer to such laments has been, "No, it never was." This year, however, the pessimists have matters all own way. To be beaten by nine wickets and by seven wickets in the same season by other provinces is a disaster probably without parallel in our provincial cricket annals. . .. There is always a clamour for young blood, but it is not always justified by events. The young players tried this year have not been much of a success. The truth is that the successful representative player is a rarer being than most people imagine. He must be not only a fine player, but have the peculiar temperament that enables a man to face the ordeal of a 'big occasion with good nerves and plenty of self-confidence. Skill can be imparted, but temperament cannot be, and the best we can do is to train young players as well as we can, and hope that from them will be thrown up a few specimens of good representative "timber," as the Americans say.

Mrs' F.JE. Groubs; of Kaituna,' h&sbeen- appointed postmistress of the Waingawa Post Office, vice MissDagg retiring. This office i? now open daily from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.

In the case McKae>y. Moore, which was partially heard at the Magistrate's Court, yfesterday, Mr C. T. Elers, native afvnr, acted as interpreter on behalf uf native witnesses.

At the meeting of the MastertoirJ, District Hieh School Committee last J evening, Messrs A. Hendry, H. J.JO'Leary, md C. Perry were appointed iiting members for the ensuing uionth.

Yesterday morning a horse attached to the milk cart of Mr J. S. Dawson bolted from opposite its owner's residence in Villa street for a short distance alone that thoroughfare, Mr Dawson being on the vehicle. In the compass of only a few chains the animal succeeded in' smashing the cart' considerably, spilling a large quantity of milk, injuring Mr Dawson severely on the face, cutting itself somewhat, and terrifying a number of children go-| ing to school. Its excited were temporarily arreoted hy its becoming astride one of the shafts. On being released it recommenced operations. and chased its owner openmouthed into a neighbouring yard, following e\en on to the verandah of a residence. Finally, it became subdued, after a large wllich assembled in the vicinity, had witnessed its extraordinary b?'havio 'r.

"Carrotty Anna!" w: s ttie peremptory catl made by ih orderly in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton, yesterday, when a certain witness was required. "he * mazed and amused crowd in the Couit exj.ecied to see a fiery hairtd female respond to the call, but it transpired the party wanted to give evidenc<£ " was a member of a well-known local Maori family named Karaitiaria. The Court officials should, in view of the "tongue twisters" they occasionally encountered, be si'rplied by the authorities with a frte copy of a Mauri vocabulary.

A Masterton resident, devoted to scientific study, is reported t<« have given so much and such successful attention to the problem of discovering a cheap but effectual explosive suitable for blasting and similar purposes that he has produced a composition which is said to , have proved - itself twice as powerful as and less than a fourth , the price of the best explosive aty[N, present on the market. He also, that his discovery will tionioe the cartridge world, as the explosive will be suitable for gunnery purposes. A proposition to manufacture the preparation in Masterton may yet be advanced, as several influential residents, Convinced of the merits of the explosive, have offered to subscribe liberally towards such an object.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Mr R. H. Turton, S.M., in his civil jurisdiction, gave judgment tor plaintiff by default in the following cases:—Boyd and Cook v. Edwin B. Wallworth, £4 5s lOd, costs £1 15s; Alpass and Co. v* Moana Paratene, 13s. costs 12s; pass and Co. v. Remini, 17s cost 12s; William Charles Page v*" T. Spackman, £lO lis, costs £i 10s 6d: Coradine and Whittaker v. A.

T. Spackman, £l2 ss, costs £1 10s 6d; J. L. Murray v. Edwin Wallworth, £3, costs £1 15s; Dr Cowie v. Miss Birkett, £4 4s, costs 10s? Levin and Co., Ltd., v. John Jones,. £l3 Is 6d, costs £ll 0s 6d. Orders on judgment summonses were made as follows:—Wm. Rooierkirk v. George Presswood, £2 7s, order made for payment forthwith, in default twodays''imprisonment; Charles Sargant Ball v. Kuku Karaitiana, £3 12s 6d, order made for payment forthwith, in default two days imprisonment.

An advertiser wishes to purchase rape ur grazing. A reward is offered for the r covery of a pug dog lost in Masterton.. Messrs Wagg and Co. require a boy for paint shop, and a youth as labourer.

Claims for enrolment on the Masterton Trust Lands Voters' List must be lodged with the secretary on or before January 31st, 1909. - Genuine bargains in high grade boots are obtainable at the W.F.C.A. The stock is a large one, making the selection of one's requirements an easy matter.

Great preparation has been made to deal with the crowd of buyers that will doubtless attend the sale of dr% pery and clothing which opens at d| Smith's Masterton store this morlß ing-

Ease and'comfort for the feet "is what moist men and women. look for in their boota or shoes. Provision is made for this in footwear purchased at Carpenter's Central Boot Store.

An abundant water supply is assured to all those who have a "Titan" windmill about the premises. Mr C. E. Daniell will supplyenquirers with all particulars in reference to cost of same.

Judging from the successful opening days of Murray's sale at the Exchange Buildings, there are hundreds of residents in this town and district who are quick to note bigH gains in drapery. The staff has befV kept busy attending to buyers, baR those who have not yet visited the sale are assured that the bargains are as numerous as ever.

A special sale of ladies' btouses is now proceeding at Mr J. Heyhoe's Masterton store, and from point of variety and quality the goods are all that could be desired. Mr fleyhoe finds that he is overstocked in this line, and in order to assure a clearance he has cut prices down to bedrock. Ladies of Masterton and district should make a point of inspecting the display of blouses, for it is beyond doubt that the goods are so tempting and the prices so low that those who see them will make a purchase.

The special lines for to-morrow at Cole and Westerman's sale of drapery and clothing are set out in a series of advertisements on page 1 0 f this issue. The continued success of the sale goes to prove that there is something really atractive in the bargains now being offered. The window display, in which-every article is marked in plain figures, is convincing as to the genuineness of, the price reductions, showing a saving of from 10 to 60 per cent, on usual nricea Amongst the special lines for to-dav-pe men's white linen dress shirts induced to half price.

There is not an inferior article in the whole of Mr A. Hendry's stock of mercery and clothing. A glance at the window displays in his new premises is sufficient to satisfy one of the superior nature of the goods. Mr Hendry recently secured a line of manufacturers' samples at a very low price, and the goods are now being offered at prices which should attract buyers.