LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 987, 5 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Competitors are reminded that entries for the Carnival to be held on Thursday next in the Christina and Alice Memorial Baths in connection with the Masterton Ladie's Swimm ing Club will close to-night at 9 o'clock with the Secretary, Miss Gillespie, Academy Buildings.

A meeting of the Catholic Social Committee was held last night, the Kev. Dean McKenna presiding. All arrangements were reported to be well in hand. Mr Dave Kenny, Wele ington's great humourist, is expected to ba present, and will contribute several items. Mr Karry Hall will also add to the amusement of the evening in his usual capable style. As the dance will be the first of the season, every effort will be made to make it enjoyable. At the Y.M.C.A Strangers' Tea, at five o'clock, to-morrow afternoon, Rev. A. T. Thompson, 8.A., 8.D., will deliver a farewell address. The address should be of particular interest on account of the fact that Kev. Thompson during his absence will represent Masterton and other Y.M.C.A.'s as delegate at the British Conference of the Y.M.C A. in Liverpool. AH men are cordially invited.

Apparently Lord Kitchener formed his opinions regarding the value of Fort Jervois as the main defence of Port Lyttelton within two minutes after entering its galleries, for he is reported to have flashed out the significant remarks: '.'This fort is obsolete. It must have been built from a text-book.'' He, of course, gave no indication as to what his ideas on the fort's requirements in defence works were, but if he recommended any scheme it is thought fairly certain it will be in the direction ot placing efficient fortificatiors in the vicir.ity of Godley Head. The German fire insurance companies doing busini S3 in San Francisco at the time of ih>> earthquake did not succeed, as the .'ritish companies did, to turn that catastrophe into a huge advertisement ior them- : selves. Indeed, outstanding claims in j respect to the San Francisco conflagration to the amount of £660,000 have only just been settled bv one of the great German insurance companies on a 25 per cent, basis. This particular company had total insurances in force in San Francicso risks of £5800,000, and judgment was given locally against the company; but the German courts held that the American courts had no jurisdiction in the matter, and that cases should betaken io Germany. Rather than adopt this course, some seven hundred policyholders have agreed to accept the terms offered, but others who are interested to the extent of £140,000 are determined to bring their claims before the German courts for the. full amount. This action on the part of the Gferjiian companies is in striking contrast to the prompt settlement in full of all claims for which the British offices were held iiabl . ,

A fine crop of potatoes, some thirty acres in extent, is to he seen at Ka~ kare, West Taratahi. The Very Rev. Dean McKenna returned last eve/iing from Auckland, 1 where he had been to attend the funeral of the late Bishop Lerrihan. It is stated that the output of dairy produce in North Canterbury has more than doubled during the past two yearj. The funeral of the late Mrs J. Blackley t ->ok place at the Masterton Cemeter. yesterday afternoon. A number < i relatives and friends were present, und the service at the graved side was conducted by the Rev. A. T.j Thompson, 8.A., B.D. The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club will hold their second race today, when the birds will be liberated! (at one o'clock from the Summit. No \ less than 42 birds will be forwarded! |by the first train this morning to compete in the competition. The piano used at the Methodist Concert on Thursday evening, was kindly lent by the Drescen Piano Company, for whom Messrs Inns and! i Goddard are the local agents. Tha j thanks of the promoters of the con-' cert are also tendered to all tnosQ performers who assisted to make tha i . entertainment the success it was, % To-day is the last day of Mr PJ I Hamill's great slaughter sale o£ 5 j drapery and clothing. Goods are be^ - j ing sacricfied regardless of cost, in . ' order to make room for the «hip-j I ments of new goods now arriving.] 4 r j Remnants are going at half * and town and country residents are - invited to call and inspect the splen-' 1 did range of goods being offered.

Specif?! arrangements for the successful carrying out of Knox Sunday bchool Anniversary have been made as usual suitable music has been prepared, which the young folks are] singing excellently. Sunday will be the Rev. A. T. Thompson's last ser-, vices in Knox Church for some months, and being the children's anniversary Sunday, no doubt the church will be crowded at all services. On Monday evening the usual social will be held in the hall, when a good programme of music and items by the children will be given.

The largest farm in New Zealand,' Longbeach, is now reduced to six thousand acres. Speaking of average crops the manager says:—"The best average yield we had here was in 1901, when the wheat went fifty bushels to the acre all over, and the worst was in 1908, which was the second of two very dry seasons, and them the average yield went down to about twenty-two bushels to the acre, a tremendous drop. The biggest total of wheat taken off the farm was in 1899, when the yield was 300,000 bushels. Our record for oats was in 1901, when they averaged 99 bushels per acre."

A well-attended meeting of poultry farmers interested in the promotion of a Wairarapa Egg Circle was held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, last evening, Mr T. H. Rutherfurd occupying the chair. Mr W. E. Chamberlain, of Chamberlain and Son, attended and gave information as to the prices at which his firm were prepared to supply members of the Circle with various poultry foods, Mr Chamberlain was thanked for his attendance and trouble in the matter. The following committee were appointed:—■ Messrs 1. H. Rutherfurd (Chairman),! J. McCausland (Clareville), W. P. Simpson, T. Edge, C. A. Hauberg.' Mr H. M. Boddington was appointed honorary Secretary. At a subsequent meeting of the committee the secre-' ary was instructed to write to sev-« eral firms in Wellington relative to taking up the agency for- the Circle.' A smart young lady for sales is required by Messrs Hugo and Sherear late J. L. Murray, Exchange Buildings. Queen street. Tenders close on Monday for the erection of a stable at Tiraumea, Alfredton. Plans and specifications may be seen at Messrs Knight Bros., Eketahuna. A meeting of S. Matthew's Club will be held in the Schoolroom on Tuesday evening next, at eight o'clock, to make final arrangements in connection with the Hockey Club. All the latest and prettiest styles in children's millinery are now to be seen in the windows of Mr A. Norman, Queen street. There is also a choice selection of ladies' fancy ties and collars. On Wednesday next at the residence Cornwall street, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell on account of Mr C. J. Ashton, who is leaving Masterton, the whole of his well-selected household furniture. Leading lines are enumerated in advertisement, in which a note is made that the goods are all in first-class order. At thfl Masterton Auction Mart. this afternoon, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell on account of the Masterton Fire Board the premises in Queen J street, occupied by Messrs J. Smith | and Sons. The buildings are to be j removed from the present site withj in fourteen days from date of sale. 1 1 'An attractive display at special ! prices" is the text of a new adverj tisement inserted rsy Mes*srs Hugo and Sherear, Jate J. L. Murray, Exchange Buildings, Queen street. The display includes new season's novelties, in neckwear, dainty Swiss embroideries, new autumn millinery and new season's ladies' coats. The Rev. A. Hodge announces the first of the last four of the "Path of History" series which he has been dealing with at the morning service to morrow in the Congregational Church, viz., the story of Queen Esther or the power of intecessory prayer." The evening subject will be based upon the text from Rev. 14 13, followed by the communion service.

A reminder is given of the auction sale of Lansdowne property to be held this afternoon by Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., when acting under instructions form Mr Tai Te Tau, they will offer about 36 acres adjoinine his residence at Lansdowne. The sale presents an. exceptional opportunity to those, desirous of securing, at a reasonable mte, a small farm or .a residential section in' this 'popular suburb of MaaUrton. The sale will be held upstairs in the offices of the auctioneers, j at two o'clock this afternoon. f*