LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9991, 11 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Executive of the Maaterton Racing Club expect a record attendance at their race meeting next Thursday and Friday,, as visitors from all parts of the district have intimated their intention of attending, the meeting, at the Opaid Racecourse should present a most animated

scene. 1 An area of 125,214 acres of Grown i lands will be opened for selection during the month of March. In the Wellington Land District 60,900 acres will be offered, the greater area being in South Waimarino. At a South African Contingenters' ' re.union at Auckland, it was decided to ask the Defence Minister to reconsider Captain Knyvett's dismissal and to reinstate him in recognition of his past services to the Empire.! Kev. H. Mason, the Auckland "dowser" or water finder, asked by the Remuera Road Board to find water for them, indicated a spot, and boring proved that he had indicated correctly. A well has bee"n sunk 35 feet, and struck such a supply that a steam pump is necessary to keep the water down to'enable • the well to be deepened a few feet more. The season for trapping rabbits in \ Otago Province opens on the 14th inst., and there is every anticipation of its being one of the busiest on record. Blocks of land tor trapping are at a premium, and so great has been the.rush for areas that it is anticipated the number of men engaged in catching "bunny" thij season will exjeed four thousand. Several thousands of traps have already been forwarded to the country. In a country school notoi.e hundred miles from Dunedin an original and effective method of punishing a small boy for misbehaving was introduced recently. The '• ■ •*, who is a lady of more than ordinary culcure, having occasion to repri.na f, (i a small boy for acting in such tn u-'oentlemanly manner as to kick a g i playmate, and not wishing to r*-b t to corporal punishment, yet feeling the necessity of "pressing" the gravity uf the offence upon the culpric, kissed him. The face of the blushing and lesentful boy was a study, and it is expected that "the kiss for a blow" j demonstration will act as a deter- j rent. "With regard to the drink question in England," says Sir Robert Stout, "I believe that the distillers and the hotelkeepers in England are the rulers of the Conservative party, and that they were the most active influence in the rejection of the Budget. Mr Balfour himself said that there were two things in the Budget to which his main objections were given—the tax on land increment and the tax on licenses. That to some extent put the show away. It was the power and influence of the trade which have made* all this trouble. We in New Zaaland can have no concept tion of the influence wielded by the trade in England or of the appalling, extent of the traffic itself." ,•

n Mr R. Carpenter, who recently sold out of the "Waimate Witnesß,'Taranaki, is at preHent on a visit to Masterton. He will leave for Auckland on Monday next to take a position on the literary staff of the "Auckland Star." Exceptional heat was experienced inland on Wednesday last. The Government Survey party, whilst engaged in duties in the bush at the back of Pahiatua, found the thermometer readings, between the hours, of 2 p.m. nnd 4.30 p m., varied from 92 to 84 d - <-ees Fah. in the bash in jL the shade. It certainly was a most. M gasping tu.y, and pnbably the hot- >! test this summer. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, has stated that the proposed alterations of the timetable on the Napier-Wellington-Wanganui section will take effect on April Ist. The connection between Napier and New Plymouth in one day is to be j discontinued, hut passengers from either end will still be able to connect with the Main Trunk line on the dav following their departure. The usual meeting of Endeavour Lodge, I 0.G.T., was held last evening, Bro. King occupying the chair. A Routin business was transacted. One V member was initiated into th 3 Order. The pro .-ram me for the evening was "pound night" with humorous items. A very enjoyable evening was spent by all. Humourous items were contributed by Bros. H. King, W.J. Morris, J. Heyhoe, Sis. Miller and Sis. Flanaghan.

Some interesting matches were plaved on the Masterton Bowling Club's Green, yesterday afternoon. The green was- in splendid order, and there was a good attena- - %nce of bowling enthusiasts presentFor the "Backbs" the holders, Messrs J. L. Hughes, T. B. Hunter, J. Blinkhbrue and G. skip, succeeded in defeating the Challengers,. Messrs F. Harrison, A. Chapman, F. *t Staples and A. Henderson, skip, by fl 26—23. This game was a splendid one, both rink's being level at the 20th head. • In the champion teams -competition, Messrs J." C. Ewingtoth J. Scott, J. Cochrane and C. Perry, ! skip, 30, secured an easy victory over Messrs.P. Gordon, A. Haughey,. R. Rigg and J. Hunter, skip, 13. Another easy win for the "McEwen, Ferns" wa3 that of Mess's J. Carpenter and A. Mutrie, then score being 16 to their opponents'—Messrs. E. Feist and D. Guild—score of six. 'ln the semi-final ot the Junior i Handicap Singles, E. Pragnell beat IF. Harrison by the narrow margin ! of one point.

Mr Tl Shields Consul for the Wei- g Jington Swimming Association (Jen- M tre, and Instructor of the Life-saving: " Swimming Classes in the Empire City, was present at the Ladies' Swimming Carnival yesterday. Commenting on the various competitors,. Mr Shields said that he considered Miss Annie O'Leary's swimming and dicing performances were remarkably good, and, in his opinion, Miss O'Leary was one of the finest lady swimmers he had ever seen. Miss. O'Learys performance in the x Neatest Header event was likewise worthy of special mention, Mr Shields remarking that it was equal to any he had seen at men's swimming sports. Regarding the baths Mr Shields considerd they were bad for turning, on account of the steps all along the jfe. front entrance. He thought it would be better if the steps were-cut out, leaving only small parts in the corners. A better sprine board was also required, "otherwise," remarked Mr Shields io a representative of this \ paper, 1 "the Christina and Alice Memorial Baths are perfect, and if the above mentioned alterations were made they would equal any swimming baths in the Dominion." The finder of a driving glove, lost between Cole street and Upper Plait* road, will be rewarded oil leaving same at the Age office. An advertiser wants to buy twoyoung cows in full milk. Particulars may be sent to the Wairarapa Age *J Office. At the Masterton Auction Mart -' peacnes, tomatoes and grapes from Hawke's Bay are on sale at very low rates. At the residence No. 79 Pine street, ou Wednesday next, Mr J, K. Nicol will sell on account of Mr J. C, Scott, Government Koad Inspector, the whole of his household furniture and effects. Particulars will be advertised later. At the Masterton Auction Mart,, to-morrow, Mr J. R. Nicol will sell, under instructions from the D.0.A., in the estate of H. J. Jackson, a hoise, harness, trap and pack saddle; also on account of variou? vendors Jp miscellaneous goods. T All persons having accounts against the estate of the late Thomas Brown, of Waihi, Masterton, are requested to render the same to Messrs Gawitb and Logan, solicitors for the executors,, before the end of the current month.