LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9995, 16 March 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Raglan settler estimates that several hundred pounds' worth of grass and clover seed are eaten by quail in that country alone every season. Claims upon the West of England Steamship Owners' Protection and Indemnity Association in respect to the crew of the Waratah will, it is estimated, amount to £14,500:'

The Masterton racecourse presents quite an animated scene, each morning, as a very large number of horses have recently arrived from all parts of the Dominion. Given fine weather the club should have record attendances at the Opaki racecourse tomorrow and Friday next.

There is on view in the shop window of Mr D. Walfah, the goldmounted whip presented by Mrs C. F. Vallance to the successful gentleman rider in the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap event at the forthcoming Masterton races. The mounting and engraving i-s a most artistic piece of workn ship.

A Te Aroha firm has just effected the sale of the fine Burkedale Estate at Waihou to Mr Cipriano Cardenus.a gentleman recently from Switzerland and formerly a resident of Colombia, South America. Mr Cardenus has decided to establish a stud dairy stock farm with a herd from Switzerland and Normandy, and he will shortly proceed to Europe for the purpose of selecting the animals.

At the conferance of district commanding officers, which has finished ita sittings in Wellington on the new Defence Act, the following board was appointed to select two training grounds (one in the North and one in the South Island): —Mr W. C. Kensington, 1.5.0., UnderSecretary for Lands, Mr J. Strauchon, Surveyor-General, and Colonel Tuson.

Thus a correspondent to the editor of the "Hawera Star" Re your remarks on native husbandry it may be interesting to learn that a native supplier (Ngthe Tiwai) has topped the test for the last four Kf months at the Meremere factory, which shows that the Maori not only keers good cattle, but knows how to handle them to best advantage. Several natives are supplying milk at Ohangai, and the tests are good in each case."

The final meeting of the Catholic Social Committee was held in St. Patrick's School, last evening, whe everything was reported to be going well in connection with the function arranged for Thursday night. The box plan is filling rapidly, and a full house is assured. A rehearsal, in which all those taking part in the concert, will be present, will be held this evening. Messrs J. C. McKillop, T. McCrackea and H. Richards, were appointed M.C.'s for the dance, which will follow immediately after the concert in the Drill Hall,

Booking for Europe promise to be heavy this year, says the "Post;-" The Maknra, sailing in April for Vancouver, will be a full ship; the Marama, sailing this month, is nearly a full ship; and a fair number are already offering for the Manuka, which sails in May. The March and April steamers by other routes are also filline. This will probably ,iesult in more attention being paid to the alternative service by the Mokoia via Tahiti, thence to San Francisco by the Mariposa—a route of whose advantages many people are not fully aware.

The overdraft on the general account of the Masterton Borough Council, as submitted at last night's meeting is £5,872 16s lid. There are balances on loan accounts in the hands of the Treasurer amounting to. £3,025 0s Bd, reducing the at date to £2,547 16s 3d. The general accounts in credit are library £43 5s lOd, deposits £361 10s, tarmac £27 2s, waterworks £409 19s Bd, abatttoir £368 3g 7d, special drainage £3B 17s 4d, Bannister street, £49 15s Bd. Accounts, dr., are Gasworks £BB4 2s 2d, Hosking Bath £35 5s Id, loan (£25,000), ' £l4l 16s Bd. The amount of rates collected amount to £7,601 14s 7d, arrears £1,767 14s 6d.

Last week a Sydney auctioneer was the victim of a clever swindle. He had a property at Watson's Bay for sale, apd on Tuesday a young man called on him, and stated < that his father was an American millionaire, about to visit Australia, and hadbx instructed him to acquire property with a water frontage. The proper %f at Watson's Bay, of which a photograph was in the auctioneer's window, would, he said, just suit. The auctioneer and the prospective buyer visited the property, and the price fixed was £4,500. They returned to the city, and the your.g man wrote out an open cheque for £I,OOO to clinch the transaction. Both apparently satisfied, they lunched together at an adjoining hotel, where the youth filled in a cheque for several pounds, but the hotelkeeper demurred to taking the cheque, and the auctioneer endorsed it. The money was then paid over by the Next morning the owner of the w perty visited the auctioneer's office, and on being shown the cheque for £1,000; instructed the auctioneer to cash it, retain his commission of £125, and pay the balance into his (the owner's) account. A lad wa3 sent round to the bank, and returned with the information that there was no such account, and almost simultaneously came a message from the hotelkeeper that his cheque had been returned.

Writing on this subject isi the "Atlanta Georgia," Mr E. J. Ridgway, of "Everybody's Magazine," says that:—Editorials have not the influence they once had. Not because editors are not as sincere and ab\er< as were they of the old school, but because the audience has chameJ. And for this the newspapers themselves are largely responsible. Today the news is collected so rapidly and thoroughly and presented so interestingly and ably t/iat the average man knows mord about his times and understands the significance of the news better than did che average editors of fifty years ago. The reader says to the editor: "If you know of any facts ot an earlier day or in the experience of other peoples that will help us to interpret events from day to day, let us have them. As for your theories you are welcome to them. We have no^time for them." 4nd so it has come about that the per/"'*** aonality of the editor is merged Mk the machine. The ideal newspaper P& " an emotionless machine. The ideal is never the leal. It is what we are working towards. I believe the men who run the threshing machines give more and more attention to keeping the chaff and cockle out of the wheat and less and less ti the bakery end of the business. More and more) they- give us the facts, 4nd letfjjis do ourowfi thinking, and let us bake our own bread.-

The annual meeting of the Masterton Football Club will be held on

Wednesday, 23id, at 8 p.m.. in the * Y.M.C.A. Kooms. All members and

intending members are invited to attend.

Advice has been received from headquarters, by the Stationmaster at Greytown, that the Government has no intention of stopping the running of the trains on the GreytownWoodside branch line.

The Opaki Rifle Club intend to hold the second field dav of the season on Easter Monday. The final competition for the championship trophies will be fired at the same time.

The Wellington Farmers' Meat Company have appointed Mr W. Cobeldick, as clerk of works, for the the freezing works to be erected at Waingawa.

The Secretary of the Mt. Holdsworth Track Committee (Mr W. M. Easthops). has received a letter from the Tourist Department, stating that the £SO allocated is now available for expenditure.

Among the witnesses in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, in a case in which, amung other matters, an old cottage was concerned, was the father of seventeen chihhen. Witness expiainfd that three of his children slept in the cottage, "because they overflowed, aod he had to put them somewhere."

The concert programme to be rendered at the Knox Church Garden Party is in the hands of Mr K. J. Young, a fact which is in itself a guarantee that those present will be pleased with the selections. Among the competitions will be a number of novelties, specially arranged by the Committee.

Mr H. J. Pollock, President of the Wellington Harriers, and a member of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, will be in Masterton to-day and Thursday. While in town he will endeavour to liven matters up locallv in connection w.tb harrier running.

Airangements have been made for brakes to run to the Garden Party at Mr McLpren's srrounds. to-mor-row, leaving Mr Rankin's corner at 2.30 and 3 p.m. The fare is sixpence. A brake will also leave the railway gates at 9.30 for the convenience of those who will go out early to arrange details, calling at the Church at 9.45 a.m. Workers are requested to make a note of this.

The Chinese believe that a man's children suffer for bis sins in various ways, said Mr Hwang, "and if a merchant gives short weight the sin may result in his descendants having tiny eyes, or very flat noses, or limbs out of proportion." Apparently this is a punishment on kindergarten principles—short weight in goods for the customer, short allowance in features lor the children.

During the hearing of a case at the Magistrate's Court, Chriatchurch, involving betting and racing, Mr Cassidy remarked that most people made wagers on the racecourse. "Do you wish me to believe," the Magistrate asked, "that everyone who goes to the course goes there to bet? 'The others are the exceptions,' replied Mr Cassidy. "Then what is the country coming to?" demanded the Magistrate. Advices have been received by the Mines Department of the discovery, on Crown land, in the interior of the North Island, of a valuable seam of coal. Samples of the coal have been sent to Wellington, and examined by experts, "whose reports, it is understood, are distinctly favourable. Full tests are to be made, both as to the extent of the seam and the quality of the coal. Meanwhile the Lands Department has reserved the reported seam, and a large adjoining area from sale.

The proposal of the Government to lease the seal tisheriee on the islands adjacent to the coast*of New Zealand has nut yet been carried out. Only one tender was received, and that was for the right to take seals on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands, but it was not considered satisfactory, and had not been accepted. Meanwhile the close season for seals has, by Order m-Council, gazetted, been extended from June 30th next to June 30th, 1911.This Order-in-Councilcan, however, be revoked if circumstances arise to make such a step advisable.

The ordinary meeting of St. Michael's branch of the H A.C.B.S was held in the Foresters' Hall last evening, President Bro. L. Richards in the chair. One member was initiated, and two friends proposed for membership. Bro. O'Leaiy, one of the founders of rbe Lodge in Maslerton, has donated a gold medal to the Brother introducing the largest number of new members during the ensuing year, which will be the twenty-first "year since the foundation of the Lodge here. After the Lodge business was transacted, the annual smoke concert was held, the P.P. presiding. A pleasant evening was spent, Hongs and. recitations being rendered by Bros. Flavin. Allen, O'Regan, O'Dowd, Connor, B. Chapman, and Mr C J. Mackellar. The following toast list was duly honoured:—"The day we celebrate," Bro, B. Chapman --Bro. O'Regan; "H.A.C.8.5.," Mr C. J. McKellar—Brc. W, Redmond; "Kindred Societies." Bra. Treader —Bro. O'Dowd; "The Ladies," Bro. Cunningham—Bro J. Cummins; "The Press"

Early last year considerable interest was aroused in South Canterbury hy a case in which a famer named Selbie obtained £4O damages with costs, from Arthur James Manchester, of Waimate, for the death of his daughter. The case was the out come of an accident which occurred j on Feopie's Day of of the Timaru i Show in October, 1908, when a trap in which Mr Selbie and his daughter were seated collided with a gig driven by a young man named Shaw The young woman wa« thrown out of the trap and run over and killed by a motor car driven by Mr Manchester. Manchester ar.d Shaw were joined as defendants to tbe action for damages, and the hearing of the claim by the Supreme Court in Timaru occupie i several days, seven counsel being engaged by the parties. Eventually Mr Justice Denniston gave judgment for £4OO against one of the deftndnats, leaving the selection of the defendant to the plaintiff, who decided that Manchester should pay the .damage's Mr Manchester has now . lodged notice of appeal, against the x decision of Mr Justice Denniaton.

i The funeral of the late Mr G. M. Lister took place at the Masterton Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The Rev. Bain Macdorald conducted the service at the graveside.

After considering numerous representations made to him by merchants and farmers in the South Island, the Minister for Railways (Hon, J. A. Millar) has decided that the maximum gross weight of sacks of grain carried on the railway shall be 206 lb per sack, as at pre3ent, but the Danalty will no longer vary with the distance the produce is carried. A uniform penalty of £3 per truck will be imposed whenever the maximum gross weight is exceeded.

Mr J. V. Gordon, dispensing chemist, publishes a list of special remedies for special complaints.

An advertiser offers a home to a respectable middle-aged person in exchange for her company.

Contractors and others interested are reminded that tenders close at noon, on Saturday next, with Messrs Varnham and Rose, architects, Jfor the erection of a manager's residence at the Masterton Gasworks.

The household furniture and effects of Mr J. C. Scott, Government Road Inspector, who is leaving Masterton, will be sold this afternoon by Messrs J. McQueen and Sons, at the residence, 79 Pine street.

Fifty pounds reward is offered by Mr J. L. Murray, for such information as will lead to the conviction of the person who threw the stone now exhibited in one of the large plate glass windows at the clothing store, Nos. 111, 113 and 115, next Club Hotel, Masterton.

A very fine display of e\ening shoes is at present being made by Mr J. Kitchener at his shop in Queen street. The new lines, besides being the lateat stlyes possess the qualities so essential to this class of shoe, viz., comfort and,durability. Inspection is invited.

The classes in connection witn the Masterton Technical School will open lor the current year on Monday evening next, 21st inst. Students desirous of taking up free places at these classes must bring their certificates of proficiency with them. The time-table of classes will be published later.

A first-class Nelson property is advertised for sale by Messrs H. Masemaim end Co., land and estate agents, Wanganui The property comprises a magnificent homestead and freehold farm of 630 acres, only two miles from town by a good road. A ' low price is quoted and easy terms are offered.

The Gladstone Hotel, which is conducted by Mr C. G. White, is run on exemplary lines. Good meals are provided for travellers, aad only the best brands of liquor are stocked. Light refreshments may be obtained at any hour of the day, the proprietor being only too glad to facilitate the pleasure of the travelling public. In an advertisement, appearing elsewhere, it is mentioned that good fishing may be obtained in the vicinity of the hotel, as many an angler knows by previous pleasing experience. The drive from Masterton to Gladstone is both pleasant and interesting. To rid the dinmg-room of flies; sprinkle INSECTTBANE on live coals, and whip the smoke with a towel.