LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10074, 21 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie roads [around Masterton have been considerably cut up a3 the result of the recent rain.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M P., has donated the sum of one guinea to the funds of the local branch of the Navy League.

Ploughing operations are well forward in the Te Ore Ore district at present. They will, however, probably receive a temporary set-baclc on account of the recent rain.

Dr. Valintirie, Inspector-General of Hospital", arrived in Masterton Fast evening, and to-day will meet a sub-committee of the Wairarapa Hospital Board and discuss matters connected with the Grey town Hos; pital, .

After the annual meeting of the Masterton Fire Board yesterday, the members inspected the new Fire Brigade Station now in course of erection, and expressed themselves as very pleased with the progress made by the contractors. They also inspected the station in Church Street.

The break which occurred about two months ago (in the overhead wire connecting Gape Maria Vau Diemen with the mainland has not yet been repaired*. The Government steamer Hinemoa, which has been up to the North with the object of restoring communication, has been unsuccessful in her efforts owing to continued bad weather prevailing in the vicinity.

Keference to the New Zealand law with reference to art unions was made in the annua! report of the Art Union of London, presented to a meeting on April 28th. The report expressed regret that recent amendments of the New Zealand law had made it technically illegal for the society's agents in New Zealand to rceeive subscriptions for the prize drawing. In moving the adoption of th report, the chairman, the Earl of Plymout'i, said he was glad to think that the Prime Minister and the Government of New Zealand had been considering the matter, and they had every reason to hope that they would do what they could shortly to remove the difficulty.

livery day the world learns more in the matter of labour saving devices, and never were iaventive minds more active, than at piesent. This applies even.unto street-sweepers. A Wellington resident has provisionally patented a machine which he confidently expects will prove one of the last things in the matter of streetsweeping. His working model, tha~:ks to a cunningly contrived wheel, is guaranteed not only to collect the refuse, but at the same time to load the cart. It is a sweeper and collector all in one. The latest idea depends for success on an ingenjhus "turbine wheel," a dray wheel, of extra broad tyre-width, fitted so with a receptacle and "stops" that the "feeder" bi ash—a small brush supplementing the usual long rotary contrivance, —whisks the dust into the wheel cavities. As the wheel revolves, the dust is carried up and over, the contents falling naturally into the side of the dray, which fits conveniently into the wheel for that purpose.

A* »he f»ffi iil welcome to the Maori Union Xoutball team at Sydney, Mr W. M. Arnold made some complimentary references to the oratorical powers of the New Zealand natives, and Mr Carroll, a member of the Dominion Legislature, in particular. He related, too, how when the 1888 native team visited Australia it eluded a forward named Taina, "one of. the most modest and retiring men yoa ever met off the field," said Mr Arnold. "When he went to Bathurst he was called upon at the luncheon to make a speech. Tairoa shrugged his shoulders and protested, but the gathering was insistent. Finally the native caved in, and, in vigorous Maori language, reeled off something which sounded awesome, but satisfying to the mob. When he concluded one of-the more curious of the guests asked for a translation of the speech probably for publication in the local paper. He; got it, and it was discovered afterwards that it was the first time so Tie of those present had heard the Lord's Prayer." (Laughter).

The rivers in the Wairarapa dis- ■* trict have not been as high as would be expected after the considerable amount of raiu that haa fallen lately, but with a change of wind and the consequent melting of the snov? on the ranges, a flood might probably take place.

A London cable message recently appeared in the Australian Stat, stating that there was intense resentment in Liberal circles at the revel?-* M tion that a mn\errient was "afoot to ex ■ ploif the mcod of the nation resuiting from the death of King Edward in the interests of coriscriptiun. The proposal was that the national memorial to the late Kin? should tal<e the ■ iorm of a voluntary demand on the pai't of the people for universal military service. According to the message, it had transpired that ptinr to the King's death a petition was in course of preparation praying his Majesty to take a stand infavour of universal military service.

Notwithstanding the hosts of star- * lings that cover the country the grub in some parts of * the South Island bida fair to devastate considerable areas of land, sayj the North Otago Times. An Oam.aru resident who recently visited the Ashburton County states that the devastations of the grub approach in intensity the . worst of the plague:; that settled down on Oat crops ar,d grass aredestroyel over large area-,, and in one fklrl a farmer obtained &o re- —- turn for three y t ars, tne crona being destroyed by the grub, it is said that m if fires were lighted at night when -| the grub has developed into the moth ? stage, their numbers would be greatly reduced, the moth being at- . travel to the flame. The Germans ~.ow a plan somewhat similar to i this with gtiod results.

A black Spaniel pup lost in terton is advertised for.

A smnrt lad for office is required by Mr F. P. We'ch, Perry street.

A gni-daner, with 20 years' experience, wall understanda pruning, as shown last week by the Government Expert, is wanting a situation. He is steadv aud ready, and willing to be useful.

Tenders to close on Saturdav, 2£Tth mat. are invited for stumping and ploughing 40 acres of land at Pine Park, Te Whiti. Plana and specifications way be seen at the office of the Record Reign Butchery, Queen street, Masterton.

Tenders are invited for the forma* tion of 80 chains of >.os*d formation, and the erection of two bridges on the MataMwi Estate, Messrs Holmes Bros. Plans and Bp°cifications may be seen at the office of the Engineer, Mr A. P. Rawson, Queen street, Masterton. Tenders close at npoa on July 2nJ The W.F.C.A. have a large stock of prime s j pd rate, of the very best known sorts, samples of any of which will be on application. The firm has very fir.e samples of Eeed wheat in pearl, red and white Tuscan; also the solid stem wheat which has proved a local success in the South Island. Large stocks are al-o held of pressed straw, straw chaff, baled hay, beans, peas, etc. The Scoullar Company, Ltd., Wellington, announce that the demand for the two guinea real down quilts recently advertised for a guinea was so kean that the stock of these was speedily sold out. The enquiry is still so great that the firm for a short time offer another line of down at an equally, if not still more, inducive price. See advertisement elsewhere in this issue. Messrs Hooper and Co.'s great drapery sale is now in full swing, and the firm report the transaction of record business. The afternoon tea served at the store on Saturday afternoon deserved the success that attended it. This new departure no doubt appealed to the gentler sex as an inducement to shop in weather more suitable for big fires and indoor pastimes. That the quality of the goods and the remarkably low prices is appreciated by keen shoppers is evidenced by the busy rush at the store. The sale pricps of all the goods are plainly marked, and town and country residents are cordiallyinvited to call and see for themselves the splendid assortment.' Attention is called to a special'advertisement appearing on the leader page of this issue*