LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10029, 1 July 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

.The latest dredging returns are: Mystery Flat, 14oz 13dwt for 134 hours work, and Masterton Dredge, 18oz 19dwt for 132 hours work. The teoder of Messrs Welch and Hope has been accepted.by Mr H. A. Jones, architect, for the removal, alteration, and additions to Mr 0. Riddeirs residence at Opaki, During the last three yea orslyn 13 unions »n the Dominion have cancelled their jeeistration. Their cancellation was under sect : on 21 of the Act, which states that "any union may apply at any time for cancellation of its registration on a majority of its members deciding to do so." But of the 13 who tcok advantage of t icir rights in this way six have Bince re-registered under a new name, it lei' g laid down in the Act that if a nuion desires to add to its title it must first of all cancel its registration and then re-apply under the alteied name.

j There were seven convictions for I drunkenness at the Masterton Magistrate's Court during the past month.

The month of June shows a decrease in the vital statistics for the Masterton district. There was only one marriage, a3 against six for the previous month; eleven births, as against twenty-four; and three deaths, as against eight,

The number of labourers who registered themselves as unemployed at the Auckland Labour Bureau during last week was 204,0f whom 162 were single and 42 were married. Fifty cf the men were sent to work on the North Auckland 1 Main Trunk railway during the week. Justices of the peace are wanted for Cambridge. The Mayor of Cambridge at the last meeting of the Borough Council referred to the fact that two of the resident justices of the peace had died recently and two had left the district. It was decided to write to the Minister for Justice recommending the appointment of several more.

The English language has hitherto contained no satisfactory word to describe those who venture their lives in aeroplanes and dirigibles, Neither the word "aviator" or "flyingmau" is very good, and a correspondent of The limes suggests that the word "airman" should be used. "Seaman" and "landsman" are used for those who live on the sea or land, so by obvious analogy those who use the air as a means of transit shculd be called "airmen."

The matter of auditing was the subject of a few pertinent remarks by Mr Justice Chapman at the Auckland Supreme Court. "An audit of the affairs of a company is required by the laws of the country in the public interest, and the fact that de-fecations-amounting to something over £3,51)0 in a period of 15 months passed an audit is more than a private matter. It is toe duty of the company to consider what should be done in regard to the m;itter." '"•Australia's attitude on . the Vancouver mail service is "indicated in an interview with Mr Josiah Thomas, the Federal Postmaster Gereral, appearing iu the Sydney Morning Her aid Mr'lhotnas txplainscl that the fact that trn Canadian Government is calling for tenders ft.i 1 a mail service with Australia does not necessarily mean that there is to be no co-op ratii n in me matter. "We may, if it suits t»ur plars. join in with a contract obtained by Canada/' said Mr Thomas. "We will probstly .call "or,tenders ourselves,* and Canada may find it convenient to-join in , with us."

Refererce was made by one' of the sptaksis at t'le banquet to tie Hon. T. Mackenzie at Te Wera to the amount of work that had to be performed by a Cabinet Minister nowadays. Though the work had increased several times over during the past 20 years, the number of Mjnistars remained the samp. A member had tj workjmorming,' noon, and night, and unless he was able to take a holiday, he could not stand more than five years of the strain. Some Ministjrs, however,, continue to look well on travelling, talking, and tuckering. A study of Mr Taft's first year of office as President of the United States is given in the Fortnightly Review by Mr Sydney Brooks, and it is both severe and convincing. The year, for Mr Taft, "closes on a note of failure, confusion, and hesitancy." He was expected to give a more ''soothing", administration than Mr Roosevelt; as a fact, it has been more hopelessly exasperating. He has brought war to hi*? own party instead of peace. As President he promises to be "one of the most barren and disappointing in American history."

In course of conversation [with a Manaia farmer who has used milking machines for some years, a representative of the Taranaki Herald asked if tne machines were ' cheaper than hand labour,. The reply was that there was little difference in cost when everything was considered, though the machines were far more convenient. A herd of 90 cow s would, said the farmer, require four milkers, while a milking machine for a similar number would need two men and a strong boy. The cost of power was about 14s per week, which would go some way towards paying a man's wages. A gentleman whose occupation compels him to travel extensively in the North Canterbury district has noticed a curious fact in natural history, says the Abhburton Guardian. Beyond Woodend magpies are very plentiful, and he noticed the almost total absence of small bird life; sparrows in particular were very scarce, but the magpie was in every field following the plough and picking up insects. Upon his return he noticed that after he had passed Wood--end, the sparrows began to appear in large numbers, while the magpies absent; and he drew the conclusion that the two species do not live together in unity.

I In Russia one lettsr in every tan passing through the post is opened by the authorities as a matter of I course. Indeed, the postal authorities lof every country ha\>e experts who i have raised letter-opening to a fine I art. Some kinds of paper can be steamed.open without leaving any trace, and this simple operation is finished by re-burnishing the flap with a bone instrument. In the case ot a seal a matrix is taken by means of new bread before breaking the wax. When other methods fail, the envelope is placed between pieces of wood with edge projecting onetwentieth of an inch. The edge of the envelope is first flattened, then roughened, and finally slit open. Later a hair line of strong white gum is applied, and the edges united under pressure. Mr J. C. Smith, who for many years assisted his father, the late Mr E. M. Smith, in the latter's experiments with ironsand and other mineral?,, has continued to carry on researches into .the mineral resources of this district, saya the Taranaki Herald, and now he appears to have made a very important discovery. Recenty he brought to the office of that paper some specimens of metal which he has obtained from the ironsand by a process at present a secret, and which he declares to be platinum. Certainly jt'looks like platinum, and he says it stands all the tests for that metal, which is one of the most valuable of all metals.

The Dorcas Society acknowledge* with thanks the receipt of parcels from the following—Mrs J. L. Mur ray, Mrs W. H. Hosking, Mrs M. Caselberg, Mrs P. Maunsell, material; also from Miss L. McGregor a donation. The parishioners' farewell in St„ Patrick's Schoolroom to the RevFather Saunderson list evening waslargely attended. Mr A. R. Bunny presided, and in a happy spsech presented Uie departiig clergyman with, a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address. Father Saunderson suitably replied. At the Supreme Court sitting at Napier yesterday, Mr P. Scally, a well-known resident of Dannevirke claimed £2OO damages from one . Laing, a hottlkeeper, of Woodville/' for slander. After heating the evidence, His Honor, Mr Justice Edwards entered up a verdict for plaintiff for £25 and costs. Mr C. A*. Pownall, of Masteiton, appeared fop the plaintiff. <.

Two bankruptcies have,been filed'' l in the Masterton district during the month of June, as against four for the same month during the previous year. For the half year ending; yesterday there were twelve bankruptcies, six during the first, quarter ancl six during the second, only three ofV which occurred in the town. There/ were sixteen during the period corresponding last year, eight for the first quarter and eight for the second.. Only six of those occurred ia the" town.

The Duchess of Buccleuch, whohas been Mistress of the Robes; since 1895, now ceases to hold that office, ar,d is not likely to be reappointed by Queen Mary. The Duchess herself has on more than one occasion desired to resign the duties,, but has continued in deference to the wishes of Queen Alexandra. The Mistress of the Robes during Queen Victoria's rei*n was a political appointment, in the nomination of the Prime Minister. King Edward strack it off the lisfy for the position had become that of a lady in attendance on the Queen Consort, and outside the immediate circle, of the Sovereign. Nevertheless, it his not entirely lost its political character, and, as ' theholder must be of ducal rank, it is, not an easy office to fill.

Thi Swade Competitions, under the auspices of tne Master ton Aand P. Association, were, judged on Wednesday by Messrs T. P. Lett and A. J. Fetcy, the maximum' points being.as follows: Weight of* crop 50 points, estimated at one point for every .ton, qualilv 30' points,-evenness 10 points, cultivation 10 points. The first section of the competition was for the field of swedG3 (flat) of not less than three acres, and was won by Mr W. eron, who took second, with) his No 1 and No.. 2 plota repactively, Mr E. H. Maunsell taking third, The second section, for the brat field of sweJes (ridged), was won by Messrs Dagg Brno, Mr p.; Price coming seco.:d and Mr FJ Evans third.

I, Mr Robert Ho/gate, a former e, resident of Bathursr, New Scuth* r f Wales, who for months has been, mourned as one of those who sailed in< 'the missing Waratah, has turned; 'f up alive in New Zealand. Mr Hcld gate, who is a son of Mr and Mrs. ; y j Robert , Holgate, of Bathursr, left d J Bathiirst with the intention cf book- :- ing his passage.by the Waratah for n England. In Sydney, however, he met d a friend, who asked him to accompany? e him to New Zealand. Mr Holgate n was undecided, ashe had looked fors ward to seeing Europe.-and eventual—; :• ly. while standing at Circular Quay ' y with his friend, he took a shilling; e from his pocket and said, "I'll toss t up for it.' .Spinning the coin in the - air, he cried, "Head 3 London; tails,, Auckland." The shilling bcuncei on a the wood blocks and lay tail upper- _ most. It was not unt'i recently that ~__ Mr Holgate discovered that he was. '~ being mnurted as dead, nhen he , hastened to inform his relatives of y his safety. e , The following grants were author-- . - i3ed by the Wellington Education r Board on Tuesday :-Tane, conven-. a ience, £5; Rongokokako, linoleum,J r £5; Macgaone, fencing, etc, £12;.s Featherston, fence repairs, etc., £4; ] Clareville, grant towards septic tank' t £10; Taueru, r repairing spouting, , etc., £3. An application .from, g Hamua for tha use of a reserve was declined. The clerk of works 1 was instructed to report upon the , /offer of Mr Pownall of a residence. 3 at Mangamaire. It was decided to. j" inform the Mauriceville that subsidies for libraries are ~ confined to moneys specially raised , for or donated to the library. The j clerk of works was instructed to in--r terview the chairman of the Greyr town School Committee on the ques- , tion of the construction of a septic ■ ' tank. An application from Carterton ~ for fence alteration, etc., wa3 defer- - red,-pending mrther informs .ion. A notification was received fr;.m the •"- , Government to the effect that Arbor • ' Day wosld this year be observed on . July 20th. Greytown has been furnished with ■ [ a fine school. It has a capable staff. ! The old school building, still in first-class condition, has been con-,.,, 1 verted into an agricultural museum, tj 1 lecture room, etc., and Is a fine acquisition. The teacher's residence has been renovated and improved; and now the only part of the educational equipment that needs urgent attention is the latrines. For these, together with a septic tank, an ap- j plication has been before the Edu- -ni cation Board. Consideration has been held over, as*the estimated cost of the proposed works approaches £3OO. The Board desires to ascertain whether the Borough Council has. any drainage and sewage scheme on method of sewering to secure thegeneral health of the place in view, so that the school may take advantage of it. It appears that there is no prospect of the Borough providing itself with a high pressure water supply, as it has the water already of the Waiohine River flowing along the channels and water tables in th e public streets, and pumps and wind ■ , mills yield a capital domestic sup- ' hospital, drainage for many years has travelled into a nuge covered cavern excavated among the sand and shingle and boulders in an adjacent paddoctr,, and Dr Bey de--I clares that no better septic tank'is to be found in the Dominion. It remains to he added that in spite < f the • simplicity of its sanitary machinery, no part of New Zealand is more free; from than GLreytowu.

"I «&? extraordinary -meeting of _*ne I folders of the We^ngt™;Farr S«- Meat Company ™11; b e "* e ,„ I til. afternoon at 1.30 o'clock, in | Hall, -when, among ft «I*badness, a w«"* will b8 TO S : apered from Captain Whyte which alitor its object the alteration of t«e status of application for a direc- ? tor from five shares to twenty. HlPendeVs close with Mr A P. W&m&a;** «« on to-morrow for roadand bridge coustruction at feabiwi. bargains are quoted in a change Bdvertisement by Messrs Mc—Ser and Co Quotations are given c|tota No 1 to No 6, which will repay perusai. : '\ ~--■■ ...'. i -.... % Barlock typewriting machine, snarly new, is advertised for sale. ; Afllreas, may be obtained at this ...■office.:;.''.:-. : Boyle, fruiterer and Pine Street, haß just a choice consignment of fcpojn including apples at 7s 6d per -Mr JaW a: Doherty. "The Tailor from London," invites the settilorZot Wairarapa to call at M 6 Quay, Opposite the Times anpyinepectbis l^^i|g^*H'>; ; ;^<-'-'" ; ,;•;/«•''■■•;'*' • lady wio found a 'baby's brooch, with engraved name, at the Bale in H-Jgg Crescent is kindly re--Iqa«Btea to ka»ve ttie tame at the Age office. :.',■*■' a taesera Debreceny and land PSnd|«Btate agents, Pahiatua, adverIHie a hew list of property bargains Sfnicli have bfen placed in their hands ? dairy prperticp, and being a specially selected lot are well worth perusal. 5; Mr\A. ; -ji xt teD day?, wprebcupejaen's satnpl/sat cuttirg prices, Hdgether withm *v lines of ordinary stock, bagaihs for men and *oye, are a special feature nf the ten days ■ '.,,- it Tr^WiFX^A;: anticance greater sirtil bipper twirrfls for liftle during the final days of what BKiVflrWeii a rerord saK As the closes absolutejly on Saturday p!igttt> intending buyers will find it to bdvanlage to call to-day. J 'l Messrs Scorrarßrbsi; have taken r over from Mr F. McKerzie the inanagement of the bi-weekly dance that^is-bid in the Exchat.ge Hall, *nd Will carry on the same on BtlThey; will to beginners, and ;-Kel|rtWm all^heycant^becomepro-