LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10153, 24 December 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

v The next New Zealand census will be taken at the beginning of April next year. During the month of November, -J521 persons arrived in the Dominion, iuh] 1777 took their departure. Mr J. C. Boddington reports that the rainfall registered at the Upper Plain for the 24 hours preceding i) a.m. on Friday was 9 points. A married man, named Walter Jones, while working at the Fairfield Freezing" Works yesterday morning, .accidentally, fell down a shoot and he sustained injuries so serious that he died shortly after bis removal to' hospital.

The Sniitlifiold Freezing Works, South Canterbury, were opened on Wednesday. A total of £IO,OOO has been spent in further additions and improvement this year.

Christmas greetings have reached us from the staffs of the "Dominion,' "New Zealand Times," "Taihape Times," and other contemporaries. We heartily reciprocate.

The trains passing through Masterton for north and south have been laden with holiday passengers during the last few days. A good many Mastertonians have also left for other dis tricts.

A handicap shooting by members of the Tararau .Rifle Club for a Christmas lamb presented by Mr J. Petersen, was won by H. 11. Keene with a score of 69

Lands open for selection in the various districts of the Dominion during the next month will amount to 77,373 acres all told, mostly in the Auckland district. None will be available in the Wellington district until January.

The cricket match between a team from St. Matthew's Club (Masterton) and a team from St. Mark's Boy's Club (Wellington) to have been played on the Park Ova!, Masterton, on Monday next, has been indefinitely postponed.

What is probably a record for the district is put up by Mrs Isaackson, of Mauriceville West, says the Express. One hundred and twenty seven lambs were docked and of these 110 have just been drafted as fats. The line, which was half-bred Southdown, is reported as being in cxeeptinally fine condition.

The provisional directors of "The Automatic Gas-Pressure Lamp Lighter Company, Ltd.," met in Masterton last night, Mr W. H. Jackson in the chair. Two thousand five hundred shares were allotted. The remainder of the business Mas of a routine character.

-■ A cricket match between a team ' from the. Auckland-Mission Band and .a local team-will I :be played on the Park Oval on -Wednesday, the 28th inst. The local team will be as follows: —Waugh, Logan, Congdon, Waters, Welch, T. Hoar, Phillips, Moodie, Lett, Esson, Ibbetson. Play will commence at 10 a.m. sharp.

The Opaki Rifle Club .will be represented by the following team at the Championship meeting at Wanganui: —Capt. W. J. Welch and Riflemen .H. C. Jones, R. J. King, 6. Hyde, C. Munro, A. Lewin, J. Bairstow, W. Feist, W. Winslade, Cameron, I). Mcintosh, and D. McCalmont.

Several of the Masterton business places are'to-'day dressed in Christy mas attire. The profusion of ever greens which a few yef.rs'back adorned the streets is conspicuously absent. This is probably one result of the denudation of the forests which at one time surrounded the town, and provided such delightful vegetation.

Louis Robertson, middle and lightweight champion catch-as-catch-cau wrestler, met Stoker Penny, lightweight champion of the Navy, at Stratford on Thursday night, in a match which proved a splendid exposition. Robertson gained first fail, with the cradle hold, in four minutes, and the second fall, with the scissor's hold, after forty minutes wrestling, thus winning the match.

Ernest Sievers, aged six years, who fell into a tub of boiling water in a house at Takapu, near Johnsonville, a fortnight ago, and was attended to at home, was taken to the Wellington hospital at five o'clock on Thursday afternoon, and died there at a quarter to one o'clock yesterday morning. His father is at present in Taranaki.

The Wairanpa Friendly Societies hold their second grand annual picnic and sports on Mr Tringham's beautiful grounds at Pigeon Bush, on Monday, Decembpr 26th. Special prizes have been donated by the business people for the various events. C special train leaves Masterton at 8.55 a.m., and stops at intermediate stations, returning frojn the picnic grounds at o p.m. The committee in charge of refreshments are providing hot water and fresh milk free, and light refreshments at low rates. Holiday makers, whether belonging to a Friendly Society or not, attending this picnic, can depend upon having a pleasant outing.

A writer in the Farmer's Union Advocate says:—"Mr Geo. Wheeler bos a Hereford bull of high promise -n quarantine on Somes Island. He was selected by Mr Stuckey as soon as he was informed of the death of the previously imported bull. This time he went;to Mr Griffiths, of Torrington, Hereford, to get a change of blood. This bull is called "Frome Ringer," by Royal■ Ringer, and is.a very fine specimen of,, the breed. He promises to develop into a fine animal and his owner is well-satisfied with the selection, as indeed he has much reason to bo.

The Wairarapa Caledonian Society's concert on Monday, January 2nd, lias every appearance of being a very successful function. Tn addition to the well-known and favourite local talent, comprising Miss Harbroe, Mesdamcs Francis, Ogilvy and Torrance, Messrs B. Clayson,"F.Hunn.;md the favourite Harry Hall, the services of Messrs D. Kenny and Ernest Parkes, of Wellington, have been secured, ancLMr P. A. Eadie, the attractive Scotch" and Irish reciter, will again appear. This coterie of.talented singers, etc., will give a programme that will be hard to beat in the Dominion. Mr Hunn, as usual, is stage and in addition to giving two items of an amusing character, Mr Kenny will act as accompanist. FOUR CREAT PIANOS THE BROADWOOD THERONISCH THE LJPP THE STEINWAY. _ The Dresden Piano Company has just received a big new shipment of these famous pianos, all new instruments, in brilliant condition and ton «- Time payments if desired. The Dresden system of deferred payment is so reasonable that clients scarcely miss the instalments. Moreover, those who buy in this way are only charged legitimate catalogue prices. This firm carries the largest stock of pianos in New Zealand, and has instruments from the lowest to the'highest price, so that all can be readily suited. Intending purchasers can be assured that they will receive courteous consideration and every possible attention. THE DRESDEN PIANO CO., LTD., , WELLINGTON. North Island Manager: M J Brookes. Full particulars from th« Local Representatives, Tuns and Goddard, next Chib Hotel. !

The trains arriving in Masterton. yesterday were considerably behind time. They were delayed by the heavy holiday traffic. The total appropriations made to date by the Workmen's Friend Building Society, of amount to £3300. The Park Beautifying - Committee has decided to ask the shops and schools to close at noon on February 2nd, on the occasion of their fete and sports meeting. The Masterton South Brass Band will, weather permitting,, render a programme of music in Queen Street this evening, commencing at eight o'clock. Mr W. M. Cole has presented to the Masterton School Museum a line collection of mineral specimens from Australia, including silver, tin, copper, and other ores. Two of the Government dairy instructors, Messrs Singleton and Graham, have been in the Eketaliuna district during the past few days preparing and paraffining ten cases of Rongokokako cheese, which is to bo sent Home as a trial shipment. At a meeting of the directors of the Workers' Friend Building Society, held in Masterton last evening," Mr W. H. Jackson was appointed chairman, Mr J. A. McEwen vice-chairman, Messrs A. Donald and W. H. Jackson, trustees; and Mr N. D. Bunting, directors' auditor. The meetings were fixed for the first Wednesday in each month, the next meeting to be held on the first Wednesday in February.

The Masterton Park Beautifying Executive met in the Borough Chambers last evening, the Mayor presiding. The programme for the fete and sports on February 2nd was drawn up, and included 100 yds, 220yds, 600 yds steeplechase and 1000 yds running events for amateurs, and a 100 yds and a half-mile obstacle race for professionals. The swimming events will be 50yds, 75yds and 100 yds open, 50yds for schoolboys, and a 70yds race for girls, and a water polo match. The decorative events were drafted as follows: —Best decorated bicycle, ladies and gents; best decorated tandem bicycle, and four in hand ;\ best decorated go-cart; boat, motorcycle, motor-car, most artistic floral design, prettiest and heaviest male and. female under twelve months, most originally dressed boy and girl under fifteen years, poster advertising competitions, motoiyear and motor cycle competitions, comic costume on bicycle. Entries for swimming and athletic events close on January 26th, and all other entries before 10 o'clock on the morning ;of the fete, with the secretary, Mr-FvE.-Lamb.

The Kai Ora Tea Rooms will be open this evening, where raspberries and cream, ice cream, tea and coffee, may be obtained.

Two cheques, signed J. Russell, and numbered ,32,382 and 32,383 respectively, have been lost in Masterton. Payment has been stopped.

Mr F. P. Welch advei'tises for sale a cheap farm near Masterton, suburban resideiital site, and a cheap house. He also requires a furnished house ■« for a client.

. A foolscap day-book has been lost between Chapel Street and the Railway Station. The finder is requested to kindly return same to Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd.

This afternoon Messrs A. J. Johnson and Co. hold their weekly auction sale at the Post Offico auction rooms. The catalogue comprises poultry, furniture, .crockery and sundries, i

' Mr I'Vank D'iprc give? ;i special rnnui.der to town and a untry redden in to visit liis jewellery store to-day. The iMaViislm.cn t -■■:.* replete with goods suitable for piesents, and yesterday a second shipment of enamel goods and ladies arid gentlemen's watch chains came to hand. *The new lines are all specially selected, and inspection is invited.

Madame Carle is now showing special lines in holiday hats, the prices for which are marked at reasonable rates. There are dainty crinoline hats in black and colours, coloured straws m the newest shades and shapes, trimmed with flowers, smart bows, or pretty handkerchief squares. A specialty is the choice selection of matron's hats, togues and bonnets, care being given to fit and becomingness.

The shops of Masterton will be closed on Monday and Tuesday next, and those who find a pleasure in My Ladv Nicotine will have to lay in a stock of the fragment used to last them ' over-t-he holidays, and have a little to spare for a friend. In this connection, Mr Claude Corbett has laid in a stock of all the choicest brands of tobaccos, cigars and cigarettes." He has also .». fine selection of pipes, pouches, and tobacconist's sundries that would come in well for Xmas presents, and he invites inspection.

Messrs McLood and Young report record business for the Xmas season, and the busy "rush" at the establishment every clay this week is evidence that the public appreciate the manner in.which they are being catered for. The shop is replete with all maimer of goods suitable for presentation, and the.person would be hard to please who could fail to make a satisfactory selection. The firm also wish to announce that for the convenienceof customers and also to facilitate in the matter of making purchases, they have specially engaged a staff of shop-walkers for this evening's business.