LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Some English mallard ducks have, according to the Express, been liberated at Tawataia by the Acclimatisation Society.

An Otaki resident planted a * sixpenny packet of onion seed and harvested over 3cwt of fine -Brown Spanish onions.

A well-known'stock auctioneer this morning informed a Hawera Star reporter that about 1000 sheep from the Napier; district had recently been brought into South Taranaki.

;X Messrs W. Ho ward. Booth and W. IC. Buchanan, M.P., have been ap- ! pointed to represent the Wairaraca and East Coast A: and P. Society at the Agricultural Conference to be held m Wellington,in July or-August ;riejrf(.>. : .■■;•,.:.'•■ ;..■•■•;••'•. •>''• '!.'"'•'• '■' '-■" '■'■'■' '•-*

The. streets of Masterton wore ah animated appearance on Saturday night. Such a crowd as that which assembled at -the corner of Queen and Church Streets has not been seen for a long time.

There are some, "wide-awake" men en some of the* Tatandki local bodies., At a recent meeting of one of these a member dozed off when the meeting commenced and only awakened when his confreres got up from the table.

At the mass meeting in the Master-' ton Town Ball lastevening, Mr C. E. Daniell stated that' his business was ' better this year than it had been in the boom year. He made this statement deliberately, and his books were open to inspection. The statement was received with applause.

"Can you explain the cause of the depression which compels seventeen businesses in Mastertpn to close down in twelve' months ?" This was a question put' to,Mr Bedford ni.the 'Town Hall last, evening.. "My answer to that is that seventeen business have not closed down in Masteukm," replied Mr Bedford amidst applause ."

' Two persons were a dead -heat in the sheep weight-guessing competition at the Forty-Mile Bush Athletic Society's sports. These were M. Calvin, junr., 66Jibs and W. Roil The correct weight was 661bs 2ozs. The winners take first and second prizes.

It is stated that Messrs C. H. Poole, MB., for Auckland West, and T. E. Taylor, M.P, for Christchurch North, have practically compreted negotiations for the purchase of a farm and homestead of about 1000 acres on the shores of Lake Rotorua, where they will establish a summer residence and cattle ranch.

At the hearing of a case.in Wood--ville in which a settler was charged with allowing blackberry, which is a noxious weed, to grow on his property, Mr G. H. Smith informed the press that at both Pongaroa and Pahiatua Horticultural shows first and second prizes were given for "blackberries grown in the district." In each case both the prizes were annexed by an exhibitor who gathered the 'prize berries on the roadside.

In the course of his address in Masterton last evening, Mr H. D. Bedford referred to the pamphlet issued by Professor Salmond, of Dunedin, and entitled, "Prohibition a Blunder." He stated that Professor Salmond was one of his old Professors, and a gentleman for whom he entertained the very highest respect. At the same time, he had written his pamphlet without a knowledge of the facts. He did not know the effects of alcohol on the human system.

Both services at the Congregational Church, Masterton, yesterday, ./were conducted by the Kev. A. Hodge, and were well-attended. lia the morning Mr Hodge took as his subject, "Praise," and based his address on the words ftrand in Psalm 150, verse 6: "Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord." In the evening Mr Hodge preached a helpful .•.sermon on "To Save the Fret of Care," taking as his text the first ve s of the 55th chapter of Isaiah.

A heavy and welcome shower of rain fell in Dunedin 'on Saturday.

A London cable states that the Christchurch loan has been fully subscribed.

The latest return from the Worksop dredge is lOlozs. Bdwts. for 137 hours' work.

It is seldom that the thermometer reaches 80deg. in the shade in the middle of March. That was the reading in Masterton at two o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The Masterton Fire Board has purchased a very fine pair of horses from Mr M. J. Gallaher, for use in connection with the brigade work. The pair are beautifully matched and are a decided acquisition to the equipment of the institution.

There is something really pathetic in the complaint of an inmate of the Lyttelton Gaol against the Salvation Army's practice of playing outside the institution, "While Angels Gently Guard thy Bed," and a hymn to the tune of "Home, Sweet Home." The Rev. F. H. Spencer, who is at present in Masterton in connection with the British and Foreign Bible Society movement^. occupied • the pulpit of St. Matthew's Church in the morning, Kopuaranga in the afternoon, and Knox Church in the evening of yesterday. That, the youthful, mind falls a ready victim to phonetic spelling is to be seen in the folio wir£ illustration, which occurred recently in a Wairarapa school. 'The teacher had asked fof a list of local industries,,and the first on the list submitted; by a small. "but, intelligent youth was "Brieken Tile Factory." "'■•"'" '■''•.'■" ,

For one ■ brief moment' only did ( Mr Bedford appear to lose his self-posses-sion when addressing the open-air audience in Masterton on Saturday night, and that was when one of the "barrackers" informed him, during his remarks on the effect of No-License in Waihi, that No-License was responsible for the fall in Waihi shares. The logic was too much for Mr Bedford, M.A., L.L.B. A cricket match was played on the Park Oval, Masterton, on{. Saturday last,: between. St. Matthew's Club and a combined Masterton.. and Mauriceville team, and resulted in a win for the latter by six runs. The combined team scored 98, of which Waugh (27), and Darvill (20) were the chief scores. St. Matthew's made 92, (Walker 34, W. Hoar 18.) For the winners Lett took three wickets for 7 and Jackson three for seven, while Ratima (two for none) and Moersch" (three for three) bowled most successfully for the losers.

Mountaineering enthusiasts will be ( pleased to learn that, a new track is to be opened up at Mount Holdsworth for the return journey from the mountain house to the Maungatarere river. This particular portion of the route is stated to possess a wealth of natural scenery, the beauties'of .which, should, add igreatly to the attraction of the" trip. This morning Guide Bannister will leave for the mountain for, the purpose of cutting the new track. He will be absent, about, three or four days; • • i

In conversation with a representative of this paper, Guide Bannister, of Masterton, stated that he had read with a great deal of pleasure the description in last Saturday's issue of the Age of the trip across the Tararua ranges made by the party from Levin.' Mr E. S. Lancaster, who accompanied the party, was one of the most distinguished alpine climbers New. Zealaiid, arid his statement that : the magnificence' of.:- mountain forest;. -through' which they passed', is unrivalled in the Dominion was a most flattering tribute to ; the mountain scenery of the Wairarapa.

Referring to the "first shot," fired by Mr J. T. Hornsby, the Manawatu Standard says:—"The Black pamphlet was considered to-ha Ye. suffered an, inglorious burial after having . created one of the most unpleasant incidents yet recorded in the political history of the Dominion,but Mr Hprnaby dragged;. the .unlovely thing into the limelight* again, and used'ic to attack" his ■ .op-, ponent<. * Such■'tactics- will in n.o' ; way' : ■Assist t the party Mr 1 Hornsby is attempting to support, for by this time the people know that the foolish charges levelled against the Opposition j in this unfortunate matter are quite baseless."

1 went to Pahiatua races (writes an : ingenuous and ingenious gentleman signing himself "Financier" in.a.contemporary), and only "had three half sovereigns left when I got'back. Next day I -was presented; with a nil! '.which ;I, simply had to pay. I went £6 all my friends, to try--and ; 'hoiTo'w". the necessary half sovereign, to makeupthe two pounds, but there.. was \ nothing, doing., Finally a bright idea struck me. I took my three half sovereigns to a pawnshop and said "Will you lend me twenty shillings on these?" The pawnbroker examined them and said "To be sure," and gave me the 20s and a. ticket for 30s. Then I went to a friend' of mine and said to him: "Here, I have a ticket for 30s, will you give, me 20s for it?" He said he was glad to. Then I had my two pounds. My friend \ had a ticket for 30s which only cost ' him 20s; the pawnbroker had 30s cash which only cost him 20s, and everybody seemed satisfied. The question is: Who got hit?

Mr F. P. Welch, requires painters, flaxmillers, etc.

An extra good line of 300 4 and 6tooth fat and forward wethers is added to the Solway sale catalogue. Messrs Chamberlain and Son, M*s-< terton, advertise a good line of machine dressed Algerian seed oats. These oats are clean, heavy seed, and free from weeds.

A notice in connection with technological examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute and Science and Art examinations will be found on the front page. Mr E. Hodge has an assortment of everything at his second-hand shop, Queen Street. He is prepared to give a good price for shot guns, bicycles, furnishings, tools, or anything else on offer.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report having submitted Mr McDonald's Ihuraua farm of 120 acres of freehold at their offices on Saturday afternoon, and succeeded in effecting a sale at a satisfactory price to the vendor. Mr McDonald is leaving the district, and holds a clearing sale of his stock, etc., next, particulars of which will appear later.

Mr W. H. .Cole>.,painter and decora■tor,'Chapel Street, Masterton, has just completed • several large contracts, including painting the Pahiatua school, the Grey town Hospital, several-resi-dences in- the East , Coast district and locally. He is now open to Undertake any work in Masterton or in the country on the shortest notice. Messrs..McGruer and Co., .drapers,Queen' Street, are now opening up their autumil" ahd'-winter-goods, arid' ;a?e lowing.the newest and,choicest goods.' Theyhave received a' shipment of choice dress tweeds,' and their show--rooms contain a fine range of costumes* jackets, furs, millinery, and flowers. A hearty invitation is extended to all to call and inspect the novelties as they are opened up. For a long time Messrs Beale and Parton carried on a large trade in this town as plumbers,' tinsmiths, iron- ] mongers, etc., but a, change of partnership has now to be announced. Mr H. Beale has bought over the interest of Mr A. J. Parton, and has commenced business along the same lines under ,th© name of H: Beale and Co., Mr.Jßeale, has a capable staff of the plumbing and tinsmith workshop, and Mr T. J. Thompson still retains, command of the ironmongery department, and the orders through the office.