LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10221, 24 April 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The latest return from the Worksop dredge is 47ozs. 14dwts. for 124 hours' work.

The number of sittings let in St. Matthew's Church, Masterton, at the end of March last was 233.

The annual election of School Committees throughout the Wellington education district takes place to-night. At the Wellington wool, skin and hide sales on Friday last, skins were on a par with last sales, whilst hides showed a decline up to Jd per lb. In spite of the falling off in stock, the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company are still running full time at their Waingawa meat works.

A meeting of the sub-committee of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust will be held this evening, to deal with the question of new brick premises to be erected in.Queen Street. The Masterton Company have received the following advice from their dredgem-ister : "No. wash-up ; shifting ladder on tumbler trend." Thomas Leonard Easten, alias Willie Wilson, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering a labourers' camp at Gisborne, and was committed for sentence,

Mr H. McManaway, the well-known horse-owner, formerly of Eketahuna, lias donated a 25-guinea challenge cup for the Open Hunters' Competition at the next Feilding show.

Some of the lofts of Masterton pigeon fanciers have been almbst depleted of birds in consequence of losses sustained in recent homing races. The Feilding A. and P. Association has sent a remit to the Agricultural Conference, "That judges be asked to judge sheep on points for character, symmetry and wool." Eketahuna has been selected as the headquarters of the Territorial' district, extending from Konini to Wellington. Troops will be formed at Masterton and Alfredton, and each will have its own officer.

A young man named .August Stempa, who was arrested in Masterton, has been remanded to Marton on a charge of issuing a, valueless cheque for £5 to a publican. A man named Frederick Butcher was arrested in Masterton on Saturday on a charge of having stolen a saddle, valued at £1 10s, the property of Leonard Compton, of the Waingawa. The accused, who was liberated on "bail, will appear before the Court this morning. Mr J. C. Boddington reports that the rainfall registered at the Upper Plain for the twenty-four hours preceding nine o'clock on Saturday morning was 38 points.

The election campaign will, it is expected, J»e commenced in earnest in the Masterton electorate during the next few weeks. The four candidates have satisfied themselves, so far, with skirmishing operations. The last meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, as at present constituted, will be held ■to-morrow evening, when His Worship the Mayor will give a brief review of the finances of the borough.

Petone borough is agitating for the appointment of a registrar, of births, deaths, and marriages. At present, if one desires a marriage license he has to travel to Wellington.

The Dannevirke Borough Council has accepted the tender of J. H. Fairhurst for the erection of a Town Hall. The council resolved to combine municipal offices with the building, and to go to the ratepayers with a proposal to raise a further loan of £2OOO.

Hop-picking in the Nelson district is nearing completion, and the crop has been much better than was anticipated. Prices have been very good—from Is to Is 2d per lb —and it is stated growers will receive handsome returns.

A Gisborne telegram states that J. Kerr Easton has been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of Jas. Blanee, who died as the result of a fall in a recent scuffle.

FORMING A BAND.

It is a healthy sign of the times that every town and village wants its band. If you are forming one in your locality, it will be to your advantage to communicate at once with the Dresden Piano Company, Ltd., Wellington. They are sole agents for HAWKES' EXdELSIOR SONOROUS BAND INSTRUMENTS. These are the finest in the world. They are used by champion hands everywhere. The Ballarat City Band won the Australasian Championship again last year, playing on Hawkes®"* instruments. They are superb in quality and tone.' Each instrument is specially tuned by one of the most highly-skilled musicians in London. The inclusion of one, two, or three Hawkes' Instruments in a band is immediately noticeable, owing to the great added; richness of tone. A band all Hawkes' must be the acme of perfection, so far as the instruments go. Write in for particulars. The Dresden Piano Company, Ltd., Wellington. North Island Manager, M. J. Brookes. Local Representatives: Imas and Goddard, nest £Bflh Gfl&flli i

. A Wellington firm is now paying 4d per pound for bacon pigs. The Rev. H. Watson, Vicar of St. Matthew's, conducted the service" at the Kuripuni Public Hall last night.

In the month of March there was exported from Patea butter to the value of £5189, and cheese worth about £13,773. To show what a market there must be for apples in South America, a shipment of about twelve thousand bushel cases was brought by the Tainui from Hobart for transhipment by the Arawa.

The Pahiatua Herald says that a cow belonging to Mr W. H. Oldridge of Woodville, gave birth to twin calves, one of which was born with six legs. Both calves are hale and lie arty, especially the maay-legged one.

At a sale at Levin on Wednesday, a well-framed picture of a New Zealand contingent in the Boer war —the "New Zealand Hill" incident —went begging at 2s, and a framed picture of Mr Seddon started at eighteen pence and found a purchaser at 4s. Such is fame!

It is stated that a southern retail butcher has offered a Hawke's Bay grower 32s per 1001b for beef for delivery in July. This works out at practically 4d per lb, so the price to the consumer would be 8d or 9d per lb for choice cuts.

The proposed Bacon Curing Works at Waingawa will soon be an accomplished fact. The Wellington Farmers' Meat Company have appointed Mr A. S. Mitchell, of Wellington, to prepare the plans for the works forthwith. It is expected that the building will be completed by September next. Mr T. Buxton, M.P., is approaching the Government with a view to naving a portion of the well-known "Grange" farm, situated almost in the township of Temuka, purchased and cut up into sections for workmen's homes. The "Grange" consists of about 200 acres of rich level land, eminently suitable for the purpose.

A sum of £79 9s 2d remained to be collected on March 31st last to enable the vestry of St. Matthew's Church, Masterton, to avail themselves of the donation of £IOO made by Mr J. F. Maunsell towards the new Church building fund. When the amount is collected, a start will probably be made with the erection of the new Church. The estimated cost of the building is £7OOO.

We have seen three-legged cows and horses, and various other freaks, but a two-legged pig is new to us. Mr Gus. Hooker, of Hinau Gully, Belvedere, informed a Carterton News man that one of his sows had a litter of 12 gruntlers, and one of them has only two fore legs. The hind legs are visible as miniature stumps, but are utterly useless. This freak is over a week old now, and is doing finely. Its greatest feat, and one that it seemingly enjoys, says Mr Hooker, is to balance itself on its fore legs arid play see-saw with its body. It can also balance its body and "walk on its hands."

After the meeting held yesterday afternoon at the Y.M.C.A., when the Interdenominational Bible Class was formed, the Strangers' Tea was held, the Rev. A. Hodge being the speaker, and the general Secretary presiding. Mr Hodge gave an interesting account of the development of the Bible, tracing it through its various stages and giving account of its many tribulations. The names of Wycliffe, Tyndale and others were mentioned, and the enormous growth of the Bible touched upon., It was an urgent appeal to the young lads present to treasure the sacred Book. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the ladie? of the Congregational Church for supplying refreshments.. Rabbits are evidently becoming a menace" to the settlers in the vicinity of Pongaroa, East Coast. They have formed a Rabbit Trust Association with a view of endeavouring to effectively deal with the nuisance. The settlers interested, who number 73, have agreed to pay a rate of one penny per acre and to engage a rabbiter, who will be employed continuously.

The labour laws of Now Zealand are becoming a by-word and a reproach. At Auckland last week a number of butchers were fined for commencing work an hour earlier in the morning than the award allowed, namely six o'clock. It was explained that the men started early in order to get through their work in good time, and that.they received time off in the afternoon. In spite of this the foreman was fined £5- and costs £2 2s, and the others Is and 10s 6d costs each. The employers, who did not know the men started early, were fined £1 in each case.

A meeting of the executive of ihe National Dairy Association was held at PalmeiEton North on Thursday evening, the president, Mr A. MnFarlane, of Pahiatua being in tho chair. The complaints which have been published at various times in regard t-o alleged "fishiness" in New Zealand butter upon its arrival at Home were referred to, and it was resolved that the Government should be again requested to send an expert Home to "investigate the matter. Mr McFarlane and Mr Fisher (of Carterton) will approach the Minister for Agriculture on the subject. It was reported that Mr R. Ellison, the representative of the Association in London, was leaving England for the Dominion this month, and would deliver an address before the Association on the marketing of our dairy produce.

SCONES AND BANNOCKS. WAVERLEY SCONES.— Ingredients : Half a pound of wafer oats, three ounces of butter, one ounce of caster sugar, half a pound of flour, half a pint of milk, salt. Method: Mix the flotir and oats in a basin with a little salt; rub in the butter, add the sugar, and mix to a smooth dough with the milk. 'Roll out, cut in rounds, brush over with milk, and bake for about twenty minutes, serve hot. BANNOCKS.— One pound of fine oatmeal, one ounce of butter, half an ounce of baking powder, half a saltspoonful of salt. Mix the oatmeal, salt, and baking powder together, rub the butter into it, and) make the whole into a stiff dough with cold water. Sprinkle out the dough as thin as posible, and cut it out in squares; score these across from corner to corner without dividing them. They must be cooked at once, either on a well-buttered oven shelf on the top of the fire, and turned as soon as the under part is browned, or they can be baked on a flat tin, buttered, in the oven. Serve with these the Crescent Blend: Tea, the finest 2s tea on the market. This tea is blended by a connoisseur and is remarkable for its exquisite flavour and delicious aroma. It is strong and extremely palatable. Your £jSfe?£ is «rtala tc hare it in stock.

Mr J. Dixon is at present leading in the aggregate in connection with the Masterton Homing Pigeon Club's competitions, with Mr A. Miller second.

Raui'imu (Main Trunk line) is to the front as legards fashion. At a recent tennis social the dresses worn included a pink silk hobble skirt and n whit© muslin harem skirt.

Mr T. E. Taylor recently made a statement to the effect that drink consumed in licensed areas amounted to £4 per head in the last year, as against 18s in No-License districts.

The population of Hawera borough is shown by the census to be 2684, and of Eltham 1737. The former shows an increase of 531, and the latter of 408.

At the evening service at the Salvation Army barracks in Masterton yesterday, Mrs Avenell give an address from Luka 24. 45, "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." Later, the Ensig'i spoke of the construction, form and value of the Bible, to an appreciative audience.

A wool-classing class under Mr Lees, will commence on Saturday next, 29th inst., at Tinui. Particulars can be obtained from Messrs H. S. Nevins, H. H. Ryder, G. H. Groves and F. Groves. Settlers should take advantage of the present opportunity that is offered for gaining a thorough course of instruction in wool-classing.

Five of the motor cyclists who are engaged in the motor reliability trials passed through Masterton about ,3.30 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Hyslop was the first to arrive, and was followed later by Bender, Sutherland-, Gilbert and Diffin. The competitors, who had a very rough passage to Waipawa, were due to reach Wellington about seven o'clock. The result of the trial will not be made known for a day or two

The Masterton agent of the Labour Department reports as follows to the "Labour Journal" for the past month: —The majority of business retailers report that the conditions of their trade and turnover for the period have been very fair and sound. Several trades report improvement, notably in the textile, and competent hands are required and so far unobtainable. The furniture trade shows signs of improvement after a considerable lull, and several tradesmen who were able to obtain only irregular employment are now working something like full time. Coachbuilding continues very busy—all tradesmen fully engaged, and additional hands required but not obtainable. Meat-freezing and fellmorigery continues to employ a large number of men, and is proving an excellent industry for this district.

The Rev. A. Hodge conducted both services in the Congregational Church in Masterton yesterday. The services were of a special nature, having regard to the tercentenary of the Authorised Version of tlw Bible. In the morning Mr Hodge took no special text, but gave an interesting historical address, dealing with the growth and development of the Bible from the time of its first beginnings down to the present day. He dealt more especially with the different translations and versions of the Bible, and with the lives and works of the more famous of the translators. In the evening the subject of Mr Hodge's discourse was, "The Voice of the Living Christ:"

A purse containing money, lost between Masterton and Bideford, is advertised for. " .

An advertiser wishes to purchase a good, quiet cow, in full profit.

An advertiser requires a young lady to give two hours' service a day in return for part board.

Additional notices from candidates for municipal honours appear on the frontpage. -

The W.F.C.A. publish an apology to those intending customers who cam© to the great sale of Hooper's stock and were, owing to the crush, unable to be served. There are more days and more bargains, but it is wiser to be on the spot when the premises open to secure the best results.

At the clearing sale at Kopuaranga on behalf of Mrs A. Stewart on next, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. will sell on account of other clients a line of lambs, and also a line of fat ewes.

The auctioneers desire to draw attention to the line of 200 motherreared weanera being offered at the Solway yards on Wednesday next, on account of Messrs Percy Bros. This is a particularly fine line', and should merit the attention of those in quest of young cattle. *

Ten shares in the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, worth 955. paid up. are advertised for sale. Address and particulars may be obtained at this office.

Entries for theory examinations in connection with the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and,R.C.M., London", to be held on Saturday, June 3rd, close Monday, May Ist. "

More than usual care is being given to gentlemen's dress in order to fittingly celebrate the many social functions of Coronation Year. Mr Milligan, tailor of Kelburne Avenue, Wellington, invites his clients to order early to allow time for the best finish. "Kelburne Avenue styfe" is already in brisk demand. . "