LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10249, 27 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It has been arranged to have 2500 Coronation bonfires in Great Britain. The official census of England and Wales shows a total of 36,075,000-au increase of 10.91 per cent.

Important additions in brick are being made to the Central Motor Garage in Masterton. A sum of money and a bicycle await owners at the Masterton police sta. tion.

Quite an epidemic of influenza is prevalent in Masterton at the present time.

The flag on the Masterton Post Office was flying in honour of the birthday of Queen Mary yesterday.

The total output from the Waingawa freezing works from their opening until Saturday last was 140,000 sheep and 600 cattle.

A man was arrested in Masterton yesterday on a charge of drunkenness, 'being the first for some weeks past. He was liberated on bail.

The Manawatu Times declares that spider-webs were floating in the air at Palmerston North on Wednesday last. Palmerston is not yet a "dry" area. The National Dairy Show at Palmerston North next month is to be opened by His Excellency the Governor.

The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board is considering the question of providing a home for incurables.

A bright little lad heard his parents talking about the salaries of teachers. "I don't see why they should pay the teachers," he said, very seriously, "when we children do all the work."

A sum of £220 has l>een raised in Woodville by means of a bazaar in aid of the Technical School. Only £175 was wanted.

It is stated that there is,« possibility of the Marytebone Cricket3leam visits ing New Zealand' between the third and fourth tests with Australia, and playing in each centre. ; j In the Magistrate's Court at Wairoa yesterday, a Chinaman was. con- j victe'd on two' charges of sly grog sell- j ing, and was fined £ls and costs £22 ! 16s, indefault one month and fourteen days' imprisonment respectively. |

Thomas Hoult, of Jeilding, who was fined £36 in tile Magistrate's Court for evading duty on goods io the value of £l2, consisting of gloves, cigars, cigarettes, set of harness, and a riig, has had his fine reduced to £9. The goods were ordered to be confiscated.

Writs have been served on George Nelson and the Hastings Tribune by R. Lan Simson, claiming £3OOO and £2OOO respectively for alleged libel contained in a letter recently published. The cases come on for hearing in the Supreme Court next month.

At a meeting held on Thursday eveningthe North Otago Mounted Rifles decided to disband on the ground that it was impossible to comply, with the territorial regulations as regards the number of parades.

Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., held their fortnightly wool and skin sale at Palmerston North yesterday. A.goodeat-alogue was offered to a good attendance of buyers. Skins sold well up to late rates, but hides showed a slight decline.

The Gisborne Borough Council has accepted five tenders, aggregating £19.000. for sewerage work. It was resolved to carry on several sections under the day labour system. It was stated further that £BOOO beyond the amount borrowed wuld bo required' to complete the works.

A farmer in one of the upper districts of the Ashburton County commutes his loss, as &< result of the destruction- wrought by grass grubs this season at over £IOOO. The pests have actually devoured close on 1000 acres of newly-laid down grass pasture, which was sown at considerable expense. • ■•"■■■■' ■-"' ■■■' ""'"'

A Waimea farmer informs the Nelson Colonist that he has found a mixture of apple pulp and tobacco effective in the destruction of blackbirds and thrushes, which will not touch poisoned grain. He makes the pulp from the waste apples in the orchard, and with every quart he stews a stick of Lion tobacco.

Referring to an application from Mr A. Simmonds for an area of the Crown land on the northern foreshore of Lake Wairarapa, the Land Board decided on Thursday to advise the applicant that as the land in the locality is retained for a recreation and shooting reserve, it was not proposed to dispose of it.

A backblocks teacher in the Taranaki district applied to his Board for a residence. In support of his application, he said he avouM get married at once if he had a house, and he would be able to get on a long way better. He was unable to get in nearly the same amount of study as his fellow teachers. When he got home at night, he had a very rowdy house to study in. . . . "If I

were married, I would have every comfort, and would have a far better chance to get on in every way."

TO PRACTICAL MUSICIANS. If you want to buy or get advice, concerning any instrument of music —pianos, organs, band instruments, or anything else—it will always ,pay you to consult the Dresden Piano Company first. Why? Because the Dresden conducts a big concern, which is perfectly systematized. It makes it its business to know all. there is to be known about musical instruments, so far as the needs of New Zealand are concerned. It represents several famous piano houses; it has a fine stock of organs of all sorts; it is sole-agent for Hawke's world-famoug band instruments ; —and, within reason, it will give you any terms you want. The Dresden Piano Company, Ltd., V/filHtNiton. North Island Manager: M. J. Brookes. Local Representative: H. Inns, Darnell's Buildings, Queen i Street.

It is proposed to establish a class in . electricity in connection with the Mas- | terton Technical School.

Alterations to the boundaries of the Wairarapa South and Featherston Counties are gazetted.

The ferry steamer Admiral collided with the Tyser liner Niwaru in Wellington harbour yesterday morning. Neither vessel was much damaged. The Government subsidy of £IOO has been made available for expenditure on the Mount Hector tourist track from Greytown.

The full name of Her Majesty the Queen, whose Birthday was celebrated yesterday, is Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes.

A .Masterton farmer has this year put down a crop of maize into ensilage. He believes that there is no better fodder for his cows.

Several Masterton farmers intend competing in the ploughing matches to be held in connection with the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society.

The value of phalaris commutata (or canary-grass) as food for stock is to be tested by a Masterton settler during the coming year. This grass is now being experimented with in several parts of the North Island.

It was significant of the progress of events, that at the Masterton dog trials yesterday, when the officials desired to draw a cork from a bottle of "shepherd's delight," not a corkscrew could be found among the crowd.

Mr M. R. Varnham, of Masterton, lias taken out a patient for a most ingenious contrivance in the form of a casement and fanlight opener. The apparatus appears to be the essence of simplicity,, and the patentee is to be congratulated upon his invention.

The Masterton Amateur Theatrical Society have disposed of the scenery j and wardrobe of the "Pirates of Pen- j zance" to the Auckland Amateur j Athletic Society.- The Society ate-i also negotiating for the disposal of | the property used by them in the staging of "Le Cloches des Corneville" to another northern society.

Mr Newman, M.P. for Manawatu, gave a post-sessional address at Feilding on Thursday night. He criticised the Government for increasing taxation/and said the census was disappointing, not .showing a population of a -million, yets Industrial Stagnation in fhe Dominioif was caused% harassing labour laws. • If the Opposition. Party got in,poweK-ihe. first ..thing it would do would be to reduce taxation.

• At the North Canterbury provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the following resolution was carried :—"That the Conference take into consideration the operations of the Arbitration and Conciliation .Act with reference to its effect upon the industries of the Dominion, as it is of opinion that it is seriously retarding their development," It was also decided to request that a Royal Commission be appointed _ by the Government to enquire into the operation and effects of the Act on the industries of the Dominion.

The British Admiralty has contracted at Glasgow for ten million gallons of oil annually. Mr J. D. Henry, who was recently through New Zealand, interviewed, said that the New Zealand oil industry deserves support. There were unquestionably numerous promising virgin territories there, and tho latest drilling in Taranaki had proved the existence of. an extensive oil-field.

Mr John Hunter, of Mastefton, is at present harvesting two acres of maize from his farm at Manaia. The corn has filled well in" the cobs, and has come to perfect maturity. Mr Hunter planted only one bushel of corn to the acre, and the yield was phenomenal. In the summer months he feed tons of the green feed to his cows, and even now the animals eat the dry stalks greedily. Mr Hunter is of opinion that if dairy farmers in the district knew the value of green maize, there would not be one without it.

Mr B. Byrne, who has just erturned to Masterton from a visit to South Africa, has brought back some rather interesting specimens and curios which Jie-intends presenting to. the Masterton school museum. The specimens include a remarkably fine piece of gold-bearing quarts*, with a good showing- of iron pyrites* galena, and other minerals. The specimen, except for the peculiar" transparency of the quartz, resembles very much some of the complex sulphide ores to be found in tlie Thames district. Mr. Byrne has also a curio in the shape of a wirebound walking stick, and an enormous pod containing "lucky" beans.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Management of the Y.M.C.A. was held in the- Association rooms-in Mastertn last night, when Dr. Prior presided over a full attendance. Ten new members were accepted, and reports read from the financial, boys' department, educational, and other committees. The financial committee's report occupied most of the evening. Thee date of the annual "At Home" was fixed for Thursday, June 15th, in the gymnasium. The June social for senior members is to be thrown open to ladies and friends, and to take the form of a book social, i.e., admission by book for the swelling of the Association's library, which will be put into the reading room for the use of members.

GOOD CAKES. CORNFLOUR CAKE.— Two ounces of flour, two ounces of cornflour, quarter of a pound of castor sugar, two ounces of butter, one iteaspoonful haloing powder, two eggs. Beat butter to a cream, add sugar, and mix well, break eggs, and heat well in. Now star lightly into this mixture the cornflour, flour and baking powder, and !)eat well for five miiir utes. Grease and line a cake tin with paper, pour mixture in, and put immediately into a moderate oven. Bake for threequartens of an hour. TEA CAKES.—Quarter of a pound of butter, "half'-a pound of sugar, three eggs, one gill of mdlk, one pound of flour, with half tea.spoonfrd of baking powder sifted in it.. Stir the sugar and ibutter well together, then 'beat the eggs and add tJiem with the milk, then the flour and last of all the juice and grated rind of a fresh, lemon. Bak'e in small patty pans. With either of these cakes it would be quite correct to serve New Orescent Blend Tea. The tea is a delight to all who drink it. for it is a scientific combination of the fine delicate silky teas o£ Ceylon and the strong robust teas of In'dia. It is a perfect blend, and is .sold at 2s per lb, by most storekeepers in this district.

The Masterton Technical School is to bo closed during Coronation week.

The sheep dog trials in connection with the Masterton Collie Club conclude this morning.

At Featherston on Thursday afternoon, Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., offered on behalf of the estate of the late W. Nicholls the well-known property "Gumgrove," consisting of 1360 acres. There was a very large attendance of buyers. Bidding commenced at £l4 per acre, and quickly ran up to £23 per acre, at which price the property was sold to Mr Bruco Speedy, of Featherston.

The new form of administering the oath in courts of justice does not meet with the approval of Mr Justice Edwards. At the Supreme Court in Auckland on Friday, his Honor said the form of words that had been devised was the most inept, cumbrous, and unimpressive that he could imagine.

The term "unimproved value," as applied to valuations, was described by the Hon. D. Buddo at Oxford as a misnomer, which he said should be cut out of the Act. It had practically no meaning in a well-settled country. If those interested would only read the Act they would find out that the 4 'unimproved value" was the saleable value of land in a district under conditions usual in the district. The mortgage system or any other system in vogue would give the saleable value; it would not be a cash value necessarfly.

The Endeavour Lodge, 1.0. G.T., held their meeting on Thursday evening, Bro. C. Anderson, C.T., presiding. Routine business was transacted. One candidate was initiated into the order, and one member re-admitted, whilst two candidates were proposed as members. Bro. Heyhoe, D.D., installed the following officers, who were absent at the previous instalation: P.C.T., Bro . H. King; Treas., Bro. McLean; Ass.-Sec. Sis. Hogg.

A live sparrow of a remarkable kind made its way • throughia window of the Age Office in Masterton last night. It has a plumage which indicates that it is not a pure sparrow, and the lower portion of its bill is fully an inch in length. This "remarkable proboscis was covered in earth, as though it had been, fejretting for the grass grub. The bird may be seen at the office today.

A, buggy,rug, found at Lansdownej awaits ownership at this office.

Messrs J Wickens and Co., Masterton, advertise foi^sale;soQ.fl'aur,..sacks.

Mr F. P. Welch advertises for sale several good town properties, which are offered cheap."

Hot pies and coffee may be obtained at the Kai Ora Tea. Rooms this evening.

Mr T. Ridgway, Rodger's Lane, ' Masterton, is a buyer of skins, bottles, metal, poultry, etc. Mr W. H. Cruickshank, land agent, Masterton, advertises in this issue, four choice dairy farms, close on 100 acres each. Particulars are given on page 8. Messrs Johnson and Co. are holding a sale of pot plants and shrubs in "their Post Office auction rooms to-day. They will also sell pigs, poultry, furniture, and a ;:ig.

Masterton ladies owe no small degree of their style and comfort to Warner's favourite rust-proof corsets —thanks to our local drapers in keeping up-to-date with Warner's latest models.*

Suit satisfaction depends not only on the'"quality of the material used, but the right degree of attention should be paid to fit, style, and general workmanship. Those contem-piatmg'-plaeing an, order for a winter suit are invited to inspect the splendid selection of new and fashionable suitings just to hand by Mr W. Pauling. A guarantee of satisfaction is given with every order placed, and clients can rely on receiving the best attention. Mr Pauling is also making a specialty of ladies' costumes, prices for which are very reasonable.

"A Word on Women's Wear," is the title of the advertisement inserted in to-day's issue of this paper, drawing attention to the fine displays of winter Avear at Messrs Graham and Go.'s store in Queen Street., They are specializing in warm attire, and make- mention of many good and cheap lines which cannot fail to atattract the attention of the ladies.

. The opportunity afforded to. the public to purchase cheap books and fancy goods is being availed of, and good business is being done at Messrs McLeod and Young's annual sale. Country residents in town to-day sfeou'ld makei a point of visiting the firm's shop and making an inspection. No one is pressed to buy . For a few shillings one can receive a small library of books. Mrs Crngg has asked us to correct an impression that appears to be abroad that she has disposed of her tobacconist business. The position is that the hairdressing and shaving salIden has been taken over by Messrs Reid and Douglas, whilst Mrs Cragg still retains the tobacconist shop. This department will be'conducted on the most up-to-date lines, and patrons can rely on receiving the latest and best of smokers requisites. "What to Wear" is the title of a booklet which is being circulated by Mr J. Carpenter, of the Central Shoe Store, Masterton. It is in relation to winter footwear, and mention is made of a few of the many styles showing at this store this season. These boots and shoes are believed to be the best result of dexterous workmanship and applied anatomical science. Those who receive these little booklets will have in condensed form all the requisites for ordering any make of boot by post, and as Mr Carpenter and his staff devote every attention-to mail orders, those living at a distance will be at the same advantage in the selection of their requirements as those who are able to attend at the store. One of these useful booklets will be forwarded to any address on application to Mr Carpenter.