LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10459, 25 October 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A parish fete is to be held on the old showgrounds in Masterton on November 23rd, in conhection \ with St.. Matthew's Ghurch. The Wellington musical and elocutionary competitions open to-day. A number of Masterton competitors proceeded to the city yesterday. The electoral roll for the .Masterton electorate is now being printed a " the office of the Masterton Printing Company.

The Wanganui Harbour Board Empowering; Bill was killed iji the House of Representatives at an early hour yesterday morning. . The Dominion meteorologist wired last night to the effect that there are indications of two cold southerly "snaps" within the next few days. The Mayor of Christehurch says the hands of that city are the worst in New- Zealand, chiefly because too many are in existence. The Dunedin Star —A Government organ—states that the debates in the House of Representatives on the Gaming Bill have been "rife >vi + h hypocrisy, ignorance and spitefulness." The J. G. Williamson New English Dramatic Company will produce the drama, "The Woman in the Case," in, the Masterton Town Hall on November 2nd,.

The Mjtyor (Mr J. M. Coradiiiej invites the shopkeepers of Masterton to observe to-morrow from noon as a holiday, on the occasion of "People's Day" at the Carterton Show.

A fine mounted photograph of the members of the Masterton Amateur Theatrical Company, in their <lT)orothy" attire, is on view in the window of Mr A. E. Winaenberg, photographer. A young lady of Masterton cycled right through to Wellington by herself the othor day. She left Masterton at two o'clock in the morning, reached ,the Summit at 7 a.m., and was in Wellington at 11.30. The Masterton Homing Pigeoii Club last .night-hampered the pigeons which are to compete in the race from Auckland on Thursday. The birds will be liberated in the morning, and should reach home at three or four o'clock in the'afternoon. A Land foY Settlement Association of Martinborough residents are approaching the Government with a view of obtaining a block of land at Pirinoa for closer settlement- purposes. The members of the Land Purchase Board have been over the property, nad it is understood that'their report is favour-, able. The Masterton Fire Police held their ordinary fortnightly meeting last night. Sixteen members were present, and Captain Dixon presided. A deal of routine business* was transacted, and it was decided to co-oper-ate in the. 1 benefit to be tendered to a distresred fireman. Lieuts. Braggins and Robbins/Were 'appointed to act in conjunction \vitb the Fire Brigade in the matter. Apropos an article whidi recently appeared in the Wairarapa Age, the Christchurch Press says:—A North Island contemporary describes the Public Works Statement, with its lavish promise of expenditure, as the Continuous Ministry's desperate "dash for the poll." ' This puts in concise terms the very general impression that the Ward Ministry are in for an extremely cold time about the beginning of December.

The live stock entries for the Manawatu A. and P. Association's coming show axe as follows: —Cattle 295, sheep 410, pigs 40. Messrs A. and J. Gray, of Masterton, were awarded the championship for Romney 'Marsh ram at the Poverty Bay show yesterday. A form of blight foreign to the fortrict has attacked fruit trees in Masterton this season. In, some cases it has caused the leaves to decay and the young fruit to drop off.

Everything is in readiness for the production of the opera "Dorothy" in the Masterton Town Hall this evening by the Amateur Theatrical Society. Almost the whole of the seating 'accommodation has been booked, and there promises to be an overflowing audience.

A Tim aru telegram says : "It is a ' long time since a farmer was made a bankrupt in this district. To-day a Geraldine farmer named Connolly, who began farming and dealing in 1904 with £837 obtained from his father, met his creditors with unsecured debts of over £4OOO (cliiefly losses in dealing) and no assets. The farm was lost by a foreclosure." The grain crops in the North Cau- i terbury district have shown,some progression since the rain, but warm weather is now needed to send them lorward. In some! instances the wheat is patchy, the cold weather having held back the germination of some of the sowing, but this might disappear if there was a spell of fine forcing weather. The Magistrate at Gisborne dismissed an information against a chemist charged with selling a medicated wine, holding -that there was no offence pro- j vlded the chemist takes reasonable precaution to ascertain that the wine is required for medicinal purposes and not as a beverage. There was no restraint as to the percentage of proof spirit, and thie door was open to great! abuse. The Secretary of the Wellington Education Board advised Mr Vile by telephone last night that ihe hadPbeen unsuccessful, so far, in.arranging a, date for the deputation to' wait upon the Hon. T. Mackenzie in regard to the agricultural school. ' The Minister has been confined to liis house for eight days with sickness, and he has an accumulation of official work to get through in the next day or two. It is hoped, however, that a. date for the deputation will be arranged before the Minister leaves Wellington,. The usual fortiiightly meeting of the Independent Order of Rechabites was iield in the Dominion Hall, Masterton, last evening, Bro. W. Andrews, D.R., in "the,chair, Routine business was transacted, and the delegates reported on the Sub-District -Council meeting held in Wellington on Labour Day. The resignation of Bro. A. E. Wainwright, who has removed from the district, as Chief Ruler, was accepted with regret. Mrs Fieldhouse, who is to si ,, p o'i Friday evening in Knox Hall, is tlio possessor of a voice of more thnv ordinary .merit, and has,,;on several casions, performed at. notaible functions in- England. , Those persons desirous of hearing good singing should rot fail to hear Mrs Feildliouse. The lecture on "Shakespeare and Music," by Mr Robert Parker, will al;o be. very interesting and instructive.

Or. Temple asked the gas manager at last night's meeting of the Mastertoil Borough Council what' steps he had taken te secure an extra supply of coal in anticipation of a strike of the officers of coastal vessels. Mr Blackma.n stated that he had not- been successful. The contract amount had not been fully supplied, and lie had nob been able to get any extra supply; He added that Newcastle coal could be obtained, but it would cost more. Westport-Stockton coal might be got, but it was not satisfactory for tar and coke. Mr Blackmail' was authorised to purchase Newcastle coal if he thinks the circumstances warrant. A gooA general' servant is advertised for by Dr. Prior. The Public Trustee inserts a notice in connection with the estate of the late William Bryant, of Bideford. A meeting of Mr Hogg's Committee will be held in the 'Dominion' Hall, at eight o'clock to-night. All his-friends and supporters are request-, ed to attend. Mr Walter Crossley, bookseller and stationer, Queen Street, announces the arrival of a new supply of toys, fancy goods, books, and fancy silks. Mr Crossley is agent for all the lead-, ing fashion journals. 1 The various Christmas numbers of! New Zealand illustrated weeklies are now on. sale at . Messrs McLe&d afid Young's. A new book of special interest also on sale is Marie Corelli's "Life Everlasting." Messrs J. McHattie 'and J. C. Brogden elsewhere notify that they have purchased the chaff-cutting and pressing plant of th« late Mr H. P. Williams, and are prepared to execute any work entrusted to them in ; any part of the district. The Associated Auctioneers have a, preliminary notice in connection with the Masterton Spring Cattle Fair, which takes place in Masterton on Wednesday, November Bth. Already there are 1000 cattle entered, and further entries of sheep and cattle will be accepted, but no entries of horses, pigs, or dogs will ibe taken.