LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10535, 23 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A very heavy hailstorm was experienced in the lower parts of the Forty-Mile Bush on Sunday afternoon. Trouble has arisen on the ReeftonInangahua Junction railway formation works, a number of men being dismissed and others refusing to work. The South Island band contest opened yesterday. Mr Tim Morgan, of London, who recently judged at Ballarat, is acting as judge.

The University Senate yesterday decided that power shall be sought from Parliament for the Senate to confer a diploma in public health. The schools in Masterton and other parts of the Wellington district will resume on Monday next, after the summer vacation. A number of Masterton and Wairapa breeders will be represented at the Hawke's Bay ram. fair, which,is, to- be held next week. ' >'■ -'■'"'-*"" '

The Wellington-Napier express carried a heavy load of passengers yesterday, and was twenty minutes late in leaving Masterton. Mr J: C. Boddington reports that the rainfall recorded at the . Upper Plain up to 9 a.m. on Sunday was 6 points, and to 9 a.m. on. Monday 8 points. There was one degree of frost on Sunday night.

{ -The Rifle. (?Iwb;; iriß (continue their weekly' competitions on Saturday next TJie first. competitions , irillbe fired M 800 and 1000 yards at' 10 a.m. The ordinary competition will be fi red at 1 p. m. at 50Q and 600 yaji&s, both li^rt^lrandicapVftompetitio^V--:--:A very wet season has been experienced in the Eketahuna district up td the present, and although there is an abundance of feed everywhere, there is very little substance in the grass. Dairy farmers are very well satisfied with the prevailing''conditions, and anticipate a good season;,

The annual picnic in connection"with the Kuripuni Methodist Sunday School was held at Willow Park farm yesterday. A large number of children'and their parents were conveyed to.the charming grounds in waggons drawn by a traction engine. ,< The usual games were indulged in; there was an abundance of refreshments, and everything passed off "merry as the marriage bell." The children of St. Matthew's and Lansdowae Sunday Schools, together with a'large number of parenta and friends, held a most enjoyable picnio on Mr J. Macara's farm at the Opaki yesterday. Sports and games were indulged in, and the day being delightfully fine, a most enjoyable time was spent.

. At the New Zealand University I examinations last December, the foX ' lowing Masterton candidates passed: ! and ;/S&licito<r , B Gen-*' eral Knowledge.—Margaret F. Hew-at,,-Eliza-beth Matthews, F G. Matthews, W. H. Terry. Matriculation Engineering preliminary and Solicito.rs' General Knowledge.— Floats M, Isles.

A Melbourne cablegram states that the six cricketers who signed the ultimatum to the Board of Control regarding the appointment of a manager of the team, were Hill, Trumper, Armstrong,' Hansford, darter and Cotter; while Hordern, * Bardsley, KeJlewmy. Macartney and Minnet-t refused to sign. So impressed was Mr J. F. Aitken (President of the Wellington Centre •of •the.New Zealand Swimming Association) with the performance of Miss Annie Q'Leary at the Masterton swimming spouts yesterday,, that he suggested that she should-compete. %t the. championship meeting in Christchurch next month. The suggestion myttarently met with willing response from the officials of the local Club, for several at once offered to contribute towards Miss O'Leary's expenses, and there is every probability that she will proceed to Christchu'-eti.

A Press Association -telegram from .Eltham states that the first year's operations ? of the Co-operative Bacon Factory, run conjointly by the Eltham and -Manga-told Dairy Companies, were'".v r ery successful. Nearly £BOOO worth-of pigs was purchased from suppliers, and with supplementary payments the average price paid is estimated at £d higher than the price paid by proprietary companies. A sum of £9OO was paid for railway and freezing charges, but freezing chambers are now being added to the factory, and tliis expenditure and otilier initial expenses will not recur, so that still better results are looked forward for in the future.

A despicable theft, which reminds one.of life in the large European cities, occurred on Quustclmrch on Saturday, reports the Press. A poor widow, with three children, was travelling by train from her home in LytteTton to Christchurch on Saturday, when she left her handbag containing her purse and two pounds in money in the railway carriage. On discovering her loss she made enquiries at the railway station, hut without success. Oil •Monday morning, however, one of the porters found the empty has in the dock at the Station, where it had been thrown after being rifled. The case is an extremely hard one, aa the little stock was all the woman had. Perhaps tlae Ithief was not aware of the circumstances of the loser, but S&ting learnt it he-may.feel Ufteh'ntid f make resitution. '

Did you notice the report about the big Ohristcihurch Wool Sale held the other day? It abated: "Last mouth there were only a few lots (of merino) on offer, and these,were not much sought after. Prices were disappointing. Yestorday the local mdWs came to the rescue, and any merino offered brought its FULL VALUE." There's another reason why you should buy KAIAPOI Clothing. Keep your money circulating here. B. ry year the Wool Sales prove that the KAIAPOI WOOLLEN CO. is a powerful factor hi helpinc to maintain wool prices. Buy KAIAPOI Clothing, lt'payu.

The gate takings at the Mastorton Park yesterday'amounted to about £6O, in tho evening to about £2O.

A hundred of -the South Island Junior Cadet Officers are camped, in the,Tima.ru showgrounds, under Captain Stevens, the Dominion Officer in Command of the Junior Cadets. The Masterton bowling green was well patronised yesterday, when a number of club competitions and championships were got off. Pressure on our space compels us to hold over the results.

There was a large crowd at the Wangaivui Caledonian Society's sports ytvsterday. The honours in dancing were shared bv J. McKenzie and J McKeelmio, and iu music by R. McKechnio and C. MicArtney. "It won't be long," declared Mr W. D. S. Mac-Donald. M.P., at the Waitkobu County Council meeting ■. the other day, "before thero will ute law compelling all local bodies to adopt the system of rating on the unimproved value."

A wrestling match for £SO aside and the championsihip of New Zealand was competed for at Wanganui yesterday between Alex. Bain and Moana Paratene. Tho former won by two falls to one, after a scientific exhibition.

A breeder from tiho north of Auckland has been in the Qama.ru district during, the past few days, and inspected a number of the leading Clydesdale studs with a view to making purchases. It is reported that several select mares and fillies have changed hands.

The fireworks display in the Masterton Park drew a very satisfactory gathering of the public last evening. The display included a number of novel creations, which were much appreciated. The Municipal Brass Band rendered musical selections, and supper was provided in the kiosk. Potatoes are looking well everywhere, says the Oajmaru Mail, and the extensive crop, around Willowbridge is of mucin better appearance than usual, being specially heavy in the shaws. The crops near Oamara are specially heaHSiy looking. With no indigation of 'blight or grubs there would appear to he a good time in .store for is,, if the price is rigMT' '"' The turnip crop, unusually late throughout Southland on account of the long spell of wet weather experienced this summer is being seriously attacked by the fly in certain districts. In some cases crops have been sown twice, and both crops taken. As has often been found before, the crops ridged at the same time as sowing are looking best now, and seem less liable j to the ravages K of tiie-fly, v .. ...-„. I :!'• Visitmg.competi tors at; the. swim-j -ming cariii-val.-iu Masterton- yesterday ; speak ".very Highly of" the treatment;; they, received at thei handsx>f the,localofficials. They-were met at ''the' railway.: station'by drags, and. were'driven back to the station in conveyances provided by the Club. They were also | entertained at luncheon at the Commercial and Farmers Club, and welcomed by his Worsohip the Mavor. Mr J. F. Atkins, President of 'the Wellington Centre, acknowledjjd the cordiality of the accorded tho visitors. ' *

Quite*an;.epidemio of a peculiar .form of "rlius" poisoning is at present going the round in WanganuL In cases that have received medical treatment this poisoning has always followed a sting from a bee, in several instances the part stung swelling very quickly, and causing a good deal of pain. The inference drawn as to the cause is that, at tihis time of the year, the rhus lotmus (smoke plant) is in flower, and, the tree being very poisonous, the bees, in collecting their pollen, gather a certain amount of the poison, which miakgs them very vicious, and accounts for tiheir unnatural energy in attacking people. The shrub that is the cause of all the trouble is a wellknown and very popular ornamental ■'trjee.

.Here is a fine gratuitous advertise' ment far the moving picture, given witihom, any abtigjation on the Ps£t of the intelligent feeder to -believe it. Two months ago Maurice Q*fi.eef#, aged 21, was engaged in harvesting operations in the Horsham district, Victoria, and he trod on a big black snake, which immediately coiled itself around 3iis leg. He was not bitten by tie reptile, ibut was nevertheless greatly alarmed, so much so that lie went into a fit, under uhe influence of which ho remained for some time, and then lost the power of speech and hearing. He attended a picture show on New Year's night, and became excited at a thrilling scene depicted on the canvas. On the following day hd could utter & few words. Subsequently his speech gradually returned, and now lie has become quite voluble, and entertained visitors with Irish selections on the mouth organ. Some people will;.say that if paralysis .follows his efforts on the nioutUi.'organ it will , bo a case of .just retribution. Messrs Hunter, SchuHze and Gibson, land agents, Napier, advertise for exchange a block of good pastoral country. Particulars are advertised in the wanted columns. Messrs A. J. Johnson and Go. will sell by auction to-morrow on account of Mr A. E,; Wdnaenbetg, oii the premises, Queeii Street, a studio for removal, glass cases, shop fittings, shelving and floor cloths, entirely without reserve. A clearing sale on account of Mrs B. Elder will be held by Mrs A. Ji Johnson and Co. on Thursday, on the premises, Trustee Street. Mr O. Jefferson, Nireaha, advertises for wood-cutters, to exit about 200 cords of 4ft matai, the price to be paid being 7s per cord.

WHAT ABOUT HAWKES ! .■;, ' .■- '—; «►— -—- -, The' W«llington Garrison Band won the Championship and also the Challenge Shield ait the Pabnerston North Band Contest of 1911. They used Hawkes' Excelsior Sonorous Band Instruments—a complete set. In the first test piece this noted Wellington Band was allotted the maximum number of points, the judge declaring that he had never heard such playing, and commending in. eulogistic terms the tone and blend. The Wellington Tramway Band, also us ing a complete set of Hawkes' Exeefiior Sonorous Instruments, won the B Grade. He Judge congratulated this band on their playing. These two successes in Grade A and Grade B, ou such a great occasion, uv« werthy wins for Hawkes', whose instruments are pre-eminent all over t&» world. Bandsmen! Buy a set of Hawkes'—there are honours and valuable prizes to be won. with them. Write for catalogue. Sole agents— The DRESDEN PIANO CO., Ltd., Wellington. 'Leoal Representative : H. Inns, Daniell's Buildings, Queen Street. Masterton.

No need to worry over those One toms entries until your braina ar? fogged. Paso them Along to Messrs 1. J. Curtis and "Co..— they are experts at the garpo. There's no time to be loßt (and time U money to you) when your entries are passed bu Measrf. J. J. CURTIS AND CO., Customhouse and Shipping Agents. Customhouse Quay, Wellington. Their too s.rw vory raodar ate.