LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10592, 26 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Worksop dredge return - is filozs. -Idwts. for 122 hours' work. The Masterton Dredging Company l::v; a dirubad of o:::> sbiTVn;:.

An effort is being made to form a hockey club at Featherston. A Sydney cable states that the warship Encounter sailed yestorday for Nerf Zealand. There is some talk of tho formation of an Automobile Association iu Ma'stertou. The Appeal Court opened at Wellington yesterday. Thero are twenty cases set down for hearing. In some of tho Souiih Island freezing I v«x)rks butchers are having a good deal cf broken time, owing to insufficient stock coming forward. A Wairoa telegram states that a boy ' two years and eight months old, named Allen L. Allison, of Maugaono, died on-Saturday from eating Quibell'fc. sheep dip powder. Tho Ngacro dairy factory, between EH/bam and Stratford, paid out £4OOO to suppliers last week,, the rate being, equal to lßd for the season, tho output equalling that of any previous season. Tho manager of a bfickinaking firm, in his evidence before the Fublic Works Committee in Sydney, declared tOiat Sydney brickmakers cleared a profit of 101) to 150 per centum. A school in Southland has been closed for a week or two to enable the children to assist in the"harvest fields, I settlers doing their utmost to have i their crops harvested while the good i weather lasta. The annual picnic of the suppliers of the Featherston Co-operative Dairy Company was held on Friday, and at tie invitation of the promoters a largo number of people assembled on the Tauherenikau racecourse. A vory heavy rainfall has been registered in the Poverty Bay district during "ffiis month, and settlers are very .satisfied with'the; improvement shown in the surrounding country, which suffered considorahly during the. summer from drought. Threshing mill employees in Otago and.Southland aro not satisfiedwith their'present, wages, and if their demands for an increase are not granted, it is probable that a widespread strike will occur.

Flounders aro reported to lie very plentiful on the East Coast this year, and some splendid hauls have been taken. A few season's ago flounders were found in great numbers in the mouths of East Coast rivers, so it would seem that tlheir visits were peiv iodical.

Plans have been prepared and tenders will Shortly bo called; for roofing the sheep exhibition pens on the Wairarapa PastoraiTand Agricultural Society's fJhowgrouud at . Carterton; There will be two sheds, each 16<3ft long .and 30ft wide, with fourteen skylights in each. A new cross in sheep is to be experimented with at tiheStato Farm, Komney with Kyelands, and on Thursday. 40 Romney ewes were received from Mr E. Short, of Feilding, for the purpose (saj-lti* Waverley correspondent of tho Pates Press). it is considered, that a splendid mutton sheep will be obtained. The result of the experiment will be watched with interest by the farming community. The new Prime Minister, the Hon. i\ Mackenzie, was for a period a resident of Gisborne, says the Poverty Bay.Herald. When tile old-established firm of Graham, Pitt, and Bennett became involved in difficulties over twenty years ago, its extensive stock was submitted to tender, and was purchased by Mr Mackenzie for the sum of £IO,OOO. He came to Gisborne, and effected a speedy realisation, with considerable profit'to himself.

A man who bought a farm only a few years ago at Togo for £9 an acre was looked :lpon by his the embodiment of the old saying about a fool and his money (writes tiho Stratford correspondent of the Daily News). Four years ago ho sold for £V» an acre, and left the district with about £7OOO, so 'tis said. Last week tlho torn was sold for £32 per aorel

Very little is known in the Island of silver pine timber, which rs raid to be now rotting. Mr bimon A.-liv of the firm of Goldfinch and 00.. sawmill or s, of Ohiakune and Aramoho, informs us that he has discovered a "reef" at Horbpito, and has been suc,--cessful in securing the lease of a considerable area (some 3,000 acres). Several interesting additions have been made to the schedule for the ncU competitions ofthe Master ton Musical and Elocutionary Competitions boeiety. These will include a vocal competition for Maoris, reading at sight, and a comedietta. Entries lor tiro ,].,.ttor will bo received up till a tew days before the competitions. Professor Mills thus deiines Socialism (1) Capitalism is the private ! ownership by t'he few. of wt«t_ tne manv must collectively use. Socialism is the collective ownership by the many of w'hat the many must collectively use. (2) Capitalism is the private management, by the few, ol the woiv Vtricfli'thc many must do collectively. Socialism is the collective, democratic management by the many, of the work which the many must do collectively. About two-thirds of the crops iu tho Oiunani district aro now either stacked or threshed, according to the Mail, and a few days' continuation of the prevailing conditions will relieve the fanner of all anxiety save that attached to obtaining t'he best price tor 'bis produce. This lias been a year oi years, and our country friends aro making a remarkable recovery fiom tiho effects of the cyclop lean seasons. One farmer, whose land P J\ a vear 300 bags of gram, iias y tihres'hed 1200 bags off an area rathei lesv, than ho cultivated m IJII. FORMING A BAND. It is a healthy sign of the times that every town and village waiut-s 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 Ha"vkes' lOxceisior Sonorous Band Instrument*. . Those are the finest in the world. Thev are used bv chamipioni bands, every where. The Ba liar at City Band won air Australasian Championship, playing on Hawke>s' instruments. They are superb in quality and tone. Kae'h instrument is specially'tuned by on<> of the most highly skilled musi-•cian-s in London. The inclusion of one, two, or three Hawkes' iiustrumonts in a Band is immediately noticeable, owing to the great added richness of tone. A band all Hawkes must be tho acme of perfection, so far as the instru.mens go. Wrie for particulars. The Dresden. Piano Co., Ltd., Wellington. North Island Manager : M. J. Brookes. Local representative: IT. Inns, Danicll's Buildings, :i Stmt.

The returns from the Success dredge last. week wero 19ozs. lOdwis. for 128 (hours' work.

A Native named Willie Noa has been drowned at Waikaretahcke, in tho Poverty Bay district.

Tho-.Mastorton Musical and Elocutionary Competitions Society has nox a membership of over fifty. It is hoped that tho number will be doubled in the near future. Altogether twenty-eight- applications have Ikkmi received for tho position of fluid inspector to tho Wellington Education Beard. Tlie total number of ''children on the rolls of uhe schools in the -Wellington district at the present time is 19,542. This number includes 1453 on tho rolls cf the Roman Catholic schools. The next best despatch for Canada, United States, Central America and the United Kingdom (duo London April 2i?th) will bo via San Francisco, closing at- Mastertoii on Friday, 29th March, at (3.45 a.m. The Auckland oyster season will open on May Ist, and tliero are good prospects for a plentiful supply, though the Department will probably curtail the period, as was done last year. The beds at Rangitoto and Waiheke are in excellent order. South Canterbury runliolders say that, a large number of . sheep were found to be missing this year when the mustering of sheep took place, and a strange thing is that, although they ore supposed to have perished, very few dead bodies are to be found. The following stock was slaughtered ab the Waingawa freezing works during the past week: —Sheep, 4627 ; lambs, 4784; cattle, 10. Stock continues to come forward in good numbers, and the supply should be well maintained for at -lea,st a month-yet. Tho quantity of fat stock which has been taken off farms in South Wai•rarapa this season will probably exceed all past records. Tlie quality, also, is very favourably commented upon. ! A section of the business people oi Oawaru are endeavouring to arrange for Saturday to be included in the closing days for the Easter holidays. There are a few dissent-ions, but it is.probable that tho majority will have their way. One of the largest orchards in the Commonwealth is that at Packenham, Vic, owned by the Toomuc Company. There are 210 acres under apples. This year the output totalled 50,000 cases, most of which was : exported. ;, .Three large cold stores have been" erected, and in -these.'it is possible to bold apples iii a sound condition from one season; to the next. Windfalls and'waste fruit are turned into cider. The total number of schools in operation in the .Wellington school district during the'past year was 169—an increase of six on the number of 1910. New schools were opened at Aohanga, Carfington, Makerua, Manganui, Mona, Manahara, Normandale, Pori, Waihoanga and Whakapuni; while those at Admiral Run, Ran'gi Taincuti, Stronvar and Pakowai were closed. In their annual report, tlie Inspectors of the Wellington Education Board note a decrease of nearly 20 per cent in Standard MI, compared with the previous year. This is accounted for by tho increased acoom[•modatioii provided by the secondary schools in the city, and by tho unsuitahilifcy of the railway time-table in the country. The establishment of a district high school at Eketahuna will, the Inspectors think, more than compensate for the decreaso in the rural HidgSh schools. A meeting of tlisv Committee of the Mastertoii Musical and Elocutionary Competitions Society was held last evening, Dr. P, R. Cook presiding over a large attendance. It was decided that in all cases trophies bo given in lieu of medals, but that four championship' medals be awarded. Ilie. question of holding an -art exhibition simultaneously with the competitions was discussed, and a sub-committe© was appointed to report on the question to another meeting on Monday next. Tho syl'.abue for the competitions was gone through seriatim and finally approved.

Writing on lias recent inspectorial visit to the country schools in the Wellington district, Mr W. T. Grundy saj r s : —"ln most of the small country schools! was impressed .with the fact that the.teachers were striving loyally jar.d earnestly to do tlieir best for the children, ar.d the work was in many .cases of a 'higher ..order of merit thanI had expected to find. There- was close ! supervision of written work, wliidh in j movst cases was very neatly clone, and I evidently an earnest endeavour was being made to meet the requirements of the standards of education in every possible way. . The children, too, were more responsive than 1 had expected to find them, and it is evident that the leaven of the spirit of the new education is /Working, and is having . a beneficial effect on education in these remote parts. Great credit is due to many of the country teachers-for .the care they bestow on the upkeep of the Board's property. In connection with some of even the smallest schools there are beautifully kept gardens in which the pupils work, and from w;hioh, educationally, they undoubtedly obtain much profit as well a.s enjoyment." Reporting to' the Wellington Education Board on the subject- of the teaching of singing, Mr Robert Parker says: —"I have given two courses of lessons to teacihem and pupil toadhers; the second h> Masterton from September to December. The lessons included all the points comprised in an adequate treatment of the subject of school-singing, breathing, voice and ear training, time, tune and enunciation, all of which were dealt with as thoroughly as time would allow. The attendance and the work done at the Wellington class was on the wkole satisfactory, but the Wairarapa class was one of the best I have held. In spite of variable and sometimes very unfavourable weather, same thirty-five teachers from all parts of the district assembled every Saturday and followed the lessons with the keenest interest." ' -

Pimples Off in Two Bays.— LaxoTonic Pills removed an unsightly patch of pimples from my face, writes Mtb Sophie Henderson, 12, Reilby Street, Etimoro, New South Wales, which for two months had resisted every poesible remedy. After trying almost every medicine I finally used Laxo-Tonic Pills, and after taking them according to directions, the pimples began to dry up, and in 48 (hours came away when I was washing; leaving the skin perfectly clear and clean. Obtainable every where. Price 10id and 1b 6d. Support the country that mpports YOU. Keep the money circulating here. Buy Clothiag.

A distinct earthquake sh ck was experienced in Mastertoii at 8.35 o'clock. las* evening. The, membership of the Wairarap'i Amateur Athletic Club now stands at 77, which is an increase of thirty on last year's membership. In the Ash-burton district many fanners and stock-dealers prefer to drive mobs of sheep and cattle than to have tlicm carjred by rail. The travelling by road is longer, but is so very much cheaper. A Press menage from Wellington states that the tender of Messrs J. W. McMillan and-Co. has been accepted by the Government for the erection of the new Stamps and Native Departments' offices in Wellington. Tho contract price is £19,G00. The very unseasonable weather has had a very detrimental effect on the tourist traffic to Rotorua and the hot kikes districts this season. Two of tlielargest launch proprietors in Rotorua have, so far this season together carried only half tho number of passengers transported by one of them during thecorresponding period of last year. The Wairarapa Amateur AthleticClub are working vigorously with tn:* preparations for their Easter Monday sports, and are leaving no stone unturned to niako tho meeting attractive to the public. The two mile walking event alone should bo worth going a, long way to see, and it is confidently expected tliat Cash-man will succeed in his effort to break the New Zealand record over this distance. A committee meeting of the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club was held in Messrs Gawith and Logan's office last evening, there being present) Messrs J. Coradino (Chair), R. McKenzie, J. Bradbury, A. C. Williams, M. Iggulden, P. Gilbert, A. Long, 11. Messenger, J. W. Nicholson, and W. Dickson (Secretary). It was decided to hold a smoke concert and presents tion of prizes in the Arcadia Tea Rooms on the night of the sports, ami to invite visiting competitors to Iwpresent. The tender of "Miss Capper ,was accepted for afternoon tea in the kiosk on tho afternoon of the sports. Mr J. G. Green's tender was accepted for the sale of sweets and soft drinks on the grounds. The following were elected members of the Club: Messrs G. Stewart, Geo. Allen, M. B. Spence. Numerous trophioa have been received for presentation to' the winning competitors, and several donationsSlave beeiv promised. The sub-com-mitteo appointed for the sale of tickets reported that the tickets were bein*.bought freely.., The,trophies. ; to .>«> presented at the sports are to be, procured'by a -sub-eommittee, and jV will. •shortly bo on view. '.-'.. ■.-*;<■■■■..-■:■ .' A nasty accident 'happened to Mr H. Waldeny of the W.P.C.A. staff in Greytown, on Friday night. According "to the Standard, he -was cycling from Mastertoii to Greytown, when vehicles approached. The eyede and vehicles were all carrying lamps, and ifc is surmised-that the brilliant glare■from the cycle lamp startled the approaching horses, .One of which .shied' suddenly, and swerved the vehicle in towards Mr Walden, with the result; that he collided with the hind wheel, and was thrown violently to the o-round. The occupants of the vehicle,. Messrs Davis and Hannah, immediately went to his assistance, and found that he had received a slight concussion'and a severely bruised knee. He revived under their care, and Mr Gratam drove Mr Walden to his home, Bevond tlie injured knee the other hurts were superficial. We are pleased to learn that he is progressing satisfactorily.

The annual meeting of the Excelsior Hockey Club will bo held in Rankin's rooms to-morrow evening.

! Two machine crutehers are required by Messrs Gillespie and Co., labour agents: ! •'• The annual meeting of the St. Matthew's Hockey Club will bo held. - . j the Sunday schoolroom to-night. The' annual general meeting of tftfi ' Red Star Football Club will be hold ! to-night at the Y.M.C.A.' rooms. -Messrs Hood Bros., drapers, Queen i Street, advertise the latest fashions in ■ hydrotitc rainproof coats, and the very fashionable reversible coats. The half of a five roomed cottage, centrally siti:atcd, is advertised to be let. An advertiser wants two furnished - rooms, with use of conveniences. I The Mayor, Mr,.T; I M. Coradine, has- ! declared a'public holiday on Thursday, ; March 28th : , from 11 a.m., the occasion, ' being the first day of the autumn ' meeting of the Masterton Racing Club. i Messrs Dalgety and Co. advertise ! particulars of a clearing sale at Taie, ' on March 27th, when tho whole of ' e live and doad stock of Mr Fairfax Smythe, will be put under the hammer. i Messrs Watson and Co., of the i "Economic Stores," Master-ton, «d----1 vertises special Easter bargains m ladies' waterproof coats, raincoats, 100 j Harris tweed costumes, scarves and I furs. These, being direct importations, should command attention. ■The deer-stalking season opens on the Ist of April. This year promises to 1)0 ,a record one, from the reports from the .surrounding districts. Messrs King and Henry draw stag-hunters 1 attention in another column in regard to their large stock of rifles and cartridges. Intending visitors to tho Masterton races this week are invited to. inspect tho well-assorted stock of field glasses at Mr Henderson's. \ very special lino is the powerful prismatic gloss, which Mr Henderson lias had specially made to his own order, and can be obtained at the reasonable price of 70s. A higher grade, which is much more powerful, is quoted at £6 (ss, and ordinary field glasses, 40s. If there is one time of the year looked forward to with greater zest than any other, it is Faster. It is not only tho occasion on Which a few days respite arc given from the hurly-burly of life. It is tho proverbial line of demarcation between two seasons—summer and winter. Tis then that Messrs Hugo and Shearer make special price concessions, and very smart window displays. In witness whereof a visit is requested.