LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10595, 29 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho latest return from the Masterton dredge is IGoxs. Kklwts. for 13;t hours' working.

In connection with the report of tho Rod Star Football Club's annual meeting, tho name of Mr J. S J'.ankm should have been included as a. VicePresident,

The "Express" states that Mr R. Hornby has disposed of his farm at Nircaha to Mr Noble, of Masterton. The sale was effected through Mr T. Knight, land agent. At the Athletic Sports ,at Kunieroa, near Woodville, on Wednesday, Mr ,\. W. Nicholson, of aVfasterton, appropriated the 440 yds and tfSOyds amateur handicaps off scratch.

It is stated that tho delay in announcing the personnel of tho new Ministry has been occasioned by a do sire on the part of certain playful legislators, to have the announcement made on April Ist.

After the second race to-day at Opaki, Messrs James Macintosh and Co. will sell 'by auction on account of Mr J. McLaughlin, the Ibr. g. Wee Hose, 4 years, Merriwee—ltoso Sea ton, with tlio isecoud day's engagements. Also on account of iMr F. Martin, the blk. g. Fusilia, 4 years, Hoyal Fusilia —Ja, with second day's engagements. Figures have, been compiled from o/iicial sources showing that sine.' 188s. loss than a quarter of a. century ago, there has 'been actually paid to the daily farmers of JJw Zealand for milk for the manufacture of butter and cheese, Over twenty-eight mil lions sterling. Where would New Zealand havo been during the last quarter of a century, iand the last half of that period in particular, if it bad not been for the dairy industry?

The supremacy of the British Navyis to bo maintained at any cost, and this is what Britishers expect. It is the big insurance premium the nation has to pay for the enjoyment of peace. The First Lord of the Admiralty has made a frank statement of t\io position, and the people will support him. The supremacy of the Navy is challenged by Germany, but the supremacy of Dragon Brand Tea is not challenged by any other competitor. It is a ten in a class - by itself—-rich, pure, fi ; a:;v;t::t u:kl in -iy.

.Air L. G. Roid, S.M., hold a short, civil sitting of tho Magistrate's Courtin Ala-s-tcrton yesterday, two or three undefended cases being dealt with.

Largo consignments of fruit have been exported from Northern Wainn districts this season for various part", of New Zealand.

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd.,. report tho sale of Mr Tulloch's To Kuri proporty at Muriwai (Poverty Bay) to a Wairara-pa buyer.

A very primo line of fat lambs was sold at St. Andrews on Friday la,st at 20s per head —tho top price of the season. The lambs oarao from the fann of Mr J. Craigio, M.P., at Kingsdowu. That money is firmer tl.yui it may bo judged from the fact that tho Tiinaru Harbour .Hoard havo just lent out £-1500 at 5£ per cent, for a term oi years.

All who visit Rotonia.. says an exchange, had better beware of Rotomahana, the cauVe of the stupendous upheaval of for it is again showing signs of agitation. At a poll of ratepayers in Featherston yesterday, a proposal to borrow £2OO to complete the Coronation bath was approved, but a proposal in raise a loan for a similar amount to extend tho street lighting system was negatived by a narrow mlargin.

Tauranga reports that the dreaded potato blight has made its appearance in that district, and several crops are badly effected.' InJthis it may be mentioned that the potato crops in the North Otago district* are said to bo almost entirely free from [blight so far .this season, notwithstand- | ing tho continuous wet weather that ! has been experienced.""' '' ■'

Coombe's Arcade, a Queen street Auckland, property, has changed •hands at £22,500. The property consists of a two-storey brick building and laud, and has a frontage of 22ift to Queen Street and -221 ft to High Street. This is probably the highest price yet paid for Queen Street property, and approaches £IOOO a foot. In 1905 the propertv was sold for £12,000.

Tho"Woodville Examiner states that Mr W. W. Dunning has disposed of his property in Pahiatua to Mr Crewe, w*ho takes possession, next week. Mr Dunning has property north of Auckland, and is leaving for that district with his family almost immediately. Mr Dunning was one of the earliest settlors; in Makuri, where he farmed successfully until a few years a.go, when ho moved into Pahiatua.

According to the Master of the Waikato Hunt there exists two classes of horsemen, out on hunting days. Speaking at the Waikato Hunt gathering the other evening he remarked that some men hunted in order to have a ride, but fcho true sportsman rode to hunt. If those that hunted only to ride, ho added, would assay the task of "walking" a pup their ©lire would soon 1)0 effected, as when out with the hounds their eyes would be confined to their pup, and the hunt pure and simple would be their thought.

'Hie members of the Gymnasium are giving a social, tonight in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, to which all members of the Y.M.C.A. and the Ladies' Auxiliary-are heartily welcomed ; also last year's members of the gymnasium and intending members and their friends. There is an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music, to include leading local 'talent.'''. "Games'"'arid refreshments wi.'! be provided, and.a pleasant evening may;J>o,anticipated. .;■

At tho sitting of the Gi'sbforrco Supremo Court tho Chief Justice asked an accused what the term "shieker" meant. Tho latter said ho had never heard tho term before? he then thought it applied to a person who frequented a public-house. He now knew moro about sueh coloniat terms.' The ca'so before tho Court was one of bicycle stealing, and accused had mentioned in the guarantee that he had got tho bicycle, from "a shieker," "and yet/' said His Honor, "you did not know whether or not he was what you say. yon thought the term 'shieker' meant."

One more new butter-box has mad* 1 its appearance, says the Taranaki Herald. The lwx is made almost entirely of galvanised iron, the only vood in it consisting of a sort of frame on two sides of the box. The lid is of galvanised iron, and is easily fitted °i' re_ moved by means of four hinged nails inserted into holes at the corners of tho wooden frames. (The inventor says that galvanised iron will not affect .the butter in any way, but- to obviate tho possibility of damage, the interior of the box is covered with,paraitin wav. The galvanised iron box weighs just under eight pounds, and 1 Jibs less than the ordinary wooden box, and can bo made for about 3d less than the wooden box costs. Another advantage claimed by the inventor is that four of the six sides of the. box are qnUo half an [mil \,hh\Wl uuurthe sides of the wooden box, AiVC 1 . tliis will mean a considerable saving of space in storage. One of the most extraordinary sales of dairy stock over known in the world was perhaps that sale a few months ago near Paoroa, when a heifer calf from new making over COO pounds of butter a year was sold for half-a-crown. Of course, tho seller, says the "Dairyman," had not the remotest idea in the. world what he was selling, but equally the buyer had no more knowledge, either. Tf there ever was an "awful example" of "blind groping among cows," surely this is one. It seems that in the farmers' interests compulsory testing of dairy cows should now be insisted on, and if the yearly yield of butter-fat were firebranded on each cow, then she wouH always realise her true value.

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 bo to your advantage to communicate at once with the Dresden Piano Company, Ltd., Wellington. They are solo agents for Hawkes' Excelsior Sonorous Band Instruments. These are the finest in the world. Thev are used by champion, bands everywhere. The Ballarat City Band won an Australasian Championship, 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 on*?, 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 inst rumens go. Wrie for particulars. The Dresden Piano Co., Ltd., Wellington. .North Island Manager: M. J. Brookes. Local representative: H. Inns, Danioll's Buildings, '"ijtfoi i*i:«.t.

iMlimps are prevalent among the boys .it the Woraroa training school.

An oil spring has \ wcn discovered at Paraparaum-u, and m, company has born formed to exploit it.

A rillo match hetween tennis from the Kaitmva and Aiircdton Rifle Club.s will take pl«ee at Alfretitoti at m oarlv date.

The rateable value of the Borough of Napier for tho year ended March 1013, is set down at £121,207, an increase of .L' 3.51 on this year. Tho capital value of borough property is roughly estimated at £1,000,000.

The Secretary of Hie Otaraia Dairy Co. 'lias just received advice that tho Company's shipment of chee.se per s.s. Annva has realised 74s Gd per cwt. in London, and that the market is steadily advancing.

The interesting extracts from the diary of Mr J. E. Btiller, which wero recently published in tho W-iirarapa Age, concerning tho arrival of the first plough in New Zealand, arc being framed hy Mr W. J. Biroh, of Rangitikei/and presented to the Fcikling A.. and P. Association.''

There is *a general falling-oif in the milk supply at the various factories throughout the-Mknawatu-district, although, owing to the fairly Mgh test that is being maintained, tho output compares very favourably with that for the corresponding period last season.

Detective Andrews arrested a titan named Percy A. Findky on the Mastcrton racecourse yesterday on «, charge of having no lawful vJ&iMe means of support. The accused has been visiting various racecourses of Tate. Ho will appear before the 1 Court this morning.

There have been no bankruptcies* in the. Napier district, which includes all towns from Wairoa to Wai ; piiikui'an v for a iperiod of eight months. This is token as. a sign of the great prosperity enjoyed by the Hfcvwke's Bay disi.ict during tlio past number of months. A London cable, which appeared in the Evening Post,.of last night, read l as.follows: —"Fauns' Wihwii, iv Ger~ than, was fined £SO for endeavouring to induce velvet embossed workers at Leeds to disclose trade secrets." A velvet embossed worker must bo something of a lusus naturae. Mr J. Pedersen, of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture, has been appointed to proceed to Europe to enquire, into the latest methods, of manufacturing casein, and otherwise making most profitable uses of byproducts in the dairying industry. , He leaves New Zealand in the course of a few days.

An agitation, is on foot by several Chambers of Commerce to have "Left Parcel" labels issued in triplicate instead of in duplicate as at present, thus providing a receipt in the form, of a triplicate dockot for parcels delivered at left parcel offices. It is believed that this innovation would prove of convenience to the business com-' ihunifjf*.,,

The activity of Ngauruhoe is greater than it was last year, and seems to be slowly increasing Twenty years ago steam was rarely to be seen, over + he summit. Now there is always a big cloud of vapour, and' very loud'explosions ea.n be heard in the crater. What goes on below cannot be seen, for the steam, is too thick, and the weather, latelv has been .unfavourable as well'..

A young-man named 'George'Alien, who lias been residing at Kopmranga, for' some time, wa.s arrested oh the Opaki racecourse yesterday by Detective on a charge of forging and uttering a cheque for £5 on a Wellington tradesman about fifteen months ago. The acuseed will be brought before the Court this morning, and will probably be remanded to Wellington.

Tho love of tho eat for its home was fully exemplified in Hawerarecently. A householder, desiring to give his cot\%way, took ImriHo a. house seven miles distant. The cat was tied in a sack, so that he could not see his way, and was token to his new home in the pouring rain. Tho wot day was chosen as it was believed this would deaden the cat's sense of smell. The .household received a surprise this week when ir. walked the* domestic pet after an ab-ser-w of ten clays as if he had never been away.

There is (says the Waimarino correspondent of the New Zealand Herald) a somewhat uneasy feeling amongst millers regarding tho stability of the timber market, and recent fluctuations have been viewed with a fair amount of apprehension. At present, however, there does not seem to be much cause for aln.n'm, as the nulls have been bus-ily-engaged since 'Christmas. The recent importations of Oregon pine may have been responsible for causing a temporary glut in tho market.

Board and residence is wanted in a respectable private family, Trespassers on tho Kuanialmnga property, SJ? acres, at To Wharau, deerstalking or otherwise, are advised to road a notice on the front page of this morning's issue of tho Age. Saturday, 30th iust., is tho last day upon which Masterton County rates can bo 'received at the County office without the .penalty. Letters receiving that postal date will escape, the fine, even if received later.