LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10704, 27 August 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A line of wetliers from the Opotiki district recently sold in Auckland realised the fine average of £1 17s 6d.

The Worksop Dredging Company has declared a dividend of ,6s per share, payable to-morrow. On December. 31st last there, were 070 members of registered Friendly Societies in Masterton.

The next annual meeting of the N.Z. Farmors' Dairy Union is to be held at Eketahuna.

Mr J. 0. Boddington reports the frost recorded at Upper Plain on Sunday morning was 2 degrees, and on Monday 6 degrees.

There is so far not much evidence of spring in the Pahiatua and Eketahuna districts, the country generally •looking very bare.

The annual report of the Ratigitikei Dairy Company states that this year's supply lias-nearly doubled, and the amount paid out has more ihan doubled last year. ■'

Land has been Helling at very bigh figures in the Damievirke district of late. Within a few miles of the town £SO and £6O an acre has been secured for dairying land.

A small white Leghorn lieu, the property of Mr W. Reeves, of .Mastcrton, has laid an egg which] turned the scale at 3 ounces, being something in the nature of a record for that class of fowl.

The secretary of the Mastcrton Racing Club lias arranged with the railway authorities ■to run the C o'clock evening train through as a passenger train, so as to enable Wellington visitors to return to Wellington after the races. -

The recently-discovered oil-fields in tho vicinity of Dannevirke have created a good deal of enthusiasm in the township. Boring operations have just commenced, a contract being let for 3000 feet. The oi! experts arc very confident regarding the prospects of the wells.

A Territorial officer whose district includes a large slice of Hawke's 'Day, states that the recruits who have passed under his supervision aro nin.st enthusiastic, there being very few rlelinquents. The main difficulty is that many of the boys are settled so "far from the centres.

"No man ought to he allowed to clrive a motor car, even for himself, unless he is a skilled driver —otherwise he is a menace to the public," remarked his Honor Chief Justice Stout, at the Supreme Court in Auckland, during the hearing of a case in which the driving of a motor car was urider review..

The lecture to be given to-morrow evening iii the Town Hall. Masterton. on "The British inlndia." by the Rev J. J. North', in aid of the funds of the Masterton Baptist Church, and which will be illustrated by 100 pictures representing throe centuries of British valour, promises to be a big success, by the way tickets are sell-

An accident occurred in High Street, Dannevirke, on Sunday. A motor cycle, ridden by E, Nicholas, when rounding a corner into High Street, collided with a. trap eon taming Miss Sansom, Misses Maude, Olga and Ella Crist. The vehicle was capsized and the occupants thrown out. Olga, Crist had her collar bone, broken and internal injuries, Maudp Cristsuffered shock. Miss Sansoin and Nicholas each had their shoulder badly hurt and the latter a rib broken.

The first general meeting of the Matahiwi Cheese Company was held yesterday, Mr Bygum presiding over a full attendance of suppliers. 'I he rules and regulations were read and adopted. It was decided to open the factory on September 9th, the official opening to take place at 2 p.m. Messrs Bygum (chairman), Fisher and Tankersley were appointed directors, and Mr N. James auditor for the ensuing year.

The land known as the "Flats," which surrounds the town of Gisborne, is stated to be the richest soil in the Dominion. Properties aro selling at the rate of £l5O an acre in this particular district. A returned visitor states.that he saw crops of 'cangels each root of which averaged from twenty-five to thirty, pounds. Settlors are great believers in mangels and pumpkins as feed for stock, which do remarkably well on this class of food.

Sing a song of ibcmstly "flu," A cough, a cold, a sigh; Sneezing, wheezing, all'' the day, iGnrea,t (salt tears in -the eye. But they gave me Peppermint, A perfect drupe, I'm sure; Now I always take lor "flu"— Woods' Great FenD*rKiin>t Our*. 5

A Nelson employer was fiJU'tl £1 and costs for preventing an employee from rendering military service.

11:e r-estrictions upon the taking and killing of opossums has now been removed throughout the Dominion.

The Mnsterton bowling green is being got in readiness for the opening of the season in a few weeks' time.

Influenza is very prevalent in Mnsterton just now. It! is estimated that fully a hundred cases are under treatment.

■ A tiii, or parson-bird, was seen flitting about a patch of blue-gum trees in Masterton yesterday. These birds were at one time very numerous in the town. They are now rarely ever seen.

The official records and furnishings of. the Magistrate's Court in Masterton were transferred yesterday to the new Courthouse, where the 'business of the Court will in future be transacted.

An eight-roomed house at Tayforth, Wanganui, was destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The building was insured for £IOO in the South British Company, and the contents for £2OO in the Norwich..

Ploughing operations at Opaki are well ahead, and the newly-ploughed land bears an excellent appearance.

The lambing season is now at its height.in. the Forty-mile Bush, and by appearances there promeses to be a good percentage.

A son was born on August 15th to Mrs Astor, the 19-year-old widow of Colonel J. J. Astor, who was among those lost in the wreck of the Titanic. The event made n great stir in the of New York in which Mrs Astor lives, and when the news got abroad a large and curious crowd surrounded the house.

A deputation from the whole of the schools in the Masterton Small Farm Block will probably wait on the Trust Lands Trust at its next meeting, to protest against the proposal in the' Robinson report to cut off the grants to primary schools. Eight arrests Avere made in Masterton during the quarter ending Juno 30th, 1912, as against (thirty-throe in Bahiatua, nineteen in Carterton, thirty-two in Otaki, 185' in Palrnerston North, fifty in Taihape, US in Wanganui, twenty-two in Mar ton, 117 in Hastings, twenty in firty-one m Dannevirke.

It is reported that an -'excellent seam of coal has been struck at Vaponga, 80 miles from Nelson. TJk, mine has the advantage that vessels drawing 12ft of water can approach within a very short distance of it, and. by extending the present wharf large ocean-going vessels can be loaded with coal.

The Palmerston South Times states that wild pigs are said to be very numerous on the hills near Waikouaiti at present. Messrs J. Summers and F. Connelly shot four pigs, one o> which —a. large black boar —weighed 3001b. The hide of this animal Mas upwards of two inches in thickness, hut unfortunately, the tusks, which had apparently been of enormous Jeneth, had been broken off near the head.

At a meeting held on Saturday of the Wellington.branch of the New Zealand Shearers' Association, a motion, was carried endorsing the actions of-the-Federation of Labour in connection with the Waihi trouble. In the British House of Commons, while«there are a number of bankers, lawyers, railway directors, shipowners, and other commercial men, there are only three farmers. The president of tho Board of Agriculture is a shipowner, and the only farmer in the Government is a Lord of the Aclmirallr.

The latest football story comes from Melbourne. The captain of one side strolled up to the referee before a big match, and announced: "Look here, if we win to-day you're on a fiver." "Well," questioned the referee, "and if you lose, what then? 7 '' "Then," was the reply, "you're on a stretcher."

At a meeting of the Taratihi Meat Works Employees' Union, held last evening, the following resolution was carried:—"That in the event of not receiving a favourable reply; from Mr J. C. Cooper, the secretary write to all union re the J. Brewer and 0. R. Smith case, notifying them in reference to the trouble, and folr none of their members to engage as 'pullers,' and also to notify labour .papers, and if necessary call a public meeting in Mastorton."

The News states that the natives of.the Wairarapa have initiated an interesting movement, which is to culminate- in a large and representative gathering next March in Carterton, of chiefs and influential Maoris from the Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne districts. The object of the assembly is. to bring together, and to have recorded, the genealogy of important families of these localities away back to the first- canoes, and, in connection with them, the history of New Zealand (Aotea-Roa) so far as they have it from the legendary chronicles which the Tohung-as have orally carried on from generation to generation; and, in addition, the personal recollections of old men still living, with the incidents they have heard from their fathers and grandfathers.

A Canterbury correspondent, referring to the pinus insignns tree, mentions the fact that even grown m sand, trees of about thirty years' growth have cut, and are cutting at Bunvood, from 400 to 1000 feet of milling timber, not to speak of firewood. Although the trees are not thickly planted at Burwood, the plantation should cut 70,000 feet of .timber per acre. Tn Nelson province the timber is~verv much sought after for boxes, and where good quality can be obtained for housebuilding. The Cheviot district has adopted its use very vigorously for the same purpose, and has proved it .quite satisfactory. All over Canterbury there is a largo demand for timber for outbuildings, such, as men's huts, .barns, stables, piggeries, fowl-houses, toolsheds. otc, and if pinus insignns is to be obtained at a reasonable figure, and get fair treatment, it will some the place of our native pine, which is becoming daily more scarce.

Admiral Sir GGeorge King-Hall, Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Stateion, is a true Briton. He declares, and rightly too, that Britain was never more prosperous, powerful, o peaceful, and able to held her own in the world without fear of anyone. The same may bo said of the new packet Orescent Tea, and it is more able to hold its own against all other brands than erer before.

Or&gon pin© is at present in kectf demand by builders in the Wellington province.

The price of milk in Master ton is being reduced to threepence per quart.

Important improveiiients are alxmfc to be made at the- Pafriatm llailway Station.

A telegram from Hamilton states that the infant daughter of Mr Spier, an Ohaupo settler, apprtfiKrhed » tethered 'horse, and was kicked in the> head. At the hospital an operation was performed, but the child's condition 13 critical.

A Giisborne teiefcram states that John Christie was yesterday fined £25 for selling a bottle of whisky when lie did not possess a license.

While driving home to Ashburton from Methven on Saturday night, Mr Daniel McKcndry was thrown from his trap, and sustained a frao* turo of the thigh.

A man named Frederick William Schlater was arrested at Dunedin fa connection with six charges of forging: and uttering. When arretted accused had a loaded revolver in his pocket.

Hawks are very numerous in soma parts of the Masterton district. Ono settler informs us that he found fi.v» lambs on Sunday which appeared to have been destroyed by hawks.

The body of John Thomich, who was drowned three weeks ago in the Mangahak.i River, near Whangarei, was recovered yesterday some two miles from the spot where the fatality occurred.

At a well-attended, meeting; of dairy* factory suppliers, held at Waitara on Thursday, it wan linanimously decided! (reports the Taranaki Herald) if farmers would guarantee 1000 cows, to> form a. row-testing association embracing the whole of +be districtaround Waitara and in North Taranaki.

Most of the dairy factories in the Wairarapa and Forty-mile Bush districts are opening for the season this week and next week. Cows an? coming in earlier than usual, and tho mild weather experienced will result in an abundant supply of milk.

The Railways Statement will be delivered by the Hon W. H. Hemesduring this week. It will show that the revenue during the year 1911-12 was greater by £182.327 than that of the previous,financial year, and fchafc the net earnings on the total capital expenditure were equal to £3 I9s percent.

A deputation in connection wftht University Reform waited upon the Premier and Minister of Education yesterday. The Prime Minister stated that the Government would seriously consider the question of education'reform. He was strongly of opinion that there should be uniformity in university fees.

It is possible that onions will T>» again fairly short in supply during the coming vear. Says the New Zealand Herald. ' Owing to the failure of theonion ■ crop last season, there was not? so much seed saved as in former years, and growers are now finding that a large proportion of the seed Is failing: to germinate .when planted. This means, of course, that a lesser acreagethan anticipated will be put down in onions, for seed is now difficult to obtain. The shops that supply seedling; onion plants are finding a difficulty in meeting the demand of privategrowers..

News reached Picton a few days? ago from the To Awaite boys OR Campbell Island (says the Marlborough Express). All the members of the" party are reported to be in excellent health and spirits. The peason, -"so far; lias not been altogether a successful one, only three whales — all of the "right" species—having been captured. A great number of the monsters have been sighted, but the rough seas have time arid' agam prevented the crews giving -base. On several occasions the. harpoons, found their mark, but the lines had eventually to be severed, owing to thorough water. .The Cook party, it is reported, have made sixteen captures, which is. considered to be disappointing, in view of the fact that a steamer has been engaged in the operation, as against a motor launch by tbe To Awaite partv. It is stated that the Cooks have abandoned th> quest. The Te Awaito party !i3ve» made arrangements to return home inJanuary by one of the Norwegian whaling steamers.

A special meeting of the Taratabi Meat. 'Works Employees' Union wilT be held in the Druids' HolT,. Masterton, at half past sevon this evening-..

Settlers will be interested to loarnthat Messrs G. H. Perry and Co a reinstalling an up-to-date, plant for the mixing of agricultural- manures.

"Shirts! Shirts! that is the question." To be or not to be before you realise that spring is really here. Thcv .new shirts for summer wear are on view at Mr J. L. Murray's Quality Store. ( . ■ .'

Mr E. R. B. Daniel, laud and estate agent, Hastings, advertises for sale a 200-aere property near Dann;*virke. Particulars are advertised on the front page of this morning's issue, i

Those interested are reminded <vf the long-night dance at Kaituna this evening. A drag will leave the Post Office at 7 o'clock.

The Masterton Farmers' Implement Co. advertise for sale a 17 coulter Duncan drill and a.Hornsby portable engine. Mr A. F. Billington, Makora dairy,. gives notice that owing to an early spring he intends to reduce the price of milk to threepence per quart from September Ist.

Messrs J. "Wickens and Co. advertise that they will sell bread over the counter for cash at threepence per loaf.

A good hill hack, about 16 hands,. is advertised for. It must be a good walker. Particulars, may be found in our "Wanted" column.