LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 17 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ballot for sections in the Mangatainoka block, near Pahiatua, takes place to-day. The N.Z. Racing Conference com*: mences its sittings in Wellington to- J day. i The new evening paper in Christchurch, to be published in September, j is to be called "The Sun." The staff of the Masterton railway intend hold a social and dance in the Drill Hall, Masterton, on Thursday, July 31st. The monthly meeting of the Council of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce is to be held to-morrow afternoon. Mr J. C Boddington reports that nine degrees of frost were registered at the Upper Plain yesterday morning. It is stated that oil haa been struck at the Kotuku Oil Company's bore at Weber, but the rumour has not been officially confirmed. A number of shootists arrived in Masterton yesterday from north and south, to compete in the Gun Club b £IOO pigeon match, which takes place to-day. It is understood (says the Herald) that the Public Works Department m- i tends proceeding shortly with the roading of the Mangatainoka and Ahuataranga blocks. The election for the Grey seat takes pla«e to-day. The result should reach Masterton by ten o'clock tonight. It is considered almost certain that there will be a second lotThe management of the Masterton skating rink, Perry-street, are arranging for weekly competitions of various kinds, for which prizes will be given. The first will be notified in due course. The ladies' division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade held a very successful practice last evening. Owing to the Masterton Competitions taking place next week, no lecture or practice of the brigade will be held. The Waverley Dairy Company - has paid out £11,200 for butter-fat for the «eason, the payments representing over Is Id per lb. The Rapanui Dairy Company has completed its ; first year, and paid over £6OOO to its suppliers. In answer to the questions-submitted i bv Mr G. R. Syke's, M.P., "the Minister of Education stated yesterday that it wae proposed to refer the question of the "establishment of Agricultural High Schools to the Education Committee of the= House. A well-known dairy farmer declared at the meeting of the Bacon Company in Pahiatua on Saturday, that his pigs had paid him over £3 per sow this year. He admitted, however, giving them a certain quantity of grain. , Reporting under date July 11th, the master of the Masterton dredge says: "The wash has been poor all the week. The bottom is of hard lignite, and has been swept clean" of wash. The ground is increasing slightly in depth." ;. Slfeep continue to be sent down to Canterbury in large numbers from the North Island, some parte of which are in. a bad way for feed on account of a long-continued dry spell. This influx is baling no appreciable effect on the prices of breeding ewes here (says the Timaru Herald), as North Island sheep do not compare in quality with Canterbury sheep, besides which it takes them a year to become accustomed to the new conditions in a colder climate.

The Mayor of Dunedin has received a letter from a Scottish lady whose ignorance of locality- is somewhat amusingly displayed in the text. The address reads: "Governor of Dunedin, State of Otago, Australia" ; and the contents inform MiStewart that her brother left Glasgow thirty-six years ago for the ..city of Otago. "Since then," she continues, "I have heard very little abovit him, ixccpt that he is now called Sir John Forrester." . .

The regulations issued by Order-ih-Council, dated the 16th ultimo, relating to the transmission ofV grams by telephone, have heem further amended as follows: "The charges for the telephoning of telegrams is only to relate to messages telephoned to subscribers and others whose residence or places of business are within the limit of the free delivery for telegrams. There is no fee for telephoning telegrams beyond the radius of the free delivery." "I am surprised," said a visitor to Masterton to an Age representative yesterday, "to see the change that has taken place in your town since I was here two years ago. On the occasion of my last visit, the street was lined with empty shops, and everybody looked gloomy. To-day you do not seem to have an empty tenement in the place, and there are signs of activity on every hand.'' The visitor concluded by saying, "You have one of the most prosperous towns I know of in New Zealand." The Manawatu Times had the following in its issue of yesterday: As a result of the stringent precautions to prevent the spread of smallpox, two Maoris who had recently arrived from the non-infected, area of the Wairarapa, and who had been staying at Awahuri, were yesterday not allowed by the Railway Department to leave, the district before they had paid a visit to the Health Officer and obtained a certificate. One of the Maoris, it appears, had been vaccinated four years ago by Dr Pomare, and as there was no sign of smallpox a bout either they were permitted to proceed on their journey.

The first social and dance in connection with the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's Pipe Band, is to be held in the Drill Hall, Masterton, this evening. The object of the social is to secure funds to enable the Band to compete in. the piping and dancing competitions at the Auckland Exhibition. A committee of ladies, headed by the Mayoress, has made the arrangements for to-night's function,, and as there will be a good floor, splendid music, and an abundance of refreshments, the gathering should prove a great success. The Pipe Band has, since its inception, given its services freely to the public, and townspeople have an opportunity to-night of showing their appreciation. GET A GOOD PIANO! There are no better or. more reliable instruments made than The Broad wood! The 'Rouishl The Lipp! The Steinway! nor are there any finer Organs than The Bell and The Imperial. ' We are constantly receiving big new shipments of these superb instruments ; prices and styles to meet all requirements. We will make terms to suit any purse. Our name alone is sufficient guarantee of quality. Call upon us, 01% on request, we will gladly call upon you. We keep a staff of expert tuners and repairers, amd can attend to any of your piano needs. THE DRESDEN PIANO COMPANY, LIMITED, WELLINGTON. North Island Manager, M. J. Brookes. Local Representative for these Pianos—H. Inns, Daniell's Buildings, Queen Street, Masterton.

Over forty peopl* hare been v«€cJnatod in FeatheratoU during the last few days. The Wairarapa Past Orands Lodge" of Oddfellows holds its annual meet* ing in Carterton to-night. The Featherston Hookey Club in* tend holding a euchre tournamont and dance on Thursday, 94th ins*. Miss Marie Motto, the celebrated! violinist, who appears in Mafberton, to-night, will Rive a rectial in* the Featheretoai Town Hall on SattttkJay ne*t. A poll of ratepayers in ,the F&& 1 - therston Cbu»ty will shortly be takia on tb© proposal to raise £6OO to caniy out improvements to the Featherstoli Town Halt Arrowtowm claims the distinction of being the first borough in Otago, if not in the Dominion, to employ a female town clerk and treasurer. The appooinrtoe. Miss May Cotter, who belongs to Arrowtown, was also selected as HfrraTtaW. Arbor Day passed o€ practically without observance i» Masterton. The school childron had a holiday, bufc hardlv seemed to know what it was all about. At Lansdown© the Committee and a number of children assembled and planted ornamTwrtal trees ra tho grounds. Mr J. J. Mead, d£ Cfesrterfem, has just received a novel present from England. It was a fine salmon canight bjrMr J. Stuckey on hie pike© at Worth Devon. It was sent out in? the freezing chamber of the Arawff. and: ra; m splendid condition, looking a'S if ib was caught yesterday.

A large and enthusiastic: gatheirrag of members and friends of- Knox. Ladies Social Guild assembled, at the: residence of Mrs J. Cameron, Cole-, street, yesterday, where they wera entertained by Mrs Cameron and Miss McLachlan. Musical item&; were jgiv- . en by Miss Hood ; (piano solo),. Miss McKenzie (song), and Misses Cameron and Holloway (pianoforte and- violin duet). A competition was also entered into and much enjoyed.. Afternoon tea was provided by the hostess. Two farmers in Timaru on. Saturday were discussing the hour versus the> contract system of thrashing, (says tho Timaru Herald). One said he had the. experience of both systems lasti season. His wheat, which was thrashed by the hour,' cost him 6Jd. per bushel, while that which was done by contract cost him -Hd per bushel,, and the men made better wages when working by contract. When on. contract they msSde 16a to 17s per day~, and when on by the hour they made> 9s to 10s per day. An old man named Patrick Mossy a resident . of. Gumtown, recently showed himself to he possessed of i considerable fortitude and remarkable ; constitution for his age • (telegraphs*. : fcfcw Auckland Star's Coromandel; cor- ) respondent). Though of apse- ■ he accepted a of an incon<sidorable amount that he could not» walk from Gumtown to Tapu in. any one morning in time to catch theThames coach., The old man saltlwl forth and covered the distance, folI lowing a rough track over hills mora than a thousand feet high, from the> eastern side of the seashore on tha western side. The weather conditions were anything butr-favourable, but hj» - reached Tapu long * before the time> appointed. It was a remarkable performance.

The Masterton Competitions, which commence on- the 21st-dnat., promise to be a greater success even than last year. The box plan is filling rapidly for the season. This no doubt is attributable to the excellent programme provided, and the splendid talent of many of the competitors. Lovers of music especially will be afforded a great treat, as the singers will be accompanied or two of the film's famous Pianos—the Bechstein and the Hopkinson—which are* being lent for the occasion by the, British and Continental Piano Company, who are ( the «ole vagents for these magnificent instruments, samples of which may be seen at their music warehouse, nexk to the Post Office Auction Mart, and where seats for the Competitions can be booked. If you would avoid disappointment, secure your seats early, and follow the crowd. *

I . A' plain and fancy dress ball wilt ' be held in the Kaituna Hall on Thurs- ; dfcyy July 24th. A snip country, 1351 ac- ■ res, Wairarapa district, is advertised? on page 8 by Mr W. H. Cruickshank, . land agent, Masterton. The annual general meeting of members of the Masterton A. and P. Association will he held on Saturday, August 9th, at "2 p.m. Nomination* for committee and officers will be received at the secretary's office till 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23rd. How about getting a season ticket to admit you to the whole of the week's entertainment at the Town Hall from Monday to Friday next? It will pay you. The seats are being* hooked at a great rate at the British and Continental Piano Company's premises. Don't leave it until too late, and at the last moment-find-yourself crowded out. Do it now! Messrs W. and G.-Turnbull andGb., Ltd., (late Jas. Macintosh and Cb.)i..have received instructions from Mr - Alexander Beatty, Dry River, Martinborough, to hold .an important clearing sale of dairy stock and sheep. The list includes 57 dairy cows (due August and September) and 20 dairy heifers (due August and September)'. The auctioneers thoroughly recommend? the cows, which were originally Mr Wm. Waugh's herd, and always returned a high test at the Otaraia factory. In sheep 300 prime fat lambs are included in the list as well as unbroken hacks and draught horses. The sale will take place on Tuesday. 29th July, at 11.30 a.m., and full particulars are advertised on page 8 of this issue. Do you want to hear good singing, good music in solos, in chorus, instrumental or vocal ? Go to the Competitions at the Town Hall any night next week. Do you want to see good acting, a comedy for instance? Go to the Competition on Monday or Tuesday night. Do you want to heap some of the best elocutionists and reciters in New Zealand? Go to the Competitions any night. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., have received instructions from .Mr D. Flett, Upper Fernridge, who has disposed of his property, to hold an unreserved clearing sale of the whole of his dairy herd and other live stock. The list comprises 80 choice dairy cows (due August and September), 23 selected yearling heifers, purebred bulls, 300 mixed sex hoggets, 150 ewes in lamb, horses and pigs. The cows / are mostly young and a good proportion are Jersey and Jersey cross. The stock of farm implements to be offered is also an extensive one. The sale will commence at 12 o'clock sharp on Thursday, July 31st. Full particulars appear on page 8 of this issue. With characteristic enterprise the local branch of the British and Continental Piano Company are making a special exhibition during Competition Week of their well-known instru-. ments at their*show-room, next the P.O. Auction Mart. All the famous makes of pianos handled by the firm will be on view and those interested are cordially invited to call and in-, spect. The firm.have very kindly placed at the disposal of the Competitions Society for the vise of the" singers a beautiful 85 guinea Hopkinson piano, specially turned to Contin* ental pitch, and also one of the fam-t ous Bechstein pianos, tuned io con* cert pitch, for the use* of s\e forte competitors.