LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, 27 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is,stated that now iron-sand smelting works will be erected in the near future at New Plymouth. A child with five fully-developed fingers and a thumb on each hand has been unearthed in the Masterton district.

The campaign for the Stratford byelection has opened. Both Mr R. Masters (whose return was upset)~and Mr Hine are in the field busy addressing electors this week. The Wellington Charitable Aid Board is extending charitable relief to a man with a family of six children, who is in receipt of £3 10s per week. He has to pay 80s pet week house rent.

Tinui residents are very desirous of obtaining a daily mail service, now that the car service from Masterton is daily. . A petition will shortly be forwarded to the Postmaster-General in connection with the matter.

It is understood that owing to the acute shortage of paper the publishers of the Ladies' Home Journal, find of the Saturday Evening Post (New York) will not in future print copies for sale in Australia and New Zealand.

A proclamation constituting the Wairarapa Electric Power District wa* gazetted on Thursday. The district comprises portions of the Masterton, Wa.rarapa South >f and Featherston Counties, the boroughs of Masterton, Carterton, Ctoeytowri, Featherston, and the town district of Martinborough.

In reply to a remit forwarded him from the Tinui branch of the Farm* ers' Union, the Hon the Mipister for Internal Affairs said that he had already, approved the drafting of an amendment of the Motor Regulation Act providing for the licensing of drivers of ' motors, and if possible that amendment will be introduced during "the coming session of Parliament. Several members present at yesterday's. meeting of the branch expressed themselves as well satisfied with the Minister's, reply.

Before the war the Chinese dollar was worth from Is lOd to 2a, but now it is worth 6s. That is to say, if today you change £l, English currency, in Hongkong, you will receive (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) three dollars, where formerly you were handed nearly a dozen. Mr Mis (secretary to the New South Wales Trade Commissioner in the East), mentioned this in a discussion of the "Gilbertian position" created in China by the exchange. He went on to cite hypothetical casa to make the "Gilbertian position" clearer. he said, "a, man sent to Hongkong at £IOOO a year, paid in dollars. He could' live''arid save £ISOO a year. That sounds ridiculous. But examine it. With dollars at 2s, this man would receive 10,000 or 11,000 dollars a year. He could live on 5000 or 6000 dollars, and suppose he remits 5000 or '6OOO dollars toiEnglahd'at 6s a dollar, then he has 'saved 1 £ISOO out of £1000." Mr 'Ellis mentioned that so eager we*e Chinese to lay hands on gold that they were paying 30s each for sovereigns. *

A shipment of 160 toiw of malWe was despatched from Takaka this week to a firm of monumental masona in Auckland. j The annual Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union will be held this year at Feikling, commencing on May 24th. "Working bees" of miners and ' others are assisting in the restoration of the Grey River Argus office, recently damaged by fire. Sugar and benzine are both being rationed in Masterton at the present time. The effect of the shortage in benzine is being severely felt. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be provided with a mil.tary guard of honour on the occasion of his forthcoming vis.t to Masterton. The fines and costs imposed in the Masterton Mag-strate's Court yesterday in connection with breaches of the borough by-laws aggregated £2l 14i. The Mokoia, with the Parliamentary party aboard, reached Auckland on its return from Fiji yesterday morning. The whole of the members of the party are in excellent health. - A very successful dance was held in the Tinui Hall lasc night, in aid of the funds of the Tinui school. The arrangements were in the capable hands of Mr J. O'Connor (Chairman of the Committee). An Auckland resident, on finding one of his ducks dead from a wound in the neck, poisoned the body with strychnine and left it lying in the same place. On the following morning a fine large ferret waß lying dead besides his victim. Several members afc yesterdfiy's meeting of the Tinui branch of the Farmers' Union spoke strongly in favour of the action of the Carterton branch in demanding that the Minister of Agriculture publish the names of the known agents of the American Meat Trust in New Zealand. The Auckland Star says:—The changed tone in Thames mining circles is quite apparent oven to a casual observer. There i& much more activity and general briskness than there was even a month ago. Several new mines with good prospects have commenced operations, while the older mines seems to be taking oh a new lease of life.

The charge of alleged profiteering, preferred aaginst a Masterton firm in connection with the sale of cigarettes t has been- abandoned. Mr R. R. Burridge, Grown Solicitor, stated at the I sitting of the Court yesterday that he i had been requested by the Board of Trade to apply for leave to withdraw I the charge. Leave was accordingly I granted. t In the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday, Victor Swanson . pleaded not guilty to charges of travelling at an excessive speed in a j motor car across a street intersection, and of failing to sound his horn. After hearing the evidence, His Worship entered'a conviction and fined; the 1 defendant 10s and costs on the first 1 charge. In the other charge he was given the benefit of a doubt. '• Reward offered for recovery of lost ring. r Mrs. H. Beale and family insert a notice of thanks. » Train arrangements for Easter I advertised elsewhere. Weaner pigs advertised for sale by i Wm. Jenkins, pork butcher. The N.ZJF.C.D.C. insert a change advertisement re Hupmobile cars* . Modern five-roomed house with two acres land for immediate sale. Address at Age Office. •"■Messrs G. H. Perry and Co. insert .% property of 147 acres for sale, situated at West Taratahi.A specially fine upright grand piano is advertised for sale by Mr. Arthur Williams, Pownall Street. The hairdressers and tobacconists of Masterton notify that they will closo their premises from April 2 till April a inclusive. Parishioners of St. Matthew's ax? reminded of the special collections tomorrow, being the last Sunday in the financial'year. The speaker at the Y.M.C.A. on Sunday, at 5 p.m., will be Mr. Parsonscm, Scnr. A hearty invitation is extended to all young men. A.notice of application for tranpfer of licence from Eobert Morrison, of Carterton, to William Joseph Conder appears on page 1. Mr. G. A. Fairbrother will hold hia -usual weekly sale to-day, when he will offer a 30-cwt.' express, also fruit, poultry, furniture, etc. A meeting of those interested in forming a Football Club in Masterton are invited to attend, a meeting on Tuesday evening in the Y.M.C.A. Hall. Tenders for, the purchase of shares in the N.Z. farmers' Dairy Uniou, Ltd., and the Wairarapa Farmers' Cooperative Association, Ltd., will be received by the executors of the lato W. 0. Williams; Groytowu. Mr. A. T. Dickasbn will hold his usual weekly ealo at the, Queen Street Mart to-day, when he will offer, amongst other' items, a quantity of drapery, including children's underwear, • c Art lovers are reminded that to.- . day (Saturday) will be |hc last opportunity of inspecting the pictures at the Drill Hull. The exhibition will be open from 9 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. Admission \s free, and inspection is invited. The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, Ltd., have just roceived a parcel of the celebrated "Ultima Thule" and Dunhill's "Bruyere" pipes, As the quantity is limited, early application will secure first pick. Mr. E. C. Biggs, motor upholsterer, Queen Street, Masterton, announces that he has a competent staff of tradesman, not only for the manufacture of hoods, side curtains, spare wheel covers, etc., but also for tho i repairing of same. Inquiries per telephone 1652 will receive immediate attention. /jgjfe Kuripuni Methodist Sunday ochool? anniversary services will be held tomoirow afternoon and evening. The preacher will bo the Eev. J. Cocker. In tho afternoon a vocal programme will be given. The scholars have been trained to sing the anniversary hymn? by Mr. L. Travers, and a good " Children'& Day".» expected.

A number of Masterton shots Intend being present at Hastings at Easter, for the Hawke's Bay. Rifle Championship meeting. A Territorial named Alfred Henson was fined 10s at the Magistrate's, ' Court at Masterton yesterday for fail-' mg to attend drill. ' > Alexander Robinson was fined 10& and costs in the Court at Masterton for failing to sound hit motor horn at a street crossing, Largo stocks of wool are still held in tho merchants' stores at Wellington, as also in the "Harbour Board's shed 3, where somp 17,000 bales are held. Tho man Bright was committed foi trial at WelLngton yesterday on tbi charge of murdering Robert McNal on the steamer Armagh, He reservet his defence. A single man named David Hors will Humphries, aged thirty-six, died in the Eltham hospital yesterday as a result of injuries sustained from an accident whJe felling a tree at Ngaere on Tuesday. There is in tho cool Btores of thf Wellington Harbour Board some 70,- ' 0l)l> cases (nearly 6000 tons) of cheese, and more than 20,000 cases of dried milk (Glaxo). / , Special thanksgiving services are to be held in Knox Church to-morrow, both morning and evening. A goodly ...array, of fruit and cegeables is already to hand, and .the well known facilities of Knox Church for decorative purposes should ensure a good display. A meeting oi the Fire Brigade Demonstration Finance Committeo was held in Masterton last night, Mr S, Cumming presiding. Reports from various members of the committee were received, and it was decided that as funds were not coming to hand as liberally as was anticipated, the delayed visits from canvassers would commence.on Monday. f The Journal of Public Health state* that hospital boards have been informed that owing to representations being made that the end of March would bo an inconvenient time for holding the conference in view of the financial year closing on March 31, it hat been decided to postpone the conference until Tuesday, May 11. By thai time, boards should have arrived at their estimates and requirements foi the year. A Foxton telegram Bays; —Shortly after 4 o'clock on Friday morning tht' Racing Club office and contents in / Main Street were totally destroyed by fire. The conflagration spread to tht Herald newspaper office adjoining, upon which the newly-formed brigade., assisted by a chemical engine, concen trated and save the situation. Fortunately there was no wind, otherwise the first aid eouinment could not have prevented the destruction c-l the Herald and adjoining premises. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery.

At a meeting of the Tinui branch of tho Farmers' Union yesterday, strpng complaint was made by a member regarding the conduct of motor lorry drivers when a motor car wish \ ed to pass it. The speaker stated that some of the drivers treated the matter as a joke, and would not pull off the road. He recognised, of course, that it was not always convenient for a driver to do so. It was unanimously decided to forward a remit to the annual conference to the effect that reflectors should be placed, upon all lorries and motor cars. "The -Court of Arbitration," said Sir W. J. Hunter, in the course of his address at the Canterbury Justices of the Peace Association's social, "is' the only Court'in British countries where barristers, and solicitors are barred by statute from appearing. It looks as if 1 the Arbitration Court is on its la6t legs, but, /If 'it is so, they can't say that the lawyers wrecked it-" Mr Hunter made a strong plea in support of the public, the consumers, being represented before the Arbitration Court, and said that he understood that in the industrial courts in France the public tire represented. A number of cases of infractions of tho borough by-laws by motorists were heard in the Magistrate's Court at Mastertdn yesterday. John O'Connor and Douglas Stewart were fined 10s and costs for having, on show day driven cars without registered numbers upon them. Edward Te Tau, L. Travers, James Cameron, and John Hudson were each fined 10s and 7s costs for having driven motor cars across street intersections at an excessive speed. For similar offences, and for failing to,sound their horns, Basil Bradley, Constance Hull, James Paget, Horace Ewart, Bert May,.T. Nevinsj Jack Innes, Edwin Selby, E. Phelan, John Mulvaney, and Edward Congalton were each fined 20s and costa.

The police are determined to stamp out the larrikin element, which has of late assumed somewhat serious pro- - .portions. A young man named Per\jy McCormick was charged in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday with removing gates at the District High School and placing them across the foot path. Constable Penson de- . posed that ho had interviewed the accused, who had since left the town. • Accused admitted having been out until 11.50 o'clock at night, but denied removing the gates. George " deposed that he was put 1 with McCormick, in company with two other lads, on the night of the offence. The accused lifted two seats over the school fences and also removed the gates and placed them acress the footpath. Witness asked him to desist, but ho took no notice. His Worship imposed a fine of 40s and costs in each case, in default seven days' imprisonment. The sixty-fourth anniversary of the Methpdist Church in Masterton has been celebrated .during the week. On-' Sunday three services were held and were largely attended, the preacher being the Bev. J. Cocker. In the afternoon a musical programme was rendered, and in addition to anthems by the choir, under the leadership of Mr Ralph, items were given by Mr Hunn, Mr Green, Mr Jago, Mr Joseph, Mrs Francis, and Miss Miller. The income from the anniversary was a record in collections and donations, t3* amounting to £2OO. It is intended to beautify the church at an early date. On Thursday afternoon a garden party was held at the residence of Mr D. Donald, Johnston street. There was a large attendance. A musical programme was given. Various competitions took place, and s very enjoyable afternoon was Bpent. A well-arranged free motor car service, conveyed persons to the party Bad back to town.

> There are still five influenza patients in the Masterton hospital. "l:he body of an unidentified woman, about forty years of age, waß found floating in the Wellington harbour yesterday. There are at the present time fortythree patients in the Masterton hospital, including seven cases in isolation. yit was fifty years ago yesterday since the mail service was instituted between New Zealand and San Fran jisco. It is stated that at the present oime four hundred dwelling houses ar*» n course of erection in Or near the jity of Wellington. It is reported unofficially that increases of wages, representing £15,JOO per year, have been made to the permanent employees on the Wellington wharves. , / Areas of land in various parts of .he Dominion, totalling nearly 1,500,JOO acres, have, by Proclamations m oho Gazette, been set aside for State torests. ; A Sydney message received last 'night stated that the Canadian Importer has arrived from New Zealand. The Manuka and the Tarawera have sailed for Wellington. The whole of the Masterton arrangements for the reception of the Prince )f Wales have been officially sanctioned by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral and the Minister for Internal Affairs. A special meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust was held last night to consider the erection of a garage for a lessee. After giving the matter luo consideration, the Trust decided that it could not entertain the proposal.