LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4649, 15 February 1894, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Yestevdny was tho 115 th anniversary of the death of Captain Cook. St. Valentine's Day made very little difference to the Masterton postman, The old cußtom of sending valentines appears to be dying fast. The Petone Borough Council propose to borrow £14,000 for a drainage scheme. The Kilbirnie School Committee have resigned in a body, in consequence of tho dispute with Che Education Board over the appointment of a new teacher.

The coaoh service between Masterton and Mauric6ville is reported to be doing well.

Carterton appears to bo moving ahead. There is said to be a demand for business premises.

The Bev. Mr Ashoroft, Wesleyan Minister, who has received a call from the South Island was entertained at a tea andcoffee'socialat Pahiatua, on Tuesday evening. The gathering was a most enjoyable affair. Trout are increasing rapidly in the streams around Pahiatua, • but thoro are poaohers at work there, as well as elsewhere. Loud explosions are frequently heard at night in the vicinity of the rivers and dead fish and dynamite cartridges have beon found next morning

An Adelaidogontleman named Horn has intimated hia willingness to arrange, at his own expense, an expedition to scientifically examine the McDonald ranges, It is proposed to invite scientists from Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales, to accompany the expedition. , At the Paln'atua E.M, Court on Tuesday, before Messrs H. W. Brings and J. -Hughes, J.P.'s, the following casos were disposed of;—R. P. Gvevillo v. C. Anderson. Claim £1 19s, Judgment by default with.costs; A.Ste*artv.A, Young, Claim £3 13s. Judgment bydefault with costs; J. Walthers v. T, iTroney. Olanu £f 4s lOd. Judgment for plaintiff for £b'los lOd and costs; Same v. O. Smith. Claim £4 Is. Judgment by default.

Messrs W, Dimock and Co,, of 53, Williß-sireet, Wellington, are paying the highest prices for first quality bacon pigs, cash on doliveiy, It should pay farmers in this district to communicate with Messrs Dimock and Co., as they are now giving the higho'at prices in the market, In fact higher prices have not beon paid for eight years past than at the present moment. All those interested please refid advertisement.

It is stated (writes the Masterton correspondent pf'tho itaiidfiri) that the popular pastor of St. Matthew's Church, Bev. W. J3, Paige, M.A„'is shortly to leave Maatertou for the' Old Country. " If the report, is Correct, and it as yot remains uncontradicted, it will be a long time beforo hia place as a good friend-to the poor will be so ably filled," We Understand that so'mi; time may elapse before the rev, gentleman starts ori hiß proposed trip, and that no immediate departure is contemplated,'

An adventure <$ a startling nature befel a young man who was camping with some friends at Island Bay a few dnyaß|sii. The weather being exceeddingly warm, he *veht in for a bathe off tho rocks with his cmp-inates, but had not been long in tho water before he found he had touohed an octopus, and it isalniostnoedlei's to'say that after tho discovery they lost no time in getting ashore;' Some of the young follows more foolhardy than the others, re-en*, tored tjio pea', and were only in it a minute or two when the octopus was again aeen. One of the party running on to a rock, dropped .one end of a tbpl into the water, and bufore many seconds elapsed the fish had wound ita'tontacles round it. The unwelcoine visitor, gripthe towel most tenaeinuslyi was jerked on to tho rock and immediately deapatched, It measured about sft feet from point to point, and would have proved an exceedingly dangerous custnmer'h&d it succeeded in getting a firm hold of a liumjn being jn its native element,— Posl,

A deputation has requested the Post-master-General to bring before the Postal Conference the question of the insertion of a clause in mill contracts prohibiting the employment of colored labour on mail steamers,

_ Mr T. B, Chalmers successfully piloted his dog cart from Peruiehuret to Gletu bum, w Bank View, on Sunday last, he being the first to take a vehicle Ihrough the G|adßtone-Flat Poiit road to the .Coast, He was kindly assisted over the onformed portion of the road by Mr Scott, and ao'me of the men jn Mr'Kerrins' employ. Mr Kerrins hopes to have the road open for traffic in about a month, Aa there are' several Crown tenants alojig the line of road, it would be a good opportunity for the Goyprrj. ment to prove their sincerity by voting a sum for maintaining this road' during the coming winter. . THE N AOTONAL HQTJSL, LAMBTON QUAY, WPTjTjngTON,' Has undergone considerable alterations visitors Jo Wellington during the holidays will' find the accommodation First Clajs. The hptai Is closo to tho Station and Quests can rely on being called in time tor both theWairarapa and ManawatuvTratoß./: Paris'-4s 6d per day, Wairarapa paperv filed. Teos Whiie, ProDiletor,—Anvi, I

As showing the great drawback to settlements arising from the want of a bridge over the Waiohine to Matarawa, we may mention (aaye the Etrald) that no applications were sent in for the Orown Lands recently opened for sale across the river,

The Carterton Choral Society are aoins; to put Handel's Oratorio—"Judas Maccibnus" into rehersal during the coming winter.

The Wairarapa Raoing Olub is launching out in improvements, Loose boxes and stalls nro to bo ereoted in the saddling paddock, steward's stand, weighiug room etc, are to be built, and other minor improvements made.

Messrs Lowes and lorns add to their Masterton stock sale for Wednesday next, 21ut February, 800 good woolly lambs.

A contract is to be entered into with theOdouial Ammunition Company for the manufacture and supply of the MintinMlenry cartridges requited by the volunteers of Hew Zealand. -Fost In all probability the annual encampme.nt of volunteers at Easter will be held .atl'otirua.

The Wellington Benevolent Home new contains 61 inmates—43 males and 18 females. The opinion of experts is to be taken with reference to the desirablenoEß of retaining those gaofa which are situated within city boundaries.— Past. . The Australian Pastoralists Union has intimated to the shearers that the en* gagemsnt system is not a breach of agreement. The scheme has adyau< tages for both parties, and tho Union has every intention of adhering to the present system.

The muaio hall or vaudeville style of antertaiument is becoming more and more popular in London, as well as in Australia.

A meeting of the Wairatapa Amateur ! Athletio and Cycling Club was held last night, there being present Messrs L. ( Caselberg (in the chair), Wallace, Broad, , Aatoll, D. Caselberg, E. G, Eton and W, Jeffries. The following programme was arranged:—Maiden 100 yd!; High Jump Handicap; 100 Yards Open Handioap;>• Maiden Bioycle Race, one mile; 220 Yards Hurdle Handicap; Putting the Weight Handicap ; One Milo Bicycle Handioap; 440Lsdies' Bracelet Handicap; One Mile Walking Handicap; Long Jump; Three Mile Bioyole Uace; 260 Yards Club Championship; Ono Mile Handicap; 440 Yards.Hnrdlo Handicap; five Mile Bicycle Handioap; ThrowingOricket Ball; Half Mile Handicap j ]SO Yards Ouiiaolation, This is an increase of live events on the programme of M yoar, the date of the sports meeting has been fixed for Thursday, 6th April. The divining rod again I A correspondent writes :—A good spring of water has just been found at Thremhall Priory, Bhbox, the residence uf Mrs Aroner Houblon, by meauß of a divining rod. It was held by a Mr Stone, from Oxford shiro, who, by the aid of the rod, poiutei* out a spot whato he said water existed. The exaot depth oould not be foretold, but he thought it would no'/ be great. A well was sunk at the point indicated, and the spring proved to be so strong that at 88ft it rose and alaost filled the well,and at this level the water, which is of excellent quality, has remained, "1 went up the Amazon and Orinocco rivers on an animal capturing expedition," said an old showman, "lgot quite a collection of snakes, birds and monkejs. I hit on a novel plan for the capture of the last, and it worked like a charm. A monkey is a greater imitator \ than a Chinaman. Ho will do anything 1 be sees done, and that is what gets so many of bin kind into the cage. 1 . rigged up an eleotrio battery, and ati tached it to an aparatus that would allow a booio of the animals to get hold of it, i I then took a party of natives andwentj , into the forest where there were troops , of monkeys, We put the apparatus r down, attached the wire, and removed j the battery to a considerable distance, The natives then took hold of tho apparatus, danced and yelled, and then retired. Tho monkeys mado a dash for it, Half a dozon caught hold, and .1 turned on the ourrent. Thßy began to skriek and squirm, but the ' others thought their performance a part of the programme, and fairly fell over ■ each other to get hold uf the machine. I i oould lmvo caught the whole troop if , thoy could have got hold of tho concern, i We then mado a descont on them with i sacks, and soon had a score of them ■ safe. But it would only work once, Wn . tried it a month aftornards at a point 50 i miles distant but not a monkey came off his perch in the trocs. They viewed , the_ proceedings without any apparent desire to imitate our war danco around \ tho machine," Mr T.M'Fotrich, a Nelson settler, j wasloßt in'the bush a few days ago Aa evening was coming on, ho follow- '. odaoreekintho hope of striking tho river. The creek led into a deep swamp ; and finding that every plunge he took , made his position worse, hb remained in water up to his waist all night. He was found at noon by his mates, who had organised a Bearoh patty. When found he was in a very weak state, and 1 his legs had swollen to twice thoir natuiv 1 al6ize.-Cofoii!st , The Eastern and' Australian line steamer Aitlie, from Japanese and Chinese ports, arrived in Sydney harbour on Jan. 28, bringing lengthy repoits of l the fatal fire that occurred at Ningpo on Friday aftornoon, resulting in the death of between 200 and 300 women and children. It appears that the annual theatrical performance of tho first of tho 11th moon, in honour of the gods, was being given in a temple on the Settleinent, and uas attended by upwatds of 400 people, Ap most people in Obina know, there is frequently a permanent stage in the courtyard of largo Chinese temples. It is situated between the temple and the gate, while' tho audience, when there is a representation, is between the temple and the stage. The temple at NiDgpo, where the accident happened, was called tho iftiflp, a two-storied building, and both stories were monopolised by women and children to witness tho performance. The people were onjojing thomselvea gunerally,smokii.g, eating, chatting, and drinking tea, Among tho crowd was a boy who was smoking a cigarette, which he threw away in a heap of straw at the foot of the Btaircaso, preventod the people getting out, Of course thore was a general rush to escape; nomo were trampled to .death', others jumped out of the wind&via and ware either killed or bo badly injured that they were unable to escape the fiameß,"and so perished, while others passively awaited their fate, which was not-long in overtaking them, and they wore roasted alive or suffocated by the smoke,

To git dpiyn at a keyboard, like that of a typa-writor, and flash elegtrio signals so that they might be read two and a half miles in tho brightest sunlight, and ten miles on the darkest night, would appear something liko a droam. But It was shown recently ,at the United Service Institution, that it is feasible, An Ameru-an inventorj oH'the way-from Buffalo, knowing nothing about either naval or military signalling, hcs devised a plan of typewriting in light that seems to have infinite potentialities, But, alas! the naval and military expeits are convinced there is no practicality m the invention in its present shape,'' Mr Boughton, whom Colonel Uouraud says ] is locally known as "the Buffalo Wizard" is a mechanioal genius beyond doubt, and when ho applies mind tothedifh\ cultips before him he is yerv likely to surmount! theni.''' '\ ' " •" " Do you call that thing a bonnet ?" said MrsllcSnufllccorf to a royal porsonago, looking with withering scorn upon its awkward appearance. ' It was were, but 'it is just as wejl a lady,'oven a queen, should pow her faults and theiniperfections of lier. style and bearing. Did every anyone'talk to you liko that? Did over a friend or'ariap. j quaintance ever, look at yoiirhead gear aid say, .' Do you call that thing a bonnet ?"' it fever occurred don't let it. occur again, moke'spre of tb/approval of the world in the matter of bonnets, Bo so'dressed that wherever you go',' in wbajever pompjtny ybii may be, you nsy pose as a well dressed wdl man, How to do it is to buy your millinery and dresses at L. J. Hooper ACo.'s fashionable drapery warehouse, Qnesn-street, Mas* terton. A great sale is now onj so visit early

Mt W. H. de Lisle leaves Masterton to-day m route for Rarotonga,

Wo roraind our readers that the wonderful Strasburg clock will be exhibited ■at the Mnsterton Theatre Royal this evenhg.

Messrs J, Payton & 00, have obtained the contract for printing the now doctoral roll for the Maßterton Dimriot, which has been compiled in view of the forthcoming licensing elections.

Nelson Cblonul has been making a collection on behalt of thoso shipwrecked in the.Gaaello,

Mr H. T. Twiss, one of the sub-col-leotora of agricultural statistics in this distriot, had the misfortune to be thrown ■from his horse yesterday morning his left wrist being fractured, ' : 1 ■■ An American jury who investigated a rather suspicious fiio brought in a verdict that it was" caused by the friction of a 1,200 dollar pohoy of insuranco on a 400 dollar frame building."

We understand that another job-print-inEt office is to be opened in Maste'tton shortly, by Mr Thomas Gillespie. _ 'Che weather is very much cooler again in Masterton.

The \U.A. and Cycling Club still continues to be well supported and a good sports meeting is looked forward to. The painting of the front and new verandah at the Featherston Kailway Station is completed. The verandah greatly adds to tho comfort ol travellers 'and those using the station. Several additions are made to the entries for Mr E, H. Wood's next Tar*tahiStookSale.

_ Areapectablo boy is advertised for in our wanted column.

The Palmerston North Borough Oounoil have agreed to the construction of swimming baths in Palmerston, and the baths are to be ready by the Ist November next.

The young woman Alleu, who took ; apirita of salt at Wadestown Borne few days ago, Is reported to be in a very ontical condition, says the H,Z. Times. Mrs Lowry, who is in the Hospital supposed to be suffering from phosphorous poisoning is, we understand, slowly improving.

A London cablegram, dated 4th instant, and appeared in the Australian papers, announces that the Earl of Northesk formerlyaidedo-OBmptoLord Mopetoun, has been married to Miss Hailowes, who is well known in NewZealand, where she was formerly a member of the Yico-regal suite.

The adjourned application to adjudicate .Robert J. Malcolm a bankrupt, was dismissed by tho Registrar of the District Court, this afternoon. Mr Pownall, who appeared for Mr Malcolm, asked for costs, which were not allowed. -

Many applications are received by Ministers and Members of the House from country settlers, for the immediate expenditure of sums voted fur public works. It is found, however, that all cannot be satisfied at onoe as the expenditure must be spread ovor the whole year, and each month it is decided in Cabinet how far revenue will permit compliance with the demands made,

The New Zealand Times understands that a local solioitor lias received instructions to institute proceedings for libel against a certain cuuntry paper in this district.' Its. Wellington Correspondent furnished it with an account of a recent dispute botween live gentlemen about seats at tho Opera House, nrij one of the parties considered that wis aoj count exaggerated the facts in such a way as to reflect upon him. It is stated that damages are laid at £SOO,

In the course of his tour in Upper Burmah the Viceroy of India vlaitod Pagan, the capital of other days', which stands on the left bank of the Irrawady,' ita colossal temples and pagodaf Veiling of the glory of former centuries. A. thousand buildings, still imposing in their Immensity, extend for six or eight miles along the river front with a breadth of from two to three miles. The city is deserted, its only occupants boing jackals and wild dogs, and presents a spectacle of desolation and decay which is almost appalling. Some of the ohief pagodas are j kept in repair by wealthy Bnddists, but moat of them are crumbling to ruin.

At a speoial meeting of tho Featheraton School Oommittee held last evening, it was decided to rote for Messrs Young, Patterson, and Dr Chapel for 1 the Education Board. Tho Secretary was instructed to write to the Hoard that the Oommitteo had regretted that they had had no opportunity of nominating a member. It was deoidod to B[ranfc a holiday on Thursday, Ist March, nn tha oc casionof the Weileyan Sunday School's picnic. A letter was read from the Headmaster correcting a statement in the papors that tho capitations had deoreased during the last year. It should have read " during the last quarter," as Deoember is always a bad month for attendance.

The political supporter* and other mends of Mr Joseph Iyess, who was at the last general election acandidatofor the Rangittkei eleotoral district in the Bouse, but who retirad in favour of Mr J. Stevens, the present member, have presented him with a purse of sovereigns. The presentation waa made at tho Club Hotel, Hunterville. Mr John Gardinor presiding. Acoording to the %rm,Mr Ivess.m replying, said that ever sinco ho arrived in the district his interest had seemed to bo bound upwith those of tho people of this portion of H, and therelore he had done his best in advooating m his paper and otherwise tho requirement of Ohingaiti and surrounding district. As all present knew no htd come out as a candidate at the last election, at the' earnest request of a largo body of eleotors,mostly co-operative workmen,'and thoso also knew thecircumetancesofhis subsequent retirement, thcreforo bo would not now recount thorn, He had heard tho cooperative workmen docricd by somo people, but he could confidently state that the co-operative workmen, as far as !.o hadseon, were a credit to tho country and to themselves, and his connection with them would be looked back upon with pleasure. He had not the slightest doubt about the future ot Ohingaiti. Mr Ivesv speaking of the fact that he waa i described as n" rag.planter," said that he had started no less than twenty-five newspapers in this and the neighbouring colomoa, and of thosa twenty wore still alive and flourishing, Messrs Lowes and Irons aunouncea Bale of saddlery arid' harness; for Saturday 17 (h February, ; ■ -, ' '" Sir George 3rey is said to be now in much Hfltter health than he has been for some time;

MrF. n, Wood announces an important entirely uureserved salo of household fqmitap and effects at the Bank of Now Zealand Greytown on Satuday, Ftbruary 24ti).

The Great Realising Sale lasting for 20 flays, promises to bo a gigantic success. The wholo stock is to be offered at genuine reduced prices, many q{ tho lines will be marked at less than English cost at Te Alio House Wellington. During the Great Sale, Ladies Aprons will bo sold at 4J, 4 Button Kid Gloves, all now fresh goods" aUs lid ner pair, While and Cream Ijacesat Oil per doa, Mies Linen Collars new shapes at 3d eaoh, Boys Bailor Oollars at 3d eaoh, sold everywhere at 6d, atTn Alio House Wellington, It will pay country customers to take a run down to tho Great Realising Sale. They will save all the expenses and bo money in pocket by buying all they want while good aro so cheap. Orders from the Counter mil be carefully selected and sent carriage paid from the Great, Realising Sale at iV Aao Housß,-Apvi, ■■..'•