A fanner's Co operative Society has been formed in ltangitikei, with a capital of £200,0X0 in 40,000 shares. Mr Corrie Johnston will again deliver addresses in the Theatre Royal on Sunday next. His particularly thrilling discourses arc attracting large audiences and are wall worth hearing. Several applications for shares in the Tasmaiuan Silver Mining Co., the pr-.ispectus of which appears in our columns, have been made by residents of Master ton.

The first dar.ee of the season was held by the Masterton Private Quadrille Assembly in the Temperance Hall last evening, and proved a very enjoyable affair. The floor was in good cendition, and the inuaic, provided by Herr von Keisenberg, first-class. Harry M'lnnes, who was committed for trial yesterday on a charge of arson, is a remittance man from 4ome. Be is also a genius of the first water, and has a hidden vein of poetry ! When asked if he wished to make an application for bail, he extended his right arm, gazed steadfastly upon the Magistrate, and iu measured tones exclaimed, "Stone walls will not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage!" The Court was astounded, but Harry is now refleotmg upon the truthfulness of bis remarks! A meeting ot tenants of Mr 'P. C. Williams was held at Eketahuna on I Thursday to protest against the amounts j paid per foot for frontages in the township, After 3ome discussion the following petition was drawn up for presentation to Mr Williams :—"We, the undersigned tenants, hereby request you to take into consideration the reduction of rents now charged by you. We are of opinion that the present rent, about 8s 6d per foot, is out of all proportion to the capital value of the land. We would also point out to you that there are a large number of sections lying vacant in the township, business persons refusing to take them up on account of the excessive rent. We sincerely trust you will t'ive the matter your fullest consideration "

The stock of fish at the Masterton fish ponds is as follows : Brown trout 2GO; Loch Leven (ages ranging from fry to five year-old fish) 2115 ; foutwalis (from fry to five years), 1750 ; Burn trout (fry to old stock fish), 800 ; caripione trout (18 months and four years old), 220; salmon, three years old, 15 fry from Otago ova, 400; rainbow trout, 12 ; tench 12 ; goldfish and carp, 50 ; American catfish, 12. There have been no leas than 322,504 fish, including yearlings, eyed ova, and old fish distributed to different parts from these ponds during the past year, viz., 143,155 brown trout, 81), 165 fontiiialis, and 90,184 Loch Leven. Deßpite bad times Mr 11 Herrmann, of the Cuba street Photographic Galleiy, opposite Te Aro House, Wellington, seems to be doing a thriving business, and no small number of those who visit him to have their likenesses taken are country residents. Mr Hermann is admitted to be a capable artist with special knowledge of photographic chemistry, and both i.i operating and m re-touching he has produced some excellent work. It is to this that he owes his liberal patronage,, and also to therroderate prices he charges when the excellent quality of his productions is taken, into account.— Extract.

Ladies in the country desirous of knowing the best place to purchase underclothing and baby linen should at once communicate their wants to Tc Aro House, Wellington. We have an unrivalled stocs of ladies' underlinen in nightdresses, chemises drawers, combinations, and all our garments are guaranteed to be extra lock stitched or hand sewu, and include such popular makes as "Mirbernia" and "Stirling" tit Te Aro House, Wellington. Oub assortment of ladies' corsets is unparelled in the province, We keep only tne best and most approved makes. To select from we have a stock of nearly 2000 (two thousand) pairs, and these range from the very smallest to the very largest out.size at Te Aro House, Wellington, Wk have received from the best Home manufacturers a large supply of excellent babylinen, and are prepared to forward on application to any address (carriage paid) eight (8) articles of thoroughly good material and work for One Guinea, This should be a very convenient method—one of each garment as pattern. All our babylinen and underclothing is personally selected by an experienced lady assistant at Te Aro House, Wellington. We have also an excellent assortment of ladies' undervests in Merino,- Woel, Natural Wool, and Silk, All orders will be promptly executed, and when cash is sent with the orders, will be' sent carriage paid to any address from To Aro Houwj, Wellington;.

Mr A. D. Kiley, art inspector to the Wellington Education Board, has been visiting the sshools in the Forty-Mile Bush. A man at Fielding offered a reward of £l, but on this amount being claimed he calmly deducted two-and-a-half per cent for cash, Mr Chew Chong, the Chinese dairyman of Taranaki, is having a new cheese factory erected. For che eieht weeks ending April 30th no less than ten bankruptcies W9re recorded in this district.

The average attendance at the Featherston public school is 179. A meeting of the Wairarapa Trotting Club is to be held in the Club Hotel this evening.

Mr. F. H. Wood announces an importing and unreserved sale of stock and implements at the farm of Mr. G. A. Fairbrother, Ponatahi, for Tuesday, 19th May.

Mr. J. Baumber writes to us as follows : " Would you be kind enough to insert the following in explanation of your paragraph of yesterday regarding my son being dead some houra, when he was i bought to be asleep. He was asleep all the forenoon, and awoke at twelve o'clock, dying in my arms at 12.30."

A writer in the Otago Daily Times* urging a revision of the Bankruptcy Act, considers that it is as much the duty of the Government ar.d the courts to protect the putlic against fraudulent bankrupts as it is to protect it against burglars, garroters, light fingered gentry and all evil doers.

We are requested to state th it the cable across Cook Strait has been re* paired, and messages are now beiiu? accepted at the Masterton telegraph office for the South Island.

The Dobson-Kennedy company appear to-night in Stewart's Hall, Pahiatua, and will produce the great military and sensational drama, "Current Cash." We trust to read of as big a succesas as they achieved when they last produced, " Con the Shaughraun."

We understand that Mr. Gayfer, rabbit agent, who Has been ten years in the service of the Government in this district, and who is a trustworthy and reliable officer, has been retrenched.

The man Bernard de Ferers, arrested at Tenui on Sunday on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences, was brought up at Wellington yesterday morning Fur the defence it was explained that the whole thins: arose through accused changing his banking account to another bank, and being under the influence of liquor, drew the cheques on his former bank. His Worship said he had no hesitation in dismissing the case, as it was clearly a case of blundering. The Dobson-Kennedy Company concluded their Mastcrtun season last night, when Dion Boucicault's sensational drama, "The Shauyhraun," was staged at the Theatre Royil. The audience was fairly large, and showed its appreciation of the clever acting by its enthusiastic applause. The life and soul of the piece was of course "Con'' (Mr J, J. Kennedy), who made a decided hit, and w&s called before the curtain at the conclusion of each act. The company left for Palnatua to-day, and plays there to-night. This is a true story from beyond Woodville. A popular clergyman w;i3 to preach one day at a place where men of his -sloth were not so plentiful as the mosquitoes. The rev gentleman was not so punctual in making an appearance as the occasion deserved, and the building was full of anxious and expectant worshippers. When he hitched up his horsa and was walking piously towards the door he was greeted with "D—n it man, hurry up, we've been wailing half an hour for you!" No offence was intended, and none taken, but still it was rough on the parson. A pleasant gathering of the members and friends of the Mastorton Mutual Improvement Society took place in the Wesleyan schoolroom last evening, about 50 persons being present. Mr Easthope, en behalf of the Society, presented their late President, Rev. W. Rowse, with a handsome album as a slight recognition of his past services. The Rev. gentleman suitably responded, referring in eulogistic terms to the Society's new President, Rev. J. Dukes. Mcßigg, in a very neat speech, formally introduced the Rev. J. Dukes, remarking that Mr Dukes was not only held in high esteem by his own church, but he believed by every individual member of the community. Mr Dukes, in reply, urged the claims of the Society on the young men and women of this town, remarking that it was a surprise to find so few young people hungering after mental food. At this stage refreshments were partaken of, after which several games were indulged in. Miss Williams and Mr Ralph contributed a pianoforte selection and song respectively, A vote of sympathy to Mr Baumber in the loss of his son was carried, after which the gathering dispersed.