LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Age, 2 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Strawberries have been selling very cheaply in Dimeuin during the last week or two. The crowds in the streets of Mastertoii' on Xew Year's Eve were very large, hut not quite as orderly a.they should have been. A number of young men showed evidence of over-excitement. A pleasant shower of rain fell in M'astortob Inst evening. 'Rain fell throughout the Wairarapa (luring the. day. It "will have a most beneficial effect upon the rape and turnip crops. A hand of hoodlums heralded the morning of the New Year-on Wednesday morning, by kicking kerosene tins nil and down the main thoroughfare of Masterton. The toko was a very good one, d'or all excepting thoso yrho wanted sT«6f»..

Several private picnics wero held in the neighbourhood of Mastorton yesterday. Two persons were attacked with fainting fits at the Caledonian Society's sports in Mastorton yesterday. • Haymaking is now well advanced in ) tho Mastorton district, and a very satisfactory yield; has been obtained. The Waikato district, in common with other parts of the Dominion, is at present experiencing a great scarcity of labour. The Woodville Examiner puts it this way:—"We only have onergy left to wish our readers a happy and prosper- i ons New Year." ! A New Year inebriate was convicted i and discharged in the Magistrate's J Court at Mastorton yesterday, bv Mr : Eli Smith. J.P. It is computed that there were 3000 porsons present at the Caledon- [ ian Society's sports in Mastorton yesterday. Great catches of fish have lately been made on South Island' rivers; the season being considered one of the best for many years. I There were two runaways on the road to the Tauherenikau races yesterday, but fortunateb' there was little damage done. 'Railway officials state that the ] crowd of people which arrived at the Featherston railway station yesterday, was the bicgest that has yet arrived at the station. i A young man. named L. Dew, was charged in Masterton yesterday, before Mr Eli Smith. J.P., with committing a grossly indecent act in a public place. He was remanded until to-morrow, bail being allowed. The oat harvest in the Wairarapa promises to be a record this season. Several -crone that have already been garnered will, it is expected, give returns of seventy and eighty bushels to tho acre. j Another of Taranaki's fast disappearing band of pioneers passed away on Saturday, in the person of Mrs" Thomas Colson. who died, after a short illness, at the great age of 85 years. One of the most interesting events at the Caledonian Society's sports in Masterton yesterday, was the ambulance competition. Five teams were entered, and the Wellington No. 1 team was awardcl first placeThe Pahiatua railwa- station buildings and yards are now lighted by Dreadnought gas. The installing of the gas was completed a few days ago by the contractor, Mr C. E. Clifton. The light -reduced is giving ever} satisfaction. The Waikato Farmers' Co-operative Bacon Company recently decided that strong representations be made to the Government for a more rigid, and vigorous inspection of pigs at sale yards and farms, in order to cope with the spread of tuberculosis. What might have been a very serious accident occurred in Masterton yesterday. Mr John Harvey was proceeding across the street, when he was knocked down by a motor car. Fortunately he escaped with sundry bruises. ' A most enjoyable picnic was held in connection with the Masterton Methodist Sunday School, in Mr James Ma-cara's paddock, at Akura, on New Year's Day, The usual games were indulged in, and refreshments were provided in abundance. Shearincr on the East Coast is nearly over, most of the big stations having out out. There has been (says the Poverty Bay Herald) an abnormal clip this year, "the wool beinsi, on the whole' of good oualitv. The. countr" at the back of Tokomarn Bav.i's very dry, and the settlors are wanting rani. Nearer the coast, abundance i of vain has fallen, and there is plenty of feed.

Labour is a very expensive item in the Manaia district, on account of its scarcity. On one farm the owner is paying four milkers from £2 to £2 os and found, and is quite uleased that the men are -working on his place instead cf someone else's. A farm adjoining this one. consisting of 2-iK) acres, is being leased 1>- some Swedish farmers, at a rental of £3 ■os per acre, and is being used for dairying.

An unfortunate, accident happened at tha Caledonian Society's sports ii Mastertoii yesterday. Mr T. G. Hoar who was acting as starter, was carrying his pistol boliind his back when tho weapon was suddenly discharged, and tho wads penetrated the fleshy part of his hand, inflicting most severe injuries. Dr Archer Booking Pressed the wound, and Mr Hoar was .'■.9iit to his hozno, where, he is making • sati? factory progress.

Two members of the Wairarapa County staff were stationed at .each end <;f the Waiohine bridge yesterday, and regulated tho traffic crossing the bridge. All cars and vehicles had to disgorge their passengers, who walked across. There was a great number of vehicles- passing backwards 'and forwards: and all crossed safeiy. -'The bK'lire will be closed immediately hi order to allow repairs being effected. While •members of tire Chichester Theological College (England) wece at early service in the Ladv Chapel of the Cathedral on market day, a bullock walked into the Cathedral. Passing up the empty nave, it pushed througii .the iron gates leading to the choir, and, going round to the Lady Chapel, came to a standstill before the astonished worshippers. The bullock seemed equally surprised, and' was driven cut without difficulty or damage. BECHSTEIN", BOYD, EAVESTAFF, HAAKE, HOPKINSON. We hereby ten-die,- our thanks to the residents of the Waira.rapa and surrounding districts, for the splendid, support accorded! us during the past twelve months, and assure them that we shall endeavour to deserve their continued support during the coming year. • We hold a large stock of high grade pianos, pianolos, and organs. His Master's Voice grama phones and records. Our terms are the easiest in existence. Wishing you one and all a Hapnv New Year.— We are. yours fnithfnllv, The British and Continental Piano Co. J. Lowndes, local manager, 100- Queen Street, Masterton. TERRIBLE BTTRY OX PALM OF HAND. "On" night T struck a match, and ►!]•»■ whole box went off in mv hand hirrniTitr m e across the rialm." says Mrs J. R. Worseley. Margate. Tas. "The pain was awful. T went to the store and looked round for something to relieve me. I saw Chamberlain's Pain Balm, and noticed the word "burns" ou the label. *J rubbed it on my hand, with the result that the pain nuickk disappeared and 1 was able to go to sleep. In the morning I found the skin whole, and tho burn quickly healed without leaving a scar."

The weather in Wellington yester* day was very wot, and all outdoor -sport had to bo postponed. The total takings in connection with tho Wairarapa Caledoiiian society's sports in Mastorton yesterday, wero £137. A Press Association message siatesthat tho Picton Regatta was hold yesterday in pouring rain. Tho harbour, however, was as smooth as a millpond. A novel sight was witnessed in Timaru on Tuesday morning, when a whale on a lorry, drawn by five> horses, passed through tho town, on its way south to be boiled down. About £6O was token at tho doors during tho Wairarapa Caledonian Society's concert in the 'Alas-tertan, Town. Hall last evening. A pigeon race, under the auspices 1 of the Wellington Homing Pigeon Club was flowai: from the Masterton Park Oval yesterday, tho first prize being a gold bangle. The winning . numbers wero as follows:—-233, Ist--241, 2nd; 13, 3rd. Many of the finishes in the running events at the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's sports yesterday were worth going some distance t"o> ; witness, and reflected the highest credit on the ability of the Societv's | official handicapper, Mr W. J. White. | A good few years ago a survey of a. block in the Kotorua district .resulted in the discovery of a small lake of some fourteen acres in extent (says' the Auckland' Star). The lakelet wast proclaimed a water reserve .forth- i| with. Up till a iaw days ago iKaJH- -"' peared to be the same as usual. The owner of a section in the immediate vicinity states that the lake has now disappeared altogether, and land.' from ten to fifteen, feet of water is, now in a state of slimy black mud., Settlers in the vicinity attribute the disappearance to .some incomprehensible phenomenon of the under world, probaoly an earthquake shock. Gisborne claims that more children 1 were born there this year than at any other borough iai the Dominion.. Up to date 631 little strangers havebeen presented to proud fathers, as. compared with 527 last year, and Gisborne held the record, number of births for the boroughs each month so consistently, that the claim for the yearly record will almost certainly bo - found to be well sustained. The. fl number of deaths during the year was. r 179, leaving a natural increase in births over deaths of 452. a\ T o less, than 203 marriages were) solemnised! during the year. On Saturday morning next Messrs Hugo and' Shearer commence their Great Expansion Sale. The firm's, steady, increasing .business demands more spa-ce, and they again propose to. enlarge their premises. Three largo sample rooms at the rear of their premises have been acquired, ancJ will be converted into three new departments, thus making this popular store the most up to date in the Wairarapa. Tho stocks must be reduced to allow the builders the necessary room; hence this great sale. The J firm indulge in no half measures at their sales. Tho whole of their stocks are discounted"., and on this ~* occasion the discounts are heavier than jusual, because thev are determined upon having a 'record stock re- [ during sale.

A red r"an steer awaits ownership in the public pound, Tinui.

An advertiser wants to buy a secondhand combination Gem plionograpTf. An advertiser requires a workingpartner (nrust be mechanic) in a' goocf ■ -pnywg' ■propositiofi,..„.^-- - - ■-, A postal note found in Mastexton last week awaits ownership at the Police Station.. The Town Clerk notifies that all persons found' using garden hose | contrary to the By-law, will be proceeded, against without further notice. The Wairarapa South County Council notifies that light traffic will b» allowed over the Waiohino bridge until further, notice, subject to certain ■conditions.'- which appear on the front page of thismorning's Age. To day on page 2, in a change advt. of Mr Alex. Donald, somo idea of #h& efforts to please a customer are* gathered.. Efforts that, no doubt, have contributed much to the success of the business carried on by Mr Donald in our town. ' In a replace advertisement on theleader page, the W.F.C.A. draw attention to their ready to wear costumes, which are stocked in. sizes to suit everyone, particular attentin having been given to the requirements of elderly ladies. The specialties for the navy serge, and summer tweeds, well tailored, and of the best materials.