LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8208, 2 August 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, will retire in April-next.

The carriage of liquor on the Auckland railways to any station in the King Country is prohibited.

Th<?> latest addition to the Masterton Telephone Exchange is Messrs Rebay and Co., pork butchers, Queen-strset.

The overdraft to the general account of the Masterton Borough now stands at £4088 17s 5d and the nett overdraft at £3961 4s sd.

A Sydney message-states that Mr G. McGowaJt has moved a vote of censure against the Government for its conduct in connection with the Lands Inquiry Commission. ' % The Borough Engineer, last evening, supplied the Council with a written reply to certain charges recently made by Mr C. E. Daniell. The document was handed round the Council table. A table prepared by the Victorian Department of Agriculture of the value of the rabbits exported during the last twelve years shows that the once-despised bunny has returned no less a sum than £1,555,000 to the people of the State, half of which has gone in wages. Mails for the Commonwealth of Australia, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Settlements, also South Africa, Continent of Europe and United Kingdom, per " Warrimoo," will close at Masterlon on Saturday, at 6.15 a.m.; and per " Aloana," on Monday, at 6.15 a.m. Owing to the bursting of several military rifles in several States in the Commonwealth -which is alleged to have been due to bullets being inserted in the cartridges wrong end first —the Defence Minister has remitted the matter to a special Board of Enquiry. The New South Wales Government Meteorologist, in forecasting bad weather in the Tasman Sea, has expressed regret that the efficiency of such forecasts is discounted by the lack of meteorological data from New Zealand, the supply of which was suspended twelve months ago. Some tall scoring was done by Essex in a cricket match with Middlesex. The latter County had declared its innings closed, leaving Essex two hours and three-quarters in which to knock up 25-1 runs to win. Essex was equal to the occasion, winning by seven wickets, with twenty-nine minutes to spare. Masterton is not the only town that is troubled with pedlars. The Clerk of the Waimarino County Council has written to the Masterton Town Clerk with reference to the licensing of pedlars and hawkers. The writer stated that his Council was at a loss to know how to deal with them effectually. At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Richard Stewart, manager for J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company, was fined £5 and costs for over-crowding the Theatre Royal on July 12th and 13th. Three other charges were withdrawn. Mr Stewart did not appear, and an apology for his absence was tendered by counsel and accepted 03' the Bench. In the Magistrate's Court at Wellington, yesterday, the informations against Mr E. J. Riddiford and others, charged with having trespassed on a State forest, at Orongorongo, and destroyed valuable totara trees, were dismissed by Dr. A. McArthur, S.M., but without costs, as, he said, there was, primafar/e, an offence committed, and the Crown was justified in laying the information.

The weekly meeting of St. Matthew's Bible Class Literary and Debating Society was held in the Vicarage last evening, Master P. Hyde in the chair. A very interesting syllabus was drawn up, and it was decided to endeavour to work up a sham law case. Master A. Long was elected chairman for the next meeting. Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Mead for having acted as supervisor, and to the Rev. Spencer for the use of the Vicarage.

For a moment, the mantle of Father Hays seemed to have fallen on Dr. Newman. The occasion was the farewell to the New Zealand team, and as Dr. Newman may claim to understand footballers and their ways, and as he spoke with deep earnestness and with an express renunciation of " mealy-mouthed-ness," his words should carry weight. " What has wrecked no end of teams," said the doctor, "is that they have poured too much down their necks. We see cricket teams go Home, play brilliantly at the beginning, and not maintain that character to the end. Drink soda-water and nothing with it. (Laughter). Well, I mean it; it's what goes with the soda-water that kills no end of teams. (Quotes the catechism as to corporal chastity.) I hope to God you will keep off the drink."

Speaking in the debate on the Old Age Pension Bill, last week, Mr Seddon taunted Mr Massey with the statement that he (Mr Massey) wanted to prepare himself to face an outraged constituency, to which Mr Massey retorted, " I will beat your candidate anyhow by 2 to 1." Mr Sed'don's reply to this was, '■' You may, but that's not saying much," whereupon lion, members laughed heartily. I sent yon a paragraph at the time, giving the extra words used. It appears that on reading this, Mr McCardle telegraphed to Mr Seddon, informing him that the statement was doing him (Mr McCardle) a good deal of harm in the district. What Mr Seddon's reply was has not transpired, but evidently MrMcCardle's telegram has had effect, for it it now appears that Mr Seddon has completely altered his remarks in his Hansard " proof." Instead of the " You may, but that's not saying much," the speech now reads, " You may ; time will tell."—Parliamentary correspondent of Canterbury Press. ' !

A meeting of the V.M.C.A., Room Committee was held last evening in the cottage on the building site. Final arrangements were made for opening one of the rooms for the use of members in the evening. Mr Alex. Donald was elected chairman and Mr W. Miller secretary of the Committee. Room stewards were appointed for each evening, to attend to lighting, firing and sundry other duties. It was decided to organise a draughts tournament, intending competitors to hand in their names to the Secretary on or before Thursday evening, when the drawings will take place. The room has been comfortably and attractively furnished. A large table, loaned by the Masterton Rifles, is in use, and is plentifully supplied with the current papers and magazines, while popular table games are in progress. The room is well lighted with two large oil lamps, and this, together with a log fire, makes a comfortable meeting room. One member donated six handsomely framed pictures, but as more are required, the Secretary will be pleased to | acknowledge receipt of gifts in this direction. A hearty welcome will be given to all young men who desire to spend a pleasant evening. The Sunday afternoon Bible Class and Literary meeting will, in future, be held in this room.

The Australian cricketers will play a representative team from Worcestershire, at Worcester, to-morrow.

Outward 'Frisco mail will close at Masterton at 4.45 o'clock this afternoon; and a supplementary mail at 5.30 o'clock to-morrow morning.

The only live stock brought from London by the steamer Tongariro was two thoroughbred harriers (houiras) —one imported for Mr D. Riddiford, and the other for Mr Elworthy, of Timaru. : ••

A Dunedin Press Association message states that Lord Pliinket has accepted nomination to the office of Grand Master in the New Zealand Masonic Lodge, to be installed at Christchurch in May next.

A man in Auckland was convicted of throwing stones at:a'constable, and a fine of £10 was inflicted,'in default one month's imprisonment. He; was allowed until 12 o'clock the same day to find the money.

The enquiry held into the fatal accident which befell Sergeant Falloon, at the Raridwick butts, Sydney, on Saturday, shows that he was killed by the discharge of a loaded rifle lying on a,mound, which a comrade accidentally kicked.,. .

The Featherston. correspondent of the Carterton Letider.-has the following:— " A libel action, in which considerable interest is evinced locally, the plaintiff and defendant being well-known business men of this town, will be heard at an early date. £100 damages are claimed."

Some of the Russian thar —a species of mountain goat—liberated on the slopes of Mount Cook some months ago, were seen near the Hermitage recently—apparently healthy and thriving. A few weeks ago the dead bodies of two thar were found. The animals 'had , been poisoned through eating tutu.

The Telegraph Department is about to install patent "buzzer" instruments at Waipawa, Hastings, and Napier, to enable the telegraph wires to be used for telephonic purposes simultaneously with the transmission of telegraph messages. The instrument is already installed on the ChristchurchAshburton and the Grey mouth-Hokitika lines.

Many references have appeared in English papers of late to the Rev. Angus Bethune, vicar of Seaham, County Durham, who is believed to be oldest' clergyman in England. The aged cleric, who is" a brother of the late Mr J. H. Bethune, founder of the firm of Bethune and Co., Wellington, and uncle of Mr Walter E. Bethune, the present head of the firm, is in his ■ ninety-fifth year. He still enjoys good health. Every Sunday he takes two services, and sometimes three, frequently walking a considerable distance to and from the place of worship.

A man named. David Fisher, a resident of Johnsonville, was brought up at AVellington yesterday, charged with persistent ill-treat-ment of his wife. The poor woman had been driven into a semi-demented state, and was scarcely able to articulate so as to make herself understood, her children having to explain matters on her behalf. The wife and children were so terrorised that they could not be got to appear against accused. The constable deposed that he heard her screaming at a considerable distance from her dwelling. A well-deserved sentence of two months imprisonment with hard labour was imposed.

There was a large attendance of members at the fortnightly meeting of Stonehenge Lodge of Druids, held in the Foresters' Hall, Masterton, last evening. Bro. W. Moore, A.D., presided. Two new members were initiated into the order by Bro. J. P. Smith, P.A., and three candidates were nominated. The balance-sheet of the recent social and dance was read and adopted. A substantial credit balance was shown, and it was decided to devote the money towards placing seats in the Park. Designs for a new respect board were submitted by the committee appointed for that purpose, and were favourably commented upon. Receipts for the evening amounted to £16 7s 10d.

The revenue derived from the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section of railway during the period ending 24th June, 1905, was £41,663 16s 4d, compared with £37,730 Is lid for the corresponding period of 1904. The returns are made up as follows, the figures in parenthesis being for 1904 :—Passengers, £16,966 16s Id (£15,264 6s 6d) ; parcels, luggage- and nails, £3,463 8s 9d (£2,556 16s lid) ; goods, £20,108 14s 7d (£18,744 8s 4d) ; miscellaneous, £451 18s 2d(£522 18s lid); rents and commission, £672 18s 9d (£641 Us 4d). The total number of passengers carried in the 1905 period was 187,515, and in 1904, 181,360.

The Mayor (Mr J. A. Renall) made an appeal to the Borough, Councillors, last evening, " to consider whether it was not time for them to sit as gentlemen." The Council fl had been a "bear garden" long enough, and in view of letters which had lately appeared in print it was time they began to think seriously. He had given a good deal of latitude in the past, but unless there was some improvement in the direction indicated, he would have to rule more strictly. He took exception to the manner in which the Works Committee was being treated, considering the amount of time which the members devoted to Borough matters. The last Council, he added, was very different to the present one; it had, in fact, been a pleasure to preside over it.

Mr C. Smith's advertisement on page 6 contains some interesting reading relating to spring goods.

An owner is required for a pig straying on the property of Mr R. C. Fowler, Mangama hoe. ,

A pair of spectacles, lost between the Wesleyan Church and Queen-street, is advertised for.

Messrs Beale and Parton notify that they have several varieties of nozzles for spraying pumps on hand. The firm undertake to put in order pumps which are out of order.

Mr \V. Candy is presenting buyers of a 51b box of White Rose tea with a cup and saucer. Single pounds of this brand of tea is being retailed at the establishment at Is . 6d per lb, and 51b for 7s.

It is notified by advertisement in another column that the annual general meeting o£ shareholders in the Wellington Meat Export Company, Ltd., will take place at Wellington, on Thursday, 10th August.

Our readers should note the announcement of Mr A. Hollings, bookseller and stationer, appearing elsewhere. Mr Hollings has a particularly heavy and varied stock on hand at present, and any order in the line can be. executed at the establishment.

Those who require their bicycles repaired, overhauled or enamelled should take advantage of Jenkinson and Co.'s great annual stocktaking sale, which commenced yesterday. Every line in their comprehensive stock of bicycle supplies and repairing material is reduced to sale price during August. " Linoarnish," the labour-saving and perfect linoleum polish, makes a beautiful and lasting gloss. Furnishing Department W.F.C.A., agents for Masterton. —Advt.

Glycerine and Cucumber Cream for the complexion, sunburn and roughness of skin. Is. H. T. Wood, Chemist and Pharmacist (by exam.), Masterton.—Advt. For ploughing very stony land or amongst roots, or where great strength and weight are required, use a P. and D. Duncan Swamp Plough. Masterton Implement Company, Agents.—Advt.

The rainfall in Wellington, last month was 2-19 inches, which is the lowest record for any July since 18G3.

An elderly man named Denis Mahonoy, well-known in Masterton, died in the Wellington hospital yesterday. An interesting article dealing with the " condenser " system, in connection with telephone communication, (taken from Dalgety's Review) appears on page 7. Frederick Johnson, a milk-carrier, who "was sent to prison for a month at Highgate for embezzling £7 18s 4d, said he had to rob his master to pay his rates. He only earned 53s a week, and he had a severe struggle \ with a sick wife and .four' children, es- \ pecially since he took a house, for the rates / had been so heavy. W The Native Land .Court was occupied r yesterday and to-day in making enquiries with regard to a block of land at Whakataki

■which was not sold to the Government by

the Natives, in the early days. The question jtMov the Court to decide was who the present ivere. After full investigation it was found that there were 87 owners, and the names of the parties were ascertained and the relative shares fixed. 'The area of the block of land is about seventeen acres. At the Supreme Court sittings in Wellington, yesterday, before His Honour Mr Justice Cooper, William St. Clair, who was the previous day found guilty of an indecent •assault upon a little girl, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. In sentincing the accused, His Honour said he had taken into account J his previous good character, and the fact that he was under the influence of drink when the offence was committed. Allan Gibson, convicted of attempting to commit an unmentionable offence, was sentenced to seven years' hard labour. William James pleaded not guilty to a charge of having indecently assaulted a girl, aged six years. The jury failed to agree, and a new trial has been ordered. John O'Neill, charged with having broken and entered the shop of Messrs George and Kersley, known as '• The Economic," "and stolen therefrom one portmanteau, three rugs, one quilt, three ■overcoats, one umbrella, and several other articles, and with receiving the same, know#ing them to have been dishonestly obtained, was sentenced to two years' hard labour.