LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8635, 18 December 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

William Scott and Harry Martindale were committed for trial at Wellington, yesterday, on a charge of keeping a betting house on Lambton quay.

A meeting of the Mount Holdsworth Track Committee will bo held on Friday next, in the Borough Council Chambers, at 7.30 p.m. It is probable that an Alpine Club will be formed at the meeting.

Poisoned pollard is being successfully used in parts of Australia for the destruction of caterpillars. The poison baits are made by mixing loz of Paris greeu with lib of pollard, together with a little sugar or treacle, and sufficient water to make a dry dough.

A Manila post-card, bearing the date 14th November, has been received at Dunedin from one of the officers of the overdue steamer Rangatira, by a resident of that city. It is assumed that as the steamer was flying light, some accident may have happened to her tail-shaft on her way back to Australia from Manila. If so, she lies right in the track of numerous steam lines.

On Friday night, shortly after the big steamer Delphic left Napier for Wellington, a seaman, named William John Spooner, fell from the footpeak ladder, a height of four or five feet, to the deck, apparently in a fit. Artificial respiration failed to produce any signs of life, and on the arrival of the vessel at Wellington his body was placed in the morgue.

On 29th August last a young man, named Yon Rotter, sailed away in a small open boat from Rona Bay, and has never been seen since. The boat was 16ft long and painted red inside. Information has been received by the Wellington police (says the Post) to the effect that two fishermen have found on the beach at Waikanae a 16ft open boat painted red inside with two planks broken in. Enquiries are now being made as to whether the boat at Waikanae originally belonged to Rona Bay.

By direction of the executors in the estate of the late Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, Meesrs Harcourt and Co. offered for sale on Friday afternoon the block of business premises in Cuba-street occupied by Messrs' George and George and by C. Smith. The land has a frontage to Cuba-street of 58ft lin by depth of 159 ft lin, and there are seven years to run of a lease at a gross rental of £576 per annum. The building was started at £7000, and spirited competition followed until at £16.900 it was knocked down to Mr C. Smith.

Docs the Island of Malta tilt periodically or slowly sway like some gigantic rocking stone upon some gigantic pivot ? For a long time certain phenomena of the tideless sea rising and falling in the harbours and other indications have given rise to the tilt theory. The seismograph ingeniously set up in the past at the dockyard, and recently the beautiful new Milne seismograph, established on the foundation rock of the University, confirm the presumption that Malta is swayed from side to side. The island may, therefore, become of interest to scientific men.

A gentleman from Chicago arrived at the Exhibition a few days ago and presented to the General. Manager a letter authorising him to be placed on the salaried.staff of the Exhibition at a remuneration of 65 dollars per month and his keep. This gentleman has evidently been the dupe of an enterprising American, who purports to be a duly appointed Commissioner with authority to let space and sell various concessions. This genius has apparently conferred appointments on at least six persons, who are now on their way to lhe colony.

Mr Joseph J. Guest, formerly of Tβ Ore Ore school, but now in charge of the state school on the Chatham Islands, writes expressing his gratification at the appointment for the Islands of a medical practitioner. The new doctor arrived on the sth inst. Things are very quiet. All the people are planting potatoes and Mr Guest is putting in over an acre which he expects to sell to advantage in the colony. The news of the death of the Hon. Col. Pitt caused a great deal of regret as he had many friends on the Islands. Mr Guest reports that his wife and family are enjoying excellent health and the young people are putting on flesh and growing at an astonishing rate.

" The arrival in Chicago of a'car-load of seedless watermelons marks progress," says an American journal. "By all means let us have more of them. The one great fault of the watermelon has been its excess of seeds, that interfere with the joy of consumption. Those watermelons came from New Mexico, and the process of reaching the seedless condition is thus described : ' After the vine has grown for three or four feet in length, the end is covered with earth. When this end takes root it is cut loose .from the old root, and the early blooms are pulled.* Melons grown from the second blooms are seedless. . Such is the prescription, and it would seem to be worth trying next year by those who covet a desirable result."

The new Union Company's steamer Kaiapoi arrived at Melbourne, on Saturday, from Sunderland.

The Meikle Commission (Mr Justice Edwards and Mr Justice Cooper) will sit in Wellington on Thursday, 27th inst. T^'

Wβ have to thank Mr J. M. Johnston, secretary of the Manawatu Racing Club, for a complimentary ticket for the Club's forthcoming meeting.

A man was seriously injured onLambtonquay, Wellington, just before midnight, last night, by the collapse of a wall on the area recently swept by fire.

Out of the 33,635 cwt of butter exported from the colony last month, Taranaki, according to shipments from New Plymouth, was responsible for 11,129cwt, or just under one-third of the whole amount.

It has now been decided to allow postcards, bearing imitatioas of postage stamps to pass as such within the colony. Any posted to an address beyone the colony to be sent to the Dead Letter Office.

Auckland city is so well supplied with coal from mines at Taupiri, Huntley, and Whangarie that the Minister for Mines has decided that at present there is no necessity to open a State coal depot in that city. A Hokitika message states that at a special meeting of the Borough Council the fcrjder of John McLean and Son, Wellington, for water supply and reticulation of the town for £14,578, was accepted.

A Taranaki architect, in specifications for a house for a client, states that the foundations for the chimneys may be filled in with "bowlers," to which the proprietor has added that " members of the Fitzroy Bowling Club are excluded."

The fifty-sixth anniversary of the province of Canterbury fell on Sunday, but was observed yesterday. The weather was perfect, and the various excursions and sports meeting and the Exhibition were all well patronised by holiday-makers.

Among those who will contribute to the Caledonian Society's concert on New Year's Night, will be the following: Madame Marie Groome, Miss Lynn Mills, Messrs J. F. Carr, W. Iggulden, Gordon Stewart, A. Nicol. W. G. Norman, R. Henry, 8. J. Johnstone. T. W. Rodgers, and H Inns.

An accident occurred to a Maori, named Kingi Ngaturea, whilst he was driving from Carterton to Gladstone on Saturday. The horse taking fright kicked the splashboard, and Ngaturea was thrown out on to the road. Being a very heavy man, over 20 stone in weight, he fell heavily and injured • his spine so severely that he is not expected to live.

At the meeting last night, of the select committee set up by the Borou.h Council to consider the recommendations of the Gasworks Manager, the question of adopting a new line of policy regarding the financial management of the gas business of the Borough was discussed. The committee will meet again, and report to the Council in due course.

Enquiries instituted in reference to the delay that has occurred in connection with extension of sheds, increasing shunting and yard accommodation, and other improvements at the Masterton railway station, have elicited the fact that before long the Manawatu line will be taken over by the Department, and it is confidently assumed that the present accommodation will be found more than ample.

Information was conveyed to the District Coroner at Dannevirke, yesterday, that the arm of a man had been found close to the wreck of the launch Akito, which is lying near Cape Turnagain. The flesh is almost entirely gone from the limb and there are no marks by which it can ba identified, so that it is impossible to say whether or not it is a relic of one of the men who were on the launch at the time she was wrecked. Mr Tanner has launched his " Ark," and^^ , sailed her to the French Pass and back, the vessel proving to Mr Tanner's view a good navigable craft, and quite dependable. Mr Tanner, when through the Custom?, will sail to Wellington, thence to Sumner (Christchurch), where she will be exhibited. A heavier foremast is required, and will be put in, otherwise. Mr Tanner says, everything in connection with the vessel is firstclass.

The New Zealand Minors Record states that several samples sent by prospectors from the Endowment Reserve at Palmerston North have been analysed at the Mines Laboratory, but gold, silver, platinum, tin, or phosphates, which the prospectors hoped the samples might have contained, were entirely absent, the only mineral found being iron pyrites, and that was got in only two of the eight samples submitted for analysis.

A Christchurch telegram states that the adjourned inquest touching the death of George de Montalk, who was killed recently in a collision between a motor car and a cart, in Christchurch, was held yesterday. A verdict was returned that death was caused by the neglect of the driver of the car, William Thomas Felton, in driving on the wrong side of the road. Felton was. flr then arrested, and charged with manslaughter, and on the application of the police was remanded till Friday.

The following officials will manage affairs at the V.M.C.A. picnic on Boxing Day: Handicappers, Messrs D. E Parton and A. Williams ; Starter, Mr Jas. McGregor, senr.; Judges, Messrs P. L. Holling and J. Heyhoe; General Committee, Revs. J. N. Buttle, A. M. Johnson, A. T. Thompson, and Messrs C . E. Daniell and A. Donald, and the members of the Picnic Committee. Music is to be provided on the grounds. A combined meeting of committees will meet on Friday evening at 7 p.m.

A New Plymouth message states that the second express from Wellington to New Plymouth, last evening, ran into a trap near Normanby, driven by an elderly man named William Thompson, a farmer. The horse was disemboweled and the trap smashed. Thompson was thrown clear on his head. The engine driver pulled up promptly. The injured man was taken to Normanby. Little hope is entertained for his recovery. The train was further delayed by a mishap near Inglewood, and did not reach town till 11.30 o'clock.

An unfortunate mistake was made yesterday by Mr J. Prentice, of the firm of Evernden and Prentice, builders, of Dixon-street. Mr Prentice was at work on Mrs Hammond's ffv new residence, in Cole-street extension, where plumbers are also engaged. One of the workmen had brought a bottle of drinking water, and Mr Prentice mistook a bottle containing spirits of salts (muriatic acid) for this, taking a large mouthful before discovering his mistake. Although Mr Prentice did not swallow any of the poisonous acid he received very severe burns. in the mouth and throat, and is now confined to his room. Dr Cook has ordered him to be kept very quiet, as his condition is somewhat critical.

Some exceedingly attractive work has been executed by pupils of St. Bride's Convent in the sewing classes. Ribbonwork, table-centres, d'oyleys. cushions, etc., show the extreme pains (aken in tuition and the interest displayed by the pupils. Miss A. Collier has done particularly good work in the sewing class, her needlework being a model in respect of neatness, and harmony of colours. In the painting classes there is deserving of special mention Master Vernon Welch, aged twelve, a left handed artist, whose paintings are full of merit. M. Reside, M. Stempa and M. Kelliher also executed some panels in oils that they have artistic talents above the ordinary The whole of the work done m the fancy needlework and painting classes is first-class,. and shows that judgment has been shown in adapting pupils to the particular style of work at which they individually excel.

_ 0. Smith has just opened up a large consignment of Gent's, Youth's and Boy's Suits. The gent's suits are boxed and very latest cut; and the boy's suits are the latest from leading colonial tailors. 1/- put.in the pocket of every boy's suit sold during the month of December. 6

The Masterton Band are now practising for 'Xmas carolling. They announce by advertisement that they will be out as usual this year.

world's stock of manufactured copper hands of dealers usually stands at about 90,000 tons.

Yesterday was the hottest day experi•enced in Masterton this summer. Shortly after noon the thermometer registered SOdeg. Fahr. in the shade.

Fire destroyed several acres Native bush •iind scrub in the Wellington Botanical Gardens yesterday. The progress of the iiames was eventually checked by the Fire Brigade.

The Christchurch branch of the Young Men's Christian Association has distributed on behalf of the Bible Society a number of Maori testaments among the Maoris and Rarotongans at the Exhibition.

A Dargaville (Auckland) message states that Mitchelson Bros.' gumland properly, ■37,000 acres, adjacent to Dargaville, has ■been sold to an Auckland syndicate for £40,000.

John McClusky who was yesterday fined £1 for drunkenness, was before the Court again this morning for the samo offence. Mr J. Pauling J P., fined him £2, in default days' hard labour. Dunedin message states that, after a trial lasting nearly a week, the jury have found Robertson to be insane since the date of his committal, at Ashburn Hall, in 1905. This practically declares his will invalid. Costs were ordered to come out of the estate.

Commercial news and a Mastertonian's experiences in San Francisco will befound on page 2, to-day; and on page 3 is our Yorkshire wool letter ; Carterton, Nireaha and Mauriceville news, and a Christchurch robbery, appear on page 6 ; and our weekly Wellington letter—Life in the City—on page 7. The As3ets Realisation Board ceased to exist yosterday. The affairs of the Board will in future be under the management of the Bank of New Zealand, and it is anticipated that the future policy of the directors of the bank in regard to the assets will be announced to the shareholders at the half.yearly meeting to be held a few days hence. On a charge of having assaulted his wife, the husband was sentenced by Dr A. McArthur, the Wellington S.M., yosterday, to one month's imprisonment. Counsel, on /oehalfof accused, asked his Worship for B;e option of a fine. His Worship replied : not when a man hits a woman." Accused was shown to have had previous convictions.

A handy office calendar issued by the National Insurance Company is to hand from 3Jessrs Abraham and Williams, also one issued by the Standard Office from Mr W. Donaldson. The latter contains a view of one of the principal thoroughfares of Dur.edin. Messrs J. D. Crulckshank and Co. also forward one with a capital picture of a bullock team on the road.

A young waitress in Wellington was .charged before Dr M'Arthur, yesterday, with theft of money. A young man staying in a ■city boarding-house had entrusted her with the care of £20. She admitted the theft, having taken a passage for Sydney on Saturday, and having paid the fare, forwarded the balance by money-order to Sydney. A remand was granted in order that a warrant might be obtained for the recovery of the money that had been sent to Sydney.

A theft of stamps was made from the -stamp-printing department, in the Government Buildings, Wellington, between Friday evening and Saturday morning, the thief .gaining an entrance to the building by ■smashing one of the windows. The stamps token were in the sheet, and imperforated.

The exact value is unknown but it is beto bs over £1000. The police have to the conclusion that the thief or his instigator was a person with a thorough knowledge of the premises. Descent was made by means of a rope, and there were finger marks upon a number of the windows, •from which it is surmised that more than one person took part in the burglary. A number of panes of glass ha*e been taken charge of by finger-print experts of the Police Department. There were also signs of blood about the place of entry, indicating that one of the burglars had cut a linger. A lost gold albert is advertised for. A man to milk and make himself useful is advertised for.

Two energetic canvassers are advertised for in our wanted column.

Mr J. Kitchener, Queen-street, announces that he has 100 pairs of gents' holiday boots for sale at special prices.

Messrs VV. B. Chennells and Co. advertise for sale a cheap house of six rooms, recently erected. A small deposit only required.

Mr J. Carpenter lias opened up a consignment of Ford's American ladies' boots and shoes, with the broad bull-dug toes and Cuban heels. They are the very latest in the market.

The Masterton premises of N.Z. Loan and Agency Co , Ltd., Messrs Abraham and Williams Ltd., and Dalgety and Co., Ltd. will be closed from 24th to 29th December inclusive.

Messrs -McLeod and Young will make gaslight displays each evening this week, in their new premises and also in the Academy Buildings. The latter shop will be open from 7 to 9 o'clock each evening this week, except Thursday.

At the sale of furniture in the estate of the late Maria Mason, on Thursday, by Mr J. R. Nicol, everything has to be sold, without reserve, as matters in connection with the estate must be closed early. The furniture is in really good order throughout, and will be on view on Thursday morning.

Messrs R. E. Hcvell and Co. have been instructed by Mr G. G. Cork, who has disposed of his residence in Lincoln-road, to hold an unreserved sale of the whole of his household furniture, on Friday next, at 1 p.m. The furniture is a superior lot, throughout, being nearly new and in firstclass condition. Intending purchasers are invited to inspect the furniture at Mr Cork's residence, " Wai-iti," any time between now and the date of sale. A preliminary announcement appears in another column, and full particulars of the furniture will appear in a later issue.

One of the best assorted stocks in Maseperton of Christmas toys in the way of dolls, magic lanterns, slides, mechanical and wooden toys, and numerous other lines, is to be found at Mr A. Norman's premises in Queen street? He has selected strong and serviceable goods particularly suited for the children, and the price 3 are very reasonable. Included in articles suited for ladies' presents are pretty work baskets, purses, steel hand bags, toilet cases, and other useful lines. Mr Norman will make a gaslight display of his goods tomorrow evening, and solicits an inspection on the part of residents. Now that the Christmas holidays are approaching, those interested in fishing are replenishing their rods, lines and supplies, in anticipation of many enjoyable days sport. All who fiah should write to Messrs E. Reynolds and Co. (Ltd.), Willis street, Wellington, for a copy of their large illustrated catalogue of fishing material--sent post free. What better gift for son, husband, or brother than a fishing outfit, of •which the firm supply the very best makes at the lowest prices through their mail ■order department. Rail Fenders are now being sold ''from 10s at the Furnishing Dept., W.F.C.A.* w The best poultry cross is the " White Orpington." Cockerels, 10i each, can be had from J. H. Payton, Akura.* Our engineers are certificated men who know when a job is well done. Place your repair jobs in our hands, and rest assured that they will be faithfully carried out. Mas--terton Farmers' Implement Company.* Carbolic Tooth Powder. The popular powder for cleansing the teeth and leaving a refreshing taste in the mouth. 6d and Is. H. T. Wood, Chemist and Pharmacist (by xamj., Masterton. 0

There are at present seventeen patients in the Masterton Hospital.

Mr Peter Hider has been elected an Honorary Member of the Masterton Brass Band.

The first inspection of the gardens of the school children attending the Masterton District High School in connection with the garden plot competition held by the Masterton A. & P. Society is being made to-day.

The Thursday squad of the Masterton Rilh Voluuteers will complete the shooting in the first round of the competition matches on Thursday next. The conditions are ton shots at 600 yds and 700 yds. There will be no more parades of the corps until January.

On enquiry at the Masterton Hospital, tc-day, we learn that there is a very slight improvement in the condition of the man Charles Mabey, for assaulting whom a Maori named, Maihana Rohoama, stands remanded at the Police Court until Friday. Mabey is still in a semi-conscious state.

The two extra large sheets of plate glass for the front windows in the central section of the Exchange Buildings, Queen-street, (the third lot ordered, the first two lots being smashed in transit) are being fitted in to-day. The glass is of exceptional thickness, and of larger size than any plate glass previously landed in Wellington.

The Hon. W. Hall Jones, Minister for Railways and Public Works, referring on Saturday at Christchurch to the progress being made with the construction of the Otago Central Railway, said: "Wo will open for passenger traffic on Tuesday next the section to Alexandra. This section is ten miles and three quarters in length. In March the additional six miles to Clyde will be completed."

Many persons are looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to the entertainment to be given by the pupils of St. Bride's Convent, to morrow evening, at the Masterton Town Hall. The principal feature in the very attractive programme will be the operetta " Sherwood's Queen," a most successful rehearsal of which has already taken place. The first part of the programme will consist of musical items and songs and choruses by the pupils, and the audience may anticipate with confidence a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment.