LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11266, 6 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A lotter from r Cr O'Leary in reference to the Saturday halt-holiday question appoars on page 3. Crops of maize iv the Smith Wairarapa district have been badly affected by frost during tho last fow days.

Tho train which leaves Wellington ! for Wairarapa in the afternoon did not reach Masterton till 1.0. If) o'clock last evening, the delay being duo to a breakdown of a goods train on tho Rimutaka. Mr EL Thompson, of tho firm of Thompson and Payuo, Napier, who was ou a visit to Mustorfcbn yesterday, stated to a Daily Times reporter yesterday that tho country through Hawke's Bay was very parched and quite ii contrast to the Forty Mile Bush and North Wairarapa, where the grass was green aud feed appeared plentiful. Two mobs of sheep, totalling 8000, were brought into Pahiatua last week from tho Pongaroa district. With the exception of a line of 2500 breeding owes, purchased on account of a I.angitikei client, from the Akitio station, they were all fat sheep and were destined for the Gear Company's works itfc Petono. A resident of Gleniti on Wednesday evening lost a largo number of valuable young ducks; a weasel had visited tho fowl-run, leaving it a porfeet shambles, dead and dying lying all over the place, says the Timaru Herald. Tho brute had bitten thorn ail on the neck, and out of twenty-one only three were left aiivo, and these badly wounded. Owners of poultry in that vicinity had better he on tho look-out. A valuable diamond field is now being worked in Australia, and parcels of diamonds are regularly being sent to cutters in Amsterdam. It is said that Oapeton, in New South Wales, promises to be an active field for years yet. The Deep Shaft mine there lias'been worked with success for four years, and annually thousands of carats of diamonds are won from if. The Akitio County Council has accepted the tender of Mr J. Martin, at £IHO, for 800 yards metalling on the Waiouo-roiid to the Weber County boundary. Mr Dillon's tender of £ .5. Us for '.)()'(> yard metalling on the Von-garoa-Mai.uri-road, near Maugatiti, was accepted. One tender was received for the construction of a reinforced concrete! retaining Avail at Akitio, but as it was more than double the estimate, it was not accepted. If was decided to call for fresh tenders. The Pahiatua County Council, resolved yesterday that the rate of wages of workmen be increased .ill round by _d per day, to take effect as from February Ist, 1.f., as follows:— Casual and permanent, surfacemen Ss -Id, drivers Ss Sd. pitmen Os Id, foreman 10s -hi. At the end of six months the wages of permanent hands will be raised another -Id, and at the end of a further six months an additional -id, thus bringing their wages up to an extra shilling at the end of tweive months from February Ist. The aggregate! increase will amount to a considerable sum. per annum.

About ii quarter to eleven o'clock last night those residents in the vicinity of the Chapel-street entrance to tiie W.F.C.A. were alarmed by the loud ringing of what sounded like a. number of small bolls. Tiie noise had the effect, of attracting a few persons to the back gates of the above establishment, believing that the informaive bells, hy their alarming tone betokened an incipient lire. After an attempt, by a few onlookers, to discover the cause of the break in the evening's serenity, enquiries elicited (he information that the fire prevention apparatus was merely performing its expected functions, the pressure of the water being responsible for the ringing of the bells. Some diversion and not a little amusement was created by Mr Alfred Dillon, the ex-member for Hawke's Bay, during the ceremonies iv connection with the turning of the first sod at Westshore, says the Tribune. The chairman of the proceedings, Mr J. Vigor Brown, was introducing Mr C. H. Cranby, chairman of the Napier Chamber of Conierce, when Mt Dillon sallied forth to the front of the platform, and with, all the vehemence at his command asserted his claim to some of the kudos which was so lavishly being showered on the head of the member for Napier. Having aired his chagrin, the ex-member for Hawke's Bay retired to his seat and Mr Brown poured oil on the troubled waters by calling for cheers for his late colleague, to which the crowd responded with great zest. A remarkable reading of the Gaming Act. was given by Mr Harold Cooper, of Bell, Gully, and Cooper, in a betting case heard in the Palmerston Magistrate's Court on Saturday says the Post's correspondent. Mr Cooper contended that under the Act a man who backed every horse in one race on tho totalisator would thereby become a bookmaker within the common acceptance of the term. Further, it did not matter whether a man made bets on the machine or as a bookmaker; he was still liable to be looked upon as a bookmaker, because he attempted to add to his livelihood by betting. If a man played poker at, say, ;i shilling a corner, billiards for a small wager, show poker at, say, :.d a corner, or any other game for a bet, he would, according to iiis (Mr (Cooper's) reading of tho Act be qualified as a bookmaker, and would he liable to a line if he made a bet on the totalisator. Mr Thomson, S. M.. reserved his decision in the case in question. The Sporting Life gives :t personal sketch in coloured phraseology of Victor Trumper and W. W. Armstrong in the course of its notes on the first test match: "A strangely contrasted pair are Trumper and Armstrong—contrasted in physique, in temperament and in style. Tho one loan, light, as neat on his feet its a premier danseuse, with wrists as supple as fencing foils. The other massive, heavy. Oft -tin, and growing stout at the age of threc-and-thirty, lumbering about as graceful as a Newfoundland dog. The one primed with nervous energy, bubbling with vivacity effervesoently eager glowing with the joy of life. The other phlegmatic, unemotional, unimaginative, pursuing heavily a sober course. The one graceful, elegant, gloriously unorthodox, with an exhilarating wind blowing through his whole game, with his strokes set to dance music. Tho otner laborious, sternly correct, stricty disciplined, batting with the brake on. A contrast indeed!"

It is now ,-|ust on twelve months since Mr T. Sedgwick landed in Wellington with his company of fifty boys drawn from tho poorest quarters of London and Liverpool, says the Timaru Herald. Almost witnoufc exception tho boys have done very well indeed. Their wages wore raised during their first six mouths at- work, and now, to celebrate the anniversary of their landing, they are nearly all to havo another increase. A comprehensive report upon their behaviour and progress is boing prepared by the Labour Department for submission to the Minister, who, it will bo remembered, stated that he,would not entertain tho many requests itade for a repetition of tho exporimont until ho had given it a full year's trial. Had tho Minister been willing to allow more boys to be brought out under the same conditions, a very largo number could have been placed last yoar in good posts without any difficulty, as a great many applications were recoived from farmers in various parts of tho Dominion.

On Saturday evening a swimmer made a-record" in tho Carterton baths, swimming . milos 20 yards in 2 hours 40 minutes. A consignment of 220 boxes of butter was forwarded to London in the steamer Arawa by the, Masterton Cooperative Dairy Co. A mooting.'of the Wairarapa Hospital .and Charitable Aid Board will be held in tho County Council office at noon to-morrow. There aro no patients at present in the fever ward, at the Masterton Hospital. The district is particularly free from disease at the present time. At the Wellington Supremo Court to-day Granville Hunt was sentenced to 18 and 12 months imprisonment on two charges of forgery and uttering, tho. sentences to be concurrent.—Press Association. Miss Annie O'Leary, of Masterton, Wiis yesterday nominated for all the championship events at tho N.Z. Carnival at Christchurch this month. Miss O'Leary will represent the Wellington Province at the gathering. The frost a few mornings ago destroyed most of tho maize crops in tho Masterton district, this being a very serious loss indeed as the crops had been grown mostly for seed. The maize was cut down as if with a scythe, one farmer on the Upper Plain losing a crop of seven acres. The oat crops arc turning out particularly well in tho Masterton district. One farmer has a crop of twenty acres of Abundance oats which it is estimated will yield 90 bushels to the acre. Many of the other crops in the district arc! expected to reach .0 bushels and over. Tho Carterton Eire Brigade held a second competition, five-men manual, on the reserve, which resulted in Lieut. H. McKenzio's team being first in .0 _-.sees, Captain McKonzie's team second in .. 4-issocs, and Lieut. Jackson's team third in .? 4-ssecs. Maoris fishing in the Mauugataroro stream on Saturday succeeded iv landing an eel weighing 4'.lbs. This monster denizen of the stream took three men to land him. Continuing j their iishiug the catch was further [ augmented by two more huge eels weighing 2. and J2lbs respectively. The Hawke's Bay Herald says it is now nearly forty years since the first sod of the lino which runs from Napier to Wellington was turned, and nearly thirty years ago since that line reached Woodville. During the whole of that thirty years not a penny has been spent on railway extension in Hawke's Bay. Berlin, the city which never sleeps, has long since outdistanced all its European rivals as a city of nightlife. In addition to its sports of all kinds, its all-night cafes, daybreak restaurants and theatres, which open their doors only at midnight, Berlin has now a magnificent bathing establishment, which is open every hour of the twenty-four. An Auckland telegram states that plans of the native parliament buildings to be erected at Ngaruawhia provide for a building of unique design estimated to cost £7000. The building will be 140 feet by 80ft and will have liudovine tower and a flag staff each over the Maori style of decorative art. Incorporated with the general design will he projecting gables and large boards carved and ornamented by grotesque finals.

The New Zealand Gun Clubs Association has allotted the New Zealand clay bird ehampiouhips for this year to ' the Masterton Gun Club. The Club are to be congratulated on having been given this important event to control. The championship will consist ot 21 birds and will be fired on July l.tli. The leading shots in New Zealand will take part in the competition. The drainage work which is being carried out m Cole-street by the Borough engineer (Mr J. Archer) will he completed in a ix-w days Progress is being interfered with to a certain extent by the water that is met with, but Mr Archer states that he has not found as much water as he anticipated. Tho Jubilee, engine is kept all day at pumping water out of the trench. A sensational railway episode occurred between Perth and Fremantle one day hist week. While a train was 1 mining at the rate of twenty miles an hour, the child of a Mrs Duval, who was sitting at an open window, sprang out of her arms and tumbled out. The distressed mother could not signal the guard to stop tho train, but when it reached Subiaco a search party went back. The child, which was only two years old, was tound uninjured, playing between the rails. It is said that butchers in some jiarfs of the Dominion havo not been making fortunes lately. Those in a big way of business, as the saying is, have lost a lot of money (so it is said), while many of the butchers with little cash to lose havo been pushed out of the trade. hi aud near Christ-church towards tho end of last year no fewer than 4. "small" butchers had to give up business. inquiry as to the cause of this serious surrender goes to show that conditions in the retail market are similar to those said to rule in I various trades and professions—keen competition aud too many pockets for i tho profits. Earl Grey, who was an earnest advocate of proportional representation 25 years ago, and has been a consistent supporter of that principle, returned to England from Canada increased iv his faith that this system of election is an essential condition of the success of democratic institutions. He, indicated in his speech, delivered at Newcastle on December 2nd, that the proportional representation movement, was "one of the directions in which his energies could best be devoted to the service of his country," and it is now announced that ho has accepted the vice-presidency of the Proportional Representation Society. At the Hamilton Magistrate's Court yesterday Sydney Beaven was charged with not attending tho parades of the G Battery in terms of tho Defence Act. Tho defendant is a member of the Municipal Fire Brigade, and he stated that as such lie considered that he served his country sufficient!}'. Lieutenant Burgess said that there were a number of similar cases, and the result of the present case was being awaited by other defaulters. No member of local institutions was exempt under tho Act, although lie did all he could to meet them. Mr Loughnan, S.M., said the Act had to be carried out, and ho would impose a substantial penalty. He regarded defendant's excuse iis fictitious and inadequate. Defendant would bo fined £2 and 7s costs, but in any future cases the Magistrate said lie would inflict a very severe penalty. The Test of cricket between Australia and England is now at a very interesting stage. The Englishmen havo won two matches out of three, and the Australians aro naturally very keen about winning the next match, and talk about securing tno services of the veteran player Noble. But who can say who the winner will bo? Cricket- is so uncertain, but thero is no uncertainty about Elephant Tea. It will win your favour overy time because it is good tea and good all tho time. *

A cricket match, will be played on tho Park Oval on Thursday between Carlton and V.M.C.A. teams. A Rotorua telegram states that ho Rocky Nook Boardinghouso was practically gutted ny Are this morning. Very little furniture in the part affected was saved. The which was old, was owned by Jameljr Vaughan and occupied by J. Cole-' man. It was insured in the Sun office for £100. The furniture was insured for £420 in the- Phoenix. Only two boarders occupied the portion which was burnt. Some interesting side-lights were thrown on a commonplace looking bicycle case in the Dunedin Court by a question which tho defendant elected to put (says the Otago Daily Times). He had just been fined 5s and costs for cycling without a light, and evidently thought it was his move, next. "Is it lawful," he inquired, "for a policeman to trip a man up when lie is riding a bicycle?" But the magistrate was not to be drawn, and replied diplomatically, "That is a matter lam not going into just now." Tho Sub-inspector here thought that a little further light, might be interesting, and asked pointedly, "Do you want to go into the matter of your trying to escape?" The defendant muttered somethings about having no skin left on his sideA and turned away slowly like one who feels that his wrongs are beyond legal redress. A young lady requires a position as lady help in small family. An advertiser requires a young girl to. assist with housework. Messrs Graham and Co. announce some special bargains for the last week of their great summer sale. Tho Mas.er.on Borough Council gives notice of having licensed certain persons to sell by ac'utiou, under the provisions of tho statute. The W.F.C.A. ironmongery department in their new advertisement <m page 4 draw attention to new household iind furnishing, ironmongery, enamel ware, preserving pans, etc. Attention is drawn in our advertising columns to tho large number of fatm implements and draught horses to be sold at Messrs McGregor Bros.' sale at the Solway Showgrounds next Thursday. All claims against tho estate of the late Mr O. A. Powuail must be rendered to Mr H. W. Powuail by the 281.1 i February, and all moneys due to the said estate arc required to be paid by that date. The N.Z. Clothing Factory ;_# now carrying a large stock of boys" Norfolk and Varsity suits, which aro being sold at very reasonable prices. Boys' ami girls' school boots are also stocked in great variey. Messrs Bnrningham and Co., Ltd,, Dunedin, insert an advertisement on page . in reference, to the modern school desks now being supplied by them. Thousands of these desks are now in use in different parts of New Zealand, the users including the Wanganui and Hawke's Bay Education Boards and the Christchurch Technical College. A natural and correct beverage for this season of the year is Fruit-Saline; the natural fruit salts which cool, freshen and purify the system. J. V. Gordon, chemist, Masterton, sells the genuine article, which makes a delicious, effervescent, healthful beverage. The Lixall Manufacturing Co. are now receiving orders for their great weed exterminator from all parts of the Wellington Province. The preparation has been tried and proved a success for eradicating we eels oi(0 garden paths, docks, gorse, broom, blackberry, aud all noxious weeds. The present, dry weather presents a splendid opportunity for using Lixall, as it is more effective when the ground is dry. Lixall is obtainable from all storekeepers. SELECTING A PaT„N_ AGES _. It is very important tint sp3.i_.ation3 ani drawings should be prepared by competent persons, as the validity of a patent of.en dep?nda upon them No Paeut Agsutis competeat unhss be i_ a practical meelunt.al draft:man, has sci.ntific education, ani is skilled iv patent law. Messrs Baldwin and Rayward Patent, Agents, Wellington, have these qualifications, and are ihorouihly trustworthy * Tan boots to be kept in good condition and to look well should be daily polished with Tan-01, the preservative that gives the best shine. In tins, liquid Is; paste Ud.* Medical authorities agree that, although there are many contributing causes, excess uric acid in the blood is the real cause of Rheumatism, Gout, Sciatica, Lumbago and Kindred diseases. RHEUMO is the one. remedy that will remove the excess uric acid and quickly give relief. Sold by i\\]o chemists and stores at 2s (id and 4s; Gd. * For polishing tan hoots or linoleums use Tan-01. It is quick, very easy, and wonderfntly good. * Roslyn blankets, rugs, tweeds, worsteds, suits, hosiery, unshrinkable flannel and underwear "Delta" finish. The best that money can buy.* The All-brass Kerb Suites, and Fenders now on view at the Furnishing Dept., W.F.C.A., .re really worth inspecting.* Effervescent Saline, purifying, refreshing invigorating to all who suffer from sicknesß, headache, sluggish liver, etc. Price, 2/6. H. T. Wood. Chemist and Pharmacist (by exam.), Masterton.