LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 13589, 13 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails will close a.t Masterton on Wednesday, July .17tl*, 1918, per s.s.Moeraki, for tho undermtnoiend places: —Australian States, South Africa, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Set-tlements,-at 8 p.m.

The Masterton Bowling Club has an aetivc membership of .S3, against 71 in J9.17, and (JO in 191(5. There is an honorary membership of 16.

An efficiency campaign having for its object the closing of the liquor trade with compensation, has been launched at Christeliurch.

The Trust.Lands Trust last night received sixHjehders for the purchase aud removal of a shed from rural section 39, and that of .Mr James. McGregor (£sl 10s) was accepted.

It was decided by the Masterton Truht Lands Trust last night to expend £18 ou renewing the light in the Brill Hal), provided tlie Defence Department contributed half tlie amount.

The trustees of the Masterton Methodist Church, with a view to encouraging the social life of the congregation, and at the same time to benefit: the trust funds of the church, are holding a series of monthly socials. The opening one will take the form' of v concert, to be held on Monday night in the schoolroom.

Yesterday afternoon the lad who was convicted in the morning df stealing a bicycle and horse and trap was further charged with stealing 3s from the desk of a school mistress at tlie Masterton school. During the dinner hour on Thursday the boy entered the school, secured the keys of the desk, and appropriated the cash, which he at'terw.'irds expended on luxuries. The father had refunded the 3s, and the lad was committed by the Magistrate to the Wellington Receiving. Home..

At the meeting of tho. Trust Lands Trust last night Mr C. E. Daniell,. who has taken a considerable interest in the relation of the Trust to the early settlement of Masterton, brought forward an excellent proposal. Mr Daniell suggested that the Trust should secure the portraits of those early pioneers who had contributed towards the welfare of the town and district, with a short biography of each. The Trust already had a few enlarged photographs of the old identities, but if possible a definite scheme sohuld be devised to secure a portrait gallery that would in itself recount the early history of terton. Several members agreed with the suggestion, and it was decided to later formulate a scheme whereby the portraits could be obtained.

On finding himself liable to be called up under the new Military Service Act, someone in England wrote to Sir Auckland Geddes complaining that "men of forty-five are being asked to leave all they have to become soldiers' at Is 6<l a flay while you, a younger man, remain in your London oiiice taking £10 a -day of the country's money." Sir Auckland's private secretary wrote in ..reply: 4 ' Sir Auckland Geddes desires me to assure you that he does not get the .sum of £10 per diem, or anything approaching it. He thinks you may like to know,that he, too, has served as a private at the rate of Is a day; that he joined the army in the early days of the war, has been in France, and is now only in civilian clothes as he is. unfit for further active-servico as the result of injuries received by him in France. Perhaps I may add that Sir Auckland Geddes also served in the South African war. "

A meeting of the committee of the. Masterton Poultry Society was hpld last night, Mr J. B. F. Sutherland presiding over a good attendance... Final.Arrangements wei'o made for tho show to be held on Friday and Saturday next, which promises to provide an exhibition, of the feathered tribe never before seen in the town. Thirty-four special prizes weer allotted to the various classes. The following receiving stewards were appointed:—Fancy poultry, Messrs A. Hendry, A. Cole, and H. Caldwell; utility poultry, Messrs F. J. Fellingham, F. IL Heaven and B. P. L. Clayson; eons, Messrs W. C. Gourlay, J. B. F. Sutherland, and J. Dixon. Judges' stewards: Fancy poultry, Mr H. M. Bod. dington; utility poultry, Mr J. Dixon; pigeons, etc., Mr Sutherland. It was decided to impress upon exhibitors that all birds* must bo delivered at the.hall by 9 o 'clock on Thursday evening. .

Writing from the Old Land, under date May 19th, a Wanganui soldier in camp in Staffordshire says: The country is looking really beautiful, and the lanes and roads are a fine sight for us New Zealanders, We are wonderfully well fed: the best food and arrangements we hav e ever had since joining up. I thought Featherston and Trentham were, good, but for "kai" this place is right out on its own. There seems to be plenty of everything for us. •Certainly we have the war bread, as everybody else in the United Kingdom and on the Continent does, but it is quite wholesome, and personally it is as good as the white to me. Th e butter also is as good and as plentiful as ever I've seen it, and meat and potatoes, peas, sausages, parsnips, etc., etc., w e get in abundance; but I will say there's no waste here, and neither should there be anywhere. The waste in New Zealand camps is, or was, somethiner simply appalling. . ." —Wanganui Herald. - I

The Municipal Silver Band will play j in the Park to-morrow afternoon. i

Official advice has been received that the 39th Reinforcements have reached a port of call. The men, it is reported, were in excellent health.

The postal authorities advise that the mails for the United Kingdom which left New.Zealand on May 19th, arrived at their destination safely.

A progressive euchre, party was held by the Masterton Druids' Lodgo last night. Tho men's prize was won by Mr Pinkerton, and the ladies' prize by Mrs Petersen.

The Masterton Trust Lands Trust has decided to ask the Borough Council to extend th e drainage along Queen street to meet the demands of two Trust buildings opposite the Masterton school.

During a discussion in connection with-a proposal before the Trust Lands Trust last night to increase the Y.M.C.A. grant, Mr W.'agg said that if the Trust kept on increasing their grants there would not bo a shilling left for tho high school scheme.

No settlement has yet been readied in regard to the miners' dispute;. Negotiations between the Government, the mine owners, and the Miners' Federation are still proceeding. A conference is now being held in Wellington among the miners ' delegates, and consideration being given to the employers' offer of a bous if full time is worked. It, is stated that this offer will not be accepted.

In the past it has been the habit of a number of motor car owners in Wellington to volunter their services and be responsible for the supplying oi' motor cars for conveying returned soldiers and their friends to their destinations. A voluntary motor corps has, been formed for this purpose, and there is at present a register containing 80 names of persons who are willing to place their cars at the disposal of returned soldiers.

The building committee reported as follows to the meeting of the Trust Lands' Trust last night: With reference to the complaint of the noise made by the exhaust from the engine at the Town Hall, your committe have decided to remove the boulders from the iron tank and sink a small shaft, leading the pipe from the exhaust chamber into same. This, they think, will ameliorate the nuisance. This work has been put in hand.

In connection with the New Zealand infantile' mortality statistics for the year 1917, the Government Statistician, "Wellington, has furnished the Plunket Society with tho following information: —Death rate per 100 births for each of the' four metropolitan areas: Auckland 0.1, Wellington 5.65, Christchurch

4.93, Duncdin 4.02. The total number of deaths of children under one year of nge during 1917 was 13(50 for the Dominion. It is gratifying to note that the infantile mortality rate for the Dominion for -1917 is the lowest yet reached.'

.•V sacred concert is to be given in the Kuripuui Hall on Sunday evening, when a collection will be taken up on behalf of the uniform fund of the Con. tral Band. The concert will commence at 8.15 o 'clock, and besides appropriate selections by the band, vocal items will be rendered. The programme will 'include the following items: —"BB and (JF March,' '* Sacred Melodies, song by Mr J. Henderson, Austral Overture, The Rosary, Druids' Prayer, song, Constellation March.

An educational propaganda is a big item in the projected campaign of the 'New Zealand Labour Party. The question is being thoroughly gone into, and ■the national education system will be one matter of special enquiry. A pamphlet ou the latter question is to be issued shortly. The results of the Workers ' Educational Classes have been eulogised by the new president of the party (the Hon. J. T. Paul), says a Wellington paper, and tho good work is to go on with increased vigour.

The monthly meeting of the Trust Lands Trust was held last evening, there being present: —-Messrs E. G. Eton (chairman), R. Krahagen, T. Wagg, C. K. Daniell, D. Caselberg and W. H. Jackson. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £57 12s Sd. It was decided to forward the reply received from the Technical School managers in connection with the workers' educational course to the Workers' Educational Association. The V.M.C.A. applied for a grant towards the Association's funds, requesting that the usual grant be increased from £25 to £35. It was decided to make a grant of £35.

Work is abnormally scarce at the present time. Workers there are of all descriptions, but little or no work. The Government Labour Bureau in Wellington reports that practically the only work offering at tho present time is in the coal mines, and apparently callers at the bureau are not too anxious to take up employment there. No local work is available, and no farm work. The weekly returns from the bureau show that thero were 41 applicants for work. Twenty-two were placed and 19 are still waiting for employment. Among those anxious for "jobs" arc two returned soldiers. The following findings of district courts-martial, held at Trcntham, have been confirmed by the Commandant, New Zealand Military Forces: —For disobeying in such a manner as to show wilful defiance of authority a command ■given personally by his superior officer, in the execution of his office. Private J. Pickering, A.S.C., was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years. For deserting His Majesty's service, when under orders for active service, Privates H. T. Woolhouse and J. Hamilton were sentenced to ninety days'-.detention, and Privates H. J. Hoad and L. A. Sigglekow were sentenced to forty-two days' detention.

Mr R. Krahagen, in moving at the Trust Lands Trust meeting last night that the V.M.C.A. grant be increased by £10, paid a high tribute to the work the Y.M.CA.. was doing in connection with the war. The decrease in the membership of the V.M.C.A., due to •members being on active service, was a justification of the Trust's action in increasing a grant to such a desirable institution as the V.M.C.A. Messrs Eton, Caselberg and Jackson spoke in a similar strain. Mr Daniell, who took no part in the debate or. in the voting, as he- was interested in the V.M.C.A. in an official capacity, suitably acknowledged the Trust's action, and the kindly remarks of the trustees.

A i .v.ar'n of fire was ronmicd just before 1 o'clock to-day, the cause being; an outbreak of fire in a wash-house a& Mr F. Madsen-'s residence in HigJt* Street. The brigade .were smartly tho spot, an. d the fire waa cxtinguishwj. before much damage was done.

Tableg compiled from the Australiaa war census or jaio, wnich may. be taken, as affording the most trustworthy,. o£ all the estimates of wealth, show that. 359,729 persons possessed no property,. 925,461 had assets amounting to les* than £100. There were,314,514 withe from £100 to £250, and there was a gradual falling off in the other grade* sums, with the exception of froim £1000 to £2500, which division gave a» total of 129,115 persons. When th** £50,000 level is reached the number off persons is reduced to 722, and at th.® i.'loo,ouo and upwards to 4(>t3.

Basket-making, taken up by the men. in the military ward of the Christchurch Hospital, primarily as a has developed along the lines of a regular business venture. Not only has* the work of making dainty and useful articles out of cane been in the natures; of a cure for many of the men, but rapidly has the demand for the work grown, that orders for trays, etc., are now coming in at such®* rate that the workers can hardly eopefc with them. In this connection (says* the Press) it is pleasing to note that **& Bhipmcnt of the cane supplied by tho? Government has arrived, so there will be no lack of raw material. The work. ot: basket making started at the Christchurch Hospital in November, since* when the sum of £570 has been realised!" from the sale of the articles". Last; week's salo in tho Square, with orders* included, made £124 13s.

Figures indicating the strength «fT America's support in connection witta. the wr were given by Mr A. A. Winslow, American Consul-general, at that. Auckland Orphans' Club. H e said tb<-» United .States had now an army of ats. least 1,000,000 men on the western*, front. The Republican Government ha<s. made loans totalling £5,000,000,000, ©J? which £1, 200,000,000 had been lent tor. the Allies. The shipping put into, commission since the war started aggregated 1,000,0.00 tons. On Independence Day ninety vessels had been*. launched in America. Fifty of tho* ships, aggregating 250,000 tons, wera built and launched on the Pacific Slope.. In connection with her army, Amerjgafchad requisitioned the services of 2f)Wk% doctors, 40,000 nurses, and 200,000 ffiem. had been enlisted for Red Cross work* Mr Winslow predicted the end'of thaiwar in six months' time, and ho concluded r oy repeating jone significantphrase of Mr Woodrow Wilson's las& American Independence Day oration::' —* ' What we seek is the reign of based upon the consent of the and sustained by the organised opinion of mankind.'"

Some time ago the president of th» Southland League indicated that h@ was convinced that the rabbit difficulty would be very greatly minimised bjrr means of electric power, and in a conversation with a representative of the*"Southland Times" on Wednesday,*'Mr Rodger said that a practical test of hiss suggestion had been made with very satisfactory results. He had consigned!" to him a few days ago a dozen lrce*. rabbits, and through the kindness oi? Mr 1-1 G. Foster, the borough electrics? engineer, and Mr Crane, his assistant* the idea of killing rabbits by eleetrie; power was-proved to bo possible. The* test wcis made by means of a lcngthyMfT ordinary sheep-proof wire netting,jfl| electric current being passed it at 230 volts, the ordinary voltages supplied to a private house. Tho rabbits coming into contact with the wirenetting were electrocuted, and whiles* two rabbits received only a slight shock; and recovered after a time, this wassfound to bo due to the primitive method of experimenting. The result of tb© experiment has convinced those interested that further exhaustive tests im a practical way should be. made, ami arrangements have been made whereby thsse tests will be carried out withim the next few weeks. Mr L. A. Wadham inserts an advoir-* tisement in our "wanted columns in reference to the advantages of keepingIndian Runner ducks, also regarding* sittings of Black Orpingtons. There is a heavy barrage on all fronts at. Messrs J. L. Murray's, Ltd., "Coois-ter-Attack" Sale. Bargains in men.**** and boys' clothing and outfitting are being simply fired away. There will b© s. lot of wet and cold weather 'before*, the winter is over, and men of ail ranfess should fall in and see the special offer the firm is making in warm doublet breasted tweed overcoats*. * , Messrs Abraham and Williams,■■&* instructed by Mr F. S. Easton, wh<«l4 decided to submit the whole of the T& Rauawa flock of stud ewes to public aue-t tion, will offer at the Levin saleyardsr on Tuesday, July 23rd, 148 head, comprising 25 2-tooth ewes, 17 4-tootfe. ewes, 38 6-tooth ewes, 34 4-year and 34 5-year wees. Full particulars*** arc advertised on page 8. Amongst new books on sale to-day aifcMcLeod and Young's, booksellers and* stationers, are:—-"Rasputin, the Rascal Monk" (Le Queux), 2s, posted 2& 3d; "My Adventures as a German Secret Service Agent," by Captain Housfcy.on der Goltz, Bs, posted 8s 6d; "New; Zealanders in Samoa," by L. P. Loary> M.C., R.F.A. (late N.Z.R.), Bs, posted Ss» Gd: fresh supplies of Masefield 's ' * GaliL. poli," 3s 6d, posted 3s lOd; "Students?, in Arms" (first and second series), by Donald Hankey, 8s 6d, posted 6s lOdj "Printers' Pie" for 1918, 2s, posted 2ffl 3d. Some new novels are:—"Coelebs**" (F. E. Mills Young), " Nevertheless.*** (Olive Wackley), "Valour" (Warwick ; Deeping), "Laughing Bill Hyde" (Rex Beach), "The Ungrateful Hour" (Marchmont), "His Own Home Towji-"" (Larry Evans), "The Road to #adalay" (B. M. Croker), "A Top FldW Idyll" (G. V. Schaick), all 4s 6d, posfc- : ed 4s lOd. Barraclough 's Nervine for Toothache. 4£?: for Influenza take Woods' Great* Peppermint Cure. Never fai'* 1/6,,

Monday is gas discount flay. Two t'uriiinlied rooms are iidverlised .**'} let. ' An advertiser has two furnished -rooms to l«t. #A dance will be held in the Exchange Hall to-night. A child's white beaver Coat, lost sonic .tf.imo'.ag.o., is advertised.for. Art advertiser requires a position as •avorking manager or married shepherd. A young man, ineligible for' military ■service, requires employment oh a farm. A list of competitions in connection .-.with the Patriotic Shop appears on the ...front page. A shop, central, situated in Queen .-street, is advertised- its to let by Mr W. M. Cruickshank, land agent, etc. Members of the Wellington Rural 'Workers' Union are requested to at:tcnd a meeting in the Druids' Hall this «-csvening. Members of the L.O.L. Nos. 24 and .59, are requested to attend a church /parade at the Congregational Church to. .■morrow evening. Mr L. H. Johnson's motor lorry will •leave the Masterton Post Office for the j .featherston Camp at the usual time to-jj-tfbaorrow aternoon. W T. J. Thompson draws attention to a mew stock, just received, of cutlery, including stainless, soldiers' tins, chikl■rren's wood and other toys, and a special '.lot of strong cups and saucers. •Mr Steve Boreliam will deliver an address in the Druids' Hall at S o'clock •-this evening, taking as . his subject, "Labour and the Political Situation." .All workers arc requested to attend. Messrs A. J. Cooper and Co., Ltd., '. notify : 'that the date of Mr James -Cooper'£ sale of sixty 3-year Jersey Hol- : stein springing heifers at the Carterton .-showgrounds has been altered to duly ::26th. ■* ■

Mr A. T. Dickason has been instructed by the bailiff to sell on-Tuesday next, at 2 p.m., a 5-seater Cadillac -•-motor car, 30-40 -h.p., electric light and self-starter, absolutely without reserve. Tho sale takes place at the mart at 2 ii).m. '.;"' ■

Mr".T. Bradbury, jeweller, announces ■the late arrival of a large consignment -of'tho "famous "Bradbury" lever (a reliable nickel lever at 25s each), which ..■•fills a popular want. Mr Bradbury is .making a comprehensive window dis.play of these watches' to-day. yjjjjt' The opening day of Messrs C. '▼Smith's great Winter Sale was a great success. Crowds of shoppers participated in the bargains offered, and seem•gd to .heartily/appreciate" great .-rnoney'-saving opportunities. .Tho sale /p.s now in full swing.