LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13985, 22 November 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails for Australian States, South Africa and the East (per. Maheno at Auckland) close at Masterton on Tuesday, 25th November, at 10.30 a.m. The price of kapok has been advancing of late, and another increase has now been made. "Judging from my experience in staying the other night at Taihape, it is not a prohibition district," remarked His Honour, Mr Justice Stringer, with a smile, in the Arbitration Court yesterday. ' Mr A. I>. McLeod, Reform candidate for the Wairarapa seat, will, address the electors in the Bideford Hall on Tuesday evening next at 8 o'clock. Mr J. G. Millar, curator of the Masterton fishponds, informed a "Daily Times" representative yesterday that about 1,250,000 fry had been despatched from the Masterton hatcheries to various parts of the North Island.

The Land Purchase Board has acquired from George Rutherford, the Waitohi Peaks Estate, Medbury, North Canterbury, for soldier settlement. The property comprises 9000 acres of pastoral land, and the work of subdivision will be put in hand at once.

At the meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon it was decided to write to tho Railway Department enquiring if it was intended to reinstate the whole of the pre-war railway service, and on what date.

The monthly return from the Masterton Repatriation Department shows seven business loans, totalling £1435; two loans for tools of trade, £100; and 2-t trainees receiving subsidised wages, amounting to £107 9s 7d. Seven men were also placed in employment. The monthly return of repayments has been exceptionally good.

DON'T BE A BILIOUS NUISANCE

Mr F. J. Stuckey, the Department's Inspector of Schools, will conduct the Standard VI. proficiency examination at the Masterton Technical School on Monday evening next.

Inspector W. E. Spencer, Inspector of Sites in the Education Department, is at present in Masterton, and in company with Inspector F. G. Stuckey, is inspecting the various sites under offer for a High School. A report will be furnished to the Department in due course. At the New Zealand duck test, held at Papanui, Christehurch, Mr L. A. Wadham's single duck laid 7 eggs for the week, making her total to date 181 eggs in 190 days, thus showing the wonderful egg-laying powers this particular breed of water fowl has.

Members of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's Pipe Band are notified that regular practices of the band wall be held on Mondays and Thursdays, commencing on Monday next. In view of the proposed Pipe Band contest in Dunedin in March next punctual and regular attendances are imperative. All pipers who have not already enrolled areadvised to make application immediately.

The mine-owners?' conference will commence it's session in Wellington today. It is said that important business is to be transacted. In the matter of. the proposed conference with the miners' representatives, no new developments have occurred, aud the position is as previously reported. It is said that the Prime' Minister may intervene and endeavour to secure a second conference with an independent chairman, but the mine-owners are stated to be opposed to a re-opening of the question, as the framing of a national agreement is deemed impossible on account of the existence of individual agreements and the varying local conditions in'coalmining districts'.

The Salvation Army Band and Singing Company, under tho conductorship of Ensign Sawyer, will render the programme aranged for last week in the Park to-morrow afternoon (weather permitting) at 3 o'clock. This -has been made possible through the courtesy of the Citizens' Band in postponing their programme for a week. This kind'v consideration is appreciated to the i '.'.ll by the Army members, who wish to publicly express same. This will be the last opportunity the citizens of Masterton will have of hearing the combination, under the present conductor, he with his wife having arranged to proceed on their furlough to Melbourne next week.

At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, Mr R. Brown drew attention to a letter which had recently appeared in the "Waira,rapa Daily Times'' in reference to the fiat telephone rate and the desirability of doing away with this and reverting to separate charges for business and private telephones. It was pointed out that while there was provision for tele* phone users to adopt a flat rate, there was no method provided whereby subscribers could bring about a reversion to the separate rate. After a brief discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Graham, that the president and secretary of the Chamber interview the postmaster on the subject, ascertain the position, and report* to the Chamber.

Mr .T. \l. Calwell presided over a full meeting of directors of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society in Masterton last night. It was decided to accept the report of the Pipe Band Committee that the Society enter a Band of not less than eight pipers for the proposed Pipe Band Contest to be held in Dunedin during March, 1920, and the Pipe-Major and secretary were authorised to reply to all questions asked by the Piping and Dancing Association re same. The report from the Finance Committee was adopted. The treasurer's report showed a credit balance of £34. 15s 3d. Accounts amounting to £13 9s 3d were passed for payment. The secretary was authorised to collect all outstanding fees in connection with the dancing classes before the end of the quarter. It was reported that Sergt.-M'ajo-V Malcolm had offered to train a, couple of squads of Juvenile Camerons in physical drill exercise. The offer was accepted with thanks.

Commenting on the case of Corpoiai Dor'd&ut —who some fourteen months age was sentenced by court-ma.Vial to twenty-eight days' detention and dismissed in disgrace, from the military pr.iiee on a. charge of having knowingly made a false accusation (that he was drunk on duty) against his superior officer, a certain Captain Chares Gray, then Assistant-Provist-Marshal at Wellington, but who has since been found not guilty —the "Timaru Post says: —It row transpires that Captain Gray "left" the service of the Defence Department last year, and, after a wh'jle year, Corporal Doridant has been reinstated, granted an honourable discharge and given a. year's pay, while the record of his conviction is to be expunged. So far as Corporal Doridant 's position is concerned, the announcement that has just been made is very gratifying, but so far as vhe Defence Department is concerned, the case indicates, as another.notorious ease in connection with one of the camps did, that the ordinary soldier who had the misfortune to appear before a coivi'tmart'al, had a very poor chance of escaping conviction. . . Evident! / Corporal Doridant should not have been convicted, and the fact that he was indicates that there is very grav3 need of an inquiry into a system that iends ,iii innocent man to gaol."

The final social" and dance, held in the Soldiers' Club last night was a decided success. During the course of the evening dances, games and competitions were indulged in. At a suitable interval Mr A. P. Whatman, in presenting Mrs Lewis with a feather duster, said Mi's Lewis had been unanimously elected hon. chaperon fo the committee, a position she had very capably filled. He then called on Mr 11. E. Hart to make the remaining presentations. Mr Hart said he strongly supported Mr Whatman's remarks. lie had visited many clubs, but this one stood out alone in the way the ladies made the evenings a success. Entertainments of this description helped the returned men a great deal when they got back into civil life He then asked Mrs Lewis, on behalf of the Friday Evening Girls' Committee, to accept a handsome silver'vase. Other presentations were made to Mcsdamcs Waddington, Harley, Donald, Archer, and Miss Green, and a billiard tournament cup to Mr Byole. Cheers were then given, and "For They are Jolly Good " Fellows" sung. Mr Iggulden then suitably responded on behalf of the ladies. During the evening songs were contributed by Mrs Lewis, Misses Miller, Lewis, Watford, and Messrs Iggulden, Heffer, Budd and Pellew.

The rifle championship meeting is to be held at Trentham in March next.

Mr H. Madeley, of Masterton, secured first prize at the Wanganui show for smooth fox terrier in the junior class, and second in the limit, and third prize in colonial-bred class.

A song recital by the pupils of Miss Ruby Oliver, assisted by Mr Allan Martin, "banjoist, and Mr Pellew, elocutionist, will' be held in Murray's Hall on Thursday, 27th November.

The Prime Minister will leave this evening for the South Island to go on with his election Campaign in the cause of the Government party. He will probably deliver his first speech in Temuka. or Waimate.

"I have experienced no shortage in the matter of gold," remarked Mr R. 11. Hill at the meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, in reply to a statement that there was a- shortage of gold reported in New Zealand. "I can always get as much gold as I desire for my business requirements."; \

Fifty-four cases of influenza — 46 mild, 2 pneumonic, and 6 serious — were" notified throughout the Dominion from Nov. 17th to Nov. 20th. Twentyone of the mild cases were in the Auckland, district. 18 in the Wellington district; and 7 in Canterbury. Of the pneumonic cases, one was in the Auckland district, and one in Canterbury; and of the severe cases, four were in the Auckland district, and two in Canterbury.

Mr R. H. Hill brought a matter of importance before the Chamber of Commerce yesterday* afternoon. Mr Hill stated that the law prevented the export from the Dominion-, 0 f xirticles of gold over the value of £1. This measure, said Mr Hill, was a .war-time one, and as peace had been declared the re ; striction should be .removed. He moved that the authorities be requested to remove the restriction. motion was seconded by Mr Graham and carried.

A Wanganui telegram states that through the wheel of his motor car collapsing, Mr W. J. Poison, of Fordell, was seriously injured yesterday while driving home with a companion, a Mr Clarke, of Wellington. When the accident ha opened a hill was being negotiated. The car capsized and rolled down the bank. Mr Poison was very severely cut and bruised, but it is believed that no bones were broken. His companion Avas badly cut about the legs, but not seriously! The car was smashed to pieces.

The fact that the date of the general elections has been fixed for Wednesday, December 17th, will have an effect on the "breaking up" day at the State schools of the Dominion, as in many cases throughout the country the schools are utilised as polling places. That point has already occurred to the Education Board authorities, and it has been decided that instead of the

"breaking up" occuring on Thursday, December 18th, as originally intended, school duties will cease at noon on Tuesday, December 16th, which will give those responsible time enough to fit out the school rooms required as polling places.

The jtl'teruoon service to-morrow in connection with the Masterton. Methodist Sunday School anniversary will commence at 3 o'clock. Wheelbarrow, churn, etc., advertised for private sale. Advertiser wishes to rent a small house. A single man requires furnished bedroom. A Jersey cow in full milk is advertised for sale. An advertiser wishes to purchase a 2 or i)-seater car. A boy is required to deliver newspapers after school. An advertiser is prepared to do children's plain sewing. Mrs Peel, D 6 Lincoln Road, has white Leghorn pullets for sale. A Triumph motor-cycle in good going order, is advertised for sale. Mrs J. Schofield and family, Tenui, elsewhere insert a thanks notice. The W.F.C.A. require a junior ironmonger for their Eketahuna branch. A furnished bedroom, suitable for two young men, is advertised to let. A quantity of infants' nicely homemade clothing is advertised for sale. An advertiser wishes to purchase a building site in Lansdowne of i to one acre. An advertisement appears in our wanted columns re 15 per cent. jliscount in household linen.

The executive of the Masterton Grouu of the P.P.A. met last night and decided to call a meeting of members in the V.M.C.A. Rooms on Monday .night, 24th. inst., to discuss the political situation.

An important additional sale of the Tauanui estate will be held at the Town Hall, Masterton, on December 13th. The auctioneers, Messrs Dalgety and Co., will be pleased to supply all particulars. A notice with reference to the sale appears on page 8

A meeting of the Masterton members .md of all those interested in the activities of 'the New Zealand Sports Protection League, will be held in the Trust Lands Trust Buildings, Queen Street, on Monday, 24th November, at 7.M p.m. The meeting will deal with the general business of the branch of the League. In addition it is intended at the meeting to elect a" Executive Committee.

The following new popular novels may be seen at McLeod and Young's:— Re-creation of Brian Kent, by Harold Bell Wright, a splendid new novel of life and love in the Ozarks, that charming country which is reminiscent of "The Shepherd of the Hills." This is a book we can really recommend to the reading public. The City of Masks, Geo. Barr McCutcheon, a story of fashionable life in New York. His Majesty's WellBeloved (Baroness Orczy), Wolves of the Sea (Randall Parrish), Branded (Francis Lynde), Judith of Blue Lake Ranch (Jackson Gregory).

There is no doubt that the carpet as a homc-beautifier possesses many good points, but its greatest drawback is the enormous amount of dirt it collects, which is the source of endless work to the housewife. Considerable interest is being shown by householders concerning Congoleum, which is a new floor-covering just on the New Zealand market. It has all the beauty of rug patterns, it lies flat, is thoroughly sanitary, and can be cleaned with a damp mop. Messrs Watson and Co., of'Masterton, have a considerable stock and are at present making a N special showing of styles and designs to suit all rooms.