LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 14006, 17 December 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was erroneously stated yesterday that in recording their votes to-day the electors require to place a cross against the name of the candidate for whom they desire to vote. The names of those for whom the elector desires* not to. vote must be erased. This mistake arose through confusng the local bodies , method "with the parliamentary election one.

During the month of November the Masterton Gas Department sold 20 gas cookers, making a total of 94 disposed of during the current year.

The N.Z. Overseas Shipowners' Committee has (states a Press Association message from Napier) received advice of ten insulated steamers for February. After allowance for dairy produce shipment, these steamers should lift approximately 915,000 60-lb carcases of meat. The January lifting will approximately be 477,000 GO-lb carcases, making a total for January and February of 13,820,000 60-lb carcases.

Mr Robert Cameron, Chief of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society, presided over the meeting addressed by Mr A. C. Holms at Mauriceville East. The first Highland gathering ever held in the North Island took place at '' Bannoekburn," Gladstone, the town of the candidate's maternal grandparents; and, of course, Mr Holms, who visited Scotland during 1909-10, is a keen supporter of organised maintenance of Scottish traditions.

The gas manager (Mr J. W. Blackmail) reported to the meeting of the Borough Council last evening as follows :—The sale of cookers this year promises to be a record. The future demand for gas for purposes other than lighting can hardly be estimated. It is evidently increasing every year. As was recently stated by a prominent gas engineer and administrator, "the unsold market for gas is greater than the sold, and no one need worry as to its limits." There is no such thing as "saturation point" in any progressive town. Gas is to-day for many uses the cheapest fuel, and will remain so.

In the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, a prisoner in his statement said that he was not guilty of any vice except smoking, and His Honour, Mr Justice Edwards, who passed sentence on the prisoner, said: "You say you are not guilty of any vice except smoking. 1 have yet to learn that smoking is a vice. I admit that I have heard it described as a vice, but there are so many of us addicted to the practice, including myself, that I certainly hesitate to say it is a, vice. Like everything else, smoking ma} r easily become a vice, and so might the use of tea, but the use of tobacco in moderation I cannot look upon as a vice. I do think, however, it is very harmful to smoke cigarettes and inhale the smoke, but there are reasonable ways of smoking."

The manager of the Masterton Gasworks reported to the meeting oi ! the Borough Council Jast evening that eleven new consumers had been connected up witu the Masterton Gasworks, making the total for the yeai 45.

Venus continues to be conspicuous as a morning star, and will be visible as such for a few months. Rising as she does, almost due east, and nearly two hours before the sun, she may be seen to advantage by the early riser.

Of the children who attended the Fcrnridge school during-the past year thirteen did not miss a single day, and ten did not miss more than live halfdays. At yesterday's picnic they were awarded first and second-class certificates respectively.

Ninety cases of influenza—B6 mild, three severe, and one pneumonic—were notified throughout the Dominion between noon on Thursday last and noon on Monday. Of the mild cases, 58 were in the Auckland district, 11 in Wellington district, 12 in Canterbury, and five in Ota»o. The three severe cases were reported in the Auckland district, and the one pneumonic case was in the >\el lingtdn district

At bis meeting in St. Peter's Hall, Wellington, yesterday, Air Fred Piram made rather'sensational statements about the treatment of mental patients at the Dominion asylums. "If , you had seen some of the sights that I have seen at these institutions, V said Mr Pirani "you would not condemn a dog to undergo such treatment. I would sooner be dead than undergo the maltreatment that I have seen meted out to the inmates by some of the misguided attendants. '•'

A Press Association telegram received from Auckland states:—With reference to the cablegram to the Government Astronomer from Suva concerning Mr Clement Wraggc's prediction and the comments of Mr George Hogben, Government Seismologist, thereon, Mr Wragge writes as follows:—"I never used the word 'violent , in my advice regarding a possible seismic action. If people must go into hysteria because 1 performed what 1 cansidered was a simple act of kindness, that is not my fault, but I distinctly added that nothing might occur. With regard to Mr Hogben's views, the proof is all the other way, and neither his dicta nor those of anyone else can upset the mathematics of Cosmos. The report is current among other foolish talk that I predicted the end of the world. Such an idea was never conceived by me. ''

Proceedings were taken yesterday in the Wellington Magistrate's Court by the city authorities, before Mr E. Page, S.M., against a number of and motor-car drivers for exceeding the speed limit on the Hutt road. The limit provided in the by-law is 25 miles an hour, and it was stated that cars in some instances travelled at a speed of 50 miles an hour or more. The method of detecting offenders was an unusual one as far as Wellington was concerned. City corporation officials, who received the assistance of the police, traversed the Hutt road in a motor-car, and when a car passed at an apparently high speed it was chased and a speedometer test of the speed was taken. Nine defendants were lined from £3 to £5 and costs for breaches of the speed fimit. Some day it is hoped that similar action will be recorded in Masterton in connection with the motor hogs.

"If Mr A. J. Balfour has not borne a limelight part in Paris, the public instinct has its own shrewd judgment of the service covered by his laborious months in that capital, and his return is rightly noted as the completion of a worthy chapter in his career, ! ' says the "Observer. , " "There has been a lino impressiveness about the loyal selfsuppression with which Mr Balfour has throughout the war thrown his splendid abilities, his mature diplomatic skill, and his vast knowledge and experience into the 'common stock.' Possessing in their ripest form the characteristic qualities of our political tradition, he has brought to the aid of the European resettlement" the. best that ' the old order had to bestow. His share in the negotiations has not brought him much into the limelight, but his counsel and experience have beeii of the greatest value not only to his chief, but to his colleagues of other countries, and socially he has been as great a success in Paris as he was in Washington/ ,, says the "Sunday Times."

The final round of the political campaign in connection with the Masterton seat was fought last night, all the candidates addressing meetings. In the Opera Plouse Mr G. E. Sykes addressed a packed audience, there being not even standing room. Mr Sykes took off the gltfves and made a splendid fighting speech. He was subjected to interruptions at times by the Bolshevik element, but he scored off the interjections. The bulk of those present were thoroughly in accord with Mr Sykes' views, and the member got in many telling blows as the result of the intrruptions. Mr Sykes lashed his opponents into a fury, and in a most trenchant manner dealt with cowardly newspaper correspondents, that now notorious JLansdowne meeting, and various other matters. From S political point of view Mr Sykes , meeting was a decided success, and he undoubtedly strengthened his position. At the conclusion of the meeting cheers were given for Mr Sykes. Messrs Holms, McLeod and Matheson addressed meetings in the open air, and were well received.

The annual picnic and prize - giving in connection with Fernridge School was held on the Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, yesterday, under ideal weather conditions. The outing was organised wholly by Mr 11. G. Hall, headmaster, who was formerly a teacher at a Liverpool (Eng) school, where they had an attendance of 5000 children. Everything went off with swing, and the children and their parents had a thoroughly enjoyable outing. The following is a list of prizewinners for the year: — Proficiency: Norman Harcombe, Horace Trass, and Vera Hubbard: Standard TV.: Ivy Evans 1, Olivo Ramsey 2; Standard V.: Leslie Rose 1, Thelma Major 2 ; Standard III.: Madge Trass 1, Philip Evans and John Reynolds (equal) 2; Standard IX: Francis'Traill 1, George Traill 2; Standard I.: Jean Mann ell 1, Margaret Goekburn 2; Third Primer: Tom Barton 1, Shelia McKay ; Second Primer: Stuart Coekburn 1, Gladys Harcombe 2; First Primer: Fred Ak'hurst 1, Bernadine Major 2. Sewing Prize (specially donated by Mrs Tom Evans): Senior room, Eileen Hubbard; Middle room, Olive Trass; Infants' room, Jean Mnnnell. Dpx of School: Norman Harcombe. The chairman awarded prizes for the most popular boy and girl in the school, and these were won by Vera Hubbard and Norman Harcombe.

evening.

Broom and gorse are reported to be seriously spreading in the Alfredton district.

Mr Walter Algie, late of Rongomai, has bought a farm inland from FeiJdiug bet-ween Kimbolton and Apiti.

Glorious weather is being experienced in Master ton to-day. At 1 o'clock the thermometer registered 86deg. in the shade.

The Yankee rube who predicted a tidal wave for New Zealand to-day was just Avide of the mark, a heat wave and glorious day is being experienced.

During the week ended the number of war gratuity claims paid was G2SI, representing in value £371,----439. The total value of the gratuities paid to December 13th was £2,026,949.

"I enclose a cheque for rent, you can't call it rates at that figure, , ' was a sentence hi a ratepayers' letter covering a cheque for Couuty rates, and read on°Saturday at the meeting of the Eketahuna County Council.

Concerning the coal supplies reeeiA*ed at the Masterton Gas-Avorks daringlast month, the gas manager reported as follows to the meeting of the Borough Council last evening:—The coal supplies for November were just up to requirements, but this month (December) the deliveries have been short, and in vieAV of the closing down of the mines during the Christmas and NeAy Year weeks, I have arranged for sufficient coal to carry on until the middle of January, when normal supplies should be coming forward again.

At St. Patrick's Church next Sunday, evening, commencing at 7 o'clock, a sacred concert, the programme of which will be taken from "The Messiah, 5 ' will be rendered by the choir.

The gas manager reported as follows to the meeting of the Borough Council last evening:—ln view of the increasing demand for gas I would recommend that the material for building in the No. 6 arch of retorts be ordered. It will take some months to manufacture, and it would be well to have this arch completed before next winter. The ironwork, retort mouthpieces, hydraulic ram, etc., are on hand, having been purchased from the Wellington Gas Company some two years ago. The recommendation was adopted.

A discussion took place" at the meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association concerning the life of cricket balls, following on a letter received from the Wellington Association, asking for support in the matter of having the life of a ball extended beyond 200 runs in representative matches. It was decided to reply that such an alteration was not considered necessary at present, particularly as the quality of the balls was not so good now as before.

The annual report of the Fluenzol Proprietary, Ltd., states that sales have increased to over 50 per cent in excess of last year's results, which were 30 per cent ahead of the preceding year's sales. Increased cost of manufacture, however, coupled with the non-raising of prices to the public, has greatly curtailed profits. Past losses have not been wholly made good. A legal opinion has been obtained as to the payment (or non-payment) of a dividend, a»:d this opinion will be subinittol to a meeticg shortly to be Held in Wellington.

A proposal for a combined war on ruts by householders Mas been made to the Auckland City Council. The writer suggested that the campaign of extermination be repeated every four or five months, and submitted his personal experience in dealing with the matter. Eats, explained the writer, only accepted poison at long intervals, and shied clear of traps; hence the necessity for a periodical campaign. The chief sanitary inspector reported that unfortunately combined action appeared to be impossible of attainment at present ow* ing to the existing indifference, even in. cases where considerable damage and loss was being caused by rats. The movement of rats may be seasonal or caused by weather and other conditions, and if disturbed in their haunts, as when trapping or poisoning is resorted to, they move to other marters.

A motor cycle is advertised for sale. Mr F. P. Welch requires shearers' cook.■ t An advertiser wishes to buy pram or pushcart.

Druids' Lodge will meet on Friday

The Vigilance Committee of the Petone Borough Council, formed in connection A\'ith the prosecution of tire Mangahao Jiydro-eleetric power scheme, is apparently not very favourably impressed Avith the methods adopted. At the last meeting of the Council the jßh committee reported that there wag toomuch delay "through , red tape and other causes, and expressed the opinion that this' undesirable factor should bo eliminated.