LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 March 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A New Plymouth telegram states that there is no change in the situation on the waterfront.

The. Master Municipal Band played an enjoyable programme in the Park yesterday afternoon.

A gale raged in the Masterton district for a few hours on Saturday evening A few fences were blown down, but no serious damage was done.

A successful dance was held in the Municipal Social Hall by the “Jolly Boys'’ on Saturday night to music, played by Mr. 0. .Mills. The chocolate wait/, competition was, won by Miss Howard and Mr. Wilson.

Harvest- thanksgiving services were held at Knox Church yesterday, the church being beautifully decorated with flowers, berries and produce which will be given to the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage. The services were very well attended.

The Auckland telephone? system was switched over to the automatic between midnight. Saturday and one o’clock. Eight thousand instruments are affected, and there are still 700 people waiting for telephones. The change was affected without incident.

Cr. C. J. Seymour said, at the Mauriceville County Council on Saturday, that it did not appear to be of much use declaring certain weeds to be noxious. He knew of acres of blackberry in the County'that had not been touched for years.

About 100 members attended the opening of tlie newHanfurly Club rooms in the Centra! Arcade on Saturday afternoon. The rooms had been beautifully decorated by Mesdames G. C. Williams and J. Y.‘ Gordon with delphiniums, birch and hydrangeas. Afternoon tea was taken at the Central Arcade tearooms, wliiVi also were artistically decorated.

Owing to the Stratford season not commencing till Tuesday night the Beaumont Smith Screen Type agents are appearing again to-night (Monday) at the Opera House. Aspirants are asked to attend at 7.J0, or they may call on Mr. Nunn at the Opera House between 4 and f> p.m. Seats may bo reserved at Henderson’s.

At the present moment not much is being hoard of the Prohibition v. “Trade’ struggle that takes place along with the General Election this year. But the principal parties are not asleep, says the Eltham Argus. Prodigious preparations are being made on both sides. Money is being collected in large amounts, literature is being prepared and the light promises to be as vigorous as ever.

At the Nelson “Motor Cycle Club’s annual race meeting on Saturday. P. Honovan (Masterton) won Luc Makeveld Handicap, eight laps, from 4d seconds in Slain dSisecs. It. Jones (Masterton) won tlm Richmond Park handicap from 70 sets, in Binin Msecs, and was third in the Light weight Championship. P. Coleman won the President.’s Handicap, 11 j miles from scratch in tbnin .12 22-fisccs, and at the conclusion of the meeting did the “(lying’’ mile in 47 2-i)secs.

The Ulimaroa sailed from Sydney this morning.

“Here is a letter from the Department" giving another opinion on the matter,” said the clerk at a meeting yesterday of a Palmerston North local body. “At least, its not altogether an opinion,” lie continued, “they state that they don’t know.”

“Why not keep the light on till 4 o’clock‘in the morning,” asked nine'llher member of the Power Board at hkctahunay when a request from I ahiatua for an extension of street lighting midnight was before the board, am give the late owls a chance also. “When the accident occurred the ship trembled as if struck by a tremendous earthquake, and the f'i'" u and masts shook as though they would fall overboard,” said Captain Green, of the Corinna, when speaking ot the breakdown at sea on Tuesday.

“it is a most unusual offence. In my experience of 13 or M years 1 don t think I have ever conic across a sum .u prosecution,” said Mr. Wyvern Wilson S.M., in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, when John S. Gutlne was charged with having failed to register an infant within 62 days ot its biitli. In entering a plea of guilty, counsel stated that the case was just one ot neglecting to observe the law. Defendant was ordered to pay costs.

Mrs. S. J. Orr has presented to the Auckland Presbytery a complete church building, with a quarter acre ot land at Pukekavva, subject, only to the conditions that the edifice might be used by other denominations when not required bv the Presbyterians. The budding was erected for Mrs. Orr in 1917, and is free of debt.

A pig hunt took place in the mam street of Timaru last week. The pig, which had escaped from an auction mart, made its appearance m the street followed by a large band of pursuers. Dodging the passing traffic and lasting a'while underneath a stationary omnibus, the animal defied all attempts made to capture it. At last, attracted seemingly bv some, irrestible power, the pig made for a butcher’s shop, where expert hands quickly succeeded m stopping further flight and holding the animal pending the owner’s arrival.

Four thousand people who gathered at \tliletie Park in Wellington oil Saturduv to witness a cycling match between W.‘ Spencer (U.S.A.) and P. 0 shea (N Z ) were disappointed through an unfortunate mishap in the first event, the quarter-mile in which 0 shea, sutteiing [he effects of a fall at Christchurch appeared in bandages. He rode well, however, when warmed up, and soon had a lead on Spencer. This increased and he entered the straight looking a certain winner. Spencer fell at: a mturn at the straight entrance. O S-iea looked round just afterwards and also crashed, breaking his collarbone. Spencer rode a. couple of exhibition races with Nicholson, of Auckland, whom he heat comfortably.

The monthly meeting of‘the Mauricovillo County Council was held on Saturday, there being present Crs. H. -Judd (chairman), 0. J. Seymour, D. Bennett, W \ Miller V. K. Lemberg, and 4. I!.' Macdonald. The treasurer reported receipts £737 l'Ss lid, payments £bS9 16s sd, credit •balance £424 os. Accounts totalling £498 Us 4d were passed The Highway Board sent a circular stating that,’ although the Board hnd made £175,000 available for road maintenance, a number of local bodies had not even applied for payment. It was hoped Hint local bodies would put in claims before the end of the financial venr; otherwise, it would appear that ' the amount set aside was too great. —Received. The V\ aipawa County Council asked for support is endeavouring to dissuade ratepayers from forwarding goods by roads parcllel to the railways. —T r nanimous7y supjiorted. I h e clerk reported t-hat the special roll for the Dagg’s road loan would be settled bv Mr. Hewitt S.M. on April 3rd. H. Myers wrote asking that either Mrs. Dorset be compelled to clear weeds from a creek on her property adjoining his or that he be given permission to do so.—Decided that the Council had no power to interfere.

A correspondent to the Otago Times writes that on a recent evening; two brothers named Benjamin and Joseph Drake left Puraknnui Inlet in a natbottomed boat to lisli on the feet outside the bar. After a few casts and a i-atch of a few cod and a groper, a whip-tail shark was hooked on to a oroper line. Being reluctant to cut away the line, the brothers attempted other means. The anchor was hoisted, and the shark immediately set off seawards, thrashing the sea with its tail, but the occupants of the boat-rowed in the opposite direction, and the big fish gradually tired, although at times the boat sipun- round and round as on a pivot. The sea being dead calm, the shark was gradually towed ashore to the rocks at the pinnacle, where it was clubbed to death with an oar, afterwards being towed round the inlet, where, upon measurements being taken. it was proved to be a I'J foot or, its tail being (ift in length. Next morning the brothers, with the first cast, hooked another shark, but the line caught around the anchor rope. The shark dragged the nose of the boat under, and in haste the men cut away the rope, 'the shark, which was a huge one. came to the 'top a few times, lashing the water into foam.

Memories of stirring days of missionary activities in the Bay of Islands will be revived by the erection at Pauhaia of the Williams [Memorial Church, states the New Zealand Herald. The building is now in course of erection, and it has been arranged that the foundation-stone -shall be laid on March 17th bv Mr Thomas Sydney Williams, of Kaharau, East Coast, the oldest surviving descendant of the late Archdeacon Williams. The church, which is being erected by members of the Williams family as a memorial to those splendid pioneer missionaries, Henry and William Williams, will be consecrated in March, 1926. The church is being built close to the site where the first ship built in New Zealand, the mission schooner Herald, was constructed by Henry Williams. Nearby is a picturesque fragment of an old stone ruin, originally built as a school for sons of missionaries. Mr W. Williams being the master. Historic associations are also connected with the organ which will be used in the church, an old-fashioned barrel organ, said to bo one of the first which found its way to New Zealand. It plays ten tunes and two chants, and was made by Bishop Staw and Kiehardson, London. The old organ has for many years noon in use in the I’aiahia Church, and will be renovated in readiness tor its new era of service. The memorial church is being erected in the churchyard adjoining the old building. Here lie buried some of the earliest residents of the Bay of Islands, the oldest tombstones bearing the date 1823. The memory of a number of these faithful oldtime supporters of Christianity will be fittingly preserved by memorial tablets of bronze, which will be inserted in the walls of the church.

Nearly seven degrees of frost were recorded in Masterton last night.

A Press message states that the Lsihour Party has now decided to nominate a candidate for the Mayoralty of Christchurch.

We ha veto acknowledge the receipt from the makers of Three Castle cigarettes of a very line racing almanac containing coloured plates of the English Kerby and other Home events. It is a really artistic production.

A lire on the Cashmere Hills (Christchurch) yesterday, started apparently by picnickers, swept an area of fifty acres, damaging 30,000 young pine trees and blackwoods owned by the City Council.

A cable from Pome says the Government Commission has reported that the inclination of the “Leaning Tower of Pisa" has only increased live millimetres since 1923, and that the tower will last another 1600 years according to the present rate of listing.

The rage in Auckland for flats seems, from a. remark made by Mr. H. Vaile in the Compensation Court, to have slackened off. The demand for Pats said the witness, was now well satisfied, and tenants were able to pick and choose.

A New York cable advises that a first London programme was successfully broadcasted throughout the Eastern States. Audiences heard the Savoy dance orchestra, also Big Ben striking the hour of midnight. The first attempt, which was made on Thursday, failed.

The business people of Guyton street, Wanganui, have entered into a community lighting scheme, says the Herald. The light will be operated cadi evening from 6.30 to 11 o’clock, so as to display to the best adxantnge the goods in' the shop windows. The average cost to each shopkeeper is very reasonable.

Advice has been received from the secretary of the North Island Band Association to flic effect that at the annual meeting held in Auckland recently it was decided that the next championship band contest to be held in the North Island be held in Wellington. As the annual contest will be held in tin) South Island next year, the Wellington fixture will not eventuate until 1927.

The Dance do Luxe on Saturday evening proved very successful. Mr N. Kirk (late of Sydney) supplied firstclass music. The fox trot competition was won by Mr Drew and Miss Curtin. Several entrants took part in the waltzing competition, which will continue until the 28th. Mr J. Henderson acted as M.C. Extras were played by Miss Thelma Spackman and Mr J. Taunt. Mr Douglas Cameron supervised the competitions.

The problem of how old is a new-laid egg has been tackled in a an earnest manner by the French authorities, who have successfully prosecuted a dealer for selling imported eggs as “fresh.” The case was one of a series of test cases to enforce the grading system, which defines a new-laid egg as one from three to fifteen days old in summer, and three to four weeks in winter. Fresh eggs are defined as unpreserved eggs, but fit for consumption; while preserved eggs may be in any stage of antiquity so long as “they have not gone bad.”

An interesting point in the topography of the Tararuns was mentioned by Mr. G. L. Adkin to a Levin Chronicle representative. There is a spot in the ranges almost opposite Levin where no fewer than six rivers have their sources, within a radius of about a mile. These are the Otaki, Ohau, Mangahao, following the western watershed to the sea on the west coast of the Ruamahunga flowing southward to Cook Straight, and the Waiohine and Waingawa which traverse the Wairarapa and reach the sea on the east coast. Five of the rivers have their rise in the slopes of oiie peak, named by Mr. Adkin Arete Peak, but designated by the Mastcrton 'Tramping Club Mount Carkeek.

Thrills in plenty were found in a canvas canoe trip from Masterton to Wellington made recently by Mr. F. G. Harding and his two sons, aged 12 and 11. Daring the snags and boulders in the rapids of the Waipoua and Buainahunga rivers, after a capsize and freqont holdings and halts for patchings, they pa 7171 led through Lakes Wairarapa and Onako to the sea, and then tried to make the JO-mile trip round the coast in the open sea to Wellington. But for a change in the wind they would have succeeded. Another mile would have done it. As it was drenched and exhausted, they had to make a forced landing in the surf amongst boulders, near the spot where the Devon went ashore. The tiny craft, loft in length, and 2ft 9ih beam, is a decked-in canvas canoe of the kayak tpve, with a good keel for sailing purposes .and carries a jib, mainsail, and jigger, with a spinnaker under favourable conditions. Two doubled-bladcd paddles were used.

Booms to let. Greyhound pups for sale. Married couple require board. Youth wanted for drapery department. Married couple require furnished rooms. Harley-Davidson motor cycle for sale. Clavson’s superb tomatoes are now on sale at Os per case. Carpenter advertises that he will fix broken sash cords, etc. Mr. G. W. Hallnm, York street advertises green tomatoes for sale. Messrs. Hugo and Shearer Ltd., insert special advts. in ofir wanted known column. Lamb and Pointon have several good little farms for exchange for house property in Mastertton. Messrs. C. Smith Ltd., are now displacing the very latest in Autumn and winter wear. The kind of weather we have been hitvimr lately would make folk think we. are not going to have any winter at all. But don’t worry about that. Wintry days will come, and, ns usual, when we are least prepared for them. A visit to our showroom will really be worth while if you intend getting ready for the cold and stormy weather which is bound to come sooner or later. Our Manchester Department is also ready for the “change,” with a great stock of new eiderdowns, beautiful goods, which we are proud to show even if vo nave not actually ready to buy.— W.F.C.A., Ltd., “The Shopping Centre.”