MASTERTON NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 120, 13 February 1908, Page 8

MASTERTON NEWS.

Therois an agitation here for a co-opera-tive butchery, probably, as a result of the Stand taken by butchers: in connection with the credit system and the price of meat. £ Chatham. Islands resident writes to Iho Age complaining that the inhabitants' there have no representation in'tho Parliament of New Zealand. . a general lack of ' support, the Wairai!apa Amateur Athletic . Club is about to becomo defunct. i , T ' le . i Ma t, terto " Sw imming Club estimates that it will make a profit of £100 over its Anniversary Day swimming carnival. Grass^ fires aro very prevalent 'in .and around the'borough at the present time, and the I'ire Brigade is being called out almost daily. So far none of the outbreaks , has been allowed to'assumo a serious nature. Mr. aiid Mrs. S. Foreman aro to leave here next month on a trip to Great Britain. Mr. I'qreman is well known as mail'contractor for many years' between Masterton and To Nui. ■ ' ' Some comment is' mado owing to 'the fact that tho charges at tlm Masterton abattoirs for January aro £44 16s. less than tho corresponding month last year. Tho facts aro that the decrease' is partly caused by tho Carterton bacon factory' ccasing to have its pigs at the abattoirs. Tho hot weather is another reason for a lessening of meat consumption in the district.

(BT TELEGRAM— I-RESS ASSOCIATION.) Tho Masterton County Council decided on, luesday to take a poll of the ratepayers on the question of-Mr. Laing" Meason s scheme ° rrl a ' er su PP ] y f° r Opaki and Lansdowno. The matron of the Solway Home having been granted a holiday, Mrs. Boyes takes chargo during her absence..' Two small fires occurred yesterday. One Tu S ln a B rass paddock in Essex Street. About an acre of grass was destroyed. Tho Brigade did splondid work as the paddock is in the'vicinity of several 'houses, which were in danger. The other firo was a small outbreak at night at T. M'Cracken's premises, Queen Street. 1 .Littlb, damago was done. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. Tho growth of Masterton as a business centre is shown by tho fact that during tho past five ■ years trado generally at the Masterton railway station has increased by 100 per'cent., while tho cash receipts for the past year aro £15,000 more than for the three provious years. In view of tho possible drying up of tho Masterton high : pressuro . water supply through the vagaries of tho AVaingawa River the Borough Council has consulted an expert 'engineer; who has advised, that pipes should bo oxtended another fourteen chains right under tho river bed. This will provido an adequato and much more purified water supply than is obtained at present. Tho cost will be about £300. At the meeting of tho Borough Council last night it .was decided that tho work should ho prooeeded with at OUCOt