MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 996, 10 December 1910, Page 7

MASTERTON NOTES.

, (From Our Special Correspondent.) i Mastorton, December 9. ■ A welcome downpour of rain occurred at Masterton to-day. Tbo ground was becoming parched and dry, and crops wero beginning to suffer'. Harvesting has commenced in some parts of the district. , "Red Spider" has made its appearanco in the raspberry crops in Masterton. ' ' : . At a meeting of the Masterton Fire Board, at which Mr. 0. Pragnell presided,, it was decided to inform tho Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, that the board was in favour of an amendment of the Act in the direction of permitting tho payment of travelling expenses to members of fire brigades and fire boards attending demonstrations and conferences. -It was decided to purchase two horses for the fire engine, and ■to appoint a permanent custodian at £2 per week and free quarters. The Hastings Board, who aro about to erect a new building, asked for the , ., plans of the Masterton building, which were granted. ■ Tho Masterton District High School has now a roll number of 628, with an average attendance of 591, and a percentage of attendances of 95. The high percentage indicates that there.is very little sickness in the town.

No trace been found of the young man Mason, who mysteriously disappeared from Weraiti a few days back. The rivers wero dragged yesterday, but without result.

The finals for the Amateur Athletic Club's'evening handicaps were, run on tho Park oval last evening. Tho points

prize, a trophy presented by Mr. D. Caselberg, has been won by R. Messenger. The Masterton Borough Council intends adopting the pressure-control system in connection with the lighting of its street lamps. It is expected

that this will result in a,distinct saving iii- gas, and enable tho lighting of tho streets to bs extended.

■,'.;A'fter .a-'vle'rigthy discussion oil' the method of administering the water

service of the borough, the Borough Council has decided that persons desiring extraordinary services may obtain water maters; . Mr. ;j. Berry is the only Masterton pedestrian who wili compete in the amateur athletic events at. Wellington on Saturday. The handicaps apparently did not suit tho others who had been nominated. : Tho , swimming, season was officially opened by the Hastcrtqn Amateur Swimming Club last evening, when there was a largo, attendanco of tho public; Tho 66 yards handicap was won by_H. Fraser, and the 100 yards handicap by J: Winchester. ■ ■■• ' ">■•■ Keen- interest is being taken this year- in . the • Wairarapa Caledonian Society meeting. •• A largo number of new members have been enrolled in the society, and the New Year's Day "games," which.are on this occasion to be held in .the public Park) promise to bo more successful than for Eonio years past. • .