MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 119, 26 July 1873, Page 2

MASTERTON.

(from our own correspondent.) Mr Lucas held an auction sale of horses on Thursday at the the Pastoral Association’s yards. Fifteen horses were put to the hammer, and disposed of at an average of £5 10s per head. The attendance was large considering the state of the weather, and the bidding spirited. An inebriate named Peter M c Gratlx, alias Peter Butler, was taken into custody for being drunk and disorderly, and on his being transferred to the police office he became very refractory, when the constable was compelled to call for assistance and have him carried nolens volens, the modus operandi being to drag him by legs and arms —a feat not to be despised, as he kept up an incessant fire of kicking. Twice the constable’s head suffered from his well-directed efforts. Next morning he was arraigned before J. V. Smith and A. W. Kenall, Esqs, J.P.s, and mulcted in a fine of 455, or in default sixteen days’ imprisonment. He paid the fine, and departed a sadder, if not a wiser, man. At the last meeting of the Masterton Debating Society the subject discussed was “Taxation—-Direct or Indirect.” After some very clever and lengthy arguments had been adduced, it was put to the vote, when indirect taxation was carried by a majority of three. The next subject chosen was—“ Is a man justified in arguing contrary to his own convictions.”