COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 839, 30 March 1888, Page 24

COUNTRY NEWS.

MASTERTON

(from our own correspondent.)

The attempt to stock the Pahaua river with salmon appears to bo proving very successful. I saw one of the coast, settlers the other day, and he told me that salmon were frequently seen in that river, and that most of them were about 18 inches long. I believe that the young fish were liberated in the Wainuioru, a tributary of the Pahaua, by Messrs Beetham Brothers at Brancepeth. I paid a visit to the Taratahi Cheese Factory on Tuesday, and was courteously shown over the premises by the manager, Mr Foss, It would be difficult to find a plan anywhere that is kept more scrupulously clean. Mr Foss informed me that the quantity of milk received this season showß a falling off on previous years, the highest for one day having been only about 800 gallons. On the day of my visit the quantity received was only about 300 gallons. The Company has made monthly shipments of cheese by the Direct steamers during the season, the quantity reported up to date being about 30 tons.

The exact number of telegraph poles blown down between Masterton and Feathorston during last week’s memorable gale was 41, only one of which proved to be at all affected by rot. There were three parties, consisting of ten men in all, engaged in repairing the line on Tuesday last. The manner in which the temporary repairs were effected reflects the greatest credit upon the officers, upon whom the duties of maintenance devolve.

The supply of winter feed is said to be very good in the southern portion of tho East Coast district. At Featherston, too, it is much better than in the upper portion of the valley, which appears to be worse in this respect this year than any other part of the district. Traffic on tho main road in the valley has not by any means been killed by the railway, and I am inclined to think that if tho number of persons who drive or ride on it, dm ing a week were counted and compared with the number of passengers on the line, the former would be found to have the best of it. Tho reason for this is probably to be found in the fact that every farmer in the district was either in a buggy or a spring cart, which bo finds a cheaper means of locomotion than the train. It is only in very bad weather, or when the trip across the Rimutaka has to be made, that the train is patronised by tho farmer.

The water is once more running through tho town. At the last meeting of the Council the Mayor moved that the sum of LlO be expended in deepening a certain drain to let it down again. Councillors had no objection to the work, which would have cost about 108, being carried out, but they wanted to hwe some

say in the matter. Councillor Muir moved a slight amendment, which the Mayor refused to put, whereupon his Worship was left in solitary possession of the Council Chambers. The following day he saved the Corporation all expense in the matter by deepening the drain on his own account.

Cricket, which has never been properly alive here during the current season, is rapidly going into the background, and football is coming to the fore. The Masterton Club has decided to hold its first practice on April 7, and to give the annual entertainment, in aid of the ground fund on the night of tho Queen’s Birthday. Efforts are also being made to induce the English team to visit the Wairarapa. A. S. Grant, of Gladstone, sheepfarmer, has been adjudged a bankrupt. This is the fourth insolvency this month. A meeting was held on Wednesday night to consider what steps' should be taken to test the coal deposits on Mr Falconer’s property, but beyond appointing a committee to arrange terms with Mr Falconer and to ascertain the cost of boring and tho necessary plant, nothing was done. .Some of those present were very sanguine in the matter, though they admitted that the measures cannot be developed without tue expenditure of a good deal of meney. (By Telegraph.) Masterton, March 22. George Patterson was committed for trial to-day for robbery with violence from the person of Edward Jewell, of money and pro • perty valued at £3 15s Cd. The parties had been drinking together and the alleged affair took place afterward. The accused made a long statement, trying to prove an alibi. The weather the last two days has been quite wintry.