MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 20

MASTERTON.

. 'PR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (From 0. *: own June 6. A • Queen-street, owned A gram store p*

by Mr F. Gray and leased by Mr P. Carr, was found to be on lire at 0.45 this niorning, and the building being an old one the flames hud spread all over it before either of the Brigades had arrived. The Volunteer Brigade was the first to be on the spot, and finding it impossible to save the store easily, directed their efforts toward an adjoining cottage, occupied by Mrs Carriclc, teacher at the Roman Catholic School, the side and roof of which had caught. The steam fire engine got to work soon after the arrival of the Municipal Brigade and qnicklyput out the flames. The store contained 530 sacks oats and 80 sacks wheat, owned by Mr Carr, and insured in the National office for L 270 ; and 300 sacks oats belonging to Messrs Lowes and lorns,insured in the same office for L 125 The store was insured in the New Zealand Office for L7O, and the National has a risk of LIOO on the cottage, which is the property of Mr G. Watson. It will probably take L4O or LSO to restore this building. The grain store is a total 'loss, nor are tho contents likely to prove of much account except to feed pigs. Jt was worth about Ll2O. It will probably never be known how the fire originated, but those who remember that the lust fire had also occurred in an unoccupied building, have only too good grounds for believing that it was caused either by some rascal who likes to see a blaze or by some careless swagger, who found it to be a convenient place to camp in for the night. The Masterton Chess Club ha 3 concluded its match'between the focal and Opaki members, the former scoring nine and the latter seven games. The individual scores are : —Masterton—Rev W E. Pai»e, 3 ; Bukewell, 3 ; Rockell, 2 ; and ItTiwson, 1. Opaki—W. Rummer, 3 ; E. Holmwood, 2 ; Captain Holmwood, 1 ; and F. Kumraer, 1. A match between married and single members, played on Monday, resulted in an easy win for the former. The list of members is still growing, and now exceeds all the expectations of the promoters of the Club. Mr Benbow, the president of the Wellington Club, being in Masterton, the Club will hold a special meeting on Friday to meet liim. A fine drizzling rain sot in yesterday morning, and still continues; but although the wind comes from the b.W., .ib is not at all cold.

[By Telegraph. J Masterton, May 31. George Ewart was to-day committed for trial for stealing a gun, the property of Bernard Borg, of Eketahuna, in September last. The gun was found in the possession of one Gray, at Moawhanga, on the Rangitikei River, the prisoner having exchanged it for a watch. _ . Masterton, June 4.

The local option poll at Eketahuna has resulted in eighty voting in favor of new licenses being granted and only_ ten against. Licenses for three new houses in the township and one at Alfredtou will be applied for at the next meeting of the Committee. Masterton, JunelS.

The District Charitable Aid Board has intimated to the North Wairarapa Benevo. lent Society its inability to provide it with funds to meet the current expenses, owing to the local bodies having refused to pay the amounts for which they have been assessed. The deadlock which has thus arisen will be a hardship to the poor of this district, who will be left without support except such as may be voluntarily contributed. It is not improbable that some of the benevolentlyinclined settlers will see that they are provided for till the dispute has been settled.