MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1162, 8 June 1894, Page 20

MASTERTON.

Masterton, May 31. Charles Stephenson, a young man, whoso parents reside in Kaiapoi, pleaded guilty in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before His Worship tho Mayor and MrT. E. Price, J.P., to having stolen a saddle of the value of «£4, the property of one Frank Price. Tho accused said he had not been before a Court previously, and requested to be leniently dealt with. He was sentenced to one month's hard labour in tho Wellington Terrace Gaol, and was taken down yesterday afternoon.

Arrangements are being made for a balloon ascent by Miss Leila Adair, at tho end of this week.

Mr A. Chisholm, an artist of more than ordinary ability, has just completed a handsome show window for Mr W. B. Chennells, commission agent.

A pigeon match, which was to have been fired in connection with the North Wairarapa Gun Club on Thursday, has been postponed for a week in consequence of the inclemency of the weather.

HMessrs Lowes and Irons held their fortnightly stock sale to-day, but owing to tho bad weather the bulk of the entries could not bo brought forward. Small lambs were sold at 3s, small 2-tooth wethers at 6s lid, old ewes at 5s 3d, beef from £l> IGs to £o ss, cows 65s to 80s, old cows 30s to 57s 6d, calves from 25s to 303.

The election of two Trustees for the Mabterton Lands Trust took place to-day. Messrs A. W. Renall and A. Vile were returned. Considerable interest was manifested in the poll, and there was a large register of votes. The result was received with cheers. The numbers polled were as follow :—A. W. Renall, 412 ; A. Vile, 355 ; W. G. Beard, 117 ; S. E. Gapper, 89 ; W. Pragnell, 83. • • . • MABTERTON, June 1. A proof of the financial soundness of this district is afforded by the fact that not a

s ngle bankruptcy was registered in the Wairarapa during the month of May. There have been only three bankruptcies since the beginning of the year.

The past month was exceedingly irv up till a week ago, since when there have been continuous and copious showers. The rainfall for the month of May, as recorded at the local railway station, was a little over five inches.

Rabbits are reported to have increased with alarming rapidity in this district during the past year. The seasons have boon particularly favourable to breeding, and all the efforts of settlers to reduce the pest appear to have been fruitless. Rabbit poisoning operations have now commenced, and will doubtless afford employment to a large number of unemployed. The general opinion is that the only successful poison at this season of the year is phosphorised grain.

A man named John Elley was charged in the Magistrate's Court this morning with failing to maintain his wife. When the case was called, the solicitor for Elley produced a docreo absolute of divorce, which had been granted in Wellington four years ago. Things were in consequence a little mixed, and as defending counsel remarked, " The woman is no more this man's wife than she is anybody else's." The case was adjourned for a day.

Another poculiar maintenance case was heard in Court to-day, a woman named George seeking maintenance from her husband, a settler at Alfredton, from whom she had been separated for some years. This case was also postponed till to-morrow with the hopo of a settlement being arranged.

The weather is still very broken and shows no signs of clearing.

The slip on the Eketahuna line of railway will not be cleared for some days.

A boy named Fred Harcombe met with an accident on the Akura Racecourse yesterday afternoon. Ho was thrown from the horse he was riding, and in falling received a kick, which resulted in the fracture of his right leg. The lad is son of Mr R. J. Harcombe, of Masterton. Masterton, June 2. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees was hold on Friday evening, there being present Messrs A. W. Renall, T. P. Lett, E. Feist, C. E. Daniell and A. Vilo. Mr Lowes, who was absent, was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. The question of establishing a scholarship in connection with the Trust was deferred, as was also the consideration of an application from the Masterton School for the year's grant. The business transacted was of a purely formal character.

A concert, in aid of the organ fund of the local Presbyterian Church, waa held on Friday evening. There was a largo attendance, and the various numbers produced were greatly appreciated. The organ pieces also created a most favourable impression. ! w

The two local brass bands are to play m the Hospital grounds on Sunday in aid of the Hospital funds. With fine weather there will doubtless be a largo gathering. Tho Hospital appears to be receiving a more than ordinary amount of attention at the hands of the public just now. A Hospital Hall is being arranged for the 21st inst, and gives promise of being a huge success.

Tho new bridge over the Tiraumea River, near Alfredton, is now completed and open to traffic. The formal opening takes place in a few days' time, when it is expected that one or two Ministers of the Crown and several members of Parliament will bo present.

The case in which John Elloy was sued by his divorced wife for maintenance was withdrawn in the Magistrate's Court this morning.

It is expected that tne slip on the railway line between Mauriceville and Mangamahoe will be cleared about Thursday next.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., recently wrote to the Railway Commissioners asking if a reduction could not be made in the freight on timber from Eketahuna to Wellington. The Chief Commissioner has replied that the tariff is being revised, and that the freight will in future be 2s 4d per hundred cubic feet instead of 3s per hundred as heretofore.

Sinclair M. George, tho keeper of an accommodation house at Alfredton, was ordered by the Magistrate this morning to pay 20s per week towards the maintenance of his wife, who is living apart from him. Mr Pownall gave formal notice of appeal.

The Ambulance Class recently formed is being well supported. The first of a series of ten lectures by Dr Butemont is to be given on Monday evening next.

A bright little boy of four summers, named Cassidy, whose mother is in the Wellington Hospital, and whose father ia said to have gone to Sydney, was committed to St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson, this morning.

The weekly session of the Masterton Mutual Improvement Society waa held on Friday evening, when an interesting debate on a popular subject took place.

Quite a large number of witnesses left today to give evidence at tho sessions of the Supreme Court, which open in Wellington on Monday.

I The appointment of a successor to the Rev. W. E. Paige, as iiicunibent of St. ; Matthew's Church, will probably be determined upon at a meeting of parishioners to be hold on Monday evening. | Masterton, June 4. The weather, which last week was of an exceptionally broken character, has taken a turn, and frosty mornings, followed by bright, sunny days, now make life a little more endurable. The heavy rains of last week did considerable damage to the roads in this district. The Wairarapa North County Council will havo plenty of demands upon its revenue within the next fow weeks. A truck was got through the slip on the Masterton-Ekotahuna section of railway this morning. The line will probably be clear on Tuesday at midday. Mr James Wrigley, one of the oldest residents in the town, is reported to bo seriously ill with bronchitis. Pearson's Brass Band, under Bandmaster George Gray, jun., played in the hospital grounds on Sunday afternoon. There was a good attendance of the public, and the sum of .£3 14s b"d was collected at the gates. With the Government subsidy, about .£8 will bo the result. There are at present only six patients in the local hospital. The Railway Commissioners have agreed to reduce the freight on timber from Eketahuna to Wellington. The local timber merchants are now asking the member for the district to endeavour to get the freight reduced between Eketahuna and Masterton. This is not the season of big gooseberries. Nevertheless a mammoth carrot grown by Mr S. Mawley, of Ditton, Rangitnmau, was shown mo to-day. It weighs no less than 61b, and is nine inches in diameter. The Rev Mr Tuckey, of Wellington, occupied the pulpit of St. Matthew's Church on Sunday. The congregations were largo both morning and evening. Local sportsmen state that there is a groat scarcity of pigeons this season. One party went out the other day and returned with—one kaka. A league lias been formed in Masterton to suppress drinking, smoking and swearing. The latter evil, it may be said, is not as uncommon as it might be.

About 40 entries have been received for the pigeon-shooting match on Thursday next for Mr J. C. Walker's cup.

Travellers would do well to remember that the 11.45 train fromj Masterton to Eketahuna does not always start at 12 noon. To-day a number of visitors to Masterton arrived at the station just as the train was puffing off, and although they all requested the guard to stop they did not succeed, and it was with feelings of the utmost chagrin and mutterings which would not look well in print that they returned to their hotels to learn the lesson of punctuality and study the railway time-table.

Masterton, June 5. An informal meeting of parishioners of St. Matthew's Church waa held on Monday evening in the schoolroom. About soventy persons were present and the chair was occupiod by the Bishop's commisaary (tho Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt). The Chairman explained the circumstances under which the Rev W. E. Paige had resigned the incumbency of the parish, and pointed out that it would be necessary to guarantee a stipend of i!250 a year before the services of a new incumbent could be obtained. He pointed out that the present pew rents and contributions which were available for the assessment amounted to a little over ,£2OO a year. It was necessary, therefore, that an additional j 650 should be subscribed. He would suggest that a canvass of tho district be made. After some discussion it was resolved that the new vestry be requested to arrange for a house to house canvass for subscriptions in aid of the general fund. It was announced that a meeting would be held next week to elect a new vestry, and the names of Dr Beard and Meßsrs W. H. Jackson, D. R. Robinson, R. T. Holmeß and J. L. Murray were suggested as suitable vestrymen.

Dr Butement gave the first of his series of ten lectures to the Masterton ambulance class on Monday evening. There wore sixty members present. The lecture was of an introductory character, but was highly interesting.

The Works Committee of the Borough Council decided at a meeting held on Monday night that the annual grant of £25 be made to the Municipal Fire Brigade. It refused, however, to make a grant of iJI2 10s for the purchase of uniforms. It also refused to assist the Volunteer Fire Brigade, which depends entirely upon the contributions of the public for its maintenance.

.•, • • Archdeacon Fancourt stated at the meeting of parishioners of St. Matthew's Church in Masterton en Monday evening that it was not competent for women to sit upon a vestry. He also refused to put a resolution to the effect that the church • be closed for a period of three months, stating that it was his duty to see that the church was kept open.

The next sitting of the District Court opens at Masterton on the 27th inst. There will be a 2004 number of bantaiptoy cases to be dealt with.

It is reported that a night shelter for the unemployed has been opened in the Foresters' Hall by Mr John Webb. The Masterton Prohibition League has very little to do just now. It has consequently held a meeting to consider tho advisability of suspending operations. Mr T. W. Shute, ono of the oldest settlers of this district, Avho encountered many of the vicissitudes of early settlement, has left us, and intends residing at Ballance, Forty Mile Bush. The Street Lamp Committee of the Masterton Borough Council has recommended that no further street Lamps be erected just now. The quality of the gas generated at the Masterton Gasworks has not been firstclass of late. There has been a good deal of newspaper correspondence about it, and the Gas Committee of the Borough Council has now taken the matter up. A petition is in circulation in Masterton, praying that tho borough be reduced in size. The Prohibition League has decided to hold periodical public meetings, and invite members of tho House of Representatives to be present. Through railway traffic with Eketahuna has been restored. Masterton, Juno 6. The fortnightly mooting of tho Masterton Borough Council was held in the Institute Chambers on Tuesday evening, tho Mayor (Mr G. Heron) presiding. The business transacted was of a purely formal character. Tho returns from the pound were stated to have materially increased during the past month. Plans for a new building to be erected for Mr R. McKonzie were laid on the table by Mr G. H. Bond, architect. Mr John Webb wrote stating that he had a number of men in his shelter at Waingawa, and asking if tho Council could provide any stone-breaking or other work. The letter was referred to the Works Committee.

An enquiry was commenced by the Borough Council on Tuesday evening into the general management of tho gasworks. A special meeting of the Council is to be held to further consider the matter.

Tho cost of constructing the two wells for the use of the Fire Brigado was approximately £6O. It is unlikely that the Council will incur any further expense in this direction.

The lighting of the streets of Masterton with gas costs the Borough Council .£IOO per annum.

Tho Rev S. J. Gibson gave a magic lantern entertainment in the Wesleyan Schoolroom on Tuesday evening, illustrative of the life and travels of Bishop Hannington. There was a fairly good audience.

The Knights of La.bour,who have latterly been somewhat disorganised, have held a meeting to endeavour to infuse fresh life into tho assembly.

The monthly meeting of the Municipal Fire Brigade was held on Tuesday evening, when it was reported that there would be a satisfactory profit from tho recent "social." A football match between the Central Branch and No. 2 Branch was arranged.

A very successful rehearsal of "The Sorcerer " was held by the Amateur Operatic Society on Tuesday evening. MiGeorge Gray, sen., wielded the baton, and expressed himself highly satisfied with the rehearsal.