MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 14

MASTERTON.

Masterton, November 28. The annual statutory meeting of the Wairarapa North County Council was held to-day, when Councillor F. von Reden was unanimously re-elected chairman. The whole of the Council was elected a Works Committee. In returning thanks for his re-election Mr Yon Reden pointed out that through the extraordinary expenses incurred over charitable aid, the licensing election and the taking of the valuations, the utmost economy would have to be exercised during the ensuing year, Mrs Terry, senr., an old settler of this district, and sister of Mr W. Freeman, baker, of Wellington, died at her residence at Papawai yesterday. ■Shearing operations were concluded at Glendonald station on Monday. Shearing is now pretty well advanced throughout the district. A meeting of delegates of the various friendly societies in Masterton was held on Tuesday evening to consider a proposal to extend the benefits of the various societies by permitting members to employ the services of any lodge doctor in the town. Letters were read from some of the medical men in the town objecting to the proposal, and a deputation was formed to consult the several doctors on the subject and report. Masterton, November 29. The number of electors who recorded their votes in the Masterton Mayoral election was 353. This wus about 50 more than expected. The Minister for Public Works is to be requested by the Wairarapa North County Council to give a grant of £250 cut of the Parliamentary vote to repair the da a age done by railway traffic on the road between Eketahuna and the Pabiatua boundary. Mr Hogg, M.H.R., is to be asked to support the request. A conference of members of the Eketahuna and Mauriceville Road Boards and the Wairarapa North County Council is to be held early next month to consider the further adjustment of boundaries. Mr A. R. Mackay, C.E., who is wellknown in Masterton, has brought under the notice of the Wairarapa North County Council an invention he has patented, for the protection of river banks and bridge approaches from being washed away, and to change the course of river-beds. The invention is said to have been successfully used in the Rangitikei County. The Wairarapa North County Council has referred the matter to its engineer. Mr A. McHutchon, of Whakataki, has been appointed a sub-valuer by the Wairarapa North County Council. The Rev John Dukes leaves Masterton in a few days to attend a Wesleyan district meeting at Napier. Masterton, November 30.

The heat in Masterton to-day was intense, registering no less than 77 degrees in the shade at noon. A prohibition order, to take effect in the

Masterton Licensing district, was issued against Samuel Bartlett this morning. The Masterton Operatic Society just about paid expenses over its recent peri The Government has asked Mr C. A. Pownall to act as solicitor in the Masterton district for the Crown Advances to Settlers’ Department. { Only two criminal cases were heard in J the Magistrate’s Court at Masterton during the month of November. | Martin Watereuse was ordered this I morning to contribute 3s 6d a Week to-. ! wards the support of two of his children, i Watereuse recently did a term in gaol for deserting his wife; The Fernridge School Committee has " decided to strictly enforce the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. * In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, F. B. Chalmers was fined £5, H. G. Vennell £I, Piripi Waaka <£4, C. F. Vallance £2, and Tua Bini <£4 for failing to take the necessary steps to destroy the rabbits on their property. . Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., says that he will not accept tho bare statement of a rabbit • inspector that rabbits are numerous on a property. He will require to know something like the number, of rabbits to be found.

One bankruptcy was recorded in Masterton during the month of November, as against the same number for the corresponding period of last year. There have been 12 bankruptcies so far this year, as against 25 for the same period last year.

Mr J. Dutbie, M.H.R., was in Masterton to-day. No less than 67,200 fpet of timber was railed from Masterton this month.

About 2200 bales of wool were despatched from the Masterton railway station this month. s . v? r - :

..The tender of Messrs Whitehead and McCdiiville, at .£4Bl 13s 4d, has been accepted for four miles of fencing in the 1 Kaiwhata Valley. The Town Clerk of Masterton (Mr R. Brown) has received 5s from Mr J. Stuckey on behalf of the Ran gi turn au School towards the Wairarapa Relief Fund.

During the present month there have been 22 births, two marriages and four deaths registered in Masterton. • • - ' Five thousand sheep have been sent away from the Masterton railway station during the month of November. The rainfall registered at the Masterton railway station during the month of November was 2‘75 inches, on 11 days. ’ v

A fatal accident occurred on the road about a mile past the Lower Taueru on Thursday evening. A man named John McLeod, until recently a shepherd at Brancepeth, left Masterton in the afternoon with a mates with the intention of proceeding tu Kahitmingi Station. By some strange circumstance McLeod was thrown from his horse on to his head. He was brought in to the Taueru, and a message sent for a doctor. Dr ButeirfOnt arid Constable Lawlor proceeded to the spot, but before their arrival the man was dead: The doctor found that the poor fellow, who was a single man about forty years of age, had sustained a fracture of the skull and dislocation of the windpipe. The matter has been reported to Mr Coroner Hutchison, Who will hold an inquest in due course. A man named William John Hamilton was arrested this afternoon oh a charge ofT the larceny of a swag. / Masterton, December i. An inquest concerning the death of the man John McLeod was held at the Lower Taueru on Friday before Mr' Coroner Hutchison and a jury. The evidence showed that the man was taken froiri Masterton in a trap and procured a horse ' at the Lower Taueru. After havingseveral drinks at the Taueru he mounted his horse and, in company with a mart named McCormack, rode off at a gallop. He had proceeded only about a mile when he fell off and fractured his skull. The inquest was adjourned for a week to permit of the attendance of the man McCormack. The deceased was forty years of age and a widower, with no friends in the Colony. Mrs Tankersley, senior, relict of the late Mr Thomas Tankersley, died at her residence at the Opaki this morning, at the ripe age of 91. The deceased lady, who was one of the pioneers of the district, endured many hardships in the early days and fought the battle of life with an energy and determination that did her credit. She was highly respected and leaves a large family to mourn her loss. William J. Hamilton was charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning with the > larceny of the contents of a swag, valued at ss, the property of one Thomas Courtney. The accused pleaded not guilty, stating that lie had obtained the goods from a mate. The Bench convicted him, however, and sentenced him to a month’s hard labour. The accused was further charged with the larceny at of a swag valued at <£3. On the application of the police the case was remanded to Wellington. The rain-gauge which was recently stolen from the Masterton railway station has been returned. A meeting of the committee of the Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society was held on Friday evening to make arrangements for the autumn show. The meeting was adjourned for a week to allow of the canvass for special prizes being completed. The Masterton list for the Wairarapa Relief Fund has been closed. The Town Clerk to-day remitted the amount collected (>£22) to the Mayor of Wellington. The Hon R. J. Seddon has expressed regret that he shall be unable to be present at the “ social ” to be tendered to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., in Masterton, on Thursday next. It is hoped, however, that one or two other members of the Ministry will be present. v . 15 A Masterton resident has received the following communication from Mr . J.

**B*M zm I .HH HIWWBMW—WWWM— WWWMWMi— xJag m O'Brien, secretary of the N.Z. Workers’ Union : “ I have been informed that a shearino, dispute has occurred at Balmoral, Canterbury. The facts to hand are as follow: - -On Saturday, November lVth, that being the first Saturday after the start, the boss of the board blew the whistle at 4 p.m. and the men knocked off. Bast Saturday, the 24th instant, the. men knocked oft at 4 p.m., and when the boss saw some of them put their coats bn he ordered them to clear out, and he would pay them. When they went for their money he told them that they Would be paid when a magistrate ordered him to pay. Twenty men are involved in the-, dispute, and the matter is lively to be threshed out m the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court. Meanwhile the Christchurch secretary warns shearers not to go near Balmoral until a settlement is effected. I now wish to draw attention to a passed at the late Conference, whereby" a subscription was to be taken up during the shearing to recoup the men who lost their earnings at Benmore last season. Mr J. Seymour, chairman of the Oamaru Branch, has been appointed to organise parts of Otago. I trust 5 that secretaries 'Will impress upon members the necessity for recording their votes the general questions in the ballot now on. ' Masterton, December 3. The weather during the past couple of days has been intensely warm. Hay-making operations have already been commenced. In the Magistrate’s Court this morning Walter Lahgley, a prohibited person, was charged with being drunk in a public place. ■ The accused, who made the rather ingenious excuse that'he had found of whisky,in the street, was fined ss, in default eight, hours. Tli© remains of th© late Mrs Tankersley, senior, were interred in the Masterton Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the hearse being followed, by a large number of old settlers. The ceremony at the grave was performed in an- impressive manner by the Rev A. C. Yorke. . A valuable draught horse belonging to Mr George Daysh fell into a cesspit in the centre of the town this morning, and had to be hauled out with a block and tackle. There are dozens of Cesspits in this town which are a menace to the public health. Special services were held in the Wesleyan Church on Sunday, the proceeds of which were devoted to the choir fund. the morning the Rev Mr Dukes preached a* vigorous sermon in opposition to the indiscriminate methods adopted for dispensing charity. The “social” to be tendered to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., on Thursday next, promises to be a great success. The affair is in the hands of a committtee of ladies, who are leaving no stone unturned to secure the success of the gathering. An excellent programme has -been arranged, .in an interval of which a purse of sovereigns and testimonial will be presented to Mr Hogg. A meeting of the Masterton Reform Special Settlement Association will be held this evening, when the demands of the Commissioner of Lands for three instal- , ments of rent at the one time will be discussed. The fourth trophy competition in connection with the North Waitarapa Rifle Club Was fired on Saturday, Mr A. Matthews being top scorer. 1 - Shearing operations have been concluded on several large stations around Mtistorton • ' J Several pew houses are now in course of erection here. '' • . -Masterton, December 4. Two dfstitfck shocks of earthquake were felt’here at about half-past seven this morning. The thermometer at noon to-day registered 80deg in the shade. Mr -W. Heisenberg was thrown from his horse on Monday, and was severely shaken. * The new manager of the gasworks says that a little red lead can stop the gasholder from leaking. An Advisory Committee is to be appointed by the Library Committee of the Borough CSunCil, to assist in the selection of books for the library. The weekly meeting of the North Wai-, rarapa Liberal Association was held on Monday, evening. Tlie business transacted was only'of a routine character. Masterton, December 5. James Bassett and Sarah Aldridge, who have been hanging about the town for some days, were charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning with being idle and disorderly persons. ' The accused pleaded not guilty, but the evidence , showed that they were altogether a bad lot, and they were’ each sentenced to a hard labour in the Wellington Terrace Gaol. - Ten waggons of sheep were sent from the Masterton Railway Station this morn-ing-to Wellington. SiheC' yesterday 350 bales of wool have been despatched from tlie local railway With sheep and wool the officials are kept very busy. A number of prominent Liberals of the Lower Valley intend being present at the “ social ” to he tendered to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R:, in the Drill Hall on day.'At the regular monthly meeting of the Municipal Fire Brigade last evening, a five years’ long service medal was presented ~to Fireman Reynolds. ' A. consignment of 7000 trout is to be sent from Masterton to Alfredtonon Saturday next. This will complete the distribution in the rivers in the Bush this season. No less than 123,000 trout have been sent from Masterton for liberation in the Fqrty-mile Bush rivers this season. There are 75,000 trout still at the Masterton fish hatcheries to be liberated this season. Only one civil cass- —an appeal by the Rev J. C. Andrew against a decision of Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., under the Rabbit Act —is to be heard at the sitting of the District Court here next week. . A bot fly was" discovered on a horse in a t local saleyard yesterday.

The quarterly sitting of the Masterton Licensing Bench is to bo held on Friday. There is no important business to be transacted. The interest of Mrs Low in the Star Hotel has been sold to. a Mr Redman, > of Pahiatua.