MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 19

MASTERTON.

V „ Masterton, December 13. An accident, which might have been attended with serious consequences, occurred at the Masterton gasworks this (Thursday) morning; The manager (Mr Curham) and two . employees, named Jones and. Parker, • were engaged connecting the mains with the new gasholder. To. do.this they had to dig a deep* hole. They were working in this hole when a bladder, containing surplus, gas, burst; The men were almost suffocated The Manager and Parker managed / to scramble but of the pit, but Jones was not so fortunate/and when he was dragged 'out he was quite unconscious. With the assistance of a drop of brandy, however, he was brought round, little the worse for his adventure.' A lad named Hatch had his arm broken in two places on Wednesday through a fall in vaulting a fence. . Heavy rain fell here shortly after noon to-day. It will be very welcome to farmers, although jt will cause hay-making operations tb.be temporarily suspended. . '. There was a large Masbnic'gatherihg at Eketahuna on Wednesday night, when Bro. 'W. B. Abbott was installed W.M. of the Eketahuna Lodge. The ceremony was performed by. : Bro. H. J. Williams in the presence ef a large number of visitors. . ; Masterton, December 14. A conference of members of the Borough and County Councils is" to be held to determine . the responsibility for the maintenance of the Waipoua bride. In the District Court this morning His 'Honor District. Judge Kettle upheld the decisioh of Mr T. Hutchison, - S.M.,’ who fined the Rev J. C. Andrew ,£2O for a breach of the Rabbit Act in faiHng to commence at once to do all - that the Inspector thought necessary for the' destruction of rabbits on his run. It was stated by the Rev J. C.‘ Andrew in the District Court at Masterton this morning that during the past seaspn ho had. been besieged by HlOll begging and praying to be given work for their food only. . . , I understand that Mr Chisholm is to be appointed to succeed Mr G. J. Wallace as manager for the Masterton Blacksmith and Wheelwright Manufacturing Company, Limited; _ A man named -Henry: Fowler has been committed to the Wellington Lunatic Asylum from Masterton. Heiiry Cole was fined Is by Mr T, Hutchison for a breach of the new borough bylaws in carrying goods in an express without alicense. . , Tr ... . His Honor District Judge Kettle leaves ; for Wanganui on Saturday. _ A Masterton resident has'just been called

upon to pay 10s 9d in Customs’ duties on a second-hand suit of clothes received from Sydney. The District Court was occupied all day to-day with a case in which the Rev J. C. Andrew appealed against the decision of Mr Hutchinson, S.M., fining him <£2o for failing to take the necessary steps to destroy rabbits on his property. Appellant declared that he had done everything in his power to destroy the rabbits, and had acted on the advice of Mr Ritchie, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. District Judge Kettle reserved his decision till to-morrow. Masterton, December 15.

The sitting of the District Court in Bankruptcy was concluded this morning,, when discharges were granted to Hans Beck and E. W. Davidson on tho payment of 5s in the £ on all proved claims. Daniel McGill, an Eketahuna bankrupt, was publicly examined, and the examination was declared closed. Frederick J. Donovan was publicly examined in the District Court on Friday evening, when a strange process of stockdealing was revealed. The facts of the case were ordered to be sent tp the Crown Prosecutor in Wellington.; - The weather is still intensely hot. Masterton, December 17. A meeting of the committee of the North Wairarapa Rifle Club was held on Saturday evening, when it -- was decided to affiliate with the New Zealand Rifle Association, and commence a competition for a bronze medal, presented by the Association, on Saturday next. The rule in reference to sighting shots was amended, and it was decided to adopt the rule of the Association. A challenge from the p Battery (Wellington) to fire a friendly match on Monday next -was accepted. Sunday was the warmest day experienced here this summer. The thermometer registered over 80 degrees in the shade shortly after noon. A party is being formed here to visit Mount Holdsworth during the Christmas holidays. The proceeds of the “social ” recently tendered to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R. (amounting to .£18), are to be presented to the member for Masterton at a meeting of the Liberal Association this evening. A deputation of Forty-mile Bush settlers, consisting of Messrs Job Yile (Pahiatua), Tyler .and Parsons (Parkville), intend waiting on the Government and requesting that all reserves be vested in trustees. The nptice recently appearing in the Gazette stating that all reserves are to be dealt with by the Government does not give satisfaction. An inquest was held at Eketahuna on Saturday before Mr H. Aulin, J.P., Acting Coroner, into the circumstances attending the death of Charles Jacobs. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The body of the deceased has been removed to Wellington for interment. - • • ... . The team to represent the North Waira- . rapa Rifle Club in the match against the D Battery will be elected from the following Messrs' Kummer;'•Welch, Matthews, McLachlan, Anketell, Bentley, Kibblewhite, Wardell, Hoffeins, A. and C.. Cameron, Morgan and Blane.

Mr Alexander Chisholm has been appointed to succeed Mr G. J. Wallace as manager for the Masterton Blacksmith and Wheelwright Manufacturing Company, Limited. - Masterton, December 18.

The weekly meeting of the North Wairarapa Liberal Association was held on Monday evening, Mr C. Hughes occupying the chair. The secretary reported that good progress was being made in the canvass for subscriptions for the supplementary purse for Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R. It was decided in consequence of the holidays to hold the next meeting on Friday, December 28th. The Hon John McKenzie is being invited by Mr Hogg, M.H.R., to visit Masterton and the Forty-Mile Bush before Christmas to hear the grievances of settlers. Mr G. Heron is to be installed Mayor of Masterton at the meeting of the Borough Council this evening.

The. rate collector of the borough has been' instructed to sue for all outstanding rates. The outstanding rates .. at the present time amount to no less than <£1290 9s Bd. The total indebtedness of the Masterton Borough Council on the general account at the present time is <£1664 17s 9d. This includes an overdraft of <£l3lll6s Id. Two tents were destroyed by fire at the Lower Taueru on Monday. They were owned by men named Hayes and Neilsen, who estimate their loss at over <£2o. Mr James Walker, an old resident of the town, received a sunstroke on Monday afternoon.

At the conclusion of the meeting of the North Wairarapa Liberal Association on Monday evening, Mrs P. Taylor, on behalf of the ladies of Masterton, presented Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., with a purse of 18 sovereigns, the proceeds of the"social” recently held. _j A man working f Mr W. L. Falconer on the Upper Plain narrowly escaped serious injury on Monday by a load of wool falling on him. , .■•_ * , A man named Goodin went out to bathe at Parkville on Sunday. Getting out of his depth and being unable to swim he was within an inch of drowning, when a young man named Murrell went to his rescue and, after a desperate struggle under water brought him to shore in an exhausted condition. The plucky conduct of Murrell, who has previously distinguished himself in saving life, should be suitably recognised by the Humane Society. Masterton, December 19.

Mr J. F. Mercier has completed his organising tour of Wairarapa in aid of the New Zealand Workers’Union.

Thursday will in all probability be the day selected for the half-holiday in Masterton.