MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1206, 12 April 1895, Page 16

MASTERTON.

Mastekton, April 4. . The case in which. Henry James Shenele, pianoforte tuner, was charged with committing a criminal offence upon a young girl was concluded in the Magistrate's Court this morning. The accused was committed for trial. Bail was allowed. A meeting of those interested in making a presentation to Mr John Bagge, the postmaster recently retired, was held in the Club Hotel last evening. It was decided to canvass for subscriptions towards a purse of sovereigns, and to present with the purse a suitable address. Mr W. Lowes was appointed treasurer, and Mr W. Sellar secretary. , ,»,■.. .At a meeting of the Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade on Wednesday evening, three new members were proposed and the delegate to the Hokitika Conference, gave an account of the business transacted there. "When the young ~ian Shenele was sommitted for trial in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton this morning, the Bench bound over the witnesses for the prosecution to appear at the sitting of the Supreme Court. Mr Pownall asked if the witnesses for the defence (the baker boy and Mr i Mitchell) could not also be bound over. I The Bench did not feel disposed to agree to ' this. . , , A good deal of inconvenience has been sustained through holders of occupation licenses under the Land Act, 1892, being unable to register their licenses so as? t<?

make them valid instruments on which; they can borrow. Accordingly Mr Hogg,: M.H.R., wrote to the Minister of Lands on the subject. In his letter he called attention to clause 86 of the &.ct,- which says that "Every lease or transfer Of lease of lands made under the perpetual lease system, or the lease in perpetuity system, or occupation license with the right of purchase system, shall be made in manner ' provided/' and goes on to direct that/: " Every such lease, after execution thereof; shall be registered by the Commissioner.? :'. Mr Hogg pointed out that in the printed - form of license spaces were left for entering particulars of registration, and for the signature of the Registration Officer. The: . Minister of Lands replies that the question. has been fully considered, and the Govern- - ment is advised that there is no power to register occupation licenses granted under the Land Act, 1892; adding that the defect can only be remedied by further legislation. In a number of instances the inability to mortgage will prove a serious hardship, if not loss, to settlers in this district. The young man Shenele complained in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton on Wednesday afternoon of the aecommoda-;,, tion provided at the police cells. The. Bench admitted that the accommodation was not what it might be. Mr Pownall . said it was entirely the fault of the department.

There are 1124 holdings at present in the Wairarapa North County, as against 1085 last year. -1 -,;: The Assessment Courts for the Borough of Masterton and Wairarapa North County sat to-day. At the quarterly meeting of the Park Trustees this afternoon, a deputation from the football clubs objected to the regulations drawn up for the use of the Bark" Oval. It was decided to hold a special meet-" ing on Wednesday next to consider the matter. .' f . M.ISTEKTON, April 5. ■■■•.»•"; The meeting house at theTe Qxe-Orff"' Maori pah, which has recently been renovated, was re-opened last night, when a grand ball took place! About two hundred persons were present, including -a number from Masterton. Acting-District Judge Martin has made an order staying execution in the casein which the *Deputy-Ofiicial Assignee obtained judgment against Mr A. GL Pilmer ._■ for .£l5O, a sum held to have been paid preferentially to him by F. J. DonOvan, bankrupt. The order was made . cdnditional on the payment of the amount of the judgment into Court, with the costs of appeal. : ", A man was driving between Newman and" . Eketahuna when he fell off his trap, the . wheels of which passed over his body. He is reported to be rather seriously, injured. Mastebton, April 6. / The monthly meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees was held on Friday y. evening, Mr W. Lowes presiding. It was '-- decided to offer the Drill Hall to Mr Dan ' Lea at 10s per week, the Trust to reserve the right to use the building on 26 days in . ; each year. The first instalment of .£SO of •. a grant of .£IOO towards the erection of; a grandstand in the park was passed for pay • , ment. <: - '.>'/. v

At the meeting of the Trust Lands ; Trustees on Friday evening, a long discussion took place on the town hall question. Mr Vile proposed, in accordance with notice given, " That the question- of i whether the Trustees shall ask Parliament; to amend the Trust Lands Act to enable; the Trustees to [raise a loan of .£2500' for the purpose of erecting a town hall, be submitted to the inhabitants at the next Trust; election." This resolution was negatived after an animated discussion, and the question of a town hall is therefore indefinitely shelved. -. ; 7

A hunt in connection with the Wairarapa Hunt Club was held on the farm of Mr W... B. Buick at Opaki this afternoon. The'.-,. hounds were in charge of Huntsman. Harold Welch, and a first-class run was made. The huntsmen were entertained at - lunch by Mr Buick. - _ " [■' ;: The annual meeting of the Masterton Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening. The secretary reported that th© sessions of last year had been highly 'successful. A committee was appointed to draw up a syllabus for this year. The Rev J. Dukes was re-elected president, and Mr O. Pragnell secretaiy. At the annual meeting of the Masterton Blacksmith and Wheelwright Manufacturing Company to-day the report of the directors was adopted, and Messrs J. Reynolds and J. Rayner were elected directors. ; It was resolved, subject to confirmation, to alter the rules so as to enable shareholders to take up more than 50 shares. At a meeting to-day of those interested in forming a boiling-down company Provisional directors were appointed, and it was decided to start work at Waingawa on receipt of a favourable report from the engineer. . ; j.i2'" • There is every reason to think tnat tne proposal to irrigate the Upper Plain will shortly be brought to a successful issue. The petition praying the district to be proclaimed a drainage district has been signed by all the settlers interested, and is to be sent at once to the Government. of the proposed district comprises 40,C00 acres. So soon as the district is proclaimed a Drainage Board will be appointed and a rate struck to pay preliminary expenses of a survey, &c. It is proposed to bring two streams down from the Waingawa River; one on either side of the Upper Plain road. The most expensive item in the scheme will, of course, be the headworks. „ Masterton, April 9. At the monthly meeting of the Masterton School Committee, the head teacher reported that the attendance at the main school had been larger during the last, quarter than at any time during the history of the school, and if .it continued it would necessitate the appointment of I another teacher. By the consent of th>

committee Mr W. G. Beard was permitted J to withdraw his motion relative to the imparting of instruction in shorthand and typewriting in the school. The balancesheet for the year shows a credit of .£l9. .The Premier has written to the North Wairarapa Liberal Association stating that the oidTage pensions question is a large policy one/-but will receive every consideration at the hands of the Govern- ' ment. • The compulsory clauses of the Education Act are being rigidly enforced in this district. The offertories of St. Matthew's Church on Good Friday are to be handed over to the Hospital Trustees. Masterton was visited to-day by a bleak snap of winter. Business inconsequence is almost suspended.