CARTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 18

CARTERTON.

Tenders were opened on Saturday by the Taratahi-Carterton lioad Board for repairs to Kokotau and Gladstone bridges, caused by the floods. There were only four tenders and they were all above the engineer's estimate and were rejected. An amateur engineer, Mr J. A. Renall, sent in a plan of a stringer bridge, which he thought could be built cheaper than the girder structure proposed by the Board, but it was not accepted. The latter would make a much stronger structure and the difference in cost is not great. A committee has been formed to consult with the engineer as to modified plans and call fresh tenders. j Ifc is gratifying to know the Board has [ decided to have the large snags that intercept the flow of the Iluarnahunga River, just ' above the Hurunuiorangi bridge, destroyed by means of dynamite. They not only divert the course of the river but they are a menace to the bridge in that an extraordinary flood may carry thorn down the stream, and should one of them strike the bridge between the tiers the resisting strain would not be strong enough for it. Government has promised an additional grant 'for"the Mount Holdsworth tourist road conditionally upon the work being carried out oa the co-operative system. The vlinister of Lands is to be written to and asked to accept the plans prepared by the Board's engineer and have the work carried out by Government. There is not likely to be any objection to this. For the Board to undertake the work on the co-operative system would be too costly, as they would have to appoint an inspector and a foreman.

The annual installation of W.M. and investiture of officers of the Grey town Masonic Lodge took place on Friday evening, when there was an assemblage of between seventy and eighty members of the Craft. The Lodges of the Valley were well represented, St. Mark's Lodge, Carterton, and St. John v s Lodge, Feathers':on, being particularly so, whilst there were numerous visitors from other parts. The Grand Lodge of New Zealand was also well represented. Besides the local officers Bro. H. J. Williams, Grand Superintendent, Bro. Rev. W. Ronaldson, Grand Secretary, and Bro. Wilson, Grand Treasurer, were present from Wellington. P.M. Bro. A. L. Webster was Director of Ceremonies, whilst P.M. Bro. H. J. Williams officiated as Installing Master, assisted by P.M. Bro. N. Grace, who presented the working tools and afterwards invested the various officers with their badges. Bro. W. Moore (organ) and Bio. W. McKenzie (violin) contributed the music incidental to the ceremonies. After Bro. Izard had been duly installed in the W.M.'s chair, the following officers were invested : —I.P.M., Bro. R. Ward Tate; S.W., Bro. G. Flux; J.W., Bro. C. Rogers ; S.D., Bro. J. Fabian ; J.D., Bro. J. L. Rees ; D.C., Bro. A. L. Webster ; 1.G., Bro. C. J. Beard Bro. H. J. Roche ; Treasurer, Bro. W. Bey ; Tyler, Bro. N. King.