CARTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 26

CARTERTON.

(From Our Own Coi-respondent.) The chief topic of conversation during the past two weeks has been the halfholiday question, and meetings have been frequent. The Mayor is advocating for a change, and wants Saturday, but the tradespeople, by a largely-signed petition, want to adhere to Thursday. The Chamber of Commerce fully considered the matter, then the Borough Council rehashed it, and now the Mayor has come into further prominence by calling still another meeting, and winding up —for the time being—by waiting on the Masterton Borough Council. The latter body, however, unanimously decided in favour of Thursday, and the other townships are likely to act in a similar way, but our Mayor still holds out, and at the meeting called by him the voting w r as greatly mixed, an amendment that Thursday be the half-holiday being lost by 16 to 13, and on the motion that Saturday be appointed as the statutory holiday 26 voted for it and only 8 against. This is no criterion, however, as many left the room and others refused to vote. Despite the strong arguments set forth by His W orship Thursday will doubtless be the halfholiday, but the sooner the matter is settled the quicker cur little community will settle down to its usual peace-going ways.

Mr A. Ramsay, of the local Post Office staff, is now on a month’s furlough, and in the meantime his place is filled by Mr G. Clark, of Wellington. Mr W. C. Drake, formerly in charge here anti now of "Whangarei, has been paying the district. a visit.

A young man, Horace ffc Lacey, was loading trucks at. Booth and Co.’s mill on Monday, when he fell and doubled his arm under him, breaking the member just above the wrist. He will be ineap-ue'tated from work for some six or eight, weeks. The local branch of the Salvation Army aro about to lese their popular officers Captain Young and Lieutenant Griffiths — the former being transferred to Tcmuka and the latter to Apiti. Captain Malhegon, of Wa : roa, will bo in command here. Prior to the officers leaving Carterton a farewell social was accorded them, when

general regret was expressed at losing such capable officers. . . Owing to some miscreants interfering with the iron float at the reservoir on Tuesday Carterton was “cut off, and despite the twisting and untwisting of taps no water would come. Mr Cannon, Borough Engineer, was not long m visiting the locality at West Taratahi, but it was some hours before he could get things in working order, and he was obliged to stop all night and till four o’clock next morning before effecting repairs. This is the second time the “float” has been 'interfered with within a week, and it has been decided to ask the police to investigate. Had a fire occurred in the meantime our township would have fared badly, as practically no water is available, wells and pumps, in a number of cases being done away with. Shearing in this district has been proceeding apace during the past few weeks, and every advantage has been taken of the glorious weather. Men are somewhat scarce, and even more so in the Eketahuna district, where our local shearers are offered 22s 6d per 100 if they care to take on the trip. Haymaking is practically over, while harvesting is just commencing. The crops throughout are above the average, and oats, especially, are likely to be equal to anything yet grown here.