MASTERTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2213, 23 May 1894, Page 4

MASTERTON.

From Our Own Correspondent. Mastebton, May 22.

A meeting of the Masterton School Committee was held last night, when there were present Messrs E. Feist (chairman), Wagg, Hoar, Morris, Easthope, Daniel], Pragnell, Dixon and Beard. A communication was received from the Education Board stating that owing to want of funds they could not provide furniture for the teachers’ retiring room. It was reported that the Education Board had also written to say that Mr Fleming had ordered furniture for the school, Mr Easthope said that he had had a conversation with Mr McCardle since the application for furniture for the teachers* room had been sent in, and he stated that it was owing to the report that the Masterton School Committee had a credit balance of .£OO the request had not been granted. He moved that the secretary write to Mr McCardle and request him to place the financial position of the Committee before the Board. After discussion, the motion was lost. The headmaster reported that there- were 586 children on the roll, the average attendance . being 474. A tennis set and racquet for the use of the school was received since last meeting from Mr L. Holmes. The headmaster applied for mats,, hat and coat' hooks, and paint for the blackboards. A scraper was also required, but the Board had promised to supply that over 12months ago. It was decided to procure those items. It was decided to accept the school cleaner’s resignation, and invite applications for the work, the selection of a suitable person to bo left in the hands of the chairman ’and secretary. The Committee was reported to have a credit balance of £l4. Mr Daniell suggested that the visiting member bring up a report as to tho required furniture for the retiring room. The headmaster said that as the Board had given a retiring room, it would be as well not to ask too much from them. The least that would ba required was a couch, wardrobe and some chairs. Mr Beard thought it would not be well to start furnishing out of the general funds so early in the financial year. Some of the members suggested that application be made to the Town Lands Trust for assistance to furnish the teachers’ room. It was eventually decided that tho chairman and Mr Beard be appointed a committee to draw up an estimate of what was required for the schools, and present a requisition for the same to the Town Lands Trustees. Mr T. Dixon was appointed visiting member until next meeting. John Street was charged at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs W. Lowes and T. E. Price, Justices, with stealing a silver watch, imitation gold 1. r.U.l CIO, 111,- TU'CqiOl’ty of John Boss, on Saturday last. Boss deposed he had the watch and chain in his coat pocket between 12 and 1 o’clock in the afternoon, hut missed the articles soma time afterwards, when he immediately gave information to the police. Samuel Karaitiana testified that accused wanted witness to buy the watch and chain from him on Saturday afternoon. Accused asked £2 for the articles at first, then £l, and finally 12s. Witness demanded the receipt which accused got when purchasing the watch, but accused, after searching in his pockets, said it must be in his swag. Witness, thinking there was something wrong, sent his brother for the police. Constable Lawler and James Sellars, to both of whom the accused offered the articles for sale, also gave evidence. The accused, in answer to the usual caution, denied having stolen the articles, but said they were given to him to sell by Boss. Tho accused was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.

About 40 persons wore present last night at a meeting called in the Wesleyan Schoolroom for the purpose of forming an Ambulance Society. Above half of those present were ladies. The Rev K. Wood took the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. It was decided to form a society, to be called: the Masterton Ambulance Society. Mr W. H. Jackson was elected president; Mr G. H. Astall, secretary and treasurer. A committee consisting of the following ladies and gentlemen was also elected Misses Keelmg and B. Munro, Messrs Chisholm, Dolan and J. A. McKenzie. Dr Butement consented to deliver the lectures, and Dr Douglas to examine the class. It was decided that the fees should be 5s to gentlemen and 2s Gd to ladies and boys under 21 years of age. The class will meet for the first time on Monday, June 4. At a meeting of the Gas Committee of the Borough Council last night, it was decided, on the recommendation of the manager of the gas works, to send Home immediately for six new retorts. Although there are a good few unemployed at present in Masterton, it does not seem that many of those are in actual necessity. The majority of them look to be hard working, respectable men, who possess sufficient means to tide over a month or two of slack time. Very few of them indeed would care to accept charitable aid, or be seen on relief works. I notice that one or two busybodies are making a good deal of noise in the local papers regarding what they are pleased to term the existing distress ; but their efforts seem to be more in the direction of advertising themselves than of assisting men who are out of work. Any man who is in need hks only to apply to the Charitable Aid Board here and assistance will be forthcoming. There can be no gainsaying tho fact that work is more than scarce, in fact it is impossible to get any at present, but at the same time very few men are in a state of semi-starvation, as has been alleged. , ' The following team will represent the Masterton Football Club against Petone in tho match to be played here on Thursday : —Agnew, Fowler, D’Aroy, Thompson, Perry, Holmwood, Kemble, McDonald, Watson, Milton, Brenohly, Astall, 0. Holmwood, Mowlem and Anketell; emergencies, Stewart and Yates. The match will commence at 1 o'clock on the Workshop road ground. The Endeavour Lodge of Good Templars held a meeting last night, when Mr H. J. O’Leary, Chief Templar, presided. Five new members were initiated and one was proposed. Another billiard match—2so up—was played in the Club Hotel last night, between W. Hutchison, of Wellington, and J. Karaitiana, for J!5 a side. The Native won by 43 points. The Kev. H. Van Staveren, chairman of the Wellington Benevolent Society, is here on a visit.