MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 824, 24 May 1910, Page 6

MASTERTON NOTES.

PLEA FOR TOTARA TIMBER. AND GENERAL TOPICS. • (From Oar Spccial Correspondent.) Masterton, May 23. A telegraphic chess match between teams representing the Masterton and Carterton Chess Clubs, was played on. Saturday evening. Although ono or two of the games were unfinished, the match resulted in a decisivo victory for Jlastertou. The season for Saturday hockoy opened on Saturday last at Lansdowne, when St. Matthew's team, playing tlireo men short, defeated Masterton by two goals to nil. Although totara timber is "cut out" in this district, there is still a keen demand for it on the part of builders, for permanent structures. To show the durability of totara, which was at one time plentiful in the Wairarapa, it need only be stated that a post and rail fence in front of Sir. T. Dixon's property, which has been exposed to all weatners during the past thirty or forty years, is to-day as sound as on the day whenj it was erected. In view of the rapi<> denudation of our forests it would be weli if settlers, particularly on the Upper PJain and thereabouts, were to put down an area in totara. The timber would be of great value some day. Delightful weather has been experienced here during the last few days, it being characteristic more of spring than of winter. Wattle trees are already bursting into bloom. Old Natives predict an exceedingly. mild winter. Time will tell. First Trout 'in the Wairarapa. The contemplated closing down of the fish-ponds in Masterton has revived early reminiscences of the introduction of trout to the Wairarapa. The late Mr. Henry Bannister is said to have been the first to bring the brown trout over the ltimutaka. A few years later Mr. Thomas. Parsons, with a few other enthusiasts, started a hatchery in the stream which passed through) the grounds of the "Eagle" Brewery. The idea of harnessing the water from the magnificent springs which were on the property of the late Sir. A. W. Renall was then conceived, and about twenty years ago the Wellington Acclimatisation Society acquired a lease of thei ground. Mr. L. F. Ayson, who is now head of the Department, did excellent servico.for many years as curator of the local fisli-ponds. Among those who have taken an. almost life-long interest in acclimatisation matters may be mentioned Mr. W. H. Beetham and Air. D. M'Gregor, sen. Flax Milling. It is reported that attention is again j to bo devoted to flaxmilliug in the Wai-1 ram pa. Thero are several flax areas in the country around Masterton, from which good fibre has been obtained in the past, and there seems no reason why, with the market prices ruling, the milling industry should not again be made to pay. Sawmillers' Association. A meeting of tho Wairarapa Sawmillers' Association was held in Masterton on Saturday. Sawtnilling in. this district has suffered considerably of late through a slump in building. It is gratifying to report, hawever, that there aro indications of an improvement. Good progress is being made with the erection of tho new brick fire brigade station in .Masterton. The building is centrally situated, and will bo equipped in an up-to-date manner. The State Schools in Masterton and surrounding districts tfill commence their winter vacation on Friday next. "Umpire Day" seems likely to fall into desuetude from a holiday point of view in this district. A bono-crushiug mill is still at work in this district, and, notwithstanding the demand for "mixtures," several farmors pin their faith to bone-dust.

Decreasing Houso Rents. | House-rents are about twenty per cent, i lower in Masterton to-day than they were two years ago. . This fact is attributable to several causes, in the first place, residents have, in many instances, abandoned small homes for more pretentious domiciles. The speculative builder has also been at work. -And, again, tho influx of population, due to an abnormal development, has been temporarily checked. Tho most -popular forms of locomotion in northern Wairarapa appear to be the bicycle and motor-car. Hundreds oi these may be seen plying our roads daily, aud so well-kept are our average highways that an accident is seldom reported. The roads are second only to those of Canterbury for motor traffic. This notwithstanding, a local carriagebuilder informs the writer that he was never, in a period of many years of business, so besieged with orders for vehicles as now.

Secondary Farm Industries. It has always been a wonder to visitors to this district that greater attention lias not becu paid to the secondary farm industries, such as poultry-farming, bee culture, and fruit-growing. J. hero is no reason why, with our proximity to Wellington, these industries could not bo made pay, pay handsomely. It is somewhat of a reproach upon a progressive commnuity that eggs and poultry should be almost as scarce as gold. Yet it is so. Bees, too, are not as numerous as they should be in a district which should flow with , a . B " honey," whilst fruit, instead of being cultivated upon modern lines, is a sort of negligible quantity. The telephone system of Masterton, with its numerous adjacent bureaux, has become as indispensable as it is a valu-, able adjunct to the town. The writer remembers how, only a few years back, the idea of establishing an exchange m Masterton was scouted by even business men It was not until three successive raids had been made upou the town by a couple of ' determined progressives that a sufficient number of names could be -wired to a petition to warrant the institution of an exchange. Aow wo have between three and four hundred subscribers, and the number is daily increasing. Miscellaneous. The Opaki Hide Club will fire in the Empire match for the "Daily Mail cup at Papawai range to-morrow, lwo years ago tho Opaki team headed the Jsew Zealand score with 77G points, which is five points ahead of the score made by the Karori team on Saturday last Unfortunately the Opaki Chifr will net ha>e .more, than seventeen men faring to-morrow. • > « i. • Th* five at Mr. H. Morrison's Awatoitoi farm oil Saturday destroyed the men's quarters, which comprised ten rooms, and were only erected two years ago. The only person m the quarters at the time of tho fi.ro was the cook, and all appliances, as well as the men s personal effects, were destroyed , The farms of the milk suppliers to tho Dalefieid Co-operative Dairy Factory are So be visited this week by the Government Inspector.