MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 2 June 1910, Page 2

MASTERTON NOTES.

<, DEVELOPMENT IN A CIVIL CASE. SCARCITY OF WOE.K. (I'rom Our Special Correspondent.) Masterton, June 1. It is not ofton that a stipendiary magistrate finds it necessary to vary his decision in a civil action. Such an occasion has arisen in Masterton. Some time back Messrs. Jlaunsell and Hart, solicitors, of Carverlon, claimed a sum of .£BO from Leonard Parker and H. 11. I!i],y, as commission on the sale of properly. J!r. C. C. Graham, S.M., nonsuited the plaintiffs, holding that they should hnvo rendered a bill of costs under the Law Practitioners' Act instead of claiming commission. It subsequently transpired that the plaintiffs had a written authority to sell lie property in question as "agents." The stipendiary magistrate stated that he had not noticed this authority. He would, therefore, alter his judgment and hold that plaintiffs acted as commission agents. Evidence as to the amount of commission to which the plaintiffs are entitled was takes on Tuesday, and the ci»3 was further adjourned until Saturday. At the monthly meeting of the Stonespnge Lodge of Druids, Bro. J. N. Grant, grand secretary, paid an official visit, and addressed the brethren on Druid matters. Two candidates were nominated and lour proposed for memberohin. The nomination of officers resulted as follows :-A .15., Bros. Lcvieu and Potter; V.A.D., Bros. Miles and Corbett; secretary, Bro. E. Pragnoll; treasurer, Bro. BliiiK-horne; J.G., Bro. 'A. Webb; 0. G., Bro. Goiirlty; A.D.B/n, Bros. Corbett, Wheaton, Liddle; V.A.B.'s, Bros. Eagle, M'Calmont, and Grey; auditor, Bro. Wad-ding-ton; M.S., Bro. Pickering; delegates to F.S.C., Bros. Levien, Pickering, and Gourley. Flaxmilling Will Pay. The price quoted for New Zealand fibre on' the Home market was mentioned today to a Wrtirarapa flaxmiller, who admitted that it was somewhat low. "But," he remarked, "the discovery of laboursaving machinery will mean a reduction of at least £2 per ton in the cost of the output. .This means that, even at present prices, flaxmilling pays." It will be remembered that in the last shearers' award in the Wellington district the same price was fixed for tho sharing of lambs as for big sheep. A number of settlers, who regarded the award in this respect as unfair, decided that they would not shear their lambs, and the consequence was that the shearers lost a considerable sum in wages. In view of this fact, it is probable that the shearers will offer no objection to a differentiation being made in the award which is now sought. The Holiday. Owing to the fact that Friday is a statutory public holiday, the local'iradespeoplo have decided to close their places of business on (Hat day. Apart from a few hockey matches, and a trotting meeting at Greyiown. there will he no special attractions in the district. ' During the month of May two convictions were recorded in Masterton for drunkenness. The offenders are said to have obtained the liquor in the "wet area" An East Coast settler informs tho writer that he views with some apprehension tho increase in the rabbit pest in various parts of the district. He state that some farmers do not appreciate the seriousness of the position, as they are! recent arrivals, and have not experienced tho ravages of tho pest.

' The Bankruptcy Barometer. Three bankruptcies -were recorded in tho Wairarapa during the month of May —ono from Jfartinborough, ono from Fearlierston, and ono from Gladstone. The "dry" area did not furnish a single insolvency. For the five months ended yesterday there have been six bankruptcies in tho Wairarapa, as against twelve for the same period last year. Farmers Who Were Fortunate. . The llastertoii settlers who had their sheep frozen on their own account this year are shaking hands with themselves. One man who has just received his account sales finds that ho has netted just 4s. 6d. per head more than ne would have received had he sold to tho buyers. It must bo pointed out, however, that when the season opened last year the Home market was depressed, and shippers were taking no inconsidernblo risk. Tho rainfall registered at Jlasterton for tho month of May was 2.15 inches, coinpared with 2.95 incites for tho same period last year. At tlift ordinary meeting of tho Masterton Lodge of Oddfellows.' at which Bro. 73. M'Cord, N.G., presided, two new members were initiated and four proposed. It was decided to hold a "pound night" on the evening of the next summoned meeting. Twenty-four births, fix marriages, and eight deaths were recorded in Masterton during tho month of May. Shearing Conditions. Ono of the demands made by tho Shearers' Union is that payment shall be made for, time lost through the breakdown or stoppage of machinery. This demand is being viewed with uneasiness by owneis. One of these says that if such a provision is made part of' tho award ho will employ men only who can uso hand as weJl as machine shears. In tho event of a stoppage of machinery ho will insist upon an immediate stnrt with hand shears. An incipient fire was discoyered.in an upstairs bedroom of the Club Hotel last evening, but was suppressed before much 'damage bad been done. Work Scarce. A large number of swaggers havo passed through Masterton during the last few weeks, and a considerable number of unemployed have been seeking work at tho local labour agency. There is very little work offering in this district just now for unskilled labour. The Methodist Separation. The cabled advice concerning the separation of the New Zealand Methodist Church from Australia has been received with tho utmost satisfaction in Methodist circles 'in Masterton. The independence of New Zealand had long been vainly sought. ' Alexander M'Kenzie, stock dealer, of Fcatherston, was to-day adjudicated bankrupt ou the petition of creditors. The Ekctahuna Coalfield. Tlio news of tho discovery of a coalfield in the neighbourhood of Ekeralmna has not impressed old M&stertonians who know the district. It is thought that the prospects of payable coal are brighter at Tiraumea anil Mauriceville: The Masterton Congregational Literary Institute held its first monthly "social" in tho guild room last evening, when the Eev. A. Hodge presided. Tho function proved a great success. Eighty nominations havo been received for the' collie dog trials 'which open tomorrow.