MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 993, 7 December 1910, Page 6

MASTERTON NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) ir t> i Mastcrton, December G. Mr. Peter Bowling addressed an audience of about one hundred persons, chioflv men, m the Town Hall last evening The chair was occupied by the Mayor, who stated that ho presided by virtue of his office. Mr. Bowling, who. had been in troduced by Mr R. Semple, chairman of tlio Miners lederation, spoke for about an hour and a half, dealing chiefly with certain criticisms of his mission, the cir cumstances which had led up to tho strike in New South Wales, and tho manner of bis arrest. Ho also assailed. Mr Hughes, the Commonwealth Attornev General. Mr.-Bowling-stated-that his mission in New Zealand was to form a combination of the various unions, which ho alleged, would, be .the surest safe-uard against strikes. Ho opposed . sectional unionism and declared that the arbitration system was ''as dead as Caesar" At the conclusion of his address ho was accorded a vote of thanks. .

Mr. M. Laracy organiser of the New Zealand Federated Shearers and Woolpressevs' Association, is ■at present in Masterton. Ho intends conducting an or ganising campaign in tho North Island

Mrs. A. A. Pikett, a pupil of Mr. Spencer Lorraine, of Wellington, gave a song recital m St.. Matthew's Schoolroom last evening before a largo audience She- was assisted by Miss Hampton (nianoY and Mr. Clifford O'Kcofo (late R„v°l Opera Company, Melbourne). Mrs. Pikett, who woro a charming gown,.renPikett, rendered five numbers, and a duet with JLr. O'lCeefe. She i\;as well received, and was presented with floral tributes. As showing tho virility of tho older stock of tho Dominion, it is worthy of mention that Mr. Thomas Collier, who is eighty-four years of age, is still following the occupation of wool-classer in this district. A party of threo shooting men succeeded in bagging two hundred rabbits on a property near Masterton a few days back. Tho hot-fly is already beginning.to cause annoyance to horses in tho neighbourhood of Mastorton. His Excellency tho Governor has accepted the position of patron of tho Masterton Musical and. Elocutionary Society. Mrs. William Ankoll, who arrived in 'Masterton in tho fifties, and whoso husband formed one of tho Masterton Small Farm Association, died yesterday afternoon .it tho ago of 78. Deceased, who had been ailing for somo time, leaves a family of four sons and fivo daughters. The Masterton Borough Council to-night decided to raiso £1600 by special order to take up and relay defective sewage pipes ill portions of tho township. Tho Mayor intends calling a meeting for Monday night to arrange a carnival to raise funds for the iniprovemeat of the public park.