MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 9

MASTERTON NOTES.

SHELT "FAKING" AT SHOWS. .. (From Our Own Correspondent.). Masterton, March 0. The discussion which has been opened by Mr. It. 0. Williams in the column.* of Thk Dominion, on the question of the "faking" of show sheep, promises tu be interminable. Opinions have been freely expressed on both sides, and it would appoar that, while tho average settler is very strongly opposed to. a practice.which misleads him when he is making his purchases of stud stock, the breeder regards a certain amount of "trimming" as essential to the effective display ot his sheep. The most reprehensible practice at present in vogue seems to be the "faking" of sheep when they are offered for sale at ram fairs.

Sly Grog: "Dropperi" and "Lifters." The "Droppers' Club," whose ramifications have already been described, would appear to have a formidable rival in the sly-grog business in a'new organisation, which has been designated the "Lifters' Club." The peculiar function of the latter body would appear to be to-watch the operations of the former, and appropriate any stray parcels which may be deposited by the "droppers." Somo very interesting incidents hiivo already been recorded in connection with the • operations of the rival institutions.

A man named Davidson has been arrested a't : Taurau'ga for alleged default in connection with a maintenance order made in Masterton in 1908.

The local police officers made a raid yesterday upon a house in George Street, and appropriated between three and four dozen bottles of beer. A prosecution is to follow.

Some discussion has taken place here in connection with the competition at the show's of the Horticultural and Industrial Society. -It : is held by some that'tho exhibitions would, be " made ' still " : mbre successful if tliuss wlv> employ professional gardeners were to refrain from competing with amateurs.

An Unpleasant Experience. •'■_ - young maii of,this, town gathered a kitvof what : he supposed to be...mushrooms. He fried them, and partook of "ft hearty meal...Ho was immediately.seized with a. fit. of. vomiting.' It .was subsequently discovered that he had partaken of toadstools, which, of course, aro highly poisonous. Emetics were administered, and ho has now recovered.

Threshing mills are still actively engaged in the Onaki district, where some very satisfactory • crops of cereals have been obtained this year! ' ."-'■"..

: The news of the success of. the Masterton pedestrians at the Manawatu Athletic Club's gathering on Wednesday was -received here with somo.jubilation. Amateur athletics wore never more popular in the Wairarapa than' at the present time. "■•.••,■"."

The opening of the doer-stalking season is being awaited with somo interest by local sports.- ■-. Deer are very numerous in the country (to the east of Masterton, and . are . not .regarded. :'.s an unmixed blessing..by." settlors .with turnip Crops.-

fho Works at ,'Waingawa.'- - The Waingaw'a freezing Works continue to be very busy. Larger drafts of sheep and lambs are arriving daily from. north and south. '.' The -tinning establishment at the works has been' completed,'and the erection of -a bacon factory will be put in hand in the eourso of n few months. Practically the whole of the share capital in connection with the company .(which is distinct from the meat company) has been provided'."- '

Harbour Board Candidates. :. Considerable.interest is being-taken in the election of two. representatives of-the Wairarapa..to .the Wellington-Harbour Board. .The., sitting member (Mr. C. E.' Daniell) .is offering himself- for re-elec-tion, and. Messrs. . J.' IF. : Coradirie' (the Mayor) and J. C.'/Erringfon are also mentioned as probable candidates. • The Forty Mile Bush" is putting up a strong candidate in Mr. Alex. M'Fnrlnne, who would appear to have a good chance. Thero is a feeling locally that the honours should not rest solely with Masterton.

Some speculation is in evidence over the appointment o£ a successor to ilr. W. T. Mansfield a? Town Clerk and Engineer. Not a few people are of opinion that the town could get on very well without an engineer for the timo being. . A large majority, however, are convinced that it would bo a mistake to allow the drainage, water, and road works to be at even tho temporary mercy of lavmon. The annual meeting of the Masterton Golf Club is to bo held on Wednesdaynext; Jloekey c . .and , football enthusiasts are also preparing for the opening of tho next-season.- . The weather has been delightfully fine during the last week'., or two, and the turnip crops are looking exceedingly well. Grass is-in abundance, and the prospects for settlers never- look-brighter. Thß Plague"of Hawks. . A Masterton settler states .that a shepherd on his property has shot no fewer than four hundred hawks during the past couple of months. . The shooting'competition for the Bolton Cup, in. connection with the Masterton Mounted. Rifles., commenced to-day; The competition will be .continued on March ■ 23. .The Mounted Rifles-, are arranging a. match with the' MaUriceviUc- Club for March 18:. ... ;.-■ ....- ;..._. --. ; - The Masterton Bowling Club to-day defeated Carterton', and thereby won" the nweh-ebveted Booth Cup. The Racing Commissioners arrived here from Woortville acd Pahiatua to-day. They inspect the Masterton, Tarat'ah'iCarterton, and Wairarapa - racecourses to : morrow. The Masterton Homing Pigeon - Club flew an interval race from Wellington today. This was won -by -W-. S. Hoar's Red Ganntie'..-- .:..:..- *.-.-■;■ ._ - ; John Cpllins'ivas fined £o at Carterton to-day for giving an order for-lio.iior intended to be taken to-a No-License district and failing to notify the vendor to this offect.

In 1867 a new shoal was discovered in the group of the Tonga or Fricndly lslands. In 1877- smoke was seen over tho shoal. -In 1885 the .'shoal-had become a volcanic island more than two miles long and 240 ft. highland a fierce Eruption was taking place within it. In'lßßß the island had begun to shrink in -dimensions, although the next; year its highest point was 325 ft. above sea-levoL • In- ISB9 its 'height had diminished ;one-half, - and - thoVocean close around it? was more than'a milo deep. In. 1892.the : island' rose Only about' 26ft. above sea-level; and. finally," in 1888,' under the action of .the waves,-.a "complete disappearance was reported.