MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1125, 12 May 1911, Page 6

MASTERTON NOTES.

•THE EARLY SCANDINAVIANS. ',;. , (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Masterton, May 11. The passing away of Mr. Joiian Jesscn, of Mauriceville (reported yesterday) severs another link in the chain of the pioneer settlers of the AVairarapa. It was in the early 'seventies that several shipments of Scandinavian emigrants arrived.. None of them could speak English, and it was chiefly through the assistance of a linguist mined Dreycr that they were enabled to transact business with the Government. They were allotted an area of country at Mauriceville, which was then standing bush. AVith characteristic pluck and enterprise tho sturdy Norsemen set to work to clear their homesteads, which' consisted of a few acres of land apiece. Tho Scandinavian settlers,' who arc one bv one, dropping off, have set an example in' close settlement at Mauriceville which others might do well to emulate.

Over an inch of rain has fallen in Masterton during the last eighteen hours, and there is every indication of a continuance of bad weather. Tho rivers are beginning to rise.-

Much interest is,being manifested in tho meeting of the committee of tho Jlastei'tcn A. and P. Association on Saturday next, on account of the discussion which is to take place on the subject of sheen "faking." Opinions are very much divided upon the question, and it would not be surprising if the motion of Mr. D. M'Gregor, in favour of an alteration of the rules, were to excite an animated controversy.

The function to be held here on Mondav, at which tbo.Aeting-Prfmo Minister will officially open a ...museum and. miniature rifle range at the District High School, promises to be interesting. Masterlon is probably the only township in New Zealand which possesses an up-to-date museum at its school. The collection of museum exhibits has'been got. together over a series of years by the energetic chairman of tho School Committee—Mr. Richard Brown. It embraces some very fine specimens of New Zealand fauna and minerals, besides documents, of antiquity. These aro all nicely arranged and classified in an apartment specially provided for them. The half-yearly meeting in connection with the Congregational Church was held last evening, when satisfactory reports were furnished by (lie office-bearers. .An interesting address.was given by the Rev. W. A. Evans, of Wellington, and refreshments were provided by the ladies of the congregation. . A petition has been forwarded to.)ho Minister for Lands by Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., on behalf of a number of settlers in the Mauriccville district, praying that a portion of the education reserve in that, part be set aside for recreation purposes. The matter will probably come before the Land Board at its next meeting. The police made another raid upon an alleged sly-groggcry last night and seized a quantity of liquor.' A prosecution will follow. The truant officer of tho Wellington Education Board (Mr. .Tohn Dinneen) is at present in this district. A number of Carterton parents were fined this morning for failing to send their children regularly to school, and several Mastcr.ton parent's are threatened with an interview with the magistrate. The. whole of the ladies' hockey matches which wero to have been played ' to-day-were postponed on' account of the weather. The men's matches were more or loss a "mud scramble." Several deputations will probably wait upon the Hon. J. Carroll nn the occasion of his visit' here. on Monday next. An exceptionally heavy downpour nf rain occurred on the East Coast on Wednesday night. This morning the- rivr-rs were in a flooded condition, and the mails from Whakalaki and Wharcama did not reach Masterlon till seven o'clock to-night. ■At: the annual mchtiiur nf the Wnivara pa Employers' Association to-day Mr. ('. -E. Daniell was elected liresiilont. and Mr. ,T. 0. Bidwill vice-president. U W as reported (lint the secretary (Mr. \\'. Pryor) would probably visit tl-.n district; at an early dale to_ organise the branch. A fire occurred in a cottage belonging |.o Mr. ,T. C. Ewingfon near the railway station to-uieht. but the prompt action of the fire brigade prevented it's being destroyed. At the monthly.'meeting of the school committee to-night it was reported that the attendance at the school had been seriously afTcc.ted by an outbreak of measles. A branch of the YTairnrnpa Boxing Association was inaugurated at Carterton t-i-night when a numly>r of Masterton on- . thusiasts were present