MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1212, 22 August 1911, Page 7

MASTERTON NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Masterton, August 21. ] h Councillor W. J. Welch will represent tho"Ma'scerton'County Council at the Counties Conference, which opens in Wellington to-morrow. Lambing is now fairlygeneral in .the Masterton district and throughout the Forty Mile Bush. A conference of master? anil employers in the building trade, will bo held here tonisrht, to consider.a demand by the Builders' and Joiners' "Union for a. new award in tho country districts. Members of the Mastorton Gun Club had a successful "shoot" at Lnnsdowne on Saturday last. The first . sweepstake was won by Mr. T. I'pton; with J. Reed and W. Wooding second and third respectively. The second sweepstake was taken by Mr. Joseph Whittaker, with W. Wooding second. A bis open sweepstake is to be fired on Thursday next, when members of the Lower Vallev Clubs will take part. Mr. U.Leathwick, of Masterton. has secured a contract from the Akiho Couiity Council for three milas of metalling. Ihis is the first of several important contracts which are to be let by the Akitio Council. Several important sales of Masterton rural lands have Vaken place during tho last week or two. The prices secured have been equal to those prevailing m what was known as the "boom ' period. The settlers of the Opaki district, near Masterton, who last year suffered heavy losses in the .early part of the lambing season through the visitation of dogs, are apparently going to .have a renewal of the experience this year. On Saturday night a dog, or dogs, visited several farms and killed quite a number of lambs. The owners of the sheep arc natiirally much exercised over Lhis affair nnd are laying poison freely. Tho- Masterton Orchestral Society holds one of its popul'0 1 concerts on Thursday evening next. The Society, which has been eight years' in existence, has quite established 'itself as a musical institution.'

At the meeting of directors of the Wairarapa Caledonian .Society on Saturday last, twenty-six new members were elected. It was decided to add a sum of nearly XIOO to the cash prizes for the New Year's Day sports. This will bring the prizes and trophies up to over .£3OO in value, apd an attractive programme has been prepared. The- Pipe Band, formed in connection with the society is making goo<l progress. The uniforms for the .band are being provided by Mr. W. C. Buchanan, M.P., at a cost o!' about JE2UU. No trace has yet been found of t'ho young man Giugdon, who' disappeared 'from Masterton some weeks back, or of the young man Marsh, who has been misjing from Akitio for over a month. The alteration of the electoral boundaries means that the Aohanga Ferry Hotel, which is now situated just inside the boundary of the "dry" area, will be compelled to close irs bar. . Masterton shareholders in the Worksop dredge aro pleased, with the returns of last week, which were 150obs. for 12.'t hours' working. A substantial dividend is being declared to-day.