MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 4

MASTERTON NOTES.

(rrom Our Special Correspondent.) Masterton, December 5, Shearing operations in this district have, practically been suspended during r.ho past week or two, owing to the variable weather. Yesterday, tho conditions ol four seasons wero experienced. In tho morning it was bright and springlike. At noou wo wero in tho depth of winter, with hail-stones covering tho earth. In tho afternoon a eummor heat was felt, and as sun-set arrived it was characteristic of autumn. In the evoning asuin wintry conditions prevailed. To-day it is summer. What tho night will bring forth nobody tlaro venture an opinion. The variation in tho weather has keen most distressing to farmers.

Mr. A. \V. Uogg addressed a largo.audionco at Ekctahuna on Monday night, and was enthusiastically received. At the conclusion of his address he was awarded a vote of lhanlis and confidence, amidst cheering. An amendment of thanks only was lost. ■

At a.special meeting of the Lansdowne School Committee last night, Mr. K. W. Moxham, of the WeJling-toii Terrace School, was appointed to tho position of assistant teacher.

Tho election of officers took place at the fortnightly meeting of (ho Druids' Lodge lust night, amt resulted as follows: -A.D., Bro. H. Hilton: V.A.D., 13ro. J. Klder; Secretary, Bro. E. Praßiiell; Treasurer, Bro. -J. "IC. Blhikhorni!; A.D.RJs., Bros. A. Johanscn and A. W. Milne; V.A.B.'s, Bros. S. Hooper and A. Edwards; I.G. Bvo. J. Buckton; 0.G., Bro. A. E. Miles; U. 5.,. Bro. 0. C. Petersen; auditor, t!ro.- G. 11. Waddington. Mr. 11, Miiyo, the new conductor of the Masterton Municipal Brass Band, arrived from Kelson to-day, and was officially welcomed. This evening ho will be entertained l>y the- members of tho band. The M'astcrton Amateur. Theatrical Sotiety repeated the comic opera "Dorothy" in the Town Hijll last night, before a largo and appreciative audience.

A terrible tramenr disaster occurred in the early hours el' the , morning at Jlopsloy, .ten miles from Manchester. The tram, which was carrying a number ol work-people, was going to Stalybridgc, .-■■ d Mvav. travelling smoothly down.: tho lull at Mossloy when thn brakes failed to act, and tho car,' gathering tremendous speed, -rushed downwards. Some passent,'"ers,,Braspini! the, situation in tte, lumped from -the car and escaped with but slight injuries. .Qthers, panic-stricken, or who. thought it wise to keep their scats, shared in an awful calamity that awaited them at tho bottom of tho hill. At a curve, tho car, which was going 50 miles nn hour, iumned tho rails, and clashed into tho stono" walls of the parapet of a railway bridge. Tho stonework gave way, and the car with its huiunn freight rolled down tho steep embankment, smashing trees .and everything in its way. and.falling with a,.terrific thud on tho railway, when help arrived it was found that four passengers had been killed and several terribly injured, one dying later in hospital.

'.Messrs..Stowart, Dawson and Co., jewellers, have just opened. up n splendid jls■Bortincnt of Christmas gifts suitable for men. Tho selection comprises: Gold and silver pencil cases of new makes, sets of vest ■ buttons, silver and gold cigarette cases, sovereign purses, scarf pins, links, s-tuds, loekoH, alberls brushes, letter-, cases, dressing-cases, etc. Inspection is invited. •

A valuable collodion of seventy-four oil paintings and water colour drawings are now on view at Messrs. \\. 11. Turnbull nm! Co.'s roo,ms, 27 Panama Street, preparatory to sale by auction. The paintings lire the work of weil-knoHii English anil Continental artists, and are tho special selection of Mr. li. A. Forbes, Australion agent for the Hrook Street Art Gallcrv and the StnlVord Gallery, of J/>ndnn. At (heso sales Messrs. TunibuU ami Co. usually have at least one picture of outstanding cxccllenc?. This timo it is one entitled "Algerian Brigands," by Dudley Hnrdy, li.l. ami K. 0.1. It is a splendid pieco'of art of the impressionist order, and the subject is approached in u way in which only an artist of such a reputation as Dudley Hardy would attempt. Among the other well-known artists arc the following:-l'rnlcssor V. l.on'n. •/. Hamilton Glass. S.S.A., Sisnor A. Cnllnii, I'rnfessbr K. liieciardi, lred Elliot, h. M'lvor, 11. K. Slorio, and others. The sale will be held nt 2 H.m. on Friday, December !.i. at Messrs. Turnbull and Company s auction rooms, 27 Panama Street. Catalogues are now ready, ami will be posted to"nny address on application.

Tho Eoman catacombs arc SSO miles in extent, and it is estimated that from 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 dead are there interred. .

In Cornwall, according to Greenwich time the evenings continue light nearly ■25 rainutos lator than in London. Cornwall, therefore, possesses an asset of considerable importance. For golfing purposes, as an instance, almost an hour moro is available in the Cornish Rmora than at .places nearer London.