MASTERTON NOTES

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1315, 19 December 1911, Page 3

MASTERTON NOTES

THE DEFEAT OF MR. A. W. HOGG. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Masterton, December 17. The elections are over, and the people ore , now speculating as. to the step which will bo taken by Sir Joseph Ward. Ihe opinion is almost unanimously expressed in this district that immediate resignation is the only course open to the Prime Minister. The result of the election lor the Mastertou scat came as a surprise, ns it was anticipated that the result would be much closer than it was. When it was found that Mr. Sykes had scored very nearly as many votes as Mr, Hogg in Masterton itself, it was seen that the result was a foregone conclusion, and, when the. Eketahuua return gave a majority for Mr. Sykes, it was' then known that the victory must be substantial. The country vote was very strongly in favour of liefomi. Mr. Hogg took his beating rather badly, and, in an address after the rwult was Hiiuounced, he made an attack upon the local press and upon the wealthy classes. Notwithstanding this, the local press has freely acknowledged tho services rendered by Mr. Hogg in the past, and has suggested a public testimonial to him.. Mr. Sykcs, in his speech to the electors, spoke very generously of the defeated candidate,"and called for three cheers for him, which wcie heartily given. At. a meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr. Duncan M'Grcgor, senior, a member of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, stated that, although the site upon which the Mastcrtor. fishponds stand hud been sold privately, the society was anxious to keen the hatcheries in the Wairarapa, aiid'had instructed its curator to endeavour to pnciiro another suitable sile. Mr. Donald Ronald stated that there woiil.l b? no difficulty in procuring a. site in thn district. A sub-committee was eventually set up to act in conjunction with Mr. M'Uregor and the curator 1 in the matter. At a meeting of the Masterton Amateur Atliletie. Club last evening several new members weie elected. It was announced that further promises of trophies for evening runs had teen secured, and it was decided to commence the next series of evening runs after the New Year. Tho Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday decided to place on record the services rendered the Chamber by Mr. A. W.' Hog:; during the period which he had represented the district in Parliament. Another tournament in connection with tho Mnsterton Boxing Club is to be held on Wednesday evening next. Mr. I''ake, of Palmerston Noith, will act as referee. A race was flown from Auckland yesterday hv the Misterton ]lom:n? Pigeon Club. TV lirst bird to be "clocked in" was Mr. W. Bowling's I'litaway, which did the journey in Bhr. 23min. feec. An open clay pigeon match in connection with the Masterton Gun Club was shot this week. The first prize was n new double-barrelled pigeon gun, with 100 cartridges, the total value being ,£2r>. There were no fewer than twenty-six competitors, who include;! some of the best shots in the Dominion. Mr. D. Sullivan, of Riversdale, proved the winner, killing fourteen birds in his first nomination, and fifteen in his second. In a comnetitio'.i between the Maste-r----ton B team'aml Greytown for the liooth Cup, the Masterton bowlers scored 60 against their opponents' 49. Mastoi'ton, December 18. Over one inch of rain has fallen in this district during the last day or two. Although shearing operations have been temporarily suspended much good will be dono to crops. The death occurred this niornin.™ of an old settler of this district—Mrs. Hessey, wife of Mr. John Hosspy—at the age cf sixty-four. Tho deceased lady had resided in Masterton with her husband for about thirty-five years. The Opaki Rifio Club held a practice match on Saturday last, the ranges being 300, 500, and" COO yards. Tho topscorer was Mr. J. M'Grcgor, with 95. Mr. Hugo, inspector of fire brigades, paid au official visit to Masterton today. At the monthly meeting of directors of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society, held on Saturday last, about a dozen new members were elected. Messrs. Stewart, Dawson and Co. intimated that they would endeavour to have the challenge shield (presented by Mr. John Hessey) completed before the New Year. The New Zealand Clothing Factor}' wrote stating that, owing to the London strikes, they would be unable to supply the Highland uniforms before the New Year. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Uli'c Shannon for the promptness with which he had returned the handicaps. At a meeting of Mr. G. K. Sykes's election committee, held on Saturday night, it was decided to entertain the" Ladies' Committee at a "social" in the Town Hall on January 12. A number of Masterton settlers who, last year, consigned their sheep to the English market, are this season selling straight-out to. tho freezing companies. Mastertou builders are experiencing difficulty, just , now in securing the services of carpenters. No fewer than 200 swaggeTs were accommodated with bed and meals on one .Masterton station during a recent fortnight.