MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1334, 11 January 1912, Page 9

MASTERTON NOTES.

■ e_ . (From Our Special Correspondent.) Masterton, January 10. Settlers in some of the outlying portions of (his district are experieneiiiT a. difficulty in getting their wool to market, lender (lie by-laws of the Masterton County Coimtil, if is necossirv to takeout; a license for heavy traffic. This restricts the carting to a limited manlier, carriers bring reluctant to hike out a license for the enrtnge of wool alone. At the meeting of tho County Council yesterday, it was decided to amend the.'bylaws by Iho elimination of wool from tlioir provisions. A rider added by flu; jury at the inquest concerning the death of the kite Mr. .lohu Cotter, drawing attention to an alleged dangerous portion of tho Opaki Road, was forwarded to the Mastorton County C-oun-cil by tho Department of Justice. The council does not consider the road in question to Iμ dangerous, and merely received the communication. It. is understood that the curator of thr .Masterton fishponds has discovered a suitable supply of water on a property of the Trust Lands Trustees, and that'the Acclimatisation Society will bo recommended to confer with tho trustees in the matter. There will, it is stated, be a contest for tho Mayoralty of Masterton tliie year, iue names of several prominent townspeople have already boon mentioned. Ihe spread of foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is causing a little anxiety to settlors in this district. This shrub, or Ilowcr, which is a native of Britain, has run wil:l in the district, and has taken possession of a large area of country. Its spoil is scattered broadcast in the" wool of sheep, and it is said to be n .creator pest than the blackberry or the Californian thistle. Steps are being taken to induce the local authorities to' schedule the foxglove as a noxious wood. The Masterton County Conncil has been adnsed by the Commissioner of Crown T,nnds that unless it expends the "thirds" which have accrued in the district, these will bo token out of its hands. The council yesterday decided 'to draw up a bit oi "thirds," with a view to their earlv expenditure. The contract for the construction of the two briilws over tho Wninoun River, at tho northern approach to the town, is now completed. The Tnuranua Acelimarisatinn Sociot;,is sennrinfr two stags.nnil live'hinds from tho IVairarapa for liberation in that district. 'I ho difficulty experienced in procuring lal>">'ir was the* cvonso irivon lv ei wp. tractor under tho Mastcrtan County Council for Irs inability to commence a" metallinir contract. The. A\ainsrawa. freezing wnrits nre now very busy, l.ivwr drafts of sheep and lambs arriving daily.