MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1543, 12 September 1912, Page 5

MASTERTON NOTES.

f (By Tclcgraph.-Snccittl Correspondent.) Masterton, September 10. His Excellency the Governor officially opened the Masterton branch of tho Oreri seas Club to-day. After his arrival, I/ord Islington was present at an organ recital • by Mr. Purcel Webb, in Knox Church, and subsequently he was entertained at luncheon in the Club Hotel, when -several (oasts were honoured. At two o'clock there was a largo gathering in the Exchange Hall, when Ilia' Excellency made a splendid patriotic speech, in which he.referred to the necessity for creating imperial unity. Tho work which was being done by tho Overseas Club tended to achieve this result. Lord Islington was frequently applauded, and, at the end of his speech, was loudly cheered. At a special meeting of the Mnstcrtxm Trust Lands Trust to-night, a resolution was carried favouring the establishment of a secondary school in this district with an agricultural bias, and promising assistance to such an institution if provided. A proposal to withdraw capitation grants from primary schools was negatived. Masterton, September 11. Word was received in Masterton this morning of the death at Napier of Mr. .T. T. Fowler, an old and respected settler of this district. Deceased, who had done service in India prior to coming to New Zealand, was 82 years of age. A representative of a. southern firm has been in the Wairnrapa for somo' days endeavouring to secure fat cattle. He has failed, however, to secure a line, and has left for the north. Masterton butchers state that the price of stock was never so high as it is at the present time, Ono firm purchased a line of bullocks from Hawko's Bay last week at .£ll 15s. ner head. Mutton, too, is very scarce. Fat wethers are fetching as high as 235. and 255.' per head, and these do not turn the scale at more than 651b. At the monthly meeting of tho Masterton County Council, a resolution from the Wairoa County Council, drawing the attention of the Government to (he difficulty of collecting rates from aboriginal N'ntives, was endorsed. The attention of the council was drawn to the speed at which 'motor-cars passed over county roads, and it wo* decided to erect notices to drivers of motor-cars at dangerous por- j tions of the roads. A communication from Mr. Coleman Phillips, asking that delegates be sent to a deputation to the Government in reference to the shifting of the capital city to the Wairarapa, the deviation of the Rimutaka railway, etc., was received. A recommendation of the Wairoa County Council, that the PublicWorks Department be asked to provide a standard plan for bridges, was not approved. Tho council decided that it had no funds at its disposal to assist the Town Beautifying Society. A successful sale of work was held in St. Matthew's Schoolroom, to-day in aid of I he Melanesiati Mission. A tea and public, meeting were held yesterdav in connection with tho local Congregational Church, and proved very successful. The Mnsferton Amateur Theatrical Society produces the opera, "Pinafore." in the' Town Hall this evening. The bookings are good. The piece is being staged' for two nights, and is under tho conductorship of Mr. R. J. Young. At a well-attended meeting of representatives of school committees and local bodies hold here to-day resolutions were passed endorsing the recommendation of (lie education commission Hint power should be given to disestablish district high schools in agricultural and pastoral districts and establish agricultural schools in their place, and urging the establishment of agricultural high schools in this district. A strong committee was set up to luHlicr the project.