MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 6

MASTERTON NOTES.

■ .: . ■ ~ -* (From Our Sptclal Correspondent.) Mastsrton, October 11. In the Magistrate's Court this morning, about half-a-dozen Territorials were charged with failing; to render tho service required under the Defence Act, Various excuses were offered, but none of them

were convincing. One Territorial who had previously been convicted was fined 205., and costs. The remainder were fined 10s., and costs. .Tames M'Rae, the occupier of the Queen's Hotel, was~charged iu the Magistrate's Court to-day with several breaches of the Licensing Act. One of them was for keeping a report for tho consumption of liquor, and another for keeping liquor for sale. Evidence was given by Constable M'Lcllan, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, that ho visited tho hotel in private clothes in company with others, find "shouted" drinks, besides purchasing a bottle- of whisky. The local police' deposed to having searched the premises and found a bottle of whisky in a hole of the floor in a bedroom, and portions of a bottle of whisky iu a range. After the evidence of the polico had been given, a pica of guilty was entered. The accused was fined ,£5, and costs, on tho charge of keeping a place of resort, and .£2O, and costs, for keeping liquor for sale. Two men named Reeves and Beauchamp wcro fined 10s. and 7s. costs each for being on premises kept as a resort for tho consumption of liquor. Henry Hounslow was charged with keeping liquor for sale, bnt tho m- j formation was dismissed, as it was shown that the defendant merely acted as a messenger to procure-liquor. ' Tho Masterton Homing Pigeon Clnb flew a race- from Frankton Junction yesterday. The air-line distance was 210 miles. W. Drake's "Gem" was the first bird home, having done the journey in 6 hours 26 minutes. A very successful sale of work was held in ICnox Hall, Masterton, yesterday, in aid of the funds of the Mission Training. Institute, of Duuedin. . The annual meeting of tho Jsorth Wairarapa Ride Association was held in the Dominion Hall last evening. The balancesheet showed a credit of .£22. The officers of tho previous year wcro re-elected, with the addition of several vice-presidents. Mr. D. Jones, of Ashhurst, donated £2 2s. to tho funds of the association on behalt of tho Pohangina Rifle Club. A Native named Uila Waata was fined .£l-1 2s. (id. and costs in tho Magistrate s Court yesterday, for having driven a motor-car into a mob of sheep on the Taratahi road, and destroyed a number of tho animals. The final run of the season was held by tho Masterton Harriers yesterday. A trophy, printed by Mr. F. Hood, was annexed by J. Bradbury, while a sealed handicap was won by S. Temple. The monthly meeting of the Masterton District High' School Committee was held last evening, when the treasurer reported a credit of 'M 7s. 2d. The headmaster reported that the attendance at the schools was being satisfactorily maintained, and that several additions had recently boon made to the srhool museum. It was decided to ask the Borough Council for any suitable books (hat may not be required at Hie municipal library. The acoustic properties cf the new Courthouse at Masterton are very bad. and complaints tire made by Bench and Bar at every sitting of tho Court. Tho Ma/terton Chess Club has decided to close its season with a sides match on October 23.

A very heavy downpour of rain occurred in Mastorton last night, nearly an inch being registered. This will have a beneficial effect upon the crops. Shearing will be general in this district in the course of a few days. The clio is expected to be very heavy. The annual demonstrations in connection with (he nhvsieal culture elates of the Y.M.C.A. were held in the Town Tlall this evening. An excellent programme, of marches, pyramids, etc., was presented.

A well-known solicitor and former Mayor of the town was charged this morning with n breach of the borough by-laws, in. allowing his motor-car tn stand in front of the Courthouse at nirht without n light. The defendant admitted the offence, but urged that ttin information could not be laid under the bylaws, as these wero framed in 1!)l)l, and motor-oars were not at Hint, time rc<rnrde<l as "vehicle?." His Worship stated that ho was inclined to think that a motorcar was a vehicle within the meaning of the by-laws. lie dismissed the information, however, on the ground that the case was n trivial one.