DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 10

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. • (From Our Special Correspondent!.!. MASTERTON. Six casual labourers engaged in telegraph construction work in this district were paid .off on Saturday. There was a good deal of talk locally as to the reason lor their services being dispensed with. A telegram to the i'ost-master-General elicited the reply that shortage of material had necessitated a . reduction of hands, but'as soon as the material was landed, work would be .resumed.

At a meeting of members of the two town' banks arrangements were practically completed for an amalgamation with a, view to forming ono ,strong bank in tho town.

A meeting of members and sympathisers with the Y.M.C.A. was held on Saturday, when it was decided to place before the public the financial and general position of the institution. A committee of young men was also set up to co-operate 'with the Board' of Managers in preparing an attractive syllabus.

The Masterton Homing Club flew a race from Frankton Junction on Saturday. The winning bird belonged to Mr. \V. Gourlav, with Mr. W. Dowling's bird second. , Business is very quiet in town, and tradespeople are complaining bitterly. The strike is still the sole topic of conversation, and the local branch of the Farmers' Union is kept in constant touch with Wellington. Several of the special constables who went to Wellington last week have returned to their homes, owing to their services being urgently required on the farms,' but others are ready to replace them. All outdoor sports had to be abandoned ou Saturday owing to the heavy rain. 1 Wool in considerable quantities is reaching town from the outlying districts.

Another large batch of free'labourers are likely to proceed to Wellington this week to join the new Arbitration Union. Hundreds of sturdy young men are offering. " The Opaki Eifla Club completed the second trophy shootinjg competitions on Saturday. The most successful shot ,in the Thursday squad was T. Smallwood, and in the Saturday squad A. V. Swanson.

At' a meeting of the Wairarapa Teachers' Institute cn Saturday a resolution was carried:—"That this meeting of teacher? is opposed to the programme of the Bible-m-Schools League." A resolution was also passed that the subscriptions of members to both the district ajid oxecative funds of the Institute should be subsequently increased. Professor Kirk, of Victoria University, gave an interesting address on the "Development of Nervous System."