COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

WAIRARAPA ITEMS

The action for alleged libel, J. T. M. Iloriisby v. W. C, Deller, which was set down for hearing at (he session of tlio Supremo Court in Masterton this week, has been settled out of Court, '['lie plaintiff has discontinued his action, and it has been agreed (hat each party shall pay his own cost?.

A slight shock of carthquako was experienced in Masterton.on Tuesday mornlnF," .the receipts from the Masterton municipal gasworks for the month of February amounted to fls. 7d., compared with .£1416 Is. Bu'. for tlio corresponding period last year. It is understood that tliero will be a contest for the seat on tho Wellington Harbour Board caused by the retirement of Mr. Alex. M'Farlanc, one of the Wairarapa representatives. Mr. George M. Wood has tendered his resignation as sanitary inspector for the Borough of Masterton after forty years' service.

An appeal case, Alex. Birss v. N. Miller, in collection with a licensing conviction, is to lie heard at. tho ensuing sessions of the Supreme' Court. The dirty condition of 6omo of tho backyards in Masterton ivas referred to at a meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday evening. Councillor M'Leod stated that on some premises tho conditions were repulsive. At the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council on Tuesday evening Councillor Cotter moved the following resolution:—"That this council is of the opinion that the building of house.? should be undertaken by this ctmncil, <uid that a poll of ratepayers be taken on the subject." Tho mover of tho resolution, who said lie was a little in tho dark on tlio subject, itsked leave to vary the motion in the direction of setting up a committee to Teport. This leave was refused by the council, and the matter was allowed to drop. Tho Masterton Borough Council has decided to erect a residence for its sexton.

The f reupion of the.Masterton Hibernian Society was held on Tuesday evening, and was a most successful affair.

An application from members of the staff of the Masterton Borough Council who are .engaged in tar work for an increase of 2s ; per day in their jtov has been granted' by the council. ■ Tho citizens of Featherston are arranging a farewell social in honour of Dr. A. E. Palmer, to/ tako place on April 4.

The roll total of the Featherston School is 247, a reduction of 35 in the number of scholars since the termination of the wiii".

Tho Bev. Father O'Boirne, of Carterton, who has been 011 a twelve i)ionths' health trip to America and Ireland, returned home on Monday., and was formally welcomed ut a Catholio concert in the evening.

A school lad named Willie Brodio sustained a. fractured thigh 011 ' Tuesday, through falling from a wagon. The annual sports gathering undor the auspices of the Carterton District High .School takes place 011 the show grounds to-day. A programme of A3 ovqnts has been arranged by Messrs. Cowles and Baskivillc for the juveniles' amusement. Mr. D. J. Bcus, manager of. the New Zealand Insurance Company, was a visitor to Carterton on Tuesday.

The installation of Bro. if. M'Kenzie as District President of No. 1 District of North Island Grand Lodge, 1JJ.0.D., takes place at a meeting of Totara Lodge 011 Holiday evening next. A cat belonging to a Queen Street; resident put up a plucky fight with n fullgrown stoat 011 Sunday morning, and succeeded' in killing the unwelcome visitor, which was suspected of evil designs 011 tho domestic fowl. Stoats and weasels have of late been playing havoc in and around Ma-slerton and' many valuable fowls have been lost. A weasel has also cleared the aviary at the Acclimatisation Society's grounds at Masterton of the whole of the pheasants—about a dozen in number.

A furious gale raged in Masterton on Monday night.' The wiud at times reached almost hurricane force. No serious damage is reported, though plantations have suffered a littlf;

Tho 'billiard saloons in Masterton are in future to be closed'at 10 o'clock in the evening.