COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 151, 21 March 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

-5 — NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

WAIRARAPA ITEMS

It has been arranged that n polling booth be established at the' Waingawa freezing works on April 10 for the .licensing referendum. Good progress is being made with the erection of tho npw Stato school at tho top of Colo Street, Masterton. Tenders are now being invited for a school at Sohiay.

The Eketahuna County Council has decided to bo represented by counsel at the silting of tho commission sot up to allocate tlio ocst of the Tauhereniknu bridge among tho local authorities. At a meeting held in Masterton on Thursday night, arrangements were made for peace celebrations on an claborato scnle.

Bidding at tho Mnsterton stock sales on Wodnesday was not keen. Tho protracted dry weather and the shortage of insulated tonnage are making their effects felt.

A motion will probably bo moved at a meeting of the Mnsterton Poultry Society next week urging the Government to acquire land in the AVairarapa for subdivision into poultry farms for returned soldiers.

Two fairly severe frosts have been experienced in tho Wairarnpa this week. It is probable that-at the next meeting of the Mnsterton Borough Council a proposal will bo made to increase tho honorarium of tho Mayor from JJIOO to .£2OO. . , , t A number of lads attending tho Uketahuna. District High School were charged this weelc with failing to attend drill. They pleaded that tho headmaster had refused them leavo of absence. The cases were dismissed. With a'view to ■ arranging; for a satisfactory schedule ,of prices in connection with tho installation of the sewerage system in Fentherston buildings, the borough council has held a conference witi the lo'cal plumbers. Tho Feathersto'i Borough < Coimcil has appointed the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Card) and Councillor A. C. Holms as representatives to attend a conference of Wnirarapa local bodies in connection with the hydro-electric scheme, estimated to' cost ,£200,000. . ' ■ , : , A meeting of the Carterton Returned Soldiers' Land Association was held on Tuesday evening. • Correspondence was read from over twenty owners who refused to entertain tho idea of offering their lands for soldier settlement, and in tho discussion that followed- adverse criticism was levelled at the palpably weak and indifferent replies from 6ome of these owners. Negotiations are proceeding with one owner, and another has offered a block of 210 acres to the Association. This block contains sheep and dairy .country, and three well-known Wair&rapa farmers 'ire to l>e asked to inspect this property on behalf of the association.