COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES WAIRARAPA At the monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council it was decided that the' Mayors and treasurers of borough councils bo invited to attend the conference to which an invitation had already been extended in the case of Wairarapa comity bodies, for tho purpose of discussing the question of improving tho ltiinutntoi roadway. The conference will bo held at Carterton on .Inly 23. A special meeting of tho council is to bo held on July 25 to consider a permanent road improvement scheme, involving an expenditure of approximately iGU,OOO. At tho monthly meeting of the Featherston Horough Council, tho following resolution, moved by the treasurer (Councillor A. C. Holms), was carried unanimously:—"That this council commends to the Acting-Prime Minister, Minister of Lands, and member lor the district tho suggestion that the soldier settlement policy be directed .towards providing ample land in each country electorate to meet tho demands of thoso enlisted therefrom, a quota of laud to bo also set aside for other applicants."

Tho annual general meeting of the Featherston Second Division Leaguo was held in tho Oddfellows' II all on Friday night, Mr. E. It. Sinclair,' president, in tho chair. The balanco sheet was submitted and showed the receipts to have been «£4l lis. 9d., and expenditure .£32 IBs. yd'., thus leaving a credit of £8 15s. 2d. It was resolved that the officers of the league bo thanked for their services; also, that this league expresses its high appreciation of tho services rendered the Second Division League soldiers and dependants by tho secretary-treasurer (Mr. A. C. Holms), these efforts covering tho whole period of tho war. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Helms, seconded by Mr. Danahey: "That having from the outset strenuously, endeavoured to securo better pay, improved separation allowances, increased pensions, and moro. liberal conditions as to financial _ assistance in tho interests of all soldiers'of all ranks and their dependants, this pioneer branch of tho National Federation of Second Division Leagues conveys to the Returned Soldiers' Association hearty good wishes for success in promoting the welfare of those who have so actively participated in bringing the Great War to a victorious conclusion.' The cash balance in hand to bo handed over to tho association. Special thanks were accorded tho 7'ational president (Mr. It. A. Armstrong), lion, secretary (Mr. C. H. Chapman), and provincial vice-president (Mr. H. i'. Toogood) for their never-failing activity in 6afeguarding the interests of tho federation, and the Wairarapa and Wellington presidents for the favourable treatment." It was resolved that the league be formally disbanded, the president and secretary to act as trustees in tho disposal of the funds. Subsequently supper va9 held, at which a uumber of returned soldiers were guests. Tho following toasts wore honoured:—"King and Umpire," "lieturned SoMiers," and "Officers of tho .League,"

At a meeting at Carterton on Friday night, a sub-branch of the Wairarapa Ecturned Soldiers' Association was formed, Mr. M. Howard Jackson as president. Messrs. Duncan M'Gregor, E. Eagle, and John Court wero appointed a '.and committee, with power to adviso soldiers on the buying of lands.

It is understood that Mr. W. C. Coulter, Masterton, has purchased from Colonel Andrew the VVaipeko Station at Whareama, comprising 8500 acres, together with stock.

Mr. P. A. Jennings-, who has resigned tho position of clerk to the County Council office ir order to take a trip to England, was recently made tho rneeipient of a cheque each from the County Council, and Tonui Patriotic Society, and a gold watch from the members of tho tun is club.

Owing to tho curtailed train service tho Hawke's Bay-Waiwrapa representative football match, which was to have been played at Carterton on Saturday next, as part of the i. J eaco Celebration programme, has 'been abandoned. The Wairarapa Eugby Union considered tho cost (JJ3O) of hiring a lorry from AVoodvillo to Carterton' was prohibitive. Sorgeant-Major Andrew, M.M., son of the late Mrs. Andror, Eenall Street, returned to Masterton on Priday evening. At a meeting of the Mostorton Peace Celebrations Committee held recently, it was decided to hold a spors programme on the Park Oval on Monday and a children's party in the Municipal Hall in tho afternoon. /The Mayor stated that there had been absolutely no response to his appeal for funds. Tho W.F.C.A. had promised £iH provisionally on other (inns contributing pro Tata. At present thero was approximately «£3OO in hand which, with the • Government subsidy added, would be increased to ,£SOO.

At the next meeting of the Wairarapa School Committees' Association, Mr. A. 'i\ P.-Hubbard, Pernridgo School Committee, will move: "That tho benefits accruing from tho Government procuring or manufacturing nil books, stationery, and other requisites necessary for its schools and supplying tho samo through school committees at cost vrico should be 60 obvious to, the Minister of Education and his Department ;.s to ensure the speedy introduction of such system, and that this Association of School Committees, being emphatically of the opinion that the standardisation of nil school books would accelerate tho progress of education and relievo parents of a lot of unnecessary expense, urges upon tho Minister for Education tho necessity for introducing such standardisation without delay."

At the meeting of the Tinanco Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association, on Saturday mnrn'iig, the secretary prescnted ; a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ended Juno SO, showing receipts 25., expenditure J314 Us. Id., debit balance ,£451 12s. ii., assets ,£11,792 -is. 5d., liaMlities ,-24001 10s. Gd., balance of assets over liabilities .£7190 13s. lid.

Another effect of the shortage of coal will soon be felt in Masterton, when the price of gas will be increased by sd. por thousand feet. Coke, too, will probably bo increased by about 3d. per sack. •

Two gold medals have been given tho Masterton A. and P. Association for competition at the next show—ono by the New Zealand Jersey Cattlo Breeders' Association for the best Jersey heifer, and one by the New Zealand :Sheep Breeders' Association for tho best iwo-tooth Southdown ram.

A four-ball medal handicap was played on tho Mnsterton Golf Links on 'Saturday, and resulted as follows:—A. C. Major and J. tl. Bee (handicap 9) 75, T. Flarinery and T. H. Horton 79.

Tho result? of the Eiigby matches played on Saturday were: Senior—Gladstone 23 v Dalefi'eldGjlicd Stars 7 v. Carterton. 5. Both matches were played «t Carterton. Junior—Red Star It, Puhon 11; Liberal G v Gladstone , Ualofield 15 v. Carterton nil; Grey town 33 v. 'Martinborough 3.

At a meeting of tho AVairarapa Bngbj Union, held at Carterton on Saturday night, an application from tho Lan6downo School for a football •vas granted.' It wns decided that iho friendly societies' unnual tourney be held on iho first Saturday available, and the senior match Bush v. AVairarapa representatives be played at Ekcthun.i on „uly 2G. Two players in Liberal v. Glladstono match on Saturday who were ordered oil tiio lield for lighting were suspended for two playing Saturdays.

In the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, W. Motley was fined JXi and costs for assaulting; Mary Boyd. A ease in which Mrs. Motley proceeded against Mary Boyd for assault was decided on tho evidence in the Boyd versus Motley case. Boyd w,:is lined .£2 and costs.

The monthly meeting of tho Maslerlon A..- and V. Associntion wis held on Saturday, Mr. E. Harper presiding. Tho Wanganui A. ami I'. Association wrote thanking the association for courtesy extended to Messrs. (Maude Smith and ,f. Keener (members of (lie General Committoo of tho AVnnganui A. and P. Association) on their visit of inspection to the showgrounds. The Finance Committee's report showed Iho expenditure for tho month to be .£l5O fls. 7d. The receipts for the month were ,£ll9 12s. 7d. Plans for the improvement if tho grounds were referred by Grounds Committee to the Finance Committee, which reported that should plans be passed by tho General Committee it would lccommend that tho sum of cCBTiOD be raised to cover expenses.

Mr. D. P. I.oasby, lato Mayor of Greytown, was. on Thursday last the recipient of a silver cradle and gold watch from his admirers. A gathering of somo 20 residents took place in the Town Hall, when the Mayor (Mr. W. A. Hutton) made tho presentation. During Mr. Loasby's term of offico lie became tho father of two children, hence the cradle. Mr. Loasby duly replied and thanked his friends for their handsome gifts.

Owing to war contingencies the Crass Creek school has for the lost 1 twelve months boon managed by its master, Mr. C. 11. Blake, without an assistant, to which it is entitled. At the recent annual examination Inspector Stuckoy congratulated the pupils and the teacher on the excellent results obtained. All candidates were successful. The. management of this school is made more difficult by the fact that one-third of the pupils, who journey by train, only receive four hours' instruction per day.