COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 250, 16 July 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES WAIRARAPA Tlio amount subscribed in Masterton last ye;i r towards the funds for the British and Foreign Bible Society was Ji7l life. i)d. As a result of the canvass by the Rev. A. T. Thompson, the sum of &U2 has been collected in tho Wairarapa in aid of the Biblo house I hat it is proposed to erect in Wellington. Despite tho curtailed train service, agricultural liiuo is being dispatched from Mauricevillo in truck io.uls, limo for agricult ural purposes being on the "free list." The completion of i:he military wing at tho Masterton Hospital is being retarded owing to the fact that tlio contractor is unable to procure tiles from Wellington. Tho Central Committee of the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board decided on Monday to write to the railway authorities asking if they could facilitate the carriage of tiles.

A peculiar form of aphis lias made its appearance on ornamental trees in various parts' of Masterton, and several valuable trees in private gardens have died as a result. A specimen of tho insect has been submitted to a local nurseryman, who describes it as tlio "aphis abietuna." He recommends the use of a 1 in 12 solution of red oil mixture. At the annual meeting of the Lansdowiie Presbyterian Church fn Monday, Miss Green was presented with a writing cabinet as an appreciation of her services as organist. On behalf of the office-bearers, and session clerk presented the Rev. T. and Mrs. llnlliday with a roll of batik notes, amounting to -t*3o, to mark their appreciation cf the services of the recipients to the church. Mr. J. B. Henry, manager of tho local Bank of New Zealand, who lias been promoted to an ins])octorship, was on lionda'.■ presented, on behalf of tho bnnlc staff, with an enlarged photograph of tho bank's, premises and staffTho monthly meeting of the Central Committee of the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at Masterton on Monday, there oeing present:. Stessrs. W. Fisher (chairman), S. Bolton, A. 0. Considine, J. C. Ewington, A. J. Percy, and T. M'oss. Accounts totalling JihiYZ ss. were passed for payment. Tho treasurer reported n debit on the general account of _i; 2331 2s. Id., and a credit on tho loans account of AI97G ss. Bd. Regarding patients, the monthly -report was as follows: —Masterton Hospital—lo admitted, 2o discharged, G deaths, 53 remaining; areytown—ls admitted, 11 discharged, 3 deaths, U remaining; Bahiatua—lß admitted, 21 discharged, 1 death, 10 remaining; Buchanan Home—2s remaining. Four applications were received for cpidemic pensions. A vote of thanks was passed to the Lansdowno 'School children for the entertainment given at the hospital. At a meeting of tho Claims Board of the. Wairarapa Patriotic Association, held at Masterton on Monday, Mr. Hugh 3lorrison presiding, it was shown that during tlio dost fortnight six loans, totalling ,£■l i), 000, had been granted to Wairarapa returned soldier?, and that six claims for temporary assistance had been granted. During the quarter ended June 30, tho sum of ;£7537 7s. was voted. Tho total amount voted to soldiers for tho quarter ended June 30 was ,£19,255 17s. 7d.. of which .03812 15s. fid. had been repaid.

The balance of the moneys held by the Masterton Patriotic Association in connection with the Wounded Soldiers' Fund amounts to ,£34,930, while the total sums held by the association on June 30 amounted to .!.'(>(,400 3s. Id. During tlio quarter ended June 30, tho sum of .£044 Us. 3d. was handed to soldiers and their dependants by Hie Claims Board of tho . Wairai'apa Patriotic Association by way of temporary assistance. At a meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, held last night, the gasworks report stated that only 205 tons of coal had been received at the local gasworks, as against 440 tons used. A reserve stock of 250 tons had been called inlo use, It had, however, been arranged with tho authorities to. supply (sufficient coal to meet requirements. 1 Some discussion took place at a meeting of the Masterton .Borough. Council last night on a suggestion contained in the gus committee's report that the pries of gas be increased by sd. per thousand feet and coke by 3d. per bag. Councillor M'Lcod thought that instead of penalising householders tlioso wiho used gas for commcrcial purposes should be taxed. Eventually it was resolved to refer the report back to the gas committee for amendment.

At the ordinary meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last riight, Councillor Burridge moved that the council procure and lliavo fixed proper nameplates at street intersections, and that an estimate of the cost bo obtained. The motion was carried. At the annual meeting of the Featherslon Second Division League, formed in March. 1917, specially complimentary reference was mado as to tho favourable treatment received from the Wellington and Wairarana Press in promoting .the interests of tho league, as well as soldiers and their dependants generally. Tho ueaco celebrations in Featherston will be confined to tho one day—Saturday being left open for unofficial uroceedings.