COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 272, 13 August 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES (From Our Special Correspondents.) WAIRARAPA Orchards and ornamental trees in tho Mastei'ton district are reported to bo suffering from the ravages of hares. Messrs. C. Spencer, Compton, W. G. Lamb, Len. Tiuvcss, Alex. Donald and B. V. L. Clayton have been appointed tho Programme CoiUiiuittco of Hie iccent)y revised Masterton Competitions So. ciety. So far tho Health Department has reimbursed tho Wairarapa Hospital and Charita.blo Aid Board to the extent ot .£372 las. !)d. for tho money (.£1800) spout during tho epidemic. Tho fei'i'o-concroto grandstand which is to bo erected on tho AVairarapa Fallon Soldiers' and Cameron Memorial Sports Grounds, will, it is anticipated, cost ap. proximately .05000. Arrangements aro being made by tho Wairarapa Farmers' Union to send delegates to join tho Mnnawotu delegation which will interview the Primo Minister and Sir Joseph Ward in reference to tho meat question. Tin's is the outcoinio of tho resolution passed by the FcUding Pawners' Freezing Company recently. Tho Wairarapa training farm for re r turned soldiers is proving a. groat success. There are only five trainees on tho farm, but it is anticipated that between 30 aud d 0 men will bo receiving instruction by the summer, and these will bo accommodated in a large new building I which should bo ready by tho end of Soptemher. Lambs have already matlo their ap- ! peai-inco on some farms, and . beforo j many weeks lambing should become 1 general.. I A mob of sheep in tho vicinity of tho ! Waingawa bridge was responsible for a i motor accident occurring on tho Masteri ton-Cartorton road on Monday. A two- ! scator car driven by Mr. Collins, of i Palnierston, had just passed, over tho j bridge when tho sheep were encountered, j and it was necessary to apply the 1 brakes suddenly.- Another car, driven jby Mr. Wynn Bond, auctioneer for ': Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., I was immediately in the rear, and before 1 the ca,v could be brought to a standstill I it cannoned into tho back of Mr. ColI ling's 'machine, smashing tho benzine ! tank in the back of the car and com- > plotely. destroying a spare wheel. Mr. ,' Bond received a severo cut on tho hand j through contact with flying glass, and I tho radiator and windscreen of his car ■ were severely damaged. I The Central Committee of tho WairnI rapa Hospital and Charitable- Aid Board j held, its usual meeting .in Masterton on Monday. Present wero Messrs. Fisher (chairman), F. D. Moore, A. O. Considino, J.- C. Ewington, A. J. Percy, T. Mass, and S. Bolton. Tho treasurer's report stated that ,£ISSS 9s. Sd. had been received from local bodies in payment of subsidies. Patients' fees amounted to dCid3 75., which had been paid during July at various hospitals under tho control of tho board. Accounts totalling ,£3135 wero passed for payment. Tho Inspector-General of Hospitals wroto stating that ho was prepared to make a grant towards tho funds of tho St. John Ambulanco Brigade Tho matron reported as follows: Masterton, admissions during month 41, discharged 49, deaths 3, remaining on July 31 37. Greytown— 22, 18, 5, 13. Buchanan Home—Admitted 1, remaining 2G. PaUiatua—l9, 13, 2, 14. 'Masterton in common with tho rest of New Zealand is at present siiffonn« from a butter famine. It is stated that very few of the local firms haveany fresh butter at all. Customers aro being refused, or, when it is available, supplied with butler formerly used for cooking. One promiiiont grocer said that when his present 6tock was exhausted lie did not know whoro his next supply was coming from. Wholesale, firms in Wellington with which ho dealt had informed him that they were obtaining butter from as far north as Auckland, it.being impossible to secure any nearer headquarters. Rico was another commodity that was almost imohtainable, Gd.'a pound being tho retail price now against 2!d. in pre-war days. It was ostimated that, tho next shipment of rice would cost Gd. a pound to land at Wellington, which means that tho Tetail price would bo from Bd. to 9d, Crockery aud ohiua, said this trader, had risen enormously in price. English manufacturers wore charging from G6 2-3 per cent, up to 140 per cent increase on pre-war prices, Duty was charged on the inflated price and, together with freights, was responsible lor another 30 per cent, boiug added. A plate, tho cost of which used to be Gs. Gd., now cost the retailor the best" part of M to land at his shop. A meeting of business people was held at Greytown yesterday in connection with tho railway "cut." There was a largo attendance. Messrs. Maxton, Day, White, and Meilde wero appointed a committee- to deal with . goods. Mr. Francis Holmes was appointed Wellington delegate. Strong feeling was expressed at Crroytown and Woodvil 0 being cut out. Thero are some 10 tonsci coal and a do/.cn wagons and an tfigino lying idle at Greytown at present. In* meeting considered that theso could bo used to advantage locally. ' At tho annual meeting of the- Feather. < ston Bowling Club. fflv-F. W. Smith ■ was elected president Boy J. h. b. Bartlett and TMr. K. B Su.ckui, vice- ; ■presidents Mr. Sinclair lion. ■ secretary, and Mr. 'J. M. G. M'Kenzio treasurer 1 (both re-elected).