COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 215, 9 June 1920, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

' NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES From Our Own Correspondents. wairaFapa. Two of the loans granted by the Wairarapa Patriotic Association have already been repaid. The annual reunion of the Masterton i Fire Brigado was held Inst night, Super--1 intendent Freeman presiding. Among the ;. guests were Messrs. G. It. Sykes. M.P;, | A Harris, M.P., W. H. Jackson, the Mayor, and several borough, councillors. Bars were presented to tho following by ««• W. Candy (chairman of tho Fire Board):—Deputy-Superintendent F. Jenkins (21 years' service), Deputy-Foreman J. Stewart (9 years), Firemen A. K. Johnston (9 years); L. 11. Lewis (15 years), 11. Braggins (21 years), G. Barr (9 years , b. Dixon (9 years), C. Cole (11 years), .-. W. Bhnkhorne (1} years), N. Shepherd til years), F. Colo (9 rears),-and ,T. Henderson (5 years). Fireman H. Brnggins was presented with the championship shield, tho Kingdon Memorial Medal and a roso kiwi for the'winner of the surprise event'. During the evening musi- | cal itemis were rendered, Mr. T. Vaughnn acting as accompanist. !' The annual meeting of the Masterton J Fire Board was held yesterday, Mr. W. , Candy being re-elected chairman. It was' decided to overhaul the fire emgino I and not to permit the borough to use it again for pumping purposes. It was decided to purchaso two respirators, one hoso repair outfit,/and 500 felt of new hose. The estimates for thecoming year amounted to JC1530, including .£3OO for a light car for brigade uso. This is .£35 more than last year. Accounts amounting t0',£239 2s. Bd. were passed for pay--ment. During tho year onded April 31 there were 22 fire calls in Masterton. Thereincluded six falso alarms, one chimney fire,' ono outside tho fire district, and--1- actual fires. ; . A meeting of a joint committee of the Masterton and Carterton A. and P. Associations was.held in Masterton yesterday to arrange for the institution of experimental plots under the control of Mr. F. E. Ward, of the Agricultural Department. It was decided (that the associations should recommend suitable farms on which to conduct the experiments, and that the authorities at tho Penrose and Tauherenikau soldiers' training farms be asked to assist. The types of the experiments were left in the hands of Mr. Ward. That the backblocks settlements should have better roads and more roads, and that the claims of these districts should be met before further improvements were effected to roads in the more central localities, was the-contention of Councillor Dalziell at yetlierday's meeting of the Masterton. County Council. . The discussion arose out of a claim by Councillor George Moore, junior, for funds with which straighten the roads of the Uriti riding by cutting out dangerous cornertj, etc. Mr. Dalziell said that in his opinion those ridings which already had roads should waive their claims in favour of the backblocks settlers, who inmany cases could not travel at all in the winter. There were places in his own riding which urgently needed roading. Many returned soldiers held land 'situated in such inaccessible places. Tho Government would only grant a certain ■amount, and'the money should bo used where it was. most urgently needed. The chairman (Mr. W. Welch) agreed with Mr. Dalziell. and said that his-riding (the Opnki riding) was .not applying for any money for roads this year because they recognised that the Government could be inundated with applications for grants, many of which were to be ufed in works far "more necessary than the improvement of roadi already in''existence. Eventually, Mr.' Mooro withdrew his clnim. ' The monthly meeting of the Masterton Countv Council was held yesterday, Mr. W. Welch presiding. A welcome was extended to Councillor George Moore, jupr., who succeeded Councillor Toogcod as representative of the Uriti -riding. Specinl orders were confirmed declaring gorse a noxious weed within tho county, and appointing managers for the Fernridge water supply. The Wairarapa Hospital Board notified that the council's contribution to the board this vear would' bo .'C2S63 3s. Bd. It was decided to strike a general rate of Jtl. in (he ,£l, Councillor Armstrong was appointed to tho Hospital Board vice Councillor Toogood. A letter from the Bay of Islands County Council notified that a motion had been passed asking that measures be taken to enforce the collection of rates from Natives, or else that -the Government pay the rates from the General Fund. The chairman said he agreed with the resolution. He moved that they . support ;t and further . ask tho member for the district to bring tho matter before Cabinet. Though tho Masterton county had been fontnnate in this connection, there were northern counties .whose European ratepayers wero paying for the reading of their districts while the Natives got off scot-free. Tho motion was carried. It was resolved that legal, action he taken against those concerning whom the ranger had reported more than, twice during tho month. Councillor Armstrong moved, and it was resolved that motor lorry owners bo compelled to affix reflectors to their vehides. The treasurer reported a debit bnlance of .£072 13s. 2d. The receipts Rinco May 11 totalled .£312 IBs. 8(1. Ac counts amounting to .£2090 is. 7d.. were passed for payment. Tho Masterton branch of the Labour Department' ha? received authority to proceed with the erection of forty addi- , tional workers' dwellings. Sneaking at a meeting of the members of the Carterton and Masterton,A. and • P. Associations yesterday, a settler remarked 'that before the war he spent .£GO I in top-dressing. This year it would cost ■=£180 to top-dress the same area. The amount subscribed to date for the Soldiers' Mcmorinl Square in Carterton is .£3353 17s. 10d., of ss. lOd. has been paid in, leaving a balance of .£ll7O 12s. yet to be collected.. The work of preparing the Square lias been put in hand, and.it should be completed by the end of the year. The works of the Wairarapa Brick, Tile, and Drainpipe Company, which had to suspend operations a week ago, owing to lack of coal, will resume operations on Monday next. Two trucks of coal have been obtained, which will keep the kiln going for a fortnight. The Carterton team is leading in tho championship of the Wairarapa Kugby Union, Masterton beinpj second two points behind. In the junior contest, Greytown leads. Liberals (Featherstou) being second. ' At a meeting of tho Carterton Bed Cross Society, Mrs,' A. King reported having visited the Pukeroa Sanatorium. Two pairs of socles and two suits of pyjamas wero donated to a Foldicr going on leave, and 12 pyjania suits, 2-1 pairs of fiocks, 1 face cloth, 1 stump sock, and G dozen sputum cloths, in addition to a parcel of old linen, were packed for dispatch to the Wellington centre. .