Wairarapa Jottings.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 65, 28 September 1901, Page 15

Wairarapa Jottings.

THK fiist annual ball of the Masteiton Bifles came off last week. It was one of the most enjoyable ' hops" of the season. The decorations weie peifeet—the trophies of nfles, bayonets, and other mihtaiy accoutrements being most effective. The gieatcst praise is due to the ladies' committee, consisting of Mesdames Butement, Donald, Whittaker, Payton, Collier, D Caselberg, and the Misses Caselberg and Payton, for the infinite pains they took with the supper, and the floor was a credit to Messrs Hartmann and Hoai. Heir Yon Keisenberg's orchestra surpassed itself, and more than that cannot be said. Quite 150 couples took the floor. The youth and beauty of the district weie well represented, but the belle of the ball—a young lady who might be the belle of any assembly—came from the Empire City.

The ladies' costumes were remaikably tasteful, and the corps may well be proud at the felicitious icsult of its first ball To Captain Cameron, Lieutenant Wood, Corporal Bennett, and the MsC , Sergeants McKillop, Shaw, Stuckey, and Corporals Dahymple and Payton, as well as the whole troop, which, to a man, worked with unflagging zeal for tho success of the evening the guests owe a hearty vote of thanks. Extras of no uncommon merit were executed by Miss Sollar, Miss Peterson, and the harmonious Devonshire House Orchestra.

The new drainage, which although completed has not yet been formally handed over to the Council, has been aheady taken advantage of by many citizens. Mr. McVicar, of the Tempeiance Hotel, Hall-street, was one of the hrst to make connection, and the reputation of his establishment will be much enhanced by this promptitude. Another leading citizen, Mr. John Tucker, Prmcc of Wales Hotel, is going into the matter of improved drainage with a thoroughness that is characteristic of him. New bathrooms and laboratories on tho most up-to-date lines have been tendered for In all, thirteen connections will be made with the mam private diain, and the main public drain, and the connection between the last two has the advantage of a "Buchan" trap. This patent prevents any tow n sew erage invading the premises it guards. Such a thorough drainage equipment will have the effect of making more popular one of the finest inland hotels in the coloony.

Last Thursday the foundation-stone of the new wing of the South Wairarapa Hospital was laid Mr FH. Wood, one of the most popular and enterprising gentlemen in the district, conducted the ceiemonv- The inscription ran "This stone was laid by the Mayor, F H. Wood, Esq., on the 26th day of September, 1901," and on tho leverse side read, "M R Vainham, architect H. Trotman, contractoi Geo. Auber. subcontractor "

Theie is no more thorough and enthusiastic man in tne district than Councillor Joseph Renall. When he takes up a, scheme his usual way is to see it thiough, or pensh m the attempt. As he still lives, the deduction is obvious. His latest hobby is foi load-making machinery. Although the scheme has met with opposition from a powerful section of the community, this has only had the effect of putting Joseph on his mettle. At the last meeting of the Council he advocated the adoption of road-making machinery in a speech noticeable for its convincing arguments. Probably future generations will bless the man who fought with such peitinacity foi tho means to give them the good loads so badly needed.

By the sudden death ot Mi. Charles Armstiong Pinkeiton, Mastciton has lost one of its oldest pionecis His end, alas, was a truly sad one. Mi. Pinkcrton, who had a reputation as an accountant unequalled m the Wanaiapa, had been in charge of Pinhey Brothers' books. He slept on the piemises of well-known hvciy-stable keepers, and on Monday morning week, when Mr Reg Pinhey went down to open up for the day he found the pool old gentleman lying headforemost in a bath of water. From the evidence at the inquest it appeals the deceased had been unwell for a few days pievious to tho end Suffering acutely from pneumonia, and in an extraordinanly emaciated and weak condition, he evidently left his room with the intention of cooling his fevered head The probability is that he fainted, and, falling into the bath, was unable to recover himself, and so, with no help at hand, he was suffocated Such an end is inexpiesslbly sad, when one remembers Mr Pinkeiton had borne the biunt of the early days, and that he held at diffeient times positions of considerable trust and responsibility He leaves a widow and grown-up family to mouin their loss.

The horse parade at Cartel ton was, in some respects, ai gieat success. The sires were Burnside, Loid Kitchener, Lord Clyde, Lord Ranfuily, Record Reign, Mainmast, Rob Roy, Needlegun, Albert Chevalier, Bonnie Scotland, Saracen, Kahpha, Mouser, Chief Commander, His Loidship, Fiatermte, Rajah, The Childe, and Linkshot. The draught stallions were a splendid lot and among the thoroughbreds, Saracen, Needlegun, Bonnie Scotland, and His Lordship were the pick.