CARTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1938, Page 7

CARTERTON

DEATH OF MR W. T. MASSON. OLD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT. (“Times-Age” Special.) The sad news was received in Carterton yesterday afternoon that Mr William Topp Masson had died at Te Kauwhata in the Waikato district. The iate Mr Masson, who has been in ill health for a long time, took a bad turn on Friday last and although he had been about for a little while in the day time, in the beginning of the weell he became worse and died at his son’s home at 4 o’clock yesterday at the age of >75 years. For many years past he was a . very prominent figure in the affairs of Carterton and was a very successful business man. About 44 years ago the late Mr Masson, who was then an employee of the Masterton Implement Company, with another member of the same firm, Mr G. Wallace, purchased the interest of a wheelwright and blacksmith shop from Mr Robinson, and commenced the business known as Wallace and Masson, at the south end of Carterton near the Carterton school. After carrying on business for some years in this location Mr Wallace dropped out and it was not long before the late Mr Masson bought r. section in Belvedere Road arid the old premises were removed to their present site where the business was known as Masson and Co. After .several years the business was purchased by the Farmers’ Implement Company, of Masterton, who carried on the business for a few years when it was finally wound up. October 29, 1923, Ihe company was reformed under :he old name of Masson and Co., Ltd. On May 6, 1937, Mr Masson attended his last meeting as chairman of directors, and left to take up his residence with his son Henry at Te Kauwhata, with whom he lived up till the time of his death and -was still a shareholder in the business. The late Mr Masson was a very painstaking and energetic borough councillor in Carterton, having been elected as a councillor on April 24, 1901, and after serving in that capacity for 10 years retired. He was also one of the very early members of the Carterton Bowling Club and very much enjoyed h’s games. He had with other notable members of the club, namely the late Messrs W. Fisher. Alfred Booth. Jas. Baillie, and W. F. Roydhouse (who is still alive) represented the Carterton Bowling Club at many tournaments throughout' the Dominion. He was in October of this year present at the official opening of the Carterton green and as a skip engaged in a game. He was the club’s president in 1911, its secretary and treasurer in 1925, and was made a life member of the club in 1919. Twenty-six years ago ho was an honorary member of Loyal Heart of Oak Lodge of Oddfellows. The late Mr Masson leaves a family of three daughters and two sons to mourn their loss. They are Mr Henry Masson, of Te Kauwhata; Mrs G. N. Tunnicliffe, of Havelock North; Mrs N. V. Goodin, of Te Kauwhata; Mr Frederick Masson, of Auckland, and Mrs R. J. Grimmer, of Carterton. Mrs Masson predeceased her husband on November 14, 1925, and the eldest son George (a noted Wairarapa footballer in his day) was killed in the Great. War. Very general regret will be expressed by a large circle of friends throughout the Wairarapa at the death of such a sterling citizen. The funeral will take place at the Clareville Cemetery on Thursday, leaving his son-in-law’s residence, High Street, Carterton at 2.30 o’clock. Personal Items. The friends of Mr T. Milton, of Clifton Avenue, will regret to learn that he is laid aside with illness. Mrs Kennedy, of Carterton, is at present an inmate of the Greytown Hospital. Her friends will be pleased to heal’ that she is improving in health. Mr Jas. Jamieson, a well known farmer of Dalefield, on Monday successfully underwent an operation for appendicitis. Mr Russell M. Goodwin, who has been on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales in Carterton for nearly three years, has received notice of his transfer to Gisborne, and will leave to take up his new duties on December 6. His place at the local bank will be taken by Mr Rex Lawrence, at present stationed in Masterton. i Mrs V. Sutherland, of London, who has been spending a holiday with her daughter in New Zealand during !he p: st six months, and who was a visitor to her mother, Mrs Wilder, Carterton, last week, his left Carterton to connw.': with the steamer Arawa which will sail from Napier on Deeen-.oer 2 for England via the Panama Canal. W.D.F.U. and Pipe Band. A meeting was held in Carterton yesterday afternoon, when there were present Mesdames J. Standen (chair), P. Hodder. McKenzie. McPhee. Misses Anderson and Arcus and Mr C. J. Fisher secretary, the purpose being the arranging of an art union for raising funds for pipe band uniforms and to assist in the erection of a ladies’ rest room in Carterton. It was decided to run an art union, subject to the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Further arrangements were made for a shop day to be held on December 9. Library Committee. The monthly meeting of the Carterton Library Committee was held on Monday' evening. There were present Messrs W. Vaughan (chairman), A. E. Hall. R. Tretheway. W. McPherson, H. T. Leele. L. M. Clark. Miss O. W. Wolters, the Rev H. White, and the librarian (Mrs Adair). The question of establishing a junior branch of the library, whereby junior members under 18 years of age may join for 5s per annum or 2s (id half-yearly, which will entitle them to one book from the library at a time was discussed.

Il was resolved to proceed with the establishing of a juvenile section when funds permitted; in the meantime an appeal will be made to the public for an amount of not less than £25 for

the purpose. Accounts amounting to £26 3s lid were presented and passed for payment. Twenty-nine books have recently been added to the library shelves. The membership now totals 120.