The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1883. THE MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 26 March 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1883. THE MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

As A RULE when a fire has occurred in this town we have had to cougi atulate our local Brigade on turning out smartly, and rendering efficient aid iu protecting property. On Saturday last the Brigade were again called upon but on this occasion through an unforseen contingency their efforts were of little practical value, Half-an-hour elapsed before a stream ot water was brought to bear on the conflagration, This interval was quite sufficient not only for the total destruction of the building in which the firo originated but also, had any wind prevailed, for neighbouring structure to have caught lire and beon demolished, Of course accidents will happen, and the crippling of the big engine of the Brigade was due to this cause. Still the fact of an engine breaking down at a critical moment'tends to raise a feeling of uneasiness in tho minds of the public, and to lower the prestige of the members of the Brigade. Another cause of delay was the distance the water had to be pumped up between tho Dixon-street creek and the burning house. A well in the immediate neighborhood of the fire was a short time ago sunk specially for a contingency of this kind, but not till it is required do we learn that it has never been cleaned out through some misunderstanding between tho Borough Council and the Brigade, and therefore could not be used, 'I his again is unsatisfactory, and demands somo explanation. We have always been proud of the Masterton Brigade, and if on the present occasion we cannot congratulate its members, we are none the less aware that they turned out quickly and worked hard, They did their best, and in one sense deserve as much credit as if they had saved the building. What was wanting was the' foresight and forethought, which would have anticipated tho special drawbacks which were so evident on this occasion. In a wooden town like Masterton a fire brigade must have all its appliances constantly in thorough order if it is to avert catastrophe. We trust the lesson of the late fire will result in increased efhciency on the part of the brigade, and an increased measure of support to its ranks, and its fund by the general public. We always expecc to have calm weather when a fire breaks out in Masterton. Some day a serious conflagration is almost inevitable unless we are protected by a strong aud a well appointed brigade. ..

We direct attention to Mia Gardener and Sons new advertisement on out iront page. A congregational meeting will be held in the Presbyterian Ohurch, Maaterton, on. Wednesday evening next for tho purpose of electing a minister to supply the vacant oharge, It ia expected that members of the Ohuroh from all parts of tho district will make an effort to attend this important athering. .On Thursday a gift auction took place at the Public Hull, Carterton, the object being to asaiat.in liquidating a debt incurred by the.Wesleyan Circuit chiefly in connection with the Greytown division. But little publicity seems to have been given to the affair, and. in coneeciuenco there was hut a meagre attendance, He heavy squall, that came up late in tho afternoon, and the wet evening, doubtless also keeping away many who would otherwme have been present. Spite, however, of these drawhaoka, the proceeds amounted to £27. The stalls were ranged on either side of the hall, and refreshments could be obtained at the table immediate in front of the stage/ these being presided over by Mrs Dixon, Mm Grafton,- Mrs Dixorij jun., and Miss !? ? e y° nc ' '.he fancy dress and toilet exhibits 1 offerer! for sale, a number of sheep, pigs, and poultry bad been donated, which found ready purchasers. Mrs Giles had kindly lent her piano for ithe occasion, at which the Misses Challis, discoursed sweet, mujio during the even-, ing. We-understand a similar bazaar is to Jake place in Greytown for the same object as that, for which this one was held in two or.three months' time,-and we hope to heat that tho combined efforts of the. two have proved ■■ successful in disoharging theliabilits ißonried. - : i : - ''

L i A To .Ore Oro.:: nalivo named' 'Makuku was fined ten .'shillings for drunkenness at I thfl Bill, .Court; on Saturday last ■ by his | Worship the Mayor. ' - A man named George Allison has been arrested at Tenui for an indecent offence committed in the Napier District and i brought down to the'Masterton lock-up, He will probably be remanded to Waipawa. St.. Matthew's Ohurcli, Masterton, was V6IV tastefully decorated for the Easter festival, aiida nhtitograph of the interior was taken: by Mr Price this morning, The la9t Gazette fixes the shooting seaBon f"r the Wellington District from May Ist to July 31st. This is an unnecessary work, Any fellow who has a gun fixes the shooting season for himself, About 2 o'clock on Sunday morning sleepers at Wondville were awoke by a smart shock of earthquake. The Treasurer of the Masterton Hospital acknowledges the receipt of £5 from the employees of the Glenburn Station, Whareama, On Saturday last the poll took place to raise money for the construction of the Matahiwi aud Weraiti roadß, and was carried in favor of the proposal. On .Friday last a roadman employed on the Makaitoke line while passing from one heap of Btones to another' was struck by a branch blown from a tree and killed on the spot! The Board of, Reviewers under the Property Assessment Act sits at Masterton to-morrow, A soiree takes place to-night at Greytown in aid of the Oriokot Olub funds. Oliiyson's inaugural ball at the Theatre Eoyal at Masterton is fixed for this evening, If » splendid floor, a good quadrille band and excellent catering are attractions, there should be a rush for tickets for this event. We have been requested to state dancers will bo admitted at the side door. Ladies who do not cave to join in the dance will have a space reserved for them, entranoe to which will be by the front door, and the charge one shilling. Notice is given that Messrs Hugh Bellis, Juhn Stewart Handyside, J. S. Langdon, T, Mackay, and T. W. Telford, have been elected membevs of the Licensing Committee of the Wairarapa Bast County Licensing District. Tenders are invited by the Wairarapa East County for the erection of a bridge .over ihe Mungapnkeha stream on the Mastenon-Oastlepoint read, This particular structure will be an immense boon to the traveling public id (he winter season as iheabsenoe of a bridge at that point, has frequently blocked all traffic for days together, ■

In answer to " Aquatic" who writes to inquire if Hanlnn and Laycock over rowed against eaoh each other, we may Btate that Hanlat) did row Laycnck on the Thames, and although he did not play with him in the way he did with Trickett his victory was just as easy, A return match was fired on Saturday last between Masterton and Carterton teams, On tho former occasion Carterton won, but on the latter the position was reversed, I'he following are the sooresCorporal Matthews 68, G. Bentley 50, Kummer 65, Anketell 49, Freeth 45, McLaclilan 45, Wilton'4B, Captain Donald 43, 0. Bentley 41, Bright 37, Serjeant Dixon 31; total, 503. For Carterton, Corporal Reidmade 55, Vol. Reid 49, Moore 47, Honker 46, Rising 45, Corporal Goodin 44, Vol, Goodin 43, Tucker 41, Bossiter 41, E. Goodin 39, and J. Reid 34, making a total of 484. The weather waa somewhat unfavorable for good shooting, Wo hear that the Railway Department asain contemplate removing the refreshment mom from Knitoke to the Upper Hntt. It will he remembered that this alteration was proposed in 1881, but was stopped by a howl from the travelling public, who would not put up with an. arrangement which did not suit them. 'The public will, we presume, again challenge the Department on this question. The public say, "We arc hungry at the Kaitoke Btngo, whether we travel from Masterton or Wellington. If we Btart from Wellington wo don't want refreshments at (ho Upper Hutt, If we journey from Masterton and have to wait tdl the Upper Hulfc is reached we may as well gO on to Wellington without refreshments. Apparently the Rail way Department looks piion travellers as its natural enemies. It is not content with dislocating their bones and destroying their nervous systems by rude and primitive carriages which are ironically termedrolling stock." It is not satisfied with smothering them with dust, and painting ihem with smoke and soot, but it must go a step further and deprive them of their half way . halting stage at which they, have been wont to get a cup of tea and a sandwich. A meeting of the Public Works Oommittoe of the Wairarapa East County was held at the County offices, Masterton, on Saturday last, Present—Messrs. McGregor (Chairman), Chamberlain, Bee'ham, and iVlcCardle. The following tonders were receivedlst, 35ft span bridge main road to Woodville—Parker & Burke £2lO (accepted), Reese & Dnwson ■£274, A, Mcleod £2CS, M. MoKenzie £202, and C. E', Darnell 1310. 2nd, Mnngaone Contract—Halberg & Larsen £347 (accepted), P, Madsen £399, Reese & Dawson £4OO, and Parker & Burke £4OO. 3ril, Haw era Road—Reese & Dawson £472 (accepted), P. Madsen £549, and Parker & Burke £530. 4th, Makakahi Road—P. Madsen £445 (accepted), Reese & Dawson £404, Parker & Burke £SBO, M. McKenzio £550, and A. MoLend £552 12h, . The engiueer was instructed to call for lenders for additional work on the Alfredtnn-Tiraumea road, for formation from end of Eketahuna.road to' Alfredton, for deviation from, l'aueru to Kaumingi, and for bridges ovor the Mangapakeba.

The Government have aereed to purchase 90 feet of frontage'nn Hall Street, nn the terms namei by the Town Lands Trust, viz, ;£3OO, for .the erection of the new Court House. This arrangement will bo suhjeot to a vote of approval from the residents within the Town Trust , district, but no doubt there wili bo no difficulty in obtaining the consent of the latter,

A man named John Stevenson, now serving a sentence for larceny in the Wellington gaol, is to be brought up to Mnsfprtbn tomorrow to answer, another charge of theft alleged to have been, committed some time ago in the Whareama district. ' .

:Professor.Wisgins storm has not even. I tnated. The fatefnl idea of March have passed with nothing more'important than a welcome down-pour of rain, welcome to the j parched country and welcome to the drapers,, who hope to Bell their stock of garments fliiited for such weather. We are quite willing to help Otir customers to - provide against,-a i" rainy day," by offering our "t'ampre Secco" cloak, whiohi3 a most; .useful and necessary garment, thoroughly waterproof,'and. very.light in weight," to bV had in Navy blue : and,black'and in all sizes. Eachcloxkis provided with a neat satchel of the: same material to carry it - when not required to be. worn, : We would also invite inspectors of some raally ohoicofur lined and circular broche cloaks, edged-with: fur and lined- with c[uilted silk. We have a fow oharming imitation and real seal skin jackets in length .from 36 to 45 inches that have only to be seen to be covetodat TraesSmith's Te Aw Bouse Wellington,- fAnvi.] • ;