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Wairarapa Standard, Volume 6, Issue 507, 28 November 1876, Page 2

About Christmastide wo shall present to all our subscribers a royal broadside sheet Almanac ; and in a short time we shall give away a fourteen column supplement to the Standard, and shall continue to do so weekly to all our regular subscribers. It may have been observed that the Standard has recently been printed with entirely new type, and we have resolved to spare no exertion and expense to retain for it in future that County circulation which it has so long enjoyed. Our aim has been to make it not a mere Cfreytown paper, but tho organ of the settlers generally throughout tho Yalley. It is for this reason that we have not hitherto set forth the claims of Greytown, as the centre of the population of the district, to being muda the County Town under the Counties Act, which is so soon to bo brought into operation. Those claims, indeed, are so manifest that they do not require either to be further pointed out or insisted upon. The conveniennce of the Councillors and the public will evidently best be consulted by holding the meetings of the Council In a position so central as Greytown, and which possesses so many other facilities for the purpose. On the score of economy, as well as in the matter of convenience, Greytcwn possesses claims which neither the Government nor the County Council can justly ignore. This being our conviction, we should have remained silent on tho subject, if we had not observed that an attempt was being jjuadAto get the County so divided as to give preponderating influence to the Northern and least settled portion of it ; which, however, we cannot think will be at all likely to prove successful. Still it may be well that some action was taken by the public in the matter, if only to ascertain what are the views generally held regarding it. It is not so much in die interest of Greytown, as in that of the whole Valley that causes us to think that the meetings of the County Council should be held here. If the majority of the settlers hold a different opinion we shall be quite willing to abide by their decision.

Tenders for the completion of the side paths, Greytown, close this day. The Bank of New Zealand will be closed on Thursday next, it being St Andrew’s day, and also the day of the Pastoral show at Tauherenikau. Visitors to the Show at Tauherenikan, on Thursday next, may expect to see the largest and best exhibition of stock that has, as yet, been held under the auspices of the Association. On Saturday last settlers from all parts of the district, gathered to attend the funeral of Mrs Lucena, a lady who Was held in high esteem by a large circle of friends,-and whose loss will be deeply felt by both her family circle and all who had the privilege of her acquaintance. The Vestry of St Lukes Church, Greytown meet on Friday evening next, to consider appointment of a Lay member for the General Synod. On the same- evening the Hospital Committee meet, to consider applications for the office of Custodian and Matron to the Wairarapa Hospital. Messrs Wyllie & Girdlestone announce in addition to their other sales on Thursday next at the pastoral show, three well bred shorthorn bulls from Messrs Beetham’s station, and some pure bred rams from Mr Gilligan’s station, the pedigrees of which are given in advertisement.

Mr W. B. Hastwell was congratulated some few months ago on his enterprise in running a coach once a week from Masterton to Palmerston through the Seventy-Mile Bush. He has now made another step in advance, changing the service to a bi-weekly one. For the fntnre the Palmerston coach will leave Masterton every Monday and Thursday at 5 a.m.

A Bill is before the Queensland legislature prohibiting the employment of barmaids. The Ipswich Observer recommends the young ladies who will be affected by the Act, should it become law, to appeal to thetender mercies of the legislators. " Just fancy,” says the Observer, “ a hundred barmaids of beautifully assorted patterns, and each one with a tiny lace handkerchief wiping a translucent tear from her eye, presenting a petition to that

Tenders are invited for cutting a channel for the Woiohine river to be sent in not later than the Bth Deo.

It is stated by the Post that Mr Barton, the barrister,’ has commenced an action for libel against the N.Z. Times. Mr A. Falloon has bought the gate at the Pastoral Show, the price being £25. It will be seen by advertisement that no change will be given. The following is a Complete list of the entries for the show on Thursday next:—Horses 46; cattle 51; sheep 186; pigs 14; poultry 3; dogs 8; implements 6; miscellaneous 11. Total 275.

The Martin-Powell Troupe gave an entertainment in the Town Hall, Greytown, last evening, which was only moderately attended. The singing, dancing, Ac., of this troupe is fair, and the ventriloquism very good. In another column is published the time table for the skating rinks at Masterton, Carterton, Grejdown and Featherston. It includes a ladies’ afternoon in each week. On Saturday last the floor of the Greytown Hall was crowded with skaters many of whom have obtained considerable proficiency in the use of the rollers, and whose evolutions are well worth seeing. A meeting was held at Masterton on Saturday afternoon last to consider the formation of a separate Pastoral Society. Mr Lowes occupied the chair and explained the object of the meeting. Mr H. Beetham deprecated the formation of a Second society in the Wairarapa. Mr Roekel advocated it. The chairman suggested that, before separating, an attempt should be made to obtain a central site, and that failing to obtain that they would be justified in separating. This view was adopted by the meeting, and a deputation was appointed to confer on the subject with the members of the present Association. Yesterday one of Greytown’s oldest and wealthiest settlers, Mr M. Hirschberg, was borne to the grave. The funeral procession was a quarter of a mile long, and must have numbered nearly three hundred persons. The service was read by the Rev A Knell, and the pall was home by Messrs Tully, Hastwell, Balfour Maunsell, Beard, and Payton. Few settlers in this district were better known than the late Mr Hirschberg, and though he never took a very active part in public matters, he was generally found ready and willing to assist liberally, any institution which his judgement approved, and he retained the confidence and regard of a large circle of private friends. The people of the Manawatu district are taking more interest in the forthcoming elections of members for the County Council than those of the Wairarapa. A movement is on foot there to so adjust the ridings as would result in making Foxton the county town. The Manawatu Times adds:—The Foxton folks are kind enough to thint of providing the Manawatu County with a Chairman, and that for that purpose they have held a public meeting—of a private and confidential character, apparently, since neither the representatives of the Press, nor anyone here that we know of, received any notice of it- Further still Dame Rumor carries her circumstantialities, asserting that certain gentlemen of Foxton have started for Wellington to “ interview” the Government on the subject.

The News suggests that out of nine ridings of the County Wairarapa West, four should be assigned to the sparsely populated district to tho north of Masterton. This with the Masterton riding would practically give that township the control of the whole of the Wairarapa; and Carterton, Toratahi, Oreytown, Featherston and the Lower Valleywould sink into a helpless minority. Perhaps from a Masterton point of view, the suggestion may be a sound one, but from any other basis, on which it is usual to sub-divide a district, it is simply absurd. After all, our contemporary displays more modesty in dividing the county than we gave him credit for. We expected that he would have allotted the nine ridings as follows. Masterton 1. Euripuni 2. Opaki 8. Taueru 4. Mauriceville 5. Mannia 8, Waipoua 7. Te Ore Ore 8. and the zest of the Waiiarapa 9. We cannot help thinking that the latter arrangement is the one most congenial to him and that his present proposal is only a modest feeler.

A correspondent of the News gives the following shearing intelligence:—Shearing finished at Castle Point yesterday (24th inst). About 128 bales will be the result of the season’s clip. That estimate is made exclusive of what may be taken off the back of stragglers. These will be got in next week, and one or two hands kept on to shear them. I calculate that they will add some nine or ten bales to the abpve mentioned aggregate. The shearers go from this shed to Morrison’s, at theWhareama, where shearing will commence on Monday. 1 cannot tell you the per oentage of lambs, as they are not yet docked. Allow me to state Cameron is just how in want of shearers. If there should any happen to be knocking about Magtorton, it might be useful for them to knov'.thflt they can have a job at that station. ' Brancepeth station will shear 44,000 this season, and expect being finished about Tuesday next. The yield per sheep, which belong to the long-wool class, is set down at about nine pounds. The rate paid per hundred is 20/-, hands being plentiful. From what we can learn, the work on this station has been done very slovenly this year. That fact is rather singular considering that the highest rate per hundred was paid—a rate five shillings in excess of what men can be got to proceed to Marlborough for, and at three shillings and fourpenoe more than is being paid further south. The lambs have been docked, the percentage being fully ninety, which is at least five per cent in excess of last year. Fairfield, the property of Mr Lister-Eaye, at the Tauertt, fimsned during the week, 1,200, chiefly crossbreds, with a few merinos. The clip was taken off in the grease. It is considered a very good yield, eighteen bales of SOOtbs having been made up. The current rate per hundred (20/-) was paid. The percentage of lambs docked was 97 , 400 lambs having been got from 420 crossbred ewes. As showing the fertility of Mr Lister-Eaye’s property at the Toratahi, we are given to understand that 140 acres laid down in grass is carrying 800 sheep, 30 cattle, and 6 horses.