Totalisators.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1775, 23 December 1885, Page 2

Totalisators.

A cobbkspondent of the New Zealand Times ,Mr E. Galbraith, points tut with truth that there is far too much horse racing going on either for true sport or business, and that what keeps it going is nothing but ■'‘allsator. 11 Suppress the totaliaator,” the » half the mushroon clubs in he says, • atm —ist. The totalisethe colony will cease to —wmons tors encourage gambling to an em... extent amongst a class who can ill afford it, and who could not do so without the machine, ns bookmakers wouldn't wager with them. The commission charged by the totalisator is absurdly high. But few investors realise that every time they put £lO on the machine, they pay £1 as commission.” Mr Galbiaith has hit the nail on the head. Thera are numbers of persons who ate heavily in debt with the butcher, the baker, and the storekeeper, and who if they had any conscience at all would not dare to put a cent on tin.) machine; but they throw off all restraint and go in bald beaded to win or lose, leaving their creditors to whoop for their money and their wives and families to suffer want. How common is the remark, “ I saw So-and-bo putting his money on the totalisntor, but I wish he would pay his debts first.” The poor, j hardworking, honest artizan struggles on, toning from morn till night to rise above straightened circumstances, and he is ever ready to meet his liabilities, even though in instalments ; bat the man who spends his money on the race course while he has creditors in all directions, is dishonest, and should be dealt with it) the Besident Magistrate’s Court,

Tlie Featherstpn Road Aid are calling for tenders for metalling 2:haius on Western Lake Eoad, 40 chai near Mr A. Matthews property, and (chains on East Coast Eoad.

Jones’ new brake will be the Foresters’ Hotel, Greytown, on Boig Hay, (Saturday) at 10 a.m., for 1 Martinborough (Lower Valley) races. A man named Eobe Fetch, living at Woodville, attempted suiei by stabbing himself with a sheath koif The wound is dangerous, but hopes arentertained of his recovery. He is reported) have been drinking lately. Considerable interest) taken at Christchurch in the matter of t dead hand picked up at Sumner beach st Wednesday. A large number of medioalnen have seen the hand in order to give thi opinion as to the time that has elapsed si.e death.

At the sale of 140 seions of Mr Donald Donald’s Manaia estate, 1 orming an outlying portion of the borouj of Masterton, 94 sold at prices ranging im £2O to £4O per acre.

The Eev L. M. Isitt reached the other Sunday evening at thiWesleyan Church, Wellington, on the Toperanoe Question. In the course of his rerrrks the rev-gentle-man said for every hutted men who were killed by famine and wi, a thousand were killed by their addictio to drink. In the United Kingdom alone aout 70,000 persons died annually from drin) and this number f did not include a larg< number who died from the effects of intemperance, but whose deaths were ascribed bj their friends to other causes. “ Drink brings shame, not honor ; terror, not safety ; despair, not hope ; misery, not happiness; and with the malevolence of a fiend, oalnly surveys its frightful desolation, and nniatisted with havoc, it poisons felicity; kills peace, ruins morals, wipes out national honour, then curses the world and. laughs at its ruin. It does that and more—it murden the soul. It is the sum of all villainies, the father of crimes, the mother of all abominations, the devil’s best friend, oud God’s worst enemy. •’ These.(said tbo opoeher) Were the words of Colonel Bobeit Ingersoll, and after they had heard that he did not think that one of his hearers could go home and offer trine or spirits to his friends and his children.

" Gernisn Syrup.”—No other medicine in the world was ever given such a test of Jits curative qualities as Boschee’s German Syrup. In three years two million four hundred thousand small bottles of this medicine were distributed free of charge by druggists in- the United States of America to those afflicted with Consumption, Asthma, Croup, severe Coughs, Pneumonia and other diseases of the throat and lungs, giving the afflicted undeniable proof that German Syrup will cure them. The result has been that Druggists in every town and village in civilised countries are recommending it to their customers. Go to your Druggist and ask what they know about it. Sample bottle Gd. Regular size 3s. 6d. Three doses will relieve any case.

The Featherston, Town Band will shortly

appear before the public. The members are very assiduously attending to their practices, and progressing famously.

The Grey town Borough Council are calling for tenders for building a log bridge over the Papawai creek, opposite Mr York’s house ; also for forming and metalling ten chains (more or less) Papawai road, tenders to be in not later than January 4th (Monday) at noon. The Auckland Herald says :—This season a good many settlers have planted sunflowers, the large variety, which, in good good soil, grow so well, giving such abundant returns of seed. Poultry invariably get the benefit of the cultivation of those plants, but it is said that there is no kind of seed that will keep horses in such health, give them such a sleek appearance, and make them lively and spirited, like the seed of the sunflower. It is particularly recommended for giving a horse power of endurance, being fed half a pint night and morning with other feed. Parties growing the seed extensively might give it a trial with their horses. The seed contains oil enough, wnen the analysis gives 40 per cent a-bushel of seed producing a gallon. Even the refuse after the oil is extracted gives one of the best fattening cakes for 0 ittle. It is Worth a Trial.—“ I was troubled tor many years with kidney complaint, gravel, <feo., my blood became thin, I was dull and inactive, could hardly crawl about, arid was an old worn-out man all over, and could get nothing to help me until I got American Go’s Hop Bitters, and now my blood and kidneys are all right, and I am as active as a man pf thirty although I am seventy-two, and I have no doubt it will do as well for others of my age. It is worth the trial.”— (Father.) Notice

A fatal bathing accident occurred last Sunday afternoon in the Tutaekuri River, Napier. Three sons of Mr. J. Williams and auother lad named Birch had been swimming until they were tired, and on returning to the bank, and just before entering a belt of long weedßj Arthur Williams, aged 17, went down. Birch tried to stand, but the water was too deep, and getting overcome was obliged to struggle to land. An alarm was raised, and Messrs Harrup and McVay hurriedly stripped and dived where the deceased went down. They dived, many times unsuccessfully, when a Maori youth in the employ of the Bishop of Waiapu came up, and swimming under water touched the body, which came to the surface, Every effort was made to restore animation but without avail. Mr D. P. Player has an announcement in another column.

We have been informed by Mr Heckler,, of the firm of Varnham and Heckler' sheep farmers, Papawai, near Greytown, that having sold some fat sheep and lambs to the Barber Company for prime Christmas meat, they have been compelled to drive them to Peatberston, a distance of about ten miles from their station, for transmission to Wellington, while the terminus at Greytown is only one and* a half miles distant. The cause of all this trouble is on account of the Greytown station having no platform to admit of the successful trucking of sheep. We understand that in a few days another flock of sheep will be driven to Featherston for transmission by rail. Truly this is a bad state of things. Here is a railway terminus jn the very centre uf a large sheep producing -district and yet the Government do not give facilities to sheep farmers to enable them to send them to market. In bundling them into trucks at Greytown they have to be bandied three times, which damages them considerably, whereas in getting them on board at Featherston they require no handling at all. To drive fat sheep a distance of ten miles, especially during such weather as we are now having, is cruel, but it is rendered necessary by the parsimony of the Government. An old lady who recently died in London bequeathed to the physician who for thirty, five years had assiduously attended on her and ia;*‘ ,fllll J P rescr '' jet * for her ailments, a huge wooden box « “ assive , a “ d heavy, just the box to coii,“ laa ~n , a , Pleasure, say the hoarded savings of tuir.Jfive years. The medical man’s heart was touched, and his fancy fuelled m the delicious discovery he was about to 1T.2- • With trembling hands he hurriedly prized open the precious box, when, lo 1 there met his horrified gaze all the bottles of medicine be had during those long years sent to his patient. So highly had she valued them that shelrad preserved every one untouched, aud there they lay full of physio, piled one on the other in compact layers. Master Alfred Hill, youngest sou of Mr 0. Hill, Lambfcon Quay, Wellington, has been engaged as leader of the orchestra of Majeroni and Wilson’s Comic Opera Company. The engagement will last during the ensuing seasons at Christchurch and Dunedin. It is probable (says tbe Post) that young Hill will next year proceed to Europe in order to continue his studiee either in the Royal College of Music, London, or else in one of tbe Conservatories of Musio in Paris or Berlin. The young musician is only 19 years ol age.

The following reports were handed in at the meeting of the committee of the Wairarapa Bifle Association on Saturday last. The Secretary reported that Joseph Nathan, Esq,, of Wellington, had given a cup; J. Duthia, Bsq., a Morris tube and 500 rounds ; Mr Jenness, jeweller, of Willis Street, a handsome oak biscuit-holder (mounted in nickel silver). A Gladstone bag, given by the Hallenstein Bros. Greytown _is well to the fore in prizes. Mr Grey, solicitor, a prize valued £3 3s; Mr F. H. Wood, a desk £1 ss. The Standaed, Mr Jones, and Mr Jorgensen, value 20s each ; Messrs Veitch and Allan, 16s ; Messrs Clifton, Higgins, Fabian Bros, and Mr Hammerich, 10s each, value. Carterton —Captains Bennett, and Samuell, and Mr McDonald, a guinea's worth each. The President, Major Bunny, gave two guineas, and Mr Buchanan, five. The Masterton and Featherston reports are not yet to hand.

The Minister of Lands has given instructions for a letter to be sent to the Hutt Small Farm Association giving them the -opportunity of selecting 4000 acres in the Mangatainoko Block, near Woodville. The Minister has done sc because he believes the members of the Association to be genuine settiers, also because they have had no blocks of land before, whereas the Woodville and Masterton Associations have had three each. Mr Salience has allowed the Masterton Association No 3 to select 5000 acres at the Wellington end of the same block, with this proviso, that all the totara timber thereon shall be reserved for forest purposes.—Press. Messrs Udy and Gallon, of Matarawa, invite tenders for supplying their new saw mill with logs for twelve months.

A party of prospectors were despatched from Eketahuna on Friday last (says the Star) to prospect the Tararna ranges with the view of tracing to their source certain fragments of gold bearing quartz that have lately been found in the bed of the Makaka stream. The quartz in question was found about five miles from the township, and Mr Tenner thinks it mast have travelled some distance, as it is water warn. The gold is in conjunction with malachite, but judging from the stone, in good payable quantities.

The Lower Valley races taka place on Boxing Day (Saturday), and if the day is fine a large number of visitors are expected to be present. The Stewards have made every arrangement for the successful carrying on of the meeting and the 1885 gathering is expected to be the most enjoyable yet held. Some good horses have accepted, and some fair sport may be expected. According to a dark report, a Dissenting Minister in the Highlands, who was once respected with the best of them, has fallen a victim to the passion for tobacco. Even on week days a minister of the Free Kirk might find something to do better than smoke ; tut so long as he confines himself to poison the atmosphere of his back garden only with his tobacco, a free and liberal congregation would leave him alone. This rash clergyman, however, is said to go further than that. His infatuation for the baneful weed has tempted him to a furtive pipe on Sundays ; and with success he has become over bold. The wild rumor has gone like wildfire through his congregation, that on Sunday nights, when they are supposed to be safe in bed, the misguided man may be seen sitting at an open window in the Manse puffing exultingly at a small clay pipe. He can only be seen from the top of the back garden wall; and it is said that on Sunday nights a row of black beads may be observed peering over it. It is the kirk-session collecting evidence.

A Wellington paper, not many days ago, published a statement that Mrs Dr Potts, who recently lectured in Wellington, was not a woman at all. It was stated that she (or be) had been seen coming oat of an Australian hotel dressed in male attire. There was some consternation among many ladies in Wellington when they read that " she was a he,” for Dr Potts had been in the confidence of the ladies. However, Dr Gilbert, who is now in Wellington, writes to say that Mrs Dr Potts has a family of children, and is well known as a clever woman graduate of the Medical University of Philadelphia. The storekeepers in the Wairarapa have this year paid considerable attention to the matter of providing fine new frait for their cuetomers’a Christmas paddings. In Featherston, Greytown and Carterton, none but the best samples odn be found in the principal stores.

Bush and grass fires have being doing much damage in Invercargill. A prospecting party is about to start for the King country, backed up by Auckland speculators. .Some Wellington residents have had their poultry yards visited. One resident found twenty fowls dead one morning, and on Monday another found four. It is thought that it is the work of ferrets.

It seems to be the ambition of all young wives to look well when anyone calls. A young bride heard a ring at the front door. The maid was out, and she rushed upstairs to “ tidy ’’ a little before admitting the caller. There was a moment of lightning work before the dressing table. Quicker than it takes to tell it, a ribbon was fastened to her throat, a flower stabbed into her hair, a flash of powder on her face, and she was at the door—all smiles and blushes. The “ gentleman ” said he bad the cheapest clothes props that could be bought for money. The butchers' shops in Grey town. Carter* ton and Featherston, are very busy just now preparing for the festive Christmas season, and the display of prime beef, &0., will be equal to any yet exhibited in the valley. The Friendly Societies’ Sports will take place at the Show Grounds, Carterton, on Boxing Day. An impression has gained ground in Grey town and the other Lower Valley towns that the committee have been keeping the programme quiet to prevent com ■ petition from this end as it was not advertised in the Standard. We do not think this is the ease, though the committee have no doubt acted unwisely in not making the programme more widely known. The Observer is seldom seen in townships outside of Carterton and there are numbers of persons who know nothing of the sports. Want of pub lioity is damaging to such entertainments. We are glad to know, however, that this end of the Valley will not bo without competitors in some of the events.

Yesterday afternoon a horse belonging to Mrs Terry, of Papawai, which was attached lo a dray, ran away from Papawai down Humphries Road, Greytown, galloping at a tremendous rate towards Woodside. Just prior to this occurrence Mr Lewis was returning from Papawai with a load of hay, when his horse suddenly took fright at some object and bolted, overturning the trap, and throwing Mr Lewis and his little boy, together with the hay, into the creek. The weather of late throughout the Wairarapa has been very hot, the grass everywhere presents a very parched appearance, and some of the smaller streams have u, ic I up. Yesterday it looked as if a change was impending, but the day passed without a shower, though we hear that in the Forty* Mile Bush they had two hours steady rain. This morning in the Valley the sky became overcast, and a little drizzle set in about 8 o’clock.

m,, t, " • a boy about nine years of The Daily “ Mavins with age, son of Mr Morgan, wniio r - . ° some blasting powder on Saturday, had his face and eyes severely burnt through an explosion, and he will probably bear the marks for the rest of his days.

The appointment of M- Henry Bunny upon the roll of Justices of the Peace has given general satisfaction in Featherston, and we may say throughout the district. We have no doubt Mr Bunny will prove himself a valuable acquisition to the roll. It must be distinctly understood that the tenders for the several works under the Featherstan Road Board will require to be sent in by the 21st inst., [not the 9th of January, 1886, as stated in the advertisement in our last issue. It wiU be seen that the to-day gWei (he ooneet time-

In another column will be found an advor. tisement giving details as to small grazing runs in the Wanganui district, which are to be submitted to public auction at Wanganui, on January 12th, for lease at the upset rentals.

News has been received of a tremendous bush fire raging at Takapau, Napier. Grower's mill and all the workmen’s bouses have been destroyed. The insurances are not known here. The latest news says that the township is in great danger. A serious accident to the Taupo coach occurred the other afternoon. While going down a steep cutting to the Mohaka river the coach capsized. The driver, Griffiths, is rc« ported to be nearly dead, and several passen. gets seriously injured. It is said that the steeplechaser Granville broke his back at the Otahuhu Kacing Club’s Meeting on Saturday. Mr Gallagher imported the horse from Australia not long smce.

Messrs Robinson Bros., of Carterton, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, &c., have obtained a patent for Robinson’s patent wire strainer. This new invention obtained special prize at the late Wairarapa Show. The Carterton Fire Brigade will hold a ball in tho public hall, Carterton, on Boxing night.

A carpenters strike has occurred at Auckland, and 100 men are oat. It arose through a contractor reducing the screw from 10s to 9s per day. Mr Niels Rasmussen, baker, pastrycook and confectioner, of South Carterton, announces in another column cakes in all varieties.

With oar issue of to-day we issue a Christmas Supplement, and wish our readers the compliments of the season.

The Wellington papers announce the death of Mr James Fetheriok, sen., one of the pioneer settlers of Wellington, who died at his residence, Willis Street, at 0 o’clock yesterday morning. Mr Fetheriok, whose death has occurred in his 82nd year, came to.the colony in the barqne Aurora, landing at Fetone in the year 1840. In 1880 be hud an attack of paralysis, since which he has been pretty well confined to bis bouse. On Thursday last he was seized with bronchitis, to which he finally succumbed. We wish to remind our readers of tbe Christmas Services to be held in St Luka's Church, Greytown. On Thursday, Christmas eve, there will be a short service of praise wi hj sermon at 7.30 p.m., and on Christmas Day there will be the usual services at eight in the morning, and at 11 a.m.; tbe offertory at these services will be devoted to tbe choir fund. St Luke's Church will be decorated for Christmas Day as customary. Flowers and evergreens will be thankfully accepted il brought to the Church any time after 1 p.m on Thursday. Assistance in decorating the Church will also be gratefully accepted.

Mr Cotter informs ns that be has been compelled to stop persons from going on to his land, on account of fires having been lighted by boys and others ; particularly as th.'.sa fires might do considerable damage during the dry season. The Carterton Town Board are calling for

tenders for covering in ditch on Taratahi side ol Belvedere road about (5 chains) also (or gravelling and repairing footpath from near Royal Oak Hotel to south boundary of town and widening road. ’ Tenders close on 28th inst., at 2 p.m.

The reopening of the Masterton Presby-

terian Church after the additions that have been made to it was celebrated on Monday evening by a tea meeting. A public meeting

was held in the evening in tbe church. The Rev D. Fulton presided, and there were also on the platform, the Revs Ogg, Thompson, Buttle, Cecil and Paterson.

A free fight occurred at the Otatuhu race

meeting, Auckland, over the running of Snake in the Kailway Plate. Le Sueur, a Southern bookmaker, who had daring the afternoon made himself particularly obnoxious got into an alteration with a jockey named Ted Williams, and after exchanging a new set of compliments with each other, blows were resorted to as a means of settling the little difficulty. The fight was confined for a few minutes to the pair, bat Le Sueur making an effort to strike his opponent when down, a bystander made a lounge at the southerner, which was the signal for Dan O’Brien, the well-known horse owner to sail in. He immediately became engaged in a brisk bout with a man named Evans. O’Brien was

knocked down, and W. Weston rushed in and

got O'Brien away. Meanwhile the fight was going on in a very brisk manner between Le Sueur and Williams. Eventually the police succeeded iu parting the combatants. Don’t Die Iu The House. "Bough on

rats ” clears out rats, mice, beetles, roaches,

bed bugs, files, ants, moles, jack-rabbits, insects, gophers. Eempthorne, Prosser and Co., Agents.

A pious gentleman was invited to dine at the bouse ol a well known citizen. The guest offered a blessing at the table which greatly excited the curiosity of a “ young five year-old ” who was present. “ What was that you said,” he began. "It was a blessing on the food we are about to eat,” replied the guest. “ A what f" “ Why, a blessing; doesn’t your father ask a blessing at the table ? ” " Oh, yes : but he doesn’t say it in that way.” “ How does he say it." “ Why, he sits down and looks at the table and says, ' Oh, the dickens; is that all you’ve got for dinner.”

“ Bough on Corns.” Ask for Wells’" Bough on Corns.” Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. Eempthorne, Prosser & Co., Agents, Christchurch.

The greatest alarm exists at Wairoa, for although fully half the natives there are prepared to welcome Te Kooti, the other ha f are hostile, and it is feared that if anything goes wrong retaliation will be made on the settlers.

The most remarkable thing about Lord Wolseley (says Truth) is the cleverness with which he manages to wriggle out of every failure, or to cast the responsibility upon other shoulders. Of course, he is greatly aided in this game by the gang of parasites by whom he is always surrounded. Lord Wolseley is certainly not popular in the Army, and his last campaign • was an ignominious failure ; and yet he contrives by judicious toadyism and dexterous manceuvrings to secure just the same honors as were granted to Nelson after the Nile and Copenhagen, and a special remainder of his peerage to his daughter—a favour which has hitherto been extended to a new peer only under very special circumstances. "Just the thing for picnics! A table that may be folded into so small a space as to be earned in a man’s pocket, sent, carriage paid,* for five shillings.’’ Those who sent the money got by return a copy of a railway time-table. A menagerie race has just been held in Christchurch, but it was partly a failure. A boy who had trained a cat to run in front of him when held by two ribbons, and a young man who had been endeavouring to obtain a similar service from a young goat, took their standat the starting point- When the word was given Drummona’s goat manifested a perverseness worthy of a Jerusalem pony, and would “ not budge an inch.” The cat, however, was more tractable, and the boy with some difficulty managed to drive her to tuS winning post. Poor pussy appeared mnch distresse4 Vfith fright ftt the finish.

In Sydney lately a man named William Albany Foulerton was put on his trial for arson. The jury brought in a verdict cf ■■Not guilty." His Honor, addressing the accused, said:" I hope you are also acquitted by your conscience." Accused : I am, your Honor.” His Honor: ” You are discharged ; I never knew a clearer case of arson in my life." Skinny Men. " Wells’ Health Renewor” restores health and vigor, cures, Dyspepsia, impotence, Debility. At druggist*. Kemptborne, Btossct $ Co., Agt&to, Christchurch,

Mr F. H. Wood hold* bis usual stock sale t-n the 31st inst., ut tho TVraiah yards. Mr H. Cook's coach will leave Feathers ton for the Martinboroueh races on Saturday morning at 10, particulars can be seen in another column.