The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 237, 13 August 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1879.

In our last issue wo rather deprecated a movement which receives a' certain amount of support in favor of promoting the settlement of bush land. The principal argument in its favor is that the first cost of such land is almost nominal, and for this reason there is a general demand for it among many. We, however, hold that in the long run good agricultural land fit for the plough is for cheaper, however much greater the original price of it may be. With thousands of acres of agricultural land lying in our immediate neighborhood, and with tens of thousands of acres in the Wliareama district all available at fair prices, we do not see the advantage of occupying and clearing bush land until the supply of good agricultural land is exhausted. We have for many years past watched the progress of settlers on bush sections, and have come to the conclusion that in most instances men who have taken them up with small means have slaved year after year with but small return, exhausting their own strength and sapping the vitality of their children by overwork. And after all, what is the result ] They are poor men all their lives, Were, however, such men located on cleared land their struggle for a living would be much less severe, and their chance of securing in the long run a competency would be very much enhanced. The most successful settlements made with bush land have been those effected by the Scandinavians, The immigrants of this nationality who have established themselves in places like Mauriceville, are more thrifty than the English workman, they are more inured to the asperities of a bush life, and can more easily make headway in a rough settlement. The operation of clearing and peopling the bush lands of the country may with advantage be remitted to them. It may also be undertaken with profit by capitalists when money i«' cheap and plentiful. To clear properly large areas of bush requires division of laboi. It is necessary that one set of men should underbrush, another fall, a third log up, a fourth grass down, and a fifth fence. A time will come when bush lands will be systematically cleared on such a method, and it is better to wait till that time comes. In the meanwhile let a Small Farm Association be a genuine thing, Let the farms consist of land capable of being ploughed and not ot standing trees, fallendogs, and stumps strung together with roots. Provided the necessary capital were procured five hundred or a thousand farms might be established in the agricultural lands, of the Wairarapa which would pay the farmers, the colony, and the., capitalist who might advance the ( money necessary to carry

moted by tl! district any

in securing from England .£IOO,OOO or .whatever amount might be required to cany out a genuine Small Faun Settlement, We do not regard with much hope tho prospect of an unlimited number of bush sections being settled, but wo do sec a fair future for those who may be enabled to establish themselves on land fit for the plough,

A meeting of County West ■ Council takes place to-day at Carterton, Tho English mail, via San Francisco,

closes in the Wairarapa on Friday next.

Gentlemen interested in football are requested to attend at the Empire Hotel this evening, The ordinary monthly meeting of the Misterton School Committee will be held to-morrow afternoon,

General satisfaction is expressed ai Martou that Mr Walter Johnston is coming forward for the Manawatu District,

Creditors in the estate of W. J. Prentice are requested to prove before the 23rd inst., when a dividend will be declared.

Mr James Merson, of tho Lake Ferry Hotel has been admitted to the Wairarapa Hospital,

Wo are glad to uotico that In J, S. F. Holmes in expressing his thanks"to those who voted for him in the iecent election intimates that ho will not be detressed from coming forward on a future occasion. At a meeting of tho parishioners of St. Luke's, held on Monday evening, for the purpose of electing a member to represent Wairarapa in the Synod, it was unanimously resolved that C. D. Barraud Esq. should represent them in the Synod.

We have heard from reliable authority that the tender of Messrs Bennett and Potts, Carterton, has been accepted for the construction of the Greytown branch line of Greytown We havo not heard what amount the tender is. The contractors intend commencing work on Wednesday next. We hear that the Empire Hotel had a narrow escape from fire last night, a lodger through some mean's leaving his candle

Dunlins set fire to the curtains of the bed, and the flames rapidly spread to the roof of the room. The fire was fortunately noticed immediately and put out by a few buckets of water.

We notice that a very beautiful life-size statue of St. Patrick has this week been placed above the door of the Catholic Church at Masterton. The Patron Saint of Ireland is represented as clothed in episcopal robes and holding a pastoral staff in one hand, Wo do not think there is a more perfect or pleasing specimen of statuary art in the Colony than the one to which we allude.

The messengers and clerks of the Assembly are grateful to the speaker for securing them half pay for the past session, but why not the members testify gratification to the Government for taclity permitting them to draw full pay. If half pay was ample remuneration for a clerk's service why should it not be enough for a member. We are glad to notice that Mr Beetliam voted against the glaring iniquity, A telegram from Madrid, dated Aug. Bth reports that the King of Spain, while returning from the funeral of his second sister, Infanta Marie del Silar, was thrown from his carriage through its upsetting, and dislocated his shoulder. It has since been re-sct,

A meeting of the Masterton Hospital Committee was held at the Institute yesterday. Present—Messrs D. McGregor (Chairman), J. Bennett, J. V. Smith, J. Payton, J. lorns, J. M. Oirdlestoiie, and J, Yile. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported that the balance to the credit of the Hospital was £l7B. A letter was received from the Institute C( mmitteo offering the use of a room free of charge, also offering the use of illustrated papers to the patients. A vote of thanks was passed to the Institute) for their kind offers, on the motion of Mr J. V. Smith. The following accounts were passed for payment:—M. Hoar, L2 10s; F. W, Hales, Ll7; T, G, Mason, LBlßs 9d; Jas, Thompson, LI 10s Sd ; J. Dove, L 5 8s 9d; Mrs Ewington, 15s Cd; honorarium medical officer, L2O. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Payton, that a sub. committee consisting of Messrs J. V. Smith, Bennett, lorns, and the mover, be appointed to erect outbuildings in connection with the Hospital at a cost not exceeding LGO; also to expend L 5 on garden seeds and planting, The name of Mr F. G, Moore was added to the House Committee.

The Wairarapa Standard says:— On Saturday afternoon, Mr Bunny, while at the Standard Office, received a telegram from the Minister of Public Works, announcing the gratifying fact that the vote for the Greytown Branch Railway had been carried in the House, without a division, and that the tender for the work would be accepted at once, so that no more delay would take place in commencing this, to Greytown, most important undertaking. Later in the afternoon we received a telegram from Mr Beetham to the same effect. As soon as the news was received we took steps to make it known to the public by means of placards, which were distributed The information ought to be more than ordinary gratifying to the people of Greytown, for it means that their Borough will soon be placed, in direct railway communication with Featherston and Wellington ; and it also means that probable for more than a year, or until the Waiohine bridge has been completedand openedfor traffic, it will constitutein effect the terminus of the Wellington and Wairarapa railway. The latter circumstance cannot fail to be in the highest degree, for soma time to come, of the greatest advantage to Greytown; while the former will confer upon it such permanent benefits that it cannot fail to largely influence its future progress and prosperity. It was originally proposed that the turning of the first sod should be fittingly celebrated, as has been done in other parts of the Colony; but we may say at once that if this matter is not taken up with enthusiasm, it had better not be attempted, We observe that at a recent celebration of the kind the Volunteers, Friendly Societies, Freemasons, Good Templars, and school childron.took a prominent part in it, and if this were to be the case here the demonstration,- notwithstanding the season of the year, tho pending elections, aud the prevailing depression, could not fail to-be a success. As soon as the contract is signed, if rot at an earlier date, a meeting of the Branch Railway Committee will be convened for the purpose of taking any steps in the matter it may deem desirable. The no-confidence debate has evidently not been fatal to the cheerfulness of one membor of the Cabinet. The New Zealand Press News, speaking of a late press dinner says ;—Mr. Sheehan attended, and made himself very entertaining, singing

We are sorry to learn that Mr J. G' Rockel has had to make a declaration o f insolvency. The. tot meeting of credi" tora is fixed for August 18th.