THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 273, 25 September 1879, Page 2

THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

To the Editor of ih Wairarapa Daily. Featherston, Sept. 24 Sir,—l see a letter in the Standard signed " Settler" questioning your leading article on the Pastoral Society. "Settler" appears to me to be a very fellow. I hope we ha,ve not many of his; stamp in the district or we would soon* have no valuable institutions in the Wairarapa. Any institution or business that will not stand daylight is better out of existence. Let" Settler" fork out a couple of hundred pounds as special prizes for the forthcoming show and we will respect him, but don't let him try to carry on the Society under a cloak. I Wrote a letter some time ago dead against the Society's position, which did a lot of good, for it made a number of large farmers pay up their subscriptions, and now the Society is in,a far better position as far as money is concerned. I believe the Wairarapa Daily in printing that letter was a true friend to the Society, and so am I, If settler keeps his own financial position under a cloak, hidden from himself and others, I would not give much for him. A true man will not be afraid to sign his name,— lam, &c, W. McKeever. THE BOROUGH RATE FOR 1880. [To the Editor of the Wairarapa Daily.] ' Sir—Yourcorreapondent, "Ratepayer," in Monday's issue deserves our thanks in having brought this matter before the notice of the public; but I think, in the hands of the two gentlemen who have been appointed valuers, the ratepayers may rest assured that a fair and honest value in accordance with the depressed times will be made. _ I wish your correspondent had gone a little further, when giving a quotation from the Rating Act, and added : " But such value shall in no case be less than five per centum upon the selling value." I infer from this that when a fair annual rental cannot be ascertained, the valuer then would only be justified in fixing a rate upon what he would consider a fair selling price; but with houses and tenements this difficulty, I fancy, would not arise, I was in the Land Tax Assessment Court in Masterton. last month, when I heard one of the present valuers declare upon oath that certain property near the Waipoua was only worth a certain amount, ana if this was his honest conviction the ratepayers may reasonably hope that the rates within the borough for the next year will not be so excessive as those imposed by incompetent valuers. _ The Borough Council were wise in inviting tenders for the office of valuers, as it places the work outside of interested parties who are dependent upon the rates for their salaries.—l am, &c, Householder. THE FIRE BELL. * To the Editor of (he Wairarapa Daily. Masterton, Sept. 24. Sir,—Would it not be a good plan to secure a piece of land in a central part of the town to erect a bell-tower and lookout station; also, for eventually erecting an engine shed and other buildings in connection with the Fire Brigade. No doubt eventually it will be necessary to have a stable attached, and it would be, I think, a good plan to at once secure the land and erect a bell-tower and look-out platform, similar to what there were in Wellington some time ago. They were about forty feet high, of light frame-work, and not very expensive. By inserting these few remarks you will oblige—Yours, &c, W. 0. M. P.S.—There is a vacant piece of land adjoining your office I think would be suitable. THE GREYTOWN CEMETERY. * (To the Editor of the Walurapa Daily. Sir,—l have read in your last issue, the lamentations of your correspondent, "Pro Bono Publico," respecting the unsatisfactory way in which the Greytown Cemetery is managed, for there is no spot I believe, that should be more respected or loved, or that should command our attention more than that where the remains of our dear departed ones are resting. By some blunder on the part of our members in_ the Provincial Council, the reserves which are now known as Park and Cemetery in Masterton, were handed over to the Education Board for educational purposes, and were leased to Mr Bannister, to whom we had to pay one hundred pounds for his interest in his lease, besides about thirty pounds for law and other expenses before the Education Board wonld hand over the section to the trustees, About the time referred toby your correspondent, I regret to have witnessed the desecration of our Cemetery by mobs of cattle on their way to the Wellington market, but in our then little community, there was one active spirit who fortunately was not on the books of the lessee, and who pointed out the evil and injuiy inflcted on the inhabitants by taking away from them the section of land originally intended for Cemetery and recreation purposes, ■

The efforts of "Old Settler," ably assisted by our then little Masterton paper-before it assumed its present large proportions as a daily, and leading journal of the Wairarapa—were crowned with success. The Provincial Government, of a which Mr Bunny was the leader, justice of the case, and, yielding '|fij|f|f wishes of the people, brought invpfUg House of Representatives a bill the Greytown and Masterton Public Parity and Cemetery Act, empowering the Edu- \ tion Board to reconvey to trustees the reserves which each township now occupy for park and cemetery uses. The Greytown people, however, had no debt to clear off on their section, but Masterton was crippled for some time before Mr Bannister's claim could be met. By your correspondent's letter I would infer that the Greytown reserve is yet in a wilderness state, while that of Masterton appears to be the "Lily of the Valley." I do hope that some active spirit will soon be found among the good people of Greytown who will take up his pen, like "Pro Bono Publico," in behalf of their cemetery and park, and that at no remote period both will be a credit to the people and the district in which they live.—l am, &c,

Observer, In the matter of improvements the Greytown Cemetery is, if anything, in advance of Ma»terton,—Ed, W.D.]

To the Editor of the Wairahapa Daily. Sir—At a recent meeting of tlio Greytown Borough Council it was proposed and carried that the town ho lighted, which is a very essential thing. Every town should ho, particularly those that have a Borough Council. It is to be hoped that as soon as tlio Masterton Borough Council are in a better financial position that they will have street lamps erected. The Corporation of Wellington might have the lamps still on hand that a.were in use prior to the introduction of gas, which they might sell at a moderate price. The custodian of the Town Hall would, no doubt, for a reasonable considethe keeping and lighting of them. It is a thing that would be appreciated by the public at large, especially pedestrians.—i am, &c,, Laot Post. Sept. 23rd, 18?9.