The Mairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 333, 6 December 1879, Page 2

The Mairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

After the late general election our attention was forcibly drawn to the public inconvenience resulting from Featherston being the site of the chief Courthouse in the Wairarapa, when from the number of votes polled it was indisputably evident that Masterton ought to have been the chief polling place. We also pointed out that the legal business transacted at Masterton was so much in excess-of that desI patched in other centres of population that it was imperative that this Borough should be made the centre of the legal business of the district. Relieving that not only in the interests of Masterton but that in the interests of the Wairarapa as a whole a change in the arrangements of the KM. Court in this district is necessary, the question naturally arises, What steps ought to be taken to give effect to it 1 We believe that if the matter were brought in a proper manner under the notice of the Hon. the Minister for Justice no difficulty wjuld be found in adjusting the inequalities which now exist and in improving considerably the administration of justice in the Wairarapa. We have not since we last referred to the subject urged action, simply because the political excitement which has prevailed at headquarters has not been favorable for the due consideration of small grievances. Before, however, the session closes and the Hon. the Minister for Justice leaves the seat o; Government it would be as well to get the matter settled. The question may be raised in Masterton either by a public meeting or by the Borough Council. If the former course were adopted complete unanimity would no doubt characterise the meeting, but we are disposed to believe that a deputation from the Borough Council waiting upon the Minister for Justice would carry more weight than any public ; meeting would, The members of the Borough Council are the acknowledged i representatives of public opinion in the 1 Borough. It is also their duty, whenever they find an opportunity for serving the interests of the town by taking the lead in any public movement, to do so. . We respectfully suggest that the Borough Council should appoint a deputation to wait upon the Hon. Mr | Rolleston in this matter. The time ' must come when the change we indicate must be effected, and the present is a very fair opportunity for placing the question fairly before the Government,

Wis regret to say that diptheria i 8 now prevalent in Masterton. We hope Councillors will study the Public Health Act a little. The responsibility of securing the public health rests by law on them, and if by carelessness or inattention to suc\ responsibilities epidemics are permitted to spread in the Borough, they are morally responsible for any loss of life which may result therefrom. We cannot, we are sorry to ,say, come to any other conclusion than that the Council has hitherto almost ignored its obligations under the Public Health Act. We doubt whether even some members of the Council have read it! End they done bo we do not for one moment believe that they would allow dangerous stenches and ex halations to exist which they have full power to abate and repress. We put it to any Councillor if, after reading the Public Healths Act, he can lay the flattering unction to his soul that he has fulfilled the pledge he gave on taking his seal, when he solemnly declared that be would faithfully and impartially execute the powers and authorities vested in him as a Councillor. These powers and authorities include the Public Healths Act, but we fear that the Council as a body hardly realise that, such is Hie case.

The Queen is suffering from a seveo cold. Entries close to-night for the Waihengu Race». . Tenders close on Monday ? or the work required by the Masterton Hospital. Licensing inspection of carters take* place.to-day, between 12 and 2 p.m. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Masterton Hospital Committee takes place on Tuesday next. A cricket match between the Greytnwn and Carterton Clubs will be played in Carterton to-morrow, The New Zealand Loan and Mercanti'e Agency sell at Custom House Quay on the 10th instant, wool, sheepskins, and tallow.

Mr James Linton, well known in Marterton,has been returned to the Mayoralty of Palmerston North, liy a' nnijurity of 41 over his opponent, Mr Coleman.

Active work is going on in reclaiming a portion of the Tauherenikau race course. The late floods assisted the contractors considerably by silting up an embankment.

The meeting of the Gieytown Borough Council had to be again adjourned on Thursday evening for want of a quorum, Bevoral member* being away on private business.

An open meeting of Star of the Valley Lodge,l.O.G.T., Carterton, takes place this evening. The meeting is to be addressed by Messrs Speight and Andrews, M.H.IU

An unpreposessing male came into our offico the other day, and enquired if we belonged to the Masonic brotherhood. He suemed a little disappointed when we replied in the negat.ve, explaining that he wished as a Mason to obtain credit for an advertisement for a billet as station cook, Colonial Masonry must be deteriorating, Several special prizes are offered for the forthcoming Greytown Horticultural Society's show on the 11th instant, So far the following is a list: 10s best gkdioks, 10s for best roses, 10s for best design of a four-roomed cottage, 12 gooseberry bushes for best 25 gooseberries, 12 apple trees for best 6 dessert and 6 cooking apples, 5s for best penmanship for girl under IG. 5s for best table bouquet, 5s for best hand bouquet; besides which there is a special prize'of six pot plants (lint we have not yet learnt for what), and promises of leveral others.

Mr W, E. Chamberlain, of the Feilding Flour Mills, is now in Masterton. Messrs 0. A Briggs & Co,, announce their cleaving sale will be continued from the 6th to 13th iust., at the hnpire Store. Sir George Grey and Mr W. L, jieet are writing a book. It is a matter of congratulation that they have at length found an occupation which will keep them out of mischief for a short season.

TheGreytown branch line is causing some anxiety in the minds of a few. Such rumors as " the Government do not intend completing it, but making a good metalled road along the present formation to Woudside," " that it is not intended to build a station," &c, &c, but we opine that the Government know pretty well what they intend and can do, and that before long something definite will be made public.

We direct special attention to Mr T. 0. D'Arcy's announcement in another column of a coach to the Taueru. We learn that it is the owner's intention to run the vehicle through to Oastl» Point, a3 soon as the roads permit. Mr G. Phillips, well known on the MastertonPalmcrston line will be the coachman, and as he is also known to be a first class and obliging driver, we have no doubt the promoters will receive a fair share of j patronage.

We had an opportunity of hearing the Greyt'iwn School Band yesterday, and considering that when started a short time since, most of the boys could not sound a note, and that now many of them cm read music and the company play a ve m 1 tunes, we think they are making rapid strides. Active practice is being indulged in, so that the boys moy make extra attraction for their friends at the furthcoming picnic, The directors of the Wairarapa Sale Yards Company met at Featherstc n on Wednesday last, to consider Mr Wood's motion to abolish all entrance fees for the nex" six months. This was carried, and titer some discussion and in view of all revenue censing, the Secretary, Mr H, H. Woliers, offered to resign at any time. It was then decided to call for tenders to

lease the ya ds, the lessee to charge no entrance fees and to act as secretary to the Company. At a meeting of the members of the Greytown School Cricket Club the following oflicers were elected: Mr Porritt, President; Mr Buck, Vice-Preiiident; Messrs D. Baillic, W. Judd, W. Tully, W, Knell, and W... Udy, a Committee; Mr Porritt, Hon. Treasurer; W. Knell, Secretary; W. Bock, Practice-Captain; W, Judd, Match-Captain. It was arranged to play the return match with Fe.ttliershm on Saturday, the 13th December.

Mr Lee completed his examination of the Greytown school on Wednesday even-' ing, and proceeded to Carterton. We understand he will commence with the Masterton school on Monday. The following is the result of the Greytown examination, and which must be considered as highly satisfactory to the te:ichers and.a'l concerned:—Number of children on the buoks, 245; present at examination, 228; 94 boys and 84 girls were sent up fur elimination, out of which 16 boys and 68 girls were classified as. follows. 45 in Standard 1,'37 in Standard 11, 35 in Standard 111, 17 in Standard IV, 6 in Standard V, and 4 in Standard VI. Out of the 178, % had made less than the 250 attendances,

His Honor Judge Mansford held a District Court at Masteiton yesterday. The proceedings only lasted a few minutes, In the first case called, W. Morrison v. Travel's and Duncan, application for a new trial by defendants,, Mr Bunny stated that he had been requested to inform the Court that Mr Travers withdrew his application, The second case was an action for .damages brought by T. W, Shute against It, Fairbrother for the sum of £IOO. The clerk of the court stated that the summons had not been served mtlieiently early on the defendant. Mr Bunny pointed out the hardship which his client sustained by the case not being proceeded with, as Mr Shute had a witness in attendance from Wellington, The Court said that there was no alternative but to hold over the case for the noxt sitting on the second Friday in February, A meeting of the Town Lands Trustees was held last evening. Present—Messrs itenall (chairman), Feist, Wrigley, Gray, and Perry. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A depu'ation from the Masterton School Committee waited upon on the Trust to ask for a grant of £2O for the purchase of iin harmonium for the use of the public school. It was decided on the motion of Mr Feist, seconded by Mr Gray, that a sum of £2O be voted to the School Committee, to be paid in January next. A ißtter was read from Mr Cuff re a meeting to be held by the Greytown and Masterton Trusts on Monday next for the purpose of making an arrangement respecting tlio Greytown town belt, The other business was not of any public interest.