The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1880.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 393, 19 February 1880, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1880.

'We published the other day a summary of the banking returns of the Colony for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1879, A comparison of them with the returns for the corresponding period of the previous year is apparently satisfactory and reassuring. In December. 1878, the banks were overtrading, and if there were not a marked change between their position then and now, we should view with some apprehension the prospect of a rapid commercial revival in New Zealand. The marked change is, however, plain and palpable, and every indication given in the return of 1879 as compared with that of 1878 leads to the conclusion that the banks have righted themselves, and are now sailing along very comfortably. Since December, 1878, the total lia bilities at the banks have been reduced by about two millions of money, a contraction equal to about 20 per cent. This process has naturally been accompanied by a reduction of assets, but as the latter contraction only ameunts to about a million and a half, it is evident that the banks, while doing a smaller business than they did in 187(5, possess an additional half-million of capital. Financial safety has thus been secured by an increase of capital and a diminution of business. Going more into detail, a comparison of the returns we have referred to shows that the note circulation has fallen off about 9 per cent, on the other hand, while the supply of coined mecal has increased 20 per cent. This is a satisfactory change. Paper money is all very well, but specie is much better, and it is a healthy sign to observe the latter taking the place of the former. The other marked changes in the two returns are the large reduction of that white banking elephant the Government deposits, a moderate falling off in general deposits, and lastly a marked decrease in discounts. Some nine months ago there was in the minds of many persons a slight apprehension as to the position of the banks themselves, The returns published, however, for the quarter ending December, 1879, are quite sufficient to remove any lingering doubt which may have survived a firmer period of distrust.

' Tenders close on Saturday next for purchasing a refreshment and publican's booth at the Ram and Ewe Fair at Carterton on the 26th inst.

lorns & Fergusson sell on Saturday next 70 Lincoln rams, circular saws, trolley-wheels, and other articles in York Bros, estate.

All accounts against the Wairarapa Jockey Club, over the last race meeting, must be rendered to the Secretary not later than to-day,

Tenders are invited for the lease of 52 acres of land at Akura, and 226 acres at Potirau, in the estate of the late H. Bannister; Tenders close on the 31st of March.

A correspondent informs the Southland Times that the fanners in the Mataura district have fixed the wages of harvest hands for the present season at 9d per hour and found; and that many of them have secured on these terms all the men they require. They (the farmers) consider that in view of the present low prices ruling for grain, they canuot afford to give more. Our friend idds that, straDge as it may seem, new comers are the greatest stickers'for big pay., .Men who confess to having been working but recently for one shilling a day and not found, in the old country, grumblingly " set in" for six shillings and ample rations,

The N.Z, Tunes' domes the''rumor that fllessrs Wakelieid& Bain, Mil, K. 's, liavo anything to do' iyith the /proprietary of. the journal, ' v - ■, ' While .1 reaper was at Work on Mr James Scott's farm, Waiwera, Balclnrliu, ..in. Tuesday,, .afternoon, ..the. In iise„sh,|c,(l„, and tlie tiller,' a iiiaii iiaiiie'd' Ou'ueau 'Mfc : " Kenzie, fell on the knife, and his left, foot was cut clean 'off a few inches abuve 1 the ankle. Dr Errligh of' Clinton, was sent for, and did what was necessary for the sufferer, who is doing as well as can' be expected, Mr T. E. Price has received from Mr J. H,. .Hudson, of the well-known sewing machine depot, Cuba-street, Weiington, an assortment of machine oil, needles, and the thousand and one things necessary to every description of sewing machine.

A contract has been let for £9588 for' completion of the nave of the Ohristchurch Cathedral and temporary sanctuary of wood and iron. This is exclusive of £307 for tiles, and £2OO for window-glass. The available money is only £7OOO, but the Church property trustees think that when . s ®B 'he building approaching a state which will allow service to be held in the walls, they will come forward more .liberally subscriptions, and relieve them frflili any embarrassment. The work is expected to take fifteen or eighteen months to complete. Extensive frauds have been discovered at Ota«o in connection with the sales of spurious gold by Chinese at Cromwell The manager of the Colonial Bank there detected a parcel of 90 ounces, containing one-fourth spurious gold. Ah Sin has been arrested at Naseby through Chinese influence. The banks at other places have purchased small quantities of spurious gold. It is believed that an extensive spurious gold manufactory exists. We are glad to notice that the Waira■rapa Institute, Ccreytown, is continuing to progress. During the last few months 200 new volumes have been, added to the Library, and many new periodicals, including the Scientific American, to the reading room. .The Committee are now making an effort to form a museum, and solicit contributions toward that object. I his institution was established on a firm basis, and is supported solely by contributions, and deserves encouragement by the residents of the district, The annual subscription is only 15s, and should be within the reach of all. We would point out that every new subscriber increases the income of the Institute by 30s per annum, i.e., 15s subscription, and an equal amount from the Education Board.

One Mrs Van Auken, of San Fraucisco, installed a Chinaman in her kitchen. The following conversation took place:— " What is your name, sir ?" asked Mrs Van Auken. "Oh, my namee Ah Sin Foo," " But I can't remember all that lingo, '"J man, I'll call you Jinnny." " Velley welle, Now watchee namee I callee you," asked Ah- Sin, looking up in sweet simplicity. " Well, my name is Mrs Van Auken ; call me that." "Oh, me can no 'membel Missee Yannee Auken. Two big piecee namee. I callee You Tommy-Missee Tommy."

Writes an lowa correspondent to the Rural World" I wish to caution sheep breeders, and especially those who have but small flocks, against the ruinous practice of using poor rams, as it is a losin® game every time, Suppose a man has but fifty ewes to breed; the difference in the lambs will pay for the cost of a good ram, for a good ram will get a good lamb that will produce at least one pound more wool to the head each year thau a poor one, besides giving you a much finer carcase. New suppose you will raise fifty lambs each year for two years (as long as you ought to use the same rain) you will have 100 lambs. Now lib each year for three years, 'will make 3001bs of wool, that, at the very low price of 22 ce 'ts, per pound, will bring you 06 dol.; besides you will have a flock of young sheep that will bring at least from 50 cents to 1 dol. t more per head than those your scrub ram would have brought you, making in this instance another gain of 50 or 100 dol. in favour of a good ram. Now this will make a difference in the produce from 50 ewes for two seasons of considerably over 100. dol. in hard cash, to say nothing about the pleasure of caving for a good flock over that of a poor one. I think that such a buck as you could buy for half the amount of the above profit, would make a greater difference than I hs.ve figured on in the above. So you see that, instead of being too poor to buy a good ranij you are too poor to not buy one. Always get the best, and it will pay a profit for raising, while scrubs won't pay their keep. Don't say that myjestimate is too high-it is,in fact, too low."'

Wc take the following from the Post. i The identity of the psrsons referred to will ' be recognised by many of our readers. A statement of this kind cannot be allowed 1 to rest without further enqu : ry :—" A curious narrative has reached us durin<» . tie last few days. About six months ago a well known solicitor of Wellington received a note from an inmate" of the Mount View Asylum, asking him to come and see him, as he was conSned there entirely without cause. The solicitor at once applied to the Government for the necessary order, which he obtained. An interview with the patient convinced him that the case demanded investigation. He next obta'ned permission for Dr Diver to examine the supposed lunatic. The result of this examination was that the patient, who, we may explain, was a well-to-do farmer residing in one of the Wellington country districts, was pronounced perfectly sane and immediately released. About a month ago the released Mr A came and informed the same solicitor that his wife had given him into custody a day or two before for using threatening language to her. He was imprisoned for one night, and in the morning no one appeared against him. He informed, however, by a friend that another warrant for lunacy was out against him, and he sought the solicitor's advice as to what he should do. Dr Diver, being satisfied that the man was perfectly rational, again, interested himself in the case. This time he took Mr A— to Dr Johnston, and an hour's complete examination resulted in both doctors agreeing that the man was in full possession of his reason ii) every sense of the word. Mr A subsequently accompanied the solicitor to his offics and made a fresh will, a former one having been drawn up unreservedly in his wife's favor. Since this has been done we believe ■the persecuted one has not been molested. There are two points' about the story as related to us, which, if correct, demand enquiry. One is a statement that Mr A—while in. the asylum was not allowed to commuiiicate with his friends, and after some months' confinement only succeeded in getting a letter sent to the solicitor by promising to pay and paying a bribe of £5; the other is the man's assertion that one of the doctors who signed the certificate was a personal enemy, with whom he had an altercation some time previously. We may have occasion to refer to this.curious story agaih. |

. ~;Mr J.' Oi Vallanoe >: ad vertiß os merino iams for sale, r , office of tlnspapor, wishes to'purchase 20 co 30 cows. • ■

Additional entries have been received fir I lie Rain and Ewe Fair, mating a total

Has'. been commenced-at Nelson, ancl from all sides tHe hops 'are reported abundant and of good quality;''"

The New Zealand Timeß appeared yesterday under a new proprietary, Now il has ceased to be a company newspaper ii may be expected to be m> ra successful than heretofore. We wish Mr J. 0. Harris every success in his new enterprise.

Mr Firth, of Matsmata, Auckland, has over 1,600 acres of wheat, which is said to be the largest quantity of grain on any single estate in the North Island'. It is understood that next season he proposes to lay down double the quantity, 3,000 acres having been ploughed and made ready ,for sowing,

We (Rangitikei Advocate) understand that Mr Robert Elliott, a gentleman well known in the Rangitikei district some years ago, is about to assume the proprietorship of the Junction Hotel at Sandon. It seems' strange that changes should so often occur in the proprietary of so excellent an hostelry. .

Mr Mansford, R. M,, on Tuesday took the depositions of Mr T. Hutchison, The claim is one for rent of offices at Carterton, and the depositions are to be iorwarded to the Wairarapa, where the -case is to be heard.

The following are the fixtures of the Greytown Cricket Olub for matches to come off: —Saturday, 21st February, in O'Connor's paddock, First Eleven v. Twenty-two, at 2 p.m.; Siturday, 28th February, in Stewart's paddock, Masterton G.G., at 10 a.m.; Saturday, March 6, Stewart's paddock, Lower Valley C.C., at 10 a. m,; Wednesday, 17th March, Basin Reserve, Wellington, Bohemian C.'C.,' at 10 a.m. We are glad to see that the Greytown Cricketers are not yet content to rest on their well-earned victories of this seaaoiij but avo determined to add more .tq ..the number if possible. They still practice vety regularly, and we wish them success' in all their forthcoming matches, as we feel quite sure they are deserving of itj'aa they seem to believe in the well-known adage of" practice makes perfect." We would like to see the,other Clubs in the Valley go in for some good, steady practice, as we hear there is a combined Wellington team cominp up at Easter, when all our best men should be in good practice to meet them. We look forward with interest to the match to be played on Saturday between Featheraton and Carterton in the latter place, and we hope to see the best representatives from both places present,