The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 701, 24 February 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881.

• Our contemporary, the Standard, in a recoilt article, niiikes the following r statement on the. expenditure of local s bodies in the Counties of Wairnrapa 6 East and West:—"And yet during the past financial year we spent, according to the .Registrar's Statistics, over'£72oo in administering ut revenue of £38,368. This matter of local government is one that concerns (lie country people most, All the money 1 that is needlessly paid away in management is money diverted from its proper function—viz, local improvement. The withdrawal of the Government subsi- ' sidies may have the effect of reducing the number of our governing bodies—a reduction which will prove that we are returning to the paths of sanity. We want to start afresh from the-he-1 ginning on a simpler and cheaper plan. One local governing body Would surely suffice for the requirements of 8000 people. We lmye no right to ask for more, as we cannot afford to pay for more. The extravagant and superfluous character of our local legislation will find many parallels throughout the colony. No change such as Mr Pharazyn points out as being 1 expedient, i.e., the amalgamation of the t two Counties, will- suffice to answer 3 the public necessities —because we have local bodies still exercising juris- [ diction within conterminous boundaries," Statistics always want a'little r qualifying, and - our contemporary, ? quite unintentionally, is misleading ' .when it declares (hat over £7200 was ' spent in'administering a revenue of j £38,368. The returns from which the j figures are taken give for the your ending in Morel), 1880—Revenue, £38,368; salaries, £3,035; other expenditure, £4,202, The mistake into which our contemporary falls is classing "other expenditure" as part 1 and parcel of the expense of administration. As far as we can form ; an opinion it is anything but this. It is," . on the contrary, made lip of such items as tools, timber, roadmen's wages, repairs to roads, and numberless other sums which cannot justly be classified as administration expenses, If the case, as made out by our contemporary, were correct, our local self-government would be absolutely ruinous, but to ascertain its real cost a more .careful analysis of the expenditure is necesr. .sary. If our contemporary takes any • one local body as an example-i-say the Greytown Borough Connoil or the : Featherston 'Highway Boardr-and obtains, as it readily can do, full details of its expenditure, itfillfindftat

the 'expense*,; dve,;' .no'tltiiig like half#e' general; Svliicli it lias estimated; fri)mij;l»i|iQyr eriiment retnvns. ;!We cordisvllf agreed the general principle. p(an\algamation, and would apply itU\Wrevcr ;r advaiv tage is to be obtained' from. its'uaclop- : tioni Our contemporary ■ says '-'the;'! union of the two Counties will jicit' .suffice, to answer the public necessities, iajt.it must,' fromits- own arguments,, admit that the proposal is a step-iiv the right direction, and we hope to' have its assistance! iii bringing .about a 'cliange which'will tend to economise administration, as well as render more efficient our-local self-government,.;. ;

■ Professor Haselmayer plays at Greytown tins evening. ' ..... -i

Mr -.Wardell, : R.M., holds his usual Fortnightly sitting at Masterton to-day....

Wo arc.glad.ro .see that our contemporary, tlio Post, joins us in opposing the proposed removal' of the. refreshment room from Kuitoke to the IJpper'Hutt..''

Mr C. J Freeih notifies that he will open a class for instruction in the -Maori''' language in Carterton'' at Mr Gole's office on Monday next, the 28th hist., at. 3 p.m. - '■ . The Caswell Sound Marble Company has been floated, "and a 'meeting- of shareholders will bo convened at ; an early date.' Active operations will commence oarlv in March. •''"'

• The Speaker of the House of Commons \w adopted further stringent rules for the suppression of disorder in the which have-caused ..indignation to theRadical and Irish members. •

Last season (says an exchange) a Lees--ton former was offered Is lid per.bushel for his barley, but, thinking it insufficient, ho sent the barley home, and. realised 2s 9:} d free of all charge. At the R.M. Court, Wellington, on February 22nd, Sarah Young summoned Andrew'G. Bayliss for a breach of the Destitulo Persons' Act. Complainant deposed she had lived with Bayliss eight ycars,-and had -had three children, only one of which" was alive. She expected to be confined of another, the father of which w'ss Bayliss;; Bayliss had left lier. and gono into tho country. He had been; sending 10s a week for the child, but had stopped it. An order for 12s a week was made.—N.Z. Times.

Oiir quiet little township (writes a correspondent from Featherston)' was the scene of unusual excitement on Tuesday last, consequent upon ■ the marriage of MissF. Fata to Mr J. Smith. .The event has been looked forward to with considerable interest, as it was known that preparations had been i n course of progress for some time past to celebrate the event in style. Miss Faber, the bride, is the daughter of the well-known landlord of the' Club Hotel, and Mr Smith, the bridegroom, now of the Defence Department, was for a considerable time resident in Featherston and Masterton, and is well-known throughout the Wairarapa. The ceremony, which took place in St. John's' Church, was imiiressivelv rendered bytho-RovH. Vere White. Tho bride was handsomely attired, and was attended by six bridesmaids whose drosses would have been d credit to any city modiste. On returning from church, about forty guests sat down to a sumptuous breakfast, when the usual toasts were given, and enthusiastically . received, The happy pair loft by the afternoon train. A ball was given in the evening, and Humorously attended, Wo have had the pleasure of inspecting a series of water-color sketches, recently taken by Mr H. Grant Lloyd, of the scenory in and around Auckland. The skoteb.es are graphic in detail, and show the handiwork of a master, though morely intended as the groundwork of more 'elaborate efforts. Mr Lloyd, some few. months ago, took several.similar sketches in and around Wellington, and which were then spokon of in terms of commendation. He informs ns that he is returning to Masterton, where for a short time lie sojourned previous to visiting Auckland.;and will tliero make further additions to his views, and afterwards again visit this city.-He is open to execute commissions, and his undoubted talent as a water-color artist deserves encouragement. He brings high testimonials from' Sydney, where he formerly resided.—N. Z. Times.

Tho Rev J. 0. Andrew, writing to the New Zealand Times on tho question of "Temperance Lessons in Schools," says: —" The Stato raises large sums annually by taxation to relievo parents from the. natural duty of providing education for their children. Many feel this grievance,but tho case would-ha worse if the education so provided were made the'means'of propagating the opinions of a sect, whether religious. or alcoholic.. ' Your leader this morning,, notwithstanding the formal proviso inserted in it, seems to me to have a dangerous loaning in this direction. Opinions differ very, much as to. what is temperance. Is the Koran right? ''Wine is an abomination of-the works of Satan; avoid it." Or is the German prelate right, who to make his sormon, preached at Coblentz, practitical, denned temperance as not exceeding, three bottles of wine (I presume Rhenish or Moselle), or six of boor-(l'presume Bavarian) daily? I may hold either view, or neither, but in any case if seems reasonable to object against schools 'maintained by taxation from the whole community being < used for insinuating .the doubtful theories of a party. The State fines a man.for being drunk and disorderly, and the State schools may consistently tell their pupils this. With the disputed question of tho duo' use of fermented liquors, I agree with .the Canterbury papers in thinking they have nothingto do. Tho Trustees of tho Cartorton Rabbit 'District held a mooting at the White Hart Hotol on Tuesday last. Fresentr-Messrs Nix. (Chairman), Boys, and H. Braithwaito. The Treasurer reported the balance at Bank to. tho crodit of Trustees to bo £l7 7s 7d. Tho following accounts wero passed, for payment:—Lyon & Blair, india-rubber stamp and apparatus, ifil 4s; Secretary, on account of salary, J'l2; Payton & Co,-, advertising, £ll7s, The Inspector's report showed that folks were doing their'best to keep down tho rabbits. Mr Boys, in a mostablo'specclhrsliowMg. that.while acting as Trustee he had exercised his'pbwe'rs of'vision and judgment 'in a, manner it. would-, be, advisable.fol". many .of our 'landownersoutside of office"' to do—pointed out'that the majority of the rabbits now" being 'destroyed were of a young growth, and that the only way to eradicate tho pest was by energetic shoot-. nig, snaring, hunting with dogs, the latter of which,- lie. considered, would provo the most efficacious, .as soon as the hot weather passed off. He urged, that at a given period united .action should\be taken throughout the-district to extirpate, the rabbits.: Mr Braithwaito supported the view, taken by Mr Boj's.' The Secrer tary was instructed to,'re-write the.Colo--riial. Secretary, with'-'a 'view of obtaining assistance in destroying the rabbits on the/ Crown .lands on -.'the hills., A, Vote; of. thanks.to Mr Nix.for the able manner ;in which he had filled the" .Chan; duringther past yearbroiightthe meetiiig'to a close. • j

.'■ -1,400 iiit merino wethersare advertised for sale at led Station, ;. ■- /' - ; '

■:jfk\ meeting is convened atthe Wliakatald iS:otel,;bh March 2nd, view to organising •festerßaces.:..'..'; ■ : "'■"•■' : '-'

.Our Feathesrton .corespondent reports that t}ie .wife of an old Bettler,;Mr.'WiUiam Spearink/isdead;..

candidates lor ..the "IVlagtdrlort Rabbit ■District' 'takes place and !Wrigr 'ley , s;premEe^,;J.' : " ;^n' ; '■ "V;-;'\ J >, :> Mb G'eoi^e\Sffii§i;iias ;been .apjjpinted Ran'gei , ;to'the.Mas^

We.ai'e glad to notice itliat special trains are ahnoiuioed for tlle'i-Gai'terton Ram many •jwuliva!ltheniselyos.pf the'exka facilities -offeredfo/tfafellnigpflthatlday.. ~„f . '.

, We'understandtliat.it has;heen'.decided,to,'.bring;. fbi'\Vai'd Messrs;. R. Welch, S. Stewartr.Gv-Gundei'sonj.J. Hai-yey, sen., and B, Hare as an opposition party for election-..0f Trustees for the .Masterton' . Rabbit; District. • It is • expected that the' ~h6lders.'of-smaU'--ipr6pertie¥ will be, suffi-. iciently. strong in • voting ; power;to - carry them in,-" •;,; '..-■".■'"'•'•.•"'

•A-;meetiiig.;ofi'the; Committee of. the Masterton Horticultural Society was held in the Goiincil-Ghambers-last evening, the •Vice-President, Mr- J. Vile, in : tho chairThere wa'S'a.goodattendance of members. Itwas decidetl tdholcl the autumn show on'Wednesdrty, gnd'Marcli'.. Judgesfrom alsostagers,a-hd'stewards.,' 'Mr Gardner •was'appointed doorkeeper,'and the Masterton String'.Bahcf engaged for .the day. The, sqc'retary'was instructedto call attention...of exhibifprs. toftlie .dosfrability of malcihg,.entries, early,;-,-All outstanding accounts wera.passed and paid. -We trust • though'but a'short notice is given of the coming-show, to s'e'e "exhibitors make an effort to keep upthe; reputation of former, -exhibits, both as regards the number and quality of.the, entries. " ,

The'lrishmembers..indignantly repudiate the charge that.they are in the pay of the.Land League.; ....A girl, 8 years'old,7named Slellin, at Tiniii,"was severely burnt on Tuesday last. She was engaged in cooking at a fire, when hor dress caught, and. before it be extinguished she was severely scorched; Late last night a messenger came into Masterton to obtain the necessary lotions,

: In the House of Coinmrms on Tuesday night, the Home Secretary, Sir William .Vernon Harcourt, in reply to a question, made a statement, in the course of which he virtually admitted that letters suspected to contain treasonable correspondence had been oponed in transit, through the post. The statement gave rise to a lengthy discussion in the House, and the Press generally refers to the matter at length in their leading articles, various opinions being expressed as la the action of the Government.

..Thereis,extreme disagreement among the New York reporters as to Sara Bernhardtjs personal appearance. She mustbe a porefct chameleon, or as Scott puts it, " variable as the shade by the light quivcringnapen leaf made" Take lier.eyes, fur example.- The" Herald "didn't notice them; the "Sun " says they are ", blue" ; the "Times" says" black":the "Tribune" "greyish blue "; the" Star" "trick eyes" The " Herald "says her nose is " straight and slonder" j the" Sun " that it is " aquiline and prominent " ', and the other papers wobble between these extremes. Different journals report that she is "pretty," "hard-looking," " fresh " •' faded, "" tall, ■"" short, " " not so thin." In the" Herald " her hair is "•a perfect shower of golden.curls "; in the "Sun'' it in" yellow and fluffy " ; another reporter makes it : " bright rod and frizzled. " Even the ornaments upon her bonnet aro in dispute. The" Herald" calls theifl " wolves''heads opening their jaws and showing their fangs in a. very threatening manner. " The ■' Sun. "says there was only ono head and that it was a fox's; two heads, says the " Times," and those squirrels'. Whon reporters dilfer, shall decide?

An American journal, which claim j to havo trustworthy statistics, has been calculating the number of theatres in Europe, and announces thd sum total as 1542, Italy stands at the head of the list, . In that country there are 348, and Prance domes next with 337. After this wo reach a gap, and then follows Germany with 191, Spain succeeds with 168, and then conies Austria with 152, as against England with 150. Hero a«ain comes a wivD', for Russia is next with 44; Belgium 34j Holland 23, Switzerland 20, Sweden 10, Norway 3, Portugal, 15, Denmark 10, Greece. 4, Turkey 4, Roumaiiia 9, and Servia.l.' With so many theatres .it. is a strange that we havo -so few new plays, seeing 'tliat' a successful novelty on the stage in almost-any country is worth a small fortune to the lucky author.. But as regards original' dramatists, the. cry is " Still they—do not—come,"'

The tricks and stratagems of war in the Basuto. country ■ are something akin to those which gamekeepers adopt in the destruction of "verrnm." The following extract from a private-letter,'written by a rifle volunteer, appears in the Cape Times on the 20th December last:-" We wont out for seven days' patrol, which expired on the 14th instant, but on the 2nd the colonel sent for fresh supplies for seven days.. The first seven days were spent on the scene of our wood patrol, where we had two fights and a night attack, accounts; of-which I have no doubt you have already received. Beforo leaving, thinking that ■ the.niggers;wonld like some amusement, a hole was dug, in which was placed one pound of dynamite. A carbino was buried and fastened by a string to an ammunition case,'so that when anyone opened the case to boo what it cantainod, the carbine, would go, off and explode the dynamite, thus causing the amusement. As soon as we started, I went off to the ridge, where we had lunch on the day of the wood patrol, to watch the effect, but the niggers funked the guns, and would not go near until we were well out of sight. Just'before we arrived at our present laager we heard the explosion, and scouts oh the ridge state tint a crowd of niggers assembled in the laager, and that four spied | lie case and made for it; at the same time oiie opening it and three looking ..on ;..the next instant there was an earthquake—and the- four Baautoa disappeared. The crowd made tracks, forgetting in their hurry to take their horses, which galloped all over the country, Doubtlessj this. will have a wholesome effecUnd cause them to fight shy of our ;^j»ih|jpljces.-" paying a visit to and upcountry settlers arriving in Miisterton are often at a loss to know .which is the cheapest and best house to purchase all kinds, of General Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, &c. Schroder, Hooper & Co., Ball of Commerce, offer special- advaritagesJn.this line which cannot be met wjlh elsewhere, their stock being the largest and* best assorted iiv the Waira?' rapa, Their prices are lower then any house in.Wellington, their goods are all new and of (he most durable class, and •they sell.cheapandfor cash.. This establishment is situated, directly opposite the Club Hotel; ;Bemember the addressSchroder, Hooper & Co. ,• directly, opposite the;Glub .Hotel;; Read their; advertise- < merit on t))§ front: page of'this paper.-r----:ADVT;.' ; : : ; ■'" ;f*',y •■;:,' ''"■:■:[ J;;7 :.;;>.i