The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 701, 7 March 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1881.

None but a fortune teller is able to read intelligently the lines which cross and recross the palm of a human hand, and in a similar manner it requires an expert to decipher the statistics given in our issue of the 4th inst,, of the receipts and expenditure of the Wairarapa West County. Mr Buchanan gave one balance-sheet, we in a rather rough calculation indicated a second, and Mr Pharazyn, who had access as Chairman of the County to the official records, gavo a third. Of course, as far as figures are concerned, tho last statement must be accepted as conclusive, but in apportioning amounts to localities there is ample room for argument ; and while, on the one hand, Mr Buchanan exaggerated the amount spent in tho Forty-Mile Bush, we can hardly accept Mr Pbarazyn's declaration that not a single penny, lias been spent there. The expenses of administration in the County for the period subsequent to Sep., 1878, amounts to £1235, a very modest sum as contrasted with the amount of its own revenue and the special funds which it lias expended on behalf of the General Government, Had, however, the County never undertaken the execution of public works its expenses would probably havo been less than half what they have been, and at least a moiety of them should in fairness bo allocated to the debateable land. Tne revenue of tho County from subsidies and license fees, less that portion of it which is yet unexpended, lias been about £5250, The sum expended out of it within the different Highway districts has been about £3360, leaving a balance of about .£1934. If from this be deducted the sum spent in administration there is a residue of £7OO, which lias been divided between Local Boards and County hospitals. We think that even Mr Buchanan will admit that the County has been administered by an able' Chairman, assisted by an able Public Works Committee. His objection is to the policy of tho Council in undertaking what, in our opinion, has been a great, necesary, and bene'iicial work in the Forty-Mile Bush. From a mero Highway Board standpoint Mr Buchanan is in a measure right, but from a County point of view we regard him as altogether wrong. The discussion which has already taken place may bo regarded as, a little skirmishing practice prior so a serious .engagement, The real question is, what is to ho the future of our Counties? Are they to eat up Road Boards, or Bond Boards to eat up them? Are there to 'be County rates, as well as Highway Board rates, or can one rate be made to suffice for both bodies? The past lias been pretty clearly revealed, the unsubsidised present, the impecunious now, is tolerably familiar, but it is the future that is really the burning question. It may be deemed that County East, as so little has been said of it, is in an exceptionally favorable position, but though it has- been left alone it is really less robust than County West, and wants something done for it quite as much as its neighbor, The first step to strengthen both Counties should, in our opinion be amalgamation

Tlio election for the Masterton Rabbit District takes place to-day.■ : A meeting will-, be held this evening at Masterton to organize a Juvonile'Templar Lodgo. "■ The services in 'the, Presbyterian church Masterton, were'conducted' yesterday by the Rev Mr'Doujl of Rangitikei.- , . Wo understand that a rise -of 2s per 100 in tlio price of timber in this, district is contemplated, as current rate 3 are unrcmunerative, . Mr Yaldwyn the Government auditor was in Masterton on Saturday last, There was a fair mu'ster of the Masterfori Volunteers at the Church parade yesterday. Mr C. Mclvillop .is the successful tenderer for carting MrT. Chapman's timber from Musi's Burnett and Yule's mill to Eketaliuna. Anotlioi' accident accurred on Saturday, though also not of a serious character. A young lady and gentleman wore riding to Masterton, wlieir the horse <f the former becoming friglitenol, began to kicll and out iis companion's legs so severely that it was unablo to proceeed on its journey, and was taken back to Grey ; town.

Madame Lottie Wilniott struck at the editor of the Napier Telegraph with a riding whip, in tlio street on Friday, saying, " That's for the insult last Monday." The " insult" was contained in a notice of her lecture on " The Devil," which stated that the lecture was valueless and uninteresting. Six months ago we stated that certain of the unemployed at Masterton, complained that lliey could not make a living at the bush work olfored on stations. To show that the fault lies with men and not with masters, wo are able to quote an authentic instance of what'a good hand really can do at such work. La3t week Mr W. Buchanan of Gladstone, paid off a Scandinavian who had been working for him for 26 weeks, principally on bush falling. After deducting from his account the supplies lie had obtained during the six months, he had LB7 cash to handover. The Scandinavian had earned his living and £3 7s Od per week over and above it for each of the 2G consecutive weeks. The usual monthly meeting ofUhe Greytown Scliml Committee lias beSn postponed to Monday evening, the 14tfi' inst. at 7.30 p.m., owing to the Horticultural Society's Show on Tuesday next.

The Kev Archdeacon Stock will conduct the service at St, Luke's Church, Greytown, on Friday evening next. The monthly meeting of tlib Wairarapa Hospital Committee will be held at Greytown to-morrow afternoon, at 3 p.m. The party that went up the Waiohine Gully some time since havo reached home. They report that they went up the Waiohine as far as the gorge, then across the ranges to another branch of the same river, up to the snow ranges, and home by the Tauherenikau River, We understand that one of tho party intends publishing their trip, so we will leave it in his hands to state their experiences.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, received, yesterday, the following produce telegram, dated London, March I, 1881 Wool: Competition is decreasing, and quotations are on the average |d to Id lower than at the opening. Up to date 90,000 bales have been sold. Wheat: Market firm; Adelaide is worth 40s Gd; Victorian, 49s 6d; and New Zealand, 47s per 49Clbs, Tallow: Market quiet; best mutton, 36s Gd ; best beef, 34s per cwt. Leather: Market quiet*; best sides, llj-d per lb. Mr W. Witton, blacksmith, South Greytown, whose workshop was destroyed in the late fire at that place, has put up a new smithy, and re-commenced work. • He has bean a considerable loser by the fire, the large workshop, tools, etc,, only having been insured for L7o, while his loss of time is a serious item. However, with the customary philosophy and energy proverbial of blacksmiths, ho set to at once to mend matters, and had the satisfaction of commencing' work again on Saturday, We understand tho National Insurance. Co., with whom the building etc., were insured, havo displayed great promptitude in settling the claim, the amount, less salvage, boing, paid over on Saturday last.

The lunatic, Thomas Moody, who recently escaped from, the Wellington Asylum, and was captured-at Featherston by Constable Lamia,.on Thursday, was brought back yesterday, and again safely lodged in tho Asylum. It appears that after escaping lie found his way to the Lower Hutt, and went to Fraser's Hotel, where lie got dinner, but had no money to pay fur it. Thence he seems to have gone to tho Railway Station, and got in a train for Featherston; and the fact of his having no ticket, and his somawhat incoherent explanations, led to the suspicion that ho was insane, and to his subsequent arrest. MrEvans, of Lambtonquay, who came down from' Featherston yesterday, took chargo of poor Moody, and had no trouble at all with him nnMl reaching Kaiwarra, where, just before the train started, his charge made a sudden rush from the door of the carriage, on the seaward side, but was stopped, and with a little persuasion was induced to take his seat again. At the Railway Station lie was taken in charge by the police, and quietly escorted back to his old quarters, His stolen trip into tho country has evidently done him no harm, as hereemed quite rational in his conversation during tho journey to town.-N.Z. Times.

An accident, fortunately not'attended by serious consequences, occurred on the Taratahi on Saturday evcnin", Mrs Bunny, of Gladstone, was driving down from Masterton, and on passing a trap, her horse showed a strong inclination to atop, and she struck him with the whip. The animal objected to this, and kicked over tho shaft, breaking it and backing tho buggy into the ditch, to the imminent danger of Mrs Bunny and another lady who was in the huygy with her. Mr R. Bright, who was driving up to Masterton, immediately jumped out of his trap and ran to tho assistance of the ladies, quickly extricating them from their uncomfortable position. It was found that'one of the shafts was splintered, and the harness broken, but there was plenty of flax near, and tho damage was Boon sufficiently repaired to enable Mrs Bunny to proceed oil her way.. Mr Fisk, who had been informed of the occurrence, kindly sent a buggy to the scene to replace tho damaged one, but the latter was by this time ready to resume the road, and Mrs Bunny decided to proceed in it,

Strangers paying a visit to and upcountry settlers arriving in Masterton 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 &00., Hall of Commerce, offer special advantages in this line which cannot be met with elsewhere, their stock being the largest and'best assorted in the Wairarapa. Their prices, are lower then any house in Wellington, their good* are all new and of the most durable ol ss, and they Bell cheap and for cash, ■ Tb a establishment is situated directly opposite; the Club Hotel. Remember the addressSchroder, Hooper & Go,', directly, opposite the Olub Hotel. Read their advertise* J ment on the front page of thia paper,— I Advt . . ■ 1

:Tlie extra weekly trains between Featherston,, Masterton, and intermediate stations commenced running on Saturday last. ' They were not very well patronised, owing probably to the fact that the timetable has not yet become generally known, having only been, published "the day before, The arrangement is a very convenient one for the publio. One can now leave Masterton on Saturday for Featherston'OT any intermediate station either at 10 minutes to Bj-or 6 minute s past 10 a. m; half-past lor 5 o'clock p. m. Trains leave Featheraton for Masterton and intermediate stations at -20 minutes past 8, 10 minutes to 11, half ; past 6, and 10 miii\ites7. Trains leaveGreytown branch station.at 10 minutes to 8 (passengers for Wellington go by this train), 2 minutes past 11, and 2 p.m. for.Featheraton, and at B minutes to 9, 10 minutes to 11, 3 o'clock, and 5 minutes past 7 for Masterton. Of course in this statement we have included the ordinary time-table aa well as the extra'one; The table for the Greytown branch does not exactly harmonise with the ordinary time-table, which fixes the arrival of the ordinary train from Greytown at Woodsideat 7.5 p.mi, while by the foriher table it only leaves Greytowu at that time. The passengers for Wellington, too, by the branch line are compelled to travel by the extra 7-50 train. People would not greatly object to this arrangement if they were taken on to Featherston, and allowed to wait there for the ordinary train; but this is not the case, travellers having to wait nearly an hour at the comfortless Woodside junction. The whole of the extra work devolves upon the staff on the Greytown branch line, and keeps them employed almost without intermission throughout the day, the stationmaster acting as guard to the extra trains, We understand the work could be done much less hurriedly if the extra trains were allowed a shorter time in which to accomplish ' the journey between the stations, As they have no stoppagesfor shunting or taking on trucks, the time allowed is obviously too great, and if lessened, tlio service could be performed much moro easily, and the public would be better satisfied,