The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARYS, 1875.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2375, 3 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARYS, 1875.

The Fire Brigade and the-public are at rariancq. The Brigade must be supported, and its Captain urg-es in a longletter in our columns that it has not received that encouragement from the community to which its claims entitle it. We have read Mr Bobinson's letter to find to what extent the public have refrained from contributing- to 'the'maintenance of the Brigade. But we have looked in vain. Nor would it have been out of place to 'show what efforts had been made..to test the practical sympathy 'of that public which is so indefinite in form, so.subtle and so sparing in its responses. We confess we think the-Brigade largely to blame for that want of material support necessary to maintain it'i'ir a state of efficiency. The organization of the: Brigade leaves nothing : to; be • 'desired,■ and therefore, feeling'its own strength when some unfortunate occasion should call it "into action, it resents the. apparent indifference which refuses to see that it cannot go on. without money. Metaphorically it raises its back and says,— < 'ifyou do not relax your purse strings, we cannot practice or keep our engines in repair.' The- Council 1 a further obligation than the claim to' contribute £'20 a year. They say that the non-rateable property exceeds in value the rateable —which by the way is open to a great deal of doubt. It ouo-ht to be remembered that the houses partly"exist for the sake of the merchandise, and any way; are so closely related that we question the prudence of drawing a distinction. But the Council, it is said, cannot afford, more ; and that is always reason sufficient. The Insurance Companies have great risks, and an obligation rests upon them to assist. They do contribute about £15 a year, the Captain of the Brigade, acknowledges they have behaved handsomely, and we suppose that, contrary to first impressions we must accept the combined efforts

as being Adequate to the amount represented iv the policies coveringproperty in town. Wo learnt from an officer of. the Brigade that the sum of £70 Would be ample to meet cveiy call on the Brigade in the year. JNow we have the materials for ascertaining what the public arc expected to do, while the Brigade might inform us what they have left undone. The Corporation contributes £20 a-ycar; the Insurance Companies £15 \ leaving £35 to be made Up by public contributions* What organised system has been adopted to test the willingness of the community to subscribe such a small amount? A portion of it, no doubt, has been given, and the difference is the cause of all those tears. If the Brigade "will pardon us for saymg so, their impecuniary cries appear to arise from a slight confusion of ideas. Where is the balance sheet, with the estimated expenditure on one side, and the items received as income on the other? We want to know exactly how much of the £35 the public have refused to contribute. The difficulties of the Brigade certainly do not appear very formidable/ and they have doubtless been magnified by the members from the absence of any clear statement being placed before them. The public will understand their own shortcomings when some person with a knowledge of the accounts will explain by a proper arrangement of figures the financial position. Till then" the charges of want of support will retain that shadowy form which precludes nil practical effort to remedy the grievance.

The sweet melody of the English sky-lark has lately startled and delighted the inhabitants of Waikanae and Otaki, bringing to the recollection many happy associations. The little songsters which have made their way so far down the coast must either hare belonged to one of the lots lately liberated in Wanganui, or else must have made their way across the straits from Nelson. The residents of both races enjoy greatly the sweet notes of the little stra-ugers. . Mr J. Freeth has been appointee! Sub-Im-migration Agent for the Wairarapa. The works on the immortal Harrison St. drain, in reference to which F. S. A. will be associated for years to come, were commenced this (Wednesday) morning. Mr Oakes, the contractor, beiug a practical individual, who believes in results before experiments; theories, or ornamental colouring, will probably complete his contract in °a substantial manner, and thus give satisfaction to the Corporation and the public. A Boatiug Club is beiug started at Wai--1 roa. This looks odd for an inland township with no river, but nevertheless it is a fact, and the first boat id in course of construction in Mr Swinbourne's yard, It is intended to be launched upon the Oturi Lake. This lake is a good one, but the Waiau is a lake fit for a regatta. Some of the petitioners for separation from the Wanganui-Waitotara Highway District, not being pleased with the delay proposed by the Board in carrying out the separation, have requested the Superintendent to allow the separation at once. The reason the Board gave for wishing to postpone the division of the district is, that it would be hardly possible to arrange the accounts in the middle of the year. If the Dr. and Cr. account in each Ward is really in existence, where is the difficulty in closing any such Ward account at ten minutes notice ? Any business man would find it very simple.

Mr Brewer will have his bauds full for a day or two. The Storm Bird brought nine immigrants, all single men, and English, last (Tuesday) night, and the Manawatu! which arrived this (Wednesday) morning, about fiftj'-six Scandinavian. There are eight or nine families among- them, the remainder being single men. We are glad to see such a change for the better. Families are right enough when houses can be procured for them, but under present circumstances many a man is kept idle simply because he cannot find a dwelling for his f amily.Thef oil owing tradesmen are among the immigrants per Manawatu : —Tailors, bakers, blacksmiths, 1 joiner, 1 painter, 1 saddler, 1 shoemaker, 1 dyer, carpenters, farm laborers, &c. The Manawatu landed about fifty immigrants (Scandinavians) at Foxton.

We regret to learn that there is no likelihood of any agreement being made with ' Messrs Claridge and Timing for the removal of night soil. At the last special meeting of the Borough Council it was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Mayor, who, we understand, has been unsuccessfnl in his attempts to make an arrangement with them.

The nonsuit yesterday, in the case of the Corporation v. Millar, has taken everyone by surprise, and we are sure none more so than Mr Donniston himself, the counsel for the defendant. We cannot say which side had the weight of evidence on. its side, as the nonsuit prevented the defence from being gone into ; but it appears very clear that the whole case should have been heard, and decided on the merits. The set-off being put in aud admitted, showed that an equitable judgment was expected at one time. The evidence for the plaintiff went to prove that the articles were in Mr Millar's possession at the time action was taken; and what evidence was adduced that they Avere not ? The whole case affords an additiona reason for a: change in the Waii"anui Resident Magistracy.

The following telegram has been going the rounds : —■" It is stated on good authority that Mr Creighton will take the editorial charge of the Southern Cross, and that Lruckie will be removed to Wellington to conduct the Times." Mr Luckiehas denied the. canard.

A congregational meeting will be held in Trinity Church to-night, when the Rev J. Berry will explain to the congregation the business transacted at the Wesleyan Conference lately held in Auckland.

Two unusually bright meteors were seen at 9.40 and 10 o'clock respectively last (Tuesday) night. The first of them appeared to fall almost perpendicularly, while the second passed from west to east with extraordinary rapidityj for a few moments everything appearing as bright as in sunlight.

It will be seen by an advertisement in another column that Mr Joseph Chadwick will sell by public auction to-morrow,at 12 o'clock, at Mr W. Handley's, Nukumaru, a number of sheep, horses, and cattle.

In addition to the entries already announced as having been made for the Wanganui Jockey Club Handicap, we leani that Messrs ! Mcßae and Nicholson's Firetail has been entered. The letter in which the entry was enclosed not being addressed to the Secretary i Avas the cause of it not being published with the others. This raises the number of entries to twenty. The handicapping will be completed on the Bth inst, when the weights will be published. Business at the Resident Magistrate's Court this (Wednesday) morning was confined to a small debt case. For a long time the wharf has not had such a busy appearance as to-day (Wednesday). Both the Storm Bird and Manawatu were busy discharging, the latter beingcrowded with the immigrants she brought up. At the same time bales of wool in-' tended for shipment were brought- on to the wharf ready to be put on board as soon as the last box or barrel was taken out of the hold, the work being pushed on in order to be ready for this evening's tide. Caterpillars are said to be ruining the har- ! vest prospects in the Wairarapa. The News says that one farmer cut about forfcv acres, and the straw will be the principal return. We learn by telegram tha Mr John Heslop's Snowdrop has carried off the first prize for cows of any age at the Hastings, (Hawke's Bay), Stock Show. Mr Heslop also takes the first prize for the best yearlin" heifer with Fairy. We are glad to see stock from this distict carry off first prizes in a district so far-famed for the superiority of its stock as Hawke's Bay, and the settlers will join with us in congratulating Mr Heslop on his success.