WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 21, 17 June 1871, Page 15

WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

MEAT PRESERVING COMPANY. I was in hopes I should have been enabled to state that the whole of the shares in the proposed Wairarapa company had been taken up, and that the Hutt project had been abandoned ; but I am not able to do so this week, though I am informed that there is a probability that I may do so next. I am requested to state that the Hon. Mr Wateihouse's absence from the late meeting at Greytown was entirely accidental, as he had not seen the advertisement convening the meeting until after it had taken place. He takes a great interest in the success of the Wairarapa company. I understand he contemplates taking a trip to Canterbury shortly, where he will obtain much valuable information on the subject of meat preserving, which will no doubt be furnished by him to the shareholders in the local company, of which he is one of the provisional directors. AUCTION SALES. During the last month or two a series of auction sales of drapery and clothing have been held in this district, under the direction of Mr Gilligan. The first took place at Greytown, when Mr James Smith submitted to the hammer a large quantity of clothing, which, considering it was a cash sale, realised fair prices. The second sale took place at Featherston, when Mr J. H. Wallace officiated as auctioneer, and when a large quantity of goods, for the supply of hands at stations, was disposed of. THE PERMISSIVE BILL. A movement is being made in Grey, town in favor of the Permissive Bill, and a memorial for that object is being prepared and will be ready for signature atMrMoles's during the current week. Mr Fox has kindly consented to deliver an address on the subject at the Town Hall, Greytown, in the course of the present month, and if a moonlight evening be chosen there will be, no doubt, a large attendance of settlers from the surrounding country. In any case he will be sure to have a large audience. I believe I am right in stating that the honorable gentleman would have no objection, while in the distiict, to deliver an address at Masterton, if a general request be made to that effect and a suitable room obtained. There will be a difficulty in obtaining such a room for such an object at Masterton, but none whatever at Cartertou, where there is a Town Hall, and where weekly temperance meetings have been held for some time past. The friends of temperance in the district feel delighted at the prospect of Mr Fox's visit, and very gra f eful for his kindness in so promptly complying with their wishes. AUCTION SALE. On Friday last another auction sale took place at Featherston, Mr R. J. Duncan on this occasion being the auctioneer, and when drapery and clothing were purchased for cash in some instances at prices which would have made the mouths of "Wellington storekeepers water. Is it not strange that with all the complaints about hard times and scarcity of money, which are no doubt just, compared with former times, when the orders of shareholders were as good as bank notes, and farm produce realised remunerative prices, cash can always be found when bargains are supposed to be offered, and also for other objects not so beneficial, if more tempting ? THE HIGHWAYS BILL. There has been some talk about getting up a public meeting at Greytown to petition against the passing of the proposed Highways Bill in its present shape, but now it is found that it is going to be referred to a Select Committee the meeting will probably be postponed. There are very few persons who do not approve of the principle of the bill as defined by the Superintendent, or making liable the whole landed European property of the province to contribute towards the maintenance of the district highways; while there are very few persons who believe that the proposed machinery is the best adapted for the purpose. I believe I am right in stating that the ratepayers generally would have preferred that the boundaries of the present road districts should have been retained or rectified, and not abolished ; grouping a number of them together for the purpose of maintaining those " through" or county roadsin which

the whole of such districts were interested, as in Victoria. The objection to the valuation rate is not so great eow it is found that it is to be unaccompanied by plural voting. It has been pointed out to me that holders of short leases and holders of native leases will not receive justice under the rating clauses of the bill, and it is thought the distinction between a making and repairing rate should be retained. I was surprised to hear one comparatively largslandowner express himself iu favor of a general land tax, and his gratification! that a plurality of votes would not be allowed. But if neither ratepayers nor road boards can determine the maximum amount of the rate required, which in the case of repairs would be much less, an 3 in the case of construction much more than that fixed by law, plural voting will not be necessary as a protection to the large ratepayer. It is of the first importance that a really good highway bill should be passed this session, and no bill of the kind will give general satisfaction. It is an old observation, the truth of which has been forcibly exemplified in the present instance, that an object will present very different appearances when viewed from two opposite standing points. While I was first disposed to look upon the bill as an attempt to ignore the principle of self-govern-ment, and to prevent self-taxation for local works ; others consider it an iniquitous attempt on the part of the Government to impose direct taxes upon property, the rights of which they are disposed to maintain, and the duties of which they would gladly ignore. I confess after hearing these opinions my objections to the bill were considerably modified. THE EDUCATION BILL. Few copies of this bill have at present reached this district, but, as described by the Superintendent and his executive, it has met with almost universal acceptance, as in the yeij large majority of cases in those school districts in which the old law was in operation the ratepayers generally will have to pay a smaller rate than that which they had imposed upon themselves, while parents generally will be enabled to get their children educated at much less cost than that which is now incurred for this purpose. The law will do what laws should do, compel the performance of those social obligations which many without sucb compulsion would shirk. The religious difficulty, which has been made so much of in England, Ireland, and the Australian colonies, does not appear to have any existence in the Wairarapa. The settlers generally, though of coursethere are many exceptions, would prefer that education was made compulsory. A strong objection will be made against the abolition of school districts, and of all local control in school management,, when it is generally known that this is one of the provisions of the act. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. A rather important case came before Mr Wardell at Featherston, on the 6tb instant, in which Mr J. Thompson,, formerly the landlord of the Aurora Tavern, Wellington, and since recently of the Featherston Hotel, was plaintiff and Captain Cleland defendant. The former claimed from the latter £IOO, alleged to be due for wages as servant of the defendant at the Featherston Hotel, of which Captain Cleland is the proprietor. After a long examination the case was dismissed. The same plaintiff then sued the defendant for £25 on account of an agreement which had been made, under which the defendant had arranged to pay son £25 on condition that he never annoyed him again, and desisted from further attempts to obtain money from him. After hearing the evidence for and against the claim, the Resident Magistrate dismissed the case on the ground that the defendant, being an uncertificated bankrupt, had no power to sue.