FATHER O'REILLY.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 14, 6 April 1867, Page 3

FATHER O'REILLY.

We learn with feelings of regret that the Very Rev. Father O’Reilly is about to leave Wellington for Ireland-; and it is consequently with the greatest satisfaction we learn that un address, numerously and most influentialy signed, is about to he presented to him on the occasion. We cordially concur in every sentiment contained in the and we are sure that the whole of our fellow settlers in this district who know, or have heard of, Father O’Reilly would gladly •attach their names to the address were they afforded the opportunity of doing so. Wellington, we fear, will be long before ■she looks on his like again. The address is as follows; “We, the undersigned inhabitants of the City of Wellington and its neighbourhood, haying heard with considerable, though selfish, regret, that you are about to leave this feel that we cannot allow you to go from us without expressing the high sense we entertain of your personal worth, and also of your self-denying labors.

“Being most of us members of other christam communities than that to which you "belong, we are the more strongly impelled to show that we thankfully recognise, and cheerfully do honor to Christian zeal and benevolence, by whomsoever those graces may be exercised.

“Having—at least some of ns—had the priviledge of knowing yon for the long period of twenty-four years, we are bound to testify that we have ever seen in you a charity that has known no restrictions of country or creed, hut that has ever prompted you to aid in the relief of distress or calamity, both by joining ■with your fellow citizens in public efforts, and by your own private ministrations, where, inmost instances, your kindness have only been known to the receipients and to the Allseeing. “In bidding you farewell, we therefore wish you to believe that you will go accompanied by our warm sympathies and grateful recollections, and that our prayers to the Oiver of all good on your behalf, will ask for TTis gracious protection for you in your visit to the laud of your fathers.”

LOCAL NEWS

In consequence of a pressure on our space, several communications will have to stand over until our next.

A Wholesale Pilferer.—A man by the ramp of Cugley passed through Greytown from Hawkes’ Bay about the 23rd March, and while doing so relieved sundry clothes lines of their contents, and committed other robberies of a more serious nature. He was apprehended at the Upper Hutt by Police Constable Lyster, on information received by him, and was taken to Wellington. Subsequently he was remanded to this district, and on Thursday last the charges against him were heard before H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M., at the Greytown Police Court. The first charge, that of having stolen a sword and belt from a store belonging to Mr. Boys, was dismissed from want of sufficient evidence. The two next charges that of having stolen sundry articles of wearing apparel from the clothes lines of Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Campbell were clearly proved, a part of the stolen property being in his possession when apprehended. For the first offence he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, and for the second offence, a similar term of imprisonment, to commence at the expiration of the first sentence. He was then charged with stealing clothing of the value of £lO from a bale in a shed belonging to Mr. Skipper. To this charge he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He was finally charged with having stolen a pair of mole trousers from one Andrew Bovey, he having sold the said trousers to the prosecutor the day previous. As, however, the evidence was not sufficient for a conviction the charge was dismissed.

Wairarapa Band. —We are happy to announce that the above band will play -in Mr. Ticehurt’s paddock, Main-street, Greytown, this evening, at seven o’clock.

Concert. —We direct the attention 'of the public to the advertisement in another column announceing a Concert at the “ Rising Sun,” Greytown, on this, and Monday evening, for for further particulars we must refer the reader to the programme,

East Wairarapa Election.— -It will be seen from our advertising columns that the electors of East Wairarapa will at last be afforded the opportunity of choosing whether they will have Mr. Revans or Mr, Andrew as their representative, as the return of the latter gentleman by his proposer and seconder on the day of nomination has been declared null and void through the Government not having allowed sufficient time for the return of the writ. We trust that this time the friends of Mr, Revans will bestir themselves to secure his return. We shall have more to say on this subject in our next.

.Bush Fires. —Of the nine minor cases dis-' ptfsed of at the Resident Magistrates Court, Featherston, on Wednesday last, there was one only that possessed public interest. This caSe was Cundy v Potts, a claim for £2l 165., being the amount of loss sustained by the plaintiff through a bush fire made by the defendant. The evidence was conclusive as to the cause, of the fire, but as the plaintiff claimed not only the value of certain wheat stacks destroyed, but also the loss incurred in precautionary measures taken by him to prevent injury being done to his property, the, Court adjourned the case for judgement until the Ist of May. It cannot be too widely known at this season of the year that any one can claim damages for proved injuries sustained by a fire which has spread to his land from that of his neighbours, if the fire has been wilfully lighted, and the adoption of every means to prevent its extension to property belonging to another is not placed beyond a doubt. Electric Telegraph. —We are happy to announce that the poles for the Electric Telegraph between Greytown and Wellington are now placed on the ground ready for erection. These poles have been properly squared and •charred, and appear to be of a very superior and substantial character.

Wairarapa Market.—A meeting relative to this subject was held at the “Rising Sun” on Wednesday last, when owing to the unavoidable absence of several gentlemen whc took an interest in the question, the meeting was adjourned to Wednesday, April 17. An announcement to this effect will be found in our advertising columns.

Rifxje Prize Firing.—The firing for the district prizes given by the General Government took place at Featherston, on Saturday last, when T. Benton scored 47, C. Keys 47, and J. Cundy 40. T. Benton, it will be remembered, won the 3rd, or £SO prize, at the Colonial Firing last year. The tie between him and Keys -was decided in favor of the latter. On Wednesday, at the Greytown Rifle Range, Keys fired with Tankersley for the medal given by the General Government to the best rifle shots in the district, when the former was' again victorious. On the same day R. Greathead of the Greytown Volunteers scored 44, thus winning the 3rd prize for the district, which would have been transformed into the first prize had Greytown been in the Masterton instead of the ’ Featherston district. The Featherston Volunteers having as rifle shots, eclipsed all competitors, having won the medal and the Ist and 2nd prizes given by the General Government, the Ist and 3rd prizes given by the Provincial Government, which last year they carried off the cup and the 3rd prize at the colonial prize firing. While all will admit that the greatest credit is due to the Featherston corps, we think it will be also conceded that the high numbers obtained by members of the Greytown, Masterton and Carterton corps will contrast favorably with those obtained by members of any other corps in the Province.

Featherston. —A meeting of the Board of Wardens of the Featherston Road District was held last week, when it was proposed and seconded that a rate of six-pence per acre should be levied on all lands within 40 chains of any line of road on which money was proposed to be spent —four-pence per acre on land beyond that distance and up to 80 chains from the road, and two-pence per acre on all lands beyond that distance. This proposal was met by a motion for adjournment until the 2nd June in order to enabable the Wardens to ascertain whether any action would betaken by the Provincial Council with reference to the present Highway Act with the view of substituting an assessment in lieu of an acreage rate,

Albion Hotel. —lt will be seen by advertisement that this well known road side inn, situate at the Taitai, will, on April 29th, be sold by auction without reserve, and on easy terms, by Mr. J.H. Wallace, by order of the trustees of the estate of Mr. R. Buckridge.

A Devoted Macandrewite. —The following story is told by the “ Bruce Herald ” —“ At the west Taieri on the polling day an old settler, with a horse and cart, had travelled several miles to record his vote, hut before doing so, had to stable his horse; while in the act of unyoking, the horse bounded forward, knocking him down, treading severely on his hand, while the wheel of the cart passed over his arm and head. Medical aid was promply procured, but the injuries were of so severe a nature that he was ordered to be carefully conveyed home. In due course the doctor’s orders were being obeyed, but on nearing the polling booth, our hero observed he was being driven past, made a signal to stop, and ordered the man to drive him to the poll, to which the driver objected. Upon which, the poor man with a desperate effort half raised himself, and addressed him thus—“ With my last breath I command you to drive me to the poll, that I may vote for Macandrew.” He was accordingly driven to the booth—the papers were brought out to the cart and signed in a way to satisfy the Returning Officer that the vote was for Macandrew; having done so he exclaimed with extreme satisfaction, “ I can die in peace, as I have done my duty to an honest man, and a man who helped me and my family at a time when I had need ofit."

Cattle Yaßd.— The following remarks of .the “Wanganui [Times” are deserving of attention here Settlers are almost daily sending cattle.iuto Wanganui for sale and other purposes. Where are those cattle to be “ stowed away ” on their arrival in the vicinity of the town ? A ten-acre paddock divided off, for the reception of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, &c., is wanted: how can it be obtained ? We would suggest that it should be done in connection with the Pastoral and Agricultural Association, for the establishment of which a public meeting is convened for Wednesday next Let the association, when formed, either purchase or obtain from the Provincial Government ten or twelve of land, fence it in, divide it off into suitable compartments, and under certain conditions, place it at the service of settlers who send stock to town, of course giving to members of the association certain defined privileges not extending to nonmembers. We throw out these hints as worthy of consideration,

Patent Slip Dispute.— Speaking of this subject the “ Canterbery Press ” says-It is absolutely incredible that any one with the crudest notions of honesty, not to say of honor, would adopt the defence contemplated, we are told, by the Provincial Government. Exceedingly blackguard country attorneys are sometimes unearthed who do such things, and the word “ pettyfogging ” has been specially consecrated to describe such worthies. But no one ever before heard of Governments adopting legal technicalities to evade honorable engagements. Indeed the very status of a Government, which is to a certain extent beyond and above the law, ought to be a guarantee against the use of tricks which would disgrace a pedlar. It is very doubtful whether any action at law againat a Government can bear fruit; that is to say, whether a public revenue which can be appropriated solely by a legislative body can be brought under the Sheriff s claw. If not, then all engagements made by a Provincial Government are solely honorable, and as such are bound to be interpreted by equitable and honorable considerations, and not by the technicalities which the law applies to contracts between individuals wnich the courts can enforce.