The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 93, 25 February 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1879.

0» Friday last it was rumoured in Grey town that the Hon. John Martin and Mr. Hastwcll proposed floating a company to connect Waiheuga with that township by a railway, and the Standard on the following day announced the intelligence as reliable. We scarcely think the project can be as yet considered determined, but we trust it will soon assume the shape of a definite proposal. A line from Waihenga to Greytown would not only be beneficial to both townships, but it would also be a better link than at present exists between the Upper and Lower Valley. In time, 110 doubt, branch lines in different parts of the Wairarapa will be constructed to feed the main line, and it is evident that the one which should be first made' should be that which would bring within reach of the iron horse the fertile plains and hills of the Lower Valley. Assuming that tho cost of constructing a line from Greytown to Waihenga, including rolling stock, would be at an outside estimate £50,000, in the course ot a few years the traffic it would create would repay the outlay, At first such a line might not pay working expenses and interest on the capital, but if the indirect advantages are also taken into consideration, it would be at once profitable. Near Waihenga the Hon, Mr, Martinhas, say, £IOO,OOO worth ofland for sale. This land, if connected with the main line of railway by a district branch, might be expected to he enhancsd in value to the extent of at least half the cost of the line. It is evident, therefore, that the Hon, John Martin could afford to give such guarantees as would make any company floated for the purpose of constructing the line a good financial investment. We believe that a district line such as that to which we have alluded is quite feasible, if the Hon. Mr. Martin is prepared to back the speculation. We have as yet heard no details of the proposal which the projectors contemplate submitting to the public, but we assume that if a company be floated, the shareholders will in some form or other participate in the increased value which be given by them to the Huangarua and other estates, No proposal which did not directly or indirectly concede this advantage would be worthy of acceptance by the public, but with this condition the project would be be beneficial to the promoters, the shareholders, and the district. The question of the practicality of a railway between Waihenga and Featherston or Waihenga and Greytown has been talked over for the past twelve months, and both routes have had their respective advocates. We presume in giving the preference to Greytown the Hon. John Martin has decided on good and sufficient grounds, and probably has ascertained tho cost of the alternate routes, and collected data with which the general public as yet is not informed, Everyone must be glad to hear tjiat an enterprise of such a character is projected, and we trust that the connection of the Hon. John Martin with the Wairarapa will be as beneficial to the progress of this district as it has been the past to the trade and progress of the City of Wellington.

A meeting of the Council of Wairavapa East will be hold at Masterton on-Satur-day next, On Saturday next Messrs P. H. Wood and Co., instructed by J. J. Smith & Co., sell at the Town Hall, Masterton, 17 properties in and about Masterton.

It is notified in connection with the coming show of the Horticultural Society that tickets 10s each, constituting membership, . exempting the holder thereof from extrance fees and giving two free admissions to the Show, can bo obtained from the Secretary, J, J. Smith and Co. notify that they have purchased the stock-in-trade of Mr, E. Johnson, and will hold a clearing sale of them in the premises lately occupied by Mr. McOardle, in Queen Street, Mesß's, lorns and Fergus-son are instructed to sell, on Saturday next, the valuable carrying plant of Messrs, J. Vile and Co., and the buildings and premises in Masonic Street used in connection therewith,

Mr Lee ,examined the Mauriceville School on the 18th, There were 40 children present. Thirty-five passes were made in the school—24 in Standard 1., and 11 in Standard 11. Only 30 children, however, passed, as 5 passed Standard I. and 11. on the same day. The result may be consuM satisfactory, remembering that the settlement exclusively of Scandinavians, and that tlio spftpol has been open only two years/ It is reported that Mr P. Donecker is ; going.'to put up an hotel in this settleniehtj oi} the Education Reserye. ' \ '.

Tho Mastei'ton Good Templar Lodge meets this evening, Mews J. Thompson and W, J, Prentice gives niiiico tluit the price of bread from this dato will be 9d cash and lOd booked.

Mr Richard Dickson, contractor for the Featherston and Maaterton Railway, notifies that Mr Robert Scott, of Featherston, is his authorized agent,

We understand that tenders will bo at once be called for the combined road and railway bridge over tho Rumalninga, near Masterton.

Mr S. F, Beard, surgeon, notifies that he may be consulted at Masterton daily, and that his temporary address will be the Club Hotel.

The following tenders wero received for the erection of'.County/oflices, on Saturday last. G. Russell, £600; R, Blinkhorn, £506 ; J, A, Petherick, £493, Mr. Petherick'stender was accepted, The following special Lent services are announced .at S. Matthews Church. Litany Wednesdays and Fridays at 10a.m. Every evening at 8 o'clock, with short address, The church will be open all day for private prayer. • A new brake has been tried on some of the English railways, by means of which trains running at the rate of B0 miles per hour can bo stopped within a distance of less than 70 yards. . On Saturday last a valuable horse belonging to Mr James Cotter, of Greytown,. while being ridden a short distance fell dead under his rider, whose leg was severely bruised, but not otherwise injured.

We'are glad to learn that tho lessees of the Town Hall Masterton have instructed Mr Fannin to prepare plans for considerable additions which they propose making to it. They also we understand intend making considerable improvements in the present rather unsighlty interior of the building. Tho usual monthly meeting of the Featherston Highway Board appointed to be held at tho Institute, Greytown, on Saturday last did not take place, there being no quorum of Wardens present. A special meeting stands appointed to take place at tho Board's Offices, Fcatherston, on Thursday next, at the usual hour.

Mr Lee has returned from his visit to the Tenui School and proceeded to Wellington for the meeting of the Board which takes place on Wednesday next. Next week he will examine the Kaiwaiwai and Kaitara School prior to presenting his annual report to the Education Board.

The following are the" remarks" endorsed on one of the land tax returns sent to an up-country valuer in Canterbury lately " I cannot stato any value fortius property, as I consider it worth less that nothing, as it has been a loss to me of L 32 a year this last six years. I cannot let this property with a large building on the land for the ground rent, therefore it must be valueless.

The sale yards at Fcatherston aro now nearing completion, the contractor, Mr. Cave, being now about to clear up for the reception of stock to-morrow. An impression seems to have been created that private sales in the yards are prohibited ; we are authorized to contradict this, and to state that vendors have the right to sell by their own auctioneers or privately, if they choose. A special meeting of the Masterton School Committee was held yesterday afternoon to elect three members for the Education Board.' 'PresentMessrsFeist, (Chairman) Vile, Wrigley, Brown, and Payton, Tho following was the result of the voters. The Rev J. W. Paterson 5; The Yen Archdeaconstock 5; Mr W. A. Fitzhcrbert 3; Mr Jonas Woodward 2 ; Hon C. Pharazyn 0; Yen Archdeacon Thorpe 0; Rev T. Fancourt 0; Hon Mr Levin 0.;

We regret to find that a typographical error crept unnoticed into our report of the judgment in the case of "Murtagh v. Tait," published in our yesterday's issue, by which the Resident Magistrate is made to have said that it had been shown that a portion of the evidence brought forward by Mr. Bunny, on behalf of the defendant was "irrelevant," The word of course should have been " relevant."

His lordship Bishop Redwood visited Masterton yesterday and inspected the new church which is now rapidly approaching completion. We understand that the Bishop expressed himself as much pleased with the structure, and that the work of Messrs Bishop & Hawkins, the contractors gives satisfaction to both the Architect and Church authorities. The new Church is expected to be completed in about five or six weeks time when it will be formally opened, and dedicated to St. Patrick, The list of officiating ministers in the colony for the year 1874) gives the following as the number of ministers belonging to the various denominations:—Church of England, 180; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, G7 j Roman Catholic, 02 ; Presbyterian Church of Otago, 48; Wesleyan, 74; Congregational, 13; Baptist, 14; Primitive Methodist, 10; United Church of Christ, 1. Total, 490.

At the annual election .of School Committees held last month, through some oversight the Gladstone settlers omitted to assemble, consequently no meeting was held. Another special meeting was convened by the Board, when Messrs J, Stoodley, B. Kennedy, R. Rowo, H. S. Mason, R. Grant, D. McLachlan, and: R. Greathead were elected., At a subsequent meeting Mr FI, S, Mason was chosen chairman, and Mr D. McLachlan secretary and Treasurer. Yesterday writes the Clmstclairoh Press a resident observing something in the mouth of an artesian pipe near the AI Hotel, investigated the impediment, and found a small fish about three inches long fixed in the, pipe. On removing it, it was found to be alive and perfectly blind. How the fish got there it is a mystery, as it is almost inconceivable that, it could have been forced rip by the. flqw flf the water from from the subterranean spring, and jammed into the position where it was found,

A new Lodge, called, the" Loyal Greytown Lodge," was opened on Saturday euening last' at the Greytown Hotel by tho District Officers, who attended froni Wellington for that purpqso. The Lodge having been opened in due form and several new members admitted to the order, the ceremonial opening of a new Lodge was performed by the Provincial Grand Master, The following officers were then electedßro. D. Loasby, to be if.G,; Bro J. Cotter, V,G. | and |3ro, A, L. Webster, Secretary. A vote of thanks was unanimously given to the District Officers for their attendance and kindness, and the honors of the Lodge accorded io them. The P.G.M. having returned the ordinary business was proceeded with. There were several proposed. TJienp't meeting will lie heldqn Monday- next,, Mqrcji 3rd, Tho successful establishment of tliis.Lodg? is mainly due to the exertions of 'Mr A, B. Jackson, of Greytown. " . 1

This morning about' half-past : nine an oldcrly man, employed byllr Murray, at To Ore Ore, was engaged in repairing n fonce near a spot whero Messrs Burnett and Yule's bush fallen were at work. The man in question moved out of the way of danger a? a big tree was about to fall, but the latter struck another tree which came down suddenly and unexpectedly- right on the top of him, Mr Burnett who was standing close by ran up and assisting to extricate the poor fellow but after breathing ojice or twice he expired. The body will be brought into Masterton this mom-: ing and the usual inquest held, It is said that the name of the deceased is O'Brien but wc are not certain on this point.

Tho Carterton School Committee met on Tuesday last to consider tho plans and specifications for teacher's residence. The previous suggestions made by the Committee had been adopted by the Board, and excepting that matai timber was recommended in place of kauri for flooring, and rusticated boarding in lieu of weather boarding for the front of residence, the present plans were pronounced in every way satisfactory, The residence is to contain six large square rooms, all on the ground-floor, a scullery and porch, and judging from the plans will, when finished, bo an ornament to tho town. A neat verandah adds very much to the appearance of the building, Tenders are asked for thoroughly completing the work, and we again remind intending contractors that their tenders must bo in Wellington to-day.