The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 101, 6 March 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1879.

Settlers in the Whareama district are beginning to agitate for a bi-weekly mail, and this indication of public spirit shows plainly that the district is progressive. We recollect the time when a fortnightly mail satisfied the pastoral lords of that largo district, and wo also remember that when a weekly mail was talked of some of the settlers there strongly objected to the innovation. " Shall we," said they, " have to send a man on horseback every week to the Post-office to get a packet of letters containing bills," In fact they had little faith in their mails as a medium of communication, and kept their own correspondence outwards till some one in whom they had confidence, such as Parson Andrew, was about to go to Wellington, and intrusted to him their missions. The former times are passing away. Schools and hotels now llourish in that once primitive district. Corn is grown on the flats once used as sheep pastures, At least one township is about to be laid off, and a coach and four can traverse the way which formerly was difficult to a horseman. All these changes tend to infuse a spirit of enterprise among its denizens, and we are not surprised that they should at last come to the conclusion that a weekly mail is inadequate for the wants of the district. We trust our friends there will take action and press their wishes on the Postal Department till they obtain that which they seek. A bi-weekly mail would necessarily create an increased trade between Masterton and the Wlwreama, and be mutually beneficial, If the question of ways and means comes to be considered it would be only right for Masterton to lend a helping hand, We feel certain that with a little aid from Masterton no practical difficulty ought to be experienced in carrying such a movement to a successful issue, and wo would be glad to see a combined Whareama and Masterton Committee appointed by some public meeting of settlers to establish such a service.

A meeting of the Masterton Hospital House Committee, will bo held on Monday next at 3 p.m. We would remind Farmers of tlie meeting of their club at the Empire Hotel, on Saturday next, Messrs lorns & Fergusson's markot salo on Saturday next, promises to be evon more successful than the one held last month, To-morrow Mr J. M. Girdlestonc is instructed to sell the household furniture and effects in the estate of the late Mrs Mary Dixon, The sale will be entirely without reserve, We havo authority for stating that owing to complaints having been made to the Government, and it having been stated that there is a probability of scab spreading among the flocks in the neighborhood of those owned by natives at Long siibli, Mr T. Telford, Inspector of Sheep, fiatf immediftto step?

The Bank of Australasia at Masterton has secured temporary premises in the County Council Chambers. On Monday last the careless cutting of the Telegraph wires in connection with the firecaused the serious delay in .communication the following day. Had the wires not have been severed one hour's work have put matters straight in the morning. Mrs Toza had a narrow escape in coir nection with the late fire. She was sleeping with hor bedroom door bolted, whet. the house was in flames. Mr Elley, and Mr Murray had to burst her door open, before she could be raised to a sense of danger. Fiye minutes later rescue would have been impossible. An art critic, going into a gallery in a state of mild inebriation, to criticise some pictures, sees himself in a glass, and taking out his note book, writes as follows: —"First room, head of a drunkard, 110 signature; has a great, deal of character; red nose; remarkably truthful. Must be a portrait from life; think I've seen that faco somewhere."

Wo trust that the Choral Society's Concert to-night in the Town Hall wiil be numerously attended. It is well known that tliero is an excellent programme provided and all must feel that there is also a debt of gratitude which Masterton owes to the Society for past service not only in providing good music for the ffairarapa but also in giving concerts when required in aid of any praiseworthy local enterprise. It is known that financially the Society is somewhat weak at the present time but wo hope the proceeds of the nights entertainment, will be sufficient to put iu on its legs, We have seen the plans prepared by Mr Turnbull, architect, for Mr Bell's now shop, and can congratulate Masterton on another addition to its already long list of fine buildings. Mi Bell's new premises are to be a handsome two-storey structure, with a shop on the ground floor, measuring about 30 x4O feet—lit by windows 12 feet high. It will not, of course, be one of the big buildings of Masterton ; but we think thut when it is erected there will be few bettter proportioned buildings in the town, and none which will bo more pleasing to the eye or more convenient for carrying on the particular trade for which it is designed.

Wo notice that Mv Lowes of the Railway Hotel Masterton Ims fitted up a Mullev patent air gas apparatus' in his establishment. The machine by which the gasoline oil is transformed by a mechanical process into gas is very easily worked through somewhat complicated in its structure. The light given is much cleaver, steadier and purer that Kerosine, the laborer sf cleaning lamps is altogether done away with, there is no offensive smell, and the only wonder is that instead of one machine of the character being in use in Masterton a score are not erected. Of course, they involve a little expense in the first instance, but this would bo recouped in a year's time, Gas is now turned on all over the Railway Hotel, and visitors there will have an opportunity of testing tho now improvement which Mr Lowes' enterprise has brought to Masterton.

The Marquis of Lome is suffering expatriation as the penalty of being allied to royalty. In a letter from a friend well up in London gossip (says " Atticus") I am told the Marquis was desirous of leaving England on account of his little differences witli his wife's eldest brother. The Prince of Wales, with all his good nature, is a stickler for court etiquette, and on one or two occasions has protested against his brother-in-law partaking of the privileges of royalty, even if limited to tho use of particular doors and staircases. The Marquis resented the distinctions drawn between the position of himself and his wife, and the Earl of Bcaconsfield, acting upon a hint received from high quarters, afforded him the means of making an honorable escape from the snubbings to which lie was continually being subjected, The Captain, Treasurer, and Secretary of the M.V.F.8., attended last night at the Council Chambers, for the purpose of paying men who assisted the Brigade by pumping the engine at the late fire. Thirty-one men claimed payment, for periods varying from I hour to 4 hours, at tho rate of half-a-crown an hour, and within a trifle of £lO was thus payed away. Two of the men, viz., Messrs Rayse and Duncan, generously gave back the amounts paid them, in aid of the Brigade funds, and several men whoso names had been taken by tho Secretary for payment, did not present themselves, otherwise the above amount would have been largely increased. We are sorry to learn this necessary payment will seriously cripple the funds of the Brigade, very little over £4O has been received in subscription, much of this has been paid away for repairs to the engine and other requisites, and when all outstanding liabilities arc paid very little, if any, money will remain to tho Brigade's credit.