The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 113, 20 March 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

Tonight a meeting is convened in the Town Hall, Greytown, by circular, for the purpose of considering the question of forming a company under the District Railways Act for the construction of a light line of railway from Wailicnga to connect with the trunk line at Greytown. "We have not seen a copy of the circular; we hardly know from whom it emanates, except by rumor, but the reports which have been floating respecting this movement do not tend to inspire confidence in it. The first announcement made was that Mr W. R, Hastwell, of Greytown, was a leading promoter of the project, and as Mr Hastwell is a wealthy man the statement was calculated to bring support to the movement, but subsequently it was rumored that Mr Hastwell was not so enthusiastic a supporter of the enterprise as had been represented. We assume that the primary objects to bo served by the proposed line toWailienga are—lst. To enhance the value of the Huangavua property; 2ndly. To bring trade to Greytown. In the first object the Hon. John Martin has a vital interest, and we believe it would pay him almost at his own cost to construct' the line. Greytown, too, might reasonably be expected to assist in the movement, but the onus of it will rest mainly on the Hon. John Martin, and its success will very much depend upon whether he proposes to make the railway himself or merely to get it made for himself by other parties. The Standard expresses some slight apprehension lost money is not forthcoming for preliminary expenses, and recommends the payment at onceofhalf-ft-crown deposit

per shave. Our contemporary-leads us almost to ■ believe that the 'whole thing hangs on a certain number of half-crowns being paid—and we caunot help thinking that a railway'' dependent upon so small a cob hardly rests on a satisfactory basis. It would, in our-■opinion, have been far better to have'published the proposed scheme, jvliateven.it. may ing, so that it might have been, talked' over and discussed, and settlers attending would have" been prepared to . take an intelligent part in the proceedings. A branch railway would undoubtedly be a good thing both for the Lower Valley and Grey town, but-it is very desirable that any project for constructing one should be submitted to criticism, and that the present movement is being worked in a half private half public manner is, in our opinion, extremely prejudicial to it.

The next English mail via San Francisco closes 011 Friday week ; via Suez, on April tho 5 th. Messrs Blaker and Co. sell on Saturday next, at the Empire Auction Mart, an express, with team of four horses.

Our attention lias been called to the fact that some firewood splitter in Mastertoii supplies heart of totava among other wood. Heart of totava is extremely dangerous wood to'burn, and the' trade are not justified in delivering wood of this character.

Last week the celebrated Father Henneberry. passed .through Masterton en route ■for Wellington, and- paid a visit to the Catholic Church now all but completed. We understand that the llev Father, reports 6t to be the best designed structure which he has seen in his travels through the colony. This opinion must be gratifying to Mr T. Turnbull, the architect who planned it. The committee of the WairarapaInstitute Greytown met 1 011 Tuesday eveninglast Present: Messrs Skeet (chairman) Byrn, Brooks[ and-Stenhouse.- The. minutes of last meeting were read aiid confirmed. The following, accounts were passed for payment:—Premiunm on Insur-. ance policy, £lss; Smith Bros, firewood £4 8s; E. Robinson, £1 4s; Toogood lamp, 15s; Librarian, £O. sa. It was resolved 011 the motion of Mr. Brooks seconded by Mr Stenhouse that, the Australian Sketcher and Public Opinion' be ordered for the reading room. There is a new method of betting, by means of an instrument called the totaliser. I cannot explain'its operation (says /Egles) for the conclusive reason that I don't' thoroughly understand it myself. But if what the patentee in Sydney claims for it be true, it is not undeserving of attention by that large section of the public which bets 011 races, Ho recounts among its advantages that " jockeys will no longer be tampered with, the proprietor of the totaliser being always indifferent as to which horse wins, which must support fair and honest racing ; and that it will diminish the heavy betting on credit, by which many men have lost fortunes, resulting in suicide, robbing of banks and other employers, to save tlipiiinaines being dishonored, because bookmakers have, ii} all parts of the world, the preference over .tradesmen." All this, I suppose, means that the man who bets 011 the new system pays his cash first, after the manner of sweeps. The Sydney Herald says that its introduction " lias struck some slight tor-' ror into the hearts of betting men.." Row, to a good many people this would encourage the belief that there must be virtue in''the totalisator."

An interesting work entitled "Notes on Tour through America," by Mr H. Vivian, lias just been published. Mr Vivian heard, while in Canada, of the farm of a Scotchmail, in Manitoba, who grows annually 15,000 acres of wheat. "He goes there with his men and his teams,, ploughs the land in furrows six miles long—one furrow out and home is a day's worksows and reaps his corn, clears off, and goes home in three months." But this is nothing to some of the fanning operations in California. There Mr Yiyan heard that 11 aMr Mitchell, in the San Joachin Valley, has 00,000 acres under wheat and that his ambition is to have 100,000 acres; also that aDr Glen, on the Sacramento, had 40,000 acres last year under wheat, and wanted to contract for 20,000 tons of freight for wheat only. The average produce is 25 to 30 bushels per acre, but on the very best land it sometimes runs up to 00 bushels." some notion of the enormous agricultural production of the United States may be gleaned from the quantities of these products passing through one city alone, Chicago, one of the great emporiums of the west. The report of of the Board of Trade on the transactions of Chicago in 1876 shows that "87,241,300 bushels of flour and grain passed through Chicago in that year, value 57,100,000 dollars; live stock, 57,500,000 dollars; products of cattle and hogs, 68,200,000 dollars; dairy produce,. 8,200,000 dollars; wool and hides, 25,700,000 dollars; wines and spirits, B,soo,ooodollars sundries 6,250,000 dollarstotal, 231,450,000 dollars, or about £40,200,000."

Mr Richard Dudding (writes the Agricultural Gazette of January 13) of Panton House, Lincolnshire, on the night of the 25th ult. passed caliply away. For nearly a century the. family ,of Puddings have been engaged breeding Shorthorns aiid sheep at Panton, and are the oldest tenants on Mr Turner's estate in Lincolnshire. The flock of sheep at Panton is famous for its beauty of form, silkiness of wool, weight of fleece, and general rentpaying qualities. The late Mr Dudding mid his father made considerable p-ogress in sheep farming early in the century, and were equally at home in Shorthorn breeding. Contemporary with the Brothers Colling, Mr Torr, and a galaxy ,of the talent of that day, they have left their mark behind them. Mr Richard Dudding's estimable qualities, sound judgment, and excellent taste have been of signal service to agriculture. A local and county paper, the Hull and Lincolnshire Times, of the 4th inst, in referring to the death of Mr Dudding, says:—"ln the closing hours of Christmas Day this'respected gentleman passed away, at the ripe old ago of 85, at the termination of along and honorable career, in which, with his father, he had helped to build up a reputation in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and longwool Lincoln sheep. Draughts from the Panton Hock and herd have been distributed all over the world. It is, per•liaps, in the .latter capacity that Mr Dudding was more prominently before the agricultural world; but as a judge at the ' Royal' and provincial agricultural shows he was equally valuable. He had the law of pedigree at his finger's end, and a wellmatured judgment as to the merits of the animals upon which he was called to adjudicate. His public utterances, .though not voluble, were terse, logical, and incisive. Surviving Mrs Dudding by about a year, he leaves behind him a name which for nearly a century lias become historical, and to Ijis sons a herd and flock that cannot be excelled,"

Wo have noticed at Mr G. T. Farmer's .braiach at, Greytown a very neat 'specimen of ii hcaf?e • which is- an addition to t-Ho undertaking business in .that Iriwiishi;) nuiclrneeded. Wo do not Biipponu thai thuadvontof this conveyance will in an)' degrde foster the desire of any one to shulle off thin mortal coil, any sooner than they otherwise would.

. tIAW FRjULLK Y., • ' (EKOM OUR. OWN CORRESPONDENT,) The late rain has much improved the look of. the Lower VaUey. .Everything previous to it seemed quite burned up, and now the brown aspect of the face.,of the country lias given place to an amount of greener vegetation. • The cattle are now getting better feed. People are busy breaking up the land for next year's crops, Cultivation is moro .thought about than formerly. In this.department of agriculture there is a rivalry springing up. ■ The surveyors are now busy at work on Mr Martin's land. There are several new buildings already projected. Amongst the rest a new hotel is spokon of, and a line large hall in which to hold public meetings; also a fine new store. People are on the tiptoe of expectation, and hope that the town will soon begin to push.on. Last week Mr Sutherland, from Pafiau, left a splendid horse in a paddock of Mr McLeod's.; but the horse has gone no person knowing where. It is supposed someone required the loan of one, and so took French leave. It is hoped that, the man •may deem that honesty is best, and in due time the animal may appear on the spot,. Mr Badland, the much-esteemed teacher, has been very ill, and compelled to desist from school duties for a fortnight. Much sympathy is felt for him, as he is much respected iu the distvict.\.()mng to his ability as a first-class teacher and devoted energy the school of Wuihenga ranks very liigli amongst the schools in Wellington Province. There was a failure in electing s school. committee tlio 'first time appointed, and Monday last was set apart ,for that purpose, when Messrs Considine, "Harris, McLeod, Parish, and Tulloch were duly elected. On Tuesday evening the .first' meeting was held, when Mr Considine was appointed chairman in plate of Mr Wm. Smith, wh» -has resigned ,ihe chairmanship, after holding it iiJc years! He has been compelled to take tins step from failing health. This is very much regretted, as it is owing to Mr.Smitli's z»al and devotion to matters of educational affairs that the school here is iu such good condition. He was the'means 'of 'getting it to be one of full time. He has during: the time of his office spared no money nor tune in promoting the interests of education in the district. The parents here and friends regret his resignation, and hope he may soon recover. The lovers of cducatiog tender him their hearty thanks.