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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 139, 21 April 1879, Page 2

The R.M. Court sits at Featlusrston this clay. The Masterton Library Committee meel to-morrow afternoon.

Wicked people in Wellington say that the Premier and three other members of the Ministry walked tlirough the town the other day together in order to show the public that the Cabinet were a band of brothers,

A farmer up North lately threatened the Municipality of his district that if lie got more than a certain number of police summonses per week for stray horses, etc, lie would keep all his stock in his paddocks, and "then," said he "how will your blessed borough do for funds ?" That is the question. It is not very often that a thief catcher gets robbed, but such a fate overtook Seigeant Duftin, ot Taranaki, a few days ago. He proceeded to Auckland in charge of two prisoners, but when lie returned to his native village he was minus watch, chain, and money, in fact ho had been stripped of all his valuables, He returned with his tail well between his legs. " Father" Henneberry button-holed the Honorable Mr Macandrew the other day, and exclaimedl'm told, Mr Macandrew, that you are a hard drinker." "Not a bit," cried the burly Minister of Public Works, "Not a bit: no man ever drank I easier," Mr Fox, wo believe, had set

Hennebery on the track of the ex-Super intendent, and scarcely enjoyed the "sell 1 when lie heard of it.

Mr Devcril, .who was for some six years in charge of the Government Photographic Department, has opened in Wellington a photographic establishment on Lambton Quay, nearly opposite the Government buildings. No expense has been spared to ensure the comfort of visitors, and the operating room or gallery is probably the finest in the Colony. Especial dressing and waiting rooms are kept for country visitors whose wants are cared for in every conceivable way, and the specimens of work we have seen prove Mr Deveril's capabilities as a photographer. Mr Deveril's portrait rooms are the nearest to the Kailway Station, tramways passing the door.

This is what is said by the paper published at the town referred to: No stranger entering Waimate would he surprised to learn that the town was afflicted with epidemic disease. Let anyone stand at the " four corners " in the centre of the town and look down the two main streets. Besides the mess of stagnant water and rotten matter which fills the concrete troughs bordering on the pathways, the roads are carpeted as far as the eye can reach with horsedung. . The heaps of dust on the street-sides are' powdered horsedung. This noxious stuff is blown into your nostrils, into your shops and houses, into your cupboards, and into your wells, and then people wonder that the fresh breezes that pass over the town don't carry away the sickness. The streets are bo filthy that the winds which ought to bring us health only help to spread the disease. The County Council raises money enough out of the town to pay for a scavenger, and we ought to insist upon their seeing that the streets are periodically cleaned.

Yesterday, we learn, (says an exchange, referring to the last Monday of BJavcli) lias earned the name of" Black Monday," We enquire for what reason, when wc are told that it was the half-yearly settling at one of the Banks. We ask what lias that to do with it 1 We are told that all customers, having overdrawn accounts, must place themselves at credit. Weask "why," and are told "because they mußt." We say why must they 1 The answer is, because—because—because—well, because, if they do not, it will be awkward for them, We wanttoknowhow awkward—will people be skinned,' or go without their 12 o'clock lieer, or their evening meal, or will it' cause earthquakes or thunder and lightning or whirlwinds, or snow storms! We are told no—that it is not likely to produce any such phenomenon. Then wo ask, why is yesterday called "Black Monday 1" The Banks have any amonnt of notes left for distribution and there is not the slightest occasion for a feeling of any uneasiness unless indeed it be on the part of tlio Banks,

Mr F. Valentine, publican, has filed Walrarapa County East Council meets this morning re the Blairlogie Road,.

Lord Derby has seceded from the Conservative party, ~i This week auctioneer's licenses have to' be renewed for 1 the ensuing year.

: Messrs F. H. Wood & Co. sell fat cattle and stores, at Featherston on Wednesday next, in the Wairarapa Sale Yards. Mr Davis, photographer, will leave Masterton in a day or two. He has had a successful season.

A batch of immigrants ex Stad Haar

lem, wero landed in Wellington on Friday last, and are spoken of as a respectable lot. An old Greytown settler, Mr W. Hammericli, is now expected back in the township after a two years' trip to Europe. The Masterton Highway Board met on Saturday last. Our report will appear in our next issue.

Tho ordination of tho Rev, A. Panton Brown will be held at Waihenga tomorrow at 1 p.m. A tea-meeting will follow tho service. _ The Bank of Australasia has been considering lately the advisability of opening a branch at Greytown. It has however decided, wo understand, not to open ono at present.'

Mr Donald Donald, of Masterton, who accompanied Mr J. M. Rockel in a recent trip to the Ranges, is getting specimens of ore, supposed to contain copper and gold, assayed in Wellington. We understand that a Prospecting As-

sociation is being organized at Masterton with a capital of L 250, an amount considered sufficient for the purpose of the promoters.

The Rev. Johnston Walker preached again at the Masterton Presbyterian Church last evening. He is about to proceed back to Scotland, Though a comparatively young man and unknown, we have not heard either Bishop or.minister in the Colony with equal elocutionary powers.

Constable Bym arrested a man named William Bcnge on Friday last at Greytown on a charge of being connected with the stealing of a watch off the person of a man while under tho influence of liquor in February last. We understand that great credit is due to tho Constable in the careful and successful way in which he has traced the watch to its destination. Messrs lorns and Forgusson's sale of surplus stock at Messrs Chamberlain's farm, Upper Plain, was tolerably successful, the attendance being very good, but the bidding was decidedly a little flat for such saleable stuff. This, however, we presume, was owing to the state of the money market. The first lots submitted were three lots of mixed sheep, ewes, lambs, and wethers, which realised from 3s to 4s fid. A few horses, draught youngsters brought but poor prices; of the hacks only three or four could be disposed of, and those at prices ranging from L4l7s Cd to L9los. A few fine farm mares were

offered, three only finding purchasers, bringing from L3O to L 35 each. A number of agricultural implements sold very well, including ploughs, harness, etc. The cattle were kept until the last, These attracted a good deal of attention, there two nice lots of steers, aged from 2 to 3 years, and brought when classed L 4 10s to L 5 per head respectively. Calves brought 30s each. No pigs were forthcoming, The following is the latest Christchurch market report Grain market is quiet. Wheat, 03 2d to 3s Gd; oats, 2s 3d to 2s Gd; barley; 5s to 6s; flour, £9 to £lO ; bran and sharps, £5 to £G; potatoes, 47s Gd to 50s, Farmers are inclined to hold for higher rates, but no speculation is manifest on the part of the merchants, Butter lid to Is; hams and bacon, B|d; cheese, 7id to Bd. The latest Cape news is dated Cape Town, Ist April, It states that a relieving force started for Ekowe yesterday, consisting of GOOO men with Gatling guns and a rocket column. The troops are in good health. On the 30th March Colonel Pearson signalled from Ekowe that 200 men of the garrison were disabled, and only 500 men were effective. It i 3 stated that 35,000 Zulus await the arrival of the Ekowe relieving force, . The following estimate has been made of the number of resident householders within the proposed Carterton Borough district. The result, however, is challenged by the Borough opponents:— Francis' Line to Bank of New Zealand,

including Anderson's Line and Booth's Mill Property, 82; Parker's Lino, 3; Hooker's Line, G5; Church-street, 4; Bambry's Line, 8; Carter's Line, 12; Davis' Line, C; Bank of New Zealand to Arnold's Line, Main Road, 85, The following, tenders have been received at the Public works Office, Wellington, for the Wanganui wharf and reclamation contract (formation only) of the Patea-Manawatu Railway Accepted —J. Saunders, Wellington, £23,514. Declined—Cornfoot & Stenhouse,- Christchurch, £23,897 j Joseph Gibbs, Wanganui, £24,572; W. Rowe, Wanganui, £24,578; D. Wilkie, Inglewood, £25,938; S. Brown, Wellington, £20,737 ; W, fr. Bassett, Wanganui, £26,935 ; Barry and M'Dowell, Wellington, £27,015.

At the old Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, F, Mountain, says the New Zealander, was summoned on the information of Robert Pitch with having assaulted him. Mr Cutten appeared on behalf of the plaintiff and Mr Fitzherbert for the defendant. The plaintiff did not put in

an appearance and the information was dismissed with costs against him. Messrs J. H. Wallace and P. Moeller, J.P.'s were the presiding jnstices, Messrs Kebble Bros, large flourraills in Courtenay Place have, writes the Post, been re-opened, after being closed for six years past. Messrs J. and T. Meek, the well-known grain merchants and millers of Oamai'u, have taken the premises, and, as everything was in perfect order, were able to start work at once. Last Monday the mill started running, and three run of stones have since been kept at full work to supply the demand for Wellington and neighborhood alone, There is a fourth run of stones, and this will be at work in a few days. At present the mill is turning out about ten tons, or eighty bags, of flour per day, but if the spare stones were at work,-and the machinery was kept running night and day, this output could be more than doubled. The machinery is of modern descriotion, and in excellent order, Messrs Kebble Bros., when in business,; keeping well'abreast of the time. The stones, &c., are driven by a compound beam- and horizontal engine, of about CO h.p. , the steam being supplied from an enormous Lancashire boiler,' A flour-mill on a large scale has long been felt to be a necessity in Wellington, and if one firm more than another is certain to command success, that firm is Messrs J. and T. Meek, whose flour is noted throughout the colony, and who have for ,some years past.done a large trade with Wellington,

The latest news from the " front" is' that the natives are organising a troop of cavalry, aijd already have mustered a very respectable :ijorps, We are informed by one ; of influential. qettlers in Waihi, wlio has a very lajige .interest in that district,-;that his opinion island his opinion has.considerable woighk-rthat the present unsettled state of the native mind will. calm. down, put only temporarily. He says that from' the preparations they are making thero is no doubt they mean to fight if any provocation is given, This organising of a cavalry, corps is a sure indication that they will oppose force by force. Tho troop, we hear is well mounted, well armed, and fairly well disciplined and drilled,—Rangitikei Advocate, Mr Wordsell, late assistant to Mr T. 6. Mason, who recently absconded with his employer's property, was arrested on Saturday by Constable Brunskill, as he was making his way on foot over the Rimutaka, He is now lodged in the Featherston lock-up, and will probably be remanded to Masterton. The culprit walked through Carterton, Greytown, and Featherston in full view of their, respective constables. But the police system of the district is unfavorable to the capture of a criminal, and had it not been for a private telegram the arrest would not have taken place. Then it was, we believe, suggested that the prosecutor and his witnesses should proceed to Featherston, and that the case should be tried there. To this wo believe the 'prosecutor objects, and very properly. Tho interests of the public are not, we trust, always to be sacrificed.

An instructive return, says an oxchange, has been issued from the Government Printing Offices. It is a list of the contracts for public works in which penalities have accrued and been enforced from Ist July, 1874, to 30th June, 1870. In many instances the penalty " cannot be stated," put the sums given amount in round figures to £240,000, The penalties enforced amount only to £3859, the colony having thus made a present of some, thing like £236,000 to the contracts. A retutn from June, 1876, to the present time would probably show even greater penalties accrued, and very few enforced. The heaviest creditors of tho colony in this respect are Mr Lundon, who incurred penalties amounting to 587,000 on contracts for tho delivery of railway sleepers in Canterbury; Mr H. Palmer, whose penalities amounted to £44,676, for sleepers in Hawkes Bay and Canterbury; and Mr E, Jones, whose penalties amounted to £11,830, for the non-performance of a contract to deliver sleepers in Wellington. In none of these cases wag a single penny of forfeit enforced. For the constuction of the Wellingion-Masterton lines the accrued penalties were £1365, of which Mr C. M'Kirdy figures for £925. Mr M'Kirdy has also another amount of £I2OO standing oppesite his name for the NapiorManawatu Railway ; and Mr Ross £3300 for tho same line. Tile only penalty enforced of those mentioned was £lO, out of £ls accrued, Mr S. Brown being the I contractor.