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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 174, 2 June 1879, Page 2

To-day being Whit-Monday the. banks aro closed throughout the Wairarapa. The New Zealander reports several ounces of alluvial gold found somewhere by somebody. Mr J. Snodgrass has been gazetted an assistant surveyor in the Survey Department. On Friday last a football match was played at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, by electric light, The election of two Auditors for the Borough of Masterton takes place' to-day between the hours of 9 a,m. aud 6 p.m. We remind oiir Carterton friends of the Maori Haka and war dance to be given by the Tc Ore Ore Natives to morrow evening. A meeting of the Wairarapa Pastoral Association Committee was held at Carterton on Friday last to square up accounts. Parliament meets on Friday, July lltli, at 2p. in. We trust on Friday, July 18th, at the same hour a new loan will have been authorized.

A man named James Hannah died at the Masterton Hospital this morning, He was suffering from an incurable disease, when admitted.

Tho Georgia Minstrels arrived at Masterton yesterday, and opon at the Town Hall this evening. The reports in our last issue of their performances at Carterton and Grey town are, we think, a sufficient guarantco of a genuine nights amusement,

We hope in spito of other attractions to see a good house at St. Matthew's Schoolroom this evening, An excellent programme is published in another column, which should be sufficient to induce the. public to attend independently of the good cause for which the entertainment will be given. " As showing how the whaling trade of Hobart Town lias fallen oil', the returns justpublishcd," states the Mercury, "show that while in 18G9 there were 18 Tasmanian vessels employed in whaling, which brought in oil of the value of nearly £50,000, last year there were only 11 vessels employed, and they only succeeded in bringing into port oil to the value of £16,920." We published a letter last week from Mr E. Green, chairman of the Eketalnma School, to the Education Board, which severely critised tho work of Mr Potherick, the contractor who built recently the school there, We hear that Mr Pethcrick is about to bring an action against Mr Greon for defamation of character.

Cetewayo is said to be preparing a last retreat for himself. It is in a ravine between high rock, and said to be accessible only in front, and that through a' morass, impassable, or nearly impassable in the wet weather. If defeated, lie says he will retire and make his last stand there, and kill himself rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. It is added that he says lie will, however, first kill his Idunnas. Cromwell had his fortunate day, the 30tli of September. On this day he gained the battle of Dunbar; on its anniversary he won tlio battle of Worcester; and on another anniversary he died, entering, as his friends say, the New Jerusalem. Other great personages a fatlal day to tlu Royal Family of England for the last IG7 years: —William in, died Saturday, March 18. 1702; Queen Anno died Saturday, August 1. 1714; Georgel. died Saturday, June 10,1727 ; Geora 11. died Saturday, October 25,17G0; George 111. died Saturday, January 29, 1920; Georgo IY. died Saturbay, June 2G, 1830 ; the Duchess of Kent died Saturday, March IG, 1861; Prince Consort died Saturday, December 14,18G1; Princess Alice died Saturday, December 14, 1878. In an article on Japan the BostonCommereial Bulletin says:—"The Government is particularly distinguishing itself in the extension of its telegraph system, There aro now no less than 125 telegraphic stations and 5000 miles of wire in operation, 1000 miles more in course of construction, and still further extensions aro contemplated. The telegraph insulators, made in a village called Imari, in the Province of Hizen, are of such an excellent quality that orders for them liave been sent from Europe. It is the first aim of the Government to provide good highways in all parts of the empire before entering upon any general system of railroad building, but on the 2(it]i of July, 187G, a line of railroad 48 miles in length was completed between Hiogo and Kioto, and now a line has been commenced between the latter placo and Ostu, and is expected to be completed in tluee years, at a cost of about 1,000,000 dollars. The railroad between Hiogo and Kioto is constructed of the best imported material, and passes through one of the richest and most beautiful agricultural districts in Japan, Seven trains leave and arrive at Hiogo daily, and the passenger and froiglit traffic are constantly increasing, The iron ,bridges of this road, one of which is 1300 feet in length, are a credit to the Government and contractors."

Mr M 11. Miller reportS'/the sale of Mr J, G. '-Kinross's .-Motuptaraia station, •14,600 acres freehold* with' 16,000 sheep, ,200 cattle, and plant, for £40,000 sterling .to Mr William' Saunders, of Otago.

i The: European Mail jiay's"Mr N. : Chevalier has a charming'picture this year •for the Royal Academy, Like a true colonist, lie lias-chosen.a colonial subject, and for tho first time in the history of the Poy'al tlieri) will appear upon its walls the form and semblance of a Maori girl, as' she lies basking in the sun in the bottom of her canoe, The girl, who is named Hinemoa, is of the higher typo of,the Maori race. The scene is laid in the bend of a river, and to the right is seen a Moari villago, wlioro probably Hinemoa's kindred dwell. Along the banks of the river aro to be seen the black birch and the supplejack, with here and there a fern-tree and festoons of creeping plants. A more lovely scene could hardly be imagined." The Vatican Press joins the chorus of Italian journals in welcoming Queen Victoria. The Unite Cattolica says" We cannot do less than convey to her a respectful salutation and a word of thanks for her goodwill towards the Catholics, whom she has even wished to see represented at her Court; and this goodwill of liei's was so marked as to have one day encouraged tho. report that her Majesty had embraced Catholicism, Certainly a mind so well constituted as hers would deserve to belong to the true Church, and we cherish the hope that it may please God to grant her this grace, and we shall crave it for her unceasingly on our knees." The Voce della Verita is suro it interprets the hearts of tho Italian faithful in expressing their gratitude to the Queen for the liberty their Catholic brethren enjoy in England and Scotland, for the improved condition of their co-religionaries in Ireland, and for the benignant protection they are favored with in the colonies. There is a rumour of a proposed match between the Princess Beatrice and the Duke of Aosta. Such a marriage is said to be greatly desired in Italy, and while no formal negotiations have been opened, different personages in London have been sounded by an English friend of the Italian Royal Family. The Duke of Aosta is a Catholic, a widower, with children, and the greater part of his revenues are derived from his late wife's properties, in which he lias only a life interest. He is also much the senior of the Queen's youngest daughter. Owing to the fastfailing health of King Humbert, and the bad constitution of the Prince of Naples, which appears now more than it did during his infancy, it is for political reasons desirable that Prince Amadeus should marry again, As a • constitutional sovereign, Queen Vistoria is popular in Italy. She lias no warmer admirer than Garibaldi. In Italy the opinion is held that she and the reigning family should be drawn together by their political affinities, She wears the oldest crown in Europe, and there is 110 Monarchical House which can boast of more ancient or honorable lineage than that of Savoy. Immediately after her Majesty's arrival at Baveno,' the Duke of Aosta paid her a visit. Two more knightoods (says the Oamaru Mail) have been bestowed upon New Zealand politicians. Our telegrams inform us that the Hon. W. Fox and the Hon, E, W. Staft'ord have been created Knights Commanders of the order of St. Michael and St, George, The announcement. was' an unexpected one,'and we think we are correct in stating that both gentlemen are in some degree indebted to the influence of Sir Julius Vogel for the distinction placed upon them. Few will, however, begrudge Sir Edward Stafford and Sir William Fox the honor they have received from the Imperial Government, for though they aro but tho shadows of their former selves, and their, political stars have gone down never probably to rise again, they have in past times done good service to the Colony, well worthy of some mrrk of Imperial recognition. Both of them have more than oiice occupied the position of Premier of the Colony, and that too, in troublous times. At times they have been political allies, and at others, strong opponents, according to the exigencies of the occasions. ... A later telegram conveys the intelligence that the Hon. Edward Richardson and Mr W. J. M. Larnach have been created Companions of the order of St. Michael and St. George. It is difficult to tell 011 what grounds these honor.s have been bestowed, for neither of the gentlemen named has ever done anything brilliant in the political field. Neither of them has ever succeeded in originating any notable public policy. The Hon. Mr Richardson was a very practical Minister of Public Works in the Vogel Government, and Mr Larnach" having moved the vote of want of confidence on which the " continuous Ministry" wbre defeated, stepped into the position of Colonial Treasurer—a position which he occupied for a few months, and then went Homo, However, as tho Queen, through her advisers, was evidently desirous of doing honor to the Colony on the occasion of the 00th anni versary of her birth, and as Messrs Richardson and Larnach are likely to bear the honors placed upon them with as much grace as most politicians in the Colony, we must feel satisfied that justice has been done, though we cannot but express our surprise that 110 notice should have been taken of the services rendered by Mr Macandrew, but. we suppose his turn is yet to come,