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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 186, 16 June 1879, Page 2

We stop the Press to state that a tele-

gram from Wellington reports that a large and destructive lire in Cuba-street, Wel-

lington, this morning, destroyed Emeny's hotel, and about thirty buildings in tho neighbourhood. On receipt of further particulars, we will post an extra at the Council Chambers. The Committo of the Wairarapa Institute, Greytoirn, moot to-morrow evening at 8 p. m. As no eligible tendor was received for the Opaki Bridge contract, fresh tenders are invited till Wednesday, June 28th, Mr Oaldy of this town has assigned his estate to Mr IV. Sellar, for the benefit of his creditors. The statement showsassets, £160; liabibilities, £9OO.

Mr F. G. Moore has •resigned his seat for No, G Ward, of the Masterton Highway Board. It will be difficult for tho district ho represents to find an equally able representative.

A meeting of the membora of the Masterton Volunteer Corps is convened at the Council Chamber this evening to frame by-lsws, etc. The Council Chamber should prove too small for such a gathering.

A violin by Betts, London, is advertised for sale by Mr J, Williams, Masterton, This instrument, is ono which has been long known in the districtfor its purity and sweetness of tone, and us tho opportunity to acquire a genuine article does not often occur it will, no doubt, quickly find a purchaser.

A supplement in the Government Gazette published on Friday contains a notification of tho resignation of Sir Wm. Fitzherbert, K.0.M.&., for the Hutt Electoral District, ahd contains the signatures of Messrs A. do B. Brandon and G. Hunter, " as mentbers of a committee to act in tho place of -the Speaker of the House of Representatives in certain cases under the Regulation of Elections Act. mo."

The Grcytown Foot Ball Club met in Mr O'Connors paddock on Saturday, to play a scratch match, and although there was not such .1 large attendance as was expected, yet they were enabled to-have a scratch match. Sides being chosen by Messrs Ronaldson and F. 'My. Tne play ivas kept up with great spirit for about an hour and a half, neither side making much headway against the other, the play 011 both sides being very good.

Despite the. outcry about hard times(says the Lyttelton Times), there is evidently some loose change lr't. On Saturday one of the leading retai drapers of the town took upwards of Llsoo in cash. It is satisfactory also to k,:ow that the principal "line" dealt inweiv articles of everyday use rather than of luxury, tending to show that where requisite the people can economise,' but have sufficient inoiioy left to supply themselves liberally with the necessaries and comforts of life.

One of the moat diabolical and atrocious pieces of inhumanity which it has been our lot to chronicle was perpetrated a few nights ago at Awahuri, From what we could learn of tho transaction (says the Manawatu Times) it would appear that a brother of Mr Schultze, of the Awahuri Hotel, called upon a number of brother Scots and informed them that ho had just arrived from Hawera, and that ho had brought with him a treat for his countrymen in the shape of a genius Scotch haggis, dilating upon the superior skill of the particular artist by whom the dish had been manufactured, until his hearers' teeth watered, and their souls thirsted for an onslaught. Punctual to the hour of invitation fully half a dozen guests put in an appearance, the majority, of whom, in order to whet their appetites and the more thoroughly fo enjoy the delicacy, hail maintained a black fast during, the fore and afternoon, The host presided, but did not pass a plate until all were filled, so that the attack upon the treasurer was simultaneous, So busily.were they engaged, however, that 110 one noticed tho sudden departure of the host, who, placing the length of the room between himself and his guests, stood at the door with a look of fiendish exultation, He had not: to wait long for the result, as, with a yell of horror, and a chorus of ( execration, one after another flung down their knives and made for the door, while the cause of all went bounding out into tho space liko a deer. When'the'betrayed oneishad wiped .tkk fiYfis" Bnflfinifint.lv: to examine the

ciently to speak, they discovered that it was composed, of-.a. quantity of boiled leather, mixed with sawdust and seasoned with sand, along with other materials, but so adriotly was the deception covered that in thoir eagerness to enjoy the treat it was not until tho victims had taken &good mouthful that it waß made painfully apparent. It would not be yet politic for Mr Schultze to go within a stone's throw of any of his victims,' or even a stranger to mention the word " haggis,"

On Saturday last Mr 6. Beetham, M.H.R, described, at a meeting of the Philosophical Society, his recent ascent of Mount Ruapehu,

A telegram from a London correspondent states that- the Emperor AVilliam of Germany celebrated his golden wedding on Wednesday amid great rejoicing. The venerable monarch is upwards of 82 years of age, having been born on 22nd March, 1797. He married 11th June, 1829, the Princess Augusta, daughter of Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Weimar.

Our local contemporaries, we notice (writes the Post) have fallen into an error regarding the increase in the land tax intended to be proposed by the Government, They state that the increase will apply to all properties exceeding £1,500 in taxable value. We are informed upon authority that this statement is inaccurate, and that tho Government do not intend to propose any increase in the land tax except as regards properties which exceed £2500 in taxable value, and the question is still under consideration whether the minimum value at which the increased taxation shall begin may not be fixed at £3OOO. We call attention, writes the New Zoalander, to a somewhat singular circumstanco in connection with' the public works of the colony, In another column will be found an advertisement again calling, and for tho third time, for tenders for tho construction of the Opaki bridge, Ruamahunga River, To the first advertisement, published throughout the colony, there was no responso, and to the second only one tender was sent in, which was not deemed eligible. It remains to be seen what will be the result of this, the third and last time of asking. It seems passing strango that with all the cry of unemployed labor a work which will call for an outlay of some thousands of pounds sterling should virtually go begging,

Intelligence was received on Thursday lust at-Wairoa of a burglary committed by natives on Wednesday night at Frazer Town, Mr W. Goldstone's store having, been broken into. No other particulars are yet known, but the police liavo been communicated with, and are engaged in investigating the matter. Toha, an influential Maori chief, is much concerned over the native difficulty, and feels there will be trouble here. A " prophet" has arrived at Matiti from Te Kooti. He is to remain here for a week, when he goes again, and intends to return in a week or ten days with Te Kooti himself. This much lias leaked through the instrumentality of Mere Karaka, a female devotee of the Poverty Bay murderer. The following opinions on the alcohol question, expressed by three eminent physicians in a paper that appeared in the "Contemporary Review" for December, 1878, will interest many ol our readers. Sir William W. Gull, Bart.,says:—"A very large number of people fall into the error every day of believing that strong wine and stimulants give strength. lam persuaded that nothing better could be done than that lecturers should go about the country instructing the people upon the disadvantages of alcohol, as it is daily used.' People will not listen to temperance societies because they carry their theories too far. Ido not think you can start with the idea that there is no use in alcohol and no good in wine." Dr Mixon says" lludeness and fanaticism have failed. Drunkenness prevails in spite of feototalism, whilst the pledge inflicts useless self-tortuie. Let the legislature bo urged to carry out its plain duty, in giving powers to put the sot under control, ami to do the most beneficial act to vast numbers of suffering families that ever was done by any legislature; for the familydestroying sot is the most prenicious in the land." Dr Willis says" I strongly prohibit tho use of alcohol in the early morning; in fact, those who then wished for it have imbibed too much, I always suspect people ivho require' something' about eleven o'clock in the morning. Indeed, the man or woman who has an acute consciousness of the hour of eleven is being both physically and morally lost."