The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 213, 16 July 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1879.

It was perhaps an -error in judgment for the Chairman of County West to submit to the meeting held last week the question of adopting the Rabbit Act in the various Ridings. Had Councillors been in a position to decide the question on its merits, their verdict would have carried with it considerable weight; but it was evident that they were more or less embarrassed by a conviction that the Council-was not justified in taking the " bull by the horns" after a public meeting of Kitepayers had refused to sanction the general adoption of the Act in this district. If the Rabbit Act is good for the Counties infected by the pest, it ought to bo imperative and not optional, The measure, was passed in the, usual slipshod manner by the Government ana Legislature. It was but a permissive Act, amd the usual haziness of its provisions on certain points, such as native lands, were of small consequence. When adopted the responsibility lies with the settlers who take it up; when rejected the fault lies with individuals, and not with the Government. The decision of the County not to meddle or muddle in the matter was doubtless a wise one, but at the same time it did not amount to affirming that rabbits ought not to be exterminated by public as well as private agencies. It is a pity that the .Grey Ministry did not levy a poll tax on rabbits as a set-off for its tax on the

land which is now laboring under too many burdens. It is no wonder that property is depreciating in value when settlers have to pay high interest on mortgages, and out of the modest profit which the low price of wool and produce now yields, find money for road rates, land tax, and necessary improvements, How, under such circumstances, they can support themselves, their families, and find free grazing for whole hosts of rabbits, is a mystery, Colonists engaged in other pursuits have been wont to envy the lord of many acres, but we question very much whether, as things are now, he is much better off than a butcher, baker, or brewer, if as we'l. Opinion seems to be gathering ground that one of the evils which trouble station proprietors and farmers is, by united action, capable of at least mitigation. If by experiment already tried it can be shown that rabbits can be more or le?s exterminated, the Assembly will

act wisely if they deal with this pest as lias been done with the scab in sheep by both Provincial and General Government' Acts, and not leave it to amateur Debating Societies in the shape of public meetings, to start from no premises and to arrive at no conclusion in dealing with the subject, If the Scab Act were permissive and native sheep were exempted from its operation, the flocks of thfi colony would soon be one and all foul, By grappling with the difficulty it has been practically surmounted, and a similar bold and compulsory course would be equally beneficial it applied to vermin. If rabbits ought to bo destroyed, it is tolerably evident that doing the business m patches over the country as the will ami inclination of ratepayers may determine, is the wrong way to go to work. It is not for a public meeting or a County Council to take action. The onus rests with the Assembly, |gJ3aaTOmii.',!.mac»«r.«iwiuapj

The English mail will close in the Wairarapa, on Friday next. Consequent on the railway strike a detachment of police has been sent up to Carterton to ensure order. Robert Hall, bootmaker, Greytown has filed his schedule. First meeting of creditors is fixed for Monday, 21st July, We learn that Mr T, H, Mnrray has sent in his resignation of his seat in tlio Masterton Borough Council, ■ Tenders are invited by Mr Doveton, Architect, for additions to a house at Manaia. Telegraph Stations have been opened atNormanby, County of Patea, and at Stratford, County of Taranaki. The Good Templars of Dunediu expect' 2uoo signatures to their petitions for the amendment of the licensing laws, Messrs W. G. Beard and John Bidwill. are the executors of the late Mr It. J. Barton. F, H. Wood & Co, advertise a general sale of merchandise of all kinds at their Greytown rooms on Saturday next. Tlio names of Messrs Thomson, Hamlin, Kelly, and Bunny have all been mentioned as the outsiders in the race for the Chairmanship of Committees. The betting, reports the Times, is said to be 5 to 1 against Hamlin, 7 to 1 against Thomson, 10 to J. against Kelly, and 20 to 1 against Bunny. Mr \V, Black's coach factory, at Greytown is again in full working order, and he is prepared to receive orders for all kinds of vehicles as in the past. Greytown residents are sorry to loso Mr Callcot the Postmaster, who had the temporary charge of that office and who made himself generally liked by his genial manners and obliging disposition. We understand that a testimonial is being got up by his Greytown well wishers who are many, The Kuripuni road is narrow and dangerous and on dark nights drivers of vehicics should be more careful than they are, When Mr Shute was run into by a brake belonging we believe to Mr Fairbiotlicr of Carterton, on Saturday night last ho was walking along the road with a grandson of his when he called out "there's something coming." Both turned their heads and saw the brake absolutely on them. The young man sprung on one side, and saved himself, but Mr Shute, who is nearly tlireo score and ten, was less agile, and in a second was knocked down, and under the horses' hoofs, We trust some regulations will be laid down by tlio Borough or the police, which will prevent any vehicle without lights travelling after dark' at a quick rate through the Kuripuni Settlement.

We believe that the 100 odd Navvies on strike at Woodside have a grievance other than that of the rate of wages. Their pay is, Ave believe, G or 7 weeks m arrear, and it is the irritation consequent on their being deprived'for an unreasonably long time, of the money which they have absolutely earned, which has caused them to como so prominently before the public latterly. Perhaps they will be consoled when they learn that the new Colonial Treasurer proposes to give thorn manhood suffrage. The public meeting convened at Kuripuni last evening on the school question was fairly attended. Mr A. W. Renall, having been voted to the chair, Mv Wilton | moved " That in the opinion of this meeting section 17 should be substituted for section GO in Mr Donald's block as a site for a school. He thought 17 was nearer the bulk of the population, and that out of the 100 children estimated to bo in the proposed district, 70 would be within a quarter of a mile of it. Mr Arnold having seconded the motion, Mr James Russell supported it on the ground that there was a metalled road to section 17, and no road to section GO. Mr Donald Donald in reply to Mr Ingram, offcrrod to give either section, but looking towards the future he thought section GO would be the best site. Mr G. H„ Shute supported Mr Donald's view; lie thought they might as well send their children to Masterton as to section 17. Mr Hopkins expressed a somewhat similar view. On the question being put to the meeting, the motion in favor of the now site was carried on the voices. After a stron." expression of sympathy with Mr T. W. Shute in his recent misfortune the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.