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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 216, 19 July 1879, Page 2

The Masterton Ploughing Match Committee meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Council Chambers. The prima donna of the English Opera Company at Wellington has this week given birth to a son. The Masterton Borough Council gives notice that it will put the screw on ratepayers in arrear on and after the Ist proximo. Thero is a talk in political circles at Wellington, of a middle party being formed. The basis of confederation will, we understand, be a rail. Candidates for the honor of a seat in the Masterton Borough Council appear to be scarce. Several citizens have, we believe been asked to come forward to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr T. H, Murray, but as yet not one has come to the front, Sir George Grey has been pitching into the Secretary of State at home, for Knighting Sir William Fox without consulting him as Premier of the Colony. It is just probable that if Sir George Grey had been consulted, Sir William would still have been plain Mr Fox. Objections to the Land Tax valuations will be heard as follows:—For the flutt county, at the Resident Magistrate's Court House, Wellington, on Tuesday, the sth August, at 10 a.m. ; for the Borough of Greytown, at the Resident Magistrate's Court House, Groytown, on Thursday, the 7th clay of August, at 10 a.m.; for the County of Wairarapa West, at the Resident Magistrate's Court House, Carterton, on Friday, the Bth August, at 10 a,m. The defeat sustained by the Government on Wednesday evening, when they were beaten by a majority of ten, taken with the utter weakness of the Ministry as at present constituted, should convince the Premier that he has no chance of carrying on tne Government. The proper course for Sir George Grey to pursue would (says the Chronicle) be to request the Governor to send for some gentleman of the Liberal party who is more trusted than himself by that party. r

• Tenders are invited for the erection of! two shops," with neat frontage, in Queenstreet by Mr Fannin, Architect. They are built to the order of Mr C. Brown and will fill in the last gap caused by the late fire. . Mrs Holmes, a sister of Mr Knowles, died at' Wellington on Wednesday last, from heart disease. The deceased lady was principal of the School of Arts at Wellington, The next boat taking telegrams to Banjoemangi will be the Atjeh, leaving Port Darwin on Friday, 25th, In Southland out of the fifty-four school committees, thirty-seven have expressed an opinion relative to the introduction of the Bible into public schools, thirty-three being in favor of and four against the proposal. Mr James Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald, has broken up his hunting establishment at Melton Mowbray, and has sent his stud to Tattersall's. Next season lie will go in for tiger-hunting in India by way of a change, It is customary at times in Scotland to marry a great many couples at one time. " But I'm married to the wrong man," once shouted a blooming bride to the minister. "You're all married," said he; "go into the vestry and assort yourselves there," A disgusted North Carolina editor declares that "the man who will read a newspaper three or four years without paying for it will pasture a goat on the grave of his grandfather. Some Maoris at the Taueru have done a foolish thing this week. In the absence of the gentleman who has charge of the estate of the late Mr Gilligan, they drove off the land all the horses, and impounded them, We believe that they were put up to this little trick, but we feel sorry for the putter-up, for the natives, and for the poundkeepor who received the horses when wo remember that the trustee of the estate is the " Angry Travers." The military correspondent of the Morning Advertiser with Colonel Wood's column thus describes the heroic death of Colonel Weatherly and hissonatZlobani: —Nothing can be more sad than the account I have heard of my dear friend We'atheily's death, It the fatal hour when all save honor was lost, he placed his beloved boy on his best horse, and kissing him on the forehead, commended him to another Father's care above, and imploring him to overtake the nearest column of the English horse, which seemed at that time to be cutting its way out. The boy clung to his father and begged to be allowed to stay by his side and share life or death. The contrast, I am told, was charactistic. The man a bearded and bronzed and hardy sabreur, with a father's tear upon his cheek, while the blue-eyed and fair haired lad, with much of the beauty of a girl in his appearance and calmly and with a smile of fond delight loading his fathers favorite carbine. The two noble hearts were last seen, the father wounded to death with cruel assegais clasping his boy with the left hand while the right cut down the brawny savages who came to despoil him of his charge. Weatherly was a well-known man in what I believe are called fashionable circles id London, and will leave many an old comrade who respects his chivalry and enterprise to mourn for that friendship which was changed to respect and regret, An Alfredton correspondent of the New Zealand Times writes as follows; As there seems a probability of a new loan being floated, I suppose it is likely the railroad will be pushed through from Featherston to Woodville. The question at issue is which way shall it go, via Eketahuna or via Alfredton. It is reported that the engineers prefer the former, as it is not quite so expensive ; but if they want to save expense thoy had better lay the rails on the metal road, which now needs over £II,OOO to repair it. ' What good will that road be upon which so much borrowed money was expended if there is a railroad just alongside 1 Whereas, if it was made via Alfredton it would open up a large tract of country for cultivation between Masterton and Alfrodton, and in-., crease the value of many thousands of acres of Crown lands between Alfredton and Woodville. It would also save making other roads to open up a great deal of land east of Forty-mile Bush-road. It is more than probable that the extra value it would put on Government land north of Alfredton would more than make up for the extra expense of making it this way. Supposing the railroad was made via Eketahuna, and the metal road was repaired, would it be just or fair for the Alfredton people to have to help in supporting it by paying the same taxes astho Eketahuna people, and so assist in making two good roads for them, while, they have none for themselves 11 hope this matter will receive dne consideration, as it tends to breed a spirit of discontent, especially in these depressed times, when people look to see what returns they get for every shilling they pay away. Any thoughtful, unbiassed mind, that knows anything about new colonies, will plainly see the absurdity of borrowing money to make two roads, althongh of different kinds, so close together, especially when the great drawback to the settlement of the colony is the want of good roaes; and the adjacent country cannot keep oneih repair without applying to Government for assistance. A temperate, damp climate iike New Zealand necessitates the making os hard roads, either railroads so metal, for opening up its resources, although too much caro cannot be taken that each road shall open upas much new country as possible.