The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 239, 15 August 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

" That the land laws of the Colony " could not have been so very illiberal, " is shown in the fact that 67,000 out of " 87,000 properties are not subject to " land tax, that is to say, come within " the exemption clause of £500." Such was the answer Mr Coleman Phillips made on Saturday evening, to the .arguments brought forward by Mr Eenall and Mr McCardle. We find that the actual figures are (as stated by Sir George Grey, in the House on the Ist hist.) 15,562 taxable properties under the Land Tax Act, while 77,050 persons hold land, a difference of 60,000 in favor of small holdings, Both Mr Eenall and Mr McCardle doubtless felt somewhat put out with his reply, but our worthy friend, Mr Kenall, is too old a politician to be staggered by a thrust beneath the guard. In these days, for any movement to succeed, the basis of argument must be sound. It is of no use saying that these small holdings are principally town sections, bought at a high figure from speculators. Happy the country in which the working man can afford to purchase a home, Besides, a large majority of the taxable properties will be found to be principally town properties, and this will make the difference in favor of the small holdings all .the greater. Neither is it of any use urging that these properties were bought of the speculator at.-a high value, for indeed, nearly all the large properties have been purchased and repurchased, Again, Mr Eenall, when pointing out the unfairness of the existing laws, apparently forgot that he had only a few minutes previously informed his audience, in that charming manner, so suitable to him " that many years ago, Sir George Grey had handed to him and others a large block of land, and that anyone could purchase fifty acres of country land, and one acre in the town of Masterton, for .£2l 55," Was this illiberal 1 The plea of injustice too, to the Home Emigrant, raised by Mr McCardle, cannot, we are afraid, be admitted, Otago is being cut up into small holdings by men who have made their money in the Colony, Auckland is a hivo of small settlers, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, and Featherston are all small settlements, and what we now want aie a few more such settlements laid off, a little further up the country, and good roads made to them. We very much doubt whether the emigrant of the present day equals the emigrant of thirty years ago, in pluck and perseverance. The civilization of the towns tends to destroy such feelings, and we must now see that good hotels take the place of Maori tracks, and a camp out in the bush. We trust Mr McCardle will take these few words to heart, and reform his basis of action, if he wishes to succeed.

Messrs F. H. Wood and Co,, hold one of their popular unreserved sales of merchandise, at their auction rooms, Greytown, to-morrow. We are requested to state that the usual evening service to-day at St. Matthews' Church will he at seven o'clock, and the night school at half past seven, Brethren of Court Loyal Enterprise, Maaterton, are requested to meet at the Foresters' Hall on Saturday tc attend the funeral of the late Brother Henry Bannia-' ter, A public meeting will be held in the Town Hall, Masterton, this evening to consider the advisability of dividing the Borough into Wards, We have received a letter signed 'Old Colonist.' The writer witholds his name,. and we therefore withold his letter, If our corresponpent complies with the usual rule, his communication can be inserted. It has been arranged for the funeral of the late Mr Bannister-to leave Sedgely tomorrow, at half-past one, and reach Masterton via the Opaki road at 2'30 p.m. The local Masonic Lodge, the Forestersj and Odd Fellows will take part in the procession. There is every reason to believe that the ploughing match between Heggie and Creswell, which is advertised to take place on Saturday next, will be postponed, a meeting of the Committee having been convened for that purpose in consequence of the funeral of the late Mr Bannister. Atanwetingof St Matthews' Church Committee last night, a resolution was passed expressing its deep sympathy with Mrs Bannister in her bereavement, and thankfully acknowledging the many services of Mr Bannister to the Church as Church-warden and Treasurer for many years.

The stewards of the Taratahißao* Meeting are requested to meet at Ray's Hotel, on Friday, the 22nd inst. . The adjournod sitting of tho Land Tax Court, for the Borough of Maaterton, will ho held this day week. An amended copy of assessments in the meanwhile can be Been at the office of Messrs R. and J. Brown, which possibly may save some persons the necessity of applying to the Court,

_ The report of the late annual examination of pupil to'aohers has been published. The Wairarapa candidates met at Greytown, where Messrs G. Wyett and W. H. W. Haines acted as supervisors. The following local candidates obtained a higher classification:—Masterton School —Baillie, Mary J.; M'Kenzie,fOhristian: Robins, Mary. Fea'therstonSchool-Gurr, Edwin: Cox, Charlotte. A meeting was held at the Prince of Wales Hotol last evening to organise the old Masterton Christys and to arrange the preliminaries for a performance in aid of the Masterton Hospital. Mr Johnson was appointed secretary, Mr Hawthorn, treasurer; Messrs J. Thompson, Quartly, Wintringham, and Hawthorn, working committee; Messrs J, Thompson and T, Wrigley stage managers. The first practice takes place next Monday evening Mr Habens, Inspector general of Schools paid a departmental visit to the State School at Featherston, on Thursday, and remained all day, Although very wet te was a fair muster of children 120 odd being present. His remarks in the log quite endorsed all other reports made by our own Inspector Mr Lee, and run thus: " The School is under very efficient management, the order and discipline are very satisfactory, the plan and distribution of the work judicious, the behavior of the children is admirable, and their intelligent treatment of their lessons prove that

they are well taught."

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Mastorton School Committee was held in the 'Council Chambers, yesterday afternoon. Present-Messrs Feist (Chairman) Wrigley, McCardle, McKee, Payton, and Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed. The Treasurer reported that the amount to the credit of the Committee was Ll4 4s Bd. A letter was read from the chief teacher, asking the Committee to find the funds necessary for retaining the services of a monitress; also a letter from the Inspector, stating that Mr Waite would shortly arrive at Masterton. The application of the teacher was complied with, hut it was resolved that the Board should be asked to pay back any money expended in this direction. The other business was of a routine character. Mr K, Blown was named as visiting member for the ensuing month, and it was decided that for the future the Committee would meet on the second Monday in each month.