The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1879

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 261, 10 September 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1879

The following letters were recently forwarded to the Secretary and to a member of the Taratahi Racing Club, and we are informed by the writer that no answer was received to either of them. The first letter runs as follows : "June 30,1879. " How is it there has been no settlement of accounts re the Carterton-Tara-talu Rcaes. I spoke to Mr Bennett about it; he says it is your fault; you have got the books so complicated that no one can make anything of them. I write to you asking this question before bringing the mattei fully before the public through the press. My interest in the affair is small, but my mare Cabbage Tree, won a hack sweepstakes, which, I take it, ought to have been settled immediately after the race, as the money was all subscribed by the runners. I have nothing to do with other people's grievances, though I have a pretty good list of them if it is necessary to publish them." The second letter (to Mr T. Ray) says:- " I enclose copy of a letter I have this day sent to Mr Edmunds re CartertonTaratahi Races. Please place the same before the Stewards of the lato race meeting." Our informant says that Mr Ray, who was the largest winner, and a steward, got his cheque cashed. Another cheque given to Mr Desmond, was dishonored, but has subsequently been paid by Mr Ray, Several Fasterton claimants are, we are told, still unpaid, including Mr H. Bannister, jun., and Mr P. Cockery. We present the above facts simply as they have been supplied to us. Very little comment on them is necessary, If the facts be as they are stated, a certain amount -of disgrace rests upon Carterton and Taratahi, and we trust that immediate steps-will 'be taken to wipe off the stigma, There were connected with the late TaratahiCarterton Races gentlemen for whom we have the greatest respect, and we cannot but think that they must be in entire ignorance of the position of the Committee or they would, we feel assured at once come forward and put the matter right, We have known Mr T, Ray, the treasurer, for some fifteen years, and we feel sure that the fault does not rest with him, He is one who

always rims straight and acts straight. It is, howover, not for us to either to excuse or accuse any person or persons, The position of the Committee must throw discredit on everyone connected with the late gathering, and the sooner steps are.taken to wipe out all indebtedness the better.

The burgesses of Masterton are indebted to two candidates, Messrs Corbett and Francis, for placing their views on municipal questions before them. Three other candidates propose following their example on the eve of the polling day, but the course taken by the latter is hardly so convenient as that adopted by the former, as they leave little interval for the electors to consider and discuss their opinions prior to going to the poll. It may, however, be said that most of those who feel an active interest in municipal matters will attend the meeting called for this evening, and although the meeting is convened at the last possible moment', it is better late than never. We hardly expect to be able to comment on the addresses to be delivered by Messrs Bish, Feist, and McCardle, to-night, and it is satisfactory to us to have before us the views of Messrs Francis and Corbett at an earlier date, so that we and the burgesses generally can give them careful consideration. Mr Francis calls attention to the state of the Waipoua road, and we need hardly point out that the opposite ond of the line at Kuripuni has equal claims for consideration. He advocates drainage and a proper survey of the town. Both of these undertakings are generally regarded as very necessary but somewhat costly. He is opposed to purchasing land for widening streets, on the ground that holders of privato property ought to give their land. If, however, it is in any case to the interest o%lio Borough to purchase he will, we fjlst, agree with us that the Borough should purchase as a matter of course. Mr Francis is in favor of dividing the Borough into Wards, but hesitates on account of the expense. The weak point of Mr Francis' address is advocating an increased expenditure for survey and for the Waipoua without indicating where the money is to come from. Mr Corbett grapples with this difficulty, and advocates the raising of a £20,000 loan. This may seem a bold measure, but we are not at all sure that Mr Corbett has not hit the right nail on the head. It would be probably easier to raise a £20,000 loan than a £SOOO one, and provided the money were judiciously expended it would pay the Borough to go in for that amount. When we look at the increase of dwellings in the t"wn, scores of which have not a vestige of a road near tliein, we cannot but come to the conelus;on that road construction in the Borough is a long way behind. Two or three hundred houses have within the last year or two sprung up on borrowed money. These.houses are incomplete without roads, and it is quite as legitimate to borrow money to make the roads as it has been to obtain it for the buildings. The ■ more we think of Mr Corbett's° proposal the more we see in its favor. The expenditure of the £20,000 might very conveniently be spread over a period of two or three years, and in the interval the unexpended balance could be placed at an interest probably as high as that which would be paid for the loan. The expenditure of such a sum in the Borough on labor would be an indirect advantage which everyone would appreciate, ard the annual payment of interest, amounting to £I4OO a year, though it would absorblhe present revenue of the Borough to a large extent, would in three years' time be quite within its means. Those who have faith in the future of Masterton should, we think, back Mr Corbett's bold proposal.

[Since writing the above we have received addresses from Messrs D. Donald and J. C. Fergusson, but must hold over our remarks on then for our next issus.]

The " Standard" accuses us of having the audacity to assert that the elections have hitherto gone against the Government. We repeat the statement, and each return that comes in, bears us out in the belief we expressed that the Government in the new House will be in the minority. The " Standard" yesterday gives the state of parlies as follows:—" Government 47, Opposition 27, doubtful 14. The Government has not as yet secured 30 seats and its chance of getting 40 is hopeless, of obtaining 47 is simply impassible. The " Standard" also accuses us of being the only addmittecily conservative journal in the Colony. We do not deny that we are conservative on one point, and that is to keep in the Colony, the money that is rolling out of it, in consequence of the radically political agitation. On all questions which effect the welfare and prosperity of colonists, be they working men or County chairmen, we are more liberal than Sir George Grey himself. He gives them gas, we seek to give them something more substantial.

A telegraph station is now open at.Goodwood, County Waikouaiti An emergency meeting of the Thistle Ledge is convened for this evening. This evening the Foresters' in Greyto-.vn held their quarterly summonsed meeting. A meeting of the General Committee of the Masterton Horticultural Society will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3 p. m. Tenders close to-day, at five o'clock, for painting two shops in Queen-street, for MrG. Russell. All accounts against Mr Phavazyn's Masterton Committee, must be sent in to the Secretary, MrEasthope, before 2 p. m, to-day F. H. Wood and Co., hold a sale to-day at the Featherston Sale Yards, of fat cattle, etc. To-morrow is the polling day for the election of Councillors for the Borough of Masterton. We hope the burgesses 3 will take an interest in the proceedings and roll up!

The pigeon shooting match is advertised to take place on the 16th inst. MrT. E. Price, in another column, calls attention to his stock of new music, etc. Burnett and Yule, sawmillers, request, in another column, that all accounts clue to them be paid by the 30th of September next, The shorthorn bull, Father Christmas, will serve a limited number of cows, this season, at the Dry River station. lorns and Fergusson hold a sale of furniture, books, etc., at the Hall, on Saturday next, at 2 o'clock. The addresses to the burgesses of Masterton, of Messrs W. Francis J. H. Corbfitt, D, Dotiold, and J. C, Fcrgusson will be found in another column, Miss Best notifies that she is prepared to receive young ladies as boarders at her house in Cole-street.

This evening, the first annual meeting of the Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade takes place in the Institute, when the balance sheot and report will be submitted and officers elected. The Masterton Christys are .busily practising for their entertainment to be given soon, in aid of the Hospital. Wo believe they have been joimed by a lot of new talont, in both the comic and sentimental lino. . _ We remind the public that a meeting takes place this evening, in the •H:ill,at which Messrs McCardle, Bish, and Feist will explain their views on Municipal matters. The sacrifice of life in the late fire at Dunedin, appears to have been partly owing to the over-crowded state of the boarding-house destroyed. In large towns accommodation houses should be licensed and subject to supervisions just as public houses, This practice prevails in Victoria. Meetings of creditors in the respective estates of Thomas Lynch and Hans Sveiulsen are convened by the Trustee at the Court House, Masterton, on the 19th inst., to consider applications for the discharge of the debtors. Parliament is further prorogued until the 24th of September. A proclamation was issued to that effect by Hon. W. Gisborne im the absence of the Premier), on Monday. The official declaration of the poll was made at Featherston, on Monday last, with the result :-Beetham, 795; Bunny, oft; and Pharazyn, 521. The elected candidates briefly returned thanks, Mr Pharanyn being absent. Considerable disgust and indignation are manifested in Dublin oyer the discovery that the statue of Moore, the poet, is made of zinc instead of bronze; but more especially because the rain has got in through a crack in the head, and the statue is now half-full of water.

The following tenders have buen received for the new Wcslcyan Church, Groytown :-Gray, labor, £145; labor and material, £3OB. Lynch, labor, £159; labor and material, £'3G4. Dixon, labor, £282; labor and material, £s2*. Bishop and Hawkins, labor, £30010s; labor and material, £523, Rountree, labor, £265; labor and material, £547.

It may convey hope and comfort to some " maids whom there is none to praise and very few to love" to know that 70,103 bachelors of fifteen years and upwards are wandering about the colony, with only 23,071 maidens of the same mature years to fill up the cup of their happiness. But taking what are shown to the beginning of the marriageable years --fifteen with the girls and twenty with the men-there are 191 bachelors to every 100 spinsters The girls ought, therefore, to have "a good time." ■ Writing to Mr A. A. Readc, of Manchester, who had asked his opinion as to the use of alcohol and tobacco in athletic .exercises, Mr Edward Hanlon says; I have to state that in my opinion the best physical performances can only be secured tiirough the absolute abstinence from their use.' This is my rule, and I find after tlnee years' constant work at the oar, during which time I have rowed many notable match races, that I am better able to contend in a great race than when I first started. In fact, I believe that the use of liquor and tobacco has a most injurious effect on the system of an athlete—by irritating the vitals, and consequently weakening the system. I eat wholesome food, take regular and moderate exercise, avoid violent exertion, and generally strive to cultivate a cheerfui state of mind, in order that sweet sleep may follow my daily work.

_ The workmen employed on the excavations now in progress at the West Melbourne swamp have (says the Argusjmade some very curious discoveries. Wo were shown yesterday by Mr, Burton, of the Yarra Family Hotel, a gigantic oyster, measuring 0i in. x7i in,, and weighing 41b. 51-oii which had been found at a depth of 14ft embedded in the mud. At the same spot was also unearthed a large egg, at least three times the size of an emu's egg, and a quantity of fish bones of very unusual calibre. Unfortunately, the egg and the fish bones were destroyed, but the oyster was preserved, and will be forwarded to Professor M' Coy, whose report upon the matter will be looked forward to with interest. The Wairoa Free Prcsj says:—Just merely to show that the settlers of this district are wrong in not going in more largely for wheat growing, we may mention that a small parcel of wheat shipped to Napier by Mr Flint of this town, . real ised from 4s (id to 5s per bushel. This particular sample of grain was grown and manipulated by Natives, who are of course not over particular in securing the best seed, or in dressing it for market. The Roman Catholic organ at Dunedin (the N.Z. Tablet) says:-" Judging from the past we shall not be far astray in saying that the education question will be made use of in many constituencies for unworthy purposes. It will be put forward for the purpose of defeating political opponents; and all sorts of things will be said as to the intention of Catholics. On this account we take up ourselves to advise Catholic voters to abstain from takin» active parts in the approaching contested to be careful of their words. Little said is easily mended." The London papers have been requested to state that the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers having expressed a desire to join the memorial to the late Prince Imperial which will in future be designated " The United Services Memorial," the subscription is open to all who are now serving or who have served in her Majesty's land or sea forces. The memorial will be in London, It is intended that the subscriptions should include sums, however small, from all ranks, not exceeding £1 from any one person.

A meeting of the Masterton Hospital Committee was held yesterday. Present —Messrs J. Bennett (in the Chair), Girdlestone, Yile, and Payton, The minutes of the previous meeting wero read and confirmed. The Treasurer stated that the balance to the credit of the hospital was £ll4 2s Bd. A letter was read from Mr F, G, Moore, accepting his appointment as a member of the House Committee. Ten tenders were received for outbuild-

nigs varying from £75 to £125. The lowest tender (Jackson & Walker's) was accepted. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Sellar & Hales, £4 13; sd; J. Thompson, 8s 4d; J. Dove, £2 12 4kl; J. Ewington, £1 2s-lid; J. Payton & Co., £3 19s 9cl. Mr P. G. Moore was named as the next visiting member of the Committee. It was mentioned that visitors at all times would be welcomed at the Hospital, and that it was unnecessary to fix any particular days for visiting. It was resolved that the drainage .of the hospital land be left to Messrs J. Y, Smith and f, G. Moore.

On Friday evening, next a meeting of the steward of the moiki Baces will be held at, Hodges Bush Inn Greytown, The value of sheep in connection with wheat-raising (says the Willamette Parmer) is too well establiihed to need argument, but we' hear of instances so directly in point that We cannot do our farmer readers a greater service than to mention them, John Pugh had a piece of fall wheat that promised largely, and yet he was advised to put his sheep on it, which he concluded not to do. The wheat grew remarkably, there was heavy straw, and the yield was 20 bushels per acre. It is evident that the sheep must have cropped down the heavy growth, added richness to the soil, and ensured less straw and double the amount of wheat, or at least a much heavier yield. So he thinds, and no doubt correctly, W, J. Herran tells us of a case over in Polk Country, uear Bethel, where two neighbours had fields of wheat on similar soil, and in all respects but one with similar cultivation. One Mr Keytc, last spring put sheep on his wheat and let them crop it quite close. Some of his neighbours predicted that it was ruined, but he realised sixty-one bushels to the acre; while his neighbour, who let the first rank grow mature, got only half that yield