The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 350, 29 December 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1879.

The Government intend taking advantage of the powers conferred on them by the present session of Parliament to collect the unpaid portion of the Land Tax levied for 1879. As this tax was not excessive, although somewhat unfair in its incidence, the Government do right in collecting it, and defaulters may expect to receive little leniency. But the tax for 1880-stands upon a different footing, and the public will act rightly in using its own judgment as to the wisdom of its Representatives in Parliament in consenting to so heavy an impost, in the present circumstances of the country. It can hardly be doubted that the Hall Ministry has made a mistake, Heavy taxation is not so much now required as a cessation of expenditure, and the Government will find that the collection of the penny tax next year will be a very difficult matter. The vismwtie of the nation will remain inert, and the public is likely to show its disapproval of the policy by not paying the tax. There is, further, little doubt that the Public Works system, as at present carried on, is unsound, In many places it goes ahead of settlement; it enables a crowd ot workmen to spend onv borrowed capital in enriching the pockets of the publican, and it breeds up a whole host of civil servants. The true basis of prosperity—the settlement of the land and productive industryis not affected, rather retarded by it, What farm laborer thinks of tilling the soil, searching for gold or gum or other natural resources, while lie can depend upon Gs a day from the Government 1 Supporting the unemployed by the present system of Public Works, it highly pernicious, If the country cannot absorb its present population, it is of no avail to defer the absorption to a future day, The evil grows with its own magnitude. But a salutary lesson may be imposed on the public in the attempt to collect the 1880 tax. When people find that they have to put their hands deeply in their pockets to support an extravagant policy, they will ask themselves whethar the policy is a remunerative one, The public will have to bear heavy taxation, as it is to support past extravagance, Whether it will consent to heavier imposts to support future excess is unproblematiCill. The Wellington-1* oxton railway is an unnecessary undertaking, while a h uuk line exists in the Wairarapa, The money would be far better expended in extending the latter line on to Napier and Wanganui, and so connect, ing centres of population. There are, like the Wellington-Foxton line, other lines of railways at present being undertaken, whose connection might stand over for many years to come. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, and speaking solely as a unit of the population of this 'fair colony of New Zealand, we venture to advise the Hall Ministry not to expect to press the collection of the 1880 tax to the last degree, but rather to commence at once the cessation of expenditure upon Public Works; to allow the unemployed to go to the country, and not collect about the towns j and to gradually dispense with some portion of the army of Civil Servants, that the Public Works system has brought into existence. In saying this, we believe we express but the thoughts of our fellow men. If such be the case, the Government will find the thoughts of the public stronger than a whole statute of laws. For the future a much modified system of Public Works expenditure, to complete the past policy, is desirable, perhaps to the extent of the land fund or to any moderate fixed annual sum that the colony can afford to expend. We venture to say that fixing our annual expenditure' upon Public Works to a moderate stated sum is likely to reduce the House of Representatives to its senses, and so bring about an economical administration. The past system of expenditure has demoralised even our best and most honorable public men, and none know this truth better than they themselves, Were we possessed of Asmodean powers we should like to record the private opinion of those honorable members who,voted for the Wellington■Foxton line against their conscience,

Boxing Day in Greyfcown was very tame indeed, owing to the incessant downpour ; but numbers indulged in Saturday as a holiday, many availing themselves of the picnic in connection with the IVesleyan Sunday School, others going in various directions, picnicing, &c. °Tlie two days were as different as possible. Boxing Day must have been wrongly calculated this year. The Greytown Cricket Club can now boast of possessing the finest roller in the Wellington province, thanks to the perseverance of Messrs W. J. Salmon, T. S. Ronaldson, and others. The roller weighs twenty-four hundred-weight, is of inch iron and heavily weighted, and from the foundry of W. Robertson, of Wellington. The only want of this persevering club is a ground that can be reserved only for cricket and football, We understand the arrangements that were pending for the lease of Stewart's paddock have fallen through, and efforts are being made to secure another site. We presume the club will vest their property in trustees, and be willing to accommodate anyone with the use of their roller. '

The Reports Committee of the Masterton Borough Council meets in the Council Chambers this evening. Many of our Wairarapa readers will be interested to loam that Mrs John Barton has a eon,

We trust the sunshine that broke upon us yesterday will be permanent and give the corn a chance,

The meeting of Stewards of the Master-ton-Opaki Jockey Club which was to have been held on Saturday evening last, was postponed until next Saturday, at the Club Hotel.

We omitted in our last issue to stato that the midnight Christmas Mass at St. Patrick's Church, Masterton. attracted a

very large congregation. The musical portions of the servico were beautifully rendered throughout.

lay morning one Captain Lambier was brought before Messrs J. V. Smith and Hosking, J.P.'s, charged with larceny as a bailee in appropriating a cheque placed in his hands by a Maori. The absence of a material witness prevented the ease from being clearly elucidated, and the prisoner was discharged with a caution. Judging from the evidence, we should say lie ought either to have been discharged without a caution or sentenced, We havo been favored with the following account of the Brancepeth Station Sports, which were held at the Pinehurst Shearing Shed The day being favorable, and after partaking of a splendid spread provided by Mr Beetham, the sports were entered into with good spirits. Mr Pilcher acted as handicapper, Mr W. Mead as starter, and Mr Shotter as umpire. For the first ovent (Hurdle Eace) there were two entries, 6, Brandon and E. Gootch. After a close contest, Brandon came in first. For the 100 yards flat race there were seven entries, J. Haughton, G. Finley, G. Wells, T. Wright, G. Shotter, J, Willacy and J. Connolly, Shotter catne in first, Wright making a good second. The Three-legged Race was won by McCarthy and Wright, Haughton and Connelly second, The closing event was the Sack Eace, and, there being a good show, there was great excitement, T. Wright coming in first, G. Finley second,"

On Saturdi

A rifle match, Married v Single, will be fired at the range on Mr D. Donald's property, Masterton, on New Year's morning to commence punctually at 5.30, so as to liavo the match finished before the Caledonian Sports commence. The following will probably represent the respective teams Married : Lieutenant Donald, Sergeant Williams, Corporal Wilton, Privates Avery, W. Kibblewhite, S. Kibblewhite, E. Kibblewhite, McDuff, 0. Bentley, D. McLachlan, and Woods j emergency, W. Perry and R. G. Williams. Single: Sergeant Hogan, Corporal Matthews, Corporal Jowett, Privates James, B. Wilton, G. Ward, C, Matthews, C. Ankctel, Hosie, Logio, G. Bentloy; emergency, Dalrymple, T, Wilton, and Feist Ihe teams are requested to be on the ground punctually at 5.30 a.m. The funeral of the late Mr George Jennings took place yesterday (Kunday) afternoon and was the largest that has ever taken place in Masterton, between GOO and 700 forming the procession. The Masterton Foresters, of which body deceased was a member, turned out to a man, several brethren also coming from lenin and Gteytown, making a procession of some 100 strong, The Masterton Volunteer Brass Band formed part of the procession, playing the "Sicilian Mariner's Hymn," and were followed by an immense concourse of men, women, and children. On the Foresters assembling at their Hall, the Chief Ranger read two telegrams which had been received from Auckland where deceased's friends reside, one being to the following effect"Forward body here; mother nearly mad ;do the best you can for us." It was then decided to form into procession, and take deceased to the Church of England, and then forward his body on its road to Wellington, en route for Auckland, the body to be taken into Wellington last night by Messrs Jago, Coppins, and Parkes, in order to catch a boat which left at one o clock to-day, This was accordingly done, The body was taken to the church wheie a most impressive sermon was preached by the Rev J. F. Teakle, and then followed to the confines of the town by his brethren and the public. On arrival thereat, the Chief Ranger, Brother James Brown, read in a solemn andiinoressivemannerthe short burial service of the Order. Deceased was then taken on to Wellington. Deceased's age was only 22 years, and he was well known amongst us as a quiet, obliging, and respectable young man, and his sad death seemed to cast a gloom over the whole town. We believe he had a brother-in-law in Wanganui, and a mother and sisters in Auckland, who were promptly communicated with, both by Mr Coppins 1 (in whose employ deceased had been for a number of years) and by the Court of Foresters.

The sporting writer of the Sun thus

discourses The weights for the MartonRangitikei handicaps have been issued. Maritana gave them a taste of her quality there last year, and should she visit them this year, will be hard to beat, Fishhook lias, of course, been awarded the post of honor in three events, but is a very unlikely starter. With Bst 121b, Chancellor has not the ghost of a show, and the hanclicapper shows his utter incapability for his work by the weights allotted to Chancellor and the two following, Camballo and York. Otawa would have a good chance with the Southern nags out of the way, Yampire has been thrown in, and should be able to beat his opponents with only Cst 71b up. He has not performed this season, but at the end of last season he shaped very well. Fit and well, he has a rare show to sweep the board.

The New Zealand Herald (Auckland) has the following encouraging paragraph with reference to trade in that part of the colony "In our last we recorded that a brisk business had been done in all departments of trade, consequent upon the telegraph advices received of an advance in prices in nearly all the commercial centres of Europe. This imparted a tone to business, and caused speculative purchases ; and hardly had this ceased when further advices of a rise in New Zealand produce, such as wool and kauri gum, cause a more buoyant tone throughout the district, and the result is that a much larger circulation of money will be available than estimated when we last wrote. In addition to this, one of our most important industries, which for years has been languishing, viz,, goldmitiing, has again revived, and so far as can be learned

there is every reason to believe that for some time to come we shall have a return to mining prosperity. Within the last few days a sum of over £IO,OOO has been, or will this week, be distributed, and

such a large amount of money circulated is sure to have a good effect upon general trade. Several wool sales have taken place nnd realised beyond the expectation of woolgrower—the last showins'an advance lfd per lb upon the opening sales."

Two Chinamen, says a Sydney telegram have been discovered in a suburb in Sydney affected with leprosy, One was poisoned; suicide is supposed. Ihe other was taken away late on Saturday night to La Perouse, close to the landing placo of the New Zealand cable, and put in a tent near the beach, where there is a favorite picnic ground, Great indignation has been manifested by the cable and custom house people, A strong remonstrance was sent to the Premier. The accident means absolute isolation of the cable station, and as an insensible quarantine will possibly affect telegraphic communication with Now Zealand, it is hoped the New Zealand Government will remonstrate with the Sydney Government. There is great alarm felt here as it is a most loathsome form of the disease.

A terrific explosion of gas recently occurred in a tunnel on the Narrow Guage Railway in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, and resulted in killing over thirty Chinamen working within, and the frightful burning of some fifteen ir moro besides two white men. The tunnel is 2706 feet long, without ventilating shafts. Bight months sgo an explosion took place in the same tunnel, killing five and wounding thirteen men. In July last the gas burned fiercely for a fortnight in the tunnel, These accidents are caused by tho escape of petroleum gas from fissures produced by blasting, the range being full of rock oil. Two explosions occurred. The first happened when the fuse was lighted for blasting, and the roar and shock almost shook the mountains. When "the gas exploded twenty Chinamen rushed into the tunnel with lighted torches to relieve their countrymen, They penetrated about 1500 feet when a second report, loudor and more intense than the first, again shook the earth and wrecked the engine-house and sheds within 100 feet of the entrance to the tunnel. The explosion was followed by a sheet of lurid flame which the great mountain belched forth, consuming everything before it for a distance of 100 yards. The engine supplying air for the workmen was blown out of the tunnel, and a group of white men, who congregated at the portal when the Chinamen went in, were all more or less injured by tho second explosion. The sight and smell of the burning flesh is' described as something horrible,