The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 669, 17 January 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1881.

The Chairman of the Wairarapa West County last week maintained the expediency of permitting informal discussions at meetings, on the ground that they enabled members to frame resolutions. We were surprised that Mr Coleman Phillips, the Champion of Standing Orders, permitted such a doctrine to bo proclaimed without a protest, or that Mr McGregor, who has, perhaps, a better practical knowledge of them than any other member, could sit and listen to such heresy. The duties of a Chairman are wont to be, practised very loosely in the Wairarapa, and we have a half suspicion that they are not altogether understood. The Chairmen of any meeting are. bound to devote themselves specially to the conduct of business, but in this district .they, as a rule, devote themthemselves to 'expressing their own opinions and endeavoring to get their fellow members to adopt them. No ordinary man could be a good chairman and a good debater simultaneously. If ho gives his attention to the work incumbent on him as a Chairman he cannot lead a discussion. If he leads a discussion he cannot- concentrate himself upon the conduct of business, ■ Our Chairmen, as it=were', like to assume the role of Premier, as well as that of Speaker of the House. They make very good Premiers, and very bad Speakers.' Mr Pharazyn paid no. compliment to his colleagues when he-assumed that they are not capable of transacting business without the aid of informal discussion. We know "for certain that some, of them were formerly quite able to do public work without the aid of irregular debate, and if they aro not equally capable now it must be because they have become degenerated by a course of; County meetings! We feel sure that Mr. Pharazyn, in common with ourselves,' would like to see .able public men trained m this district to take part in public affairs. If so, he must recognise' that informal discussions are absolutely hindrances to sucli training, and. that, by. his method of conducting business he is simply inculcating bad habits which .'cannot be very easily checked' or cured. Mr Pharazyn expressed a conviction that it would be very eaßy for him to con-1

duct meetings According to strict 'rules. He nmy imagine' it tobe^q,;but-fe experiment is bheMwliicH lie Ipiiievor tried,, and, we,think if hei .OTerv tides attempt it he will j)i|st experiences 'will bo' "ahnqst_f»^ : to { Ms. success. We liave always'•■lJotjced' Jsl meetings conducted -aeeewling' to strict rules -tire misiiffiss-is'' more rapidly and efficiently dispatched There are proper rules for every emergency, and it is not because there are no■. legitimate ways,and means for meeting such small "difficulties- as framing resolutions, but; simply because . Chairmen such as Mi\ -Pharazyn like to be their own Standing Orders, and to transact business by a " rule of thumb," provided, of course, that the thumb be their own thumb, andnoother digot ventures to wag authoritatively. We hold that our County meetings conducted loosely' are a very bad school for public men, and though we quite endorse the unanimity which reelected Mr Pharazyn Chairman of the Council—though we are quite of the opinion that for political knowledge and practical influence he is head and shoulders • above his colleagues, • we cannot .admit that he takes equal rank as president of a meeting, and never will until by the due observance of Standing Orders ho changes himself from an autocrat into a constitutional potentate. ,

The R.M, Court sits at Featherston today. Messrs J. lorns & Co. had a capital attendance at their auction on Saturday last, Messrs Be'etham Bros, notify that lamb shearing at Brancepeth commences on Thursday, the 20th of.January. To-day the match between Laycock and Hanlan comes off in London, The betting is 5 to 2 in favor of Hanlan. Harvesting has now been commenced in many districts in Otago, and the weather is favorable. Mr J. Tuck calls tenders for splitting and erecting a mile of rabbit-proof palings, There are to be cheap trips, or possibly cheaper fares, on the railway next Saturday, Re Taratahi-Carterton Handicap, we understand that all horses have accepted excepting Shamrock tor the hurdles. The Greytown Volunteers are requested to meet for parade on Tuesday eveningnext, at which there will be blank cart-, ridge drill. We understand that Mr Hawkins has purchased from Mr John Morrison the Bowland station, containing 11,000 acres. The price is reported to be £40,000.- • , The manager of the Masterton Permanent Investment and Building Society notifies that it lias money to advance on good freehold security. _ The ball which lias recently been advertised in our wanted columns is now postponed to some future dato, as it would clash with the Oddfellows' Soiree on the 21st. Persons who desiro their name 3 to he added, to -the voters list for the Masterton Town Lands Trustees, aro requested to leave their names' with the Secretary, at the Council Chambers, before the 28th inst. J. lorns & Co's salo of furniture and sundries on Saturday last attracted a large attendance. A great number of lots wero put through, and the bidding not being very spirited, buyeis made very good bargains in most instances, The total winnings of Robert the Devil during his turf career amount in the aggregate to £20,926. Mr Brewer gave 2500 guineas for him at the close of his two-year-old career. As a three-year-old ho has won £15,04:7, so that the owners of the horse made a good investment.

Sir William Fox arrived at Hawera by coach from Wanganui.lhis afternoon. He will take up.his residence on that coast, probably at New Plymouth, for some time to come. His private secretary, Mr Bell, proceeded to New Plymouth the follo\vin« day.,-' . . - ,• A correspondent calls attention to the - approaching annual election of Rabbit Trustees. The question is one that is likely to cause considerable local agitation during the coming month, and we are not at all surprised to find country settlers already beginning to display a keen interest in it. _ Wo have seen sonie plans of a substantial dwelling house, prepared by Mr

Famn, architect, for Mr M. Oaselberg. The structure is a two storey one, con. taining 14 rooms, and will when erected be perhaps the most commodious and convenient private residence in the borough. It is to be built on M. Caselberg'a section at the corner of Cole-street, Mr J. M. Girdlestone will sell the household furniture of Mr J, J, Smith, who is leaving the district, on Friday next, Saturday bein« a public holiday. The sale has been called for Friday to suit the convenience of the public. The catalogue contains a splendid assortment of articles, which are nearly new, and will bo sold without reserve to the highest' bidder, -.". . Yesterday mornins! the standing corn in the harvest field at Te Ore Ore was found to be on fire. Mr T. L, Thompson, with all the hands available, at once commenced beating down, the flames, and when about an acre of wheat had-been burnt.succeeded in their efforts, It is supposed that Borne one must have been looking at the reaping machine which was standing close by, and thoughtlessly dropped a match amongst the straw without extinguishing it. Smokers cannot be too careful at this dry season of tho year. A meeting of the Testry of St. Jolm's Church, Featherston, was'held on Friday last, Present-The Rev Mr White, and Messrs Cox, Toogood, Tuekey, Oakley, and Williams. Mr Brunskill .was elected to fill the vacancy caused'by the resignation _ of Mr Luxford. Mr Parker was appointed organist for the current quarter. Several small accounts were passed for payment. The first Friday in each month was fixed for future meeting—time 8 p.m. Mr Tuekey undertook to collect church subscriptions. It was also arranged to invite Messrs McFarlane, Barton, Chamberlain to undertake choral duties. We observe that Mr Skeet, the Engineer of the Featherston Highway Board, has received notice that his services, will be dispensed with on the ground of economy. It is, we believe, the opinion of the majority.of :settlers in the Lower Valley, that the Board has for many years past constructed a large amount of public works in proportion to the means at its disposal; There has always, however, been a section of the Board who'had an idea that engineering works can be carried oh better by old settlers .who cherish the' memory of days long long- ago, .when professional talent did not exist. Should the Featherston Highway Board drift into the position of having its roads made by.irresponflible engiueers, its last state ■will.'be worse that its first. '

,'. ; ;Baylias's Derby Sweep is postponed by ■request till Friday next, evening- before ;tlie; races. , . '"■■Messfs'J-;.Iorns&Oo'; advertise that omFriday next they will sell 30 head of , store cattle, cows, horses, pigs,'poultry, ■gates, sundries, and a buck-eye reaper and bin'der.'. ' .'•■"-• ,' . ; ; ,IliOelhßfsn: and Upper Plain Cricket Olubs tin Saturday last was not'a very satisfactory affair, Featherstononly being able to bring eight men to the field. Three of these were allowed to have double " strikes" to make up for thoso.abaent, and .three Masterton men .assisted 1 in the field during tho innings of their team, Featherston ultimately 'winning by : seven runs. The highest : scorer for" • Masterton ; was R, Welch, 8; for Featherston, H. Fry, 12. . Messrs F, H, Wood and.Co had a most successful sale, of furniture and general merchandise at • their rooms, Greytown, on Saturday. The attendance was large apd-the-difforent lots brought satisfactory prices. They also sold the privileges of the- Greytown. Amalgamated Friendly Societies'sports, to be held on Friday next; ' The following are the prices realised :—Gates, Mr Brooks, L 77; publicans' booth, Mr G. Jones, LU; refreshment booth, Mr Barratt, LI 10s; fancy stall, Mr Braggins, 10s, Yesterday the Eev. James Paterson preached the anniversary sermons in the Presbyterian church, Masterton. In the forenoon he took for his text "In the eventide there shall be light," and in the evening " The unsearchable riches of Christ," On both occasions he had large and attentive audiences. The afternoo°n the rev. gentleman' spent among the Sunday School children, distributing the prizes and encouraging them in his usual kindly manner. We need hardly remind our readers of the tea meeting this even ing and the lecture on "Hugh Miller" which follows it, Mr Paterson's eloquence and earnestness is certain to draw together a large number of settlers.There was but one opinion as to the performance of the Burford-Clinton troupe in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, last, viz., that it was tho best one ever seen in Masterton. The only drawback noticeable was that the company was too large for the stage. The piece selected—" The Yankee Farmer"— is of a popular character, but it is not equal from a dramatic point of view to-. that of the " Shaughraun," which is to be produced this evening. Nevertheless, the " Yankee Farmer" gives scope for good acting, and is extremely amusing. From the moment Mr Grattan Ri««s stepped on tho stage, a3 Joshua Wlntcombe, he arrested the attention of the audience, and made them laugh or look sad at pleasure. His acting has not been overrated; it is easy and natural and in this _ lies its chief charm, Mdlie, Murielle sustained the part of the heroine, and'acted with great skill and vigor.' She sings like a syren, and one song from her is worth, the whole of the' admission money. Mr Burford is well-kuown in this district as a pleasing actor, and as John Martin-,, sustained his'reputation. Mr T. Burton represented-Dolby with complete success. Mr J, Musgrave's delineation itf old Cyrus was simply' a masterpiece..- Miss Marie Wilton had an unexceptionally difficult part to play as Tot, and it is" a great deal to say that she thoroughly succeeded in it. It would, however, be. difficult for any actress to excel this one in infusing life and spirit into afarce. Her dancing, too, was superb, Among; the other characters which call for special mention, was that of Aunt Matilda, which was faithfully pourtrayed by Miss Cora Mclan. The farce, " Home from the Zulus," was the only good all round one which as yet been produced on the Masterton stage. The programme tonight ia a still'more attractive one than tha't'giveri on Saturday evening, and we anticipate seeing a still larger house than the one which crowded, the Hall to welcome the clever and popular company. Strangers paying a visit to and upcountry settlers arriving in Masterton are often at a loss to know which is tho cheapest and best house to purchase all kinds of General Drapery, Millinery, Olothins, &o. Schroder, Hooper & Co., Hall of Commerce, offer special advantages in this line which cannot be met with elsewhere, their stock being the largest and best assorted in the Wairarapa. Their prices are lower then any house in Wellington, their goods are all new.and of the most durable class, and they sell cheap and for cash. This establishment is situated directly opposite the Club Hotel. Remember the addressSchrodor, Hooper & Co., directly opposite the Club Hotel. Read thoir advertisement on the front page of this paper;— (Advt),'