The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1881

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 726, 25 March 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1881

The prospects of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company look anything but brilliant at tho present time. When it was sought to have it constructed at the expense of the colony we .opposed it, because wo felt certain that if would not pay, When, however, a priyatc company took the matter in hand, the position was different, The success of the Company! depended upon the provisional directors convincing the .public that the speculation was a sound one. The directors went, no doubt, carefully into figures, and found that the line to Foxton would not pay, a conclusion to which we lia/1 arrived from the first, Thoy found, however, that by making Palmerston the' terminus there was a better prospect of success, and intimated an intention of changing the original route. The result has been to divide those interested in the line into two parties, a Palmerston party and a Fox- < ton party. Mr Travers heads the one, : and Sir William Fox the other, and it may bo said of these leaders that they will fight hard for their respective parties, and neither one nor the other will yield. The combat, though useful as an exhaustive discussion of the merits of rival lines, is not calculated to float tho shares of the Company. We would far rather see theexisting differences healed, and the line constructed by private enterprise, than that the Government somp (Jay or other should be worried into taking the matter up. The Government ■ is now taxing the colony to maintain the railways it has already constructed, and while such is the case it is.not justified in making a single mile of line which will add to the public burden. In proportion to the resources of the colony, an undue amount of money has been spent on railways, and it is time that the expenditure ceased until other, interests .which have been neglpcfced jjre developed,- /A farmer .who spent half his capital in' the purchase say of a threshing machino, and went -.short., of .ploughs, barrows, seed, and labor,, would be deemed a fool,,and yet this is exactly what New Zealand; has done with:its' railways,' \. Too large a' : pi'opbrfcioii. of the capital; brought into the 'country has been

;'way/and' % ;ii-lollQ^B ; \My : ;a;snatnral' conseciueiibe, that the:'■ un'dfe inflation. of one. industry is maintained at the r sacrificeof all .others. Whether a mant be a large station proprietor, a'small farmer,.a merchant, a storekeeper,.a publican, a baker, a butcher, or. a laborer, he cannot unless under exceptional circumstances make more than a bare living in New Zealand at the present time/ The public burthens of tho colony consequent reckless railway, and immigration policy, keep the noses of colonists to the grindstone, and relieve them of all superfluous cash by the atmosphere of taxation which surrounds them. When the horny handed son of toil drags a scanty living out of a bush clearing what can' he have, left for stores, interest on mortgage, and what not, when he has paid Ms customs duty,his property tax, his road rates, his sheep rates, his rabbit tax, his dog tax, and his toll gate 1 It is not too much to say that the aggregate sum of a country settler's taxes has been doubled since the introduction of the iron horse into New Zealand, .

Tenders are invited to the 28th inst,, for the erection of stables &c, on the Opaki. Tenders are to be addressed to the Council Chambers, Masterton.

Sergt, Major Bezar is to be transferred from Fielding to this district, to replace Sergt. Henry as drill instructor. ' There will be harvest thanksgiving services in St, Matthew's on Sunday next,

. Messrs J. lorns & Co. have added to the lots advertised for their sale to-morrow 200 crossbred ewes,

The boiling-down works at South Featherston are reported to be very busy just now.

Mr J. .Harris, the well-known hairdresser, has commonced business on his own account at the rear of Mr McOardle's shop, opposite Ihe Council Chambers. Mr Crosse the well-known surgeon dentist of Wanganui, is now paying his periodical visit to Masterton, and may be consulted during the next few days at Mr W, Kibblewhite's Temperance Hotel, r The Rev C.JMelvillo Pym a clergyman from England, preached an eloquent and able sermon in St Matthews church last evening. Considering it was n week day service there was a good congregation.

The carpentering trade in Feathewton is now tolerably brisk. Messrs Riddick & Oadenhead are employed in making alterations, and improvements to Mrs Barton's residence at Fernside, and Mr Benton is' busy in pushing on with Mr It, Yulo's line now houso.

We again call the attention of. breeders and owners of young stock within the Wairarapa district to the fact that the nominations for the Champagne Stakes, £SO, of 1882,' and District Produce, £IOO, of 1884, close with the Secretary, afc'Cap terton, this (Friday) evening, at 8 p.m. There can be no doubt that it is to the interest of all breeders to keep up those young stakes whethor they race their nominations or not, and this being so we hope to see a large entry when the Secretary publishes his lißt. The nomination fe,e for pack event is £l, and besides the advertised amount there wjll be a Becond and third prize in each race, A rosidont in Greytown, lately returned from' the ranges near Featherston and Greytown, has in his possession apiece of quartz, broken by him from a reef, show* in? decidedly payable gold, A private company is being endeavored to bo raised to prove the reef, when, if a fair sample, no doubt a salutary stir will bo made in this district, The lucky finder (?) has been one of a party who lately have been prospecting, but the remainder haying returned, he has followed his researches alone, with the above result. A certain amount of. caution is always advisable in accopting hearsay as gospel, oven when backed by a specimen, btffc this case has several firm believers here in its genuineness, and wo wish them luck.. A meeting of creditors in tho estate of Mr E. W. Mills was held at the Supreme Court on Wednesday last at 2.30 p.m.- for tho purpose of considering Mr Mill's ap.plication for discharge About fourteen or fifteon oreditors werq present. Mr J. Dranafield occupied the chair, Mr J. S. M. Thompson said ho understood Ihat they had met at the request of Mr Mills for the one purpose of considering his application for a discharge. He begged to move that Mr E. W. Mills be immediately disoharged, He looked upon the lnpejing as being merely of a formal nature, Mr J. Chantrey Harris said he had much pleasuro in seconding the motion, The chairman then put the motion, the resolution being carried without opposition. The proceedings did not occupy the space of two minutes,—N,Z. Times,

A few Kuripuni residents met on Wednesday evening last to talk oyer matters relative to tho erection olf a Town Hall for that end of the ■ Borough. Among those present was Bis Worship the Mayor. On tho motion of Mr 0. Wilton, Mr Eaves was voted to the chair. The Chairman, having explained- the object of the meeting, stated it was open as a social meeting, and any remarks on the subject could be made., Mr T, W; Shuts then addressed those present, and; gave an explanation of what had been done and what it'was proposed to do; and also as to the benefits, expected to be derived from the action which they pre about to take. In closing his remarks Mr Shute proposed the following resolution : —" That for the convenience of present and future inhabitants of this end of the Borough it is considered advisable that a public hall should be erected as soon as possible, in which all local public matters could be discussed, entertainments, and (if required) religious services could be held; and that connected with'the hall there should ba. a library and reading room." This was seconded by' Mr W. Wilton, The. meeting was also addressed by Messrs W. Wilton, 0, Wilton, E. Arnold, and J. Russell. His Wosrhip tho Mayor threw out, very kindly, seyfiral suggestions as to the hall being placed on Trus.t Lands, but nothing definite was arranged. A committee of seven were appointed to take steps and report on Monday ovening next, the comrnittee to consist of the following persons: -Messrs W. Wilton, Williams, E. Arnold, 0. Wilton, T. W. Shute, J, Russell, and the Chairman. Three sites were spoken of on which the building could be placed, but the question will,'in all probability, be decide'd' at the next meeting.

We hear from reliable authority that it' is the intention of Messrs Schroder, Hooper & Co. to make their first: grand display of Autumn and Winter Millinery, Drapery, and, Clothing- at the.Hall of Commerce,-' on Saturday, March 19th, consisting of 7i packages'and bales, : Ab the bulk of- their magnificient stock has. been imported 'direct from the manufacturers, the publiq:,cah rely upoti obtaining all.the latest fashions 'and designs of the season ;aj;f&trejnely: 'low''prices?: We, •would adviseall purchasers and lov.ers of fashion to make ■an'-early: call at-the HaU of Commerce: and.'; inspect .their stock. Thoir advertisement front pagex»f this paper!— [Apyrt^wiA,

: j A "correspondent;'points out-to us that the lorig dry grass in .the'Masterton Park, if ighited.would.be dangerous to the town, and shouldbe'cut down at once.

' Noticed given by the Town Olerk that proceedings will be commenced on Monday next against all persons in arrear with their rates;

Mr W. Toogood announces that he has secured as temporary premises the building recently in the .occupation ofMessra lorns & . Fergusson at Featherstony in whieh he will immediately .resume his business.!:'. ~.;,.

.A very marked change has come' over the policy of the London Times concerning Irish affairs since the delivery of the Queen's speech. Writing on the legislation on the subject it says—"lt is generally acknowledged that-as- much ought to be done for the' development of peasant proprietorship as is possible with-' out recklessly involving the State, either as landlord or mortgagee in obligations would press heavily on the taxpayer."