The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1881

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 729, 30 March 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1881

Duriko the past season four Horticultural and Industrial Shows have been held in the Wairarapa—two at Greytown, and two at Masterton—and it may be said of them that they were, on the whole, not quite equal to the displays of a similar kind held in the same townships three or four years ago. It would appear as if in the matter of horticulture and of local industries the Wairarapa is going steadily backwards, but we should be sorry to believe such to be the case, and would be disposed to think that either the novelty of these exhibitions has worn away, or that the management of them has degenerated. Shortly, however, arrangements will have to be made for next season's shows, and it is not at all too early to express a hope that some effort will be made to put them on a better footing. At one time the leading settlers of tbe district we're wont to display an active interest in those periodical events, but of late their failure to contribute exhibits to them, or even to honor them with their presence, lias been marked. It is quite time that these gentlemen were once more brought to the front, and their services secured. Our shows have become entirely too local, and every effort should be made to constitute them on a wider basis by the help of country settlers. It is not only, however, among leading settlers that horticultural apathy is to be regretted. Do the industrial classes lend a hand to make the shows successful 1 It is common to 6ee at shows one exhibit of bacon, ono exhibit of cheese, one exhibit of ironwork, one exhibit' of boots, &c,,— as if there were but one farmer, one dairyman, one blacksmith, and one shoemaker in the district, It is possible that the small amount of the prize money offered may account for the absence of competition. If so it would be as well if those interested in shows were to provide more substantial inducements. It is, from a commercial point of view, extremely desirable that local products of all kinds should be encouraged. Those who have travelled through the different pastoral and agricultural districts of New Zealand do not hesitate to express an opinion that the Wairarapa is very much behindhand. Jt must be evident to even ourselves that we do not advance very rapidly, and that, particularly in the matter of local industries, we make but a very poor show., We had thought that with the facilities for travelling offered by the railway our local shows during the past season would have attracted an unusual con- ! course of visitors—overlooking the fact that there would be very little in them ■ to-see, and that people would not travel, even on a railway, without some : attraction. It is quite time now to. turn over a new leaf in the matter, and we.hope that at the annual meetings of our Horticultural and Industrial, So-

.cieties.ifc will be. decided to" make a fresh start.with. '•' these commendable. enterprises, and give', the public .proper ■shows. 'Last>year we suggested that two good shows held in the townships where these exhibitions have been wont to be got up.would be better.'.than ferior ones, and we ,are still of the opinion that co-operation -between the Upper and Lower Valley is desirable, with a view to oxhibtsof a district rather than,a mere local character.. About seven years ago the first show was held at Taulierenikau, and the last ones, held about a month ago, were but little better than it. We feel sure that our readers will agree with us that this result is unsatisfactory, and that the time has arrived for re-organisation.

At a sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, yosterday. Mr R, G, Williams received his discharge. Messrs C. A. Briggs & Co have a now announcement of their great clearing off sale in our advertising columns, Mr E, B. Bell has made a startling reduction in the price of bread in Greytown. He is now selling bread second quality at 2d the 21b loaf.

Messrs Cameron, of Lyttolton, stevedores of the New Zealand Shipping Company, loaded a vessel with grain for the London market in 35 working hours, This is the fastest local time on record.

After tho ordinary parade of the Masterton Cadets on Monday evening, a meeting was held to elect a Lieutenant and Sub-Lieutonant, when Sergeant A. Thompson was elected to the former position and Privato W. Wilton to the latter.

A Ohristchurch telegram, dated March 281 h,nays:—Dan O'Brien,the well-known jockey, fell off the express train to-night about a mile this side of Winchester station and was severely injured, one of the wheels of the carriage cutting all the toes off his right foot.

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Hans Petersen, stonemason, waR appointed to be held on Monday last, but lapsed for want of a quorum, The liabilities are set down at £l2olos, and assets £CO, represented by household effects and working tools.

At the late To Ore Ore gathering there was a large muster of Hau Haus, The Church of England Maories, however, must have been fairly numerous, for when tho Rev Samuel Williams held services there tho offertory on the first occasion amounted to £7 4s lid, and on the second to £5 6s 9d.

Earl Granville, in the House of Lords, and the Hon. Mr Gladstone, in the House of Commons, referred to'the assassination of the Emperor of Russia at St Petersburg, and each spoke in eulogistio terms of his late Majesty. Both Houses have agreed on addresses of condolence to Her Majoaty the Queen, and also to H.R.H., the Duchess of Edinburgh on the death of their illustrious relative,.

A mine leading from the place of the Czarwitch, present Emperor ot Russia, has been found under the street in which the building is situated, and in a house close by a large quantity of explosives were discovered. The object in view was evidently the destruction of the Czarwitch's palace and inmates. Mr Herbert J. Williams, of Featherston, in writing to the Standard, Bays : " Speaking of the late disastrous fire, I read with great regret a paragraph in the Wairakapa Daily to this effect: 'Mr Faber has now been burned out of two Hotels and one dwelling-house, and much comment is made in local circles.' Now, Sir, this statement is absolutely untrue, and, to my mind, bears on its face vindictiveness and malice. The cause of the Victoria Hotel fire, as in the instance of the Club, was so satisfactorily accounted for that not the slightest necessity for an inquest exists. The dwelling-house was not in the occupation of Mr Faber at the time of the fire, so why that should be cast in his teeth I fail to understand." As reported iu our issue of yesterday, an inquiry has vindicated Mr Faber from any unfavorable suspicions with reference to the late fire. Prior to the enquiry being instituted as a matter of fact, there were comments made, and it is extremely, satisfaptory to find that they were groundless. There were public reasons why a strict inquiry should be made, and we considered it our duty to give publicity to them. We had not and could not possibly have had any personal fooling in the matter

A meeting of the Carterton Local Board was held at the Council Chambers, Carterton, on Monday, the 28th inat. Present-Commissioners Js, Fairbrother (Chairman), W. Parker, W, Yickerstaff, and B, Callister. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the balance to the credit of the Board at the Bank was reported to be £l7 13s Bd, A bridge on Arnold's line having been reported defective, the Chairman was requested to wait on the Taratahi-Carterton Highway Board, with a view of having it repaired. It was resolved that a rate of one shilling in the pound for the year ending 31st March, 1881 be struok at a meeting of the Board to be held on the 12th prox. The clerk was instructed to apply to the Inspector for all surplus moneys received from the safe of stook impounded. MessrsCallisterand Vicber* staff were authorised to get necessary repairs done to bridge on Dalefield road. The following tenders were directed to be advertised;—forming footpath 12$ chains; Repairing footpath 40 chains—tenders to close at 2 p.m. on 12th prox. The meeting then adjourned, A meeting of the Masterton Public Library Committee was held yesterday. Present—Messrs Feist (chair), Bennett, Boddington, Carr, Vile, and Hales. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was thou read: From Mr W. Bateman, of Christchurch, re work just published entitled "The Colonist," and suggesting it as a desirable book'for libraries; from Mr Hales, resigning his position as a member of Committee, stating that he would not he able to attend another meeting, and requesting that some gentleman be elected to fill the combined offices of hon, sec, and treasurer. The Committee decided that they could not see their way clear to purchase Mr Baternan's booh. It was resolved that Mr Selhvr he asked to undertake the offices of secretary and treasurer, and that the Borough Council he asked to add the names of Messrs Payton and Sellar to the Committee. The Secretary reported that he had received no communication from the Government re subsidy on rates; receipts since last meeting, £9 16s Id; expenditure (ordinary account) £7 Is 2d, reinstating £13145, and the bank-hook as produced showed an overdraft of £352 6s; that the N.Z. Times was now placed on the table soon after midday, and 1 the Evening Post immediately on.the arrival ; of the late'train; that there was an insuffienoy of chairs in the reading-room. Accounts amounting to £1 Is were, were passed for payment/ The Secretary was authorised to procure two dozen chairs, 7 : also a 'book for Committee..to mite instructions jor the guidance of the busto-. diari. Mr Carr .suggested a number of desirable books for the library, and the Secretary was instructed to'ascertain their, cost before next meeting...::.

1 TheMaitertoh Cemetery Trustees hold, a meeting:on Friday next.;; @j ; ; :■:s>£ \;News;Kas v reaehe'dxMastertori'thiiiMr: Owen, the proprietor of'.the ,Tiiiui : Botelj died yesterday morning. / The '"deceased, has,not enjoyed good health' for Borne tiixiepast. \ "■ ..•

'_'' Straw Ms' apparently ho" marketvalue in.th'is neighborhood. Yesterday Messrs Chamberlain 8r05,,-set fire to two large stacks of wheaten sh'aw oh the Op'akl, which accounted for the pyroteohnio appearance of the 'sky last evening in that direction.

. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company havo received the following telegram, dated London, 25th March': —Wool—The salo programme has been .curtailed by one day, and closed [firmly. The total quantity sold during the sales was \ 2(10,000 bales. 160,000 bales have been taken for export, and 35,000 bales have been held over for future disposal. Combing and clothing washod, scoured, greasy, and superior greasy, and coarse washed crossbred have nil declined Id per lb since closo of last -sales. Superior clothing washed Ims declined Id to 1| per lb. Medium and superior greasy, fine greasy cross-hred, coarse greasy cross-brad, line washed cross-bred, and fine scoured cross-bred have all declined |d to Id per lb. The next sales will commence on 10th May, and will include 350,000 bales fresh arrivals, and 35,000 bales old stock. What a lot of good stories.about one thing and the other I ("The Loafer" in the Press).havo heard from the West Coast. One comes to me this week of a well-known magistrate over there, who in the early days was a jocund varlet, and who loved to hear the chimes—had there been any—of early morn. On one occasion, he had been carousing with a number of jolly diggers, somo of whom olected to see him safely home. The majority of them were implentur veteri3 Bacchi, as the pastoral poet V. Maro equisitely expresses the state of having had too much. The escort got very rowdy and began to break things. Thus they went home under an escort themselves. They were locked up, in point of fact. Next morning, they were arraigned before their boon companion of the evening previous, They mado no defence, and were fined from 10s to £3 a-piece, They then had a long lecture on the evils of intoxication, at the conclusion of which one of the dissipated party exclaimed. " Why, it was all your Worship's fault. You wore as bad as any of us." "That may be quite possible, my good man," said the Solon, "You must mind to pick your company more carefully on future occasions. Court's adjourned," Wo 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 71 packages and bales. As the bulk of their magnificient stock has been imported direct from the manufacturers, the public can rely upon obtaining all the latest fashions and designs of the season at extremely low prices. We would advise ail purchasers and lovers of fashion to make an early call at the Hall of Commerce and inspect their stock. Their advertisement will be found on the front page of this paper— [AdvtL