The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1881

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 749, 22 April 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1881

We published in our last issue a letter from Mr Coleman Phillips on the question of •' County rating," 'Very little, however, was said in it upon the subject of rating, but very much was said about tolls and toll-gates. On the iniquity of tolls as a method of taxation, we quite agree with our correspondent, The cost of collecting tolls in country districts is usually absurdly out of proportion to the revenue derived fronj them. On this ground alone they should be condemned in all civilized communities. A tax to support a necessary bridge is a fair and reasonable thing, but if the tax is levied partly to provide for a necessary bridge, and partly to support an unnecessary toll-gate keeper, then an undue burthen is laid on the public. Toll-gates are an easy off-hand way of raising money, and the Legislature has thrown them as a bone to satisfy Counties and Highway Boards. On it rests the responsibility of them, and we

would gladly see the power which has given them take back the gift, Of course a Highway Board which is short of money is very unlikely to resist the temptation of temporary relief by means of a toll-gate, The fault lies less with it than with the

Assembly. The Parliament of New Zealand is bound to provide wise and economic means of taxation, Highway Boards have no responsibility of this character, and, indeed, have little option but to open their mouths, shut their eyes, and take whatever a legislative providence may choose to send them. It is not only the direct payment of a sixpence at a toll-gats—of which, perhaps, fourpence goes in public works and twopence in the maintenance of toll-keepers—which is a grievance. The person who is taxed lias to pull up his horse and fumble in his pocket for change, losing on every trip a certain amount of time in paying his dues. If time is money, something must be added to the toll on this account. Amargin must be allowed for the way in which people's time and tempers are tried at toll-gates. Mr Bunny has frequently pointed out how wonderfully the customs duties increase by the time the article on which they are levied reaches tlis consumer. The merchant

pays a certain duty and charges the shopkeeper ten per cent, profit on the sum which he has expended, The storekeeper, in his turn, charges 25 per cent, on what he pays the merchant; so that assuming the orignal duty paid to the custom house on an article to be a shilling, the actual duty paid by the consumer is about one and fourpence. "When, however, a carrier pays a shilling on his goods at a tollgate, we doubt very mflch whether he would

becomes apparent when it is remembered that out of the one and fourpenco in the one ease the public, represented by the Government, gets elevenpence half-penny; but out - of- the. one,'and fourpence, in the other, the public, represented by the highway board, only gets about eightpence. Yery little can be said in defence of toll gates, and we hope to see tliein regarded merely as a temporary expedient in New Zealand. We are afraid that though settlers would willingly see toll gates abolished, they are not prepared to exchange them for county rates, Logically, a county rate is a fairer and more equitable impost than a toll, but the objection to new rates is so strong in the Wairarapa that there is very little immediate prospect of their being adopted.

The Masterton Volunteers parade this evening.

Mr James Russell invites tenders for building large additions to a house on the Opaki.

Mr Benton's tender for the election of ;he Wesleyan chapel,Featherston, at £195 ias been accepted. Messrs Buckley, Stafford, and Fitzlierbort advertise £IO,OOO to lend, in sums of 1100 and upwards, at current rates,

Messrs J. loms & Co, have added to the list of their sale to-morrow, 40 young Rums, Romney and Lincoln, a basket carriage, &c,

A telephone is about to be established between Palmorston and Woodville, That maid of all work, the country constable, is to be tho operator, Mr Walter Morrison will apply for his discharge from bankruptcy in the Supremo Court, Wellington, on the 3rd of May next.

It is reported that a large amount of grass seed is being drayed from Castlepoint to the various stations in the Wharenma. The owners will find that they will recoup the cost of the seed in wool in future years. Mr R. Jones, lately in the employ of Mr F. W, Hales, notifies that he will open to-monow the central premises in Queensr., lately occupied by Mr G. Farmer, with a large stock of groceries, and asks for a fair share of public support.

Mr J, Monteith, of the Medical Hall, Mauners'-street, Wellington, has a frssh announcement in our third page. Among the articles there enumerated, the leading items are acacian cough mixture, a favorite remedy in affections of the chest, throat, &c., and iron and quinine wine, which lias becomo the most popular tonie in Wellington. Mr Chinchen, bookseller, is the Masterton agent. Lords Cairns and Salisbury and rival candidates for the leadership of the Opposition, rendered temporarily vacant by the illness of Beaconsfield. It is rumoured that Salisbury's chances have been endangered by secret pledges given to Mr Waddington, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, with regret to the Tunis difficulty which is throught my possidly compromise England.

Frederick Marslatid Hadfield, on remand, was charged at the R.M. Court, Wellington, on Wednesday with aiding and abetting Josoph Hadfield to steal 1000 sheep, the property of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., in or about the month of February last. Mr W. T. L. Travcrs, who appeared for the prosecution, now wished to abandon the proceedings, explaining that since the prisoner's arrest he had satisfied himself the prisoner had acted merely as the servant of his father, and whatever the father might have done, the son had acted without any knowledge that the act itself constituted larceny as a bailee. The father had left the colony for England, The prisoner was then discharged. The Carterton School had a narrow escape from fire yesterday. Just before the children re-assembled after dinner one of tho boys observed smoke arising between the boards of the verandah floor, and immediately reported tho fact to the head master, who procured .in axe and cut an opening over tho spot where the smoke was thickest. A quantity ot paper was found to be ablaze, and the verandah floor just igniting. The flames were quickly beaten out, and the school resumed. How tho (ire originated is not yet known, but it is supposed one of the younger children had been amusing himself with a box of matches, and gathered all tho waste paper he could find into a a heap and set firo to it,

There was a fair attendance at the Middle Park sale at Christchurch on Wednesday last, and good prices were obtained. All the animals were sold. The highest price was 525 guineas for a bay colt by Traducer out of Idalia (full brother to Sir Modred), which fell to Mr Delmain. The same purchaser bought a brown colt out of Suavant for 475 guineas, A bay colt out of Aglaia was brought by Gi'igg for 375 guineas and Hosford grve the same price for a filly out of Hammock. The next highest were 275 guineas for a filly out of Eupu, Mr Carter, and 250 guineas for a two-year-old filly out of Suavant. In all thirteen animals were sold for 8025 guineas. A bay. colt by Traducer fromßaupo (Mat's dam) offered by B. Cutts was passed in at 700. Ten of the Middle Park Setd were by Traducer, two by Papapa, and one by Leolius.

The second of the series of winter evoning entertainments, in St Matthew's school room, Masterton, took place last evening, and was well attended. The Rev. Mr Paige was on this occasion prevented by indisposition from, presiding, and possibly to this cause might he attributed a rather tedious delay in commencing the programme, However, when it did start all went well. A jjiano duet by Miss Meredith and Miss Morison, was the first piece on the list, which was followed by a solo from Miss Eocltel, "Kemember or Forget" which was rendered with artistic sliill and expression. Mr Payton gave a reading, which was followed by a clever and successful character song from Mr Taylor, entitled "the Sorcerer." A trio in which Miss Nicols and Messrs Stevenson, Bisli, and Moore took part, went remarkably well, and was vory much appreciated. Mr Elder was well received in" The Warrior Bold" and Miss Morison with a piano solo, obtained the plaudits of the house. Mr Clayson followed with a patriotic song which was loudly encored, and which infused a desirable amount of animation into the programme. Then came one of the gems of the evening, from Mr Stevenson wlio sang, " Oome into the Garden Maud," to the manifest delight and gratification of the audience. Mr F. 6. Moorefollowedwithperhapsthemosfc effective of his many pleasing songs " Martin the Maiirat-arms", and was enthusiastically encored,'and then Mr. Bisk gave "The Village Blacksmith" wjth marked effect. There were two glees on the programme, "All Among, the Barley" and "Dear England," which were well rendered and well received, MrlYG.Moore, who, in the absence of Mr Paige, presided, announced that the nest entertainment would.be given on the fust Thursday in May. Mrs Paige Mildly played the, aq v

The demand for town and country properties in thiß neighborhood, has Bhown a marked improvement during the last few weeks.

The Featherston Mutual Improvement and Debating Society holds its first annual ■meeting at tho Royal hotel on Thursday next.

" A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council is called for Thursday next, to hear and determine objections to the burgess list.

Tenders are invited by Mr Thomas Turnbull, architect, for the erection of additions to the Greytown and Carterton schools.

Forty-seven wild bulls were shot last week by Messrs F. Riddiford, T. Mason, G. Bayly, and Eatoia. The party went out on Monday morning, and returnedon Saturday evening.—Hawera Star. -

The death of Earlßeaconsfield deplored by all political parties, and has created a profound sensation throughout Europe. It is officially announced'to-day that Her Majesty theQueenhas expressed great grief at the loss of her most valued and devoted friend and counsellor the late Earl.

At the R.M. Court, Masterton, yesterday, Mr J. Y. Smith, J,P., on the Bench, William Baker was fined Is for being drunk and incapable. A; man named Willian Knicks, charged with cruelty to animals, was remanded to Otaki, Later in the day a man named Charles Robertson, charged with being drunk and incapable, was brought before Dr Hosking, J.P., and discharged with a caution.

Events in this place writes the Noreewood correspondent of the Hawkes Bay Herald are in their normal condition, that of stagnation. The township was, however, rendered a little more lively last Monday by the advent of a number of Maoris returning to their respective pah's from Masterton where they have been attending the big meeting. The first arrivals seemed to be in pretty fair ease, but those who came in last had evidently gono the pace in other places Inatecl of gathering about the hotel they camped upon the opposite aide of the road, boiled their billies and after having purchased certain necessaries, and borrowed sncu plates and forks as they could get, set to work to refresh the inner man.

A meeting of the general committee of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral Association was held on Tuesday last. Present: The President (W. 0. Buchanan), in the chair, and Messrs H. R. Bunny, B. Boys, H. Braithwaite, and Gayfer. The principal business was with reference to arrangements for the next Show, to bo hold on the 2nd of November. It was decided to close-fence the western side ot the grounds; also to correspond with the Masterton and Greytown Horticultural Societies, relative to the holding of a combined Show on the same day as the Annual Show of the Association, and recommending that a portion of the ground be allotted to the Societies, and a marquee or building erected for their exhibits, The committeo also decided to request the the advisability of certain changes in the allotment of prizes, and the adjudication of points,

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 71 packages and bales. As the bulk of their magnificient stock has been imported direct from the manufacturers, tho public can rely upon obtaining all the latest fashions and designs of the season at extremely low prices. We would advise all purchasers and lovers of fashion to make an early call at the Hall of Commerce and inspect their stock. Their advertisement will bo found on the front page of this paper.—[Advtl.