The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 775, 23 May 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1881.

The census returns of New' Zealand indicate that one-half its population is congregated in towns, and the other half in- the country.: Such a statement as this would be received with surprise in England, where the popular idea of immigration to the Antipodes means the acquisition of a freehold, stocked with sheep and cattle. We have no objection to large towns growing up in New Zealand, if within their borders industries and manufactories are de--veloped, and men, women and children are employed in reproductive occupations. We fear, however, that the bulk of the denizens in our New Zealand towns are not engaged, in industrial pursuits, and that they, in many instances, come under the head of consumers rather than producers. It is very evident indeed that there is a surplus population in our towns which ought to be transferred to the country. The condition of affairs in New Zealand has, unfortunately, for the last two years been unfavorable for settling people on land. The importance now of increasing our rural population by holding out inducements for men to change town for country cannot be over-estimated. We quite approve of the effort now being made by tlie Government t& stimulate local industries for the more direct benefit of those who live in centres of population, but while admitting this we consider tlie settling of land, the peopling of our sparsely populated country district:-;, as a far more. important consideration, In the coming-session the town and country interests will be pretty sure to crop up over tlie Representation Bill, Members of the great liberal party, say a man in town is as good as a man in the country, and should have equal political power, If this be conceded, the towns of New Zealand will return one-half of the members sent into the General Assembly. Town habikws, also, like the Hon. Mr Johnston aud Mr Bunny will carry off a number of the country seats and these, added to the number of the direct representatives, will give town interests a strong majority in the Assembly. Again, too, combination between town members for political objects is easy, but between country ones it is difficult. Half-a-dozen town members can work a point which it would take ten country representatives to obtain, It must, however, be apparent that tho necessities of the Colony as a whole require that country interests should be in the ascendant, If they are to be, it is imperative that a country settler should have more political influence than a town one, or, in other words, a constituency of, say 3000 souls, should be regarded as equal to a town one of, say 4000. We published in our last issue an analysis—which we beliove to be tolerably correct—of the Ministerial programme for the coming session. The bulk of the measures referred to in it have reference to demands made upon ,the; Ministry by large centres of population At tho foot of tho list the question of Counties and Highway Boards crops up in an incidental manner, it being intimated that if time permitted something would be done for such bodies. It is high time that country interests came to tho front and asserted themselves. With the very moderate development of local industries observable in towns it is not for the good of Now Zealand that they should retain one-half of the entire population of tho colony..

The usual meeting of the Featherston Mutual Improvement and Debating Society will not be held on Tuesday next, being the Queen's birthday. The next meeting will take 1 place on Tuesday, May, 31st,

To-morrow night a ball takes place in the Town Hall, Masterton, under the immediate patronage of Captain Ruck and the officers and members of the Masterton Rifle Volunteers, in honor of tlio Queen's Birthday. -The attendance of all loyal subjects is invited,

On Friday next, Mr 0. B. 0. ReeaMogg will give a selection of elocntionery readings at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Featherston. The object of the entertainment is to give those who may have a desire to acquire a knowledge of rhetoric an opportunity,of judging for themselves as to whether it would be desirable to attend the course of class-lectures whien this gentleman intends delivering on the sublect. The admission to the readings is fixed so as to just cover expenses in connection with their delivery, Mr Rees-Mogg has consented to .lecture on rhetoric at the Wairarapa Institute, Greytown, early in June.

: J. lorns and Co. conducted two sales oil Saturday, one at their yards at 1 o'clock, when a mob of sheep was sold at 4s each, being principally 2 and 4-tooth, but rather low in condition, A few odd lines, including 'poultry, concluded; the stock sale. At'2 o'clock an adjournment was made to the scene of the next sale, at the Union Caft, where , they sold as long as daylight would allow, kit were unable to got through the long catalogue of furniture. In consequence of this, the sale will be:-resumed - to-day, at' 11 o'clock, when; the.balance will be sold, which includes all the Btuff jupstaii's. The' attendance .'was good and bidding spirited—anoter indication of the steady improyeS; ment.of tlio times.' i. ,i i.

To-morrow being a general holiday the WaikarApa Daily will not be published;

The introductiah of the new time table on tho -Wellington and Mastertbn railwayis postponed. The: Confederate; Diorama didi not attract a very large audience at Featherston on Friday last. ' ; ■; ' We v?i»h tho Wellington Industrial Exhibition, which opeus to-day, every success, It will no doubt, attract "a large number of Wairavapa visitors,

The Rreytown Oddfellows meet on WcdnoflUy next, to consider some proposed alterations viathe Registration of Friendly.SocietieS'Aotl-' - ''

A ,-apeoial- -parada of', .the' Grey town ■Volunteers, \vill this -evening, jßjreparatory fo t iWiQj'eyie v jtp; riib rr o'w.

henga a,.local. r teani. and soiiie visitors from :Mompohs|Busli} ,- "On the Opaki, rabbits killed with phoaphorized corn arb'beingpicked'up'ljy'lHiti-'" dreds., Rhodium. is.-ihorefoie ;a- superfluity^. To-ittorrow, being a holiday in honor of the Queen's, Birthday, only the' early mail wiil he despatched from" the Post Offices in'theWairafapa,

'Wo direct attention to ah 1 alte ration in the mail notice with reference to the mail :for Drej'ei'town,;Maimceville, He., which will, for the future, close oil Monday, Wednesday,' aiid'Eridayj" at 12,45 instead of 1 pan, as hitherto.

A boys'football .club of •which Master Walter Tully is captain, is in full 'swing" at Greytown. - - -

The • nomination ,of auditors for the ; Borough.'of Greytown takes place on: Friday next, The. Wellington Trust' Loan and Invest-, ment.' Company has a notification m. another column! A special feature, of this company is ,that it allows advances in the shape of mortgages to be operated ,on in the manner of a bank overdraft, Mr J. Woodward is its manager.

The' anniversary tea meeting of the Presbyterian Sunday School) Masterton, will' be held to-morrow afternoon at the church, after which the Rev, W, H, West will doliver a-lecture on " The Art of Conversation."

The nomination of a. warden for No 4 iVard Castle Point Highway district, takes place oil Wednesday next at 12 noonji at Tiraumea.

1500 bags of New Zealand oats have been sold at. Melbourne, at 3a. 4d per bushel,'

The'Christchurch Cathedral spire, which rises to a height' of 202 ft, was completed last week.

Yesterday the Rev Mr Paige was again able to resume duty at St Matthew's, after being debarred by illness for several weeks from officiating in his own Church.

Wo remind tenderers for the new Masterton public school to post their tenders to-day, if they wish to make certain of being in time for the board meeting next Wednesday, 1

Tenders are invited by Mr R. S. Hawkins, of Bowlands, for buiiding' a, cottage at Maungapakeha, Specifications may be seen at Messrs Brown & Co.'s offices.

Til consequence of to-morrow being the Queen's birthday, the ordinary meeting of the Stonehenge Lodge, A.0.D., will be postponod till the following Thursday. -

We remind Volunteers and those who intend proceeding to Carterton to witness the parade, that the special train leaves Masterton at 10 a.m. to-morrow morning, The Volunteers assemble at tho Town Hall at 9 a.m.

Owing to wet weather the football practice at Masterton on Saturday had to be postponed. Tho usual practice on Wednesday next will be held, after which a fifteen will bo selected to play alloomers on Saturday.

Tho Hon Mr Oliver hands over the charge of his department to-day, Mr Hall will assumo the duties of it pro. tern, Messrs McLean, Bastings, aud Baiu are spoken of as likely men to fill the vacant chair at the Cabinet meeting.

The Wairarapa West County Council met on Saturday last for tho first tune in the new Council-room, adjacent to the Library buildings at Carterton, Tho new place of meeting is lofty and convenient, the only drawback -being that the voices of Councillors are occasionally somewhat lost in the gigantic chamber where the Council is now lodged,

At the public meetiugheld on Friday at Carterton, to protest against the removal of the Post and Telegraph Offices to tho railway station, Messrs Fairbrother, E, Armstiong, and Moore were appointed a deputation to interview the Government.'

The Presbyterian Church at Masterton was crowded yesterday, both in the morning and evening, for' the anniversary services couneoted 'with the" Sunday School, The lev Mr West preached eloquent sermons on both occasions, which were listened to 1 with marked, attention. In the afternoon there was. a special service for which an appropriate address was delivered by Mr West. The children, present, sang a. number of hymns in a very pleasing manner. A number of adults, parents,. and friends displayed their interest in the school work by attending the afternoon gathering! .

We are glad to learn that a movement is on foot to establish a Farmers' Club and Exchange at Carterton. The promoters of it are genuine farmers, and in their hands it should be carried out to a successful issue. 'A farmers' union which would link together the whole Wairarapa would he a great step in advance, but this must he waited for. The present inovemont, however, will lead up to such a consummation.

A daring attempt to commit burglary was made early 011 Sunday morning, by a man who gave his name as James O'Brien. Late on Saturday night Sergt. McArdle noticed two men loitering about at the back of Caselbera's stoves, and other places in the neighborhood. He told llieiii tlioy"had better, go home, and cautioned them that if he caught them hanging about at tho back "of premises he would run them in. They informed him they were doing no harm, and that they had just come down from,the Blairlogie station. After seeing-them off, the Sergeant went to the police station, and about 2 a.m. was called by Mrs Smith, wife of Mr F., Smith, fishmonger, of Queen street, who asked him lo go to their sliop as a man had broken ill. Tho Sergeant went down and found that one of the baok window, which had been nailed down, had been prised open and an entry effected through it. The burglar had taken off his boots, and made his way upstairs, where' he™ captured- by' the Sergt- He pretended : to be very drunk, but qn being, informed that that was no use/'he quiikly recovered. Mr Smith states that he and his wife had retired for the nighfc; and soon after they were awoke by hearing .the jingling.of the keys in the cash box and Vmepne'imoving about the 1 room'Mm '• Smith ran ; for the constable, while Mr Smith guarded the ,prisoner} j who' iniade' no effort to escape. Ho will ba" up e | ore

We understand that Mr Foster's tender, amounli;:;£4ls, has been accepted by Mi? .Cockburd for the erection of four Bhops opposite the Tost Office, Mastertop. Miss -.Morison, having removed to Cilurch-Stroet, (next to public School), notified that, gho will receive pupils for pianofortej harmonium, and singing. Evening lessons will, if desired, be givon,

-■■-,A''meetirig of the committee of the Featherston Highway Board appointed to call and accept tenders, was hold at tho board office,- Featherston," on Saturday' last, Present.—Messrs Jackson, Matthews, and Walker. The following tenders were opened For metalling 30 chains on the Lower Valley road, from a point near the Tauherenikau bridge. No 1 liney Joseph Brodie, .. 19s...fid,..per .chain• (accepted); F, Hammerich, £1.,35, per chain; S. M. Hart, £1 fc,-pqr-ohain-; \VHodder, J3l 10a, per 13a, per chain,„Eoiu:frarobg..abfluL?. chains of roadway on Bidwijl's ..run, v Kahautara, from Bidwill's -gatd' J to 5: Tillyard!s, gate, and, Cameron,, 15s, peichain, (accepted) ;• Slads 'Brodo-;' son, 16syper"bhaiu*f Jolln'Bo'rid find Soils," 16s, per'chain. *.y.-T/yr , .> ;The bankruptcy laws (says the"" Christchurch Tolfigmph) shQuldjbe; tliat those notices of ' insolvency that' lippear in, tho, publiCjgrints should ducedrto/'a .minimum.; It must ever be] pome in miud that thousands of New Zealand newspapers find their.waylto the". Old Country everyjmil, and the foi> '.inidablo lißta of bankruptcy notices which meet tho eyes of the numerous [readers cannot fail to give them a somewßat sinister iiiipfessipVof'/theTstale offfcliiiigs', New Zealhn'd generally. \; i j

; The Duke of Manchester, in a letter to Captain Baldwin, 'Fellow'onhTColomaT Institute,-riptte'd his 1 , inability,',to.visit : Dunedin,-:in terms very.cqmplimentary;to the colonies in general and New Zealand in particular, ■I-very' much' regret/'he' says; "that I cannot conveniently visit' Duiiedin on tlm'ocoasioii.'' If it jverejnot that I h'ope ; to hiive nnbtlier opportunity of doing so, I should be very reluctant to leave. New Zealand-without visiting a city of which I have heard such glowing accounts as regards its pieturespe. tion and its fiourishfng trade. I hope some day also to adhiire' 'the'iiiterior of thejjrich provinces of. Otigd. and/Canterbury, and the beautiful mountain aiidlake sqenery at these highly favoured islands.

[ knew there was a great deal Worth seeing iq the Antipodes,-and Iliave seen a great leal, but not yet half wliat I wish My journey lias made me think the world niiall and the British Empire great,, and [ trust'tm)iy soon again visit- these portions of it.'"

j In the good old days of Masterton, when storekeepers were scarce and money was plentiful, large profits and exorbitant prices were obtained, but now-times-are-different, money is scarce,-, and ' store-,-' keepers are plentiful. Schroder, Hooper & Co., Hall of Commerce, -have taken this into consideration, and have cut the prices and profits (down to such- an .extent that they completely baffle all competition. Their stock is very -large, and- beautifullyassorted in eyery, department, with all the, latest fashions for winter wear, t Orders from the' country ; are executed with despatch, and as carefully as if, selected in perspn, Piu-chase'rs of drapery and clothing will do well to inspect their, stock. Their.advertisement wifi-be-found on the front page of this.papciyaud deserves consideration.—Advt..: :