The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 862, 2 September 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881.

Upwards of half a million of acres in Otagb and Southland have been abandoned because of the difficulty and expense of coping effectively with the rabbits. We have not reached such a Stage in the Wairarapa when large tracts of profitable pastoral land have to be thrown up as valueless; butthp reason we have not done so is simply that the rabbits have not been with us as long as they have been with our Southern fellow-colonists. Otago aad Southland used the means which we are using to check the spread of the rabbit' wave, but they found them inadequate for conquering the foe, It must be borne in mind that with all

that is now being done in the Wairarapa to exterminate the pest, the aggregate number increases from month to month, and we are year by year approaching the condition of some Southern districts which send wool in to j the London market so reduced in quality that it is designated " rabbity" as, an indication of its inferior value.

Should land have to be abandoned in ths Wairarapa and settlers to migrate to other districts where their enemy is unknown, it would not be the pastoral

■L'ji'ds of tho district only who >oul<i, suffer.: I'htsre wjoiilti; It a sliuttiiigiup of shops and business Mtiililisjiments in our;. to^lisliips• : pn diminished trade, which would briiiglidtiie the rabbit evil to many who are now scarcely cognisant of its existence. Up ■to.-March last no.less than 18,280,270 rabbit 'skins lmye;been'expdrted'fr'om New Zealand! This 'will give a •fanidea of the number of the live lamnmla' still running: in 'the; colony'and the* work which yet lies, before settlers before the last rabbit disappears, On one station down South-that of Messrs Cargill and Anderson-it was estimated that 500,000 were killed, within a twelvemonth:. In,the following spring it was calculated that,the rabbits, after all this slaughter, were as numerous as ever. The poisoners' bad lost the day, after, as it were, an unprecedented annihilation, In the Wairarapa we hope for great things from the Meat Export Company, but it is essential'to the success of this undertaking that the extermination of rabbits should be carried on with increased vigor. If the rabbits make headway there will be no.?nrplus stock (it to send home, In the desolated districts down South where, the feed has been monopolised by the pest, the flesh of such, sheep as are'slll grazed 1 there is found to be deteriorated and unfit for the market. With such examples before us there should be no petty differences of opinion as to the manner in which the process of extermination should be carried out, Existing modes of getting rid of the pest are absolutely demonstrated to be insufficient, and though in .the minds of many there is a strong prejudice against new methods, such as the introduction of natural enemies, the objections cannot be entertained unless those who pni them forward are prepared to show another means by which the rabbit nuisance may he abated. Those settlers who object to ferrets, for example, have failed to sugges.t any alternative by which the work these animals have done in some parts of the colony can be otherwise accomplished, Unless those who oppose the introduction of natural enemies- and among them, as we are veil, aware, there are many leading settlers sufficiently intelligent to grasp all the surroundings of the same difficult problem which has to be solved—can biing forward some decided and effective remedy for staying the plague, the verdict of the public should be given in favor of the' means proposed by the Legislative committee which recently investigated the whole question,

Some of the residents of Masterton take up a very untenable position with reference to the new Waipoua bridge. They say that it is the without the boundaries and that the Borough Council has no responsibility with respect to it, and yet they ask why did not the County consult with the Borough, and submit the plans to it before building a structure only eleven feet wide. Wo, ourselves, have always held that the Borough, the.Highway Board, and the County were jointly interested in the bridge, aud that, whatever legal technicalities were involved in the question of building it, the fact that it was to the advantage of all these bodies to co-operate together for the erection of a suitable structure should not have been lost sight of. At first, a negotiation was initialed, with a view to secnre joint action on the part of all three bodies, but unfortunately the Borough Council trod on the toes of the Highway Board, and that party to the proposed undertaking withdrew from the field. The next thing the Borough Council did was to fall out with the Public Works Committee of the County Council. The last false move was taken by the Mayor putting himself in communication with the County through Or Boys, and when the County expressed a willingness to meet the .Borough on the question he drew back and repudiated the statements that Cr Boys had taken down in his note book at his (the Mayor's) request. Of course a wider bridge would have beeu hotter than the present single track one. As liowever the County had no funds in hand for doing the work and yet were morally bound to undertake it they were quite justified in limiting the cost of the structure. The County Council invited the Borough Council to meet them at Masterton, and the Borough refused to accept this invitation. Under these circumstances settlers in Masterton have no right to find fault, their representatives having deliberately refused to avail themselves of the opportunity which was offered them of protecting their interests. We cannot help thinking that a neighborly and friendly spirit among local bodies in this district would be more appreciated by the public than that silly affectation of dignity which ii kept like a best suit of clothes lor special occasions only

Mr David Dixon has retired from the Municipal contest, ' The Masterton Debating Society'dismiss "Female Franchise" at the Institute this eveniug, Mr G. Dixon has given &■ valuable meerschaum pipe to be fired for by the members of the Masterton Volunteer Brass Band,

DrFarquharson, physician and surgeon, notifies that he may be consulted at his rooms at Mrs Mackay's, Ohapol-st., Mascerton.

Wo learn from Mr Fannin that Mr E. Wrigley's tender for the erection of a new dwelling in Cole St has been accepted. Amount £594.

Wo regret to hear that Mr Rayner senior sustained an accident yesterday by his horse stumbling. The injury which is of an internal character is, taken in conjunction with his advanced years, a very serious one. We trust however that it will yield to medical skill, Messrs Prtrkeß and Peterson, who have the largest bunt manufacturing establishment in the Wairarapa, call attention in another column to the different classes of boots and shoes made on their premises, The Masterton Town Lands Trustees meet this evening, If before assembling they could manage to wash their dirty ,linen in private ihey would stand higher in the estimation of the public ' Mr J. H Corbet* has published an address to the burgesses of. Masterton, which is a bold and clear enunoiation of a policy of progross for the Borough; We commend it to the thoughtful consideration of the ratepayers, Mr Edwin Feist has been served with a writ for iIOOO damages at the instance of Mr Gordon Phillips whose arrest at his instance for a valueless cheque a short time ago will still be ffesh in the minds of our readers, ■. ~;

Any of our readers who are requiring good and serviceable clothing-could'not possibly do hotter than purchase from •Gardener & Son, Criterion Store, Carter ton, who are renowned for their moderate ohargfcß,—[Advt.]

;• Thei Morton Rifle Volunteers and Cadets parade\this erening. \)-.j monthly meeting of the Peatwrstßn Debatiag-Sooiety is fixed for : TueMay,flyenihg'next.'':; '"■"' Tt mt decided at. the late meeting of the Education Board to ooristituto Waiha;;kek9and;Taueru"seuaVateioh6ordi6tficts. Miss O'Halloran was appointed mistress to the'-former.-'--'- '.;..-

■■ The "auction 1" gales' for to-'morrow are Messrs iJJlqrria & Oo.'s sale of furniture,at Masteftbn',' and Messrs 0... Wood' & Co, 's sale of Mr Barlow's household effects at-Carterton, ' '• - ■

The nomination of three Oouncillori-tb fill the vacauoies caused bv the retiring of On. R. V. Smith, J, Puller, and W. Hammerich\fromWe-6reytown,Borough Council will 'be declared mi''Monday next at 12 o'clook noon. . • •

. A poll .will be taken to-day at the Camp, Featherston, for the election of a: Warden for the'Featherston /Ward of the Highway Board. The candidates are Messrs J.Donald; andO.:W..Jacksosi A meeting is to.be held at Tauherenikau on Saturday next to arrange for \ the annual- ploughing : match in the Lower Valley. ' Mr,it. Parker,'Solicitor, notifies (hat he will attend every .Tuesday at his office in Greytown, and efery Wedneaday at Mr Barnard's,; watohmaker, in Carterton. Avery sevore shock of earthquake was felt in Greytown yesterday morning about 2.25; but beyond;; displacing some crockeryware no damage was done, • It has tanspired that Government have received another insolent letter from Sir J, Vogelbythe San Francisco mail, which is not made public It is said to be more offensive than the previous ..one.' '

. We. bear ; that Mr. T., C. Barnard is about to take up his residence in' Grey-, town if he enters into f public affairs with the same spirit i.tbat he used to do, he _wiii.be a great acquisition to the different institutions in that towhship. ■W B understand that Mr Caaelborg and Mr Biah have made up their minds to fight for the Mayoral crown. We could not wish for two better candidates, Of course it is. on the cards that either Mr Gapper or Mr McCardle will come forward, but it may be regarded as certain that the twi> first named jbuigeßsea will go to. the p«ll. A requisition to Mr Bish is now being signed.

The question being asked in Greytown is, are the Horticulturists going to hold a Spring Show this year? This no doubt is becauss the have. not issued the programme yet .but it is almost. time something wbb done in that direction if it is the intention of haying one, We hop e they will see their way clear to hold their annual Spring Show, and wish it may be as successful as the preceding ones. The following are the names of the Carterton team selected for the football match with Masterton to-morrow :- Messrs N. Grace, E, Kemble, "W, Strang, R, W. Fairhrother, L, Nix, J. and H. Oates, A. Clifton, R. Greeks, J. Lee, J. Bonnett, G. Beauobamp, J. Peters, F. and C. Fairbrother. Emergency, E. Goodin.

The Cricket Beason in Greytovrn will commence shortly with an entertainment to be given to raise funds to put tho ground in good playing order. A deal of uncertainty exists, aa to what ground the club will play on thia year, a great many being in favor of securing the old practice paddock, (if it can be done), and to use the new one for matches. This is a very good idea, and one we hopo will be carried out, for there is no doubt that' Greytown owes its past successes to the : practice ground being so conveniently! situated for the players, We hope the ground question will be speedily settled, so that there'will be no delay in commencing this seanon's practice.

St Matthew's Schoolroom concert was well patronized last evening, and the usual instrumental aud vocal pieces alternated in the programme. Among the former were duets from Mr. Keisenbtrg and Miss Corbett, the Mi-ses Meredith, and a third (piano and harmonium) from Miss Morrison and Mias Smith, all of which were well received. Mr Biah also favored the audieuce'with a clarionet aolo. Two glees, "Friendship" and "Doar England," went well, but the gem of the evening in part music was undoubtedly the ttio " Breathe Soft Ye Winds," bm\« with great taste and skill by Messrs Biah, Stevenson, and Moore. As usual, solos were strong in .the programme. " The Owl" from Mr F. G. Moore," The Silver Cup " from Mr J.. V. Smith, and "Thou art so near and yet so Far" from Mr Stevenson, were admirably rendered, and recoived emphatic encores. A very pleasing duet from the Misses Rockel was deservedly applauded, and Miss Wyeth rendered very sweetly and successfully the beautiful ballad "Heart Whispers." Mr Gattaka gave a very spirited song, whioh ovoked, as all his songs do, the enthusiasm of his audience. Mr Clayson gave one of his popular ditties with his usual skill, and was loudly encored. The literary portions of the programme consisted of a characteristic Scotch reading from MrDalrymplo, and an illustrated Bab ballad from Mr F, G; Moore, in which the fate of a discontented sugar broker was brought home to tho audience in a most amusing manner, The Rev Mr Paige announced that the noxt entertainment would be the last of the series.

Affairs in Russia are assuming very serious aspects. The Czar's reactionary manifesto caused a great sensation, and in the city of Samara in a province of the same name in Eastern Eussia, the customary address of loyalty to the new Czar was rejected in the Council by a vote of 34 against 3. The Queen has sont her portrait to Baum, Lord Beaconslield's confidential valet, and has taken possession of the pet peacocks whioh were kept at Hughenden, driving to the aviary with Leopold and Beatrice to welcome them when they arrived at Windsor.

Some idea of the vast quantity of grain consumed by the millions of sparrows in Canterbury may be formed from the fact that in the crop of one' of these birds recently poisoned eighteen, grains ofwheafc were found, and as they feed three times during the day, at least fifty-four grains are appropriated by eachbirdpordiem. It is needless to say that those farmers are standing in their own light who do not take steps to destroy these marauders whilst they have it in their power, as by the outlay of a few shillings they will ensure larger grain yields than will be the case if they are allowed to go unchecked. Eecently in the neighborhood of Chaney's a farmer procured four sacks' of wheat to whioh he. added nineteen o'unceß of stryohniuo distributing the same among his neighbours, The grain was laid simultaneously, and the result was that thousands of birds were destroyed the ground beingso thickly strewn with sparrows that it was difficult to step without treading upon them, and now, instead of the air being thick with them as was previously the case; scarcely' a bird is to be seen. In this- instance a little more strychnine than is ordinarily used was applied, viz, ljozs; to each bushels of gram,";' .At a very low computation, farmers suffer to the extent of five ;6i; six bushels per acre, and it would-be well if simultaneous action could be taken which jf done at once, would prevent a vast number of young birds being hatched out ready for next harvest and fruit season.

There aw; some: peeps into politics written in-: the! Times (by " Ignotus," whioh have ' been' read; with certain eagerness. ;.Their authorship has puzzled many people. : ;:'Tney are written,.-,liow-ever, by Jim Oiwßiohmond.-Auoidand Observer. . '"

We have been- informed that' Messr o Rapp and flare of the Emporium Queen; Street have 300 bushels of white seed potato oats grown in the Wairarapa Imd acknowledged to be the best nample in. "the.market. As there is a great demanoV for first class seed oats wo would .recommend farmers who intend to grow milliug oats and sustain the high market price for this produce to secure some of this, seed without delay.—[Advtj,; 5 /-. .< ; .;■?"