The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 974, 14 January 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1882.

The legislative Council of New Zealand lias recently been denounced by a very title journalist in this district an useless and obsolete. We do not object to the very trenchant criticism which has been so applied to our colonial Lords, The fact that they have withstood similar attacks for many years and are still able to hold their own being the best refutation of the charges brought against them. Our contemporary urges that the Upper House is virtually the Lower House, and that in this instance the pyramid is placed upon its apex. With this opinion we differ in 1010, and the reasons assigned, for it fail to carry any sense of conviction to our mind. One argument advanced is that the House of Representatives flops all the work of the country, and the Legislative Council has next to nothing; to do. This is only a partial truth. The greater part of the public business has to he initialed in the Lower House and then relegated to the Upper one. The extremely irregular manner in which it is despatched in the' first Chamber, delays its translation in the second, and frequently the Upper House is comparatively idlo from the laches of the Lower Chamber till the close of a session, when measures are pitch-forked into it with such rapidity that they cannot receive a due amount of attention. Any student qf Hansard, however, must come to the conclusion that the Lords consider public questions with greater care, and from a broader standpoint) than our little House of Commons, The charge of standing idle cannot be fairly sustained against the members of the Legislative Council. They are diligent over all matters committed to their care. Another fallacy quoted against the Upper House is that in a new colony two Chambers are unnecessary. Now it is the very newness of a" colony which renders a dual Chamber imperative, In an older country where there exists a race of public men who have been educated and trained in constitutional practices and in the conduct of public affairs it might be possible to entrust its destinies to a single Chamber, but in New Zealand it would be suicidal to place an unlimited power in the raw, untrained, and ill-educated levies which a triennial election throws up. Tf we had able seamen in this colony to man the Lower House, and a fair guarantee that none but able seamen would be quartered in it we could afford to give up a second Chamber, but when we see, as at the last elections, novices who hardly knew a single rope, and to whomthepolitical compass is a profound enigma supplanting experienced mariners,' we may well " thank God that wc havo a House of Lords." A third argument with which our House of Peers ie assailed, is that it is not a popular representation. We hold that it is so in tho best sense of the term, and that when the rights and liberties of the people are sacrificed in the strife of log-rolling, in which tho Lower House is so frequently engaged, it is in the Legislative Council that the rights and liberties of the people find their defenders. A feebler reason than any to which we have yet referred is brought against the Upper House by a charge of dotage against some of its members, because not only might a similar reproach be laid against some members who have sat in the Lower House, hut it may with truth be said that the senility displayed in the former Chamber has been out heroded by a mental obscurity among M.H.R.'s, which d.d not arise from natural decay of noble facilities but was created by persistent intemperance and debauch, Almost the only accusation which can be fairly laid against our Lords is the payment they receive for their public services; but this, we need hardly say, suggests that their emoluments and not their offices-should be abolished. We are'of the opinion that the Legislative Council honorarium should be at once re-

duccd by one half, and if it wore found that the abatement did not materially affect the conduct of the public business, the other moiety should, after a brief interval, be also withdrawn. It is also said that the tendency of the Upper House is to-obstruct," Tin's is almost a tribute to its utility. So long as it intercepts the dross arid rubble for which the legislation of the Lower Chamber is so conspicuous, it fulfils its proper functions. If the Upper' House were, as it is asserted to be, a mere ornament—a feudal heirloom, a debased imitation of the British House of Parliament—we would say sweep it tnvay, ft is because the pyramid stands on its base and not on its apes; it is because we recognise that the Upper House is a safeguard for the rights and liberties of the people, and does good service to the colony, that public opinion is in favor of its retention.

Wk are very well satisfied with the issue of the municipal election yoatorday. We exiire.'sed an opinion that Messrs Cimelbrru Ohamborlain, and Perry were | ho three best men who could be selected fi om t lie candidates before the burgesses, and as far as the two first names are concerned our choice has been endorsed by the ratepayers. Though we regret Mr Perry's defeat, we are not surprised at it. He had a strong opponent in Mr Heron, and he labored under the disadvantage of haviujju hi'nilier in the Council. There is a prejudico against relationships in ahy public body, The reasons why we gave Mr Perry a preference over Mr Heron as a candidate were, firstly, because the former has already had an extremely valuable experience as a public man in the County Council, and secondly, because Mr Perry has more leisure time for public duties than his opponent, As far as honesty and ability goes both are fairly well matched, At some future time we hope t" seo Mr B, P. Perry in tho Council, feeling assured that ho possesses time, inclination, and capacity for serving the ratepayers, Whatever disappointment we may feel in Mr Perry's non-success is more than compensated for by the fact thiitjMr Casnlbor« has been returned at the head of the poll. We anticipate the heat results from his accession to the Oipiinnil, nod congratulate the town upon having secured his services by so emphatic a declaration of confidence.

Captain Kiwllys A.D.O. is now Major Kindly*. The CuriiTinii Rifle Volunteers parade at St Marks Church tn-morrow. H. R. Henry was taken to Wellington this morning, hiwimj failed to procure bail. The Wnirarapu West County Council holds its usual monthly meeting to-day nt its office at Carterton. A. Armstrong & On, sell to-day the priviliges uf the Carterton Taratahi Race Meeting, It is rumoured that Mr Maxwell the General Manager of Railways has resigned his uppniiitement.

Mr Richmond Beetham a brother of Mr G. Beetham M.H.R., has been appointed Resident Magistrate at Christchurch.

Mr T. H. Hill of Masterton lus been appointed a licensed ir.terpreier under the Native Lands Court Act.

The gold watch and chain presented to Mr G. Beetham M.H.R. was not, as our telegram said yesterday, tho gift of the members of the Government, but of the members of tho party with which Mr Beetham has been associated.

A very handsome wedding cake is to ho seen in the window of Mr S. Maxton, confectioner, Groytmni. It is a beautiful Miiictuie. elesjaiitly iced and ornamented, ■ml siirni'Miuted by a vase of wedding flmvew It attracts universal admiration, and many art' the conjectures ns to who is to be the happy possessor. h the meeting of householders called l-y, ihe Siicrelnry of the Education Board for the elei'tiuii of a School Committee for Masterton nu the 24th inst to be held in Ihe old school house, or the new one or in but h.

Wo remind our readers of the concert to be given by the talented Kohler Bros, this afternoon. To-night will be the last exhibition of the waxworks in Maitertmi, and those who have not seen the exhibition or heard the music, should take this opportunity of doing so. The entertainment is a genuine one and the price very reasonable,

600 sheep drafted from a flock of 4500, at Brancepeth were recently sent to Mr Gear the well-known Wellington butcher, and when killed and pressed the carcasses averaged lOOlbs" each, The Christmas bullock shown .at the same establishment also came from Brancepeth and weighed 159G lbs,

A pakeha who was drinking with some Maories in a Wairarapa H>tel, taking offence at something one of them did, set to work and literally " punched" seven of thorn out of the'bar, knocking them about like ninepins. They have since entertained a sincere respect for him. This evening many of Mr J. M. Girdleston's friends will meet him at the Empire Hotel to wish him God speed prior to his departure to Napier on Monday next. A purse will be presented to him in recognition of his many services in connection with the various friendly Rocioties, the Volunteer corps, concerts for charitable objects, he, ivc. A meeting of the amalgamated Friendly Societies Sports committee was held at flrevto'vn on Thursday evening, Mr Baillio in the chair. Messrs McKonzie, Black, and H. Udy, tertius, were appointed handieappers, Mr Magnire judge, Mr Black starter, and Mrßaillie treasurer. Two additional events were added to the programme, makiug a total of 24- Prizes to ilia value of £45 are offered for competition, which is £lO more than last year. The Greytown Volunteer Band kindly offered their services gratuitously, The privileges are to be sold by Messrs F. H. Wood & Co on Tuesday next, and should realize some goo:! prices. It has been suggested that His Worship the Mayor of Greytown Bhould proclaim Tuesday next a'public holiday, as there are so many summoned to attend the R. M. Court, and ?uch great interest taken in the cases by the non-summoned, that business will be almost suspended on that day. Several more summons were issued yesterday. It is fully expected that before the sitting ut century will he reached. We would remind the Greytown public of the meeting to he held in'the Town Hall on Monday evening next, for the purpose of considering the advisability of 'he Council voting the sum of ioO for the establishment of a Firo Brigade, aud an annual sum of ,£2O. We hope the meeting will be well attended, and that the object tor winch it is called will be suecessfully'carried out. for it must be admitted that no township in the Wairarapa has suffered more from fires than Greytown ; and in some cases if an organized body had been in existence, the losses would have been trifling. ■A new gunboat [han been launched at Nanchang, Miao, China. This .is the ninth vessel that has been launched at Kiang-nan Arsenal, two frigates, four gunboats, one sailing-ship, and one iron-clad have been successfully floated from there.

The Rev L, Moore (father of P. G, Moore, of Masterton) will preach in St. Matthew's Church, to-morrow. Mr E, Parker, organist of St, Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, will conduct the musical portion of the service.

Lieutennnt "Wyllie of the Masterton Volunteers presented medals tn OolorSergeant Girdlostoue and Sergeant D. Dixon, fur punctuality and regularity at panicle. Only one medal was originally promised, but the above members being equal, Lieutenant Wyllie generously save two. In doing so he congratulated the recipients, and pointed out that regularly at parade was one of the chief duties of volunteers, and he hoped the oxamplo set by Sergeants Dixon and Girdlestone would bo emulated by the other membors of the corp. At the conclusion of the proceedings cheers wero given for the Lieutenant aud the recipients of tho medals,

Cholera, and tho cattle plague have broken out in tho north of Java and the Sooloo Archipelago, The steamer Brunswick, owned by Captain Bewick, of Detroit, built last year nt Wyandotte, and valued at £30,000, foundered on Nov. 11, in Lake Erie, off Dunkirk. The engineer and two cooks were lost. The Brunswick was insured for 115,000. The convicts in the Ohio penotentiary sent ;£2O to the Michigan sufferers, They raised this sum by depriving themselves of tobacco and by the sale of trinkets which they had made. A good sermon could be preached from that text,

A negro went homo from a Georgia camp-meeting in a state of ecstacy, declared that bo was going to heaven by the way of a tall tree that grew in-the hackyard, climbed to a height of seventy feet, and then undertook to fly the rest of the journey, • .The fall killed him, One thousand two hundred employees of the Old Colony Railroad bavo been examned for color bliudness, in compliance with the new Massachusetts law, aud forty engineers, firemen, conductors and others have been dismissed as having defective sight. Some of them wore old and valued servants of tho company. ' Two bells, weighing two tons each, are to be, fixed on tho new Eddystone Lighthouse. The bells are to be rung as fog signals. The object of having two instead of one, as usual, is that ouo may ring always be on the weather side of the lighthouse, from whichever quarter tho wind may ho, At tho Milan Exhibition, among tho countless creations of art and industry, a small pile of solid golden dice, aud constituting the chief prizes of the Italian National Lottery for tho present year, proved the greatest attraction of the whole show. These dice, varyiug in values between MIOO aud 1300, were surrounded daily by densecrowds of spectators. Upon each die wero eii!>ravcd numbers indicative of its weight and value, aud of the lottery ticket owned by its winner, as well as the arms of Milan city.

in the march of intellect ramies seem to keep well ahead, and are ready onough to employ science in attaining their ends. Forgers in particular havo always shown themselves keenly alive to new processes and inventions. Their ingenuity seems to keep pace with all attempts to bailie it, which have ot late years been suggested by photography and photo-chemical science, A branch of the Bank of Warsaw received the other day an example of a new device which consists in splitting lOOrouble notes, and uniting each side with the corresponding upper or under-half of a false note.

Several experienced salt manufacturers of Ako, Hanma Province, intend to establish a great salt factory in Hokkaido, Japan. Diphtheria, scarlet fever, and small-pox are devastating the centre- and south of Russia, and the severity of the diseases exceeds anything heretofore known. The public are reminded that Rappand Hake, of the Emporium, aro the sole a«ents for the noted Featherstnn Cheese. Clothing, Bonis, Groceries, and Oilman's Stores aro ten per cent, cheaper than any other house in town.— [Advt.j

Carterton v Mastorton.—As a proof of who are the cheapest storekeepers in the Wairarapa we wish to draw our readers' special attention to B, A. Gardener & Son's advertisement ou our front page. This firm is determined to keep tip their reputation. From tho timo of their commencing business in Carterton they have repeatedly proved that they can withstand competition, no matter how strong. It is therefore ridiculous for another storekeeper from a neighboring township to post price lists to tlvir customers and pretend to sell at wholesale prices, when for the smallest quantities B. A. Gardener & Son supply goods in almost every instance 111 to 15 per cent cheaper, and ill large quantities still further conces sions are made,—fAnvT