The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1005, 21 February 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1882.

Should the three score Counties of New Zealand be reduced to two score or run' up to five score 1 This is one of of the questions which will have to be considered when our' County system is re-organisedi Those who advocate the abolition of Road Boards would increase the number of Counties, as without this augmentation they could not replace them with any prospect of satisfying country settlers. If, however, Road Boards are retained as a permanent feature in our local government system it is clear tve don't require a great number of Counties. In the i latter case two score—say "forty thieves," would be ample to keep the Government alive with petitions on the one hand and to tickle the ratepayers with County rates on the other. When Provincialism fell, never to rise again, the dividing of the North and Middle Islands into Counties and the Counties into Ridings was accomplished by the M,H.R,'s of the period to the satisfaction of themselves, if not to the contentment'of the community. In some instances County boundaries were iniquitious, and riding allotments partial, but the people accepted the lines laid down for them, and did not trouble to exercise the power of rectification which they possessed so long as subsidies rolled in and County- rates remained in obeyance. The original number fixed for Counties was perhaps judicious, Had it been greater Road Boards would have been menaced, and if it had been less people would have believed Provincialism was only cut up and not dead and buried. Now, however, that the County system is fairly launchedand County ratesarelike chickens coming home to roost, the question of territorial extent- can be reviewed withadvantage. We believe that it.'would-be to the interest of the colony to retain Road Boards, and for this reason we advocate that the number of County governments should be diminished by amalgamation. One Engineer and one Clerk is 'quite capable- of looking after the arterial lines of two, or in some instances three of omvCounties as at .present consti-W«-'do not believe that a

County with—say forty per cent of an Engineer "and perhaps fifty per cent of a Clerk is likely to be as efficient asla larger body which could afford a whojo Engineer and an entire Clerk. What we require is that our Counties should be a convenient size for being worked economically and efficiently. "With' Eoad Boards within their boundaries they are too" small, without Road Boards they are too large,:' There are some public men in this-district-whose opinions are entitled to respect, who believe that the sun has not yet set on government subsidies, and that our future wants may be drawn from the Treasury fount. We hardly concur in this opinion, and all local signs are adverse to it. Both Counties—West and East—are pledged to a County rate, and no longer anticipate carrying on from allowances granted by the Colonial Treasurer. Counties as rating, bodies, and Counties as distributing; bodies are two very different things, So; long as Counties held in abeyance their; powers to tax, the people took butt little interest in their welfare, but, this 1 sentiment of indifference will vanish ' when a County rate rises over the horizon. Mr McGregor, who advocates dependence on the Ministerial cow, bases his view on the assumption that the Government have a revenue which yields a surplus after providing for departmental expenditure. If the Government is in this happy position what business have they with levying a property tax? They are virtually inflicting this burthen in order to raise funds for subsidising local bodies! We don't want the Government to do this, let them abolish the Property Tax and let local bodies raise the money they require by their own rates, If, in the Wairarapa, we have the choice between paying a property tax of £5,000 into the government coffers to come back to us in a diminished form at some future day in the shape of a County subsidy and between paying a County rate of a similar amount into our own. local' treasury which will he immediately available for expenditure on roads, we think it will be admitted that the latter course is the preferable one; it being of course conceded that the payment of either one impost, or the other is alike objectionable, disagreeable, vexatious, troublesome, uncomfortable, annoying, harassing, sickening,' and disgusting from a breeches pocket point of view.

The Wairahapa Daily will not be published on Thursday next, in order to allow our staff an opportunity of seeing the first day of the Wairarapa Races, Australian rabbit skins sell at Is 7d per lb in England. Mr Coleman Philips of the Dry River advertises for sale one thousand cross-bred ewes. Mr Oliver Haycock announces that lie will rcn two brakes from the Featherston Railway Station to the races at vory low fares, Public tenders are invited by the Masfcerton Highway Board for the following works.—2o.6o chains formation Wainuioru road, 15,00 chains metalling, Taueru road. MessrsLoweß and lorns publish another excellent catalogue for their market saie to-morrow. It includes heifers, steers cows) mixed cattle and sheep, farm, hack and brake horses, fanning stock and im. piemen ts, At the Assessment Court for the Featherston Local Board and the Featherston Highway Board about twenty objections were dealt with—the objections in most cases being either sustained or consented to, the greater number being transfera of property.

The old Cook Strait telegraph cable, containing threo conductors and which was laid in 186G, has parted in the Straits, causing partial interruption of communication with the South Island. There are however two single conducting cables still in'good order, viz., the one laid about five years ago, over a carefully selected route, also the one laid between Wanganui and Wakapuaka about two years ago. The old cable which lias just parted was broken about seven years ago and was repaired by the Sturt and afterwards examined by (he cable-repairing stoamer Agnes. At a meeting of the officers commanding the volunteer rifle corps in the valley, held at the Bank of New Zealand, Carterton, on Monday the 20th Inst,, Major Bunny (chairman), Captains Tully and Snodgrass, Lieutenants Benn'ett,Cameron, Donald, Wyllio, andf Crawford were in attendance. The question of the adjudication of .the champion prize on the recent district prize firing was fully debated on the tie in the total scores be • tween Privates Nixon (0.V.E.C.) and Private Kibblewhite (M.V.R.C), and ultimately the matter was loft in Major Bunny's hands to consult Colonel Header, on when in town. A very general expression, however, was given of an opinion that Private Nixon had the better claim to the prize. Surgeon Watts (0.V.R.0.) was also present at the meeting. No decision was come to to as to the permanent location of the drill instructor. Sunday was the dny appointed for hold* ing the harvest thanksgiving service at St' Mark's Church, Carterton, and the cuato" mary monthly church parade of the Volunteer Rifle Corps of that township. The Volunteers, headed by the Band, inarched down to the church 3G strong, the ofliceis on parade bein» Oapt. Snodgrass, Lieut, Bennett, and Surgeon Watts. The Church was most beautifully decorated with cereals and flowers, and the two tables of the decalogue—the Apostles' Creed and our Lord's Prayerwere empanelled with a border of grain, Abnye the altar was a large cross composed of oats and flowers, and on either side were specimens of Indian corn, some five feet in length, the altar itself being laden with fruits and vegetables of the season, which are to he transmitted to the Committee of the Wairarapa Hospital for the benefit of the patients lying there, On the flank walls of the chancel and between the windows down the sides of the church were crosses of corn and flowers, the panels of the gallery being similarly dressed, with the exception of the centre one, to which was attached a large floral circle. At the altar rails were sheaves of wheat and oats, and the front of the harmonium was decorated with wreaths of corn and laurel intertwined. The result was a credit to those by whom it had been .effected, for the work it must have entailed and the good taste displayed. The church was densely crowded both at the morning and evening services, appropriate collects, hymns, psalms, and lessons being introduced, the Rev W. T. Western preaching an impres: sive sermon from the 23rd chapter and 28th verse of the book of the prophet Jeremiah. After service in the morning the Volunteers returned from church in the same order of march as in proceeding thither to the Public Hall, where they dismissed. The day was a very disagreeable one, heavy gusts of wind blowing throughout its length and during'the night. : • '

':''? Delta's 1 ' ieiter„will appear to-morrow. A half-caste" drunk" named Charlie, ,was ran in,yesterday, at, Greytowh, by Oonstabld'Eooleton. j 'lnspector ; Rose of ,'the Postal Depart-, mentis'oJa'anoffi'cial'vißitor to Masterton. ~lhe* Stanmore I 'election petition has resulted in fillet's seat- being declared' vaca^Und : thjjMpn;voidr;.;.: :..;,: :.j~ Mr Wardell R.M. [sits at Carterton' tomorrow. The Masterton sitting bnThursdayispostponed;till:neifweek.'''. ""'"" Messrs Neill and Cookery' have disposed of their trotting horse "Vile" to: a Napier Maori for fifty guineas. .'■■'.- The Carterton Volunteer Fire Briga'de meet at the engine-shed for practice at *l p.m. this evening. Mr J. Montgomery has been appointed Working Overseer for. the Borough of Greytown,. We direct special attention to Mr W. Bell's (Denison House) selling-off advertisement on our front page. ' i Tenders are invited in another column for cutting from 1?,000 to 25,000 ft of timber, including rimu, totara, and white pine. Messrs Lowes & lorns' sale of Captain Buck's furniture and effects this afternoon was well attended, and very fair priceswere realised. A buggy pony was sold to Mr Wagg for £Blos. Messrs Lowes & lorns cattle' sale at Carterton to-day was not very well attended, but those present were buyers. 21 yearlings fetched 50s, lj-year-olds, 50s, 2-year-olds 60s, and mixed cattle C7s 6d. We again remind our readers of the Autumn Show to-morrow in the Town Hall, Masterton. The doors will be open from two to six p.m., and from seven to ten p.m, We hope to see good exhibits of fruits and vegetables, this season having been a favorable one for their growth. The weekly drill of the Carterton Rifles took place on Monday evening, in the public hall, Lieuts. Bennett and Crawford and about five-and-twenty rank, and file beiriGjon parade. The early part of the drill was conducted by Instructor Bazar, after which Lieut. Bennett put the company through the bayonet exercise. - •' Why is there so muoh aversion," asks our local contemporary, on the part of a powerful class, to real industries ? Is it not because manufactures constitute new avenues of employment and raise the value of labor*" The market rates for labor is now seven shillings per day. We would be glad if our contemporary would say what he wishes it to be raised to, as a permanent thing.

To-morrow Messrs F, H. Wood & Co, sell the balance of-the Belvidere estate at their auotion rooms, Carterton,. On a former ocoasion the auctioneers succeded in placing a large number of sections to local buyers, and the purchasers then made enhance the value of the remaining lots. The terms on which the land is offered are so very liberal that there should be little difficulty in placing the whole of it at satisfactory prices, Messrs S. Bacon & Co of the Waipoua mills, with the enterprise which is fast becoming proverbial in connection, with that firm, have now in course of erection another pair of mill stones to be used for split peas &c, &c. The firm can obtain orders for about three times the number of bushels of poas than are at present grown in the district, but when once a market is established for them, farmers will very quickly prove to the occasion, The oatmeal industry established at the Waipoua mills is developing into a_ large trade, and we are glad to see the mill is kept busy in all its numerous branches,

The members of the Greytown Working Men's Club took possession of their new premises yesterday, The building occupies the site of the one destroyed by fire in November last, and has a frontage in Main Street of 46 feet, with a depth of 60 feet. The entrance hull is 13ft Gin by Bfeet, on the left of which is a spacious Billiard Enom. 27ft Gin by 16ft Gin which is to be fitted with one of Alcock's tables. On the rieht of the entrance hall is the Beading Boom 18ft Gin by 13ft Gin, where everything in the shape of reading matter and writing material is to be found for the convenience of members. The card room 15ft Gin by 18fl Gin is reached through this room, and is in every way suitable for-the purpose for which it is intended. The bar, 10 x 6 by. 13 x 6, in which is a store room 6 x 6 by 4 x 6. is in the centre of the building, and has an opening to both the billiard and card room, and also to the-side passage. The private entrance is on the north side (through which the whole of the above rooms are accessible), and leads to the custodian's apartments, which consist of kitchen 15 x 6 by 17 x 6, bedroom 15 x 6 by 14ft,.and a spare room 13 x6byß x 5. The other portion of the buildiny is devoted to the Greytown Lodge, and consists of a Lodge room 26 feet by 19 x 6, and an ante room 12ft by 8x 6. These rooms have no communication with the other part of the building, and are reached by an entrance on the west side. The whole of the rooms are lofty and well lighted, and no expense has been spared in furnishing them. The front portion, with the passage, are dadoed about 4 feet high, above which they are scrimmed and papered, the ceilings throughout .being match-lined. Great praise is due to the contractors, Messrs Trotman and; Smith, for' the energy they have displayed in finishing the building in such a Bhort time, notwithstanding the obstacles they have met with, on one occasion the whole of their dressed timber being destroyed; by fire at the sash and door factory. The members cannot but appreciate the care and thoughtfulness of the architect, Mr J. Baillie, who has contrived to'give them as much convenience and comfort as it is possible to put in the building, and as it was mainly through his exertions that the Club was started in Greytown (an aotive member of which he has been throughout), they have the benefit of his experience in framing the plans for the present building. We understand that the members intend shortly to celebrate the opening with a dinner. The Club is in a sound financial condition, and enjoys the enviable position of being the only one in the province that has not bad to rely on outside support, but is, and has been, a bona fide, self-supporting institution, We wish the Greytown Working Mens' Club may be as successful in the future as it has been in the past,

Speoial attention is oalled to Rapp and Hare's price list, which will be .found on our front page. For slothing, boots, ironmongery and grocery, they will be found the oheapes. and best house in the trade.—To FarmersJust arrived, Harvesting Gloves-; 1 " 1,000 Corn Sacks, equal to mvf at 7s 6d per dozep,—[Advt,] ,*•■• Carterton v Maiterton,—Ab a proof of who are the cheapest storekeepers in the Wairarapa we wish to draw our readers' special attention to B. A, Gardener k Son's advertisement on our front page; This firm is determined to keep up their reputation. From the time of their commenoing business in Carterton they have repeatedly proved that they can withstand competition, no matter how strong. It ib therefore ridioulous for another storekeeper from a neighboring township to post price lists to their customers and pretend to sell at wholesale prices, when for the smallest quantities B. A. Gardener & Sou supply goods in almost every instance 10 to 15 percent. cheaper, and inlargequantities stiU*fartJwrcoocee siofis aw made;—lAdvt.