The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1010, 28 February 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 1882.

We have frequently called attention to the want of management on the Wellington and Masterton Railway, and the subject Is of such importance, not only to this district, but the colony at large, that we may be excused if we again refer to it. On former occasions when we have ventured to call attention to very obvious sins of omission we have heard settlers, who in a great measure lead public opinion in this district, say " Ashcroft is a very good man!" This is an opinion in which we quite concur, but it does not follow that because a good man is at the head of the line that its administration should be efficient. The line is doing a business of £50,000 per annum, and it requires not only a good manager at its head but also that this good manager should have an efficient staff at his disposal equal to the work which has to be despatched, As far as we can learn Mr Ashcroft has virtually no staff. He may have a clerk for mere clerical work, but beyond this he is without an aide-de-camp. What is wanted is some one to bo continually travelling up and down the line visiting the centres of population, ascertaining their requirements, and providing for them. Can Mr Ashcroft do this and fulfil his other duties, such as providing for ordinary services, looking after the permanent way and various workshops and engine sheds connected with the lino? We fail to see how he can, and we know very well from experience that though he may once in a month or two run up to this district on business, his visit is a hurried one, his stay is limited to an hour or two, and he cannot possibly from a personal investigation, form any intelligent idea of what the requirements of the Wairarapa are, If a commercial house doing a business of £50,000 a year were informed that it could not afford the expense of a commercial traveller it would be in just the same miserable position that the Wellington and Masterton line is without a traffic manager. It

must be admitted that a traffic uiana ger is as essential to' llie one | as a commercial traveller is to;the other. The Government has taken credit for effecting improvements in ' our railway returns by reducing the • working expenses of lines, Everyone •will admit that'in doing this they have " deserved the thanks of the community, but it is hardly necessary to point out , that the whole art of successful railway , management does not lie in cutting ] down expenditure, and that the increase of traffic by developing the local ] resources of any district through which , a line passes is of equal importance, i We hope to see in the coming session of Parliament some attempt made to make our railways more beneficial to us both directly and indirectly. We are thankful for the economies enforced by the present Ministry, but we feel that there is more still to be accomplished, and we shall not rest till the Department makes far more convenient arrangements for the goods and passenger traffic of the Wairarapa that we now obtain. As an illustration of the absurdly ridiculous length to which the Government carries economy in railway administration we might point to the fact that Mr Ashcroft, though managing a business of £50,000 per annum, has only been in the receipt of a miserable salary of .£450. No commercial firm, no railway company would ever dream of getting an efficient manager for such a paltry sum, and even if by chance a good man was obtained at such a rate what heart has lie for his work, knowing as he must do that his services are underpaid. With £450 the Government can purchase an efficient clerk, but they cannot possibly with such an amount retain the services of a competent manager. The Taratnhi-Carterton Highway Board meets to-day. The Masterton Borough Council meet this evening. The Mastarton Public Library Committee hold a meeting this nftßrnoon. The Masterton Borough Cricket Club has accepted the challenge of tho Tails Club to piny a match on Thursday, 23rd March, Edward Barrett Gurdim, late of the Admiral run, Carterton, is summoned to allow cause why he should not be adjudicated a bankrupt, Mr James Eidgway advertises for sale a nice property on the Upper Plain, consisting of a Bectimi well-fenced and a fourroomed cottage. Messrs Lowes & lorns sell to. morrow at tho association yards, Featheiston, twenty head of beef, forty steers and yearlings, and one hundred and fifty young merino sheep. Those who are indebted to the Property Tax Department are reminded that after to day ten per cent will be added to the amount of their obligations, Mr J. H, Corbett announces that the Empire 'bus will leave his hotel every Sunday morning at 10 30 for Carterton, returning from the White Hart Hotel at 430 p.m. Single fares two shillings return faros three shillings. What does the MBrlbnrough Times mean by the following extract from one of its recent issues:—" Bound the bed dropped m common sorrow the tears of humble pheasants, and the ex-occupant of a throno," On Friday evening next Mr Villiers de Beere gives an illustrated lecture in the Town Hall, Masterton, on New Zeiihnd and Australia. A portion of the proceeds will be given towards the funds of the Masterton Cadet Corps, The Masterton Town Lands Trustees invite tenders for leasing for twenty-one years portions of town acres in Queen-st,, Lincoln road and Dixon-st. Particulars of terms &c, can be obtained' at the Council Chambers, We understand that the cottage committee of 'the Borough Council will I recommend this evening that four out of the oi-iht cottages be sold for removal. If this he done the remaining ones will I I be more likely to command tenants.

The amount, of. the first instalment of the Property Tax paid up to last night was £55,000, The penalty of 10 per cent, will be added to all unpaid on the Ist March, when Ilia second instalment be-, oomes duo.

Yesterday Mr P. Tailored sent his promising two-year-olds First Water and Gabble to Wangamu for the races which como off there next week. This is, we believe, the first time that the produce of a Wairarapa stud have been good enough to be tried on a first class course against high-class horses, and we hope that Mr Tanoreil's enterprise will bo rewarded with a win.

We were glad to notice that "Faust" attracted a larger audience at the Town Hall last evening than on any previous occasion. Mr Marter has uphill work tn obtain a recognition from the public of the genuine merits of his efforts to entertain them, His indomitable perseverance, however, bids fair to win the support to which he is entitled. Thesecond competition for Col. Pearce's prizes by the Greytown Volunteers took place yesterday. The day was splendid for Bring, but the scores were by no means good". Thiiteen members competed, the following being the five highest scores :- Vol. Muir 39, Vol. G. Saywell 39, Vol. H. Hawke 38, Vol, T. S, Ronaldson 38, Corpl. E. Ketnpton 38. Late last night a traveller was ejected from a Masterton Hotel who was under a delu ion that a bedroom occupied by another guest was his own properquarters, and who obstinately refused to seek repose in any other apartment. Roaming the street ho for a second time became the victim of an error of judgement, He imagined that a well-known bank was a house of accommodation, and claimed to be received within it as a fixed deposit. Yesterday two men proceeding to the Taueru picked up a pocket book containing valuable papers and £lB in cash. On arriving at the Hotel they found a gentleman lamenting the load of the property they had found and they had the pleasure of restoring it to its owner. The latter was bo exhilarated by the recovery of his treasure that he tendered a whole solid sixpence to the man who had picked up the pocket book as a reward for his honesty. The finder, with many thanks, deolined the very handsome testimonial offered to him, A correspondent sends the Napier Telegraph the following account of how honesty is rewarded:-" A railway laborer going to his home on Thursday evening picked up a pockelbook containing memoranda and money to the amount of JL3O3. On looking over the memos, he discovered the name of the owner of the bock, and at the next hotel there he found the person, On the finder apprising the loßer of what had happened the latier invited him inside, where he gener«u<ly gave him a glass of whisky and on« shilling for his honesty."'

Mr Joseph Avery, painter, of Wpllington, and formerly of Greytown, hag tiled hia schedule. :. : ' - The three principal winners at the late race meetiDg were T, Ray £204, J. O. Hay ward JlpQj and P. ?. Tancred 180. f Mr' Smith, the native game distributor, | runs in hia -fowl;yard a pair, of black , swans, ' Messrs F, H. Wood & Co. offer under bill of- sale on Friday next 'the stock-in-trade and household furniture of Mr E. Freeman, of Greytown. The goods remaining from the Wesleyan bazaar are advertised to be sold at greatly reduced prices in the Town Hall on Saturday next, An additional contract has been added to the list advertised by the Masterton Highway Board, consisting of 6995 chains of metalling on the Taueru road. At a first meeting of the creditors of Mr James Clark, of the Opaki, held at the Courthouse, Masteiton, this afternoon Mr W. Sellar was appointed creditors' trustee. The assets are £95 I3s, and liabilities £236125. Tenders are invited by Mr G. Fannin, architect, for the erection of additions to St. Mark's Church, Carterton. Plans and specifications can be seen at his office and at the office of Mr W, S, Forbes, Carterton. The programme for the aquatic sports on Saturday next is published in anoiher column. A genoral meeting will be held at the Empire Hotel to-morrow evening, at which all interested are particularly requested to attend. Yisitors to Greytown speak very well of Mr Quiii's Greytown hotel. One of those gentlemen writes:—"l have had occasion to stay at Mr Quin's hotel. The meals are excellent and well served, the bedroom accommodation is extensive and good, while there is a capital billiard table, and several public and private sitting rooms on the ground floor, Upstairs in addilo the bedrooms, there is a suite of apartments, consisting of sitting room and bedroom, admirably adapted for a family party, The stubling accommodation is roomy and good, Mr Qutn, we understand, is about to erect .additions to his well-known hostolrie." The first meeting of the Greytown Fire Brigade waß held in the Town Hall last evening, 20 members answering to the roll call, MrF, fl, Wood was voted to the chair. The report of the preliminary committee was read and adopted, which shewed that an order had been sent home for a twelve manual power engine, 280 ft of suction h»se, and 10 feet extra of suction hose ; and that the tenders for sinking wells had been delayed, pending information being received from Carterton and Masterton, The election of Captain was first proceeded with, Mr J. Baillie being unanimously chosen, For the office of Lieutenant Messrs Dooley, Cameron, and Maguire were nominated, and on the ballot heing taken Mr Maguire was declared elected. H. De Clifton was elected branchman, and Mr Dooley assistant branchman, two being nominated for the former and four for the latter office. Mr A. L, Webster was elected as Secretary, Captain 3aillie as Treasurer. A committee of four was appointed, viz., Messrs Haigh, Gray, ' Lnasby, and Cameron. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. At a moeting of the officers and committee held subsequently, Messrs Haigh, Loasby, Maguire, and Gray were appointed a sub-committee to draw up rules for the Ruidance of the members of tho brigade, the said committee to meet on Thursday evening. Special attention is called to Rapp and Hare's price list, which will be found on our front page. For clothing, boots, ironmongery ■ and grocery, they will be found die cheapes, and best house in the trade.-To FannersJust arrived, Harvesting Gloves; 1,000 ■ Corn Sacks, equal to aw, at 7s 6d per i dozen,-[Advi.] ' Carterton v Masterton.—As a proof of who 1 are the cheapest storekeepers in the Waira--1 rapa we wish to draw our readers' special attention to B. A, Gardener & Son's adveri tisement on our front page. This firm is [ determined to keep up their reputation. From the time of their commencing business 1 in Carterton they have repeatedly proved 1 that they can withstand competition, no ! matter how strong, It is therefore ridicu lous for another storekeeper from a neigh- , boring township to post price lists to tto'ir | customers and protend to sell at wholesale f prices, when for the smallest quantities B, A. Gardener & Son supply goods in almost ' every instance 10 to 15 per oent oheaper, 1 and in large quantities still further conces aiona are made.—(Advt