The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1882. GAS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 27 April 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1882. GAS.

At the late meeting of 'the Borough Council Mr J. Vile stood alone in advocating that gas should he supplied to the town by the Council, As it was admitted that the time had arrived when Masterton should be supplied with gas, we arc of the opinion that this Councillor was right in the course which he advocated, although he is in a hopeless minority, Assuming that in consequence of the borough declining to take up the movement a private company, undertakes the supply, what will be the result? The company having an absolute monopoly of the business will sell gas at the rates it thinks proper to charge. If they .should happen to be _ too high consumers will-be helplessly at their mercy and will have simply the alternative of doing without gas or of contributing to the abnormal profits of the company. If the quality of the gas supplied be inferior consumers will have no redress. They must take what is given to them or go without, After two or three years probably ratepayers who consume.gas will grow discontented and public opinion will force the Borough Council to take the gas works over, and the company will dispose of them at a comfortable profit; The difference between the Borough taking up the supply and a private company doing it is simply that in the former case there is a reasonable prospect of there being a better article at a less price than in the latter one. The reason, why private companies are always willing to introduce gas into a town the size of Masterton is simply because the investment is by experience found to be absolutely profitable. There is one ground on which we can understand the reluctance of the Borough Councillors of Masterton to take up the supply, and that is that .they may feel that they have neither sufficient leisure to carry through such an undertaking nor enough business experience to justify them in making such a venture. If ,this be the case Councillors are quite

right in deciding not to undertake the work. It was alleged that the ratepayers would not concede a special rate as, a contingent security, but wo believe that if Councillors had confidence in the success of gas-works and in their own capacity to cany,'through the movemont to a successful issue, the ratepayers would not hang back. Last ovoiiing Mr McCardle in his address spoke mainly on two points Ist altering the system under which Lands are leased by the Mastorton Town Trustees, and 2nd adjusting the difficulty re thoGreytown Belt Reserve. On both these questions wo are in accord with the speaker, uud sincerely trust that he uillbeable with the assistance of his colleagues to give effect to his opinions. He will have our hearty co-operation in any effort Le may make in these directions. Of course Mr MoCardle's re-elec-tion to-day may be rogarded as a certainty. The Masterton Library Committee meet this evening. The Mastertou Foresters' Court holds a meeting this evening; Mr tf. Kibbiewlnte of Mastertou has gone down South to take a tarn at-gold digging an avocation in which he formerly toolran interest, and of which he has. considerable practical knowledge. ' Wo remind our readers of the entertainment in St. Matthew's school-room this evening.

Tho Wairarapa Jockey Club holds its annual meoling this afternoon at Carterten. Auclioueers' licences are renewable this week, Messrs T. Konnody Macdonald & Co. soil on Friday, the Gth of May, by order of the creditor's trustee, a one-oleventh intoreat in ■ the valuable properties left under the will of tho lato Josias Tockor. The rust on tho Mastertou fire-bell was rubbed off a little to-day in consequence of flames being observed to issue from tho mouthof a chimney at Mr Richard's residence iu Hall-street. Tho Mastertou Fire Brigado hold its usual fortnightly practice Inst evening, Lieut. Hounslow londered his resignation, aud branchman Broom was nominated as his successor. The following cases uro down for hearing at the District Court Mastortou, before Judge Hardcastlo:—D. Donald v E. Meredith-Debt £I3S 7s Gd ; same v same-Debt £l3O, and Bennett's Trusteesvß.H. Elliotte-Work and labor £139 10s, The sale of the licenses of the Nelson runs is advertised for the 31st of May next. We understand that a robbery of a gun and some miscellaneous articles of olnthing has been reported to the police as having taken placo from a whare at Fairfield, Bideford, (biring tho absence of its occupant on Monday last. The Treasurer of the Mastertou Hospital acknowledges tho receipt of two' guineas from MrW. B. Williams of I<V Creek Tiuui, n

The Wansjanui Herald argues that the Governor has left Wellington because there is no opposition paper in that city. Our contemporary could no doubt find His Excellency an asylum m iis own little town, At the last meeting of tho Loyal Mastevton Lodge 1.0.0.R, a committee was appointed to report as to tho best means of celebrating' the anniversary of the Lodge in June next. Tho committee met last evening, when it was unanimously ■resolved to recommend that the event bo celebrated by a supper. "A Cabinet of Whitakers! Cananyone picture a greater calamity befalling the country? And for averting this blow from the colony Sir Arthur Gordon has been fully abused by the Conservative Press." Thus howls the Oamaru Mail in a recent issue but what it smd when it found the Wow wasn't averted wo do not know, It will he remembered that when tho Duke of Manchester was in Masterton he purchased a carved Maori walking stick from Mr Hebberly of Greytowii the price being £5 ss. Mr Hebberly has just finished ten more, to the order of Mr W. H. Levin of Wellington, the whojo of them being far superior in every respect to those purchased by tho Duke.

Mr 0. M. Brunskill tho genial proprietor of tho Royal Hotel Poathorston lias made arrangemonta for tho comfort and convenience of sportsmen during the shooting season and is prepared to" drive visitors to those select spots where they may he certain of obtaining abundance of pme. He also claims that his very old blended Scotch whiskey will put.iuto tho shade any other beverage obtainable in the district. We had the pleasure yesterday afternoon of witnessing between sixty and seventy of the Masterton School Cadets Corps being put through their facings by the head master. 'The lads are making great progress, and are a decided credit to the instructor and to Mr Grundy, who are taking great pains to make the boys efficient in their drill. It is cxvected that tho uniforms will bo ready in about two months, when tho corps will not only be a credit to the town, but it will « long way out rival the senior corps both as regards drill and discipline. A correspondent writes:—Ferrets are becoming a nuisance at South Greytown, by their constant visits to the fowl| houses there, The owners ol fowls have to make the roosts secure bo--fore going to bed, if they wish to preservo them. A large ferret, about 18 inches long was found drowned in n well a few days ago. This may be a very good way to catch them, but if tho water is for household'use it will bo as well to keep the covering of tho well on,

Constable Eccleton, of Greytown, received instructions yesterday, from Messrs Tnlly and Spratt, J.P.'s, to see that section 160, oi the' Licensing Act, was enforced on one Ebenesser Loader who was charged with drunkenness. This means that Ebenezer's -grog will be stopped for 12 months from date, in Greytown, Feathevstoii, Carterton, and the Lower Valley. The threatening appearance of the weather prevented several Masterton members of the Pastoral Society from attending the annual meeting to-day. If gatherings of a district of tins character were convened on a Saturday, the extra train service on that day wouldenable Bettlers both north and south to be present, even if the weather proved unfavorable. • The flinemoa, with the Hon, J, Hall and family, the Hon. W. Eolieston, and Te Whiti and Tolm, arrived from' Wellington at Lyttelton yesterday at 1.30 p.m. After changing .their prison' cloth-' ingfor ordinary attire, Te "Whiti arid Tohu landed, and were taken through to Addington by special train. The wharf was crowded to see the prisoners land. We are often aßked why Eapp & Hare give the highest price for butter and eggs and yet sell these "autocrats of the breakfast table" at a.jhoaper rate than any other house in-the town. The question is easily answered, they are satisfied with only one profit; that is th grand secret [Advt,]

' Beading desks are now being ' placed round the public' reading, room at the Institute which will doubtless prove a convenience to visitors, . ',' The usual monthly, meeting of\ the Education Board, was the 'City Council Chambers at 10 a.rn, yesterday. Present—Mr J. R. .Blair(Chairman), Rev J. Paterson, Dr Newman, Messrs T. Mason, W. 0. Buchanan, and G. Beetham. The master of the Clareville school urged'upd'n the Board 'the'"necessity, for erecting a residence for him, but as there are no available funds, no action wastakonin the matter, several applicants for repairs being dwelt with in the same manner. Or Phillips has sent iu his resignation, it is said, as a memher of the County Council. Wo do not doubt but that the Lower Valley will be able to supply 1 his place with a better man. We have no sympathy with a public man who throws up his public duties because he cannot obtain a promotion, to which he.is not entitled, to a position for which he is unfitted.

At the Diocesan Synod, yesterday, the Rev. H, Vere Whito did not proceed with the motion standing in his name, but explained that his only object was to make it clear that Greytown had not acted unfaithfully towards the Church" Fund iu abolishing pew rents, whichwere still existent in fact, although not iu name, the' seats being allottcd)in proportion to contributions to the fund.' • The. President expressed himself satisfied with this; explanation. ■•, . •.. ' The polling for the Town Trust election has proceeded quietly to-day. .'At .the time we went to press nearly one hundred voters had visited the booth. Mr McCardle displayod an active interest in the recording of votes, and may bo expected to head the list. Mr Gapper though he apparontlylias made little or no effort to secure support, will, we expect, tako the second place, but we hardly expect him to be very far ahead of Mr Woodroofe, as some friends of the hitter have been very ectivo in canvassing on his belmlf.

Tho number of varieties of insects is vastly greater than that of all other living creatures. Tho oak supports 450 species of insects, and 200 are found in the pine. Humboldt, in 1849, calculated that between 150,000 and 170,000 species are preserved in collections, but recent estimates placo the present number at about 750,000.