The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1882. THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 9 June 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1882. THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

This week the law of distress has been debated in our colonial Parliament. Mr Holmes proposed, in a measure which he introduced, that when stern landlords put the remorseless bailiff in possession of a tenement, bedding, implements of trade, &c, should be protected to the extent of twenty-five pounds. An effort was made to ascertain whether such a modificatian of existing usages was humane. It was urged that it was humane because it secured a privilege to tenants, and that it was not humane because landlords would make tenants pay for the privilege by putting down their rents in advance. We recommend the humanity of the proposal as a nice point on which any of our local Debating Societies can find ample room for argument. Mr Holmes' proposal apparently find's favor with the House, and as it is not an extreme measure it will probably pass, Many members are favorable to abolishing the law of distress altogether, but were this done it would be necessary to give landlords power to eject tenants at a moment's notice, and this would lead to many cases of individual hardship among poverty-stricken tenants. We are not in favor of landlords having the power to eject a tenant at a moment's notice, or sell his bed from under him, and for this reason we approve of Mr Holmes' alternative. At the same time it'will.cause landlords to be more particular in collecting their rents, and tenants will receive shorter .credit. This evil, however, is not an unmixed one—all classes of people in the community would be better off if,' instead of running in debt, they "paid as they went." We believe that the plan of reserving so many pounds' worth of bedding and other [effects.

from the operation' of ; »a distress warrant hasbeon found to. work well in America,-and that there could be no reasonable objection to trying it in" New Zealand.

The usual monthly, meeting of the Featherston School Committee lapsed last evening, only the Secretary putting in an appearance.

A post office is now open at Croii 1 Creek of which Mr Bernard is postmaster. The second flooring at the Waiohine bridge is nearly completed, and light vehioleß can now croßi over. Fortunately that it is so, the river has been very high the last day or two, and would have been nearlyif notquile impassabie, had the contractor not pushed on the work. :

Messrs George Watson & Co., Baddlers, ofMastorton, havo anew advertisement in another column.

The Suez Canal is the subject of the illustration in our literary supplement, which will be published with our issue of to-morrow,

Mr F, H, Wood hold a sale of cattle at the Pastoral grounds on Thursday afternoon, nearly fiO head being yarded, The terms were oash, and, there was a fair attendance. The following prices per head were realised:—Cows, Si to £4 ss; Bteerfl and heifers £2lsa to £s los; yearlings, &9a to £2 ; Bullocks (beef), 15 10s j Bullocks (working) .£8 IBs. Several horses were submitted but failed to find purchasers, though of a good stamp. OnSaturday the West County Council rae:t. The sitting is likely to be a long one as the circulars forwarded by the Hon, the Colonial Treasurer for suggestions as to local government will be considered in delail and there are two or three other important items on the business paper.

We notice that Mr McCardle is now in Wellington with a largo .stock of nursery plants which he will sell by auction to-day at Messrs T, KY MoDonald & Co'« rooio,

Mr C. Smith, draper &c„ announces some additional special cheap lines at his sale next Bank New Zealand Masterton.

Queen Isabella of Spain is an extremely large, coarse-looking woman without the slightest trace of truo nobility in face or carriage. To seo her in decollette dress at the opera, waving her fan before her red face and gazing complacently at her big fat arms loaded with jewelry is enough to make one shudder.

At a meeting of t'.o Masterton Foresters' Court held last evening tho following officers were nominated:—O.B., G. Heron and H. La Roche; S.C,R.,E. Selby and W. Peacock; S.W., W. Blinkhorne and D. Baillie; J.W., F. Kopke and D, Bailhe; 5.8., F. Kopke and D. Baillie; J.B. W. Blinkhorno and W. Peacock; Auditors, B, Brown, Erskine, La Boohe aud Peacock.

A poll will be taken to-morrow for and against tho Masterton Library loan. A certain number oi votes are neceesary to carry the proposal, and on a recent occasion it will be remembered they were not obtained. Unless those who undertook to carry through tho transfer of the loan make it their business to see that the ratepayers record their votes the poll tomorrow will again be a failure.

W. (i. Wilson, a Carterton baker was brought up before Mr Wardellß.M. this morning on a oharae of being inebriate while in custody of a horse and trap last evening. He. was fined forty shillings with the alternative of fourteen days seclusion.

The fourth competition' for Lieutenant Cameron's cup, takes place to-morrow by the Greytown Volunteers. It has been won once each by Corporals Kempton and Trotman, and twice by Volunteer G. Saywell. The latter only requires to win it again when it becoms his property. In the report of the Greytawn soisßors case that we published on Wednesday, we stated that Mr Young had to pay 15s and Court expenses. It was 15s for Court expenses, The usual weekly drill of the Masterton Eiflos will be held this evening. After parado a meeting will be held to form a gymnasium There were 35 members of the Greytown Philhar monio Society present at the practice last evening, Mr Tovey the oonductor being in Wellington on business, Mr Nation undertook his duties, and gave general satisfaction. The Greytown Fire Brigade meeting lapsed last evening, for want ofaquorum. We think that the rule relating to quorum could be altered to advantage to the Brigade, as there were quite sufficient present last evening to transact any business, but a majority of the members are demanded by rule 9, St. Matthew's Winter Entertainment was not so well attended as usual last evening owing to the inclement weather. A fair audience, however, gathered, and the proceedings were opened by the Misses Gray with a pianoforte duet, whioh was favorably received, The glee which followed by the ohoir went very nicejy,' though weak in male voices. Mr Warron's sone, which camo next, was slightly, marred by forgatfulness, but was loudly applauded, Mrs C. Freeth then sang "Thy Face," but though evidently possessing a pleasing voice, hev excessive nervousness tended to lessen her success, The song, however, received a hearty round of applause, The Rev. Mr Paige's reading caused a great amount of merriment and was thoroughly successful, Miss Malcolm received an enoore for her song whloh came next, and sheresponded by repeating it Mr Moore, who was greeted with applause on his appearance, sang in splendid style, though • evidently suffering from a cold, "While the Child was yet Alive," an incident'™ the life of the Psalmist. This was loudly encored, but the compliment was merely acknowledged by a bow from the singer. Mrs Cross gained considerable applause for a very skilful performance on the piano, and was followed by Miss Mason; who was encored for her rendering of "I oannot Sing the Old Songs-" In response she gave " Auld Robin Gray," which was. excellently sung and received hearty applause. A reoitatibn by Mr Evens, "The Charge of the.Light Brigade," was given in a very spirited manner, though slightly spoiled by the treachery of Mb. memory. In response to .an encorhe reoited a humorous Bketch ' with equal success. The touching, sonj, "Shadowland," was Bung by Mr- Gant, who was encored, and responded with ." Tom Bowling," his handling of each piece being perfect, A humorous reading by Mr Moore, "Little Alice Brown," waß loudly applauded, ard Mr Rapp-gained his usual encore with-" How I became a Judge," He gave bb his second song, " The Knight of Old," in excellent voice and with good effect. A glee whioh, as Mr Paige stated, was very apropos, viz,, "■Listen: to.the, Waterfall," was then given by the ohoir, and the entertainment olosed with the National Anthem. ,■• ' Everybody naturally wonders how : 0. Smith froin Devonshire House, Cuba-street,, makes coming to Masterton pay. He' ex; plains it this way: being a direot importer he can Bellas cheap as most storekeepers oan buy. He also buys and sella fer cash, always having the ready money t* pick up cheap lines,- [Adyt.]

The ■ Garriok.; 'Olub ■■; anhounoe their ontertninments for.'Jiine lßtli and 16th, A rehearserwi • thiff evening. Lowe's and loras add to their stock sale for Wednesday next 150 store ewes (orbsj-breds)/ The'same firm announce a eale of furniture, jewellery, &0,, for Saturday, 10th inst.,;at 2 o'clock, ' The- ;of pfficera of Court Marquis of Normanby,A'.O.F., Carterton, for "the "ensiiiner' lialf-yjear, took place at the Foresteis' Hall on Thursday evening.' There was a good attendance of the brethren, and the election will take place next Thursday week, when it iB to be hoped there will bean equally good muster. ,'

The eccentricities of the Greytown Mail 'Bus are proverbial, for during the time that MrQuin had the mail contract, break-downs and' stick-ups took place at almost -regular intervals; but Mr Jones has a 'bus now, or did have a few days ago. This bus has been looked forward to with anxiety by all iutereated in it. It was made in Wellington, and we have heard that it was sent to Auckland to have the finishing touches put on it. It arrived in Greytown this week and took its first trip. Now, whether the importance of its position weighed too heavily upon it, or whether the extra passengers or mail bags was the cause we have not beard, but the axle broke, and this bus that so much skill and artistic labor has been spent upon has had to go from whence it came. Moralpatronise local industry. Pointing to an unfinished child's face on a canvas, Millais said to a caller at his studio, recently: " That is to be the portrait of the little Princess Marie, the daughter of the Dutchess of Edinburgh." " She comos here to give you sittings ?" " Certainly,". answered the artist; " I would not paint anyone's portrait elsewhere than right here in this room. They must come to me, if they wish to be painted." ', .;;