The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1882. CENTRALISATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1255, 15 December 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1882. CENTRALISATION.

A cry against centralisation is being raised in this district for want of a better one. We have recently been favored with an old story revived, viz., that, the colony is dominated by Under Secretaries. With an ill-informed and incapable Ministry like the one which served under Sir George (rBEY, there was some truth in such an allegation, but most people know that ministers are now, as a whole, tolerably familiar with the requirements of the country and their official duties, and do not require that guidance from heads of departments which their predecessors needed. The idea- of men like Major Atkinson, Mr Bryce, Mr Kolleston, or Mr Dick playing second fiddle to their under secretaries is too palpable a blunder to excite any other sentiment than ridicule. Our local contemporary, referring to this question, insinuates that: even the Press of the colony is ruled with a rod, not of iron, but of gold. It is a matter of notoriety that whit are commonly called opposition papers are in tho main the ones that depend, for their existence on what we might term subsidies given for political purposes. They'ire absolutely, in many instances, in bondage to members of the party whom they represent, and have nofc a shred of real independence. . In.speaking, however, of centralisation and declaiming against its evils, is it fair to overlook the fact .that a, large,, and the most, important portion of the measures passed during the last session were local Bills, which wore framed with the express object of strengthening local administration, arid removing parish business from the floor of the Assembly to the County Council and Road Board Chambers? It is simply nonsense to make a cry about centralism when in our towns we have thoroughly independant munioipal institutions, andin country districts we have counties and road Boards with ample powers for local government if sottlers have sufficient enterprise and intelligence to make use of them. Our contemporary makes a great 'deal of capital out of an example of centralisation which recently occurred in this district. A local Licensing Committee in tho Southern portion of the Wairarapa issued an irregular, license, to the proprietor of, a new hotel, who, by the way, was already in possession of a license for another licensed house a few chains away. We scarcely think the action of the Licensing Committee,' not in the technical blunder,. but in- the issue of a sort of double license, would bear investigation; but at any rate an illegality occurred which could only be validated by an order in Council, The

Miiibtiy on an application being made. by clie.:.Gouuiy ■ Chairman,' validate the license.. Our contemporary on this accuses the (lovernment-of over-riding the law, UHing patronage for base-purposes, -and of centralists rule of a most degrading and corrupting character. Can anything be' more amusing than this ? , " •

; The Post ruporis that very few applications in a eomplete form have as yet beenreceived under the Roads and Bridges Aot of last session, Mr -F. H, Wood sella to-morrow the privileges of the WaihengaKaces, general merehaiidize, and a hundred aores of valuable freehold land; - Our'weekly supplement to-morrow will contain a portrait of Assyrian, the winner of the Melbourne Cup, The miscellaneous articles include " Tobey's fortune," " Queer caaoa," " Melbourne Cup items," " A rebel," " Poor Mr John Thompson," &0. &Q. '

To morrow Mr Wood will, at his auotion rooms, Greytown, offer lOOaores to thepub-. lie. The land is well watered by beautiful springs (which will be invaluable to ths> dairy farmer), has a gentle fall for drainage, haa timber for fencing, etc. , and from, the really excellent quality of the soil' Bhould oommand a ready Balo, especially now the butter factory is commencing operations,

Mrs 6. Crichion of Glasgow "House, Lambton Quay Wellington, has decided to retinguish her millinery department, and is now selling off her entire stock at specially reduced rates. ' Messrs W. Littlejohn & Sou, the wellknown Optictans, Jewellers, and Watchmakers of Lambton Quay, have a new announcement in our advertising columns, ; A reverend gentleman in the Wairarapa has a faithful follower in the shape of a big'dog, and the faithful follower has sworn n iriendship with a pet lamb The consequence is tliat when the reverend gentleman pays his pastoral visits both dog and lamb follow at his heels.

An old settler in Greytown who purchased a fif y acre bush section a. few years ago'now runs on it on an average 150 sbeep, 1C horses, and 16 cows all the year round. Land on the Bamo block is to be offered at auction on Saturday next. Don't forget 1 YoUrinay nevee have such' an opportunity of acquiring a freehold so close to a township,—Advt.

We would again remind the members of the Greytown Rifle Volunteers who have not yet finished their class firing that to-morrow is the last day, they can fire this year, go that those who intend going through their classes should-attend to-morrow at the Eifle range at 2 o'clock p.in., otherwise they will not be eligible for the district prize firing which comes off shortly.

Messrs Lowes k lorns sell at 2 p.m. to-morrow tho privileges of the Friendly Sooietius* gathering on Boxing Day and tho privileges of the Caledonian Society's aporis on New Year's Day, This annual, sale always attracts keen competition and there is every prospect of more than'usual interest being taken in it on this occasion, After the pulo of privileges the auctioneers will Bell a splendid collection, ofprize horticultural plants, exhibited by Messrs W. W. McOardle and G. M, Park at tho la'o show, including oaladiums, fuachias, lelium, dahlias, gladiolas, pelargoniums, olander, orange tree in bearing, and many other rare and beautiful plants. A very sudden death oocurred at Greytown yesterday morning between 9 and 10 o'clock, Mrs Wm, Hawke who had been ailing for some little time past, having been seized by a fit and carried off in less than half an hour, Miss Hawke, who whs at work in an. adjoining room heard a noise, and on entering the bedroom found her sister-jn-la« on the floor seemingly dead. Medical assistance was promptly procured, but was,of no avail, as Mrs Hawke was by this time quite dead. She had boen married about two yearß and leaves one girl an infant. Mrs Hawko is the second daughter of Mr Thomas Walker, and is deoply regretted by all, We are giveu to understand that the cause of doath was a rupture of the heart. A special meeting of the Board of College Governors was held yesterday at the Education Board offices, and was attended by Dr Heotor (in the.chair), Messrs C. J. Johnston, M.M.R,, W, H, Levin, M.H.R., G. Fisher, and Rev J, Paierson. The Board at. once went into committee to consider varbus appointmints to the. Girls' High School. The following appointments were madeMr John Innes, M.A. (N.Z.), assistant master; Miss Mnrgaretßichmond, second assistant; Mr A. F, Merlet, toacher of modern languages; Mr Robert Parker, teacher of Bingitig. Certain alterations to the building in Abel Smith street were authorised, and after some routine business had been transacted, the Board adjourned.

There was a terrible row about one o'clock this morning up Kurupuni way. A man was heard crying out in piteous and loud accents which brought sleepers out of their beils in considerable numbers. The hero of the scene appeared to be in a very bud state, bleeding profusely about tho_ head and very much battered and bruised, A doctor was sent for to attend him, and at last a solution of the wysiory was oblainod from the person who did tho damage. Qrestea the assailant, and Pyladea the unfortunate, have bean for some lime past close and fast friends, but last evening Pylades having drawn some, money, became exhilarated, first and quarrelsome afterwards. In the latter mood he went so far as to strike his friend Orestes, This- blow turned to gall the amicable relations that had previously existed, and Orestes commenced pommeling Pylades. As Orestes waa sober ho proved too many for his friend, and as he wore a finger ring on the; hand with which he hammered; -his blows not only bruised but also out his antagonist. Groytown was not so very, long-ago the premier Township of the-valley. Why does she not at present hold that proud position? Most people will say the river has kept her back, No doubt that is true to a certain entent, yet there is not the slightest doubt, .but that' the want, of surrounding country is the main cause. A very valuable piece of land lying within thirty.chains east of. the post office has beenlooked up for years past, we are pleased to learn that at last a portion of it is coming into the market on to-morrow (Saturday) the. 16th inst.— Advt. , Mr Ruskin aavaßecause I hate passed my-life in almsgiving,.not in fortune'hunting ; because I have labored always for the honor of others, not my own; and have chosen rather to make men look to Turner and Linui, than to form or exhibit the skill of my own hand; because I have lowered my rents; and assured the comfortable lives of my poor tenants, instead of taking from them all I oould force for the roofs they needed; because I have loyed'a wood walk better than a Londonstreet, and would rather watch a sea gull fly than shoot it; and rather hear a thrush sing than eat it.; .finally: because'l.have nover disobeyed my, motherland have honored all womeu with solemn , worship, and have been kind even to the unthankful and the evil ; therefore the backs\of English art and literature wag their heads at me, and the poor- wretch who pawns the dirty linen of his soul daily for a bottle i of- sour wine and a cigar, talks of the I effeminate sentimentality of Buskin, ■ |

■:• The Masterton sohool caduts fire for| district.prizesat9a.m. to-mclrrow. i - A proclamation from Cameron to' farmers, atockdrirera,', ■ali'l pthel'B appears in anuther.column. >■ Mr iMolfat, Dontist, Wellingtotf, aft*.. 1 nounces in our columns, 1 that his offices are over the Chamber of Commerce, Lambton Quay

' -Mr Robert' Walker notifies to the resideniti of the Wairarapa thai he has purchased the lease of the Melbourne Hotel, Willii 'street, Wellington,' where lie" will be happy to meet his old friends, and offers every home comfort to the travelling publio generally. If peace hath her victories not leas renowned than war, she alp has her victims. 'Last year (mys mi English paper) our! railway companim killed and woundedmore railway servants in the ordinary course of their traffio than all thß Britishcasualities in the war in Hp'ypt, The figures are—killed, 562; wounded, 6180. Notwithstanding the operation : of the Etnplnyeo«' Liability Act, the number of non-fatal injuries shonß an apparant increase ;of 1558 on the figures of 1880. The weekly butcher's bill of our railways, exclusive of the slaughter committed on the general publio', is thus 10 dead and 119 woundod.

The members otthe Masterton Cricket Club are requested to roll up for practice to-morrow afternoon. The new Club is making rapid progress, there are already thirty members on the list, and the new materials arrived from Wellington last evening, The telephone line between Kaitoke and the summit ia now in working order. This completes the line of communication botwoen the prinoipal stations ion the Wellington and Masterton Railway,

MeißfiLow Qsand lornsadd to theiratook sale on Wednesday, 26 pure bred Lincoln Kwes, 1 pare bred Lincoln ram, horser., implements &c, The same firm also offers on liberal terms a valuable property within five miles of Maaterton. The programme of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies' Sports to be held on Boxing Day in a paddock on Dixon's estate is published in another column. It will be seen 'hat liberal .prizes are offered and that there are several novel eventß included. The show of babies should prove an attraction, and in this class Mr Caaelberg offers a perambulator for the beit looking exhibit. The domon pony race will he an amUßing event and a good prize is offered for the successful rider, if such a paragon can be found,. The committee are making very complete arrangements, and the affair will be ati immense lucceu if the weather is tine. The latter contingency should not be an alarming one ai the atmosphere is generally pretty settled at this Mason.

Mr Feildiag, the well-known fruiterer, has forwarded us a sample of fine ripe red currants, which are the first iu the market in Masterton this season, ■ A dust storm on an exceptionally •disagreeable scale is worrying the inhabitants uf Masterton to day. It is announced that at the Eeatherstoii races on Now Year's Day an extra event will follow the Maiden Plate; ,viz., a Plying Stakes Handicap of t twenty pounds. It is notified in yesterday's Gazette that the preseiitvolunteer rules and regulations made under Order of Oouncil iii October, 1874, will remain in operation.uiitil the Ist day of January next, on which day the new regulations will come ihjo force.

A specimen of that vegetable curiosity, the aloe, js.to be seen in bloom' at Christchurch. It it about 20 years old. The quarterly sitting of the Alfredton Licensing Distriot will be held at Ek'eta* huna to morrow, The Hotel accomodation there has recently been exteuded by the additlna of eight new bedrooms und two sitting rooms.

A publio meeting is held at Dunedin today to arrange for a banquet to Sir Julina Vogel, His stay inthia colony will be brief. He will only remain a few days in Duiiedin, and will probably only visit Chrutcliurch and Wellington before he takes his departure from New Zealand.

The first cargo of frozen meat from Canterbury will be despatched in a steamer in Maroh, and the vessel will take 10,000 carcasses. Freight has been fixed at 2d per lb, and the Company's charges for freezing, &o, ia another tj>d. With anything like decent prices in London these charges must leave a handsome margin for profits, The weight of the sheep will have to be between 60 and 801bs, and the secretary is now inquiring how many are likely to be available for the first three ships. Weather permitting the Maslerton Band will play a number of selections to-morraw evening. ■,

The imports of India for the year ended March 31,1881, amounted to more than £40,000,000, of which £33,000,000, or more than 85 par cent, was from Great Britain, and only £392,678, or: less than thanl per cent, was from the United States. Neatly all of the latter was for kerosene oil, leaving only £29,122 for general merchandise.

The publio are notified that the' Great Gift Distribution commences to-morrow at Rapp < Hare's Emporium, Every oash purchaser of 2s 6d worth of goods will be presonted with a Ohromo-Litho Picture, and every purchaser of goods to the amount of 20s wiil be allowed to choose their own present to the value of 2s 6d. For Grocery, Clothing, Boots tad Shoes, Ironmongery, and Crockery, Birr i Ham cwnot be beaten.—Advt.