The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1883. POLITCAL SLUMBER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1305, 16 February 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1883. POLITCAL SLUMBER.

The Cbristclmrch Press recently published an avticlu on the political slumber now observable throughout New Zealand, in which it pointed out that the existing torpor was not due to the affairs of tho colony being of less importance than formerly, or of the community being less active and intelligent than they have been wont to be in times past. In this district we certainly share in the prevailing epidemic. A little life over county changes has been manifested, and there lias been a firework or two over the railway route question; but outside these local topics, interest in local affairs is at a very low ebb, No doubt in duo course Messrs Beetham and Buchanan will address Iheir constituents, but it is evident that they are not taxing the patience of an anxious public by their delay. The fact is that people just now are very busy about their own private affairs, They cannot bo expected to be always watching the courses of public events and agitating for questionable reforms. In the times when Sir George Grey stirred them up with itinerant orations, they found that though they were roused to take an interest in politics, the material benefit they obtained from the countenance and counsels of the Premier were simply nil. Now another Prime Minister (Mr Whitaker) is travelling through the country and no one is asking him to make a speech, and he apparently is very content to go about his business without delivering en route a course of popular lectures. The days of sensationalism in politics is passed, and even party spirit is alrcpbt extinct, The elections for tlje Peninsula and Inangahua and Leeston districts display no organised attempt on the part of either the Ministry or the Opposition to cany votes which may decide the balance of parties in the House, The Ministry, though a good working body in its way, is not exactly homogeneous, and, beyond expediency, has no partujuhrr policy, The Opposition is still mora divided and is apparentjfaltbg'ether incapable of concerted actios£ -Possibly this is only the calm hefore :the storm, In the coming session we may reasonably expect more vitality than in its predecessor. Last year a considerable number of new members were engaged in a mere rehearsal of, the p#r,ts they had been elected to play, but this yeay tjieir constituents will expect them to come out a little more prominently. The present political slumber may serve its for a while, more especially as we Jjavc a safe Ministry in charge of pur 'affairs, but we hope fa gee the calm broken before long.

An importaivfc nieeting of farmers and millers ,yas held at the Club Hotel last evening to discuss the wfreat mar : ket, and it was resolyed safc the price of grain should be 4d per biislje} in advice jtf Canterbury prices.'' T)je

proceeding at this meeting must have, brought home in a very forcible' man--ne'r to the farmers present the necessity of forming a Farmers'- Club. Several matters of great importance to grain growers were'.introduced,'-but for want, of information; could : not'be properly' discussed. Orie matter was the question of threshing in the stopk mm' threshing from the stack.". The farmers appeared to hold one opinion, and ■the millers a totally opposite one, Another matter was the quality of the 'grain; but the meeting, while agreeing that the best quality should obtain the highest price, could not fix any form of classification. The meeting also ac : knowledged its ignorance of the existence or otherwise of an import duty on grain at the Adelaide pore. Now, this state of things is certainly not creditable to our farmers, andjpossiblyi entails a certain amount of loss upon them, If they inaugurate an Agricultural Club, and. appoint a Secretary who would take : an'interest in'his duties, they would very shortly, bsin possession of all the information and experience possessed by farmers in all parts of the world, and at every periodical meeting of the.Club an intelligent discussion could be held on matters affecting the farming .interests. The Club woilld not only be an. advantage by securing outside information, but the exohange of ideas among the "members would frequently lead to valuable results, In fact the farmers know the.

importance such a club would be better than we can possibly do, and we urge them to make what is a necessity an accomplished fact.

Mr P.'H. Wood holds an extensive sale at the Pastoral Yards to-day, commenomg at 2 o'clock,

The Grey town Braes Band will play a selection of tunos in Mr O'Connor's paddock to-morrow evening. It is some timo since we had some open air music from this Band and it will no doubt prove a treat to the inhabitants,

Notice'is given in another column that Mr M, Oaaelberg has accepted the office of Trustee m the estate of Mr 0. P. Worth bankrupt.

The roturn crickot match Featheraton v Mastorton takes place to-morrow in Mr Ewingion's paddock, Wickotswiil.be pitched at 10 30 sharp as the viators return by the 5 15 train. In our report yesterday of the ordinary meeting of the Grey town school committee the word ' elected" should read "nominated."

Tenders close to-morrow for the purchase of 60 tons of straw from Mr Hessey ; for leasing the Tenui toll gate; and for digging drains for the Mastorton Highway Board; The department of justice has intimated to tho Borough Council that plana of the police court Greytowu, are in course of preparation and that tenders will be invited at an early date. We have heard upon good authority that Mr 15, S. Maunsell will como forward as a candidate for the Greytown Riding of tho Wairaraua West County Council. The Cbrislchnrch.Globe speaking of the unemployed, says:—At the Resident Magis-raio'a Court this morning, Mr Ollivier, who was on the Benoh, mentioned that he had seen at theßakaiaafew days ago about twenty men who were idling about a publio house. They had refused 'as wages for harvesting i' 3 per week and 'their " tucker,'' The wages they wanted Was i's per week and found.

It is a curious coincidence that the Pionoer, the vessel' wracked near ToiToi, within ii mile of the remains of the illfated Tarawa, should ooi)tain the monument that is to be erected over the graven of those who perished in that dreadful wreck. The monument has, with a tew rolls of wire and some comsacks, been rescued from the waves,—Times. An active canvass is going on to secure the retunfof Mr H, Bmmy to one of the Beats in the Wairarapa West County Council.

Wo omitted to mention in our report yesterday of the Swimming Tournament, that iho first prize for the hoy's 80 yards' handicap was a handsome illustrated volumo entitled "The b»ys own book of Natural History," which was presented by Mr T. E. Pries of the Educational Repository, The second prize for the men's fancy dive, wus a pretty portfolio, presented by Messrs Kapp and Hare, and the second for one arm race, a harmonioan by Mr Joseph Williams,

The following team will represent the Greytown Cricket Club in the matoh against the Waihenga to-morrow at Greytown, piny to commence at 1 p.m. Messrs Cuff, Maguire, Udy, Beard, Webster, 'i'ockor, Snmmorville, Hawke, G. Saywell W, Saywell, Nation. Emergences F. Knell and D. Baillie.

We hear that the Masterton Original Christy Troupe <is to be resuscitated, Some new talent have signified their intention of joining the" originals," and we have no doubt that theywill.be as successful as ever, ' " '

Tawhiao came into Masterton yesterday and got disgracefully-drunk I Under the "influence" he became talkative and .very amatory making love furiously to all the wood looking wahines who came near him, After he had enjoyed himsolf for some hours and taken in afull cargo of waiparo, including champagne, his followers endeavored to induce him to leave for the camp at Te Ore Ore, but his Majesty was obstinate, and would not budge. He was at last persuaded to come out of the hotel, but would not enter the vehicle.prepared for him, preferring to stagger along Queen stroet with a wohino on his left arm, His' attempts at a dignified . carriage, we/e ludicrous in the extreme, und afforded considerable amusement to a number of spectators, both Native and European, On reaching the Empire Hotel, another attempt was made to induce hiin to enter a Imgijy, but without avail, He entered the hotel and soon after went upstairs and took possession of Host Corhett's private bedroom. A man-servant was sent up to request his Majesty 16 occupy another mom, Whether the man waß not qualified for such a delicate embassy, or whether the "King" resented any interference is not known, but he was ignominously kicked down stairs for his trouble. Tawhiao, however, retired from the scene when he found he was giving offence and took up'a position on the kerb under the verandah of the Theatre Royal, and it was with considerable difficulty that he was finally induced to leave Masterton, His followers, and we regret to reoord the fact, many Wairarapa- Natives were also very drunk, and several scuffles took place amongst them, but the. peace of the town was not seriously disturbed, The police without making themselves too officious, kept a watchful eye on the proceedings, but.fortunately there was no need fjr their services, We understand Tawhiao leaves for Napier next Monday snd proceeds \ hence to Taurp; abf| from there home to the Waikato. -He und his followers Jiavo received substantial presents from the Natives, including some |3OJ) or £4OO in'-'-i?l notes, ■.'.'.''. ■ .' .':,'•■ •'•- '.'■'■''. • , ■ .-■v.. ■ ■

■..:;Meßßrr.-B. Smith and Co., Wellington, ' advertise severJ3,Ußurnß of money to laud. ; yesterday contains ] tbe -Tfollowing'•;'appoiritment :—R. H. Dorset, if; ;Maniß(jes:f6r.thV.-mßtriot of Masterton;^; : Mr William; Melton,, laborer bi'MaVj : ter'tpn, hflslfiled'i a ''declaration of insol-l venoy. The first" meeting of takes place at the Courthouse, Mastertonf on Thursday, the 22nd inst,, at 3 p.m, Robert George Pink was brought up at the Oarterton-Police Court, on Thursday morning, on remand' from Masterton, charged with larceny, mid his Worship, : MrH. S. Wurdell, cautioned the boy and directed his incarceration for twenty-four ..' hours, and then to be handed over to his 'father!' . ' "' _ It will ho good news to those interested in County and Highway Board matters to : learn;'that upon all :i applications by cb'untiesunder theßoadsand Bridges Construction Act, Government have granted three-eights of the amount applied-for," and .in.--the.,ease ,of Road Boards the i amounts have been granted in' full.' Out . of JE2OOjOOO available by the latter only about £70,000 has been applied fnr. It is gratifying to know that the Masterton Highway Board took!full advantage of the Act.-. '.'■'.'''■ i At the last tneetihgi..pf. : : the Masterton , Hoßpital Committee,'Mr J. Vile gave inhis resignation as a member of that body. \ The resignation was ; received with regret,' ' and a cordial vote of thanks passed to Mr ■ Yilo for bis past services to the, hospital,. i Mr Geo. Fanhih was tlected to fill the ). vacanoy caused by his retirement,