The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1884. RETROSPECT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1572, 2 January 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1884. RETROSPECT.

The year 1883 has closed. Jt has been a comparatively uneventful period, but it 'has recorded a fair share of material progress all the world over, and has given valuable guarantees of future prosperity. The steady development of the frozen meat trade and tho increased shipping facilities between England and the antipodes are both pregnant with futuro good to the old world and the now. The Intercolonial Conference, too, has marked a new era in our little history. It is the germ from which will spring a South sea dominion which, in wealth and prosperity, will surpass many of i the old world empires, In New Zealand wo have been governed during the past yenrbyaruler who suits us, and by st Ministry which has been fairly efficient. MrBRYCEhas made solid progress in his Herculean task of extinguishing for all time tho Native difficulty in the North Island, and this service alone reconciles us in a measure to the shortcomings of the Cabinet to which he bolongs, In the Wellington district we record with pleasure the inauguration of a woollen factory, and a partial success in opening up a gold field. In our own district we have few industrial triumphs to record, It is as yet too soon to say whether our dairy factories will live and thrive, Much good work has been done by our local bodies in road and bridge makingmore possibly than will be accomplished next year, We havo had during tho past year excellent service from Mr Kino and Mr Bremner, two engineers of whom any district in the colony might be proud. Disunion on county matters and a disruption of the Mastertou Road Board threatens us with the loss of the services of both of these officers. If tho county be suspended and the old Road Board split up into sections public works will cease to be conducted with the efficiency and economy that has characterised past operations, The task of breaking up existing local bodies will, howevor, be followed by a work of reconstruction. It is only during the interregnum that the district will suffer loss, We have to chronicle during the past yew the for-

mation of a County Settlers'. Association, which as yet has accomplished hut link So for it has been! used in'., a measure for party purposes, but during the coming year it may possibly do some service to the district. There is on the whole more political vitality in. this district than at any previous, period of its history, and though some mischief may be done by new seUlers coming to the front in public rasters, and upsetting tho work of older.- and in some instances abler hands, ffe would sooner see this spirit of inquiry, investigation and even hostility th'an contemplate stagnation and indifference. In wishing our readers a. *'Happy New Year," we have faith in the future of tho Wairarapa Nort',h though old landmarks may be, removed and old local bodies go to the wall, but wc shall retain amongst us we trust those who havo in tho past infused life and -vigor into our local government administration, and by-and-by both tho old blood and the new will wo trust l> a found working together for the advancement of the district. >»'—aß aKßß a BaaßaaßD

We hav<e to apologise to our readers for the non appearance in this issue of our Almanac with its splendid illustration " The Lass of Eichmond Hill." This "girl of ours" has been somewhat unfortunate.- She was embarked by our London agents in'the ill-fated Triumph, and went on to the rocks at Tirithr She was, with other cargo, rescued from her perilous situation and taken up to Auckland, whore she was quarantined for some three weeks. Why "a maid so sweet and as bright as May day morning" should have beeu detained after this fashion we know not. The northern agent of the s.s. Triumph is a Sphinx. We sent telegram after telegram to him, but forwardiug collect or prepaid telegrams was only like pouring water on a duck's back, However, we healths tho lass of Eichmond Hill is now at Wellington, and if the custom house thero does not seize her or the railway authorities do not run off with her we hope in a day or two to place this shipwrecked damsel in the hands of our readers,

Mr A Chuck practioal collar maker of Cuba-Si.'Wellington,haaa buaioess like notice in our advertising columns. The ship Lady Jocelyn has arrived at Wellington from London with a full complement of passengers, In Wairarapa North yeaterdaybetween 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. it rained in torrents, but in Wairarapa South it was fine,

A considerable number of visitors from Wellington wero in Masterton yesterday. An impromptu dance was organised last, evening in the Theatre Royal, the Volmitoer Band took tho stage and about k'ty couples tho iloor, a very enjoyable evening being Bpent.The Caledonian Sports are held to-day under somewhat more fayorablo weather auspices than yesterday, Our roport of the proceedings will appear to-morrow. Tenders are invited by Mr G. Fanniu, architect, for the orecliou of a dwelling in Greytown. The pioneer foundors of the colony aro invited to join in a gathering of those who arrived between 1840 and 1850 to colebrato tho 44th anniversary of tho colony. Messrs J. H. Wallace and Thomas McKenzie will receive tho namos of old Bottlers willing to join in this celebration, At a recent meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club, it was resolved to vote the bonuß of ten pounds asked for by Messrs Wheihau and Walker—" Beacon and Mazeppa"—towards the publication of an annual turf record for Now Zealand, as tho promoters might bo safely relied upon to make tho work as reliable and porfectas possiblo, The Stewards, of the Wairarapa Jockey Club havo also voted the bonus asked for Inwards tho same object. The want of a reltablo turf guide has been felt for many years, and racing men will no doubt heartily support tho publication of a work of so much interest to them.

A remarkable little paragraph appears in the Indian News (writes the Pall Mall Gazette):—"At a meeting of theßombay University," it slated, " it was proposed by a Brahmin that in the regulations the pronoun ' ho 1 and its derivatives should bo deemed to. denote either Bex, An Englishman seconded the motion, which was carried without a division." Applied to the statute book of a kingdom, and not merely to that of a learned body, this short canon of interpretatiou would effect one of the greatest revolutions in the world, It has been said by ono of the ablest advocates of women's rights that in this country in laws imposing duties and liabilities "he" already includes both sexes, while in laws conferring privileges it is construed in its strict sense, Be that as it may, the action of the Bombay University foreshadows tho sense in which it will certainly come to be construod, and that at no very distant date, in the laws of progressive communities.

On Monday last a station haud omoloyed at Akitao, named Rhoderiok McLeod, canio to grief while riding at Obnnga, His horso shied in going through a gateway and coming into collision with the post fractured the rider's leg above the kno. Dr Nownuu, who happened to be in the neighborhood, set the injured limb, but other internal injuries are apprehended, and to-day Dr Beard procoeds to Ohonga to attend the sufferer.

Messrs Lowes and lovub have in another column an excellent W- of ent.'tes ior the next markot sale on the 9th inßt,

A picnic was, writes our Olaroville correspondent, held here yesterday, Although we have) tho greatest of all picnic difficuliies-rain—to contend with, the whnlo affair was unanimously declared a success. A considerable number had arrived when the. heavy thunderstorm came on about II o'clock, driving everyone under the shelter of the bootliß, Dinner was served opt under most trying circumstances, any attompt at order being hopeless, bnt all were well supplied, and soon aftor tho sun came out and a most enjoyablo afternoon spent. A largo number of prizes—kuives, dolls, &c—were eagerly competed for by the scholars, and croquet, swinging, Jolly Miller, cricket, quoits, &o„ endulgod in by the elder visitors, The tea was first class, yonng and old being well attended to, Nearly 300 adults and from 460 to 500 children were present, Another storm, at 7 p.m. sent all horns wet, but jolly, as the numerous cheers from the tents and along the road testified,

Christmas Presents I! The opportunity of making an elegant and gratifying present to son oi daughter, brother or sister is brought within reach of all by the special importation of gold and silver jewellery by A. Bibh, Jeweller, Queen-street, for the Christmas season. Silver presents from Is j gold presents from ss; All goods will be marked in plain f gum and a reduction of 10 per cent will be mode on ordinary prioes during the lioliflays,—Abtt.

T'no Ne" Yenrs Watch Night ; aVtbe Wealeyan Churoh, Masterton, was ( v?p1I attended, j ■ Messrs Oasolberg and Co notify that they are appointed sole agents in Masterton for the celebrated Maurice ville lime. The serWeei of a this morning being unobtainable 'a drunk' had to be released on bail. In tho cricket match yesterday at Qreytowo between the members of the Greytown Working Men's. Club and the Wellington Working Men's Club the latter obtained an easy victory.