The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1884. THE MASTERTON PARK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 7 August 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1884. THE MASTERTON PARK.

The Truateea of the Masterton Park have, during the past two years, succeeded by a series of special efforts in making valuable permanent improvements in the estate entrusted to their care, A splendid oval has been formed and laid down which will probably be in the future the best cricket ground in the Wellington Provincial District, Old fences have been pulled down and new ones erected, and the trees by a little timely attention have made a better growth than formerly. But, notwithstanding the success which has attended the more recent administration of the Trustees their financial position is an exI tremely weak one, and their power to do justice to the Park in the future is very questionable. An old debt of £4OO, money borrowed in the palmy days of Masterton, hangs over them and it takes every sixpence of their present income to provide interest on this encumbrance, and to form a small sinking fnud towards its ultimate redemption, Money is required for further improvements, The trees during the present season of the year require to be dug round tut the trustees are absolutely without means for such purposes, and it is almost necessary that iu the interests of the town the question of what is to be done with the Park should be considered, It will not do, after some seven or eight hundred pounds have been expended in improving and beautifying the reserve, to let it go to rack and ruin, It might be possible to put the Park in a better position by transferring it to the Town Lands Trust. The latter body has monay for investment which would clear off the debt which now hangs like a mill-stone round its neck, and it could probably administer the Park Ti'ust as efficiently as the existing Trustees, Of course such an arrangement could only be carried out by a special Act of Parliament, but we do not believe that there would be any difficulty in obtaining Legislative powers for the transfer if it could be shewn that the public interests would be thereby promoted. The question of finding ways and means to keep up the Park is one that must sooner or later be faced. We do not bring forward the idea of transferring it to another looal body as a recommendation, but as a suggestion. If other means of obtaining necessary revenue tail, we think it would be the interest of the town to resort to it, but, if ahothor alternative could be substituted, we should be glad to entertain it. The Park Trustees are not at the present time in a financial position to do justice to the reserve. The trees which represent a large portion of the debt formerly incurred,' require attention, One year's neglect • may not be a very serious matter, but it is not to the interest of the town to allow so valuable a property to suffer even for a year from the want of the proverbial "stitch in time."

We remind our Masiottou readers of the concert in St. Matthew's Schoolroom this evening, Th 3 Maßterton Tent, 1.0. R. meets to-night nt the Temperance Hall at halfpast seven. - We understand from latest enquiry that Mr W. Booth is slowly but surely recovering from hia late severe indisposition, The youths of Masterton and the youths of Greytown play a game of football together at Greytown on Satur day. A general meeting of the Maßterton Opaki Jockey Club will be held on Saturday evening next, August 9th, at the Club Hotel. Mr P. Benoinn, a representative of the New Zealand Lite Office, notifies that he is staying at the Olub Hotel, and will be happy to afford any information whioh intending insurers in the Government office may desire. The annual Show under the auspices oi the Wairarapa and Bast Coast Pastoral Society will be held in the show grounds, Carterton, on Thursday, November 3rd, Entrieß will olose on Saturday, October the 25th. It was twenty-one years ago on Monday last, writes the Standard, that the[firstinfant was registered in Greytown. His name waß James Hobman, who has just attained hia majority. Mr Boys was the registrar, and has held that office up to the present time. Mr George Beetham, M.H.E., has interviewed the Minister of Public Worka and obtained a promise irom him that an enquiry shall be instituted into the grievances whioh the workmen and others on the Opaki railway section have against the department with respect to arrears of payment. There are not wanting indications, writes the Post, in the Government Buildingß of the probability oi an early change in Ministerial offices. Private Secretaries are hurrying about, urging the completion of a number of small matters which have heretofore been allowed to Bland over, and there seems a general desire to clear out Ministerial pigeon-holes, The fortnightly atook sale of Messrs Lowes and lorns took place yesterday. There was a fair attendance, of buyers, and the prices realised were:—Ewes, Cs 3d to 7b lid; wethers, 13s 3d to 14s; dairy cows, £i 2s 6d to £5 2s 6d; young cattle, £2 17s to £3 10s; calves, 20a upwards. Horses—draughts, ; backs, J-8. Houdan fowls, 21s per pen of three. The auctioneer afterwards adjourned to the blacksmiths' shop lately occupied by Mr Naylor, and sold off the stock-in-trade, tools, etc, by order of the Official Assignee in bankruptcy. One ot the most flourishing of the local indnstries of Masterton may he seen in full operation in the workshops of Mr C. Moeller, cabinet maker and upholsterer. The show rooms in Queen street, next the Bank of New Zealand, contain suites of drawing room furniture in horsehair, cretonne, rep, and leather of all shades, the frames being kauri, cedar, and other expensive woods. There is noticeable among the great collection a splendid chest of drawers in cedar, faced with knotted Totara, and honeysuckle, also three very handsome taxidermst cases, made to special order, fancy work-boxes, toilet tables and glasses, Venetian blindß, with nil the latest improvements, and newest shades, spring and flax mattresses, and a general collection of pictures frames, and fancy goods,, carpets, drug* gitting, cocoanut and ohina matting. In the workshops at the back of the show rooms five men are constantly employed in the various branches of the trade, and a large stock of turnery and well seasoned timber is ready to their handa to work up. The Irish population of the earth is in round numbers as follows:—lrish at home, 5,500,000; Irish in England, 2,600,000; Irish in Sootland, 2,000,000; Irish in Canada, 2,OCO,000; Iriah in Australia, 1,000,000; Irieh in America, 12,500,000; Irish elsewhere, 5,000,000. London shoeblack to Scotch drover (issuing from Eußton station)-" Here you are, Seotty; brush yir boots for twopence, and make you look like a gentleman 1" Drover—" Tippence I Sae muckle aB that! Man, leddie, if ye'il just len' me your brushes for a meenuto I'll polish them mysel' for naetbing" The native printers at Biahopstowe are now engaged in completing the setting up of the Zulu translation of" The Pilgrim's Progress," which Bishop Colenso, at the time of his death, left in an unfinished state. The total earnings of the West Paoific Mail Co. last year for passengers amount' ed to 1,319,867 ctols, and for freight 3,083,682 dols, Of this the Australian branch contributed the following:—Passengers, 234,509 dols; freight, 134,778 duls, When David Cox exhibited the "Funeral at Bettwsi-yfOoed" at the rooms of the Water Color Society, one of the criiiea intimated that if the Society could not exhibit better work than that it ought to close its doors. The" Funeral" is now worth three thousand pounds, The oft-bereaved and unfortunate widow of Armand Carrel, who has been living for years in the otriotpat retirement, has been interviewed by the reporter of a French paper. Referring to bar husband, she said she was the last to learn of his duel with M. de Girardin, and its fatal results, As regards her eldest son, her version of bia death is that on the 2nd December, 1851, he was coming out of the house of Madame Odier, General Oavaignao's mother-in-law, when he fell, pierced with eight bullets, "as if,"she added, "the soldiers of the 'Coup d' Etat' had picked him out as a target." She was three days looking for his body, To crown a long series of misfortunes, her two remaining sons—both officerswere killed in the war of 1870. At the Wellington Magistrates Court today Mr H. H, Lewis was charged with a breach of the Prison Act in having seoreted a number of articles with a view of handing them to the prisoners in Mount Pleasant gaol, The prisoner had been convicted ot forgery but had had a porti/n of his sentance commuted on account of bia having accepted the office of common hsngamau for the colony in whirl} capacity he had executed six convicts, his last victim being at Napier. He was sentenced to one months hard labour. Albert Bellemen, master of the Gladstone school, was found dead on Ngabauranga road laet night. He had been thrown from his horse. He was a native of France, and leaves a wife and several children, He is believed to have property in Canterbury, After several years experience m supplying watches for the colonial market, Littlejohn and Son, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, have observed the need, for a thoroughly sound English Lever Watch at a lower price than that usually paid fortuoh watches. It is only b) the judicious division of labor and by the manufacture of large quantities on a uniform plan, that we are. enabled to meet this want.. We have now the pleasure of introducing our Six Guinea Hunting Silver Lever. This watoh, being simple in design durable, highly finished, and aooarate,fulfils, all the requirements of a pocket timekeeper, A written guarantee for two years will be given with eaoh wtfoh. Sent by post, securely packed, on receipt of Post Office order or cneque.—(Advtl

Lowes and lores held a stock sale at Woodville on Saturday last. Cattle of all classes were in abundance, but buyers scaroe, consequently those sold were low in priee. Horuos, also, were at a discount. The same firm held a sale of fruit trees for Mr McCardle during the afternoon, the prices obtained being somewhat low. The first show of the Wellington Poultry. Pigeon, Oage-bird, Rabbit and Cat Association is advertised to bo held in the Arcade on Wednesday and Thursday, September 3rd and 4th. His Excellency Sir W. F, Jervois has accepted the presidency of the Association, and under his auspices the ooming show should prove a success. A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Masterton Fire Brigade was held last night. Present—Messrs J. Muir (in the chair), W, H, Beetham, G, Dixon, and W. Sellar, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. An apology was received and accepted from Mr Payton for his unavoidable absence, The Treasurer reported the subscriptions receivod and promised already amounted to ;844 19a and it was expected this would be increased to 150. The Fire Brigade applied for the following:—lst, A new fire alarm bell of 3}cwt, 2nd. Twenty-five new caps for members, also a few uniforms, and that the present helmets be repaired. 3rd, One canvas cistern for use at fires. On the motion of Mr Beetham seconded by Mr Dixon it was resolved that a new fire bell of 3Jewt be procured for the use of the Brigade. It was further resolved that the caps and uniformt applied for be procured and the helmets repaired. Also that a canvas cistern be ordered. The nipht of meeting was altered from Wednesday to Friday and the ineetine adjourned. The laet turn-out from Messrs Mnir & Dixon's well known Carriage Factory is a light covered brake for passenger and goods traffic. The proud proprietor, " Captain" Joneß, left the Post Office for the train at noon to-day on a trial trip, Immediately after the opening of Parliament this afternoon, members will be sworn in and the Speaker elected, after which the House will adjourn until tomorrow when the Premier will make a statement as to the intentions of the Government. The largest and beat stock of men's porpoise hide hand-sewn walking boots, especially adapted for winter wear, are to be seen at Eapp & Harp's Emporium, (Adyt). THE NEW ZEALAND REFRIGERATING COMPANY. DUNEMN, August 6. At the annual meeting to-day of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company the report and balance-sheet were adopted, the dividend being 10 per cent, The Chairman said the company had no liabilities of any kind, and had made no losses during the year whatever. They had at the commencement of the year a mortgage of £SOOO, which they had now wiped off, and they were entirely free of debt of any kind, The actual expense of management was not £IOOO. During the year they had added a new freezing machine to tho works, increased the storing capacity to 10,000 carcases, and enlarged the slaughtering houses, enabling them to kill 500 or 600 sheep a day. The works were being established two miles north of Oamaru, and the total expenditure with them would be a little under £4OOO, They had an immediate prospect of getting a return or. the outlay by means of the steamer which had been chartered by Mr Reid, of Elderalie. It had been chartered for three years, and it would take away probably 40,000 sheep a year, It would be observed that the directors proposed to refund to shippers of sheep 3d a head on account of charges. They thought that seeing they had a reasonable surplus it it was only fair that the shippers sbonld get back a portion of the charges. He thought that there was a brighter day in store for frozen mutton. They saw that the trade at Home was extending in many directions, and ho doubt with the assistance of the chairman, Mr Roberts, who was at present in' England, there would be a fresh organisation for the sale of the meat, and reductions in the charges. The butellers in London at present had a combination against New Zealand mutton, but it was bound to be broken down in a very short time. Tho various refrigerating companies were to hold a con ference in Ohristchurch on Friday, for the purpose of considering the best means which can be adopted for getting a reduction of freight and insurance, and other charges, and he had no doubt that beneficial conclusions would •be arrived at, The insurance policies on exported mutton wero very unsatisfactory at present. There were so many saving clauses that when there was any loss, the underwriters always got out of it some way or other. He thought it was admitted on all hands that the refrigerating system has been thoroughly successful, any failure which had taken place being due to mistakes which could be easily avoided in the | future. One shareholder said be exj pected to see 6£d or 7d realised next year. The following motion was carried; —" That it be an instruction to Mr Begg, as delegate to the conference, and that every effort must be made to get a substantial reduction on freight next year, for otherwise it is very donbtful whether guarantees will be got from shareholders." One or two large shippers expressed a strong wish to see a reduction in the charges, such as freight, insurance <fec., and said they would not guarantee shipments for next year unless such reductions were made,