The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1885. NEW VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1972, 23 April 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1885. NEW VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

It is stated that Mr Bamanoe, Minister of Defence, contemplates issuing new Volunteer Regulations. Wo have not heard anything from Volunteers as to whether they require a change or not, but our impression is that the regulations at present in force would serve their pur, pose if they were slightly amended, It is now propostd to divide the force into four classes, The first of these will consist of the present garrison corps, and the second of country corps. A now eloment is to be introduced in the third class, which is to consist of honorary corps, while the fourth will form a sort of adjunct to the latter, and are to bo styled honorary reserve corps. The capitation allowed to the first class is to be £3, and to the second 30s, while the remainder will receive nothing but their arms and accoutrements. The third class will be subject to the Government Regulations, but the fourth will be allowed to do pretty well what it lilies. Garrison and country corps may increase their number of members to 100, but capitation will only be allowed to the former for 63, and to the latter for 50. Country corps are to have six annual parades in place of four, as at present, but attendance at four will be sufficient to obtain a certificate for capitation. It matters little how these Regulations were hatched, but we venture to say that the hen which is responsible for them knows very little about her business. We have never been able to discover any reason why garrison corps should receive so much more capitation than country corps, and as the question has been frequently asked, it is a pity the Defonce Minister did not make an explanation upon-this point while he gave a variety of information about others. The distinction between ordinary and honorary corps is a most objectionable one, because it must lead to jealousy. It is probably intended as a means of controlling the spirit of volunteering in the colony, and as such would serve the purposes of a Government that is not inclined to incur a further increase ifr the capita-

tion allowance, If an application were to come in from a quarter where the Government thinks it would be save to do so, an answer would be given that the services of the proposed corps, would be ac? cepted iu the third class, aiuf the project would either bo abandoned, or tho Colony would add to tho strength of its forces on tho cheap," On the other hand, corps may be formed, the members of which would think theinselves abovo accepting .capitation allowance, and most objectionable i;lass jealousies would then bo created. The honorary reserve corps would be noither uso nor ornament. Thoso portions of the Regulations which refer to the strength of corps appear to us to bo the most ill-considered of all. A gariiaon corps is to be allowed as many as 100 men, but only 63 of these can receive capitation, while with regard to country corps, the respective igures are 100 and 50. There can be no valid reason why the percentage of members receiving capiMiion should be greater in one class than it is in another. How would Mr Balance manage if a new corps were formed with the maximum strength ? Everything would go right for a year, and then, in the case of a country corps, half the members would be paid capitation, while tho other half would go without. The natural outcome would be the breaking up of the corps. At any rate no sensible officer would be found to command a corps in which such unjust and uncalled for distinctions are made. The only redeeming feature is to be found in the proposal to increase the number of parades of country corps to six. At present there are only four, and Volunteers who miss one do not become entitled to capitation allowance. Under the new regulations they would lose nothing if they attended four out of the six parades. Mr Ballanue will do well if he quietly drops these regulations into his waste paper basket, and diverts his attention to the defences of the Colony, the occupation of land and Native matters.

The Standard has an article on the railway time-table in which several statements are made that are not quite according to facts, In the first place we are accused of having " asserted" that our contemporary was inspired by Mr Coleman Phillips, What we said was that he "appeared to be" inspired by that gentleman. The appearance is certainly there, whether the article was inspired or not. Then it is sought to prove that if a man leaves Wellington by the second train, stops in Masterton for the night, and returns by the second train the following day, lie loses no time as compared with going up and down the same day The inaccuracy of this is so glaring that it is really quite unnecessary to refer to it. Perhaps the further assertion will be made that no extra expense would be involved. There is not the slightest ground for saying that " the present time table suits the convenience of the great majority of the settlers of the Wairarapa very well, and any alteration in it would create both inconvenience and dissatisfaction." There has been a distinct expression of dissatisfaction with the present arrangements, while, with the exception of the Standard and Mr Coleman Philips, no one lws publicly attempted to show that an alteration would be inconvenient. We should like our contemporary to explain why Mr Phillips' motion on the subject in the Wairarapa West County Council was allowed to Iftpse for want of a seconder, if Councillors, who may be said to be the representatives of the people, werp f-ei)Jly pf hjs opinion.

Mr G, Beetliam inyit.es the electors of the Whareama district to meet him at Tinui on Wednesday next, Messrs V, and W. Wardell invito tenders tor about two miles of wire fencing at Te Whiti, B

A large pyblic meeting held at Gisborne, carried a resolution strongly urging the Government t,o have the "sittings of the Native Land Court there, as there are 1500 cases of all kinds awaiting hearing, Mr McHutchon, Returning Officer, notifies that tho elegtign of members fqr sub-divisions 2, 3, and 0, Oastlepoint Road District, will be held on Thursday , May 7th, Nominations will be yeceiyei} up to noon of Friday, May Ist. An old soldier named Chas. Kelly was found dead in the Wanganui river yesterday. He had gone into the town at ten the previous night, and when last seen was qujte sober. When taken out, he had several large gashes on his face, tho cause of which is not yet apparont,

•The " Rangitikei Advocato" prints a paragraph describing the smothering of over a hundred sheep through a mob piling themselves up in a corner of the yard, an& draws attention to it as a peculiar occurrence, showing the "strongly gregarious" naturo of sheep. Wo are of opinion that when a mob of sheep is crowded into a yard, the animals are gregarious by force, and not from habit or desire.

Mr F. H, Wood announces that he has completed arrangements for holding fortniglitly stock sales at Masterton; and that the first of these will be held 011 Wednesday, May Gth, Mr Wood has secured a suitable site for yards on the Te Ore Ore road, opposite the hospital, where steady progress is being made with the erection of suitable yards by the contractors, Messrs Bejifcley Bros. Sellers, entering stock may leave it on the ground the day proceeding the sale, and purchasers allow it to remain till the day after. Entries may be made with Mr It, Stansfield in Masterton, or left with Mr Wood. In concluding an article upon the wealth Of Great Britain and the state of its inhabitants,a writer in the London Chamber of Commerce journalsays: Takingthenumber of families belonging to the working classes at 5,000,000, and the total income at £521,000,000, or, exclusive of food, etc., £470,000,000, we have an average of about 32s per week per family—a fair amount if equally distributed. And if I am right in assuming chat the income of the great mass of the laboring classes in the United Kingdom averages, even approximately, at as much as 32s a week pel family, I must come to the conclusion that they are in a better economic condition than the laboring classes of any other country.

A first-class sheep dog is advertised for sale.

The next meeting of tho Masterton Farmers' Club will be held in the Council Chambers at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. Mr George Thomas, Panama-street, Wellington, has for sale a Neufeldt piano and several superior vehicles. Mr Buckland addressed hisconatituents, and received a unanimous vote of confidence, at Waikouaiti, last night.

' Letters received from Mr Thos.' Parsons and Mr A. Reese will receive • our attention as soon as we can find space. Several additions have been made to Mr. Eawson's land advertisemen which should be of interestto persons on the look out or small farms near Masterton. Mr P. Kuch, of tho Manners-street Pork Shop, Wellington, announces that he has unadulterated sausages, good dairyfed pork, and other similar goods for sale. The meeting of, ratepayers and subscribers to the Library for the purpose of electing a Committee for the ensuing year, will bo held at 8 p.m. on Thursday next, Two new pieces, and the promised twenty minutes with the Russians are included for production on Monday evening next at the Theatre, in which Messrs Foley, and Be vkley and Miss Beaufort, supported by several gentlemen' amateurs will appear. In the Resident Magistrate's Court today Robert Thomas Bolt was charged with drunkenness, and fined ss, with the alternativeof twenty-four hours' imprisonment, Francis Clune, charged 'with vagrancy and habitual drunkeness, was sentenced to 28 days' imprisonment. His Worship the Mayor presided, Clune was sent down to Wellington by the special train.

Since the meeting of the WellingtonManawatu Railway, Company at which threo directors and two auditors were elected, the Government organ at Wellington advises the directors not to sell the line to the Government., At the meeting the Chairman, Mr J. E. Nathan, assured the shareholders that they would make a good profit by selling. _ The railway authorities appear to' believe in constant tinkering. When the first excursion train was run, the' second class return fare was ss; for the second it was 53 3d; and to-day we notice it is 5s Gd. It is to be presumed that when the. second-class rates have been raised sufficiently, the first-class will be dealt with in a similar manner.

The usual weekly drill of the Carterton Rifle Volunteers was attended by about thirty of its members, who were put though the evolutions by Drill ■ Serjeant Bezar, After drill-the company proceeded to elect a Lieutenant and Sublieutenant in the place of the two who have resigned, when Sergeant W. Moore was elected Sub-lieutenant and the offices of Lieutenant and Sergeant were left to be filled up at their next meeting. At the half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the Bank: of New Zealand, held at Auckland yesterday, the usual dividend and bonus were declared, and a "balance of £25,000 was carried forward to the next half-year. The figures show a modera'e increase, both in the deposits and advances. The coin, bullion, and Government secuities held.amount to £2,700,000. The chairman congratulated the shareholders upon the steady progress of the colony, notwithstanding the operation of important adverse influences. A good story is told how one of the investors at the late Auckland races fell in luck's way when investing on the totalisator for the Shorts Handicap,- Standing by the machine he observed a friend of his making his way over for the purpose of putting a pound on, and asking him what lie was backing, the friend remarked "No. Bis a good thing." "Well," he replied, " I'll put a pound on him too." Now, it happened that the friend was all the time going to invest his pound on No. 7 (Sir Bedevere) and wishing to get a bi» "div" told a fib in saying that he wbb going on No. 8, This was Kalo's number. Tho lucky investor who had been put on the son of Yattendon by means of a fib, now luoks at his bank-book and smiles at the figures £251155.

Messrs Lowes & lorns' sale of the Riversdale stock came ofl' yesterday. The sale was well attended, buyors from the whole district being represented, every line selling under the hammer to bonn fide purchasers. The following is the resultfor 23 weaners, 15s each ; 40 yearlings, 32s each; 41 2-year-olds, well-grown, 60s each; 40 3-year-old steers, 1 5s each; 38 cows and heifers, in forward condition, 70s each; 39 store speyed cow? and heifers, 56s each; 38 speyed cows and heifers, in better condition, COfj gach; 28 breeding cows, in good conditjoi), lyith sucking calves given jn,'|j7s G,d pacl'i; 13 Hereford cows and heifers, bred by Moore and Otirrie, of Wanganui," £5 each; 5 milking cows, £5 5s each; 1 3-year-old Hereford bull, bred by Mr Stuckey, £l(i; 3 young bulls, progeny of same, 3 to 8 guineas each; Bdraught mares and foals, from £8 to £2O each; 5 3-year-old colts, from £l2 10s to £l6 each; 8 2-year-old colts and -fillies, from £lO to £l2 10s; -7 yearling colts and fillies, from £5 to £10; hack brood mares, from £4 to £10; 7 hack horses, from £5 to £2O; and carts, drays, pigs, and sundries, found purchasers at satisfactory prices.

The shipping returns of last year for the port qf Wellington, say 8 one of tho eyeningpapers, asgiyenin tlje gtatisfcicswitl>the annual report of the Harbour Board issued a few days ago, show that the trade of Wellington is steadily increasing. During the year 1884 the number of vessels which entered the port was 1970, the total tonnage being 565,702 tons. In 1883 the number was 1745, and tho tonnage 459,742 tons, The gross receipts of the Wellington Harbour Board, from revenue for tho year 1884, amounted to £39,416 0s lOd, This being added to £21,01214s lid, the balance of the proceeds of the £31,000 6 per cent, loan, and £1367 2s lid, balance to credit on the Ist January, 1884, brings the total receipts for the year to £61,795 18s Bd, Against this the ordinary expenditure was £34,684 8s 3d, and leaving a balance to credit on the Ist January, 1895, of £17,574 15s Id. The receipts for pilotage during 1884 was £178313s 6d, as against £1129 6s lOd for 1883; for port charges the respective amounts were £1897 4s 4d and £1378 lis 6d, and forharbour-master's fees £83618s Id, and £444 3s 7d. Tho total increase under these tliree headings is thus £1556 14s Od.

A narrow escape from what might have proved a fatal accident, occurred 011 one of the up country roads, one wet and stormy night recently. A gentleman, driving his family in a buggy towards home, on turning a sharp bend in the road, leading to a gully, across which only a narrow bridge, without handrails was placed, perceived, within a short distance, another vehicle approaching at a rapid paco from the opposite direction, No room to pass, a collision seemed inevitable. But the drivers of the two conveyances were equal to the occasion and with admirable presence of mind applied their brakes, bringing the horses to a standstill within a few feet, and the occupants were able to congratulate each other on having had fitted, powerful brakes, and good lamps to their carriages, by Muir and Dixon of the Masterton Coach Factory, who are now building all kinds of vehicles at fabulously low prices. —Advt.

Captain Edwin fortolls frost or severe cold for to-night.

The Wairarapa East County Cpunoil invites tenders for two contracts on the Eketahuna-Tinui road. ■'

The excursion train to Wellington today was patronised by about 150 persons. The up-train, which arrived about 2 p.m., brought about 40 excursionists. "?; Persons interested in the will of Peder Soreusen, of Mauriceville, deceased, will find an announcement J.on the subject from Mr R O. Hamertoii,' Public Trustee, in another column, ' "

Messrs Lowes & lorns announce their next fortnightly stock sale for the 29th insfc. The catalogue already includes 200 prime fat wethers, 1000 crossbred ewes, 550 crossbred lambs, 25 head cattle, and horses, pigs, and poultry. , A man named Niedergesaess has filed a .declaration of insolvency. It is supposed that he has mistaken tho Court, and .in reality wanted to get rid of his name. . A charge of handing a fraudulent marriage notice to the Wanganui Herald for publication is to be heard in tlio Resident Magistrate's Court at Wanganui.

A Reuter's telegram received to-day announces that owing to the difficulty which has arisen between the Sydney Seamen's Union and the Pacific Mail Co., the Company has been compelled to postpone the departure of the Zealandia from Sydney until Saturday iiext. The next San Francisco mail will therefore leave Auckland at least two days late.

Heilbron'sGerman Worm .Calces,and Fitzgerald's Koromiko Extract are Patented.—Advt. '