The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1885. THE MANGAHAO SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1995, 20 May 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1885. THE MANGAHAO SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION.

The members of the Masterton-Manga-hao Special Settlement Association are beginning to ask what the newlyelected Committee is doing. It will bo remembered that a good deal of stir was caused by the fact of a tender for the survey of the land being accepted, and that, after a systematic canvass of members, it was agreed at a general meeting not to ratify the survey contract. Later still, a new Committee was elected, and there was at that time a great deal of boasting of what was going to lie done. The members of the old Committee were told that they were obstructionists, although they had taken time by the forelock in many things, and that the interests of members would now be carefully attended to. Aboutamonth has now elapsed since the new Committee took office, but we have not yet heard that anything practical has been done. Tho survey, which was to be taken in hand

at an early date, seems to hang fire, and tenders are not y9t advertised for. In the meantime the Pahiatua-Puketoi Association, wlricli is a much younger one, lias succeeded in dealing with this question, and surveyors are now at work on their block, It was a matter of great importance to members that they should have been able to select their sections at the earliest possible date, so that they would have been in a position to get some bush felled during the present winter, but tliereis.no use now in blinking tho fact tlmt not a tree will come down for another year, Members want to know their position, and it is high time that the Committee allowed them to understand it,

Tim members of the Masterton Borough Council acted inconsistently lust night when they voted the sum of £5 as salary to the .Clerk of tho Licensing Bench. It is nothing but right that the services of all officers should be paid for, but it is one of the faults of the Licensing Act that, although it requires that a clerk shall be appointed, no provision is made that he shall be remunerated for his services. The last Licensing Committee, however, passed a sum of £5 for last year, and, having no funds to deal with, sent the account on to the Borough Council for payment. The Borough Council took up a very peculiar position. On a division they decided, by six to four, to pay the amount, but to intimate to the Licensing Coinuiitteo that they did not think it was legal, and that, therefore, they would not do it again. Members are probably aware that they aie personally responsible for moneys illegally spent. It is unfair to expect any public servant to perform such responsible duties, or duties of any kind, for nothing, and if the Borough Council finds that a salary cannot legally bo paid, they should, ere this, have adopted the coarse taken in Wellington and elsewhere, namely, have one of their own officers appointed to the post.

A building society is about to bo started at Woodville. On Monday next, (Queen's Birthday), the ordinary Railway Time Table will be suspended, and cheap excursion trains will be mil between Wellington and Masteiion. Truth says many of the articles that appeared in the London papers upon the Afghan difficulty are old friends which did duty during the Beaconsfield war mania, which have been refurnished up for the present occasion. The question has been asked whether a ploughing match will be held in Masterton this winter. The subject is one which the Fanners' Club might very properly consider at its next meeting. It would be unwise to allow it to stand over till the winter is further advanced, A meeting will be held at Tinui on the 26th inst to give canditates for the representation of the Castlepoint Riding in the Wairarapa East County Council an opportunity to explain their views to the ratepayers. The election appears to be creating a good deal of interest in the riding.

A gentleman in Auckland, (says the N.Z. Herald) posseses a map issued about fifty years ago by Wyld, of London. It is entitled " A map of the countries between England and India, showing the relative positions of Russia to England and Hindostan," Curiously enough, the map shows Maruchak as being in Tartaiy, and northward of the boundary of Afghanistan. Mr Eaton, of Kokotau, met with a sudden and great surprise on Monday morning, says the Observer. He was superintending the conveyance of a load of grain in the direction of Masterton, and had arrived iu front of iho Marquis of Normanby Hotel, where ho left his load, in order to interview the landlord of the hotel. Judge Mr Eaton's "sensation" on coming out of the house, to see his dray and load gradually sinking into the earth, It was almost the work of a moment to get on board and lighten cargo, so that the whole might not be swallowedup. The covered-in planking over the ditch had broken down through the weight of the load. °

Accompanying the plan of the Borough which is now hanging in the Council office, Messrs Drummond and Frasi have furnished a table containing some interesting information regarding the town. We gather from it that there are eighty streets, of a total length of 33 miles 53|- chains, covering 207 acres, 1 rood and 3 perches. The original roads have an area of 103 acres, ] rood and 3 perches. The total area of the borough is 4311 acres, 3 roods and 13 perches. There are 523 dwelling houses, 31 shops and stores, 7 factories etc,, and 17 public buildings, including places yf worship, The estimated population is 3,000. The number of ratepayers is 480, and that of ratable properties 901. The annual ratable value of property is £22,157.

A most complete plan of the Borough of Masterton, drawn by Messrs Drummond and Frasi, was exhibited at the meeting of the Council last night. It measures about five feet by six feet, and' shews all the subdivisions of the original sections that were obtainable from official sources. From a draughtnian's point of view the work is a masterpiece, and would compare favorably with anything of the kind that could be shewn against it, Messrs Drummond and Frasi offered to sell the plan to the Council, but reserving the copyright. A new plan, giving all possible details, is no doubt required, as tho existing one scarcely complies with the requirements of the Municipal Corporations Act, and Councillors expressed themselves to that effect. The matter was, however, referred ta the works committee, with instructions to ascertain the cost of inserting tho levels of the different streets. With such additions the plan would be perfect; we are, however, afraid that, as scarcely any levels have as yet been taken, they would raise its cost from L3O to something above L3OO, A London correspondent writes thus of a' 1 mooning" colonist, who is now one of the colonial governors. He says' 1 Some of tho older colonists, and more particularly Canterbury folk, will remember Napier Broome when he used to dreamily weave love sonnets by the banks of the gurgling brooks of the Malvern Hills, He wasn't thought much of then, but he disappeared for a time, and then returned with Lady Barker, the widow of a general officer, and his bride. But it was only to roturn to to the literary centre of the world, and to be taken up by the Times, and to become the companion of princes. A good-looking fellow, and an agreeable companion, he accompanies! the Duke of Edinburgh when he went to St Petersburg to be married; and so upwards he has risen, Colonial Secretary and acting Governor of the Mauritius, and now His Excellency Sir Frederick Napier Broom, K.0.M.G., Governorof ( WeßternAustralia,. He is now on a visit to this country, and will read, a paper on Monday next on Western Australia before the Royal Colonial Institute, with H,R,H. the Prince of Wales in the chair,"

The Prosbyterian Assembly commenced its sittings this afternoon. The ordinary monthly moeting of the Masterton School Oommittoo will be held this afternoon. : "

The loss at the New 'Plymouth iire is estimated at £20,000. The insurances 1 are said to bo £IO,OOO, Mr 6. B. Davy, who is conducting the Sutton enquiry, returned to Masterton by the mid-day train, and resumed the examination of witnesses at 2 p.m. Lieutenant John Aston who is appointed to take charge of tho Carterton contingent of the Salvation Army by the 8.30. train last night. Be is quite a young man writes our correspondent, "too young, lam afraid, to cope with tho larrikins in this district."

Messrs Foley and Berkley have undoubtedly succeeded in hitting popular tasto in bringing the Faust Family to Masterton, for the attendance of the public was much larger, last night than the night before. The'lower part of the house was crowded and thoro were few spare seats in tho dress circle. The audience testified- its. appreciation even more loudly than on the opening night. The company plays again to-night and to-morrow, and will then visit the other towuships in the district on the dates announced elsewhere,