The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1885. THE VICE-REGAL SPEECH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2014, 12 June 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1885. THE VICE-REGAL SPEECH.

It has often been said that the ViceRegal speeches delivered on opening Parliament are invariably devoid of interest, and that they generally consist of a string'of high-flown, but meaningless, sentences. Shortly before the opening of the present session it was announced on what appeared to be the authority of Ministers, that the speech this year would be unusually full, and that it was the intention of Ministers to unfold their policy as far as possible, JSuch a course would have been very commendable. Ministers seem, however, to have reflected on their promise, and come to the conclusion that it was a rash one, for the speech delivered yesterday by His Excellency the Governor differs in no way {roffi what we usually hear on such occasions, for it was as bald as it could possibly be, His Excellency expressed himself pleased in agftin haying recourse to the assistance ofParliawent; but had his responsible advisers put in place of the paragraph what they thought, Parliament would have been informed that they were sorry that they could not carry on the government of the country without the assistance of Parliament, We are briefly informed that the depression which has been felt for some time is passing away, notwithstanding the low price of wheat and, wool, just as if wool had not brought very satisfactory prices this year, After a brief reference to Native affairs and the North Island Trunk Railway, the country is informed that Ministers hope, at no distant date, to have the railway between Wellington and Napier finished, A subject of some importance is mentioned with regard to public works, namely, the proposal which is to be made to place the control of the railways under a Board of Commissioners. Gratification is expressed at the floating of the two loans, and then there are brief allusions to the forthcoming exhibition, to the settlement of land, the constitution of the Legislative Council, development of the mineral resources of the colony,

conservation of forests, and other subjects including, as a matter of course, a reference to the relations of New Zealand with the Australian colonies and the South Sea Islands, A number of bills which it is proposed to introduce, were mentioned, but' there was little 01 no indication of the direction which the proposed legislation is to take. The speech will taka a fair rank with its predecessors and bears every proof that it has been so drafted as to conceal as much as possible. For the unfolding sf the Govei'nment'poliey we shall have to wait till the Bills that have been prepared liavo been read a second time.

A fow flakes of snow were observed in Mastevton about 11 o'clock this morning. Captain Edwin telegraphs that there is every indication of a hard frost to-night. Tenders are invited by Mr R. Brown for additions to a building in Hall street. The Temperance Choir meet for practice this evening. The members of the Wesleyan Literary Society meet this evening in the Schoolroom, at 7.30 p.m. Notice is given in the Gazette that certain land in Block IX, Waiohine Survey District, has been taken for a road.

TheMasterton Tent, I.'o. R., has decided to celebrate its anniversary by a tea .and concert on Thursday July 2nd. The services of a custodian are required for the Masterton Temperance Hall. Particulars may be found in our wanted columns.

Mr F, H, Wood will sell at Featherston at 2 p.m. to-morrow, canaries, ironmongery, drapery, jewelry, fancy goods, &c.

Mr William Fife lias been appointed public vaccinator for the Featherston District,

The Education Board invites tenders for desks and latrines at the Masterton Infant School,

Mr Georgo Donne, better known as Mr" Bate," the owner of the Poet and other racehorses, has been adjudicated a bankrupt at Christchurch, A sitting of the District Court in Bankruptcy will be held on the 24th inst, when the following debtors will come up for examination :-F. F. Roe, J. Creelman, J. P. Ramsey, T. A. Dillon, and M. W. O'Meara.

A verbatim report of the proceedings at the anual meeting of policy holdets in the Government lnsuranco Association has been printed and circulated, together with proxy papers for voting on the question of establishing local boards. A football match, Masterton v Carterton will be played at Carterton to-morrow. The former team are requested to assemble at Mr J. Williams' shop at 1.30 p.m., when a drag will be in readiness to take thein down.

The following tenders havfe been received at the Public Works Office for the contract for 150,000 creosoted sleepers.—Accepted—Campbell and Co., punedin, £29,909. Declined—Dunedin Iron and Hardware Company, Dunedin, £36,250; A, Tapper, Inyercargijl, £36,875; Macphergori, Filmor and Co., Timaru, £38,750 ; Wangapui fipi} Door Factory, Wapganui', £40,875, Wo are requested to remind our reader of MessrsLowes and lorns' saleof furniture and sundries to-inorrow. The list will embrace two drawing room suites, several couches, chest drawers, chiffoniers, tables, chairs, single and double bedsteads, mattresses, sewing machines, watches, clocks, fancy goods, and many useful household requisites. The goods are now on view, and will amply repay a visit of of inspection, To parties furnishing this sale offers special inducement,

Messrs Foley and Berkley appear at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening, in an pntirely pey programme, embracing a new comedietta: entitled tho" Green eyed monster," a screaming farce, "Our suburban retreat,' 1 ' and a specially selected interlude. A new star in the dramatic firmament is announced in the person of Miss Lottie Shaw, who will give several national dances in character.

Mr Wardell lias given judgment at Wellington in the case of the United Importers Company v G. Fisher. Tho claim was for £GG Is lid unpaid callsDefendant admitted having taken shares, but pleaded that he took them on the distinct understanding that he would be appointed a director. It was clear that the promoters could not bind the shareholders, and judgment was therefore given for plaintiff, _ Mr W. Catt has made an extensive addition to his central premises, Carterton, and has qn view now a (h>e collection of antique vases, flower pots, toiletornaments and toys of every description from a penny trumpet to a three guinea horse and cart, Helias also achoice assortmentof epergnes of a much superior quality to what is usually imported into the district, meerschaum, briar and other pipes, while tobacco and cigars of the best brands'also make a good show-

At tl}o meeting pf the Lands Bgar4yegteaday morning, says the ijvenjng Pres§, it was resolved to dray the attention qf tlie County to the alleged waste by putting down totara and other trees unnecessarily ill the Alfredton diatriofc, and to Inform them that it should not bepermitted, The resolution was come to in consequenoe of a report that a number of trees were being felled by the contractor for the Te Hoe bridge, which were not required for the purpose of building the bridge. No news has yet been received here up to the present, (writes our Featherston correspondent) of the whereabouts of Mr Fred. H. Liardet. Mr Matthews mentioned a circumstance yesterday to the effect that he had noticed smoke lately across the lake, opposite his homestead. There may be some probability that Mr Laaidet, in his attempt to cross the lake, has drifie.d onto so,m'e place, lost liis boat# ;ind cannot communicate with the" shore. At ai)y rate, ,a fliprflugh an,d strict ought' to be i)iade, typing'rqund the lake on horseback is of i)p ip ffjiateypr. Boats ought to ( bp employed by persons who thoroughly know the lake. As the natives hare been very much on the lake lately, they might be able to Rive some information, and as they have been very obstructive they may have detained him. A telegram dated Pert Darwin, Ist June, published in the Sydney papers, is as follows The steamer Guthrie, wjiich arrived here to-day from Hongkong via Singapore, brings news that just before shejleftChinathePredchlanded6oootroops atTonquinandanotheroutbreak of hostilitiesis expected, which will probably result in a Chinese war, paralysing all trade. On her way to Singapore the Guthrie met a French transport crowded with troops for Tonqiijn. At Singapore a French ironclad steamed alongside the Oxfordshire from England to China, and the commander ordered her to land two3o>ton gups intended for the Chinese, or in the event of not 'doing bo he would overhaul her at sea. The guns were landed at Singapore. Preparations for war are now actually proceeding. At Singapore the truce is looked upon as a pretext in order to gain time, and war is believed to bo certain.

Heilbron's German Worm Cakes and Fitzgerald's Koromiko Extract are Patented—Advt.

A trial of three patent scrub cutters'; is described by the Napier Telegraph,:• Two of the machines are stated to: have been complete' failures,' while the third - was moderately successful, It is one made by Diinwoodie Bros, Onehunga, The cutter of this machine was on the principal of tho American hay-knife. ?It cut manuka off which was two and a half inches thick, but the width of the cut was • only about nine inches, The general impression of those present waa that much improvement will be necessary before any of these machines can be made to recommend themselves to those who have scrub in quantities to be cut. They' did: hot appear to be adapted to cutting scrub off hiD-sides. /