NATIVE LAND PURCHASES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2110, 2 October 1885, Page 2

NATIVE LAND PURCHASES.

The area of Native Lands purchased by Europeans since the coming into operation of the Native Land Act 1873 is 730,462, acres and the amount paid for it to Natives, exclusive of moneys paid to the Governmentand for surveys, was £206,290. The last Property Tax valuation ivas £646,222. In addition there are 302,965 acres, omitting blocks under 2000 acres, purchased since 1881 for an aggregate sum of £67,844, the value of which has not yet been assessed under the Property Tax Act, The only land set down as having been dealt with in the Wairarapa are three blocks, comprising 2440 acres, purchased by Mr James Cooper in 1882. From further information received regarding the Borough gas loan, it appears that the total amount applied for is £5400, divided as follows: Masterton £7OO at 98 and £2OO at par; Nelson, £2OO at 99, and £I3OO at 102; Port Chalmers, £IOOO at 98.15; Oatnaru, £2OOO at par. The average of the whole is only £2 10s uuder the full amount, so that the rate is not even a halfpenny under par. The minimum fixed was 98. It was decided to accept all the money offered, The amount will be sufficient to proceed with the gasworks, as the estimated balance of something under £2OOO that may be required can be raised without difficulty at any time. It will be noted that the Borough has made a saving of £lO5 10s, lest cost of advertising, by not accepting the terms offered by the Government Life Insurance Association, as under them the debentures would have realised only 98. Mr Clias. Pharazyn is expected to return to New Zealand shortly,' He has been in Europe for over two years, The births in Napier in August were equal to those at Christchurch, a city with nearly three times the population What bonedict would not live in Napier j A Wairarapa contemporary has taken a peep across the Tararua ranges, and states that agriculturists on the West Coast complain of the continued wet weather, Strangely enough, we have been shown a letter, received only yesterday, from a farmer in Rangitikei, in which the writer states that farm work is almost at a standstill for the want of rain, Messrs Foley and Berkley announce an entertainment for Saturday night, which contains amongst others the comedy "Love's Stratagem," "Drawing Room Echoes," and the favorite farce, " The Suburban Retreat." They will have the assistance of Miss Beaufort and Miss Sutheiland, The programme seems to be a good one, and should therefore attract a large audience. On the occasion of Mr Lee's last surprise visit to the Opaki school he jotted down a few suggestions for the Committee, and with regard to the management said Mrs Sait is still in charge doing active work, and he was satisfied the school is faithfully taught, and the interests of the children well cared for. The next examination will be made • in accordance with the new syllabus lately issued by the Department. Referring to our statement that thero is a marked improvement in the appearance of peach trees this year, the Feilcling Star says" The splendid show of blossom on the peach trees this season, in every part of the district indicates that they have in some measure recovered from the mysterious disease which they suffered from during the past two years. A very abundant crop cannot be expected, yet there will be sufficient for all ordinary home purposes." It will thus be seen that a change for the better has occurred in districts other than the Wairarapa. A curious and most comical romance in real life (says a London Correspondent) recently came under my notice. A young man not long ago married, and soon after his wedding he and his wife quarrelled. This led to him searching her boxes, and there he found a marriage certificate—not his own. An enquiry elicited the fact that his bride had been married a year previous to a man in New Zealand. The second husband is now advertising for husband No, 1 to come home and take the woman off his hands. No. 2 promises No. 1 that if he will communicate with the advertiser , he will learn " something to his advantage." Imagine No. l's feelings when he learns what the advantage is! The Masterton Tent, 1.0. R., held their quarterly meeting in the Temperance Hall last night, Bro Easthope, C.R., presiding. One new member was initiated and two clearances granted for Marton and Wellington. A circular was read from District Secretary Bro, F. H. Fraser, inviting the tent to take part in the Friendly Societies' Demonstration in Wellington on the 15th October, and a letter In connection therewith was also read from the Seoretary of the Loyal United Friends, asking tho tent to send representatives to a meeting of the friendly societies of Masterton to be held in the Temple Chambers on October 2nd. It was resolved to issue summonses to all members to attend a special meeting on Thursday next for the purpose of deciding what action the Tent should take in the matter. This concluded the business. -Venetian Blind and Revolving! Shutter Manufactory. ' All Blinds guaranteed of the very besi daacription. Price list on application tojsm. Henn (late Henn & Poneke oteain Venetian Blind Shutter Factory, Wei- ■ I :

Dr Bey has been of the Hearts of Oak Lodge, 1.0.0.F, M.U., Carterton.

Shearing was commenced on Mr A, Mutrie's farm, Manaia yesterday, This is the first that has been brought under, our notice this season. Mrs Bamber announces that a clearing sale will commence at her bootshop tomorrow, to last for one week only, during which period good bargains will be offered. We again remind the public that Mr P. H. Wood holds an unreserved sale of drapery, clothing, etc,, to-morrow afternoon on account of the Auckland Clothing Company, A cold southerly galo with rain sprang up this morning, and once more gave the country a thoroughly wintry appearance. Towards noon the clouds broke a little, but the rain continued to fall in showers. The Tararua has received another covering of snow.

The Hotel-heepei'3 of Masterton have presented Sergt. M'Ardle, who is on the eve of leaving for Greymouth, with a purse of sovereigns as. a mark of their appreciation of the disinterested manner in which he has carried out his often very unpleasant duties, The following team will represent the Tradesmen's Cricket Club in the match to-morrow at 2 o'clock on the Park Oval with the OpakiClubJackson, Peacock, Ewington, Williams, A. Minnifio F. Pelling, Faulkner, Wickens, Chamberlain, Mangin, O'Connor. Emergencies, Hoar, Evernden, and T, Dixon. It appears from letters placed at our disposal that the retail price in Masterton is between a penny and twopence per pound higher than in Wellington, and parcels sent down as surplus had therefore to be sold at a loss. We should have thought that matters of this kind had adjusted themselves since the opening of the railway. We are requested to remind our readers of Messrs Lowes & lorns extensive and unreserved salo of McDowell's stock in trade at their rooms to-morrow, comprising men's, boys' and youths' clothing, from the best English markets and Colonial mills, Ladies' dress goods in great variety, calicoes, flannels, hosiery, which, they remind us, arrived safely by steamer without being affected either by Lumpers' strike or any other "new feature," and will be sold absolutely without reserve. Mr F, H. Wood held his usual fortnightly Stock Sale at the Taratahi yards yesterday, there being a large number of entries, and a very good attendance of buyers. The bidding was brisk, and the lines were cleared at prices as under Dry ewes, 9s 3d ; fat ewes and weathers, 14s 3d; ewes and lambs, 10s 3d to 13s 9d; wether hoggetts, (heavy) lis; cows, from £2 15s for store, to £G 2s Gd for dairy; two-year-old steers, £3; three and four-year-old steers £5 4s fid ; yearlings, 38s, At the close of the sale Mr Wood announced that his next sale in the same yards would be held on the 15th instant, and that some entries have already been received for it.

Anglers will be interested to learn that the conditions for trout fishing in the Wellingfcon-Wairarapa district have at last been published in the Gazette. The season will extend from October 1, 1885, to March 31, 188 C, the hours during which fishing may be carried on being 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Licenses for the season will be granted by the Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society for 20s, and day licenses for half-a-crown. Tho only methods of fishing to bo allowed aro natural or artificial fly or minnow, but a gaff or landing net may be used to land a fish so caught. All fish measuring less than ten inches in length ape to be returned to the water.

A meeting of the Committee of the Masterton Pastoral and Agricultural Society was held yesterday, when several sub-committees were appointed, and tho programme for the ensuing show was prepared and ordered to be printed. The programme differs in many respects from any we have hitherto seen. The main difference is to be found in the addition of a number of classes for grade stock in sheep and cattle, the object being to make the Society as popular as possible with owners of small flocks or herds who cannot afford to keep pure stuck, and are probably making a good living out of half-breds. After three hours' hard work, the meeting adjourned for a week. A northern contemporary gives an account of a new method of " raising the wind," which takes down anything in the diddling line we have heard of for some time, A female called lately on a lady of some influence, and told a sad and plaintive story of suffering and privation, and moreover, that her husband had just died, and that she lacked the means of a decent burial. Her tale of woe so wrought upon the lady that she proceeded to visit her immediately, to satisfy herself there was no imposture. On entering the apartment she beheld the coffin, and was satisfied all was right; and not wishing to harrow the feelings of the bereaved woman, she left her a considerable sum of money, and immediately departed. After passing two or three blocks from the dwelling, thinking all the way of the strange complications to which we are liable, shemissed her packet-liandkerchief and returned to see if she had dropped it in the house. The stairs were ascended hastily, and tho room entered without much ceremony, when what did she behold I—the woman's husband sitting) up in the coffin counting over the money. Thereare (observes theMataura Ensign some queer people in this world, and one of the queerest resides in the Waimea Plains district; exactly where, it is not necessary to indicate. Lately it was generally supposed he was not prospering financially, and his creditors getting wind of this, " went for him" as creditors will, through the medium of the Resident .Magistrate's Court. He offered no defence —indeed he had none to offer—and did . not trouble to come near the Court to explain matters. By-and-by one creditor more speculative than the rest secured a judgment summons, and the bailiff was told off to cake the debtor to Invercargill, where in due course he found lodgings with the gaoler. It is usual to take an inventory of all articles on a prisoner when ho is consigned to that establishment, and on this being done two unopened and unaddressed envelopes were found. The debtor offered no objection to their being opened, and they were opened. One contained about £4O in Australian bank notes; the other a like sum in a form equally negotiable. The debtor paid the sum for which he had been lodged in gaol—the original amount was only £9—and was then allowed to depart for his home. We have heard of no satisfactory explanation as to his extraordinary procedure in not paying up till about £6 hatl been added to the original amount for costs, and till he had aotually been lodged in gaol,

In the Exhibition there is one special exhibit, which is greatly admired, namoly, the wool mats and portmanteaus made by Mr Field, of Dunedin. The whole of the exhibit has been purchased by Mr Thorbum, the clothier, of Willis-streot, Parties wishing to purchase any , of the above can now seleo them, to be delivered on the Ist of November.—Advt.

Goodfokßabies—"We are pleased to say- that our baby was permanently cured of a serious protracted irregularity of the bowels by, the use of American Go's flop Bitters by its .mother', which at the same time restored her to perfect health and strenpth. "j-The Paebnts. Sea.' •: I