The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1888. POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2874, 16 April 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1888. POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES.

" Sir H. Atkinson had a long interview with Sir E. Stout," was the thrilling news wired by the "Press Association from Dunedin on Friday evening last, but the public are altogether left in the dark as to what transpired when the Premier and exPremier chatted together. On this occasion apparently, no reporter was listening at the key hole, nor did any representative of the press elicit from Sir K. ivhat he said to Sir H, or ascertain from Sir H. what he intimated to Sir H. This is an awkward predicament for the press of the colony, and there is only one way out of the dilemma, and that is for each gifted editor to imagine what took place on this occasion and from his own inner consciousness evolve a discussion of what no doubt is of momentous importance to our political future. We are glad to observe that our contemporary, the editor of the Evening Post, did not for one moment allow the difficulties of the situation to pound him, but at once produced a structural narrative of what must have been the subject matter of the secret interview. We learn from his inspired guesses that Sir H. went to Dunedin to endeavor to induce Sir K, to re-enter politics and take the Premiership, so that Sir H. would be at liberty to scamper off to England and take over the AgentGeneralship, which, it is assumed, is shortly to be in tho markot. Hero is a nice little plot revealed by the astute editor of the Post of two'rival political leaders squaring matters quietly in Dunedm and dividing the spoil, instead of flying at each other's throats ■ aa political opponents ought to do. The Editor of the Post deserves great credit for discovering what -a pair of political scamps Sir H, and Sir R. must be to make such secret arrangements for their own immediate advantage. Thoro is, however, another aspect of the question, and that is the possibility of the Post being mistaken as to tho particular topic of conversation indulgedin by the pair of knights in the city of the South. We believe there is some uncertainty as to whether Sir Billon Bell means after all to resign the Agent Generalship, and if this be the case Sir Ijarry Atkinson is not such a fool as to be offering tho Premiership to Sir Robert Stout in order to take a billet for himself that is not yet in the market. It is possible that Sir H, was conversing with Sir E. about the Licensing Act, a subject now being mooted in Dunedin, or ho may simply have been discussing the unemployed question, which is now a difficulty in that ilk,' or they might have been talking about old times, or "chatting about the girls.' In the thence of any lead on the subject of discussion from any authoritative source, one supposition is just as good as another. Given the range of subr jects which a couple of middle-aged gentlemen will talk about when they meet, and it will be quite possible to divine what took place in tho interview. Our Wellington contemporary will have the whole thing to be a sort of mysterious plot, but probably in ft day or two we shall discover from our Dunedin files that the meeting was not a preconcerted conspiracy, but merely a casual interview of no political significance.- •

MrS, Mawley of Ditton, warns persons against trespassing on his property. The annual statutory meeting of ratepayers of the Whareama Road District will be held on Saturday, May sth. Messrs Lowes and lorns hold an important sale of boiling down plant at their rooui3 next Saturday,ln the estate of J. Wilson. Archibald Forbes continues in a very bad state of health and lilce R. A. Proctor, now lives almost entirely in America.

The next outward English mail via San Francisco, closes on Saturday noxt, 21st April,

Wo liear that there is alroady quite £l5O subscribed on the list of those prepared to contribute towards coal prospecting at Fernridge. Wo do not know whether the present showers have extended to tho coast, but previously there had been many complaints from Whareama and the back country of the long existing drought, there not even being enough water on some stations for sheep-dipping purposes, A hungry but humane traveller lately ate up the whole of the provisions at a, railway refreshment room, and as he walked away lie triumphantly exclaimed, "Now, at all events, the next man that comes will get something fresh!" The Christcliurch Telegraph says that in the part of tho Stoko district visited by the hailstorm at harvest time the wheat crops are only threshing out from 3£ to 8 bushels per acre. Oats cut before the storm are returning 25 bushels. The riiikin? season was successfully opened on Saturday in the Masterton Theatre, there being a good attendance of ladies in the afternoon and a fair number present ill the evening considering the short notice given. The Rink ia open every Monday and Saturday in the afternoon and evening, Anton Rubinstein's daughter is going to be, married, directly in Moscow, The great man's wedding present consists of an elegant carved cabinet, containing 2000 tickets, each one of which represents a free piano lesson, which papa means to givo to their first child, when the little cliorub appears. An important notice to horse-owners and the public generally, from Messrs Townsend and Cowper, saddlers, appears in our present isjue. We understand that the ordinary railway time-table will come into force during the present week, thus enabling the evening train to reach Masterton at 7.45 p,m,, instead of 9,30, as at present, The Masterton Football Club turned up well at Saturday's practice. Sides were picked by Messrs C. Perry and F. Pelliug, and after some well-contested play, tho former's side won by three tries to one. Tho play was good oil both sides considering it was so early in the season, and several new players exhibited good form,

A successful sportsman has kindly forwarded us some line wood pigeons. He shot twenty birds during the day, and at no very great distance from Masterton. We were inclined to ascertain the exact locality so that we could give the editorial gun a day out. but we feared encroaching beyond generosity's limits, so weforebore. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company alone employ 1000 hands, and their wages sheet amounts up to £fi,ooo fortnightly, They have at work thirteen

steam engines of various capacity, three smelting furnaces, with five others nearly completed, and scores of horses and bullocks,

The reported eruption at the Bay ol Islands proves a complete mistake, II

turns out that a bush fire ignited an inflammable stratum impregnated with hydro-carbon gas, and a chalky ash lias been gently ejtcted by thejforco of gas or steam, The deposits, which are extensive, are said to be of great commercial value.

A gentleman from Noradjuha writing to the Argus says a number of cats were let loose in the Mallee Scrub around that distiict, under the impression that they would wipe out the rabbits in next to no time. What was the result? Why shortly after the cats and rabbits were living in happy families in the eamo burrows rearing up a progeny of hybrids having the worst qualities of both animals, They are carnivorous, like cats, and graminivorous, lilco rabbits, and will eat anything from grass to a rooster. Mr H, Kimber, a Canterbury angler, lias according to a record published m the Oliristchurch Press landed altogether during the present season 126 fish weighing 7381b5, or an average of 51bs 13ozs, Tho best week's work yielded 991bs, while 5 fish, scaling <M|lbs, represented the most successful day or rather night. Tho heaviest fish replied 151bs, while tho next ten aggregated 1331b5, These fish were caught in the Jjower Selwyn, and wore with one exception taken from less than two miles of water. The proverbial fickleness of tho fair sex breaks out occasionally, as the following telegram from the Dunedin correspondent of the Evening Press will show: "Whenthe s.s Tainui came into the port a local medico went on board to meet a young lady who was coming out to be married to him, <uid met her lcauing on the arm of her husband, A oabl o ■from Hobart had been sent to him to warn him that she was married, but such fickleness seemed to him impossible, and he concluded the cable had been altered in transmission."

The rabbit question cropped up in the House of Commons a few days back in reference to British Columbia, Somebody has been importing the pest into that colony, no doubt, as was dono in the early days of New Zealand, with a view to; sport. Sir Henry Holland, in ipiswer to a question, said thatflie Colonial QBice had received nq information of tj>e fact, but that in any cage it lay with the Government of British Columbia to tako steps to remedy any evil that might occur, The Resident Magistrate this morning, in remarking upon the cases for breach ot the Weights and Measures Act, expressed his surprise that people did not mora generally take their weights and appliances to tho Inspector, and have them stamped as correct. He mentioned that as the fees were only a few pence, the guarantee of absolute accuracy was well \yorth the expenditure, apart from anything else. Of course, in the instance of persons who q,re dealing jij saleifblo commodities, neglect of action iri this respect, renders them liable to heavy penalties. The Bench also paid a welldeserved tribute to Con BfcableSalmon's zeal as Inspector of weights and measures. This officer has, on several occasions, displayed creditable activity and energy in taking steps which would tend to make an improvement in matters affecting the interests of the public, and although, as Mr Vol) Siurmgr said; hjs present cases were not by any nieaiia serious ones,'they showed that he was at least looking after his work in a way which could not but have good results.

A writ for LSOO lias been issued apainst the Whareama Road Board by Mr W T'L Trayers, at the instance of Mr E, E Meredith, for "damage 'alleged tp haye been sustained through the defendant Board entering upon his land in connection with the Mangapui deviation liue of road, without fencing, etc,

Mr W, Mace lias allowed hia scat to lapse, and Messrs J Morrison, E Meredith, and R R Meredith retire from the Whareama Road Board. Elections {or members to fill, the vacancies thus caused will, if necessary, bo held on dates as notified in our advertising columns.

The election of two wardens to succeed Messrs Johnston and Dagg (who are eligible for re-election) in No 2 ward of the Mastertori Road District takes place on Thursday, 3rd May, The following resolution was among

those passed at the Wairarapa Rugby Football Union's meeting last Friday:— "That no member of an associated club be allowed to play in a cap match whilst he is a defaulter to any olub in the Union."

We notico by an announcement in our advertising columns that Mr fl. T. Reos, who is well and favourably known in this district, has started in business bb bootand BhoemalierinpremisesoppositetheEmpu'e' Hotel, where lie solicits a fair share of patronage from his friends and the general public, Mr John Riley, who lives at Mrs Doughty'sin Cluuch Street, met with a serious accident atKurupuni this morning. He was doing some work for Mr R. McKenzio and while catching a horse, got in the rear of the animal, and was kicked in the face. The sufferer was

taken to Dr Beard, who sewed up the wound. He was then cenveyed to Mrs Doughty's and when we enquired this afternoon was still in a semi-unconscious state. The kick was a severe one, and the unfortunate man's chin and neck were badly hurt, two of histeoth being lost besides other injury,

Maine news,—Dr. Soule's American Hop Bitters, which are advertised in our columns, are a sure cure for ague, biliousness and kidney compaints. Those who use them say they cannot bo too highly recommended. Those afflicted should give them a fair trial, and will become thereby enthusiastic in the praise of their curative qualities.—" Portland Argus,' Surewmess & Ability,-Dr. Soule's American Hop Bitters so freely advertised m all the papers, secular and religious, are having a laree sale, and are supplanting all other medicines. There is no denying the virtues of the Hop plant, and the proprietors of these Bitters have shown great shrewdness and ability in compounding a Bitters, whose virtues are so palpable to every one's observation.—' Examiner and Chronicle.'

Tho "beautiful anil puro" silk, announced by us as the latest outcome of the manu-

facturing skill and ingenuity of Messrs Bonnet ot Cio, seems to have aroused some amount of curiosity and excitement; and no wonder, when added to its luctrous richness there is the inestimable guarantee of durability. Those ladies who have not yet inspected them should do so without delay, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Like tho silks our grandmothers and great grandmothers used to wear are these for durability, when a dress would'outlast the life of many a sturdy dame of high degree: and such also is the special characteristic of some other choice silk fabrics which wo wish to bring under the particular notice of the ladies of Wellington, at To Aro House, Wellington, We _ are now showing some lovely and charming shot silks with handsome broch6 to match in the following shades:—Moss green with red, brown with gold and ruby, gold with grey, grey with white, bronze with grey, saphirc with golden brown, burgundy with myrtle, Ac. All these are in 20-yard lengths, and considering their suberb quality are extraordinarily cheap at £7 18s Gd each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. We have also a grand choice of real Irish poplins in tobac, golden brown mode, French grey, slate, navy, with a few pretty and attractive stripes in black and cardinal, navy blue, These are in full dress lengths of 18 yavds, and are now being offered for £5 17s Gil each, at the Wholesale l'amily Drapery Warehouse, To Aro House, Wellington,Advt,