The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1888. THE RABBIT PEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2972, 9 August 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1888. THE RABBIT PEST.

A joist Committee of both Houses has just reported on the Rabbit Pest, and we regret to learn that during tho past year the number of rabbit skins exported exceeded tho previous years return by no less that four millions, theitotal output having exceeded twelve millions. In the colony as a whole the rabbit Department has utterly failed in the task assigned to it, the Wairarapa District and one other district down south being brilliant exceptions to the long list of failures. Of course there are some rough and sterile parts of Iho Colony where it is impossible at any reasonable cost to exterminate the pest but putting these places on one side it is very evident (hut the stock department of the colony lias been incompetent lo deal with the serious responsibilily which have devolved upon it. In this district we have bad the most ludicrous instances brought under our notice of maladministration, At ono tiino everybody, excepting a certain Inspector in charge, knew that scab was rampant in Wairarapa North, and when the fact was brought home (o tho Ministry by a surgical operation it was deemed necessary for political reasons to find another district for a man whose unfitness for olllce had been absolutely demonstrated, Can we wonder that a joint Parliamentary Committee) of practical landowners find that the administration of tho Sheep Department has been bad,and that of the Babbit Department has been worse, The rabbit problem yet remains to be solved and some hopes appear to be entertained of assistance from the Pasteur experiments, but a well-organised and well equipped Babbit Department ought practically to keep ihepestdown at a-modernle cost, The incompetence of the past administration must cost the Colony an enormous sum of money, a sum which, in the present condition of New Zealand, can ill be afforded. If twelve millions represent the numbei'of rabbits that were killed and skinned last year it is probable that the number now at largo exceeds a hundred millions. If anyone tried to calculate the amount of food which a hundred millions of rabbits will consume in one year ho will find the quantity sufficient to freight all the railway trucks in the colony, It will take several [hundred thousand acres of land to maintain such a host, and the direct loss to the Colony from the rabbit pest must by this time have exceeded a million of money. It is, therefore, a necessity that ti stop should be put to bungling and blundering in a department where snch large interests are at stake. It is a pity that tho stock department of New Zealand cannot bo placed under the charge of a minister who is. a practical settler. Unfortunately, in Colonial Cabinets there is little or no demand for men possessing tho knowledge and experience requisite for efficiently administering the pastoral and agricultural interests of the Colony. The man who i 3 wanted for portfolios is "the man with the iron jaw." Perhaps.the time may yet come when .colonists of the risht stamp will administer our affairs, but we cannot expect a consummation of this kind under the leadership of Sir Harry Atkinson any. more than we could have looked for.it under the leadership of Sir Robert Stout, ,

Messrs Lowgs & lonia announce a sale of a consignment of Fruit irod .OnMiMnr tal Treeafrom Nolson for Sdtbrday next.

We publish'in another column the scale of fees adopted by the Eketahuna Cemetery Trustees.

Tho widow of Goneral Sheridan of-the United States Ariuy, who recently died, has been granted ut. pension. by the Government.

Mr F. Hi Wood adds to his Taratah stock salo one hundred head mixed oattle, suitably drafted.

The Christchurch Gas Corapany- announced yesterday a reduction iu the price of gas to 7a fid per 1000 feet.

Tho footballViatcli between tho English team and and the Sydney Grammar School resulted in a draw after a splendidly contested game. Each side scored twopoints, " ' '

' The Auckland Financial lteform Asao" ciation have telegraphed to Mr Goldie deprecating any farther addition to tho Legislative Council, niore especially of auy former Civil service ofticor or one receiving a pension.

There were about forty members prosent at tlio weekly : practice of the Masterton Philharmonic Society last night including tho orchestra, and a capital practice was held. It was decided'that tho open H.M.S Pinaforo should be produced about the middle of September.

The Great Northern Railway has had soveral local trains fitted with the electric light, one or two of which havo been running for soino time, apparently, with satisfaction, and an oxpress train to Edinburg is being fitted. Tho dynamo is driven fro.ii tho axle, and charges li set of accumulators in tho van under charge of tho guard. At the Invercargill'Polico Court on Monday Georgo Davy and Thomas Popperil wore charged with having an illicit still in their possession at Monziu's Ferry, near Wyndham, Pepporill waa fined £IOO, or in dofault ordered to uudeigo six months imprisonment. Davey was discharged, The plant was forfeited. A poll of thoOnehunua ratepayers last Saturday, on the Council's proposal to borrow £SOOO additional to complete the waterworks, resulted in its rojection, not sufficient voters recording their votes. This is the third time the vote has failed. - It is expected that tho Mayor and several Councillors will resign in coiisequonco.

Our Londou advices state that owing to recent heavy rains the low-lying lands and tenements round tho city are submerged dy floods. Traffic on the railways has been blocked. Great distress prevails in many quarters. Hundreds of animals havo been drowned, and several largo breweries flooded out, Subscriptions are now belli" raised for tho relief of the sufferers. The weather has now cleared.

A correspondent writes:—"lroad in an American paper not long ago that a pretty girl in a White Mountain hotel is now the wife of ono of tho first men in the State, Tho gentleman was first attracted by her pretty face, and next by her capacity for feeding him. Girls who want husbands should remember this,

When you find a hungry man sot good food before him, and nine chances to ten he will be lovingly inclined at tho end of the dinner."

Mr A. B. Jackson, who is woll-known ill tho Wairarapa, and who lias for some yonrs i>ast been in business at Woodvillo, Danevirke, and tho Wairarapa, has secured the lease of tho Commercial Hotel, Wellington, and invites his Wai* rarapa friends and the public generally to pay him a visit. Mr Jackson has been oxtreincly popular in his past career and we havo no doubt but that he will not be foiqotten by visitors to the Empire City. The Wairakafa Daily will be regularly filed, and patrons will be afforded evory accommodation.

Tho first annual meeting of the Now Zealand Industrial Protection Assccia'ion was held in Wellington on Tuesday. The following are the objects of tho proposed Leasrao:—(l) Tho support and election of municipal and Parliamentary repre aentatives pledged to secure efiicient Protection to all classes of producers in Now Zealand in'such n manner as shall from tiino to time bo determined by the 'League, and (2) to watch tho action in Parliament in reference to all questions affecting tho industrial progress of the peoplo of this Colony. Tho Havolock correspondent of a Blenheim paper, writing on Monday, says:—Tlioro is no news of importance from tho Mahakipawa goldfidd, but there is a continual stream of new arrivals daily. About 20 camo over in the steamer Waitapu from Nelson on Friday, 'and 1 hoar from authentic sources that a ijreat many aro now walking from Oamaru and the West Coast, 'l'heie cannot bo fewer tlwn 500 men on tlio field, tho entrance to tho Valley being quite a canvas town, for there are 50 touts pitched in that locality. Tho township ran quito out of provisions last Saturday, so a number of the minors had to come to Havelock to replenish the bread-basket. Smith's boats were crammed full this morninp, taking them, back. Moat of tho minors aro working' in the right-hand branch, and there arethere aro threo or four good-sized creeks emptying into the main ono without a digaer in-them which have never been prospected, as ovorvouolikos to get near the spot where gold has been obtained. As more peoplo arrive they must spread out and then we shall probably hear of now finds.

Tho Wairarapa Poultry Show, whioh opened to-day, promises to surpass anything that has gone before it for quality and number of exhibits, Wo intend to hold over our report of it until to-morrow, when wo will publish a full account, togethor with the list of suocoss. ful competitors. Tho Committee started last eveniiif with a stroiis; staff of assistants to arrange the tables and fit up the coops for various exhibits, l'hore is a marked improvement m the arrangements of the latter this year. Instead' of exhibitors, providing, their. own coop 3, which at former Shows were of all shapes and sizes, Mr 0. Anketoll has designed and made for each table a continuous coop, subdivided into equal aud uniform sections, covered on top and in front with wire netting, which in addition to other adyantiiges gives better light and ventilation to tho birds. Half a dozen counters running the full length of the building are completely tnken up with exhibits and tho front of the stage has also had to be utilized. The poultry, a3 a matter of course, is the main feature of tho Show, and it is astonishing how such a splendid collection of this section of the feathered tpibe could bo got together iu tho district. The entries iu pigeons are small, and there ato only a limited number of singing birds shown, but what there aro of the latter class are very well worth exhibiting. Eggs, incubators, aud all the other etceteras in ■gonuegtiqu with g Poultry Show help to mako up the attractions, and no doubt the exhibition will be visited by hundred's of people today and to-morrow, The Committee, with the übiquitous. Secretary, deserve every praise for the way in whloh they have fixed everything for tho convenience of exhibitors and tlip'; visitors generally,.

A fatal accident occurred at Whangaroi j OB Tuesday uidmiDg. A resident, jjrs 0. | Courtney,' while'druwine; some water, fell into the wellnnd was drowned. Mr James 0. Clendori, R.M., who has been for many .years in charge .of the Whangarei district, is to take up his abode as Besident Magistrate at Auckland. Tenders are invited for the formation of one hundred and two chains of horse track. Plaiiß and specifications can be seen at the office of Mr A, J, Eawsoti. Messrs Lowes & lorns have received instructions to sell a 'argo consignment of Japanese goods, date of sale and full particulars •of which will appear in a future issue.

At a meeting of the Wairarapa Pou'try Show Committee last eveniny it was decided that the cup presented by the President, Mr H. H. Beethain should be given for tho greatest nuuibor of poiute in poultry, to be won twico in succession orthree times at intervals.

Several bridges in the Geraldine County including one which cost : about |£U,OOO have been reported unsafe by tlio.county engineer, The Council has no funds in hand to repair them, and it was rosolved, owing to the existing depression, to close them ,if -this is necessary to save them from liability for accidents, rather than strike a county rate. A curious insect, a sort of cross between a grass-hopper and a kangaroo, has been received by Mr - B. Brown, tho curator of, tho Maaterton Museum,- It was caught at Dalefiold and was sent to the mUsuemby MrG. H. Shiite. Its length over all is ten inches, the body being but an inch and a half longi and ahalf inch thick. It has six legs, the two hind ones being five inohes long, shaped liko a grassh'opijers, and covered with prickles. Its color is a dark brown. It is rarely to bo found here, but the sender saw one of the same species sevoral years ago,' A'special meeting of the Auckland Chambor of Commerce was held yesterday when the following resolution was passed: " That this Chamber, having considered the various mail routes from New Zealand to London, is convinced that the one via San Francisco is financially tho most economical and performed in the shortest time; that this service is the most useful to tho Colony as a wnolo, and it should not be discontinued except for one which would'still further shorten tho time Of transit,"

Drs Miltio and Buskin? visited John Hopwood, ( tho poor fellow who was broughtdoivnfrom Eketahuna yestcrdayi and after dressing his injured limbs loft him as confortablo as could bo expected. Tho right leg is broken in two below the knee and tho right ancle and instep is injured, The lo r t knee cap is smashed and the bones splintered. • Wo are glad to loam that amputation is not considered necessary. Tho patient expressed deep gratitude to tho surgeons for their attentions to him.

Tho Government havo received the following cable message from Sir James Hector (at Melbourne) in roply to inquiries as to tho truth of the reilectioua upon iho representation of tho Melbourne Exhibition of Now Zealand Mining Productsßeport emanated from speculator hero, Minerals not yet fully displayed. Will have complete representation. General opinion very favorable. Letter posted." This is a virtual denial of the statements mado by tho Now Zealand Herald's correspondent, and subsequently published in theso columns,— Now Zealand Times.

. Naval manoeuvres by vossolsof tho •Bvitish navy havo takon place on tho western coast of Scotland. During the operations,' Admiral Tryon, in commaud of H.M.S, Calypso, managed to elude the defending ship, H.M.S, Blackadder, and captured tho town of Oban, Tho torpedo gunboat Spider, another of tho attacking squadron, bombarded Greenock and Campbelltown. Tho coinmandor of tho Spider claims that tho tactics would have resulted in tne destruction of the slnppin? at .those ports. In ojnnection with tho naval manceuvroson tho Western coast of Scotland, tho attacking squadron under Adliiiral Tryon raised tho blockado and his cruisers are now engaged in harrassing merchantmen off tho coast. Wo have received from Mr It. M Mdlorhis fifteenth annual review and stock and station report of tho Ilawkos Buy district. Referring to station properties he BuysNotnithsiandin? tho present healthy prospects for tho future thero has been very little business done in proporticj, and that of a compulsory nature, although, frmn tho financial reason already stated, i.e., tho extremo stringency of the Banks, many holders would be compelled to sell if opportunity offered, at rates ruinous to themselves, a more liberal yet a safe policy ■ would .enablo thoso mon* who havo beon so successful in bringing our rich fom landß into grass and improving their flocks to tlio marked extent as shown by tho great increase in export, to receive somo reward for their skill, energy and pluck.. Advertising Cheats.—lt has becomo so common to write tho beginning of an elegant, interesting article, and then run it into some advertisement, that wo avoid all such cheats/ and simply call attention to the merits of Dr. Soulo'a American Hop Bitters in as plain honest terms as possible, to induce people to givo them ono trial, as no ono who knows their value will over use anything else, "Providence Advertiser."

A Losino Joke— A prominent physician of Pittsburg said jokingly to a lady patient who was complaining of her continued ill-health, and of his inability to curij her, " Try Dr Soule's Amorican Hop Bitters!" The lady took it in earnest, and used the Bitters, from which sho obtained permanent health, She now laughs at the dootor for his joke, but he iii not so well pleased with it, as it cost him a good patient, "Harrisbum Patriot,"

Otm tailoring tho "Talk of tho Town," Why J Jio.'auao ws have an experienced and arctic Cutter, a man who has eyes iu his head, thoughts in his brain, skill to his very linger tips, who can tell at a glance what will become you, and koow to a certainty how to fit you, so that all garments shall sit on ypuas apirt of yourself, Hundreds have proved this, and numbers are doing so every day, Try (or Yourself at To Aro Home. ' Why? Bocauso our staff of Tailors istliorotighly competent, and consequently the work we put into all garments is of tho best description, leaving, nothing to be desired, Dec uso we always have the best men to bo found whether for Coat Vest or i'rouser making, Because out object is always to produce Excellence of Manufacture. Try for yourself at To Aro Houso, Why JBcoauso our stock of materials is always largo and well selected, Wo buy directly from the manufacturer, both Home and Colonial. We bay at tho lowest cost, We save tho profits of the Warehouses, and our customers get all this additional benefit. We say this advisedly, and our patrons corroborate it. Do not, however, take our word, but try for yourself at Te Aro House. Patterns of materials with prices for garments, also chart ! or measurement, forwarded pqst free, on spplipationtD Jamp To Aro Bouse, Wellington,. •