The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1889. The Audit Department.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3177, 11 April 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1889. The Audit Department.

The Audit Department is apparently ono of tboso limbs of tho Civil Service which is not ail ornament, and which is only useful when ordinary every-day accounts have to be reviewed. When the officers of a local body are unfovtuimto enough to make an error of a penny in easting up their accounts, it may be taken for granted that tho Department will drop on the weak spot and see that tho figures aro corrected; but beyond that nothing need bo expected of it, though it might reasonably- be assumed that there are other duties the performance of which is of considerable importance, Since the establishment of the now county of Pahiatua, for instance, the Department was asked to adjust the

accounts between the new local body and the parent one of Wairarapa North The subject was duly gone into, and tho following singular document is the result:—" 1, Tlip County of North Wairarapa shall take and hold "all the assets belonging to the said late County and shall pay all the liabilities of tho same except as hereinafter expressly provided. 2, All

arrears of rates outstanding on tli? said 30th day of September shall belong to the County within which the samo were payable. 3. The toll gale and lioflßO at Ngawapunw shall belong to the County of Pahiatua. 4. The County of North Wairarapa shall pay to tho County of Pahiatua the sum of one hundred and ninety two pounds two shillings and live pence. 5, The costs of this enquiry shall lie borne equally by the two Counties." It was, of course, only reasonable to ask for an explanation as to the meaning of the principal clause, and an inquiry was accordingly made by tho Council of the older county. To the

surprise of everybody a reply was received to the effect that the De partment cannot give any explanation of its awards, which must be sufficient in themselves to meet the case. The result is just a trifle awkward for both parties. Tlio Wairarapa North County lias an idea that it has an interest in certain arrears of rates at Pahiatua, and Pahiatua claims that the rates should go into its own treasury. Tho Audit Department comes in with a decision that is a very model of ambignity, for it does not decide which county is entitled to them, but simply says that they shall be the property of the one within which they were payable. As, in the vory nature of the thing, they have not been collected, both parties that are interested

are anxious to know which of them is to have them.' The Department, which has been asked a simple question upon the subject, has given the answer which we have quoted above, whicli is simply useless as it stands, and which it refuses to explain, Tho position of the whole affair is certainly unique, Pahiatua claims L 319 from Wairarapa North, which looks at the accounts from the other side of the ledger, and claims L 66 from Pahiatua. The AuditorCeneral says Wairarapa North owes L 192, but leaves the question as to who is eutitled to tho arrears of rates entirely unsettled. It has generally been said that lawyers are apt to require an interpreter to stand between them and their clients; but the Audit Department has surely succeeded in putting them in the back ground when it refuses to explain its own ambiguity.

Tjie Sheep Inspectors who have been m conference at Wellington report it is undesirable to report or declare in any way that the colony is free from scab until two years from the date of the last clean certificate or destruction of the last infected sheep. Tliey do SP for tlje following reasons : I, of trt?tttcatrog ttab

or of proving its eradication, owing to the rugged and iuaccessiblo naturo of tlifl country, for until such time shall have elapsed it is impossible suoh is free from infection, 2, That the colony haß already been declared clean from the fact tlmt a clean certificate had been issued for the last infected flock, while at the same timo it was well known that suspicious Blieep still remained on a large area of inaccessible country, and it is submitted that a delay of two years is necessary so that the next declaration of the freedom of the colony from scab may ho received with confidence, The conference is still sittiug.

Apprentices and improvers to the ircssmaking are wonted at the Whole-

sale Drapery Company. . The special meeting of the Wairarapa Worth County Council held yesterday, Wednesday, to settlo matters in dispute

botween the Road Board of Mastertou and Whareama ducidediiH tollows That in the opinion of this Committee the Whareama Ruad Board in paying a portion of the claim of the Mustcrton I Board, and by its action generally, sgreed'to tho terms arranged by Messrs Moore and Dngg, and hat therefore come to a settlement of accounts which both Boards must now abide by. Wo regret to hear that tho little daughter of Mr Keedwell, of Groytown, who, it will be remembered, received an

injury while playing at the Groytown school picnic recently, is likely to loso tliuuso of her arm,

A light bay maro iB advertised as lost from Mr 'J', Carawell's, Blairlogie, Finder will be rewarded on returning samo to Mr Carswell's, or to tho owner Mr E. Caselberg, Kurupuui. Tho nominations andiuinual election in connection with tho Whareama Roa-1 Hoard aro announced in anothei column.

The present series of sittings of the R.M. Court in the Wairarapa will probubly be tho last undertaken by I'r H. S. Wardell as Magistiato. Colonel Roberts will commence his Magisterial duties hero immediately atter tho Kaster vacation

One day last week a two-year-old child of Mr J, Stauden, of Gladstone, whilst playing in a paddock with other children, by some means broke its leg just ahovo the knee. Tho little one was brought to Carterton, and under the

care of Dr Boy is doing as well as can be expected. As to ho# the child met with the accident nothing is known, but it is surmised that it had a fall.

A report having been industriously circulated tbat.tho price of admission to tho opera of Maritana had been raised, we aro requested by the management to stato that such is not tho cm With a viow of studying tho comfort of their patrons they have simply abolished the shilling seats, bo chat tho majority will not be ann'iyed by the cat-calling and whistling so greatly indulged in during the intervals by a certain section of the

frequenters of tho pit, Orchard robbers were again at '/ork in tho Masterton district last night. Tho entire apple orchard of Mr John King, C.E., at the rear of his residence, Kurupuni, was last night denuded ol its fruit. The iobhers on this occasion mußt have been a bold and dauntless gang, There is a pi« stye near the orchard and its occupant, a half grown pi?, was evidently disturbed by themarauders, as itssqucals were heard in tho liouso during the night; but as it soon became silent, no particular notico was taken of the occurrence, This morning tho animal was found quite dead lying in a pool nf blond with a deep wound at the back of

the ear as if it had been stuck with a knifo. Such a daring transaction as this demands tho immediateattcntion of the police department, Detcctivoa should at onco be employed to trace out and bring to punishment this daring band of midnight- thieves. This is not the only case that has been brought under our notico recently.

Quite n romantic story comes from America about the projected marriage between Mr Coats, a youthful member of Fuisly cotton manufacturing firm, and Miss Clark, the daughter of those equally well known in tho same business across the Atlantic. It seems that for years# keen and bitter rivalry has existed botween the linns, till it occurred to Mr Coats to send an ambassador t<> America to see whether some friondly compromise could not be arranged. Ivnd it was to such good pnrpuse that tho wedding is expected to take placo in June.— Glasgow Mail. Tho Woodville correspondent of tho Post writes;—Tho untimely death ot Captain Russell by shooting himself has been a great sensation for the time. To see a man one day in his usual health and in unusually high spirits, and the next to see him dead by his own hand, is indeed sentational, hut the high spirits which poor Russoll was in was only an indication to the public and to the jury on the inquest that his mind was not in a normal condition, On the one hand he was making arrangements for investing largely iu property, and on other hand ho was beset with a small difficulty of about £25, which belonged to tho liifle Corps, and which at tho moment he could not lay his hands upon. Between the large negotiations to buy a big property and the magnified difficulty re this paltry £25 (which 20 men in Woodville would have advanced to him had he asked them fur it), it was evident his mind was very much unhinged. That poor Russell was an honest and well meanm? man there could be no doubt, and the muddle ho was in wasf caused byan unbalanced mind. He was taken to his grave amid an asßombhigi o sympathising followers. But it appeared there was one man destined to iguure the grave and unprejudiced enquiries of a Coroner's jury and violate the feelings of an acquiescing people, and this was no other than the Anglican minister, the Rev 0. Dean, who in the most inexplicable manner, after leading tiioso entrusted with Russell's burial to believe that he would bo buried with tho full ritual, left the grave-after ho had said only a few sontenceß of tho service. 'J'he Rev 0, Dean had his conscientious scruples, and in vain it was argued that ho promised to read the full service, but he was inflexible, and, net content with this, ho also refused to allow his book to bo used by a layman who offered to conclude thoservice, and lelttho"round The mourners procured a prayer book, and tho full service was read, That tho verdict of six intelligent men who had thoroughly investigated all the circumstances leading to Russell's death should bo eet aside as worthless by ono man whoßO knowledge ot the case was very inadequate to form an opinion on is indeed a surprise, and one which it is intended to call on the Rev. 0. Deau to explain away.

At a quarter past seven on the evcniuS of February Bth, half an hour before th 0 curtain was to] rise on the pantomime- " Sinbad tho Sailor," at the Aldevshot Theatre Royal, tho scenery in the winys oauEjht firo, The actors were drassing ready for the performance, and a pun.ber of people were seated in the auditorium . Tliey wero told not to bo alarmed, and that all would be right in a few minutes. This prevented a panic, otherwise lpss uf life un?ht have occured, The people loft the theatre quietly, and the doors wore closed. There were no appliances handy to extinguish tho flames which rapidly spread to the body of the theatre. The local Volunteer Fire Brigade was quickly on the spot, and two jets from hydrants were soon playing on the fire. In a few minutes the firo seemed to have gained a stronghold on the building. A steam engine, as soon as water was available, began also to play. Attached to the theatre and and communicating with the interior was a publichouse, called the Victory, and a barmaid in the bar attached to the balcony, who had no time to escapo, jljmped from the first floor windowon to some scenery held be}o\y. She escaped with very plight injuries. In half an hi|ur the whole building wis in f)am'G3, and the rnqf fell ip. By this time some thousands of military a'r)d civilians wero on the 6 i cone,'|jut the mounted police tSwQo'irt Wi M.'fWs,

The Maaterton Park Trustees moet lis afternoon.

The regular monthly.meeting of the Hospital Committee takes place to-day.

Mr J, Coutts Crawford, formerly Bosidcut Magistrate of the City of Wellington, who, , for some years pasthaa been in failing health, died in England on the 9th instant, where he went about a yoar ago to obtain medical advice from tho highest authorities.

Tho newly formed Junior Football Club met last night and deeidodto play a lnntoh on Easter Monday : with the second fifteen of the Carterton Rivals at Carterton,

The annnal meeting of voters in connection with the Masterton Town Lands Trust will take place in the Drill Shed instead of the Temperance Ball as previously advertised, on Monday April 15th, at 7.30 p.m.

A football match will bo played at Greytown between the Wanderers and a team of juniors from Carterton. The following have been chosen to represent tho WandorersFull bacic H. Udy, three-quarter backs W. Smith and L. St, Georgo, half-backs J. Horr.blow, J. Quin, T, Haigh, forwards D. Udy, Dockery, H. Haigh, Maguire, F. Smith, L. Humphries, Percy Cotter, F. Hawke, A, St, George, Emorgencios— Cole, Hawke, A. McMaster.

The Manawatu Times says" We learn on good authority that Government will Bliortlycall for tenders for cutting a bridle track acrosß tho ranges from Palmerston to Pahiatua, and will ultimately form a road through, but will leave the metalling to bo done by tho local bodies. There has been a good deal of surmise as to the reason why Government has had a route across tfie range surveyed, but the explanation is, it appears, that they desire to opon up Cruwn lands from tho Pahiatua side, and have it survoyod with the object of giving ac:ess in that direction, and without regard to any consideration of the road ns a through line of communication betweed the disrticts lyin? on each side.

The Auckland Star has & good story from a Native meeting at Waitangi, At the opening of the great Maori meeting there, a number of Europeans were in attendance. At the time dinner was going on, several gentlemen, eager to pacify hungry stomachs applied at tho door of tbo eating house, when tho native in attendance demanded 2s per hebd; this was freely paid, hut admission just then was refused, on the grounds that the "Government" were at dinner. Tho Government turned out to be Sir F. Wliitaker and a few ladies, The Government dinner over, the anxious and patient "common white trash" prepared tu occupy the seats, when they wore informed it was the turn of tho Bangatinv Maoris to ha?o dinner, The Pakeha's turn had not arrived up. to the

timo the steamer was in readiness to be oil, nor luid they had tlieir shillings returned.

Thore was a large attendance of footballers at the Sydenham Wesleyan schoolroom last evening to hear the football discourse by "Three-quarter back," of tho Weekly Press, Mr E, U. Just occupied tho chair, and lirielly introduced tho speaker. "Tlireo-quarter-back" commenced by sketching tho progress of the Rugby gamu'from its establishment, tracing the alterations made in tho placing of the team, and tho causes of many of the penalties imposed from time to time for breaches of the rules, Taking tho existing rules, he mnutely explained rules 14,18,23, 25, 20, 27, 23, 39, 42, 44, 45,40, and 47. As regarded tho style of play, he strongly recommended a greater use of tho (tut in dribklino and passing, pointing out the very great advantages tu bo derived thorefrora ; to carefully study the hints by Budd and Vassull, and pay great attention to a systematic stylo of training, as tho new rules would have the ellect of making the gimo much faster than hitherto. Tho lecture throughout was given in a manner which made every Bubject touched on clear to all present, and was listened to most eagerly and attentively. At the conclusion «f tho lecture a hearty voto of thanks was accorded to the speaker.— Clu'istcliurch Piess.

Signor Niculitii dofia not sing with his wife (enyg Mia Crawford in the New York Tribune), Ho is her devoted caretaker. He watches tu protect ltor from draughts tho instant she quits the stage watches that she duos nut talk between tho nets alter the ormineis laid on her lips, koops obtrusive borea away, and is attmitivs to nil thoso whom she wishes tn treat as frionds. If her throat is parched he drops water down it, so that tio red paint will be swallowed with it. He sees that the water, which is to wash off tho face pigments is the right heat and over sees the make-up operations; and all this quietly and alfoctionately, and without fuss. If Mdme. Patti wore in tho hands of an old nurse sho could not bo rnoro tender!} used. When her gratitude wells ovor she stands up, takes her husband by tho hand, and lowers her head, the top of which hekissca, the faco not being in a state to be kissed. Ho doos not atriko ono, ho is so unassuming and untlicatrical, as heing tho husband of a star, or a professional tenor.

Lovers of birds beware of parrots and other birds of gay plumage, especially of those which come to us from the fair shores of South America, for it has just been discovered at Marseilles that a cargo of birds has brought over tho germs of yellow fover from tho Bwamps and lagoons of Venezuela and o'lier South American countries. The first to a prey to tho murderous germ woro a couple of lovers and an old lady who had bought somo of the gay plumaged chatterers. M. Pasteur will have to oomo to the rescuo, tor tho dosolation in Frouch norts would be great were' the shrieking parrots to disappear from the streets.

On the morning of 22nd February, (says a Noumeun paper) six convicts, who had escaped from Hastoul prison, took possession of a steam sloon lying in the Bay of Prong, and put "to sea in hor with all despatch. The man-of-war, Loyalty wps sent in pursuit of the fugitives, but returned on Monday molming without having been able to discover any trace of tliein, Whether tho sloop, which was not in very good condition, foundered, or whether they succeeded in directing hor course to Australia, is altogether uncertain.' During the preyious Wednesday night fivo escaped convicts seized a fishing smack anchored oil Point Chofcia, and absconded with her. An alarm was given', and a steam vessel was 6ent- out to explore all the neighboring inlets. The fugitives had run the craft ashore on the Isle ol Geelards, wero well supplied with provisions and fresh wator, and in half-an-honr the state of the tido would havo allowed them to put tn sea; as it was tliey were all oaptured.

Our fancy department is now folly stocked with all ths necessity and fashionable requirements for the present season, at To Aro House, Wellington,

We have opened out an excellent assortment of ladies' umbr lias, in durable silk and satan de Chine, also a specially oheap lot of about 156, nought under usual prices by our Homo buyer, admirably adapted to withstand Wellington zephyrs, nnd as ornamental as usefal, having olegapt stfeks and mountings. Sco them at To Aro House, Wellington, Our imports of kid glove* are of noted, fashionable, and approved makes, comprising Florence, Orient, Marie, and Celice, Oar choice of silk, taffeta, cashmere, and Milauese',silk, with kid tips, is roally superb, and forms one of the chief attractions of the fancy counter, at Te Aro House, Wellington.

0! the favourite and extremely fashionable leather bolts, for ladies' wear, we have a magnificieut supply of all descriptions, We have opened out also a small, but very choice, selection of ladies' baj, in plush, Russian and lizard leather, crocodile, &c., with some very charming things in feather and hand.paintcd fans, at To Aro House, Wellington, _ Our advertisement of other choice goods, on'the first page of this paper, should be oa'rcfully poruspd by the public, qnd more especially by the numersou body of ladies who jnbMto pay an ear]; visit to ft Aa StjWi

Lord and Lady Delameie, who have been on a visit to the Hot Lakes district have left for on their way to China, Japan, and the East.

Alfred Walitor has been acquitted the charge of setting fira to Tikin ul House, Northern Wairoa,: but ho h aß been committed for trial for alleged petjnry at the inqust recently held to ascertain the causo of tho fire.