The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1889. The Present Session.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3289, 22 August 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1889. The Present Session.

We are afraid that when the present session of Parliament is over and the work that has been done and left undone is carefully analyzed , the verdict will have to be like many verdicts that have gone before it under similar circumstances, namely, that very little useful work has been done, Ministers and private members alike will have to confess to themselves that they have left undone a great many things that they ought to have dono. We do ' not think that Ministers aro so much to blame for this as might at first sight appear. £o far as the Session has gone they have probably made a fair average, though a goodly number of measures that are required by tho country still require to be passed through their filial stages, while others—some of them of the greatest importance—aro certain to be abandoned. Thoy have also been greatly hampered by an irregular opposition, which was most vexatious because it never had a leader under whom tho different sections could gather their forces. It appears to us, however, that our present lawmaking machinery is worked upon a very clumsy principle. When a sensible man has several things to do he takes them one at a time, and does not do them piecemeal. So also, when local bodies meet for business, they take the business seriatim and dispose of each item as it appears on the Order Paper, or advance it as far as possible before its .consideration is adjourned. Parliament, in its wisdom, does these things differently. A s soon as a Session has been formally oponed, quite a heap of Bills is introduced and read a first time, Then there are some second readings, intermingled with some more introduction*, aml when s ° me . f J e measures have Hjj o^ B committco stage, there are stin Z? re first and second readings. And all ' this is repeated when a few of the | least important Bills have reached the third reading. Then, when , everybody has got tired of the ] session, it is found that the number I of measures introduced is about fifty < per cent larger than can be disposed of ' in reasonable time, and Ministers take the Order Paper in hand, strike out ( those of their own which are likely j to prove tronblesome—generally i without reference to their im- 1 portance—and starve out those « of private members which do not suit ' them by putting them so low down 8 that they are out of reach, at the l same time seriously curtailing. the j time allowed, to private members, ( By pursuing this course, which must c

certainly appear-a very senseless one oven to members themselves, as about half the session is generally wasted, for a measuro that is dropped during one session is never taken up at the partiovlar stage 'which it had readied during the succeeding one, but everything is tugun ik now, No one will have the hardihood to argue that this is not a waste of time, and of money that would, perhaps, be sufficient to form a hundred miles of roads. Now Zealand has had responsible Government ior a good many years, and the leaders of parties should by this time be able to judge pretty fairly what amount of business could be disposed of during a session. There should be no more difficulty in deciding which are tho most important measures at the beginning of a session than at the rcguhrly recurring slaughter of the innocents at the end of it. We are, of collide, aware that the object in introducing a number of Bills before tho llou"s3 nt one time is to give members every opportunity to consider ihem and to grasp their details. But is that purposo attained ? We think not. A member who could master one measure in a' day is not very likely to absorb the details of twenty and keep them all in his head, or even in useful notes, for three weeks. The fact is that the present custom of flooding the Order Paper wants some sort of check, Ministers arc tho greatest offenders in this dirtction, though they should be the first to see that the time of Parliament and the money of the country are not wasted in such a scandalous fashion year after year.

In our yesterday's issue we published a telegram to the effect that a trial had just taken place at Feilding of a new process of preserving butter. The message is somewhat vague, but we gather from it that butter had been preserved by tho new process for twelve months, and that it was then found to be perfectly sweet, and also that all that is necessary to do is to create a vacuum in the vessel in which the butter is packed. We are not very suro whether the process of tinning, which has been in vogue for some years,does not answer the same purpose, We have yet to learn whether butter preserved by the Feilding process will stand a trip through the tropics in tho ordinary hold of a ship. If it is an improvement on all previously known principles, and tho space required for the vacuum does, not make the transport expensive, the invention should bo a valuable one, for tho export of butter from New Zealand has ouly been partially successful, some parcels bringing high prices, while others scarcely paid expenses of transport and salo. Wo look forward to full particulars of the invention with interest, and trust it will prove to be as valuable as the experimenters appear to believe, becauso it would materially increase the quantity and value of butter exported from the colony.

A good deal of opprobrium appears to have been cast upon Mr Joyce because he has asked the Government to consider the propriety of issuing a circular to civil servants forbidding them the practice of outdoor photography for gain, There are, however, two sides to tho question, A civil servant is supposed to receive a salary sufficient to keep him, and it would, therefore, be not a little unfair if he were to be allowed to enter into competition with a tradesman or business man who is not backed by a Government subsidy, Asa matter of principle he js entitled to dp what ho likes during his leisure hours, but the fairness of his entering into competition with people who have to make a living as host they can may well be doubted,

Mrs 0, Anketoll, musio teacher, notifies that she has removed to the residon ;e next Mr W. Francis' Queon-rtreet, Masterton.

The Newman Special Settlement is growing rapidly, The settlers are now agitating for a Public Hall and a School, " Go ahead Newman 1"

A meeting of sympathisers with the object of the Irish Delegates who are now visiting the Colonies will bo hold in the Temperance Hall to-night, beginning at 8 o'clock, tlie chair will bo taken by Mr A W. Renal), It appears that a Native Interpreters' Association is being formed. As the Native raco.out of which tho interpreters mako their living, is supposed to be dying out, it is to be presumed that this step is being taken for tho purpose of self-preservation. Following up Monday's seizure of cigars.Mossrs Itoso and Shannon visited a large wholesalo establishment yesterday morning at Christchurcb.aa indicated by the tobacconist whose goods wero seized. The result was that ten largo and twenty small boxes of cigars wero seized bearing no customs mark. Farmers and gardeners should be interested in perusing a new advertisement from Messrs H. C, Gibbons & Co, seed merchants, whoso warehouse is located at 159, Lambton (Jiiay, Wellington, The firm enumerates a largo variety ofsc.d thit should bo found useful at time of the year. A paper was read at the annual meeting of the Victoria Institute, Adelphi Terrace, London, on July Ist, by Professor Saycc on tho discovery of traces of a library in Assyria, 3500 years old. The "volumes' 1 consisted of small tablets of laked clay, and thero is evidence that tins library was the outcome, and,in the end the centre, of widespread literary intercourse. Excayations aro to bomado on the spot, and it is possible that valuable discoveries may be made, The Auckland Bootmakers Union have notified Messrs McArthur & (!o. that members will ceaso to work with tho man Strong, who is said to be an objectionable member. On the othor side it is said that the cause ol tho trouble is the replacement of Mr Ithodes, secretary of tho local union by Mr Fowko from Dunedin, as foreman clicker at MoArthur's,

London papers contain accounts of the suicide of Lewis, an ex-New Zealander who had been defrauded of his raonoy by a scoundrel named Humphreys, The Otaso Daily Times says Lewis somo years ago was eraployed'as a clerk in the goods oitico at Dunedin in 1883, Be was transferred to the Waimea Plains Eailway when the Government took over the line and was appointed stationmaster at Riversdale. On leaving the, service ho entered the employment of MrLeary. and was aftonvimls. in the commercial department of the Times till ho left for Home last November. Mr Mills, ex-collector of Customs, is "dioiting subscriptions to enable the ov ,-j , '■•''"" an action against those widow to 0n.., •• - i>nsband who defrauded her Into ~^

Messrs Lowes & lortis auuunnco their next stock b:i!o for Wednesday Augubt 28tli, enfciiei for which appear in our advertising columus.

Tho first edition of Bider Haggard; "Cleopatra' recently published numbered 10,000, mid was euld out in throe days, Major-General Edwards Ims telej'Mphcd to the Government that he will not now ho ablo to inspect the forces of New Zealand. The meetin? of tho Mo'tahuna Debating Society is postponed until next Tuesday, on account of the School concert. , ; A plain and'fancy dress ball .will be given in tho Eketahuna Town Hall on Friday next. It will bo the bigyest thing of the 6eason in the Forty Mile Bush. Tho Palliate Football Club have accepted the challenge of tho Woudvi'le Football Club to play at Woodville on Saturday next. Dowsetfcand.Atkiueon, the _ Uketahuna " cracks," play for Paliiatua, • Mr l'oldwick is apparently afraid that the English capitalists who were deluded into the Midland Railway scheme are likely to Jiavo their eyes opened as to quality of the land which has boengranted to them by the Government, for in the House lately he alluded to the letter supposed to have been written by a member of the Ministry stating that the laud is worthless. Tho Premier took pretty ground in replying, and said whatever had !>een written was tho truth J, ftandall Brown, a ir.ind-reader,' who claims that ho taught Washington Irving Bishop, is astonishing the people of New York with his success in some wonderful tests—ono beim; the reading of the thoughts of a person at a distance by the simple placing of one end of a wire to the forehead of the mind-reader and the other end to tho forehead of lum who is making the test. Tho annual ball of the Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade was hold at the Theatro Royal on Wednesday. The walls and ceiling had been nicely decorated with flags and evergreens and presented a vory pleasing appearaneo. Thoro was a large attendance on tho floor, the gallery belns also well patronised. Music was supplied by Mr Keisenborg's string band, and refreshments of all descriptions wero abundantly provided by tho ladies of Mastorton.

There is a place ot worship in this district were tho authorities provide small envelopes for thoso members ot the congregation who prefer to put their contributions on tho plate without having them inspected by their neighbors, aud it has generally beon found that the enclosures ivero of a very satisfactory nature There is also a very devout young man who provided himself with a number of these onveiopes.and tho bashfulness with which he asked for them raised him to a high position in the opinion of the fathers of tho congregation. Probably nothingfurther would have been known as tu tho reasons lor his bashfuliießS had tho young man not also been so conscientious as to write his naiho in overy ono of the envelopes. By this moans it was discovered by tho person whoso duty it was to open tliem tliat for a long string of Sundays he had never missed contributim'—a penuv. . A somewhat interesting case is likely to occupy tho attention of the B.M, shortly, Jt appears (says tho Pahiatua Star), that a certain young man obtained permission from tho father of a family to pay his respects to tho daughter (or aunt or grandmother, .we aro not quite suro which). The courting has been going on for some time now, and a larce number of meals have beon consumed, by the ardent lover whilst engaged in '{he pleasing occupation. Jn the meantime tho lover performed work at bushfolling lor the head of tho family to the tune of about £5, Tho courting proceeded, and meals were still cousumed. Ey-and-by tho gay young lover sent in his account to the eaid head of the family for tho £5; but lo and behold, a contra account was immediately produced for meals, Ac, Tho courting is now suspended. What the Magistrate will think of the eases whan' they come before l|jm. "a should not lilco to say, but thero should be somo fun over the affair.

A meeting of the general committee of the Mastcrton Agricultural Association waß l)e.ld ii) the Ulub Hotel on Wednesday, The President, Mr W. Lowes, was in the chair. The prograniuo was drafted, and the Sooretary instructed to Iwvo ft preliminary programme printed. The President said that it gavohim great pleasure to be able to stato that the special prizo list exceeded the amount collected in any previous year byM! 12s 6d, and that it would be still further increased, ns a number of gentlemen hud promised to «ivo prizes, The names of the gentlemen who could act as juilgi'B at tho Palmeraton Show was considered, and the Secretary was instructed to communicate with tjiem. The Committee passed a resolution that in riding horses there should ho threo classos vi«, ten, twelve, and fifteen stone.

The Paris correspondent of tho Sydney Morning Herald says;— The immense mischief which, thanks to the insensate destruction of small birds, is now being dune to fields and gardens by snails, slugs, caterpillars, and other vermin, may not improbably bo complicated with an invasion of locusts, these terrible pests having crossed the Mediterranean, shown themselves in Spain, and made their appearance in the South-weßt of Franc?. In Algeria, where they devour every blade and leaf, causing, whenever they appear, a loss of many millions sterling, tho peasants, reinforced by the troops, are doing their utmost to kill them by kindling fires of straw, tho smoke of which is fatal to them. But what ■ can human effort accomplish against a foe t!|at makos its suddon descent In masses presenting a dense front of six miles in length? In concluding a long article upon the superior quality of American made bo'its and shoes, the Boston Commercial News thus refers to an old Masterton resident, With this nrticlo wo wish to particularly call attention of bcipt ant| shoo manufacturers throughout New England to Mr Walter liapp, New England manager, whose ollico and sale room is located at Nos. 79 and 81 Eetlford street, Boston, Mass. Mr Rapp has had many years' practical experience pertaining to this most important branch of industry, he having spent soven years in Australia engaged in selling leather ane buying the raw material. After retnrniuy from Australia to this country, ho went to Enpland in the interest of R. G. Saloman, and was tho first man to introduce a lino (trade of goads in that coimty, Mr ilapp has boon actiyely engaged as general manager for tho New England states for the past three yours, sinco which time he has by honorable dealings built up a trado and reputation second to none, To the entorpriso and energy of this gentleman, tho house owes to a very large extent its continued success, and that reputation .which it enjoys for tlio reliability of itsnuinerous products. As a result ot the highly successful sale which lias jusl terminated, we find,as usual a larnc accumulation of remnants of every description, which we are determined to sell at very low prices for 14 days longer, at Te Aro House, Wellington, In addition to theso, there are some small balances of bargain! in tho various departments, which we also wish to dispose'of during tlio same period, at To Aro House, Wellington. '

The weekly practico'of tho Masterton I'liilkrm'onic Society will bo held this evening.- t ,

A large uonoraisale comes ofl'at Greytown on.Saturday next at Mr F. H. Wood's rooms.

We understand that as soon as the subcommittee liavo secured onough names, a charter will be applied for to authorise the institution of'a Juvenile Tent of Rochabites in Carterton. No tenders having been yet received of tho Dalofield Dairy Company for the purchase of the wasto whey, it is likoly that tho conduct of the pisjgery will devolve upon the Company itself this season.

Proceedings for divorco have boon instituted by Mr T. D. Thompson, of Masterton, on the i-rouud of his wife's adultery with Bundry persons. Mrs Thompson denies tho allegations set forth in the potition, The Dalofield Dairy Company have introduced a wise provision into their system. The Directors reserve a right to inspect the dairies and cows of all milk suppliers," and to refuso the supply of any dairy the condition of which is considered unsatisfactory. Messrs J. Hodder and G, Waterson have >en re-elected Directors of tho Dalofield Dairy Company; and Mr F. \V. R, Seed has been re-elected auditor. Six or seven persons were out at Kokatau on Wednesday searching for the missing child Thompson, ; Thero was again no result. For the next, day or two the water in the vicinity will bo carefully watched, as tho nine or ten days required to make a body buoyant have now almost elapsed. . The mortal remains of the lato Mr T. McLonnan were conveyed to their last resting placo -in the Presbyterian cemetery on Wednesday, the coifin being followed by a largo cortege of mourners and friends. The service was conducted by the Rev D, Fulton,

The Dalefield Dairy Company will most likely in. future ship most of its cheese direct to the English market, the past season's experience having Bhown that hy local salo for tho Australian market they had not realised more than if the originally intenderl policy of homo -shipment had been adhered to. At the annual meeting of the Dalefield Dairy Company held at Carterton last night, aud which was attended by thirtyflvo shareholders, presided over by Mr \\. iiooth, the most important matter ot discussion, after the balance shoot as already re-produced by us, had been passed, was tho irregularity of tho milk supply. Some suppliers contribute only throe or four months in tho season; others again supply intermittently, when it suits them, at times despatching their milk to Wellington instead of sending it to the factory. Tho Directors have decided that tiie last-mentioned practico is to bo absolutely discontinued; and to remedy the evil for next season and to protect those who are regular throughout the whole season, thoy have resolved to mako their progress payments proportionate to tie time instead of paying an even advance of 2d per gallon from boeinning to end. Tito Directors proposo to advance 3d per gallon for milk supplied during September and May ; 2|d for October and April; and 2d for tho remainder of tho season. In addition tho surplus profit will, as usual, be divided proportionate with tho total supply. Any patron sending milk for less than six months wil 1 , however, receive one farthing less than tho others. These rules will, the directors anticipate, do much to remedy irregularity in the future.