Correspondence.
THiU RABBIT ACT. TO THE EDITOR, Silt,—We are all aware for what reason the Rabbit Act was placed on the Statute book, and for what reason the Inspectors were appointed under it. It was placed there and the Inspectors given their powers to destroy 100 per cent of tho rabbits, and not from 75 to 95 per cent of, them, Those of us who aro in touch with the rabbits aro also uwnro how signally it has failed. It has failed because it isnn-English, bocauso it is not always free from a suspicion of wire pulling, because it gives despotic power to one man, because it goes agaiust the grain of our constitution in not separating tho legislative from the executive functions, and because it seeks in its profound ignorance to do an impossible thing. Wc are told that power must reside somewhere to put the screw on th»se who will not do their utmost to destroy their rabbits; no one denies th&t, but is that a reason for placing that power in tho hunds of one rabbit owner to exercise against bis fellows. There aro picked men set apart under oar constitution to wield the awful thunderbolt of the law, but this" Coercion Act;" decides that they are not fit instruments to wield the power of a rabbit agent, Is there not grave immorality in the advice that we should befriend the Inspectors) They must uot stoop from their Olympian heights to express to us their opinion. Is thero not danger that we might get at their human side? Somo of us hoped great things from | the now Babbit Board. But what hope is there for all round ropreson. tation with only five members ? And what check on tho erratic actions of the Inspectors, if tho advice of the Stock Committee ! s carried out, and the Inspector is to bo held alone responsible for tho destruction of the rabbits, and to have an " ex-oflicio" seat on the Board, I for one will not support anyone who favors officialism on the Board. If the present Act is to remain in force, why not add a clau3o to enable the Inspectors to bring down firo from Heaven, and consume the rabbits, or the sottlers, as seems best to them. This would consolidate their powers under the Act I But seriously,. sir, I think a system might be worked out which would bo more constitutional, and consequently lebs irritating than the present Act. We are compelled to keep sheep returns, why not compel us to keep rabbit returns also. Have all rabbiters licensed; compel them to keep diaries oi their catches, to ho inspected by the employer and Inspectors on demand. Allow the Inspector to test the accuracy of the catches by means of a biased rabbiter, who may be employed in the neighbourhood of the estate ho wishes to test. Compel those who do not keep rabbiters to keep diaries, No one could object to this who is sincere in his desire to keep down the rabbits, Adopt Mr Mautusell's proposal of a maximum catch—which catch should, of course, vary at differeut.seasons of the year. Yours, etc.,
Henry Eldkk.
INMEMOKIAM. Tho last sad rites in connection with the denlli of AJrs Mncara were carried out on Saturday aftornoon. The services of the Presbyterian Church, of which body deceased had been an active member, wero conducted at the house by ""tho Bev D, Fulton, in the presence of the relatives and immediate friends. The coffin, covered with wreaths and floral emblems, was borne to the i hearse, Messrs J. McGregor, E. Feist, A. Ellnns, and J. 0. Boddington being pall-bearers. About three hundred persons, representing all parts of Wairarapa and Wellington', followed in procession to the cemetery, where a great many hdies had already assembled, to show their sympathy with tho relatives of deceased in their affliction. Here a most impressive service was rendered by tho Eev Mr Fulton, in language that left scarce a dry eye visible.
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon the funeral of Mr John Morrison took place, in the presence of perhaps tho largest gathering that has ever assembled on a similar occasion. The remains left the house of Mr John Drummnud at half-past one o'clock, and were followed by a long line of mourners in vehicles and on horseback. Tho length of the procession inoreased as it reached town, whero the many residents who were awaiting its arrival joiued it. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. D.Fulton,
Memorial services wore held yesterday morning in the Presbyterian Church, the hymns, prayers, and sermon all bearing on the "subject of death and resurrection. The special prayers of the congregation were asked for the recently bereaved, moro especially for Hie aged pilgrim Mr W. Macara, who had just buried the partner for upwards of fifty-two years of his joys and sorrows, and was left at the great age of ninetyone years to complete alone tho remainder of his sojourn on earth, The text chosen for the discourse by the Rev Mr Fulton was taken from the 9th chaper of Hebrews, 27th and 28th verses: " And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear tho sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second timo without sin unto salvation." The preacher said whilst nothing was perhaps more familiar and pressing than death, yet no event was so successfully forgotten and ignored as having reference to one's self. Between tie criminal whose hours wero numbered and anybody else there was but this difference that I ho day and the hour of the departure of the formor was known and fixed. They all know sentence of death was passed. It was hard for people in health and strength to. realise that it had been appointed unto men once to die in reference to themselves, The sick and dying often longed to go and leave thoir troubles behind. But with the strong and healthy it was hard to fix the fact that the fiat applied equally to them. It was the universality of death that robbed it of its terrors. Day by day sonip seventy or eighty thousand persons were entering into eternity. In such a community ap the present, months passed sometimes without the necesr sity for turning tho .green sod to make a resting place lor the wear sleepers. At other- times death oame with greater frequency. During tho past week'two of their number who cared something, about the Church of God, who esteemed the word it had been his glorious privilege to deliver to them, had passed away, There was nothing to sorrow.
for on their behalf, only sorrow for tho personal loss of their friends, Christ had died and bad conquered sin and hell. There was a time when Christ with all his honors carried not the keys of life.and death, Hisdeath had made him,the resurrection and the life, a present help, and comfort. To those that died in Jesub, holding him by the hand there was no bittorness of a second death, There was nothing to cause tears to be shed for tho departed o»es,only for themselves in tho loss of their life's companionship, Those naturally did not fear death when it came. Its anticipation while ia health was perhaps more dreaded, Dr Lyon Playfair, who had naturally from bis position come in contact with many eminent physicians, had stated as the result of 'his numerous enquiries that in but two cases had it been known that anyone was afraid to die when it was their time. The remark made frequently to him (the Bpeaker), at deathbeds, " I'm not afraid to die," had often struck him, What was it, then ho asked that mado thoughts of death so solemn, that made men fear to face the inevitable. " After death the jjudgment," was what caußed men to I iear. The body would be buried, but the spirit would return to the God who gavo it, to bo judged, They would all have to appear before the judgment seat to receive the award according to the works done, in the body. The preacher then referred to the happiness of tho man who, when he came to die,could look back upon a life spent in good works. Ho urged upon his hearers to be vigilant in God's service whilst they were in health and strength and not to trust to a deathbed repentence, A man might be forgiven at the last moment even as the penitent thief, but how much better, could he appear before the Judgment Seat with a knowledge of duties fulfilled, fellow creature? benefitted, and the world made brighter and better by one's life; to hear tho voice saying" well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Some people seemed to think it only necesl sary to believe, but that was not al that was noeded, That was purely a question of faith. It was not thus. Christ represented the judgment day, "Nothing but loaves" was a terrible disappointment to Him. "I was hungry and ye fed me not." It was a question of what had been dono and what left undone upon which they were judged. He concluded his remarks with an earnest appeal to be up and doing; to let His call touch their hearts on that day, and pray that the Lord might keep them near his side until the time appointed for them to die, and then His hand would lead them to the judgment seat, and they might anticipate the words " Come thou blessed of my .Father and enjoy tho blessings prepared for you."
The late Mr John Morrison was a native of Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1810 with his father Mr Hugh Morrison, and his brothers, Messrs Duncan, John, and Colin Morrison, Ho took up land near Evans Bay, whore Kilbirme now is, and later on, when ho removed to the Wairarapa, opened a cattlo trade with the Middle Island, shipping tho beasts at Kaiwarra, and disposing of them at the Hokitika, Otago, and Southland Goldfielda. This was hard and riaky work, and on one occasion ho nearly suffered shipwreck with his consignment off Lyats Bay. The vossol missed stays, and the captain called upon Mr Morrison to make for the shore. His answer was" Hold on till I lace my boots," and by the time this was done the peril baa been passed. When Mr John Morrison first came to the Wairarapa lie resided for a time at Glonmorven, Morrison's Bush, named after his father Mr Hugh Morrison. In those days houses were fow and far bewtween and it was considered quite a plunge into the wilderness to come to Mastcrion. However, Mr John Morrison had the honor of fetching Sir 6. Grey through to Manaia, where tho late Mr W. 11. Donald then lived, and where the Governor took his turn at tho ■ handrail! which ground out the corn for the evening meal. In those days, too, he recoived as guests men like the lato Bishop Sehvyn and Dr Fealherstono who wero wont to make exploratory trips through the district. Almost the only other residenco of any pretension in this neighborhood then was the house of the lato Mr Collins, and farther north Napier, as a town was unheard of. Wo have on a previous occasion referred to the open-hearted liberality with which tho lato Mr Morrison entertained guests at his station, and ho was deservedly held in high esteem by both rioh and poor.
Shooting Match at Carterton
Tlio Wairavapa Gun Club hold its second meeting of the season in Mr E. H, Buokoridgo's paddock at Carterton on Saturday, More shooting would have been indulged in but for a rather late start made, in consequence of the Horse Parade. As it was, a very fair afternoon's sport was obtained. The following wip tho scores:—First match., four bird contest (live pigoons), two misses to count out, first and second prizes, (sweepstake), P. P. Tancrcd 1111,4; N. Gracoll01,8; W. 0, Buolmnan 1100,2; Wastne/, 100 ;T Grace 00. Second matoh, one bird contest, sweepstake.—N. Grace 1, P. F. Tanered 1, W. C, Buchanan 0, T. Grace 0, Wastney 0. The stakes were divided bv Messrs N. Grace and P.P. Tanered who "tied." Third match, blue rock clay clay pigeons, jsweepstako.-N. Grace 111100, 4: W.C. Buchanan 110110,4; MrT. Grace 010101,8; P. F. Tanered 101100,3; W. F. Seed 000100, 1; Wnstuey 100000,1. The " ties," Messrs Grace and Buchanan fired off Mr Grace winning, t Mr A. L. Webster, the Club's Secretary, acted an Boorer, and Mr E. B. Jones as referee. The next meeting will be a pigeon match at Greytown in about a month
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3322, 30 September 1889, Page 2
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2,139Correspondence. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3322, 30 September 1889, Page 2
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