NEWS BY CABLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3345, 26 October 1889, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

ENGLISH. London, October 24. The Times-Parnell Commission resumed its sittings to-day, when MrJ.G.Biggar.M.P.forOovanW., delivered an address in defence of a charge made against himself. The Times protests agm'nst the proposal to had over Swaziland to the Transvaal. Bernard V, Shaw, formerly Commissioner of Police for the Capetown district, has been appointed to a similar position in New Guinea. He is a son of Capt3in Shaw, of the London Fire Brigade.

FOREIGN. Berlin, October 24. They arm estimates brought dowu ill tho Reichstag provido for an extraordinary military vote of coven million marks. / Australian. Melbourne, October 25. During a torchlight procession at Malvern lass night, the box fireman's clothes caught fire. He was carrying a quantity of compound colored fires which ignited and burnt fiercely. The poor fellow was terribly burnt before death put an end to his sufferings, Sydnry, October 25. Arrived—Steamer Lubeck, from Samoa.

She reports that Malietoa, the king elect, has been dangerously ill, but is now in a fair way to recovery, Both the German and Knglish Consuls have been instructed to recogniso Malietoa as king, Typhoid fever is prevalent at Samoa and twenty German sailors aro down with it, A serious disturbance has occurred atbnvail, betwen the followers of Malietoa and ex-King Tamasese. Tho strength of eacli side was three hundred, and several wore killed, while a numberof others were injured. When the Lubeck left it was not known which side had won. 11.M.5, Egeria which was at Tonga has been ordered Home. A Masterton Small Farm.

Just on the Southern boundary of the Borough of Masterton is a neat little dairy farm, owned and occupied by Mr Edwin Johnson, a well-known settler of some thirty years standing, Tho farm originally consistedof about 15 acres, but it lias been added to from time to time and now comprises b'B aares in all of some of tho very best land in this fertile district. About thirty acres of it was standing bush when bought by tho present owner at .£45 an acre about fivo years ago, and although that might eoom to some an extravagant price to give for land, yet, as Mr Johnson remarks, it pays much better than poor land at £lO or £ll an acre, the average price about here, This land has been cleared and grassed with the exception of a small clump of hush left for present shelter and future supplies of firewood. It would give some idea of the quality of the land when we state the depths of soil, Mr J olmson sank a well on it recently and went through sixteen feot of rich loam and light clay before he cani9 upon gravel. The grass at the present time is over the knees of the cattle grazing on it, and a glance at their condition will show the richness of the feed. Mr Johnson, at the present time, milks sixteen cows. He has a large connection in the town, to whom be delivers that necessary article of diet twice daily. He has not been an idle man. Winter and summer ho has been up at three or four o'clock every morning to attend to his work, and the result is at tho present time he has a businoss which is second to none in the Borough in his particular line, Within the last few weeks Mr Johnson has added to his property what has long been known as McCardle's nursery, which includes nine acres of a flourishing orchard. At the present time the trees are one mass of blossom, and givo promise of supplying several tons of apples, plums, quinces, and other large fruits. Since acquiring this property Mr Johnson has spent both lime and money in improving it, The whole of the trees, which number several hundred, have been dressed with a mixture of sulphur and lime, at a cost of an average of threepence per tree, and he reckons this to be money well laid out. Next season he intends to plough andcnltivate between the rows of trees, as ho considers it will benefit them and keep down i the suckers, lie has arrived at this conclusion from experience on two acres of orchard which he has had in cultivation many years, Between the fruit trees lie grows vegetables of every description, and the land is being continually turned over. The result is these trees boar a more than usual crop, and are cleaner and more free from pests. Mr Johnson is blessed with just such a helpmate as an English fanner desires. One who can turn her hand to anything in the shape of farm and dairy work; and her excellent butter and jam are special hems that have many a time taken prizes at the local exhibitions. One conspicuous and costly addition to Mr Johnson's farm is a Carlisle windmill which has recently been erected at a cost of £l2O, including the pipes, of which there are several hundred feet laid through the kitchen garden and orchard. Although there is so much to. be done to keep everything right on the farm, yet Mr Johnson and his industrious family iinil time for homo onjoymonts, The interior of Jiis house is a pioture; nicely furnished, neat, and clean, and we were somewhat surprised to see in the front sitting-room an excellent Brimsmead piano, which Mr Jonnson informed us with honest pride, he had purchased for his twelve-year old daughter on her last birthday, In front pf the residence is a njcely laid out flower garden, which is the especial pride of the worthy matron; whilst the children have each their small patch for their own cultivation. We left with a decided impressicm that there was plciisiu'p as well as profit attached to the lot a not over-ambitious, hardworking New Zealand farmer,

Masterton Public School. Annual Exapation, The annual examination of the Masterton school was completed yesterday, and gave tho satisfactory result of niuetysix per cent of paysey. Inspector Lee at the conclusion highly complimented "tho. 'sc'.boo) on, tho position '\( jiaj attained. He remarked 'ip bad trailed {roflj i\s north''of Scotland to, fta aauth of England, and found no bettor school thaii tho one they had at Masterton. Their school was tho best in the Wairarapa (loud applause from the!

children), T]jo fifth standard had passed without a single failure, and they were very strong at that; Their rending was .bailor Ihan the sixth standard; not that theirs was bud, far from it. He had not yet examined the city schools, but he ■ did not expect to find thu equal of Maslerton from one end of New Zealand to the other. After three hearty cheers given by the scholars, the school broke up until Tuesday morning. The names of thu scholars who have passed will appear, on Monday. Standard. Frescnteil. Excepted. Fulled. Itacd,

Preparatory class 118, total in school 571. Passes 90 per cent.

I 9!) 0 0 03 II 111 1 1 109 III 8G J 0 70 IV 08 0 7 50 V CO 0 0 • 60 VI 40 0 1 30 Yll 3 0 12 Totals 156 5 19 432